bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paramedic Education and Training on Cultural Diversity: Conventions Underpinning Practice
Authors: Spencer Caroline , Archer Frank
Published: December 2018

Clinical skills form the basis of paramedic education and training, but the broader cultural context presents an even greater challenge to the quality of paramedic and health professional practice. Since the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the development of initiatives at international, national, state and professional levels have progressively responded to the growing demand for culturally responsive health care within the rising cultural milieu.

In the paramedic context, these initiatives provide strong support for paramedics to take action and champion this advance in an increasingly multicultural society. Wide-ranging initiatives represent a hierarchy of knowledge which not only underpin the importance of teaching cultural diversity in paramedic education, but offer a sound rationale for advancing culturally responsive care to incorporate ‘best practice principles’ in paramedic practice. More importantly, acceptance of these initiatives pays heed to and respects culturally diverse patients.

The lack of a readily accessible single compendium in the area of culturally responsive health care in paramedic education or practice validates the need for this paper, which extracts information from relevant and significant declarations, conventions and guidelines at international, national and state levels and thus, serves as a resource for paramedics and other health professionals. The objectives of this compendium are to present the range of initiatives which underpin cultural diversity education and practice for paramedics, and to highlight the need of an awareness of these for all health professionals.
Paramedic Pre-Employment Education and the Concerns of Our Future: What are Our Expectations?
Authors: Waxman Amelia , Williams Brett
Published: December 2018

Objective

To analyse Monash University pre-employment students’ concerns about gaining employment with ambulance services in Australia.

Design

A Likert-based questionnaire and open-ended questions.

Setting

On campus study, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Australia.

Participants

Eighty-eight (n=88) students studying the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic) degree at Monash University.

Results

Interestingly, 45% of students intend to only apply to a Victorian ambulance service, with less than 10% of students stating they would accept an interstate position if successful in a Victorian service and interstate. Thematic analysis gained from the open-ended questions also emphasised many concerns students had regarding employment from a pre-employment perspective including: pre-employment education not being recognised, lack of workload, geographical isolation once employed and perception of being too young.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight many barriers in gaining employment and emphasise pertinent issues that not only currently confront the students of pre-employment education at Monash University, but also for pre-employment students studying around Australia.
Mortality, Malnutrition and the Humanitarian Response to the Food Crises in Lesotho
Authors: Renzaho André M.N.
Published: December 2018

Background

At the height of the food crisis in southern Africa, the Government of Lesotho declared a state of famine and emergency in April 2002 and launched a Famine Relief Appeal for over $137 million. World Vision, in partnership with the World Food Program, became involved in December 2002 providing food aid to affected communities.

Objective

to document mortality rates, causes of death, malnutrition prevalence, and the proportion of lost pregnancies after almost three years of humanitarian response to the food crisis in Lesotho and to propose a way forward.

Design

A two-stage, 30 cluster household survey was undertaken in three districts from the 16th to the 26th of May 2005, with a sample size of 3610 people.

Results

The crude mortality rate (CMR) of 0.8/10,000/day (95%CI: 0.7-0.9). The reported CMR was significantly lower than the CMR emergency threshold (<1/10,000/day). Using 2000 as a pre-drought baseline, 38528 excess deaths occurred between 2000 and 2005. The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) of 3.2 deaths/10,000/day (95%CI: 2.8-3.6/10,000/day) was 4 times the reported CMR and 1.4 times higher the U5MR emergency threshold for sub-Saharan Africa (2.3/10,000/day). CMR was lower among food aid beneficiaries (0.68; 95%CI: 0.57-0.79) than non-beneficiaries (1.42; 95%CI: 1.13-1.70). This was also true for U5MR (2.94; 95%CI: 2.39-3.50 versus 6.44; 95%CI: 5.21-7.68). The prevalence of wasting increased from 5.4% to 12% while that of stunting declined from 45.4% to 36.2% between 2000 and 2005, but the nutritional status did not vary by beneficiary status.

Conclusion

Despite the alarming U5MR, findings suggest that the food aid program ensured survival mainly among adults. The situation could have been catastrophic in the absence of humanitarian assistance.
Are Undergraduate Paramedic Students Able to Accurately Identify Breath Sounds? – a Pilot Study
Authors: Boyle Malcolm , Williams Brett
Published: December 2018

Background

The accurate interpretation of breath sounds in the prehospital setting is an important skill for paramedics as it ultimately may determine the patient's initial and ongoing management. These sounds may include normal breath sounds and abnormal breath sounds such as stridor, inspiratory/expiratory wheeze, fine crackles, and coarse crackles. Only one previous prehospital study investigating paramedic's ability to accurately determine the various breath sounds was located. The objective of this study was to determine if undergraduate paramedic students were able to accurately interpret a variety of breath sounds.

Methods

A prospective single-blinded observational pilot study using a convenience sample of undergraduate paramedic students to identify six different recorded breath sounds.

Results

The results demonstrate that Monash University undergraduate paramedic students are not accurate at interpreting a range of high quality recorded breath sounds likely to be heard in the prehospital setting. For sound one (coarse crackles), 20% of students correctly identified this breath sound. Sound two (stridor), 43% of students correctly identified this breath sound. Sound three (wheeze), 51% of students correctly identified this breath sound with 17% stating it was either an inspiratory/expiratory wheeze. Sound four (fine crackles), 6% of students correctly identified this breath sound whilst 14% thought is was a normal breath sound. Sound five (wheeze), 20% of students correctly identified this breath sound, with 49% unsure. Sound six (crackles), 40% of students correctly identified this breath sound with 23% being unsure.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Monash University undergraduate paramedic students are inaccurate at correctly identifying a variety of recorded breath sounds. The results from this study have provided Monash University paramedic teaching staff with evidence to facilitate change to the part of the curriculum that covers respiratory disorders.
How Useful is Aed Training as a Determinant for the Utilisation of Automatic External Defibrillators by Lay People?
Authors: Timmons Stephen , Harrison-Paul Russell , Crosbie Brian
Published: December 2018

There is some debate in the resuscitation literature about whether training lay people in the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is actually necessary. Certain models of AED implementation have successfully been used where no formal training has been provided. This paper reports on a qualitative, interview-based study of lay people who had been trained to use an AED. The data suggests that the training event, and especially the faceto-face contact with the trainers, plays an important part in persuading people to trust the AED, and to use it, if and when an emergency occurs. Thus the training event may have a value in addition to teaching lay people the skills of using an AED.
Willingness to Work during a Terrorist Attack: A Case-Study of First Responders during the 9/11 World Trade Centre Terrorist Attacks
Authors: Smith Erin
Published: December 2018

Background

Terrorist attacks are exceptional events that place first responders in high risk situations. When terrorist attacks occur, first responders will play an integral role in the response to, and management of, these events. Providing a core component of the ‘frontline’ response to terrorism, first responders will potentially be exposed to a variety of health and safety risks, including physical injury, death, exposure, infection, contamination, and psychological effects such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression.

Objectives

The objective of this research was to gain an understanding of risk perception and willingness to work during terrorist events. Specifically, this research aimed to investigate willingness to work among paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who had responded to the 9/11 World Trade Centre (WTC) terrorist attacks.

Methods

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with New York based first responders to discuss their willingness to work and response to the 9/11 attacks.

Conclusion

First responders reported a number of primary risks that concerned them during their response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These were injury and death, and potential contamination and exposure. The key concerns reported by first responders with providing the frontline response to the attacks related primarily to health and safety, communication issues, the need for accurate and timely information, and the need for suitable training and education. First responders often reported a difficulty in finding a balance between personal safety and duty of care. Despite these risks and concerns, all study participants reported a willingness to work on the day. Willingness to work during subsequent terrorist and bioterrorist events in the future was influenced by the provision of better personal protective equipment (PPE), communication strategies, and the development of targeted and specialised training and education programmes.
The Quandary of Prehospital Oxygen Administration in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - a Review of the Literature
Authors: Perry Elizabeth , Wiliams Brett
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Perpetual debate continues regarding the amount of oxygen that should delivered by paramedics to patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A number of studies argue that providing excessive levels of oxygen in COPD patients results in hypercapnic respiratory failure. Despite the prevalence of COPD there continues to be a paucity of prehospital literature on this topic.

Objective

To review and analyse the literature regarding prehospital administration of oxygen therapy in patients with COPD.

Design

Literature review using a variety of medical databases including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PubMed. The following MeSH terms were used in the search: lung diseases, obstructive; emergency medical services; respiratory therapy.

Results

Using exclusion and inclusion criteria a total of 9 papers were located. There is a lack of high quality evidence to adequately address the issue of oxygen prescription to COPD patients in the prehospital setting. It is recommended that oxygen flow is titrated in COPD patients to maintain SpO2 between 90-92%.

Conclusion

There is a need for randomised controlled trials in the prehospital setting to address the issue regarding oxygen prescription for COPD patients. Oxygen can be titrated using pulse oximetry to minimize complications of hypoxia and the risk of hypercapnia from excessively high oxygen concentration.
From Roadside to Hospital: A Pilot Study to Investigate the Factors Influencing the Time Taken to Deliver Trauma Patients to a Regional Hospital
Authors: Boyle Malcolm , O'Meara Peter
Published: December 2018

Introduction

One of the trauma system objectives for the ambulance service is to get the right patient to the right hospital in a timely manner. The Review of Trauma and Emergency Services in Victoria, Australia, identified prolonged prehospital scene times of greater than 20 minutes for non trapped patients as a deficiency that may have adverse outcomes for severely injured trauma patients. The objective of this pilot study was to identify the factors that impact on the timely transfer of trauma patients from the scene of an incident to a regional hospital emergency department and justification for the delays, as the basis for a further detailed study.

Methods

A retrospective pilot cohort study of trauma patients transported by ambulance to the emergency department of the Latrobe Regional Hospital over a six-month period who had an emergency department triage category of 1, 2 or 3 was undertaken. Data relating to the prehospital care of trauma patients with scene times > 20 minutes and transport times > 30 minutes were extracted from Rural Ambulance Victoria patient care records and hospital patient records. Ethics approval was granted.

Results

There were 70 trauma patients transported to the hospital during the collection period. Of these 49 patients were available for analysis, 21 cases were excluded due to incomplete time or ED triage details. There were 12 cases where scene times were > 20 minutes. Only one paramedic crew spent an unjustifiably long time at the scene and only one patient had a transport time to hospital > 30 minutes.

Conclusion

This pilot study confirms that there are prolonged prehospital scene times involving paramedics, however, the study suggests that most of the extended times are explained by factors outside the control of the attending paramedics. There was only one case where the scene time was not justified. One patient had a transport time > 30 minutes which was due to the patient being taken to a higher level of care. Experiences from this pilot study have led to changes in subsequent prehospital trauma studies.
Liston's Splint – a Forgotten First Aid Technique
Authors: Fahey David
Published: December 2018

The effective immobilisation of fractures has always been an important aspect of prehospital care. A fractured femur is a serious injury which can result in significant pain, haemorrhage, and tissue damage, but these complications can all be minimised by splinting. This can best be achieved with a traction splint, which is standard equipment in all modern ambulance services. However, in rural and remote Australia, or in the developing world, trained bystanders need a method for handing a fractured femur while awaiting professional help. Paramedics may need an alternative to the traction splint, in situations of mass casualty disasters. A method which is suited to these scenarios was first described by Robert Liston in 1846, and was subsequently adapted for first aid use. Liston was a Scottish born surgeon, whose work in the pre-anaesthetic era is regarded as remarkable. Liston's splint formed part of the armamentarium of first aid from 1878 to 1982, and its role in contemporary prehospital care should be reconsidered.
Enhancing An Undergraduate Paramedic Degree through the Introduction of a Health Fact Sheet Assessment Task
Authors: Hryciw Deanne
Published: December 2018

Aims

A component of the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc. (Australia) guidelines is to facilitate the development of University degree courses which focus on the development of professional behaviour by incorporating educational programs that provide paramedic graduates with workplace skills that will be required for their future careers.

Methods

A health fact sheet assessment task was introduced to first year Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedic) students as a part of their curriculum in bioscience. The aims of the assessment task were to improve their understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, and to enhance essential workplace skills such as communicating scientific concepts to members of the general public (lay people). In addition to the task, a survey was distributed to determine the opinion of the students on the health fact sheet assessment task.

Results

The 166 students who completed the task achieved a high mean grade of 8.16 out of 10 (± 0.77). Fifty-two students completed the survey (31.32%), with most students strongly believing that learning to communicate more effectively to the general public was a useful skill and that the health fact sheet assessment task achieved this aim.

Conclusion

The health fact sheet assessment task was a valuable tool in an undergraduate paramedic curriculum, reinforcing skills that are relevant to an allied health career.
Correlation of Paramedic Administration of Furosemide with Emergency Physician Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Dobson Thomas , Jensen Jan , Karim Saleema , Travers Andrew
Published: December 2018

Objective

Recent literature has questioned the accuracy of paramedic diagnosis of congestive heart failure and appropriateness of administration of diuretics. This study determined the agreement between paramedic administration of furosemide and emergency physician diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Treatments administered in the pre-hospital and emergency departments and adverse events are also described.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients treated with furosemide by paramedics from November 1, 2006 to June 1, 2008. Paramedic reports were matched with Emergency Department (ED) charts. Emergency physician diagnosis, prehospital and ED treatments, adverse events and mortality were identified.

Results

Of 94 patients, emergency physician diagnosis was congestive heart failure (CHF) in 60 cases, indicating agreement of 63.8% of paramedic administration of furosemide for this diagnosis. Leading alternate diagnoses were: pneumonia (n = 14); acute coronary syndrome (n = 8); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 7). The rate of death was higher in patients not diagnosed with congestive heart failure (6/28 vs. 2/58, p=0.017). Eight non-fatal adverse events were identified, all were patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure by emergency physicians.

Conclusion

Paramedic administration of furosemide demonstrates moderate agreement with physician diagnosis of congestive heart failure. This adds to the evidence that diagnosing the cause of dyspnea in the prehospital setting is difficult, most often confused with pneumonia. Paramedics should be cautious when administering furosemide, as it may be related to increased mortality.
Prehospital Emergency Thoracotomy: When to Do It?
Authors: Chalkias Athanasios
Published: December 2018

Traumatic injuries still constitute one of the leading causes of death in all age groups. Emergency thoracotomy is a procedure carried out in patients presenting in extremis. The primary goals are the control of massive hemorrhage, the release of cardiac tamponade, the internal or open cardiac massage, the prevention or control of air embolism, the control of bronchopleural fistulae and the cross-clamping of descending aorta. Although the usefulness of prehospital emergency thoracotomy remains controversial and specific guidelines are lacking, when faced with no alternative, it can be a lifesaving procedure. A comprehensive search for relevant studies was performed from 1975 to the present. An algorithm is proposed to assist physicians in deciding when to perform on scene thoracotomy.
The Search and Development of Professionalism in “Ambulance”
Authors: McDonell Angus
Published: December 2018

This paper is a transcript of the Author's original presentation at the Inaugural Annual JEPHC Symposium 2009; addressing the theme of “Embedding Professionalism in Paramedic Education and Practice in the setting of Emergency Primary Health Care”.
From Stretcher-Bearer to Paramedic: The Australian Paramedics’ Move towards Professionalisation
Authors: Williams Brett , Onsman Andrys , Brown Ted
Published: December 2018

Over the last one hundred and twenty years, the Australian paramedic sector has changed dramatically; influenced and informed by a range of social, health, economic, professional, and political forces. However, there has been little reflection of those changes in either the perception of the discipline as a profession or the manner in which its membership is trained, socialised, and educated.

This paper explores the links between professionalisation and education in the paramedic field. Paramedics are currently at best seen as a ‘semi-profession’ and a great deal of discussion about whether the discipline actually wants to achieve full professional status exists. Comparisons will be made with the professions of nursing and physiotherapy, outlining how and why they progressed from a semi-professional status to a fully recognised profession, culminating in a discussion about which characteristics the paramedics discipline as yet lacks. A review of common professional traits suggests three areas where the discipline falls short: 1) the delineation of its professional compass, especially in relation to extant recognised cognate (and competitive) professions, 2) National registration and regulation resulting in professional self-control and accreditation, and 3) Higher Education and the development of a unique body of professional knowledge.

Finally it will be argued that the recognition and addressing of the gaps by the relevant policymakers, regulators, employers and academics will lead to the formulation of strategies that are most likely to result in professional status for paramedics in Australia.
Designing a Questionnaire to Review Cultural Competency in Australian and New Zealand Paramedic Courses
Authors: Spencer Caroline , Macdonald Rhona , Archer Frank
Published: December 2018

Designing a questionnaire to review cultural competency in Australian and New Zealand paramedic education courses provides the focus of this paper. The paper emerged from a larger research project, which sought to explore the extent to which health professions include cultural competency in their curricula.

The purpose of designing a questionnaire was to review Australian and New Zealand paramedic education courses to discover the presence and coverage of cultural competency in the paramedic curriculum. To the best of our knowledge, no current research explores this theme. The absence of such research provided an opportunity to rectify this gap and contribute to the development of the paramedic curriculum, particularly with the proliferation of cultural competency courses in other health professions. This research makes an important contribution to the new academic discipline of paramedic research.

The methods used for designing a questionnaire utilised three statements and guidelines on research practice, in addition to a literature review that informed the design process. The research outcome is a paramedic specific questionnaire based on a carefully constructed design process which education researchers could use or adapt to their needs for exploring other curriculum topics.
Sir Neville Howse (Vc), Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick and Private Martin O'Meara (Vc) and Their Contributions to Australian Military Medicine
Authors: Devenish Scott , O'Meara Peter
Published: December 2018

Medical personnel serving with the Defence Forces have contributed to the evolution of trauma treatment and the advancement of prehospital care within the military environment. This paper investigates the stories of an Australian Medical Officer, Sir Neville Howse, and two stretcher bearers, Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick and Private Martin O'Meara, In particular it describes the gruelling conditions under which they performed their roles, and reflects on the legacy that they have left behind in Australian society.

While it is widely acknowledged that conflicts such as World War One should never have happened, as civilian and defence force paramedics, we should never forget the service and sacrifice of defence force medical personnel and their contribution to the body of knowledge on the treatment of trauma. These men and women bravely provided emergency care in the most harrowing conditions possible. However, men like Martin O'Meara may not have been given the same status in society today as Sir Neville Howse or Simpson and his donkey, due to the public's lack of awareness and acceptance of war neurosis and conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder, reactive psychosis and somatoform disorders which were suffered by many soldiers during their wartime service and on their return home after fighting in war.
A Pilot Study to Determine Whether Undergraduate Paramedics are Able to Retain Basic Resuscitation and Respiratory Physiology Knowledge
Authors: Nehme Ziad , Boyle Malcolm
Published: December 2018

Introduction

While suboptimal bag ventilation has been well documented during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), we often do not consider how operator knowledge of ventilation guidelines may contribute to this outcome. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate third year Monash University undergraduate paramedic students’ knowledge of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) ventilation guidelines and basic respiratory physiology.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was used to elicit responses about ventilation rate, tidal volume and knowledge of lower oesophageal sphincter pressure in normal and cardiac arrest states for third year undergraduate paramedic students at Monash University. Ethics approval was granted

Results

There were 30 (41%) third year students who participated. Only 8 (27%) of the students who participated could identify the correct ventilation rate for an intubated patient in a cardiac arrest situation, with only 3 (10%) of students identifying the correct tidal volume. Overall, 27 (90%) of students had a poor knowledge of ventilation guidelines while 29 (97%) students were unable to recall basic lower oesophageal sphincter pressure values.

Conclusion

A greater emphasis on education of current ventilation guidelines, as well as the underpinning knowledge surrounding the guidelines, is needed to ensure students attain appropriate ventilation during CPR.
Which is more Effective for Ventilation in the Prehospital Setting during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, the Laryngeal Mask Airway or the Bag-Valve-Mask? - a Review of the Literature
Authors: Flavell Emma , Boyle Malcolm
Published: December 2018

Background

Prehospital care providers are responsible for providing adequate ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is widely accepted as the ‘gold standard’ for airway protection and the preferred method for ventilation. However, most Australian paramedics are not trained to perform ETI. Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) and Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) are seen as adequate alternatives to ETI as recommended by the International Liaison Committee of Resuscitation (ILCOR). The objective of this study was to identify which airway device LMA or BVM (with OPA/NPA) is more effective in airway patency and ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the prehospital environment.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using medical electronic databases, MEDLINE CINHAL, EMBASE, Meditext, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Scopus. These databases were searched from January 1996 until the end of January 2010. Articles were included if the principal objective was to compare ventilation efficiency of the LMA against the BVM in the prehospital setting. References from articles retrieved were reviewed.

Results

There were 2937 articles located by the search. Of these, 30 articles met the inclusion criteria with twelve relevant to the prehospital environment. In the twelve prehospital studies, two involved the use of mannequins, four were retrospective, five were observational, and there was one a literature review.

Conclusion

The findings from this review suggest that the LMA is more effective at ventilations over time during CPR in adults, as there is less risk of gastric regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration. The BVM is quicker at performing the first ventilation but there is a loss of effectiveness over time. BVM is considered the best method for ventilating children and neonates.
Internet Videoconferencing in Undergraduate Paramedic Education
Authors: Williams Brett
Published: December 2018

This paper illustrates the innovative use of Internet Videoconferencing in a blended and case-based learning approach used to support undergraduate paramedic student learning during weekly clinical problems. Regular Internet Videoconferencing learning periods were offered to students by teaching staff, increasing after-hours communication opportunities otherwise not normally achievable. Whilst encouraging learning outcomes were achieved with some students, other students encountered barriers such as lack of available bandwidth, inappropriate computer hardware and preference for face-to-face contact.
Personal Alarm Use to Call the Ambulance after a Fall in Older People: Characteristics of Clients and Falls
Authors: Johnston Kylie , Worley Anthea , Grimmer-Somers Karen , Sutherland Michele , Amos Lorraine
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To examine differences in fall characteristics and emergency service response to older fallers (≥ 65 years of age), considering their use, or not, of a personal alarm.

Methods

A retrospective one month audit of South Australian Ambulance Service records was conducted. Characteristics of ambulance call-outs for falls or alarm activations were described (Sample 1). Alarm-activated services for older fallers were matched (by day and type of service) with fallers who did not use a personal alarm (Sample 2).

Results

A retrospective one month audit of South Australian Ambulance Service records was conducted. Characteristics of ambulance call-outs for falls or alarm activations were described (Sample 1). Alarm-activated services for older fallers were matched (by day and type of service) with fallers who did not use a personal alarm (Sample 2).

Conclusion

Older women living alone were the major users of personal alarms for assistance after falling. If activated quickly, alarms enabled most fallers to gain ambulance attention within 15 minutes. However, personal alarm use was also associated with a high incidence of false alarms.
Positive Position Feedback Control of a Galloping Structure
Authors: Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi Mohammad
Published: December 2018

In this study, the suppression of wind-induced oscillations of a D-shaped prism mounted on a cantilever beam by means of a positive position feedback (PPF) controller is investigated. The assumed mode method is applied to determine the stiffness, mass and non-linear force matrixes of a second order ordinary differential equation system. The positive position feedback control by use of a sensor-actuator piezoelectric is implemented on the galloping system to suppress the mechanical oscillations. The results show that the PPF controller is a powerful method to decrease the galloping amplitude of the D-shaped prism. The numerical results are in a good agreement with experimental results.
Prediction of Douglas-Fir Lumber Properties: Comparison between a Benchtop Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Hyperspectral Imaging System
Authors: Schimleck Laurence , Dahlen Joseph , Yoon Seung-Chul , Lawrence Kurt C. , Jones Paul David
Published: December 2018

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and NIR hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) were compared for the rapid estimation of physical and mechanical properties of No. 2 visual grade 2 × 4 (38.1 mm by 88.9 mm) Douglas-fir structural lumber. In total, 390 lumber samples were acquired from four mills in North America and destructively tested through bending. From each piece of lumber, a 25-mm length block was cut to collect diffuse reflectance NIR spectra and hyperspectral images. Calibrations for the specific gravity (SG) of both the lumber (SGlumber) and 25-mm block (SGblock) and the lumber modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were created using partial least squares (PLS) regression and their performance checked with a prediction set. The strongest calibrations were based on NIR spectra; however, the NIR-HSI data provided stronger predictions for all properties. In terms of fit statistics, SGblock gave the best results, followed by SGlumber, MOE, and MOR. The NIR-HSI SGlumber, MOE, and MOR calibrations were used to predict these properties for each pixel across the transverse surface of the scanned samples, allowing SG, MOE, and MOR variation within and among rings to be observed.
Bioactive Compounds, Nutritional Quality and Oxidative Stability of Cold-Pressed Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) Oils
Authors: Ratusz Katarzyna , Symoniuk Edyta , Wroniak Małgorzata , Rudzińska Magdalena
Published: December 2018

In this study, 29 cold-pressed camelina (Camelina sativa L.) oils, pressed from seeds grown in Poland and purchased directly from local producers, were analyzed. The degree of change in the tested oils’ characteristic hydrolytic and oxidative lipid values was determined. Oxidative stability was determined using the Rancimat and PDSC methods. Fatty acid and phytosterol contents were determined by GC-FID, and tocopherols by HPLC. The analyzed oils were characterized by good, but variable, quality, and met the requirements specified for cold-pressed edible oils. Highly desirable fatty acid composition, low SFA content (about 6%), high α-linolenic acid content (34.7–37.1%), and optimal PUFA n-3 to PUFA n-6 ratio (1.79–2.17) were shown. The high nutritional value of camelina oils was confirmed on the basis of high contents of tocopherols (55.8–76.1 mg/100 g), phytosterols (331–442 mg/100 g), and carotenoids (103–198 mg of β-carotene/kg). The optimal nutritional quality indices were as follows: 0.05–0.07 for the atherogenicity index (AI), and 0.1–0.2 for the thrombogenicity index (TI). The significant impact of primary (PV) and total oxidation (TOTOX) of camelina oil on oxidative stability was evaluated using Rancimat and PDSC methods. Both methods were also confirmed to be appropriate for the assessment of the oxidative stability of camelina oils.
Stable and Low-Spurs Optoelectronic Oscillators: A Review
Authors: Liu Anni , Dai Jian , Xu Kun
Published: December 2018

An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is an optoelectronic hybrid oscillator which utilizes ultra-low-loss fiber as an electro-magnetic energy storage element, overcoming the limits of traditional microwave oscillators in phase noise performance. Due to their ability to generate ultra-low phase noise microwave signal, optoelectronic oscillators have attracted considerable attentions and are becoming one of the most promising and powerful microwave signal sources. In this paper, we briefly introduce the operation principle and discuss current research on frequency stability and spurious suppression of optoelectronic oscillators.
Effect of Prelithiation Process for Hard Carbon Negative Electrode on the Rate and Cycling Behaviors of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Abe Yusuke , Saito Tomoaki , Kumagai Seiji
Published: December 2018

Two prelithiation processes (shallow Li-ion insertion, and thrice-repeated deep Li-ion insertion and extraction) were applied to the hard carbon (HC) negative electrode (NE) used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). LIB full-cells were assembled using Li(Ni0.5Co0.2Mn0.3)O2 positive electrodes (PEs) and the prelithiated HC NEs. The assembled full-cells were charged and discharged under a low current density, increasing current densities in a stepwise manner, and then constant under a high current density. The prelithiation process of shallow Li-ion insertion resulted in the high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of the full-cell at the initial charge-discharge cycles as well as in a superior rate capability. The prelithiation process of thrice-repeated Li-ion insertion and extraction attained an even higher CE and a high charge-discharge specific capacity under a low current density. However, both prelithiation processes decreased the capacity retention during charge-discharge cycling under a high current density, ascertaining a trade-off relationship between the increased CE and the cycling performance. Further elimination of the irreversible capacity of the HC NE was responsible for the higher utilization of both the PE and NE, attaining higher initial performances, but allowing the larger capacity to fade throughout charge-discharge cycling.
Does Plant Size Influence Leaf Elements in an Arborescent Cycad?
Authors: Marler Thomas E. , Krishnapillai Murukesan V.
Published: December 2018

Plant size influences the leaf nutrient relations of many species, but no cycad species has been studied in this regard. We used the arborescent Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill to quantify leaf nutrient concentrations of trees with stems up to 5.5-m in height to determine if height influenced leaf nutrients. Green leaves were sampled in a karst, alkaline habitat in Rota and a schist, acid habitat in Yap. Additionally, senesced leaves were collected from the trees in Yap. Minerals and metals were quantified in the leaf samples and regressed onto stem height. Green leaf nitrogen, calcium, manganese, and iron decreased linearly with increased stem height. Senesced leaf carbon, iron, and copper decreased and senesced leaf nitrogen increased with stem height. Nitrogen resorption efficiency decreased with stem height. Phosphorus and potassium resorption efficiencies were not influenced by plant size, but were greater than expected based on available published information. The results indicate leaf nutrient concentrations of this cycad species are directly influenced by plant size, and illuminate the need for adding more cycad species to this research agenda. Plant size should be measured and reported in all cycad reports that include measurements of leaf behavior.
Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Testosterone
Authors: Banihani Saleem Ali
Published: December 2018

Enhancing testosterone production in males is a continuous research direction for many scientists in the field, due to its role as a principal sex hormone and as a crucial modulator of well-being and general health in humans. Since 1978, there have been more than 30 studies that have connected coenzyme Q10 and testosterone. Such a link is attributable to the vigorous biological role of coenzyme Q10 as a crucial member in the energy production route in humans and animals, which is thought to have a positive influence on testosterone production, and hence on infertility, particularly male infertility. However, this connection has not yet been deliberated. The present work systematically reviews and summarizes the influence of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on testosterone. To accomplish this purpose, the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched using the keywords “coenzyme Q10” versus “testosterone” for English language papers from November 1978 through October 2018. Relevant articles were also discussed and included to address an integral discussion. In summary, to date the studies conducted on human males reveal insignificant effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on testosterone. Similarly, rather than the reproductive toxicity studies, the studies conducted on animals did not show any positive influence of coenzyme Q10 on testosterone. However, coenzyme Q10 supplementation was found to ameliorate the reduction in testosterone induced by chemical reproductive toxicants, mainly by neutralizing the damaging effect of the generated free radicals. However, collectively these findings require further confirmation by additional research studies.
Influence of the Crystal Surface on the Austenitic and Martensitic Phase Transition in Pure Iron
Authors: Meiser Jerome , Urbassek Herbert
Published: December 2018

Using classical molecular dynamics simulations, we studied the influence that free surfaces exert on the austenitic and martensitic phase transition in iron. For several single-indexed surfaces—such as ( 100 ) bcc and ( 110 ) bcc as well as ( 100 ) fcc and ( 110 ) fcc surfaces—appropriate pathways exist that allow for the transformation of the surface structure. These are the Bain, Mao, Pitsch, and Kurdjumov–Sachs pathways, respectively. Tilted surfaces follow the pathway of the neighboring single-indexed plane. The austenitic transformation temperature follows the dependence of the specific surface energy of the native bcc phase; here, the new phase nucleates at the surface. In contrast, the martensitic transformation temperature steadily decreases when tilting the surface from the (100) fcc to the (110) fcc orientation. This dependence is caused by the strong out-of-plane deformation that (110) fcc facets experience under the transformation; here, the new phase also nucleates in the bulk rather than at the surface.
Enhanced Systemic Response of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Regulators in Campylobacter and Salmonella Patients
Authors: Nilsson Anna , Tervahartiala Taina , Lennebratt David , Lannergård Anders , Sorsa Timo , Rautelin Hilpi
Published: December 2018

Campylobacters are major enteropathogens worldwide with a substantial financial burden. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic metalloendopeptidases with ability to modify immune response and shown to be upregulated in patients with several tissue destructive diseases, including infections. We measured here serum concentrations of MMP-8 and MMP-9 together with their regulators myeloperoxidase (MPO), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 in 80 Campylobacter and 25 Salmonella patients as well as in 27 healthy controls. Paired serum samples were available for 73 and 23 patients, respectively. When the initial serum samples were compared to those from controls, both Campylobacter and Salmonella patients showed elevated concentrations of all biomarkers tested (p ≤ 0.037). In the follow-up samples, collected about 25 days afterwards, MMP-8 levels of Campylobacter patients had already turned to normal but all the other biomarkers still showed elevated, although from the initial levels significantly dropped, levels. For the follow-up samples of Salmonella patients, only MMP-9 and MPO levels were at a significantly higher level than in controls. It remains to be studied if the systematically enhanced neutrophil-derived proteolytic and oxidative stress, induced by Campylobacter infection as shown here and persisting for several weeks, is important for the development of late sequelae.
Multifractality of Pseudo-Velocities and Seismic Quiescence Associated with the Tehuantepec M8.2 EQ
Authors: Carrizales-Velazquez Carlos , Rudolf-Navarro Adolfo , Reyes-Ramírez Israel , Muñoz-Diosdado Alejandro , Guzmán-Vargas Lev , Angulo-Brown Fernando
Published: December 2018

By using earthquake catalogs, previous studies have reported evidence that some changes in the spatial and temporal organization of earthquake activity are observed before and after of a main shock. These previous studies have used different approaches for detecting clustering behavior and distance-events density in order to point out the asymmetric behavior of foreshocks and aftershocks. Here, we present a statistical analysis of the seismic activity related to the M w = 8.2 earthquake that occurred on 7 September 2017 in Mexico. First, we calculated the inter-event time and distance between successive events for the period 1 January 1998 until 20 October 2017 in a circular region centered at the epicenter of the M w = 8.2 EQ. Next, we introduced the concept of pseudo-velocity as the ratio between the inter-event distance and inter-event time. A sliding window is considered to estimate some statistical features of the pseudo-velocity sequence before the main shock. Specifically, we applied the multifractal method to detect changes in the spectrum of singularities for the period before the main event on 7 September. Our results point out that the multifractality associated with the pseudo-velocities exhibits noticeable changes in the characteristics of the spectra (more narrower) for approximately three years, from 2013 until 2016, which is preceded and followed by periods with wider spectra. On the other hand, we present an analysis of patterns of seismic quiescence before the M w = 8.2 earthquake based on the Schreider algorithm over a period of 27 years. We report the existence of an important period of seismic quietude, for six to seven years, from 2008 to 2015 approximately, known as the alpha stage, and a beta stage of resumption of seismic activity, with a duration of approximately three years until the occurrence of the great earthquake of magnitude M w = 8.2 . Our results are in general concordance with previous results reported for statistics based on magnitude temporal sequences.
Entropy Churn Metrics for Fault Prediction in Software Systems
Authors: Kaur Arvinder , Chopra Deepti
Published: December 2018

Fault prediction is an important research area that aids software development and the maintenance process. It is a field that has been continuously improving its approaches in order to reduce the fault resolution time and effort. With an aim to contribute towards building new approaches for fault prediction, this paper proposes Entropy Churn Metrics (ECM) based on History Complexity Metrics (HCM) and Churn of Source Code Metrics (CHU). The study also compares performance of ECM with that of HCM. The performance of both these metrics is compared for 14 subsystems of 5different software projects: Android, Eclipse, Apache Http Server, Eclipse C/C++ Development Tooling (CDT), and Mozilla Firefox. The study also analyses the software subsystems on three parameters: (i) distribution of faults, (ii) subsystem size, and (iii) programming language, to determine which characteristics of software systems make HCM or ECM more preferred over others.
First-Principles Design of Refractory High Entropy Alloy VMoNbTaW
Authors: Zheng Shumin , Wang Shaoqing
Published: December 2018

The elastic properties of seventy different compositions were calculated to optimize the composition of a V–Mo–Nb–Ta–W system. A new model called maximum entropy approach (MaxEnt) was adopted. The influence of each element was discussed. Molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) are key elements for the maintenance of elastic properties. The V–Mo–Nb–Ta–W system has relatively high values of C44, bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G), and Young’s modulus (E), with high concentrations of Mo + W. Element W is brittle and has high density. Thus, low-density Mo can substitute part of W. Vanadium (V) has low density and plays an important role in decreasing the brittleness of the V–Mo–Nb–Ta–W system. Niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) have relatively small influence on elastic properties. Furthermore, the calculated results can be used as a general guidance for the selection of a V–Mo–Nb–Ta–W system.
Likelihood Ratio Testing under Measurement Errors
Authors: Broniatowski Michel , Jurečková Jana , Kalina Jan
Published: December 2018

We consider the likelihood ratio test of a simple null hypothesis (with density f 0 ) against a simple alternative hypothesis (with density g 0 ) in the situation that observations X i are mismeasured due to the presence of measurement errors. Thus instead of X i for i = 1 , … , n , we observe Z i = X i + δ V i with unobservable parameter δ and unobservable random variable V i . When we ignore the presence of measurement errors and perform the original test, the probability of type I error becomes different from the nominal value, but the test is still the most powerful among all tests on the modified level. Further, we derive the minimax test of some families of misspecified hypotheses and alternatives. The test exploits the concept of pseudo-capacities elaborated by Huber and Strassen (1973) and Buja (1986). A numerical experiment illustrates the principles and performance of the novel test.
Correction: Chen, W.; Huang, S.P. Evaluating Flight Crew Performance by a Bayesian Network Model. Entropy 2018, 20, 178
Authors: Chen Wei , Huang Shuping
Published: December 2018

After publication of the research paper [...]