bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osseous Changes Over Time in Free Fibular Flap Reconstruction
Authors: Shokri Tom , Stahl Lauren E. , Kanekar Sangam G. , Goyal Neerav
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

Evaluate bone resorption in free fibular grafts and document resorption behavior as compared to dentulous and edentulous autochthonous mandibular bone.

Study Design

Retrospective Chart review.

Methods

Postoperative computed tomography images were used to evaluate fibular graft resorption rates and corresponding sites of the dentulous or edentulous mandible. Bone height, width, and cortical thickness were measured.

Results

Eighteen patients underwent fibula free flap reconstruction following resection of a primary head and neck cancer. Mandibular defects were classified using Jewer's classification. The average interval loss of osseous height was 0.23 ± 0.09 mm/yr for fibula flap, 0.55 ± 0.13 mm/yr for dentulous native mandible, and 0.98 ± 0.41 mm/yr in edentulous native mandible. Change in osseous width was 0.19 ± 0.08 mm/yr, 0.55 ± 0.33 mm/yr, and 0.73 ± 0.15 mm/yr, respectively. Rate of superior cortical resorption was 0.33 ± 0.34 mm/yr, 0.35 ± 0.13 mm/yr, and 0.53 ± 0.11 mm/yr in fibula flap, dentulous, and edentulous mandible, respectively. Inferior cortical resorption rates were quantified as 0.30 ± 0.11 mm/yr, 0.35 ± 0.08 mm/yr, and 0.51 ± 0.08 mm/yr.

Conclusions

Fibula free flap reconstruction of the mandible provides excellent functional results and allows for stable outcomes. Bone resorption is significantly lower in fibular graft compared with both edentulous and dentulous mandible. Edentulous bone displays significantly increased rates of atrophy in comparison to the dentulous mandible. This may have implications with regard to long‐term viability of both the fibular flap and native mandible. The role of dental restoration on overall osseous stability warrants further research.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 129:1113–1116, 2019
Computerized Tomography Analysis of Young Children for Prevention of Aspiration Injuries
Authors: Milkovich Nicholas M. , Milkovich Scott M. , Harty Mary P. , Kecskemethy Heidi H. , Briddell Jenna W. , Levi Jessica R. , Reilly James S.
Published: October 2018

Objective

The Small Parts Test Fixture (SPTF) (16 CFR 1501) was developed from cadavers of young children and foreign body (FB) data. Recent FB studies reveal that the SPTF misses outliers. Computerized tomography (CT) provides detailed dimensional data for young children. Our null hypothesis is that the SPTF (31.75 mm) is smaller than relevant portions of the aerodigestive tract.

Methods

A 3‐year retrospective review (2011–2014) of head/neck CT data for infants and children (N = 106) aged 6 months to 6 years was completed. Six measurements (mm) were recorded: 1) maxillary incisors to posterior edge of hard palate (MI/HP); 2) posterior edge of hard palate to first cervical (C1) vertebra (HP/C1); 3) soft palate to posterior pharyngeal wall; and 4) interpalatine tonsillar distance; 5, 6) larynx diameter, and width. Two ratios were calculated: 1) ratio of lengths (hard palate to soft palate), and 2) laryngeal dimensional ratio.

Results

A linear trend of increasing dimensions with increased age was noted. The length measured MI/HP best correlates with known data of potential FBs causing injury or death. This MI/HP length can range from 33.8 to 45.8 mm for all children younger than 3 years of age and exceeds the SPTF diameter (31.75 mm). There were no statistical anatomical differences by gender in any of the age groups.

Conclusion

Computed tomography measurements appear larger than SPTF values developed from cadavers. These CT data support enlargement of the SPTF to enhance safety for choking hazards in children.

Level of Evidence

4

Laryngoscope, 129:1468–1476, 2019
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound With Perflubutane for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Cutaneous Melanoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Bertelsen Caitlin , King Kevin G. , Swanson Mark , Duddalwar Vinay , Pepper Jon‐Paul
Published: October 2018

Objective

To study the feasibility of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for identification of SLN associated with cutaneous melanoma.

Study Design

Single arm pilot study in a swine animal model.

Methods

One milliliter of perflubutane (Sonazoid, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) was injected into the peritumoral dermis in five swine with cutaneous melanoma. Ultrasonography was used to follow enhancing lymphatic channels to lymph nodes (LN). Intradermal injection of vital blue (VB) dye was used as a positive control. LN identified by either method were excised and examined histologically.

Results

There were five primary cutaneous melanomas with mean area of 4.36 ± 4.75 cm2 and Breslow depth of 3.6 ± 1.5 mm. Six possible sentinel lymph node (SLN)s were identified with CEUS, and nine were identified with VB. SLN averaged 12.44 ± 6.15 cm from the primary tumor. Four of six (67%) SLNs identified by CEUS and four of nine (44%) candidate SLNs identified by VB contained histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma. All six CEUS‐identified SLNs were also identified with VB. Two LNs not containing melanoma were identified by CEUS; three were identified with VB. In all SLN with metastases, metastatic cells were scattered throughout the LN and not clustered in a discrete mass.

Conclusion

CEUS with perflubutane feasibly identifies SLN associated with cutaneous melanoma and may be a useful adjunct technology in facilitating precise SLN dissection. Our work supports a clinical trial investigating the use of CEUS for this application.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 129:1117–1122, 2019
Clinical Characteristics of Bilateral Meniere's Disease in a Single Asian Ethnic Group
Authors: Suh Michelle J. , Jeong Junhui , Kim Hyun Ji , Jung Jinsei , Kim Sung Huhn
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To identify the clinical characteristics of patients with bilateral Meniere's disease (MD) in an Asian population.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional retrospective study.

Methods

We compared the clinical features of bilateral MD (BMD) and unilateral MD (UMD) in 320 Asian patients with single ethnicity. Demographic variables; age of onset; inner ear function; the coexistence of related disorders such as vestibular migraine, delayed MD, systemic autoimmune diseases, and familial MD; and prognoses were analyzed and compared.

Results

The overall prevalence of BMD was 5.6%. The mean age of disease onset was 40.3 ± 14.8 and 47.0 ± 14.1 years for patients with BMD and UMD, respectively (P = .07). Demographic variables were not significantly different between patients with BMD and UMD (P > .05). Inner ear function, evaluated by hearing thresholds, caloric tests, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, was significantly more deteriorated in the first involved ear of patients with BMD than in the second involved ear or the affected side of patients with UMD (P < .05). Among the comorbid conditions, only the prevalence of delayed MD was significantly higher in patients with BMD than in patients with UMD. Systemic autoimmune disease was found in only three patients with UMD. There was no significant prognostic difference between patients with UMD and BMD (P > .05).

Conclusions

A low prevalence of BMD, a higher frequency of delayed MD in BMD patients, and a low frequency of systemic autoimmune diseases in both UMD and BMD patients are significant findings in an Asian population.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 129:1191–1196, 2019
Loss of Microbial Niche Specificity Between the Upper and Lower Airways in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Pletcher Steven D. , Goldberg Andrew N. , Cope Emily K.
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To determine the relationship between mucosal‐associated sinus and bronchial microbiota in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients compared to non‐CF patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

We examined the microbial composition of 52 paired sinus and bronchial brushings from 26 patients with CRS. Paired airway samples from nine subjects with CF were compared with samples from 17 non–CF‐CRS disease control patients. The Illumina MiSeq platform was used to sequence the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequences were analyzed using QIIME 1.9.0.

Results

CF patients demonstrate increased severity of sinus inflammation (Lund‐Mackay score 16.3 vs. 12.4, P = .023) and diminished diversity of microbial communities in both the sinuses (Shannon diversity 0.98 vs. 3.3, P = .009) and lungs (Shannon diversity 2.2 vs. 4.0, P = .042) relative to non–CF‐CRS. Non–CF‐CRS sinus and lung microbiota were distinct and clustered by niche (sinus vs. lung, P = .004). However, CF airway microbiota demonstrated a loss of niche specificity (sinus vs. lung, P = .492). Two CF patients underwent lung transplantation at 4.5 and 9 months prior to sampling. Sinus and lung samples from these two patients demonstrated distinct microbial communities.

Conclusions

Patients with CF undergoing surgery for CRS exhibit substantial bacterial community collapse in the sinuses and a loss of niche specificity between the upper and lower airways compared to non‐CF patients with CRS. These results extend previous studies elucidating the lower airway microbiome in cystic fibrosis and provide support for the concept of microbial translocation in the cystic fibrosis airways.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 129:544–550, 2019
On a motivic interpretation of primitive, variable and fixed cohomology
Authors: Peters Chris
Published: October 2018

If M is a smooth projective variety whose motive is Kimura finite‐dimensional and for which the standard Lefschetz Conjecture B holds, then the motive of M splits off a primitive motive whose cohomology is the primitive cohomology. Under the same hypotheses on M, let X be a smooth complete intersection of ample divisors within M. Then the motive of X is the sum of a variable and a fixed motive inducing the corresponding splitting in cohomology. I also give variants with group actions.
Ownership structure and hospital service costs and fees: A decomposition approach
Authors: Caudill Steven B. , Mixon Franklin G. , Richards Megan E.
Published: October 2018

This paper analyzes hospital characteristics that are associated with higher average costs and charges for venipuncture, computed tomography procedures (computerized axial tomography [CAT] scans), and electrocardiograms (EKG). Using data from a Medicare database, our results indicate that higher wages, larger hospital sizes, and greater service quality are associated with higher procedure costs, whereas system membership is generally associated with lower procedure costs. Blinder‐type decompositions, which are the main focus of this study, suggest (a) that venipuncture costs are about 17% to 19% lower at proprietary hospitals than at nonprofit or government hospitals, (b) CAT scan costs are about 6% to 12% lower at nonprofit hospitals than at proprietary and government hospitals, and (c) that EKG costs are about 3% lower at proprietary hospitals than at nonprofit or government hospitals. Lastly, large portions of each of these differences are found to be due to both differences in mean values of the hospitals' characteristics by ownership type and differences in the mechanism by which the hospitals' characteristics are transmitted to procedure costs.
Systems with strong damping and their spectra
Authors: Jacob Birgit , Tretter Christiane , Trunk Carsten , Vogt Hendrik
Published: October 2018

We establish a new method for obtaining nonconvex spectral enclosures for operators associated with second‐order differential equations
in a Hilbert space. In particular, we succeed in establishing the existence of a spectral gap, which is the first result of this kind since the seminal results of Krein and Langer for oscillations of damped systems. While the latter and other spectral bounds are confined to dampings D that are symmetric and dominated by A0, we allow for accretive D of equal strength as A0. To achieve these results, we prove new abstract spectral inclusion results that are much more powerful than classical numerical range bounds. Two different applications, small transverse oscillations of a horizontal pipe carrying a steady‐state flow of an ideal incompressible fluid and wave equations with strong (viscoelastic and frictional) damping, illustrate that our new bounds are explicit.
Gauss identity and summation formulae involving generalized harmonic numbers
Authors: Hou Hailong , Gu Rui , Tong Mengdi , Song Yanhua
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we give two families of summation formulae involving generalized harmonic numbers by means of derivative operator and hypergeometric series identities.
Circularly polarized slot‐coupled square dielectric resonator antenna for WLAN applications
Authors: Kumari Reena , Gangwar Ravi Kumar
Published: October 2018

In this article, an off‐centered microstrip line fed square slot‐coupled square dielectric resonator antenna (SDRA) with circular polarization characteristics for WLAN applications is reported. Two orthogonal modes and of SDRA are responsible for realizing the CP mechanism. To generate CP waves, the proposed off‐centered microstrip feedline is intersecting the square ring slot in two successive points for producing a path difference of
λ/4 (quarter‐wavelength) and a phase difference of 90°. The proposed configuration is shown that the measured −10‐dB |S11| and 3‐dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 9.25% and 7.94%, respectively and maximum total gain of 4 dB. The proposed antenna is designed, simulated and tested. Good agreement between measured and simulated results is achieved.
Level‐set topology optimization for robust design of structures under hybrid uncertainties
Authors: Zheng Jing , Luo Zhen , Jiang Chao , Wu Jinglai
Published: October 2018

This paper will develop a new robust topology optimization (RTO) method based on level sets for structures subject to hybrid uncertainties, with a more efficient Karhunen‐Loève hyperbolic Polynomial Chaos–Chebyshev Interval method to conduct the hybrid uncertain analysis. The loadings and material properties are considered hybrid uncertainties in structures. The parameters with sufficient information are regarded as random fields, while the parameters without sufficient information are treated as intervals. The Karhunen‐Loève expansion is applied to discretize random fields into a finite number of random variables, and then, the original hybrid uncertainty analysis is transformed into a new process with random and interval parameters, to which the hyperbolic Polynomial Chaos–Chebyshev Interval is employed for the uncertainty analysis. RTO is formulated to minimize a weighted sum of the mean and standard variance of the structural objective function under the worst‐case scenario. Several numerical examples are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed RTO, and Monte Carlo simulation is used to validate the numerical accuracy of our proposed method.
Reduction in a high‐risk sex script among young urban women in the Love, Sex, & Choices web video HIV prevention intervention study
Authors: Jones Rachel , Hoover Donald R.
Published: October 2018

For women, the high‐risk sex script of condomless sex to maintain relationships with men is concerning, particularly in regard to heterosexual HIV acquisition. This secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial evaluated the effect of a 12‐episode, web‐based video series intervention, entitled Love, Sex, and Choices, versus a text message control on lowering the high‐risk sex script. The sample comprised 238 predominately urban Black women, ages 18–29, having HIV sex risk behavior. Data were collected at baseline and 6 months post‐intervention. The Sex Script Video Response score was used to measure a high‐risk sex script. HIV sex risk behavior was measured by Vaginal Equivalent Episodes with high‐risk partners. At baseline, lower education, younger age at first sexual intercourse, and alcohol/non‐injection drug use before sex were positively associated with a high‐risk sex script. At baseline, as the high‐risk sex script increased by one log unit, sex risk behavior increased by 0.47 log units (p < 0.001), equivalent to a 60% increase in the geometric mean of sex risk behavior. ANCOVA analysis indicated that from baseline to 6‐months post intervention, lowering the high‐risk sex script by one unit was associated with an additional reduction of 0.26 units in sex risk behavior. Compared to the text messages, the LSC video series was associated with a 27% greater reduction in the geometric mean of the sex script (p = 0.03). Further investigation into the effect of lowering sex scripts to reduce sex risk behavior is recommended.
Global Profiling of PknG Interactions Using a Human Proteome Microarray Reveals Novel Connections with CypA
Authors: Wu Fan‐Lin , Liu Yin , Zhang Hai‐Nan , Jiang He‐Wei , Cheng Li , Guo Shu‐Juan , Deng Jiao‐Yu , Bi Li‐Jun , Zhang Xian‐En , Gao Hua‐Fang , Tao Sheng‐Ce
Published: October 2018

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) serine/threonine kinase PknG plays an important role in the Mtb–host interaction by facilitating the survival of Mtb in macrophages. However, the human proteins with which the PknG interacts, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, a HuProt array is been applied to globally identify the host proteins to which PknG binds. In this way, 125 interactors are discovered, including a cyclophilin protein, CypA. This interaction between PknG and CypA is validated both in vitro and in vivo, and functional studies show that PknG significantly reduces the protein levels of CypA through phosphorylation, which consequently inhibit the inflammatory response through downregulation of NF‐κB and ERK1/2 pathways. Phenotypically, overexpression of PknG reduces cytokine levels and promotes the survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) in macrophages. Overall, it is expected that the PknG interactors identified in this study will serve as a useful resource for further systematic studies of the roles that PknG plays in the Mtb‐host interactions.
Effect of Inductively Couple Plasma‐Based Oxygen Plasma Treatment on AlGaN/GaN HEMT
Authors: He Yunlong , Wang Chong , Ma Peijun , Wang Zhan , Zhang Meng , Yang Ling , Zheng Xuefeng , Guo Lixin , Ma Xiaohua , Hao Yue
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the physical mechanism and trap effect of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor HEMT with inductively couple plasma (ICP) based oxygen plasma treatment are investigated. Three devices with different oxygen plasma treatment conditions are fabricated and compared to a conventional device. To understand the physical mechanism of oxygen plasma treatment by ICP, the chemical composition change of the barrier layer is studied through X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the Al molar composition changes of the barrier layer after oxygen plasma treatment are numerically calculated. By numerical calculation of the polarization effect, it is found that an increase in time and RF power of the ICP increase the oxidation effect while the etching effect is decreased. Meanwhile, the trap effect of the devices that has treated with oxygen plasma treatment is also studied. In this study, the authors found that the greater the RF power is, the great the number of deep‐level trap states introduced by oxygen plasma treatment. However, the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on trap states is relatively limited, indicating that the trap density introduced by the ICP‐based oxygen plasma treatment is low.
Defect‐Induced Bound States in the Continuum Band of Metallic Nanobelts
Authors: Sánchez Vicenta , Sánchez Fernando , Wang Chumin
Published: October 2018

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) can be induced by structural defects or impurities and they have important applications in electronic and photonic devices, such as sensors with extremely high quality factor. A simple structure for the analysis of the electronic BICs could be two‐channel nanobelts with two central impurities. The nearest‐neighbor tight‐binding Hamiltonian of this structure is separable and one of the localized impurity states constitutes a BIC with null mobility. In this article, we study the localization and electrical conductivity of such BIC of a metallic belt with transition metal impurities. Significant changes in these two quantities are observed, when a small second‐neighbor hopping integral between the impurities and neighboring atoms is considered. The results of this study reveal the sensibility of such BICs to the short‐range hopping integrals in nanostructures.
A systematic review on the neuroprotective perspectives of beta‐caryophyllene
Authors: Machado Keylla da Conceição , Islam Muhammad Torequl , Ali Eunüs S. , Rouf Razina , Uddin Shaikh Jamal , Dev Shrabanti , Shilpi Jamil A. , Shill Manik Chandra , Reza Hasan Mahmud , Das Asish Kumar , Shaw Subrata , Mubarak Mohammad S. , Mishra Siddhartha Kumar , Melo‐Cavalcante Ana Amelia de Carvalho
Published: October 2018

Beta (β)‐caryophyllene (BCAR) is a major sesquiterpene of various plant essential oils reported for several important pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, and immune‐modulatory activity. Recent studies suggest that it also possesses neuroprotective effect. This study reviews published reports pertaining to the neuropharmacological activities of BCAR. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, MedLine Plus, and Google Scholar with keywords “beta (β)‐caryophyllene” and other neurological keywords were searched. Data were extracted by referring to articles with information about the dose or concentration/route of administration, test system, results and discussion, and proposed mechanism of action. A total of 545 research articles were recorded, and 41 experimental studies were included in this review, after application of exclusion criterion. Search results suggest that BCAR exhibits a protective role in a number of nervous system‐related disorders including pain, anxiety, spasm, convulsion, depression, alcoholism, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, BCAR has local anesthetic‐like activity, which could protect the nervous system from oxidative stress and inflammation and can act as an immunomodulatory agent. Most neurological activities of this natural product have been linked with the cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), especially the CB2R. This review suggests a possible application of BCAR as a neuroprotective agent.
Two optimized models of life prediction based on luminance degradation for VFD under a conventional life test
Authors: Zhang Jianping , Zong Yu , Zhang Xing , Cheng Guoliang , Jin Beiwen
Published: October 2018

Focusing on improving the accuracy of existing life prediction models for optoelectronic products, the three‐parameter Weibull right approximation method (TPWRAM) was employed to substitute exponential function based on the least square method in the analysis and two‐staged methods. Two optimized models were established (Model I and Model II), based on maximum likelihood estimation and the Monte Carlo method, respectively. One group of conventional life tests (CLTs) of vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) were conducted to collect luminance degradation data for each sample, and the two optimized models were applied to achieve VFD life prediction and obtain mean time to failure, median life, and confidence intervals. The results indicate that the CLT test design is correct and feasible, the amount of data on luminance degradation is large, and the test data selection method is reasonable. Model I and Model II optimized by TPWRAM both reflect the VFD luminance variation law well, and the predicted life approaches VFD service life from user feedback, proving that the two models are precise, and thus, can provide technical references for researchers and engineers regarding aspects of life prediction.
A general framework for fatigue reliability analysis of a high temperature component
Authors: Du Weiqi , Luo Yuanxin , Wang Yongqin , Ma Ling
Published: October 2018

Fatigue reliability analysis for a high temperature component is a complex task due to the difficulties of doing experiments and uncertainties occurring in practical engineering. Researchers usually focus on the fatigue life scatter of standard specimens since the life data are easily available from fatigue tests. An alternative method is proposed in this paper which can replace the real tests of high temperature components with finite element (FE) simulation. A constitutive model coupled damage rule is utilized in this work to describe the cyclic stress‐strain response. Then, the FE simulations is incorporated into the general framework for reliability assessment. An adaptive least squares support vector machines with Latin hypercube sampling and learning function is employed to construct limit state function. To verify the accuracy and robustness of proposed method, a numerical example is utilized. In the end of this paper, a three‐layer structure extrusion container is applied for whole flowchart of fatigue reliability analysis.
Adaptive sliding‐mode control for spacecraft relative position tracking with maneuvering target
Authors: Zhang Kai , Duan Guangren , Ma Mingda
Published: October 2018

This paper considers the adaptive sliding‐mode control (ASMC) problem of spacecraft relative position tracking with maneuvering target in the presence of external disturbance and unknown mass property. Integrated with the spacecraft absolute orbit dynamics, the line‐of‐sight–based relative position motion model is established; further, the problem is formulated in the general mechanical second‐order form with unknown mass parameter and matching disturbance, which makes it convenient to use some useful physical properties in the control law design. As a stepping‐stone, the traditional ASMC law is proposed without prior knowledge of uncertainty/disturbance bound. Then, incorporated with the smooth‐projection algorithm and equivalent‐control‐dependent gain method, the modified control law is proposed, which can force the mass estimate to remain in a desired domain and efficiently overcome the drawback of the overestimation of the disturbance in the traditional ASMC law. Within the Lyapunov frame, the bounded stability is presented in the real case that the sign function is replaced by the hyperbolic tangent function. Finally, three different simulation cases are presented to show fine performance of the modified ASMC law.
When is it reasonable to implement the discontinuous sliding‐mode controllers instead of the continuous ones? Frequency domain criteria
Authors: Pérez‐Ventura Ulises , Fridman Leonid
Published: October 2018

Professor Utkin proposed an example showing that the amplitude of chattering caused by the presence of parasitic dynamics (stable actuators) in some systems governed by the First‐Order Sliding‐Mode Controller is lower than that produced by the Super‐Twisting Algorithm. This example served to motivate this paper reconsidering the problem of comparison of chattering in systems with stable actuators, and driven by Discontinuous Sliding‐Mode Controllers (DSMCs) and Continuous Sliding‐Mode Controllers (CSMCs). Comparison of chattering produced by DSMC and CSMC taking into account their amplitudes, frequencies, and average power (AP) needed to maintain the system into real‐sliding modes, allowing to conclude the following: (i) for systems with slow actuators, the amplitude of oscillations and AP produced by DSMC be smaller than those caused by CSMC; (ii) for bounded disturbances with fixed Lipschitz constant, there exist sufficiently fast actuators for which the amplitude of oscillations and AP produced by CSMC be smaller than those caused by DSMC.
Resource efficiency and green economic sustainability transition evaluation of green growth productivity gap and governance challenges in Cambodia
Authors: Luukkanen Jyrki , Kaivo‐oja Jari , Vähäkari Noora , O'Mahony Tadhg , Korkeakoski Mika , Panula‐Ontto Juha , Vehmas Jarmo , Nguyen Quoc Anh
Published: October 2018

This study provides an analysis of Cambodian socio‐economic and environmental development. The analysis applies the Sustainable Society Index—database and uses Sustainability Window analyses linked to the green growth strategy in Cambodia. The novel analyses provide criteria for weak and strong sustainability and are further developed to evaluate the green growth productivity gap.

We have carried out empirical analyses using indicators of the different dimensions of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental. The Sustainability Window defines the minimum economic development for social sustainability and the maximum economic development for environmental criterion for sustainability.

This study demonstrates methodological usefulness of the Sustainability Window analysis in the fields of development studies and green growth. The methodological novelty of this study is to use Sustainability Window approach and to provide a novel empirical testbed for strong and weak sustainability analyses as well as for the analysis of the green growth resource use productivity gap.
Meta‐analysis of non‐linear exposure‐outcome relationships using individual participant data: A comparison of two methods
Authors: White Ian R. , Kaptoge Stephen , Royston Patrick , Sauerbrei Willi ,   The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration
Published: October 2018

Non‐linear exposure‐outcome relationships such as between body mass index (BMI) and mortality are common. They are best explored as continuous functions using individual participant data from multiple studies. We explore two two‐stage methods for meta‐analysis of such relationships, where the confounder‐adjusted relationship is first estimated in a non‐linear regression model in each study, then combined across studies. The “metacurve” approach combines the estimated curves using multiple meta‐analyses of the relative effect between a given exposure level and a reference level. The “mvmeta” approach combines the estimated model parameters in a single multivariate meta‐analysis. Both methods allow the exposure‐outcome relationship to differ across studies. Using theoretical arguments, we show that the methods differ most when covariate distributions differ across studies; using simulated data, we show that mvmeta gains precision but metacurve is more robust to model mis‐specification. We then compare the two methods using data from the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration on BMI, coronary heart disease events, and all‐cause mortality (>80 cohorts, >18 000 events). For each outcome, we model BMI using fractional polynomials of degree 2 in each study, with adjustment for confounders. For metacurve, the powers defining the fractional polynomials may be study‐specific or common across studies. For coronary heart disease, metacurve with common powers and mvmeta correctly identify a small increase in risk in the lowest levels of BMI, but metacurve with study‐specific powers does not. For all‐cause mortality, all methods identify a steep U‐shape. The metacurve and mvmeta methods perform well in combining complex exposure‐disease relationships across studies.
Capillary electrophoresis in phytochemical analysis (2014–2017)
Authors: Zhou Dong‐Dong , Zhang Qian , Li Shao‐Ping , Yang Feng‐Qing
Published: October 2018

This updated review is focused on the applications of CE in phytochemical analysis during the period of 2014 to April 2018 (about 130 papers were included). The article mainly consists of three main sections, including sample pretreatment (extraction and on‐line pre‐concentration), method development (separation and detection) and applications in quality evaluation of medicinal plants, screening of active compounds (enzyme inhibitors) and studying interaction between phytochemicals and bio‐macromolecules.
A doubly robust weighting estimator of the average treatment effect on the treated
Authors: Moodie Erica E. M. , Saarela Olli , Stephens David A.
Published: October 2018

We introduce an importance sampling derivation of the average treatment effect on the treated and extend this to incorporate an augmentation term to allow doubly robust estimation of the average treatment effect on the treated. Unlike the matching estimator of the average treatment effect on the treated, the augmented inverse weighted estimator that results from the importance sampling approach has regular asymptotic properties and does not result in any datapoints being excluded from the estimation. Following simulations, we apply the doubly robust, augmented weighted estimator to a U.S. national survey of health to examine the impact of smoking on sleep, and we use techniques developed for other doubly robust estimators to demonstrate model validity.
Energy dissipation and performance assessment of double damped outriggers in tall buildings under strong earthquakes
Authors: Morales‐Beltran Mauricio , Turan Gürsoy , Dursun Onur , Nijsse Rob
Published: October 2018

The use of a single set of outriggers equipped with oil viscous dampers increases the damping ratio of tall buildings in about 6–10%, depending on the loading conditions. However, could this ratio be further increased by the addition of another set of outriggers? Should this additional set include dampers too? To answer these questions, several double damped outrigger configurations for tall buildings are investigated and compared with an optimally designed single damped outrigger, located at elevation 0.7 of the total building's height (h). Using free vibration, double outrigger configurations increasing damping up to a ratio equal to the single‐based optimal are identified. Next, selected configurations are subjected to several levels of eight ground motions to compare their capability for avoiding damage under critical excitations. Last, a simplified economic analysis highlights the advantages of each optimal configuration in terms of cost savings. The results show that, within the boundaries of this study, combining a damped outrigger at 0.5h with a conventional outrigger at 0.7h is more effective in reducing hysteretic energy ratios and economically viable if compared with a single damped outrigger solution. Moreover, double damped outrigger configurations for tall buildings exhibit broader display of optimal combinations, which offer flexibility of design to the high‐rise architecture.
Gelation of poly(vinyl chloride) inside a single screw extruder and its effect on product properties
Authors: Demirci Abdullah , Teke Ismail , Goger Ali , Canbaz Elif , Vlachopoulos John
Published: October 2018

Two resin formulations were extruded through a single screw extruder, equipped with a single flighted screw, rotating at 10 rpm, at different barrel temperature settings, which resulted in different melt temperatures measured in the adapter zone. The extrudates were subsequently subjected to assessments of the gelation level by three different methods: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), capillary rheometry (CR), and solvent absorption (SA). The pros and cons of these methods are discussed. It appears that DSC is the most accurate technique for the quantitative determination of the gelation degree (GD), with the drawback that the specimen size is very small. The CR technique, based on measurement of entrance pressure, is also capable of providing reasonable estimates of GD, with some potential inaccuracies as a result of difficulties associated with measurement or assessment of temperature rise. The SA technique provided qualitative assessments of GD in agreement with the other two methods. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, solid density, and color change were also measured and were correlated to melt temperatures and the corresponding GD. Extruded specimens having GDs in the range of 60%–90% possessed satisfactory properties for both resin formulations. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E174–E180, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Single-top associated production with a Z or H boson at the LHC: the SMEFT interpretation
Authors: Degrande Celine , Maltoni Fabio , Mimasu Ken , Vryonidou Eleni , Zhang Cen
Published: October 2018

Abstract

At the LHC, top quarks can be produced singly with a sizeable rate via electroweak interactions. This process probes a limited set of top-quark electroweak couplings, i.e., the same entering the top-quark decay, yet at higher scales and with a different sensitivity. Requiring the production of a Z or H boson in association with single-top significantly extends the sensitivity of this process to new physics, opening up the unique possibility of testing top-Higgs, top-gauge, triple gauge, gauge-Higgs interactions without being dominated by QCD interactions. We consider tZj and tHj production at the LHC, providing predictions at next-to-leading accuracy in QCD in the framework of the standard model effective field theory, including all relevant operators up to dimension six. We perform the first complete study of the sensitivity to new interactions of these processes, highlighting the interplay and complementarity among tj, tZj and tHj in simultaneously constraining top-quark, triple gauge, and gauge-Higgs interactions in the current and future runs at the LHC.
Connected correlator of 1/2 BPS Wilson loops in $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ SYM
Authors: Okuyama Kazumi
Published: October 2018

Abstract

We study the connected correlator of 1/2 BPS winding Wilson loops in

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

U(N) super Yang-Mills theory, where those Wilson loops are on top of each other along the same circle. We find the exact finite N expression of the connected correlator of such Wilson loops. We show that the 1/N expansion of this exact result is reproduced from the topological recursion of Gaussian matrix model. We also study the exact finite N expression of the generating function of 1/2 BPS Wilson loops in the symmetric representation.
Participant satisfaction with dementia prevention research: Results from Home‐Based Assessment trial
Authors: Sano Mary , Egelko Susan , Zhu Carolyn W. , Li Clara , Donohue Michael C. , Ferris Steven , Kaye Jeffrey , Mundt James C. , Sun Chung‐Kai , Aisen Paul S. , Feldman Howard H.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Little is known about factors affecting motivation and satisfaction of participants in dementia prevention trials.

Methods

A Research Satisfaction Survey was administered to 422 nondemented older adults who participated in the Home‐Based Assessment trial.

Results

Overall satisfaction was high, with means of all individual items near to above a value of 3 on a scale from 1 (worst) to 4 (best). Greater satisfaction was associated with staff‐administered interviews versus automated technologies. The most liked aspects of research participation were volunteerism, opportunity to challenge and improve mental function, and positive interactions with staff. The least liked aspect was repetitiveness of the assessments. Participants requested more contact with staff and other older adults and more feedback on performance.

Discussion

Older adults' participation in research was primarily motivated by altruism. Methodologies that facilitate human contact, encourage feedback and novelty of tasks should be incorporated into future trial design.
Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy for Men With Situational Erectile Dysfunction: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Analysis and Pilot Study
Authors: Bossio Jennifer A. , Basson Rosemary , Driscoll Miriam , Correia Shauna , Brotto Lori A.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Recent advances in sexual health research support the benefits of mindfulness-based therapy (non-judgmental present-moment awareness) for the treatment of women’s sexual dysfunction.

Aim

To determine whether it is feasible to implement an adapted, empirically supported treatment protocol for female sexual dysfunction to the specific needs of men with situational erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was taken for this feasibility pilot study. A total of 10 men (Mage = 40.3, SD = 14.01, Range = 20–67) with a diagnosis of situational ED were recruited to participate in a 4-week mindfulness-based treatment group. The group was adapted from protocols shown to be effective for women with sexual dysfunction and edited to include content specific to situational ED. Sessions were 2.25 hours in length, included daily home-practice activities, and integrated elements of psychoeducation, sex therapy, and mindfulness skills. Men completed questionnaires (International Index of Erectile Functioning, Relationship Assessment Scale, Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, a treatment expectation questionnaire) at 3 time points (prior to treatment, immediately after treatment, and 6 months after treatment). 5 men (Mage = 44.4, SD = 15.76, Range = 30–67) participated in qualitative exit interviews.

Main Outcome Measure

Findings support the feasibility of adapting a mindfulness-based group treatment for situational ED.

Results

With respect to feasibility, the dropout rate was 10%, with 1 participant who did not complete the treatment. Comparisons between Time 1 and Time 3 self-reports suggested that this treatment protocol holds promise as a novel means of impacting erectile functioning (Cohen’s d = 0.63), overall sexual satisfaction (Cohen’s d = 1.02), and non-judgmental observation of one’s experience (Cohen’s d = 0.52). Participants’ expectations for the treatment were generally positive and correlated to self-reported outcomes (r = .68–.73). Qualitative analyses revealed 6 themes: normalization, group magic, identification of effective treatment targets, increased self-efficacy, relationship factors, and treatment barriers.

Clinical Implications

In a shift toward a biopsychosocial framework for the treatment of men’s sexual dysfunction, clinicians may consider incorporating mindfulness to address psychosocial and psychosexual components of dysfunction.

Strength & Limitations

This is the first study—to our knowledge—to adapt mindfulness protocols for use with men’s sexual dysfunction. Because this is a pilot study aimed at feasibility, the sample size is small and no control group was included, thus conclusions about efficacy and generalizability cannot be made.

Conclusion

The current study suggests that a mindfulness group therapy framework offers a feasible and potentially promising treatment avenue for men with situational ED.
Service design for the design community: TCDC Resource Center's relocation experience
Authors: Thamtheerasathian Lerchart , Choemprayong Songphan , Teerathammongkol Pimpaporn , Srisatriyanon Siwalai
Published: October 2018

During the move to a new location in 2016-2017, the headquarters of Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) in Bangkok applied a service design approach to devise and deploy new and improved services. Applying a case study approach, this article reports the TCDC experience in adopting a service design approach in its library function at the TCDC Resource Center. The initiative aimed to create a new service blueprint as well as to implement new and updated services to meet ever-changing user needs. It is expected that service design will increase the user satisfaction level, which will lead to an increasing number of members and visitors, as well as promote revisits and brand loyalty. The process included developing empathy, service ideation, prototyping, and testing. As a result, several new and updated services were introduced and implemented both in the physical space and online. As an iterative process, the design team has also provided multiple channels to receive feedback from users both directly and indirectly to ensure continuous improvement of its services and products.
Private Security in Nairobi, Kenya: Securitized Landscapes, Crosscurrents, and New Forms of Sociality
Authors: Dobson Nathan
Published: October 2018

This article documents some of the forms of sociality engendered by the massive and growing presence of private security guards around Nairobi, Kenya. A focus on violence and the logic of an ideal of the use of violence in critical security studies literature obfuscates these networks in a similar way to idealizations of public space and the public sphere in anthropological literature on private security and residential enclaves. By looking at the close ties guards maintain with their homes in rural areas of Nairobi and the associations they make with people such as hawkers, it becomes clear that their presence in the city is creating new sets of valuations and obligations all the time. These forms of sociality are not galvanized by the threat of violence that the guards evoke; rather, they are engendered alongside and at cross-currents to the idealized, securitized landscape.
Time Will Tell: Information in the Timing of Scheduled Earnings News
Authors: Johnson Travis L. , So Eric C.
Published: October 2018

Using novel earnings calendar data, we show that firms’ advanced scheduling of earnings announcement dates foreshadows their earnings news. Firms that schedule later-than-expected announcement dates subsequently announce worse news than those scheduling earlier-than-expected announcement dates. Despite scheduling disclosures being observable weeks ahead of earnings announcements, we show that equity markets fail to reflect the information in these disclosures until the announcement itself. By also showing that option markets respond efficiently to volatility-timing information embedded in the same scheduling disclosures, we provide novel evidence that markets fail to react to information about future earnings despite investors immediately trading on the underlying signal.
Integral backstepping control for trajectory and yaw motion tracking of quadrotors
Authors: Poultney Alexander , Gong Peiyan , Ashrafiuon Hashem
Published: October 2018

This work presents a novel trajectory tracking, hovering, and yaw motion control for quadrotors subject to unknown modeling uncertainties and disturbances. Nonlinear equations of motion are used to model the quadrotor's motion without any simplifying assumptions. An integral backstepping control is developed by defining the tracking errors, their integral, and their first through third time derivatives as the system states. The resulting surge force and roll and pitch moments are shown to asymptotically stabilize the error states subject to bounded disturbances and modeling uncertainties. Similarly, a yaw moment is derived through integral backstepping that simultaneously stabilizes yaw motion errors. The controller performance in simultaneous trajectory and yaw motion tracking is verified through both simulations and experiments.