bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new methodology for the assessment of the running resistance of trains without knowing the characteristics of the track: Application to full-scale experimental data
Authors: Somaschini Claudio , Argentini Tommaso , Rocchi Daniele , Schito Paolo , Tomasini Gisella
Published: January 2018

The resistance to motion of trains is an essential requisite especially while designing high-speed trains and high-capacity railway lines. The optimisation of friction effects and aerodynamic performance can be done during the design stage of a new train but the actual value of the running resistance can be inferred only by means of full-scale tests during the operation of a train. A CEN standard (EN 14067-4) describes the methodologies for the assessment of the running resistance of railway vehicles starting from full-scale test measurements. According to this standard, the speed-dependent terms of the resistance force have to be determined by means of coasting tests on railway lines, whose characteristics must be well known. Since this is not always possible and small errors on the gradient could lead to major uncertainties in the evaluation of the resistance force, a new method for the estimation of the running resistance coefficients, irrespective of the characteristics of the track is proposed in this paper. The reliability of the method is verified by comparing the results with those obtained from the procedure proposed in the CEN standard. The comparison shows that the new methodology is able to evaluate the resistance coefficients with an accuracy equivalent to that of the other methods but with fewer tests and with a more robust procedure relying on a lesser number of parameters.
Dual combustor ramjet engine dynamics modeling and simulation for design analysis
Authors: Wadwankar N , Kandasamy G , Ananthkrishnan N , Renganathan VS , Park Ik-Soo , Hwang Ki-Young
Published: January 2018

An integrated low-order, medium-fidelity model for a dual combustor ramjet engine configuration is derived for use in mission analysis and controller design. Each of the individual components – intake, isolator, ram diffuser and combustor, scram combustor and nozzle – are modeled using either empirical data or analytical relations, or in case of the two combustors by using a quasi-one-dimensional code. The components are appropriately linked to capture the key physical phenomena inherent in the dual combustor ramjet engine operation and the ongoing dynamic processes. Feedback loops due to the upstream influence of the pressure and time lags due to acoustic and flow-related delays are modeled. Sample results are generated for a dual combustor ramjet engine configuration with Jet-A fuel at a design condition of Mach 7 at 27.5 km altitude, and stability and dynamic behavior, steady-state performance, and response to fuel throttling input are assessed. Its low order and the ability to be easily reconfigured for a new geometry/parametric input make the model useful for mission analysis studies with a quick turn-around time.
A proportional derivative sliding mode control for an overactuated quadcopter
Authors: Alkamachi Ahmed , Erçelebi Ergun
Published: January 2018

Traditional quadcopters suffer from their intrinsic underactuation, which prevents them from tracking arbitrary trajectories. In this study, a step-by-step mathematical modeling of a tilt rotor quadcopter, i.e. a quadcopter with all its four rotors are allowed to be tilted independently around their arms’ extension, is derived. The tilting mechanism converts the classical quadcopter to an overactuated flying vehicle that has full control over its states. The nonlinear dynamical model is derived based on the Newton–Euler formalization. A novel trajectory tracking control scheme is then proposed and developed. The proposed controller combines the proportional derivative linear controller with the nonlinear sliding mode controller. In order to reduce the chattering effect of the sliding mode controller, the discontinuous Signum switching function is replaced by a continuous sigmoidal function. The controller parameters are then tuned with the aid of genetic algorithm as an optimization tool. The genetic algorithm objective function is set so as to get the best step response characteristics. A simulation based analysis is used to proof the system and controller capability in following complex trajectories. Finally, the proposed controller robustness and effectiveness are analyzed. The simulation test results reveal the validity and feasibility of the proportional derivative sliding mode controller. The proposed controller also performed well in the face of modeling imprecision, sensor noise, and external disturbances.
Intelligence design method for three-dimensional vaned diffusers in a centrifugal compressor
Authors: Wang Jian , Wen Suping , Wang Wenbo , Xi Guang
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a multi-objective optimization-based intelligence design method for the design of the three-dimensional vaned diffuser for a given centrifugal compressor. This design method consists of three-dimensional vaned diffuser design model and its solving strategy. The three-dimensional vaned diffuser design model consists of the diffuser geometry mathematical model, performance evaluation model, objective equation, and design space. The diffuser geometry is described by the mathematical model of the meridional configurations and vane camber, trailing edge lean, and thickness. The generic design space is determined through literature statistical investigation. An NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm, utilized to solve the three-dimensional vaned diffuser design model, directs the diffuser geometry variables to achieve the maximum stage isentropic efficiency and static pressure ratio at the design point within the design space automatically and intelligently. The presented three-dimensional vaned diffuser design method is demonstrated using a case test for a centrifugal impeller. The convergence of evolutionary solving for this three-dimensional vaned diffuser model is analyzed in detail, which provides the convergence reference for engineering applications. Three representative three-dimensional vaned diffusers on Pareto front are utilized to check the diversity of geometry shape and overall range performance characteristics. The results show that the three-dimensional vaned diffuser design method established here has excellent potential in automated design and maximizing stage performance. The method reported here could provide a valuable reference for the intelligent design of radial turbomachinery diffusers.
Robust control design of variable speed wind turbine using quantitative feedback theory
Authors: Singh Navdeep , Pratap Bhanu , Swarup Akhilesh
Published: January 2018

A robust control design of a three blade, horizontal axis variable speed wind turbine is developed in this paper. The variable speed wind turbine model consists of higher order nonlinear dynamics where uncertainty has been considered in the plant parameters. Quantitative feedback theory is an effective and efficient, robust control technique through which the desired specifications over a specified range of parametric uncertainty can easily be achieved in the frequency domain. The proposed robust torque and pitch control in variable speed wind turbine using quantitative feedback theory satisfy prescribed gain and phase margin, degree of tracking for the robust performance, fast convergence, noise attenuation, and input and output disturbance rejection. The advantages of the proposed robust control design are the consideration of a wide range of performance specifications and achieving effective control over an increased operating frequency range. The simulation results demonstrate the satisfactory performance of proposed quantitative feedback theory-based controller and prefilter which fulfill the necessary conditions such as robust stability and robust tracking. Further, it has been shown that the performance of the quantitative feedback theory-based controller is better than the performance with a standard wind turbine controller and also from the performance by proportional-integral controller.
The incommensurability of emergence and modularity in complex systems: A comment on Wastell (2014)
Authors: Favela Luis H. , Amon Mary Jean , van Rooij Marieke M. J. W.
Published: January 2018

To answer the interaction problem, dual-process theories of reasoning must explain how seemingly disparate reasoning systems affect each other and underlie the apparent unity of subjective experience. Wastell (2014) proposes complex emergence modular theory, which asserts that complex virtual reasoning modules emerge from basic reasoning modules. We contend that Wastell’s proposal fails to address the interaction problem. First, we claim that the attempt to integrate emergence with virtual modules proliferates the interaction problem instead of solving it. Second, we argue that there is no interaction problem in human reasoning if “emergence” is employed in accordance with typical applications of complex systems theory in cognitive science and psychology. Alternatively, we suggest that in order to understand human reasoning within a complex systems framework, researchers should forego conceiving of reasoning as informationally encapsulated modular systems, and instead investigate system state transitions.
Cognitive functioning in systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis
Authors: Leslie B , Crowe S F
Published: January 2018

Cognitive deficits are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) regardless of overt neuropsychiatric involvement; however, a clear neuropsychological profile of SLE has not emerged. This study undertook a literature search of the PubMed, Scopus and Ovid (PsychINFO) databases for studies investigating cognitive alterations in SLE, using standardized neuropsychological (NP) measures. The data were analysed using meta-analytical procedures. The results support the observation that relative to healthy controls, SLE (regardless of overt neuropsychiatric involvement) is associated with statistically significant, small effect-sized deficits in visual attention, cognitive fluency, immediate visual memory and visual reasoning. Moreover, the results support a gradient of cognitive disturbance in SLE with significantly greater cognitive impairment in NPSLE patients relative to non-NPSLE patients. Medium-sized deficits were observed in NPSLE patients relative to healthy controls across the domains of: complex attention, delayed verbal memory, language and verbal reasoning (with small or non-significant differences observed in non-NPSLE patients relative to healthy controls). These results are relevant to the understanding, assessment and rehabilitation of patients living with SLE, with or without overt neuropsychiatric involvement.
Polyamine patterns in plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and fever
Authors: Kim H A , Lee H S , Shin T H , Jung J Y , Baek W Y , Park H J , Lee G , Paik M J , Suh C H
Published: January 2018

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with various clinical manifestations and serologic markers. In this study, we analyzed nine polyamine (PA) profiles of plasma from patients with SLE and healthy controls (HCs), and the relationship between the PA profiles and disease activity. PA alterations in plasma of 44 patients with SLE and fever were investigated using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode using N-ethoxycarbonyl/ N-pentafluoropropionyl derivatives, and compared with those of 43 HCs. Patients with SLE and HCs showed differences in five of nine PA profiles. Among five changed PA levels, four PAs, namely N1-acetylcadaverine, spermidine, N1-acetylspermidine, and spermine, were dramatically decreased. However, the level of cadaverine was increased in patients with SLE. In the partial correlation with PA profiles and disease activity markers of SLE, several disease activity markers and nutritional markers were correlated with cadaverine, spermidine, and N 8-acetylspermidine. Thus, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between PA metabolomics and disease activity markers in patients with SLE.
Changing labour power on smallholder tea farms in Kenya
Authors: Riisgaard Lone , Okinda Obadia
Published: January 2018

Informal wage workers on smallholder tea farms make important contributions to world export of tea. The literature on global production networks only recently began to pay more detailed attention to conceptualizing the role that labour plays in such networks and has so far focused mainly on industrial settings – not smallholder farming. Similarly, the literature on sustainability standards has focused on wage-workers in large-scale workplaces such as factories or plantations. This article seeks to remedy this lack of attention and make contributions to both literatures by arguing first, that labour agency in export-oriented smallholder tea production in developing countries may not be advanced much by the sustainability certifications demanded by Western buyers and second, that labour agency can nevertheless be present at ‘the margins’ of global production networks even though informal rural wage workers are most often assumed to lack both ‘structural’ and ‘associational’ power. These arguments are made on the basis of a case study of on-farm wage labour in smallholder tea production in Kenya. The article finds labour’s bargaining power to be stronger in some locations compared to others and that differences between locations can be fruitfully explored by looking not just at workers insertion into the vertical structures of the global production network but by also including more ‘horizontal’ dimensions relating to the local context in which smallholder tea production and on-farm wage-workers are embedded.
Finding the Right Fit: Helping Students Apply Theory to Service-Learning Contexts
Authors: Ricke Audrey
Published: January 2018

Background: Although past studies of service-learning focus on assessing student growth, few studies address how to support students in applying theory to their service-learning experiences. Yet, the task of applying theory is a central component of critical reflections within the social sciences in higher education and often causes anxiety among undergraduate students. Purpose: This article identifies a pedagogical model that helps students navigate the selection and application of theory to their service-learning experiences. Methodology/Approach: The pedagogical model is based on a case study of an upper-division anthropology service-learning course, which included survey and interview data to assess the model’s effectiveness. Findings/Conclusions: The findings indicate that a familiar framing analogy, combined with a specific set of scaffolded in-class activities that takes into consideration Perry’s scheme of learning, is useful for bridging the gap between understanding theory and selecting and applying a particular theory to service-learning projects. Such an approach helped relieve student anxiety and confusion surrounding theory application and service-learning. Implications: To grow as scholars, students must be able to match theory to real-world situations on their own. By combining a framing analogy with scaffolded activities, instructors can help students transition from memorizing theories to applying them to their service-learning.
Changes in Parent–Child Relationships and Religious Views in Parents of LGB Youth Postdisclosure
Authors: Campbell Melissa , Zaporozhets Olya , Yarhouse Mark A.
Published: January 2018

“Coming out” refers to disclosing one’s nonheterosexual identity to another person. Disclosure to family members is one of the most important and difficult milestones in sexual identity formation. This is a study of the experiences of Christian parents whose children came out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. The study examined the changes in parent–child relationships and the parents’ Christian beliefs across three time points: before disclosure, in the couple months directly following disclosure, and at the time of the interview.
Epigenetic Control of Schwann Cells
Authors: Ma Ki H. , Svaren John
Published: January 2018

The journey of Schwann cells from their origin in the neural crest to their ensheathment and myelination of peripheral nerves is a remarkable one. Their apparent static function in enabling saltatory conduction of mature nerve is not only vital for long-term health of peripheral nerve but also belies an innate capacity of terminally differentiated Schwann cells to radically alter their differentiation status in the face of nerve injury. The transition from migrating neural crest cells to nerve ensheathment, and then myelination of large diameter axons has been characterized extensively and several of the transcriptional networks have been identified. However, transcription factors must also modify chromatin structure during Schwann cell maturation and this review will focus on chromatin modification machinery that is involved in promoting the transition to, and maintenance of, myelinating Schwann cells. In addition, Schwann cells are known to play important regenerative roles after peripheral nerve injury, and information on epigenomic reprogramming of the Schwann cell genome has emerged. Characterization of epigenomic requirements for myelin maintenance and Schwann cell responses to injury will be vital in understanding how the various Schwann cell functions can be optimized to maintain and repair peripheral nerve function.
Lateral vibration analysis of pre-bent pendulum bottom hole assembly used in air drilling
Authors: Zhang He , Di Qinfeng , Wang Wenchang , Chen Feng , Chen Wei
Published: January 2018

In the air drilling process, the pre-bent pendulum bottom hole assembly (PBP-BHA) has excellent performance in controlling the well deviation and improving the wellbore quality, but the mechanism that is closely related to the dynamics of the PBP-BHA has not been ascertained. In this paper, an effective technique combining the weighted residuals method with the finite element method is presented to study the PBP-BHA lateral vibration. First, a three-dimensional nonlinear static model of pre-bent BHA is established under small deformation condition and solved by the weighted residuals method and optimization method, so as to define the tangent point according to the deformation characteristics of the PBP-BHA. This tangent point determines the end of the effective PBP-BHA length that starts from the drill bit. Subsequently, the finite element model of PBP-BHA is established to solve the lateral natural frequencies and mode shapes of the PBP-BHA. After considering the borehole wall constraint, the modal superposition technique is used to obtain the steady dynamic responses of the PBP-BHA. Meanwhile, the dynamic performance of the PBP-BHA used in the actual air drilling process is calculated to obtain its critical speeds and working status chart. The critical speeds of the PBP-BHA are 80 r/min and 190 r/min, which are far away from the surface rotary speed in the actual drilling site. Through comparing with the dynamic characteristics of regular BHA with the same structural parameters, it is discovered that the bend angle in the PBP-BHA plays a crucial role in improving the dynamic performance of the PBP-BHA. Moreover, the technique presented in this study can be used to make a reasonable design of BHA configuration and optimize drilling parameters.
Model-free control using time delay estimation and fractional-order nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode for uncertain lower-limb exoskeleton
Authors: Ahmed Saim , Wang Haoping , Tian Yang
Published: January 2018

A robotic exoskeleton is a nonlinear system, which is subjected to parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. Due to this reason, it is difficult to obtain the exact model of the system, and without knowledge of the system, it cannot be compensated accurately. In this study, time delay estimation (TDE)-based model-free fractional-order nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (MFF-TSM) is proposed for the lower-limb robotic exoskeleton in the existence of uncertainties and external disturbance. The main characteristic of the proposed scheme is that it controls the system without relying on the knowledge of exoskeleton dynamics. At first, the fractional-order (FO) with nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSM) is adopted to provide a precise trajectory tracking performance, fast finite-time speed of convergence, singularity-free and chatter-free control inputs. And then, the proposed controller employs TDE, to make the controller model independent, which directly estimates the uncertain exoskeleton dynamics with external disturbances. Later, asymptotical stability analysis of the overall system and finite-time convergence are investigated and ensured using Lyapunov theorem. Finally, the simulation results are conducted to validate the efficacy of the proposed control method.
Conference Baby: Gendered Bodies, Knowledge, and Re/Turning to Academia
Authors: Lipton Briony
Published: January 2018

Inspired by children’s nursery rhymes, this research poem is an autoethnographic exploration of the processes of bodily learning that takes place in the neoliberal university and what it is like to bring a baby along to a conference. The academic conference is a key site for academic socialization and the passing on of norms and values. In focusing on the body pedagogics of the academic conference, this poem reveals how different discourses of academic work, knowledge, and gender equity are communicated through bodies and become naturalized in academic cultures and values. It also rethinks the division between productive and reproductive labor when returning to academia.
Doing History: A Study of Disciplinary Literacy and Readers Labeled as Struggling
Authors: Learned Julie E.
Published: January 2018

Scholars contend that disciplinary literacy is a productive route for all secondary learners, including those identified as struggling readers, to build knowledge. Relatedly, scholars point to disciplinary literacy as a socially just alternative to decontextualized skill instruction and deficit positioning. Yet, little research has examined how instructional contexts facilitate these youths’ participation in disciplinary literacy practices. I present the case of one ninth-grade history classroom. Participants were three students and one teacher. Data sources included 48 hr of observations, 11 semistructured interviews, ongoing ethnographic open-ended interviews, and classroom artifacts. By closely examining the enactment of one lesson and situating the analysis in the class’s yearlong academic and social trajectories, I show how disciplinary literacy provided avenues for youths to wrestle with and critique historical texts, compare perspectives across sociohistorical periods, see themselves in history, and disrupt deficit positioning in school. I discuss implications for secondary literacy and social studies education.
Noteworthy Literature Published in 2017 for Thoracic Transplantation Anesthesiologists
Authors: Del Rio J. Mauricio , Maerz David , Subramaniam Kathirvel
Published: January 2018

Thoracic organ transplantation constitutes a significant proportion of all transplant procedures. Thoracic solid organ transplantation continues to be a burgeoning field of research. This article presents a review of remarkable literature published in 2017 regarding perioperative issues pertinent to the thoracic transplant anesthesiologists.
Kinetics of Procalcitonin in Pediatric Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Bobillo Sara , Rodríguez-Fanjul Javier , Solé Anna , Moreno Julio , Balaguer Mònica , Esteban Elisabeth , Cambra Francisco José , Jordan Iolanda
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

To assess the kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pediatric patients who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to analyze its relationship with morbidity and mortality.

Patients and methods:

Prospective observational study including pediatric patients who required ECMO. Both PCT and CRP were sequentially drawn before ECMO (P0) and until 72 hours after ECMO.

Results:

A total of 40 patients were recruited. Two cohorts were established based on the value of the P0 PCT (>10 ng/mL). Comparing the kinetics of PCT and CRP in these cohorts, the described curves were the expected for each clinical situation. The cutoff for P0 PCT to predict multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was 2.55 ng/mL (sensibility 83%, specificity 100%). Both PCT and CRP did not predict risk of neurologic sequelae or mortality in any group.

Conclusions:

Procalcitonin does not seem to be modified by ECMO and could be a good biomarker of evolution.
Delays in Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment in Developing Countries
Authors: Rivera-Franco Monica M , Leon-Rodriguez Eucario
Published: January 2018

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in both developed and developing countries and the second most common cancer in the world. Developing countries are increasingly adopting a Western lifestyle, such as changes in diet and delayed first childbirth, lower parity, and shorter periods of breastfeeding, which are important determinants of a higher incidence of breast cancer among those regions. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represent most of the countries with the highest mortality rates, ranging from 40% to 60%. Furthermore, developing countries account for scarce survival data, and the few data available coincide with the observed incidence and mortality differences. Five-year survival rates for breast cancer are much worse for LMICs countries such as Brazil, India, and Algeria in comparison with the United States and Sweden. Paucity of early detection programs explain these poor survival rates, which results in a high proportion of women presenting with late-stage disease, along with lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities. Emphasis is urgently needed on health education, to promote early diagnosis of breast cancer, highlighting the importance of creating more public facilities that provide treatment, which are key components for the improvement in breast cancer care in developing countries.
Visible-Near Infrared Spectroscopic Assessment of Urogenital Tissue in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Farage Miranda A , Cambron Tom , Liu Kan-Zhi
Published: January 2018

Background:

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a potential noninvasive measure of genital skin health in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods:

A total of 45 female subjects (aged 21-70 years), all of whom gave fully informed consent to participate, were enrolled in the study and assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 15 premenopausal (Pre-M), 15 postmenopausal receiving hormone replacement therapy (Post-M HRT), and 15 postmenopausal receiving no form of hormone replacement therapy (Post-M non-HRT). Spectral measurements were taken at the vaginal mucosa, and spectral data were evaluated for the erythema index (EI), hemoglobin index (HI), bilirubin/β-carotene, and melanin. The color index (CI; calculated as the ratio of absorbance at 480 nm/540 nm) was also determined. Results were compared with previously published results on biomarkers and physical characteristic of genital tissue measured on the same groups of women.

Results:

Spectral measurements from the Post-M Non-HRT subjects indicated a significant reduction in HI compared with the Pre-M group ( P = .0003) and to the Post-M HRT group ( P < .0001). Similarly, EI was reduced in the Post-M Non-HRT ( P < .0001 and P = .0041 for the Pre-M and Post-M HRT groups, respectively). In contrast, the Post-M Non-HRT subjects exhibited a significant increase in β-carotene compared with the Pre-M subjects ( P = .0098). Bilirubin and melanin were not significantly affected. The Post-M Non-HRT group exhibited a significant increase in CI, indicating a shift away from the hemoglobin absorption region (510-620 nm wavelength) and toward the bilirubin/β-carotene absorption region (450-490 nm wavelength). This change was significant when compared with both the Pre-M group ( P < .0001) and the Post-M HRT group ( P = .0048). The changes in spectral measurements were consistent with previously reported changes in physical parameters (vaginal atrophy, increased pH, decreased skin temperature) and with decreased concentrations of the biomarkers histamine and histidine.

Conclusions:

Hemodynamic spectral characteristics differ in postmenopausal vaginal tissue compared with tissue in premenopausal women, with decreased absorbance in the hemoglobin absorption region (510-620 nm wavelength) and an increased absorbance in the bilirubin/β-carotene absorption region (450-490 nm wavelength). A change in absorbance in the visible and NIR wavelengths is a promising, additional measure of genital skin health related to menopause and vulvovaginal atrophy.
Multiple sclerosis genetics
Authors: Canto Ester , Oksenberg Jorge R
Published: January 2018

A broad scientific consensus has emerged linking multiple sclerosis (MS) risk to multiple independent and interacting DNA variants that are relatively frequent in the population and act in concert with environmental exposures. The multifactorial, polygenic model of heritability provided the rationale and impetus to pursue genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which have been highly successful in uncovering genetic variants influencing susceptibility. Over 200 loci have been firmly associated with MS susceptibility. The main association signal genome-wide maps to the major histocompatibility complex ( MHC) gene cluster in chromosome 6p21. This association has been observed across all populations studied. However, a significant proportion of MS heritability remains unexplained. Decoding the genetics of MS represents a long-standing and important research goal in this disease, as the demonstration of even modest functional genomic effects on risk or the course of MS is likely to reveal fundamental disease mechanisms and possibly yield new therapeutic opportunities.
Dietary fatty acids and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis
Authors: Haase Stefanie , Haghikia Aiden , Gold Ralf , Linker Ralf A
Published: January 2018

Background:

The gut microbiome as well as dietary habits have recently been established as environmental contributors to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS).

Objective:

To summarize recent findings on the Janus-faced effects of dietary short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) on T-cell immunity with a special focus on the gut and the microbiome as an interface linking diet and T-cell responses during MS.

Methods:

Review article.

Results:

The autoimmune basis of MS most likely stems from an imbalance between pro-inflammatory T helper cell (Th)1 and Th17 cells and anti-inflammatory or regulatory mechanisms including regulatory T cells (Treg). Hence, the rationale of currently available therapeutic interventions is to either suppress pathogenic Th1/Th17 and/or to foster Treg responses. Dietary fatty acids are often discussed for their detrimental role in MS. However, recent studies investigating saturated fatty acids in animal models of MS revealed harmful as well as beneficial effects depending on their aliphatic chain length.

Conclusion:

Dietary SCFAs constitute interesting candidates as safe and potent add-on therapy in the immunomodulatory treatment armamentarium for relapsing-remitting MS.
Viruses in chronic progressive neurologic disease
Authors: Leibovitch Emily C , Jacobson Steven
Published: January 2018

Viruses have long been implicated as triggers of disease onset and progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) and similar neuroinflammatory disorders. Decades of epidemiological, molecular, and pathologic studies have most strongly linked the human herpesviruses Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) with MS. However, these viruses are ubiquitous in the general population and typically acquired decades before disease presentation, complicating the study of how they might contribute to disease. As experimental animal models may help elucidate mechanisms that have linked viruses with MS, we have been studying HHV-6 infections in a small nonhuman primate. We recently demonstrated that the subsequent induction of an MS-like experimental neuroinflammatory disease results in significantly accelerated disease in HHV-6 inoculated marmosets compared to controls. Ultimately, disease intervention in the form of clinical trials with an antiviral agent is the best way to concretely demonstrate a role for HHV-6 or any other virus in MS.
Hormones and MS: Risk factors, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets
Authors: Bove Riley , Gilmore Wendy
Published: January 2018

Sex differences in epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been observed for decades, establishing a foundation for more recent progress in our understanding of their overall impact on the disease. In the ACTRIMS session on Hormones, Sex Chromosomes, and MS: Risk Factors, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, this progress was summarized in three presentations by pioneers in the field, revealing evidence that sex chromosomes, epigenetic factors, and sex hormones function as interactive determinants of disease risk and phenotype in a fashion dependent upon life stage, from prenatal development, childhood, and adolescence to adulthood and aging. Implications for the effects of puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and andropause on autoimmune and neurodegenerative mechanisms were discussed, along with potential applications of exogenous hormones. Although several limitations in current approaches and concepts were noted, current insights pave the way for future progress in our understanding of this enigmatic disease
The relationship between sleep quality and fibromyalgia symptoms
Authors: Andrade Alexandro , Vilarino Guilherme Torres , Sieczkowska Sofia Mendes , Coimbra Danilo Reis , Bevilacqua Guilherme Guimarães , Steffens Ricardo de Azevedo Klumb
Published: January 2018

This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and fibromyalgia symptoms in 326 patients. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess the presence of sleep disorders. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed to determine the influence of fibromyalgia symptoms on sleep quality. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 92.9 percent. Patients reported generalized pain (88.3%), memory failure (78.5%), moodiness (59%), excessive anxiety (77.5%), and concentration difficulties (69.1%). Patients with more symptoms reported poor sleep quality ( p < .05; d = .74), and the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score correlated with the number of symptoms ( p < .01). Sleep quality has an important association with fibromyalgia symptoms.
Remix videos and the mnemonic imagination: Emotional memories of late Soviet childhood
Authors: Rajagopalan Sudha
Published: January 2018

This article analyses a selection of Russian digital remix videos that are put together to argue for a sympathetic and affectionate memory of childhood in the late Soviet period and then posted online. In their imaginative and deliberate structuring of images these videos are meant to evoke resonant nostalgic recollections among viewers. Three themes emerge in these videos to suggest that this phase of life in the late Soviet Union had positive attributes: sociality and healthy preoccupations, the endurance and accessibility of things, and the historical specificity (in other words, the Sovietness) of that experience. The videos, with the comments below, constitute an emotional memory site where nostalgia is the paramount mode, but it must enter into a dialogue with other competing emotions about the Soviet past in the mnemonic space of video-sharing platforms. As a result, the emotional work online of remembering childhood becomes contested and deeply political.
Mental health effects following the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland: A population-based study
Authors: Gissurardóttir Ólöf Sunna , Hlodversdóttir Heidrun , Thordardóttir Edda Bjork , Pétursdóttir Gudrún , Hauksdóttir Arna
Published: January 2018

Aim: Volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters may affect survivor’s physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the mental health effects of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in Iceland on nearby residents, by exposure level and experience. Methods: This population-based study included 1615 residents living in an area close to the Eyjafjallajökull volcano at the time of the eruption and a sample of 697 residents from a non-exposed area. All participants received a questionnaire 6–9 months after the eruption assessing mental health (GHQ-12, PSS-4 and PC-PTSD). The exposed group also received questions related to the experience of the eruption. Results: Replies were received from 1146 participants in the exposed group (71%) and 510 participants in the non-exposed group (73%). Compared to the non-exposed group, participants living in the high-exposed area were at increased risk of experiencing mental distress (GHQ) 6–9 months following the eruption (odds ratio (OR) 1.45%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.90). High-exposed participants were furthermore at increased risk of experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to those living in the low-exposed area (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.34–15.41). We further found that those who had direct experience of the eruption were more likely to suffer from symptoms of mental distress, PTSD symptoms and perceived stress, compared to those less exposed. Conclusions: The findings indicate that screening for these factors (e.g. experience of the event) could potentially aid in identifying those most vulnerable to developing psychological morbidity after this unique type of disaster.
Aerodynamic noise radiating from the inter-coach windshield region of a high-speed train
Authors: Dai Wen-Qiang , Zheng Xu , Hao Zhi-Yong , Qiu Yi , Li Heng , Luo Le
Published: January 2018

The aerodynamic noise has been the dominant factor of noise issues in high-speed train as the traveling speed increases. The inter-coach windshield region is considered as one of the main aerodynamic noise sources; however, the corresponding characteristics have not been well investigated. In this paper, a hybrid method is adopted to study the aerodynamic noise around the windshield region. The effectiveness of simulation methods is validated by a simple case of cavity noise. After that, the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation is used to obtain the characteristics of flow field around the windshield region, which determine the aerodynamic noise. Then the nonlinear acoustic solver approach is employed to acquire the near-field noise, while the Ffowcs-Williams/Hawking equation is solved for far-field acoustic propagation. The results indicate that the windshield region is approximately an open cavity filled with severe disturbance flow. According to the analysis of sound pressure distribution in the near-acoustic field, both sides of the windshield region appear symmetrical two-lobe shape with different directivities. The results of frequency spectrum analysis indicate that the aerodynamic noise inside inter-coach space is a typical broadband one from 100 Hz to 5k Hz, and most acoustic power is restricted in the low-medium frequency range (below 500 Hz). In addition, the acoustic power in the low frequency range (below 100 Hz) is closely related to the cavity resonance with the resonance peak frequency of 42 Hz. The overall sound pressure level at different speeds shows that the acoustic power grows approximately 5th power of the train speed. Two forms of outside-windshields are designed to reduce the noise around the windshield region, and the results show the full-windshield form is better in noise reduction, which apparently eliminates interior cavity noise of inter-coach space and lessens the overall sound pressure level on the sides of near-field by about 13 dB.
Contextualizing entrepreneurial identity among Syrian refugees in Jordan
Authors: Refai Deema , Haloub Radi , Lever John
Published: January 2018

This article aims to contextualize the entrepreneurial identity (EI) of Syrian refugees living outside refugee camps in Jordan. The research adopts a social lens to consider the situation Syrians find themselves in by drawing on the work of Bourdieu. A qualitative design is applied to explore the different experiences and perceptions that pervade refugee stories and the work of refugee aid agencies. By contextualizing EI in the Jordanian context, the article reveals how a destabilized refugee habitus based on an embodied disposition of survivability is emerging. The article makes an empirical and conceptual contribution by highlighting how the entrepreneurial activities of Syrian refugees are driven by their experiences of the harsh social conditions they find themselves in.
Lighting controls: Evolution and revolution
Authors: Pandharipande A , Newsham GR
Published: January 2018

The basic function of a lighting system is to provide a defined amount of light to a space according to context-appropriate design criteria while minimising energy use. Lighting control strategies based on occupancy and daylight adaptation have been consistently shown to substantially lower lighting energy use compared to fixed systems, and are now ubiquitous in building energy codes. The adoption of light emitting diodes and the integration of information and communication technologies enable lighting control systems to become smarter with a greater integration of sensing, data processing and connectivity, and to evolve into a platform for both lighting and non-lighting applications. We describe different lighting control strategies and their evolution with a focus on commercial office applications. To illustrate emerging approaches, we then discuss two particular smart lighting systems – a wireless, distributed lighting control system and a power-over-Ethernet, centralised lighting control system, with cloud connectivity. The role that a connected lighting system can play in the overall building eco-system is then discussed, and new applications and services that are enabled are presented. Finally, we discuss the challenges to the market adoption of connected smart lighting systems, and the arising opportunities for researchers and practitioners to realise one more round of high-value returns offered by lighting systems.
Visual discomfort indoors
Authors: Boyce PR , Wilkins A
Published: January 2018

Visual discomfort refers to discomfort or pain in or around the eyes, often associated with headache and/or nausea, and sometimes accompanied by signs such as red, itchy or watering eyes. The lighting conditions likely to cause visual discomfort are insufficient light for the task at hand, dramatic differences in illuminance around the task, shadows, veiling reflections, glare and flicker. To date, research on visual discomfort has been largely reactive, i.e. in response to complaints, but there is now proactive work that explores why discomfort occurs. The hypothesis underlying this work is that the human visual system has evolved to extract information from the natural world efficiently so that when the visual environment departs from the temporal, spatial or chromatic characteristics of the natural world, discomfort is likely because of inefficient neural processing. An important implication is that visual discomfort therefore depends on both the lighting and the décor of a space. Until this approach becomes more established, visual discomfort can be minimised by following carefully developed standards and guidance, by using products that meet appropriate standards, by paying attention to both lighting and décor and by being aware of the wide variation in individual sensitivity.
Daylighting buildings: Standards and the needs of the designer
Authors: Tregenza P , Mardaljevic J
Published: January 2018

Despite widespread research on daylighting, there are insufficient data to justify a definitive statement on daylighting design criteria. This paper reviews the requirements for daylighting codes and guidelines, doing so from two different viewpoints. The first considers standards and regulations, the second is focused on development and the scope of climate-based daylight modelling.
Public and Opinion Leader Willingness to Fund Obesity-Focused Policies in Kansas
Authors: Schmitt Carol L. , Curry Laurel E. , Homsi Ghada , Williams Pamela A. , Glasgow LaShawn M. , Van Hersh Deanna , Willett Jeffrey , Rogers Todd
Published: January 2018

Obesity increases the risk for leading causes of death, including cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Midwestern and southern states have the highest obesity rates—in Kansas, one in every three adults is obese. We compared the willingness of Kansas adults and opinion leaders to pay more in taxes to fund obesity prevention policies. In 2014, we asked a representative sample of 2,203 Kansas adults (response rate 15.7%) and 912 opinion leaders (response rate 55%) drawn from elected office and other sectors, including business and health, whether they would pay an additional $50 in annual taxes to support five policies that improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. We used adjusted Wald tests to compare public and opinion leaders’ responses, and regression analysis to assess whether differences in respondents’ gender, age, location (urban/rural), race/ethnicity, and political stance affected results. Adjusting for demographic differences, Kansas adults were more willing than opinion leaders to pay $50 in taxes for each of the five policy interventions. This study demonstrates a willingness among residents of a fiscally conservative state to pay increased taxes for policies that could reduce population obesity rates. Health professionals, including nurses, can use these findings to educate policy makers in Kansas and geopolitically similar states about widespread public support for obesity prevention policies. Public health and other nurses could also apply our methods to assess support for obesity prevention policies in their jurisdictions.
Charter School Leadership and Exclusionary Discipline: Navigating the Intersection of Autonomy, Equity, and Accountability
Authors: Mavrogordato Madeline , Torres Chris
Published: January 2018

Against the backdrop of the debate around exclusionary discipline practices, this case study asks readers to consider how leaders must balance autonomy with concerns about accountability and equity. In this case, a traditional public school principal in search of more autonomy accepts a principalship at a charter school, but as she attempts to change the school’s approach to student discipline, she discovers she may not have as much autonomy as she anticipated. This case can be used to help students unpack issues of autonomy for school leaders and grapple with the controversy surrounding exclusionary discipline.
An On-Top-Plasty Reconstruction for Complicated Radial Polydactyly
Authors: Kelley Brian P. , Kubiak Carrie , Chung Kevin C.
Published: January 2018

Background: The clinical presentation of radial polydactyly can vary greatly. Careful planning and appreciation of the anatomic subtleties provides alternative surgical options to improve patient outcomes. Methods: We present a case of a well-formed accessory web space thumb and a hypoplastic primary thumb. Results: Rather than excising the accessory digit, we performed a spare-part, on-top-plasty reconstruction to replace the diminutive distal phalanx of the primary thumb. Conclusions: This novel case applied the principle of spare-part surgery to reconstruct a more aesthetic and functional reconstructed digit.