bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the Bilirubin Management Program in the Newborn Nursery: Background, Aims, and Protocol
Authors: Bahr Timothy M. , Shakib Julie H. , Stipelman Carole H. , Kawamoto Kensaku , Cail Kelly , Lauer Sara , Christensen Robert D.
Published: February 2020

Background: Practices to detect and manage hyperbilirubinemia in newborn nurseries are highly variable. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines in 1999, 2004, and 2009 have generated, perhaps unintentionally, divergent practices that might not all be of equivalent value. Evidence-based progress is needed to define less invasive, less expensive, uniform, and safe methods to reduce ER visits and hospital readmissions for jaundice treatment and bilirubin encephalopathy. Objectives: This research briefing is intended to inform readers of a new prospective quality improvement program aimed at testing the value of specific changes in newborn nursery hyperbilirubinemia detection and management. This new program includes predetermined means of assessing those specific changes, which relate to diagnosis, safety, outcomes, and cost. Methods: In this briefing, we present the perceived problems in our present bilirubin management system, as voiced by stakeholders. We report our proposed means to test minimization of those problems utilizing already acquired data on approximately 400,000 well babies in the Intermountain Healthcare system of hospitals in the western USA. We then describe our methods of assessing specific outcomes in a pre- versus postpractice change analysis. Results and Conclusions: The University of Utah Newborn Nursery will implement a quality improvement project in bilirubin management during 2020 to test the feasibility and effectiveness of several changes to our current bilirubin management program. We maintain that the improved understanding generated by this project will be a step toward new evidence-based strategies for reducing ER visits and hospital readmissions for jaundice treatment and preventing bilirubin encephalopathy.
Genetic Examination for Fetuses with Increased Fetal Nuchal Translucency by Genomic Technology
Authors: Xue Shuya , Yan Huanchen , Chen Jingsi , Li Nan , Wang Jiayan , Liu Yu , Zhang Huimin , Li Shaoying , Zhang Wei , Chen Dunjin , Chen Min
Published: February 2020

This study aims to investigate the value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole exome sequencing (WES) in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (defined as NT above the 95th centile for the crown-rump length). A total of 374 singleton pregnancies with gestational ages ranging from 11 to 13 + 6 weeks were investigated. Ultrasound displayed increased NT and no detectable structural malformations in these fetuses. Pregnancies were divided into 4 groups according to the NT values: 95th centile-3.4 mm (114 cases); 3.5-4.4 mm (150 cases); 4.5-5.4 mm (55 cases); and ≥5.5 mm (55 cases). The possible chromosomal anomalies were all analyzed by CMA first. Furthermore, 24 cases with increased NT but negative CMA results were investigated by WES, and the outcomes were followed up. Among all the 374 cases, causative genetic defects were detected in 100/374 (26.7%) of the cases along with 9 variants of unknown significance (VOUS) by CMA. CMA testing yielded 30 pathogenic variants (30/55), accounting for a detection rate of 54.5%, and 1 VOUS in the group of NT ≥5.5 mm, indicating the highest detection rate in the 4 groups. The 24 cases of the CMA negative sub-cohort with WES analysis further yielded 2 VOUS and 3 likely pathogenic variants, including 2 dominant de novo mutations in SOS1 and ECE1 and 1 recessive inherited compound heterozygous mutation in PIGN, which are associated with cardiac defects. All 3 cases opted for termination of pregnancy (TOP). In addition, 2 cases with increased NT were negative by both CMA and WES analysis, and fetal demise occurred. In conclusion, for the investigation of fetuses with increased NT exome sequencing is suggested to be considered in cases with negative CMA findings. However, appropriate genetic counseling should be given to optimizing its utilization in prenatal diagnosis.
New Dispute Resolution Approach and Models for Islamic Finance
Authors: Kawamura Ai
Published: February 2020

This article aims to clarify two pioneering models for Islamic financial dispute resolution, which have been developed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in Malaysia. The models have emerged from different political economic backgrounds and legal histories. In addition, this article discusses issues regarding alternative dispute resolution (ADR) systems for Islamic finance in the UAE and in Malaysia and will also feature diversification of the Islamic financial market through the dispute resolution system.
Mapping Human Rights to Democratic Policing Through the echr
Authors: Aydın-Aitchison Andy , Mermutluoğlu Ceren
Published: February 2020

This article examines how human rights relate to democratic policing. We differentiate policing for democracy, which protects democracy, from democratically responsive policing, where police are governed democratically. Using this two-fold distinction to examine European Court of Human Rights cases, we find a close match between Convention rights and policing for democracy. Regarding democratically responsive policing, the Court provides responsiveness within the structural limits of reacting to individual complaints, and as one element in the broader landscape of governance. Further, cases show how that landscape features in Court judgments. We argue that robust enforcement, and careful attention to case law during drafting and implementation of police legislation and governance arrangements, help protect democracy and enhance democratically responsive policing.
A new species of the genus Pseudocrangonyx (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pseudocrangonyctidae) from Simbok Cave, Korea
Authors: LEE CHI-WOO , TOMIKAWA KO , NAKANO TAKAFUMI , MIN GI-SIK
Published: February 2020

A new subterranean species of pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx joolaei, is described from the groundwater of a cave in South Korea. Pseudocrangonyx joolaei sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the number of sternal gills as well as a combination of the antennal sinus, the accessory flagellum of antenna 1, and the terminal article of uropod 3. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear 28S rRNA and histone H3, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes revealed that P. joolaei sp. nov. formed a clade with P. akatsukai Tomikawa & Nakano, 2018 that inhabits limestone caves in the western Honshu island, Japan.
Inhabited Ecosystems: Propelling Transformative Social Change Between and Through Organizations
Authors: DeJordy Rich , Scully Maureen , Ventresca Marc J. , Creed W. E. Douglas
Published: February 2020

Two research streams examine how social movements operate both “in and around” organizations. We probe the empirical spaces between these streams, asking how activism situated in multi-organizational contexts contributes to transformative social change. By exploring activities in the mid-1990s related to advocacy for domestic partner benefits at 24 organizations in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota, we develop the concept of inhabited ecosystems to explore the relational processes by which employee activists advance change. These activists faced a variety of structural opportunities and restraints, and we identify five mechanisms that sustained their efforts during protracted contestation: learning even from thwarted activism, borrowing from one another’s more or less radical approaches, helping one another avoid the traps of stagnation, fostering solidarity and ecosystem capabilities, and collaboratively expanding the social movement domain. We thus reveal how activism situated in multi-organizational contexts animates an inhabited ecosystem of challengers that propels change efforts “between and through” organizations. These efforts, even when exploratory or incomplete, generate an ecosystem’s capacity to sustain, resource, and even reshape the larger transformative social change effort.
Exemplar-based learning probably requires learning abstractions: A commentary on Ambridge (2020)
Authors: Demuth Katherine , Johnson Mark
Published: February 2020

Exemplar-based learning requires (i) a segmentation procedure for identifying the units of past experiences that a present experience can be compared to, and (ii) a similarity function for comparing these past experiences to the present experience. This article argues that for a learner to learn a language these two mechanisms will require abstractions such as linguistic features. Moreover, because the segmentation procedure will vary depending on the language, a radical exemplar theory is likely to require linguistic abstractions for learning.
Bridging the Gender Wage Gap: Gendered Cultural Sentiments, Sex Segregation, and Occupation-Level Wages.
Authors: Freeland Robert E. , Harnois Catherine E.
Published: February 2020

The extent to which cultural beliefs about gender shape occupation-level wages remains a central yet unresolved question in the study of gender inequality. Human capital theorists predict that gendered beliefs have no direct effect on occupation-level wages. Devaluation theorists argue that occupations associated with women and femininity are systematically devalued and thus underpaid. We test these explanations using data from the American Community Survey, the Occupational Information Network, and an affect control theory (ACT) data set of affective meanings. We use the ACT data set to operationalize occupational gendered cultural sentiments along two distinct dimensions: evaluation (goodness, caring, warmth) and potency (power, strength, competence). Hierarchical linear models show that potency but not evaluation affects occupational income net of individual and occupational controls. Path analyses show that potency has a direct effect net of occupational traits. The gender composition of an occupation indirectly affects occupational income through potency. The cultural meanings of potency/competence associated with masculinity, rather than the devaluation of feminine nurturant occupations, is the primary cultural mechanism linking gender composition and occupational reward.
Social dimension activates the usage and academic impact of Open Access publications in Andean countries: a structural modeling-based approach
Authors: Vílchez-Román Carlos , Huamán-Delgado Farita , Alhuay-Quispe Joel
Published: February 2020

Most of the altmetric research in developing countries is descriptive and has not tested models exploring relationships among article-level factors. Therefore, there is a knowledge gap on this issue. The research question for this study was the following: Social dimension is the factor that activates the usage and citation of Open Access publications in Andean countries. DOIs of Andean countries publications in PLoS journals were downloaded using (n = 3,186) using rplos, an Application Programming Interface (API) developed for R: Bolivia (n = 121), Chile (n = 1,180), Colombia (n = 826), Ecuador (n = 266), Peru (n = 622), and Venezuela (n = 171). Data modeling was carried out with Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The hypothesized structural model accounted for at least 41% of the explained variance of citations (R2 = 0.406). Among the two associated factors, the usage made the highest contribution (at least 0.639), while the social media showed a negative contribution. The application of PLS-SEM for modeling the information-seeking behavior, at the document level, highlights the positive evidence for the path social → usage → citation, but a negative and nonsignificant association between the social dimension and citation.
Pulmonary flow assessment by phase-contrast MRI can predict short-term mortality of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases
Authors: Tsuchiya Nanae , Iwasawa Tae , Ogura Takashi , Yamashiro Tsuneo , Yara Satomi , Fujita Jiro , Murayama Sadayuki
Published: February 2020

Background

Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) can determine pulmonary hemodynamics non-invasively. Pulmonary hypertension causes changes in pulmonary hemodynamics and is a factor for acute exacerbation and death in interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

Purpose

To determine associations between pulmonary hemodynamics measured by PC-MRI and short-term mortality in patients with ILD.

Material and Methods

Pulmonary hemodynamics, measured by PC-MRI in 43 patients with ILD, were reviewed retrospectively. Evaluation parameters included heart rate, right cardiac output, average flow, average velocity, acceleration time, acceleration volume (AV), maximal change in flow rate during ejection (M), M/AV, maximum area, minimum area, and relative area change in the pulmonary artery (PA). All causes of death within one year from the day of the MRI examination were assessed by reviewing medical records. Associations between evaluation parameters and outcome were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results

Six patients (13.9%) died by the one-year follow-up. Age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.116, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.015–1.269), average flow (HR 0.932, 95% CI 0.870–0.984), average velocity (HR 0.778, 95% CI 0.573–0.976), right cardiac output (HR 0.870, 95% CI 0.758–0.967), AV (HR 0.840, 95% CI 0.669–0.985), M/AV (HR 1.008, 95% CI 1.001–1.014), and PA relative area change (HR 0.715, 95% CI 0.459–0.928) predicted death in univariate Cox analysis. Multivariate Cox analysis showed decreased right cardiac output (HR 0.547, 95% CI 0.160–0.912) and decreased PA relative area change (HR 0.538, 95% CI 0.177–0.922) were independently associated with death.

Conclusion

Reduction in right cardiac output and decreased PA relative area change, detected by PC-MRI, were associated with increased mortality in ILD.
T1rho and T2 mapping of ankle cartilage of female and male ballet dancers
Authors: Horiuchi Saya , Yu Hon J , Luk Alex , Rudd Adam , Ton Jimmy , Kuoy Edward , Russell Jeffrey A , Sharp Kelli , Yoshioka Hiroshi
Published: February 2020

Background

Since ballet dancers begin their training before skeletal maturity, accurate and non-invasive identification of cartilage diseases is clinically important. Angle-dependent analysis of T1rho and T2 sequences can be useful for quantification of the composition of cartilage.

Purpose

To investigate the angle-dependent T1rho and T2 profiles of ankle cartilage in non-dancers and dancers.

Material and Methods

Ten female non-dancers, ten female dancers, and 9 male dancers were evaluated using T1rho and T2 mapping sequences. Manual segmentation of talar and tibial cartilage on these images was performed by two radiologists. Inter- and intra-rater reliabilities were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman analysis. Mean thickness and volume of cartilage were estimated. Angle-dependent relaxation time profiles of talar and tibial cartilage were created.

Results

ICCs of the number of segmented pixels were poor to excellent. Bland–Altman plots indicated that differences were associated with segment sizes. Segmented cartilage on T1rho demonstrated larger thickness and volume than those on T2 in all populations. Male dancers showed larger cartilage thickness and volume than female dancers and non-dancers. Each cartilage demonstrated angular-dependent T1rho and T2 profiles. Minimal T1rho and T2 values were observed at approximately 180°–200°; higher values were seen at the angle closer to the magic angle. Minimal T2 value of talar cartilage of dancers was larger than that of non-dancers.

Conclusion

In this small cohort study, regional and sex variations of ankle cartilage T1rho and T2 values in dancers and non-dancers were demonstrated using an angle-dependent approach.
Cost–Utility Analysis of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Versus Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy for Prevention of Depressive Relapse in a Canadian Context: Analyse coût-utilité de la thérapie cognitive basée sur la pleine conscience contre la pharmacothérapie antidépressive pour prévenir la rechute de la dépression en contexte canadien
Authors: Pahlevan Tina , Ung Christine , Segal Zindel
Published: February 2020

Objective:

Patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) experience impaired functioning and reduced quality of life, including an elevated risk of episode return. MDD is associated with high societal burden due to increased healthcare utilization, productivity losses, and suicide-related costs, making the long-term management of this illness a priority. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a first-line preventative psychological treatment, compared to maintenance antidepressant medication (ADM), the current standard of care.

Method:

A cost–utility analysis was conducted over a 24-month time horizon to model differences between MBCT and ADM in cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The analysis was conducted using a decision tree analytic model. Intervention efficacy, utility, and costing data estimates were derived from published sources and expert consultation.

Results:

MBCT was found to be cost-effective compared to maintenance ADM over a 24-month time horizon. Antidepressant pharmacotherapy resulted in 1.10 QALY and $17,255.37 per patient on average, whereas MBCT resulted in 1.18 QALY and $15,030.70 per patient on average. This resulted in a cost difference of $2,224.67 and a QALY difference of 0.08, in favor of MBCT. Multiple sensitivity analyses supported these findings.

Conclusions:

From both a societal and health system perspective, utilizing MBCT as a first-line relapse prevention treatment is potentially cost-effective in a Canadian setting. Future economic evaluations should consider combined treatment (e.g., ADM and psychotherapy) as a comparator and longer time horizons as the literature advances.
Characteristics of Nursing Home Providers With Distinct Patterns of Physical and Occupational Therapy Staffing
Authors: Livingstone Ian , Hefele Jennifer , Leland Natalie
Published: February 2020

Previous work found a substantial growth in therapy staffing among nursing home providers following the introduction of Medicare’s Prospective Payment System (PPS). Since the PPS, however, several new Medicare policies have been implemented that may impact the provision of rehabilitative care in nursing homes. In view of the rising focus on patient outcomes and provider performance, it is worthwhile to explore more recent therapy staffing patterns following the introduction of these Medicare programs. While our results show stable staffing levels through prior policy changes, upcoming Medicare payment changes will likely have a stronger impact that may result in reduced therapy staffing. In addition, given that our findings show that staffing patterns vary across provider type, we may see greater variation as a result of the upcoming changes. Thus, therapy staffing should continue to be monitored and deeper explorations into the impact of staffing changes on patient outcomes should be undertaken.
Examining Spatial Variability in the Association Between Male Partner Alcohol Misuse and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Ghana: A GWR Analysis
Authors: Amegbor Prince M. , Yankey Ortis , Rosenberg Mark W. , Sabel Clive E.
Published: February 2020

Globally, it is estimated that about 30% of ever-partnered women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence (IPV)—physical assault, sexual assault, or emotional abuse. The prevalence of IPV in sub-Saharan Africa is considerably higher than the global estimate. In Ghana, it is estimated that 24% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual IPV in their lifetime. Studies point to the association between alcohol misuse by intimate male partners and violence against women. However, there has been no consideration for potential spatial variation or heterogeneity in this association. Using estimates from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey Data, we employed geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis to examine spatial variations in the relationship between male partner’s alcohol misuse and IPV among women in Ghana. We fitted three models to assess the relationship using a step-wise approach. The first model has alcohol misuse as the only predictor, whereas the second model included other male partner characteristics, such as post-secondary education and employment status. The final introduced female characteristics as additional covariates. The result of the GWR analysis shows that the effect of alcohol misuse on IPV is elevated in the south-western part of Ghana. The findings suggest the potential influence of place-based or contextual factors on the association between alcohol misuse and women’s exposure to IPV.
Gender differences in peritoneal dialysis initiation in the US end-stage renal disease population
Authors: Vogel Savannah L , Singh Tripti , Astor Brad C , Waheed Sana
Published: February 2020

Background:

Overall, a disproportionately small number of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients start peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the United States compared to hemodialysis. Little is known about whether gender has an effect on the initial modality of renal replacement therapy utilized by patients; however, prior studies have demonstrated gender disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of various other health conditions, including kidney disease.

Methods:

Using data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), we estimated the proportion of patients utilizing PD as their initial dialysis modality between 2000 and 2014, adjusting estimates to the mean value of all covariates and compared these estimates for women and men.

Results:

We found that 7.9% of women and 7.5% of men used PD as their initial dialysis modality. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of women initiating PD as their initial modality compared to men was 1.04 (95% CI 1.02–1.05, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, race, ethnicity, cause of ESRD, number of comorbidities, income, employment status, and timing of referral to nephrology, the difference was even more significant, with women being 12% (OR 1.12, CI 1.10–1.14, p < 0.001) more likely to initiate PD than men. However, within different subgroups, older women and women with higher number of comorbidities were less likely to be on PD than their male counterparts.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that gender plays a role in the initial dialysis modality used by patients and providers should be cognizant of these gender differences. Further studies are needed to ascertain the cause of this observed difference.
Risk factors for loss of residual renal function in children with end-stage renal disease undergoing automatic peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Shen Qian , Fang XiaoYan , Zhai YiHui , Rao Jia , Chen Jing , Miao QianFan , Gong YiNv , Yu MingHui , Zhou Qing , Xu Hong
Published: February 2020

Background:

This study analysed children with end-stage renal disease treated with automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) in our centre to explore the risk factors associated with residual renal function (RRF) loss.

Methods:

Children treated with APD as the initial renal replacement therapy regimen from January 2008 to December 2016 were included. All the children had a daily urine volume of ≥100 ml/m2 when APD was initiated and a dialysis follow-up time of ≥12 months. A daily urine volume of <100 ml/m2 after 12 months of APD treatment was defined as loss of RRF. Possible risk factors that may be associated with RRF loss were analysed.

Results:

A total of 66 children were included in the study. After 12 months of APD treatment, the daily urine volume decreased by 377.45 ± 348.80 ml/m2, the residual glomerular filtration rate decreased by 6.39 ± 3.69 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 29 of the patients (43.9%) developed RRF loss. The higher risk of RRF loss after 1 year of APD treatment was most pronounced in patients with daily urine volume of ≤400 ml/m2 before treatment, higher glucose exposure and higher ultrafiltration volume, while the lower risk of RRF loss was in patients with administration of diuretics. Each increase of 1 g/m2/day glucose exposure was associated with a 5% increase in RRF loss (odds ratio (OR) 1.05, p = 0.023) and each increase of 1 ml/m2/day ultrafiltration volume was associated with a 1% increase in RRF loss (OR 1.01, p = 0.013).

Conclusion:

In children undergoing APD, the risk for loss of RRF is associated with low urine volume at the start of APD, high glucose loading and high peritoneal ultrafiltration volume, while preservation of RRF is associated with the usage of diuretics.
Quality of design and reporting of animal research in peritoneal dialysis: A scoping review
Authors: Witowski Janusz , Sikorska Dorota , Rudolf András , Miechowicz Izabela , Kamhieh-Milz Julian , Jörres Achim , Bręborowicz Andrzej
Published: February 2020

The concerns about reproducibility and validity of animal studies are partly related to poor experimental design and reporting. Here, we undertook a scoping review of the literature to determine the extent and quality of reporting of animal studies on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Online databases were searched to identify 567 relevant original articles published between 1979 and 2018. These were analyzed with respect to bibliographic parameters and general aspects of animal experimentation. A subgroup of 120 studies was analyzed in detail in terms of the impact on the reporting quality of the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines for animal studies. The number of animal studies on PD increased continuously over the years with a thematic shift toward long-term preservation of the peritoneum as a dialyzing organ. There were significant deficiencies in research design with the lack of sample size estimation, randomization, and blinding being the commonest shortcomings. The description of animal numbers, housing conditions, use of medication, and statistical analysis was incomplete. The introduction in 2010 of the ARRIVE guidelines produced very little improvement in the completeness of reporting regardless of journal impact factor. The animal studies on PD suffer from deficits in experimental protocols and transparent reporting. These drawbacks need to be corrected to ensure high-quality and much-needed animal research in PD.
2005 Guidelines on targets for solute and fluid removal in adults being treated with chronic peritoneal dialysis: 2019 Update of the literature and revision of recommendations
Authors: Boudville Neil , de Moraes Thyago Proença
Published: February 2020

Background:

The International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines for small solute clearance and fluid removal in peritoneal dialysis (PD) were published in 2005. The aim of this article is to update those guidelines by reviewing the literature that supported those guidelines and examining publications since then.

Methods:

An extensive search of publications was performed through electronic databases and a hand search through reference lists from the existing guideline and selected articles.

Results:

There have been no prospective intervention trials to inform the area of small solute clearance in PD since the publication of the original guideline in 2005. The trials to date are largely limited to a few prospective cohort studies and retrospective studies. These have, however, consistently demonstrated that residual renal function (RRF) is more often associated with patient outcome than peritoneal clearance. One of the few randomised controlled trials performed in this area does suggest that a weekly Kt/ V of 2.27 ± 0.02 provides no statistically significant survival advantage over a weekly Kt/ V of 1.80 ± 0.02. The lower limit of Kt/ V is unknown but there is weak evidence to suggest that anuric people doing PD should have a weekly Kt/ V of at least 1.7.

Conclusions:

There continues to be very poor evidence in the area of small solute clearance and fluid removal in PD. The evidence that exists suggests that RRF is more important than peritoneal clearance and that there appears to be no survival advantage in aiming for a weekly Kt/ V >1.70.
Development of a heat pipe–based battery thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles
Authors: Huang Junkui (Allen) , Shoai Naini Shervin , Miller Richard , Rizzo Denise , Sebeck Katie , Shurin Scott , Wagner John
Published: February 2020

Enhanced battery pack cooling remains an open thermal management challenge in hybrid electric vehicle applications. A robust cooling system should maintain the battery pack core temperature within a prescribed operating range to improve system performance, durability, and reliability while minimizing power consumption. This paper proposes a smart battery thermal management system utilizing heat pipes as a thermal bus to efficiently remove heat. The system couples a standard air conditioning system with traditional ambient air ventilation. The two loops can run independently or in tandem to achieve the desired control. A nonlinear model predictive controller was developed to maintain the battery core temperature within a designated range using the compressor and fan speeds as the control inputs. A mathematical battery thermal model was developed to estimate the core and surface temperatures. The system performance and power requirements were evaluated for various driving cycles and ambient conditions. Numerical results showed that the proposed cooling system can regulate the battery core temperature within the desired temperature range (maximum tracking error of 2.1°C) while compensating for ambient temperature conditions using a suitable cooling strategy. The simulation results showed the ability to remove up to 1135 kJ of heat. The simulation also presents the power consumed by system components under varying modes and ambient conditions.
A learning-based control framework for cable-driven parallel robots with unknown Jacobians
Authors: Xiong Hao , Zhang Lin , Diao Xiumin
Published: February 2020

Cable-driven parallel robots have been studied by many researchers in the past decades. The Jacobian of a cable-driven parallel robot may not be determined in some applications such as rehabilitation. In order to control the pose of a fully constrained cable-driven parallel robot with unknown Jacobian and driven by torque-controlled actuators, a learning-based control framework consisting of a robust controller and a neural network in series is proposed in this article. The neural network takes over the role of the Jacobian by mapping a wrench applied on the end-effector of the cable-driven parallel robot at a pose in the task space to a set of cable tensions in the joint space. In this way, the cable-driven parallel robot can be controlled by cable tensions derived from such a mapping, rather than solving the inverse dynamics problem based on the Jacobian. As an example, a control strategy is developed to demonstrate how the proposed control framework works. The control strategy includes a proportional–integral–derivative controller and a feedforward neural network. Simulation results show that the control strategy can successfully control a cable-driven parallel robot with four cables, three degrees of freedom, and unknown Jacobian.
Uni- and bidirectional pedestrian flows through zigzag corridor in a tourism area: a field study
Authors: Li Xiaolian , Ye Rui , Fang Zhiming , Xu Yihua , Cong Beihua , Han Xin
Published: February 2020

Nowadays, the famous tourist attractions are becoming more and more popular for people from all over the world. Thus, to ensure the safety of tourists is a tough task in such crowded area. The study of pedestrian’s characteristics in crowd movement is essential for safety management. In this article, both uni- and bidirectional observational experiments were conducted to quantitatively analyze the movement properties of pedestrians in a zigzag corridor which is located in a tourism area named Yuyuan business district in Shanghai. Several phenomena have been found during the tourists’ movement process: congestion at boundary, competing and bypassing behavior, and flow gap. As indicated by the transit time of pedestrians in both uni- and bidirectional scenarios, pedestrians in bidirectional pattern (>10 s) spend more time on going through the corridor than that in unidirectional one (<10 s). Besides, the fundamental diagrams in both uni- and bidirectional scenarios are significantly different from data in a controlled experiment, and obvious differences are observed within the density regime from 1.5 to 2.5 ped/m2 between the uni- and bidirectional scenarios. In addition, spatial distributions of density and velocity demonstrate that pedestrians would like to cluster at the boundary of straight corridors in both uni- and bidirectional scenarios. The results could enrich the database of fundamental diagrams, and then be used for model calibration by taking the actual situation into consideration in similar scenarios.
Outcomes and Predictors of Postoperative Pain Improvement Following Particulated Juvenile Cartilage Allograft Transplant for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Authors: Heida Kenneth A. , Tihista Mikel C. , Kusnezov Nicholas A. , Dunn John C. , Orr Justin D.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Particulated juvenile cartilage allograft transfer (PJCAT) is an emerging treatment option for management of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLTs). This series reports on outcomes and identifies predictors for success following PJCAT for isolated OCLTs.

Methods:

We reviewed 33 consecutive patients who underwent PJCAT by a single surgeon from 2013 to 2017. Preoperative demographic factors (age, body mass index [BMI], tobacco use, behavioral health comorbidity, and ankle pain visual analog score [VAS]) and OCLT morphologic data were collected. Outcomes included postoperative improvements in VAS and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and clinical success/failure. Results of 7 second-look arthroscopies and complications are provided. Categorical data are reported as frequencies, and statistical means with P values are reported for continuous variables. We had a mean 3.5 years of follow-up.

Results:

Improvement in ankle pain VAS following isolated PJCAT was 51% ( P < .001). For the first 16 consecutive patients in whom complete AOFAS scores were available, 40% ( P < .001) improvement occurred. Presence of 1 or more behavioral health diagnoses was a risk factor for decreased pain relief, while moderate to severe preoperative pain (VAS >5.9) predicted improved postoperative pain relief. Age, BMI, tobacco use, and OCLT morphology did not affect outcomes.

Conclusion:

For treatment of large, high-stage OCLTs, PJCAT resulted in 40% to 50% improvement in ankle pain and disability within 3.5 years. The results may be better in patients with moderate to severe preoperative pain but worse in those with preexisting behavioral health diagnoses.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
The Development of a Measure to Assess Social Reactions to Self-Injury Disclosure
Authors: Ammerman Brooke A. , McCloskey Michael S.
Published: February 2020

Only approximately half of individuals engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) ever disclose their behavior. Yet there is a dearth of research aimed at understanding NSSI disclosure and the outcomes of choosing to disclose, such as social reactions to NSSI disclosure. The current study aimed to develop and validate a measure of perceived social reactions to the disclosure of NSSI, the Self-Injury Social Reactions Questionnaire (SI-SRQ). Results supported a three-factor structure of the SI-SRQ assessing positive (tangible aid, emotional support) and negative social reactions in undergraduate ( n = 269), community ( n = 217), and recent NSSI ( n = 129) samples. The internal consistencies of the resultant subscales, in addition to the convergent validity, were also supported. The development of the SI-SRQ provides an avenue to enhance our knowledge of the relationship between social reactions to NSSI disclosure and disclosure outcomes, which may help inform educational efforts about responding to NSSI disclosures more effectively.
Do Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Treatment Vary With Underlying Mental Health?
Authors: Biener Adam I. , Zuvekas Samuel H.
Published: February 2020

A long line of studies document substantial and persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the use of mental health services. Many recent studies follow the Institute of Medicine’s definition of disparities, adjusting only for differences in health and mental health status across groups. However, controlling for mental health may mask important changes in the magnitudes of disparities at different levels of mental health need. We extend the previous literature by explicitly estimating how differences in treatment use across groups change at different levels of psychological distress. We used detailed data on sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance coverage, treatment, and the K6 psychological distress scale from the 2010 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate nonlinear models of ambulatory and prescription drug mental health treatment. We find that in contrast to physical health treatment, Black–White and Hispanic–White disparities in any mental health treatment use widen with higher levels of psychological distress.
Management of a glottic squamous cell carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis
Authors: Alkan Ali , Kayış Deniz , Çelik Serkan Yaşar , Uylaş Selçuk , Demir Pektaş Suzan , Oral Tapan Özge , Gökdoğan Ozan , Türkkan Görkem , Genç Sebahat , Tanrıverdi Özgür
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Oral cavity malignancies constitute 30% of head and neck cancers. The most common distant metastatic sites of glottic carcinoma are usually lung, liver and bone. Although the cutaneous metastasis of head and cancers have been reported with an incidence of 0.7–2.4%, skin metastasis of glottic carcinoma is extremely rare.

Case report

A 69-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with hemoptysis, dyspnea, weakness in lower extremities and difficulty in swallowing. There were subcutaneous lesions with a diameter of 2–5 cm in the scalp, posterior chest wall, nose and abdomen. In addition, there was an ulcerating, painful mass on the right lateral part of the tongue. The biopsy of lesions on tongue and skin revealed a glottic squamous cell carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis. Management and outcome: The patient was treated with cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on day 1, cetuximab 500 mg/m2 on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2 daily on days 1 and 2, repeated every two weeks. After the first cycle of chemotherapy, the lesions on the skin regressed and dysphagia improved.

Discussion

There are limited data about the incidence, diagnostic measures and treatment modalities of glottic cancer with cutaneous metastasis. Our case could provide an important experience to literature by its atypical presentation and treatment-sensitive nature.
A multiple myeloma patient who developed ischemic colitis during lenalidomide treatment: A rare case report
Authors: Batgi Hikmettullah , Dal Mehmet Sinan , Merdin Alparslan , Kızıl Çakar Merih , Yiğenoğlu Tuğçe Nur , Altuntaş Fevzi
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Multiple myeloma is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cells. Lenalidomide-dexamethasone treatment is a common treatment regimen used in refractory multiple myeloma.

Case report

We describe the case of a 58-year-old male multiple myeloma patient with a history of relapse after six months of autologous stem cell transplantation. The patient had nausea and bloody diarrhea developed during lenalidomide treatment. Management and outcome: Computed tomography showed diffuse marked edematous thickness in the wall of colonic, hepatic and splenic flexure, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon. Colonoscopic observation revealed highly granular, hyperemic and fragile mucosa. Colon biopsy was consistent with ischemic colitis. Lenalidomide treatment was discontinued. One month later, colon findings were detected as normalized through a colonoscopy.

Discussion

Risk of developing ischemic colitis should be kept in mind in patients receiving lenalidomide which should be discontinued in cases with severe bloody diarrhea of unknown origin.
Feline oral cavity lesions diagnosed by histopathology: a 6-year retrospective study in Portugal
Authors: Falcão Filipa , Faísca Pedro , Viegas Inês , de Oliveira Joana Tavares , Requicha João Filipe
Published: February 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency of oral cavity lesions in cats, their anatomical location and histological diagnosis, and the effect of life stage, breed and sex on different diagnoses.

Methods

For this purpose, a retrospective study comprising 297 feline oral cavity lesions was performed over a 6-year period between 2010 and 2015. Histopathological records from the DNAtech Pathology Laboratory (Lisbon, Portugal) were analysed.

Results

The incidence of oral disease was higher in male cats (n = 173; 58.4%), mature adults (ranging from 7 to 10 years old [n = 88; 33.0%]) and in the European Shorthair breed (n = 206; 73.6%). The gingiva was the site where oral lesions were most commonly found, with 128 samples (43.1%). Incisional biopsies were used to obtain the majority of samples (n = 256; 86.2%), while excisional biopsies and punch biopsies were performed in 36 (12.1%) and five (1.7%) cases, respectively. Inflammatory and neoplastic lesions accounted for 187 (63%) and 110 (37%) of the studied cases, respectively. Malignancies were found in >80% of neoplastic cases. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis was the most common histological diagnosis (n = 116; 39.1%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (n = 49; 16.5%) and eosinophilic granuloma complex (n = 33; 11.1%).

Conclusions and relevance

The present work, involving a large series of samples of feline oral cavity lesions, from numerous geographically scattered practices and all examined at a reference veterinary pathology laboratory, adds important new understanding of the epidemiology of feline oral disease.
Experimental study and numerical simulation of reinforced concrete walls with lightened blocks connected with bolts
Authors: Miao Xin-wei , Huang Wei , Ling Ke , Xu Yan-fang , Zhang Jia-rui , Fan Zhen-hui
Published: February 2020

To verify the feasibility and mechanical properties of assembled composite walls, three assembled composite walls were designed. Two bolted connection specimens in horizontal joints were tested under low-cycle reversed loading and monotonic loading, respectively. Then, the failure mechanism, hysteretic behaviour, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, slip and stress distribution of the connectors were studied. A specimen with grouting sleeve connection was tested under low-cycle reversed loading as a contrast specimen. In addition, a specimen with bolted connection under monotonic loading was simulated by the finite element method to study the effects on structural performance of the connectors and walls. The results show that the bolted connection is feasible, and compared with the grouting sleeve connection, the bearing capacity of the bolted connection specimen decreases by 17%, the displacement ductility coefficient increases by 52% and the cumulative energy consumption increases by 62%. Slippage between the connectors and the wallboard occurs mainly between the yield point and the peak point of the specimens. With the increase in plate thickness, the bearing capacity and initial stiffness increased, but there was no obvious effect on the appearance of the slip section. The larger the bolt diameter, the later the slip section forms. However, the bolt diameter does not have an obvious effect on the bearing capacity of the specimens.
Effect of piston shape design on the scavenging performance and mixture preparation in a two-stroke boosted uniflow scavenged direct injection gasoline engine
Authors: Wang Xinyan , Zhao Hua
Published: February 2020

Compared to a four-stroke engine, the two-stroke engine doubles firing frequency and has favourable power-to-weight or power-to-volume ratio as well as engine downsizing to improve the overall powertrain fuel economy. In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional cross-flow or loop scavenged two-stroke engines, a two-stroke boosted uniflow scavenged direct injection gasoline engine was designed and its performance was analysed. In this study, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to understand the impact of the piston shape design on the scavenging process, in-cylinder flow formation, turbulence level and subsequent fuel/air mixing process in the boosted uniflow scavenged direct injection gasoline engine. Both single injection and split injection strategies were investigated to study the interactions between piston designs and fuel injection strategies to achieve stoichiometric mixture around the spark plug. The results show that the optimised piston with the same opening timing for all scavenge ports could achieve much better scavenging performance than the baseline piston design. In particular, the shallow pistons, that is, Piston #1 and Piston #4, could produce stoichiometric mixture around the spark plug with relatively lower inhomogeneity and higher turbulence kinetic energy around top dead centre when implementing the split injection strategy with start of injection timing at 250/310 °CA.
The Diagnostic Value of Ultrasound in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Comparison With Computed Tomography
Authors: Wang Liang , Kou Hongju , Chen Wei , Lu Mingdong , Zhou Lingling , Zou Chunpeng
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

To explore the clinical value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma by comparing with enhanced computed tomography.

Methods:

This retrospective study was performed on 62 patients with pathologically confirmed medullary thyroid carcinoma. All patients underwent ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography examinations before surgery. The findings of the pathologic examination of resected specimens were considered as gold standard and were compared with the results of these 2 methods.

Results:

There were 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 29 benign lesions in 62 patients. In all, 55 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 27 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound; and 45 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 24 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by enhanced computed tomography. The accuracy of ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography was 80.4% and 67.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between 2 methods ( P < .05).

Conclusions:

Ultrasound can be used to observe the location, number, size, shape, border, internal echo, calcification, and blood flow of the lesion. It is a convenient, inexpensive, and nonradiative method with higher accuracy than enhanced computed tomography.