bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intersegmental coordination elicited by unexpected multidirectional slipping-like perturbations resembles that adopted during steady locomotion
Authors: Aprigliano Federica , Martelli Dario , Micera Silvestro , Monaco Vito
Published: November 2015

This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that reactive biomechanical responses elicited by unexpected slipping-like perturbations delivered during steady walking are characterized by an intersegmental coordination strategy resembling that adopted during unperturbed walking. Fifteen healthy subjects were asked to manage multidirectional slipping-like perturbations delivered while they walked steadily. The planar covariation law of elevation angles related to lower limb segments was the main observed variable related to unperturbed and perturbed strides. Principal component analysis was used to verify whether elevation angles covaried, both before and after the onset of the perturbation, and, if so, the orientation of the related planes of covariation was compared. Results revealed that the planar covariation law of the unperturbed limb after onset of the perturbation was systematically similar to that seen during steady walking. This occurred despite differences in range of motion and intersubject variability of both elevation and joint angles. The analysis strongly corroborates the hypothesis that the planar covariation law emerges from the interaction between spinal neural networks and limb mechanical oscillators. In particular, fast and stereotyped reactive strategies may result from the interaction among activities of downstream neural networks encrypting well-trained motor schemes, such as those related to walking, limb dynamics, and sensory motor information gathered during the perturbation. In addition, our results allowed us to speculate that rehabilitative treatment based on unexpected perturbations and relying on the plasticity of the central nervous system may also be effective in eliciting unimpaired intralimb coordination in neurological patients.
Slow maturation of planning in obstacle avoidance in humans
Authors: Corporaal Sharissa H. A. , Swinnen Stephan P. , Duysens Jacques , Bruijn Sjoerd M.
Published: November 2015

Complex gait (e.g., obstacle avoidance) requires a higher cognitive load than simple steady-state gait, which is a more automated movement. The higher levels of the central nervous system, responsible for adjusting motor plans to complex gait, develop throughout childhood into adulthood. Therefore, we hypothesize that gait strategies in complex gait are likely to mature until adulthood as well. However, little is known about the maturation of complex gait from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. To address this issue, we investigated obstacle avoidance in forty-four 8- to 18-yr-old participants who walked at preferred speed along a 6-m walkway on which a planar obstacle (150% of step length, 1 m wide) was projected. Participants avoided the obstacle by stepping over this projection, while lower body kinematics were recorded. Results showed that step length and speed adjustments during successful obstacle avoidance were similar across all ages, even though younger children modified step width to a greater extent. Additionally, the younger children used larger maximal toe elevations and take-off distances than older children. Moreover, during unsuccessful trials, younger children deployed exaggerated take-off distances, which resulted in obstacle contact upon the consecutive heel strike. These results indicate that obstacle avoidance is not fully matured in younger children, and that the inability to plan precise foot placements is an important factor contributing to failures in obstacle avoidance.
Association of Cytokeratin and Vimentin Protein in the Genesis of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder Patients
Authors: Rahmani Arshad H. , Babiker Ali Y. , AlWanian Wanian M. , Elsiddig Shawgi A. , Faragalla Hassan E. , Aly Salah M.
Published: November 2015

The aim of study was to examine the localization and distribution of cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin protein and their association with clinical outcome of the TCC patients. Expression pattern of cytokeratin and vimentin was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in TCC cases and inflammatory lesions. Cytoplasmic expression of CK was noticed in 52.17% of TCC cases and its expression was not observed in inflammatory lesions of bladder specimens. Vimentin showed expression in 69.00% cases of TCC. Significant differences were noticed in expression pattern of CK and vimentin in inflammatory lesion and Transitional Cell Carcinoma cases. Vimentin expression increased with the grade of TCC and this difference was statistically significant whereas expression of CK decreased according to the grade of TCC. Furthermore, it was also observed that expression pattern of vimentin was high in ≥55 years as compared to <55 age group patients and these differences were significant in men as compared to women. Expression pattern of CK did not show any significant relation with age and gender. Therefore, it can be concluded that cytokeratin and vimentin will be helpful markers in the early diagnosis of Transitional Cell Carcinoma/bladder carcinoma.
Wireless Sensor-Based Smart-Clothing Platform for ECG Monitoring
Authors: Wang Jie , Lin Chung-Chih , Yu Yan-Shuo , Yu Tsang-Chu
Published: November 2015

The goal of this study is to use wireless sensor technologies to develop a smart clothes service platform for health monitoring. Our platform consists of smart clothes, a sensor node, a gateway server, and a health cloud. The smart clothes have fabric electrodes to detect electrocardiography (ECG) signals. The sensor node improves the accuracy of QRS complexes detection by morphology analysis and reduces power consumption by the power-saving transmission functionality. The gateway server provides a reconfigurable finite state machine (RFSM) software architecture for abnormal ECG detection to support online updating. Most normal ECG can be filtered out, and the abnormal ECG is further analyzed in the health cloud. Three experiments are conducted to evaluate the platform’s performance. The results demonstrate that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the smart clothes exceeds 37 dB, which is within the “very good signal” interval. The average of the QRS sensitivity and positive prediction is above 99.5%. Power-saving transmission is reduced by nearly 1980 times the power consumption in the best-case analysis.
Global Optimization for Transport Network Expansion and Signal Setting
Authors: Liu Haoxiang , Wang David Z. W. , Yue Hao
Published: November 2015

This paper proposes a model to address an urban transport planning problem involving combined network design and signal setting in a saturated network. Conventional transport planning models usually deal with the network design problem and signal setting problem separately. However, the fact that network capacity design and capacity allocation determined by network signal setting combine to govern the transport network performance requires the optimal transport planning to consider the two problems simultaneously. In this study, a combined network capacity expansion and signal setting model with consideration of vehicle queuing on approaching legs of intersection is developed to consider their mutual interactions so that best transport network performance can be guaranteed. We formulate the model as a bilevel program and design an approximated global optimization solution method based on mixed-integer linearization approach to solve the problem, which is inherently nnonlinear and nonconvex. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the model application and the efficiency of solution algorithm.
Extraction and Analysis of Strontium in Water Sample Using a Sr2+Selective Polymer as the Absorbent Phase
Authors: Ying Rongjian
Published: November 2015

A kind of Sr2+selective resin was applied as an absorption phase to extract Sr2+ion from an aqueous solution, and the amount of Sr2+was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Factors, including absorption time, temperature, stirring rate, salt-out effect, desorption, and the pH of the aqueous solution, were investigated to optimize the absorption efficiency of Sr2+. Foreign ions were examined to observe their effects on the absorption behavior of Sr2+. The optimum condition was absorption time at 20 min, pH of aqueous solution 7, temperature of 35°C, and 600 rpm stirring rate. A 10 mL solution of 0.1 mol/L HCl is used as the desorption agent. The linear range of Sr2+concentrations from 50 to 1200 μg/L was investigated with the slope of 183 μg/L. The limit of detection was 21 μg/L with 4.23% relative standard deviation. The correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9947. Under the optimized conditions, the concentrations of Sr2+in four water samples were detected by the developed method. We propose that this method effectively extracts strontium ion from environmental water samples.
A Case of Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Causing Mitral Valve Papillary Muscle Rupture
Authors: Tamse Tiffany , Rampersad Avind , Jordan-Villegas Alejandro , Ireland Jill
Published: November 2015

Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (IHES) is a rare disease that can be difficult to diagnose as the differential is broad. This disease can cause significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Our patient is a 17-year-old adolescent female who presented with nonspecific symptoms of abdominal pain and malaise. She was incidentally found to have hypereosinophilia of 16,000 on complete blood count and nonspecific colitis and pulmonary edema on computed tomography. She went into cardiogenic shock due to papillary rupture of her mitral valve requiring extreme life support measures including intubation and extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as well as mitral valve replacement. Pathology of the valve showed eosinophilic infiltration as the underlying etiology. The patient was diagnosed with IHES after the exclusion of infectious, rheumatologic, and oncologic causes. She was treated with steroids with improvement of her symptoms and scheduled for close follow-up. In general patients with IHES that have cardiac involvement have poorer prognoses.
Fabrication of Ag and Ni Nanocatalyst with Enhanced Efficiency
Authors: Hussain Tajamal , Zubaida Butt Mira Tul , Ahmed Mirza Nadeem , Raza Muhammad Hamid , Farooqi Zahoor Hussain , Shehzad Khurram , Mujahid Adnan , Batool Rabia
Published: November 2015

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have received significant attention in last decade because of their unique properties. In this work, two different metal NPs have been prepared and their catalytic activities are compared with conventional catalyst. In first case, Ag NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction method in ethanolic medium. Synthesized Ag NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images which indicated an average particle size of Ag around 250 nm. The catalytic activity of Ag NPs was investigated for the oxidative mineralization of methylene blue dye. Comparative studies suggested that Ag NPs possess enhanced catalytic activity compared to bulk Ag. In second approach, supported Ni NPs were fabricated using Al2O3as supporting surface; that is, Ni NPs get adsorbed on Al2O3through in situ reduction reaction. Oxidative degradation of methylene blue indicated that catalytic activity of supported Ni/Al2O3is about five times higher than simple Ni as catalyst.
Insights into the Mechanism of Severe Mitral Regurgitation: RT-3D TEE Guided Management with Pathological Correlation
Authors: Anand Senthil , Hamoud Naktal , Thompson Jess , Janardhanan Rajesh
Published: November 2015

Mitral valve perforation is an uncommon but important complication of infective endocarditis. We report a case of a 65-year-old man who was diagnosed to have infective endocarditis of his mitral valve. Through the course of his admission he had a rapid development of hemodynamic instability and pulmonary edema secondary to acutely worsening mitral regurgitation. While the TEE demonstrated an increase in the size of his bacterial vegetation, Real Time 3D TEE was ultimately the imaging modality through which the valve perforation was identified. Through this case report we discuss the advantages that RT-3D TEE has over traditional 2D TEE in the management of valve perforation.
InsR/IGF1R Pathway Mediates Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors in Glioblastoma
Authors: Ma Yufang , Tang Nan , Thompson Reid C. , Mobley Bret C. , Clark Steven W. , Sarkaria Jann N. , Wang Jialiang
Published: November 2015

Purpose: Aberrant activation of EGFR is a hallmark of glioblastoma. However, EGFR inhibitors exhibit at best modest efficacy in glioblastoma. This is in sharp contrast with the observations in EGFR-mutant lung cancer. We examined whether activation of functionally redundant receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) conferred resistance to EGFR inhibitors in glioblastoma.

Experimental Design: We collected a panel of patient-derived glioblastoma xenograft (PDX) lines that maintained expression of wild-type or mutant EGFR in serial xenotransplantation and tissue cultures. Using this physiologically relevant platform, we tested the abilities of several RTK ligands to protect glioblastoma cells against an EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib. Based on the screening results, we further developed a combination therapy cotargeting EGFR and insulin receptor (InsR)/insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R).

Results: Insulin and IGF1 induced significant protection against gefitinib in the majority of EGFR-dependent PDX lines with one exception that did not express InsR or IGF1R. Blockade of the InsR/IGF1R pathway synergistically improved sensitivity to gefitinib or dacomitinib. Gefitinib alone effectively attenuated EGFR activities and the downstream MEK/ERK pathway. However, repression of AKT and induction of apoptosis required concurrent inhibition of both EGFR and InsR/IGF1R. A combination of gefitinib and OSI-906, a dual InsR/IGF1R inhibitor, was more effective than either agent alone to treat subcutaneous glioblastoma xenograft tumors.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that activation of the InsR/IGF1R pathway confers resistance to EGFR inhibitors in EGFR-dependent glioblastoma through AKT regulation. Concurrent blockade of these two pathways holds promise to treat EGFR-dependent glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res; 22(7); 1767–76. ©2015 AACR.
The Effect of Loudness Variation on Velopharyngeal Function in Children with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: Cummings Caitlin , McCauley Rebecca , Baylis Adriane
Published: November 2015

Objective: Children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS) often require surgical intervention to treat velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Although some studies have documented improved velopharyngeal (VP) closure under increased speaking effort, currently no studies have examined the effect of similar behavioral speech modifications on VP closure in children with 22qDS. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the effect of loudness on VP closure during speech in children with 22qDS and persisting VPD. Patients and Methods: Four children with 22qDS, posterior pharyngeal flap, and persisting mild VPD underwent pressure-flow testing while repeating words at habitual and increased loudness levels. Using a single-subject A-B design, descriptive statistics and graphical measures were used to examine differences in VP orifice area (VPA) and timing of closure in the habitual versus loud condition. Results: Results were mixed. Median VPA decreased during some stimuli for 3 participants, but increased for 1 subject when speaking louder. Median duration of nasal airflow decreased for 3 participants in the loud condition. Conclusion: This study presents preliminary aerodynamic data regarding the plasticity of VP physiology in the 22qDS group. Further research is needed to determine how loudness impacts VP function in children with 22qDS.
Fetal Stomach Position Predicts Neonatal Outcomes in Isolated Left-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Authors: Basta Amaya M. , Lusk Leslie A. , Keller Roberta L. , Filly Roy A.
Published: November 2015

Introduction: We sought to determine the relationship between the degree of stomach herniation by antenatal sonography and neonatal outcomes in fetuses with isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed neonatal medical records and antenatal sonography of fetuses with isolated left CDH cared for at a single institution (2000-2012). Fetal stomach position was classified on sonography as follows: intra-abdominal, anterior left chest, mid-to-posterior left chest, or retrocardiac (right chest). Results: Ninety fetuses were included with 70% surviving to neonatal discharge. Stomach position was intra-abdominal in 14% (n = 13), anterior left chest in 19% (n = 17), mid-to-posterior left chest in 41% (n = 37), and retrocardiac in 26% (n = 23). Increasingly abnormal stomach position was linearly associated with an increased odds of death (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.1-10.9), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO; OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.9-16.7), nonprimary diaphragmatic repair (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.5), prolonged mechanical ventilation (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.3-15.6), and prolonged respiratory support (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.6-9.9). All fetuses with intra-abdominal stomach position survived without substantial respiratory morbidity or need for ECMO. Discussion: Fetal stomach position is strongly associated with neonatal outcomes in isolated left CDH. This objective tool may allow for accurate prognostication in a variety of clinical settings.
Solid cancers after antiplatelet therapy: Confirmations, controversies, and challenges
Authors: Cherepanov Vasily , Cabrera-Fuentes Hector A. , Kim Moo Hyun , Serebruany Victor L.
Published: November 2015

The role of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents in tumour growth and prognosis is not new, and currently under intense investigation. Some randomised data strongly suggest that this association exists, but it is complex, and not necessarily pointed at the same direction. The potential mechanisms responsible for such harmful association include a direct hazard of novel antithrombotics on cancer, indirect promotion of tumour growth, easier metastatic dissemination due to instability of platelet-tumour cell aggregates, or/and inability to keep cancer cells locally in situ are considered. The latest randomised evidence ultimately rejected the drug-specific cancer risks, clearly indicating the class-effect. In lay terms “cancers follow bleeding”, which seems to be true for antithrombotic agents in general. Significant excess of solid cancers which was similar after prasugrel in TRITON, and with vorapaxar in TRACER trials was confirmed by the FDA reviews. Later, extra cancer deaths reported following clopidogrel and prasugrel in DAPT, and after ticagrelor in PEGASUS are also of concern. However, there are remaining controversies with regard to published cancer risks after ticagrelor (PLATO), or another vorapaxar trial (TRA2P), while full disclosure of separate clopidogrel and prasugrel cancer data in DAPT is still lacking. In short, if we apply moderate antiplatelet strategies for over two years, or aggressive regimens including triple therapy for much less than one year, the solid cancer risks emerge. Currently, more delicate platelet inhibition, and shorter exposure to dual oral antiplatelet agents should prevail.
Reading the Plot: The Psychology and Poetics of Pārānūyā in Yūsuf Rakhā’s Kitāb al-ṭughrā
Authors: Koerber Benjamin
Published: November 2015

Paranoia, it might be said, is the emotive accomplice of exilic estrangement. This article investigates the psychological and literary dimensions of conspiracist paranoia—radical suspicion that reduces history to the intentions of a global “conspiracy” (muʾāmarah)—in Yūsuf Rakhā’s Kitāb al-ṭughrā: gharāʾib al-tārīkh fī madīnat al-mirrīkh (2011; The Book of the Sultan’s Seal: Strange Incidents from History in the City of Mars, 2015). While this interpretive style has often been recognized as the specific byproduct of the climate of fear and suspicion engendered by authoritarian nationalist regimes in the 1950s and 1960s, its dramatic recurrence in Rakhā’s post-millennial, proto-revolutionary novel requires a closer reading of its multiple sources and functions. Through dialogue with psychoanalytic and literary studies of paranoia and conspiracy theory, I argue that the delusional complex of Kitāb al-ṭughrā’s Muṣṭafā al-Shurbagī can be understood, in part, as the crisis of an ideal of masculinist agency that the protagonist shares with many others. In addition, the novel performs a special “poetics of paranoia,” which not only foregrounds the artistic pleasures inherent in the practice, but also engages in a creative and critical intertextual relationship—or parody—with famous paranoiacs in Arabic and American literature and public culture. This article also aims to address the current dearth of scholarship on paranoia in Arabic literature, and suggests avenues for future research.
Think tanks and foreign policy in a globalized world: New ideas, new “tanks,” new directions
Authors: Wiarda Howard J
Published: November 2015

Think tanks in the last half-century have replaced universities as the main source of new policy ideas. The big Washington think tanks have taken their place alongside interest groups, media, and political parties as among the most influential organizations in American politics, including foreign policy. The author discusses the world of the Washington think tanks, how and why they are able to influence policy in ways that university-based academics do not, and the attractions and negatives of a think tank career. He analyzes the recent trends in think tanks, including their global spread. He concludes by asking if think tanks have now become victims of their own earlier success.
Delamination and fiber-bridging damage analysis of angle-ply laminates subjected to transverse loading
Authors: Ma Liangkai , Liu Dahsin
Published: November 2015

A three-dimensional continuum damage model is developed for the prediction of the initiation and propagation of intralaminar damage mechanism. This continuum damage model is implemented using a user-subroutine in finite element software ABAQUS™/Standard and combined with the cohesive zone model for three-dimensional progressive damage analysis of angle-ply [0/α] (α = 90°, 75°, 60°, 45°, 30°, 15°, and 10°) laminated plates subjected to transverse loading. It is found that delamination is the major damage mode in large-angle (α ≥ 30°) laminates while fiber bridging is the dominant damage mode in small-angle (α ≤ 15°) laminates. The damage mode predictions are in good agreement with experimental observations reported in the literature. Matrix cracking within the bottom plies and its interactions with interlaminar damage are found to play an important role in the formation of the final damage modes, shapes, and sizes.
Bio-based composites from agricultural wastes: Polylactic acid and bamboo Guadua angustifolia
Authors: Posada Juan Carlos , Jaramillo Leyla Yamile , Cadena Edith Marleny , García Luis Alberto
Published: November 2015

Biopolymers as polylactic acid (PLA) have some drawbacks in processing and the final product is characterized by a high permeability to steam/gases and low thermal and mechanical resistance. The addition of reinforcement materials in the biopolymer matrix provides opportunities to minimize these disadvantages. Thus, this research focuses on the inclusion of non-wooden lignocellulosic fillers from bamboo Guadua angustifolia in a polymer matrix obtained from PLA. Three types of fillers were applied: sawdust, fiber from a Kraft process, and fiber with low lignin content. The blends of PLA reinforced with 5% organic fillers were performed on a torque rheometer at temperatures between 170 to 200℃ with the addition of glycerol as plasticizer and viscosity reducer of the system and maleic anhydride as compatibilizer. The evaluation on rheological, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties were investigated by rotational rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), universal testing machine, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the inclusion of the lignocellulosic material generated a positive response in obtaining polymeric biocomposite. The use of fibers subjected to a process of delignification with bleaching sequences OQPoPWa resulted in a greater influence on the mechanical strength, an adequate distribution of the fibers in the PLA matrix and the viscosity of the mixture.
A(nother) geography of fear: Burmese labour migrants in George Town, Malaysia
Authors: Franck Anja K
Published: November 2015

While scholarship around urban fear has brought forward important insights around the relationship between fear, mobility and social exclusion, questions relating to legal exclusion have largely been left outside the scope of inquiry. In cities around the world there are, however, a growing number of people who are not only de facto excluded from rights to/within the city (based on their gender, class, age etc.) – but de jure excluded based on their non-citizen or ‘illegal’ status in the host country. Drawing upon field work conducted in the Malaysian city George Town this study examines how both regular and irregular Burmese migrants perceive safety and danger in the city and how this, in turn, influences how they navigate urban space. The results of the study reveal how the migrants in George Town navigate the city as a ‘borderscape’ – producing a(nother) geography of fear which does not primarily reflect a fear of crime but rather a fear of state institutional practices, such as police controls, road blocks and raids. This shows, the paper argues, the need to pay attention towards both social and legal exclusions when examining how people in cities around the world are able to access and take possession of urban space.
Do housing options affect child birth decisions? Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Lin Pei-Syuan , Chang Chin-Oh , Foo Sing Tien
Published: November 2015

This study aims to empirically test the effects of various housing options, which include renting, owning, living with parents/siblings, living in houses bought by parents and living in staff housing, on fertility decisions of families. This study uses micro-data obtained from the Taiwanese Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) surveys for the period from 1999 to 2007 to empirically test three hypotheses relating housing options to childbearing decisions. Using families living in rented houses as the control group, we find that homeowners have their first child at an older age, and families living with their parents or sibling become parents at a younger age. The results are robust and consistent after controlling for the district fixed effects and the marriage year fixed effects. We test the housing price shocks on the childbearing decisions for families who were married or bought houses during or after the housing boom period in 1987, and find that the asymmetric housing price effects on fertility decisions are correlated with the marriage event, but not the house purchase event.
A probability uncertainty method of fault classification for steam turbine generator set based on Bayes and Holospectrum
Authors: Wei Yaobing , Wang Xin , Kong Yuanyuan , Yan Changfeng
Published: November 2015

With the rapid development of the machinery and the increasing complexity of the steam turbine generator set, it is a great challenge for the safe and reliable operation of the steam turbine generator set. The uncertainties of fault classification and complicated working conditions become important research fields of steam turbine generator. A probability method on the uncertainty reasoning of fault classification for steam turbine generator is proposed in this paper based on the 2D-holospectrum and Bayesian decision theory. Firstly, Bayesian decision theory is adopted for the preliminary fault estimation on actual risk loss by calculating the loss expectation of each decision. Then, the area ratio of overlap region in 2D-holospectrum and the evidence theory can give the probability of the fault. Framework and model of the uncertainty reasoning are also described in this paper. Finally, the model is verified by the experiment of the rotor vibration on test rig. The results show that the method proposed is feasible for reasoning under imperfect information condition.
Fibre behaviour in the spunbonding process. Part II: Modelling fibre dynamics in the diffuser
Authors: Battocchio Francesco , Sutcliffe MPF , Teschner F
Published: November 2015

The behaviour of a fibre subject to the turbulent air flow in the diffuser in the spunbonding process is studied using a three-dimensional dynamics model in which the fibre is discretised as a chain of beads connected by linear and rotational springs. The turbulent air drag acting on the fibre is modelled as a random force, as a function of the mean air velocity, the turbulence intensity, and the spectrum of turbulence. The effect of the air flow parameters and the fibre diameter on the amplitude and the frequency of the fibre oscillations is analysed to understand how the fibre position at the exit of the diffuser is controlled by the turbulent air flow in spunbonding. This in turn will affect fibre laydown and the associated web formation.
Isn’t It Time We Did Something About the Lack of Teaching Preparation in Business Doctoral Programs?
Authors: Marx Robert D. , Garcia Joseph E. , Butterfield D. Anthony , Kappen Jeffrey A. , Baldwin Timothy T.
Published: November 2015

In this essay, we explore why there has traditionally been so little emphasis on teaching preparation in business doctoral programs. Program administrators and faculty typically espouse support for teaching development; yet the existing reward systems are powerfully aligned in favor of a focus on research competency. Indeed, through the lens of a performance diagnostic model, it is entirely predictable that doctoral programs have not offered more teaching development opportunities, as administrators often do not have the requisite motivation, ability, opportunity, or resources to develop comparable teaching competence. However, given that the average graduate will take a professorial position with greater than 50% of responsibilities devoted to teaching, most external observers would conclude that there is a curious dearth of teaching preparation in contemporary business doctoral programs. However understandable the dearth of teaching development, we argue that those reasons are no longer acceptable, and the present essay is predominately a call for change. Suggestions for enhancing the depth and nature of teaching development are offered, and we include some examples of progressive initiatives underway in the hopes of provoking a more intense conversation on the teaching preparation of the next generation of business professors.
Estimating Toronto’s health services use for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games
Authors: Feldman Laura Y , Gao Chenwei , Zhu Jingqin , Simatovic Jacqueline , Licskai Christopher , To Teresa
Published: November 2015

Aims:

Ambient air temperature may exacerbate the burden of chronic diseases on Ontario’s healthcare system during mass gathering events. This study aimed to estimate the impact of increasing temperature in July and August on health services use for chronic conditions in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe region during the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, using environmental and health administrative data from previous years.

Method:

Negative binomial regression was used to calculate incidence risk ratios for same-day health services use (hospitalisations, emergency department visits, physician office visits) for all causes, asthma, asthma-related conditions, diabetes and hypertension associated with unit increases in daily maximum temperature from 1 May to 31 August in 2008–2010. Sensitivity analysis was performed to estimate the added burden of an increased population size, in order to model an influx of visitors during the Games.

Results:

In July and August, on days with daily maximum temperatures of 35°C compared to 25°C, we estimated seeing 7,827 more physician office visits for all causes in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe region. The estimated relative increase in physician office visits for diabetes due to temperature alone was 8.4%. With an estimated 10% increase in population, the increase in physician office visits for all causes tripled to an estimated 23,590.

Conclusion:

Temperature was identified as a potential contributor to greater health services use during the Games, particularly for those living with diabetes. These results highlight the importance of strategic delivery of health services during mass gathering events, and suggest a role for educating at-risk individuals on prevention behaviours, particularly on very hot days.
Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties response of the ZT40 alloy with hot rolling
Authors: Qiao Xu , Liang Shunxing , Yin Lixia , Li Dandan
Published: November 2015

The Zr-40Ti-4.5Al-4.2V (ZT40) alloy is one of new developed Zirconium alloys with high mechanical properties and great potential for application. The investigation about effects of plastic deformation on microstructure and mechanical properties can promote practical applications of the new high performance ZrTi based alloys. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the ZT40 alloy suffered hot rolling with thickness reduction from 30% to 60% at 775 °C are investigated in this work. Results show that the phase constitution changes from (α + β) to (β + fcc) while the original specimen underwent hot rolling and subsequent water quenching. The β phase in hot rolled specimen adopts preferred orientation form (200) and (211) planes to only (200) plane while the rolling reduction increases from 30% to 60%. Furthermore, no obvious preferred orientation can be detected in specimen with reductions of 60%. Micrographs analysis shows that the dynamic recrystallization occurs in hot rolled specimens. Volume fraction of the DRX grains is approximately 8% in 30% reduction specimen and increases with the increasing of rolling reduction. Nearly full recrystallization is observed in the specimen with reductions of 60%. Hardness test shows that the HV of hot rolled specimen decreases from 384 HV to 329 HV as the increasing of reduction from 30% to 60%. The mechanisms of microstructural evolution and variation of hardness are also discussed. The finding should contribute to understand microstructural evolution, to adjust mechanical properties and to promote practical applications of Zirconium alloys.
Signal processing analysis of DSP based PWM generation for high switching frequency voltage source inverter
Authors: Shah Hardik A. , Shah Satish K. , Patel Rakesh M.
Published: November 2015

This paper presents real time hardware implementation of DSP based 180 degree control algorithm and MATLAB SIMULINK based software Implementation for 3-phase 4-leg IGBT based voltage source inverter. Triggering pulses generated using Texas Instruments TMS 320F28335 DSP controller and that triggers the 6 IGBTs of Voltage source inverter. Results of pulse generated using DSP and output of the Voltage source inverter were captured using Digital Storage Oscilloscope. FFT analysis for output signal of software and hardware implementation presented with the analysis.
Determination of crown space in hedgerow orchard in different directions of sunny hill slope
Authors: Liu Yongchao , Ma Baoguo
Published: November 2015

In certain latitude areas, fruit growth is determined by the slope between 5° and 20°. According to the designed sunny slope direction and the parallel lines to the slope direction, we take two adjacent rows of the hedge to meet certain condition of the sun light, and draft the chart of shadow top contour based on the solar azimuth angle A and the coefficient of shadow length γ to get crown space of the rectangular cross section in different ground of slopes. Then, the crown section lateral is changed to get mathematical models which determine the crown space of different cross sections in hedgerow orchard.
The Exact Distribution of the Hansen–Jagannathan Bound
Authors: Kan Raymond , Robotti Cesare
Published: November 2015

Under the assumption of multivariate normality of asset returns, this paper presents a geometric interpretation and the finite-sample distributions of the sample Hansen–Jagannathan bounds on the variance of admissible stochastic discount factors, with and without the nonnegativity constraint on the stochastic discount factors. In addition, since the sample Hansen–Jagannathan bounds can be very volatile, we propose a simple method to construct confidence intervals for the population Hansen–Jagannathan bounds. Finally, we show that the analytical results in the paper are robust to departures from the normality assumption.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2222 .

This paper was accepted by Jerome Detemple, operations management.
OM Forum—Practice-Based Research in Operations Management: What It Is, Why Do It, Related Challenges, and How to Overcome Them
Authors: Gallien Jérémie , Graves Stephen C. , Scheller-Wolf Alan
Published: November 2015

Practice-based research—research performed with the intent of improving the operation of a collaborating practitioner—is an important endeavor for our field: such work may reveal new problems, interesting phenomena, and may also generate data, educational material, and solutions to important practical problems. We argue that the practical relevance of any operations management (OM) research is driven by the two dimensions of generalizability and validity, which together offer a framework for contrasting the potential strengths and weaknesses of theory-based and practice-based research. We review challenges and strategies for successfully engaging in practice-based research, including: choosing a good problem; establishing and managing a relationship with a practitioner; validation; and impact estimation. Finally, we discuss possible ways to encourage more practice-based research in OM. In particular, we argue that our field should, in general, put more emphasis on research validity.
Research Roundup
Authors: Cowan Helen
Published: November 2015

In this section, Helen Cowan presents a selection of recently published articles of interest to nurses working in the field of cardiovascular nursing. The aim of this roundup is to provide a brief overview of the research papers selected. A full reference is provided for those who wish to take a look at the research in further detail
Beyond ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers: the use of ivabradine in heart failure
Authors: Waterhouse Hannah
Published: November 2015

This drug-focused article looks at the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of ivabradine and outlines its use in chronic heart failure. It puts the use of ivabradine into the context of other pharmacological management and gives guidance on initiation and monitoring, as well as what clinical factors need to be taken into account to ensure safe management of patients prescribed this medication. This includes the information that needs to be shared with the patient, the criteria for eligibility, and contraindications for this treatment.
Caring for patients post PPCI: examining a lack of evidence and standards
Authors: Siefers Rhian , Dunkley Sophie , Tagney Jenny
Published: November 2015

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) targets early intervention, achieving better outcomes for patients suffering from an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with fewer complications. Despite this progress in the treatment of this condition, the nursing care of patients post procedure appears to have changed little and appears to have evolved based on perceptions of what might be required rather than evidence for what is effective. This article presents the findings of a national benchmarking exercise and review of the literature that identified a lack of standards for nursing care in this patient group with recommendations for developing evidence to inform future practice.
History of Spline Functions and Application in Wood Industry Part 1
Authors: POLGÁR Rudolf , PÁSZTORY Zoltán
Published: November 2015

Tanulmányunkkal szeretnénk bepillantást adni a spline függvény felfedezésének történetétől a jelenleg alkalmazott módszerekig. Első cikkünk foglalkozik a spline függvények feltalálásával és az elmúlt évszázadokban történt fejlődésükkel. A látszólag száraz matematikai képletekben megjelenő függvények nagyon gyakorlatias megoldások, éppen ezért a mai terméktervezés egyik fő eszközei. A különböző spline típusokat mutatjuk be, mint a Bézier-spline, az interpolációs spline, a B- és a T-spline, valamint a NURBS felületképzési módszerek. Az elmúlt évtizedekben fokozódó ipari verseny és az informatikai technológiák fejlődése kedvező környezetet biztosított a spline függvények fejlődéséhez és széleskörű alkalmazásához. Jelen cikk megadja a spline függvények matematikai formuláit a hasznosítás számára, a következő cikk pedig az ipari alkalmazásba, kiemelten a faipari alkalmazásokba ad betekintést.
History of Spline Functions and Application in Wood Industry Part 2
Authors: POLGÁR Rudolf , PÁSZTORY Zoltán
Published: November 2015

Ez a tanulmány a spline függvények feltalálásával, történetével, fajtáival és alkalmazásukkal kapcsolatos sorozat második része. A spline-okat elsődlegesen mérnöki feladatok és problémák megoldására fejlesztették ki. A spline módszerek könnyű kezelhetősége viszont megnyitotta az utat specifikus spline módszerek kifejlesztésére. Az első részben áttekintettük a spline függvények történetét és fajtáit, e cikkben pedig a spline alkalmazásokra fókuszálunk. Több példán keresztül igyekszünk bemutatni a spline-ok ipari, különös tekintetben a fa- és bútoripari alkalmazásokat. 
Faanyag rostirányú tömörítésével kapcsolatos elméleti és gyakorlati kérdések áttekintése III. rész: A tömörített fa mechanikai tulajdonságai, felhasználási lehetőségei
Authors: BÁDER Mátyás
Published: November 2015

A cikksorozat áttekintést ad a természetes faanyag hosszirányú tömörítéséről, melynek célja annak hajlékonyabbá, alakíthatóvá tétele. A jelen rész bemutatja a fizikai-mechanikai tulajdonságokat, a modifikált faanyag feldolgozását és a felhasználási lehetőségeket. 

20% mértékű rostirányú tömörítés esetén a rugalmassági modulus a harmadára csökken a normál faanyaghoz képest. Bükk és tölgy esetén körülbelül 4 GPa lesz, míg a hárompontos hajlító vizsgálat során elviselt behajlás többszörösére növekszik. A hajlítási viszonyszám akár 1/4 fölötti értékű lehet. Bár a nedvesen hajlítható tömörített faanyagnál a hajlítószilárdság akár felére redukálódik, a törésig elnyelt energia többszörösére emelkedik. A ridegsége csökken, a dinamikus törési munkaigény, a fajlagos ütőmunka és az ütő-hajlító szilárdság másfél-kétszeresére javul. A rostirányú tömörítés hatására a fa sűrűsége növekszik, a rezgéscsillapítás keresztirányban nem változik, míg longitudinális irányban többszörösére emelkedik. A húzószilárdság, nyomószilárdság, nyírószilárdság, keménység, csavarállóság csökken. A felsorolt értékek legtöbb esetben a tömörítés mértékével arányosan változnak saját tartományaikban, míg a nedvesség hatására bekövetkező méretváltozás az eredeti anyagéval megegyező marad.

A longitudinálisan tömörített fa szárított állapotban az alacsony rugalmasságának köszönhetően megtartja a beállított alakját. A fakárosítókkal szemben a normál faanyaghoz hasonlóan viselkedik. Hajlításához a hagyományos eszközök felhasználhatóak, nagy előnye, hogy hidegen is alakítható állapotban tartható, ezért készletezhető. Elsősorban a belsőépítészet és a bútoripar területén felhasznált anyag, kültérben kevésbé. A termék és tulajdonságai ismertebbé válásával az igények további növekedése várható.
Analyzing randomized controlled interventions: Three notes for applied linguists
Authors: Vanhove Jan
Published: November 2015

I discuss three common practices that obfuscate or invalidate the statistical analysis of randomized controlled interventions in applied linguistics. These are (a) checking whether randomization produced groups that are balanced on a number of possibly relevant covariates, (b) using repeated measures ANOVA to analyze pretest-posttest designs, and (c) using traditional significance tests to analyze interventions in which whole groups were assigned to the conditions (cluster randomization). The first practice is labeled superfluous, and taking full advantage of important covariates regardless of balance is recommended. The second is needlessly complicated, and analysis of covariance is recommended as a more powerful alternative. The third produces dramatic inferential errors, which are largely, though not entirely, avoided when mixed-effects modeling is used. This discussion is geared towards applied linguists who need to design, analyze, or assess intervention studies or other randomized controlled trials. Statistical formalism is kept to a minimum throughout.
Editorial
Authors: Mercer Sarah , Ryan Stephen
Published: November 2015

The various papers that make up this special issue of Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching have emerged from the first Psychology in Language Learning (PLL) conference, which took place in May 2014 at the University of Graz, Austria. We would like to open this special issue—the first of a series of two—by discussing that conference’s background, its focus, and its possible future in the hope that such a discussion will clarify our current aims and scope in this special issue. The original impetus for organising the conference came from a book that we, the editors of this special issue, were privileged to edit (Mercer, Ryan, & Williams, 2012). The rationale behind that book was to bring together different areas of language learning psychology within a single volume. The experience of working on the book in conjunction with so many distinguished scholars from around the world convinced us of the potential of an approach that emphasises the commonality between various strands of research that had previously been developing in isolation from each other. Many subareas of our field, such as motivation, autonomy, self, identity, strategy use, and beliefs, have existed as separate communities, with little exploration of the interplay and connections between these closely related areas. Our aim in organising the 2014 conference was to build on the momentum of the book by creating a shared space that would facilitate exchange, and providing opportunities to explore and expand upon how these different areas are interlinked. A secondary aim was to reinterpret the word psychology within the context of foreign language education. For so long, psychology has been closely associated with cognitive processes in second language acquisition and with psycholinguistics, but in our book, the conference, and in this special issue, we are seeking to specifically foreground social and educational psychology themes. Language learning is primarily a social and educational activity and we feel that these dimensions also need to be reflected in how we frame discussions of the psychology of learning a second or foreign language.