bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of ghrelin receptor agonist, relamorelin, on gastric motor functions and satiation in healthy volunteers
Authors: Nelson A. D. , Camilleri M. , Acosta A. , Busciglio I. , Linker Nord S. , Boldingh A. , Rhoten D. , Ryks M. , Burton D.
Published: June 2016

Background

Synthetic human ghrelin accelerates gastric emptying, reduces gastric accommodation, and results in numerical increases in postprandial symptom scores. The ghrelin receptor agonist, relamorelin, accelerates gastric emptying in patients with diabetic gastroparesis.

Aim

To measure pharmacological effects of relamorelin on gastric accommodation, distal antral motility, and satiation in healthy volunteers.

Methods

In a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, randomized study of 16 healthy volunteers, we compared effects of 30 μg subcutaneous (s.c.) relamorelin to placebo on: (i) gastric volumes measured by single photon emission computed tomography, (ii) 1‐h postprandial distal antral motility index (MI) by 15‐lumen perfusion gastroduodenal manometry, and (iii) satiation tested by Ensure nutrient drink test. Primary endpoints were: fasting and postprandial gastric volumes, distal antral phasic pressure activity (number of contractions, mean amplitude, and MI), and maximum tolerated volume. Results were normally distributed and the two treatment groups were compared using t‐test.

Key Results

Relamorelin, 30 μg s.c., significantly increased the number of contractions in the distal antrum during 0–60 min postmeal when compared to placebo (p = 0.022); this was also observed in the first two 15‐min periods (p = 0.005 and 0.015 for number of contractions 0–15 and 16–30). There was borderline increase in MI0‐15 (p = 0.055) and numerically increased MI0‐60 (p = 0.139) and MI16‐30 (p = 0.116). The amplitude of contractions was not significantly increased. Relamorelin did not significantly alter fasting or postprandial gastric volumes, gastric accommodation, or satiation volumes and symptoms.

Conclusions & Inferences

Relamorelin increases frequency of distal antral motility contractions without significant effects on amplitude of contractions. The lack of inhibition of accommodation and absence of increase in satiation symptoms support relamorelin for the treatment of symptomatic gastroparesis (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02466711).
Emerging targets for treating sulfur mustard–induced injuries
Authors: Ahmad Shama , Ahmad Aftab
Published: June 2016

Sulfur mustard (SM; bis‐(2‐chlororethyl) sulfide) is a highly reactive, potent warfare agent that has recently reemerged as a major threat to military and civilians. Exposure to SM is often fatal, primarily due to pulmonary injuries and complications caused by its inhalation. Profound inflammation, hypercoagulation, and oxidative stress are the hallmarks that define SM‐induced pulmonary toxicities. Despite advances, effective therapies are still limited. This current review focuses on inflammatory and coagulation pathways that influence the airway pathophysiology of SM poisoning and highlights the complexity of developing an effective therapeutic target.
MANAGING THE UNEXPECTED: SENSE‐MAKING IN THE CHINESE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: LU XIAOLI , XUE LAN
Published: June 2016

China built a new National Emergency Management System (NEMS) after the 2003 SARS crisis to cope with the challenges of crisis and disaster management, particularly the challenge of joint sense‐making. This article investigates how the NEMS addresses joint sense‐making challenges in crisis management. It explores several recent crises in China to uncover factors that undermine or facilitate joint sense‐making. Our study unearths a low degree of professionalization, plans that do not match crisis events, a lack of accountability, and the absence of unified leadership. These critical factors make it hard for the newly built NEMS to establish a common understanding of a crisis. This article concludes with lessons for China's NEMS that may also be useful for other large countries.
Brimonidine Toxicity Secondary to Topical Use for an Ulcerated Hemangioma
Authors: Gill Kamalvir , Bayart Cheryl , Desai Ritu , Golden Alex , Raimer Patricia , Tamburro Joan
Published: June 2016

Combigan (Allergan, Irvine, CA) is an ophthalmic solution that combines 0.2% brimonidine, a selective α‐2 adrenergic agonist, with 0.5% timolol, a nonselective β‐adrenergic antagonist. It is approved for the reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. There have been recent reports of successful treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas (IHs) using Combigan topically. We report the case of a 2‐month‐old girl who developed life‐threatening brimonidine toxicity requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation secondary to central nervous system depression and apnea after topical application to an ulcerated IH.
Multifocal Lymphangioendotheliomatosis with Thrombocytopenia: Presentation of Two Cases Treated with Sirolimus
Authors: Lanöel Agustina , Torres Huamani Adriana Natalia , Feliú Aurora , Sala María Josefina , Alvarez Mariana , Cervini Andrea Bettina
Published: June 2016

Multifocal lymphangioendotheliomatosis with thrombocytopenia (MLT) is a rare disease characterized by congenital and progressive vascular lesions of the skin and gastrointestinal tract that may be associated with thrombocytopenia and possibly life‐threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. Reports published on the disease and treatment strategies are scarce. We present two cases of MLT treated with sirolimus.
Tyrosinemia type II: Novel mutations in TAT in a boy with unusual presentation
Authors: Gokay Songul , Kendirci Mustafa , Ustkoyuncu Pembe Soylu , Kardas Fatih , Bayram Ayse Kacar , Per Hüseyin , Poyrazoğlu Hatice Gamze
Published: June 2016

Tyrosinemia type II is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT). It may occur with ocular and cutaneous symptoms with or without mental retardation, but epileptic seizure is a rare presentation of this disease. Herein we report the clinical, biochemical and genetic features of a 4‐year‐old boy who presented with afebrile seizure and photophobia. Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes from the whole family. Sequencing analysis was performed using the MiSeq next‐generation sequencing platform. Sequencing of TAT indicated two new homozygous mutations p.L312P (c.935T>C) and p.T408M (c.1223C>T) for the proband and his asymptomatic sister. During a 2 year follow‐up period, the patient had overall poor compliance with protein‐restricted diet, but his asymptomatic sister had good compliance with the diet. Cognitive function of the patient worsened steadily, but his asymptomatic sister maintained normal mental status. Tyrosinemia type II should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with epileptic seizure and photophobia; furthermore, early diagnosis and protein‐restricted regimen are important to reduce the risk of long‐term complications of tyrosinemia type II such as mental disability.
Small RNA and degradome profiling reveals important roles for microRNAs and their targets in tea plant response to drought stress
Authors: Liu Sheng‐Chuan , Xu Yan‐Xia , Ma Jian‐Qiang , Wang Wei‐Wei , Chen Wei , Huang Dan‐Juan , Fang Jie , Li Xiao‐Jie , Chen Liang
Published: June 2016

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a popular beverage worldwide. Drought stress (DS) is a major constraint on the growth, yield and quality of tea plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in plant responses to DS. We constructed eight small RNA libraries from the drought‐tolerant ‘Ningzhou 2’ (NZ2) and drought‐susceptible ‘Zhuyeqi’ (ZYQ) cultivars during four stages [control (CK), the fourth day of DS, the eighth day of DS and after recovery (RC)]. A total of 268 conserved and 62 novel miRNAs were identified using small RNA sequencing. In total, 139 (52.9%) and 96 (36.0%) conserved miRNAs were differentially expressed during the four stages (P ≤ 0.05) in NZ2 and ZYQ, respectively. A total of 814 predicted target genes were identified as differentially regulated by 199 miRNAs through degradome sequencing. Among them, 201 and 218 genes were specific to the NZ2 and ZYQ cultivars, respectively, and 395 were common to both cultivars. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed the biological roles of these targets and showed that some of the targets responded to DS in a stress‐ and cultivar‐dependent manner. Correlated expression patterns between miRNA and their targets showed that specific miRNAs target the miRNA effector Argonaute 1 (AGO1), drought signaling‐related receptors and enzymes, transcription factors, and other structural and functional proteins. The predicted regulatory networks provide insights into a potential miRNA‐mediated regulatory mechanism. These results will contribute to the breeding of drought‐tolerant tea plants and to elucidating miRNA regulation in response to drought.
Strategies of Policy Advocacy Organizations and Their Theoretical Affinities: Evidence from Q‐Methodology
Authors: Gen Sheldon , Wright Amy Conley
Published: June 2016

Policy advocacy is an increasingly important function for many nonprofit organizations, yet their advocacy activities have largely escaped theoretical grounding. The literature on nonprofits has described how they engage in policy advocacy, without linking them to theories of policy change. The policy studies literature, on the other hand, has explained how various forms of influence result in policy change, but has largely ignored organizational perspectives on those processes. These two literatures remain largely disconnected. Drawing upon interviews with a purposive sample of policy advocacy directors at 31 nonprofit organizations, this study applies Q‐methodology to identify and describe six distinct policy advocacy strategies employed by the organizations, and their resonant theoretical views of policy processes. These findings suggest strategic approaches for nonprofits seeking to influence policy processes. They also enhance the academic literature on policy processes by adding the advocates’ views and expectations. Implications for further research are also identified.
The effects of training group exercise class instructors to adopt a motivationally adaptive communication style
Authors: Ntoumanis N. , Thøgersen‐Ntoumani C. , Quested E. , Hancox J.
Published: June 2016

Drawing from self‐determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002), we developed and tested an intervention to train fitness instructors to adopt a motivationally adaptive communication style when interacting with exercisers. This was a parallel group, two‐arm quasi‐experimental design. Participants in the intervention arm were 29 indoor cycling instructors (n = 10 for the control arm) and 246 class members (n = 75 for the control arm). The intervention consisted of face‐to‐face workshops, education/information video clips, group discussions and activities, brainstorming, individual planning, and practical tasks in the cycling studio. Instructors and exercisers responded to validated questionnaires about instructors’ use of motivational strategies and other motivation‐related variables before the first workshop and at the end of the third and final workshop (4 months later). Time × arm interactions revealed no significant effects, possibly due to the large attrition of instructors and exercisers in the control arm. Within‐group analyses in the intervention arm showed that exercisers’ perceptions of instructor motivationally adaptive strategies, psychological need satisfaction, and intentions to remain in the class increased over time. Similarly, instructors in the intervention arm reported being less controlling and experiencing more need satisfaction over time. These results offer initial promising evidence for the positive impact of the training.
Coastal Restoration as Contested Terrain: Climate Change and the Political Economy of Risk Reduction in Louisiana
Authors: Gotham Kevin Fox
Published: June 2016

Although many studies have examined the effects of structural factors and institutional interests on risk estimation practices, little is known about the political dynamics surrounding divergent responses to risk reduction measures. This article examines the political economy of risk reduction, using a case study of Louisiana's coastal restoration planning and decision‐making process. Specifically, the article draws on documentary evidence, long‐term ethnographic field observations, and semistructured interviews to investigate the proliferation of risk conflicts and disputes surrounding the 2012 Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, the latest long‐term risk‐reduction plan to slow coastal erosion and achieve a sustainable coast. As I point out, coastal restoration in Louisiana is contested terrain where a variety of contentious groups struggle to influence and control debates over climate change risk and coastal erosion risk reduction. By examining the proliferation of contested risk definitions and risk reduction strategies in Louisiana, I aim to provide new insight into the organizational and institutional forces that shape positions on risk, the political‐economic forces that create and allocate risk, and the social construction of community identity and culture through risk debates.
A novel RHCE*02 allele, containing the single‐nucleotide change c.460A>G, encodes weakened expression of C and e antigens
Authors: Hellberg Åsa , Pesjak Emma , Karlsson Jessica , Storry Jill R.
Published: June 2016

We report a novel RHCE*02 allele in a Swedish blood donor that is characterized by the change c.460A>G (Arg154Gly). The blood donor's red blood cells showed variable reactivity with different monoclonal anti‐C and anti‐e and antigen strength was markedly weakened. We believe that these changes represent both a quantitative and qualitative alteration of the antigens encoded by this allele.
Towards an integrated approach to postcolonial and non‐postcolonial Englishes
Authors: BUSCHFELD SARAH , KAUTZSCH ALEXANDER
Published: June 2016

The categories ‘ESL’ and ‘EFL’ should not be seen as discrete as traditionally assumed but as located on a continuum. Since the traditional categorization as either foreign or second‐language English strongly depends on the historical and sociopolitical development of a territory, with postcolonial speech communities normally ascribed ESL status and non‐postcolonial speech communities being treated as EFL, recent research has made first attempts for an integrative analysis of such Englishes. Based on the framework of Schneider's Dynamic Model, the paper at hand introduces the model of Extra‐ and Intra‐territorial Forces (EIF model) to meet the aim of a joint approach to those Englishes which have so far mostly been treated independently of each other. Its practical application is demonstrated in reference to the development of English in Namibia.
Modeling of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Three-Dimensional, Two-Phase Model
Authors: Ahn Chong Hyun , Dilmore Robert , Wang John Yilin
Published: June 2016

A three-dimensional, two-phase, dual-continuum hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation simulator was developed and implemented. This paper presents a detailed method for efficient and effective modeling of the fluid flow within fracture and matrix as well as fluid leakoff, fracture height growth, and the fracture network propagation. Both a method for solving the system of coupled equations, and a verification of the developed model are presented herein.
Modeling Hybrid Nuclear Systems With Chilled-Water Storage
Authors: Misenheimer Corey T. , Terry Stephen D.
Published: June 2016

Air-conditioning loads during the warmer months of the year are large contributors to an increase in the daily peak electrical demand. Traditionally, utility companies boost output to meet daily cooling load spikes, often using expensive and polluting fossil fuel plants to match the demand. Likewise, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system components must be sized to meet these peak cooling loads. However, the use of a properly sized stratified chilled-water storage system in conjunction with conventional HVAC system components can shift daily energy peaks from cooling loads to off-peak hours. This process is examined in light of the recent development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). In this study, primary components of an air-conditioning system with a stratified chilled-water storage tank were modeled in FORTRAN 95. A basic chiller operation criterion was employed. Simulation results confirmed earlier work that the air-conditioning system with thermal energy storage (TES) capabilities not only reduced daily peaks in energy demand due to facility cooling loads but also shifted the energy demand from on-peak to off-peak hours, thereby creating a more flattened total electricity demand profile. Thus, coupling chilled-water storage-supplemented HVAC systems to SMRs is appealing because of the decrease in necessary reactor power cycling, and subsequently reduced associated thermal stresses in reactor system materials, to meet daily fluctuations in cooling demand. Also, such a system can be used as a thermal sink during reactor transients or a buffer due to renewable intermittency in a nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES).
Controls to Eliminate Broken Rails in Service
Authors: Tunna John , Gordon Jeff , Jeong David , Patrick Carlo
Published: June 2016

Broken rails in freight and passenger revenue service occur due to single, or combinations of, faults or failures of various kinds. These may occur due to limitations inherent in the rail defect inspection process, track maintenance and renewal practices, and may also arise due to changes in operating conditions. The Government and the industry have developed regulations, standards and procedures to control these issues and reduce broken rail occurrences. This paper presents a broken rail fault tree as a way of visualizing the problem. It describes current controls and shows how they map onto the fault tree. Examples of recent broken rail derailments are used to illustrate the fault tree. Lessons learned are used to identify areas where further tightening of controls or the imposition of new controls may be required to further reduce the number of, and potentially eliminate, broken rails in service.
Comparison of Energy-Saving Driving Style Strategies
Authors: Fidansoy Yigit , Wanjani Sohejl , Schmidt Sebastian
Published: June 2016

Due to the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and the climate change, the importance of energy efficiency is increasing. This importance is major especially in areas where the energy consumption is high. Rail transport depicts such an area. The highest proportion of energy consumed in the railway is the so called traction energy. This energy is required for the train run. In the timetable, allowances leave a margin for the driving style of train run. By the selective use of strategies that change the driving style, it is possible to exploit these allowances and reduce the traction energy consumption. The first objective of this study deals with the development of algorithms for energy-saving driving style.

First, the necessary input variables of the algorithms based on the literature research and the formulas of train dynamics were determined. Then the algorithms were developed to create different energy-saving driving styles, resulting choose the best result which should be shown as a driving recommendation. The developed algorithms were used in an application example in order to calculate the potential of energy-savings. The example should represent the influence of the input variables for a comparison of different situations. At last the acceptance of the determined driving strategies in practice was investigated. By implementing the design thinking method it was identified that driver advisory systems and training programs are necessary to facilitate energy-saving driving in practice.
Suitability of Earth and Granular Materials Pressure Cells for Measuring Railway Trackbed Tie/Ballast Interfacial Pressures
Authors: Rose Jerry G. , Purcell Macy L. , Liu Qingjie
Published: June 2016

The magnitudes and relative distributions of pressures at the tie/ballast interface are important trackbed engineering design and analysis aspects. The pressures produced by millions of load applications ultimately affect the long-term performance of the track and the service lives of the component materials and layers. Ideally the interstitial pressure intensities can be reduced by distributing pressures uniformly over large areas thereby reducing abrasion of the bottom of the tie and crushing of the surface layer of the ballast.

Multiple earth pressure cells and granular materials pressure cells were used in a series of laboratory tests to ascertain the applicability of using these types of sensors for accurate measurement of the vertical pressures at the tie/ballast interface. Test loads were applied through a section of a tie that was positioned on the ballast. In addition, the effects of several variables were evaluated; — primary variables included the type of granular support — ranging from new and worn ballast size to fine sand size aggregate and the type of cushioning — including resilient pads and thin rubber membranes. These tests were conducted to validate or negate the relative effects of variables on test results.

Pressures calculated from the controlled testing, using a 50,000-lbf (222 kN) MTS hydraulic servo system test machine, were compared to simultaneously measured pressures indicated by the outputs from the pressure cells for machine test loads typical of in-track train loadings. Near perfect correlations were obtained. Furthermore, test repeatability was consistent with little variability of replicated tests. The results indicated that the cells were capable of accurately recording known pressure inputs and therefore applicable for in-track measurement of tie/ballast interfacial pressures.

In-track tests were conducted under typical locomotive and freight car loadings with cells positioned at the tie/ballast interfaces directly under the rail/tie intersection — the point of maximum pressure intensities on the ballast layer. These values were very consistent over periods of elapsed time as the track experienced typical loadings from normal train operations. These test results are described in detail as related to measured pressure intensities and distributions from typical locomotive and freight car wheel loadings of 33,000 and 36,000 lbs. (15,000 and 16,300 kg).
Liquefied Natural Gas Tender Crashworthiness in Train-to-Train Collisions
Authors: Tyrell David
Published: June 2016

Research to facilitate industry efforts to safely use natural gas as a locomotive fuel is being directed by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) Office of Research, Development, and Technology. This research is being conducted cooperatively with the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The research results are being shared with the AAR’s Natural Gas Fuel Tender Technical Advisory Group (NGFT TAG), which includes AAR, Member Railroads, and FRA, with support from ARA and Volpe Center. The NGFT TAG is developing industry requirements, including crashworthiness requirements, for revenue-service natural gas fuel tenders.

Five accident scenarios have been drafted by the NGFT TAG: a train-to-train collision, a grade-crossing collision, rollover, shell impact, and head impact. Each scenario includes a description of the equipment, the impact conditions, and the prescribed outcome. Conceptually, these tender scenarios parallel the scenarios described in 49 CFR Part 229 Appendix E for locomotive crashworthiness.

The focus of the NGFT TAG discussions has expanded to include alternative static requirements. Conceptually, the tender static requirements parallel the requirements for locomotive crashworthiness in AAR S-580. Requirements in S-580 for locomotive structure include static load capacities, material properties, and material thicknesses. For conventionally-designed locomotives, meeting the static requirements of S-580 is accepted as meeting the dynamic requirements of Appendix E. The tender static requirements under development are intended to provide the same level of crashworthiness as the previously proposed dynamic requirements.

The primary advantage of static crashworthiness requirements is that compliance can be shown with classical closed-form engineering analyses. A disadvantage is that design features are presumed, such as the inclusion and location of collision posts in a conventional locomotive design. Design features are not presumed in dynamic crashworthiness requirements; however, compliance must be shown with a design-specific validated computer simulation model. So while dynamic requirements allow for a wide range of design approaches, showing compliance often requires extensive effort.

This paper focuses on technical information to help support development of alternative static requirements for the train-to-train collision scenario. The goal of the static requirements is to provide the same level of crashworthiness as the dynamic requirements under discussion by the NGFT TAG. Tender features capable of providing the desired level of performance are proposed. These features have been selected such that a tender with these features would be crashworthy-compatible with a wide range of new and existing locomotive structural designs.
Text Mining Analysis of Railroad Accident Investigation Reports
Authors: Williams Trefor , Betak John , Findley Bridgette
Published: June 2016

The National Transportation Safety Board in the United States and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada publish reports about major railroad accidents. The text from these accident reports were analyzed using the text mining techniques of probabilistic topic modeling and k-means clustering to identify the recurring themes in major railroad accidents. The output from these analyses indicates that the railroad accidents can be successfully grouped into different topics. The output also suggests that recurring accident types are track defects, wheel defects, grade crossing accidents, and switching accidents. A major difference between the Canadian and U.S. reports is the finding that accidents related to bridges are found to be more prominent in the Canadian reports.
Improved Curving Performance for Two-Axle Rail Vehicles With Actuated Solid Wheelsets Using H∞ Control
Authors: Qazizadeh Alireza , Stichel Sebastian
Published: June 2016

Application of active suspension on passenger vehicles has engaged many vehicle dynamics specialists in recent years. The technology can be used for different purposes including improving comfort, stability or wear behavior. Despite these benefits, industries do not yet find these technologies attractive enough. One reason is that the achieved benefits do not pay back for itself since the vehicle will become more expensive. Therefore, more steps should be taken to make active suspension attractive. One such a step can be using active suspension for resolving classical limitations in rail vehicle dynamics. An example of this is a non-bogie rail vehicle with two axles. One of the problems associated with these vehicles is their short axle distance limiting the length of the vehicle. The short axle distance is partly for limiting wheel-rail wear. This paper describes how to reduce wheel wear through achieving better wheelset steering in curves so that longer axle distances can be allowed. Wheelset steering is performed by H∞ control strategy.
Power Management Control Optimization of a Hybrid Electric-Diesel Locomotive
Authors: Wilson Andrew , Cleary Timothy , Ballew Brent
Published: June 2016

The interest of this work is to develop a control strategy to most effectively manage the power split between the energy storage system (ESS) and the diesel generator of a hybrid locomotive. The overall goal is to minimize fuel consumption of the diesel engine, while maximizing battery life of the onboard ESS. This problem proves to be complex due to the conflicting cost functions of fuel economy and battery state-of-health (SOH)[1]. In other words, during a typical drive cycle, fuel consumption is minimized by placing high loads upon the battery while minimizing negative effects on SOH requires more specific loading characteristics of the ESS for the same drive cycle. This work highlights the development of several power split control strategies for effective power management of a hybrid locomotive. The progression from a strict rule-based (RB) control strategy to an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is realized through simulation. Likewise, the advantage of Model Predictive Control (FLC) is also shown in simulation.
Finite Element Bond Modeling for Indented Wires in Pretensioned Concrete Crossties
Authors: Yu Hailing , Jeong David
Published: June 2016

Indented wires have been increasingly employed by concrete crosstie manufacturers to improve the bond between prestressing steel reinforcements and concrete, as bond can affect several critical performance measures, including transfer length, splitting propensity and flexural moment capacity of concrete ties. While extensive experimental testing has been conducted at Kansas State University (KSU) to obtain bond characteristics of about a dozen commonly used prestressing wires, this paper develops macro-scale or phenomenological finite element bond models for three typical wires with spiral or chevron indent patterns. The steel wire-concrete interface is homogenized and represented with a thin layer of cohesive elements sandwiched between steel and concrete elements. The cohesive elements are assigned traction-displacement constitutive or bond relations that are defined in terms of normal and shear stresses versus interfacial dilatation and slip within the elasto-plastic framework. A yield function expressed in quadratic form of shear stress and linear form of normal stress is adopted. The yield function takes into account the adhesive mechanism and hardens in the post-adhesive stage. The plastic flow rule is defined such that the plastic dilatation evolves with the plastic slip. The mathematical forms of the yield and plastic flow functions are the same for all three wire types, but the bond parameters are specific for each wire. The adhesive, hardening and dilatational bond parameters are determined for each wire type based on untensioned pullout tests and pretensioned prism tests conducted at KSU. Simulation results using these bond models are further verified with surface strain data measured on actual concrete crossties made with the three respective prestressing wires at a tie manufacturing plant.
Conventional Locomotive Coupling Tests: Test Requirements and Pre-Test Analysis
Authors: Llana Patricia , Tyrell David , Rakoczy Przemyslaw
Published: June 2016

Research to develop new technologies for increasing the safety of passengers and crew in rail equipment is being directed by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) Office of Research, Development, and Technology. Crash energy management (CEM) components which can be integrated into the end structure of a locomotive have been developed: a push-back coupler and a deformable anti-climber. These components are designed to inhibit override in the event of a collision. The results of vehicle-to-vehicle override, where the strong underframe of one vehicle, typically a locomotive, impacts the weaker superstructure of the other vehicle, can be devastating. The components are designed to improve crashworthiness for equipped locomotives in a wide range of potential collisions, including collisions with conventional locomotives, conventional cab cars, and freight equipment.

Concerns have been raised in discussions with industry that push-back couplers may trigger prematurely, and may require replacement due to unintentional activation as a result of service loads. It has been shown analytically that push back coupler trigger loads exceed the service load capacity of conventional couplers and draft gears. Two sets of coupling tests are planned to demonstrate this, one with a locomotive equipped with conventional draft gear and coupler and another with a locomotive equipped with a pushback coupler. These tests allow for comparison of conventional with CEM-equipped locomotive measured performance during coupling. In addition to the coupling tests, car-to-car compatibility tests of equipped locomotives and a train-to-train test are also planned. This arrangement of tests allows for evaluation of the CEM-equipped locomotive performance, as well as comparison of measured with simulated locomotive performance in the car-to-car and train-to-train tests. In the coupling tests of conventional equipment, the maximum coupling speed for which there is no damage to either vehicle will be measured. A moving locomotive will be coupled to a standing cab car. The coupling speed for the first test will be 2 mph, the second test 4 mph, and the tests will continue with the speed incrementing by 2 mph until damage occurs to either vehicle.

This paper describes the test requirements and analysis predictions for the coupling tests of conventional equipment. The equipment to be tested, track conditions, test procedures, and measurements to be made are described. A one-dimensional model for predicting the longitudinal forces acting on the equipment and couplers has been developed, along with preliminary predictions for the conventional coupling tests. It is expected that damage will occur for coupling speeds between 6 and 8 mph.
A Hybrid Hydraulic Propulsion System for Railway Machinery
Authors: Padovani Damiano , Ivantysynova Monika
Published: June 2016

The vast majority of railway construction and maintenance machines is powered by compression-ignition combustion engines. The tendency of introducing stringent standard emission regulations for these prime movers, e.g. TIER 4, forces the migration toward downsized units. Additionally, the high price reached by diesel fuel in the last decades demands reductions of the machines’ energy consumption in order to maintain the customers’ operating costs competitive. Both targets can be achieved by implementing efficient hybrid hydraulic displacement-controlled architectures that reduce pollutants emissions and benefit fuel saving without affecting the system’s productivity. For these reasons, this research paper aims at investigating the potentials of a series-parallel hybrid architecture grounded on secondary controlled hydraulic motors and potentially suitable for any railway construction and maintenance machinery. The results demonstrate that the rated engine power can be reduced by at least 35% in the reference application by applying such a propulsion system. Specifically, the high-fidelity multi-domain dynamic model created for sizing, analyzing, and controlling this displacement-controlled layout is addressed. Special focus is dedicated to the rail/wheel interface confirming that the proposed control strategy maintain the slip/spin of the wheels within the desired limits.
Two schemes for quantitative photoacoustic tomography based on Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Liu Yubin , Jiang Huabei , Yuan Zhen
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to develop novel methods for photoacoustically determining the optical absorption coefficient of biological tissues using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation.

Methods:

In this study, the authors propose two quantitative photoacoustic tomography (PAT) methods for mapping the optical absorption coefficient. The reconstruction methods combine conventional PAT with MC simulation in a novel way to determine the optical absorption coefficient of biological tissues or organs. Specifically, the authors’ two schemes were theoretically and experimentally examined using simulations, tissue‐mimicking phantoms, ex vivo, and in vivo tests. In particular, the authors explored these methods using several objects with different absorption contrasts embedded in turbid media and by using high‐absorption media when the diffusion approximation was not effective at describing the photon transport.

Results:

The simulations and experimental tests showed that the reconstructions were quantitatively accurate in terms of the locations, sizes, and optical properties of the targets. The positions of the recovered targets were accessed by the property profiles, where the authors discovered that the off center error was less than 0.1 mm for the circular target. Meanwhile, the sizes and quantitative optical properties of the targets were quantified by estimating the full width half maximum of the optical absorption property. Interestingly, for the reconstructed sizes, the authors discovered that the errors ranged from 0 for relatively small‐size targets to 26% for relatively large‐size targets whereas for the recovered optical properties, the errors ranged from 0% to 12.5% for different cases.

Conclusions:

The authors found that their methods can quantitatively reconstruct absorbing objects of different sizes and optical contrasts even when the diffusion approximation is unable to accurately describe the photon propagation in biological tissues. In particular, their methods are able to resolve the intrinsic difficulties that occur when quantitative PAT is conducted by combining conventional PAT with the diffusion approximation or with radiation transport modeling.
Coded excitation ultrasonic needle tracking: An in vivo study
Authors: Xia Wenfeng , Ginsberg Yuval , West Simeon J. , Nikitichev Daniil I. , Ourselin Sebastien , David Anna L. , Desjardins Adrien E.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Accurate and efficient guidance of medical devices to procedural targets lies at the heart of interventional procedures. Ultrasound imaging is commonly used for device guidance, but determining the location of the device tip can be challenging. Various methods have been proposed to track medical devices during ultrasound‐guided procedures, but widespread clinical adoption has remained elusive. With ultrasonic tracking, the location of a medical device is determined by ultrasonic communication between the ultrasound imaging probe and a transducer integrated into the medical device. The signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the transducer data is an important determinant of the depth in tissue at which tracking can be performed. In this paper, the authors present a new generation of ultrasonic tracking in which coded excitation is used to improve the SNR without spatial averaging.

Methods:

A fiber optic hydrophone was integrated into the cannula of a 20 gauge insertion needle. This transducer received transmissions from the ultrasound imaging probe, and the data were processed to obtain a tracking image of the needle tip. Excitation using Barker or Golay codes was performed to improve the SNR, and conventional bipolar excitation was performed for comparison. The performance of the coded excitation ultrasonic tracking system was evaluated in an in vivo ovine model with insertions to the brachial plexus and the uterine cavity.

Results:

Coded excitation significantly increased the SNRs of the tracking images, as compared with bipolar excitation. During an insertion to the brachial plexus, the SNR was increased by factors of 3.5 for Barker coding and 7.1 for Golay coding. During insertions into the uterine cavity, these factors ranged from 2.9 to 4.2 for Barker coding and 5.4 to 8.5 for Golay coding. The maximum SNR was 670, which was obtained with Golay coding during needle withdrawal from the brachial plexus. Range sidelobe artifacts were observed in tracking images obtained with Barker coded excitation, and they were visually absent with Golay coded excitation. The spatial tracking accuracy was unaffected by coded excitation.

Conclusions:

Coded excitation is a viable method for improving the SNR in ultrasonic tracking without compromising spatial accuracy. This method provided SNR increases that are consistent with theoretical expectations, even in the presence of physiological motion. With the ultrasonic tracking system in this study, the SNR increases will have direct clinical implications in a broad range of interventional procedures by improving visibility of medical devices at large depths.
Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate—an unexpected histopathological outcome
Authors: Raj Dinesh Harvey , Dash Prafulla Kumar , Mohanty Jayashree , Sarangi Pradosh Kumar
Published: June 2016

Prostate leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare and highly aggressive neoplasm that accounts for >0.1% of all primary prostate malignancies. We report a case of a patient, presenting with recurrent episodes of dysuria, who had been diagnosed and operated for benign prostatic hyperplasia 1 month earlier, and now presented with similar symptoms postoperatively. Trans-rectal biopsy of the prostate was carried out and histopathology revealed leiomyosarcoma of the prostate.
What is the purpose of log roll examination in the unconscious adult trauma patient during trauma reception?
Authors: Singh Tveit Megha , Singh Eshana , Olaussen Alexander , Liew Susan , Fitzgerald Mark C , Mitra Biswadev
Published: June 2016

Background

During assessment after injury, the log roll examination, in particular palpation of the thoracolumbar spine, has low sensitivity for detecting spinal injury. The manoeuvre itself requires a pause during trauma resuscitation. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the log roll examination in unconscious trauma patients for the diagnosis of soft tissue and thoracolumbar spine injuries.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was undertaken, reviewing the cases of unconscious (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <9) and/or intubated major trauma (Injury Severity Scale (ISS) >12, abbreviated injury scale 2008) patients from the Alfred Trauma Registry, over a 2-year period from January 2011 to December 2012. Log roll examination findings, as documented in the medical record, were compared with CT reports. Out of the 624 screened records, 222 (35.6%) were excluded as the log roll or CT/MRI had not been performed.

Results

There were a total of 2028 major trauma presentations to the Alfred Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre during the study period. Excluded cases comprised 147 patients who did not have a documented log roll, and 75 patients who did not have a CT or MRI. Of the 402 cases that met inclusion criteria, 35.3% had a thoracolumbar fracture, and the sensitivity of log roll examination was found to be 27.5%, with a specificity of 91%. The negative likelihood ratio for abnormalities on log roll was low (0.8).

Conclusions

Examination of the back in unconscious trauma patients could be limited to visual inspection only to allow identification of penetrating wounds and other soft tissue injuries (including of the posterior scalp) and removal of foreign bodies, in patients planned for CT scans. The low sensitivity and poor negative likelihood ratio suggest that a normal log roll examination does not accurately predict the absence of bony injury to the thoracolumbar spine.
Innovative island mobile vet
Authors: Forster Dan
Published: June 2016

One of the UK's first mobile veterinary clinics was recently awarded a Queen's Award for Innovation. Mobile Vet was launched on the Isle of Wight in 2013 by Dan Forster and his wife Kirsty, a veterinary nurse
Dormancy, storability, and germination of seeds inMagnolia punduana(Magnoliaceae)
Authors: Iralu Viheno , Upadhaya Krishna
Published: June 2016

Magnolia punduana Hk. f. & Th. (syn. Michelia punduana) is a threatened tree species restricted to northeastern India. The seeds remain dormant for 6 months after dispersal. Seed development and breaking of dormancy was investigated in the present study. Physical treatments such as water (cold, hot, and boiling) and acid and manual scarification proved ineffective in breaking dormancy. Matured seeds had linear and underdeveloped embryos at the time of dispersal with an embryo to seed length (E:S) ratio of 0.13. Germinating seeds showed a significant increase in the embryo length with an E:S ratio of 0.36. Cold stratification (CS) at 5 °C effectively broke dormancy. The embryo grew significantly after CS, indicating the presence of “non-deep simple” morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Application of GA3had a significant effect on germination and the lowest germination time with the shortest T50was observed in seeds treated with 3000 mg·L−1GA3. KNO3did not have an influence on breaking dormancy except in combination with GA3, which increased the germination percentage significantly. CS for 90 days and GA3(3000 mg·L−1) at 25 °C resulted in optimum germination. In the test for viability, seeds stored at 5 °C showed highest viability of 66.66% after 180 days.
The ground state and low-lying excited states of CCCN radical and its ions: a CASSCF/CASPT2 study
Authors: Yu Angyang
Published: June 2016

The ground state and low-lying excited states of the CCCN radical and its ions have been investigated systematically using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and multi-configuration second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods in conjunction with the ANO-RCC-TZP basis set. The calculated results show that the state 12Σ+ has the lowest CASPT2 energy among the electronic states. By means of the geometric optimization of this radical, it could be found that the molecule exhibits linear structure, with the bond lengths R1 = 1.214 Å, R2 = 1.363 Å, R3 = 1.162 Å, which are very close to the experimental values. The calculated vertical excitation energies and the corresponding oscillator strengths show that there are three relatively strong peaks at energies 0.63, 4.04, and 5.49 eV, which correspond to the transitions 12Σ+ → 12Π, 12Σ+ → 22Π, and 12Σ+ → 22Σ+, respectively. Additionally, the electronic configuration and the harmonic vibration frequencies of each state are also investigated.
SPILLOVER EFFECTS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THAILAND
Authors: WIBOONCHUTIKULA PAITOON , PHUCHAROEN CHAYANON , PRUEKTANAKUL NUCHIT
Published: June 2016

This study investigates technological spillovers of foreign direct investment (FDI) in horizontal, upstream, and downstream industries on domestic manufacturing firms in Thailand, using firm level data from the 2012 industrial census conducted by the National Statistical Office. First, we measure total factor productivity (TFP) and estimate stochastic production frontier to find technical efficiency of firms. Next, we examine impacts of the FDI and other factors on the TFP and technical efficiency of domestic firms. The results provide no evidence on spillover effects of the FDI in horizontal industries on either the TFP or technical efficiency of domestic firms. While the FDI in upstream industries shows negative spillover effects, the FDI in downstream industries reveals positive and significant spillover effects on firms in all industry groups. Firm-specific characteristics such as age, size, availability of imported raw materials, location at industrial estates, and R&D activities all had positive effects on firms’ TFP and technical efficiency in total industries. Although export capability had a positive impact on total factor productivity and technical efficiency of domestic firms in the capital and technology-intensive industries, the effect was insignificant in the labor-intensive ones. The findings imply limited spillover effects of the FDI on domestic firms but highlight favorable effects of the openness policy (affecting availability of imported raw materials and exports), infrastructural investment (available in the industrial estates), and R&D activities. Incentives should be given to the FDI with vertical linkages with domestic input suppliers in order for local firms to gain the most from FDI technology transfers.