bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A role-play assessment tool and drama-based social skills intervention for adults with autism or related social communication difficulties
Authors: Trudel Céliane , Nadig Aparna
Published: April 2019

This study adds to a small literature on social skills measures and interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or related social communication difficulties (SCD) without intellectual disability (ID). In study 1, a new multimodal assessment tool, the role-play assessment of social skills (R-PASS), was used to measure real-time application of social skills. The scores of adults with ASD/SCD were marginally lower than those of neurotypical adults, with a large effect size, suggesting that the measure can identify differences between the two groups. Therefore, the R-PASS shows potential as an objective tool to assess dynamic and naturalistic social skills. In Study 2, a pre–post single-group design study, we measured the effectiveness of a drama-based social skills intervention for seven participants who self-identified as having ASD/SCD. The R-PASS was used by external raters blind to diagnosis and intervention status to compare the performance of intervention participants to that of neurotypical adults. R-PASS scores suggested substantial improvement of social skills in the majority of participants post-intervention. Furthermore, relatives’ and participants’ perception of their social communication and self-regulation skills improved from pre- to post-intervention. These results suggest that the intervention may have helped the participants improve their social skills.
The process of information systems theorizing as a discursive practice
Authors: Hassan Nik Rushdi , Mathiassen Lars , Lowry Paul Benjamin
Published: April 2019

Although there has been a growing understanding of theory in the information systems field in recent years, the process of theorizing is rarely addressed with contributions originating from other disciplines and little effort to coherently synthesize them. Moreover, the field’s view of theorizing has traditionally focused on the context of justification with an emphasis on collection and analysis of data in response to a research question with theory often added as an afterthought. To fill this void, we foreground the context of discovery that emphasizes the creative and often serendipitous articulation of theory by emphasizing this important stage of theorizing as a reflective and highly iterative practice. Specifically, we suggest that information systems researchers engage in foundational theorizing practices to form the discourse, problematize the phenomenon of interest and leverage paradigms and deploy generative theorizing practices through analogies, metaphors, myths and models to develop the information systems discourse. To illustrate the detailed workings of these discursive practices, we draw on key examples from information systems theorizing.
Comparison of monoexponential, intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging for assessment of hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Yoon Jeong Hee , Lee Jeong Min , Lee Kyung Bun , Kim Dongeun , Kabasawa Hiroyuki , Han Joon Koo
Published: April 2019

Background

Hepatic fibrosis is a dynamic, reversible process which can result in liver failure. Diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic fibrosis are clinically important.

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and monoexponential diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to detect clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2).

Material and Methods

This retrospective study was approved by Institutional Review Board and the requirement of informed consent was waived. One hundred and six patients were included who underwent liver multiple b-value DWI (10 b-values at 0–1000 s/mm2) at 1.5 T and were histologically diagnosed with hepatic fibrosis. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), DKI-derived apparent kurtosis ( Kapp) and diffusivity ( Dapp), and IVIM-derived true diffusion ( Dt), pseudodiffusion ( D*), and perfusion fraction ( f) were compared between no or early fibrosis (F0–1, n = 19) and clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2, n = 87). Diagnostic performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

F2–4 had a significantly lower D* (59.9±16.3 vs. 86.2±21.0 [×10−3 mm2/s]) and Dapp (3.46±0.79 vs. 4.07 ± 0.76 [×10−3 mm2/s]) but higher Kapp (1.10±0.18 vs. 0.98±0.12) than F0–1 ( P < 0.01). ADC, Dt, and f did not show significant difference between two groups ( P > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve for diagnosis of clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2) was significantly larger in D* (0.89; 95% CI = 0.81–0.94) than Dapp (0.73; 95% CI = 0.63–0.81) and Kapp (0.75; 95% CI = 0.65–0.83) ( P = 0.017 and 0.012, respectively).

Conclusion

IVIM-DWI might be more suitable for detecting hepatic fibrosis than the monoexponential and kurtosis model, and D* showed a better diagnostic performance to detect clinically significant fibrosis than other parameters.
Serial optical coherence tomography and angioscopic assessments of 10-year in-stent restenosis of Cypher sirolimus-eluting stent treated with drug-coated balloon angioplasty
Authors: Suzuki Satoshi , Nakatani Shimpei , Sotomi Yohei , Shiojima Ichiro , Sakata Yasushi , Higuchi Yoshiharu
Published: April 2019

The drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty is considered a standard therapeutic option for in-stent restenosis. In the present case, we observed high-intensity spots on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and bright spots on coronary angioplasty (CAS) immediately after DCB angioplasty. The superficial high-intensity area on OCT presumably corresponded with the bright spots on CAS. The high-intensity superficial regions were thought to represent an iopromide/paclitaxel mixture. The present serial observation demonstrated that the eluted drugs remained for at least 2 months but disappeared within 6 months. At the site where we observed the drugs, neointimal growth was successfully inhibited and stabilized at the 6-month follow-up. The association of eluted drugs after DCB angioplasty with consequent neointimal growth is of scientific interest. Further prospective imaging studies with a large sample size are warranted to clarify this association.
Impact of tumor site on the prognosis of small bowel adenocarcinoma
Authors: Falcone Rosa , Romiti Adriana , Filetti Marco , Roberto Michela , Righini Riccardo , Botticelli Andrea , Pilozzi Emanuela , Ghidini Michele , Pizzo Claudio , Mazzuca Federica , Marchetti Paolo
Published: April 2019

Background:

Because of a lack of large-scale prospective studies there is no clear indication about the management of patients with small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). This study evaluated clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with SBA at our institution.

Methods:

Clinicopathologic features, treatments, and clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with SBA between 2006 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Median time of survival was calculated and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was used to test independence of significant factors in univariate analysis.

Results:

Forty patients were included in the study; the majority (82.5%) had a tumor in the duodenum (including ampulla of Vater) and an early stage disease at the diagnosis. Median overall survival (OS) in the whole study population was 26.5 months. Patients with a tumor of the lower part of the small intestine (jejunum, ileum, and appendix) showed a better OS compared with that of patients with upper SBA (40 months vs 26 months, respectively; P=0.09). Primary tumor site and stage were independent predictors of OS.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest a prognostic role for the primary tumor site. This finding deserves to be further investigated to ensure better classification as well as more effective management strategies for SBA.
Fulminant blast crisis with de novo 11q23 rearrangement in a Philadelphia-positive CML patient undergoing treatment with dasatinib
Authors: Janjetovic Snjezana , Asemissen Anne Marie , Dicker Frank , Binder Mascha , Dierlamm Judith , Bokemeyer Carsten , Schafhausen Philippe
Published: April 2019

Background:

Progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is frequently accompanied by cytogenetic evolution, with an extra copy of the Philadelphia chromosome, trisomy 8 and 19, and isochromosome (17p) commonly detected. Translocations involving 11q23 chromosomal region have been rarely reported in CML. The few reported patients with blast crisis (BC) of CML carrying an 11q rearrangement have insufficient responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and possess a poor prognosis.

Case report:

We report the case of a 30-year-old man with CML who had a fulminant myeloid BC 4 months after initiation of first-line therapy with the TKI dasatinib, despite showing an optimal response at the 3-month timepoint. Despite cytoreductive therapy with hydroxyurea and 3rd-generation TKI ponatinib, the patient died within 10 days after the diagnosis of BC. Cytogenetic analyses revealed additional genetic aberrations including trisomy 8 and t(9;11)(p21;q23) involving the mixed lineage leukemia ( MLL) gene.

Conclusion:

The presence of 11q23 rearrangements in the relapse clone in BC of CML most likely accounts for the adverse clinical outcome. Thus, in the case of rapid and unexpected BC, the presence of 11q rearrangements should be tested together with other additional chromosomal alterations, and immediate addition of chemotherapy to the TKIs should be evaluated.
Development of Probabilistic Viscoelastic Continuum Damage Model for Asphalt Concrete
Authors: Kassem Hussein , Chehab Ghassan , Najjar Shadi
Published: April 2019

The main objective of this paper is to develop a realistic probabilistic framework for characterization of different types of asphalt concrete using advanced material modeling. The adopted methodology builds on and enhances a viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) material model by utilizing a suite of associated experimental testing protocols and incorporating the uncertainties associated with the different material properties. The modeled uncertainties address the variabilities and errors associated with the linear viscoelastic (LVE) functions achieved from the complex modulus test and damage characteristic curves obtained from constant crosshead rate testing. A probabilistic scheme using First Order approximations and Monte Carlo simulations is developed to characterize the inherent uncertainty of each of the LVE functions over the time domain of their mastercurves. For damage characteristic curves, the uncertainty in normalized pseudostiffness increases as the level of damage becomes larger. The uncertainties of LVE properties are propagated along with those of C versus stress curves to yield a probabilistic viscoelastic continuum damage model (P-VECD). The P-VECD not only predicts the average viscoelastic response to a given loading input, but it can also provide its distribution, which is essential for a reliability-based pavement design.
Exploring Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Attending Malaysian Primary Care Clinics
Authors: Othman Sajaratulnisah , Yuen Choo Wan , Mohd Zain Norhasmah , Abdul Samad Azah
Published: April 2019

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are frequent attendees at health care facilities. Although most literature on this subject focuses on developed or Western countries, there is a dearth of information from Asian countries. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of IPV among women attending urban primary care services in Malaysia and to identify the risk factors associated with IPV. Six out of 15 available public primary care clinics in the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were randomly selected. The sampling size for each clinic was conducted proportionate to the clinic’s average daily patient attendance. A total of 882 women participated in this study via a self-administered questionnaire. We administered the women’s experience with battering scale (WEB-scale) to estimate the prevalence of psychological violence and included a screening question for physical and sexual assault. The results showed that 22.0% of the women surveyed reported experiencing IPV. Ethnicity appears to be a significant predictor, with Chinese and Indian women reporting IPV at a higher rate than Malay women. Women with IPV are more likely to come from lower income households, have witnessed parental IPV, receive less social support, and have poorer psychological well-being. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of IPV among women attending urban public primary care clinics is high. Health care providers should pay close attention during clinical encounters for any sign of IPV, particularly among those presenting with risk factors.
Nano-additive reinforcement of mixture epoxy syntactic foams
Authors: Dando Kerrick R , Salem David R
Published: April 2019

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were incorporated in syntactic foams containing a 90% by volume homogeneous mixture of (20/80 wt%) glass/thermoplastic microballoons to enhance the mechanical and impact response properties. Tensile, compressive, and impact tests were employed to comparatively characterize the effect of nano-additive reinforcement on mechanical response properties. Compressive strength and modulus enhancements as large as 39% and 18%, respectively, were achieved with a 0.125 wt% addition of CNF and increases of 61% and 7%, respectively, were achieved with a 0.125 wt% addition of HNT. Tensile strength and modulus enhancements as large as 107% and 68%, respectively, were achieved with a 0.125 wt% addition of CNF and increases of 104% and 70%, respectively, were achieved with a 0.125 wt% addition of HNT. Impact analysis data were used to show that measured peak force increased and build-up time to peak force decreased with increasing CNF or HNT weight percentage due to stiffening of the matrix. The smallest increase observed in peak force was 20% for a 0.125 wt% addition of CNF and 17% for a 0.125 wt% addition of HNT.
Pharmacist-Managed Inpatient Dofetilide Initiation Program: Description and Adherence Rate Post-Root Cause Analysis
Authors: Ko Elena (You Jung) , Carpenter Charles M. , Gagnon David J. , Andrle Anne M.
Published: April 2019

The aim of this article is to describe the pharmacist-managed dofetilide initiation program at Maine Medical Center (MMC), assess the adherence rate to 8 core clinical metrics, and review adverse effects before and after a root cause analysis (RCA). Core clinical metrics included pharmacist note entered within 4 hours of dose administration, dose chosen correctly per renal function, QTc measurements obtained and reviewed 2 hours after each dose, appropriate dose adjustment per the most recent QTc measurement, documentation of patient education, and assessment of conduction abnormality, drug–drug interactions, and serum potassium and magnesium concentrations. The primary outcome was adherence rate to all 8 core clinical metrics before and after the RCA. The safety outcome was the total number of adverse events. One hundred patients undergoing elective dofetilide initiation were evaluated: 50 pre-RCA and 50 post-RCA. Adherence rate to all core metrics was 14% in the pre-RCA group and 44% in the post-RCA group ( P < .001). Torsade de pointes occurred 3 times in the pre-RCA group and never in the post-RCA group. After the RCA, adherence to MMC’s pharmacist-managed inpatient dofetilide initiation program significantly improved.
Screens, Teens, and Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From Three Time-Use-Diary Studies
Authors: Orben Amy , Przybylski Andrew K.
Published: April 2019

The notion that digital-screen engagement decreases adolescent well-being has become a recurring feature in public, political, and scientific conversation. The current level of psychological evidence, however, is far removed from the certainty voiced by many commentators. There is little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent well-being, and most psychological results are based on single-country, exploratory studies that rely on inaccurate but popular self-report measures of digital-screen engagement. In this study, which encompassed three nationally representative large-scale data sets from Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom ( N = 17,247 after data exclusions) and included time-use-diary measures of digital-screen engagement, we used both exploratory and confirmatory study designs to introduce methodological and analytical improvements to a growing psychological research area. We found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement—measured throughout the day or particularly before bedtime—and adolescent well-being.
Information Processing Under Reward Versus Under Punishment
Authors: Ballard Timothy , Sewell David K. , Cosgrove Daniel , Neal Andrew
Published: April 2019

Much is known about the effects of reward and punishment on behavior, yet little research has considered how these incentives influence the information-processing dynamics that underlie decision making. We fitted the linear ballistic accumulator to data from a perceptual-judgment task to examine the impacts of reward- and punishment-based incentives on three distinct components of information processing: the quality of the information processed, the quantity of that information, and the decision threshold. The threat of punishment lowered the average quality and quantity of information processed, compared with the prospect of reward or no performance incentive at all. The threat of punishment also induced less cautious decision making by lowering people’s decision thresholds relative to the prospect of reward. These findings suggest that information-processing dynamics are determined not only by objective properties of the decision environment but also by the higher order goals of the system.
Putting Popper to work
Authors: Derksen Maarten
Published: April 2019

In response to what are seen as fundamental problems in Psychology, a reform movement has emerged that finds inspiration in philosophy of science, the work of Karl Popper in particular. The reformers attempt to put Popper into practice and create a discipline based on the principles of critical rationalism. In this article I describe the concrete sociotechnical practices by which the reformers attempt to realise their ideals, and I argue that they go a long way towards bridging the gap between rules and practice that sociologists of science Mulkay and Gilbert had identified in their study of the role of Popper’s philosophy in the work of scientists. Second, I note the considerable resistance that the reformers meet and the disruptive force of their work. I argue that this disruption is productive and raises fundamental questions regarding psychology and its object of study.
The Invisible Hand of Evolutionary Psychology: The Importance of Kinship in First-Generation Family Firms
Authors: Yu Xiaodong , Stanley Laura , Li Yuping , Eddleston Kimberly A. , Kellermanns Franz W.
Published: April 2019

While previous studies focus on differences between family and nonfamily firms regarding CEO selection and executive compensation, this study investigates differences among family firms with different types of kinship ties. We find that, compared with family firms with close kinship ties, those with distant kinship ties are more likely to appoint a nonfamily CEO and to pay nonfamily executives lower salaries. This relationship is moderated by firm performance and family ownership. Based on evolutionary psychology, we propose that family firms with close versus distant kinships have different motivation levels to preserve socioemotional wealth.
Pruners: Providing reproducibility for uncovering non-deterministic errors in runs on supercomputers
Authors: Sato Kento , Laguna Ignacio , Lee Gregory L , Schulz Martin , Chambreau Christopher M , Atzeni Simone , Bentley Michael , Gopalakrishnan Ganesh , Rakamaric Zvonimir , Sawaya Geof , Protze Joachim , Ahn Dong H
Published: April 2019

Large scientific simulations must be able to achieve the full-system potential of supercomputers. When they tap into high-performance features, however, a phenomenon known as non-determinism may be introduced in their program execution, which significantly hampers application development. Pruners is a new toolset to detect and remedy non-deterministic bugs and errors in large parallel applications. To show the capabilities of Pruners for large application development, we also demonstrate their early usage on real-world production applications.
Surgical Approaches in Total Hip Arthroplasty Cost Per Case Analysis: A Retrospective, Matched, Micro-costing Analysis in a Socialised Healthcare System
Authors: Sharma Rajrishi , Abdulla Irafan , Fairgrieve-Park Lewis , Mahdavi Saboura , Burkart Brian , Bakal Jeffrey
Published: April 2019

Background:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers an effective method of pain relief and restoration of function for patients with end-stage arthritis. The anterior approach (AA) claims to benefit patients with decreased pain, increased mobilisation and decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS). In a socialised healthcare platform we questioned whether the AA, compared to posterior (PA) and lateral (LA) approaches, can decrease the cost burden.

Methods:

Using a retrospective matched cohort study, we matched 69 AA patients to 69 LA and 69 PA patients for age ( p = 0.99), gender ( p = 0.99) and number of pre-surgical risk factors ( p = 0.99). First, we used the Resource Intensity Weights (RIW) using the Health Services agreed on method of calculating cost. Secondly, micro-costing analysis was performed using the financial services data for each patient’s hospital stay.

Results:

Using the RIW based cost analysis and 2-day reduction (95% CI 1.8–2.4) in LOS, the AA offers an estimated savings per case of $4099 ( p < 0.001) compared to the LA and PA. Using micro-costing analysis, we found a total saving of $1858.00 per case (95% CI 1391–2324) when comparing the AA to the PA and LA. There was a statistically significant cost savings using every category: Net Direct Salary ($901.00, p < 0.001), Net Drug ($8.00, p = 0.003), Patient Supply ($454.00, p = 0.001), Patient Drug ($15.00, p = 0.008), Indirect Cost ($385.00, p < 0.001), Patient Care Administration ($106.00, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the AA saved 142 minutes of in-hospital rehabilitation time.

Conclusion:

The AA THA provides statistically significant reductions in cost compared to PA and LA while releasing rehabilitation resources.
Cooking Frequency Associated With Dietary Quality in iCook-4H Youth Participants at Baseline
Authors: Ford Amber D , Colby Sarah E , McElrone Marissa , Franzen-Castle Lisa , Olfert Melissa D , Kattelmann Kendra K , White Adrienne A
Published: April 2019

Background:

Increased intakes of ready-made and fast foods paralleled with decreased homemade food consumption have been associated with increased rates of obesity. Researchers have shown associations between cooking self-efficacy (SE) and cooking frequency (CF) with dietary quality and weight status. Some cooking interventions have shown positive associations with dietary outcomes, such as increased fruit and vegetable intake and decreased fast food consumption. There is still much unknown about SE and CF, especially among youth.

Objective:

Determine baseline SE and CF and the associations with dietary quality and body mass index (BMI) of youth enrolled in iCook 4H.

Methods:

Youth (n = 228, ages 9-10 years) completed online surveys assessing SE, CF, dietary quality, and demographics. Anthropometrics were collected to calculate BMI-for-age percentiles and weight categories. Descriptive statistics were completed for CF, SE, BMI categories, and demographics. Differences in CF and SE by sex, race, and participation in government assistance programs were determined through independent-sample t tests. Pearson correlations were used to assess the association between dietary quality and CF and SE. Associations between CF and dietary quality were assessed further through 2-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) that included CF and sex and CF and race as independent variables. Associations between SE and CF and BMI were assessed through ANOVAs.

Results:

Thirty-seven percent of youth were overweight or obese. Females reported significantly higher CF than males ( P = .042). Cooking frequency was positively associated with dietary quality ( P < .001), but BMI was not associated with dietary quality. SE was not associated with dietary quality or BMI.

Conclusion:

Based on results, CF was positively associated with dietary quality among youth. More research is needed to assess how different types of cooking relate to diet and BMI. Interventions are needed to determine whether increasing CF leads to better diet outcomes.
Inspection and monitoring systems subsea pipelines: A review paper
Authors: Ho Michael , El-Borgi Sami , Patil Devendra , Song Gangbing
Published: April 2019

One of the largest movers of the world economy is the oil and gas industry. The industry generates billions of barrels of oil to match more than half the world’s energy demands. Production of energy products at such a massive scale is supported by the equally massive oil and gas infrastructure sprawling around the globe. Especially characteristic of the industry are vast networks of pipelines that traverse tens of thousands of miles of land and sea to carry oil and gas from the deepest parts of the earth to faraway destinations. With such lengths come increased chances for damage, which can have disastrous consequences owing to the hazardous substances typically carried by pipelines. Subsea pipelines in particular face increased risk due to the typically harsher environments, the difficulty of accessing deepwater pipelines, and the possibility of sea currents spreading leaked oil across a wide area. The opportunity for research and engineering to overcome the challenge of subsea inspection and monitoring is tremendous and the progress in this area is continuously generating exciting new developments that may have far reaching benefits far outside of subsea pipeline inspection and monitoring. Thus, this review covers the most often used subsea inspection and monitoring technologies as well as their most recent developments and future trends.
Prevalence and Severity of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Early- Versus Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Baillon Sarah , Gasper Amy , Wilson-Morkeh Frances , Pritchard Megan , Jesu Amala , Velayudhan Latha
Published: April 2019

Background:

The study aimed to compare neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and late-onset AD (LOAD).

Methods:

Fifty-six participants with LOAD and 24 participants with EOAD having mild dementia were assessed for NPS for their frequency, severity, and caregiver distress as measured by Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI) along with assessments of cognition and functional dependence.

Results:

Participants with EOAD and LOAD were not significantly different for total NPI score ( P = .057). Early-onset Alzheimer disease had greater prevalence of all the NPS except apathy. Participants with EOAD were significantly worse on anxiety ( P = .03), irritability ( P = .01), and sleep ( P < .01) subscales and their carers significantly more distressed by their irritability ( P = .002) and sleeping patterns ( P = .005). Regression analysis showed that higher NPI score was associated with longer duration of illness in EOAD and higher functional dependence in LOAD.

Conclusions:

The NPS severity was similar between EOAD and LOAD although EOAD had higher symptom prevalence and carer distress.
The making of ‘Swedish democracy’: Anti-aristocratic, royalist, reformist and exemplary
Authors: Kurunmäki Jussi
Published: April 2019

This article investigates the formation and use of the notion of the ancient origins of Swedish democracy before the Second World War. A commonplace of the early rhetoric on the ancient origins of Swedish democracy was its reference to an anti-aristocratic tradition, despite the variety of political positions that the rhetoric served. It was the leitmotif of the first sporadic notions of a democratic past in the 18th century, it was the main topic of the romantic idealisation of a coalition between the monarch and the peasants, and it served as an argument in struggles over suffrage reforms and parliamentary government. When parliamentary democracy was institutionally established, the ‘aristocracy’ lost its central place in the rhetoric of a Swedish democratic tradition. At the same time, the notion of a coalition between the people and the monarch was revised to a more non-specific notion of the common interest between the people and the government. In the context of the rise of totalitarianism, a ‘Swedish’ and ‘Nordic’ democratic tradition was employed as a rhetorical means of defending existing political institutions in the country.
The study on tire tread depth measurement method based on machine vision
Authors: Wang Xi-Bo , Li Ai-Juan , Ci Qin-Peng , Shi Meng , Jing Tian-Long , Zhao Wan-Zhong
Published: April 2019

The tire tread depth has strong influence on the braking performance of the vehicle and should be inspected periodically for driving safety. In order to determine the tire tread depth accurately and automatically, a tire tread depth measurement method based on machine vision was developed. During the measuring, a tire tread radial section image formed by a laser plane was captured when the tire rolls over the measuring device. Then, the image was calibrated to eliminate the lens distortion and processed to get the single-pixel center line. Consequently, the center line’s pixel coordinates were transformed to world coordinates with the calibration information of the laser plane, and a profile curve of the tire radial section was obtained. Then, the tread grooves on the profile curve were identified and their positions are determined by an algorithm developed in this research. Finally, the depth of each groove was calculated successively. An experiment was conducted on a prototype system based on the measurement method developed in this article. The experimental result indicates that the measurement method can identify the tire tread groove and determine its position and measure its depth. The depth absolute error is less than 0.2 mm, which can meet the demand of tire tread depth measurement.
Adaptive tracking control of a nonlinear teleoperation system with uncertainties in kinematics and dynamics
Authors: Yang Liang , Chen Kairui , Xu Zhaofeng
Published: April 2019

A new adaptive tracking control problem of a nonlinear teleoperation system is considered in this article, which differs from the previous ones in that both kinematics and dynamics of manipulators are uncertain and perturbation of the actuator parameters exists due to overheating of the actuator. To overcome the first which is also the key problem, we propose a new adaptive tracking control framework which additionally contains a neural network mechanism and a robust adaptive mechanism. Based on the framework, an adaptive controller is further established to compensate for the perturbation of the actuator parameters online. By employing the neural networks and adaption method in control design, an extended teleoperation control system is effectively accommodated. With the Lyapunov theory, the tracking error is shown to converge to a residual around zero as the time goes to infinity. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme has been verified in the physical platform.
Haptic identification of objects using tactile sensing and computer vision
Authors: Bhandari Binayak , Lee MinKyo
Published: April 2019

A key component lacking in the most humanoid grasping type robot is its ability to accurately predict what it is holding. This article presents a new function to the robotic hands such as vision-based shape analysis and tactile sensing–based object identification. The vision-based shape analysis uses contour approximation–based algorithms to distinguish between soft and hard objects by comparing the contours. Tactile sensors attached to the fingertip of the robotic hand can grasp objects and predict the hardness and softness of the grasped object by analyzing the pressure data. An algorithm to control the robotic hand and acquire pressure and vision data is presented. With these added functions to the hard robotic hand, it is ideally suited for the control of active prosthesis and other engineering applications where delicate handling of the object is needed. The results show that hard objects have a sharper pressure slope compared to soft objects. Analyzing the pressure values from the touch surface was used to predict the hardness/softness of the object. The contour comparison of soft/hard objects which were grasped under the same conditions had different patterns that can be used to differentiate between soft and hard objects.
Preparation of calcium silicate hydrate seeds by means of mechanochemical method and its effect on the early hydration of cement
Authors: Wang Boyuan , Yao Wu , Stephan Dietmar
Published: April 2019

Calcium silicate hydrate seeding is a promising accelerator for cement hydration. In this work, calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles with various CaO/SiO2-ratios were prepared by means of mechanochemical approach. X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and laser granulometry were used to study the properties of the calcium silicate hydrate particles. The evaluation of the effectiveness of calcium silicate hydrate seeds on the cement hydration was conducted by heat flow calorimetry and compressive strength tests using ordinary Portland cement and early strength white cement. Results show that the main crystalline phase in the final product is crystalline calcium silicate hydrate (Ca1.5SiO3.5·xH2O). An acceleration of 6.08 h or 28.03% on the hydration of P.O 42.5 type Portland cement as well as a 78% increment of compressive strength 24 h after water addition can be achieved using calcium silicate hydrate seeds. Compared to the P.O cement, calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles are less effective in the P.W white cement, which indicates the nature of the cement is a crucial factor to influence the effectiveness of the calcium silicate hydrate seeds as well.
Influence of air rifle pellet geometry on aerodynamic drag
Authors: Ladommatos Nicos
Published: April 2019

Air rifles and air pistols find widespread use in formal and recreational sports events. Despite their widespread use in sport, they have rarely been studied scientifically. The influence of air rifle pellet geometry on aerodynamic drag was investigated experimentally and theoretically at Mach number of 0.58 (approximately 200 m/s) and Reynolds number of 54,000 using a low-turbulence open wind tunnel. Measurements were made of surface pressure and aerodynamic drag distribution for five pellets having different geometries. Pellet overall drag was also measured with a load cell system. Theoretical analysis based on two-dimensional potential flow theory was used to study the relationship between nose shape and drag. Results indicate that the overall drag of non-spherical pellets was dominated by the drag on their front face, with the face contributing approximately 65% of the overall pellet drag, while base drag contributed almost all of the remaining 35%. The net drag contribution of the pellet side-slopes was close to zero. The geometry of the front face had a weak influence on the drag acting on the pellet base. This influence was exercised through the behaviour of the free shear layer separating from the pellet head rim. It was apparent that the presence of the tail in a dome-head pellet enabled flow reattachment and a rise in base pressure, which reduced the base drag. In contrast, at Re ~54,000, flow reattachment on the rear surface of the spherical pellet was not possible. For this reason, its base drag was higher than that for the dome-head pellet. Flat-, cone-, and cavity-head pellets had higher overall drag coefficient values than a spherical pellet. The higher overall coefficients were due to the higher face drag than the spherical pellet, which was not compensated sufficiently by their lower base drag.
Weak Democracies, Failed Policies, and the Demise of Ecosystems in Poor and Developing Nations
Authors: Mayer Pelicice Fernando
Published: April 2019

The expansion of modern societies disrupted the structure and function of most ecosystems. This trend is alarming because the persistence of human activities (e.g., economy) depends on biodiversity and ecosystem services. A central question is whether modern nations will respond appropriately to protect, restore, and maintain ecosystems. In particular, it is uncertain if underdeveloped and developing (UD-D) countries have sufficient political direction to make good decisions, since they are weak or consolidating democracies, where bad political behavior is common. These countries face persistent socioeconomic problems (e.g., poverty, opportunity, basic services), and environmental issues have no priority. However, many of these nations are located in tropical latitudes, so they are hyperdiverse and provide ecosystem services with global relevance. In this opinion article, I present a brief analysis of the context (political, social, and environmental) shared by UD-D countries, to investigate how these nations have responded to the need of socioeconomic development and the ongoing loss of natural capital. I put some emphasis on my country, Brazil, to exemplify a context dominated by weak governance, socioeconomic problems, high biodiversity, and the loss of ecosystems. I argue that authorities and political systems in UD-D nations are vulnerable to weak governance and wrong decisions; bad political behavior leads to failed policies, and the persistence of social problems leads to the destruction of ecosystems. Social progress and sustainability will require political commitment, financial resources, long-term planning, and correct policies—something that UD-D countries may not achieve on their own.
Partner Commitment in Close Relationships Mitigates Social Class Differences in Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Tan Jacinth J. X. , Kraus Michael W. , Impett Emily A. , Keltner Dacher
Published: April 2019

The present exploratory research examined the possibility that commitment in close relationships among lower class individuals, despite greater strains on those relationships, buffers them from poorer subjective well-being (SWB). In two samples of close relationship dyads, we found that when partners reported high commitment to the relationship, the typical deficits in relatively lower class individuals’ well-being compared to their upper-class counterparts, assessed as life satisfaction among romantic couples (Study 1) and negative affect linked to depression among ethnically diverse close friendships (Study 2), were mitigated. Conversely, when partners reported low commitment to the relationship, relatively lower class individuals reported poorer well-being than their upper-class counterparts. These patterns were not found with actors’ commitment. Implications of these findings for upending the class divide in SWB are discussed.
Analysis of pulmonary hypertension patient survival after treatment in referral center (data of first Ukrainian register)
Authors: Radchenko Ganna D. , Zhyvylo Iryna O. , Sirenko Yuriy M.
Published: April 2019

The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate the Ukrainian reality of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); and (2) to determine predictors of death. A total of 281 patients were enrolled (52 [18.5%] with CTEPH, 229 [81.5%] with PAH). Long‐term survival (Kaplan–Meier) and its predictors (Stepwise binary logistic regression and Cox's proportional hazards analyses) were evaluated in adult patients with PH (diagnosed by right heart catheterization [RHC]) within a prospective registry at a single referral center in Kyiv, Ukraine. Follow‐up period was up to 51 months. The Kaplan–Meier survival rate for the total cohort was 93.3%, 86.8%, and 81.5% at one, two, and three years, respectively. Survival was better in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD) in comparison with idiopathic PAH (long rank P = 0.002), connective tissue diseases (CTD; long rank P = 0.001) and CTEPH (long rank P = 0.04). Univariate Cox's predictors of death were: functional class IV (odds ratio [OR] = 4.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.12–11.48), presence of ascites (OR = 4.52; 95% CI = 2.21–9.24), PAH‐CTD (OR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.07–8.87), PAH‐CHD (OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.11–0.68), HR on treatment > 105 beats per min (OR = 7.85; 95% CI = 1.83–33.69), office systolic BP < 100 mmHg (OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.26–6.1), 6MWT on treatment < 340 m (OR = 3.47; 95% CI = 1.01–12.35), NT‐proBNP > 300 pg/mL (OR = 4.98; 95% CI = 1.49–16.6), right atrium square > 22 cm2 (OR = 14.2; 95% CI = 1.92–104.89), right ventricular square in diastole (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.03–1.14), right ventricular square in systole (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.11), mean pressure in right atrium per each 1‐mmHg increase (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.02–1.19). In multivariate Cox regression analyses only presence of ascites, office systolic BP < 100 mmHg, CHD etiology of PH, and NT‐proBNP > 300 pg/mL were associated with survival.
Renal involvement in sarcoidosis: Histologic findings and clinical course
Authors: Naderi Shirin , Amann Kerstin , Janssen Ulf
Published: April 2019

Background:

Renal failure in sarcoidosis is rare and data on its long-term outcome are scarce.

Aim:

To investigate the pattern of renal involvement in sarcoidosis, its clinical course and response to treatment in the long-term.

Methods:

A single-center retrospective study with review of renal biopsies and medical charts was performed.

Results:

Between January 2005 and December 2016, seven patients with sarcoidosis underwent a kidney biopsy. This is equivalent to a frequency of 1.6% in a total of 434 biopsies from native kidney performed in our institution. All patients presented with renal failure. Five patients had granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN) and one patient each interstitial nephritis without granuloma and nephrocalcinosis. Three patients had concomitant glomerular disease: IgA nephropathy (n = 2), membranous and focal proliferative glomerulonephritis (n = 1). Most patients (n = 5) presented with hypercalcemia. All patients initially received oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day (n = 3) or 0.5 mg/kg/day (n = 4), respectively, with subsequent tapering or suspension. One patient was started on azathioprine after 18 months to spare steroids. After a mean follow-up of 59 months mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had improved from 19 ± 7 at presentation to 49 ± 16 mL/min. No patient required dialysis. All patients started on prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day developed transient diabetes mellitus while patients on 0.5 mg/kg/day did not. Renal function improvement did not differ between both treatment groups.

Conclusion:

GIN was the most common diagnosis in sarcoidosis patients with renal failure. Initial hypercalcemia was observed in the majority. Early steroid treatment lead to sustained renal function improvement.
School Choice in China: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Dong Hui , Li Lulu
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

Focusing on the hot-debating issue of school choice in China, this article aims to present a narrative of the policy interventions, especially promulgated by the Chinese central government during the past 20 years, and to discuss those challenges facing the governments and the society as a whole in the new era.

Design/Approach/Methods:

This article conceptually approaches the topic based on policy texts analysis and literature review.

Findings:

This article pictures the historical dynamics of school choice phenomenon and its interaction with the corresponding policy initiatives promoted by the central government. It argues that school choice governing in China basically experienced three stages since the middle of 1990s, namely controlling “choice fees,” promoting equalization and equity as well as comprehensive governance toward greater quality and equity. The effective implementation of these policy measures is gradually cooling down the “choice fever” in urban areas and restoring order for student enrollment in compulsory education, but great challenges are still lying ahead since the problem of school choice turns to be “wicked” in nature and cannot be simply solved within the education sector.

Originality/Value:

This article contributes to the global discourse of school choice research with much updated information of policy initiatives and the newly emerged situations since 2014, calling for close attention and deeper research from researchers both from China and from abroad.
Kickball and Its Underappreciated Pediatric Injury Burden: An 18-Year Retrospective Epidemiological Study
Authors: Pirruccio Kevin , Weltsch Daniel , Baldwin Keith D.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Kickball is a popular childhood game most frequently played during gym class or recess at schools throughout the United States (US). Despite this, the national health burden of injuries associated with kickball has never been explored in the US pediatric population.

Purpose:

To report national estimates and demographic characteristics of pediatric patients presenting to US emergency departments between 2000 and 2017 with kickball-associated injuries.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

This study retrospectively analyzed the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database (2000-2017) to identify annual cases of injuries associated with playing kickball presenting to US emergency departments in the pediatric population (age ≤18 years).

Results:

On average, 10,644 (95% CI, 8671-12,618) pediatric kickball-associated injuries presented to US emergency departments each year. There was no significant change in the number of injuries between the years 2000 (n = 10,331; 95% CI, 7781-12,881) and 2017 (n = 9407; 95% CI, 7233-11,582) ( P = .64). Patients frequently sustained sprains, strains, or muscle tears (34.4%; 95% CI, 32.4%-36.5%) and fractures (24.8%; 95% CI, 23.1%-26.5%); these injuries most commonly affected the ankle (13.7%; 95% CI, 12.2%-15.2%) and the fingers of the hand (17.1%; 95% CI, 15.5%-18.7%). The greatest proportion of injuries occurred in male patients (60.7%; 95% CI, 58.7%-62.7%) who were 10 to 12 years of age (44.8%; 95% CI, 43.0%-46.6%), with over half of kickball-associated injuries occurring at school (54.1%; 95% CI, 50.7%-57.5%).

Conclusion:

Despite kickball’s ubiquity as a schoolyard game, its associated injuries remain largely underappreciated. This is particularly unjustified when considering that the annual pediatric injury burden associated with playing kickball surpasses that of other sports acknowledged as carrying a high injury risk, such as martial arts or tennis.