bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New data on the Iberian endemic bee genus Flavipanurgus Warncke Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae): Ecological and genomic data reveal a hidden species
Authors: CROSS IAN , WOOD THOMAS J.
Published: November 2018

Flavipanurgus is a small genus of panurgine bees known only from the Iberian Peninsula. Despite its status as one of the few bee genera endemic to Europe, Flavipanurgus are poorly represented in collections and until recently, their ecology had been almost unknown. Flavipanurgus ibericus (Warncke, 1972) was described from southern Iberia, with a northern subspecies F. i. kastiliensis (Warncke, 1987) later described from the north. Recent collections in Portugal have revealed clear differences in the pollen collecting patterns of the two taxa, with southern females collecting exclusively from Jasione montana and northern females from Sedum species. In combination with this ecological difference, COI and 28S barcode data indicate that Flavipanurgus kastiliensis stat. nov. should be raised to full species status. The male of Flavipanurgus ibericus s. str. is described for the first time, and updated keys to Flavipanurgus species are provided. Flavipanurgus fuzetus Patiny, 1999 is recorded for the first time from Spain. Further significant records and new floral associations for Flavipanurgus are also presented.
Analysis of Barrier Layer Thickness on Performance of In1–xGaxAs Based Gate Stack Cylindrical Gate Nanowire MOSFET
Authors: Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Singh Jeetendra , Raj Balwinder , Khosla Mamta
Published: November 2018

In this paper, InGaAs/InP heterostructure based Cylindrical Gate Nanowire MOSFETs (CGNWMOSFET) is designed and its performance has been analyzed using silvaco ATLAS TCAD tool. The influence of the barrier thickness is investigated for perusal performance of an InGaAs/InP heterostructure
CGNWMOSFET. The performance compared for various parameters on current, off current, Cut off Frequency (fT), Transconductance (gm), Gate to Source capacitance (Cgs), and Gate to Drain capacitance (Cgd). Results show significant
variation in the performance of InGaAs/InP heterostructure CGNWMOSFET by varying the barrier thickness.
Longitudinal Compensation Algorithm for the Stamping Fold Shift of Quadric Metal Curtain Walls
Authors: Zhang Yalong , Ma Xuan , Jiang Xiaodan , Ogura Hisakazu
Published: November 2018

Metal curtain walls are widely applied as decorative materials for the outer walls of large buildings. However, the application of such materials in curved building surfaces is relatively complicated. The whole curved surface is divided into several small surface patches according to
a specific plan. Each surface patch is shaped by stamping with a certain-shaped plane metal plate. The calculation of the flat shape of a given surface patch is a key technology. Quadric surfaces are inextensible surfaces. Flat metal materials are folded when stamped into curved surfaces.
Wrinkles are distributed unevenly because the curvature of surface patches is often asymmetric. Stress pushes wrinkles from high-density regions to low-density areas, at which point a uniform distribution pattern is reached under the limiting case. An accurate surface flattening method that
compensates for fold shift is regarded as a difficult technology to develop. To address these problems, this study proposed an even flattening method for quadric surfaces. The proposed method simplifies the sheet metal forming technology and achieves satisfactory accuracy in the engineering
process.
Force Balance Control and Optimization of the Quadruped Hydraulic Robot Based on Materials Structure Design
Authors: Shao Xuan , Shao Junpeng , Tang Hui , De Zhang Yong
Published: November 2018

In this paper, in order to meet the requirements of stable foot support and balanced walking of quadruped hydraulic robot, a new control method is proposed. The "hard" contact between the feet of the quadruped hydraulic robot and the ground are changed into "semi flexible" contact to
reduce the impact force produced by the contact and collision of the two and reduce the unbalance of the force. The designed "semi flexible" scheme was to coat the "semi flexible" modified polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material on the surface of the bottom material of the robot's foot. The
modification of PTFE was optimized by SRIM, and the optimization scheme was selected for experimental study to obtain the Al2O3/PTFE material for which the abrasive resistance met the requirement of robot motion. It was also used in robot force imbalance control experiment
research optimization. The study clearly revealed that it can effectively reduce the power of the impact force caused by the contact and collision of the feet of the quadruped robot and the ground, reduce the swing and the unbalance of the motion force of the quadruped robot, and meet the
requirements of the precise positioning and the force balance walking of the motion of quadruped hydraulic robot to a certain extent.
Wireless Photoelectric Sensor Network Scheduling Algorithm Based on Divisible Load
Authors: Wu Jiaqi , Xu Huahu
Published: November 2018

To discuss the divisible load scheduling in wireless photoelectric sensor networks, a load scheduling algorithm called EDDLT based on residual energy landscape is proposed. In the algorithm, the constant of the time needed for the induction and reporting unit data is adjusted to the
variable parameters based on the residual energy. In addition, the ratio of the initial energy to the residual energy is used to carry out the effective load scheduling. By using this algorithm, when the load is allocated to each sensor node, the remaining energy of nodes is considered, and
a lighter load is allocated to sensor nodes with less residual energy. EDDLT, compared to the standard divisible load scheduling method SDLT, the number of execution rounds is greatly increased when the first sensor node is dead. The experimental results showed that EDDLT had a certain effect
on prolonging the lifetime of wireless photoelectric sensor networks. To sum up, the scheduling algorithm has good performance in exploring divisible load.
Channel Estimation Based on Compressed Sensing Technique for Low-Voltage Power Line Communication
Authors: Liu Tao , Wang Yong-Jian , Zhao Yu-Fei
Published: November 2018

Broadband low-voltage power line communication (PLC) has many advantages including less investment cost, construction speed, and convenient access. Since the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology has strong anti-jamming and anti-frequency selective fading characteristics
naturally it becomes a better low voltage power line communication solution. We proposed an OFDM channel estimation method based on compressed sensing (CS) technique according to the channel characteristics of low-voltage power lines. CS algorithm in OFDM system was discussed and an orthogonal
matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm was applied to reconstruct the PLC channel information. The simulation results showed that the communication channel estimation method based on CS technique was feasible in PLC system, and the validity of information transmission in OFDM systems can be enhanced.
Optimization of Harmonic Detection System for Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Based on Mathematical Algorithm
Authors: Shen Danni , Yu Anji
Published: November 2018

Traditional gas detection technology has a certain degree of defects in all aspects, and it has not been able to adapt to the rapid development trend. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology has some good performance and is gradually being used in various industries.
First, a gas detection instrument is designed. Then, based on subsequent data processing techniques, a wavelet transform algorithm is proposed, and the noise removal and baseline correction functions of the detection system are implemented. The results show that the proposed method has good
removal effect on the inherent noise of the system and high efficiency. During the selection of the absorption line, the selected line of some gases cannot avoid the interference of adjacent peaks. Therefore, a mathematical analysis method of differential fold back algorithm is proposed. The
absorption peak shape is squeezed by the method of adjacent phase subtraction and displacement superposition. The problem is solved well, and the accuracy of concentration measurement of some gases is effectively improved.
Contributions of Climate Change, CO2, Land-Use Change, and Human Activities to Changes in River Flow across 10 Chinese Basins
Authors: Xi Yi , Peng Shushi , Ciais Philippe , Guimberteau Matthieu , Li Yue , Piao Shilong , Wang Xuhui , Polcher Jan , Yu Jiashuo , Zhang Xuanze , Zhou Feng , Bo Yan , Ottle Catherine , Yin Zun
Published: November 2018

As an essential source of freshwater river flow comprises ~80% of the water consumed in China. Per capita water resources in China are only a quarter of the global average, and its economy is demanding in water resources; this creates an urgent need to quantify the factors that contribute to changes in river flow. Here, we used an offline process-based land surface model (ORCHIDEE) at high spatial resolution (0.1° × 0.1°) to simulate the contributions of climate change, rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, and land-use change to the change in natural river flow for 10 Chinese basins from 1979 to 2015. We found that climate change, especially an increase in precipitation, was responsible for more than 90% of the changes in natural river flow, while the direct effect of rising CO2 concentration and land-use change contributes at most 6.3%. Nevertheless, rising CO2 concentration and land-use change cannot be neglected in most basins as these two factors significantly change transpiration. From 2003 to 2015, the increase in water consumption offset more than 30% of the increase in natural river flow in northern China, especially in the Yellow River basin (~140%), but it had little effect on observed river flow in southern China. Although the uncertainties of rainfall data and the statistical water consumption data could propagate the uncertainties in simulated river flow, this study could be helpful for water planning and management in China under the context of global warming.
Toward a Turbulence Closure Based on Energy Modes
Authors: Viebahn Jan , Crommelin Daan , Dijkstra Henk
Published: November 2018

A new approach to parameterizing subgrid-scale processes is proposed: The impact of the unresolved dynamics on the resolved dynamics (i.e., the eddy forcing) is represented by a series expansion in dynamical spatial modes that stem from the energy budget of the resolved dynamics. It is demonstrated that the convergence in these so-called energy modes is faster by orders of magnitude than the convergence in Fourier-type modes. Moreover, a novel way to test parameterizations in models is explored. The resolved dynamics and the corresponding instantaneous eddy forcing are defined via spatial filtering that accounts for the representation error of the equations of motion on the low-resolution model grid. In this way, closures can be tested within the high-resolution model, and the effects of different parameterizations related to different energy pathways can be isolated. In this study, the focus is on parameterizations of the baroclinic energy pathway. The corresponding standard closure in ocean models, the Gent–McWilliams (GM) parameterization, is also tested, and it is found that the GM field acts like a stabilizing direction in phase space. The GM field does not project well on the eddy forcing and hence fails to excite the model’s intrinsic low-frequency variability, but it is able to stabilize the model.
Identifying Psychological Strains in Suicide Notes
Authors: Zhang Jie , Lester David , Haines Janet , Williams Christopher L. , Zhou Rui , Qi Qing , Li Tang , Liu Lu , Ma Wen
Published: November 2018

The Strain Theory of Suicide and mental disorders proposes that psychological strains precede suicidal behaviors and psychiatric disorders. This study was designed to test the theory with a large sample of suicide notes collected from Tasmania, Australia. The content of 261 suicide notes was analyzed for the presence of four psychological strains. It was found that 39.6% of the 261 suicide notes had at least one of the four psychological strains, with aspiration and coping strains being the most prevalent. We then compared the ratings of psychological strains with ratings of thwarted belonging and perceived burdensomeness and found that the presence of aspiration strain and coping strain was associated with thwarted belonging, while aspiration and deprivation strains were associated with perceived burdensomeness.
Generational Changes in Personality: The Evidence From Corpus Linguistics
Authors: Roivainen Eka
Published: November 2018

According to theory, social change is interconnected with changes in mental phenomena and language. In the present study, secular change in the usage frequencies of common English personality adjectives ( n = 336) qualifying the word person was analyzed over the period 1900 to 2002. It was hypothesized that words that represent those personality traits that are advantageous in occupations typical for modern societies have increased in frequency. The results show changes in the frequencies of individual words but stability across the five major categories of trait adjectives in the Google Books English fiction corpus. A modest increase for Extraversion-, Agreeableness-, and Stability-related adjectives was observed in the Google Books English 2012 corpus. Frequency of Intellect-related words increased up to 1960 and then declined. The results suggest that (a) human nature has changed little over the 20th century, (b) generational changes in personality are not strongly reflected in language, or (c) the corpus linguistic method used is not reliable for studying generational changes in personality.
Mechanical and thermal behaviors of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene triaxial braids: the influence of structural parameters
Authors: Xiao Shenglei , Lanceron Charles , Wang Peng , Soulat Damien , Gao Hang
Published: November 2018

Recently, triaxial braids made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) have been recognized as one of the most popular composite reinforcements in the aerospace and defense fields. To further explore the mechanical characteristics of this material, a detailed experimental study on tensile behavior is reported in this paper. The triaxial braids show a “double-peak” phenomenon in tensile strength and deformation, caused by axial yarns and the in-plane shearing of bias yarns. The evolution of the braiding angle, measured during these tensile tests, is discussed according to the braiding parameters (initial braiding angle, number of axial yarns). Using the high conductivity properties of the UHMWPE material, the temperature caused by inter-yarn friction during tensile tests is also studied. This temperature is related to the evolution of the braiding angle. The temperature increases with the increasing number of axial yarns and decreases with increasing braiding angle. This study provides an experimental database on the influence of braiding parameters on the tensile behavior of triaxial braids.
It All Starts With Forging Social Ties: Developing School Leadership From the Social Network Perspectives
Authors: Wang Yinying
Published: November 2018

School leadership can be developed and strengthened from many approaches, including, but not limited to, transformational, instructional, distributed, and social justice leadership. This article presents an alternative perspective to develop school leadership from the social network perspectives. Drawing upon the growing body of research on social networks in school leadership, this article elucidates the evidence-based school leadership practices from four facets: social ties, network structure, social influence, and school culture. These four facets influence one another as the school leaders emerge, exercise leadership, and build a nurturing school culture through forging social ties, shaping network structure, and gaining social influence.
Facebook as an instrument of election campaigning and voters’ engagement: Comparing Czechia and Poland
Authors: Stetka Vaclav , Surowiec Paweł , Mazák Jaromír
Published: November 2018

Adding to the growing scholarship on the use and role of social media in election campaigning, this article examines and compares the character and determinants of Internet users’ engagement with political party communication in 2013 and 2015 Parliamentary election campaigns in Czechia and Poland. Apart from the relationship between the thematic focus of party-produced content and the level of users’ interactivity, the study also explores the way the tonality of users’ comments is influenced by different types of party communication, as well as by users’ gender. The results suggest that the level of support for a party status is largely independent of the content of the message in both countries. The type of content has, however, an effect on the intensity of criticism by the users, with policy-related subjects generating more negativity than mobilization- or campaign-oriented statuses. Finally, the study points to both gender gaps and gender as a strong predictor of user negativity, as female users – while constituting a minority of participants in both countries – tend to be significantly less negative in their comments towards the home party. Overall, the comparative study reveals both similarities and differences in the way Czech and Polish parties utilize Facebook as campaign platform, as well as in their respective Internet users’ engagement with parties messages.
Who Is Exposed to News? It Depends on How You Measure: Examining Self-Reported Versus Behavioral News Exposure Measures
Authors: Vraga Emily K. , Tully Melissa
Published: November 2018

Despite the importance of news exposure to political outcomes, news consumption is notoriously difficult to measure, and misreporting news exposure is common. In this study, we compare participants’ news behaviors measured on a news aggregator website with their self-reported story selection immediately after exposure. We find that both individual and contextual characteristics—especially the presence of political cues in news headlines—influence reporting of news story selection. As a result, the news audience profiles differ using self-reported versus behavioral measures, creating two different pictures of news exposure. More attention is needed to improve news measurement strategies to address misreporting and to improve the accuracy of news audience profiles.
Fractured Care: A Window Into Emergency Transitions in Care for LTC Residents With Complex Health Needs
Authors: Cummings Greta G. , McLane Patrick , Reid R. Colin , Tate Kaitlyn , Cooper Sarah L. , Rowe Brian H. , Estabrooks Carole A. , Cummings Garnet E. , Abel Stephanie L. , Lee Jacques S. , Robinson Carole A. , Wagg Adrian
Published: November 2018

Objective: For long-term care (LTC) residents, transfers to emergency departments (EDs) can be associated with poor health outcomes. We aimed to describe characteristics of residents transferred, factors related to decisions during transfer, care received in emergency medical services (EMS), ED settings, outcomes on return to LTC, and times of transfer segments along the transition. Method: We prospectively followed 637 transitions to an ED in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, over a 12-month period. Data were captured through an electronic Transition Tracking Tool and interviews with health care professionals. Results: Common events triggering transfer were falls (26.8%), sudden change in condition (23.5%), and shortness of breath (19.8%). Discrepancies existed between reason for transfer, EMS reported chief complaint, and ED diagnosis. Many transfers resulted in resident return directly to LTC (42.7%). Discussion: Avoidable transfers may put residents at risk of receiving inappropriate care. Standardized communication strategies to highlight changes in resident condition are warranted.
Early-Holocene glacier fluctuations of northern Grovabreen, western Norway
Authors: Aa Asbjørn Rune , Sønstegaard Eivind
Published: November 2018

Marginal moraines on the northern side of Grovabreen, a plateau glacier in inner Sunnfjord, Western Norway, have been mapped and morphostratigraphically correlated with the Erdalen Event and possibly the Finse Event and the ‘Little Ice Age’. Schmidt-hammer exposure-age dating was used to evaluate the age of the most distinct marginal moraines by measuring the degree of surface weathering on boulders. The lithostratigraphy of lake sediments was analysed in a core from Dalevatnet in order to correlate this stratigraphy with the marginal moraines in the catchment area of the lake and reconstruct the early-Holocene history of Grovabreen. The lake catchment was deglaciated at 10,750 cal. yr BP. Two readvances of an outlet glacier in Fagredalen were dated to between 10,340 and 9960 cal. yr BP, correlated with the two-peaked Erdalen Event. A readvance shortly after 8450 cal. yr BP can most probably be correlated with the 8200 cal. yr BP Finse Event.
Negotiating Scholarly Identity Through an International Doctoral Workshop: A Cosmopolitan Approach to Doctoral Education
Authors: Mu Guanglun Michael , Zhang Huajun , Cheng Wei , Fang Yangyang , Li Shuguang , Wang Xiangxu , Dooley Karen
Published: November 2018

Current trends in the internationalization of doctoral programs require new understandings of the formation of scholarly identity. This study explores the utility of a cosmopolitan perspective. It reports on identity projects sparked by Chinese students’ participation in a doctoral workshop in Australia; it highlights the realization, retrieval, repositioning, and reshaping of the students’ scholarly selves. This identity work mirrors the complexities induced by the internationalization of doctoral pedagogies. We present the students’ identity work here to illuminate extant practice and further study of internationalized doctoral education.
Implications of the GC-HARMS Fishermen’s Citizen Science Network: Issues Raised, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps for the Network and Citizen Science
Authors: Sullivan John , Croisant Sharon , Howarth Marilyn , Subra Wilma , Orr Marylee , Elferink Cornelis
Published: November 2018

This paper is intended to complement our extended documentation and analysis of the activities of the Gulf Coast Health Alliance: Health Risks related to the Macondo Spill project Community Outreach and Dissemination Core entitled, “Building and maintaining a citizen science network with fishermen and fishing communities after the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach.” We discuss nuances of CBPR practice, including trust-building, clarification of stakeholder expectations, balancing timelines and agendas, cultural fluency, and the importance of regional history—political-economic context, regulatory practices, and cultural life-ways—in creating social dynamics that overarch and underpin the entire process. We examine the unique role of knowledge-making hybrid structures like the project’s Fishermen’s citizen science network and compare/contrast this structure with other models of participatory science or deliberation. Finally, we reiterate the importance of environmental health literacy efforts, summarize project outcomes, and offer thoughts on the future roles of collaborative efforts among communities and institutional science in environmental public health.
A Quality Improvement Intervention to Improve the Efficiency of Arteriovenous Access Placement for Pre-Dialysis Inpatients
Authors: Brahmbhatt Yasmin , Burke Peter , Shinn Brianna , Menachem Brandon , Abai Babak , Salvatore Dawn , Sorokin Rachel
Published: November 2018

The authors aimed to improve the rate of pre-dialysis arteriovenous (AV) access placement for hospitalized patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. The authors developed and implemented a protocol for hospitalized adult patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <20 mL/min to streamline the workflow for obtaining AV access. The protocol was piloted on 5 inpatient medical services over 3 months at 1 institution. Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Realistic-Timely (SMART) aims, Fishbone diagrams, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and run charts were used to assess the process and outcomes of the intervention. There were 22 patients in the baseline group and 27 patients in the intervention group. Pre-dialysis AV access increased from 23% to 46%. Length of stay did not differ significantly between the baseline group (8.31 days) and the intervention group (8.4 days). Pathways can improve pre-dialysis AV access without significantly increasing length of stay.
Assessing Triangulation Across Methodologies, Methods, and Stakeholder Groups: The Joys, Woes, and Politics of Interpreting Convergent and Divergent Data
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Goodman-Williams Rachael , Feeney Hannah , Fehler-Cabral Giannina
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop triangulation coding methods for a large-scale action research and evaluation project and to examine how practitioners and policy makers interpreted both convergent and divergent data. We created a color-coded system that evaluated the extent of triangulation across methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), data collection methods (observations, interviews, and archival records), and stakeholder groups (five distinct disciplines/organizations). Triangulation was assessed for both specific data points (e.g., a piece of historical/contextual information or qualitative theme) and substantive findings that emanated from further analysis of those data points (e.g., a statistical model or a mechanistic qualitative assertion that links themes). We present five case study examples that explore the complexities of interpreting triangulation data and determining whether data are deemed credible and actionable if not convergent.
Outcome of endovascular salvage of immature hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas
Authors: Kim Yaeni , Chung Byung Ha , Choi Bum Soon , Park Cheol Whee , Yang Chul Woo , Kim Yong-Soo
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

To assess the causes of immature hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula and the outcome of endovascular salvage.

Methods:

The outcome of 207 endovascular salvage procedures in 139 patients after the first successful cannulation was analyzed retrospectively from January 2011 to December 2017 in the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.

Results:

Of the 139 patients aged 62 ± 13 years, 45% were women, 59% had diabetes, and 71% were maintained on hemodialysis using central venous catheters. Mean interval between arteriovenous fistula creation and referral to angiography was 87 ± 63 days. While inflow stenosis (54.4%) was the most common cause of immature forearm fistulas (n = 76), both inflow (38.6%) and mixed stenosis (35.1%) were the main causes of immature upper arm fistulas (n = 63). Endovascular salvage procedures included percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 174) and accessory vein obliteration (n = 30). The overall technical and clinical success rates were 97% and 93.4%, respectively. Mean interval between endovascular procedure and the first successful cannulation of the fistula was 28 ± 35 days. At 3, 6, and 12 months following the first successful cannulation, the primary patency rates were 81%, 69.5%, and 57.6%, respectively, and the secondary patency rates were 97.2%, 96%, and 94.8%, respectively. Mixed stenosis was the only determinant of secondary patency rate of immature arteriovenous fistula (hazard ratio = 6.334, confidence interval = 1.364–29.423, p = 0.018), and patients with mixed stenosis had poorer access outcomes ( p = 0.016).

Conclusion:

Immature arteriovenous fistulas can be successfully salvaged by aggressive and timely endovascular intervention. Mixed stenosis is associated with poor access outcomes.
Adverse Human Health Impacts in the Anthropocene
Authors: Olawoyin Richard
Published: November 2018

This commentary presents a summarized discussion of key findings and relevant ideas from previously published study, index analysis, and human health risk model application for evaluating ambient air-heavy metal contamination in Chemical Valley Sarnia (CVS). The CVS study provides previously unavailable data in the CVS area which evaluates the adverse effects on air quality due to nearby anthropogenic activities. The study provided an assessment of environmental pollutants, finding that carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances are present in trace quantities. The main findings of the study suggest that chronic exposure of humans to several contaminants identified in the area studied may lead to carcinogenic health effects, including cancer (such as nephroblastomatosis) as well as non-carcinogenic health effects, such as damage to the tracheobronchial tree. Children were found to have a significantly higher risk, that is, a higher hazard index: a value used to measure non-carcinogenic health risk from heavy metals identified in air samples collected during the research period from 2014 to 2017. This study quantified the influence of environmental contaminants, relative to human exposures and the consequence of developing nephroblastomatosis in the human population.
Induced Abortions Among Women Having Undergone Total Hip Replacement: A Nationwide Register Study in Finland
Authors: Kuitunen I. , Skyttä E. T. , Eskelinen A. , Huhtala H. , Artama M.
Published: November 2018

Background and Aims:

No previous studies have analyzed the connection between total hip replacement and induced abortion. We evaluated the nationwide induced abortion rates among women with and without total hip replacement.

Materials and Methods:

Data for this cohort study were gathered from national registers from 1987 to 2007. All fertile-aged (15–44 years old) females who had undergone primary total hip replacement in Finland were selected. The total hip replacement patient group comprised 1713 women and the reference group 5148 women. Information on all pregnancies for both groups before and after total hip replacement/index date was gathered from the medical birth register and the register of induced abortion. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the adjusted odds ratio for induced abortion. Adjustment was made for age at induced abortion, parity, previous induced abortions, previous deliveries, and marital status.

Results:

Women had higher induced abortion proportions after total hip replacement (17.9%) compared with women before total hip replacement (14.1%) and the referents (13.9%), but the differences were not statistically significant. Women in the total hip replacement patient group had significantly more induced abortions after total hip replacement due to maternal health issues (14.7%) compared with the referents (2.7%), p = 0.003. Patients in the total hip replacement group were not more likely to have their pregnancy ending in induced abortion than the women in the reference group (odds ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval 0.89–1.96, p = 0.17). However, in the adjusted analysis, there was a trend for higher risk for pregnancy to end in induced abortion in the total hip replacement group in relation to the reference group (adjusted odds ratio 1.50 (confidence interval 0.99–2.28, p = 0.05).

Conclusion:

The total hip replacement patient group had higher, but statistically insignificant, induced abortion proportions compared with the reference group before and after the operation. After total hip replacement, the patients were not more likely to have a pregnancy ending in induced abortion. This finding remained statistically insignificant after adjusting with possible confounders.
Reduced-order thermomechanical modeling of multibody systems using floating frame of reference formulation
Authors: Yamashita Hiroki , Arora Rohit , Kanazawa Hiroyuki , Sugiyama Hiroyuki
Published: November 2018

In this study, a reduced-order thermomechanical coupling model, which accounts for the inertia coupling of the thermoelastic deformation and the large reference body motion, is proposed using the floating frame of reference formulation for the transient thermomechanical analysis of constrained multibody systems. In this approach, the reduced-order heat equations are fully embedded in the final form of the equations of motion. Accordingly, the transient thermal response as well as the resulting thermoelastic behavior of constrained multibody system can be predicted within the general multibody dynamics computer algorithm. It is demonstrated that appropriate selection of the thermal interface coordinates is crucial for describing the thermal modes (i.e. temperature distribution) induced by external heat sources using the Craig–Bampton component mode synthesis approach generalized for thermomechanical systems. Furthermore, a systematic procedure for imposing prescribed surface temperature given, for example, from thermal-fluid dynamics simulations is proposed for the thermomechanical floating frame of reference formulation. Using several numerical examples, simulation capabilities of the thermomechanical floating frame of reference formulation model are demonstrated for multibody dynamics applications. Numerical results show good agreement with the nonlinear thermomechanical finite element solutions considering the large rotational motion with substantial reduction in the model dimensionality and computational time.
How Should Academics Engage in Policymaking to Achieve Impact?
Authors: Cairney Paul , Oliver Kathryn
Published: November 2018

This article reviews the advice from the academic and ‘grey’ literatures to identify a list of dos and don’ts for academics seeking ‘impact’ from their research. From ‘how to do it’ sources, we identify consistent advice on how to engage effectively, largely because it is necessarily vague, safe, and focused primarily on individuals. We then consider the wider policymaking system in which actors make political choices and have unequal access to impact opportunities. We identify the effort it takes to have actual policy impact and how far academics should be expected to go to secure and take credit for it.
Influence of Elastane Consumption on Plated Plain Knitted Fabric Characteristics
Authors: Abdessalem Saber Ben , Abdelkader Youssef Ben , Mokhtar Sofiene , Elmarzougui Saber
Published: November 2018

The requirements in terms of wearing comfort with sportswear underwear and outerwear are widely linked to the use of elastane fibers. Today, elastomeric plated jersey fabric is one of the most common fabrics produced with large-diameter circular knitting machine (LCKM). However, the relation between elastane proportion and fabric characteristics has not been enough studied in literature and knitters generally use experience during machines adjustments in to order reach needed fabric characteristics. The aim of this paper was to investigate the relation between Lycra® consumption and fabric dimensional and elastic behavior. The obtained results showed that Lycra® proportion inside fabric has an incidence on fabric width, weight and elasticity. The origin of this behaviour has been discussed.
Bagging Behavior of Different Fabric Structures Knitted from Blended Yarns using Image Processing
Authors: Hasani Hossein , Zadeh Sanaz Hassan , Behtaj Sanaz
Published: November 2018

This work focuses on the effect of blend ratios and fabric structure on the residual bagging height of knitted fabrics produced from blended rotor yarns using image analysis technique. Simplex lattice design was used to determine the combinations of mixture ratios of the fiber types. Knitted fabrics with three different structures were produced from Viscose/polyester blended rotor yarns. Mixture-process crossed regression models with two mixture components and one process variable (tightness factor) were built to predict the residual bagging height.
Anti-felting Oxidation Treatment of Cashmere Fibers
Authors: Li Long , Jiang Fang , Jia Guiqin , Wang Wei
Published: November 2018

Cashmere fiber produces felting during laundering because of its scale. In this work, anti-felting treatment of cashmere fibers was investigated using the potassium permanganate oxidizing method, and the optimum oxidizing treatment parameter was obtained through orthogonal experiment. The fibers felting, tensile property, scale morphology, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and directional frictional effect of oxidized cashmere fibers were also tested. Experimental results showed that optimum anti-felting condition of cashmere fiber was 3g/L potassium permanganate (KMnO4) for 20min under the condition at temperature 50°C and pH3. The felting assembly volume of oxidized cashmere decreased. XPS test showed that hydroxyl group (-OH) content of oxidized cashmere fiber lowed.
Melt-Processing and Properties of Coaxial Fibers Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Laforgue Alexis , Champagne Michel F. , Dumas Jean , Robitaille Lucie
Published: November 2018

Polypropylene-multiwalled carbon nanotube (PP-CNT) composites were spun into fibers using melt-spinning methods. The CNT content was varied by diluting the commercial masterbatch with a low viscosity PP homopolymer grade. The conductivity, as well as the mechanical properties, of the fibers were systematically tested in order to find the optimal formulation. Post-stretching was used to improve the mechanical properties of the fibers as well as to decrease the fiber diameters. Fibers having a conductivity of 0.4 S/cm, a Young's modulus of 5.4 GPa and a tensile strength of 250 MPa were obtained after a three-fold stretching.

Trilayer coaxial fibers similar to data transfer coaxial cables (two conductive layers separated by an insulating layer) were then produced in a one-step melt-spinning method using a specially designed die, followed by solid state post-stretching.
Dynamic Permeability of Porous Elastic Fabrics
Authors: Gibson Phillip W. , Desabrais Kenneth , Godfrey Thomas
Published: November 2018

This paper describes permeability measurements for porous fabrics as influenced by strain, humidity, air flow rate, and fabric elasticity. The focus is on standard parachute fabrics, where the fabric's porosity and air permeability influence the rate of steady-state descent, and also affect the complicated fluid-structure interactions taking place during parachute opening and deployment. High strength nylon parachute fabrics showed relatively small permeability changes due to strain, humidity, and flow rate. Comparative measurements on elastomeric fabrics showed much larger changes in air flow due to fabric dimensional changes at high pressures and flow rates. Elastomeric fabrics that stretch and change permeability in response to higher pressures and flow rates may be able to reduce the “opening shock” during the parachute deployment phase.
Influence of Molecular Orientation on the Melting Behavior of Poly(phenylene sulfide) Fibers
Authors: Gulgunje Prabhakar , Bhat Gajanan , Spruiell Joseph
Published: November 2018

The influence of molecular orientation on the melting behavior of draw-annealed poly(phenylene sulfide) fibers is investigated in the present paper. Tools used to probe the investigation were differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and small angle X-ray diffraction. It is shown that molecular orientation in the crystalline and amorphous regions play a key role in crystal rearrangement during melting. A probable mechanism by which amorphous orientation influences crystal rearrangement is also discussed.
Influence of Fabric Structural Attributes on Their Aerodynamic Behavior
Authors: Bardal Lars Morten , Oggiano Luca , Troynikov Olga , Konopov Inna
Published: November 2018

The aerodynamic properties of 15 knitted fabrics of varying cover factor, yarn, and fiber compositions were investigated for their aerodynamic properties on circular cylinders in a wind tunnel. Measurements of the drag force, pressure distribution, and the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique were used in order to obtain a better understanding of the effects of yarn, fiber composition, cover factor, and elastic deformation on the flow field and drag coefficient. It was clearly demonstrated from the drag force measurements that the yarn construction and fiber composition have a substantial effect on the drag coefficient (CD), with fabrics composed of spun yarn experiencing no CD-drop as opposed to those composed of filament yarn, and being almost unaffected by the cover factor in the range of Reynolds numbers investigated. Hairiness of the spun yarn was found to minimise the drag-reducing effect of the boundary layer transition and increase the trans-critical drag. The hairy surface layer also appeared to retard the turbulent boundary layer as almost no pressure recovery was observed prior to separation on the cylinder model.

The effect of elastic deformation was investigated by image analysis of scanned textile samples, and demonstrated that surface roughness might not be directly correlated to cover factor when the fabrics are stretched. Different elastic behavior of fabrics with different cover factors was also found to affect the structure of the knit surface and thus their aerodynamic behavior. The onset of drag crisis found in drag measurements confirmed the deviation from a sequence determined solely by cover factor.
Introducing Old-look, Soft Handle, Flame Retardant, and Anti-bacterial Properties to Denim Garments Using Nano Clay
Authors: Maryan Ali Sadeghian , Montazer Majid , Rashidi Abousaid
Published: November 2018

In this paper, nano clay as a novel garment finishing technique termed “nano-washing,” was applied to cotton denim garments and compared with conventional washing involving amylase and cellulase. Color changes of the garment samples were investigated by using a reflectance spectrophotometer and the garment surfaces were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Air permeability, crease recovery angle, bending strength, abrasion resistance, thermal properties, and antibacterial activity of the treated samples were investigated and reported. It was found that treatment of denim garment with nano clay produced old look garment with soft handle, enhanced thermal and rubbing or washing fastness properties. Overall, this novel nano-washing process on the denim garment was an easy, economical, and simple method with a great deal of advantages.
Comparison of the Post-Impact Behavior of Tubular Braided and Filament Wound Glass/Polyester Composites under Compression
Authors: Beni Zahra Tadi , Johari Majid Safar , Ahmadi Mohammad Saleh
Published: November 2018

In this study, different tubular braided and filament wound structures were produced using a Maypole braiding machine with glass fiber and then consolidated with unsaturated polyester resin using the Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP).

For experimental tests, half of the samples were impacted in the center with 2.74 J impact energy. Then the compression test was conducted on all of the specimens. Graphs of force-elongation were obtained and the failure works of the specimens were calculated.

It was observed that non-impacted filament wound tubular composites have 34% higher failure work than those of their braided counterparts with the same fiber volume fraction (FVF), which is due to the existence of more reinforcing layers in filament wound structure compared with braided composites. The braided composites with the same number of layers as filament-wound ones have higher FVF and higher wall thickness, hence, show higher compression properties.

However, the drop of compression properties after the impact load is significantly higher in filament wound composites compared with the braided ones with the same FVF. Therefore it can be concluded that the interlacing structure of fibers in braided composites controls the delamination and restricts the propagation of cracks in the structures after being subjected to impact loads, and causes a less drop in the compression properties of the composites.
Investigation on Physical Properties of Textured Yarns Produced from PP/LDPE Blends
Authors: Mehrabli Bahareh , Mohaddes Mojtahedi Mohammad Reza , Shoushtari Ahmad Mousavi
Published: November 2018

Presently, for economic and technological concerns, production of blended fibers has attracted the attention of industrial technologists and academic researchers. The importance of blended fibers can be derived from its use in the various fields such as geotextiles, composites, and insulation. In this study, PP/LDPE blended filament yarns with blend ratios of 100/0, 99/1, 97/3, 95/5, 93/7, 90/10 were melt spun, drawn, and textured at temperatures of 110, 120,130,140 and 150°C. Tensile properties (except modulus) of the textured yarns spun from PP/LDPE blends were found to be higher than those of pure PP at most applied texturing temperatures. Crimp properties of samples were improved by increasing the texturing temperature. By increasing the LDPE fraction in samples, especially at 140°C and 150°C, however, lower crimp properties were observed.
An Optimization Approach to the Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Particulate Filled Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Authors: Moorthy S. Srinivasa , Manonmani K. , Elangovan T.
Published: November 2018

The new set of hybrid composites consisting of randomly oriented short e glass fiber reinforcement, polyester resin and titanium oxide (TiO2) particulate were developed by hand layup technique. Wear test was carried out by rubber wheel abrasive test (RWAT) rig with the four operating variables filler content, applied load, abrasive grit size (Al2O3) and test duration. The wear test of the composites were done on the basis of Taguchi's L9 (34) Orthogonal array. Analysis of variance and S/N ratio was used to study the optimum wear. From, Taguchi's experimental design a mathematical regression model of the wear rate was suggested. Genetic algorithm (GA) was used to compare the result which obtained from Taguchi's design of experiment. The fitness graph from the GA gives the better fitness function in which the operating variables were determined and the minimum wear rate was obtained. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image discovered to review the crater formation and fiber pull out.
Extended Chain Crystals of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Prepared by Melt Spinning
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Wang Qingzhao , Chen Yong
Published: November 2018

The extended-chain crystal structure of the UHMWPE fibers prepared by melt spinning method was studied with WAXD, DSC and SEM. At draw ratio (DR) values higher than 24, double melting peaks were observed from the DSC thermograms, the corresponding temperatures being 137.1–142°C and 142–145°C, respectively. With the increase of DR values, the lengths in a and b axis of the unit cell shortened, and the unit cell remained orthorhombic even if the DR values increased to 60. At DR values lower than 24, the crystallinity and orientation degree of the UHMWPE fibers affected the tensile strength of fibers markedly. At DR values were higher than 24, the abundantly produced extended-chain crystals mainly dominated the improvement of tensile strength of the UHMWPE fibers.
Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Quaternary Cement Concrete
Authors: Kanagavel Ramesh , Arunachalam K.
Published: November 2018

Mechanical properties of quaternary blending cement concrete reinforced with hybrid fibers are evaluated in this experimental study. The steel fibers were added at volume fractions of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5 % and polypropylene fibers were added at 0.25% and 0.5% by weight of cementitious materials in the concrete mix individually and in hybrid form to determine the compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance for all the mixes. The experimental results revealed that fiber addition improves the mechanical properties and also the ductility and energy absorption of the concrete. The results also demonstrate that the hybrid steel – polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete performs better in compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance than mono steel and mono polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete.