bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wear behaviour and microstructure evolution of pearlitic steels under block-on-ring wear process
Authors: Wang Mingming , Zhang Chunyu , Sun Dongyun , Yang Zhinan , Zhang Fucheng
Published: May 2019

Three kinds of pearlitic steels containing different interlamellar spacing and mechanical properties were obtained by different heat treatments. The wear behaviours of the steels and evolution of microstructures under different wear conditions were analysed by block-on-ring wear tests. The results showed that shortening air-cooling time and accelerating cooling rate after rolling dramatically refined the pearlite interlamellar spacing and then enhanced the hardness and strength of the pearlitic steels. The pearlitic steel with a high strength of 1537 MPa was obtained and exhibited the best wear resistance than others. The deformed and fractured cementite in the subsurface layer partially spheroidised induced by deformation and frictional heating. A special layer containing spherical carbide formed and reduced the wear rate of the steel.
Longitudinal associations between changes in body composition and changes in sprint performance in elite female sprinters
Authors: Abe Takashi , Kawamoto Kazuhisa , Dankel Scott J. , Bell Zachary W. , Spitz Robert W. , Wong Vickie , Loenneke Jeremy P.
Published: May 2019

It is generally believed that more muscle mass in the lower body reflects more muscular strength and power. If true, greater ground reaction forces may be facilitated from increasing muscle mass, which may result in higher maximal running speeds. One method to assess the potential contributions of body composition (i.e. muscle mass and fat mass) to sprint performance is to examine the associations between those variables within each sprinter across time. The present study examined the relationships between longitudinal changes in body composition and sprint performance. Twelve elite female sprinters (9 of whom participated in the Olympics and/or the World Championships) had total body muscle mass, leg muscle mass, and body fat estimated using ultrasound. For each participant, these measurements lasted at least 5 consecutive years and the longest was 10 consecutive years (average 7 ± 1.5 years). The best sprint time in each season was used for evaluating sprint performance. Our unadjusted model indicated that muscle mass, and body fat correlated favourably with sprint performance over time. After adjusting for the error variance attributable to body fat, the relationship muscle mass with sprint performance is largely eliminated. In the first adjusted model, the partial correlations were r = −0.20 for leg muscle mass and r = 0.46 for body fat. In the second, the partial correlations were r = −0.20 for total muscle mass and r = 0.50 for body fat. In conclusion, these findings may suggest that reducing fat mass may have a greater impact on sprint performance than increasing muscle mass.
Augmin accumulation on long-lived microtubules drives amplification and kinetochore-directed growth
Authors: David Ana F. , Roudot Philippe , Legant Wesley R. , Betzig Eric , Danuser Gaudenz , Gerlich Daniel W.
Published: May 2019

Dividing cells reorganize their microtubule cytoskeleton into a bipolar spindle, which moves one set of sister chromatids to each nascent daughter cell. Early spindle assembly models postulated that spindle pole–derived microtubules search the cytoplasmic space until they randomly encounter a kinetochore to form a stable attachment. More recent work uncovered several additional, centrosome-independent microtubule generation pathways, but the contributions of each pathway to spindle assembly have remained unclear. Here, we combined live microscopy and mathematical modeling to show that most microtubules nucleate at noncentrosomal regions in dividing human cells. Using a live-cell probe that selectively labels aged microtubule lattices, we demonstrate that the distribution of growing microtubule plus ends can be almost entirely explained by Augmin-dependent amplification of long-lived microtubule lattices. By ultrafast 3D lattice light-sheet microscopy, we observed that this mechanism results in a strong directional bias of microtubule growth toward individual kinetochores. Our systematic quantification of spindle dynamics reveals highly coordinated microtubule growth during kinetochore fiber assembly.
Distinct Superconducting Gap on Two Bilayer-Split Fermi Surface Sheets in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ Superconductor*
Authors: Ai Ping , Gao Qiang , Liu Jing , Zhang Yuxiao , Li Cong , Huang Jianwei , Song Chunyao , Yan Hongtao , Zhao Lin , Liu Guo-Dong , Gu Gen-Da , Zhang Feng-Feng , Yang Feng , Peng Qin-Jun , Xu Zu-Yan , Zhou Xing-Jiang
Published: May 2019

High resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission measurements are carried out on an overdoped superconductor Bi
2
Sr
2
CaCu
2
O
8+δ

with a T
c
of 75 K. Two Fermi surface sheets caused by bilayer splitting are clearly identified with rather different doping levels: the bonding sheet corresponds to a doping level of 0.14, which is slightly underdoped while the antibonding sheet has a doping of 0.27 that is heavily overdoped, giving an overall doping level of 0.20 for the sample. Different superconducting gap sizes on the two Fermi surface sheets are revealed. The superconducting gap on the antibonding Fermi surface sheet follows a standard d-wave form while it deviates from the standard d-wave form for the bonding Fermi surface sheet. The maximum gap difference between the two Fermi surface sheets near the antinodal region is ∼2 meV. These observations provide important information for studying the relationship between the Fermi surface topology and superconductivity, and the layer-dependent superconductivity in high temperature cuprate superconductors.
Temperature characterization of an operando flow reactor for heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Pfaff Sebastian , Karlsson Hanna , Nada Fahed Abou , Lundgren Edvin , Zetterberg Johan
Published: May 2019

In this work, we present several methods to determine the temperature of a catalyst sample, as well as the gas surrounding it, in a typical flow reactor used for operando research on heterogeneous catalysis. To determine the sample temperature, we present an approach using calibrated IR-camera imagery, as well as thermographic phosphors. For the gas temperature, we present methods to extract temperature information from planar laser induced fluorescence measurements, one of which can be used during operando studies with an active catalyst in place.
A Reliable Experimental Methodology for the Study of Wind-Turbine Rotor Blade Aerodynamics
Authors: Costantini M , Fuchs C , Henne U , Klein C , Ondrus V , Bruse M , Löhr M , Jacobs M
Published: May 2019

The aerodynamic performance of airfoils and blades designed for modern wind-turbine rotors, which have diameters of the order of hundred meters, must be examined at chord Reynolds numbers matching those of practical applications. In general, such high Reynolds numbers cannot be achieved in conventional wind tunnels. Moreover, knowledge on the boundary-layer transition location is essential to evaluate airfoil and blade performance at these flow conditions. This work presents an experimental methodology that can be applied at flow conditions reproducing those of real wind-turbine rotor blades and simultaneously provides aerodynamic coefficients and transition locations. The experimental methodology consists of: the Temperature-Sensitive Paint (TSP) technique for global, non-intrusive and reliable transition detection; conventional pressure measurements for the determination of the aerodynamic coefficients; and the High Pressure Wind Tunnel Göttingen (DNW-HDG) to run the experiments at Reynolds numbers matching those of real applications. The obtained results can be used to verify airfoil and blade performance and to validate numerical predictions. In the present work, the experimental methodology was applied to systematically investigate the aerodynamic performance of an airfoil designed for the mid-span sections of modern wind-turbine rotor blades. The examined chord Reynolds numbers were as high as 12 million and the angle-of-attack ranged from -14° to +20°. The presented methodology was here demonstrated to be mature for productive testing.
Measuring MNm torques as part of a prototype testing campaign of a high-temperature superconducting generator for wind turbine application in the scope of the Ecoswing project
Authors: Kyling Hans , Eich Norbert , Feja Paul
Published: May 2019

Modern wind turbines have a driving torque in the range of up to 10 MNm. The measurement of such high torques poses challenges, as there is no standard measurement equipment for this torque level available today. During the EU funded EcoSwing project, the world’s first superconducting low-cost and lightweight multi-megawatt wind turbine generator has been designed and tested on the DyNaLab nacelle test rig of Fraunhofer IWES. For this test campaign, a specifically designed torque measurement system has been developed to measure the torque directly at the flange of the device under test in order to evaluate the efficiency of the power train.
“FlexPad” - Innovative conical sliding bearing for the main shaft of wind turbines
Authors: Schröder Tim , Jacobs Georg , Rolink Amadeus , Bosse Dennis
Published: May 2019

This paper shows an innovative approach concerning a new type of rotor main bearings for wind turbines. The conical sliding bearing with its flexible support structure is designed for the specific loads and operating conditions of wind turbines. It is robust, compact and offers superior serviceability since individually replaceable bearing pads obviate the disassembling of the whole drivetrain during repair/maintenance.

After a short description of the bearing design the results of functional testing under real conditions in full-scale on a 1 MW system test bench are presented. The achieved load-bearing properties, the mixed friction performance and the start-up behaviour will be discussed.
Challenges of multi/hyper spectral images in precision agriculture applications
Authors: Mancini Adriano , Frontoni Emanuele , Zingaretti Primo
Published: May 2019

According to the CEMA, Agriculture 4.0 paves the way for the next evolution of farming consisting of unmanned operations and autonomous decision systems while Agriculture 5.0 will be based around robotics and (some form of) artificial intelligence. It is clear how Agriculture is experimenting a Copernican Revolution where multidisciplinarity is the engine of this revolution. In this context it is central the topic of Variable Rate Treatments (VRTs). A VRT application relies on prescription maps that are generated by considering the agronomist experience augmented with data sensed also by using advanced platform as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or satellites. Prescription maps are usually implemented by tractors using Variable Rate Controllers (VRCs) that apply a given quantity of product on a given region. The typical operation is spraying nitrogen or weed treatment application over the agricultural field. The generation of a correct prescription map requires the definition of specific management zones that reflect areas and their status. The planning of agricultural tasks necessitates a deep knowledge of crop state, for example, an important but typical case is variable rate nitrogen fertilizer application. In this scenario multi-spectral images play a key role and today the technology is mature to be used also in real applications. Hyper-spectral imagery is still expensive and it is usually adopted for advanced research considering the complexity to acquire and post-process data. However multi and hyper spectral systems are changing the agriculture enabling complex analysis with ultra high spatial and spectral resolution.
Measurement and estimation of leaf area index (LAI) using commercial instruments and smartphone-based systems
Authors: Casa Raffaele , Upreti Deepak , Pelosi Federico
Published: May 2019

The experimentation carried out within this project aimed at comparing various methods used to estimate leaf area index (LAI), which is a key variable to describe the vigour and productive potential of a crop. The direct or “destructive” method requires the removal of the biomass of the sample and is a very laborious and burdensome technique. The indirect estimates consist in the acquisition of a series of readings taken directly in the field with specific instruments, mainly based on the measurement of the quantity of light intercepted by the foliage and on the use of complex mathematical models. Indirect methods allow for a quick estimation of the LAI and there is a strong interest in developing economic and user-friendly tools. The tools compared in the present study included two state-of-the-art, rather expensive, commercial instruments, i.e. the Sunscan ceptometer (Delta-T, UK) and the LAI-2000 (Li-Cor, USA). These were compared to inexpensive alternatives offered by hemispheric photography from a smartphone equipped with a fish-eye lens and from a smartphone app called “Pocket LAI”. All the methods tested showed the ability to provide an effective estimate of the LAI even if sometimes with an underestimation of the value measured by the direct method.
A full integrated system for agroclimatic and pest monitoring at farm and landscape scales in Campania Region
Authors: Martino Raffaele , Nicolazzo Massimo , Langella Giuliano
Published: May 2019

The current agrometereological monitoring of the Campania Region is both inadequate for its users and insufficient to support the simulation of pest risk models. This work describes a cyber-physical system which has been designed to overcome these limitations, with the objective of (i) automate all the tasks involved in climatic data management, including also the intervention of the human expert when appropriate, (ii) develop dependable pest risk models and provide the input data they need, and (iii) provide real-time agrometereological data presentation. The system is built around an automatic climatic data management engine called WeatherProg, which manages data collection, quality control, data reconstruction, and digital maps production. A proper climatic database has been developed to support the operations of WeatherProg, as well as a Web application for real-time publication of data handled by the software. Pest risk models, fed by point measurements and the digital maps produced by WeatherProg, are going to be prototyped. Furthermore, a new small measurement station has been prototyped, with the aim of being low-cost and easy to relocate, in order to support the characterisation and models parameterisation for different areas. This paper illustrates the current status of the system and discusses future directions.
Quality control of hazelnuts by means of NMR measurements
Authors: Di Caro D , Liguori C , Pietrosanto A , Sommella P
Published: May 2019

Hazelnuts are widely used in the confectionary industry for their flavour and taste. In order to guarantee a suitable level of quality, several standards have been defined by international organizations and producing countries. They define the minimum quality requirements of the fruits in terms of dimension, aspect, level of moisture, hidden defects. In this framework, our proposal is related to the set-up of an in-line classification system, based on low field NMR, able to detect the hidden defects of the hazelnuts. The proposed classification procedure is based on the CPMG sequence and the analysis of the transverse relaxation decay. The procedure includes three steps in which different features are detected: (i) moisture content, (ii) kernel development and (iii) healthy detection (presence of mould). Experimental results showed a very good capability to correctly detect the hidden defects, obtaining a sensitivity of 95%, with a specificity (correct detection of the healthy hazelnuts) around the 80%.
Data analysis and inference model for automating operational monitoring activities in Precision Farming and Precision Forestry applications
Authors: Sacco Pasqualina , Gallo Raimondo , Mazzetto Fabrizio
Published: May 2019

Each application of Precision Agriculture or Forestry should be supported by a technological platform able to perform, in an integrated way, the following data-information cycle functions: 1) data collection; 2) data processing; 3) data analysis and evaluation; 4) use of information. In accordance to this view, information are data that are usefully used in a decision making process or within a reporting protocol destined to users external to the enterprise (certification tasks). In order to manage the platform in a complete and efficient manner an adequate information system is needed. Firstly, the paper shows a classification of the possible monitoring solutions based on the different enterprise typologies, highlighting the main technological and interpretative requirements. Secondly, some case studies related to the application of operational monitoring in orchards and forestry are introduced, mainly focusing on some peculiar aspects of the algorithms developed for the implementation of the inference engines.
Multi-sensor platform for real time measurements of honey bee hive parameters
Authors: Cecchi S. , Terenzi A. , Orcioni S. , Spinsante S. , Mariani Primiani V. , Moglie F. , Ruschioni S. , Mattei C. , Riolo P. , Isidoro N.
Published: May 2019

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are well-known insects that have positive effects on the environment and on the human life. They are so important that the decline of honey bee colonies happened in the last years has triggered an increasing interest for their safeguard. In this context, the proposed work aims at developing a multi-sensor platform to monitor the beehives’ conditions in real time, based on the measurement of sounds emitted by the bees, temperature, humidity, CO2, weight inside the beehive, and weather conditions outside the hive. In this paper, a detailed description of the multi-sensor platform is reported and its application in a real scenario is presented.
Automated crop monitoring solutions to assess the blooming charge in orchards: preliminary results achieved by a prototype mobile lab used on apple trees
Authors: Daglio G , Gallo R , Petrera S , Andergassen C , Kelderer M , Mazzetto F
Published: May 2019

The paper presents and discusses the use of a mobile lab (ByeLab) equipped with optical sensors (OptRx™ and LiDAR), GNSS- RTK system and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), to carry out a site-specific bloom charge assessment in apple trees. The collected data are firstly synchronized by a LabView software and then processed by dedicated algorithms in MatLab®. Preliminary investigations were performed in order to evaluate the features of the flower and leaves reflectance signature. It was observed that low NDVI values corresponded to the flowers while higher values to the leaves. It was expected that NDVI show a negative correlation with the bloom charge. Using Terrestrial Laser Scanner it was possible to validate the information about the canopy thickness collected by the LiDARs mounted on the ByeLab. The OptRx™ do not seem suitable to be applied to perform an estimation of the flower charge but, merging the data collected by the two types of sensors it is possible to build descriptive maps, which provide information about canopy thickness and vegetation index values. These can be used as reference for automating machines to be applied in thinning operations according to a site-specific approach.
Setting of a precision farming robotic laboratory for cropping system sustainability and food safety and security: preliminary results
Authors: Orsini R , Basili D , Belletti M , Bentivoglio D , Bozzi C A , Chiappini S , Conti C , Galli A , Giorgini E , Fiorentini M , Malinverni E S , Mancini A , Mazzanti L , Monaci E , Passerini G , Pro C , Santilocchi R , Vignini A , Zenobi S , Zingaretti P
Published: May 2019

The acceleration of Digital Agriculture is evident through the increased adoption of digital technologies on farms including smart machines, sensors and cloud computing. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the research project funded by Università Politecnica delle Marche in 2018 “PFRLab: Setting of a precision farming robotic laboratory for cropping system sustainability and food safety and security”, which is still underway. In this context, as first result, an interdepartmental Research and Services Center called “Smart Farming” has been set up with the aim to strengthen multidisciplinary collaborations in the fields of Agriculture and Forestry, Geomatics, ICT and Robotics. Regarding field activities the SPAD 502 as well as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) provide a good estimate of the Chlorophylla+b content in durum wheat leaves so can be used to predict in a quickly and non-destructively way, the crop greenness status and to identify any nutritional deficiencies in real time. Future research activities are certainly needed to fully explore the potentialities of conservation agriculture and precision farming, and to drive the transition process from conventional agriculture to modern conservation agriculture and precision farming techniques. In-depth studies are planned on the combined effect of nitrogen fertilization and soil management on the main production variables of durum wheat in order to evaluate whether specific tools for precision agriculture applications can find significant diffusion even in Mediterranean cereal based cropping systems.
A review on the use of drones for precision agriculture
Authors: Daponte Pasquale , De Vito Luca , Glielmo Luigi , Iannelli Luigi , Liuzza Davide , Picariello Francesco , Silano Giuseppe
Published: May 2019

In recent years, there has been a strong activity in the so-called precision agriculture, particularly the monitoring aspect, not only to improve productivity, but also to meet demand of a growing population. At a large scale, precise monitoring of cultivated fields is a quite challenging task. Therefore, this paper aims to propose a survey on techniques, applied to precision agriculture monitoring, through the use of drones equipped with multispectral, thermal and visible cameras. For each application, the main limitations are highlighted and the parameters to be considered before to perform a flight are reported.
Economic benefits of natural tourism: driving community’s participation for conservation in Halimun Salak National Park, Indonesia
Authors: Ekayani M , Nuva  , Pramudita D , Istiqomah A , Tampubolon B I , Osmaleli
Published: May 2019

Natural tourism development is expected to provide added value for ecological and economic aspects of protected areas. Natural tourism activities can generate revenue which can be allocated for conservation as well as provide economic benefits for local communities. With the proviso that tourism activities still benefit communities’ economy, then it possibly will increase their awareness and participation in conservation activities. This research aims to determine the contribution of tourism activities for households’ economy and national park management. Particularly, the contribution of Halimun Salak National Park tourism household income sharing, total household expenses, as well as stakeholder perception related to the conservation at HSNP. The results determine the economic benefits of natural tourism for the community. 66% of local household income was generated from natural tourism and tourism income meets 91% of household expenditure of local communities. Tourism activities could driving community’s participation for conservation in Halimun Salak National Park due to their economic dependencies on tourism.
Finding alternatives of livelihood sources for forest dependent communities in protected areas: a case study of Sebangau National Park, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia
Authors: Meilani M M , Thwaites R , Race D , Andayani W , Faida L R W , Maryudi A
Published: May 2019

This study evaluates the impacts of the establishment of Sebangau National Park (SNP) in Indonesia, on local people’s livelihoods. SNP was established in 2004 and covers more than 560 thousand hectares of peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan Province. SNP was a production forest for more than 20 years and almost half of the area has been degraded. SNP is surrounded by almost 50 thousand people whose livelihoods depend on SNP’s resources before, during, and after the changing status of the area from production to conservation forest. Nowadays, about 6-7% of local community are categorised as poor people and surviving from their subsistence livelihoods. This study shows that the establishment of the park changes the livelihood strategies of local communities. People shifted their livelihood sources from forest resource extractions, particularly logging, to agriculture (farming and fishing). Some strategies to maintain and improve the livelihoods of local communities within the restrictive regulations of SNP management include: (1) regulating the collection of non-timber forest products so that it would not threaten the ecological balance of the forests; (2) developing agroforestry system; (3) involving local communities in the rehabilitation programs within rehabilitation zone; (4) developing ecotourism; and (5) involving in communities in the REDD+ program prepared by SNP.
Levelling up the collaborative forest management in Indonesia: a review
Authors: Desmiwati  , Christian F Y
Published: May 2019

Forestry-related conflict in Indonesia urgently requires a solution, and regional authority has failed to protect forest areas. This failure rooted on the unequal power relations and the discourse applied in governing the forest area. "Collaboration" only exists superficially. The ongoing narration shows that the management of forest resources became the arena of contestation, not for collaboration. Bureaucracy rises with policy and legal narration, private corporations rise with growth and welfare narration, and communities rise with resistance and exclusion narration. The respective narration is diametrically negating and compete to dominate each other, resulting the practice of "legal not legitimate" and "illegal but authentic" on the other side. Starting with that issue, the concept of Collaborative Management’s effectiveness should be levelled up through devolution based on local-users in a polycentric system. These three steps of the policy development are: 1) the formulation of collective narration based on knowledge and local multi-stakeholders discourse; 2) the creation of local actor web as authentic resource users, and 3) institutionalisation of forest resources management and the local resource mobilisation.
Policy advocation: the potential role of independent smallholding oil palm plantation in biodiversity conservation
Authors: Sunkar A , Santosa Y , Masyithoh G , Erniwati
Published: May 2019

Despite the frequent reports of large-scale oil palm plantations’ lack of attention to biodiversity conservation, there is a paucity of reporting on smallholding plantation contributions in this regard. Yet, vegetation heterogeneity supports richer biodiversity, and this is a characteristic of independent smallholdings. This paper discusses the potential role of independent smallholding oil palm plantations in biodiversity conservation with respect to butterfly and earthworms. Data were collected on four large-scale and four smallholding plantations in the Districts of Kampar, Pelalawan, Kuantan, Singingi and Siak of Riau Province, using a time-survey method for butterflies and hand-sorting method for earthworms. The research also used direct interview with oil palm owners and community members to assess the environmental value of independent smallholdings. Results showed that independent smallholdings were considered to be ecologically-friendly, where most have been shown to support higher species richness of butterfly and higher density of earthworms, than large-scale plantations, due to the irregular maintenance practices, as well as proximity to secondary forest and rubber plantations. It can be concluded that the informed management of independent smallholding oil palm plantations could effectively support biodiversity conservation.
Fatal acute haemopericardium associated with rivaroxaban in a patient with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Omer Siddiq , Magezi Frederick , Patel Martyn , Alsawaf Ali
Published: May 2019

An 82-year-old female was admitted with chest pain and non-specific T wave changes on her ECG. After 72 hours of conservative management she deteriorated with non-specific symptoms including nausea and a single episode of vomiting. Abdominal and Chest X-rays were unremarkable, blood tests showed worsening Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD); and raised C-Reactive Protein (CRP) with no obvious symptoms or focus of infection. She rapidly deteriorated going into asystole cardiac arrest and attempts at resuscitation failed.

Post-mortem examination suggested the most likely cause of death was acute spontaneous Haemopericardium due to Rivaroxaban therapy which she was on for non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

We believe that this might be the first reported mortality with Rivaroxaban-associated spontaneous haemopericardium in the UK.
Sex differences in the association between salivary telomere length and multimorbidity within the US Health & Retirement Study
Authors: Niedzwiedz Claire L , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal , Pell Jill P , Smith Daniel J
Published: May 2019

Background

Telomere length is associated with several physical and mental health conditions, but whether it is a marker of multimorbidity is unclear. We investigated associations between telomere length and multimorbidity by sex.

Methods

Data from adults (N = 5,495) aged ≥50 years were taken from the US Health and Retirement Study (2008–14). Telomere length was measured in 2008 from salivary samples. The cross-sectional associations between telomere length and eight chronic health conditions were explored using logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and stratified by sex. Logistic, ordinal and multinomial regression models were calculated to explore relationships between telomere length and multimorbidity (using a binary variable and a sum of the number of health conditions) and the type of multimorbidity (no multimorbidity, physical multimorbidity, or multimorbidity including psychiatric problems). Using multilevel logistic regression, prospective relationships between telomere length and incident multimorbidity were also explored.

Results

In cross-sectional analyses, longer telomeres were associated with reduced likelihood of lung disease and psychiatric problems among men, but not women. Longer telomeres were associated with lower risk of multimorbidity that included psychiatric problems among men (OR=0.521, 95% CI: 0.284 to 0.957), but not women (OR=1.188, 95% CI: 0.771 to 1.831). Prospective analyses suggested little association between telomere length and the onset of multimorbidity in men (OR=1.378, 95% CI: 0.931 to 2.038) nor women (OR=1.224, 95% CI: 0.825 to 1.815).

Conclusions

Although telomere length does not appear to be a biomarker of overall multimorbidity, further exploration of the relationships is merited particularly for multimorbidity including psychiatric conditions among men.
Is the association between blood pressure and mortality in older adults different with frailty? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Todd Oliver M , Wilkinson Chris , Hale Matthew , Wong Nee Ling , Hall Marlous , Sheppard James P , McManus Richard J , Rockwood Kenneth , Young John , Gale Chris P , Clegg Andrew
Published: May 2019

Objective

to investigate whether the association between blood pressure and clinical outcomes is different in older adults with and without frailty, using observational studies.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from 1st January 2000 to 13th June 2018. PROSPERO CRD42017081635. We included all observational studies reporting clinical outcomes in older adults with an average age over 65 years living in the community with and without treatment that measured blood pressure and frailty using validated methods. Two independent reviewers evaluated study quality and risk of bias using the ROBANS tool. We used generic inverse variance modelling to pool risks of all-cause mortality adjusted for age and sex.

Results

nine observational studies involving 21,906 older adults were included, comparing all-cause mortality over a mean of six years. Fixed effects meta-analysis of six studies demonstrated that in people with frailty, there was no mortality difference associated with systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg compared to systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.16). In the absence of frailty, systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg was associated with lower risk of death compared to systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.96).

Conclusions

evidence from observational studies demonstrates no mortality difference for older people with frailty whose systolic blood pressure is <140 mm Hg, compared to those with a systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg. Current evidence fails to capture the complexities of blood pressure measurement, and the association with non-fatal outcomes.
Simple Sensitivity Analysis for Differential Measurement Error
Authors: VanderWeele Tyler J , Li Yige
Published: May 2019

Sensitivity analysis results are given for differential measurement error of either the exposure or outcome. In the case of differential measurement error of the outcome, it is shown that the true effect of the exposure on the outcome on the risk ratio scale must be at least as large as the observed association between the exposure and the mismeasured outcome divided by the maximum strength of differential measurement error. This maximum strength of differential measurement error is itself assessed as the risk ratio of the controlled direct effect of the exposure on the mismeasured outcome not through the true outcome. In the case of differential measurement error of the exposure, under certain assumptions concerning classification probabilities, the true effect on the odds ratio scale of the exposure on the outcome must be at least as large as the observed odds ratio between the mismeasured exposure and the outcome divided by the maximum odds ratio of the effect of the outcome on mismeasured exposure conditional on the true exposure. The results can be immediately used to indicate the minimum strength of differential measurement error that would be needed to explain away an observed association between an exposure measurement and an outcome measurement for this to be solely due to measurement error.
Asymmetric Effects on Fatality Rates of Changes in Workers’ Compensation Laws
Authors: Gentry Elissa Philip , Viscusi W Kip
Published: May 2019

With irreversible investments in safety, changes in workers’ compensation laws should affect employer incentives asymmetrically: increases in workers’ compensation generosity should cause employers to invest more in safety, but comparable decreases might not cause them to disinvest in existing precautionary programs or equipment. Although maximum weekly benefits caps have been fairly stable, state laws have expanded or restricted workers’ compensation on multiple other dimensions. State laws may impose new requirements regarding burdens of proof, access to medical care, and the duration of benefits. This article estimates the effect of changes in these more comprehensive measures of workers’ compensation laws on workplace safety. Using confidential, restricted data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the article finds that increases in workers’ compensation generosity lead to a significant decrease in fatality rates, while decreases in workers’ compensation generosity do not significantly increase fatality rates.
Abdominal Etching: Past and Present
Authors: Agochukwu-Nwubah Nneamaka , Mentz Henry A
Published: May 2019

Since its inception in the 1980s, liposuction has undergone a tremendous paradigm shift from the simple removal of excess subcutaneous fat to a procedure of extreme sophistication and elegance where we as surgeons are able to mold and shape a patient’s figure. Plastic surgeons have modified this procedure with the overall goal of improving the aesthetic results while focusing on maximizing safety and minimizing complications. These modifications include advanced liposuction technology and techniques, the increasing use of subdermal superficial liposuction, differential liposuction, the advent and introduction of a wide range of cannulas, and the use of fat grafting simultaneously with liposuction for targeted contour and fat repositioning. In this article, the authors discuss in detail the introduction and progression of abdominal etching, a procedure first introduced by the senior author (H.A.M.) in the early 1990s. The authors also present their experience over the past 4 years. In this procedure, the technique of differential liposuction is employed to enhance the detail of abdominal musculature. The literature on abdominal etching is fairly scarce. Thus, the authors hope that this review will not only give the provider a thorough review and understanding of liposuction and its evolution over the years but will also provide an overview of the indications, patient selection, technique, expectations, and complications of abdominal etching as well.

Level of Evidence: 4
ACE of space: estimating genetic components of high-dimensional imaging data
Authors: Risk Benjamin B , Zhu Hongtu
Published: May 2019

It is of great interest to quantify the contributions of genetic variation to brain structure and function, which are usually measured by high-dimensional imaging data (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging). In addition to the variance, the covariance patterns in the genetic effects of a functional phenotype are of biological importance, and covariance patterns have been linked to psychiatric disorders. The aim of this article is to develop a scalable method to estimate heritability and the nonstationary covariance components in high-dimensional imaging data from twin studies. Our motivating example is from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). Several major big-data challenges arise from estimating the genetic and environmental covariance functions of functional phenotypes extracted from imaging data, such as cortical thickness with 60 000 vertices. Notably, truncating to positive eigenvalues and their eigenfunctions from unconstrained estimators can result in large bias. This motivated our development of a novel estimator ensuring positive semidefiniteness. Simulation studies demonstrate large improvements over existing approaches, both with respect to heritability estimates and covariance estimation. We applied the proposed method to cortical thickness data from the HCP. Our analysis suggests fine-scale differences in covariance patterns, identifying locations in which genetic control is correlated with large areas of the brain and locations where it is highly localized.
Normal left atrial strain and strain rate using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking in healthy volunteers
Authors: Truong Vien T , Palmer Cassady , Wolking Sarah , Sheets Brandy , Young Michael , Ngo Tam N M , Taylor Michael , Nagueh Sherif F , Zareba Karolina M , Raman Subha , Mazur Wojciech
Published: May 2019

Aims

The aim of our study was to establish normal ranges for left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT), LA sphericity index, and to compare LA strain using CMR-FT with 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in a healthy population.

Methods and results

A total of 112 volunteers (45 male, 67 female) had adequate tracking for analysis on CMR-FT (Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, Calgary, Canada). The median age was 42 years (range 19–79 years, interquartile range 30–53 years). LA reservoir, conduit, booster strain, strain rate using CMR-FT, and sphericity index were evaluated. Of the 112 volunteers, 91 patients had adequate tracking on 2D-STE using three commonly applied zero-baseline time reference methods: R-R gating, P-P gating, and volume gating (defining end-systole at the LA maximum and end-diastole at the LA minimum). The LA strain, strain rate using CMR-FT, and sphericity index were reported and comparable between both genders (P > 0.05 for all). The LA booster function including strain and strain rate increased significantly with age (P < 0.001 for all), while the LA conduit function gradually decreased. In comparison with STE, the LA reservoir strain was comparable between CMR and volume-gating methods (38.48 ± 9.31 vs. 36.77 ± 6.46; P = 0.13) but not with R-R and P-P gating methods (P < 0.001 for all). LA strain, strain rate, and sphericity index using CMR-FT had good intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility.

Conclusion

LA strain, strain rate using CMR-FT, and sphericity index can be quickly assessed with good intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility.
Defining high bleeding risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary
intervention: a consensus document from the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding
Risk
Authors: Urban Philip , Mehran Roxana , Colleran Roisin , Angiolillo Dominick J , Byrne Robert A , Capodanno Davide , Cuisset Thomas , Cutlip Donald , Eerdmans Pedro , Eikelboom John , Farb Andrew , Gibson C Michael , Gregson John , Haude Michael , James Stefan K , Kim Hyo-Soo , Kimura Takeshi , Konishi Akihide , Laschinger John , Leon Martin B , Magee P F Adrian , Mitsutake Yoshiaki , Mylotte Darren , Pocock Stuart , Price Matthew J , Rao Sunil V , Spitzer Ernest , Stockbridge Norman , Valgimigli Marco , Varenne Olivier , Windhoevel Ute , Yeh Robert W , Krucoff Mitchell W , Morice Marie-Claude
Published: May 2019

Identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are of major importance, but a lack of standardization in defining this population limits trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organizations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from the United States, Asia, and Europe focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention–related bleeding. Two meetings of the 31-member consortium were held in Washington, DC, in April 2018 and in Paris, France, in October 2018. These meetings were organized by the Cardiovascular European Research Center on behalf of the ARC-HBR group and included representatives of the US Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, as well as observers from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. A consensus definition of patients at high bleeding risk was developed that was based on review of the available evidence. The definition is intended to provide consistency in defining this population for clinical trials and to complement clinical decision-making and regulatory review. The proposed ARC-HBR consensus document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of high bleeding risk in clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
A Preference-Based Model of Care: An Integrative Theoretical Model of the Role of Preferences in Person-Centered Care
Authors: Van Haitsma Kimberly , Abbott Katherine M , Arbogast Annabelle , Bangerter Lauren R , Heid Allison R , Behrens Liza L , Madrigal Caroline
Published: May 2019

Knowledge of individuals’ everyday preferences is a cornerstone of person-centered care (PCC). Initial evidence demonstrates the positive impact of honoring preferences in care for older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS). Yet, the mechanisms through which preference-based care affects individual well-being remain poorly understood. This article proposes a theoretical model of PCC entitled the Preference-Based Model of Care that integrates the Theory of Human Motivation, Self-determination Theory, the Competence-Press Model of person and environment fit, the Living Systems Framework, and the Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions to deepen our understanding of the processes through which preference-based care affects well-being among older adults receiving LTSS. The Preference-Based Model of Care illustrates how goal-directed behaviors facilitate need fulfillment through the expression of individual preferences and how these behaviors mediate the relationship between person–environment fit and affect balance within a particular social, cultural, and political context. The Preference-Based Model of Care can advance research on PCC in LTSS and can inform LTSS clinical practice guidelines for older adults, regardless of functional or cognitive capacity.
The Multiple Faces of Aging Into Wisdom in Julian Barnes’s The Lemon Table
Authors: Oró-Piqueras Maricel
Published: May 2019

In The Lemon Table, published in 2004, Barnes introduces 11 short stories with old characters as their main protagonists, a few of them actually close to death. It is precisely their age together with their physical frailty, in most cases, that makes the protagonists reflect on wisdom; that is, what life has taught them and to what extent they can actually contribute to pass on to their knowledge to future generations. Neither Barnes nor the characters within his short stories believe in a straightforward connection between old age and serenity, with wisdom as its ultimate result. On the contrary, each of the protagonists allows the reader to glimpse into his or her own experience of aging and the ways in which they create meaning for their lives at the same time as they try to come to terms with the increasing vulnerability and dependence of their bodies.
Towards healthy settings for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Vlot-van Anrooij Kristel , Naaldenberg J , Hilgenkamp T I M , Vaandrager L , van der Velden K , Leusink G L
Published: May 2019

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) depend on their environment for support to live healthily. The characteristics of healthy settings for people with ID are unknown. This study aims to conceptualize healthy settings for people with ID by conducting an international and multidisciplinary concept mapping study. As theoretical framework the settings approach, an ecological model with a whole system focus toward health promotion, was used. The integrative mixed-methods approach of this study involved concept mapping with researchers specialized in healthcare for people with ID and researchers specialized in healthy settings. The 41 participants generated statements that were later sorted and rated. Findings encompass 13 clusters relating to the social environment, the physical environment and societal preconditions. Specific factors of healthy settings for people with ID include: (i) universal design of the physical environment, (ii) the role of care professionals in the social environment to empower people with ID, (iii) possibilities for care providers to contribute to a health-promoting setting and (iv) preconditions that allow people to engage in society. These factors can be used in strategies to apply the approach in practice and give directions to put in place policies on developing enabling environments and decreasing health inequities.