bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasive Dental Treatment and Risk for a First Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Nordendahl E. , Kjellström B. , Fored C.M. , Ekbom A. , Svensson T. , Norhammar A. , Gustafsson A.
Published: April 2018

Invasive dental treatment is suggested to be associated with an increased risk for the development of cardiovascular events. We tested the hypothesis that the incidence of a first myocardial infarction (MI) within 4 wk after invasive dental treatments is increased. A registry-based case-control study within nationwide health care and population registries in Sweden was performed. The case patients included 51,880 individuals with a first fatal or nonfatal MI between January 2011 and December 2013. For each case, 5 control subjects, free from prior MI and matched for age, sex, and geographic area of residence, were randomly selected from the national population registry through risk set sampling with replacement, resulting in 246,978 control subjects. Information on dental treatments was obtained from the Dental Health Register, and the procedures were categorized into invasive dental treatments or other dental treatments. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for MI with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In addition to the matching variables, adjustments were made for the following confounders: diabetes, previous cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD drug treatment, education, and income. The mean age for case patients and controls subjects was 72.6 ± 13.0 y and 72.3 ± 13.0 y, respectively. Case patients more often had previous CVD (49% vs. 23%; P < 0.001) and diabetes (19% vs. 11%; P < 0.001) and received more treatment with CVD drugs (68% vs. 56%; P < 0.001) than control subjects. There was no association between invasive dental treatments during the 4 wk preceding the MI index date (crude OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.06; adjusted for confounders OR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.06). This study did not support the hypothesis of an increased incidence of MI after recent invasive dental treatment.
Worthy leisure education: Teaching here and now
Authors: Segev Arik
Published: April 2018

In order to show the potential unification between studying the school's academic curriculum and developing moral virtues, two matters commonly considered to be separated, I suggest the approach of worthy leisure education. Drawing on the tradition of paideia and liberal arts education, I describe the inner connection between school and leisure and the inner connection between the leisure of school and the preferred liberal virtue. This educational approach calls for teachers to create their lessons, the educational gatherings, as events which are not directed at outcomes beyond themselves. I name this approach to teaching: non-outcome-based teaching, or teaching here and now. I conclude the article by describing a number of virtues that teachers who wish to excel in implementing this approach should develop.
Personality and Genetic Associations With Military Service
Authors: Miles Matthew R. , Haider-Markel Donald P.
Published: April 2018

Existing literature connects military service to regional characteristics and family traditions, creating real distinctions between those who serve and those who do not. We engage this discussion by examining military service as a function of personality. In the second portion, we examine military service as predisposed by genetics. Our findings indicate there is a significant heritability component of serving in the military. We find a significant genetic correlation between personality traits associated with progressive political ambition and military service, suggesting that military service represents a different form of political participation to which individuals are genetically predisposed. We discuss the long-term implications of our findings for policy makers and recruiters.
Comparing Visual and Statistical Analysis of Multiple Baseline Design Graphs
Authors: Wolfe Katie , Dickenson Tammiee S. , Miller Bridget , McGrath Kathleen V.
Published: April 2018

A growing number of statistical analyses are being developed for single-case research. One important factor in evaluating these methods is the extent to which each corresponds to visual analysis. Few studies have compared statistical and visual analysis, and information about more recently developed statistics is scarce. Therefore, our purpose was to evaluate the agreement between visual analysis and four statistical analyses: improvement rate difference (IRD); Tau-U; Hedges, Pustejovsky, Shadish (HPS) effect size; and between-case standardized mean difference (BC-SMD). Results indicate that IRD and BC-SMD had the strongest overall agreement with visual analysis. Although Tau-U had strong agreement with visual analysis on raw values, it had poorer agreement when those values were dichotomized to represent the presence or absence of a functional relation. Overall, visual analysis appeared to be more conservative than statistical analysis, but further research is needed to evaluate the nature of these disagreements.
Betsy DeVos’s Education Reform Agenda: What Principals—and Their Publics—Need to Know
Authors: Kaplan Leslie S. , Owings William A.
Published: April 2018

Betsy DeVos, the new U.S. Secretary of Education, has a reform agenda to advance school choice. Her track record includes enabling charter school growth in Michigan at taxpayers’ expense with little oversight or accountability. Although an effective advocate, DeVos represents a broader policy movement to privatize American education, much of it happening beneath public awareness. Understanding Ms. DeVos’s policy goals, how the President and Congress are supporting these, and how privatization is occurring in states can help principals and education leaders recognize the stakes, learn what to watch for, and take appropriate actions to preserve and strengthen America’s public schools.
Watch Peripheral Arterial Tonometry in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Tanphaichitr Archwin , Thianboonsong Arathaya , Banhiran Wish , Vathanophas Vannipa , Ungkanont Kitirat
Published: April 2018

Objective

To assess the accuracy and clinical reliability of watch peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) compared with polysomnography (PSG) for the diagnosis of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Design

Prospective, diagnostic test study.

Setting

National tertiary referral hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Patients aged 8 to 15 years with clinically suspected OSA were recruited. All participants underwent PSG and PAT simultaneously in the sleep laboratory.

Results

Thirty‐six patients were included, with a mean age of 10.2 ± 1.8 years. Median (interquartile range) of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 8.0 (5.5‐12) and 2.9 (0.5‐7.5) events/h, median oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was 2.5 (1.4‐8.3) and 1.3 (0.2‐3.8) events/h, mean ± standard deviation total sleep time was 398.4 ± 38.3 and 401.9 ± 36.1 minutes, and mean minimum oxygen saturation was 87.1% ± 8.1% and 89.4% ± 7.1% for PSG and PAT sleep parameter results, respectively. Agreement between methods was excellent for the AHI (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.89; 95% CI, 0.40‐0.96; P <. 001) and ODI (ICC: 0.87; 95% CI, 0.69‐0.94; P <. 001). Correlation between methods was very good for the ODI (r = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67‐0.90; P <. 001) and moderate for the AHI (r = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.30‐0.85; P <. 001). From the receiver operating characteristic curve constructed to assess PAT diagnostic capability, AHI of PAT (W‐AHI) at a cutoff of 3.5 events/h provided the highest accuracy (76.9% sensitivity, 78.3% specificity), while W‐AHI at 10 events/h yielded 91.3% specificity for diagnosing severe OSA.

Conclusion

PAT correlated well and had good agreement with PSG. Children with W‐AHI ≥10 had high specificity for the diagnosis of severe OSA. Larger studies with PAT designed for children across all age ranges and with a normal control group are still needed.
Reducing the Time from Surgery to Adjuvant Radiation Therapy: An Institutional Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Divi Vasu , Chen Michelle M. , Hara Wendy , Shah Deepa , Narvasa Kristina , Segura Smith Andrea , Kelley Jennifer , Rosenthal Eben L. , Porter Julie
Published: April 2018

Objective

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend an interval between surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy of less than 6 weeks, but only 44% of patients meet this metric nationally. We sought to identify key components of an improvement process focused on starting adjuvant radiation therapy within 6 weeks of surgery.

Methods

This project used an A3 model to improve a defined process measure. We studied a consecutive sample of 56 patients with oral cavity carcinoma who were treated at our institution with upfront surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Twelve proposed interventions tested during the study period focused on 3 key drivers of delays: delayed dental evaluation and teeth extraction, delayed radiation oncology consults, and inadequate patient engagement. The primary outcome measure was the number of days from surgery to the start of radiation therapy.

Results

Prior to the intervention, 62% of patients received adjuvant radiation within 6 weeks of surgery. Following the intervention, 73% of patients achieved this metric. The percentage of patients with avoidable delays decreased from 24% to 9%. The percentage of patients with unavoidable delays was relatively constant before and after the intervention (15% and 18%, respectively).

Discussion

Defining disease‐specific metrics is critical to improving care in our head and neck cancer patient population. We demonstrate several key components to develop and improve self‐defined metrics.

Implications for Practice

As we transition to a system of value‐based care, structured quality improvement projects can have a measurable impact on cancer patient process measures.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in the Department of Defense
Authors: Hughes Charlotte K. , Fischer Jakob , Esquivel Carlos R. , Laury Adrienne M.
Published: April 2018

Objective

The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation clinical practice guideline (CPG) proposes recommendations regarding sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). SSNHL is managed by primary care, emergency medicine, and otolaryngology providers in the Department of Defense (DoD). However, their adherence to this CPG is unknown. We sought to determine provider compliance and identify areas for improvement.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

DoD's electronic medical record.

Subjects and Methods

Patients with SSNHL (N = 204) were treated between March 1, 2012, and September 30, 2015. Time from onset of symptoms to evaluation by primary care, emergency department, audiology, and otolaryngology providers and treatments were analyzed.

Results

The average interval from onset of symptoms to evaluation by a primary care or emergency department provider was 4.86 days (95% CI, 3.46‐6.26). Time from presentation to ear, nose, and throat and audiologic evaluation was 15.26 days (95% CI, 12.34‐18.20) and 14.16 days (95% CI, 11.31‐17.01), respectively. Diagnostic workup included magnetic resonance imaging (n = 150, 73.5%), computed tomography (n = 28, 13.7%), and laboratory testing (n = 50, 24.5%). Oral steroids were used in 137 (67.2%) patients, with 78.8% treated with the recommended dose. Intratympanic steroids were utilized in 65 (31.9%) patients, with variable dosing.

Conclusion

The DoD is uniquely positioned to evaluate adherence to CPGs on national and international levels given the robust and standardized electronic medical record. Areas of improvement include timely identification of SSNHL with rapid referral to ear, nose, and throat and audiology providers; minimizing unnecessary imaging, laboratory testing, and medications; and correct dosing of oral and intratympanic steroids.
Short‐ and Long‐term Effects of Neuromodulators for Unexplained Chronic Cough
Authors: Bowen Andrew Jay , Nowacki Amy S. , Contrera Kevin , Trask Douglas , Kaltenbach James , Milstein Claudio F. , Adessa Michelle , Benninger Michael S. , Taliercio Rachel , Bryson Paul C.
Published: April 2018

Objective

To evaluate the short‐ and long‐term effects of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and gabapentin in the treatment of unexplained chronic cough (UCC).

Study Design

Prospective cohort.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Patients seen between July 2016 and March 2017 were included following a formal workup and clinical evaluation indicative of UCC. Patients were placed on either a TCA (amitriptyline or nortriptyline) or gabapentin. Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and percentage improvement scores were obtained prior to treatment initiation and at 2 and 6 months of neuromodulator treatment. A linear mixed model assessed the change in LCQ score between the 2 treatment time points and baseline scores.

Results

Twenty‐eight patients completed a total of 37 neuromodulator trials. Gabapentin demonstrated statistically significant improvement in LCQ scores at 2 months (2.48 points, P≤. 01) and 6 months (5.40 points, P =. 01) of treatment as compared with baseline. Patients taking TCAs demonstrated statistically significant improvement of LCQ scores at 2 months of treatment (3.46 points, P≤. 01). However, the majority of patients discontinued treatment, most commonly secondary to the development of tachyphylaxis after 2 months, precluding analysis at 6 months.

Conclusion

While both neuromodulator classes demonstrated short‐term benefit, the majority of patients discontinue treatment prior to 6 months, with patients taking TCAs discontinuing more frequently than patients on gabapentin. Future investigations are warranted evaluating tachyphylaxis and the utility of dual treatment therapies designed to address peripheral and central sensory pathways involved in UCC.
Assessment of Oropharyngeal and Laryngeal Cancer Treatment Delay in a Private and Safety Net Hospital System
Authors: Perlow Haley K. , Ramey Stephen J. , Silver Ben , Kwon Deukwoo , Chinea Felix M. , Samuels Stuart E. , Samuels Michael A. , Elsayyad Nagy , Yechieli Raphael
Published: April 2018

Objective

To examine the impact of treatment setting and demographic factors on oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer time to treatment initiation (TTI).

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Safety net hospital and adjacent private academic hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Demographic, staging, and treatment details were retrospectively collected for 239 patients treated from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016. TTI was defined as days between diagnostic biopsy and initiation of curative treatment (defined as first day of radiotherapy [RT], surgery, or chemotherapy).

Results

On multivariable analysis, safety net hospital treatment (vs private academic hospital treatment), initial diagnosis at outside hospital, and oropharyngeal cancer (vs laryngeal cancer) were all associated with increased TTI. Surgical treatment, severe comorbidity, and both N1 and N2 status were associated with decreased TTI.

Conclusion

Safety net hospital treatment was associated with increased TTI. No differences in TTI were found when language spoken and socioeconomic status were examined in the overall cohort.
Perceptions of primary health staff about falls prevention in primary care settings in the west of Ireland
Authors: Mackenzie Lynette , Clifford Amanda
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Primary care is an emerging area of practice for allied health practitioners. The effective integration of primary care services provided by different professions using diverse funding sources is challenging. Ireland has implemented a primary care strategy and set up primary care teams to address this. Acknowledging the ageing population in the community, fall prevention needs to be a core function of these services. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of general practitioners, occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in the primary care setting about falls prevention in their practice.

Method

Three general practitioners, five occupational therapists and three physiotherapists were interviewed from primary care teams in the counties of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, Ireland. Interviews were in person or by telephone and audiotaped, transcribed and analysed thematically.

Results

Two key themes emerged from the data: the level of primary care team integration and the nature of community fall prevention, linked by referral mechanisms.

Conclusion

Providing comprehensive falls prevention services in the primary care context is complex. Integrated processes and pathways in primary care teams are needed to identify older people at risk of falls and to engage a whole of primary care approach to fall prevention.
Political Economy Comes Home: On the Moral Economies of Housing
Authors: Alexander Catherine , Bruun Maja Hojer , Koch Insa
Published: April 2018

Struggles over housing are one of the most pressing social, economic and political issues of our time. Yet questions over access to, plus the redistribution and maintenance of secure housing have only recently begun to be considered anthropologically. Drawing on E.P. Thompson's concept of moral economy, this special issue addresses these questions and considers how contemporary moral economies of housing play out. Citizens try to make their demands for adequate and safe housing heard, but such aspirations are often undermined by, political rhetoric, state officials, loan terms and the law. People claim allegiances to particular moral communities, thus (re)constituting themselves as deserving of secure tenure and proper homes, often in the face of stigma, laws or policies that construct them as the very reverse. By placing fine-grained ethnographic analysis in conversation with the political economy of housing, we redefine housing as an essentially contested domain where competing understandings of citizenship are constructed, fought over and acted out.
Chronicles in an (Un)Changing World: The ‘Persian Context’ in Biblical Studies
Authors: Jonker Louis C.
Published: April 2018

Robert Rollinger argues that Cyrus's conquest of Babylon in 53 9 BCE does not necessarily mean that a new ‘Persian’ epoch started. Continuity and change rather appear side-by-side. As such, it is difficult to define what is uniquely ‘Persian’ in this era. With this view Rollinger captures the present state of consensus regarding the Persian Empire. Although the Persian Empire displays numerous unique features, one should not ignore the continuities with customs and peoples of former imperial regimes, as well as its incorporation of a diversity of ethnic and cultural identities. These insights warn against an ‘over-interpretation’ of the uniqueness of the Persian period, a tendency which often emerges in biblical scholarship.
Instruction in District-Designed Intensive Summer Reading Programs
Authors: Folsom Jessica S. , Reed Deborah K. , Aloe Ariel M. , Schmitz Sandra S.
Published: April 2018

This study reports on the instruction provided in district-designed intensive summer reading programs. The Tier 3 intervention was provided to 374 students from 24 school districts who were not meeting the end of third-grade reading benchmarks; students were exiting third grade and entering fourth grade. Observations of the 40 classes were conducted near the beginning, middle, and end of the average 23 days of instruction, and analyzed to capture the proportion of time spent in various instructional groupings (e.g., whole class, small group) and components (e.g., phonological awareness, comprehension). Findings revealed that most time was spent in whole-class instruction, despite the need to offer students a more intensive intervention. Only two thirds of instructional time was spent specifically in reading-related activities. Approximately 30% of literacy instruction was code-focused (e.g., phonics), and 70% was meaning-focused (e.g., comprehension). The discussion addresses the alignment of observations with prior research on effective instruction and implications for designing future district-designed intensive summer reading programs.
Inverted Hybridities: Reactions to Imperialism in Select Pseudepigraphic Ezra Materials
Authors: Campbell Warren C.
Published: April 2018

This article examines both 4 and 5 Ezra as two textual reactions to Roman imperialism utilizing Homi Bhabha's notion of ‘hybridity’. The central argument offered here is that 4 and 5 Ezra both exemplify resistance to and affiliation with the discourse of dominance integral to imperial ideology. Such reactions are, however, inverted. On the one hand, 4 Ezra primarily offers a theodicean resistance to the destruction of the Second Temple during the First Jewish Revolt (66–70 CE), but relies upon essentialized binaries integral to a colonial discourse of domination. On the other hand, 5 Ezra advances a notion of religious replacement in the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–135 CE); an expression of dominance that is simultaneously a strategy of communal preservation arising from a position of proximity to a Jewish heritage.
Investigation of the lubrication system in a vehicle axle: Numerical model and experimental validation
Authors: Peng Qianlei , Zhou Chi , Gui Liangjin , Fan Zijie
Published: April 2018

Transmission efficiency is the main concern in the design of the lubrication system for a gear transmission system, such as a vehicle axle. This paper presents an optimization method to reduce the churning loss and improve the transmission efficiency in an axle based on the computational fluid dynamics and the response surface method. In this study, the computational fluid dynamics method was applied to simulate the lubrication flow in the axle housing. A numerical model was built for the splash lubrication system that included the entire structure of the hypoid gears, bearings, oil passage, and other parts. The numerical results provided direct visualization of the oil flow inside the axle housing, and the numerical predictions for the oil distribution and churning loss were determined from the numerical result. Furthermore, the influences of the speed, oil level, and oil temperature on the churning loss were investigated. The oil distribution results from the numerical calculations were consistent with the experimental observations, and the error in the predictions for the churning loss was less than 9.3%. The results of this study provide a foundation for subsequent optimization work on the lubrication system of a vehicle axle.
A Tale of Two Families
Authors: McAdams Charles R. , Foster Victoria A. , Gosling David R.
Published: April 2018

During military deployment, soldiers can become part of a system of people and experiences in their assigned military unit that may rival the importance of relationships and experiences within their natural families at home. Following deployment, returning soldiers may face the challenges of managing membership in two complex and powerful family systems, each with its own unique priorities, rules of engagement, and demands for the soldier’s attention and participation that may not always be compatible. Achieving a mutual understanding of the system of close relationships formed around military deployment and incorporating this new “unit family” system into a couple’s marital relationship and natural family system becomes a task that is important and, possibly, essential to successful family reintegration after deployment.
A 12-month, multicenter, parallel group comparison of dexamethasone intravitreal implant versus ranibizumab in branch retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Bandello Francesco , Augustin Albert , Tufail Adnan , Leaback Richard
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant and intravitreal ranibizumab are indicated for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion. This non-inferiority study compared dexamethasone with ranibizumab in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Methods:

In this randomized, 12-month head-to-head comparison, subjects with branch retinal vein occlusion were assigned to dexamethasone 0.7 mg at day 1 and month 5 with the option of retreatment at month 10 or 11, or ranibizumab 0.5 mg at day 1 and monthly through month 5 with subsequent as-needed injections at month 6–month 11. The primary efficacy outcome was the mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity at month 12; secondary outcomes included average change in best-corrected visual acuity, proportion of eyes with ≥10- and ≥15-letter gain/loss, change in central retinal thickness, and change in Vision Functioning Questionnaire-25 score.

Results:

In all, 307 of a planned 400 patients were enrolled in the study and received (mean) 2.5 dexamethasone injections (n = 154) and 8.0 ranibizumab injections (n = 153) over 12 months. The mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity at month 12 was 7.4 letters for dexamethasone versus 17.4 letters for ranibizumab (least-squares mean difference (dexamethasone minus ranibizumab), −10.1 letters; 95% confidence interval, −12.9, −7.2; p = 0.0006).

Conclusion:

Dexamethasone and ranibizumab improved best-corrected visual acuity and anatomical outcomes; however, dexamethasone did not show non-inferiority to ranibizumab in this under-powered study. Dexamethasone was associated with an increased risk of intraocular pressure elevation and cataract progression, but a lower injection burden, compared to ranibizumab.
Bypassing the press gallery: from Howard to Hanson
Authors: Fisher Caroline , Marshall David , McCallum Kerry
Published: April 2018

Traditionally politicians have been dependent on political news media to get their message across to the public. The rise of social media means that politicians can bypass the Press Gallery and publish directly to their target audiences via Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. This article argues that Prime Minister John Howard’s (1996–2007) use of talk back radio and early forays on YouTube were pivotal in the trend towards ‘disintermediation’ in Australian politics. It draws on two studies. One involving interviews with 87 key media actors from the Howard era including journalists, broadcasters, politicians and media advisers; and a second, which includes fresh interviews with contemporary press secretaries. This article examines the shift from a ‘mass media logic’ to a ‘hybrid logic’, considered from a mediatization theoretical position. We also ask important questions about the press gallery’s ongoing relevance in the digital era, when politicians preside over their own social media empires.
The effect of moisture on friction coefficient of fabrics used on taekwondo personal protective equipment
Authors: Li WL , Shen HY , Hung JT , Shih CP
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the friction characteristics of different fabrics used in personal protective equipment worn during competition and matches. During vigorous taekwondo activity, sweat, movement, and body collisions may cause personal protective equipment to slide from its original position and accordingly fail to protect the athletes effectively. Therefore, a thorough study investigating the friction characteristics among different fabrics used in personal protective equipment and its effect on the skin is needed. This study is intended to be helpful for the athletes in the selection of appropriate personal protective equipment fabrics. Universal Nano + Micro + Macro Materials Tester was used in friction tests between six different personal protective equipment fabrics and the dorsum forearm skin to obtain the coefficients of kinetic friction and static friction. The results indicated that PVC faux leather showed better anti-skid performance under dry conditions. Under wet conditions, however, the friction coefficient of PVC faux leather decreased significantly due to lubrication, and thus lowered the anti-skid performance. In addition, the friction coefficient of fabrics with better water absorption or drainage capacity showed greater adhesion with the increasing of skin hydration. In particular, 100% polyester weft-knitted fabric showed better anti-skid performance under wet conditions. The result of this study provides a good reference in the selection and design of Taekwondo personal protective equipment for athletes, coaches, and manufacturers.
Medical approaches to suffering are limited, so why critique Improving Access to Psychological Therapies from the same ideology
Authors: Binnie James
Published: April 2018

Although the article by Scott rightly questions the dynamics of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies system and re-examines the recovery rates, finding quite shocking results, his recommendations are ultimately flawed. There is a strong critique of the diagnostic procedures in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services, but the answer is not to diagnose more rigorously and to adhere more strictly to a manualised approach to psychotherapy. The opposite may be required. Alternatives to the medical model of distress offer a less stigmatising and more human approach to helping people with their problems. Perhaps psychological therapists and the people they work alongside would be better served by a psychological approach rather than a psychiatric one.
Experimental study on seismic behaviors of beam with concrete-encased steel truss
Authors: Zhang Xide , Deng Zhiheng , Deng Xiaofang , Ying Jingwei , Yang Tao , Xu Jun , Zhang Chunmin
Published: April 2018

To evaluate the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the beam with concrete-encased steel truss, eight specimens with different types of steel truss, reinforcement ratios, and shear span ratios were tested by low-cyclic loading regime. The results indicated that beams with concrete-encased steel truss performed plumped load–displacement hysteretic loops as well as high strength and stiffness. Moreover, cross-web members improved their seismic behavior more effectively than non-cross-web members. Finally, the restoring force model of concrete-encased steel truss beam is proposed in accordance with the experimental results, which can be used to predict the load–displacement behavior of concrete-encased steel truss beam. The results could also provide a reference for the design and application of concrete-encased steel truss beam in practice.
Influence of illumination on inorganic pigments used in Chinese traditional paintings based on Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Dang R , Tan HJ , Liu G , Wang N , Li DJ , Zhang HB
Published: April 2018

Taking colour difference as the damage indicator for evaluating light sources used for lighting Chinese traditional paintings means we can only judge the photochromic phenomenon, but cannot evaluate the mechanical damage such as cracking, cannot solve the problem that the material has been damaged without any colour change and cannot analyse non-staining cultural relics. In order to solve these problems, this study conducted a long-term illumination experiment on pigment specimens of Chinese traditional painting with light sources commonly used in museums. The Raman spectra of specimens before and after illumination were tested. By analysing the variations of Raman characteristic peak intensity ratios, the quantitative influence and relative influence coefficients of different light sources on the microscopic molecular structure of paintings were studied. Finally, the results of this study were compared with the results of previous research on colour, to determine whether the two sets of results were consistent which would verify the credibility of the research method adopted.
Wireless rechargeable sensor networks with separable charger array
Authors: Xu Chengjie , Cheng Rei-Heng , Wu Tung-Kuang
Published: April 2018

Wireless charging technology has been developing rapidly in recent years and has been used to deliver power and provide a new source of energy for wireless rechargeable sensor networks. With current solutions, charging is usually done by a mobile vehicle equipped with a charger, which needs to be waiting on site until the sensor is properly charged. It is possible that some sensors drain their power while the charging vehicle is serving the other. Accordingly, we proposed a solution that uses a single charging vehicle equipped with multiple battery cells, which we call the separable charging array. The battery cell can be unloaded on site with sensor, while the vehicle carries on its mission. A scheduling algorithm, a revised earliest deadline first algorithm, is proposed to work with this new model. In this study, we will demonstrate that the idea of equipping charging vehicle with separable charger array is feasible. In addition, our simulations indicate that the revised earliest deadline first scheduling algorithm does improve the earliest deadline first scheduling algorithm significantly with only minor overhead in scheduling computation time and very few extra chargers. Some modified variations of the proposed revised earliest deadline first algorithm will also be discussed and evaluated.
A study of combined finite element method simulation/experiment to predict forming limit curves of steel DP350 sheets
Authors: Mac Thi-Bich , Do Van-Cuong , Nguyen Duc-Toan
Published: April 2018

In this study, to estimate the forming limit curves of a steel DP350 sheet, a combination of the finite element method simulation and experimental methods was adopted using the fracture height of experimental specimens and the corresponding in-plane major/minor strains of the finite element method simulation. Hecker’s punch stretching tests were first performed to measure the fracture height for forming limit curve testing specimens with a different notch radius. The finite element method process was then performed to get in-plane major/minor strains ( ε1 and ε2) at various points on specimens with different dimensions and the same fracture height of each corresponding experimental data point. An interpolated curve from the tip of the strain paths was derived using the limit curve (FLC1) of a DP350 steel sheet. The resultant FLC1 will be the input data for a finite element method simulation, in order to predict the formability of the steel DP350 sheet. Finally, experiments for difference specimens of Hecker’s punch stretching tests were performed as a comparison and showed a good agreement between the simulation and experimental results.
Combination of line sampling and important sampling for reliability assessment of buried pipelines
Authors: Tee Kong Fah , Ebenuwa Andrew Utomi
Published: April 2018

In this article, a novel approach for estimating the time-dependent reliability of a buried pipe under the impact of internal and external stresses by combining line sampling and important sampling is proposed. The stresses are analysed given the severe effect of corrosion on the performance of underground pipeline. The effect of corrosion during the design life of buried pipe decreases the capability of the pipe wall to sustain the stresses that occur internally or externally. Herein, the failure conditions of total axial stress and the ovality–stress due to point load in conjunction with the adverse effect of corrosion are examined using the proposed computational framework. The quantification of pipe failure due to these stresses is usually challenging because of the imprecision in the determination of the structural parameters. Therefore, the approach is used to capture and evaluate the influence of randomness behaviour of the parameters of pipe and soil in estimating the structural reliability. The proposed method can be applied to any structural engineering problems. In this study, a buried pipe under a roadway is examined and the effect of the underground water table on the performance of buried pipe over time is investigated. The outcome shows that a continuous increase in underground water table can aggravate the likelihood of the buried pipeline to fail. A parametric and sensitivity assessment of corrosion parameters shows their significant contribution to the probability of failure.
The Materiality of Memory: Affects, Remembering and Food Decisions
Authors: Fox Nick J. , Alldred Pam
Published: April 2018

Sociology has focused predominantly upon ‘collective memories’ and their impact on social continuity and change, while relegating individual memories to the status of an empirical data resource for research on experiences and identity construction or maintenance. This article suggests, however, that sociology has overlooked the part individual memories play in social production. It applies a post-anthropocentric, new materialist ontology, in which bodies, things, social formations, ideas, beliefs and memories can all possess capacities to materially affect and be affected. To explore the part that personal memory can play in producing the present and hence the future, data from in-depth interviews in a study of adults’ food decision-making and practices are reported. Personal memories deriving from earlier events affect current food practices, and these contribute to the materiality of people’s consumption of food stuffs. The article concludes by reflecting on the wider importance of personal memory for sociological inquiry and memory studies.
A novel device for preoperative skin preparation to reduce the risk of injury and surgical site infection during lower limb surgery
Authors: Webb J , Hilliam R , Bainbridge LC
Published: April 2018

Surgical site infection (SSI) continues to be a feared complication of surgery but especially orthopaedic surgery where a superficial SSI has been estimated to add nine days to the hospital stay and an average of £2500 to the cost. Despite the efficacy of all skin preparation agents being maximal at around 10 minutes no current system, apart from the double prep method attributed to Sir John Charnley, allows adequate control of bacteria. Current techniques of skin preparation require lifting of the limb with an associated risk of injury to theatre operatives.

In order to provide for longer duration of contact, potentially better antisepsis and to remove the dangers inherent in lifting the limb we developed a novel system for limb antisepsis prior to surgery.

To demonstrate efficacy we performed a single blind randomised controlled trial powered to demonstrate non-inferiority. We demonstrated a significant benefit of the device in terms of bactericidal effect. Whilst only recently entering full production, we would recommend the system as a significant improvement over current techniques of limb antisepsis.
Abatacept to treat chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in five systemic sclerosis patients with a description of the index case
Authors: Vigone Barbara , Beretta Lorenzo
Published: April 2018

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a severe complication of systemic sclerosis. Inflammatory neuropathy and immunological alterations have a prominent role in the development of systemic sclerosis–related chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and immunomodulation might be beneficial in this context. An accidental observation of a patient with juvenile arthritis and a biopsy-proven diagnosis of autoimmune ganglionitis led us to experiment with a new approach to treat systemic sclerosis–related chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. In our arthritis patient, the severity and frequency of recurrent episodes of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and aspiration pneumonia were reduced whenever steroids were used to treat arthritic flares, which dramatically improved with abatacept therapy. A systemic sclerosis patient presented typical chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction features that were neither controlled by dietary interventions nor by prokinetics and were often complicated by acute episodes (5-year) requiring hospitalization. Increased food tolerance was observed whenever parenteral steroids were used during hospitalization. An adequate long-term control of symptoms was then obtained with the use of intramuscular methylprednisolone 20 mg/day; however, symptoms promptly recurred after tapering. Following this motivating example, immunomodulation with abatacept was started. Symptoms were then well controlled and steroids could be weaned off without further acute episodes of sub-occlusion. We postulate that inflammatory neuropathy resembling myenteric ganglionitis may be suspected in selected systemic sclerosis patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction features. Immunomodulation with drugs that act on T function and restore the regulatory/effector T cell balance may be beneficial in these subjects. The outcomes of four additional systemic sclerosis patients with severe and refractory symptoms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction successfully treated with abatacept are also presented.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Dilation: A Case Study
Authors: Tanzer Paige J. , Butwin Angela N.
Published: April 2018

Fetal urinary tract dilation (UTD), also known as fetal hydronephrosis, is one of the most common sonographically identified malformations in the prenatal period. The leading cause of UTD is a variety of obstructive uropathies. The literature on the management and classification systems for UTD is widespread and varied. Diagnosis by sonography benefits the outcome of the affected fetus because early recognition assists in determining further need for prenatal monitoring and postnatal care.
Evaluating the Endometrial Hyperechoic Zone in Early Postpartum Women May Be Deceptive When Utilizing Transcutaneous Sonography
Authors: Wu Size , Liang Xian , Cui Xiaojing , Zuo Dongsheng , Hong Lian , Chen Kailiang
Published: April 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the concordance of measurements for early postpartum endometrial thickness between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcutaneous diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) as well as its implications. The measurements of early postpartum endometrial thickness were reviewed across 51 postpartum women who underwent MRI and transcutaneous DMS. Additionally, 30 women with a normal menstrual cycle formed a control group, and their data were compared. The results indicated that the endometrial thickness at early postpartum was 4.63 ± 0.62 mm on MRI and 8.18 ± 4.70 mm on DMS, with a comparative significant difference ( P < .001). The endometrial thickness of the control group was 10.02 ± 1.71 mm on MRI and 10.17 ± 1.81 mm on DMS with no comparative significant difference ( P = .124). This cohort study questions whether the hyperechoic zone in the early postpartum uterine cavity represents the actual endometrial thickness. Care should be taken by sonographers in labeling the hyperechoic zone in the early postpartum stage as endometrium.
Should all patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who relapse after autologous SCT be considered for allogeneic SCT?
Authors: Peggs Karl S.
Published: April 2018

This article has a companion Counterpoint by Moskowitz.
Total metabolic tumor volume, circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA: distinct prognostic value in follicular lymphoma
Authors: Delfau-Larue Marie-Hélène , van der Gucht Axel , Dupuis Jehan , Jais Jean-Philippe , Nel Isabelle , Beldi-Ferchiou Asma , Hamdane Salma , Benmaad Ichrafe , Laboure Gaelle , Verret Benjamin , Haioun Corinne , Copie-Bergman Christiane , Berriolo-Riedinger Alina , Robert Philippine , Casasnovas René-Olivier , Itti Emmanuel
Published: April 2018

Key Points

Cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells are related to TMTV in follicular lymphoma at diagnosis. Cell-free DNA levels, in addition to TMTV, define high-risk follicular lymphoma patients.
The tongue as a gripper
Authors: Noel Alexis C. , Hu David L.
Published: April 2018

Frogs, chameleons and anteaters are striking examples of animals that can grab food using only their tongue. How does the soft and wet surface of a tongue grip onto objects before they are ingested? Here, we review the diversity of tongue projection methods, tongue roughnesses and tongue coatings, our goal being to highlight conditions for effective grip and mobility. A softer tongue can reach farther: the frog Rana pipiens tongue is 10 times softer than the human tongue and can extend to 130% of its length when propelled in a whip-like motion. Roughness can improve a tongue's grip: the spikes on a penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus tongue can be as large as fingernails, and help the penguin swallow fish. The saliva coating on the tongue, a non-Newtonian biofluid, can either lubricate or adhere to food. Frog saliva is 175 times more viscous than human saliva, adhering the tongue to slippery, furry or feathery food. We pay particular attention to using mathematical models such as the theory of capillarity, elasticity and friction to elucidate the parameters for effective tongue use across a variety of vertebrate species. Finally, we postulate how the use of wet and rough surfaces to simultaneously sense and grip may inspire new strategies in emerging technologies such as soft robots.
Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in People with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: BOCHKEZANIAN VANESA , NEWTON ROBERT U. , TRAJANO GABRIEL S. , BLAZEVICH ANTHONY J.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Muscle force production is usually impaired in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The use of high-intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) strength training can help promote metabolically active lean muscle mass and, thus, increase muscle mass and improve physical health and quality of life (QoL). Nonetheless, NMES is usually used at low-stimulation intensities, and there is limited evidence on the effects of high-intensity NMES strength training into improving muscle force and mass, symptoms of spasticity, or physical health and QoL in people with SCI.

Methods

Five individuals with chronic SCI completed five 10-repetition sets of high-intensity knee extension NMES strength training sessions for 12 wk in both quadriceps muscles. Quadriceps femoris (QF) knee extensor torque was measured on a dynamometer, and cross-sectional area (CSAQF) was measured with extended field-of-view ultrasonography. Venous blood samples were collected for blood lipid profiling and C-reactive protein analyses. The Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool was used to assess symptoms of spasticity, and the QoL index SCI version III was used for QoL measures.

Results

QF tetanic knee extensor torque increased on average by 35% (2%–92%), and CSAQF increased by 47% (14%–145%). A significant increase in the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio (P < 0.001) and a mean significant improvement of 4.8% ± 2.3% (absolute value = 0.26) in the Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool score was observed, whereas QoL showed a near-significant improvement in the health and functioning domain (15.0 ± 4.2 and 17.3 ± 5.1; P = 0.07).

Conclusions

High-intensity NMES strength training in people with SCI may improve muscle strength, mass, physical health, and QoL. However, replication of these results is necessary before clinical implementation.
A. ROSENBAUM POETIC CYCLES
Authors: Сиривля Мадина , Sirivlya Madina , Бодров Владислав , Bodrov Vladislav
Published: April 2018

The article is devoted to the concept of «poetic cycle», to its origin and existence in poetry of A. Rosenbaum. The article also describes the poetic cycles from the point of view of their subjects. The presented classification is based on the study of the bard's works.