bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and experimental investigations of the shaft-clinching assembly process of automobile wheel-hub-bearing units
Authors: Qu Jie , Zhang Guojie
Published: January 2016

A shaft-clinching process aimed at developing a lightweight, integrated and highly reliable assembly is a very effective technique for the assembly of hub-bearing units. In this study, a reliable elastic–plastic finite element model of the shaft-clinching assembly process was developed by using the Abaqus platform and was applied to simulate the shaft-clinching assembly process of automobile wheel-hub-bearing units. To ensure the precision of the developed finite element model, the motion equations of the rivet head during the shaft-clinching process were obtained on the basis of theoretical derivation, on-site testing and the structural parameters of the equipment. Further, a series of experiments was performed for identifying the mechanical properties of the investigated material and the realistic friction conditions existing at the rivet head–workpiece interface. Based on the obtained reliable preprocessing data, the developed finite element model was used to simulate the shaft-clinching assembly process. Subsequently, the finite element model was validated using experiments on the shaft clinching of a wheel-hub-bearing unit. Comparison between the simulation results and the experimental results in terms of the axial clinching force–time curve and the ultimate deformed shape of the hub shaft showed good agreement, thereby validating the developed model. Finally, the influences of the axial distance between the upper surface of the inner ring and the forming surface of the rivet head, the friction factor, the radius ratio of the internal gear to the external gear and the maximum inclination angle of the rivet head on the clinching process were studied. The results of this study are expected to aid optimization of the shaft-clinching assembly process.
Machining parameters effect in dry turning of AISI 316L stainless steel using coated carbide tools
Authors: Nur Rusdi , Noordin MY , Izman S , Kurniawan D
Published: January 2016

Austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L is used in many applications, including chemical industry, nuclear power plants, and medical devices, because of its high mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Machinability study on the stainless steel is of interest. Toward sustainable manufacturing, this study also includes the power consumption during machining along with other machining responses of cutting force, surface roughness, and tool life. Turning on the stainless steel was performed using coated carbide tool without using cutting fluid. The turning was performed at various cutting speeds (90, 150, and 210 m/min) and feeds (0.10, 0.16, and 0.22 mm/rev). Response surface methodology was adopted in designing the experiments to quantify the effect of cutting speed and feed on the machining responses. It was found that cutting speed was proportional to power consumption and was inversely proportional to tool life, and showed no significant effect on the cutting force and the surface roughness. Feed was proportional to cutting force, power consumption, and surface roughness and was inversely proportional to tool life. Empirical equations developed from the results for all machining responses were shown to be useful in determining the optimum cutting parameters range.
Experimental comparison of the lateral resistance of tracks with steel slag ballast and limestone ballast materials
Authors: Esmaeili Morteza , Nouri Reza , Yousefian Kaveh
Published: January 2016

Extending the use of continuous welded rails by eliminating the weak points (expansion joints) of a railway track especially in sharp curves, which has resulted in increasing the operational speed and axle load of rolling stocks, enhances the special attention to the issue of track lateral resistance. In this regard, the ballast layer interaction with sleepers plays a crucial role in providing the track lateral stability. In many railway projects supplying the appropriate ballast materials has encountered serious restrictions owing to the lack of qualified ore and also their long distance to the project’s site. With the development of steel industry, the quantity of production and accumulation of steel slag as a waste material has increased. In recent years, a great deal of attention has been paid to the use of this material as railway ballast. According to the physical and mechanical characteristics of steel slags, such as high specific gravity and the granular roughness respect to the limestone ballast, the usage of slag ballast can improve the track lateral stability. In this research, many field experiments were conducted on tracks with steel slag ballast and limestone ballast materials considering the same gradation. In this matter, several single tie push tests were carried out on both tracks with various ballast geometries. The ballast depth was considered as 30, 40, and 50 cm and the shoulder ballast width was equal to 30 and 40 cm. Moreover, the shoulder ballast height was chosen 0 and 10 cm. Consequently, the lateral resistance of both tracks was measured and compared in the same conditions. In overall, the obtained results confirmed a 27% increase in lateral resistance of track with steel slag ballast respect to that with limestone ballast.
Effect of temperature on the dynamic performance of C/C composite finger seal
Authors: Wang Li-Na , Chen Guo-Ding , Su Hua , Lu Fei , Zhang Yan-Chao
Published: January 2016

The designs of sealing device have prominent influence on the performance of aero-engine. The high temperature environment during the working process of aero-engine also has important influence on the performance of sealing device which is located in the aero-engine. Finger seal has a flexible characteristic and high price performance compared with the other seal devices, thus it gets more attention, and lots of researchers have studied about finger seal’s performance recently. But so far the dynamic performance of finger seal considering temperature effect is not yet analyzed and discussed. Based on this, an equivalent dynamic model based on distributed mass considering temperature effect is proposed in the paper. The effects of environment temperature and heat through friction on the equivalent structural stiffness of finger stick and contact pressure between finger stick and rotor are discussed. Moreover, the data exchange between the dynamic and thermal analysis is confirmed based on the movement relationship between the rotor excitation and finger stick response. Therefore, the dynamic performance analysis of finger seal including thermal-structure coupling is obtained based on an equivalent dynamic method. The effect of temperature on the dynamic performance of finger seal using this model is analyzed, and the effect of C/C composite structural parameters on the finger seal performance is investigated considering the temperature effect. The above results show that the temperature effect has important influence on the performance of finger seal, so it is necessary to consider the temperature effect when the performance of finger seal is analyzed. The current work further improves the theoretical system about finger seal equivalent dynamic research, and has higher academic significance and engineering value.
Effect of flexion on the propulsive performance of a flexible flapping wing
Authors: Deng Shuanghou , Xiao Tianhang
Published: January 2016

A numerical study was carried out to investigate the effect of chordwise flexion on the propulsive performance of a two-dimensional flexible flapping wing. The wing undergoes a prescribed sinusoidal heaving motion with a local deflection. A deformable overset grid dynamic mesh method was employed to implement the motion of the grid instantaneously. The effect of flexural pattern, flexural amplitude and flapping frequency in terms of Strouhal number are evaluated. Unsteady flow around the wing is computed using an in-house developed Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) solver. The results show that the different flexural patterns will create different flow fields, and thus the thrust generation will be significantly varied. The thrust and propulsive efficiency do not increase monotonically with the flexure amplitude while a peak value is revealed. It is found that the wake vortices after the flapping motion assembly behave as a reverse von-Karman vortex street, which can principally create thrust. The thrust is found to increase with increasing Strouhal number. Propulsive efficiency is beneficial from the chordwise flexibility and peaks within the range of 0.2 <  St < 0.4, which is evidenced by natural flyers.
Method for analyzing the effect of projectile impact on aircraft fuel tank inerting for survivability design
Authors: Pei Yang , Shi Bei
Published: January 2016

Inerting is an important measure to prevent fire and explosion, and enhance the survivability of an aircraft. In the battle environment, the hits from the projectiles or fragments on the fuel tank may affect the inerting effectiveness. By modifying the traditional scrubbing inerting model, this paper proposes a new inerting analysis method considering the impact of the projectiles. A series of events are introduced including the changes in either of the velocity and temperature of the projectiles, the air increase in the ullage brought by the projectiles, and the heat transfer between the projectiles and the surroundings. Examples show that the fuel load has significant effect on the oxygen concentration and the vapor/air ratio, while the velocity, the mass and the temperature of the projectile have less effect on the two parameters. In addition, the changes in the flight altitude have almost no effect on the vapor/air ratio, while having little effect on the oxygen concentration. Moreover, when the fuel tank suffers multiple hits by the projectiles, the ignition possibility or vulnerability in the ullage will increase significantly.
Estimation of feasible materials and thermal conditions in a trapezoidal fin using genetic algorithm
Authors: Das Ranjan
Published: January 2016

A genetic algorithm based inverse analysis is done to predict unknown parameters in a trapezoidal extended surface for satisfying a given temperature distribution. An inverse method is adopted to estimate six unknowns involving thermal, surface, and geometric parameters, which helps to identify feasible fin materials, necessary dimensions along with other requirements. Various controlling parameters of genetic algorithm along with random measurement errors have been investigated. Fin efficiencies have been also compared. For satisfying a prescribed temperature distribution, this study shows that many feasible materials exist which may satisfy a given temperature profile, which shall be useful in selecting any material from the available choices depending upon the relevant dimensions, convective and surface requirements. This study also shows that fin dimensions along with the coefficient of thermal conductivity influence the temperature distribution more than other parameters. The maximum variation in the efficiency among the predicted parameters is found to be within 9%.
Nakagami-based total variation method for speckle reduction in thyroid ultrasound images
Authors: Koundal Deepika , Gupta Savita , Singh Sukhwinder
Published: January 2016

A good statistical model is necessary for the reduction in speckle noise. The Nakagami model is more general than the Rayleigh distribution for statistical modeling of speckle in ultrasound images. In this article, the Nakagami-based noise removal method is presented to enhance thyroid ultrasound images and to improve clinical diagnosis. The statistics of log-compressed image are derived from the Nakagami distribution following a maximum a posteriori estimation framework. The minimization problem is solved by optimizing an augmented Lagrange and Chambolle’s projection method. The proposed method is evaluated on both artificial speckle-simulated and real ultrasound images. The experimental findings reveal the superiority of the proposed method both quantitatively and qualitatively in comparison with other speckle reduction methods reported in the literature. The proposed method yields an average signal-to-noise ratio gain of more than 2.16 dB over the non-convex regularizer-based speckle noise removal method, 3.83 dB over the Aubert–Aujol model, 1.71 dB over the Shi–Osher model and 3.21 dB over the Rudin–Lions–Osher model on speckle-simulated synthetic images. Furthermore, visual evaluation of the despeckled images shows that the proposed method suppresses speckle noise well while preserving the textures and fine details.
An experimental assessment of catheter trackability forces with tortuosity parameters along patient-specific coronary phantoms
Authors: Finn Ronan , Morris Liam
Published: January 2016

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular deaths worldwide. Approximately 70% of patients requiring coronary revascularisation receive endovascular stents. The endovascular procedure is the preferred option due to its minimally invasive nature when compared to open heart surgery. Stent delivery is paramount for the success of the endovascular procedure. Catheter delivery forces within tortuous blood vessels can produce vasoconstriction and injury, resulting in reactive intimal proliferation or distal embolisation associated with end-organ ischaemia and infarction. Trackability is evaluated by most medical device companies for further development of their delivery systems. Relevant device design attributes must be tested in settings which simulate aspects of the intended use conditions, such as vessel geometry and compliance. Various tortuosity parameters are used to facilitate endovascular intervention planning. This study assessed the significance and correlation between the trackability forces for a coronary stent system with various geometrical parameters based on patient-specific geometries. A motorised delivery system delivered a commercially available coronary stent system and monitored the trackability forces along three phantom patient-specific thin-walled, compliant coronary vessels supported by a cardiac phantom model. The maximum trackability forces, curvature and torsion values ranged from 0.31 to 0.87 N, 0.06 to 0.22 mm−1 and −11.1 to 5.8 mm−1, respectively. The trackability forces were significantly different between all vessels (p < 0.002), while the tortuosity parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05). A new tortuosity parameter–coined tracking curvature which considers the lumen radius as well as the curvature along the centreline was statistically different (p < 0.002) for all vessels and correlated with the trackability forces. There was a strong correlation between the cumulative trackability force and the cumulative tracking curvature. Tracking curvature could be used as a predictive clinical tool to aid stent delivery to the vicinity of the lesion.
UK national guidelines on the management of syphilis 2015
Authors: Kingston M , French P , Higgins S , McQuillan O , Sukthankar A , Stott C , McBrien B , Tipple C , Turner A , Sullivan AK ,   Members of the Syphilis guidelines revision group 2015, Radcliffe Keith , Cousins Darren , FitzGerald Mark , Fisher Martin , Grover Deepa , Higgins Stephen , Kingston Margaret , Rayment Michael , Sullivan Ann
Published: January 2016

These guidelines are an update for 2015 of the 2008 UK guidelines for the management of syphilis. The writing group have piloted the new BASHH guideline methodology, notably using the GRADE system for assessing evidence and making recommendations. We have made significant changes to the recommendations for screening infants born to mothers with positive syphilis serology and to facilitate accurate and timely communication between the teams caring for mother and baby we have developed a birth plan. Procaine penicillin is now an alternative, not preferred treatment, for all stages of syphilis except neurosyphilis, but the length of treatment for this is shortened. Other changes are summarised at the start of the guideline.
Wearing a gay slogan t-shirt in the higher education classroom: A cautionary tale
Authors: Clarke Victoria
Published: January 2016

Evidence from numerous studies suggests that homophobia and heterosexism remain common on university campuses. Since the 1970s LGBT academics have been encouraged to ‘put themselves on the line’ and ‘come out’ in the classroom, and in so doing empower LGBT students and provide them with positive role models. Wearing gay pride badges and t-shirts has been discussed as one way in which gay lecturers can come out and challenge homophobia. This paper explores psychology students’ reactions to a gay slogan t-shirt I wore in an undergraduate lecture, and considers whether wearing such t-shirts is an effective and productive way of challenging heterosexism and coming out in the classroom.
Erosion record in Lake La Thuile sediments (Prealps, France): Evidence of montane landscape dynamics throughout the Holocene
Authors: Bajard Manon , Sabatier Pierre , David Fernand , Develle Anne-Lise , Reyss Jean-Louis , Fanget Bernard , Malet Emmanuel , Arnaud Daniel , Augustin Laurent , Crouzet Christian , Poulenard Jérôme , Arnaud Fabien
Published: January 2016

Lake La Thuile, in the Northern French Prealps (874 m a.s.l.), provides an 18-m long sedimentary sequence spanning the entire Lateglacial/Holocene period. The high-resolution multi-proxy (sedimentological, palynological, and geochemical) analysis of the uppermost 6.2 m reveals the Holocene dynamics of erosion in the catchment in response to landscape modifications. The mountain belt is at relevant altitude to study past human activities, and the watershed is sufficiently disconnected from large valleys to capture a local sedimentary signal. From 12,000 to 10,000 cal. BP (10–8 kyr cal. BC), the onset of hardwood species triggered a drop in erosion following the Lateglacial/Holocene transition. From 10,000 to 4500 cal. BP (8–2.5 kyr cal. BC), the forest became denser and favored slope stabilization, while erosion processes were very weak. A first erosive phase was initiated at ca. 4500 cal. BP without evidence of human presence in the catchment. Then, the forest declined at approximately 3000 cal. BP, suggesting the first human influence on the landscape. Two other erosive phases are related to anthropic activities: approximately 2500 cal. BP (550 cal. BC) during the Roman period and after 1600 cal. BP (350 cal. AD) with a substantial accentuation in the Middle Ages. In contrast, the lower erosion produced during the ‘Little Ice Age’, when climate deteriorations are generally considered to result in an increased erosion signal in this region, suggests that anthropic activities dominated the erosive processes and completely masked the natural effects of climate on erosion in the late Holocene.
Proteomics screening of adenosine triphosphate-interacting proteins in the liver of diazinon-treated rats
Authors: Pourtaji A , Robati R Yazdian , Lari P , Hosseinzadeh H , Ramezani M , Abnous K
Published: January 2016

Aim: Diazinon (DZN) is one of the most important organophosphorus compounds used to control pests in agriculture in many countries. Several studies have shown that exposure to DZN may alter protein expression in the liver. In order to further investigate the mechanism of DZN toxicity, differentially expressed ATP-interacting proteins, following subacute exposure to toxin, were separated and identified in rat liver. Main methods: Male rats were equally divided into four groups: control (corn oil) and DZN (15 mg/kg) by gavage once a day for 4 weeks. After homogenization of liver tissue, lysates were incubated ATP-sepharose beads. After several washes, ATP-interacting proteins were eluted and separated on 2-D polyacrylamide gels. Deferentially expressed proteins were cut and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization/time-of-flight and Mascot database. Identified proteins were classified according to their biological process using protein analysis through evolutionary relationships (PANTHER) Web site. Key finding: In this work, we showed that several key proteins involved in biological processes such as antioxidant system, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolism were differentially expressed after subacute exposure to DZN.
Development of a cellular biosensor system for genotoxicity detection based on Trp53 promoter
Authors: Siqian L , Lei S , Ying L
Published: January 2016

Objective:

To develop a mouse cell biosensor system for the high-throughput genotoxicity detection of chemicals, such as environmental pollutants.

Method:

We developed a novel reporter vector pGL4-GFP, wherein the firefly luciferase reporter gene in the pGL4.82 vector was replaced by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene from the pAcGFP1-N1 vector. To construct the reporter pGL4-p53-GFP (p53 promoter linked to GFP), a fragment containing the p53 gene promoter was generated by amplifying a region from −481 to +180 of mouse genomic DNA isolated from mouse tail tissue. We developed a mouse cell biosensor system for the high-throughput genotoxicity detection of new drugs by stably integrating the reporter plasmid of pGL4-p53-GFP into the mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. Various genotoxic agents were used to treat this biosensor system. The resulting fluorescence was directly observed under a fluorescence microscope, and the GFP protein level was measured through Western blot analysis.

Result:

The biosensor system was treated with genotoxic agents, such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and benzo(a)pyrene. The GFP protein expression was significantly increased in cells exposed to genotoxic agents but negatively responded to the non-genotoxic agent dimethyl sulfoxide, thereby proving the specificity and sensitivity of the biosensor system.

Conclusion:

This novel in vitro biosensor system can be especially useful in genotoxicity detection.
Effect of a school library on the reading attitude and reading behaviour in non-western migrant students
Authors: Kleijnen Ellen , Huysmans Frank , Ligtvoet Rudy , Elbers Ed
Published: January 2016

There is a lack of clarity as to the effects of school libraries on children with a non-western background in the Netherlands, an educationally disadvantaged group. Using a longitudinal design involving an experimental and a control school, the present study examined whether an integrated library facility in a Dutch primary school has an effect on the reading attitude and reading behaviour of non-western migrant students ( n = 140). The results showed no statistically significant effect on the degree in which students think reading is fun. On the other hand, over time, students attending the experimental school considered reading more useful than students visiting the control school. With regard to reading behaviour, no statistically significant effect of the school library was found. However, the school library programme was not implemented in the most optimal form, which may have affected the findings. Reading climate at home was found to be an important predictor of both reading attitude and reading behaviour, stressing the importance of parents as partners for school libraries when it comes to reading promotion.
The social library in three contexts: Programmes and perspectives
Authors: Delica Kristian Nagel , Elbeshausen Hans
Published: January 2016

Across different national contexts public libraries have dealt, in diverse yet comparable ways, with the multiple challenges stemming from globalization, migration, marginalization and technological developments. This article argues, by way of dissecting three cases of library planning programmes which focused on centring libraries in their neighbourhoods, that we in recent decades witness the contours of a social library. Discussing experiences from initiatives in the UK, Canada and Denmark we, notwithstanding significant national differences, highlight common features – that libraries bring together already existing, but hitherto isolated institutional knowledge and competencies. We conclude by proposing a tentative typology of ‘the social library’.
Reliability assessment of a hospital quality measure based on rates of adverse outcomes on nursing units
Authors: Staggs Vincent S
Published: January 2016

The purpose of this study was to develop methods for assessing the reliability of scores on a widely disseminated hospital quality measure based on nursing unit fall rates. Poisson regression interactive multilevel modeling was adapted to account for clustering of units within hospitals. Three signal-noise reliability measures were computed. Squared correlations between the hospital score and true hospital fall rate averaged 0.52 ± 0.18 for total falls (0.68 ± 0.18 for injurious falls). Reliabilities on the other two measures averaged at least 0.70 but varied widely across hospitals. Parametric bootstrap data reflecting within-unit noise in falls were generated to evaluate percentile-ranked hospital scores as estimators of true hospital fall rate ranks. Spearman correlations between bootstrap hospital scores and true fall rates averaged 0.81 ± 0.01 (0.79 ± 0.01). Bias was negligible, but ranked hospital scores were imprecise, varying across bootstrap samples with average SD 11.8 (14.9) percentiles. Across bootstrap samples, hospital-measure scores fell in the same decile as the true fall rate in about 30% of cases. Findings underscore the importance of thoroughly assessing reliability of quality measurements before deciding how they will be used. Both the hospital measure and the reliability methods described can be adapted to other contexts involving clustered rates of adverse patient outcomes.
Clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline: A new method for treatment efficacy clustering in longitudinal data
Authors: Schramm Catherine , Vial Céline , Bachoud-Lévi Anne-Catherine , Katsahian Sandrine
Published: January 2016

Heterogeneity in treatment efficacy is a major concern in clinical trials. Clustering may help to identify the treatment responders and the non-responders. In the context of longitudinal cluster analyses, sample size and variability of the times of measurements are the main issues with the current methods. Here, we propose a new two-step method for the Clustering of Longitudinal data by using an Extended Baseline. The first step relies on a piecewise linear mixed model for repeated measurements with a treatment-time interaction. The second step clusters the random predictions and considers several parametric (model-based) and non-parametric (partitioning, ascendant hierarchical clustering) algorithms. A simulation study compares all options of the clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline method with the latent-class mixed model. The clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline method with the two model-based algorithms was the more robust model. The clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline method with all the non-parametric algorithms failed when there were unequal variances of treatment effect between clusters or when the subgroups had unbalanced sample sizes. The latent-class mixed model failed when the between-patients slope variability is high. Two real data sets on neurodegenerative disease and on obesity illustrate the clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline method and show how clustering may help to identify the marker(s) of the treatment response. The application of the clustering of longitudinal data by using an extended baseline method in exploratory analysis as the first stage before setting up stratified designs can provide a better estimation of treatment effect in future clinical trials.
Science diplomacy: Investigating the perspective of scholars on politics–science collaboration in international affairs
Authors: Fähnrich Birte
Published: January 2016

Science diplomacy is a widely practiced area of international affairs, but academic research is rather sparse. The role of academia within this field of politics–science interaction has hardly been considered. This article analyzes this scholarly perspective: Based on a literature review, a case study of a German science diplomacy program is used to explore objectives, benefits, and constraints of science diplomacy for participating scholars. While political approaches suggest an ideal world where both sides profit from the collaboration, the findings of the case study point to another conclusion which shows that the interaction of scholars and officials in science diplomacy is far more complex. Thus, the contribution is regarded as both a useful starting point for further research and for a critical reflection of academics and politicians in science diplomacy practice to gauge what can be expected from the collaboration and what cannot.
Exploring the long-term associations between adolescents’ music training and academic achievement
Authors: dos Santos-Luiz Carlos , Mónico Lisete S. M. , Almeida Leandro S. , Coimbra Daniela
Published: January 2016

There is a positive relationship between learning music and academic achievement, although doubts remain regarding the mechanisms underlying this association. This research analyses the academic performance of music and non-music students from seventh to ninth grade. The study controls for socioeconomic status, intelligence, motivation and prior academic achievement. Data were collected from 110 adolescents at two time points, once when the students were between 11 and 14 years old in the seventh grade, and again 3 years later. Our results show that music students perform better academically than non-music students in the seventh grade (Cohen’s d = 0.88) and in the ninth grade (Cohen’s d = 1.05). This difference is particularly evident in their scores in Portuguese language and natural science; the difference is somewhat weaker in history and geography scores, and is least pronounced in mathematics and English scores ( η2 p from .09 to .21). A longitudinal analysis also revealed better academic performance by music students after controlling for prior academic achievement ( η2 p = .07). Furthermore, controlling for intelligence, socioeconomic status and motivation did not eliminate the positive association between music learning from the seventh to the ninth grade and students’ academic achievement ( η2 p = .06). During the period, music students maintained better and more consistent academic standing. We conclude that, after controlling for intelligence, socioeconomic status and motivation, music training is positively associated with academic achievement.
Health Care Providers’ Perceptions of Nutrition Support in Pediatric Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Authors: Montgomery Kathleen , Belongia Meghan , Schulta Christina , Mulberry Mollie Haddigan , Nugent Melodee L. , Simpson Pippa M.
Published: January 2016

One of the most common side effects of medical treatment for patients with an oncologic diagnosis is malnutrition. There is limited research that broadly assesses the perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) regarding nutrition support in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of nutrition support among pediatric oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplant HCPs. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design using a 31-item survey. Results of the survey indicated that nurses were more likely to initiate conversations about nutrition support during the first month of diagnosis, while midlevel providers and physicians initiated discussions in response to a change in nutritional status evidenced by decreased oral intake or weight loss. Participants reported resistance by patients and families more often for enteral nutrition compared with parenteral nutrition. Findings suggest a need to develop a more unified service line–based approach for initiating discussions related to nutrition support that incorporate patient and family perceptions.
Increasing Activities of Daily Living Is as Easy as 1-2-3
Authors: Best Deanna , Osterkamp Erin , Demmel Kathleen , Kiniyalocts Shivonne , Mock Shawn , Mulligan Kelly , Bell Angela , Doughman Crystal , Flemming Miranda , Flesch Laura , Hawkins Deanna , Pate Abigail , Bedel Ashley , McKenna Lori Ann , Teusink Ashley , Jodele Sonata , Nagarajan Rajaram , Perentesis John , Davies Stella M. , Dandoy Christopher E.
Published: January 2016

Background: Human flora are the most common cause of bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. Activities of daily living (ADL), including oral care and daily chlorhexidine gluconate bathing, can lower the risk of infection. Methods: To address ADL compliance in our pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients, we adopted the ADL 1-2-3 initiative: daily chlorhexidine gluconate bath and linen change, at least 2 activities per day, and oral care 3 times per day. Using the Model for Improvement we created a standardized ADL process that involved all providers. Interventions included addressing ADL 1-2-3 compliance during rounds, establishing accountability in care delivery, an oral care order set and algorithm, daily text message reminders, and physician intervention with noncompliant and high-risk patients. Results: With our interventions, we increased our median compliance with the all-or-none ADL 1-2-3 initiative from 25% to 66% in 90 days. We have sustained our median compliance to 75% sixteen months after implementation. The greatest impact on compliance was seen with text message reminders to staff to complete and document the ADL 1-2-3 components, designated roles and responsibilities, and physician discussion with noncompliant and high-risk patients. Discussion: Oral care algorithm and order set, daily text message reminders, and physician intervention with noncompliant and high-risk patients has improved our compliance. Units where compliance with ADL participation is low can benefit from incorporating elements from this ADL 1-2-3 initiative.
Systematic Review of Kinship Care Effects on Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being Outcomes
Authors: Winokur Marc A. , Holtan Amy , Batchelder Keri E.
Published: January 2016

Objective:

Children in out-of-home placements typically display more educational, behavioral, and psychological problems than do their peers. This systematic review evaluated the effect of kinship care placement compared to foster care placement on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment.

Methods:

Review authors independently read titles and abstracts identified in the searches, selected appropriate studies, assessed the eligibility of each study, evaluated the methodological quality, and extracted outcome data for meta-analysis.

Results:

Outcome data from the 102 included quasi-experimental studies suggest that, as compared to children in foster care, children in kinship care experience fewer behavioral problems and mental health disorders, better well-being, less placement disruption, fewer mental health services, and similar reunification rates.

Conclusions:

This review supports the practice of treating kinship care as a viable out-of-home placement option. This conclusion is tempered by methodological and design weaknesses of the included studies.
Effective Treatments of Late-Life Depression in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Yoon Seokwon , Moon Sung Seek , Pitner Ronald
Published: January 2016

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to identify effective treatment to manage the depression of older residents.

Methods:

Using Klein and Bloom’s criteria, we analyzed the number of subjects, designs and methodologies, residential types, intervention types and duration of treatment, standardized measures, and findings. Data searches were conducted to classify empirical studies and to review empirical literature published from 2007 to 2014. A systematic research synthesis of 25 articles was conducted to investigate how various treatments affected depression among older residents.

Results:

The results show that antidepressant medication treatment appears less efficacious in treating less severe depression.

Discussion:

These findings reveal that minor depression should be treated initially with a nonpharmacologic intervention to avoid unnecessary medication risks. The findings further suggest the need for more comprehensive analyses of longitudinal research and the need for more studies that examine the combination of medication and psychotherapy for depressed older adults.
Rigor, Transparency, and Reporting Social Science Research
Authors: Wharton Tracy
Published: January 2016

Dissemination of research is the most challenging aspect of building the evidence base. Despite peer review, evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of papers leave out details that are necessary to judge bias, consider replication, or initiate meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Reporting guidelines were created to ensure minimally adequate reporting of research and have become increasingly popular since the 1990s. There are over 200 guidelines for authors to assist in reporting a range of study methodologies. Although guidelines are freely available, they are underutilized and there is criticism regarding assumptions about methodologies targeted by guidelines. As journal editors lean into endorsements, social work authors may benefit from considering guidelines appropriate for their work. This article explores pros and cons of guideline use by authors and journals and presents some suggestions for the field of social work, including assessment of whether profession-specific reporting guidelines are needed, and cautions regarding limitations.
The Epistemological Challenges of Social Work Intervention Research
Authors: Garrow Eve E. , Hasenfeld Yeheskel
Published: January 2016

We argue that the dominance of an empiricist epistemology in social work research steers much of the research away from studying and explaining the structural forces that cause the conditions of oppression, exploitation, and social exclusion that are at the roots of the social problems addressed by the profession. It does so because it assumes that the research enterprise can be insulated from the broader cultural, socioeconomic, and political forces that inherently slant the research to echo dominant ideologies that celebrate individualism. In contrast, we present the feminist standpoint epistemology, which directs researchers to start from the daily lives and conditions of the oppressed and marginalized. Such strong objectivity leads the researchers to interrogate the structural determinants of the oppressed and marginalized. We propose that it provides a more effective starting point for social work intervention research that supports the mission of the social work profession.
Role of Physical Therapy Intervention in Patients With Life-Threatening Illnesses
Authors: Putt Kaitlyn , Faville Kelli Anne , Lewis David , McAllister Kevin , Pietro Maria , Radwan Ahmed
Published: January 2016

Background:

Physical therapy encompasses the skilled treatment and care for patients across the life span through a multitude of different practice settings. This includes caring for individuals within end-of-life or palliative care settings. The goal of treatment in this stage of care is to relieve physical, social, psychological, and spiritual suffering in order to improve overall quality of life in patients with terminal illnesses. There has been limited research conducted to investigate the utilization of physical therapy interventions in palliative care settings.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the current research involving physical therapy and end-of-life care in terms of its efficacy, value, and how this value is perceived by patients and their caregivers.

Methods:

This was completed by independently screening and reviewing the studies that were published between the years 1994 and 2014 and related to this topic. The databases and journals searched included CINAHL, PUBMED, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PEDro, the Journal of Palliative Care, the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Google Scholar.

Results:

Thirteen qualitative articles were selected which met all inclusion criteria and discussed the role of physical therapy intervention in the palliative care setting. Methodological quality of articles were assessed using the QASP, scale and their findings were summarized and presented in table format.

Conclusion:

These articles support the utilization of physical therapy in palliative care settings and emphasizes the impact of physical therapy on improving patients’ physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Delirium Frequency and Risk Factors Among Patients With Cancer in Palliative Care Unit
Authors: Şenel Gülcin , Uysal Neşe , Oguz Gonca , Kaya Mensure , Kadioullari Nihal , Koçak Nesteren , Karaca Serife
Published: January 2016

Introductıon:

Delirium is a complex but common disorder in palliative care with a prevalence between 13% and 88% but a particular frequency at the end of life yet often remains insufficiently diagnosed and managed. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of delirium and identify factors associated with delirium at palliative care unit.

Methods:

Two hundred thirteen consecutive inpatients from October 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, were studied prospectively. Age, gender, Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), length of stay in hospital, and delirium etiology and subtype were recorded. Delirium was diagnosed with using Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition Text Revision ( DSM-IV TR) criteria.

Results:

The incidence of delirium among the patients with cancer was 49.8%. Mean age was 60.3 ± 14.8 (female 41%, male 59%, PPS 39.8%, PPI 5.9 ± 3.0, length of stay in hospital 8.6 ± 6.9 days). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that use of opioids, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, steroids, polypharmacy, infection, malnutrition, immobilization, sleep disturbance, constipation, hyperbilirubinemia, liver/renal failure, pulmonary failure/hypoxia, electrolyte imbalance, brain cancer/metastases, decreased PPS, and increased PPI were risk factors. Subtypes of delirium included hypoactive 49%, mixed 41%, and hyperactive 10%.

Conclusion:

The communicative impediments associated with delirium generate distress for the patient, their family, and health care practitioners who might have to contend with agitation and difficulty in assessing pain and other symptoms. To manage delirium in patients with cancer, clinicians must be able to diagnose it accurately and undertake appropriate assessment of underlying causes.
Community Development, Transitional Value, and Institutional Affinity
Authors: Howard Ryan A. , O’Connell Timothy S. , Lathrop Anna H.
Published: January 2016

This article examines the impact of an outdoor orientation program (OOP) on a cohort of first-year university students who participated in a canoe trip facilitated by peer leaders. The curriculum included training for outdoor skills and transitional guidance to university life (i.e., strategies for time management, critical thinking, becoming independent, diversity, and information about interpersonal relationships and healthy living). Employing McMillan and Chavis’s (1986) community development model and a qualitative case study approach, data were collected via a structured focus group designed to investigate the impact of the OOP on students’ adjustment to university life. Results of the study revealed that the OOP experience favorably affected students through the development of a strong sense of community, the facilitation of knowledge transfer from the wilderness context to the university setting, and the generation of a definitive sense of commitment and institutional loyalty to the university.
Experimental and numerical investigation of fatigue damage accumulation in composite laminates
Authors: Hassanifard Soran , Feyzi Mohsen
Published: January 2016

In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed to predict the fatigue life of composite bolted joints. In this model, progressive damage theory was used. The fatigue characterization was based on Hashin’s failure criteria which recognize the failure modes. To decrease the number of unidirectional tests, the effects of load ratio were considered based on Kawai’s criterion. A modified form of Miner’s rule was proposed to calculate the damage parameter. This equation corrected the effects of the fatigue failure cycles and included the effects of different load ratios. Also, this model could decrease the overestimation of the fatigue life predictions. All of the formulations were combined and used in a step-by-step solution. In this respect, a new iterative algorithm was developed so that at each step of solution, the material properties of all failed layers of each element were reduced according to the failure mode and sudden degradation rules. The estimated fatigue life was compared to the experimental data, and an excellent correlation between the results was observed. This model could monitor the damage propagation in fabricated joints.
Endovascular Interventions for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Bishop Bryan M.
Published: January 2016

Objective: To review recent endovascular intervention trials for acute ischemic stroke. Data Sources: Recent, randomized controlled trials of endovascular interventions for acute ischemic stroke were identified. The search terms “endovascular” AND “stroke” were used and filter for “randomized controlled trial” was applied; the period searched was January 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Randomized controlled trials of endovascular interventions in acute ischemic stroke published within the past 3 years (2013-2015). Data Synthesis: A total of 8 trials are reviewed: 3 trials published in 2013 demonstrated neutral results for endovascular interventions, and 5 trials published in 2015 demonstrated positive results for endovascular interventions. Potential reasons for the change in outcomes include better patient selection and improvement indevice technology. Patient selection improvements included selecting patients with salvageable brain tissue with an identifiable thrombus on perfusion imaging. The major improvement in device technology was the introduction of the Solitaire Flow Restoration stent retriever and the Trevo stent retriever, both of which have improved recanalization rates compared with earlier devices. Adjunctive medication considerations include the mode of sedation (general or conscious), intraprocedural anticoagulation with heparin, and intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator. Conclusions: The use of endovascular devices for treating acute ischemic stroke is likely to increase as more centers become capable of integrating them into their stroke programs. It is important for pharmacists to understand the trials that evaluated endovascular interventions because differences exist with respect to device, adjunctive medication, and patient selection, all of which affect patient outcomes.