bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demographic and behavioural risk factors associated withTrichomonas vaginalisamong South African HIV-positive men with genital ulcer disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdallah Iddrisu , Armstrong-Mensah Elizabeth , Alema-Mensah Ernest , Jones Cheryl
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Demographic and risky sexual behaviours may increase the risk forTrichomonas vaginalis(TV) infection and, thus, enhance HIV transmission to uninfected partners. We assessed the demographic and behavioural risk factors associated with TV among South African HIV-positive men with genital ulcer disease.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study with data from a randomised controlled trial conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The data were obtained from three primary healthcare clinics in South Africa. At baseline (n=387), participants reported on demographics, sexual behaviour, history of sexually transmitted infections and clinical ulcers. The outcome TV was measured using real-time multiplex PCR assays and a Rotor-gene 3000 platform from the first and past urine samples of all participants. Logistic regression model estimated ORs and 95% CIs adjusted for demographics, sexual risk behaviours and ulcer conditions.

Results

An estimated 11.4% of TV was detected among the men. The odds of TV infection were significantly associated with high blister counts (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 28, p=0.01), ulcer pain (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7, p=0.003), number of days with ulcers (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.8, p=0.006), sought treatment before coming into clinics (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.7, p=0.005) and being unqualified worker (OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 6.7 p=0.05). Multivariate analyses revealed that increased days with ulcers (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.5, p=0.002) and ulcer pain intensity (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.007 to 1.1, p=0.05) remained significantly associated with decreased odds of TV infection. Men from the Sotho ethnic group were eight times more likely to have TV infection (OR 8.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 55.7, p<0.02) than men from the other ethnic groups.

Conclusion

HIV-positive men with severe ulceration should be screened and treated for TV to minimise HIV transmission to uninfected partners.
Neighbouring green space and mortality in community-dwelling elderly Hong Kong Chinese: a cohort study
Authors: Wang Dan , Lau Kevin Ka-Lun , Yu Ruby , Wong Samuel Y S , Kwok Timothy T Y , Woo Jean
Published: August 2017

Objective

Green space has been shown to be beneficial for human wellness through multiple pathways. This study aimed to explore the contributions of neighbouring green space to cause-specific mortality.

Methods

Data from 3544 Chinese men and women (aged ≥65 years at baseline) in a community-based cohort study were analysed. Outcome measures, identified from the death registry, were death from all-cause, respiratory system disease, circulatory system disease. The quantity of green space (%) within a 300 m radius buffer was calculated for each subject from a map created based on the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographics, socioeconomics, lifestyle, health conditions and housing type were used to estimate the HRs and 95% CIs.

Results

During a mean of 10.3 years of follow-up, 795 deaths were identified. Our findings showed that a 10% increase in coverage of green space was significantly associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (HR 0.963, 95% CI 0.930 to 0.998), circulatory system-caused mortality (HR 0.887, 95% CI 0.817 to 0.963) and stroke-caused mortality (HR 0.661, 95% CI 0.524 to 0.835), independent of age, sex, marital status, years lived in Hong Kong, education level, socioeconomic ladder, smoking, alcohol intake, diet quality, self-rated health and housing type. The inverse associations between coverage of green space with all-cause mortality (HR 0.964, 95% CI 0.931 to 0.999) and circulatory system disease-caused mortality (HR 0.888, 95% CI 0.817 to 0.964) were attenuated when the models were further adjusted for physical activity and cognitive function. The effects of green space on all-cause and circulatory system-caused mortality tended to be stronger in females than in males.

Conclusion

Higher coverage of green space was associated with reduced risks of all-cause mortality, circulatory system-caused mortality and stroke-caused mortality in Chinese older people living in a highly urbanised city.
The child's perspective on discomfort during medical research procedures: a descriptive study
Authors: Staphorst Mira S , Benninga Marc A , Bisschoff Margriet , Bon Irma , Busschbach Jan J V , Diederen Kay , van Goudoever Johannes B , Haarman Eric G , Hunfeld Joke A M , Jaddoe Vincent V W , de Jong Karin J M , de Jongste Johan C , Kindermann Angelika , Königs Marsh , Oosterlaan Jaap , Passchier Jan , Pijnenburg Mariëlle W , Reneman Liesbeth , Ridder Lissy de , Tamminga Hyke G , Tiemeier Henning W , Timman Reinier , van de Vathorst Suzanne
Published: August 2017

Objective

The evaluation of discomfort in paediatric research is scarcely evidence-based. In this study, we make a start in describing children's self-reported discomfort during common medical research procedures and compare this with discomfort during dental check-ups which can be considered as a reference level of a ‘minimal discomfort’ medical procedure. We exploratory study whether there are associations between age, anxiety-proneness, gender, medical condition, previous experiences and discomfort. We also describe children's suggestions for reducing discomfort.

Design

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting

Paediatric research at three academic hospitals.

Patients

357 children with and without illnesses (8–18 years, mean=10.6 years) were enrolled: 307 from paediatric research studies and 50 from dental care.

Main outcome measures

We measured various generic forms of discomfort (nervousness, annoyance, pain, fright, boredom, tiredness) due to six common research procedures: buccal swabs, MRI scans, pulmonary function tests, skin prick tests, ultrasound imaging and venepunctures.

Results

Most children reported limited discomfort during the research procedures (means: 1–2.6 on a scale from 1 to 5). Compared with dental check-ups, buccal swab tests, skin prick tests and ultrasound imaging were less discomforting, while MRI scans, venepunctures and pulmonary function tests caused a similar degree of discomfort. 60.3% of the children suggested providing distraction by showing movies to reduce discomfort. The exploratory analyses suggested a positive association between anxiety-proneness and discomfort.

Conclusions

The findings of this study support the acceptability of participation of children in the studied research procedures, which stimulates evidence-based research practice. Furthermore, the present study can be considered as a first step in providing benchmarks for discomfort of procedures in paediatric research.
Prevalence of HIV at the Kokoyo informal gold mining site: what lies behind the glitter of gold with regard to HIV epidemics in Mali? A community-based approach (the ANRS-12339 Sanu Gundo cross-sectional survey)
Authors: Sagaon-Teyssier Luis , Balique Hubert , Diallo Fodié , Kalampalikis Nikos , Mora Marion , Bourrelly Michel , Suzan-Monti Marie , Spire Bruno , Dembélé Keita Bintou
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The aim of this article was to estimate HIV prevalence and the factors associated with HIV seropositivity in the population living and working at the informal artisanal small-scale gold mining (IASGM) site of Kokoyo in Mali, using data from the Sanu Gundo survey. Our main hypothesis was that HIV prevalence is higher in the context of IASGM than in the country as a whole.

Design

The ANRS-12339 Sanu Gundo was a cross-sectional survey conducted in December 2015. The quantitative survey consisted of face-to-face administration of questionnaires. Five focus groups were conducted for the qualitative survey. HIV prevalence was calculated for the sample, and according to the type of activity performed in IASGM.

Settings

The IASGM site of Kokoyo, one of the largest sites in Mali (between 6000 and 1000 people).

Participants

224 respondents: 37.5% were gold-diggers, 33% retail traders, 6.7%tombolomas(ie, traditional guards) and 9% female sex workers. The remaining 13.8% reported another activity (mainly street vending).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

HIV prevalence and HIV prevalence according to subgroup, as defined by their activity at the Kokoyo IASGM. A probit logistic regression was implemented to estimate the characteristics associated with HIV seropositivity.

Results

HIV prevalence for the total sample was 8% (95% CI 7.7% to 8.3%), which is much higher than the 2015 national prevalence of 1.3%Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The probability of HIV seropositivity was 7.8% (p=0.037) higher for female non-sex workers than for any other category, and this probability increased significantly with age. Qualitative data revealed the non-systematic use of condoms with sex workers; and long distance from health services was the main barrier to accessing care.

Conclusions

Integrated policymaking should pay special attention to infectious diseases among populations in IASGM zones. Bringing information/prevention activities closer to people working in gold mining zones is an urgent public health action.
Incidence and prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D): a systematic literature review
Authors: Farsani Soulmaz Fazeli , Brodovicz Kimberly , Soleymanlou Nima , Marquard Jan , Wissinger Erika , Maiese Brett A
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To summarise incidence and prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for the overall patient population and different subgroups (age, sex, geographical region, ethnicity and type of insulin administration).

Design

Systematic literature review (SLR).

Data sources

Medline (via PubMed) and Embase (1 January 2000 to 23 June 2016).

Study selection

Peer-reviewed observational studies with reported data on the incidence or prevalence of DKA in T1D adults were included. A single reviewer completed the study screening and selection process and a second reviewer performed an additional screening of approximately 20% of the publications; two reviewers independently conducted the quality assessment; the results were narratively synthesised.

Results

Out of 1082 articles, 19 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with two additional studies identified that did not specify the patient age range and are therefore not included in the SLR. Overall, eight studies reported incidence with a range of 0–56 per 1000 person-years (PYs), with one outlying study reporting an incidence of 263 per 1000 PYs. Eleven studies reported prevalence with a range of 0–128 per 1000 people. Prevalence of DKA decreased with increasing age. Subgroup analyses were performed using data from no more than two studies per subgroup. There was a higher prevalence of DKA reported in women, non-whites and patients treated with insulin injections compared with men, whites and patients using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps, respectively.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first SLR on the epidemiology of DKA in T1D adults. Despite an increasing prevalence of T1D in recent years, DKA in adults has been poorly characterised. In an era when the benefit–risk profiles of new antidiabetic therapies are being evaluated, including the potential risk of DKA, there is a clear need to better elucidate the expected rate of DKA among T1D adults.
Internet-based support for self-management strategies for people with COPD–protocol for a controlled pragmatic pilot trial of effectiveness and a process evaluation in primary healthcare
Authors: Nyberg André , Wadell Karin , Lindgren Helena , Tistad Malin
Published: August 2017

Introduction

The use of adequate self-management strategies for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduces healthcare use, improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and recovery after acute exacerbations. However, not many people with COPD receive support that promotes the use of such strategies and therefore new methods to facilitate and promote the use of self-management strategies are highly warranted. This pilot trial aims to evaluate the feasibility of the study design and study procedures considering effectiveness of the novel intervention,the COPD-web.

Methods and analysis

The overall design is a pragmatic controlled pilot trial with preassessments and postassessments and a parallel process evaluation. Patients with the diagnosis of COPD will be eligible for the study. The intervention group will be recruited when visiting one of the six participating primary care units in Sweden. The control group will be identified from the unit's computerised registers. The intervention, the COPD-web, is an interactive web page with two sections; one directed at people with COPD and one at healthcare professionals. The sections aim to support patients’ self-management skills—and to facilitate the provision of support for self-management strategies, respectively. Effectiveness with regard to patients’ symptoms, HRQoL, knowledge of and readiness for COPD-related self-management, health literacy, self-efficacy for physical activity and time spent in physical activity and time being sedentary, and further, healthcare professionals’ knowledge of and readiness to support COPD-related self-management strategies will be assessed using questionnaires at 3 and 12 months. The process evaluation will include observations and interviews.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained. Findings will be presented at conferences, submitted for publication in peer-reviewed publications and presented to the involved healthcare professionals, patients and to patient organisations.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT02696187
Attitudes on cost-effectiveness and equity: a cross-sectional study examining the viewpoints of medical professionals
Authors: Li David G , Wong Gordon X , Martin David T , Tybor David J , Kim Jennifer , Lasker Jeffrey , Mitty Roger , Salem Deeb
Published: August 2017

Objective

To determine the attitudes of physicians and trainees in regard to the roles of both cost-effectiveness and equity in clinical decision making.

Design

In this cross-sectional study, electronic surveys containing a hypothetical decision-making scenario were sent to medical professionals to select between two colon cancer screening tests for a population.

Setting

Three Greater Boston academic medical institutions: Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Centre and Lahey Hospital and Medical Centre.

Participants

819 medical students, 497 residents-in-training and 671 practising physicians were contacted electronically using institutional and organisational directories.

Main outcome(s) and measure(s)

Stratified opinions of medical providers and trainee subgroups regarding cost-effectiveness and equity.

Results

A total of 881 respondents comprising 512 medical students, 133 medical residents-in-training and 236 practising physicians completed the survey (total response rate 44.3%). Thirty-six per cent of medical students, 44% of residents-in-training and 53% of practising physicians favoured the less effective and more equitable screening test. Residents-in-training (OR 1.49, CI 1.01 to 2.21; p=0.044) and practising physicians (OR 2.12, CI 1.54 to 2.92; p<0.001) were more likely to favour the equitable option compared with medical students. Moreover, female responders across all three cohorts favoured the more equitable screening test to a greater degree than did male responders (OR 1.70, CI 1.29 to 2.24; p<0.001).

Conclusions

Cost-effectiveness analysis does not accurately reflect the importance that medical professionals place on equity. Among medical professionals, practising physicians appear to be more egalitarian than residents-in-training, while medical students appear to be most utilitarian and cost-effective. Meanwhile, female respondents in all three cohorts favoured the more equitable option to a greater degree than their male counterparts. Healthcare policies that trade off equity in favour of cost-effectiveness may be unacceptable to many medical professionals, especially practising physicians and women.
SystEmatic review and meta-aNAlysis of infanT and young child feeding Practices (ENAT-P) in Ethiopia: protocol
Authors: Habtewold Tesfa Dejenie , Islam Md. Atiqul , Sharew Nigussie Tadesse , Mohammed Shimels Hussien , Birhanu Mulugeta Molla , Tegegne Balewgizie Sileshi
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is the cornerstone of infant and child survival, healthy growth and development, healthy future generations and national development. In spite of the importance of optimal nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, there has been no review conducted in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the national coverage and identify the associated factors of IYCF practices in Ethiopia.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINHAL, EBSCO, Web of Science and WHO Global Health Library databases will be searched for all available publications from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2017. All published studies on the timely initiation of breast feeding, exclusive breast feeding and timely initiation of complementary feeding practice in Ethiopia will be screened, selected and reviewed. Bibliographies of identified articles and grey literature will be hand-searched as well. Heterogeneity of studies will be quantified using Higgins's method where I2statistic >80% indicates substantial heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's regression test will be used to assess potential publication bias. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) will be used to assess the quality of evidence and risk of bias. Meta-analysis and meta-regression will be carried out to estimate the pooled national prevalence rate and an OR of each associated factor of IYCF practices. Narrative synthesis will be performed if meta-analysis is not feasible due to the substantial heterogeneity of studies.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical clearance is not required for this study because primary data will not be collected. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at an (inter)national research symposium.

Systematic review registration

This systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number CRD42017056768.
An observational study of spectators’ step counts and reasons for attending a professional golf tournament in Scotland
Authors: Murray Andrew D , Turner Kieran , Archibald Daryll , Schiphorst Chloe , Griffin Steffan Arthur , Scott Hilary , Hawkes Roger , Kelly Paul , Grant Liz , Mutrie Nanette
Published: August 2017

Background

Spectators at several hundred golf tournaments on six continents worldwide may gain health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) during their time at the event. This study aims to investigate spectators’ reasons for attending and assess spectator physical activity (PA) (measured by step count).

Methods

Spectators at the Paul Lawrie Matchplay event in Scotland (August 2016) were invited to take part in this study. They were asked to complete a brief questionnaire with items to assess (1) demographics, (2) reasons for attendance and (3) baseline PA. In addition, participants were requested to wear a pedometer from time of entry to the venue until exit.

Results

A total of 339 spectators were recruited to the study and out of which 329 (97.2%) returned step-count data. Spectators took a mean of 11 589 steps (SD 4531). ‘Fresh air’ (rated median 9 out of 10) then ‘watching star players’, ‘exercise/physical activity’, ‘time with friends and family’ and ‘atmosphere’ (all median 8 out of 10) were rated the most important reasons for attending.

Conclusion

This study is the first to assess spectator physical activity while watching golf (measured by step count). Obtaining exercise/PA is rated as an important reason for attending a tournament by many golf spectators. Spectating at a golf tournament can provide HEPA. 82.9% of spectators achieved the recommended daily step count while spectating. Further research directly assessing whether spectating may constitute a ‘teachable moment’, for increasing physical activity beyond the tournament itself, is merited.
Epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention of global unintentional fatal drowning in people aged 50 years and older: a systematic review
Authors: Peden Amy E , Franklin Richard C , Queiroga Ana Catarina
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Drowning is a global public health issue and prevention poses an ongoing challenge for all countries. Many nations are experiencing ageing populations, and little is known about the epidemiology, risk factors and prevention of drowning deaths among older people. This paper reports on a systematic review of literature published on drowning among older people.

Methods

A systematic literature review was undertaken using English-language, Portuguese-language and Spanish-language papers published between 1980 and 2015. The review explores gaps in the literature with a focus on the epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention of unintentional fatal drowning among people 50 years and over.

Results

Thirty-eight papers were deemed relevant to the study design, including 18 (47%) on epidemiology, 19 (50%) on risk factors and 9 (24%) on strategies for prevention. Risk factors identified included male gender, ethnicity, rurality and increasing age. Prevention strategies commonly proposed were education and wearing life jackets. Gaps identified in the published literature include a lack of consistency around age groupings used for epidemiological studies; a lack of consensus on risk factors; a lack of total population, country-level analysis; and the need for older age-specific prevention strategies that have been implemented and their effectiveness evaluated.

Conclusion

This review identified drowning deaths among older people as a global issue. Further work is required to reduce drowning in this cohort. High-quality epidemiological studies identifying risk factors using standardised age groupings to allow for international comparisons are required, as are implementation and evaluation of older age-specific prevention strategies.
Corticostriatal signatures of schadenfreude: evidence from Huntington’s disease
Authors: Baez Sandra , Pino Mariana , Berrío Mildred , Santamaría-García Hernando , Sedeño Lucas , García Adolfo M , Fittipaldi Sol , Ibáñez Agustín
Published: August 2017

Schadenfreude—pleasure at others’ misfortunes—is a multidetermined social emotion which involves reward processing, mentalising and perspective-taking abilities. Patients with Huntington’s disease (HD) exhibit reductions of this experience, suggesting a role of striatal degeneration in such impairment. However, no study has directly assessed the relationship between regional brain atrophy in HD and reduced schadenfreude. Here, we assessed whether grey matter (GM) atrophy in patients with HD correlates with ratings of schadenfreude. First, we compared the performance of 20 patients with HD and 23 controls on an experimental task designed to trigger schadenfreude and envy (another social emotion acting as a control condition). Second, we compared GM volume between groups. Third, we examined brain regions where atrophy might be associated with specific impairments in the patients. While both groups showed similar ratings of envy, patients with HD reported lower schadenfreude. The latter pattern was related to atrophy in regions of the reward system (ventral striatum) and the mentalising network (precuneus and superior parietal lobule). Our results shed light on the intertwining of reward and socioemotional processes in schadenfreude, while offering novel evidence about their neural correlates.
Epidemiological survey on equine cheek tooth infundibular caries in the United Kingdom
Authors: Borkent Dewi , Reardon Richard , Dixon Padraic M
Published: August 2017

Infundibular caries (IC) is an important equine dental disorder that can cause premature wear, fractures and apical infection of affected maxillary cheek teeth. No accurate prevalence values for IC are available for UK horses. The feeding of high levels of concentrates is believed to increase its prevalence, but no objective information is available on such possible environmental risk factors. The aims of the study were to document the prevalence of IC in UK horses, assess its distribution and severity between infundibulae and teeth in affected horses and examine for potential risk factors for its development. Using well‐defined criteria for grading and recording IC, 25 experienced personnel across the UK completed a questionnaire on their patients. Frequency of IC occurrence was compared between individual teeth and infundibulae using McNemar's tests. Potential risk factors for IC presence were examined using univariable logistic regression prior to building a multilevel multivariable model. Of 706 horses examined, 45.5 per cent had IC, which was most commonly present and most severe in the Triadan 09s (>10>08>06>07>11), with 13.4 per cent of all rostral and 10 per cent of all caudal infundibulae affected. The prevalence of IC was significantly associated with increasing age; the lowest IC prevalence was found in South West England.
Role of structure scalars on viscous and heat conducting spherical systems in f(R,T) gravity
Authors: Hussain T. , Khurshudyan M. , Ahmed S. , Khurshudyan As.
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we analyze some dynamical features of spherical celestial objects through structure scalars in [Formula: see text] gravitational theory, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the Ricci scalar and the trace of energy–momentum tensor, respectively. In this framework, we consider our relativistic geometry to be spherical in shape filled with radiating viscous and shearing fluid content. We formulate extended version of structure scalars by orthogonal decomposition of the Riemann tensor with and without constant [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] backgrounds. We discuss the effects of dark source corrections on the construction of expansion and shear evolution equations via scalar variables. It is inferred that like general relativity, one can investigate the evolutionary stages of stellar compact objects with the help of extended scalar parameters.
Revised uncertainties in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Authors: Foley M. , Sasankan N. , Kusakabe M. , Mathews G. J.
Published: August 2017

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) explores the first few minutes of nuclei formation during the Big Bang. We present updated 2[Formula: see text] for the abundances of the four primary light nuclides — D, 3He, 4He, and 7Li — in BBN. A modified standard BBN code was used in a Monte Carlo analysis of the nucleosynthesis uncertainties as a function of the baryon-to-photon ratio. Reaction rates were updated to those of NACRE, REACLIB, and [Formula: see text]-Matrix calculations. The results were then used to derive a new constraint on the effective number of neutrinos.
MULTIFRACTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ACOUSTIC EMISSION OF COAL WITH JOINTS UNDER UNIAXIAL LOADING
Authors: KONG XIANGGUO , WANG ENYUAN , HE XUEQIU , LI ZHONGHUI , LI DEXING , LIU QUANLIN
Published: August 2017

In order to explore the causes of acoustic emission (AE) signals during coal failure, the coal samples with original joints were subjected to uniaxial compression experiments, and the AE signals were monitored by AEwin Test for Express-8.0. Based on the multifractal theory, the multifractal characteristics of AE were analyzed. The results showed that the AE counts and accumulative counts change over time corresponded well with the load-time, which reflected the degree of crack evolution and loading. During the initial loading stage, the cracks expanded gradually along the trace of the original cracks, which could induce a few AE events, while with the increase of load, the cracks enlarged gradually and then joined together to form a macroscopic fracture, which would cause much more AE events within a larger value. Multifractal spectrum [[Formula: see text]] of AE was more concentrated in the right side, illustrating that the frequency of small signals was greater than that of the large signals in AE sequences, which revealed cracks expanding and microfracture events dominated during the loading process. The greater the multifractal spectrum width ([Formula: see text] was, the larger the AE signals differences were, which reflected that AE varied more intensely. The more developed the original cracks, the more obvious the multifractal characteristics. This research revealed the causes and percentage of the AE events within small or large signals, which would help us to recognize crack evolution of coal and generation mechanism of AE.
Depth of Reasoning and Information Revelation: An Experiment on the Distribution of k-Levels
Authors: Benndorf Volker , Kübler Dorothea , Normann Hans-Theo
Published: August 2017

The level-[Formula: see text] model is a workhorse in behavioral game theory. For comparisons across experiments and predictions in future studies, it is crucial to assess the empirical distribution of [Formula: see text]-levels. We present a revelation game suitable for this purpose. In a labor market context, workers can choose to reveal their productivity at a cost, and players’ strategies reveal their level of reasoning in terms of a [Formula: see text]-level. We find that the most frequently observed reasoning levels are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In our game roughly 30% of the players are [Formula: see text] and 25% are [Formula: see text]. We compare our results to other experiments that identify level-[Formula: see text] distribution, foremost to the money request (or 11–20) game. Despite various differences to the 11–20 game, our revelation game suggests a very similar distribution of level-[Formula: see text] types.
Form Error Evaluation of Noncontact Scan Data Using Constriction Factor Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Pathak Vimal Kumar , Singh Amit Kumar
Published: August 2017

Form error evaluation of manufactured parts is one of the crucial aspects of precision coordinate metrology. With the advent of technology, the noncontact data acquisition techniques are replacing the conventional machines like coordinate measuring machine (CMM). This paper presents an optimization technique to evaluate minimum zone form errors, namely straightness, circularity, flatness and cylindricity using constriction factor-based particle swarm optimization (CFPSO) algorithm. Addition of constriction factor helps in accelerating the convergence property of CFPSO. Initially, a simple minimum zone objective function is formulated mathematically for each form error and then optimized using the proposed CFPSO. Primarily, the results of the proposed method for form error evaluation are compared with the literature results. Furthermore, the data obtained from noncontact 3D scanner is processed and the results of form error evaluation using CFPSO algorithm are compared with Steinbichler’s INSPECT PLUS software results. It was found that the results obtained using the proposed CFPSO algorithm are fast and better as compared with other evolutionary techniques like genetic algorithm (GA), previous literatures and software results. Furthermore, to ensure effectiveness of the proposed method statistical analysis ([Formula: see text]-test) was performed. CFPSO results for large dimension of problem show significant difference in computation time as compared with GA. The CFPSO algorithm provides 27.25%, 7.5% and 6.38% improvements in circularity, flatness and cylindricity, respectively, in comparison to RE software results, for determination of minimum zone error. Thus, the methodology presented helps in improving the accuracy and for speeding up of the automated inspection process generally performed by CMMs in industries.
Utilization of Iron Ore Tailings for the Production of Fly Ash — GGBS-Based Geopolymer Bricks
Authors: Kumar Raghunandan , Das Pranab , Beulah M. , Arjun H. R. , Ignatius George
Published: August 2017

In India, million tons of manufacturing ravages such as ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash and mine tailings, are endangering. These ravages turn out to be injurious as they are landfilled close to the production sites and somewhere else. Since these manufacturing ravages include silica, alumina, calcium, etc., it is probable to formulate these as unprocessed resources to produce building substance which diminishes the carbon trace. In this circumstance, this analysis observes on utilizing iron ore tailings and slag sand as a substitution for clay or natural sand for the construction of steady geopolymer obstruct. Furthermore, in this analysis, geopolymer is utilized as a binder rather than cement. Expansion of geopolymer binder-oriented bricks with fly ash and GGBS has been implemented in this study. The analysis consists of automatic possessions of the geopolymer bricks. Sodium silicate ([Formula: see text]) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) resolution have been employed as alkaline activators. The proportion of alkaline liquid to aluminosilicate solid quotient and fraction of binder encompass foremost control on the force of brick. The bricks were casted and cured at ambient warmth. The compressive strength was tested at 7, 14 and 28 days.
The p-adic Kummer–Leopoldt constant: Normalized p-adic regulator
Authors: Gras Georges
Published: August 2017

The [Formula: see text]-adic Kummer–Leopoldt constant [Formula: see text] of a number field [Formula: see text] is (assuming the Leopoldt conjecture) the least integer [Formula: see text] such that for all [Formula: see text], any global unit of [Formula: see text], which is locally a [Formula: see text]th power at the [Formula: see text]-places, is necessarily the [Formula: see text]th power of a global unit of [Formula: see text]. This constant has been computed by Assim and Nguyen Quang Do using Iwasawa’s techniques, after intricate studies and calculations by many authors. We give an elementary [Formula: see text]-adic proof and an improvement of these results, then a class field theory interpretation of [Formula: see text]. We give some applications (including generalizations of Kummer’s lemma on regular [Formula: see text]th cyclotomic fields) and a natural definition of the normalized [Formula: see text]-adic regulator for any [Formula: see text] and any [Formula: see text]. This is done without analytical computations, using only class field theory and especially the properties of the so-called [Formula: see text]-torsion group [Formula: see text] of Abelian [Formula: see text]-ramification theory over [Formula: see text].
Studies on Nanostructure and Magnetic Behaviors of Mn-Doped Black Iron Oxide Magnetic Fluids Synthesized from Iron Sand
Authors: Taufiq Ahmad , Sunaryono  , Hidayat Nurul , Hidayat Arif , Putra Edy Giri Rachman , Okazawa Atsushi , Watanabe Isao , Kojima Norimichi , Pratapa Suminar , Darminto
Published: August 2017

Manganese (Mn)-doped black iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic fluids in the system of MnxFe[Formula: see text]O4 were successfully synthesized from natural magnetite (iron sand) by using co-precipitation method at room temperature. The analyses of the small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data by applying a log-normal sphere with a mass fractal models for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and two log-normal spheres with a single mass fractal models for [Formula: see text], 0.75 and 1 revealed that the primary particles of the MnxFe[Formula: see text]O4 fluids tended to decrease from 3.8[Formula: see text]nm to 1.5[Formula: see text]nm along with the increasing fraction of Mn contents. The fractal dimension ([Formula: see text]) increased from about 1.2 to 2.7 as the Mn contents were increasing; which physically represents an aggregation of the MnxFe[Formula: see text]O4 particles in the fluids growing up from 1 to 3 dimensions to consolidate a more compact structure. The magnetization curves of the fluids exhibited an increasing saturation magnetization from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text], and a decreasing on [Formula: see text] and 0.75, with the maximum achievement of [Formula: see text]. These phenomena may probably be due to the combined effects, arising from cationic and dopant distributions, aggregation and its size, and also fractal dimension. Furthermore, the decrease of blocking temperature of the MnxFe[Formula: see text]O4 magnetic fluids could be associated with the reduced particle sizes, while the freezing temperature had its highest peak intensity when it collectively occurred with the blocking temperature at a similar point of about 270[Formula: see text]K.
Thermal Stability of Nanocrystalline BCC-Ti Formed by Phase Transformation During Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment
Authors: Yao Quantong , Sun Jian , Zhang Guanglan , Tong Weiping , Zhang Hui
Published: August 2017

This paper reports the transformation of HCP-Ti into BCC-Ti in the Ti–6Al–4V alloy induced by surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The processes of surface nanocrystallization (SNC) and phase transformation were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the average grain size in the surface layer gradually decreased with increasing SMAT duration, but plateaued at 10[Formula: see text]nm after 90[Formula: see text]min of SMAT, while the proportion of BCC-Ti in the surface layer gradually increased. The refined grains displayed equiaxed grain morphology with a random crystallographic orientation. The thermal stability of nanocrystalline BCC-Ti was investigated by subjecting it to isothermal annealing treatment in the temperature range of 450–800[Formula: see text]C. BCC-Ti nanocrystallites were shown to exhibit excellent thermal stability up to 650[Formula: see text]C, whereas those in HCP-Ti started to recrystallize at approximately 550[Formula: see text]C.
MNO--PQRS
Authors: Chen Huifen , Schmeiser Bruce W.
Published: August 2017

In both cyclic and finite-horizon contexts, piecewise-constant rate functions are commonly encountered in models with nonhomogeneous Poisson processes. We develop an algorithm, with no user-specified parameters, that returns a smoother rate function that maintains the expected number of arrivals. The algorithm proceeds in two steps: PQRS (Piecewise-Quadratic Rate Smoothing) returns a continuous and differentiable piecewise-quadratic function without regard to negativity. If negative rates occur, then MNO (Max Nonnegativity Ordering) returns the maximum of zero and another piecewise-quadratic function. MNO maintains continuity of rates and first derivatives, but with some exceptions. Our analysis allows fitting the MNO--PQRS function to require storage complexity of the order of the number of intervals and computational complexity of the order of the number of intervals squared. MNO--PQRS can be used as a stand-alone routine, or as an endgame for the authors’ earlier algorithm, I-SMOOTH.
A Virtual WLAN Device Model for High-Fidelity Wireless Network Emulation
Authors: Kawai Takaaki , Kaneda Shigeru , Takai Mineo , Mineno Hiroshi
Published: August 2017

The recent popularization of mobile devices has increased the amount of communication traffic. Hence, it is necessary both in academia and industry to research load distribution methods for mobile networks. An evaluation environment for large-scale networks that behaves like a practical system is necessary to evaluate these methods, and either a physical environment or simulation environment can be used. However, physical and simulation environments each have their advantages and disadvantages. A physical environment is suitable for practical operation because it is possible to obtain data from a real environment. In contrast, the cost for a large number of nodes and the difficulty of field preparation are its disadvantages. Reproducing radio propagation is also a challenge. Network simulators solve the disadvantages of the physical environment by modeling the entire evaluation environment. However, they do not exactly reproduce the physical environment because the nodes are abstracted. This article presents an evaluation environment that combines a network simulator and virtual machines with virtual wireless Local Area Network (LAN) devices. The virtual machines reproduce the physical environment with high fidelity by running the programs of the physical machines, and the virtual wireless LAN devices make it possible to emulate wireless LAN communication using default operating system drivers. A network simulator and virtual machines also reduce the cost for nodes, ease the burden of field preparation, and reproduce radio propagation by modeling the evaluation environment. In the evaluation, the proposed method decreased the difference from the physical environment to 5% in terms of transmission control protocol throughput. In the case of user datagram protocol, the proposed method decreased the difference from the physical environment down to 1.7%. The number of virtual machines available on a host machine and the practical use of the proposed method are also discussed.
Accurately Interpreting Clickthrough Data as Implicit Feedback
Authors: Joachims Thorsten , Granka Laura , Pan Bing , Hembrooke Helene , Gay Geri
Published: August 2017

This paper examines the reliability of implicit feedback generated from clickthrough data in WWW search. Analyzing the users' decision process using eyetracking and comparing implicit feedback against manual relevance judgments, we conclude that clicks are informative but biased. While this makes the interpretation of clicks as absolute relevance judgments difficult, we show that relative preferences derived from clicks are reasonably accurate on average.
Report on the Information Retrieval Festival (IRFest2017)
Authors: Azzopardi Leif , Macdonald Craig , Ounis Iadh , Halvey Martin
Published: August 2017

The Information Retrieval Festival took place in April 2017 in Glasgow. The focus of the workshop was to bring together IR researchers from the various Scottish universities and beyond in order to facilitate more awareness, increased interaction and reflection on the status of the field and its future. The program included an industry session, research talks, demos and posters as well as two keynotes. The first keynote was delivered by Prof. Jaana Kekalenien, who provided a historical, critical reflection of realism in Interactive Information Retrieval Experimentation, while the second keynote was delivered by Prof. Maarten de Rijke, who argued for more Artificial Intelligence usage in IR solutions and deployments. The workshop was followed by a 'Tour de Scotland' where delegates were taken from Glasgow to Aberdeen for the European Conference in Information Retrieval (ECIR 2017)
Report on RecSys 2016Workshop on New Trends in Content-Based Recommender Systems
Authors: Bogers Toine , Koolen Marijn , Musto Cataldo , Lops Pasquale , Semeraro Giovanni
Published: August 2017

This article reports on the
CBRecSys 2016
workshop, the third edition of the workshop on
New Trends in Content-based Recommender Systems
, co-located with RecSys 2016 in Boston, MA. Content-based recommendation has been applied successfully in many different domains, but it has not seen the same level of attention as collaborative filtering techniques have. Nevertheless, there are many recommendation domains and applications where content and metadata play a key role, either in addition to or instead of ratings and implicit usage data. The CBRecSys workshop series provides a dedicated venue for work dedicated to all aspects of content-based recommender systems
Report on the Seventh International Workshop on Location and the Web (LocWeb 2017)
Authors: Ahlers Dirk , Wilde Erik
Published: August 2017

Location is an important feature in describing and understanding the real world. Consequently, it appears in many Web applications and mining approaches as a cross-cutting issue. LocWeb 2017 continues a workshop series addressing issues at the intersection of location-based services and Web architecture and was held in conjunction with WWW 2017. It combines geospatial search, information management, and Web architecture, with a main focus on location-aware information access. The LocWeb 2017 workshop drew contributions from various fields, including transportation and mobility analytics, social media, and urban planning. It further featured keynotes on indoor Web usage and Web standards. This report briefly discusses the theme and the contributions of the workshop
The Cluster Hypothesis Revisited
Authors: Vdorhees Ellen M.
Published: August 2017

A new means of evaluating the cluster hypothesis is introduced and the results of such an evaluation are presented for four collections. The results of retrieval experiments comparing a sequential search, a cluster-based search, and a search of the clustered collection in which individual documents are scored against the query are also presented. These results indicate that while the absolute performance of a search on a particular collection is dependent on the palrwise similarity of the relevant documents, the relative effectiveness of clustered retrieval versus sequential retrieval is independent of this factor. However, retrieval of entire clusters in response to a query usually results in a poorer performance than retrieval of individual documents from clusters.
Automatic P h r a s e Indexing for Document Retrieval
Authors: Fagan Joel L.
Published: August 2017

An automatic phrase indexing method based on the term discrimination model is described, and the results of retrieval experiments on five document collections are presented. Problems related to this non-syntactic phrase construction method are discussed, and some possible solutions are proposed that make use of information about the syntactic structure of document and query texts.
Quary Expansion Using Local and Global Document Analysis
Authors: Xu Jinxi , Croft W. Bruce
Published: August 2017

Automatic query expansion has long been suggested as a technique for dealing with the fundamental issue of word mismatch in information retrieval. A number of approaches to expansion have been studied and, more recently, attention has focused on techniques that analyze the corpus to discover word relationship (global techniques) and those that analyze documents retrieved by the initial query ( local feedback). In this paper, we compare the effectiveness of these approaches and show that, although global analysis haa some advantages, local analysia is generally more effective. We also show that using global analysis techniques.
Evaluating Evaluation Measure Stability
Authors: Buckley Chris , Voorhees Ellen M.
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a novel way of examining the accuracy of the evaluation measures commonly used in information retrieval experiments. It validates several of the rules-of-thumb experimenters use, such as the number of queries needed for a good experiment is at least 25 and 50 is better, while challenging other beliefs, such as the common evaluation measures are equally reliable. As an example, we show that Precision at 30 documents has about twice the average error rate as Average Precision has. These results can help information retrieval researchers design experiments that provide a desired level of confidence in their results. In particular, we suggest researchers using Web measures such as Precision at 10 documents will need to use many more than 50 queries or will have to require two methods to have a very large difference in evaluation scores before concluding that the two methods are actually different.