bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Productive Ward at an acute NHS trust: experiences and implications of releasing time to care
Authors: Wright Stella , McSherry Wilfred
Published: December 2013

Aims and objectives

To demonstrate how a national programme aimed to increase the amount of direct time nurses spend with patients', impacts on both staff and patient experience.

Background

The Productive Ward is an improvement programme developed by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (2007, http://www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_value/productivity_series/productive_ward.html) which aims to enable nurses to work more efficiently by reviewing process and practice, thus releasing more time to spend on direct patient care. However, there is little empirical published research around the programme, particularly concerning impact, sustainability and the patient perspective.

Design

This manuscript presents the findings from qualitative interviews involving both staff and patients.

Methods

Semi‐structured one‐to‐one interviews were conducted with patients (n = 8) and staff (n = 5) on five case study wards. Seven focus groups were held according to staff grade (n = 29).

Results

Despite initial scepticism, most staff embraced the opportunity and demonstrated genuine enthusiasm and energy for the programme. Patients were generally complimentary about their experience as an inpatient, reporting that staff made them feel safe, comfortable and cared for.

Conclusion

Findings showed that the aims of the programme were partially met. The implementation of Productive Ward was associated with significant changes to the ward environment and improvements for staff. The programme equipped staff with skills and knowledge which acted as a primer for subsequent interventions. However, there was a lack of evidence to demonstrate that Productive Ward released time for direct patient care in all areas that implemented the programme.

Relevance to clinical practice

Developing robust performance indicators including a system to capture reinvestment of direct care time would enable frontline staff to demonstrate impact of the programme. Additionally, staff will need to ensure that reorganisation and instability across the NHS do not affect sustainability and viability of the Productive Ward in the long term.
New York City's Struggle over Syringe Exchange: A Case Study of the Intersection of Science, Activism, and Political Change
Authors: Barreras Ricardo E. , Torruella Rafael A.
Published: December 2013

This article examines one crucial period in the history of public health—the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and one extremely controversial policy—syringe exchange, in order to study the “gap” between science and policy and explore how science, policy, and activism can intersect effectively to create policy change. This article focuses on the movement to legalize syringe exchange programs during the mid 1980s and early 1990s. It seeks to further our understanding of how and when science has an impact on social policy. This discussion includes conventional notions of how science “works the gap” by providing basic knowledge about the nature of social problems and potential interventions, as well as other forms of scientific impact that are much less understood: such as strategically grounding research questions and dissemination methods within the political context of the issue, how science overlaps with activism, and how researchers themselves engage in struggles over social policy beyond producing data.
Synergies among Producer Firms, Lead Users, and User Communities: The Case of the LEGO Producer–User Ecosystem
Authors: Hienerth Christoph , Lettl Christopher , Keinz Peter
Published: December 2013

While many firms today proactively involve users in their new product development efforts using a wide variety of methods such as the lead user method, firm‐hosted user communities, or mass customization toolkits, some pioneering firms are experimenting with the creation of sustainable producer–user ecosystems designed for the continuous exploration and exploitation of business opportunities. In this paper, the functioning of such ecosystems is studied with particular emphasis on the synergies they can yield. Based on an explorative and longitudinal multiple case study design, the producer–user ecosystem of the firm LEGO is analyzed, and three main actors in the ecosystem are identified: entrepreneurial lead users who aim to start their own businesses, a vibrant user community, and the LEGO company as the focal producer firm and facilitator for multiple user‐to‐user and user‐to‐producer interactions. Our study reveals three kinds of synergies: (1) reduced risk for entrepreneurial lead users and the focal producer firm, (2) the extension of the design space of the focal producer firm's products, and (3) the creation of buzz within the user community. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of our findings for innovation researchers and practitioners are discussed.
How Do Financial Constraints Affect Creativity?
Authors: Scopelliti Irene , Cillo Paola , Busacca Bruno , Mazursky David
Published: December 2013

This paper investigates the effects of financial constraints on the outcome of different types of creative tasks such as product ideation and product repair. Four experimental studies examine the effect of financial constraints on creativity of the outcome of a product ideation task, and compare the effect of financial constraints with the effect of another type of constraint (i.e., input restrictions) on creativity of products ideated and on the amount of resources invested in the development of the creative solution. Furthermore, these studies explore the type of creative process ignited by financial constraints and analyze the effect of financial constraints in interaction with an individual difference such as novelty seeking, which embraces more remote determinants of creative performance, on the creativity of the outcomes to a product ideation task, as well as on the creativity of the outcomes to a more constrained task such as repairing an existing product. The results suggest that constrained financial resources may be beneficial to creativity. Financial constraints lead to the ideation of more creative products. Yet these products are generated using fewer inputs and a lower budget than products generated in an unconstrained condition. Furthermore, while yielding outcomes as creative as the ones generated under input constraints, financial constraints induce a parsimonious mindset reflected in the use of less costly resources. More interestingly, financial constraints activate a top‐down rather than a bottom‐up processing strategy in approaching the creative task. Finally, the results show that the effect of financial constraints is stronger for individuals with inherent tendencies toward novelty seeking, because their stock of experiences and perspectives puts them under stress when facing an unconstrained problem space. This interaction effect holds not only for product ideation tasks, but also when the problem space is already constrained in nature, as in the case of repairing a product. These findings, which are quite counterintuitive from the perspective of classic new product development literature, suggest that, at least under certain conditions, the use of financial constraints might constitute a promising approach to foster new ideas' generation, one that leads to more creative outcomes despite using less costly inputs. In addition, our results suggest that, when dealing with a creative task, companies should modulate the adoption of this kind of constraint on the individual characteristics of their employees, specifically on their innate tendency to seek novelty.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Model-Based Study of Predictive Factors
Authors: Bazarganipour Fatemeh , Ziaei Saeide , Montazeri Ali , Foroozanfard Fatemeh , Kazemnejad Anoshirvan , Faghihzadeh Soghrat
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Understanding the factors that contribute to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is critical for developing the most appropriate interventions for improving or maintaining the HRQOL in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Aim

This study sought to determine the most significant predictors of the HRQOL in patients with PCOS.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 300 women with PCOS that was carried out in Kashan, Iran. A sample of women with PCOS was entered into the study and completed the following questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale score, the modified polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality of life questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index.

Main Outcome Measure

Both direct and indirect relationships among clinical severity, psychological status, self-esteem, body image, and sexual function as independent predictors of HRQOL were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. By using the SEM, we simultaneously test a number of possible hypotheses concerning the interrelations among the predictors of HRQOL in PCOS patients.

Results

In relation with severity of PCOS, reproductive history and menstrual status explained a high proportion of the variance of clinical variables (factor loading 0.37 and 0.34, respectively). The highest effect on HRQL was exerted by indirect effect of clinical factor (β = 0.90), self-esteem (β = 1.12), body image (β = 1.06), and sexual function (β = 0.26) that influenced negatively HRQOL. The infertility and menstrual domains were the most affected areas of HRQOL. In relation with sexual dysfunction, the most affected domains were desire and arousal.

Conclusion

The highest effect of PCOS symptoms on HRQOL impairment among patients was exerted by self-esteem, body image, and sexual dysfunction. With regard to HRQOL in clinical routine, we conclude these mediating factors should be taken into consideration and adequately treated if present.
New Spirituality and Social Engagement
Authors: Berghuijs Joantine , Bakker Cok , Pieper Jos
Published: December 2013

New spirituality has often been accused of being egocentric and thus lacking incentives for social engagement. The discussion on this subject is tangled because authors differ in specifying who they are writing about and what the criticism is. After seeking an adequate demarcation of the target group (people involved in new spirituality), we established a concept of social engagement that distinguishes between behavior that is and that is not driven by egocentric motivation. Using measures based on this conceptual model, we surveyed a representative sample of the Dutch population. We found that on most measures people involved in new spirituality are less socially engaged than affiliated or traditionally religious people but more engaged than “secular” people. However, they are more committed to organizations for environmental protection, peace, or animal rights than others. Overall, demographic factors—especially education, age, and gender—are stronger predictors for social engagement than religious and spiritual beliefs, experiences, or practices. The most important spirituality variable that predicts some social engagement measures is connectedness with self, others, and nature.
Sources of Social Support: Examining Congregational Involvement, Private Devotional Activities, and Congregational Context
Authors: McClure Jennifer M.
Published: December 2013

Previous studies examining the relationship between religion and providing social support have claimed that religious involvement and social networks explain the higher levels of social support among religious Americans. By limiting its focus to attenders of religious congregations, this study seeks to understand if private devotional activities and congregational context also matter for predicting the provision of social support in a highly religious sample. Utilizing a sample of attenders and their congregations from the 2008/2009 U.S. Congregational Life Survey, a national survey representative of American congregations, this study uses multilevel models to examine the relationships that congregational involvement, private devotional activities, and congregational context have with providing social support. Results suggest that, among attenders of religious congregations, congregational involvement and private devotional activities matter for predicting the provision of social support, but two aspects of congregational context—size and theology—do not.
Libyan Desert Glass: New field and Fourier transform infrared data
Authors: Fröhlich F. , Poupeau G. , Badou A. , Le Bourdonnec F. X. , Sacquin Y. , Dubernet S. , Bardintzeff J. M. , Véran M. , Smith D. C. , Diemer E.
Published: December 2013

Results are presented of new geological observations and laboratory analyses on Libyan Desert Glass (LDG), a unique kind of impact glass found in Egypt, probably 28.5–29.4 million years in age. A new LDG occurrence has been discovered some 50 km southward of the main LDG occurrences in the Great Sand Sea. From Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, the molecular structure of LDG is refined and significant differences are shown between LDG specimens and other pure silica glasses (fulgurite, industrial fused quartz, and amorphous biogenic silica) that are related to differences in their structures. The slight variations observed here for the mean Si‐O‐Si angle between the different glasses are attributed to their thermal histories. With regard to the other glasses analyzed, the LDG infrared spectral parameters point to a higher ratio of discontinuities and defects in the tetrahedral (SiO4) network. The quantitative mineralogical constitutions of sandstones and quartzites from the LDG geological setting were analyzed by FTIR. Cretaceous sandstones have a specific composition (about 90 wt% quartz, 10% dickite), clearly different from the Paleozoic ones (about 90 wt% quartz, but ≥7% kaolinite). It is shown that the reddish silts bearing the LDG are constituted mainly of microquartz enriched with dickite, whose particle size distribution is characteristic of fluvio‐lacustrine deposits, probably Oligocene to Miocene in age. The target rocks, most probably quartz sand, resulted from the weathering (loss of the cementing microquartz) of the Cretaceous sandstones from the Gilf Khebir Plateau with deposition in a high‐energy environment.
The extremely reduced silicate‐bearing iron meteorite Northwest Africa 6583: Implications on the variety of the impact melt rocks of the IAB‐complex parent body
Authors: Fazio Agnese , D'Orazio Massimo , Folco Luigi , Gattacceca Jérôme , Sonzogni Corinne
Published: December 2013

Northwest Africa (NWA) 6583 is a silicate‐bearing iron meteorite with Ni = 18 wt%. The oxygen isotope composition of the silicates (∆′17O = −0.439 ‰) indicates a genetic link with the IAB‐complex. Other chemical, mineralogical, and textural features of NWA 6583 are consistent with classification as a new member of the IAB‐complex. However, some unique features, e.g., the low Au content (1.13 μg g−1) and the extremely reducing conditions of formation (approximately −3.5 ∆IW), distinguish NWA 6583 from the known IAB‐complex irons and extend the properties of this group of meteorites. The chemical and textural features of NWA 6583 can be ascribed to a genesis by impact melting on a parent body of chondritic composition. This model is also consistent with one of the most recent models for the genesis of the IAB‐complex. Northwest Africa 6583 provides a further example of the wide lithological and mineralogical variety that impact melting could produce on the surface of a single asteroid, especially if characterized by an important compositional heterogeneity in space and time like a regolith.
Promiscuity resolves constraints on social mate choice imposed by population viscosity
Authors: While Geoffrey M. , Uller Tobias , Bordogna Genevieve , Wapstra Erik
Published: December 2013

Population viscosity can have major consequences for adaptive evolution, in particular for phenotypes involved in social interactions. For example, population viscosity increases the probability of mating with close kin, resulting in selection for mechanisms that circumvent the potential negative consequences of inbreeding. Female promiscuity is often suggested to be one such mechanism. However, whether avoidance of genetically similar partners is a major selective force shaping patterns of promiscuity remains poorly supported by empirical data. Here, we show (i) that fine‐scale genetic structure constrains social mate choice in a pair‐bonding lizard, resulting in individuals pairing with genetically similar individuals, (ii) that these constraints are circumvented by multiple mating with less related individuals and (iii) that this results in increased heterozygosity of offspring. Despite this, we did not detect any significant effects of heterozygosity on offspring or adult fitness or a strong relationship between pair relatedness and female multiple mating. We discuss these results within the context of incorporating the genetic context dependence of mating strategies into a holistic understanding of mating system evolution.
Selective inhibition of FAAH produces antidiarrheal and antinociceptive effect mediated by endocannabinoids and cannabinoid‐like fatty acid amides
Authors: Fichna J. , Sałaga M. , Stuart J. , Saur D. , Sobczak M. , Zatorski H. , Timmermans J. ‐P. , Bradshaw H. B. , Ahn K. , Storr M. A.
Published: December 2013

Background

The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in multiple physiological processes in the central nervous system and in the periphery. The discovery that selective cannabinoid (CB) receptor agonists exert a potent inhibitory action on gastrointestinal (GI) motility and pain has placed the ECS in the center of attention as a possible target for the treatment of functional GI diseases. However, side effects of CB agonists prompted the search for novel therapeutic targets. Here, the effect of PF‐3845, a potent and selective fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor in the GI tract was investigated.

Methods

The effect of PF‐3845 on GI motility was characterized in vitro and in vivo, using mouse models that mimic physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The antinociceptive action of PF‐3845 was evaluated on the basis of behavioral pain models. Endocannabinoid degradation product levels after inhibition of FAAH were quantified using HPLC‐MS/MS.

Key Results

PF‐3845 significantly inhibited mouse colonic motility in vitro and in vivo. Selective inhibition of FAAH reversed hypermotility and reduced pain in mouse models mimicking functional GI disorders. The effects of PF‐3845 were mediated by endogenous CBs and non‐CB lipophilic compounds via classical (CB1) and atypical CB receptors.

Conclusions & Inferences

These data expand our understanding of the ECS function and provide a novel framework for the development of future potential treatments of functional GI disorders.
Effectiveness of a Multimodal Treatment Program for Somatoform Pain Disorder
Authors: Pieh Christoph , Neumeier Susanne , Loew Thomas , Altmeppen Jürgen , Angerer Michael , Busch Volker , Lahmann Claas
Published: December 2013

Chronic pain conditions are highly prevalent, with somatoform pain disorder accounting for a large proportion. However, the psychological forms of treatment currently used achieve only small to medium effect sizes. This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness of a 5‐week multimodal pain program for patients with somatoform pain disorder. The diagnosis of somatoform pain disorder was confirmed by a specialist for anesthesiology and pain management and a specialist for psychosomatic medicine. Therapy outcome was evaluated with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and the Pain Perception Scale. Within the study sample (n = 100), all parameters showed a significant and clinically relevant improvement at the end of therapy (P values < 0.001). The highest effect sizes (d) were found for reduction in average pain rating (NRS: d = 1.00) and the affective items of the Pain Perception Scale (SES‐A: d = 0.07). The lowest effect sizes were found for improvement of pain‐related disabilities (PDI: d = 0.42) and sensory items of the Pain Perception Scale (SES‐S: d = 0.50). Despite high chronification of pain condition, with average pain duration of greater than 8 years, the multimodal treatment program showed medium to large effect sizes on the outcome of patients with somatoform pain disorder. Compared with previous data with small to moderate effect sizes, a multimodal program seems to be more effective than other interventions to address somatoform pain disorder.
RNAi‐based enhanced resistance to Cowpea severe mosaic virus and Cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus in transgenic cowpea
Authors: Cruz A. R. R. , Aragão F. J. L.
Published: December 2013

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of the most important legumes cultivated in many parts of the world. The diseases caused by Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) and Cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus (CABMV) are considered among the most important constraints on yield and quality, especially in Latin America and Africa. Here, the concept of using an RNA interference construct to silence the CPSMV proteinase cofactor gene and the CABMV coat protein gene is explored, in order to generate resistant transgenic cowpea plants. Ten cowpea transgenic lines were produced, presenting a normal phenotype and transferring the transgene to the next generation. Plants were tested for resistance to both CABMV and CPSMV by mechanical co‐inoculation. Seven lines presented milder symptoms when compared to the control and three lines presented enhanced resistance to both viruses. Northern analyses were carried out to detect the transgene‐derived small interfering RNA (siRNA) in leaves and revealed no correlation between siRNA levels and virus resistance. Additionally, in the symptomless resistant lines the resistance was homozygosis‐dependent. Only homozygous plants remained uninfected while hemizygous plants presented milder symptoms.
Poverty Lines as Context Deflators: A Method to Account for Regional Diversity with Application to the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Marivoet Wim , De Herdt Tom
Published: December 2013

This paper proposes a particular methodology to render budget data more comparable over highly diverse regions. More specifically, a set of regional poverty lines will be derived and employed as deflators to correct household expenditures for spatial differences in prices and needs. The quality of these deflators depends on the extent to which the underlying poverty lines adhere to the principles of consistency and specificity. Central to reconciling both principles in practice is our pursuit for austerity in setting poverty thresholds as well as the view that differences in social norms mainly reflect differences in social inclusion needs. The particularity of the proposed method compared to standard practice lies in the combination of: (i) the pronounced subdivision in socio‐economic strata; (ii) the use of a differential calorie threshold per sector; (iii) the introduction of protein intake; (iv) the derivation of a minimal house rent; and (v) the use of an austere non‐food/non‐housing allowance. The impact of this method is illustrated using a budget survey of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome: a case report and review for oral health care providers
Authors: Idahosa Chizobam , Berardi Thomas R. , Shkolnikov Rosalyn , Stoopler Eric T.
Published: December 2013

Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius (TAR) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia and bilateral absence of radii with both thumbs present. Multiple organ systems may be affected in patients with TAR syndrome, including hematologic, skeletal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. This article describes a 35‐year‐old Caucasian male with TAR syndrome receiving comprehensive dental care and reviews the pertinent aspects of this disease, as well as dental management considerations, for patients with TAR syndrome.
Comprehensive transcriptome profiling of squamous cell carcinoma of horn in Bos indicus
Authors: Koringa P. G. , Jakhesara S. J. , Bhatt V. D. , Meshram C. P. , Patel A. K. , Fefar D. T. , Joshi C. G.
Published: December 2013

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of horn is frequently observed in Bos indicus affecting 1% of cattle population and accounting 83.34% of total tumours found. The transcriptome profile of horn cancer (HC) tissue and the matched normal (HN) tissue were analysed by RNA‐seq using Roche 454 sequencing. A total of 1 504 900 reads comprising of 612 MB data were used to identify differentially expressed genes using CLC Genomic Workbench. These include up‐regulation of KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT14, SFN, KRT84, PI3, COL17A1, ANLN, SERPINB5 and down‐regulation of BOLA, SCGB1A1, CXCL17, KRT19, BPIFB1, NR4A1 and TFF3 in HC, which are involved in regulation of gene transcription, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival and metabolic pathways. The qPCR analysis of several targets suggested concordance of gene expression profile with RNA‐seq analysis. The present findings would provide basis for further screening of genes and identification of markers for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of HC.
Spontaneous pneumothorax associated withAspergillusbronchopneumonia in a dog
Authors: Trempala Cheryl L. , Herold Lee V.
Published: December 2013

Objective

To describe a case of pulmonary aspergillosis in a previously healthy dog that manifested as a spontaneous pneumothorax.

Case Summary

A 3‐year‐old neutered male mixed‐breed dog was presented with inappetence and respiratory distress. Thoracic radiography revealed a right‐sided pneumothorax. Following stabilization, thoracic computed tomography found 1 large and many small pulmonary blebs in the right caudal lung lobe. The dog underwent a right lateral thoracotomy, identifying numerous emphysematous regions in the right middle lung lobe, and a right middle lung lobectomy was performed. Histopathologic examination of the resected lung lobe revealed severe, diffuse bronchopneumonia with necrotizing pleuritis and the presence of fungal organisms strongly suggestive ofAspergillussp. Surgical removal of the affected lung lobe and continued medical treatment with itraconazole resolved the dog's clinical signs.

New Information Provided

This report describes the successful surgical and medical management ofAspergillusbronchopneumonia in a dog presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax.
A Novel Lapping Method for High Precision Balls Based on Variable-Radius V-Groove
Authors: Zhao Ping , Guo Weigang , Feng Ming , Lv Binghai , Deng Qianfa , Yuan Julong
Published: December 2013

The precision ball is the most key component of ball bearing, which is widely used in many precision mechanical fields. This paper presents a variable-radius V-groove lapping method since this method can make the spin angle vary between 0 deg and 90 deg, and the lapping trajectory can cover the ball's surface. Based on this lapping method, an observation of lapping surface of balls experiment is set up in which blackened balls is brightened effectively only after 10 circulations of lower plate in 2 min. Next, another experiment is also done: A batch of G16 level steel balls has been lapped to G5 level in the machining experiment. All results illustrate that the novel method has properties of high efficiency, high precision, and high consistency, which needs further study and then it is likely to replace the traditional one in the future.
Optimization of Intentional Mistuning Patterns for the Mitigation of the Effects of Random Mistuning
Authors: Han Yun , Murthy Raghavendra , Mignolet Marc P. , Lentz Jeff
Published: December 2013

This paper focuses on the optimization of intentional mistuning patterns for the reduction of the sensitivity of the forced response of bladed disks to random mistuning. Intentional mistuning is achieved here by using two different blade types (denoted as A and B) around the disk. It is thus desired to find the arrangement of these A and B blades (A/B pattern) that leads to the smallest 99th percentile of the amplitude of blade response in the presence of random mistuning. It is first demonstrated that there usually is a large number of local minima and further that the cost of a function evaluation is high. Accordingly, two novel, dedicated optimization algorithms are formulated and validated to address this specific problem. Both algorithms proceed in a two-step fashion. The first step, which consists of an optimization in a reduced space, leads to a series of good initial guesses. A local search from these initial guesses forms the second step of the methods. A detailed validation effort of this new procedure was next achieved on a single-degree-of-freedom-per-blade model, a reduced order model of a blisk, and that of an impeller considered in an earlier study. In all validation cases, the two novel algorithms were found to converge to the global optimum or very close to it at a small computational cost. Finally, the results of these optimization efforts further demonstrate the value of intentional mistuning to increase the robustness of bladed disks to random mistuning.
Finite Element Analysis of Buried Polyethylene Pipe Subjected to Seismic Landslide
Authors: Luo Xiangpeng , Ma Jinjin , Zheng Jinyang , Shi Jianfeng
Published: December 2013

Polyethylene (PE) pipes are widely used in natural gas transportation systems in urban areas nowadays. As landslide caused by earthquake would cause destructive damage to buried pipes, increasing attention is attracted to the safety of buried PE pipes under seismic load. In this paper, the deformation behavior of PE pipe subjected to seismic landslide was investigated and a related failure criterion due to yielding was proposed. Based on extensive uniaxial tensile tests, a rate-dependent constitutive model of PE was applied to simulate the mechanical behavior of PE pipes. The extended Drucker-Prager model was used for surrounding soil. In our proposed finite element model, a quartic polynomial bending deflection displacement normal to the pipeline was loaded along the axial direction of PE pipe. The numerical simulation results revealed that the main failure mode of buried PE pipe subjected to seismic landslide shifted from bending deformation to ovalization deformation with increasing bending deflection. On the basis of deformation behavior analysis, failure criterion curves were put forward, which depicts the maximum relative deflection of the pipe cross-section, and the maximum displacement of the pipe versus pipe length subjected to seismic landslide. The results may be referable for design and safety assessment of PE pipes due to seismic landslide.
Theoretical Simulation of Temperature Elevations in a Joint Wear Simulator During Rotations
Authors: Chamani Alireza , Mehta Hitesh P. , McDermott Martin K. , Djeffal Manel , Nayyar Gaurav , Patwardhan Dinesh V. , Attaluri Anilchandra , Timmie Topoleski L. D. , Zhu Liang
Published: December 2013

The objective of this study is to develop a theoretical model to simulate temperature fields in a joint simulator for various bearing conditions using finite element analyses. The frictional heat generation rate at the interface between a moving pin and a stationary base is modeled as a boundary heat source. Both the heat source and the pin are rotating on the base. We are able to conduct a theoretical study to show the feasibility of using the COMSOL software package to simulate heat transfer in a domain with moving components and a moving boundary source term. The finite element model for temperature changes agrees in general trends with experimental data. Heat conduction occurs primarily in the highly conductive base component, and high temperature elevation is confined to the vicinity of the interface in the pin. Thirty rotations of a polyethylene pin on a cobalt-chrome base for 60 s generate more than 2.26 °C in the temperature elevation from its initial temperature of 25 °C at the interface in a baseline model with a rotation frequency of 0.5 Hz. A higher heat generation rate is the direct result of a faster rotation frequency associated with intensity of exercise, and it results in doubling the temperature elevations when the frequency is increased by100%. Temperature elevations of more than 7.5 °C occur at the interface when the friction force is tripled from that in the baseline model. The theoretical modeling approach developed in this study can be used in the future to test different materials, different material compositions, and different heat generation rates at the interface under various body and environmental conditions.
Thermal Fly-Height Controlled Glide for Disk Defect Detection and In-Situ Defect Size Estimation for Disk Drives
Authors: Murthy Aravind N. , Flechsig Karl A. , Hillman Wes , Conard Keith , Pit Remmelt
Published: December 2013

Current hard disk drives (HDD’s) use thermal fly-height control (TFC) during read/write operations. In this study, we use TFC technology during the disk glide process to determine sub-5nm height defects. We also utilize TFC to measure the height of the defect during glide operation. Addtionally, we magnetically mark the disk locations where defects are detected for further post-processing of the defects using optical surface analysis (OSA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The defect height estimation during the glide was confirmed to be accurate by AFM and SEM analysis. Finally, we will present the TFC glide sensitivity showing capability of detecting smaller defects than conventional non-TFC glide technologies.
Narrowband Performance of Active Control on Flow-Induced Vibrations Inside Hard Disk Drives
Authors: Min Hequn , Huang Xiaoyang , Zhang Qide , Xia Xin
Published: December 2013

This paper presents an experimental study of digital narrowband active control on the flow-induced vibrations (FIV) on the head gimbals assembly (HGA) in a working hard disk drive (HDD). Firstly, the modal testing on the HDD was carried out, in which the disk modes were analyzed with a 1-D laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) and the HGA vibration modes with a 3-D LDV. Secondly, a digital feedback control close-loop was implemented in experiments to suppress the FIV spectrum peaks on the HGA. In this close-loop, the HGA vibrations detected by the LDV were used as feedback error signals, then the signals was passed through a digital controller to generate feedback signals to drive a piezoelectric disk to actuate feedback acoustic pressure around the HGA. Active control experiments were conducted in narrow bands on five principal peaks in the HGA off-plate vibration spectrum, around 1256Hz, 1428Hz, 2141Hz, 2519Hz and 3469Hz, respectively. It is shown that distinct suppression of at least 10 dB can be achieved on all these HGA vibration peaks.
Recent Developments in Cloud Computing, Data Storage and Handling
Authors: Verma Alakh K. , Sinha Dipendra K.
Published: December 2013

As data center managers consider deployment of a Cloud Computing environment the most important issues they consider include critical application data availability, storage agility and data protection strategies. Early adopters of Cloud Computing have already deployed Virtualization as a key technology in their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings. Cloud computing extends the benefits of virtualization by increasing the efficiency of server and storage utilization, reducing costs, improving operational efficiency and optimizing datacenter rack and floor space. It builds on first-generation system and storage virtualization with features such as application portability and storage agility to enable higher efficiencies and greater efficiencies across the enterprise. With recent innovation in storage, key features such as thin-provisioning, compression and de-duplication work in concert with virtualized infrastructure on the Storage Appliance to eliminate duplicate data blocks, compress data and allocate the amount of storage being consumed by users. Data services such as snapshots and clones provide instant and optionally, unattended backups that can be used in the short term for recovery of critical data. Disaster recovery is all the more important within the cloud computing environment and built in replication services enable a robust solution in case of a catastrophic event or simply for purposes of backup and recovery.
Theoretical Study of van der Waals Dispersion Pressures Considering One-Dimensional Material Distributions in In-Plane Direction
Authors: Matsuoka Hiroshige , Kitahama Niki , Tanaka Teppei , Fukui Shigehisa
Published: December 2013

The van der Waals (vdW) dispersion pressures between a half-space consisting of a uniform material and a half-space with one-dimensional material distribution in the in-plane direction have been theoretically derived. Two patterns of material distribution were considered here, i.e., a periodic distribution of materials (Pattern 1) and a distribution of two materials with single interface (Pattern 2). The vdW pressure for Pattern 1 was derived based on a Fourier series, while the vdW pressure for Pattern 2 was derived as elementary functions. The basic characteristics of these vdW pressures were clarified.
Design of High Frequency Enhancement Filter for BER Improvement in Holographic Data Storage System
Authors: Kim Do-Hyung , Park No-Cheol , Moon Hyungbae , Jeon Sungbin , Park Kyoung-Su , Yang Hyunseok , Park Young-Pil
Published: December 2013

Custom image filter design method is suggested in this research for holographic data storage (HDS) system. While the previous research requires the high precise point spread function (PSF) as the deconvolution filter, proposed method calculated image restoration filter without the information of optical system. It could be possible because of the unique characteristic of HDS data page. We use the simple iteration method to obtain the image restoration filter. The performance of custom image filter is verified both simulation and experiment. As a result, it shows the acceptable performance in BER improvement in HDS system.
Robust Optimal Design of the Magnetizer for a HDD Spindle Motor to Reduce the Harmonic Components of the Cogging Torque
Authors: Lee C. J. , Jang G. H. , Kang K. B. , Choi D. H.
Published: December 2013

Cogging torque of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor is a source of the vibration and noise of the hard disk drive (HDD) spindle motor, and the excitation frequencies of the cogging torques are the harmonics of the least common multiple of the poles and slots in ideal BLDC motors. However, manufacturing errors generate the additional harmonics to the cogging torque. Especially, the uneven magnetization of the permanent magnet (PM) in BLDC motors generates additional slot harmonics to the cogging torque. In small BLDC motors such as 2.5″ HDD spindle motors, the effect of additional slot harmonics is as serious as that of the fundamental harmonics of the cogging torque. A coil-positioning error of the magnetizer is a major source among the several potential sources of uneven magnetization of a ring-shaped PM in a HDD spindle motor [1]. It is difficult to estimate and to reduce the coil-positioning error when manufacturing a magnetizer. In addition, each magnetizer has different range of the coil-positioning error.
Analytical and Numerical Study Rotor Faults in PM Synchronous Motor
Authors: Yu Yinquan , Bi Chao , Jiang Quan , Lin Song , Hla Phyu Nu , Aung Nay Lin Htun , Mamun A. A.
Published: December 2013

In order to achieve high area density of HDD to 10Tbit/in2, both radial and axial direction Repeatable Run-Out (RRO) and None repeatable Run-Out (NRRO) of spindle motor in HDD should be significantly reduced. That means the high performance spindle motor is need. Currently, the spindle motor used in HDD uses a rotating shaft FDB which structure likes slender cantilever beam to support the rotor and the problem of this kind of structure is reported in [1]. This structure cannot meet HDD high TPI requirements and should be replaced by the fixed shaft FDB spindle motor and the analytical model is shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, different types of Unbalance Magnetic Pull (UMP) of the Spindle motor and induced vibration should be fully studied. In order to fully understand motor vibration behavior, a thorough theoretical derivation of motor dynamics should be carried out as they can disclose clearly the global performance of the motor. Generally, four types of UMP reported in [1]–[3] can generate the motor lateral and axis vibration and produce motor acoustic noise. Researchers have studied vibration and acoustic signals in recent years[1]–[6]. In this paper, the PMSM mathematic model has introduced and validated by 12 slots and 5 pole-pairs PM surface mounting Synchronous motor M1 simulation case study. This type of Permanent Magnetic Synchronous motor (PMSM) is using in many applications, e.g.
Behavior of Micron-Sized Air Bubble in Operating FDBs by Using the Discrete Phase Modeling Method
Authors: Jung Y. H. , Jang G. H. , Jung K. M. , Kang C. H. , Shin H. H.
Published: December 2013

Fluid dynamic bearings (FDBs) have been applied to the spindle motor of a computer hard disk drive (HDD) because FDBs provide better dynamical characteristics of lower vibration and noise than ball bearings. However, one of the weaknesses of FBDs is the instability arising from the air bubble in oil lubricant of FDBs. Air bubbles are formed and trapped in oil lubricant by the inappropriate process of oil injection or the external shock. Trapped air bubbles decrease the rotational accuracy and the stability of a rotor-bearing system in such a way to generate non-repeatable run-out (NRRO) and to decrease the stiffness and damping coefficients of FDBs. It is important to predict the path of air bubbles in oil lubricant and to design FDBs in such a way to easily expel air bubbles out of operating FDBs.
A New Active 3D Optical Proximity Sensor Array and its Readout Circuit
Authors: Chao Paul C.-P. , Hsu Wei-Hsuan , Tsai Che-Hung
Published: December 2013

The products in the market are mostly 2D sensing. The touch panel technology is used in the industry and the video game wisely. Many of the ATMs, cell phones and the vending machines have touch panel technology in these years. The touch panel technology grows up quickly. In recent years, there has been increasing interests in proximity sensing technology [1–3]. This study proposes the 3D proximity sensing can be used in un-touch screen, a 3D keyboard, or constructed on the robot’s hand for sensing the distance and position of an object. As the optical components advance, the optical system, optical touch panel, object sensing and medical system are growing up with it. A photo detector is the part of the optical component. However, the photo detector transfers the photon to the current (photocurrent). This study needs a circuit to be the rear end of the photo detector, transferring the current to the voltage. An active pixel sensor is the viable way to realize the function. For the large area object sensing and high resolution, one pixel should be designed as small as possible. A small pixel however gives small photocurrent. The efficient way to transfer the photon to the voltage is important. The aim of this study is to develop a 3D-position sensing technique for an arbitrary object. The schematic for illustration is shown in Fig. 1. Different from conventional 2D capacitance or resistance touch panels, the proposed proximity sensor array has third axis sensing and the 3D sensing. A new active pixel circuit is proposed for realizing the sensor array. The active pixel sensor is used to convert the light to the voltage, and it can improve the resolution and reduce the noise. The standard and official active pixel sensor is a 3T-structure APS (or 3T-APS). The drawback of 3T-APS is that the output range is limited by the original circuit design. The maximum output cannot be up to bias voltage. The new APS resolution is better than the standard 3T-APS resolution in this aspect. It is a good improvement in terms of not only the CMOS sensor but also the 3D optical proximity sensing circuit.
Microenergy Harvesting Applications for Outdoor Power Equipment
Authors: Patel Pratik , Khamesee Mir Behrad
Published: December 2013

Energy harvesting has generated great interest in recent years due to its usefulness in powering Wireless sensor networks (WSN). Energy harvesters are capable of harvesting energies from the environmental sources such as wind, solar, noise and vibrations [1]. They are an alternative source of power as batteries have a limited life and need constant replacing [2]. In hazardous or hard to reach places, energy harvesters are a feasible option as they are capable of providing constant source of power without any maintenance. Many energy harvesters developed mostly work on vibrational kinetic energy as vibrational energy is readily available even in closed environments as compared to solar or wind energies. The kinetic energy harvesters developed so far have been electromagnetic, piezoelectric or electrostatic and are capable of producing energy from micro watts to mili-watts at various frequencies [3, 4].
Multi-Resolution HDD Contact Detection Technique for Low SNR Applications
Authors: Daugela Antanas , Trantham Jon D. , Tadepalli Srinivas
Published: December 2013

A quick and reliable active flying height calibration is critical in today’s hard disc drive short product development and high volume production cycles. In addition to the servo signals, passive HDI acoustic and proximity monitoring techniques are tracking equilibrium of the head gimble assembly and air bearing modes. Passive acoustic HDI monitoring had been proven to be capable in active head protrusion detection applications [1] where derived passive and active Air Bearing flying profiles help to set active flying clearance. With enhanced sensitivity, passive acoustic techniques such as AE can detect embedded particles [2]. The drawback of this technique is that noisy HDD environment causes loss of detectability of the useful AE signal [3]. Special attention has to be paid for extracting desirable HDI information. On the other hand, recording head based proximity probes are immune to torsional HDI modes and operate on pitch mode induced modulation. Advanced HDD today uses a combination of recording head based proximity sensors that are designed to sense HDI modulation at close proximity to the disc. It has to be pointed out that interpretation of proximity probe contact signatures always has been challenging.
H
∞ Control Design for Systems With Periodic Irregular Sampling Using Optimal H2 Reference Controllers
Authors: Shahsavari Behrooz , Conway Richard , Keikha Ehsan , Zhang Fu , Horowitz Roberto
Published: December 2013

This paper presents a novel robust H∞ control design for linear systems with periodic irregular sampling and regular actuation rates. A three-step design algorithm is developed to design a controller that achieves high robustness in terms of disk margin, and high performance in terms of root mean square (RMS) of 3σ-value of performance signal. The proposed method is exploited to design a track-following controller for a hard disk drive (HDD) with 30% sampling time irregularity. The simulation study presented in this paper shows the effectiveness of the proposed control design for high-order systems with large periods.
Microfluidic CD4
+
and CD8
+
T Lymphocyte Counters for Point-of-Care HIV Diagnostics Using Whole Blood
Authors: Watkins Nicholas N. , Hassan Umer , Damhorst Gregory , Ni HengKan , Vaid Awais , Rodriguez William , Bashir Rashid
Published: December 2013

A microfluidic biochip enumerates CD4
+
or CD8
+
T lymphocytes in whole blood of healthy and HIV-infected donors.