bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instrument for Assessing the Ability to Identify Emotional Facial Expressions in Healthy Children and in Children With ADHD: The FEEL Test
Authors: Lázaro Esther , Amayra Imanol , López-Paz Juan Francisco , Martínez Oscar , Pérez Manuel , Berrocoso Sarah , García Maitane , Jometón Amaia , Al-Rashaida Mohammad , Oliva Mireia , Parada Pamela , Hoffmann Holger
Published: December 2017

Objective: This study presents the validation of a computerized assessment tool that studies the ability to recognize emotional facial expressions in children between 8 and 11 years of age: the Facially Expressed Emotion Labeling Test (FEEL Test). Method: The two tests composing the protocol were applied using a laptop in the following order: the FEEL Test followed by the Deusto-e-Motion 1.0 Test.The sample consisted of a total of 1,189 schoolchildren aged between 8 and 11 years, 594 boys and 594 girls. A clinical sample of 47 children with ADHD also took part in this study. Results: The Cronbach’s α coefficient for the total scale was .82, showing high levels of reliability. The difficulty index of the items ranged between .4 and .7. The statistical analyses showed a high rate of discrimination between those who obtained low scores compared with those who obtained high scores. The test results reflected differences according to age and gender of participants in many of the variables associated with both response accuracy and response speed. Regarding its predictive validity, the test is able to find statistically significant differences in the total test score among a group of children diagnosed with ADHD and a matched control group. Conclusion: This article presents the validation of an instrument that assesses the ability to recognize facial expressions in children between 8 and 11 years old and can discriminate and detect differences in gender, age, and possible deficits in social skills within the ADHD.
Neurodevelopmental Trajectories Related to Attention Problems Predict Driving-Related Risk Behaviors
Authors: Vijayakumar Nandita , Allen Nicholas B. , Youssef George J. , Simmons Julian G. , Byrne Michelle L. , Whittle Sarah
Published: December 2017

Objective: Investigate neurodevelopmental trajectories related to attention/hyperactivity problems (AP) in a community sample of adolescents and whether these trajectories predict later-emerging health risk behaviors. Method: One hundred sixty-six participants underwent up to three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans ( n = 367) between 11 and 20 years of age. AP were measured during early adolescence using the Child Behaviour Checklist, and engagement in risk behaviors was measured during late adolescence using the “DRIVE” survey (i.e., driving risks) and items assessing alcohol-harms. Results: Greater AP scores during early adolescence were related to less reduction over time of left dorsal prefrontal, left ventrolateral prefrontal, and right orbitofrontal thickness. Less thinning of the orbitofrontal cortex was related to greater driving-related risk behaviors at late adolescence. Conclusion: Findings highlight altered neurodevelopmental trajectories in adolescents with AP. Furthermore, altered orbitofrontal development was related to later-emerging driving-related risk, and this neurobiological change mediated the association between attention problems and risk behaviors.
Profiles of Co-Occurring Difficulties Identified Through School-Based Screening
Authors: Aitken Madison , Martinussen Rhonda , Childs Ruth , Tannock Rosemary
Published: December 2017

Objective: This study used latent class analysis to identify patterns of co-occurrence among common childhood difficulties (inattention/hyperactivity, internalizing, externalizing, peer problems, and reading difficulties). Method: Parents and teachers of 501 children ages 6 to 9 provided mental health and social ratings, and children completed a reading task. Results: Four latent classes were identified in the analysis of parent ratings and reading: one with inattention/hyperactivity, externalizing, peer problems, and internalizing difficulties; one with inattention/hyperactivity and reading difficulties; one with internalizing and peer problems; and one normative class. The analysis of teacher ratings and reading also identified four latent classes: one with inattention/hyperactivity and externalizing, one with inattention/hyperactivity and reading difficulties, one with internalizing problems, and one normative class. Children in latent classes characterized by one or more difficulties were more impaired than children in the normative latent class 1 year later. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for multifaceted interventions.
Clinical and Neuropsychological Characteristics of ADHD According to DSM-5 Age-of-Onset Criterion in Korean Children and Adolescents
Authors: Lee Taeyeop , Park Kee Jeong , Lee Hyun-Jeong , Kim Hyo-Won
Published: December 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features and neuropsychological profiles of children and adolescents with ADHD according to the age-of-onset defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5). Method: We compared the following three groups: early-onset ADHD group (onset before age 7, n = 86), late-onset ADHD group (onset between ages 7 and 12, n = 58), and the control group ( n = 88). Results: Both early-onset and late-onset ADHD groups had more symptoms and functional impairments than the control group. Also, both ADHD groups scored higher on ADHD Rating Scale, Parent General Behavior Inventory, majority of the subscales of Social Responsiveness Scale, Hyperactivity subscale of Korean Personality Rating Scale for Children, and Omission Errors of Visual Continuous Performance Test compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our results support the extension of age-of-onset criterion made in DSM-5.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for College Students With ADHD
Authors: Gu Yingqi , Xu Guangxing , Zhu Yi
Published: December 2017

Objective: Between 2% and 8% of college students meet criteria for ADHD, with increased incidence in recent decades. There are very few clinical trials conducted on the meaningful intervention of ADHD in college. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) effectively treats college students with ADHD and could be more feasibly applied in college mental health clinics. Method: Fifty-four undergraduates with ADHD between ages 19 and 24 were randomized to receive either MBCT or wait-list (WL) during a 6-week intervention phase. ADHD symptoms, neuropsychological performance, and related outcomes were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Results: Participants receiving MBCT group showed greater treatment response rates (57%-71% vs. 23%-31%) and experience less anxiety and depression, and greater levels of mindfulness; MBCT participants show greater improvement on neuropsychological performance. Conclusion: MBCT may be a useful intervention for college students with ADHD, improving participants’ ADHD symptoms, mindfulness, and sustained attention.
Psychiatric Comorbidities Modify the Association Between Childhood ADHD and Risk for Suicidality: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study
Authors: Yoshimasu Kouichi , Barbaresi William J. , Colligan Robert C. , Voigt Robert G. , Killian Jill M. , Weaver Amy L. , Katusic Slavica K.
Published: December 2017

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychiatric comorbidities on the association between childhood ADHD and suicidality among adults. Method: Subjects were recruited from a population-based birth cohort. Participating adult subjects with childhood ADHD and non-ADHD controls were administered a structured psychiatric interview to assess suicidality and psychiatric comorbidities. Associations were assessed using logistic regression. Results: Compared with controls, ADHD cases were significantly more likely to meet criteria for suicidality. Subjects with childhood ADHD who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder had a higher than expected risk of suicidality with an observed odds ratio of 10.94 (95% confidence interval [4.97, 24.08]) compared with an expected odds ratio of 4.86, consistent with a synergistic interaction effect. Significant synergistic interactions were also observed for hypomanic episode and substance-related disorders. Conclusion: Childhood ADHD is significantly associated with adult suicidal risk. Comorbidity between ADHD and some psychiatric disorders is associated with a higher suicidal risk than expected.
Social Support for Changing Multiple Behaviors: Factors Associated With Seeking Support and the Impact of Offered Support
Authors: Greaney Mary L. , Puleo Elaine , Sprunck-Harrild Kim , Haines Jess , Houghton Serena C. , Emmons Karen M.
Published: December 2017

Introduction. Social support is important for behavior change, and it may be particularly important for the complexities of changing multiple risk behaviors (MRB). Research is needed to determine if participants in an MRB intervention can be encouraged to activate their social network to aid their change efforts. Methods. Healthy Directions 2, a cluster-randomized controlled trial of an intervention conducted in two urban health centers, targeted five behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, red meat consumption, multivitamin use, and smoking). The self-guided intervention emphasized changing MRB simultaneously, focused on self-monitoring and action planning, and encouraged participants to seek support from social network members. An MRB score was calculated for each participant, with one point being assigned for each behavioral recommendation that was not met. Analyses were conducted to identify demographic and social contextual factors (e.g., interpersonal, neighborhood, and organizational resources) associated with seeking support and to determine if type and frequency of offered support were associated with changes in MRB score. Results. Half (49.6%) of participants identified a support person. Interpersonal resources were the only contextual factor that predicted engagement of a support person. Compared to individuals who did not seek support, those who identified one support person had 61% greater reduction in MRB score, and participants identifying multiple support persons had 100% greater reduction. Conclusion. Engagement of one’s social network leads to significantly greater change across multiple risk behaviors. Future research should explore strategies to address support need for individuals with limited interpersonal resources.
Changes in Body Mass Index During a 3-Year Elementary School–Based Obesity Prevention Program for American Indian and White Rural Students
Authors: Vogeltanz-Holm Nancy , Holm Jeffrey
Published: December 2017

Background. Childhood obesity is a significant but largely modifiable health risk, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minority, and rural children. Elementary school–aged children typically experience the greatest increases in excess weight gain and therefore are important targets for reducing adolescent and adult obesity while improving children’s health. Our study evaluated outcomes of a 3-year elementary school–based program for reducing obesity in American Indian and White students attending eight rural schools in the U.S. upper Midwest. Method. Researchers measured body mass indexes (BMI) and other health indicators and behaviors of 308 beginning third-grade students and then again at the end of students’ third, fourth, and fifth grades. The primary focus of this study is a mixed multilevel longitudinal model testing changes in age- and gender-adjusted BMI z scores ( zBMI). Results. There was a significant decrease in zBMI across the 3-year study period. Ethnicity analyses showed that White students had overall decreases in zBMI whereas American Indian students’ zBMIs remained stable across the program. Comparisons with children from an age- and cohort-matched national sample provided support for the effectiveness of the school program in reducing BMI and obesity during the study period. Conclusion. An elementary school–based health program that addresses a range of students’ obesity-related health behaviors, the school health environment, and that involves educators and parents is an effective intervention for reducing or stabilizing BMI in rural White and American Indian students. School health programs for students living in rural communities may be especially effective due to greater school and community cohesiveness, and valuing of the school’s primary role in improving community health.
The Politics of Checkbook Federalism
Authors: Joanis Marcelin
Published: December 2017

This article adopts the perspective of second-generation fiscal-federalism theory to provide an empirical assessment of Canada’s intergovernmental fiscal arrangements. In the context of the literature on the political economy of intergovernmental grant programs, it examines the influence of political considerations on the evolution of the Canadian fiscal arrangements under the Constitution Act of 1982. Fixed-effect regression results exploiting data from the 1982 to 2012 period show a statistically significant relationship between changes in both federal and provincial electoral variables and changes in a province’s total federal transfer revenues. Changes to social transfers appear to be more reactive to changes in the political environment than do changes in equalization transfers.
The Fiscal Effects of Work-related Tax Expenditures in Europe
Authors: Barrios Salvador , Fatica Serena , Martinez-Lopez Diego , Mourre Gilles
Published: December 2017

This article examines the fiscal impact, and the associated welfare cost, of marginal reforms to work-related tax relief in five European countries. We combine a model of labor supply with microsimulation results to capture the interaction between the specific tax incentive and other provisions of the tax-benefit system along the entire earnings distribution. We find that changes in labor supply decisions—both at the extensive and at the intensive margin—significantly affect the revenue gain from the simulated reforms. Our results suggest that at least one-fourth of the extra tax revenues collected through a reduction in work-related tax incentives is washed away following labor supply adjustment, notably due to lower participation by individuals most at risk of exclusion. In some instances, the erosion of the initial revenue gain becomes substantial. The welfare effect of contractions to these tax schemes could be far from negligible.
Congenital Hypothalamic “Hamartoblastoma” Versus “Hamartoma”: Suggestions for Neuropathologic Terminology Emanating From a Mid-gestational Autopsy Case of Pallister-Hall Syndrome
Authors: Dunham C , McFadden D , Dahlgren L , Butler B , Hamilton S , McKinnon M
Published: December 2017

Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS) is a rare malformative disorder that is due to truncating functional repressor mutations in GLI3. Since the seminal publication in 1980, hypothalamic tumors have been recognized to be a cardinal feature of PHS. In their original description of the neuropathologic features of PHS, Clarren et al. coined the term “hamartoblastoma” to characterize what they deemed to be a dual malformative and neoplastic mass of the hypothalamus. In subsequent published cases/series of PHS, the term “hamartoma” was often substituted for hamartoblastoma given what appeared to be a benign natural history of this lesion. Additional confusion in the literature has ensued since most hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) encountered on the clinical neuropathology service are “isolated” in nature (ie, no other congenital malformations) and present in a very different and stereotypical fashion with gelastic seizures and/or precocious puberty. While genomic investigations of isolated HH have begun to uncover a mutational profile of these cases, GLI3 mutations have only been recognized in a small subset of isolated HH. Herein, we describe the autopsy findings from a 21-week gestational age fetus with features of PHS. Moreover, we provide a detailed description of the hypothalamic tumor affecting this fetus and propose a novel subclassification of HH, distinguishing syndromic from isolated forms based upon the presence or absence of neocortical-like areas.
Extramedullary Hematopoiesis Presenting as Bilateral Glomus Tympanicum—First Case Report in a Pediatric Patient and With Bilateral Presentation
Authors: Chen Leonard N , Espinel Alexandra , Reilly Brian , Luca Dragos C
Published: December 2017

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of middle ear extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in a pediatric patient as well as the first bilateral presentation reported in both children and adults. We report a 13-year-old African-American female with sickle cell disease who developed bilateral hearing loss, with magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with bilateral glomus tympanicum (GT). Upon excisional biopsy, however, EMH was diagnosed histologically. Besides its novelty, this case highlights the importance of considering EMH in the differential diagnosis of GT including cases with bilateral presentation that may be otherwise highly suggestive of the familial form of GT.
Ganglion Cells Are Frequently Present in Pediatric Mucosal Colorectal Biopsies: H&E Sections and Calretinin Immunohistochemistry in the Evaluation of Children With Chronic Constipation
Authors: Kovach Alexandra E , Pacheco M Cristina
Published: December 2017

Hirschsprung disease (HD) rarely presents as chronic constipation after the newborn period. At our institution, calretinin immunohistochemistry (CAL) is frequently requested by clinicians on rectal mucosal biopsies (RMBs) taken during colonoscopy in older children in whom suspicion for HD is low. We hypothesized that review of these biopsies would frequently reveal ganglion cells (GCs). We reviewed features of mucosal biopsies (November 2013 to September 2015) from children ≥1 year of age on which clinicians had requested CAL on at least one specimen. A total of 93 biopsies with paired CAL from 83 patients were suitable for study (ages 1–18 years, M:F 1.2). Submitted clinical indication was constipation in 62 patients (75%). GCs were found within or subjacent to muscularis mucosa in 63 biopsies (68%), 12 (19%) of which were designated from a specific anatomic site, eg, 2 or 3 cm. In 25 of 63 (40%) cases, GCs were identified on one of the first 3 sections (median 5th, range 1st–54th). Forty-six cases (73%) contained no or <0.5 mm of submucosa (SM, range 0–2 mm). All but one case (62/63, 98%) with identified GCs showed positive CAL staining; a single case showed equivocal staining. Among the 30 biopsies with no observed GCs, none (0%) had >1 mm of SM, and 21 (70%) had no SM. CAL was positive in 28 (93%) and equivocal/weak in 2 (7%); no additional work-up for HD was pursued. The data suggest that H&E sections of RMBs can exclude HD at a specified site in many cases and provide the basis for a future study examining the utility of CAL in RMBs without SM as a means for excluding HD.
Sarcoma With CIC-DUX4 Gene Fusion
Authors: Camille Allirot , Anne-Sophie Bidaut , Cécile Perret , Severine Bobillier-Chaumont , Gaelle Pierron , Olivier Delattre , Geraldine Saada-Sebag , Leer-Florin Anne Mc , Eleni Nika , Christian Piolat , Chantal Durand , Dominique Plantaz , Hervé Sartelet
Published: December 2017

Recent molecular advances have identified a novel sarcoma defined molecularly by oncogenic fusion of the genes CIC and DUX4 termed CIC-DUX4 sarcomas. The most common site of involvement was the trunk but some cases have been described in the head and neck and extremities. We report one of the first cases of primitive renal CIC-DUX4 sarcoma: a 12-year-old boy who presented a renal tumor, a vena cava thrombus, and lung metastases. The morphological and immunohistochemical analysis showed an undifferentiated sarcoma. Molecular analysis demonstrated a CIC-DUX4 translocation, confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, the evolution was unfavorable and the patient died 17 months after the diagnosis in a context of brain metastases. The diagnosis of sarcoma with CIC-DUX4 gene fusion is difficult in lack of specific pathological characteristics emphasizing the need for molecular analysis. Treatment has not yet been codified for these very aggressive tumors.
Improving Autopsy Report Turnaround Times by Implementing Lean Management Principles
Authors: Cromwell Susan , Chiasson David A , Cassidy Debra , Somers Gino R
Published: December 2017

The autopsy is an integral part of the service of a large academic pathology department. Timely reporting is central to providing good service and is beneficial for many stakeholders, including the families, the clinical team, the hospital, and the wider community. The current study aimed to improve hospital-consented autopsy reporting times (turnaround time, TAT) by using lean principles modified for a healthcare setting, with an aim of signing out 90% of autopsies in 90 days. An audit of current and historical TATs was performed, and a working group incorporating administrative, technical, and professional staff constructed a value stream map documenting the steps involved in constructing an autopsy report. Two areas of delay were noted: examination of the microscopy and time taken to sign-out the report after the weekly autopsy conference. Several measures were implemented to address these delays, including visual tracking using a whiteboard and individualized tracking sheets, weekly whiteboard huddles, and timelier scheduling of clinicopathologic conference rounds. All measures resulted in an improvement of TATs. In the 30 months prior to the institution of lean, 37% of autopsies (53/144) were signed out in 90 days, with a wide variation in reporting times. In the 30 months following the institution of lean, this improved to 74% (136/185) ( P < .0001, Fisher exact test), with a marked reduction in variability. Further, the time from autopsy to presentation at weekly clinicopathological rounds was also reduced (median: 73 days prior to lean; 63 days post-lean). The application of lean principles to autopsy sign-out workflow can significantly improve TATs and reduce variability, without changing staffing levels or significantly altering scheduling structure.
Polyglucosan Bodies in Placental Extravillious Trophoblast for the Diagnosis of Fatal Perinatal Neuromuscular-type Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV
Authors: Yu Weiming , Brundler Marie-Anne , Wright James R
Published: December 2017

The fatal infantile neuromuscular type is the most severe form of glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD IV). We report a case of a 22-day-old female neonate born at 34 weeks gestation with polyhyramnios, fetal hydrops, and severe hypotonia. Placental examination revealed numerous periodic acid schiff-positive diastase-resistant polyglucosan bodies in the cytoplasm of extravillous trophoblast predominantly in the placental basal plate. Muscle biopsy and autopsy findings supported a diagnosis of neuromuscular-type glycogen storage disease type IV with extensive involvement of skeletal muscle, heart, and liver. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular genetic testing. We could only find 1 prior report in the English literature that describes placental pathological changes. Our findings suggest that placental examination can be a useful adjunct for early diagnosis, as placentas are often received for pathological examination shortly after birth and usually before a diagnostic muscle biopsy can be performed. Pathologists need to be aware of characteristic placental features.
Bronchial Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma With the Classic MAML2 Gene Rearrangement in a 2-year-old Boy
Authors: Szymanski Linda J , Molas-Torreblanca Kira , Bawab Ramzi , Kim Eugene , Don Debra , Mascarenhas Leo , Stanley Phillip , Zhou Shengmei , Shillingford Nick
Published: December 2017

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is rare. To date, primary PMEC has not been reported in a child younger than 3 years of age. We report a case of a 2-year-old boy who presented with 3 episodes of wheezing, cough, and fever over a period of 1 month. Radiologic findings were consistent with foreign body aspiration with consequent bronchial obstruction. Bronchoscopy was performed and attempts to retrieve the foreign body resulted in a biopsy of a fleshy lesion. By histology, the lesion was an epithelial neoplasm comprising cells arranged in a nested pattern. The neoplastic cells were round with round nuclei and amphophilic, vacuolated cytoplasm. Our diagnosis was low-grade salivary gland-type carcinoma of the bronchus. The pneumonectomy specimen showed a well-circumscribed, polypoid intrabronchial mass measuring 2.1 cm in greatest dimension. Histologic examination of the tumor showed an admixture of intermediate cells which were predominant, a small number of mucus cells and rare foci of squamous cells. The final diagnosis rendered was a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the bronchus. Accurate diagnosis of PMEC can be challenging on limited biopsy material as seen in the case reported here. The use of molecular studies such as MAML2 gene rearrangement may facilitate diagnosis in difficult cases. Increased awareness of this entity and further molecular studies are needed for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of PMEC. To date, the reported age range for primary bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma is between 3 years and 78 years. This case represents the youngest patient reported in the English literature.
Aborted Tracheo-esophageal Fistula in a Neonate
Authors: Hallett John M , Bryant Victoria , Drake David , George Simi , Upadhyaya Manasvi
Published: December 2017

Esophageal atresia (EA) is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is often associated with a tracheoesophageal fistula. An isolated EA is a rarer anomaly and its diagnosis has implications for the ongoing treatment and outcome of the infant. For the first time, we report a case of a premature newborn with a pure EA and a tracheal diverticulum, containing both respiratory and esophageal mucosa. We have termed this an aborted trachea-esophageal fistula. Recognition of these very rare variations of foregut anomalies may contribute to our understanding of their pathogenesis.
Ectopic Liver Within the Placental Parenchyma of a Stillborn Fetus
Authors: Saluja Rasleen , Faye-Petersen Ona , Heller Debra S
Published: December 2017

Rarely, liver tissue can be seen in the umbilical cord, where it is thought to result from ectopic localization during embryogenesis. The placental parenchyma is also a rare site for this occurrence. The exact pathophysiology of ectopic liver in the placenta is unknown. It has been considered that aberrant migration or displacement of cells from the developing hepatic buds leads to ectopic liver formation, including groups of liver cells that become entrapped in the foregut as the diaphragm closes. Additional hypotheses put forward have included monodermal teratoma and hepatocellular adenoma. While the lesions may not actually be adenomas, this term has been most utilized in the literature. Hepatocellular adenomas of the placenta are extremely rare; only 9 cases have been reported thus far. We report an additional occurrence of ectopic liver in the placenta, which is the only one reported in a stillborn, and review the literature.
Modeling and simulations of broad-area edge-emitting semiconductor devices
Authors: Radziunas Mindaugas
Published: December 2017

We present a (2+1)-dimensional partial differential equation model for spatial–lateral dynamics of edge-emitting broad-area semiconductor devices and several extensions of this model describing different physical effects. MPI-based parallelization of the resulting middle-size numerical problem is implemented and tested on the blade cluster and separate multi-core computers at the Weierstrass Institute in Berlin. It was found that an application of 25–30 parallel processes on all considered platforms guaranteed a nearly optimal performance of the algorithm with a speedup of around 20–25 and an efficiency of 0.7–0.8. It was also shown that simultaneous usage of several in-house available multi-core computers allows for a further increase of the speedup without a significant loss of efficiency. Finally, the importance of the considered problem and efficient numerical simulations of this problem were illustrated via a few examples occurring in real world applications.
GPU-based computational modeling of magnetic resonance imaging of vascular structures
Authors: Jurczuk Krzysztof , Kretowski Marek , Bezy–Wendling Johanne
Published: December 2017

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important diagnostic tools in modern medicine. Since it is a high-cost and highly-complex imaging modality, computational models are frequently built to enhance its understanding as well as to support further development. However, such models often have to be simplified to complete simulations in a reasonable time. Thus, the simulations with high spatial/temporal resolutions, with any motion consideration (like blood flow) and/or with 3D objects usually call for using parallel computing environments.

In this paper, we propose to use graphics processing units (GPUs) for fast simulations of MRI of vascular structures. We apply a CUDA environment which supports general purpose computation on GPU (GPGPU). The data decomposition strategy is applied and thus the parts of each virtual object are spread over the GPU cores. The GPU cores are responsible for calculating the influence of blood flow behavior and MRI events after successive time steps. In the proposed approach, different data layouts, memory access patterns, and other memory improvements are applied to efficiently exploit GPU resources. Computational performance is thoroughly validated for various vascular structures and different NVIDIA GPUs. Results show that MRI simulations can be accelerated significantly thanks to GPGPU. The proposed GPU-based approach may be easily adopted in the modeling of other flow related phenomena like perfusion, diffusion or transport of contrast agents.
Text Classification for Organizational Researchers
Authors: Kobayashi Vladimer B. , Mol Stefan T. , Berkers Hannah A. , Kismihók Gábor , Den Hartog Deanne N.
Published: December 2017

Organizations are increasingly interested in classifying texts or parts thereof into categories, as this enables more effective use of their information. Manual procedures for text classification work well for up to a few hundred documents. However, when the number of documents is larger, manual procedures become laborious, time-consuming, and potentially unreliable. Techniques from text mining facilitate the automatic assignment of text strings to categories, making classification expedient, fast, and reliable, which creates potential for its application in organizational research. The purpose of this article is to familiarize organizational researchers with text mining techniques from machine learning and statistics. We describe the text classification process in several roughly sequential steps, namely training data preparation, preprocessing, transformation, application of classification techniques, and validation, and provide concrete recommendations at each step. To help researchers develop their own text classifiers, the R code associated with each step is presented in a tutorial. The tutorial draws from our own work on job vacancy mining. We end the article by discussing how researchers can validate a text classification model and the associated output.
The Value of Codesign
Authors: Trischler Jakob , Pervan Simon J. , Kelly Stephen J. , Scott Don R.
Published: December 2017

Codesign allows a design team to combine two sets of knowledge that are key to service design: Customer insights into latent user needs and in-house professionals’ conversion of promising new ideas into viable concepts. While some studies highlight the potential of codesign, others are more skeptical pointing to a lack of clarity over how the involvement of customers affects the design process and outcomes. This article addresses this knowledge gap by reporting on a real-world comparison of design concepts generated by codesign teams with those generated by an in-house professional team and a team solely made up of users in the course of a library service ideation contest. The comparison indicates that codesign teams generate concepts that score significantly higher in user benefit and novelty but lower in feasibility. However, these outcomes are only possible in cohesive teams that develop design concepts collaboratively. In contrast, in teams where individuals dominate, conflict, less collaboration, and diminished innovation outcomes are more likely. The findings add to a better understanding of the value of codesign and shed light on the complex relationship between design team composition, intrateam factors, and innovation outcomes. Service designers obtain recommendations for selecting customers, assembling teams, and managing intrateam dynamics to enhance codesign success.
Competition and Humiliation: How Masculine Norms Shape Men’s Sexual and Violent Behaviors
Authors: Fleming Paul J. , Barrington Clare , Maman Suzanne , Lerebours Leonel , Donastorg Yeycy , Brito Maximo O.
Published: December 2017

We use data collected from in-depth interviews with men ( n = 30) in the Dominican Republic to explore how men’s concern about being perceived as masculine influences their interactions with their social networks and how those interactions drive men’s sexual behaviors and use of violence. Men’s sexual and violent behaviors were shaped by the need to compete with other men for social status. This sense of competition also generated fear of humiliation for failing to provide for their families, satisfy sexual partners, or being openly disrespected. In an effort to avoid humiliation within a specific social group, men adapted their behaviors to emphasize their masculinity. Additionally, men who were humiliated recouped their masculinity by perpetrating physical or emotional violence or finding new sexual partners. These findings emphasize the need for understanding these social dynamics to better understand men’s violent and sexual behaviors.
The Ambiguous Construction of Nondominant Masculinity: Configuring the “New” Man through Narratives of Choice, Involved Fatherhood, and Gender Equality
Authors: Bach Anna Sofie
Published: December 2017

This article explores the development of gender equality-oriented (heterosexual) masculinity discussing the challenges of constructing nondominant masculine identities in the context of the Danish welfare state. Combining narrative methods with the theoretical framework of masculinity as cultural repertoire, the article offers a qualitative study examining how three Danish men construct (gender) identity in relation to being the partners of career-oriented and high-achieving women. Analyzing the men’s narrative negotiations of power, gender, and self, the article identifies three central narratives produced by the men to render themselves and their family arrangements intelligible and desirable. Considering how the narratives of (1) choice, (2) involved fatherhood, and (3) gender equality work as strategies to negotiate and reconstruct the meaning of compliance and autonomy, I delineate and discuss how traditional notions of what it means to be a man are simultaneously preserved and destabilized. Thus, the article demonstrates that, while nurturing practices and the loss of traditional male breadwinner authority can be positively reconstituted within the Nordic ideals of intensive parenting and gender equality, a fear of male subordination still seems to affect the construction of masculine selves even among gender equality–oriented “new” men.
Accuracy of a point-of-care luteinizing hormone test for help in distinguishing between sexually intact and ovariectomized or castrated domestic cats
Authors: Krecic Matthew R , DiGangi Brian A , Griffin Brenda
Published: December 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of a commercial luteinizing hormone (LH) test as an aid in distinguishing between sexually intact and ovariectomized or castrated domestic cats.

Methods

Convenience serum samples collected from sexually intact female and male cats (n = 67) undergoing elective sterilization surgery and archived sera from ovariectomized and castrated cats (n = 54) were tested for LH using a commercial diagnostic assay. Test results were compared with the known reproductive status of the cats. Additionally, sera from sexually intact (n = 54) and ovariectomized (n = 94) queens were collected at specific times of the year to evaluate possible seasonal effects on test results.

Results

Overall test sensitivity was 89.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82.3–94.2%), specificity was 92.6% (95% CI 87.1–96.2%) and accuracy was 91.1%. Analysis of results of female cats (n = 216) – sexually intact (n = 87) and ovariectomized (n = 129) – yielded a test sensitivity of 90.8% (95% CI 82.7–96.0%), a specificity of 92.3% (95% CI 86.2–96.2%) and accuracy of 91.7%. Analysis of the results of male cats (n = 53) – sexually intact (n = 19) and neutered (n = 34) – yielded test a sensitivity of 85.3% (95% CI 68.9–95.1%), a specificity of 94.7% (95% CI 74.0–99.9%) and accuracy of 88.7%. The sera of 10 intact queens unexpectedly yielded positive LH results; two of these cats were in estrus, based on visual inspection at the time of ovariohysterectomy. Test accuracy was 94.6% for those 148 samples collected at specific times of the year, with two samples each over three, 3 month periods yielding false-positive results.

Conclusions and relevance

The commercial point-of-care LH test is a useful adjunct to historical and physical examination findings for determination of reproductive status in domestic cats. Repeat testing 24 h later should be considered for those female cats with signs of estrus and initial positive test results.
Flexural and axial behaviour of sandwich panels with bio-based flax fibre-reinforced polymer skins and various foam core densities
Authors: CoDyre Luke , Mak Kenneth , Fam Amir
Published: December 2017

This study investigates the effect of foam core density on the behaviour of sandwich panels with novel bio-composite unidirectional flax fibre-reinforced polymer skins, along with a comparison to panels of conventional glass-FRP skins. Eighteen 1000 mm long flexural specimens and 18 500 mm long stub column specimens were fabricated and tested. All specimens had a foam core of 100 × 50 mm2 cross-section with symmetrical 100 mm wide skins. The study compares the effect of three separate polyisocyanurate foam cores when used in conjunction with either three layers of flax fibre-reinforced polymer or a single glass-FRP layer for each skin. Flexural specimens were tested in four-point bending and stub columns were tested under axial compression with pin–pin end conditions. Doubling the core density from 32 to 64 kg/m3 and tripling the density to 96 kg/m3 led to flexural strength increases of 82 and 213%, respectively, for flax fibre-reinforced polymer skinned panels, and comparable increases in glass-FRP skinned panels. Similarly, flax fibre-reinforced polymer-skinned columns showed similar increases in ultimate axial capacity of 85% and 196%, while glass-FRP- skinned columns experienced lower increases when core density was varied. The three-layered flax fibre-reinforced polymer skin, only 17% thicker than the single layer glass-FRP skin, was shown to provide equivalent flexural and axial strengths at all three core densities, within −5 to +13%.
Design, fabrication and testing of sandwich panel decking for use in road freight trailers
Authors: Galos Joel , Sutcliffe Michael , Newaz Golam
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates the potential of sandwich structures in the novel application of road freight trailer decking. Sandwich panels are developed to be lightweight replacements to conventional birch plywood hardwood decking, which is the norm in European road freight trailers. A tailored material selection process is used to identify the most advantageous sandwich panel material combinations with respect to flexural properties and material cost. Sandwich panels with woven glass fibre-reinforced polyester and an end-grain balsa are found to be the most advantageous material combination in terms of both raw material cost and mechanical performance. These panels are fabricated using a single shot fabrication technique and are approximately 30% lighter than conventional birch plywood trailer decking. This weight saving corresponds to approximately 165 kg in a standard 13.6 m long European road freight trailer. Three-point bend testing has shown that these sandwich panels have superior flexural strength and comparable flexural stiffness to birch plywood. Large panel testing confirmed that these panels can withstand roughly four times the forklift wheel load likely to be seen in-service. The shear properties of two grades of rigid end-grain balsa core are also studied to illustrate the importance of using a higher density balsa core. Practical considerations, such as joining and recyclability, for using sandwich panels in this application are also discussed.
Load configuration, geometry and web reinforcement effects on failure modes of sandwich deep beams
Authors: Raj J Leon , Rao G Appa
Published: December 2017

In this article, an experimental investigation is carried out to understand the behaviour of sandwich deep beams. The shear strength, load transfer mechanism, integral action and failure modes are reported. Primary variables of this study include distribution of web reinforcement, beam geometry and type of loading. Twelve full-scale beams were tested with simply supported end conditions classifying them into two groups. Each series consists of six beams with rectangular and I-shaped cross-sectional geometry. Two types of loading, i.e. concentrated and uniformly distributed loads, were adopted to understand the influence of distribution of horizontal reinforcement along the depth of beam in the web. Using both types of cross-sections, two beams were tested under uniformly distributed loads, and all the remaining beams were subjected to concentrated load with two different shear span-to-depth ratios (a/d). Observations of the study with respect to strength and serviceability include initial cracking load, ultimate load, crack width, transverse deflection and out-of-plane deformations. The test results indicated that confined or unconfined I-beams in the web failed due to punching shear under concentrated or distributed loads. The modes of failure of rectangular beams with web confinement were diagonal splitting and shear-compression, whereas the unconfined beams failed in flexure. Shear strength expression for conventional deep beams is refined for sandwich beams, and the predicted shear strength agrees well with the experimental results.
Ballistic impact behaviors of aluminum alloy sandwich panels with honeycomb cores: An experimental study
Authors: Zhang QN , Zhang XW , Lu GX , Ruan D
Published: December 2017

To study the protection property of aluminum alloy sandwich panels with honeycomb cores under the attack of bullets or debris, quasi-static perforation, and ballistic impact tests were conducted, in which the thicknesses of the face sheet and core were 0.5–2.0 and 12.7 mm, respectively, while projectiles with diameter 7.5 mm and impact velocity 50–220 m/s were employed. Based on the experiments, the influences of impact velocity, face sheet thickness, core density as well as the nose shape of the projectiles were investigated. The results showed that in the impact tests, the sandwich panels dissipated much more energy than those in quasi-static perforation tests, and the energy absorption and ballistic limit of the sandwich panels increased with the increase of impact velocity. The influence of face sheet thickness was more remarkable than the core density, which was due to the relative density of honeycomb is too small. Although the increase of core density could induce the increase of energy absorption, this effect is more effective for thinner face sheet. Moreover, under the same impact velocity about 200 m/s and face sheet thickness 1.0 mm, the ballistic limit for conical-nosed projectile is highest, while it is lowest for flat-nosed projectile.
Thermomechanical postbuckling analysis of eccentrically stiffened FGM sandwich plates with general Sigmoid and power laws based on TSDT
Authors: Van Dung Dao , Nga Nguyen Thi
Published: December 2017

The buckling and postbuckling behaviors of eccentrically stiffened sandwich plates on elastic foundations subjected to in-plane compressive loads, thermal loads, or thermomechanical loads are presented analytically by using the Reddy’s third-order shear deformation plate theory with von Karman geometrical nonlinearity. Four cases of general Sigmoid and power laws are considered. The material properties of the facesheets, the core layer, and stiffeners are assumed to be temperature-dependent. Theoretical formulations based on the smeared stiffeners technique and third-order shear deformation plate theory are derived. The expressions of thermal parameters are found in the analytical form. Applying the Galerkin method, the expressions for determination of the critical buckling load and analysis of the postbuckling mechanical and thermal load–deflection curves are obtained. The iterative algorithm is presented for the case of temperature-dependent plate material properties. In addition, the influences of thermal element, functionally graded material stiffeners, the facesheet thickness to total thickness ratio, initial imperfection, and foundations are clarified in detail.
Nonlinear thermomechanical response of pressure-loaded doubly curved functionally graded material sandwich panels in thermal environments including tangential edge constraints
Authors: Van Tung Hoang
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates the nonlinear response of doubly curved functionally graded material sandwich panels resting on elastic foundations, exposed to thermal environments and subjected to uniform external pressure. The material properties of both face sheets and core layer are assumed to be temperature dependent, and effective material properties of functionally graded material layers are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Formulations are based on first-order shear deformation shell theory taking geometrical nonlinearity, initial geometrical imperfection, Pasternak type elastic foundations, and tangential edge constraints into consideration. Approximate solutions are assumed to satisfy simply supported boundary conditions and Galerkin procedure is applied to derive expressions of buckling loads and nonlinear load–deflection relation. The effects of material, geometry and foundation parameters, face sheet thickness ratio, initial geometrical imperfection, thermal environments and degree of tangential restraint of edges on the snap-through instability, and nonlinear response of spherical and cylindrical functionally graded material sandwich panels are analyzed and discussed in detail.