bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Application of Heuristic Method of Assembly Line Balancing in an Indian Industry
Authors: Mukherjee S. K. , Basu S. K.
Published: December 2015

In designing a completely automatic factory we must appreciate the basic philosophy behind the line system of production and the proper method of balancing the progressive assembly line. An actual case problem on line balancing, the solution of which has been done by heuristic approach, has been dealt with in this paper. The method suggested by the authors is a simple but logical one and gives near-optimal solutions for balancing progressive assembly lines, consisting of a number of work stations of varying cycle times, in a short period of time.
An Approach to a General Theory of Surface Condensers
Authors: Silver R. S.
Published: December 2015

The main objective of the paper is to investigate the phenomena governing the rates of condensation in surface condensers. Analytical methods were devised by which modern concepts in heat and mass transfer can conveniently be applied to such an investigation. The effects of actual gross rate of condensation on the heat transfer, the influence of the mode of drainage (whether by film or by drops), the effect of steam velocity, the axial variation of heat transfer along condenser tubes, the effects of air or other non-condensable gas concentration and the interaction of these various phenomena were studied not only with regard to heat transfer but also flow resistance and pressure drop.

Some of the concepts and techniques are novel and some original theory is developed in appendixes by way of explanation and justification. These methods have the advantage of being convenient for design calculations and for determining parameters on the basis of experimental results.

It is admitted that some of the ideas put forward are not yet proven but it is hoped that, in view of their convenience for practical use, they will stimulate research and design investigation.
Mixing of Miscible but Dissimilar Liquids in Serial Flow in a Pipeline
Authors: Austin J. E. , Palfrey J. R.
Published: December 2015

New formulae for determining the length of an interface that occurs during consecutive flow of fluids through a single pipeline are deduced in this paper.

They result from an analysis carried out using data obtained from pipes varying from 1/8 inch to 40 inches in diameter, and from a few feet to hundreds of miles in length.

Whilst previous theory, that the volume of mixing varies to an extent with diameter of pipe and distance travelled by the interface, is confirmed, it is also shown that there are two distinct regions of commingling in turbulent flow for each pipe diameter. The transition from one region to the other occurs quite sharply at different Reynolds number for each diameter of pipe. Below these critical values for Reynolds number commingling will increase rapidly as the Reynolds number decreases, even though flow may nominally still be well within the turbulent range.

An explanation for this phenomenon—which hitherto appears to have received little or no attention—is attempted.

The work is of practical significance for the oil industry in the field of ‘products pipelines' design.
Some Effects of Cavitation and Flow Forces in the Electro-Hydraulic Servomechanism
Authors: McCloy D. , Martin H. R.
Published: December 2015

Linearized analysis has already been used to demonstrate the de-stabilizing effect of valve flow forces. In this paper an analogue simulation of an electro-hydraulic servomechanism is described and flow force effects are discussed. The results are compared with the linearized analysis. Various types of load and damping are considered.

When large accelerations are demanded, the pressure in the actuating cylinder falls to zero and cavitation occurs. During the time this condition exists cylinder pressures in excess of supply pressure occur. A digital computer is used to analyse the performance of a hydraulic servomotor when cavitation exists and the results are presented in dimensionless form.

Experimental results are presented for comparison with the theoretical results.
Theodicy, Disability, and Fragility: An Attempt to Find Meaning in the Aftermath of Quadriplegia
Authors: Clifton Shane
Published: December 2015

This article, weighing the implications of theodicy for the experience of disability, first delineates the problem of most theodicies, namely, their focus on primary causation and their failure to attend to secondary causes; the laws of nature inherent to the evolution of life. It then explores various ways Christology and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love can imbue suffering with meaning, and so help people flourish in the context of disability and loss.
Alone on the Inside: The Impact of Social Isolation and Helping Others on AOD Use and Criminal Activity
Authors: Johnson Byron R. , Pagano Maria E. , Lee Matthew T. , Post Stephen G.
Published: December 2015

Because addiction is a socially isolating disease, social support for recovery is an important element of treatment planning. This study examines the relationship between social isolation, giving and receiving social support in Alcoholics Anonymous during treatment, and post-treatment outcomes among juvenile offenders court-referred to addiction treatment. Adolescents ( N = 195) aged 14 to 18 years were prospectively assessed at treatment admission, treatment discharge, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment discharge. The influence of social isolation variables on relapse and severe criminal activity in the 12-months post-treatment was examined using negative binomial logistic regressions and event history methods. Juveniles entering treatment with social estrangement were significantly more likely to relapse, be incarcerated, and commit a violent crime in the 12-months post-treatment. Giving help to others in Alcoholics Anonymous during treatment significantly reduced the risk of relapse, incarceration, and violent crime in the 12-months post-treatment whereas receiving help did not.
Same Spiral, Different Day? Testing the Spiral of Silence Across Issue Types
Authors: Gearhart Sherice , Zhang Weiwu
Published: December 2015

Although research has tested the spiral of silence theory using a variety of issues, little attention is paid to how the nature of the issues affects the spiral of silence processes. This study adopts issue typologies provided by Yeric and Todd and recommended by Salmon and Glynn to test the theory using three issues: immigration (transitory), gay marriage (emerging), and abortion (enduring). Using a nationwide survey of Facebook users ( N = 1,046), this study investigates how the nature of issues influences the dynamics of the spiral of silence processes. Results identify issue-specific differences, especially regarding the opinion congruency. Theoretical implications for future tests of the spiral of silence theory and public opinion research are discussed.
Retention of Information Taught in Introductory Psychology Courses Across Different Accelerated Course Formats
Authors: Deichert Nathan T. , Maxwell Shannon J. , Klotz Joseph
Published: December 2015

The current study is a quasi-experimental examination of the effects of traditional and accelerated course formats on learning retention. The study analyzed data on an end-of-course exam collected from 132 students enrolled in introductory psychology courses across 3 course formats: a traditional 16-week format, a 5-week accelerated format, and an 8-week accelerated format. Results suggest that students in the 8-week format performed better than students in both the traditional 16-week and 5-week formats. No significant differences were found between students in the 5-week accelerated format and students in the traditional format. Overall, our study suggests that accelerated courses produce similar or superior rates of learning retention to those observed in traditional course formats and highlight the importance of assessing different accelerated course formats as they may not produce equivalent outcomes. The results of the current study are discussed in relation to both distributed learning and immersion in course material.
Reinvigorating ideology critique: between trust and suspicion
Authors: Phelan Sean
Published: December 2015

The concept of ideology has historically been a master signifier of critique in media and communication studies. However, the concept’s status has been decentred, to the extent that Downey, Titley and Toynbee recently argued – in this journal – ‘there’s no ideology critique’. I affirm their call for a reinvigoration of ideology critique in media studies, although I question the force of their claim that contemporary media researchers are indifferent to ideology. I also argue for a theoretically open-ended conception of ideology that interrogates the default ‘hermeneutics of suspicion’ of traditional ideology critique.
Against theoretical Thatcherism: a reply to Nicholas Garnham
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: December 2015

This crosscurrents contribution is a reply to Nicholas Garnham’s essay in the same section.
SMS spam filtering and thread identification using bi-level text classification and clustering techniques
Authors: Nagwani Naresh Kumar , Sharaff Aakanksha
Published: December 2015

SMS spam detection is an important task where spam SMS messages are identified and filtered. As greater numbers of SMS messages are communicated every day, it is very difficult for a user to remember and correlate the newer SMS messages received in context to previously received SMS. SMS threads provide a solution to this problem. In this work the problem of SMS spam detection and thread identification is discussed and a state of the art clustering-based algorithm is presented. The work is planned in two stages. In the first stage the binary classification technique is applied to categorize SMS messages into two categories namely, spam and non-spam SMS; then, in the second stage, SMS clusters are created for non-spam SMS messages using non-negative matrix factorization and K-means clustering techniques. A threading-based similarity feature, that is, time between consecutive communications, is described for the identification of SMS threads, and the impact of the time threshold in thread identification is also analysed experimentally. Performance parameters like accuracy, precision, recall and F-measure are also evaluated. The SMS threads identified in this proposed work can be used in applications like SMS thread summarization, SMS folder classification and other SMS management-related tasks.
Informal in formal: The relationship of informal and formal learning in popular and jazz music master workshops in conservatoires
Authors: Virkkula Esa
Published: December 2015

The present article will examine informal learning in popular and jazz music education in Finland and evaluate it as a part of formal upper secondary vocational musicians’ training, which is typically teacher directed. It is not necessarily the best model of working in popular and jazz music learning, which has traditionally benefitted from learning in informal playing situations. This article examines workshops which were implemented as joint efforts with professional musicians. The adoption of this model is proposed for realizing informal learning in the field. This kind of approach is quite new in music education, and the research on the theme is still scarce. The findings of present research show that in workshops there appears multi-level learning which develops musicianship. Music schools and institutions should recognize the potential of informal learning, and the teachers should develop learning environments which can benefit from it. The choice of music to be played, learning from playing experiences, and the evaluation of learning outcomes are to a great extent within students’ responsibilities. Carrying them out requires responsible and initiative action, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and readiness to reflect experiences.
A national survey of music education majors’ confidence in teaching improvisation
Authors: Bernhard H. Christian , Stringham David A.
Published: December 2015

The purpose of the study was to investigate undergraduate music education majors’ confidence in teaching improvisation, according to the NAfME (1994) K–12 Achievement Standards. Specific research questions were: 1) How confident are music education majors in implementing the 11 improvisation achievement standards for grades K–12? 2) How confident are they in their own improvisation ability? 3) How interested or motivated are they in learning more about how to teach improvisation? 4) Are there differences in confidence among music education majors by year in school? 5) Are there differences in confidence among music education majors by primary instrument? Participants were 397 undergraduate music education majors from National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accredited institutions in the United States, whose confidence in teaching improvisation decreased as grade level increased. Sophomore and senior means were higher than freshman and junior means, and slight differences were observed by primary instrument (woodwind, piano, brass, voice, string, percussion, in increasing confidence). Participants reported slight to moderate confidence in their own ability to improvise, but moderate to great interest in learning more about how to teach improvisation.
The spaces in between: Mobile policy and the topographies and topologies of the technocracy
Authors: Prince Russell
Published: December 2015

This paper considers how the technocracy contributes to the mobilisation of policy, and in doing so suggests that this allows for a systematic explanation for policy mobility that is based on a particular form of expert practice rather than ideologies such as neoliberalism. It argues that the technocracy has topographies through which different places are materially connected and through which policy knowledge flows in various forms. But it also has topologies that emerge from the practice of measurement through which often distant places can be made to loom much larger, or nearby places fade into insignificance. Together they help to materialise the spaces ‘in between’ policy-making sites through which policy is often transferred. Considering the technocracy in this way demonstrates how apparently autonomous political–economic contexts shape patterns of policy mobility and state change.
Early capillary flux homogenization in response to neural activation
Authors: Lee Jonghwan , Wu Weicheng , Boas David A
Published: December 2015

This Brief Communication reports early homogenization of capillary network flow during somatosensory activation in the rat cerebral cortex. We used optical coherence tomography and statistical intensity variation analysis for tracing changes in the red blood cell flux over hundreds of capillaries nearly at the same time with 1-s resolution. We observed that while the mean capillary flux exhibited a typical increase during activation, the standard deviation of the capillary flux exhibited an early decrease that happened before the mean flux increase. This network-level data is consistent with the theoretical hypothesis that capillary flow homogenizes during activation to improve oxygen delivery.
T2*-weighted fMRI time-to-peak of oxygen challenge in ischemic stroke
Authors: Shen Qiang , Huang Shiliang , Duong Timothy Q
Published: December 2015

T2*-weighted MRI of transient oxygen challenge (OC) showed exaggerated OC percent changes in the ischemic tissue at risk compared to normal tissue. One ambiguity is that regions with high vascular density also showed exaggerated OC percent changes. This study explored time-to-peak (TTP) of the OC percent changes to improve the utility of T2*-weighted OC MRI. Experiments were performed longitudinally at 30 min, 150 min and 24 h after transient (60-min) stroke in rats. Ischemic core, normal, and mismatch tissue were classified pixel-by-pixel based on apparent diffusion coefficient and cerebral blood flow. Major findings were: (i) Delayed OC TTP was localized to and corresponded well with the perfusion-diffusion mismatch. (ii) By contrast, the exaggerated OC percent changes were less localized, with changes not only in the at-risk tissue but also in some areas of the contralesional hemisphere with venous vessel origins. (iii) The OC time-course of the mismatch tissue was biphasic, with a faster initial increase followed by a slower increase. (iv) At-risk tissue with delayed TTP and exaggerated OC was normal after reperfusion and the at-risk tissue was mostly (83 ± 18%) rescued by reperfusion as indicated by normal 24-h T2. OC TTP offers unique information toward better characterization of at-risk tissue in ischemic stroke.
BACE-1 is expressed in the blood–brain barrier endothelium and is upregulated in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Devraj Kavi , Poznanovic Slobodan , Spahn Christoph , Schwall Gerhard , Harter Patrick N , Mittelbronn Michel , Antoniello Katia , Paganetti Paolo , Muhs Andreas , Heilemann Mike , Hawkins Richard A , Schrattenholz André , Liebner Stefan
Published: December 2015

Endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier form a structural and functional barrier maintaining brain homeostasis via paracellular tight junctions and specific transporters such as P-glycoprotein. The blood–brain barrier is responsible for negligible bioavailability of many neuroprotective drugs. In Alzheimer’s disease, current treatment approaches include inhibitors of BACE-1 (β-site of amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme), a proteinase generating neurotoxic β-amyloid. It is known that BACE-1 is highly expressed in endosomes and membranes of neurons and glia. We now provide evidence that BACE-1 is expressed in blood–brain barrier endothelial cells of human, mouse, and bovine origin. We further show its predominant membrane localization by 3D- dSTORM super-resolution microscopy, and by biochemical fractionation that further shows an abluminal distribution of BACE-1 in brain microvessels. We confirm its functionality in processing APP in primary mouse brain endothelial cells. In an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model we show that BACE-1 is upregulated at the blood–brain barrier compared to healthy controls. We therefore suggest a critical role for BACE-1 at the blood–brain barrier in β-amyloid generation and in vascular aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
The effects of therapeutic hypothermia on cerebral metabolism in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: An in vivo 1H-MR spectroscopy study
Authors: Wisnowski Jessica L , Wu Tai-Wei , Reitman Aaron J , McLean Claire , Friedlich Philippe , Vanderbilt Douglas , Ho Eugenia , Nelson Marvin D , Panigrahy Ashok , Blüml Stefan
Published: December 2015

Therapeutic hypothermia has emerged as the first empirically supported therapy for neuroprotection in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to characterize the effects of hypothermia on energy metabolites, neurotransmitters, and antioxidants. Thirty-one neonates with HIE were studied during hypothermia and after rewarming. Metabolite concentrations (mmol/kg) were determined from the thalamus, basal ganglia, cortical grey matter, and cerebral white matter. In the thalamus, phosphocreatine concentrations were increased by 20% during hypothermia when compared to after rewarming (3.49 ± 0.88 vs. 2.90 ± 0.65, p < 0.001) while free creatine concentrations were reduced to a similar degree (3.00 ± 0.50 vs. 3.74 ± 0.85, p < 0.001). Glutamate (5.33 ± 0.82 vs. 6.32 ± 1.12, p < 0.001), aspartate (3.39 ± 0.66 vs. 3.87 ± 1.19, p < 0.05), and GABA (0.92 ± 0.36 vs. 1.19 ± 0.41, p < 0.05) were also reduced, while taurine (1.39 ± 0.52 vs. 0.79 ± 0.61, p < 0.001) and glutathione (2.23 ± 0.41 vs. 2.09 ± 0.33, p < 0.05) were increased. Similar patterns were observed in other brain regions. These findings support that hypothermia improves energy homeostasis by decreasing the availability of excitatory neurotransmitters, and thereby, cellular energy demand.
Robust effects of genetic background on responses to subarachnoid hemorrhage in mice
Authors: D'Abbondanza Josephine A , Ai Jinglu , Lass Elliot , Wan Hoyee , Brathwaite Shakira , Tso Michael K , Lee Charles , Marsden Philip A , Macdonald R Loch
Published: December 2015

Outcome varies among patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage but known prognostic factors explain only a small portion of the variation in outcome. We hypothesized that individual genetic variations influence brain and vascular responses to subarachnoid hemorrhage and investigated this using inbred strains of mice.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced in seven inbred and a chromosome 7 substitution strain of mouse. Cerebral blood flow, vasospasm of the middle cerebral artery, and brain injury were assessed. After 48 h of subarachnoid hemorrhage, mice showed significant middle cerebral artery vasospasm that correlated positively with reduction in cerebral blood flow at 45 min. Mice also had increased neuronal injury compared to sham controls; A/J and C57BL/6 J strains represented the most and least severe, respectively. However, brain injury did not correlate with cerebral blood flow reduction at 45 min or with vasospasm at 48 h. Chromosome 7 substitution did not influence the degree of vasospasm or brain injury.

Our data suggested that mouse genetic background influences outcome of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Investigations into the genetic factors causing these inter-strain differences may provide insight into the etiology of the brain damage following subarachnoid hemorrhage. These findings also have implications for animal modeling of disease and suggest that genetic differences may also modulate outcome in other cardiovascular diseases.
Thresholds of impaired cerebral hemodynamics that predict short-term cognitive decline in asymptomatic carotid stenosis
Authors: Buratti Laura , Viticchi Giovanna , Falsetti Lorenzo , Balucani Clotilde , Altamura Claudia , Petrelli Cristina , Provinciali Leandro , Vernieri Fabrizio , Silvestrini Mauro
Published: December 2015

Subjects with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) may be at risk of cognitive impairment due to cerebral hypoperfusion. In this study, we aimed to detect a threshold of cerebral hemodynamics which is able to identify subjects at risk of cognitive deterioration. In subjects with ACS, cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVR) was assessed with the breath-holding index (BHI) transcranial Doppler-based method. Cognitive deterioration was defined as a decrease in the MMSE score by ≥2 points after one year. In order to define the threshold of impaired BHI, a ROC curve analysis was performed adopting the binary difference of MMSE score as the outcome and continuous BHI as the testing variable. A total of 548 subjects completed the follow-up. Cognitive deterioration was observed in 119 patients (21.7%). The BHI value ipsilateral to the stenosis was the strongest predictor of cognitive deterioration among the variables tested. The best cut-point to discriminate between normal and abnormal BHI resulted ≤0.89. The post-test probability of cognitive deterioration for an abnormal BHI was 44%, while a normal BHI showed a post-test probability of 9% for the same outcome. The present investigation provides a threshold of reduced CVR that can be useful to identify subjects with ACS at risk of cognitive deterioration.
Predicting and optimizing the territory of blood–brain barrier opening by superselective intra-arterial cerebral infusion under dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI guidance
Authors: Janowski Miroslaw , Walczak Piotr , Pearl Monica S
Published: December 2015

Interventional neuroradiology techniques are minimally invasive and allow for superselective drug delivery to specific brain regions. The passage of most agents, however, is impaired by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Despite its discovery over 40 years ago, hyperosmotic BBB opening (BBBO) remains highly variable, preventing its widespread implementation. Here, we report on a technique that enables the prediction and optimization of the BBBO territory. We found that the microcatheter tip position and the speed of hyperosmolar mannitol injection, both major determinants of the targeted territory, can be modulated in real-time as guided by trans-catheter perfusion MRI.
Relations between location and type of intracranial atherosclerosis and parenchymal damage
Authors: Dieleman Nikki , van der Kolk Anja G , Zwanenburg Jaco JM , Brundel Manon , Harteveld Anita A , Biessels Geert J , Visser Fredy , Luijten Peter R , Hendrikse Jeroen
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between location and type of intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) and cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) and macroinfarcts in 18 patients presenting with ischemic stroke ( n = 12) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) ( n = 6) using 7 tesla MR imaging. The protocol included: 3D T2-weighted FLAIR and 3D T1-weighted Magnetization-Preparation Inversion Recovery Turbo Spin Echo sequence. ICAS lesions and infarcts were scored by two raters. The relation between ICAS lesions, calculated ratios of ICAS lesion characteristics, location, and infarcts were examined using linear regression analyses. A total number of 75 ICAS lesions (all patients), 101 CMIs (78% of patients), and 31 macroinfarcts (67% of patients) were found. Seventy-six and sixty-five percent of the CMIs and macroinfarcts, respectively, were found in the same vascular territory as the ICAS lesions ( p = 0.977, p = 0.167, respectively). A positive correlation existed between the number of macroinfarcts and CMIs ( p < 0.05). In patients with macroinfarcts, we found more concentric ( p < 0.01) and diffuse ( p < 0.05) type of ICAS lesions. A high prevalence of brain tissue lesions, both macroinfarcts and CMIs, were found in patients with ICAS. Macroinfarcts were found to be related to specific ICAS lesion types. The type of ICAS lesion seems to be promising as a marker for ICAS patients at higher risk of future infarcts.
Feasibility of progesterone treatment for ischaemic stroke
Authors: Gibson Claire L , Bath Philip M
Published: December 2015

Two multi-centre phase III clinical trials examining the protective potential of progesterone following traumatic brain injury have recently failed to demonstrate any improvement in outcome. Thus, it is timely to consider how this impacts on the translational potential of progesterone treatment for ischaemic stroke. A wealth of experimental evidence supports the neuroprotective properties of progesterone, and associated metabolites, following various types of central nervous system injury. In particular, for ischaemic stroke, studies have also begun to reveal possible mechanisms of such neuroprotection. However, the results in traumatic brain injury now question whether further clinical development of progesterone for ischaemic stroke is relevant.
Cilostazol ameliorates collagenase-induced cerebral hemorrhage by protecting the blood–brain barrier
Authors: Takagi Toshinori , Imai Takahiko , Mishiro Keisuke , Ishisaka Mitsue , Tsujimoto Masanori , Ito Hideki , Nagashima Kazunori , Matsukawa Haruka , Tsuruma Kazuhiro , Shimazawa Masamitsu , Yoshimura Shinichi , Kozawa Osamu , Iwama Toru , Hara Hideaki
Published: December 2015

Intracranial hemorrhage remains a devastating disease. Among antiplatelet drugs, cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, was recently reported to prevent secondary hemorrhagic stroke in patients in a clinical trial. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pre-treatment with cilostazol could decrease the intracranial hemorrhage volume and examine the protective mechanisms of cilostazol. We evaluated the pre-treatment effects of the antiplatelet drug cilostazol on the collagenase-induced intracranial hemorrhage volume and neurological outcomes in mice. To estimate the mechanism of collagenase injury, we evaluated various vascular components in vitro, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and a blood–brain barrier model. Cilostazol pre-treatment reduced the intracranial hemorrhage volume with sufficient inhibition of platelet aggregation, and motor function was improved by cilostazol treatment. Blood–brain barrier permeability was increased by collagenase-induced intracranial hemorrhage, and cilostazol attenuated blood–brain barrier leakage. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling and western blot analysis showed that cilostazol prevented pericyte cell death by inducing cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation. Cilostazol also prevented endothelial cell death and protected collagen type 4, laminin, and vascular endothelial- and N-cadherins from collagenase injury. In conclusion, cilostazol reduced collagenase-induced intracranial hemorrhage volume by protecting the blood–brain barrier.
Association of depressive symptoms with allodynia in patients with migraine: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mendonça Marcelo D , Caetano André , Viana-Baptista Miguel ,   for the CHLO Headache Study Group
Published: December 2015

Aims

Migraine and depression have a strong association. We aimed to determine whether this relationship was particularly evident in migraineurs with allodynia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out of 98 consecutive patients with episodic migraine presenting for their first evaluation in an outpatient clinic. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Allodynia Symptom Checklist and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

Among the migraineurs, 75 (77%) reported allodynia. Allodynia was associated with higher median HADS-Anxiety (9 vs. 6, p = 0.038) and HADS-Depression (6 vs. 4, p = 0.014) scores. In a multiple regression model, the HADS-Depression scores were independently associated with allodynia (odds ratio 1.236, 95% confidence interval 1.046–1.461). An increased severity of allodynia correlated with higher depression scores ( r = 0.224; p = 0.027).

Conclusion

Anxious and depressive symptoms are more common in migraineurs with allodynia than in those without allodynia. Further studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between depressive symptoms and allodynia, as well as its therapeutic implications in migraine.
Heat supply from municipal solid waste incineration plants in Japan: Current situation and future challenges
Authors: Tabata Tomohiro , Tsai Peii
Published: December 2015

The use of waste-to-energy technology as part of a municipal solid waste management strategy could reduce the use of fossil fuels and contribute to prevention of global warming. In this study, we examined current heat and electricity production by incineration plants in Japan for external use. Herein, we discuss specific challenges to the promotion of heat utilisation and future municipal solid waste management strategies. We conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the actual conditions of heat production by incineration plants. From the survey results, information of about 498 incineration plants was extracted. When we investigated the relationship between heat production for external use and population density where incineration plants were located, we found that regions with a population density <1000 persons (km2)-1 produce <500 MJ t-1 of heat. We also found that external use of such energy for factories, markets, and related use, was noted in cities with a population density of 2000 to 4000 persons (km2)-1. Several incineration plants have poor performance for heat production because there are few facilities near them to provide demand for the energy. This is the result of redundant capacity, and is reflected in the heat production performance. Given these results, we discussed future challenges to creating energy demand around incineration plants where there is presently none. We also examined the challenges involved in increasing heat supply beyond the present situation.
Characteristics of waste automotive glasses as silica resource in ferrosilicon synthesis
Authors: Farzana Rifat , Rajarao Ravindra , Sahajwalla Veena
Published: December 2015

This fundamental research on end-of-life automotive glasses, which are difficult to recycle, is aimed at understanding the chemical and physical characteristics of waste glasses as a resource of silica to produce ferrosilicon. Laboratory experiments at 1550°C were carried out using different automotive glasses and the results compared with those obtained with pure silica. In situ images of slag–metal separation showed similar behaviour for waste glasses and silica-bearing pellets. Though X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed different slag compositions for glass and silica-bearing pellets, formation of ferrosilicon was confirmed. Synthesized ferrosilicon alloy from waste glasses and silica were compared by Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Silicon concentration in the synthesized alloys showed almost 92% silicon recovery from the silica-bearing pellet and 74–92% silicon recoveries from various waste glass pellets. The polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic layer in the windshield glass decomposed at low temperature and did not show any detrimental effect on ferrosilicon synthesis. This innovative approach of using waste automotive glasses as a silica source for ferrosilicon production has the potential to create sustainable pathways, which will reduce specialty glass waste in landfill.
Globalization and the Knowledge-Driven Economy
Authors: Antonelli Cristiano , Fassio Claudio
Published: December 2015

The study implements the Schumpeterian notion of creative reaction to articulate and test the hypothesis that the shift to the knowledge economy in advanced economies is the result of the creative reaction of firms, caught in out-of-equilibrium conditions by the fast globalization of product and factor markets since the last decade of the 20th century. Advanced countries specialized in the generation and exploitation of knowledge because of its relative abundance stemming from their sophisticated knowledge governance mechanisms and the large stock of knowledge. In turn, this had strong positive effects on total factor productivity. The empirical analysis confirms that in advanced economies the specialization in knowledge-based activities substituted for the previous specialization in mass manufacturing activities supporting the increase of total factor productivity. The new specialization in knowledge-intensive activities has been stronger in cases where patent activities have been more intense and the exposure to international trade and the revenue per capita have been larger.
Did the Community Renewal Tax Incentives Pirate Businesses From Other Places?
Authors: Smith Richard
Published: December 2015

An early concern regarding place-based economic developments was that they might encourage business relocation into target neighborhoods at the expense of other places. To address this concern, when the U.S. Congress passed the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) program, it included an “antipirating” provision prohibiting use of grants for business relocation. Later iterations of the EZs and Renewal Communities (RCs) received tax incentives only. The RC program did not include an antipirating provision. Did businesses relocate? This study compares business moves within 1,000 feet inside a given RC/EZ with moves within 1,000 feet outside the RC/EZ before and after the intervention. Data are from the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) Database for California and Tennessee. Moves into some RC/EZs increased but so did moves out, leading to no statistically significant net change in numbers of firms. There were no obvious differences between RCs and EZs. The article concludes with policy recommendations.
No Variation in Patient Care Outcomes After Implementation of Resident Shift Work Duty Hour Limitations and a Hospitalist Model System
Authors: Hollier John M. , Wilson Stephen D.
Published: December 2015

This study examines whether implementing a resident shift work schedule (RSWS) alone or combined with a hospitalist-led model system (HMS/RSWS) affects patient care outcomes or costs at a pediatric tertiary care teaching hospital. A retrospective sample compared pre- and postintervention groups for the most common primary discharge diagnoses, including asthma and cellulitis (RSWS intervention) and inflammatory bowel disease and diabetic ketoacidosis (HMS/RSWS intervention). Outcome variables included length of stay, number of subspecialty consultations, and hospitalization charges. For the RSWS intervention, the preintervention (n = 107) and postintervention (n = 92) groups showed no difference in any of the outcome variables. For the HMS/RSWS intervention, the preintervention (n = 98) and postintervention (n = 69) groups did not differ in demographics or length of stay. However, subspecialty consultations increased significantly during postintervention from 0.83 to 1.52 consults/hospitalization ( P < .01) without significantly increasing hospitalization charges. Neither the RSWS nor HMS/RSWS intervention affected patient care outcomes at a pediatric tertiary care teaching hospital.
Imagery Interpreter Performance in the Comparison of Subjective Estimates of Photographic Image Quality
Authors: Gliatti Edward L. , Martin Wayne L. , Kuperman Gilbert G.
Published: December 2015

State-of-the-art research in image quality assessment has been oriented toward objective measures of image quality, requiring microdensitometers and computers. Cost and time constraints in the operational situation, however, place emphasis on man-dependent methods. This paper describes the performance of the image interpreter in a study comparing two of the more widely accepted Air Force subjective measures of image quality: tribar target resolution reading and visual edge matching. These techniques are described, interpreter certification is discussed, data derived from the application of each technique to a common imagery set are presented, and a comparison of the two methods reported.
Discrimination of Density and Clustering on Four Versions of a Stochastic Display
Authors: Newman Richard A. , Tiffany P. Bradlee
Published: December 2015

A number of studies have used stochastically generated visual displays to study detection and discrimination of differences in pattern texture. As in this study, the texture is controlled by a Markov chain paradigm in one or more dimensions. Texture differences are generated either within a given pattern, or between two patterns which are presented simultaneously or sequentially. Other parameters of the display are held constant (e.g., positive and negative images) and therefore not explored. This study investigates the interaction of two texture variables, density and clustering, with the display parameters of positive/negative image and adjancency/separation of texture images. Stimulus display patterns were generated using a two dimensional Markov process to control density and clustering, and were put on 35mm film. Stimuli were presented on a rear projection display, and subjects were required to determine the sameness or difference of the two halves of the display. The major findings of the study are: (1) Performance on the four versions of the display are not equivalent and differ significantly in some respects; (2) Performance on detecting differences in density and in clustering are consistent with earlier studies; and (3) A sharp discontinuity in performance level as a function of the magnitude of standard/variable difference is present for small differences. The findings of this study raise questions as to the generalization of texture data among similar but not identical displays. The presence of the low level discontinuity is also of interest in the interpretation of this data in terms of the theory of signal detectability and the use of the classical ogive. From the application viewpoint, the non-equivalence of the display variants and the presence of the discontinuity may be of significance to problems of target detection on sonar and radar displays.
Lateral Orientation and Cerebral Activation: Considerations for Information Display
Authors: Casey Steven M.
Published: December 2015

This study investigated the hypothesis that a lateral shift in the direction of an operator's orientation (looking to the left or looking to the right) will facilitate processing in the cerebral hemisphere which is contralateral to the direction of the orientation shift. In view of the specialized functions of each hemisphere, it was hypothesized that displays with “verbal” content would be best located 20° to the right of center and displays with “spatial” content would be best located 20° to the left of center. A laboratory study was conducted to test this theory. The results support the idea that lateral eye-gaze orientation shifts influence hemispheric processing, implying that this phenomenon may be a consideration for selectively locating complex visual displays.
Computer Simulation of Thermoregulatory Responses to Heat Stress: A Future Work Design and Training Tool
Authors: Duncan Jerry R.
Published: December 2015

A mathematical model of human thermoregulation was developed to simulate thermoregulatory responses of man exposed to heat stress environments. The model was validated with experimental results of a man pedalling in environments of 35 and 45°C dry-bulb and 33 mm Hg water vapor pressure.

The model inputs of body segment temperatures, thermal characteristics, basal blood flows, basal heat production, and of environmental and task characteristics permitted the model to be “individualized” for a specific subject, environment, and task.

The model outputs of body segment temperatures, blood flows, and sweat loss at designated intervals permitted observation of the dynamic thermoregulatory responses over a 60 minute exposure period.

The model was successful in predicting the change in thermal responses of a clothed man working in heat stress environments. Over the 60 minute exposure at 45°C the mean absolute difference between experimental and simulated values of head skin temperature was 0.28°C. The difference for trunk mean skin temperature was 0.12°C; for body mean skin temperature, 0.29°C; and for internal body temperature, 0.53°C.
Experimental Evaluation of Kodak Ektaprint Copier-Duplicator Instructions
Authors: Faulkner Terrence W. , Caplan Stanley H.
Published: December 2015

An experiment was run to assess two different versions of instructions for clearing stoppages on a KODAK EKTAPRINT Copier-Duplicator. One group of operators used a prose version (P) and a second group used a flowchart version (F). Performance of operators clearing stoppages was measured and subjective ratings of the instructions were obtained. Performance results showed that the F was quicker, but the P group had fewer errors. Subjective ratings showed F was preferred to P. No other subjective differences were found. Since neither version was adequate by itself, specific operator errors identified during clearance trials served as basic data for reducing clearance complexity by reallocating some clearance steps from operator to machine. Trade test results showed that the improved approach was satisfactory.
Auditory and Biomechanical Performance Requirements for Motorcycle Helmets
Authors: Purswell Jerry L. , Dorris Alan L.
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the problems presented by the wearing of a helmet in the sensing of information necessary for safe operation of a motorcycle. The paper is organized into three major areas. One area is concerned with a laboratory study of simulated motorcycle operation and the sensing of sirens and horns of motor vehicles at various distances for subjects wearing helmets and subjects who served as control that wore no helmets. The second study reported is a parallel to the laboratory study but it was conducted in an outdoor setting. The third area considered is a biomechanical analysis of the head and neck of a motorcyclist who sustains a blow to the head in an accident.

The independent variables investigated in the two studies of auditory sensing were the type of helmet worn, the type of auditory information being presented to the subject, and the direction from which the auditory signal was presented to the subject. A motorcycle helmet with a full face shield and one without a full face shield were compared with a control level of a subject wearing no helmet. A warning siren and a motor vehicle horn were the two types of auditory signals presented to the subjects. The four directions of presentation of the auditory signal were front, rear, left and right.

Both of these tests of the ability of the motorcyclist to detect the two auditory signals indicated that the helmet did significantly attenuate the signal and that the emergency vehicle siren or horn would have to be dangerously close to the cyclist before it could be heard as compared to the cyclist under the same conditions who was not wearing a helmet.

The alleged problem of motorcycle helmets producing injuries to the cervical spine in certain types of impact situations was analyzed from a biomechanical standpoint. Some helmet designs were found to be capable of producing an injury to the neck for certain crash configurations between the helmet and a solid object. Suggestions are presented for modification of helmet design to significantly reduce the injury potential of the helmet for this type of injury, while at the same time protect the head from other types of injury.
Synthetic Aperture Radar Operator Tactical Target Acquisition Research
Authors: Craig David W. , Hershberger Michael L.
Published: December 2015

A radar target acquisition research study was conducted to access the effects of two levels of 13 radar sensor, display, and mission parameters on operator tactical target acquisition. A saturated fractional-factorial screening design was employed to examine these parameters. Data analysis computed ETA2 values for main and second-order effects for the variables tested. Ranking of the research parameters in terms of importance to system design revealed four variables (radar coverage, radar resolution/multiple looks, display resolution, and display size) accounted for 50 percent of the target acquisition probability variance.
Depth Perception and Manual Control
Authors: Gentzler G. L. , Khalil T. M.
Published: December 2015

A pursuit tracking task in three-dimensional space was studied in order to assess the impact of depth perception on human operator performance in manual control. Performance scores and frequency response data were collected and analyzed for three modes of display as defined by the angular relationship between the human operator's line-of-sight and the line segment representing the tracking error. When depth perception had to be completely relied upon, a significant decrement in performance occurred and was accompanied by the introduction of phase lags in the human operator's response.
Simultaneous Recording of Visual Evoked Electrical and Magnetic Responses in Man: Increasing the Efficiency of Electrophysiologic Diagnostic Techniques
Authors: Hwa Chen , Leisman Gerald
Published: December 2015

Detection of human visually evoked electrical responses (VER) requires direct electrode contact which results in greater recording variability and artifact. A new alternative method exists, termed the visually evoked magnetic response (MVER), which is free from such complications and interference. A brief review of the development of the technique is presented and a proposal to adapt the method into a potentially useful diagnostic tool is discussed.
Human Factors and Electrophysiologic Considerations in the Design of Visual Prosthetics
Authors: Leisman Gerald
Published: December 2015

The paper is concerned with design considerations for the development of visual prosthetics which by-pass the site of dysfunction in the visual system. Pattern recognition and cognition as well as image synthesis and processing considerations are addressed.