bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Analysis and Validity of the Family Needs Screener
Authors: Kaye Miranda P. , Saathoff-Wells Tara , Ferrara Amanda M. , Morgan Nicole R. , Perkins Daniel F.
Published: November 2019

Assessment that accurately categorizes families’ risk for family violence (i.e., intimate partner violence and child maltreatment) and identifies areas of family need is essential for prevention program planning, practice, and resource allocation. The Family Needs Screener (FNS) assesses risk for intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. It is used as a tool to prioritize those who are in the greatest need of services as well as plan prevention efforts in selected prevention services offered to military families. To date, no peer-reviewed studies examine the factor structure of the FNS. In this study, we examined measurement aspects of the FNS as an assessment tool in identifying risk of family violence. Data were drawn from Army families ( N = 18,159) who were screened between 2009 and 2013 and matched to substantiated cases of family violence. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was used to examine the factor structure, measurement invariance, and predictive validity of the FNS. Results supported a shortened measure with a five-factor structure and full gender invariance. In particular, relationship issues were predictive of both intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. In addition, family of origin/history of family violence was predictive of substantiated cases of child maltreatment. Findings support the use of the FNS to assess risk, allocate, and plan for services in an Army population. Implications for scale modifications and use, as well as prevention efforts, are discussed.
Investigation of surface damage and roughness for nickel-based superalloy GH4169 under hard turning processing
Authors: Pan Lei , Wu ZR , Fang Lei , Song YD
Published: November 2019

Machined surface condition of nickel-based superalloys has an important influence on the functional performance of the components. Proper selection of cutting parameters could improve surface finish and increase service life of parts and components. This research work bases on an experimental and statistical study of turning GH4169 nickel-based superalloy with cemented carbide tool. Surface damages like feed marks, tips, and surface tearing were discussed. The second-order polynomial model was used to describe the surface roughness response. Variance analysis was selected to eliminate the insignificant variables in the roughness model. The response surface methodology was used to investigate the combined effect of cutting parameters on two different dimensions surface roughness parameters. The optimization of cutting parameters for minimum surface roughness was obtained using desirability function method. The results demonstrate that feed rate has the most significant effect on surface roughness. High cutting speed and low feed rate result in better surface quality, but too low feed rate exacerbates built-up edge phenomenon and deteriorates surface condition. Optimal cutting parameters leading to the minimum surface roughness were highlighted.
Controlling the vibration and noise of a ballasted track using a dynamic vibration absorber with negative stiffness
Authors: Liu Haiping , Zhu Dongmei
Published: November 2019

In this study, a rail dynamic vibration absorber with negative stiffness is developed to reduce the vibration transmission and radiated noise from the rail components of a ballasted track. The compound models of the ballasted track system with and without the proposed dynamic vibration absorber and a traditional dynamic vibration absorber are constructed. A parametric study is performed to evaluate the effects of the design parameters of the proposed dynamic vibration absorber on the vibration and noise reduction of the track system in terms of the point receptance, the decay rate of rail vibration along the track, and the vibration energy level of the rail. Compared with the traditional dynamic vibration absorber, the proposed counterpart can work effectively over a broad frequency range around resonance. The efficiency of the dynamic vibration absorber can be improved by adjusting the design values of the active mass and damping coefficient. A comparison with the traditional dynamic vibration absorber shows that the vibration and noise suppression capability of the proposed one can be enhanced by increasing the value of the stiffness ratio. However, different from the traditional dynamic vibration absorber, the design parameters of the proposed one can also affect the decay rate and vibration energy at low-frequency regions. A discrete track with the proposed dynamic vibration absorber, which is arranged in continuous or discrete distribution along the rail, is illustrated to study the influences of the rail components on the decay rate and vibration energy level of rails. These calculated results could provide a theoretical basis for the design of the proposed dynamic vibration absorber in controlling the vibration and radiated noise from rails.
Genealogies of Immigration Detention: Migration Control and the Shifting Boundaries Between the ‘Penal’ and the ‘Preventive’ State
Authors: Campesi Giuseppe
Published: November 2019

The aim of this article is to explore the ambiguous legal status of immigration detention by discussing the main theoretical perspectives on its nature and the functions it plays in contemporary migration policies. After presenting a typological and genealogical reconstruction of immigration detention, the article contends that it should not be seen as being related either to the politics of ‘exception’ or to the expanding reach of ‘penal’ power in a context of mass migration. Instead, the argument presented here is that immigration detention exhibits the characteristics of preventive measures typically related to the exercise of police powers and that its increased role in migration policies should be read in the wider framework of the shifting boundaries between the ‘penal’ and the ‘preventive’ state in contemporary societies.
Development of proton-exchange polymer nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell applications
Authors: Gandhimathi Sivasubramanian , Krishnan Hariharasubramanian , Paradesi Deivanayagam
Published: November 2019

The design and development of proton conducting polymer electrolyte membranes from a linear constituent, sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), and inorganic additive, niobium oxide (NBO), have been achieved. The degree of sulfonation of SPEEK was measured by back titration method and found to be 57%. The physicochemical properties such as water uptake ability, ion-exchange capacity, swelling ratio, proton conductivity, and thermal stability of the prepared polymer nanocomposite membranes were studied in detail. The distribution of NBO throughout the polymer matrix has been examined by scanning electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses and found to be uniform. The SP-NBO-10 composite membrane shows 38.4% of water uptake, whereas the pristine membrane limits to 27.1%. The prepared electrolyte membranes exhibit good proton conductivity at temperature varying from 30°C to 90°C and possess less activation energy for the transportation of proton by the incorporation of NBO filler. The thermal studies demonstrated that the stability of the composite membranes was significantly enhanced by the impregnation of NBO. The filler NBO shows excellent improvements on the polymer nanocomposite, making it a very promising additive for other polymers and offers new roads for energy applications.
Highly Cited in the South: International Collaboration and Research Recognition Among Brazil’s Highly Cited Researchers
Authors: Martinez Magdalena , Sá Creso
Published: November 2019

For researchers in the global South, international recognition in science arguably involves engaging with the norms, ideas, and people leading research activity in the global North. This article explores the relationship between international research collaboration and the publication activity of highly cited researchers in Brazil, a country that exerts regional leadership in scientific production in Latin America, but remains relatively peripheral to global science. This study examined the career trajectories and publication patterns of highly cited researchers based in Brazilian universities, using Web of Science and CV data. Our findings show a pattern of international mobility among the Brazilian highly cited researchers from the early stages of their careers. With few exceptions, engagement with the academic Anglosphere is central to their achievement of highly cited status, which is derived from co-authored publications with collaborators from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in large teams.
Pathobiology and diagnosis of clostridial hepatitis in animals
Authors: Navarro Mauricio A. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: November 2019

Clostridia can cause hepatic damage in domestic livestock, and wild and laboratory animals. Clostridium novyi type B causes infectious necrotic hepatitis (INH) in sheep and less frequently in other species. Spores of C. novyi type B can be present in soil; after ingestion, they reach the liver via portal circulation where they persist in phagocytic cells. Following liver damage, frequently caused by migrating parasites, local anaerobic conditions allow germination of the clostridial spores and production of toxins. C. novyi type B alpha toxin causes necrotizing hepatitis and extensive edema, congestion, and hemorrhage in multiple organs. Clostridium haemolyticum causes bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH) in cattle, sheep, and rarely, horses. Beta toxin is the main virulence factor of C. haemolyticum, causing hepatic necrosis and hemolysis. Clostridium piliforme, the causal agent of Tyzzer disease (TD), is the only gram-negative and obligate intracellular pathogenic clostridia. TD occurs in multiple species, but it is more frequent in foals, lagomorphs, and laboratory animals. The mode of transmission is fecal–oral, with ingestion of spores from a fecal-contaminated environment. In affected animals, C. piliforme proliferates in the intestinal mucosa, resulting in necrosis, and then disseminates to the liver and other organs. Virulence factors for this microorganism have not been identified, to date. Given the peracute or acute nature of clostridial hepatitis in animals, treatment is rarely effective. However, INH and BH can be prevented, and should be controlled by vaccination and control of liver flukes. To date, no vaccine is available to prevent TD.
Systemic Inflammation and Nutritional Status in Patients on Palliative Cancer Care: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies
Authors: Cordeiro Luisa de Araújo Fonseca , Silva Thiago Huaytalla , de Oliveira Lívia Costa , Neto José Firmino Nogueira
Published: November 2019

Objective:

This systematic literature review explores the results of studies that have analyzed the association between inflammation and nutritional status in patients with cancer in palliative care.

Methods:

The bibliographic research was performed in May 2019, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Group guidelines. The inclusion criteria were papers that (1) had an online abstract available, (2) were original, (3) used a cohort or cross-sectional design, (4) involved patients with advanced cancer in palliative care, and (5) assessed the association between inflammation and nutritional status. The quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results:

Nine studies were selected. Weight loss (WL; n = 7) was the most common nutritional marker employed and C-reactive protein (CRP; n = 6) was the most common inflammatory marker. There was considerable variability (39.0%-92.2%) in the proportion of patients who had WL in a 6-month period, while CRP >5 mg/dL was common in 45.3% to 73.9% of patients. Systemic inflammation was related to nutritional status, highlighting the relationship between CRP and WL and lean mass (LM). Patients with CRP >10 mg/L have been found to have a lower LM ( P < .001) and a faster rate of loss of LM at a faster rate during the disease trajectory ( P = .030).

Conclusion:

Nutritional status is associated with systemic inflammatory response. Inflammatory markers should be considered an additional parameter for the nutritional diagnosis of patients with cancer in palliative care.
Use of the Core Bereavement Items in Adults Aged 50 and Older: A Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Levy Kathryn
Published: November 2019

The Core Bereavement Items (CBI) is a commonly used measure that assesses core grief and bereavement experiences. Although previous psychometric testing has been conducted, no studies have assessed its use specifically aimed at adults aged 50 and older or for those who lost a loved one who was hospice care. This is critical, as losses and additional obstacles in bereavement compound throughout the aging process. The present study investigated reliability, content validity, and internal structure of the CBI in bereaved adults aged 50 and older whose loved one died while in hospice care (N = 205). Associations based on age, marital status, and relationship with the died patients were consistent with preexisting research. Results of a Cronbach α reliability test found that the CBI has excellent reliability in this population. Further, content validity was established based on the judgment of subject matter experts. Exploratory factor analysis supported a 1-factor structure, with all items loading as General Grief Experiences. Based on this analysis, the CBI is a valid and reliable tool when used with adults aged 50 and older.
A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis of Add-on Drug Therapies Specific for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Petrovič Maja , Locatelli Igor
Published: November 2019

Background: Recently published meta-analyses did not discriminate between drug agents used for initial and sequential combination therapy. Objective: To assess the comparative efficacy of drugs specific for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as add-on therapies based on 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), all-cause mortality, and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs). Methods: EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until December 9, 2018, for the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) conducted on primarily adult patients diagnosed with PAH. Data extracted from applicable RCTs were as follows: for 6MWD mean change from baseline, the total number of patients, and the number of patients with events, per treatment. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted in a Bayesian framework. Results: A total of 16 RCTs were eligible for analysis, with 4112 patients. Add-on therapy with tadalafil or inhaled treprostinil performed better than endothelin receptor antagonists alone [27 m; 95% credible interval (CrI): (11, 43); and 19 m; 95% CrI: (10, 27); respectively]. Add-on therapy with macitentan or bosentan performed better than phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors alone [26 m; 95% CrI: (6.4, 45); and 22 m; 95% CrI: (5.1, 38); respectively]. Differences in all-cause mortality and discontinuation due to AEs were nonsignificant. Conclusion and Relevance: Our NMA evaluated efficacy and safety of add-on therapies in patients with PAH. None of the previous meta-analyses evaluated RCTs focusing solely on patients pretreated with another PAH-specific drug therapy. Our results support guideline recommendations on combination therapy in PAH patients and add the quantitative perspective on which sequential therapy demonstrated the greatest effect size.
Wellness Interventions in Psychiatrically Ill Patients: Impact of WILD 5 Wellness, a Five-Domain Mental Health Wellness Intervention on Depression, Anxiety, and Wellness
Authors: Rolin Donna , Fox Isadora , Jain Rakesh , Cole Steven P. , Tran Cecile , Jain Saundra
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of individual wellness interventions are well studied in relation to their respective impacts on psychiatric and mental wellness. To date, there is limited research on programs that incorporate multiple wellness domains and measure psychiatric and wellness markers. AIM: To assess the psychiatric and wellness impact of a nonpharmacologic wellness intervention on subjects receiving psychiatric treatment. METHOD: Forty-one adults with a psychiatric disorder completed the first 30 days of WILD 5 Wellness (Wellness Interventions for Life’s Demands), a 90-day self-management mental wellness program that incorporated exercise, mindfulness, sleep, social connectedness, and nutrition. Subjects recorded participation in both workbooks and online surveys. Participants were recruited nationally via online and outpatient clinic advertisements. Wellness and mental health were measured on Days 1 and 30 of the intervention via five instruments: the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 for mood, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale for anxiety, the Sleep Condition Indicator for sleep quality, the Sheehan Disability Scale for functionality in psychiatric patients, and the HERO Wellness Scale, which measures happiness, enthusiasm, resilience, optimism, and overall mental wellness. RESULTS: Subjects reported statistically significant improvements across all measures on Day 30. CONCLUSION: The research suggests that this multidomain wellness program may be a valuable adjunct to traditional psychiatric treatment and an accessible tool for all health care providers.
Working the fields: The organization of labour in community supported agriculture
Authors: Watson David J.
Published: November 2019

Community supported agriculture schemes are a prominent example of localized alternatives to the global food system. They are presented as alternative nodes of food production, where the consumer experiences a much closer relationship to the produce they are consuming and to the labour involved in producing it. They lift the commodity veil by inviting the consumer into the world of production – of labour. However, there has been little analysis of labour undertaken in the setting of community supported agriculture, particularly the labour of community supported agriculture consumers, or members. Marxian analysis of the food system at the macro level has underpinned powerful critiques of its shortcomings and highlighted inequalities of land and labour, but has rarely been employed to understand the possibilities of alternative food networks at a more micro level. In this article, I draw on Marx’s concept of alienation to explore the experience and organization of labour within a community supported agriculture scheme in the United Kingdom. In doing so, I present a case study of how labour in a community supported agriculture scheme counteracts experiences of alienation created by capitalism and consider how this might inform (re)organization of labour in the food system, more generally.
Optimization of building fenestration and shading for climate-based daylight performance using the coupled genetic algorithm and simulated annealing optimization methods
Authors: Kheiri Farshad
Published: November 2019

Various metaheuristic optimization methods have been applied in high-performance glazing and shading system design due to the complexity and nonlinear impact of the fenestration characteristics on the daylighting performance. However, the optimal solutions found by different optimization methods may vary because of the stochastic nature and the configurations of the optimization methods. This paper studied the improvements in the reliability, consistency and robustness of the genetic algorithm (GA) using hybridization with simulated annealing (SA) considering different cooling strategies in the SA, including the initial temperature and state transitions for each temperature, which controls the comprehensiveness and the convergence acceleration of the search by SA. Analysis of the reliability, consistency and robustness of the optimization methods based on the mean values and the variances of the objective function values of the best cases found in different methods revealed that there is a significant difference between the hybrid GA/SA with higher temperature and GA, where hybrid algorithm performed better than the GA.
Pre conception use of cannabis and cocaine among men with pregnant partners
Authors: Munch Elisabeth Lobben , Skurtveit Svetlana , Handal Marte , Skovlund Eva
Published: November 2019

Background:

Paternal lifestyle during sperm development can have an impact on foetal development. This study surveys demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors among expectant fathers who reported use of cannabis and cocaine in the six-month period before conception. We also study the associations between mothers’ and fathers’ use of cannabis and cocaine.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) using self-reported data on demographic variables and cannabis and cocaine use six months before conception. Associations were assessed using logistic regression and chi-square tests.

Results:

A strong association was found between use of cannabis and cocaine and lifestyle habits such as alcohol and cigarette use. Alcohol consumption four or more times a week gave an adjusted odds ratio (a OR) of 9.7 (95% CI 7.2–13.0) for cannabis and an a OR 21.6 (95% CI 11.5–40.3) for cocaine. There was also a strong association between maternal and paternal use of cannabis and cocaine.

Conclusion:

Use of cannabis and cocaine close to pregnancy seems to be closely linked to other risk factors, and further studies on how paternal drug use affects the foetus are warranted. The strong association between maternal and paternal use of cannabis and cocaine may be used to inform healthcare workers to make good risk assessments.
The spatial politics of chick lit in Africa and Asia: sidestepping tradition and fem-washing global capitalism?
Authors: Tandiwe Myambo Melissa
Published: November 2019

This article provides a spatial analysis of the types of microspaces, or Cultural Time Zones (CTZs), that constitute the narrative universes of chick lit from South Africa, China and India. I argue that although these books take place in ‘developing’ countries, their ‘First World’ spatial politics, and thus their political impact and cultural commentary, are both enabled and constrained by the settings of their narrative thrust. In the CTZ of the five-star hotel, or the elite spa, the books’ protagonists exemplify a popular notion of choice/neoliberal feminism. What, then, do they say about the possibility of feminism for confronting patriarchal traditions in CTZs like the ‘local’ neighbourhood? The three books analysed – Angela Makholwa’s Black Widow Society, Wei Hui’s Shanghai Baby and Anita Jain’s Marrying Anita: A Quest for Love in the New India – are set in the globalising cities of Johannesburg, Shanghai and Delhi in putatively ‘developing’ countries; however, the books’ female protagonists tend to inhabit a series of ‘global’, ‘First World’ CTZs, like the high-end shopping mall, the Western music-playing nightclub or the cappuccino-serving cafe. These CTZs are geographically distant from those of their Western chick lit counterparts, yet nonetheless not very far away if measured in cultural kilometres. The neoliberal, so-called feminist ‘choices’ available to these protagonists would not be possible in geographically proximate but culturally distant, ‘traditional’ CTZs. The key question this article asks is whether these narratives’ spatial settings, confined as they are to upper middle-class, ‘global’, ‘modern’ CTZs, produce a form of spatial politics that fem-washes global capitalism while failing to confront patriarchal and traditional structures which dominate in more ‘local’, ‘traditional’ CTZs.
A Walk Down the Shore| Sahilde 1 Gezinti
Authors: Duru Asli
Published: November 2019

‘A Walk Down the Shore’ is a 20-minute video produced as part of the ‘Visualising memories of violence and wellbeing in Istanbul’ project. It is based on the audio-visual material produced by residents living in redevelopment neighbourhoods in the Anatolian part of Istanbul. It is a standalone research output and, at the same time, presents the core platform of processing the visual-, textual- and movement-based (walking) material generated during fieldwork in Istanbul in 2017. Watching the video, you will be looking at an ambulant filmic ethnography of how violence appears in Istanbul presented in eight spots – theme units, pieces of video – that connect participants’ encounters with things, human and other bodies, machines, animals and others in the built environment. The filmic ethnography is potentially a read-and-write product since it theorises itself as one of the many possible thematic and aesthetic iterations and its form remains open to edit, rearrangement, and remix. Presenting a soft narrative, its digital form enables fresh possibilities for it to be re-shuffled and re-told.
Risk stratification model for post-stroke pneumonia in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Kuo Ya-Wen , Huang Yen-Chu , Lee Meng , Lee Tsong-Hai , Lee Jiann-Der
Published: November 2019

Background:

Post-stroke pneumonia (PSP) has been implicated in the morbidity, mortality, and increased medical costs after acute ischemic stroke.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model for PSP in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods:

A retrospective, case-control, secondary analysis study was conducted using data for 10,034 patients with ischemic stroke who presented to the hospital within 24 hours of onset of stroke symptoms. The predictive factors for PSP were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analyses.

Results:

Among the study population, 546 patients (5.4%) had PSP. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age, atrial fibrillation, smoking habit, body temperature at admission, pulse rate at admission, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score upon admission, white blood cell count, and blood urea nitrogen level were major predictive factors of PSP. CART analysis identified NIHSS score at admission, pulse rate at admission, and percentage of lymphocyte as important factors for PSP to stratify the patients into subgroups. The subgroup of patients with an NIHSS score >14 at admission and pulse rate >111 beats per minute at admission and those with an NIHSS score >14, pulse rate ⩽111 beats per minute at admission, and percentage of lymphocyte ⩽9.2% had a relatively high risk of PSP (39.6% and 35.5%, respectively).

Conclusions:

In this study, CART analysis has a similar predictive value of PSP as compared with a logistic regression model. In addition, decision rules generated by CART can easily be interpreted and applied in clinical practice.
The Tumor Target Segmentation of Nasopharyngeal Cancer in CT Images Based on Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Li Shihao , Xiao Jianghong , He Ling , Peng Xingchen , Yuan Xuedong
Published: November 2019

Radiotherapy is the main treatment strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A major factor affecting radiotherapy outcome is the accuracy of target delineation. Target delineation is time-consuming, and the results can vary depending on the experience of the oncologist. Using deep learning methods to automate target delineation may increase its efficiency. We used a modified deep learning model called U-Net to automatically segment and delineate tumor targets in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients were randomly divided into a training set (302 patients), validation set (100 patients), and test set (100 patients). The U-Net model was trained using labeled computed tomography images from the training set. The U-Net was able to delineate nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumors with an overall dice similarity coefficient of 65.86% for lymph nodes and 74.00% for primary tumor, with respective Hausdorff distances of 32.10 and 12.85 mm. Delineation accuracy decreased with increasing cancer stage. Automatic delineation took approximately 2.6 hours, compared to 3 hours, using an entirely manual procedure. Deep learning models can therefore improve accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of target delineation in T stage, but additional physician input may be required for lymph nodes.
A Study on Isolation, Characterization, and Exploration of Multiantibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Wound Site of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients
Authors: Thanganadar Appapalam Selvakumar , Muniyan Anbarasan , Vasanthi Mohan Kanimozhi , Panchamoorthy Rajasekar
Published: November 2019

This study collected wound swab samples from 50 diabetic patients, especially in Wagner’s grade 2 (28) and grade 3 (22) foot ulcers. The samples were processed and subjected to bacterial isolation and characterization. The obtained diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) bacterial isolates were also subjected to antibiotic susceptibility assay. All the collected samples were culture positive and produced a total of 85 isolates. Monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections were observed from the collected grade 2 and 3 samples, respectively. Gram’s staining and morphological analyses of the obtained bacterial colony demonstrated the presence of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacilli, Gram-positive cocci, and Gram-negative cocco-bacilli in the wounds of diabetic patients. The bacterial profiling of 85 isolates revealed the presence of Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Acinetobacter spp, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter spp, K oxytoca, and Stenotrophomonas spp Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Corynebacterium spp, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae were also identified. The predominant microbial flora found in the collected samples were Staphylococcus aureus (38%) and P aeruginosa (23.2%), followed by B subtilis (21%) and Escherichia coli (18%) and other bacteria. Furthermore, the obtained antibiotic susceptibility assay data of DFU isolates have also confirmed the distribution of multiantibiotic-resistant bacteria in the wound site of diabetic patients. The findings of the present study suggest that there is a need for the discovery of novel drug(s) to alleviate antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in DFU patients.
Model-based estimation of light-duty vehicle fuel economy at high altitude
Authors: Hao Lijun , Wang Chunjie , Yin Hang , Hao Chunxiao , Wang Haohao , Tan Jianwei , Wang Xin , Ge Yunshan
Published: November 2019

In order to estimate the light-duty vehicle fuel economy at high-altitude areas, the coast-down tests of a passenger car on level road were conducted at different elevations, and the coast-down resistance coefficients were calculated. Furthermore, a fuel economy model for a light-duty vehicle adopting backward simulation method was developed, and it mainly consists of vehicle dynamic model, internal combustion engine model, transmission model, and differential model. The internal combustion engine model consists of the brake-specific fuel consumption maps as functions of engine torque and engine speed, and the brake-specific fuel consumption map near sea level was constructed based on engine experimental data, and the brake-specific fuel consumption maps at high altitudes were calculated by GT-Power Modeling of the internal combustion engine. The fuel consumption rate was calculated from the brake-specific fuel consumption maps and brake power and used to calculate the fuel economy of the light-duty vehicle. The model predicted fuel consumption data met well with the test results, and the model prediction errors are within 5%.
Coexisting infinitely many attractors in a new chaotic system with a curve of equilibria: Its extreme multi-stability and Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy computation
Authors: Ahmadi Atefeh , Wang Xiong , Nazarimehr Fahimeh , Alsaadi Fawaz E , Alsaadi Fuad E , Pham Viet-Thanh
Published: November 2019

A new five-dimensional chaotic system with extreme multi-stability is introduced in this article. The mathematical model is established, and numerical simulations are done. This dynamical system complicates incident of extreme multi-stability. Most significantly, relied on the mathematical model, the recently proposed system has a curve of equilibria that ends in the occurrence of hidden attractors. We examine the initial-condition-dependent dynamics of this system. We inspect that there is an unrestricted number of coexistent attractors, which signifies the occurrence of extreme multi-stability strictly. In addition, the extreme multi-stability according to initial condition is investigated consuming the Lyapunov exponent spectra and bifurcation diagrams. The existence of coexisting infinitely many attractors is displayed with phase portraits. In the end, we calculate and debate Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy in the chaotic system. We direct trying the Kolmogorov–Sinai technique of entropic inspection for the dynamics of the system.
The effect of nanoparticle size and nanoparticle aggregation on the flow characteristics of nanofluids by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Bao Lingling , Zhong Chaoyang , Jie Pengfei , Hou Yan
Published: November 2019

Molecular dynamics simulation is used to investigate the flow characteristics of Cu–Ar nanofluids considering the influence of nanoparticle size and nanoparticle aggregation. Nanofluids viscosity is calculated by equilibrium molecular dynamics based on Green–Kubo equation. Results demonstrate that the viscosity of nanofluids decreases with the increase of nanoparticle size. In addition, nanoparticle aggregation results in the increase of the nanofluids viscosity. Compared with nanoparticle size, nanoparticle aggregation has a larger impact on viscosity. Nanofluids flowing in parallel-plate nanochannels are simulated. The velocity profiles are studied through three nanoparticle sizes (11.55, 14.55, and 18.33 Å) and four nanoparticle aggregate configurations. Results show that the velocity profile of 14.55 Å nanoparticle size is larger than that of other two nanoparticle sizes. As for four nanoparticles, the nanoparticles clustering as a line leads to the maximum velocity profile, while the nanoparticles clustering as a cube causes the minimum velocity profile. Compared with viscosity, nanoparticle aggregation has a greater effect on the velocity profile. When the nanoparticles are evenly distributed, the influence of viscosity on velocity profiles is dominant. Otherwise, the aggregation, aggregate configuration, and distribution of nanoparticles have a dominant impact on the flow characteristics of nanofluids.
The Ordinary Affects of Law
Authors: Wall Illan rua
Published: November 2019

The article examines the affective dynamics of law in the everyday. It insists upon the importance of ‘the background’ for thinking about law. In the everyday cut and thrust of daily life, law tends to fade into the background. It becomes unobtrusive, functioning from the background by structuring the capacity to act. In other words, it functions affectively. Key to law’s functioning is its ability to also move out from the background in certain crucial moments. In this it becomes obtrusive, taking centre stage in such a way that its former position in the background becomes imperceptible. The movements from background to foreground and back again are essential to begin to grasp the manner in which law functions with and through affect. Using the work of Kathleen Stewart, Hans Lindahl and Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos the article insists upon the importance of the affective dynamics of law. Developing the idea of nestled affects helps us to understand the movements from background to foreground.
Physiological and perceptual responses of youth soccer players to an intensified period of competition
Authors: Maughan Patrick C , Swinton Paul A
Published: November 2019

Intensified periods of competition create large increase in physical workload and can expose soccer players to numerous playing styles. The purpose of the study was to investigate the response of youth soccer players to an intensified period of competition and assess whether initial fitness influenced outcomes. Elite males across two consecutive years (n1 = 18, n2 = 18) were assessed for lower body strength and high-intensity endurance. Objective and subjective measures of fatigue were collected throughout five-day international tournaments using countermovement jumps (CMJ), a perceptual wellness questionnaire and match GPS data. Mixed effects models quantified the effects of time and fitness on outcomes. In general, results were consistent across both years. No significant interaction effects were obtained between time and fitness variables for any outcome ([Formula: see text] ≤ 6.5; p ≥  .225). CMJ height and power remained consistent across both tournaments ([Formula: see text] ≤ 5.3; p ≥  .262). In contrast, significant ([Formula: see text] ≥ 17.7; p <  .003) effects of time were obtained for GPS data with metrics exhibiting U-shape patterns with values returning to initial levels during final games. Greater variation was obtained for perceptual wellness data; however, responses to general muscle soreness and stress levels showed consistent decreases across both years ([Formula: see text] ≥ 12.7; p ≤  .013). Practitioners should be aware that basic measures collected from CMJ and GPS data may not be sensitive to fatigue accrued in youth soccer players across intensified periods of competition. In contrast, simple perceptual measures including general muscle soreness and stress may be more sensitive and assist with implementation of active recovery or load management strategies.
A novel parameter estimation method for the Weibull distribution on heavily censored data
Authors: Jiang Renyan
Published: November 2019

It is desired to build the life distribution models of critical components (which are assumed to be non-repairable) of a repairable system as early as possible based on field failure data in order to optimize the operation and maintenance decisions of the components. When the number of the systems under observation is large and the observation duration is relatively short, the samples obtained for modeling are large and heavily censored. For such samples, the classical parameter estimation methods (e.g. maximum likelihood method and least square method) do not provide robust estimates. To address this issue, this article develops a hybrid censoring index to quantitatively describe censoring characteristics of a data set, proposes a novel parameter estimation method based on information extracted from censored observations, and evaluates the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method through a numerical experiment. Its applicable range in terms of the hybrid censoring index is determined through an accuracy analysis. The experiment results show that the proposed approach provides much accurate estimates than the classical methods for heavily censored data. A real-world example is also included.
Label consistent transform learning for pattern classification
Authors: Yin He-Feng , Wu Xiao-Jun
Published: November 2019

Transform learning has been successfully applied to various image processing tasks in recent years. Nevertheless, transform learning learns the representation in an unsupervised fashion. To make transform learning suitable for pattern classification, we introduce a label consistency constraint into transform learning and propose a new label consistent transform learning to enhance the classification performance of transform learning. The resulting optimization problem can be solved elegantly by employing the alternative strategy. Experimental results on publicly available databases demonstrate that label consistent transform learning outperforms several dictionary learning approaches and the recently proposed discriminative transform learning. More importantly, label consistent transform learning has the least training time which has the potential in practical applications.
Evidence for efficacy of new developments in reconstructive upper limb surgery for tetraplegia
Authors: Ledgard James P. , Gschwind Claudia R.
Published: November 2019

Nerve transfers are increasingly utilized for upper limb reconstruction in tetraplegia. We reviewed the literature for results achieved by nerve transfers for elbow extension, wrist control and finger and thumb flexion and extension. Muscle strength grading was the only outcome measure consistently reported. The results confirm that nerve transfers can effectively reanimate muscles in selected cases, with comparable strength with those achieved with tendon transfer for elbow extension but inferior strength for finger and thumb flexion. Transfer of supinator nerve branches to the posterior interosseous nerve appears to be reliable and offers increased span and better hand opening than is observed after tendon transfers. Only one publication demonstrated how reinnervation of muscles with nerve transfers translated into improved function, activity and participation for patients. More prospective studies, using standardized outcome measures, are needed to define the precise role of nerve transfers.
Structural brain network fingerprints of focal dystonia
Authors: Chirumamilla Venkata C. , Dresel Christian , Koirala Nabin , Gonzalez-Escamilla Gabriel , Deuschl Günther , Zeuner Kirsten E. , Muthuraman Muthuraman , Groppa Sergiu
Published: November 2019

Background:

Focal dystonias are severe and disabling movement disorders of a still unclear origin. The structural brain networks associated with focal dystonia have not been well characterized. Here, we investigated structural brain network fingerprints in patients with blepharospasm (BSP) compared with those with hemifacial spasm (HFS), and healthy controls (HC). The patients were also examined following treatment with botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT).

Methods:

This study included matched groups of 13 BSP patients, 13 HFS patients, and 13 HC. We measured patients using structural-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and after one month BoNT treatment, at time points of maximal and minimal clinical symptom representation, and HC at baseline. Group regional cross-correlation matrices calculated based on grey matter volume were included in graph-based network analysis. We used these to quantify global network measures of segregation and integration, and also looked at local connectivity properties of different brain regions.

Results:

The networks in patients with BSP were more segregated than in patients with HFS and HC ( p < 0.001). BSP patients had increased connectivity in frontal and temporal cortices, including sensorimotor cortex, and reduced connectivity in the cerebellum, relative to both HFS patients and HC ( p < 0.05). Compared with HC, HFS patients showed increased connectivity in temporal and parietal cortices and a decreased connectivity in the frontal cortex ( p < 0.05). In BSP patients, the connectivity of the frontal cortex diminished after BoNT treatment ( p < 0.05). In contrast, HFS patients showed increased connectivity in the temporal cortex and reduced connectivity in cerebellum after BoNT treatment ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Our results show that BSP patients display alterations in both segregation and integration in the brain at the network level. The regional differences identified in the sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum of these patients may play a role in the pathophysiology of focal dystonia. Moreover, symptomatic reduction of hyperkinesia by BoNT treatment was associated with different brain network fingerprints in both BSP and HFS patients.
Adapting a water, sanitation, and hygiene picture-based curriculum in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Nordhauser Jennifer , Rosenfeld Jason
Published: November 2019

Water, sanitation, and hygiene issues present barriers to health in rural Dominican Republic. Limited access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene accompanies a prevalence of water, sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases. To address these issues, an education and behavior change program using community health clubs has been adapted for areas at greatest risk of water, sanitation, and hygiene disease transmission. To support this initiative, a protocol was created to evaluate 147 images from a community health clubs toolkit for Dominican agricultural communities, or bateyes, to determine image comprehension and cultural appropriateness, as well as the demographic variables associated with visual literacy. A total of 112 interviews were completed across seven bateyes located near the city of La Romana; 60 images were determined to require additional adaptation. Further analyses demonstrated that age and education were significantly associated with greater visual literacy. These results reinforce that educational visual aids require testing for cultural appropriateness and that future work should be conducted to investigate factors that contribute to visual literacy.
Metastasis pattern and prognosis of male breast cancer patients in US: a population-based study from SEER database
Authors: Xie Jun , Ying Yao-Yu , Xu Bin , Li Yan , Zhang Xian , Li Chong
Published: November 2019

Background:

The aims of this study were to analyze the metastasis pattern and prognosis of male breast cancer (MBC) and compare it with female breast cancer (FBC), and to determine the independent factors affecting the prognosis of MBC patients.

Methods:

Metastatic MBC diagnosed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015 were selected. Chi-squared test was used to compare clinicopathological characteristics. Survival differences were compared by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the prognostic factors affecting overall survival.

Results:

A total of 2754 MBC patients were identified, of which 196 had distant metastasis. Compared with nonmetastatic MBC, metastatic MBC patients had a higher proportion of <60 years old and grade III–IV, and were more likely to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while the proportion of surgery, central portion of the breast, and Her2–/HR+ was lower. Compared with metastatic FBC, metastatic MBC patients had a higher proportion of ⩾60 years old, central portion of the breast, surgery, simultaneous bone and lung metastasis, while the proportion of Her2+/HR–, triple negative, liver metastasis only, and simultaneous bone and liver metastasis was lower. MBC patients with lung alone, bone alone, and simultaneous lung and bone metastasis had a higher hazard ratio (2.41; 3.06; 2.52; p < 0.0001) compared with nonmetastatic patients.

Conclusions:

Compared with nonmetastatic MBC patients, metastatic MBC patients had unique clinicopathological features, and were also different from metastatic FBC patients. However, there was no difference in prognosis between metastatic MBC and FBC patients. Distant metastasis was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MBC patients.