bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Outcomes in US Children With Cardiomyopathy Listed for Heart Transplantation
Authors: Singh Tajinder P. , Almond Christopher S. , Piercey Gary , Gauvreau Kimberlee
Published: August 2012

Background—

Previous studies have reported worse outcomes in children with nondilated cardiomyopathy (CMP) listed for heart transplant compared with children with dilated CMP. We sought to compare wait-list and posttransplant outcomes in these groups in the current era.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed all children <18 years of age with a diagnosis of CMP listed for heart transplant in the United States between July 2004 and December 2010. Multivariable risk factors for death on the wait-list (or becoming too sick to transplant) and posttransplant graft loss (median follow-up 2 years) were assessed using Cox models. Of the 1436 children analyzed, 1197 (83%) had dilated CMP and 239 (17%) had nondilated CMP (167 restrictive CMP, 72 hypertrophic CMP). In adjusted analysis, children with nondilated CMP were at higher risk of wait-list mortality only if they were on a ventilator support at listing (hazard ratio, 2.3; CI, 1.2–4.5). The risk was similar among children not on a ventilator support (hazard ratio, 0.6; CI, 0.3–1.1). Posttransplant 30-day and 1-year survival was 98% and 94%, respectively, in children with dilated CMP versus 95% and 89%, respectively, in children with nondilated CMP (
P
=0.17, log-rank test). In adjusted analysis, the risk of posttransplant graft loss was higher in nondilated CMP (hazard ratio, 1.8; CI, 1.2–2.7) versus dilated CMP.

Conclusions—

The increased risk of wait-list mortality in children with nondilated CMP is limited to those on ventilator support at listing. Although the risk of graft loss is modestly higher in children with nondilated forms of CMP, their short-term transplant outcomes are good.
Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiac Arrest?
Authors: Kagawa Eisuke , Dote Keigo , Kato Masaya , Sasaki Shota , Nakano Yoshinori , Kajikawa Masato , Higashi Akifumi , Itakura Kiho , Sera Akihiko , Inoue Ichiro , Kawagoe Takuji , Ishihara Masaharu , Shimatani Yuji , Kurisu Satoshi
Published: August 2012

Background—

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be useful in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, little is known about the combination of ECMO and intra-arrest PCI. This study investigated the efficacy of rapid-response ECMO and intra-arrest PCI in patients with cardiac arrest complicated by acute coronary syndrome who were unresponsive to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods and Results—

This multicenter cohort study was conducted with the use of the database of ECMO in Hiroshima City, Japan. Between January 2004 and May 2011, rapid-response ECMO was performed in 86 patients with acute coronary syndrome who were unresponsive to conventional CPR. The median age of the study patients was 63 years, and 81% were male. Emergency coronary angiography was performed in 81 patients (94%), and intra-arrest PCI was performed in 61 patients (71%). The rates of return of spontaneous heartbeat, 30-day survival, and favorable neurological outcomes were 88%, 29%, and 24%, respectively. All of the patients who received intra-arrest PCI achieved return of spontaneous heartbeat. In patients who survived up to day 30, the rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was lower (58% versus 28%;
P
=0.01), the intra-arrest PCI was higher (88% versus 70%;
P
=0.04), and the time interval from collapse to the initiation of ECMO was shorter (40 [25–51] versus 54 minutes [34–74 minutes];
P
=0.002).

Conclusions—

Rapid-response ECMO plus intra-arrest PCI is feasible and associated with improved outcomes in patients who are unresponsive to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. On the basis of these findings, randomized studies of intra-arrest PCI are needed.
Another Look at the Refractive Index Structure Function
Authors: Cherubini T. , Businger S.
Published: August 2012

This paper discusses the derivation of the refractive index structure function. It shows that the traditional formulation, which is based on the hydrostatic assumption, leads to increasing errors with height when compared with a formulation that is based on the potential temperature. The paper corrects a long-standing problem of extrapolating the traditional boundary layer approximation beyond its region of validity (i.e., to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere). The new derivation may have applications in observational work to measure and seeing and in numerical modeling efforts. A preliminary analysis of the influence of the new formulation in numerical modeling of seeing suggests that impact on seeing will be small in general, because the largest contribution to seeing generally comes from the lower troposphere. However, an accurate profile is needed because other astroclimatic parameters, such as the isoplanatic angle, can suffer from the lack of accuracy at high altitude. This work may also have application in radar meteorology, since clear-air radar sensitivity depends on accurate estimation of .
Measurements of Heavy Convective Rainfall in the Presence of Hail in Flood-Prone Areas Using an X-Band Polarimetric Radar
Authors: Matrosov Sergey Y. , Cifelli Robert , Gochis David
Published: August 2012

The utility of X-band polarimetric radar to provide rainfall estimations with high spatial and temporal resolution in heavy convective precipitation in the presence of hail is explored. A case study involving observations of strong convective cells with a transportable polarimetric X-band radar near Boulder, Colorado, is presented. These cells produced rain–hail mixtures with a significant liquid fraction, causing local flash floods and debris flow in an environmentally sensitive burn area that had been previously affected by wildfire. It is demonstrated that the specific differential phase shift (KDP)–based rainfall estimator provided liquid accumulations that were in relatively good agreement with a network of high-density rain gauges and experimental disdrometers. This estimator was also able to capture the significant variability of accumulated rainfall in a relatively small area of interest, and the corresponding results were not significantly affected by hail. Hail presence, however, was a likely reason for significant overestimation of rainfall retrievals for X-band radar approaches that are based on radar-reflectivity Ze measurements that have been corrected for attenuation in rain. Even greater overestimations were observed with the S-band radar of the weather-service network. In part because of larger range distances, these radar data could not correctly reproduce the spatial variability of rainfall in the burn area.
Global Distribution of Hot Towers in Tropical Cyclones Based on 11-Yr TRMM Data
Authors: Tao Cheng , Jiang Haiyan
Published: August 2012

Global distribution of hot towers in tropical cyclones (TCs) is statistically quantified using an 11-yr Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Feature (TCPF) database. From 6003 individual TRMM overpasses of 869 TCs, about 1.6% of TC convective systems are found to penetrate 14 km and about 0.1% of them even reach the 380-K potential temperature level. Among six TC-prone basins, the highest population of TC convective systems and those with hot towers are found over the northwest Pacific (NWP) basin. However, the greatest percentage of TCPFs that are hot towers [overshooting TCPFs (OTCPFs)] is found over the North Indian Ocean basin. Larger overshooting distance and ice mass are also found in this basin. The monthly variation of OTCPFs resembles that of TC activities in each basin. The percentage of OTCPFs is much higher in the inner core (IC) region (10%) than that in the inner rainband (IB; 2%) and outer rainband (OB; 1%) regions. OTCPFs in the IC region have much larger overshooting distance, area, volume, and ice mass than those in the IB and OB regions. The percentage of OTCPFs in the IC region increases as both TC intensity and intensification rate increase. About 17% of IC features in rapidly intensifying storms penetrate over 14 km, while the percentage is down to 11% for slowly intensifying, 9% for neutral, and 8% for weakening storms. A very good linear relationship is found between TC intensification rate and the percentage of TCPFs that are hot towers in the IC region.
Sending the Right Bill to the Right People: Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, and Social Vulnerabilities in Central Vietnam
Authors: Bruun Ole
Published: August 2012

In a range of international reports Vietnam is pointed out as among the 5 to 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, which are taking center stage in global climate change assistance and thus attracting huge amounts of foreign aid for research, mitigation, adaptation, disaster management, etc. However, for various reasons relating to global and domestic politics, climate change adaptation and mitigation in Vietnam are separating from general environmental management, while at the same time failing to address social inequality. From a global justice perspective this may seem irrelevant but when the resulting technocratic approaches are applied to aid programs, addressing climate change as an autonomous field, the problems on the ground become distorted. Based on field studies in central Vietnam, the paper argues that fragmented approaches risk missing the target of helping the most vulnerable population groups, while ignoring the structural and environmental issues, which in many cases constitute more immediate threats to their livelihoods.
Nutrition Support and Infections Associated With Hepatic Resection and Liver Transplantation in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Masuda Toshiro , Shirabe Ken , Yoshiya Shohei , Matono Rumi , Morita Kazutoyo , Hashimoto Naotaka , Ikegami Toru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Baba Hideo , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: August 2012

Malnutrition is common in liver cirrhotic patients who will undergo liver resection or liver transplantation. A precise evaluation of their nutrition status is thus difficult because of the presence of ascites and the edema caused by their impaired protein synthesis. Both perioperative enteral and parenteral nutrition have benefits in reducing the morbidity and mortality of liver surgery, and in general, oral nutrition supplements are recommended. Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) promote protein and glycogen synthesis and regulate immune system function. Synbiotics, a combination of pro‐ and prebiotics, is reported to enhance immune responses. Oral nutrition support with BCAAs, synbiotics, and an immune‐enhancing diet have a beneficial effect on preventing the perioperative infections associated with hepatic resection or liver transplantation.
Role of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Home Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Botella‐Carretero Jose I. , Carrero Carmen , Guerra Eva , Valbuena Beatriz , Arrieta Francisco , Calañas Alfonso , Zamarrón Isabel , Balsa Jose A. , Vázquez Clotilde
Published: August 2012

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) has become a common therapy, with tunneled central venous catheters (CVCs) being preferred for its administration. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are not currently recommended for long‐term HPN, although evidence to support this statement is scarce. The authors aimed to evaluate the outcomes of HPN, focusing on CVC‐related complications. Materials and Methods: All patients attended at the authors’ center for HPN from 2007–2011 were prospectively included. HPN composition aimed at 20–35 kcal/kg/d, 3–6 g/kg/d of glucose, 1.0 g/kg/d of amino acids, and <1 g/kg/d of lipids. HPN was infused in an intermittent schedule, mostly at night. Catheter‐related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) were confirmed with positive semi‐quantitative or quantitative culture of the catheter or simultaneous differential blood cultures drawn through the CVC and peripheral vein. Results: Seventy‐two patients received HPN, with 79 implanted CVCs (48 PICCs, 10 Hickman, and 21 ports). Mean catheter‐days were 129.1 for PICCs, 98.5 for Hickman, and 67.7 for ports (P = .685). When analyzing CRBSIs, ports had 44, Hickman had 20, and PICC had 0 episodes per 1000 catheter‐days (P = .078). Only PICCs showed less incidence of CRBSIs vs ports (P = .043). Multivariate logistic regression, correcting by catheter‐days, patients’ age and sex, underlying disease, and type of catheter, showed that only catheter‐days (P = .031) was a predictor for CRBSIs (P = .007, Nagelkerke R= = 0.246). Conclusion: PICCs are similar in terms of catheter‐related complications to other CVCs for the administration of HPN, especially for oncology patients with HPN lasting <6 months.
Trajectories of Volunteering and Self-Esteem in Later Life
Authors: Han Chang-Keun , Hong Song-Iee
Published: August 2012

By combining stakeholder theory and activity theory, this study examines the dynamic relationships among wealth, volunteering, and self-esteem of older adults. This study uses latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) to capture the longitudinal patterns of self-esteem across four waves of data from the Americans’ Changing Lives (ACL) Study. As time-varying variables, the longitudinal trajectories of volunteering hours and self-esteem are analyzed. As time-invariant independent variables, the authors consider two types of wealth measurements: homeownership and the amount of total liquid assets at Wave 1. The authors find that the intercept of volunteering hours is positively associated with the intercept of self-esteem. This study also finds that volunteering hours partially mediates the relationship between wealth and self-esteem. This study sheds lights on dynamic mechanisms of wealth, volunteering, and self-esteem among older adults.
Progress on ‘pico’ air vehicles
Authors: Wood RJ , Finio B , Karpelson M , Ma K , Pérez-Arancibia NO , Sreetharan PS , Tanaka H , Whitney JP
Published: August 2012

As the characteristic size of a flying robot decreases, the challenges for successful flight revert to basic questions of fabrication, actuation, fluid mechanics, stabilization, and power, whereas such questions have in general been answered for larger aircraft. When developing a flying robot on the scale of a common housefly, all hardware must be developed from scratch as there is nothing ‘off-the-shelf’ which can be used for mechanisms, sensors, or computation that would satisfy the extreme mass and power limitations. This technology void also applies to techniques available for fabrication and assembly of the aeromechanical components: the scale and complexity of the mechanical features requires new ways to design and prototype at scales between macro and microeletromechanical systems, but with rich topologies and material choices one would expect when designing human-scale vehicles. With these challenges in mind, we present progress in the essential technologies for insect-scale robots, or ‘pico’ air vehicles.
Real-time informed path sampling for motion planning search
Authors: Knepper Ross A , Mason Matthew T
Published: August 2012

Mobile robot motions often originate from an uninformed path-sampling process such as random or low-dispersion sampling. We demonstrate an alternative approach to path sampling that closes the loop on the expensive collision-testing process. Although all necessary information for collision testing a path is known to the planner, that information is typically stored in a relatively unavailable form in a costmap or obstacle map. By summarizing the most salient data in a more accessible form, our process delivers a denser sampling of the free path space per unit time than open-loop sampling techniques. We obtain this result by probabilistically modeling—in real time and with minimal information—the locations of obstacles and free space, based on collision-test results. We present CALM, the combined adaptive locality model, along with an algorithm to bias path sampling based on the model’s predictions. We provide experimental results in simulation for motion planning on mobile robots, demonstrating up to a 330% increase in paths surviving collision test.
A Revised Factor Structure for the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale
Authors: Kontos Anthony P. , Elbin R.J. , Schatz Phillip , Covassin Tracey , Henry Luke , Pardini Jamie , Collins Michael W.
Published: August 2012

Background:

Symptom reports play a critical role in the assessment and management of concussions. Symptoms are often conceptualized as factors comprising several related symptoms (eg, somatic factor = headache, nausea, vomiting). Previous research examining the factor structure of the 22-item Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) has been limited to small samples and has not adequately evaluated factor loadings at both baseline and postconcussion for male and female athletes at the high school and collegiate levels.

Purpose:

To examine the factor structure of the 22-item PCSS in independent samples of high school and collegiate athletes reported at baseline and postconcussion, and to evaluate sex and age differences in the resulting baseline and postconcussion symptom factor scores.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Exploratory factor analytic (EFA) methods were applied to 2 separate samples of athletes who completed the PCSS at baseline (n = 30,455) and 1 to 7 days after a sport-related concussion (n = 1438). The baseline sample (mean ± standard deviation) was 15.74 ± 1.78 years, with a range of 13 to 22 years, and the postconcussion sample was 17.14 ± 2.25 years, with a range of 13 to 24 years.

Results:

A 4-factor solution accounting for 49.1% of the variance at baseline included a cognitive-sensory, sleep-arousal, vestibular-somatic, and affective factor structure. A 4-factor solution that included cognitive-fatigue-migraine, affective, somatic, and sleep was revealed for the postconcussion EFA. High school athletes reported higher baseline levels of the cognitive-sensory and vestibular-somatic symptom factors and lower levels of the sleep-arousal factor than college athletes. Female participants reported higher symptoms on all postconcussion factors than male participants.

Conclusion:

The current findings reveal different symptom factors at baseline and postinjury and several age and sex differences on the symptom factors. At postconcussion, symptoms aggregated into a global concussion factor including cognitive, fatigue, and migraine symptoms. Symptoms reported at baseline are not the same as those reported after injury. The presence of a global postconcussion symptom comprising the fatigue factor highlights the importance of physical and cognitive rest during the first week after a concussion. Although headache was the most commonly reported symptom, it was not the greatest contributor to the global postconcussion symptom factor.
Error Detection and Response Adjustment in Youth With Mild Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Hakkarainen Elina , Pirilä Silja , Kaartinen Jukka , van der Meere Jaap J.
Published: August 2012

This study evaluated the brain activation state during error making in youth with mild spastic cerebral palsy and a peer control group while carrying out a stimulus recognition task. The key question was whether patients were detecting their own errors and subsequently improving their performance in a future trial. Findings indicated that error responses of the group with cerebral palsy were associated with weak motor preparation, as indexed by the amplitude of the late contingent negative variation. However, patients were detecting their errors as indexed by the amplitude of the response-locked negativity and thus improved their performance in a future trial. Findings suggest that the consequence of error making on future performance is intact in a sample of youth with mild spastic cerebral palsy. Because the study group is small, the present findings need replication using a larger sample.
Global Cerebral and Regional Multimodal Neuroimaging Markers of the Neurobiology of Autism
Authors: Hasan Khader M. , Walimuni Indika S. , Frye Richard E.
Published: August 2012

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the microstructure and macrostructure in children with autism report contradictory results due, in part, to the autistic population heterogeneity from factors such as variation in intellect and inadequately accounting for age-related changes in brain development. In this report, the authors compared global and regional volumetry, relaxometry, anisotropy, and diffusometry of gray and white matter in 10 autism spectrum disorder children relative to the age-related trajectories obtained from 38 typically developing controls while controlling for nonverbal intellect using a validated quantitative MRI method. The normalized hippocampus volume increased with age in both autistic and typically developing individuals with limbic structures larger in autistic patients. Hippocampus volume, but not diffusivity or relaxation time, was larger in autistic children. Hippocampus volume was inversely correlated with nonverbal intellect across control individuals. The pattern of hippocampal abnormalities suggests a disturbance in early brain development in autistic children independent of intellect.
Catastrophic Autonomic Crisis With Cardiovascular Collapse in Spinal Muscular Atrophy With Respiratory Distress Type 1
Authors: Nomura Toshihiro , Takenouchi Toshiki , Fukushima Hiroyuki , Shimozato Sachiko , Kosaki Kenjiro , Takahashi Takao
Published: August 2012

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is a rare motor neuron disease that can result in dysautonomia but is usually only mildly symptomatic. We report a young girl with SMARD1 who had a catastrophic autonomic crisis with resultant permanent brain damage during an interhospital transfer. Although she was only mildly symptomatic prior to the transfer, in retrospect, her baseline autonomic function analysis had sympathetic hyperactivity without a typical circadian rhythm, indicating the presence of severe underlying dysautonomia. Because this underlying dysautonomia seemed markedly aggravated by the psychological stress, careful autonomic evaluation and management are warranted in patients with SMARD1.
Neurogenic Pulmonary Edema and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Healthy Child With Febrile Status Epilepticus
Authors: Nguyen Thanh T. , Hussain Elora , Grimason Michele , Goldstein Joshua , Wainwright Mark S.
Published: August 2012

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a clinical syndrome that manifests as an acute onset of pulmonary edema in the setting of a central nervous system injury, without cardiac dysfunction. Neurogenic pulmonary edema is rare in children, and the mechanism is still not completely understood.  The clinical pathology overlaps with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The authors report a case of a 14-month-old previously healthy child who presented with febrile status epilepticus, fulminant neurogenic pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.  Neurogenic pulmonary edema should be considered in the differential diagnosis for the rapid progression of respiratory failure following an acute neurological injury such as status epilepticus in a child. Prompt respiratory support and treatment of the acute neurological insult can prevent further cerebral hypoxemic injury.
Medical Nutrition Therapy Provided to Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients
Authors: Habschmidt Mary G. , Bacon Cheryl A. , Gregoire Mary B. , Rasmussen Heather E.
Published: August 2012

This study explored the current medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided to adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and examined the current and desired role of registered dietitians (RDs) in providing MNT. A total of 60 RDs (57% response rate) responded to an electronic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and χ2 analyses (SPSS; version 18) were used. Results revealed the primary form of diet was oral, and for patients on nutrition support, parenteral nutrition (PN) was used more frequently (16%–31%) than enteral nutrition (EN) (5%–9%; P ≤ .05). Nutrition support decisions were based on patients’ individualized needs rather than established protocol or policies. Mucositis was the most common reason for implementing PN (31%), and intubation or being in the intensive care unit was the most common reason for implementing EN (28%). The RDs had varying degrees of autonomy in order writing and were most often recommending MNT to the physician or writing the MNT order with a physician cosignature. Many RDs reported desiring higher autonomy than what they were currently practicing (P < .05). Those who held a certified specialist in oncology (CSO) or certified nutrition support dietitian/clinician (CNCD/C) certification were significantly more likely to have and desire greater autonomy in order writing than those without specialty credentials (P ≤ .05). No difference was found in current practice or desired autonomy based on the years of experience or educational degree.
Importance of Lean Body Mass in the Oncologic Patient
Authors: Tsai Susan
Published: August 2012

Loss of lean body develops from an imbalance in protein synthesis and catabolism and is associated with a variety of different disease and nondisease states, including severe malnutrition, cachexia, and physiologic age‐related loss (sarcopenia). Loss of lean body mass is prevalent among a significant proportion of the elderly population and has been associated with increased adverse clinical outcomes. Recognition of individuals at risk for low lean body mass may be difficult due to unequal distribution of losses across muscle and adipose compartments, and individuals who are both obese and sarcopenic demonstrate the highest risk for adverse events. Cross‐sectional imaging modalities provide an accessible and easily interpretable means of quantifying lean muscle content and are routine diagnostic tests for cancer patients. As a result, a growing body of literature has developed characterizing the importance of low lean body mass as a poor prognostic factor among cancer patients, regardless of age. Cancer patients, especially those with sarcopenic obesity, are at increased risk for treatment‐related toxicities from chemotherapy and increased overall mortality. Further investigations into the pathogenesis of muscle wasting among cancer patients are critical, as therapeutic oncologic interventions may inadvertently accelerate muscle catabolism. This review provides an overview of the definitions of low lean body mass, etiologic causes, clinical significance among cancer patients, and potential therapeutic interventions.
HDPE reinforced with nanoparticle, natural and animal fibers
Authors: Siengchin Suchart , Rungsardthong Vilai
Published: August 2012

Binary and ternary composites composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), boehmite alumina (BA) and different kinds of natural and animal fibers, such as flax, sponge gourd, palm and pig hair (PH), were produced by hot press technique. Aqueous BA suspensions were sprayed on the HDPE/flax mat to prepare nanoparticle/natural fiber–reinforced ternary polymer composites followed by drying. The dispersion of the natural and animal fibers and BA particles in the composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy and discussed. The thermomechanical and stress relaxation properties of the composites were determined by the thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis and short-time stress relaxation tests (performed at various temperatures), respectively. The HDPE-based composites were subjected to water absorption and instrumented falling weight impact tests. It was found that all the composite systems increased the stiffness and stress relaxation and reduced the impact toughness. The stress relaxation modulus of natural and animal fiber composites was higher compared with that of the neat HDPE. This modulus increased greatly with incorporation of BA. The relaxation master curves were constructed by applying the time–temperature superposition principle. The inverse of Findley power law could be fairly applicable to describe the relaxation modulus versus time traces for all systems studied. Incorporation of BA particles enhanced the thermal resistance, which started to degrade at higher temperature compared with the HDPE/flax mat composite. The HDPE/flax mat/BA composite could reduce the water uptake.
Parametric analysis of an improved ball end magnetorheological finishing process
Authors: Singh Anant Kumar , Jha Sunil , Pandey Pulak M
Published: August 2012

A novel surface finishing method using an improved ball end magnetorheological finishing tool was developed for nanofinishing of flat, as well as three-dimensional workpiece surfaces. An improved magnetorheological finishing tool is the main part of the present finishing process, which has been made up of the central rotating core and stationary electromagnet coil integrated with a copper cooling coil. A magnetically generated ball end finishing spot of magnetorheological polishing fluid was used as a finishing segment at the tip surface of the rotating core. In this research, detailed study through statistical design of the experiments was conducted for nanofinishing of ferromagnetic workpieces by the proposed ball end magnetorheological finishing process. Response surface methodology has been used to plan and analyze the effect of rotational speed of the tool core, magnetizing current and working gap on percentage change in surface roughness. The experimental results were discussed and the best finishing conditions were identified within the experimental range of variables. Analysis of experimental data showed that the percentage change in surface roughness was highly influenced by the working gap, followed by magnetizing current and rotational speed of the tool core. The best surface finish obtained on the ferromagnetic workpieces was as low as 27.6 nm from the initial value of 142.9 nm in 30 min of finishing time. In order to study the finished surface morphology, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were also conducted.
Grinding of magnesium /Y2O3 metal matrix composites
Authors: Ponappa Kannayiram , Aravindan Sivanandam , Rao P Venkateswara
Published: August 2012

The advanced metal matrix composites are finding high technology applications in aerospace and automotive industries because of their light weight coupled with high specific strength. Although advances have been made in near-net-shape technology, a finishing operation is needed to achieve the required dimensional tolerance and good surface finish. Magnesium especially experiences problems during grinding owing to its ductility and fire hazardous nature. Though grinding is not preferred for a pure magnesium matrix composite, owing to their increased hardness necessitate grinding, an attempt was made to perform grinding on the magnesium yttria composites with commercially available alumina and silicon carbide wheels. Grinding of magnesium composite was carried out by varying process parameters, such as wheel peripheral speed, workpiece velocity, and depth of cut. During the process the forces were monitored by a piezoelectric dynamometer. The performance of the grinding was studied by analyzing and comparing the grinding forces, specific grinding energy, and the average surface roughness. The ground surface was analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The grinding forces were observed to be decreasing with the increase in hardness, which in turn resulted in smooth surfaces. The obtained surface roughness (Ra) values were in the range of 0.6–1.3 µm.
Sustainable product development strategies: business planning and performance implications
Authors: De Coster Rebecca , Bateman Richard J
Published: August 2012

Manufacturing firms are under many financial and competitive pressures that focus attention on the performance of their manufacturing processes. In this article the opportunities for improving the environmental impact of products within the constraints of existing manufacturing infrastructure are examined. Approaches that support sustainability in two aspects are proposed; first, the provision of products to the users in ways which extend the product life; and second, manufacturing approaches that reduce resource usage. This article outlines three different sustainable development strategies for different product types and describes the cost implications for manufacturers across the life cycle. The performance measures affected by these strategies are examined, drawing on product development case studies from a number of high technology sectors to highlight the different approaches taken. The results are intended to aid manufacturers during the earliest stages of business planning to consider alternative product development approaches that are more sustainable.
Radius end milling of Haynes 282 nickel based superalloy
Authors: Hood Richard , Soo Sein L , Aspinwall David K , Andrews Paul , Sage Colin
Published: August 2012

An experimental investigation is presented involving radius end milling of a new nickel-based superalloy; Haynes 282. When operating with coated carbide inserts at high cutting speed and a feed rate of 0.1 mm/tooth, flank wear measured 213 µm after 45 min of machining. Doubling the cutting speed or feed rate typically caused a pro rata reduction in tool life. The lowest operating parameters resulted in the best surface roughness with levels ranging 0.15–0.3 µm Ra. Microhardness depth profile data was similar for all tests with a hardened region of up to ~50 HK0.05 higher than the bulk value of ~480 HK0.05, which extended to a depth of up to ~50 µm from the workpiece surface. Surface/subsurface cross-sectional micrographs showed grain deformation/damage to a maximum depth of ~15 µm.
Modeling and analyzing of an enterprise collaboration network supported by service-oriented manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Fuqiang , Jiang Pingyu , Zhu Qiqi , Cao Wei
Published: August 2012

Service-oriented manufacturing is a new manufacturing paradigm and it has appeared in large-scale enterprise clusters over the past few years. In this situation, the increasing service demands from production processes have led to more enterprise collaborations. And the more collaborations among different enterprises have led to the generation of a service-oriented enterprise collaboration network. The purpose of this article is to investigate the clustering characteristics of a service-oriented enterprise collaboration network through an integrating analytic hierarchy process and complex network theory. First, the concept of service-oriented manufacturing is introduced and a logical architecture for implementing the modeling and analyzing of a service-oriented enterprise collaboration network is put forward. Then, the authors establish a topology model of a service-oriented enterprise collaboration network and use an analytic hierarchy process method to estimate the network weights among different manufacturing or service enterprises. Next, service-oriented manufacturing blocks are illustrated and an improved genetic algorithm is adopted to find the optimal blocks. To verify the feasibility and rationality of the proposed method, finally, a case study is presented. It is expected that a reasonable decision of cross-enterprise collaborations and layout would be provided in the present study.
Simultaneous vehicle-handling and path-tracking improvement using adaptive dynamic surface control via a steer-by-wire system
Authors: Janbakhsh Amir Ali , Bayani Khaknejad Mohsen , Kazemi Reza
Published: August 2012

This paper deals with the simultaneous vehicle-handling and path-tracking improvement through a steer-by-wire system, using non-linear adaptive dynamic surface sliding control. The designed adaptive dynamic surface controller, which is insensitive to system uncertainties, offers an adaptive sliding gain to eliminate the precise determination of the bound of uncertainties. The sliding-gain value is obtained using a simple adaptation law that does not require an extensive computational load. Achieving the improved vehicle-handling and path-tracking characteristics requires both accurate state estimation and well-controlled steering inputs from the steer-by-wire system. A second-order sliding-mode observer provides accurate estimation of the lateral and longitudinal velocities while the yaw rate is available from the angular rate sensor. A driver control model is also presented according to the preview or look-ahead strategy to generate appropriate steering angles using the vehicle state feedback and future information about the path to be followed. Moreover, because of the inertia and viscous damping of the steering mechanism, and the effects of the Coulomb friction and self-aligning moment of the front tyres, the steering-system controller is designed based on the proposed adaptive dynamic surface scheme, to control the front steering angle. A complete stability analysis based on the Lyapunov theory is presented to guarantee closed-loop stability. The simulation results confirmed that the proposed adaptive robust controller not only improves the vehicle-handling and path-tracking performance but also reduces the chattering problem in the presence of uncertainties in the tyres’ cornering stiffnesses.
Predictive component availability optimization with degradation correlated maintainability
Authors: You Ming-Yi
Published: August 2012

Driven by practical maintenance experience and the desire for higher component availability, this article presents a predictive maintenance policy for maximizing the availability of a batch of components (or single-component machines) in one repair cycle based on their real-time degradation signals, where the maintainability of preventive maintenance acts is explicitly correlated with the degradation levels accumulated before the preventive maintenance acts. The degradation correlated maintainability is modelled by a recently proposed proportional repair model. Within the proposed predictive maintenance policy, each component’s reliability is calculated and updated using its real-time degradation signals. The results from a numerical experiment based on a typical degradation model show that, for a batch of components whose maintainability of preventive maintenance acts is indeed correlated with the damage/degradation level accumulated before the preventive maintenance acts, it will lead to suboptimal preventive maintenance schedules if the effect of damage/degradation level on maintainability is ignored. In addition, the experimental results provide evidence of the superiority of the predictive maintenance policy over the corresponding preventive maintenance policy in terms of achieving higher average availability, by considering the real-time degradation signals of each individual component.
Therapeutic efficacy of silymarin from milk thistle in reducing manganese-induced hepatic damage and apoptosis in rats
Authors: Chtourou Y , Garoui EM , Boudawara T , Zeghal N
Published: August 2012

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in manganese (Mn) toxicity. Using natural antioxidants against metal-induced hepatotoxicity is a modern approach. The present study investigated the beneficial role of silymarin, a natural flavonoid, in Mn-induced hepatotoxicity focusing on histopathology and biochemical approaches. Male Wistar rats were exposed orally to manganese chloride (20 mg/mL) for 30 days followed by intraperitoneal cotreatment with silymarin (100 mg/kg). Exposure to Mn resulted in a significant elevation of the plasma marker enzyme activities and bilirubin level related to liver dysfunction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and hepatic oxidative stress indices. This metal reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels such as reduced glutathione, total sulfhydryl groups and vitamin C. In addition, it caused hepatic hemorrhage, cellular degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes as indicated by liver histopathology and DNA fragmentation studies. Coadministration of silymarin alleviated Mn oxidative damage effects by inhibiting ROS generation. Histological studies also supported the beneficial role of silymarin against Mn-induced hepatic damages. Combining all, results suggested that silymarin could protect hepatic tissues against Mn-induced oxidative stress probably through its antioxidant activity. Therefore, its supplementation could provide a new approach for the reduction in hepatic complication due to Mn poisoning.
Relationship Between Vehicle Count and Particulate Air Pollution in Amman, Jordan
Authors: Alnawaiseh Nedal Awad , Hashim Jamal Hisham , Md Isa Zaleha
Published: August 2012

The main objective of this cross-sectional comparative study is to observe the relationship between traffic-related air pollutants, particularly particulate matter (PM) of total suspended particulate (TSP) and PM of size 10 µm (PM10), and vehicle traffic in Amman, Jordan. Two study areas were chosen randomly as a high-polluted area (HPA) and low-polluted area (LPA). The findings indicate that TSP and PM10 were still significantly correlated with traffic count even after controlling for confounding factors (temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed): TSP, r = 0.726, P < .001; PM10, r = 0.719, P < .001). There was a significant positive relationship between traffic count and PM level: TSP, P < .001; PM10, P < .001. Moreover, there was a significant negative relationship between temperature and PM10 level ( P = .018). Traffic volume contributed greatly to high concentrations of TSP and PM10 in areas with high traffic count, in addition to the effect of temperature.
Governmentality rationales and calculative devices: The rejection of a seventeenth-century territorial barter proposed by the King of Spain
Authors: Lai Alessandro , Leoni Giulia , Stacchezzini Riccardo
Published: August 2012

Almost 400 years ago, Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantova and Marquis of Monferrato, refused a territorial barter proposed by the King of Spain, who had offered the Isle of Sardinia in exchange for the Marquisate of Monferrato. In 1618, an advisor to the Duke drafted a report to highlight the governmental issues surrounding the island. This Relatione, together with correspondence between the governors and advisors engaged in the prospective transfer, reveals why the Duke rejected the proposal. These sources provide the foundation for a close analysis of the potential effects of the trade on the Duchy’s welfare, as well as the problems associated with its government. Using a model based on the Foucauldian governmentality framework, this analysis reveals that denying the barter was the result of rational behavior, driven by territorial governability aims.
The role of government and accounting in the development of academic research commercialization: The New Zealand experience
Authors: Narayan Anil K
Published: August 2012

Over the past three decades, many nations have accelerated their efforts to develop academic research commercialization to help drive their innovation and productivity goals. Despite failure to achieve the desired results, surprisingly very few studies have examined how research commercialization initiatives are designed at the government level. This study reviews the historical role of the government and the interplay between significant shifts in research direction, funding and accounting that contributed to the development of academic research commercialization in New Zealand. The paper concludes that funding pressures combined with the government’s lack of early recognition and formal endorsement of research commercialization as a vital activity contributed to previous low levels of academic research commercialization. The important lessons to be learnt from the New Zealand case are that academic research commercialization requires a coherent long-term national strategy that is responsive, promises results and has funding incentives.
New public management and accounting in a Fiji telecommunications company
Authors: Sharma Umesh , Lawrence Stewart , Fowler Carolyn
Published: August 2012

The aim of this article is to investigate tension between the implementation of new public management and associated accounting technologies in the Fiji telecommunication sector and the indigenous Fijian culture and political structure. In doing so, the article contrasts the economic-based reforms of the telecommunications sector (from 1990), with the traditional social relations that were exercised post-independence (1970 onwards). This research aim is achieved by focusing on archival documents and interviews with those involved in Fiji telecommunications. We illustrate how the use of new public management concepts replaced traditional social relations with the disciplinary technologies of modern capitalism but were also altered as a result of these social relations. In the Fiji Telecommunications company, the cultural conflicts and political influences led to the new public management process being resisted and modified to reduce the tension between economic and social relations.
Accrual accounting by Anglo-American governments: Motivations, developments, and some tensions over the last 30 years
Authors: Buhr Nola
Published: August 2012

This article takes a comparative international accounting history (CIAH) approach (Carnegie and Napier, 2002) to describe and discuss motivations for, and developments in the adoption of accrual accounting in five Anglo-American countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although the adoption of accrual accounting across these countries over the last two decades can be attributed to the 1980s philosophy of new public management (NPM), the CIAH perspective illuminates similarities and differences in the nature of accrual accounting practices. The differences are due, in large part, to the timing and speed of change required by government, as well as the role played by the profession. Several tensions have arisen from the adoption of accrual accounting and these are also outlined. Given the inclusion of five countries and a span of 30 years, this article is necessarily in the nature of an overview.
Grief Among Demented Elderly Individuals
Authors: Johansson Åsa K. , Grimby Agneta
Published: August 2012

Grief behaviors of 17 elderly persons with dementia living at nursing homes were observed. When compared with bereaved with normal cognitive ability, both similarities and differences were found. Similarities seemed to exist for irritability, lost appetite, increased sedative medication, bodily complaints, less physical activity, and less interest in happy events. Differences were found, for example, social activity, as they did not isolate themselves. The workload of staff increased when a caretaker was bereaved. Repeated information to the patients with dementia about the loss, their seeking for the dead and crying outbursts remembering the loss, and the need of comfort was common, although several had their loss more than months ago. Proper interventions including facilitating programs for both staff and caretakers are recommended, as also a larger study group.
Abundant Hepatic Gaucher-Like Cells Following Chemotherapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancy
Authors: Stenzel Peter , Weeks Douglas A
Published: August 2012

Cells with a resemblance to Gaucher cells, sometimes called pseudo-Gaucher cells, are seen in the bone marrow of some patients with hematologic malignancy or anemia. These cells are derived from cells of the monocytic lineage but do not show the characteristic inclusions of true Gaucher cells when examined by electron microscopy. Large numbers of Gaucher-like cells were found in the livers at autopsy of 2 patients with hematologic malignancy treated with chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant. Knowledge of this phenomenon may be useful in the interpretation of liver biopsy done on a patient with bone marrow transplant.