bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Descriptions of expert jazz educators’ experiences teaching improvisation
Authors: Coss Roger G.
Published: June 2018

The tensions present in learning jazz improvisation are well recognized given the contextual shift from more informal environments such as jam sessions and apprenticeships towards academic settings such as school bands and college jazz programs. Research suggests that the development of instruction in music education be informed by and modeled after expert practitioners, yet scant evidence exists on the most effective strategies, methods, and/or approaches for teaching jazz improvisation, in particular against the backdrop of this shift in educational paradigms. In response, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate seven jazz educators’ lived experiences teaching jazz improvisation. Seven expert jazz educators situated in a variety of teaching contexts throughout Northern California were recruited using purposeful, snowball sampling strategies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations of the participants in a teaching context, and documents such as syllabi, handouts, and recordings. Five themes in the form of vignettes describe these participants’ common experiences in teaching jazz improvisation: (1) Teacher as Guide; (2) Teacher as Motivator; (3) Psychological Aspects; (4) Navigating the Academic Chasm; and (5) Cultivating Lifelong Learners. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Effectiveness of palliative care services: A population-based study of end-of-life care for cancer patients
Authors: De Palma Rossana , Fortuna Daniela , Hegarty Sarah E , Louis Daniel Z , Melotti Rita Maria , Moro Maria Luisa
Published: June 2018

Background:

Multiple studies demonstrate substantial utilization of acute hospital care and, potentially excessive, intensive medical and surgical treatments at the end-of-life.

Aim:

To evaluate the relationship between the use of home and facility-based hospice palliative care for patients dying with cancer and service utilization at the end of life.

Design:

Retrospective, population-level study using administrative databases. The effect of palliative care was analyzed between coarsened exact matched cohorts and evaluated through a conditional logistic regression model.

Setting/participants:

The study was conducted on the cohort of 34,357 patients, resident in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of metastatic or poor-prognosis cancer during the 6 months before death between January 2013 and December 2015.

Results:

Patients who received palliative care experienced significantly lower rates of all indicators of aggressive care such as hospital admission (odds ratio (OR) = 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04–0.06), emergency department visits (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.21–0.25), intensive care unit stays (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.26–0.32), major operating room procedures (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.21–0.24), and lower in-hospital death (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.10–0.11). This cohort had significantly higher rates of opiate prescriptions (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21–1.33) ( p < 0.01 for all comparisons).

Conclusion:

Use of palliative care at the end of life for cancer patients is associated with a reduction of the use of high-cost, intensive services. Future research is necessary to evaluate the impact of increasing use of palliative care services on other health outcomes. Administrative databases linked at the patient level are a useful data source for assessment of care at the end of life.
Exosome-mediated amplification of endogenous brain repair mechanisms and brain and systemic organ interaction in modulating neurological outcome after stroke
Authors: Venkat Poornima , Chen Jieli , Chopp Michael
Published: June 2018

Ischemic stroke is caused by a regional interruption of cerebral blood flow to the brain. Rigorous pre-clinical and clinical research has made landmark progress in stroke treatment using thrombolytics and endovascular thrombectomy. Although numerous successful neuroprotective therapeutic agents for ischemic stroke have been reported in pre-clinical studies, most of them failed in clinical testing. Persistent pre-clinical research has demonstrated that the ischemic brain is not only passively dying but is also actively recovering. Within the neurovascular niche in the peri-infarct tissue, repair mechanisms thrive on the interactions between the neural and vascular compartments. In this review, we discuss exogenous therapy using mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes to amplify endogenous brain repair mechanisms and to induce neurorestorative effects after stroke. Emerging evidence indicates that multiple communication axes between the various organs such as the brain, heart, kidney and gut, and whole body immune response mediated by the spleen can also affect stroke outcome. Therefore, in this review, we summarize this evidence and initiate a discussion on the potential to improve stroke outcome by amplifying multiple brain repair mechanisms after stroke, and by targeting peripheral organs and downstream events to enhance recovery in the injured brain and promote over all well being.
Fault diagnosis in yaw drive induction motor for wind turbine
Authors: Ouanas Ali , Medoued Ammar , Mordjaoui Mourad , Lebaroud Abdesselam , Sayad Djamel
Published: June 2018

Wind turbines are widely exploited throughout the world. The availability and reliability of offshore wind turbines are asking to impose a constant maintenance strategy. In this work, we propose a method that allows filtering the signal of the frequency inverter that feeds the yaw drive used in wind turbine. The redundant information is eliminated via discrete wavelet transform and empirical modal decomposition. The two types of faults are detected from the envelope of the Hilbert transform. The magnitude imbalance detection is carried out in the time domain. The root mean square values of the envelopes of the three-phase system have a good indicator for the fuzzy system to evaluate the severity of the defect. In the frequency domain, the signature of the broken bar fault is located in the low-frequency bandwidth. The harmonics appeared in the spectrum sensitive in amplitude and frequency to the variation of load. Experimental results have demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed method.
Study on the Invasion Behavior of E-Bikes with Motor Vehicle Traffic at a Signalized Intersection
Authors: Yang Da , Zhou Xiaoxia , Wu Danhong , Liu Sijing
Published: June 2018

In many developing countries like China, many queuing electric bikes (e-bikes) passing an intersection simultaneously greatly reduces the capacity of the intersection for motor vehicles, by invading the passing area of motor vehicles. To study the invasion effect of e-bikes on the traffic flow of motor vehicles at an urban signalized intersection, this paper proposes a social force model for the heterogeneous traffic flow of motor vehicles and e-bikes. The proposed model is calibrated and validated using real data collected in Chengdu, China. The validation results show that the proposed model can replicate the heterogeneous traffic flow with low errors. Simulations based on the proposed model are conducted to investigate what strategies can reduce the invasion of e-bikes in normal motor vehicle traffic. The results show that when the number of queuing e-bikes before the stop line is more than 20, the two strategies can be applied: the stop-line-ahead strategy and the green-signal-ahead strategy. The study suggests that the 2–4 s of green signal ahead or 3–5 m of stop line ahead for non-motor vehicles can significantly reduce the interference of e-bikes on motor vehicle traffic. In addition, the combination of the two strategies can also obtain the same effect but with smaller change to the original intersection design.
Understanding the Highway Safety Benefits of Different Approaches of Connected Vehicles in Reduced Visibility Conditions
Authors: Rahman Md Sharikur , Abdel-Aty Mohamed , Wang Ling , Lee Jaeyoung
Published: June 2018

This study evaluated the effectiveness of connected vehicle (CV) technologies in adverse visibility conditions using microscopic traffic simulation. Traffic flow characteristics deteriorate significantly in reduced visibility conditions resulting in high crash risks. This study applied CV technologies on a segment of Interstate I-4 in Florida to improve traffic safety under fog conditions. Two types of CV approaches (i.e., connected vehicles without platooning (CVWPL) and connected vehicles with platooning (CVPL) were applied to reduce the crash risk in terms of three surrogate measures of safety: the standard deviation of speed, the standard deviation of headway, and rear-end crash risk index (RCRI). This study implemented vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technologies of CVs to acquire real-time traffic data using the microsimulation software VISSIM. A car-following model for both CV approaches was used with an assumption that the CVs would follow this car-following behavior in fog conditions. The model performances were evaluated under different CV market penetration rates (MPRs). The results showed that both CV approaches improved safety significantly in fog conditions as MPRs increase. To be more specific, the minimum MPR should be 30% to provide significant safety benefits in terms of surrogate measures of safety for both CV approaches over the base scenario (non-CV scenario). In terms of surrogate safety measures, CVPL significantly outperformed CVWPL when MPRs were equal to or higher than 50%. The results also indicated a significant improvement in the traffic operation characteristics in terms of average speed.
Safety Evaluation of Alternative Audible Lane Departure Warning Treatments in Reducing Traffic Crashes: An Empirical Bayes Observational Before–After Study
Authors: Wu Lingtao , Geedipally Srinivas R. , Pike Adam M.
Published: June 2018

Roadway departure crashes are a major contributor to traffic fatalities and injury. Rumble strips have been shown to be an effective countermeasure in reducing roadway departure crashes. However, some roadway situations, for instance, inadequate shoulder width or roadway surface depth, have limited the application of conventional milled or rolled in rumble strips. Alternative audible lane departure warning systems, including profile (audible) pavement markings and preformed rumble bars, are increasingly used to overcome the limitations that exist with the milled rumble strips. So far, the safety effectiveness of these alternative audible lane departure warning systems has not been extensively assessed. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the safety effect of installing profile pavement markings and preformed rumble bars. Specifically, this study developed crash modification factors for these treatments that quantify the effectiveness in reducing single-vehicle-run-off-road (SVROR) and opposite-direction (OD) crashes. Traffic, roadway, and crash data at the treated sites on 189 miles of rural two-lane highways in Texas were analyzed using an empirical Bayes (EB) before–after analysis method. Safety performance functions from the Highway Safety Manual and Texas Highway Safety Design Workbook were used in the EB analysis. The results revealed a 21.3% reduction in all SVROR and OD crashes, and 32.5% to 39.9% reduction in fatal and injury SVROR and OD crashes after installing profile pavement marking and preformed rumble bars.
Evaluation of Intersection Conflict Warning System: A Critical Gap Analysis
Authors: Thapa Raju , Hallmark Shauna , Hawkins Neal , Knickerbocker Skylar
Published: June 2018

Rural intersections account for around 30% of crashes in rural areas and 6% of all fatal crashes. An Intersection Conflict Warning System (ICWS) is a unique solution to address rural intersection safety. ICWS are typically installed at the minor approaches to two-way stop-controlled intersections to reduce the number of fatalities. Studies indicate these systems result in lower intersection approach speeds, reduced conflicts, and improved driver-gap selection. However, some sites have experienced increases in the number of minor crashes. Although there are positive ICWS examples, their overall effectiveness is not well established. The objective of this research was to evaluate driving behavior at stop-controlled approaches with and without ICWS and to evaluate the spillover effect of ICWS on other adjacent control intersections where the treatment has not been applied. The study examined behavior at five intersections (treatment sites) in Minnesota where an ICWS was installed. For comparison, an additional five similar (control sites) were identified in proximity to each treatment intersection. Data were collected using a video camera array at three different time frames: before, one month, and 12 months after the installation of system. The data were analyzed using a critical gap approach. The analysis shows that the ICWS improved driver gap acceptance at the treatment sites, only at the 12-month period, and that there was no “spillover effect” at the adjacent control sites. When gap acceptance was further compared by type of stop, critical gap selection was shown to increase for drivers making both complete and rolling stops.
Investigating Entry Capacity Models of Roundabouts under Heterogeneous Traffic Conditions
Authors: Patnaik Ashish Kumar , Ranjan Ankit Raj , Bhuyan Prasanta Kumar
Published: June 2018

The primary objectives of this study are to develop two roundabout entry capacity models using a regression-based multiple non-linear regression model (MNLR) and artificial intelligence (AI)-based ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system) model under heterogeneous traffic conditions. ANFIS is the latest technique in the field of AI that integrates both neural networks and fuzzy logic principles in a single framework. Required data have been collected from 27 roundabouts in eight states of India. To assess the significance of these models and select the best model among them, modified rank index is applied in this study. The coefficient of determination ( R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient ‘ E’ values are found to be 0.92, 0.91 and 0.98, 0.98 for the MNLR and ANFIS model, respectively. The ANFIS model is found to be the best model in this study. However, from a practical point of view, the MNLR model is recommended for determining roundabout entry capacity under heterogeneous traffic conditions. Sensitivity analysis reports that critical gap is the prime variable and shares 18.43% for the development of roundabout entry capacity. As compared with the Girabase formula (France), Brilon wu formula (Germany), and HCM 2010 models, the proposed MNLR model is quite reliable under low to medium ranges of traffic volumes.
Investigating Transfer Flow between Urban Networks Based on a Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram
Authors: Kim Sunghoon , Tak Sehyun , Yeo Hwasoo
Published: June 2018

The aim of the concept of perimeter control is to manage the transfer flow between urban road networks. However, there is a lack of description on the behavior of transfer flow between networks in relation to the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD). Hence, this paper suggests a description of transfer flow and investigates it with microscopic simulation experiments. The results found that the network outbound demand strongly influences the outflow regardless of spatial inhomogeneity. Another finding is that the boundary capacity influences the network outflow. The effect of restriction on outflow of a network due to limited supply level of a neighboring network was also checked. Furthermore, it was found that a network’s inflow and outflow in each direction (north, south, east, and west) is proportional to the demand ratio. Finally, the suggested description of transfer flow has been confirmed, and this can be useful for various analyses on inter-network traffic dynamics.
Sarcopenia and Undernutrition Among Portuguese Older Adults: Results From Nutrition UP 65 Study
Authors: Sousa-Santos Ana Rita , Afonso Cláudia , Borges Nuno , Santos Alejandro , Padrão Patrícia , Moreira Pedro , Amaral Teresa F.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Although undernutrition and sarcopenia are common among older adults and both result in worse health outcomes, data concerning the burden of these conditions in Portuguese community-dwelling older adults are scarce.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to firstly describe the occurrence of sarcopenia and undernutrition among a nationwide community-dwelling sample of older adults.

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional analysis, 1493 Portuguese older adults age ≥65 years from the Nutrition UP 65 study were evaluated. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, and undernutrition status was evaluated by Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form.

Results:

Sarcopenia frequency was 11.6%, and of these, 4.4% were classified with severe sarcopenia. Furthermore, 0.8% presented sarcopenic obesity. Undernutrition frequency was 1.3%, and 14.7% of the older adults were classified as being at undernutrition risk.

Conclusion:

Sarcopenia is present in one-tenth of the sample. This frequency taken together with undernutrition data warrants further study and preventive measures.
Changes in Depression and Positive Mental Health Among Youth in a Healthy Relationships Program
Authors: Lapshina Natalia , Crooks Claire V. , Kerry Amanda
Published: June 2018

Mental health promotion programming in schools and community settings is an important part of a comprehensive mental health strategy. The goal of this study was to identify and explore meaningful classes of youth based on their pre- and post-intervention depression symptoms scores with 722 youth involved in a 15-week healthy relationships and mental health promotion program. We utilized latent class growth analysis to identify depression class trajectories, controlling for group clustering effects. A three-class solution identified high decreasing, moderate stable, and low stable trajectories. Gender, age, and reported experience of bullying victimization predicted trajectory class membership. The low stable class trajectory was associated with the highest positive mental health, followed by the moderate stable and the high decreasing trajectories. These results suggest that youth with the highest depression scores showed significant improvement in symptomatology over the course of the program.
Acute Cerebellitis in Children: A Variable Clinical Entity
Authors: Emelifeonwu John Amaechi , Shetty Jay , Kaliaperumal Chandrasekaran , Gallo Pasquale , Sokol Drahoslav , Soleiman Hamza , Kandasamy Jegajothy
Published: June 2018

Acute cerebellar ataxia is the most common cause of acute ataxia in children and it usually runs a self-limiting and ultimately benign clinical course. A small proportion of children have evidence of inflammatory swelling in the cerebellum. Many of these children suffer more severe and potentially life-threatening forms of cerebellar ataxia and may need more intensive treatments including urgent neurosurgical treatments. This more severe form of acute cerebellar ataxia is often termed acute cerebellitis. Many children with acute cerebellitis have long-term neurological sequela and evidence of structural cerebellar changes on follow-up imaging. Several patterns of cerebellar inflammation have been described. The authors describe the variabilities in the clinical and radiological patterns of disease in the cases that have been described in the literature.
Respiratory Complications Before and After Liver Transplant
Authors: Cardoso Filipe S. , Karvellas Constantine J.
Published: June 2018

Respiratory complications before and after liver transplant are common, diverse, and potentially have a negative impact on patient outcomes. In this review, we discuss the most frequent respiratory conditions that patients may develop in the perioperative period. Their prevention and/or treatment may help to maximize the benefit these patients may derive from liver transplant. This review examines diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to these complications for hepatologists, surgeons, and critical care physicians.
Framing Effect of Media Portrayal of Migrants to the European Union: A Survey Experiment in Poland
Authors: Wenzel Michał , Żerkowska-Balas Marta
Published: June 2018

As a result of the rise of online communication and political divisions based on symbols, rather than structure (decrease in the importance of class-based voting), citizens are increasingly linked to news outlets that articulate and reinforce their views. The process is facilitated by the spontaneous processes of bottom–up communication that excludes, in an iterative process, people who express views that are inconsistent with the prevailing opinion. The emergence of “information verticals” is a significant influence on attitudes to some issues covered in political debate. These effects operate with regard to so-called easy issues, that is, those rooted in emotions and in the symbolic sphere. Our article is an empirical test of our hypotheses about the effects of media framing of “hard” and “easy” issues. We apply a survey experiment method to verify whether contact with news coverage has an effect on attitudes, taking into account the political orientation and cognitive skills of citizens. Our empirical analyses confirm that a hostile media framing of migration changes respondents’ attitudes no matter their level of cognitive engagement. The data come from Poland.
Measurement of Well-Being in Gerontopsychiatric Nursing Home Residents: Development of the Laurens Well-Being Inventory for Gerontopsychiatry
Authors: van der Wolf Elja , van Hooren Susan A. H. , Waterink Wim , Lechner Lilian
Published: June 2018

Background:

The gerontopsychiatric population consists of nursing home residents with combined psychiatric and physical disabilities. A validated measure to assess well-being among this population is currently not available. This article is a first step toward the development of a well-being instrument for the gerontopsychiatric population.

Methods:

Potential measurement items were gathered and selected with the help of both gerontopsychiatric residents and care professionals. A total of 295 residents and their primary professional caregivers were interviewed. Theoretical and data-driven considerations were applied in the methodological process of scale construction.

Results:

The final instrument comprised of 30 items within 3 dimensions of well-being (physical, social, and psychological well-being). Reliability and validity were found to be adequate for all dimensions and subscales.

Conclusions:

The Laurens Well-Being Inventory for Gerontopsychiatry measures well-being in gerontopsychiatric nursing home residents. The first results regarding reliability and validity are promising. More research is needed especially to examine test–retest reliability and responsiveness to change.
Polyamide 6 and high molecular weight phenol novolac blend having excellent mechanical properties in humid conditions
Authors: Hirai Takayuki , Fukumori Kenzo , Ikawa Taiji , Oda Tetsuya
Published: June 2018

Polymer blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and phenol novolac (PN) were prepared by melt mixing. Up to 30 wt% of high molecular weight PN (HPN) or low molecular weight PN (LPN) was blended with PA6, and the physical and mechanical properties were examined. The water absorption of PA6 is inhibited by PN, and this effect is independent of the molecular weight of PN. PA6 and PN are miscible, and their blends show a single glass transition temperature ( T g) that is higher than that of PA6. HPN can enhance the T g of PA6 more efficiently than LPN because of its high T g. PA6 and the PA6/LPN blend after immersion in water had lower-than-room-temperature T gs transitioning to rubbery states. In contrast, the PA6/HPN blend after immersion in water had a higher-than-room-temperature T g. The PA6/HPN blend in water has excellent mechanical properties in its glassy state compared to those of PA6 in the dry state. Thus, the PA6/HPN blend can be used to broaden the applications of PA6, especially in humid conditions.
Mechanical and thermal properties of TPU-toughened PBT/CNT nanocomposites
Authors: Tehran Ata Chalabi , Shelesh-Nezhad Karim , Barazandeh Farshid Javidi
Published: June 2018

This research studies the properties of poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT)-based systems toughened with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU; 10, 20, and 30 wt%) and reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs; 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt%). Different compositions prepared via melt mixing. Morphology studies showed good compatibility between the two polymeric phases in PBT/TPU. The addition of TPU to PBT reduced crystallization rate and melt temperature, while inclusion of CNTs had nucleation effect and increased the degree of crystallinity, crystallization, and melt temperatures. The existence of TPU in PBT caused significant enhancement in notch-impact resistant. The inclusion of CNTs to PBT/TPU blend led to the substantial improvements in tensile and flexural strengths and moduli. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis revealed that the incorporation of CNTs into PBT/TPU enhanced storage modulus and heightened glass transition temperature. The storage modulus of PBT/TPU/CNT nanocomposite containing 0.5 wt% CNT was comparable with that of pure PBT particularly at high temperatures.
The geopolitical turn in interwar Romanian sociology and geography: From social reform to population exchange plans
Authors: Cotoi Calin
Published: June 2018

Romanian interwar geopolitics emerged mostly through a radicalization and instrumentalization of sociology, seen as a militant science serving the nation-state. Geography re-defined itself as both geohistory and geopolitics and tried to articulate German Geopolitik and French géographie politique in order to create a science of national and global spaces compatible with this new sociology. Geopolitics became, at the end of the 1930s and during WWII, a major discourse in national politics and gathered a group of scholars, public administrators, and military elites, who aimed to quickly and massively transform the nation and the state. Two important local scholars, the sociologist-demographer Anton Golopenţia and the geographer-turned-sociologist Ion Conea, were central in constituting geopolitics as an important political language and an instrument of state reform inside a radical biopolitical project.
How Much Is Enough in a Perfect World? Cultural Variation in Ideal Levels of Happiness, Pleasure, Freedom, Health, Self-Esteem, Longevity, and Intelligence
Authors: Hornsey Matthew J. , Bain Paul G. , Harris Emily A. , Lebedeva Nadezhda , Kashima Emiko S. , Guan Yanjun , González Roberto , Chen Sylvia Xiaohua , Blumen Sheyla
Published: June 2018

The maximization principle—that people aspire to the highest possible level of something good if all practical constraints are removed—is a common yet untested assumption about human nature. We predict that in holistic cultures—where contradiction, change, and context are emphasized—ideal states of being for the self will be more moderate than in other cultures. In two studies ( Ns = 2,392 and 6,239), we asked this question: If participants could choose their ideal level of happiness, pleasure, freedom, health, self-esteem, longevity, and intelligence, what level would they choose? Consistent with predictions, results showed that maximization was less pronounced in holistic cultures; members of holistic cultures aspired to less happiness, pleasure, freedom, health, self-esteem, longevity, and IQ than did members of other cultures. In contrast, no differences emerged on ideals for society. The studies show that the maximization principle is not a universal aspect of human nature and that there are predictable cultural differences in people’s notions of perfection.
Economic miracle, political disaster? Political consequences of Hartz IV
Authors: Fervers Lukas
Published: June 2018

The German Hartz IV reform has been a far-reaching labour market reform which reduced unemployment benefit generosity. The encompassing economic evaluation tends to confirm that the reform was an initial spark for the improvement of German labour market performance. At the same time, welfare state scholars have recently expressed concerns that such reforms may have far-reaching and detrimental political effects. In this article, I contribute to this discussion and analyse the political effects of Hartz IV including decreasing satisfaction with democracy, decreasing political participation and an increase of protest voting and political polarization. To identify the effect of the reform, I rely on bi-weekly representative survey data and exploit the announcement of the Hartz reforms as natural experiment. Comparing political attitudes of persons interviewed immediately before and after the announcement in regression analyses confirms that there was a sharp drop in satisfaction with democracy and the intention to participate in the next election, as well as increasing affinity to non-established and left-wing parties. Supplementary analyses show that the effect is stronger for unemployed workers who are more directly affected by the reform. These results are robust to different model specifications and estimation techniques. Moreover, placebo tests for past and previous years refute the concern that the effect is driven by other factors such as calendar time effects. These findings indicate that the political consequences of welfare state retrenchment go far beyond electoral punishment. This is possibly more relevant today than ever before as the current increase of populist parties substantially impedes the functioning of political systems in modern democracies.
Dynamic vacuum pressure tracking control with high-speed on-off valves
Authors: Yang Gang , Chen Kai , Du Linglong , Du Jingmin , Li Baoren
Published: June 2018

A vacuum pressure tracking system with high-speed on-off valves is a discontinuous system due to the discrete nature of high-speed on-off valves. Chamber pressure changes in the system are determined by the mass flow rates during the processes of charging and discharging. Here, a sliding mode controller with an asymmetric compensator based on average mass flow rate is designed for accurate vacuum pressure tracking. The controller output signal is converted into the duty cycles of the high-speed on-off valves via a pulse width modulation pulsing scheme. Owing to the extreme asymmetry of the processes, an asymmetric structure comprising one high-speed on-off valve in the charging unit and three high-speed on-off valves in the discharging unit is applied to weaken the impact of asymmetry. In addition, an asymmetric compensator is also designed to modify the pulse width modulation pulsing scheme to further eliminate the asymmetry. Experimental results indicate that the proposed controller achieves better performance in pressure tracking with the asymmetric compensator overcoming process asymmetry and enhancing system robustness.
UV-B-absorbing compounds in modern Cedrus atlantica pollen: The potential for a summer UV-B proxy for Northwest Africa
Authors: Bell Benjamin A , Fletcher William J , Ryan Peter , Seddon Alistair WR , Wogelius Roy A , Ilmen Rachid
Published: June 2018

Sporopollenin is a complex biopolymer which is the main component of the pollen grain exine and is partly composed of the aromatic compounds para-coumaric acid ( pCA) and ferulic acid (FA). These compounds absorb ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280–315 nm), and their abundance in pollen and spores has been shown to increase in response to increased UV-B flux. Here, we show that the relative abundance of UV-B-absorbing compounds (UACs) measured using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) in modern pollen of autumn-pollinating Cedrus atlantica trees increases in response to summer UV-B flux. This relationship was observed in native Moroccan samples ( r2 = 0.84, p < 0.0001), but not across a larger environmental gradient including non-Moroccan samples ( r2 = 0.00, p = 0.99). For non-Moroccan samples of known provenance, the abundance of UACs is similar to the abundance of UACs found in samples from their place of origin. The FTIR spectra of these samples also closely resemble the FTIR spectra of samples from their place of origin. This unexpected finding suggests there could be a heritable component to UAC production possibly associated with epigenetic memory, an important adaptive mechanism in conifers. Our results indicate that the relative abundance of UACs in Cedrus atlantica pollen could be used as a proxy to reconstruct historic summer UV-B flux in Northwest Africa during at least the Holocene and Late Glacial period while also highlighting how UV-B proxies should be established using pollen samples from specimens growing in their native range or environment.
Robustness of testing procedures for confirmatory subpopulation analyses based on a continuous biomarker
Authors: Graf Alexandra Christine , Wassmer Gernot , Friede Tim , Gera Roland Gerard , Posch Martin
Published: June 2018

With the advent of personalized medicine, clinical trials studying treatment effects in subpopulations are receiving increasing attention. The objectives of such studies are, besides demonstrating a treatment effect in the overall population, to identify subpopulations, based on biomarkers, where the treatment has a beneficial effect. Continuous biomarkers are often dichotomized using a threshold to define two subpopulations with low and high biomarker levels. If there is insufficient information on the dependence structure of the outcome on the biomarker, several thresholds may be investigated. The nested structure of such subpopulations is similar to the structure in group sequential trials. Therefore, it has been proposed to use the corresponding critical boundaries to test such nested subpopulations. We show that for biomarkers with a prognostic effect that is not adjusted for in the statistical model, the variability of the outcome may vary across subpopulations which may lead to an inflation of the family-wise type 1 error rate. Using simulations we quantify the potential inflation of testing procedures based on group sequential designs. Furthermore, alternative hypotheses tests that control the family-wise type 1 error rate under minimal assumptions are proposed. The methodological approaches are illustrated by a trial in depression.
Flexible and structured survival model for a simultaneous estimation of non-linear and non-proportional effects and complex interactions between continuous variables: Performance of this multidimensional penalized spline approach in net survival trend analysis
Authors: Remontet Laurent , Uhry Zoé , Bossard Nadine , Iwaz Jean , Belot Aurélien , Danieli Coraline , Charvat Hadrien , Roche Laurent ,   the CENSUR Working Survival Group
Published: June 2018

Cancer survival trend analyses are essential to describe accurately the way medical practices impact patients’ survival according to the year of diagnosis. To this end, survival models should be able to account simultaneously for non-linear and non-proportional effects and for complex interactions between continuous variables. However, in the statistical literature, there is no consensus yet on how to build such models that should be flexible but still provide smooth estimates of survival. In this article, we tackle this challenge by smoothing the complex hypersurface (time since diagnosis, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and mortality hazard) using a multidimensional penalized spline built from the tensor product of the marginal bases of time, age, and year. Considering this penalized survival model as a Poisson model, we assess the performance of this approach in estimating the net survival with a comprehensive simulation study that reflects simple and complex realistic survival trends. The bias was generally small and the root mean squared error was good and often similar to that of the true model that generated the data. This parametric approach offers many advantages and interesting prospects (such as forecasting) that make it an attractive and efficient tool for survival trend analyses.
Does State Ownership of Banks Matter?
Authors: Davydov Denis
Published: June 2018

This article examines the effects of state ownership and government interventions on lending behaviour and capitalisation of banks over the period 2005–2011. Using data from the highly state-influenced Russian banking sector, it is documented that the relationship between state ownership and lending is nonlinear. While overall loan growth decreased and interest rates rose, it was found that fully state-controlled banks increased lending and charged lower interest rates during the crisis of 2008–2010. Moreover, fully state-owned and state-supported banks demonstrated counter-cyclical lending behaviour during the crisis. However, while state-owned banks were better protected against asset default, there is weak evidence to suggest that government interventions may result in increased riskiness of banks.
Decreased expression of cell adhesion genes in cancer stem-like cells isolated from primary oral squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Mishra Amrendra , Sriram Harshini , Chandarana Pinal , Tanavde Vivek , Kumar Rekha V , Gopinath Ashok , Govindarajan Raman , Ramaswamy S. , Sadasivam Subhashini
Published: June 2018

The goal of this study was to isolate cancer stem-like cells marked by high expression of CD44, a putative cancer stem cell marker, from primary oral squamous cell carcinomas and identify distinctive gene expression patterns in these cells. From 1 October 2013 to 4 September 2015, 76 stage III–IV primary oral squamous cell carcinoma of the gingivobuccal sulcus were resected. In all, 13 tumours were analysed by immunohistochemistry to visualise CD44-expressing cells. Expression of CD44 within The Cancer Genome Atlas–Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma RNA-sequencing data was also assessed. Seventy resected tumours were dissociated into single cells and stained with antibodies to CD44 as well as CD45 and CD31 (together referred as Lineage/Lin). From 45 of these, CD44+Lin– and CD44–Lin– subpopulations were successfully isolated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and good-quality RNA was obtained from 14 such sorted pairs. Libraries from five pairs were sequenced and the results analysed using bioinformatics tools. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to experimentally validate the differential expression of selected candidate genes identified from the transcriptome sequencing in the same 5 and an additional 9 tumours. CD44 was expressed on the surface of poorly differentiated tumour cells, and within the The Cancer Genome Atlas–Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma samples, its messenger RNA levels were higher in tumours compared to normal. Transcriptomics revealed that 102 genes were upregulated and 85 genes were downregulated in CD44+Lin– compared to CD44–Lin– cells in at least 3 of the 5 tumours sequenced. The upregulated genes included those involved in immune regulation, while the downregulated genes were enriched for genes involved in cell adhesion. Decreased expression of PCDH18, MGP, SPARCL1 and KRTDAP was confirmed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lower expression of the cell–cell adhesion molecule PCDH18 correlated with poorer overall survival in the The Cancer Genome Atlas–Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma data highlighting it as a potential negative prognostic factor in this cancer.
Context effects of background babbling on memory for melodies
Authors: Herff Steffen A. , Dean Roger T. , Schaal Nora K.
Published: June 2018

Disruptive effects of background noise on memory have been thoroughly investigated. Potential beneficial context effects of background noise on memory, however, have received far less attention. Here, we explore whether and how unintelligible multiple talker background babbling affects melody recognition. Participants continuously listened to melodies, each of which appeared twice during the experiment. After each melody participants were asked to indicate whether they had heard the melody previously in the experiment. The presence or absence of background noise during first or second melody presentation was manipulated in four conditions (Clear-Clear, Clear-Noise, Noise-Clear, Noise-Noise). We measured recognition performance as well as cumulative disruptive interference between first and second melody presentation. Mixed effects models revealed that recognition in Clear-Clear was significantly better compared to Noise-Clear and Noise-Noise, but not compared to Clear-Noise. Clear-Noise showed descriptively better recognition performance than Noise-Noise, however this comparison did not reach statistical significance. Recognition performance in Clear-Noise was significantly better than in Noise-Clear, suggesting that noise during encoding affects recognition performance more strongly than noise during retrieval. Furthermore, cumulative disruptive interference was stronger in mismatching contexts. Our results suggest that if possible, background noise should be avoided as it negatively affects memory performance. However, if encoding is likely to take place in a noisy environment, then presenting background noise during retrieval may be beneficial. This is because matching background noise during encoding and retrievals appears to reduce cumulative disruptive interference.
Drug Therapy Problem Severity Following Hospitalization and Association With 30-Day Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Westberg Sarah M. , Yarbrough Angela , Weinhandl Eric D. , Adam Terrence J. , Brummel Amanda R. , Reidt Shannon L. , Sick Brian T. , St. Peter Wendy L.
Published: June 2018

Background: Improved understanding of how drug therapy problems (DTPs) contribute to rehospitalization is needed. Objective: The primary objectives were to assess the association of DTP likelihood of harm (LoH) severity score, as measured by comprehensive medication management (CMM) pharmacist after hospital discharge, with 30-day risk of hospital readmission, observation visit, or emergency department visit, and to determine whether resolution of DTPs reduces 30-day risk. Secondary objectives were to determine if any eventswere associated with DTPs and preventability of events. Methods: Data were collected for 365 patients who received CMM following hospitalization and had at least 1 DTP identified. Retrospective chart reviews were completed for 80 patients with subsequent events to assess associationg with a DTP and its preventability. Results: For each 1-point increment in maximum LoH score, there was 10% higher risk of the composite end point (hazard ratio [HR]=1.10; 95% CI:0.97-1.26; P=0.13). When DTPs were resolved by the CMM pharmacist, the association was attenuated, with a HR of 1.15 (95% CI:0.96-1.38; P=0.12) when the DTP was unresolved and HR of 1.09 (95% CI:0.96-1.25; P=0.52) when resolved; for hospital readmission alone, the corresponding HRs were 1.23 (95% CI:1.00-1.53; P=0.05) and 1.05 (95% CI:0.87-1.27; P=0.60). Of 80 subsequent events, 44 were associated with a medication; 22 were considered preventable. Conclusion and Relevance: The LoH severity score was associated with risk of 30-day events. The strength of association was attenuated when DTPs were resolved by the CMM pharmacist. However, because of statistical uncertainty, larger studies are needed to confirm these patterns.
The Relationship Between Aspirin Resistance and Carotid Imaging in Young Patients With ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Somuncu Mustafa Umut , Demir Ali Riza , Karakurt Huseyin , Serbest Nail Guven , Kalayci Belma , Bulut Umit , Karakurt Seda Tukenmez
Published: June 2018

The presence of carotid atherosclerosis accompanied by coronary artery disease is associated with poor prognosis. A subset of patients who take aspirin continue to have recurrent cardiovascular events, which may be due to aspirin resistance (AR). Also, carotid plaques may cause turbulent flow which in turn may lead to platelet activation and poor antiplatelet response. In our study, we aimed to show the prevalence of AR and its relationship between high-risk carotid images in young patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). In our study, we included 112 patients younger than 45 years with STEMI. Aspirin response test was evaluated 1 hour after aspirin intake using multiplate platelet function analyzer, and carotid ultrasonography has been performed to determine carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of carotid plaque. We identified 30.3% AR in young patients with STEMI. Carotid intima–media thickness ( P = .002), carotid plaque ( P = .012), and high-risk carotid image ( P = .015) values are significantly high in patients who have AR. Independent of other risk factors, the presence of carotid plaque and being in the high-risk carotid group were associated with 3.7 times and 3.2 times increased odds for AR, respectively. In young patients with STEMI, physicians should be careful about AR, especially in patients who have carotid plaque and thicker CIMT.
Crack interaction with nanoscale twinning near a second-phase particle in fine-grained magnesium alloy
Authors: He Tengwu , Feng Miaolin , Chen Xiuhua
Published: June 2018

A theoretical model is established to address the effect of nanoscale twinning near a second-phase particle on crack growth in fine-grained magnesium alloys. The numerical solutions of singular integral equations are obtained by the considering complex variable method of Muskhelishvili, the superposition principle of elasticity, and the distributed dislocation technique. The expressions of stress intensity factors near the left crack tip are derived, and the energy release rate (ERR) characterizing the condition for crack propagation is also calculated. The influences of relevant parameters such as the location of nanoscale twin, the size of particle, and the relative distance between the inhomogeneity and the left crack tip on the ERR are examined in detail. The results indicate that the ERR is strongly influenced by the nanoscale twinning and the second-phase particle. The hard inhomogeneity decreases the ERR while the soft inhomogeneity increases the ERR when nanoscale twinning is not taken into account. At the same time, there is competition between the effects of the hard particle and nanoscale twinning on the ERR, and the nanoscale twin band with an optimum size displays the best toughening effect.