bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Structure Combination for Inverted Asphalt Pavement Incorporating Cracks in Cement-Treated Subbase
Authors: Sha Aimin , Han Zhenqiang , Jiao Liya , Hu Liqun , Li Hongyin
Published: January 2020

The structure design and mechanistic calculation of inverted asphalt pavements are mainly based on linear layer elastic theory with the assumption that the cement-treated subbase (CTB) is complete without cracks. This study investigates the optimal structure combination for inverted pavements according to calculated critical responses considering cracks in the CTB layer. A three-dimensional finite element (3D FE) model of inverted pavement with a transverse crack through the CTB layer was developed. Four full-scale inverted pavement sections were built, and a crack 0.01 m wide and 0.05 m deep was sawn on top of each CTB layer after construction. The 3D FE model was validated by strain and deformation measured in falling weight deflectometer tests and used for a parametric study of dominating structure combination factors. Variance analysis results show that interactions with thickness or stiffness of the asphalt concrete (AC) layer presented the most significant effect on critical responses, while CTB stiffness (12588~7668 MPa) had the least impact. Structure variation effect analysis results illustrated that 0.1 m aggregate base (AB) thickness is enough to prevent the CTB crack propagating to the surface. Thin AC structures are highly sensitive to variations in AC and AB stiffness. A thin AC and AB combination (0.05 and 0.10 m) can provide low critical strains similar to a thick AC and thin AB (0.15 and 0.10 m) combination if the stiffness of AC and AB can be maintained at 7175 and 358 Mpa, respectively, or higher. AC thickness of 0.1 m and the combination of thin AC and thick AB are two unfavorable conditions for inverted pavements.
The war against forgetfulness: Sociological lessons from Bauman’s writings on European Jewry
Authors: Dawson Matt
Published: January 2020

This paper argues against assigning Zygmunt Bauman to the category of a ‘white’, ‘European’ theorist and the tendency to speak of an undifferentiated ‘Eurocentrism’. To argue this, I return to a set of articles by Bauman which reflected on the history of European Jewry. These encourage us to place Bauman in a historical and social context in which he is best identified as emerging from the racialized and classed politics of East European Jewry. Bauman traces how this group were made the outsiders of the assimilatory project of West European Jewry then, as Jewish socialists, were victims of the political anti-Semitism of communist regimes. Not only does this encourages us to be critical of the claims that he spoke from an elite ‘white European’ position, it also has further lessons for sociology which, in its own ‘war against forgetfulness’, has tended to impose simplistic racialized and political categories onto theorists.
The Effects of Family Responsibilities Discrimination on Public Employees’ Satisfaction and Turnover Intentions: Can Flexible Work Arrangements Help?
Authors: Mullins Lauren Bock , Charbonneau Étienne , Riccucci Norma M.
Published: January 2020

Discrimination against caregivers is a topic of interest for the public sector workplace. This study assesses the degree to which family responsibilities discrimination (FRD) can diminish work satisfaction and lead to intentions of leaving the public service. It also examines the effects of flexible work arrangements on work satisfaction and intentions to leave. Applying Mahalanobis Distance Matching, we examine the Canadian Public Service Employee Survey and find evidence that family status discrimination has some impact on employees’ intention to leave the public service and can diminish satisfaction with work arrangements. We also find that federal public servants who feel like work and family/personal obligations adversely affected their career progression were less satisfied with their work arrangements and were more likely to want to leave their positions.
Layer-by-layer decorated herbal cell compatible scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: A synergistic effect of graphene oxide and Cissus quadrangularis
Authors: Kashte Shivaji , Sharma RK , Kadam Sachin
Published: January 2020

Among various bone regenerative and repair methods, use of osteoinductive scaffold as bone grafts/substitute has gained wide importance worldwide. To develop such osteoinductive scaffold that is more natural and which spontaneously stimulates osteoblast formation without any differentiation media, we prepared electrospun poly ε-caprolactone scaffold which is further modified by means of layer-by-layer method using Cissus quadrangularis callus culture extract and graphene oxide (PCL-GO-CQ). The modified PCL-GO-CQ scaffold was compared with plain poly ε-caprolactone scaffold and poly ε-caprolactone coated only with graphene oxide. Physical properties, such as roughness, wettability, yield strength and tensile strength, of PCL-GO-CQ scaffold were found to be superior. Also, PCL-GO-CQ scaffold showed more in vitro cell compatibility with enhanced cellular proliferation on its surface. Presence of graphene oxide and Cissus quadrangularis callus in scaffold helped in the differentiation of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic lineage without any differentiation media in less than 20 days. The synergistic effect of Cissus quadrangularis callus extract and graphene oxide in PCL-GO-CQ scaffold enhanced osteoblastic differentiation, osteoconduction and osteoinduction potential of scaffolds making them highly potential in bone regeneration and bone tissue engineering applications.
Postseptic Cognitive Impairment and Expression of APOE in Peripheral Blood: The Cognition After SepsiS (CASS) Observational Pilot Study
Authors: Brown Samuel M. , Beesley Sarah J. , Stubben Chris , Wilson Emily L. , Presson Angela P. , Grissom Colin , Maguire Colin , Rondina Matthew T. , Hopkins Ramona O.
Published: January 2020

Background:

Cognitive impairment after sepsis is an important clinical problem. Determinants of postseptic cognitive impairment are not well understood. We thus undertook a systems biology approach to exploring a possible role for apolipoprotein E (APOE) in postseptic cognitive impairment.

Design:

Prospective, observational cohort.

Setting:

Intermountain Medical Center, a tertiary referral center in Utah.

Patients/Participants:

Patients with sepsis admitted to study intensive care units.

Interventions:

None.

Methods:

We obtained peripheral blood for deep sequencing of RNA and followed up survivors at 6 months with a battery of cognitive instruments. We defined cognitive impairment based on the 6-month Hayling test of executive function. In our primary analysis, we employed weighted network analysis. Secondarily, we compared variation in gene expression between patients with normal versus impaired cognition.

Measurements and Main Results:

We enrolled 40 patients, of whom 34 were follow-up eligible and 31 (91%) completed follow-up; 1 patient’s RNA sample was degraded—the final analytic cohort was 30 patients. Mean Hayling test score was 5.8 (standard deviation 1.1), which represented 20% with impaired executive function. The network module containing APOE was dominated by low-expression genes, with no association on primary analysis ( P = .8). Secondary analyses suggested several potential lines of future investigation, including oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

In this prospective pilot cohort, executive dysfunction affected 1 in 5 survivors of sepsis. The APOE gene was sparsely transcribed in peripheral leukocytes and not associated with cognitive impairment. Future lines of research are suggested.
An Inherently Masculine Practice: Understanding the Sexual Victimization of Queer Women
Authors: Bedera Nicole , Nordmeyer Kristjane
Published: January 2020

Sexual violence is a widespread social issue, and sexual victimization is especially prevalent among queer-identified women. Still, there is little research on queer women’s experiences of sexual violence or explanations for the high rate of victimization. This study uses data from 40 open-ended interviews to investigate queer women’s experiences with sexual violence and those who perpetrate it. Respondents answered questions about the characteristics of their sexual assaults and perpetrators, as well as connections the survivors perceive between their sexual assaults and sexual identities. Findings indicate that the perpetrators of such sexual assaults invoke an expression of masculinity, regardless of the perpetrator’s gender identity at the time of violence. To understand the nuanced role of masculinity in queer assailant’s assaults, we develop the concept of “righteous masculinity,” which refers to a traditional (and, in this case, violent) masculinity invoked by marginalized people in an attempt to reclaim power. We find that sexual violence against queer women is an especially powerful way to enact masculinity through drawing upon misogyny and homophobia simultaneously, providing an explanation for the high rates of sexual victimization among queer women. We argue that centering masculinity can help scholars and activists better challenge the sexual victimization of queer women and deepen understanding of the links between gender-based violence and masculinity.
Prevalence and Pattern of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Populations in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Authors: Amoo Gbolagade , Ogundele Adefolakemi Temitope , Olajide Abayomi Oluseye , Ighoroje Maroh Great , Oluwaranti Adedunmola Oluwaseun , Onunka Godspower Chibuike , Ladeinde Agnes Abosede , Folaji Olubukola Grace
Published: January 2020

Background:

Many elderly persons in Nigeria are having mental health challenges and there is a lack of commensurate increase in services to attend to such.

Aim:

To assess the prevalence, pattern and correlates of psychiatric morbidity among community dwelling elderly persons (≥ 60 years) in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Methods:

532 respondents were selected using a multistage, stratified cluster sampling method from the elderly population in Abeokuta. First, participants were administered the socio-demographic questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Those with a score of ≥ 3 in GHQ-12 were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI PLUS), while those with ≤ 16 in MMSE were assessed with the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) IV criteria for Dementia and the Petersen’s criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Results:

36.3% of the respondents had a probable psychological disorder, while 25.4% had a probable cognitive impairment. 9.8% had a current definitive psychiatric disorder. The commonest disorders were major depressive disorder and dementia. The female gender, the oldest old (≥ 80 years), having a chronic medical illness and bereavement in the last 1 year were most significantly associated with having mental health problems.

Conclusion:

A significant number of the elderly population in the studied community suffers from a psychiatric illness. It is hoped that studies as these will inform stakeholders on the need to pay closer attention to the mental health needs of the elderly, as their overall wellbeing plays a role in determining the overall health of the community.
Outcomes of Career Information System Utilization Among First-Year High School Students
Authors: Garcia Eric Adrian , McWhirter Ellen Hawley , Cendejas Christina
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Career Information System (CIS) on ninth-grade student’s vocational skills self-efficacy, outcome expectations, work hope, and career decision-making difficulties. CIS is a computer-based career intervention designed to help users become more knowledgeable about themselves and occupational options with career planning support. At the midpoint of fall semester, intervention participants ( n = 194) were assessed before and after a CIS intervention administered during their health class, while ninth-grade students who were not in the health class ( n = 191) served as a nonrandomized control group. Relative to control participants, intervention participants had higher work hope and lower career decision-making difficulties associated with inconsistent information and lack of information. The effects of the intervention did not vary as a function of gender or socioeconomic status. Findings contribute to the scant literature assessing the effects of computer-based career interventions for high school students.
Influence of temperature on deformation behavior of copper during microextrusion process
Authors: Nanthakumar S , Rajenthirakumar D , Avinashkumar S
Published: January 2020

Micro scale deformational behavior of metals is improved upon increasing the room temperature. Further, the drawbacks of micro forming caused by size effects are reduced significantly. In the current work, investigation on the material behavior of copper at elevated temperature ranging from room temperature to 200  ℃ is conducted. On the experimental part, a novel micro extrusion die set assembly has been developed along with temperature assistance, where the specimen is heated within the die assembly to study deformation behavior. When the forming temperature is raised, an enlargement of the forming limits is achieved along with a significant reduction in extrusion force. Further, the flow of material inside the die orifice was more uniform, and the micro pin showed a good replication of the die dimensions with homogeneous material deformation. During the increase of extrusion temperature and lubrication conditions (diamond-like carbon coating), the micro pin is more complete with higher dimensional accuracy and surface finish. The investigation on the influence of temperature showed that there is a reduction in microhardness of samples compared to the hardness of samples extruded at room temperature. However, there is a significant reduction of scattering due to homogenizing effect.
Adaptive levitation control for characteristic model of low speed maglev vehicle
Authors: Chen Chen , Xu Junqi , Ji Wen , Chao Ruijie , Sun Yougang
Published: January 2020

Due to the strong coupling and large disturbance between multiple electromagnetic coils, the previous dynamic model of low-speed maglev train cannot accurately model the complex system when it is levitated. Therefore, based on the general linear transfer function, the concept of feature modeling is introduced to describe the dynamic characteristics, environmental characteristics and control performance requirements of the system by defining feature variables. On the premise of satisfying a certain sampling frequency, the original dynamic model is approximately linearized, which is equivalent to a second-order difference equation, i.e. a system with slow time-varying parameters. On this basis, the design and implementation of the controller of the magnetic levitation system are discussed. First, by studying the application of PID controller in suspension system, the difficulty of parameter debugging of PID controller and the insufficiency of restraining coupling interference are pointed out. The generalized predictive control (GPC) is proposed and improved to improve the robustness and anti-jamming of the system. Finally, a large number of simulations and experiments show that the controller can effectively suppress the coupling interference. Compared with single-point levitation controller, it has higher application value in engineering practice.
Children Delay Gratification for Cooperative Ends
Authors: Koomen Rebecca , Grueneisen Sebastian , Herrmann Esther
Published: January 2020

To cooperate effectively, both in small-scale interactions and large-scale collective-action problems, people frequently have to delay gratification (i.e., resist short-term temptations in favor of joint long-term goals). Although delay-of-gratification skills are commonly considered critical in children’s social-cognitive development, they have rarely been studied in the context of cooperative decision-making. In the current study, we therefore presented pairs of children ( N = 207 individuals) with a modified version of the famous marshmallow test, in which children’s outcomes were interdependently linked such that the children were rewarded only if both members of the pair delayed gratification. Children from two highly diverse cultures (Germany and Kenya) performed substantially better than they did on a standard version of the test, suggesting that children are more willing to delay gratification for cooperative than for individual goals. The results indicate that from early in life, human children are psychologically equipped to respond to social interdependencies in ways that facilitate cooperative success.
‘Doing’ competitive swimming: Exploring the skilled practices of the competitive swimming lifeworld
Authors: McNarry Gareth , Allen-Collinson Jacquelyn , Evans Adam B
Published: January 2020

Despite a developing literature on various facets of sporting embodiment, there is currently a research lacuna with regard to in-depth analyses of actually ‘doing’ sporting activities within specific physical cultures. In this article, we address that gap by drawing on a developing theoretical literature in sociological phenomenology to investigate a particular physical–cultural domain. Here, we present and analyse data from an ethnographic study of competitive swimmers undertaken in the UK. Responding to calls to explore the domain of ‘body pedagogics’, we investigate the embodied work involved in the skilled practice of ‘doing’ and learning how to ‘do’ competitive swimming. This embodied work plays a key part in the swimmers’ ability to inhabit the competitive swimming lifeworld. In the analysis, we highlight how the acquisition and ‘habituation’ of these body techniques and skilled behaviours are not achieved simply through the repetitive rehearsal of coherent movements over time. These processes are complex, demanding practical experimentation, discovery and the ability to adapt constantly to changes in the environment and the swimmer’s own corporeality.
“If I’m sailing with a girl, I get identified as a ‘marshmallow’ ”: Gendered practices of school sport sailing in Western France and California
Authors: Schmitt Anne , Atencio Matthew , Sempé Gaëlle
Published: January 2020

Gendered divisions and representations can be especially problematic issues underpinning participation in water-based lifestyle and sporting activities. Sailing has particularly been found to be dominated by male participants who tend to dictate everyday codes of practice and symbolic representation. Female sailors are therefore regularly portrayed as inauthentic members of this activity and their participation also typically reflects much lower rates than males. In this paper, we develop these critical ideas about gendered sailing in the context of an 18 months comparative qualitative study involving 24 interviews and 113 hours of ethnographic field observations with five coaches, three physical education teachers, and 16 sailors. This study examined school sailing programmes in Western France and California in terms of the gendered practices and relationships that developed amongst young sailors and supporting adults. Bourdieu’s theory of embodied power reproduction and masculine domination is used to analyse how school sport sailing programmes often benefited male participants. Within both Western French and Californian sailing contexts, young men were viewed as being more legitimate participants and regularly took up the lead role of skipper – young women were considered secondary participants and were typically positioned as crew members. Notions of embodied agency are subsequently developed to illustrate how young women sometimes contested the male-dominated gender order found within Franco-American school-based sailing programmes.
Robust non-destructive inspection of composite aerospace structures by extraction of ultrasonic guided-wave transfer function in single-input dual-output scanning systems
Authors: Capriotti Margherita , Lanza di Scalea Francesco
Published: January 2020

Ultrasonic guided-wave testing is widely utilized for damage detection in plate-like structural components, including composite aircraft fuselage and wing panels. Many guided-wave tests involve transducer scanning to cover finite areas, a task that is most effectively performed by non-contact wave transduction means. The most common guided-wave test implementation consists of a “single-input single-output” scheme. The single-input single-output scheme leads to a transfer function that is convolved with the particular frequency response of the transducers and that of the transducer-to-structure paths (in both excitation and detection). These responses can be unknown or generally variable, especially in non-contact scanning systems and impact excitations. This article proposes a “single-input dual-output” scheme for ultrasonic guided-wave testing in scanning systems that is based on a deconvolution operation. The single-input dual-output scheme better isolates the structural transfer function that is the only property affected by the presence of possible damage. The single-input dual-output scheme was applied to two guided-wave scanning systems under development to detect impact-type damage in stiffened skin-to-stringer panels representative of modern composite aircraft construction. The results demonstrate the dual-output technique and also shed some light on the role of the different frequency bands for the detection of damage at different locations of the skin-to-stringer assembly.
Analytical analysis for the design of nonlinear tuned mass damper
Authors: Li Lu-yu , Zhang Tianjiao
Published: January 2020

A tuned mass damper is a passive control device that has been widely used in aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering as well as many other fields. Tuned mass dampers have been studied and improved over the course of many years. In practical engineering applications, a tuned mass damper inevitably produces some nonlinear characteristics due to the large displacement and the use of the limiting devices, but this nonlinearity is often neglected. The simulation results in this study confirm that neglecting the nonlinearity in the design process can produce adverse effects on the control performance. This paper takes into account the nonlinearity of the tuned mass damper produced in the process of vibration and deduces an optimum formula for the frequency of a tuned mass damper by the complexification averaging method and multiscale method. Based on this formula, a modified design method for the frequency of a tuned mass damper is presented. The numerical results show that the nonlinear tuned mass damper after modification is better than a linear tuned mass damper in terms of control performance.
Wave generation characteristic analysis of piston and flap type wave maker with rotary-valve-control vibrator
Authors: Liu Yi , Zheng Yuxi , Song Ruiyin , Chen Junhua , Jin Heng
Published: January 2020

Wave maker is one of the most important experimental equipment in marine engineering. To meet the demands of simulation of higher wave amplitude and compare the effect of piston and flap type wave generation, a new wave generation device was proposed and a new piston and flap type wave maker with a rotary-valve-control vibrator was developed. A mathematical model of the new wave maker was established and analysed by Simulink, and a series of experiments were conducted on the wave maker to analyze wave generation characteristics. The results show that the wave maker can adjust the distance of wave paddle and generate different regular waves. The bigger the axial opening size of the valve port, the larger the wave paddle amplitude and the wave amplitude; the higher the pressure, the higher the wave paddle amplitude and the wave amplitude. High frequency wave making is more efficient than the lower one, and piston type wave making is more efficient than those wave makers that generate waves by flap type.
Serum vitamin D status in sick cats with and without cholestatic liver disease
Authors: Kibler Lesli , Heinze Cailin R , Webster Cynthia RL
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Vitamin D deficiency accompanies chronic cholestatic liver disease (CLD) in humans. The vitamin D status of cats with CLD is unknown. The objectives of this study were to describe serum vitamin D concentrations in cats with CLD and to determine if they correlated with indices of liver disease severity.

Methods

Thirty-six cats with CLD, defined by increases in serum bilirubin and serum alanine aminotransferase, and 23 sick cats with non-hepatobiliary diseases were prospectively enrolled. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and ionized calcium were measured. Signalment, clinical signs, comorbidities, diet history, serum bilirubin, liver enzyme activity, albumin, phosphorus, white blood cell count, prothrombin time and final hepatic cytologic/histopathologic diagnosis, when available, were recorded.

Results

Median serum 25(OH)D levels were similar in cats with CLD (89.5 nmol/l; range 21–112 nmol/l) and sick cats (89.0 nmol/l; range 49–115 nmol/l). Overall 12/36 (33%) cats with CLD and 4/23 (17%) sick cats had 25(OH)D levels below the lower limit of the reference interval (<65 nmol/l). Median PTH concentrations in cats with CLD were significantly higher (0.95 pmol/l; range 0–11.3 pmol/l) than in sick cats (0.70 pmol/l; range 0.5–6 pmol/l). In cats with CLD, 6/36 (17%) had high PTH levels in contrast to only 1/23 (4%) sick cats. In cats with CLD, 25(OH)D concentrations did not correlate with serum bilirubin, albumin or serum liver enzymes but were moderately negatively correlated with white blood cell count (r = − 0.402, P = 0.013). Cats with hepatic lipidosis had the highest prevalence of 25(OH)D concentrations that fell below the reference interval.

Conclusions and relevance

Many cats with CLD have serum 25(OH)D concentrations below the lower limit of the reference interval. Further study is warranted to determine the clinical relevance and whether supplementation would provide benefits.
Role of vector-borne pathogens in the development of fever in cats: 1. Flea-associated diseases
Authors: Lappin Michael R , Tasker Séverine , Roura Xavier
Published: January 2020

Practical relevance:

There has been increasing identification of vector-borne pathogens in cats presented to veterinary clinics around the world for evaluation of fever and the associated secondary effects, such as signs of depression and loss of appetite.

Aim:

The aim of this article is to summarize the clinically relevant information concerning fever in cats that is associated with pathogens known or suspected to be vectored by fleas, with an emphasis on presenting clinical abnormalities and optimal diagnostic, treatment and prevention strategies. Fever in cats that is associated with pathogens vectored by ticks or sandflies is discussed in Part 2 of this article series.
Ancestors’ times and protection of Amazonian Indigenous biocultural heritage
Authors: Virtanen Pirjo Kristiina
Published: January 2020

This article discusses how for the Apurinã community in Brazil, the relationships with certain places and nonhuman entities actually co-produce biocultural heritage. This involves not only storytelling, care, and respect, but also avoidance, and thus shows specific intergenerational ways of managing and relating to the land. Here I will especially address Apurinã ancestral forest and historical places, and the experiences and knowledge that they trigger, including stories of Apurinã ancestors, core values, ways of relating in the communities, as well as preferred ecological practices passed down through the generations. Besides the current Apurinã community, their biocultural heritage is shared and protected by various nonhuman actors who are its true owners. The ontological dimension of the Amazonian biocultural heritage also involves a temporal aspect, as the nonhuman entities contributing to its production can be activated and interacted with from different times, from the distant past to present times. Finally, this article discusses how international cultural laws protect such an understanding of the biocultural heritage, and shows that they offer insufficient space for nonhuman actors in biocultural heritage protection.
A performance comparison of patient pathways in Nordic capital areas – a pilot study for ischaemic stroke patients
Authors: Häkkinen Unto , Goude Fanny , Hagen Terje P. , Kruse Marie , Moger Tron , Peltola Mikko , Rehnberg Clas
Published: January 2020

Aims: This article describes and discusses the extension of performance measurement using an episode-based approach so that the measurement includes primary care, and social and long-term-care services. By using data on incident stroke patients from the capital areas of four Nordic countries, this pilot study: (a) extended the disease-based performance analysis to include new indicators that better describe patient care pathways at different levels of care; (b) described and compared the performance of care given in the four areas; (c) evaluated how additional information changed the rankings of performance between the areas; and (d) described the trends in performance in the capital areas. Methods: The construction of data was based on a common protocol that used routinely collected national registers and statistics linked with local municipal registers. We created new variables describing the timing of discharge to home and institutionalisation, as well as describing the use and cost of primary and social hospital services. Risk adjustment was performed with four different sets of confounders. Results: Differences existed in various performance indicators between the four metropolitan areas. The ranking was sensitive to the risk-adjustment method. The study showed that for stroke patients a performance comparison with data that are only from secondary and tertiary care, and without a valid severity measure, is not sufficient for international comparisons. Conclusions: Extending and deepening international performance analysis in order to cover patient pathways, including primary care and social services, is very useful for benchmarking activities when focusing on diseases affecting older people.
Vitamin D status and current policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries
Authors: Itkonen Suvi T. , Andersen Rikke , Björk Anne K. , Brugård Konde Åsa , Eneroth Hanna , Erkkola Maijaliisa , Holvik Kristin , Madar Ahmed A. , Meyer Haakon E. , Tetens Inge , Torfadóttir Jóhanna E. , Thórisdóttir Birna , Lamberg-Allardt Christel J.E.
Published: January 2020

Aims: Nordic countries share fairly similar food culture and geographical location as well as common nutrition recommendations. The aim of this paper was to review the latest data on vitamin D status and intake and to describe the national supplementation and food fortification policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries. Methods: The data are based on results derived from a literature search presented in a workshop held in Helsinki in November 2018 and completed by recent studies. Results: Vitamin D policies and the implementation of the recommendations differ among the Nordic countries. Vitamin D fortification policies can be mandatory or voluntary and widespread, moderate or non-existent. Vitamin D supplementation recommendations differ, ranging from all age groups being advised to take supplements to only infants. In the general adult population of the Nordic countries, vitamin D status and intake are better than in the risk groups that are not consuming vitamin D supplements or foods containing vitamin D. Non-Western immigrant populations in all Nordic countries share the problem of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Conclusions: Despite the common nutrition recommendations, there are differences between the Nordic countries in the implementation of the recommendations and policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake and status. There is a need for wider Nordic collaboration studies as well as strategies to improve vitamin D status, especially in risk groups.
A study of luminous environment with prism daylight redirecting fenestrations in classrooms
Authors: Tian Zhen , Lin Peng , He Ying , Jonsson Jacob C
Published: January 2020

This study explored the classroom luminous environment with prism daylight redirecting fenestrations. The differences between the International Commission on Illumination standard sky and the Perez all-weather sky models were analysed. The study described the method of generating a valid bi-directional scattering distribution functions .xml data for the prism daylight redirecting fenestrations. A new evaluation metric, daylight evenness, was proposed to describe indoor illuminance dispersion. Radiance simulation results indicate that at various solar altitude angles, compared with conventional glazing, the micro-prism film and micro-prism with an added diffuse layer on clerestories can improve the space average illuminance levels 23.2% and 18.7% under the International Commission on Illumination sky, as well as 15.4% and 10.6% under the Perez sky, respectively. The analysis results indicate that prism daylight redirecting fenestrations clerestories can improve indoor illuminance uniformity and daylight evenness when the solar altitudes range from 23.8° to 75°. A method combined field questionnaire and high dynamic range image analysis were conducted for discomfort glare study. Adding a diffused layer to the prism film clerestory is expected to alleviate discomfort glare for east- and west-facing prism daylight redirecting fenestrations clerestory with the daylight glare probability reduction of 3.8% to 21.7% at various solar altitudes. The research results present promising advantages of applying prism daylight redirecting fenestrations at classroom clerestories to improve the daylight luminous environment.
Simulation of hybrid GSHP systems utilizing radiant ceiling terminal and system evaluation with analytic hierarchy process method
Authors: Xing Lu , Hu Pingfang
Published: January 2020

Hybrid ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems which utilize capillary radiant ceiling are promising to provide a better building comfort while reducing energy consumption. We have developed a GSHP model and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method for evaluating the system feasibility. The hybrid GSHP system provides heating/cooling for an office in Wuhan, China. A conventional HVAC system – water chiller + gas boiler (WB) system was also simulated. The results showed that the hybrid system would provide a better indoor comfort and remains at the thermal comfort class I, and the hybrid system would incur a 14.5% lower cost but would provide 43.2% more energy saving. The hybrid GSHP system could reduce 20.23 tons of CO2 emission, while 1.39 tons more SO2, 0.39 tons more NOx and 9.70 tons more Ash emissions could be produced. Overall, the hybrid system performance evaluation result (SPER) was 0.966, and the WB system was 0.746. These SPERs were quantified system evaluation results calculated using the AHP method, which have considered the impacts of the various factors – economic cost, energy saving and environmental impact. The hybrid GSHP system is more adaptable than the WB system and has a good application prospect in this climate region.
‘Why did I circumcise him?’ Unexpected comparisons to male circumcision in a qualitative study on female genital cutting among Kurdish–Norwegians
Authors: Lunde Ingvild Bergom , Hauge Mona-Iren , Johansen Ragnhild Elise Brinchmann , Sagbakken Mette
Published: January 2020

Based on fieldwork that aimed to gather more knowledge on female genital cutting among Kurdish–Norwegians, in this article we report on how research participants would often talk about male circumcision instead. Informed by current scholarship and public discourse on female genital cutting and male circumcision, we identified three themes when analysing how and why the participants would talk about male circumcision rather than female genital cutting: (1) the condemnation of female genital cutting; (2) the acceptability of male circumcision and (3) the questioning of the acceptability of male circumcision. We do not attempt to provide solutions to whether some forms of male circumcision are less, equally or more harmful than some forms of female genital cutting, or whether they are comparable and both should thus either be legitimized or banned. Rather we aim to provide insights into these dilemmas by the use of the concept of ‘mapping controversies’ associated with actor–network theory. We further make use of the slippery slope argument to explore how the research participants’ views shed light on political reluctance to treat female genital cutting and male circumcision in the same way in the Norwegian context. While we are not in a position to say that the views shared are the same in other social groups, or in other countries, we argue that the Norwegian government’s different treatment of female genital cutting and male circumcision changes the meaning of ritual boy circumcision and that this may result in parents deciding not to circumcise their sons.
Harry’s Most Important Work
Authors: Hyde Fran
Published: January 2020

Harry considers his most important work was achieved in the last 2 years of his life as ‘Harry the Hospice Cat’. Situated in his sun spot in St Angela’s garden and then his window sill in the marketing office Harry ruminates over the micro-level marketing being undertaken by a hospice. Inspired by the death of a real-life hospice cat together with an ethnographic study of a hospice marketing team ‘Harry’s most important work’ is not a ‘tall tale’ but gives real insight into the challenges and battles involved in marketing work. Harry observes the demands made on St Angela’s to embrace digital advances and the struggles of nonprofit organisations to keep pace with new marketing practice. Observing the ‘goings on’ as well as the different ‘languages’ in a hospice, Harry highlights the very real tensions that arise from the difficult work being undertaken and analyses the organisational tensions which emerge when a marketing team strive to negotiate their legitimacy. From under the table in the chilly, white meeting room Harry tells the unique and important story about the ‘doing’ of very difficult marketing in the unusual context of a hospice. Harry’s story has implications for marketing education, practice and research as well as other animals who may feel a sense of responsibility to help humankind.
A novel unsupervised deep learning network for intelligent fault diagnosis of rotating machinery
Authors: Zhao Xiaoli , Jia Minping
Published: January 2020

Generally, the health conditions of rotating machinery are complicated and changeable. Meanwhile, its fault labeled information is mostly unknown. Therefore, it is man-sized to automatically capture the useful fault labeled information from the monitoring raw vibration signals. That is to say, the intelligent unsupervised learning approach has a significant influence on fault diagnosis of rotating machinery. In this study, a span-new unsupervised deep learning network can be constructed based on the proposed feature extractor (L12 sparse filtering (L12SF)) and the designed clustering extractor (Weighted Euclidean Affinity Propagation) for resolving the issue that the acquisition of fault sample labeled information is burdensome, yet costly. Naturally, the novel intelligent fault diagnosis method of rotating machinery based on unsupervised deep learning network is first presented in this study. Thereinto, the proposed unsupervised deep learning network consists of two layers of unsupervised feature extractor (L12SF) and one layer of unsupervised clustering (Weighted Euclidean Affinity Propagation). L12SF can improve the regularization performance of sparse filtering, and Weighted Euclidean Affinity Propagation can get rid of the traditional Euclidean distance in affinity propagation that cannot highlight the contribution of different features in fault clustering. To make a long story short, the frequency spectrum signals are first entered into the constructed unsupervised deep learning network for fault feature representation; afterward, the unsupervised feature learning and unsupervised fault classification of rotating machinery can be implemented. The superiority of the proposed algorithms and method is validated by two cases of rolling bearing fault dataset. Ultimately, the proposed unsupervised fault diagnosis method can provide a theoretical basis for the development of intelligent unsupervised fault diagnosis technology for rotating machinery.
Towards clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging: Probe improvement and real-time graphical user interface
Authors: Kim Jeesu , Park Eun-Yeong , Park Byullee , Choi Wonseok , Lee Ki J , Kim Chulhong
Published: January 2020

Photoacoustic imaging is a non-invasive and non-ionizing biomedical technique that has been investigated widely for various clinical applications. By taking the advantages of conventional ultrasound imaging, hand-held operation with a linear array transducer should be favorable for successful clinical translation of photoacoustic imaging. In this paper, we present new key updates contributed to the previously developed real-time clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system for improving the clinical usability of the system. We developed a seamless image optimization platform, designed a real-time parameter control software with a user-friendly graphical user interface, performed Monte Carlo simulation of the optical fluence in the imaging plane, and optimized the geometry of the imaging probe. The updated system allows optimizing of all imaging parameters while continuously acquiring the photoacoustic and ultrasound images in real-time. The updated system has great potential to be used in a variety of clinical applications such as assessing the malignancy of thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.

Impact statement

Photoacoustic imaging is a promising biomedical imaging modality that can visualize both structural and functional information of biological tissue. Because of its easiness to be integrated with conventional ultrasound imaging systems, numerous studies have been conducted to develop and apply clinical photoacoustic imaging systems. However, most of the systems were not suitable for general-purpose clinical applications due to one of the following reasons: target specific design, immobility, inaccessible operation sequence, and lack of hand-held operation. This study demonstrates a real-time clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system, which can overcome the limitations of the previous systems for successful clinical translation.
Fissuring Barriers to Inclusive Education for Students with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Dukes Charles , Berlingo Lauren
Published: January 2020

Inclusive education for students with severe disabilities has and continues to spark intense debate. To what extent should students with severe disabilities be educated in nonsegregated environments, particularly the general education environment? For some, there is no question, but history indicates many do not agree. Agran and colleagues provide a clear, concise summation of the rationale for continued segregation of students with severe disabilities. This commentary extends those arguments, speculating on how perceptions about people with disabilities manifest in society and in schools in particular, often resulting in continued segregation and far less inclusion than might be expected or warranted.
P50, N100, and P200 Sensory Gating in Panic Disorder
Authors: Thoma Lars , Rentzsch Johannes , Gaudlitz Katharina , Tänzer Nicole , Gallinat Jürgen , Kathmann Norbert , Ströhle Andreas , Plag Jens
Published: January 2020

Panic disorder (PD) has been linked to abnormalities in information processing. However, only little evidence has been published for sensory gating in PD. Sensory gating describes the brain’s ability to exclude stimuli of low relevance from higher level information processing, thereby sustaining efficient cognitive processing. Deficits in sensory gating have been associated with various psychiatric conditions, most prominently schizophrenia. In this case-control event-related potential study, we tested 32 patients with PD and 39 healthy controls in a double click paradigm. Both groups were compared with regard to pre-attentive (P50), early-attentive (N100), and late-attentive (P200) sensory gating indices. Contrary to a hypothesized deficit, PD patients and healthy controls showed no differences in P50, N100 and P200 values. These results suggest that sensory gating seems to be functional across the pre-attentive, early-attentive, and late-attentive time span in this clinical population. Given this consistency across auditory sensory gating indices, further research aiming to clarify information processing deficits in PD should focus on other neurophysiological markers to investigate information processing deficits in PD (eg, P300, error-related negativity or mismatch negativity).
A Modified Suture Suspension Arthroplasty Technique for the Treatment of Basal Joint Arthritis: Short- to Intermediate-Term Outcomes
Authors: Mirza Ather , Mirza Justin B. , Klingbeil Laura , Pavlik Joseph F. , Muratori Jonathan , Thomas Terence
Published: January 2020

Background: To present a retrospective study on the outcomes of a modified version of suture suspension arthroplasty with trapeziectomy on patients with thumb basal joint arthritis and to evaluate the relationship between the degree of subsidence and functional outcome. Methods: We performed a chart review on 67 patients (75 thumbs) who were surgically treated for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis with trapeziectomy and suture suspension arthroplasty from May 2010 to May 2016. Outcome measures included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), grip strength, lateral/precision pinch strength, range of motion, and return to work/resumption of usual activities. Radiographic images were used to measure first metacarpal subsidence into the trapezial space. Results: Clinical outcomes were satisfactory, showing an initial postoperative DASH score of 45.94, which decreased to 27.93 at 6 months postoperatively and to 19.69 at 1 year postoperatively. Radiographic images revealed a mean first metacarpal subsidence of 39% compared with the preoperative images. Grip and pinch strengths showed steady improvement from initial postoperative to final follow-up visits, resulting in 90% recovery of gross grasp, 77% recovery of lateral pinch, and 79% recovery of precision pinch compared with the contralateral side. Conclusions: Our study has found that suture suspension arthroplasty with trapeziectomy is an effective treatment for thumb basal joint arthritis. Suture suspension arthroplasty allows for short immobilization time, avoids tendon sacrifice, avoids anchor use, and leaves a cosmetically appealing scar. Furthermore, a relationship of any significance between postoperative first metacarpal subsidence and functional outcomes does not appear.