bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Inhomogeneous Deformation on Tensile Behavior of Sheets Processed Through Constrained Groove Pressing
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Venkatachalam S. , Krishnaswamy Hariharan , Digavalli Ravi Kumar , Murthy H. S. N.
Published: April 2019

Constrained groove pressing (CGP) is a severe plastic deformation technique to produce the ultra-fine grained sheet. The inhomogeneous strain distribution and geometry variation induce differential mechanical properties in the processed sheet. The improved mechanical properties of CGP sheets is due to the composite effect of weak and strong regions formed by geometric and strain inhomogeneities. Weaker regions exhibit large strain, lower yield strength, and higher strain hardening compared to stronger regions. The estimation of mechanical properties is influenced by these defects leading to the difference in the mechanical properties along different orientations. Experimental investigation revealed that the commonly used tensile samples cut perpendicular to the groove orientation exhibit variation in thickness along the gauge length affecting the results from tensile tests. To further understand the effect of geometric variation, a typical CGP specimen was reverse engineered and finite element (FE) simulation was performed using the actual geometry of the CGP processed specimen. The strain distribution from FE simulation was validated experimentally using the digital image correlation data. Based on the numerical and experimental studies, miniature specimens were designed to eliminate the geometric effects from the standard parallel specimen. Miniature parallel specimens showed lower yield strength and total elongation compared to the standard specimens. However, the statistical scatter of total elongation of the miniature specimens was much less than that of the standard specimens, indicating better repeatability. Probably this is the first study to quantify the contribution of composite geometric effect in the mechanical properties of CGP.
Utilizing Tribological System Parameters as a Harbinger of Distress in Dynamically and Aerothermally Coupled Systems
Authors: Haye Sheridon
Published: April 2019

This paper summarizes a data fusion approach for utilizing conventional lubrication parameters in an unconventional method for identifying deterioration in a thermally coupled system. Complex machines are composed of multiple systems that are intrinsically dependent. Design of these systems requires expertise in distinct disciplines with a determined focus on meeting system-specific requirements. This expertise focused approach promotes a silo mindset to system design, which is then carried through to the design and implementation of the health management system of these machines. These multidisciplinary interacting systems are traditionally monitored as independent entities, with little advantage taken of the direct and cross-coupled effects. For example, parameters required for lubrication health monitoring include, but are not limited to, oil pressure and temperature. These parameters are critical in determining the health of the lubrication system. However, how these parameters change can be an indicative of the health of interacting systems otherwise considered independent and isolated. By exploring the rationale of the cross-system impacts, physical interactions between these systems (albeit empirical knowledge) can be used for cross-system monitoring. A means of achieving this objective is to utilize parameters that are measured in one system to determine the diagnostic state of another coupled system with limited, or no, system observability. A fuzzy logic fusion approach is employed in this task and was designed and implemented for the above-mentioned purpose. The focus of interest was on the lubrication and hot section interactions with parameters obtained from real machines. Fuzzy membership functions and rules were determined and tuned appropriately from real data and applied to nominal and defective machines.
Actinomyces odontolyticusinfection 3 months post-robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy
Authors: Clyde Melissa , McAllister Jamie , Obeidallah Alison , Ahmad Imran
Published: April 2019

Actinomyces odontolyticusinfection is a rare bacterial infection with only 46 cases reported from its discovery in 1958. This case highlights an immunocompetent patient who presented with an infected lymphocele and bacteraemia following a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection 3 months previously. He was treated for a fever of unclear origin initially using amoxicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole. Subsequently, he was found to have an infected lymphocele, which required surgical drainage. He was discharged 19 days after admission with three times daily oral amoxicillin which is to be continued for 6–12 months. This case highlights the need for effective communication between the laboratory and medical teams, and the importance of prompt source control.
Juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulitis in an elderly female
Authors: Groff Andrew , Walsh Leonard , Singh Manpreet , Jain Rohit
Published: April 2019

We describe the case of an 82-year-old Caucasian woman who presented to our institution as a transfer from an outside hospital with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain with CT imaging concerning for a duodenal mass or abscess in the juxtapapillary region of the second part of the duodenum. Upper endoscopy showed a non-bleeding duodenal diverticulum with purulent discharge consistent with diverticulitis. She underwent endoscopic disimpaction with irrigation and received a 14 day course of antibiotics, after which she presented for follow-up 1 month after discharge without complications. This case highlights the rarity of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulitis, its nonspecific clinical presentation and imaging findings and the importance of early diagnosis and management to prevent severe complications including perforation.
Psycho-oncology care in breast cancer centres: a nationwide survey
Authors: Ernstmann Nicole , Enders Anna , Halbach Sarah , Nakata Hannah , Kehrer Christina , Pfaff Holger , Geiser Franziska
Published: April 2019

Objective

To describe psycho-oncological care structures and processes in German breast cancer centres from the perspective of the centre administration.

Methods

The findings are based on a postal survey of a representative random sample of surgical sites of certified breast cancer centres in Germany. Data were collected in 2013 and 2014. The questionnaire included questions about infrastructure, patient information standards, psycho-oncological services and aspects of organisational culture. Data analyses included frequencies, means and bivariate relationships.

Results

The return rate was 88.3% (53 hospital sites). Psycho-oncological care is provided by permanent employees in 87%. The average number of full-time-equivalent employees (FTE) is 1.23. Most breast cancer centres engage the occupational group of psycho-oncologists for psycho-oncological care (90%), followed by the medical service (80%) and breast care nurses (78%) (multiple answers were possible). The correlation coefficient between FTEs and surgical treatments per year is not significant (r=0.292, p=0.051). Hospitals are screening every inpatient for the need of psycho-oncological support in 76% of all sites. Frequently used screening instruments are distress thermometer (19%), clinical interview (13%) and basic psycho-oncological documentation (11%).

Conclusion

Our data provide insights into the self-reported structural and procedural quality of psycho-oncological care in German breast cancer centres. Further research should examine patient and caregiver perspective on the psycho-oncological services provided by breast cancer centres.
Personalised surveillance for serrated polyposis syndrome: results from a prospective 5-year international cohort study
Authors: Bleijenberg Arne GC , IJspeert Joep EG , van Herwaarden Yasmijn J , Carballal Sabela , Pellisé María , Jung Gerhard , Bisseling Tanya M , Nagetaal Iris D , van Leerdam Monique E , van Lelyveld Niels , Bessa Xavier , Rodríguez-Moranta Francisco , Bastiaansen Barbara , de Klaver Willemijn , Rivero Liseth , Spaander Manon CW , Koornstra Jan Jacob , Bujanda Luis , Balaguer Francesc , Dekker Evelien
Published: April 2019

Background and aims

Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). International guidelines recommend surveillance intervals of 1–2 years. However, yearly surveillance likely leads to overtreatment for many. We prospectively assessed a surveillance protocol aiming to safely reduce the burden of colonoscopies.

Methods

Between 2013 and 2018, we enrolled SPS patients from nine Dutch and Spanish hospitals. Patients were surveilled using a protocol appointing either a 1-year or 2-year interval after each surveillance colonoscopy, based on polyp burden. Primary endpoint was the 5-year cumulative incidence of CRC and advanced neoplasia (AN) during surveillance.

Results

We followed 271 SPS patients for a median of 3.6 years. During surveillance, two patients developed CRC (cumulative 5-year incidence 1.3%[95% CI 0% to 3.2%]). The 5-year AN incidence was 44% (95% CI 37% to 52%), and was lower for patients with SPS type III (26%) than for patients diagnosed with type I (53%) or type I and III (59%, p<0.001). Most patients were recommended a 2-year interval, and those recommended a 2-year interval were not at increased risk of AN: AN incidence after a 2-year recommendation was 15.6% compared with 24.4% after a 1-year recommendation (OR 0.57, p=0.08).

Conclusion

Risk stratification substantially reduced colonoscopy burden while achieving CRC incidence similar to previous studies. AN incidence is considerable in SPS patients, but extension of surveillance intervals was not associated with increased AN in those identified as low-risk by the protocol. We identified SPS type III patients as low-risk group that might benefit from even less frequent surveillance.

Trial registration number

The study was registered on http://www.trialregister.nl; trial-ID NTR4609.
Resectable lung lesions malignancy assessment and cancer detection by ultra-deep sequencing of targeted gene mutations in plasma cell-free DNA
Authors: Peng Muyun , Xie Yuancai , Li Xiaohua , Qian Youhui , Tu Xiaonian , Yao Xumei , Cheng Fangsheng , Xu Feiyue , Kong Deju , He Bing , Liu Chaoyu , Cao Fengjun , Yang Haoxian , Yu Fenglei , Xu Chuanbo , Tian Geng
Published: April 2019

Background

Early detection of lung cancer to allow curative treatment remains challenging. Cell-free circulating tumour (ct) DNA (ctDNA) analysis may aid in malignancy assessment and early cancer diagnosis of lung nodules found in screening imagery.

Methods

The multicentre clinical study enrolled 192 patients with operable occupying lung diseases. Plasma ctDNA, white cell count genomic DNA (gDNA) and tumour tissue gDNA of each patient were analysed by ultra-deep sequencing to an average of 35 000× of the coding regions of 65 lung cancer-related genes.

Results

The cohort consists of a quarter of benign lung diseases and three quarters of cancer patients with all histopathology subtypes. 64% of the cancer patients are at stage I. Gene mutations detection in tissue gDNA and plasma ctDNA results in a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 88%. When ctDNA assay was used as the test, the sensitivity was 69% and specificity 96%. As for the lung cancer patients, the assay detected 63%, 83%, 94% and 100%, for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively. In a linear discriminant analysis, combination of ctDNA, patient age and a panel of serum biomarkers boosted the overall sensitivity to 80% at a specificity of 99%. 29 out of the 65 genes harboured mutations in the patients with lung cancer with the largest number found in TP53 (30% plasma and 62% tumour tissue samples) and EGFR (20% and 40%, respectively).

Conclusion

Plasma ctDNA was analysed in lung nodule assessment and early cancer detection, while an algorithm combining clinical information enhanced the test performance.

Trial registration number

NCT03081741.
Searching for novel cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of tau pathology in frontotemporal dementia: an elusive quest
Authors: Foiani Martha S , Cicognola Claudia , Ermann Natalia , Woollacott Ione O C , Heller Carolin , Heslegrave Amanda J , Keshavan Ashvini , Paterson Ross W , Ye Keqiang , Kornhuber Johannes , Fox Nick C , Schott Jonathan M , Warren Jason D , Lewczuk Piotr , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Höglund Kina , Rohrer Jonathan D
Published: April 2019

Background

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder associated usually with tau or TDP-43 pathology, although some phenotypes such as logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia are more commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Currently, there are no biomarkers able to diagnose the underlying pathology during life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of novel tau species within cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as biomarkers for tau pathology in FTD.

Methods

86 participants were included: 66 with a clinical diagnosis within the FTD spectrum and 20 healthy controls. Immunoassays targeting tau fragments N-123, N-mid-region, N-224 and X-368, as well as a non-phosphorylated form of tau were measured in CSF, along with total-tau (T-tau) and phospho-tau (P-tau(181)). Patients with FTD were grouped based on their Aβ42level into those likely to have underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology (n=21) and those with likely frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) pathology (n=45). The FTLD group was then subgrouped based on their underlying clinical and genetic diagnoses into those with likely tau (n=7) or TDP-43 (n=18) pathology.

Results

Significantly higher concentrations of tau N-mid-region, tau N-224 and non-phosphorylated tau were seen in both the AD group and FTLD group compared with controls. However, none of the novel tau species showed a significant difference between the AD and FTLD groups, nor between the TDP-43 and tau pathology groups. In a subanalysis, normalising for total-tau, none of the novel tau species provided a higher sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between tau and TDP-43 pathology than P-tau(181)/T-tau, which itself only had a sensitivity of 61.1% and specificity of 85.7% with a cut-off of <0.109.

Conclusions

Despite investigating multiple novel CSF tau fragments, none show promise as an FTD biomarker and so the quest for in vivo markers of FTLD-tau pathology continues.
Borderline personality disorder is associated with an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Shih-Fen , Lin Cheng-Li , Wang Ling-Yi , Wang Jen-Hung , Hsu Chung-Y , Shen Yu-Chih
Published: April 2019

Background

Several features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are likely to be associated with sexual health problems, such as unstable attachment, unstable sexual identity and sexual impulsivity. Since the issue of sex is not openly discussed in Taiwanese society, sexual health needs, including screening and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI), are often neglected in this population.

Objective

The study aims to determine whether BPD is associated with an increased risk of subsequent STI in Taiwan.

Methods

Overall 669 patients with BPD and 2676 controls matched by gender and age were enrolled between 2000 and 2012 and followed until the end of 2013 using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. During the follow-up period, participants who developed STI (human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, genital warts, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis) were identified. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of the STI incidence rate between patients with BPD and unaffected controls.

Results

Patients with BPD were predisposed to developing STI (HR: 4.17, 95% CI 1.62 to 10.8) after adjusting for demographic data and psychiatric comorbidities. The stratification analysis revealed a similar risk trend with BPD and subsequent STI in each gender and age group and was significant in the subgroups of male (HR: 11.3, 95% CI 2.97 to 42.7) and those aged 18–34 years (HR: 4.85, 95% CI 1.71 to 13.7). Also, the comorbidity stratification analysis revealed that, when the effect of comorbidities was excluded, patients with pure BPD significantly exhibited the risk association for subsequent STI after adjusting for all variables (HR: 4.24, 95% CI 1.25 to 14.4).

Conclusion

Given the greater potential of BPD to be associated with an increased risk of STI, there should be direct implications for the development of targeted prevention interventions in Taiwan’s mental health clinics.
Impact of mass drug administration of azithromycin for trachoma elimination on prevalence and azithromycin resistance of genitalMycoplasma genitaliuminfection
Authors: Harrison Mark Andrew , Harding-Esch Emma Michele , Marks Michael , Pond Marcus James , Butcher Robert , Solomon Anthony W , Zhou Liqing , Tan NgeeKeong , Nori Achyuta V , Kako Henry , Sokana Oliver , Mabey David C W , Sadiq Syed Tariq
Published: April 2019

Background

Mass drug administration (MDA) of 20 mg/kg (maximum 1 g in adults) azithromycin for ocularChlamydia trachomatis(CT) infection is a key component of the WHO trachoma elimination strategy. However, this dose may be suboptimal inMycoplasma genitaliuminfection and may encourage emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to azithromycin.

Objectives

To determine the effect of MDA for trachoma elimination onM. genitaliumprevalence, strain type and azithromycin resistance.

Methods

A secondary analysis of CT-negative vulvovaginal swabs from three outpatient antenatal clinics (Honiara, Solomon Islands) from patients recruited either pre-MDA, or 10 months post-MDA in two cross-sectional surveys was carried out. Swabs were tested forM. genitaliuminfection using Fast Track Diagnostics Urethritis Plus nucleic acid amplification assay.M. genitalium-positive samples were subsequently tested for azithromycin resistance by sequencing domain V of the 23S rRNA DNA region ofM. genitaliumand underwent phylogenetic analysis by dual locus sequence typing.

Results

M. genitaliumprevalence was 11.9% (28/236) in women pre-MDA and 10.9% (28/256) 10 months post-MDA (p=0.7467). Self-reported receipt of azithromycin as part of MDA was 49.2% in women recruited post-MDA and 17.9% (5/28) in those who testedM. genitaliumpositive. Of samples sequenced (21/28 pre-MDA, 22/28 post-MDA), all showed a macrolide susceptible genotype. Strain typing showed that sequence types diverged into two lineages, with a suggestion of strain replacement post-MDA.

Conclusion

A single round of azithromycin MDA in an island population with high baselineM. genitaliumprevalence did not appear to impact on either prevalence or azithromycin resistance, in contrast to reported decreased genital CT prevalence in the same population. This may be due to limitations such as sample size, including CT-negative samples only, and low MDA coverage. Further investigation of the impact of multiple rounds of MDA onM. genitaliumazithromycin AMR in antibiotic experienced and naïve populations is warranted.
Controlling Complexity of Cerebral Cortex Simulations—II: Streamlined Microcircuits
Authors: Hokkanen Henri , Andalibi Vafa , Vanni Simo
Published: April 2019

Recently, Markram et al. (2015) presented a model of the rat somatosensory microcircuit (Markram model). Their model is high in anatomical and physiological detail, and its simulation requires supercomputers. The lack of neuroinformatics and computing power is an obstacle for using a similar approach to build models of other cortical areas or larger cortical systems. Simplified neuron models offer an attractive alternative to high-fidelity Hodgkin-Huxley-type neuron models, but their validity in modeling cortical circuits is unclear.

We simplified the Markram model to a network of exponential integrate-and-fire (EIF) neurons that runs on a single CPU core in reasonable time. We analyzed the electrophysiology and the morphology of the Markram model neurons with eFel and NeuroM tools, provided by the Blue Brain Project. We then constructed neurons with few compartments and averaged parameters from the reference model. We used the CxSystem simulation framework to explore the role of short-term plasticity and GABA[Formula: see text] and NMDA synaptic conductances in replicating oscillatory phenomena in the Markram model. We show that having a slow inhibitory synaptic conductance (GABA[Formula: see text] allows replication of oscillatory behavior in the high-calcium state. Furthermore, we show that qualitatively similar dynamics are seen even with a reduced number of cell types (from 55 to 17 types). This reduction halved the computation time.

Our results suggest that qualitative dynamics of cortical microcircuits can be studied using limited neuroinformatics and computing resources supporting parameter exploration and simulation of cortical systems. The simplification procedure can easily be adapted to studying other microcircuits for which sparse electrophysiological and morphological data are available.
Learning Moral Graphs in Construction of High-Dimensional Bayesian Networks for Mixed Data
Authors: Xu Suwa , Jia Bochao , Liang Faming
Published: April 2019

Bayesian networks have been widely used in many scientific fields for describing the conditional independence relationships for a large set of random variables. This letter proposes a novel algorithm, the so-called p-learning algorithm, for learning moral graphs for high-dimensional Bayesian networks. The moral graph is a Markov network representation of the Bayesian network and also the key to construction of the Bayesian network for constraint-based algorithms. The consistency of the p-learning algorithm is justified under the small- n, large- p scenario. The numerical results indicate that the p-learning algorithm significantly outperforms the existing ones, such as the PC, grow-shrink, incremental association, semi-interleaved hiton, hill-climbing, and max-min hill-climbing. Under the sparsity assumption, the p-learning algorithm has a computational complexity of O(p2) even in the worst case, while the existing algorithms have a computational complexity of O(p3) in the worst case.
Asynchronous Event-Based Motion Processing: From Visual Events to Probabilistic Sensory Representation
Authors: Khoei Mina A. , Ieng Sio-hoi , Benosman Ryad
Published: April 2019

In this work, we propose a two-layered descriptive model for motion processing from retina to the cortex, with an event-based input from the asynchronous time-based image sensor (ATIS) camera. Spatial and spatiotemporal filtering of visual scenes by motion energy detectors has been implemented in two steps in a simple layer of a lateral geniculate nucleus model and a set of three-dimensional Gabor kernels, eventually forming a probabilistic population response. The high temporal resolution of independent and asynchronous local sensory pixels from the ATIS provides a realistic stimulation to study biological motion processing, as well as developing bio-inspired motion processors for computer vision applications. Our study combines two significant theories in neuroscience: event-based stimulation and probabilistic sensory representation. We have modeled how this might be done at the vision level, as well as suggesting this framework as a generic computational principle among different sensory modalities.
Quantifying Information Conveyed by Large Neuronal Populations
Authors: Berkowitz John A. , Sharpee Tatyana O.
Published: April 2019

Quantifying mutual information between inputs and outputs of a large neural circuit is an important open problem in both machine learning and neuroscience. However, evaluation of the mutual information is known to be generally intractable for large systems due to the exponential growth in the number of terms that need to be evaluated. Here we show how information contained in the responses of large neural populations can be effectively computed provided the input-output functions of individual neurons can be measured and approximated by a logistic function applied to a potentially nonlinear function of the stimulus. Neural responses in this model can remain sensitive to multiple stimulus components. We show that the mutual information in this model can be effectively approximated as a sum of lower-dimensional conditional mutual information terms. The approximations become exact in the limit of large neural populations and for certain conditions on the distribution of receptive fields across the neural population. We empirically find that these approximations continue to work well even when the conditions on the receptive field distributions are not fulfilled. The computing cost for the proposed methods grows linearly in the dimension of the input and compares favorably with other approximations.
Increased Phosphatidylserine on Blood Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Y. , Li B. , Hu T.L. , Li T. , Zhang Y. , Zhang C. , Yu M. , Wang C. , Hou L. , Dong Z. , Hu T.S. , Novakovic V.A. , Shi J.
Published: April 2019

The specific function of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the context of the development of a hypercoagulable state among individuals with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is uncertain. The goal of this study was therefore to assess the exposure of PS on microparticles (MPs) as well as on endothelial and blood cells and to assess procoagulant activity (PCA) as a function of the stage of OSCC progression. We recruited patients with OSCC ( n = 63) as well as healthy controls ( n = 26) to participate in this study. PS exposure was then assessed via confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, revealing that patients with stage III/IV OSCC exhibited higher frequencies of PS-exposing blood cells, MPs, and serum-cultured endothelial cells (ECs) than did patients with stage I/II OSCC or healthy controls. When we conducted functional coagulation assays, we discovered that PS+ blood cells, MPs, and serum-cultured ECs from patients with stage III/IV OSCC mediated more rapid coagulation and more substantial production of FXa, thrombin, and fibrin as compared with controls. When samples were treated with the PS antagonist lactadherin, this resulted in an 80% disruption of PCA. Strikingly, when pre- and postoperative samples were compared from patients with stage III/IV OSCC undergoing resective surgery, PCA was significantly reduced in the postoperative samples. After stimulating ECs with inflammatory cytokines, we found by confocal microscopy that they expose PS on their cell membranes, thus generating FVa and FXa binding sites and mediating the formation of fibrin. Together our findings provide evidence that PS+ blood cells and MPs are important mediators of the development of a hypercoagulable and prothrombotic state among individuals afflicted by advanced-stage OSCC. As such, a PS blockade may be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating such patients.
Police detentions of ‘mentally disordered persons’: A multi-method investigation of section 136 use in Sussex
Authors: Bendelow Gillian , Warrington Claire A. , Jones Anna-Marie , Markham Sarah
Published: April 2019

This research was conducted in response to governmental and public concern regarding the escalating use of section 136 of the Mental Health Act (1983) nationally and of the excessive use of police custody as a place of safety in Sussex in particular. A retrospective analysis of all detentions in Sussex during 2012 was combined with qualitative data from 37 people with lived experience of detention, as well as police, National Health Service (NHS) and allied staff and volunteers. Predominantly, police used s136 as suicide prevention (80%) when no other services or help were available. During the period of study (2013–2016), effective joint working strategies, such as the street triage pilot, were able to reduce the overall rates of s136 detentions and to increase access to NHS place of safety suites markedly. Although the research acknowledges idiosyncratic local factors which contribute to the high rate of detentions across Sussex, the results have wider implications for national policy and practice.
Determination of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content using near-infrared spectroscopy in flax fiber
Authors: Huang Jing , Yu Chongwen
Published: April 2019

The rapid and accurate determination of flax fiber composition is necessary for its application, but until now it has mainly been tested by the wet chemical method, which is time-consuming and not environmentally friendly. In this paper, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was studied to determinate the main composition of flax, in which 43 flax samples were tested according to the traditional Chinese wet chemical component test standard. Five sets of spectra were generated to show the characteristic of each sample; in total 215 spectra sets were collected using a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer. The methods of partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) were used to establish the relationships between the data from the chemical and NIR methods. PLS proved to be a better quantitative method than PCR, based on the value of the coefficient of multiple determination for calibration ( Rc2) and prediction ( Rp2), the ratio of performance to standard deviate (RPD) and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). With the best pretreatment method, the spectral range of 10,000–4000 cm–1 yielded a better predictive result than the full range, with Rc2 of 0.968, Rp2 of 0.955, RMSEP of 1.060%, RPD of 4.641 for cellulose and Rc2 of 0.958, Rp2 of 0.906, RMSEP of 0.678%, RPD of 3.305 for hemicellulose, while the spectral range 6900–5600 cm–1 yielded a better predictive result with Rc2 of 0.936, Rp2 of 0.769, RMSEP of 0.455%, and RPD of 2.366 for lignin. The study shows that NIR models can provide a simple and fast way to analyze flax fiber composition, which is also beneficial to evaluate its quality.
Person of peace methodology in church planting: A critical analysis
Authors: Matthews A.
Published: April 2019

The missiological approach to church planting that focuses on finding a person of peace ought to be reconsidered. This article cobbles together from the different church-planting movement advocates what a person of peace is. It then holds those definitions and understandings up to the light of Scripture and raises questions about the use of the terminology by CPM advocates. It then demonstrates that this issue is significant not just for the accuracy of scriptural application and interpretation, but also has ramifications for current practitioners. Finally, it concludes by suggesting a possible substitute way of understanding the concept of open and receptive people.
Witness, the church, and faithful cultural engagement
Authors: Robinson Eric
Published: April 2019

There is a tension for the church between cultural engagement and maintaining faithful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is important that the church both acknowledges and wrestles with this tension. As the church exists in the world, it must continue to discern what faithful participation within culture looks like. It also must consider the question of identity—that is, in what ways cultural engagement is core to who the church is called to be. To state it in a different way, if engagement with the world is central to the church’s participation in the mission of God, then it must discern how to do so in a way that is faithful to that mission. M.M. Thomas and Lesslie Newbigin were two important twentieth-century voices in the development of mission theology and a missional understanding of the church. In their dialogue entitled “Baptism, the Church, and Koinonia,” Thomas and Newbigin look to shape a more constructive understanding of the church’s calling and identity as it seeks clarity in how to engage with culture and remain faithful to its gospel witness. The church has always found itself in the world, a world which God loves in Jesus Christ. Any congregation which seeks to be faithful to the gospel must consider what it means to be Jesus’ witness in the world. This article will consider the cultural witness and identity of the church in light of the Thomas–Newbigin discussion, while also drawing from the wider work of both authors.
Three Decades of Research on Induced Hypocrisy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Priolo Daniel , Pelt Audrey , Bauzel Roxane St. , Rubens Lolita , Voisin Dimitri , Fointiat Valerie
Published: April 2019

Induced hypocrisy is a sequential, two-step, cognitive dissonance procedure that prompts individuals to adopt a proattitudinal behavior. The present meta-analysis of 29 published and nine unpublished induced-hypocrisy studies enabled us to test three key dissonance-related issues. First, is hypocrisy effective in promoting change in behavioral intention and behavior? Our analyses supported the idea that hypocrisy (vs. control) increased both behavioral intention and behavior. Second, does hypocrisy generate psychological discomfort? Results pertaining to this issue were inconclusive due to the small number of studies measuring psychological discomfort. Third, are both steps necessary to generate change? Effect sizes conform to the idea that the transgressions-only condition can increase both behavior and intention. Our meta-analysis raises a number of theoretical issues concerning the psychological processes underlying induced hypocrisy and highlights implications for practitioners.
Latent Class Models Reveal Poor Agreement between Discrete-Choice and Time Tradeoff Preferences
Authors: Pullenayegum Eleanor M. , Pickard A. Simon , Xie Feng
Published: April 2019

Background. In health economics, there has been interest in using discrete-choice experiments (DCEs) to derive preferences for health states in lieu of previously established approaches like time tradeoff (TTO). We examined whether preferences elicited through DCEs are associated and agree with preferences elicited through TTO tasks. Methods. We used data from 1073 respondents to the Canadian EQ-5D-5L valuation study. Multivariate mixed-effects models specified a common likelihood for the TTO and discrete-choice data, with separate but correlated random effects for the TTO and DCE data, for each of the 5 EQ-5D-5L dimensions. Multivariate latent class models allowed separate but associated latent classes for the DCE and TTO data. Results. Correlation between the random effects for the 2 tasks ranged from −0.12 to 0.75, with only pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression having at least a 50% posterior probability of strong (>0.6) correlation. Latent classes for the TTO and DCE data both featured 1 latent class capturing participants attaching large disutilities to pain/discomfort, another capturing participants attaching large disutility to anxiety/depression, and the third class capturing the remainder. Agreement in class membership was poor (κ coefficient: 0.081; 95% credible interval, 0.033–0.13). Fewer respondents expressed strong disutilities for problems with anxiety/depression or pain/discomfort in the TTO than the DCE data (17% v. 55%, respectively). Conclusions. Stated preferences using TTO and DCEs show association across dimensions but poor agreement at the level of individual health states within respondents. Joint models that assume agreement between DCE and TTO have been used to develop national value sets for the EQ-5D-5L. This work indicates that when combining data from both techniques, methods requiring association but not agreement are needed.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome and benign paroxysmal torticollis are associated with a high risk of developing primary headache: A longitudinal study
Authors: Moavero Romina , Papetti Laura , Bernucci Maria Chiara , Cenci Caterina , Ferilli Michela Ada Noris , Sforza Giorgia , Vigevano Federico , Valeriani Massimiliano
Published: April 2019

Background and aim

Episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine are a group of disorders affecting patients with migraine or with an increased risk of presenting it, and likely represent an early life expression of migraine. Cyclic vomiting syndrome and benign paroxysmal torticollis are well characterized and represent a frequent cause of request for specialist consultations. The aim of this study is to longitudinally assess the rate of headache in patients presenting with cyclic vomiting syndrome and benign paroxysmal torticollis during infancy, and to define the main clinical features of the disorder.

Methods

We administered a questionnaire to the parents of all our pediatric patients with previous diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome and/or benign paroxysmal torticollis according to ICHD-3; questions were focused on the main clinical features of the disorder as well as the prognosis, with particular emphasis on the development of headache.

Results

For the final analysis we considered 82 patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome and 33 with benign paroxysmal torticollis. Seventy-nine percent of patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome presented with headache during the follow-up, with a mean age at onset of 6 years; 67% of patients with benign paroxysmal torticollis suffered from headache during the follow-up, with a mean age at onset of 5 years.

Discussion

Cyclic vomiting syndrome and benign paroxysmal torticollis are associated with a very high risk of developing headache, mostly migraine, later in life. In both groups of patients, the vast majority presented with different episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine at different ages, thus suggesting an age-dependent evolution of migraine-like symptoms before the onset of clear migrainous headache.
Clustering Approach toward Large Truck Crash Analysis
Authors: Rahimi Alireza , Azimi Ghazaleh , Asgari Hamidreza , Jin Xia
Published: April 2019

Heterogeneity of crash data masks the underlying crash patterns and perplexes crash analysis. This paper aims to explore an advanced high-dimensional clustering approach to investigate heterogeneity in large datasets. Detailed records of crashes involving large trucks occurring in the state of Florida between 2007 and 2016 were examined to identify truck crash patterns and significant conditions contributing to the patterns. The block clustering method was applied to more than 220,000 crash records with nearly 200 attributes. The analysis showed promising results in segmenting a large heterogeneous dataset into meaningful subgroups (with 95.72% average degree of homogeneity for selected blocks). The goodness of fit for clustering methods is evaluated and both integrated completed likelihood (ICL) and pseudo-likelihood values improved significantly (20.8% and 21.1% respectively). Attribute clustering showed distinct characteristics for each cluster. Crash clustering revealed significant differences among the clusters and suggested that this crash dataset could be portioned as same-direction, opposing-direction, and single-vehicle crashes. Individual blocks defined by both row and column clustering were further investigated to better understand the contribution set of conditions that lead to large truck crashes. Major features for each of the three major types of crashes were analyzed, which may provide additional insights to develop potential countermeasures and strategies that target specific segments. The clustering approach could be used as a preanalysis method to identify homogeneous subgroups for further analysis, which will help enhance the effectiveness of safety programs.
Analysis of Bicycle Headway Distribution, Saturation Flow and Capacity at a Signalized Intersection using Empirical Trajectory Data
Authors: Yuan Yufei , Goñi-Ros Bernat , Poppe Mees , Daamen Winnie , Hoogendoorn Serge P.
Published: April 2019

Predicting the bicycle flow capacity at signalized intersections of various characteristics is crucial for urban infrastructure design and traffic management. However, it is also a difficult task because of the large heterogeneity in cycling behavior and several limitations of traditional capacity estimation methods. This paper proposes several methodological improvements, illustrates them using high-resolution trajectory data collected at a busy signalized intersection in the Netherlands, and investigates the influence of key variables of capacity estimation. More specifically, it shows that the (virtual) sublane width has a significant effect on the shape of the headway distribution at the stop line. Furthermore, a new method is proposed to calculate the saturation headway (a key variable determining capacity), which excludes the cyclists initially located close to the stop line using a distance-based rule instead of a fixed number (as is usually done in practice). It is also shown that the saturation headway is quite sensitive to the sublane width. Moreover, a new, empirically based method is proposed to identify the number of sublanes that can be accommodated in a given cycle path, which is another key influencing variable. This method yields considerably lower estimates of the number of sublanes than traditional methods, which rely solely on the (available) cycle path width. Finally, the authors show that methodological choices such as the sublane width and the method used to estimate the number of sublanes have a considerable effect on capacity estimates. Therefore, this paper highlights the need to define a sound methodology to estimate bicycle flow capacity at signalized intersections and proposes some steps to move toward that direction.
Assessment of Contributing Factors to Air Service Loss in Small Communities
Authors: Atallah Stephanie , Hotle Susan L.
Published: April 2019

As indicated by current literature, service at small community airports was negatively affected by the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 and recent changes in competition structure. Existing studies have looked at the recession’s lingering impact on small community airports (e.g., hub premiums, airport dominance, connectivity) and markets (e.g., market competition structure). However, to date it has been difficult to determine which factors contribute to a market’s potential future loss of service that serves a small community. In this study, we identified characteristics that could potentially contribute to a market’s loss or gain of service by incorporating different regional- and market-specific characteristics that have evolved over the years. This study used a fixed-effects conditional logistic regression and focused on region-to-region markets serving small communities that were in service at least once between 2007 and 2013. In total, the panel data included 1,367 markets departing from a small region and arriving at a small-, medium-, or large-sized region with 453 markets adding or losing service during that time. Fixed-effects were used to identify the impact of within-market variation on service loss over the years. Results showed that, first, markets affected by a merger were indeed at a higher risk of losing service. Second, markets operated by a fuel-intensive, small-aircraft fleet had a higher chance of being discontinued. Third, an increased number of competitors greatly reduced potential market service loss.
Field Evaluation of Different Pre-Wetting Ratios for Sustainable Salting
Authors: Usman Taimur , Fu Liping , Kaur Jaspreet
Published: April 2019

This research presents the findings from a field study aimed at comparing the performance of different pre-wet (PW) ratios of salt for their impacts on snow melting performance/friction of road surfaces. The research was motivated by the question of whether or not better snow melting performance can be achieved by using higher PW ratios. Field tests were conducted on three sections of a provincial highway, located in Western Ontario in the winter season of 2016/2017 under three PW ratios, 5% (current practice), 10%, and 20%. Promelt Mag 22 (22% magnesium chloride, MgCl2, concentration) was used for pre-wetting. Based on a comprehensive statistical analysis of the field testing data, it was found that salt pre-wetted at 20% improved friction levels by approximately 12% while reducing the salt usage by 19% and sand by 35% when compared with usages at a PW ratio of 5%. Examination of images collected during snow storms showed that sections treated with salts with higher PW ratios generally had lower snow coverage.
One-Stage Correction of Tuberous Breast Deformity Using Saline Implants: Without the Need for Radial Scoring or Lowering the Inframammary Fold
Authors: Eisenberg Ted
Published: April 2019

Tuberous breasts are a congenital anomaly in which the breasts fail to develop normally. This abnormality may include hypoplasia, a tubular appearance, a higher inframammary fold (IMF), and sometimes a herniated nipple-areolar complex. Correction of tuberous breast deformity (TBD) is traditionally done with a 1-stage breast augmentation with radial scoring of the constricted breast tissue and/or the lowering of the IMF. An alternative 2-stage approach first uses a tissue expander to correct the deformity; the expander is later replaced with a permanent breast implant. Sixteen patients are presented in which a 1-stage correction of TBD was successfully accomplished with saline implants acting as tissue expanders. In all cases, the expansion remedied the deformity without the need for radial scoring of the breast tissue or lowering of the IMF. This approach has not been reported in the literature. Sixteen women (32 breasts) were treated, with TBD ranging from mild to severe. All patients had a breast augmentation with round, smooth saline implants placed through an IMF incision in the dual plane (partially subpectoral and partially submammary). Implants ranged in size from 225 cc to 675 cc. The IMF was never lowered and the breast parenchyma was never radially scored. Three patients had asymmetry requiring breast implants of different sizes, and one had a circumareolar mastopexy to repair a herniated areolar complex. Representative case examples are provided. The average follow-up time was 9 months. All deformities were corrected, and the patients expressed satisfaction with their results. There were no occurrences of hematoma, infection, capsular contracture, or malposition. This review has shown that saline breast implants alone, with their inherent expansion capability, can correct TBD without the increased morbidity associated with radial scoring and lowering the IMF. For patients who choose saline implants, this single-stage, less invasive surgical approach can provide a good aesthetic result.