bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Project-based experience through real manufacturing activities in mechanical engineering
Authors: Abellán-Nebot José V
Published: July 2018

As reported by many professional bodies responsible for accrediting engineering programs, today’s engineering graduates present important limitations in the practice of engineering because current engineering curricula are still too focused on fundamental engineering science without providing sufficient integration to industrial practice. To overcome these limitations, active learning approaches have been applied in the literature with positive results in engagement, motivation and student’s performance. In this paper, we propose a project-based learning approach with real manufacturing activities in a four-year mechanical engineering course to improve the learning process. The goal of the project is to plan the manufacturing process of a real part and conduct at shop-floor levels all the activities required. The experience was evaluated considering project/exam grades, questionnaires and manufacturing quality. The results showed an increase in student’s satisfaction, improvement in the exam performance and a clear increase in student’s enrolment in the manufacturing master degree.
Serving the culture: Spatial interactions between cultural industries and advanced producer services in mainland China
Authors: Zhang Xu , Li Yajuan
Published: July 2018

The location patterns and organizational networks of both advanced producer services (APS) and cultural industries have attracted extensive attention in geography and other related disciplines. However, most research on these two sectors has examined each one in isolation, without paying attention on how they are engaged with each other. Drawing on a network analysis of the inter-firm service provision relationships between 245 cultural firms and their APS providers during the firms’ public listing processes in mainland China, this paper presents a pilot study of the functional interactions between cultural industries and APS from a geographical perspective. Our purpose is to expand the research on these two economic sectors from the simple mapping and ranking of their individual industrial activities to an investigation of the city-based spatial relationships between them. The outcome reveals that while the leading cultural firms and their APS intermediaries have demonstrated similar location patterns across major Chinese cities, the spatial interactions and connections between them are much more complicated than their co-location tends to suggest. This paper enriches our understanding of the functions of local clusters and trans-local networks in the establishment of inter-industrial linkages between the different sectors of knowledge economies. The paper also sheds light on the impacts of institutional context on the (spatial) development of cultural industries in a transitional economy.
Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Issues in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Mott Frank E. , Adams Kelly C.
Published: July 2018

Advance Care Planning and End of Life discussions are critical in all cancers but are often overlooked or delayed. Head and Neck Cancer patients have the added stigma of visible morbidity and negative quality of life issues. We present a case example and discussion of these issues in the Head and Neck cancer clinic.
The Benefits, Risks, and Challenges of Get-Tough and Support-Oriented Approaches to Improving School Safety
Authors: Mears Daniel P. , Montes Andrea N. , Collier Nicole L. , Siennick Sonja E. , Pesta George B. , Brown Samantha J. , Blomberg Thomas G.
Published: July 2018

Schools have adopted get-tough policies and support-oriented policies, each of which creates not only potential benefits but also potential risks for youth delinquency and education. This article identifies potential benefits and risks of get-tough approaches and support-oriented approaches, respectively, to reduce delinquency. It then identifies challenges that can arise when schools seek to balance both get-tough and support-oriented policies. We illustrate these challenges by drawing on prior scholarship on these policies as well as a process evaluation of a large metropolitan school district’s pilot initiative to promote school safety and academic performance by assisting court-involved youth. We argue for developing a stronger empirical foundation for school-based approaches that aim to improve school safety and educational outcomes of youth.
Validation of Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence for Quantifying Calculus on Dogs’ Teeth
Authors: Wallis Corrin , Allsopp Judi , Colyer Alison , Holcombe Lucy J.
Published: July 2018

Periodontal disease is a common disease of dogs and is initiated by the buildup of plaque on the tooth surface. As plaque matures, it becomes mineralized to form calculus, which although not directly involved in the etiology of periodontal disease, provides an irregular surface to which plaque can adhere. Evaluation of the quantity of plaque and calculus on dogs’ teeth is therefore essential to enable the efficacy of products, designed to prevent or retard plaque and calculus accumulation, to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine whether quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLFTM) is a suitable tool to quantify the amount of calculus on the buccal surface of dogs’ teeth following the removal of disclosed plaque by tooth brushing. The amount of calculus on the teeth of 26 miniature schnauzers was measured, using QLF and a calculus index method (Warrick-Gorrel), during a 28-day phase crossover study comparing feeding a daily dental chew versus providing no daily chew. Quantification of calculus using the Warrick-Gorrel method showed a 43.8% reduction in calculus buildup, with 95% confidence interval of 27.3 to 60.3 ( P < .001). With QLF, the percentage reduction in calculus accumulation was 65.8% (58.1-73.4, P < .001). A retrospective sample size analysis showed that fewer dogs were required for QLF analysis compared to the Warrick-Gorrel method. This study demonstrated that QLF is a sensitive and precise method for quantification of calculus on dogs’ teeth. It removes the subjective element of human examiners and has greater accuracy and reduced variability through the continuous nature of the data.
Dynamic analysis and experimental verification of the carbon–carbon composite finger seal under complex working states
Authors: Wang Li-Na , Wang Yong , Sun Heng-Chao , Ren Guo-Hua , Sun Li-Chen , Meng Dong-Hui
Published: July 2018

The finger seal has an important influence on the performance of the aero-engine, and the effect of complex working states on the performance of the finger seal, which is located in the aero-engine, is also prominent. But so far, the finger seal performance under complex working states, which include the incline of the rotor, assembly condition, temperature effect, and impact effect, has not been investigated yet. Based on this, an equivalent dynamic model of finger seal is presented under complex working states, and the dynamic performance analysis of the finger seal is carried out by the model. The results show that the complex working states have larger influence on the finger seal performance. Meanwhile, an experimental research is carried out and the results are compared with the theoretical results. And then the validity of the equivalent dynamic model of the finger seal under complex working states is proved. The present work is conducive to improve the theoretical research system of finger seal, and promote the dynamic analysis technology to engineering application as well.
Characteristics of 1555 childhood-onset lupus in three groups based on distinct time intervals to disease diagnosis: a Brazilian multicenter study
Authors: Novak G V , Molinari B C , Ferreira J C , Sakamoto A P , Terreri MT , Pereira R M R , Saad-Magalhães C , Aikawa N E , Campos L M , Len C A , Appenzeller S , Ferriani V P , Silva M F , Oliveira S K , Islabão A G , Sztajnbok F R , Paim L B , Barbosa C M , Santos M C , Bica B E , Sena E G , Moraes A J , Rolim A M , Spelling P F , Scheibel I M , Cavalcanti A S , Matos E N , Robazzi T C , Guimarães L J , Santos F P , Silva C T , Bonfá E , Silva C A
Published: July 2018

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare demographic data, clinical/laboratorial features and disease activity at diagnosis in three different groups with distinct time intervals between onset of signs/symptoms and disease diagnosis.

Methods

A multicenter study was performed in 1555 childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (American College of Rheumatology criteria) patients from 27 pediatric rheumatology services. Patients were divided into three childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus groups: A: short time interval to diagnosis (<1 month); B: intermediate time interval (≥1 and <3 months); and C: long time interval (≥3 months). An investigator meeting was held to define the protocol. Demographic data, SLICC classification criteria and SLEDAI-2 K were evaluated.

Results

The number of patients in each group was: A = 60 (4%); B = 522 (33.5%); and C = 973 (62.5%). The median age at diagnosis (11.1 (4.2–17) vs. 12 (1.9–17.7) vs. 12.5 (3–18) years, P = 0.025) was significantly lower in group A compared with groups B and C. The median number of diagnostic criteria according to SLICC (7 (4–12) vs. 6 (4–13) vs. 6 (4–12), P < 0.0001) and SLEDAI-2 K (18 (6–57) vs. 16 (2–63) vs. 13 (1–49), P < 0.0001) were significantly higher in group A than the other two groups. The frequency of oral ulcers in the palate (25% vs. 15% vs. 11%, P = 0.003), pleuritis (25% vs. 24% vs. 14%, P < 0.0001), nephritis (52% vs. 47% vs. 40%, P = 0.009), neuropsychiatric manifestations (22% vs. 13% vs. 10%, P = 0.008), thrombocytopenia (32% vs. 18% vs. 19%, P = 0.037), leucopenia/lymphopenia (65% vs. 46% vs. 40%, P < 0.0001) and anti-dsDNA antibodies (79% vs. 66% vs. 61%, P = 0.01) were significantly higher in group A compared with the other groups. In contrast, group C had a less severe disease characterized by higher frequencies of synovitis (61% vs. 66% vs. 71%, P = 0.032) and lower frequencies of serositis (37% vs. 33% vs. 25%, P = 0.002), proteinuria >500 mg/day (48% vs. 45% vs. 36%, P = 0.002) and low complement levels (81% vs. 81% vs. 71%, P < 0.0001) compared with groups A or B.

Conclusions

Our large Brazilian multicenter study demonstrated that for most childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients, diagnosis is delayed probably due to mild disease onset. Conversely, the minority has a very short time interval to diagnosis and a presentation with a more severe and active multisystemic condition.
Prognostic nutritional index is correlated with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Ahn S S , Jung S M , Song J J , Park Y-B , Lee S-W
Published: July 2018

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), which is calculated using serum albumin level and total lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood, is regarded as an index that reflects the immunonutritional status of patients. PNI was calculated in 217 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients according to the following formula: 10 × serum albumin value (g/dL) + 0.005 × peripheral lymphocyte count (/mm3). Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to elucidate the correlation between continuous variables. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the correlation between laboratory variables and SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2 K) and to differentiate between active and inactive SLE. Ninety-three patients were classified as active SLE (SLEDAI-2 K ≥ 5) and 124 as inactive SLE. Patients with active SLE exhibited lower median PNI than those with inactive SLE (39.0 vs. 49.1, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed PNI as an independent predictor of active SLE. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that PNI was significantly correlated with laboratory variables of SLEDAI-2 K, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and SLEDAI-2 K. Furthermore, in patients who switched from active to inactive SLE after treatment ( n = 55), PNI increased as disease activity improved ( p < 0.001), which suggests that PNI may be useful for estimating SLE activity.
Composite urinary biomarkers to predict pathological tubulointerstitial lesions in lupus nephritis
Authors: Ding Y , Nie L-M , Pang Y , Wu W-J , Tan Y , Yu F , Zhao M-H
Published: July 2018

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of urinary biomarkers including kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in lupus nephritis.

Methods

A total of 109 biopsy-proven lupus nephritis patients were included and 50 healthy individuals were used as normal controls. Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 levels were measured by ELISA and their correlations with clinical and histological features were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were performed and the Cox regression model was applied to identify prognostic factors associated with renal outcomes.

Results

Active lupus nephritis patients exhibited elevated urinary levels of KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 compared with lupus nephritis patients in remission ( P < 0.001) and normal controls ( P < 0.001). The urinary KIM-1 level was correlated with pathological tubular atrophy ( r = 0.208, P < 0.05) and increased significantly in the presence of interstitial inflammatory lesions ( P = 0.031). Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 levels were higher in patients with active tubulointerstitial lesions than in those with only chronic lesions ( P = 0.015, P = 0.230, and P = 0.086, respectively). A combination of KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 was a good indicator for diagnosing active tubulointerstitial lesions (area under the curve: 0.796). The combination of KIM-1 and NGAL was identified as an independent risk factor for renal outcomes (hazard ratio = 7.491, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 levels were associated with kidney injury indices in lupus nephritis. The combination of the three biomarkers showed increased power in predicting tubulointerstitial lesions and renal outcomes.
Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are of Comparable Efficacy to Syngeneic MSCs for Therapeutic Revascularization in C57BKSdb/db Mice Despite the Induction of Alloantibody
Authors: Liew A. , Baustian C. , Thomas D. , Vaughan E. , Sanz-Nogués C. , Creane M. , Chen X. , Alagesan S. , Owens P. , Horan J. , Dockery P. , Griffin M. D. , Duffy A. , O’Brien T.
Published: July 2018

Intramuscular administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represents a therapeutic option for diabetic critical limb ischemia. Autologous or allogeneic approaches may be used but disease-induced cell dysfunction may limit therapeutic efficacy in the former. Our aim was to compare the efficacy of allogeneic and autologous MSC transplantation in a model of hindlimb ischemia in diabetes mellitus and to determine whether allogeneic transplantation would result in the activation of an immune response. MSCs were isolated from C57BL/6 (B6) and diabetic obese C57BKSdb/db mice. Phosphate-buffered saline (control group), and MSCs (1 × 106) from B6 (allogeneic group) or C57BKSdb/db (syngeneic group) were administered intramuscularly into the ischemic thigh of C57BKSdb/db mice following the induction of hindlimb ischemia. MSCs derived from both mouse strains secrete several angiogenic factors, suggesting that the potential therapeutic effect is due to paracrine signaling. Administration of allogeneic MSCs significantly improved blood perfusion as compared with the control group on week 2 and 3, post-operatively. In comparison with the control group, syngeneic MSCs significantly improved blood perfusion at week 2 only. There was no statistical difference in blood perfusion between allogeneic and syngeneic MSC groups at any stages. There was no statistical difference in ambulatory and necrosis score among the three groups. Amputation of toes was only observed in the control group (one out of seven animals). Alloantibody was detected in three out of the eight mice that received allogeneic MSCs but was not observed in the other groups. In summary, we demonstrated comparable efficacy after transplantation of autologous and allogeneic MSCs in a diabetic animal model despite generation of an immune response.
Urban Informal Housing and Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity
Authors: Mehrotra Surabhi , Bardhan Ronita , Ramamritham Krithi
Published: July 2018

Urbanization leads to the densification of built-up areas, and thereby increases surface heat island intensity which is one of the growing concerns in the rapidly urbanizing cities. Another notable aspect of cities like Mumbai is the uncontrolled growth of informal slum housing clusters, which have emerged as a significant urban built form in the landscape of cities. This study presents a case of Mumbai that aims to explore the linkages between slum housing—here referred as ‘slum urban form’ (SUF)—and surface urban heat island (SUHI) supported by spatial-statistical analysis. The magnitude of the impact of urban form on SUHI, measured by land surface temperature (LST), is examined using Cohen’s d index, which measures the effect size for two groups—SUF and ‘formal’ housing—on LST. The results confirm a ‘large’ effect indicating a significant difference in mean LST between the two groups. The spatial analysis reveals a statistically significant spatial clustering of LST and SUF ( p-value < 0.05), and bivariate local indicator of spatial association (LISA) confirms that the spatial association of SUF is surrounded by ‘high’ LST (Moran I: 0.49). The exploratory spatial analysis indicates that the contribution of SUF in elevating SUHI intensity is more than the formal housing areas and has increased vulnerability to heat stress. The results were validated on the ground using environmental sensors, which confirms the susceptibility of SUF to heat stress.
Constructions of Decision Making for Risk-Reducing Mastectomy
Authors: Graham Ruth , Owens Marilyn , Priest Helena , Hutton Stephanie
Published: July 2018

This research article explores constructions of the decision-making process for risk-reducing mastectomy and considers the consequent role and responsibility of clinical psychologists. Using a Foucauldian discourse analysis approach, three online newspaper articles, five online forums, and four semi-structured interviews were analyzed. Seven discursive constructions are identified and discussed within three broader discourses of mental illness, risk, and embodied selves. Primary conclusions highlight the role for clinical psychologists and health professionals to incorporate the multiple social and political factors involved in discourses that shape decision making. The role of power is critically considered and there is a need for further analysis of “talk” among health professionals.
Development and Initial Validation of a Perceived Future Employability Scale for Young Adults
Authors: Gunawan William , Creed Peter A. , Glendon A. Ian
Published: July 2018

This study reports on development and initial validation of a scale to measure young adults’ perceptions of their future employability. Perceived future employability concerns young people’s perceptions of their future skills, experience, networks, personal traits, labor market knowledge, and institutional reputation at the time of completing their formal education, when they are on the verge of entering the labor market. In Phase 1, an initial item pool was developed from focus group discussions and expert feedback. In Phase 2, exploratory factor analyses reduced the number of items using data from a university student sample ( N = 324). In Phase 3, confirmatory factor analyses tested the initial structure using data from a second sample of university students ( N = 250). In Phase 4, construct validity was examined by correlating scale scores with measures of career ambition, university commitment, and career distress. The scale potentially (a) augments research on perceived future employability, (b) illuminates factors promoting employability and well-being in young adults, and (c) provides information to young adults who are concerned about their future career.
Wear Characteristics of Conventional Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Versus Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Schipper Oliver N. , Haddad Steven L. , Fullam Spencer , Pourzal Robin , Wimmer Markus A.
Published: July 2018

Background:

The aim of this study was to compare the polyethylene wear rate, particle size, and particle shape of primary semiconstrained, fixed-bearing, bone-sparing total ankle arthroplasty using conventional ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (CPE) versus highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) by applying a level walking input using a joint simulator.

Methods:

Two fixed-bearing total ankle replacement systems with different types of polyethylene liners were tested: (1) CPE sterilized in ethylene oxide, and (2) HXLPE sterilized with gas plasma after electron beam irradiation. Three implants for each design underwent wear testing using gravimetric analysis over 5 million simulated walking cycles. A fourth implant was used as a load soak control. Equivalent circle diameter (ECD) and equivalent shape ratio (ESR) were computed to determine particle size and particle shape, respectively.

Results:

The mean wear rate from 1.5 to 5 million cycles (MC) was 2.0 ± 0.3 mg/MC for HXLPE and 16.7 ± 1.3 mg/MC for CPE ( P < .001). The total number of particles per cycle generated for HXLPE and CPE were 0.17 × 106 particles/cycle and 0.53 × 106 particles/cycle, respectively ( P < .001). The mean ECD of HXLPE particles (0.22 ± 0.11 μm) was significantly smaller than the mean ECD of CPE particles (0.32 ± 0.14 μm) ( P < .001). HXLPE particles were significantly more round than CPE particles ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

HXLPE liners had a significantly lower wear rate and produced significantly fewer and rounder particles than CPE liners. The results of this study suggest that HXLPE has more favorable wear characteristics for total ankle arthroplasty.

Clinical Relevance:

Polyethylene wear particles have been linked to osteolysis after total ankle arthroplasty. There is no consensus on the importance of highly cross-linked polyethylene in total ankle arthroplasty with regard to implant wear. This is the first nonindustry study to compare the polyethylene wear rate, particle size, and particle shape of fixed-bearing total ankle arthroplasty conventional polyethylene versus highly cross-linked polyethylene. The lower wear rate and different particle size/morphology of highly cross-linked polyethylene could be beneficial in vivo to decrease osteolysis.
Antibiotic Pipeline Coordinators
Authors: Baraldi Enrico , Lindahl Olof , Savic Miloje , Findlay David , Årdal Christine
Published: July 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to guide research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics. Every pathogen on this list requires R&D activity, but some are more attractive for private sector investments, as evidenced by the current antibacterial pipeline. A “pipeline coordinator” is a governmental/non-profit organization that closely tracks the antibacterial pipeline and actively supports R&D across all priority pathogens employing new financing tools.
Simulating Market Entry Rewards for Antibiotics Development
Authors: Okhravi Christopher , Callegari Simone , McKeever Steve , Kronlid Carl , Baraldi Enrico , Lindahl Olof , Ciabuschi Francesco
Published: July 2018

We design an agent based Monte Carlo model of antibiotics research and development (R&D) to explore the effects of the policy intervention known as Market Entry Reward (MER) on the likelihood that an antibiotic entering pre-clinical development reaches the market. By means of sensitivity analysis we explore the interaction between the MER and four key parameters: projected net revenues, R&D costs, venture capitalists discount rates, and large pharmaceutical organizations' financial thresholds. We show that improving revenues may be more efficient than reducing costs, and thus confirm that this pull-based policy intervention effectively stimulates antibiotics R&D.
Buprenorphine MAT as an Imperfect Fix
Authors: Mund Brian , Stith Kate
Published: July 2018

Expanding buprenorphine access in the United States requires evidence-based decision-making that considers both the drug's potential dangers and its potential benefits. Risks associated with buprenorphine misuse and diversion highlight the need for careful, ongoing evaluation during each stage of increased access.
We Can't Go Cold Turkey: Why Suppressing Drug Markets Endangers Society
Authors: Werle Nick , Zedillo Ernesto
Published: July 2018

This essay argues that policies aimed at suppressing drug use exacerbate the nation's opioid problem. It neither endorses drug use nor advocates legalizing the consumption and sale of all substances in all circumstances. Instead, it contends that trying to suppress drug markets is the wrong goal, and in the midst of an addiction crisis it can be deadly. There is no single, correct drug policy; the right approach depends crucially on the substance at issue, the patterns of use and supply, and the jurisdiction's culture, institutions, and material resources. Decriminalization is no panacea for a nation's drug problems. Nevertheless, either de jure or de facto decriminalization of personal drug possession is a necessary condition for mitigating this crisis.
Case Study: County-Level Responses to the Opioid Crisis in Northern Kentucky
Authors: Johnson Quentin
Published: July 2018

This article highlights local government responses to the opioid crisis in Northern Kentucky through a series of interviews with county-level officials. The author's discussions with civic leaders reflect the challenges faced by local communities and the new approaches implemented to stem the epidemic.
Government Patent Use to Address the Rising Cost of Naloxone: 28 U.S.C. § 1498 and Evzio
Authors: Wang Alex , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: July 2018

The rising cost of the opioid antagonist and overdose reversal agent naloxone is an urgent public health problem. The recent and dramatic price increase of Evzio, a naloxone auto-injector produced by Kaléo, shows how pharmaceutical manufacturers entering the naloxone marketplace rely on market exclusivity guaranteed by the patent system to charge prices at what the market can bear, which can restrict access to life-saving medication. We argue that 28 U.S.C. § 1498, a section of the federal code that allows the government to use patent-protected products for its own purposes in exchange for reasonable compensation, could be used to procure generic naloxone auto-injectors, or at least bring Kaléo to the negotiating table. Precedent exists for the use of § 1498 to procure pharmaceuticals, and it could give meaning to the federal government's recent declaration of a public health emergency around the opioid epidemic, discourage new market entrants from charging exorbitant prices, and yield important public health benefits.
The Proactive Patient: Long-Term Care Insurance Discrimination Risks of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Arias Jalayne J. , Tyler Ana M. , Oster Benjamin J. , Karlawish Jason
Published: July 2018

Previously diagnosed by symptoms alone, Alzheimer's disease is now also defined by measures of amyloid and tau, referred to as “biomarkers.” Biomarkers are detectible up to twenty years before symptoms present and open the door to predicting the risk of Alzheimer's disease. While these biomarkers provide information that can help individuals and families plan for long-term care services and supports, insurers could also use this information to discriminate against those who are more likely to need such services. In this article, we evaluate whether state laws prohibit long-term care insurers from making discriminatory or unfair underwriting and coverage decisions based Alzheimer's disease biomarkers status. We report data demonstrating that current state laws do not provide meaningful protections from discrimination by long-term care insurers based on biomarker information.
An exact dual-integral formulation of the indentation of finite, free-standing, end-supported adhesive elastic layers
Authors: Punati Venugopala Swami , Sharma Ishan , Wahi Pankaj
Published: July 2018

We study indentation by a rigid cylindrical punch of finite, free-standing, adhesive elastic layers that are supported only at their ends. The adhesion is considered through an adhesive-zone model. Formulating the boundary-value problem, we obtain two coupled Fredholm integral equations of the first kind, which are solved by a collocation method. Results for non-adhesive contact are obtained when adhesion is zero, and they match well with our own finite element computations and earlier approximate analyses. Additionally, we obtain new results for deeper indentation of non-adhesive contact. In the limit of very adhesive and/or very soft solids, we formulate an approximate model similar to the well-known Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) model for half-spaces. Our results for adhesive contact match well with preliminary indentation experiments on adhesive layers. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of our approach in modelling structural adhesives through a specific example.
A Cross-national Examination of Political Trust in Adolescence: The Effects of Adolescents’ Educational Expectations and Country’s Democratic Governance
Authors: Kim Hyungryeol
Published: July 2018

Can the predisposition to attain education affect the trust adolescents have in their country’s political institutions? Utilizing data from 2009 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), this study examines the effect of educational expectations on adolescents’ political trust. My multilevel analyses produced nuanced results. While educational expectations have statistically significant effects on adolescents’ political trust in most countries, the direction and strength of such effects are conditional upon the country’s overall quality of existing democratic governance. Political trust in adolescence may well be a function of one’s predispositions to attain education as well as national democratic conditions.
Analysis of Fish Commonly Sold in Local Supermarkets Reveals the Presence of Pathogenic and Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Communities
Authors: Okyere Ama , Bishoff Dayna , Oyaro Micah O , Ajami Nadim J , Darkoh Charles
Published: July 2018

Fish has been an important source of proteins, essential vitamins, and low saturated fats for centuries. However, improperly handled fish can expose consumers to infectious bacteria, including difficult to treat multidrug-resistant pathogens. With the goal to investigate the existence of disease-causing and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we examined bacterial communities present on various types of fish purchased from supermarkets in Houston, Texas, USA. The bacterial communities were characterized by selective phenotypic culture methods, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The results revealed the presence of different bacterial communities on the fish samples examined. The bacterial communities were not significantly different between the supermarkets sampled. The following presumptive human pathogens were isolated on the fish samples: Escherichia coli (67%), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (31%), Shigella and Salmonella species (28%), Listeria species (29%), and Staphylococcus aureus (28%). Drug sensitivity assays showed resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. Out of a total of 99 E. coli samples tested, 41.4% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 33.3% were resistant to gentamicin. Of the total of 31 S. aureus isolates tested, 87% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 61.3% were resistant to vancomycin. Moreover, some of the E. coli strains were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (28%), whereas 49% of the S. aureus isolates were resistant to both ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. These results highlight the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens on fish purchased from the supermarkets and underscore the risk associated with improper handling of fish.
Advances in the Therapy of Bleeding Peptic Ulcer
Authors: Beales Ian LP
Published: July 2018

Peptic ulcer bleeding remains an important medical emergency. Important recent advances are reviewed. These include further support for a more restrictive transfusion strategy aiming for a target haemoglobin of 70-90 g/L. The Glasgow-Blatchford score remains the most useful assessment score for identifying the lowest risk patients suitable for outpatient management and predicting the need for intervention. Newer scores such as the AIMS65 and Progetto Nazionale Emorragia Digestive score (PNED) may be more accurate in predicting mortality. Pre-endoscopy erythromycin improves outcomes and is underused. A new disposable Doppler probe appears to provide more accurate determination of both rebleeding risk and the success of endoscopic therapy than purely visual guidance. Over-the-scope clips and haemostatic powders appear to have some role as endoscopic salvage therapies. Non- H. pylori, non-aspirin/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ulcers contribute to an increasing percentage of bleeding peptic ulcers and are associated with a high rebleeding rate. The optimal management of these ulcers remains to be determined.
The network is not the territory: On capturing mobile media
Authors: Sprenger Florian
Published: July 2018

Cellular mobile networks, in which devices constantly relay their location and their movements, are formed by the motion of end devices in relation to the position of radio towers. As a matter of principle, it is this motion that allows the location of devices to be identified within the network. The article argues that the emergence of mobile media based on cellular triangulation has introduced an ontology in which, by technical necessity, the position of every object is constantly registered and objects that do not have an address do not exist. The location and movement of all participants are, at all times, a known technical variable. With Xeros PARC’s “ubiquitous computing” as a reference case, the article scrutinizes how movement triggers the process that registers the locations of mobile phones or smartphones, a development it situates against the cybernetic imagination of determining the location and the movement of an object at the same time.
Dynamic modelling and parametric optimization of a full hybrid transmission
Authors: Guo Han , Zhang Jianwu , Yu Haisheng
Published: July 2018

In this paper, vibro-impact-induced gear whine radiated by full hybrid transmission equipped with a compound type power-split planetary gear train is investigated. For accurate simulations of the planetary gear set vibrations, an integrated dynamic model of the transmission is established using professional software MASTA, on which compliance effects of gear pairs, bearings, shafts, housing and planetary carrier are counted for. Numerical analyses are carried out for dynamic responses of the hybrid transmission. Bench tests are also conducted for the present model validation. Computational effort is made to recognize parametrically resonate patterns that cause gear whine in experiment. An optimal tooth modification design is presented for the real planetary gear set. It is shown by test results using the optimized planetary gear sets that gear whine responses of the gearboxes are considerably improved.
A penalized approach for the bivariate ordered logistic model with applications to social and medical data
Authors: Enea Marco , Lovison Gianfranco
Published: July 2018

Bivariate ordered logistic models (BOLMs) are appealing to jointly model the marginal distribution of two ordered responses and their association, given a set of covariates. When the number of categories of the responses increases, the number of global odds ratios to be estimated also increases, and estimation gets problematic.

In this work we propose a non-parametric approach for the maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of a BOLM, wherein penalties to the differences between adjacent row and column effects are applied. Our proposal is then compared to the Goodman and Dale models. Some simulation results as well as analyses of two real data sets are presented and discussed.
Validation of Breast Cancer Models for Predicting the Nonsentinel Lymph Node Metastasis After a Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in a Chinese Population
Authors: Wu Peiqi , Zhao Ke , Liang Yanli , Ye Weitao , Liu Zaiyi , Liang Changhong
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

Over the years, completion axillary lymph node dissection is recommended for the patients with breast cancer if sentinel lymph node metastasis is found. However, not all of these patients had nonsentinel lymph node metastasis on final histology. Some predicting models have been developed for calculating the risk of nonsentinel lymph node metastasis. The aim of our study was to validate some of the predicting models in a Chinese population.

Method:

Two hundred thirty-six patients with positive sentinel lymph node and complete axillary lymph node dissection were included. Patients were applied to 6 models for evaluation of the risk of nonsentinel lymph node involvement. The receiver–operating characteristic curves were shown in our study. The calculation of area under the curves and false negative rate was done for each model to assess the discriminative power of the models.

Results:

There are 105 (44.5%) patients who had metastatic nonsentinel lymph node(s) in our population. Primary tumor size, the number of metastatic sentinel lymph node, and the proportion of metastatic sentinel lymph nodes/total sentinel lymph nodes were identified as the independent predictors of nonsentinel lymph node metastasis. The Seoul National University Hospital and Louisville scoring system outperformed the others, with area under the curves of 0.706 and 0.702, respectively. The area under the curve values were 0.677, 0.673, 0.432, and 0.674 for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Tenon, Stanford, and Shanghai Cancer Hospital models, respectively. With adjusted cutoff points, the Louisville scoring system outperformed the others by classifying 26.51% of patients with breast cancer to the low-risk group.

Conclusion:

The Louisville and Seoul National University Hospital scoring system were found to be more predictive among the 6 models when applied to the Chinese patients with breast cancer in our database. Models developed at other institutions should be used cautiously for decision-making regarding complete axillary lymph node dissection after a positive biopsy in sentinel lymph node.
Three-Dimensional Characterization of Trabecular Bone Mineral Density of the Distal Radius Utilizing Quantitative Computed Tomography
Authors: Pidgeon Tyler S. , DaSilva Katia A. , Crisco Joseph J. , Johnson Eric C. , Chambers Alison B. , DaSilva Manuel F.
Published: July 2018

Background: Distal radius (DR) fractures demonstrate patterns of predictable fragments. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of these regions of interest (ROIs) may guide more precise treatment. Methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of the DR of 42 healthy volunteers (23 female) were analyzed using quantitative CT software, measuring BMD within trabecular bone. Seven ROIs were described by alignment with the distal (volar ulnar distal [VUD], dorsal ulnar distal [DUD], volar radial distal [VRD], and dorsal radial distal [DRD]) or proximal (middle ulnar proximal [MUP], middle proximal [MP], and middle radial proximal [MRP]) sigmoid notch. Additional ROIs were the radial styloid (RS) and metadiaphysis (MD). A general estimation equation assessed subject’s BMDs with predictive factors of gender, ROI, and age. The interaction between gender, ROI, and age was included in the model to allow for differences in ROI to vary with gender and/or age. Results: Comparing ROIs within the same gender and, separately, within the same age group revealed significantly higher BMD adjacent to the radioulnar and radiocarpal joints. Male and female individuals aged ≥50 years (mean: 172.7 mg/cm3 ± 6.1) had significantly lower BMD than those aged <50 years (mean: 202.7 mg/cm3 ± 5.8) when all ROIs were considered. Males had higher mean BMD at each ROI compared with females; these differences were significant in 5 of the 9 ROIs: VUD, DUD, DRD, RS, MUP. Conclusions: Trabecular BMD of the DR is highest adjacent to the radioulnar and radiocarpal joints. Female patients and those ≥50 years have lower trabecular BMD.
The Shadow and the Sun
Authors: MacAdam Ethan H.
Published: July 2018

This article traces certain concerns of natural justice in the thought of Nasser Hussain through the lens of several of Hussain’s writings. The article’s first section examines the 1966 privacy case, Griswold v. Connecticut, as a paradigm of certain natural law concerns which become important in Hussain’s work on the Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights. The second section examines a chapter of Hussain’s book The Jurisprudence of Emergency, on nineteenth-century Indian and British legal history, in the context of relevant strands of thought from previous eras, chiefly Montesquieu and Thomas Hobbes; the analysis asserts that the primitive or “natural” portrayals of colonial populations constructed by European legal-political ideologies inflect natural-law thinking in a way which sheds light on the concerns of the article’s first section. The third section moves to Hussain’s concern with recent American use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in the Middle East, tracing their history through the postcolonial era to render broad conclusions about how some of Hussain’s larger natural-justice concerns might be addressed.
Language and transient emotional states affect implicit cultural bias
Authors: Ellis Ceri , Hadden Lowri , Jones Manon Wyn
Published: July 2018

Bilinguals react to cultural information in a language-dependent fashion, but it is unknown whether this is influenced by the individual’s emotional state. Here, we show that induced mood states increase cultural bias—measured using the Implicit Association Test (IAT)—but this effect occurs asymmetrically across languages. In the native language, bilinguals show a strong cultural bias, which is not influenced by mood. But in the non-native language, a relatively low cultural bias significantly increases as a function of a positive or negative mood. Our findings suggest that the native language promotes an inherent cultural bias, which is impervious to fluctuations in the bilingual’s mood state. In the second language, however, bilinguals are culturally impartial, unless they are in a heightened mood state.
Outcomes of cementless joint prosthesis versus tendon interposition for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: a prospective study
Authors: Cebrian-Gomez Roman , Lizaur-Utrilla Alejandro , Sebastia-Forcada Emilio , Lopez-Prats Fernando A.
Published: July 2018

We compared 84 patients with the Ivory trapeziometacarpal prosthesis versus 62 with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition arthroplasty performed for osteoarthritis. There were 134 women and 12 men with a mean age of 60 years. Prospective clinical assessment was made using the Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, visual analogue scale for pain, range of motion, and grip and pinch strength. The mean follow-up was 4 years (range 2–5). Prosthetic replacement provided significantly better thumb abduction, adduction, pinch strength, QuickDASH, pain relief, satisfaction and a faster return to daily activities and previous work. Revision surgery was required for two patients in the prosthesis group, two for dislocation and one cup loosening, while in the ligament reconstruction group there were no revisions. We conclude that trapeziometacarpal prosthesis provides better mid-term results in terms of function compared with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition for patients with Stages 2 and 3 osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint.

Level of evidence: II
Determination of the Depth- and Time- Dependent Mechanical Behavior of Mouse Articular Cartilage Using Cyclic Reference Point Indentation
Authors: Chang Andrew , Tang Simon Y.
Published: July 2018

Mouse models of osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration are important and powerful tools for investigating the molecular mechanisms of the disease pathology. Because of the vast number of genetically modified mouse models that are available for research, the ability to use these models is particularly attractive for the mechanobiologic interactions in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. However, the very small scale of mouse articular cartilage, where the healthy tissue is only 80 µm in thickness, poses challenges in quantifying mechanical characteristics of the tissue. We introduce here a novel approach that combines experimental and analytical methods to quantify the nuanced mechanical changes during cartilage degeneration at this scale. Cyclic reference point indentation is used to directly test the murine articular cartilage to obtain the force-deformation and the phase-shift characteristics of the tissue. The cartilage zonal thicknesses are confirmed from histology. These data are then fitted to a parallel spring model to determine the depth-dependent tissue stiffness and modulus. Using this approach, we investigated the effects of trypsin degradation on the zonal mechanical behavior of mouse articular cartilage. We observe a decline of the superficial zone stiffness coupled with the loss of the superficial layer. Subsequent degradation by trypsin allowed the identification of middle- and deep- zone properties. Taken together, this approach can be a useful tool for understanding the disease mechanisms of cartilage homeostasis and degeneration, and for monitoring of therapies for osteoarthritis.
Dark Pathways to Achievement in Science: Researchers’ Achievement Goals Predict Engagement in Questionable Research Practices
Authors: Janke Stefan , Daumiller Martin , Rudert Selma Carolin
Published: July 2018

Questionable research practices (QRPs) are a strongly debated topic in the scientific community. Hypotheses about the relationship between individual differences and QRPs are plentiful but have rarely been empirically tested. Here, we investigate whether researchers’ personal motivation (expressed by achievement goals) is associated with self-reported engagement in QRPs within a sample of 217 psychology researchers. Appearance approach goals (striving for skill demonstration) positively predicted engagement in QRPs, while learning approach goals (striving for skill development) were a negative predictor. These effects remained stable when also considering Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy in a latent multiple regression model. Additional moderation analyses revealed that the more researchers favored publishing over scientific rigor, the stronger the association between appearance approach goals and engagement in QRPs. The findings deliver first insights into the nature of the relationship between personal motivation and scientific malpractice.
Addressing Health Care Needs in the Homeless Population: A New Approach Using Participatory Action Research
Authors: Kiser Tammy , Hulton Linda
Published: July 2018

This article explores a unique approach to addressing the health needs of a rural homeless population using core principles relevant to community-based participatory research (CBPR). The objective of the Healthcare for the Homeless Suitcase Clinic (HHSC) project is to create a community-based practice model of health care through unconventional portable, mobile “Suitcase Clinics” staffed by volunteer providers and a Nurse Case Manager. These clinics address complex health concerns of the homeless in five unique shelter settings in a rural Mid-Atlantic community. Using CBPR, community-academic partners worked systematically to explore the issues of homelessness in one community using data collection cycles, reflection, and capacity building. This program description discusses the various aspects of the development, implementation, and evaluation of the HHSC and the expansion of services that have resulted from this project.