bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimedia news storytelling as digital literacies: An alternative paradigm for online journalism education
Authors: Song Yang
Published: May 2016

This article analyzes a journalism student’s multimedia news storytelling project in the format of audio slideshows as required by an introductory course on online journalism. Combining classroom ethnography, semi-structured interviews, content and textual analysis, the study focuses in detail on how the student designs a character-driven, audio-visual story through the theoretical lens of digital literacies and multimodality. The findings reveal the complexity of multimodal and generic design made by the journalism student. It is also found that the design process helps her to assert an authorial stance as an emergent online journalist who negotiates heterogeneity of journalistic professional Discourses. This article proposes a genre-aware, semiotic-aware, critical framework informed by digital literacy studies and embeds a case study in the theoretical framework in order to understand the ‘literacies’ as required and performed in multimedia news storytelling. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are also discussed at the end of the article.
Youth unemployment: Implications for social work practice
Authors: Liang Jianqiang , Ng Guat Tin , Tsui Ming-sum , Yan Miu Chung , Lam Ching Man
Published: May 2016

This article discusses a missing but emergent role of social work with unemployed young people. The authors highlight the transitional and structural factors of youth unemployment. Using a social work lens, the “Youth Employment Network” (YEN) is discussed and the International Labour Organization’s “4Es” (employability, equal opportunity, employment creation, entrepreneurship) framework is elaborated. This article adds a fifth “E” (Ecological connection) and proposes a “5Es” model for social workers to support unemployed young people to overcome transitional and structure barriers for employment.

Findings

Limited social work programs, studies, or evaluations are targeted for unemployed young people despite historical concern with employment conditions of workers and suggest the instrumental role in research, policy and practice concerning the unemployed young people.

Applications

Recommendations are provided in terms of how to implement the 5Es in policy, education, training, and direct practice of social work in youth employment.
Concepts for communication about risk in dementia care: A review of the literature
Authors: Stevenson Mabel , McDowell Michelle E , Taylor Brian J
Published: May 2016

Communication about risk is central to decisions in dementia care. This review synthesises research on risk concepts and communication in dementia. Twelve bibliographic databases and one online search engine were searched up to February 2016. Reference lists of two related literature reviews were used. Thirty-four articles were identified that focused on risk concepts; two articles related to risk communication. Concepts were often socially constructed, and perceptions may differ from actual adverse outcomes. Perceptions of risk and thresholds of risk-tolerance varied between individuals with dementia, carers and professionals. Individuals with dementia were found to behave differently from controls when making decisions involving risk information in experimental settings. Cognitive impairment was also associated with lower health numeracy. These findings highlight the importance of communication between stakeholders when making decisions and of presenting information in an appropriate way to support informed and positive risk taking. Research is required on risk communication in dementia.
Study partners perform essential tasks in dementia research and can experience burdens and benefits in this role
Authors: Black Betty S , Taylor Holly A , Rabins Peter V , Karlawish Jason
Published: May 2016

Most studies that enroll individuals with dementia require a study partner for each participant. Study partners—usually family members—perform several key roles: accompanying the participant to visits, providing information about the participant, and assisting with procedures such as taking medication. Little is known, however, about their experiences when performing these roles. Dementia researchers and institutional review boards need to know these experiences because the study partner role is one key factor in a study’s success. This prospective qualitative study, using up to three semi-structured interviews with 62 study partners involved in a range of dementia studies, documented their subjective experiences. Content analysis demonstrates that study partners perform a range of tasks—often within the context of being a caregiver—that enable cognitively impaired individuals to participate in dementia research. These tasks present study partners with unique burdens and benefits, some of which dementia researchers and institutional review boards can address.
The search for publics: challenging comfort zones in the co-creation of public art
Authors: Zebracki Martin
Published: May 2016

This article reflects on a workshop as a space of possibility to encounter actual publics, explore the relationship between publics and experts and imagine alternative realities for public-art practice. In a workshop that the author convened at the invitation of the local cultural organisation Lokaal42 in Helmond in the Netherlands, participants were challenged to transgress comfort zones by enacting and negotiating desired prospects for public art. This article critically attends to the notions of co-creation and (dis)comfort in the light of transformative positionalities as part of the workshop (and its role-play element in particular).
Following the (unfollowable) thing: methodological considerations in the era of high globalisation
Authors: Hulme Alison
Published: May 2016

The past few decades have seen many studies that ‘follow-the-thing’ by tracing an object back to its origins. In carrying out my own thing-following, however, I found the objects I chose were at times unfollowable, their trajectories highly changeable and punctuated by numerous ruptures. This article explores how we might progress with a methodology born in an age of early globalisation, when tracing things was easier and more surprising than today. It suggests that attempting to understand the unfollowable bits of the commodity trail may be an apposite way to go about such studies, especially in the light of the fact that globalisation is now a well-established phenomenon and capitalism’s precarious nature shows no sign of abating.
Nihilism, democracy and liberalism: Maudemarie Clark’s ‘Nietzsche on Ethics and Politics’
Authors: Drochon Hugo Halferty
Published: May 2016

Maudemarie Clark is a leading interpreter of Nietzsche’s theory of truth, and as such we are fortunate to have her papers on his ethics, politics and metaphysics collected in one volume. Opening her section on politics – the subject of this review – with a critique of Bloom’s The Closing of the American Mind, she condemns Bloom’s Straussian demand that philosophers lie about the fact that no truth exists to protect their way of life as a recurrence of the nihilist ascetic ideal Nietzsche rejected at the end of the Genealogy. In doing so, she definitively frees Nietzsche from Strauss’ grip, and opens up the possibility of questioning anew Nietzsche’s relationship to feminism, queer theory, democracy and community. Her most striking claim is that Nietzsche’s aristocratic ethics can be reconciled with modern democratic politics. Whether that is the case or not is up for debate, but what clearly isn’t, as this collection reminds us, is that we cannot do our thinking about politics without him.
Steady cavitating propeller performance by using OpenFOAM, StarCCM+and a boundary element method
Authors: Gaggero Stefano , Villa Diego
Published: May 2016

Accurate and reliable numerical predictions of propeller performance are a fundamental aspect for any analysis and design of a modern propeller. Prediction of cavitation and of cavity extension is another important task, since cavitation is one of the crucial aspects that influences efficiency in addition to propagated noise and blade vibration and erosion. The validation of the numerical tools that support the design process, including open-source codes, is, consequently, essential. The public availability of measurements and observations which cover not only usual thrust and torque in open water conditions (including cavitation) but also unsteady functioning with pressure pulse measurements in the case of the Potsdam Propeller Test Case certainly represents an extremely useful source of information and an excellent chance for verification and validation purposes. In the present work, the prediction of the Potsdam Propeller Test Case propeller performance using the OpenFOAM computational fluid dynamics package is proposed. After a preliminary validation and calibration of the OpenFOAM native Schnerr–Sauer interphase mass transfer model for cavitating flow, based on the experimental results on a 2D NACA66Mod hydrofoil, open water propeller performance and cavitation predictions are carried out. The OpenFOAM results are finally compared both with the available experimental measurements and with calculations carried out with StarCCM+ and with a proprietary boundary element method code, in order to assess the accuracy and the overall capabilities of the open-source tools (from meshing to post-processing) available in the OpenFOAM package. The comparison, in addition to assessing the accuracy of the open-source approach, is aimed to verify its advantages and drawbacks with respect to widely used solvers and to further verify the reliability of traditional boundary element method approaches that are still widely adopted for design and optimization (thanks to their extremely higher computational efficiency) in a very demanding test case.
Ubiquitous luminance sensing using the Raspberry Pi and Camera Module system
Authors: Mead AR , Mosalam KM
Published: May 2016

In this paper, the authors have calibrated a Raspberry Pi and Camera Module (RPiCM) for use as an absolute luminance sensor. The spectral response of the RPiCM chip as well as linear mapping to the standard CIE-XYZ colour space have been measured, calculated and presented. The luminance values are anchored to absolute luminance measurements. Further, by using high dynamic range imaging techniques making use of different shutter speeds in a sequence of images, the measurement of luminance values from approximately 10 to 50,000 cd/m2 is possible. Lens correction for vignetting is also addressed, while pixel point spreading is ignored. This measurement goes beyond a single point measurement, economically and accurately allowing each of the arrays within the RPiCM chip to act as an individual luminance meter over the entire field of view of the camera system. Applications and limitations of the embedded camera system are discussed. An Energy Plus model is constructed as a motivational application of a simple one room, one window space and simulated for a year using weather files from around the world. These simulations highlight the need for spatial luminance-based sensing within the built environment to counteract the experience of discomfort glare by building occupants.
Agonism Reloaded: Potentia, Renewal and Radical Democracy
Authors: Tambakaki Paulina
Published: May 2016

This article focuses on the agonistic account of renewal and discusses its place within the broader horizon of radical democracy. It suggests that while the emphasis which agonistic theorists place on difference and popular struggles (particularly social movement politics) ensures some common ground with other theories of radical democracy, their account of renewal also displays some marked differences. The article explores these differences and discusses whether agonism is sufficient to address the limits of the current neoliberal order.

Honig B (2013) Antigone, Interrupted. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wenman M (2013) Agonistic Democracy: Constituent Power in the Era of Globalisation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Nichols R and Singh J (eds) (2014) Freedom and Democracy in an Imperial Context – Dialogues with James Tully. Abingdon, New York: Routledge Mouffe C (2013) Agonistics. London: Verso. Tully J (ed.) (2014) On Global Citizenship: James Tully in Dialogue. London; New York: Bloomsbury Academics.
Amino acid metabolism reflecting arginase activity is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes and associated with endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Kövamees Oskar , Shemyakin Alexey , Pernow John
Published: May 2016

Background:

Endothelial dysfunction contributes to the development of vascular complication in diabetes. Arginase has emerged as a key mechanism behind endothelial dysfunction by its reciprocal regulation of nitric oxide production by substrate competition. We hypothesized that increased arginase activity in patients with type 2 diabetes shifts the metabolism of l-arginine from nitric oxide synthase to arginase resulting in an increase in the plasma ratio of ornithine/citrulline, and that this ratio is associated with endothelial dysfunction.

Methods:

Forearm endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were determined in 15 patients with type 2 diabetes and 10 healthy controls and related to amino acids reflecting arginase and nitric oxide synthase activity.

Results:

Compared to healthy controls, patients with diabetes had impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and endothelium-independent vasodilatation. The ratios of ornithine/citrulline and proline/citrulline were 60% and 95% higher, respectively, in patients with diabetes than in controls ( p < 0.001). The plasma ornithine/arginine ratio was 36% higher in patients with diabetes, indicating increased arginase activity. These ratios were inversely correlated to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and endothelium-independent vasodilatation.

Conclusion:

Patients with diabetes and macrovascular complications have increased amino acid ratios reflecting a shift in arginine metabolism due to arginase activation. These changes are inversely related to endothelial function supporting that arginase activity contributes to endothelial dysfunction.
Process Evaluation of Cancer Prevention Media Campaigns in Appalachian Ohio
Authors: Katz Mira L. , Young Gregory S. , Reiter Paul L. , Pennell Michael L. , Plascak Jesse J. , Zimmermann Barret J. , Krieger Janice L. , Slater Michael D. , Tatum Cathy M. , Paskett Electra D.
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this study is to provide process data from campaigns (2009-2010) to improve colorectal cancer (CRC; intervention) screening and fruit and vegetable (F&V; comparison) consumption in 12 Appalachian Ohio counties. County-specific campaigns included one billboard, posters, and articles for local newspapers. Participants in CRC screening counties who reported seeing CRC screening billboards had greater intention to talk to a doctor/nurse about screening in the next 6 months (odds ratio [OR] = 2.92, 95% confidence interval [CI; 1.71, 4.99]) and had twice the odds of talking to a doctor/nurse about screening in the past year (OR = 2.15, 95% CI [1.29, 3.60]) compared to those who did not see the billboards. Participants in F&V counties who reported seeing F&V billboards had twice the odds (OR = 2.27, 95% CI [1.35, 3.84]) of talking to a doctor/nurse in the past year about F&Vs compared to those who did not see the billboards. Participants who reported campaign exposure lived closer to the billboards compared to those who did not report campaign exposure (mean distance in miles from home to billboard: 8.8 vs. 10.9; p < .01). Most participants reported campaign messages were clear and important. Results suggest that partnering with community members to develop campaign materials is important to ensure cultural appropriateness and that exposure to the intervention components may affect health-related outcomes.
Application of the PEN-3 Model to Tobacco Initiation, Use, and Cessation Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults
Authors: Hiratsuka Vanessa Y. , Trinidad Susan B. , Avey Jaedon P. , Robinson Renee F.
Published: May 2016

American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) communities confront some of the highest rates of tobacco use and its sequelae. As part of a formative research project investigating stakeholder understandings, preferences, and needs surrounding the use of pharmacogenetics toward tobacco cessation treatment, we sought to characterize sociocultural issues related to tobacco use and cessation. We used the PEN-3 cultural model to frame the research question and analysis of stakeholder interviews with 20 AI/AN patients, 12 health care providers, and 9 tribal leaders. Our study found high knowledge levels of the negative health effects of tobacco use; however, most patient participants ascribed negative health effects only to regular, heavy tobacco use and not to light use, which is more common in the population. The majority of patient participants did not endorse use of tobacco cessation treatment despite evidence of efficacy among AI/AN adults. Health promotion messaging to target low–tobacco consuming AI/AN people is needed. Additionally, messaging to promote tobacco cessation treatment using successful AI/AN former tobacco users to improve community perception of tobacco cessation treatment is recommended.
Piezoelectric electrospun nanofibrous energy harvesting devices: Influence of the electrodes position and finite variation of dimensions
Authors: Zandesh G , Gheibi A , Sorayani Bafqi M S , Bagherzadeh R , Ghoorchian M , Latifi M
Published: May 2016

Having control on the specific area of power harvesting devices is the main controllable parameter in their fabrication. Hence, in this paper, at first a piezoelectric nanofiber is made with different dimensions and all kinds of function tests including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry are implemented thereon. After ensuring accurate …… responses from the device, some kinds of forces like concentration impact and distributed impact and tension creation by applying bending force are applied on the fabricated device in the laboratory. To assess the effect of electrode position, electrodes were placed in five modes within the samples and the output voltage was recorded with regard to applied forces type. The results indicated that an increase in specific area of nanofibrous mats in devices absolutely resulted in an increase in electric output, but the electric output reduced consequently when it normalized to the specific area of nanofibrous mats. These results imply promising approaches, as an enhanced efficiency energy-scavenging interface, for designing and fabricating various wearable self-powered electrical devices and systems.
Protection of polyester fabric from ignition by a new chemical modification method
Authors: Younis AA
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this research is to improve ignition properties and anti-dripping of polyester fabric by using adhesion promoter (AP). The ignition properties of the untreated and treated specimens with durable flame retardant coating and non-durable flame retardant coating were estimated by horizontal flame chamber (UL-94), single-flame source and limiting oxygen index (LOI). The chemical structures of the pre- and final composites have been determined by Fourier transform infrared spectra with attenuated total reflection analysis spectroscopy. The mechanical tests and thermal properties were applied to study their tensile strength and thermal behaviors. The results show that AP has improved the flame retardancy and dripping of PET fabric compared to blank. The char yield increased from 8% to 18%, LOI from 17.5% to 27.5%.
Meso modeling of silk wire rope scaffolds in tissue engineering
Authors: Abdellahi Sayyed Behzad , Naghashzargar Elham , Semnani Dariush
Published: May 2016

Finite element method can provide valuable results and information to evaluate and assess the mechanical behavior of tissue engineered scaffolds. In this investigation, a structurally and analytically based model is applied to analyze and to describe the mechanical properties of wire rope yarns as scaffold or other applications in textile engineering. In order to modeling the mechanical behavior of single yarn, non-linear hyperfoam model with three strain energy potential has been used. The results of finite element model are compared with an experimental approach and showed good agreement between software and experimental analysis with a maximum error at break of about 4.3%. As a result, validation of the finite element method is guaranteed for analysis of other structure of multi twisted yarn or wire ropes.
Echo-Guided Differential Popliteal Block in an Obese Patient With Intractable Painful Leg Ulcer for Early Discharge in Day Surgery
Authors: Zampi Maddalena , Iacovazzo Carmine , Pagano Tommaso , Buonanno Pasquale , Carlomagno Mariella , Cianciulli Flavia , Servillo Giuseppe
Published: May 2016

Pain management is extremely important in day surgery, and it is one of the limiting factors for this type of procedures. Locoregional anesthesia is strongly recommended for day surgery; nevertheless, it could be very difficult to localize nerve position especially in obese patients. Furthermore, a complete nerve blockade could result in a delayed discharge. We present a case of analgesic ultrasound-guided block of tibial and common peroneal nerves in the popliteal fossa without any motor function involvement in an obese patient undergoing debridement of an infected lower limb ulcer; all previous attempts of surgical debridement in day surgery with topical anesthetics had failed because of discomfort due to pain. Our aim was to ensure an optimal degree of analgesia and, at the same time, to save motor function in order to make early discharge possible. We used 15 mL ropivacaine 0.375% to obtain a differential block, taking advantage of sensitive fibers selectivity of ropivacaine. Surgical debridement was performed successfully. Our peripheral blockade was able to provide significantly prolonged analgesia without motor block that guaranteed a safe and early discharge according to the Post Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System. The satisfaction expressed by the patient and her comfort during the procedure support the choice of this approach for intractable painful ulcers of lower limb.
Development of a bead-based suspension array for the detection of pathogens in acute respiratory tract infections
Authors: Chen Yu-Sheng , Li Hong-Ru , Zhang Wei , Hua Zhi-Dan , Lin Xiao-Hong , Lin Meng-Qing , Huang Wen-Sen , Huang Li-Ping , Yu Xiao-Li , Xu Neng-Luan , Lin Ming , Xie Bao-Song , Shen Xiao-Na , Xie Jian-Feng , Wang Yi , Huang Meng , Wu Yan-An , Hu Xin-Lan
Published: May 2016

We developed a high-throughput bead-based suspension array for simultaneous detection of 20 respiratory tract pathogens in clinical specimens. Pathogen-specific genes were amplified and hybridized to probes coupled to carboxyl-encoded microspheres. Fluorescence intensities generated via the binding of phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin with biotin-labeled targets were measured by the Luminex 100 bead-based suspension array system. The bead-based suspension array detected bacteria in a significantly higher number of samples compared to the conventional culture. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of atypical pathogensatypical pathogens or viruses between the bead-based suspension array and real-time PCR. This technology can play a significant role in screening patients with pneumonia.
Programmable biomaterials for dynamic and responsive drug delivery
Authors: Stejskalová Anna , Kiani Mehrdad T , Almquist Benjamin D
Published: May 2016

Biomaterials are continually being designed that enable new methods for interacting dynamically with cell and tissues, in turn unlocking new capabilities in areas ranging from drug delivery to regenerative medicine. In this review, we explore some of the recent advances being made in regards to programming biomaterials for improved drug delivery, with a focus on cancer and infection. We begin by explaining several of the underlying concepts that are being used to design this new wave of drug delivery vehicles, followed by examining recent materials systems that are able to coordinate the temporal delivery of multiple therapeutics, dynamically respond to changing tissue environments, and reprogram their bioactivity over time.
Original Research: Influence of okadaic acid on hyperphosphorylation of tau and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in primary neurons
Authors: Zhao Liang , Xiao Yan , Wang Xiao-Liang , Pei Jinjing , Guan Zhi-Zhong
Published: May 2016

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of hyperphosphorylation of tau induced by okadaic acid on the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid peptide. Primary cultures of neurons isolated from the hippocampus of the brains of neonatal rats were exposed to okadaic acid or/and Aβ1–42. Tau phosphorylated at Ser404 and Ser202, and the protein expressions of α7, α4 and α3 nAChR subunits were quantified by Western blotting, and their corresponding mRNAs by real-time PCR. Superoxide dismutase activity was assayed biochemically and malondialdehyde by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance. As compared to controls, phosphorylations of tau at Ser404 and Ser202 in the neurons were elevated by exposure to 20 nM okadaic acid for 48 h but not by 1 or 2 µM Aβ1–42. Treatment with 20 nM okadaic acid or 1 µM Aβ1–42 for 48 h resulted in the reduced α7, α4 and α3 proteins, and α4 and α3 mRNAs, as well as the decreased activity of superoxide dismutase and the increased malondialdehyde. Okadaic acid and Aβ1–42 together caused more pronounced changes in the expressions of α7 and α4, superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation than either alone. When pre-treatment with vitamin E or lovastatin, the neurotoxicity induced by okadaic acid was significantly attenuated. These findings indicate that hyperphosphorylation of tau induced by okadaic acid inhibits the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at both the protein and mRNA levels, as well as enhances the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid peptide.
Leadership as Social Influence
Authors: Ruben Brent D. , Gigliotti Ralph A.
Published: May 2016

Communication is a topic frequently linked to leadership; however, the linkage often is limited to a view of communication as a tool to be employed by leaders in efforts to achieve particular purposes. The aim of this article is to provide a more expansive view of the communication process and its current and potential contributions to an understanding of leadership theory and dynamics. The article begins with an exploration of the ways that the study of communication intersects with the study of leadership itself, and then explores a number of communication concepts that are particularly important to the study and practice of leadership, but which have yet to be fully examined. As offered in this article, communication is considerably more than a leadership tool or strategy. Rather, it is an orientation, a world view, a way of understanding leadership that focuses more broadly on the process of social influence itself.
Expanding Thinking Through a Kaleidoscopic Look Into the Future
Authors: Mertens Donna M. , Bazeley Patricia , Bowleg Lisa , Fielding Nigel , Maxwell Joseph , Molina-Azorin José F. , Niglas Katrin
Published: May 2016

The field of mixed methods research abounds with opportunities for creative development in terms of methodological advances and potential to contribute to important and complex societal problems. Inspired by issues that arose in the Mixed Methods International Research Association task force report on the future of mixed methods, this article contemplates its implications for challenges and opportunities for the mixed methods community for advancement in philosophy and methodology, innovative designs, technological advancements and big data, preparation of mixed methods researchers, and responsiveness to complex societal problems. We invite the mixed methods research community to participate in the conversation about these important, as yet unanswered, questions relevant for the future of mixed methods research and the world.
Intracranial post-embolization residual or recurrent aneurysms: Current management using surgical clipping
Authors: Shi Lei , Yuan Yongjie , Guo Yunbao , Yu Jinlu
Published: May 2016

Post-embolization residual or recurrent aneurysms (PERRAs) are not rare in patients with intracranial aneurysms treated by embolization. Their occurrence is mainly associated with an increased amount of interventional therapy. Repeated interventional embolization can be applied in some patients with PERRAs, whereas surgical clipping is preferred in other cases that are not suitable for repeated interventional embolization due to the difficulties inherent to this operation. The surgical clipping of PERRAs is very complicated and difficult to perform, and relevant reports are rare. This study offers a review of PERRA treatment using surgical clipping. Retrospective studies have shown that PERRAs are common aneurysms of the anterior and posterior communicating arteries. According to the recurrent characteristics of PERRAs, it is reasonable to categorize PERRAs into three types: type I—coils are compressed, and no embolic material fills the neck of the aneurysm; type II—coils are migrated, and very few coils fill the neck of the aneurysm or the parent artery; and type III—coils are migrated, and multiple coils fill the neck of the aneurysm or the parent artery. Direct clipping can be applied to types I and II PERRAs, whereas trapping, wrapping, or auxiliary revascularization is required in type III PERRAs. Most coils do not require removal unless they interfere with clipping. However, it is necessary to avoid damaging the surrounding adhesive tissue during coil removal. Satisfactory therapeutic outcomes can be achieved by selecting appropriate PERRA cases in which to perform surgical clipping.
Field programmable gate array–based servo control integrated chip for a six-axis articulated robot manipulator
Authors: Kung Ying-Shieh , Lin Jin-Mu , Chen Yu-Jen , Chou Hsin-Hung
Published: May 2016

The objective of this article is to build a field programmable gate array–based six-axis servo control integrated chip which can integrate the function of a motion trajectory planning and the function of six position/speed/current servo controllers into one integrated chip. In the work, first, a mathematical modeling of a robot manipulator with the actuator using permanent magnet synchronous motor is derived. Second, the proportional controller in the position loop, a proportional–integral controller in the speed loop and a vector controller in the current loop for each axis are applied. Third, a system on a programmable chip) technology which comprises an Altera field programmable gate array chip and an embedded soft-core Nios-II processor is considered to develop the proposed servo control integrated chip. However, in the servo control integrated chip, it has two modules. The first module is an embedded soft-core Nios-II processor which is used to generate the motion trajectory planning by software. The second module presents a six-axis servo controller intellectual property by hardware which is applied to execute six position/speed/current controllers. Therefore, the function of a motion trajectory command and the function of six position/speed/current servo controllers for a six-axis robot manipulator can be integrated into one field programmable gate array. Finally, to verify the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed field programmable gate array–based servo control integrated chip, a six-axis robot manipulator is applied and some experimental results are demonstrated.
The effects of electrode size and discharged power on micro-electro-discharge machining drilling of stainless steel
Authors: D’Urso Gianluca , Ravasio Chiara
Published: May 2016

This article is about the measurement of actual micro-electro-discharge machining parameters and the statistical analysis of their influence on the process performances. In particular, the discharged power was taken into account as a comprehensive variable able to represent the effect of peak current and voltage on the final result. Thanks to the dedicated signal acquisition system, a correlation among the discharged power and the indexes representing the process parameters was shown. Finally, linear and non-linear regression approaches were implemented in order to obtain predictive equations for the most important aspects of micro-electro-discharge machining, such as the machining time and the electrode wear.
Poor knowledge of peripheral arterial disease among the Saudi population: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ayeed Saad Bin , Hussain Mohamad A , AlHamzah Musaad , Al-Omran Mohammed
Published: May 2016

Peripheral arterial disease is a marker of severe atherosclerosis with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Public and patients’ perception of peripheral arterial disease is influenced by their knowledge of the condition. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the Saudi public’s knowledge of peripheral arterial disease and its specific characteristics. We conducted an interview-based cross-sectional survey, and collected data on basic demographics, self-reported peripheral arterial disease awareness, and knowledge of clinical features, risk factors, preventative measures, management strategies, and potential complications of peripheral arterial disease. A total of 866 participants completed the survey (response rate, 94%); two-thirds were females. Only 295 (34%) of the surveyed participants indicated awareness of peripheral arterial disease. Overall peripheral arterial disease knowledge was low among the “peripheral arterial disease aware” group, particularly in the clinical features domain. Age > 40 years, female gender, and higher education were predictors of self-reported awareness of peripheral arterial disease. In conclusion, the Saudi public is largely unaware of peripheral arterial disease. Educational programs are important to address this critical knowledge gap.
Statistical lessons learned for designing cluster randomized pragmatic clinical trials from the NIH Health Care Systems Collaboratory Biostatistics and Design Core
Authors: Cook Andrea J , Delong Elizabeth , Murray David M , Vollmer William M , Heagerty Patrick J
Published: May 2016

Background/aims:

Pragmatic clinical trials embedded within health care systems provide an important opportunity to evaluate new interventions and treatments. Networks have recently been developed to support practical and efficient studies. Pragmatic trials will lead to improvements in how we deliver health care and promise to more rapidly translate research findings into practice.

Methods:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Health Care Systems Collaboratory was formed to conduct pragmatic clinical trials and to cultivate collaboration across research areas and disciplines to develop best practices for future studies. Through a two-stage grant process including a pilot phase (UH2) and a main trial phase (UH3), investigators across the Collaboratory had the opportunity to work together to improve all aspects of these trials before they were launched and to address new issues that arose during implementation. Seven Cores were created to address the various considerations, including Electronic Health Records; Phenotypes, Data Standards, and Data Quality; Biostatistics and Design Core; Patient-Reported Outcomes; Health Care Systems Interactions; Regulatory/Ethics; and Stakeholder Engagement. The goal of this article is to summarize the Biostatistics and Design Core’s lessons learned during the initial pilot phase with seven pragmatic clinical trials conducted between 2012 and 2014.

Results:

Methodological issues arose from the five cluster-randomized trials, also called group-randomized trials, including consideration of crossover and stepped wedge designs. We outlined general themes and challenges and proposed solutions from the pilot phase including topics such as study design, unit of randomization, sample size, and statistical analysis. Our findings are applicable to other pragmatic clinical trials conducted within health care systems.

Conclusion:

Pragmatic clinical trials using the UH2/UH3 funding mechanism provide an opportunity to ensure that all relevant design issues have been fully considered in order to reliably and efficiently evaluate new interventions and treatments. The integrity and generalizability of trial results can only be ensured if rigorous designs and appropriate analysis choices are an essential part of their research protocols.
Diffuse traumatic brain injury induces prolonged immune dysregulation and potentiates hyperalgesia following a peripheral immune challenge
Authors: Rowe Rachel K , Ellis Gavin I , Harrison Jordan L , Bachstetter Adam D , Corder Gregory F , Van Eldik Linda J , Taylor Bradley K , Marti Francesc , Lifshitz Jonathan
Published: May 2016

Background

Nociceptive and neuropathic pain occurs as part of the disease process after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. Central and peripheral inflammation, a major secondary injury process initiated by the traumatic brain injury event, has been implicated in the potentiation of peripheral nociceptive pain. We hypothesized that the inflammatory response to diffuse traumatic brain injury potentiates persistent pain through prolonged immune dysregulation.

Results

To test this, adult, male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to midline fluid percussion brain injury or to sham procedure. One cohort of mice was analyzed for inflammation-related cytokine levels in cortical biopsies and serum along an acute time course. In a second cohort, peripheral inflammation was induced seven days after surgery/injury with an intraplantar injection of carrageenan. This was followed by measurement of mechanical hyperalgesia, glial fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1 immunohistochemical analysis of neuroinflammation in the brain, and flow cytometric analysis of T-cell differentiation in mucosal lymph. Traumatic brain injury increased interleukin-6 and chemokine ligand 1 levels in the cortex and serum that peaked within 1–9 h and then resolved. Intraplantar carrageenan produced mechanical hyperalgesia that was potentiated by traumatic brain injury. Further, mucosal T cells from brain-injured mice showed a distinct deficiency in the ability to differentiate into inflammation-suppressing regulatory T cells (Tregs).

Conclusions

We conclude that traumatic brain injury increased the inflammatory pain associated with cutaneous inflammation by contributing to systemic immune dysregulation. Regulatory T cells are immune suppressors and failure of T cells to differentiate into regulatory T cells leads to unregulated cytokine production which may contribute to the potentiation of peripheral pain through the excitation of peripheral sensory neurons. In addition, regulatory T cells are identified as a potential target for therapeutic rebalancing of peripheral immune homeostasis to improve functional outcome and decrease the incidence of peripheral inflammatory pain following traumatic brain injury.
Institutional review boards: A flawed system of risk management
Authors: Whitney Simon N
Published: May 2016

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and their federal overseers protect human subjects, but this vital work is often dysfunctional despite their conscientious efforts. A cardinal, but unrecognized, explanation is that IRBs are performing a specific function – the management of risk – using a flawed theoretical and practical approach. At the time of the IRB system’s creation, risk management theory emphasized the suppression of risk. Since then, scholars of governance, studying the experience of business and government, have learned that we must distinguish pure from opportunity risks. Pure risks should be suppressed. Some opportunity risks, in contrast, must be accepted if the institution is to meet its goals. Contemporary theory shows how institutions may make these decisions wisely. It also shows how a sound organizational understanding of risk, a proper locus of responsibility, and appropriate institutional oversight all contribute to effective risk management. We can apply this general theory, developed in other contexts, to the problems of the IRB system. Doing so provides a unifying explanation for IRBs’ disparate dysfunctions by spotlighting five related deficiencies in IRB theory and structure. These deficiencies are (i) inability to focus on greater risks, (ii) loss of balanced theory, (iii) inaccessibility to guidance from senior leadership, (iv) unbalanced federal oversight, and (v) inflexibility. These flaws are deeply rooted in the system, and superficial reform cannot resolve them. Congress should overhaul the system to meet contemporary standards of risk management; this would benefit subjects, scientists, and the public that needs the fruits of research.
Anemonin improves intestinal barrier restoration and influences TGF-β1 and EGFR signaling pathways in LPS-challenged piglets
Authors: Xiao Kan , Cao Shu Ting , Jiao Le Fei , Lin Fang Hui , Wang Li , Hu Cai Hong
Published: May 2016

The present study was aimed at investigating whether dietary anemonin could alleviate LPS-induced intestinal injury and improve intestinal barrier restoration in a piglet model. Eighteen 35-d-old pigs were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (control, LPS and LPS+anemonin). The control and LPS groups were fed a basal diet, and the LPS + anemonin group received the basal diet + 100 mg anemonin/kg diet. After 21 d of feeding, the LPS- and anemonin-treated piglets received i.p. administration of LPS; the control group received saline. At 4 h post-injection, jejunum samples were collected. The results showed that supplemental anemonin increased villus height and transepithelial electrical resistance, and decreased crypt depth and paracellular flux of dextran (4 kDa) compared with the LPS group. Moreover, anemonin increased tight junction claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 expression in the jejunal mucosa, compared with LPS group. Anemonin also decreased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1β mRNA expression. Supplementation with anemonin also increased TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression, Smad4 and Smad7 mRNA expressions, and epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA expression in the jejunal mucosa. These findings suggest that dietary anemonin attenuates LPS-induced intestinal injury by improving mucosa restoration, alleviating intestinal inflammation and influencing TGF-β1 canonical Smads and EGFR signaling pathways.
Obstetric medical care in Canada
Authors: Magee Laura A , Cote Anne-Marie , Joseph Geena , Firoz Tabassum , Sia Winnie
Published: May 2016

Obstetric medicine is a growing area of interest within internal medicine in Canada. Canadians continue to travel broadly to obtain relevant training, particularly in the United Kingdom. However, there is now a sufficient body of expertise in Canada that a cadre of ‘home-grown’ obstetric internists is emerging and staying within Canada to improve maternity care. As this critical mass of practitioners grows, it is apparent that models of obstetric medicine delivery have developed according to local needs and patterns of practice. This article aims to describe the state of obstetric medicine in Canada, including general internal medicine services as the rock on which Canadian obstetric medicine has been built, the Canadian training curriculum and opportunities, organisation of obstetric medicine service delivery and the future.
First trimester screening for pre-eclampsia
Authors: Kane Stefan C
Published: May 2016

The commercial availability of tests in the first trimester of pregnancy that predict the later development of pre-eclampsia has prompted considerable debate regarding their clinical utility and the degree to which they fulfil the longstanding principles of screening. Such tests have been shown to achieve detection rates for early pre-eclampsia (requiring delivery prior to 34 weeks) of over 90%, for a false positive rate of 10%. However, their capacity to predict later onset pre-eclampsia, which accounts for the bulk of the disease burden, is much more limited. The relatively few studies validating the performance of these tests in different populations have demonstrated significant variations in performance. Moreover, prospective research confirming that the administration of aspirin to those screened to be high risk reduces the incidence of pre-eclampsia is yet to be completed, and there may be harms in restricting aspirin therapy to this group, given its broader beneficial effect. In light of these limitations, further development of these tests is recommended prior to their introduction to clinical practice.
Assignments and progress of curling stone dynamics
Authors: Maeno Norikazu
Published: May 2016

The sport of curling has a long history over 500 years and, consequently, a variety of information and experiences have been accumulated on the technique, strategy, coaching, and other facets of the sport. However, very few detailed scientific or quantitative investigations have been made, especially on the stone dynamics, such that a fundamental understanding of the dynamics has yet to be achieved. This report summarizes the previous theoretical and experimental studies of stone dynamics and aims at making clear the areas yet to be solved.
Efficacy of a hospital-wide environmental cleaning protocol on hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates
Authors: Watson Paul Andrew , Watson Luke Robert , Torress-Cook Alfonso
Published: May 2016

Background:

Environmental contamination has been associated with over half of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks in hospitals. We explored if a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol would lower hospital acquired MRSA rates and associated costs.

Objective:

This study evaluates the impact of implementing a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol on the rate of MRSA infection and the potential cost benefit of the intervention.

Methods:

A retrospective, pre-post interventional study design was used. The intervention comprised a combination of enhanced environmental cleaning of high touch surfaces, daily washing of patients with benzalkonium chloride, and targeted isolation of patients with active infection. The rate of MRSA infection per 1000 patient days (PD) was compared with the rate after the intervention (Steiros Algorithm®) was implemented. A cost–benefit analysis based on the number of MRSA infections avoided was conducted.

Results:

The MRSA rates decreased by 96% from 3.04 per 1000 PD to 0.11 per 1000 PD ( P <0.0001). This reduction in MRSA infections, avoided an estimated $1,655,143 in healthcare costs.

Discussion:

Implementation of this hospital-wide protocol appears to be associated with a reduction in the rate of MRSA infection and therefore a reduction in associated healthcare costs.