bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enteral Feeding Therapy for Maintaining Remission in Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: El‐Matary Wael , Otley Anthony , Critch Jeff , Abou‐Setta Ahmed M.
Published: December 2015

Background: The efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) for maintaining remission in patients with inactive Crohn's disease (CD) is unclear. The aim of this article was to systematically identify, review, and critically appraise the evidence on efficacy of EN in maintaining medically induced remission in CD. Materials and Methods: Several databases were searched from inception to April 2015 for relevant citations of published randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized cohort studies. Two reviewers independently selected studies for inclusion and assessed study quality and risk of bias. The primary outcome was relapse rate in patients with inactive CD who have been in medically induced remission and subsequently started or maintained on EN. Results: Twelve studies (1169 patients, including 95 children) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. As the included studies were significantly heterogeneous, a meta‐analysis was not performed. Eleven studies showed that EN was either better than, or as effective as, the comparator in maintaining remission in patients with inactive CD. No major EN‐related adverse events were reported. Only 1 adult randomized controlled trial (n = 51), with low risk of bias, compared EN with regular diet and found a relapse rate of 34% in the EN group versus 64% in the control group (P < .01) after a mean follow‐up of 11.9 months. Conclusions: EN is more effective than regular diet and as effective as some medications in maintaining remission for patients with inactive CD. Large, properly designed randomized controlled studies of sufficient duration are required to confirm this conclusion for EN versus individual medications.
Shared Decision Making and Choice for Elective Surgical Care
Authors: Boss Emily F. , Mehta Nishchay , Nagarajan Neeraja , Links Anne , Benke James R. , Berger Zackary , Espinel Ali , Meier Jeremy , Lipstein Ellen A.
Published: December 2015

Objective

Shared decision making (SDM), an integrative patient‐provider communication process emphasizing discussion of scientific evidence and patient/family values, may improve quality care delivery, promote evidence‐based practice, and reduce overuse of surgical care. Little is known, however, regarding SDM in elective surgical practice. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize findings of studies evaluating use and outcomes of SDM in elective surgery.

Data Sources

PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS electronic databases.

Review Methods

We searched for English‐language studies (January 1, 1990, to August 9, 2015) evaluating use of SDM in elective surgical care where choice for surgery could be ascertained. Identified studies were independently screened by 2 reviewers in stages of title/abstract and full‐text review. We abstracted data related to population, study design, clinical dilemma, use of SDM, outcomes, treatment choice, and bias.

Results

Of 10,929 identified articles, 24 met inclusion criteria. The most common area studied was spine (7 of 24), followed by joint (5 of 24) and gynecologic surgery (4 of 24). Twenty studies used decision aids or support tools, including modalities that were multimedia/video (13 of 20), written (3 of 20), or personal coaching (4 of 20). Effect of SDM on preference for surgery was mixed across studies, showing a decrease in surgery (9 of 24), no difference (8 of 24), or an increase (1 of 24). SDM tended to improve decision quality (3 of 3) as well as knowledge or preparation (4 of 6) while decreasing decision conflict (4 of 6).

Conclusion

SDM reduces decision conflict and improves decision quality for patients making choices about elective surgery. While net findings show that SDM may influence patients to choose surgery less often, the impact of SDM on surgical utilization cannot be clearly ascertained.
Incidence of Visualization of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve after Pediatric Tonsillectomy
Authors: Hill Courtney A. , Thimmappa Vikrum , Smith Mark C. , Chen Eunice Y.
Published: December 2015

The objective was to determine the incidence of exposure of the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve during tonsillectomy with a retrospective review of surgical findings in 138 children who underwent total tonsillectomy at a tertiary medical center. Age, sex, surgical indication, tonsil size, congenital abnormalities, operative time, and surgical findings indicating the presence or absence of the glossopharyngeal nerve in the tonsillar fossa were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with z test, t test, and Fisher’s exact test. Thirty‐seven nerves were observed in 28 patients, with preponderance for the left fossa (24 of 37 vs 13 of 37; P =. 01). In a comparison of children with and without exposed nerves, there was no statistically significant difference in mean age (6.89 vs 7.08; P =. 84), proportion of males (14 of 28 vs 54 of 110; P = 1), or proportion of 3 to 4+ tonsils (20 of 28 vs 73 of 110; P =. 66). In approximately 20% of children undergoing tonsillectomy, the lateral pharyngeal musculature incompletely protected the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve from the tonsil capsule.
How is Bitcoin Money?
Authors: Bjerg Ole
Published: December 2015

Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer electronic payment system that operates as an independent currency. This paper is a philosophical investigation of the ontological constitution of Bitcoin. Using Slavoj Žižek’s ontological triad of the real, the symbolic and the imaginary, the paper distinguishes between three ideal typical theories of money: commodity theory, fiat theory, and credit theory. The constitution of Bitcoin is analysed by comparing the currency to each of these ideal types. It is argued that Bitcoin is commodity money without gold, fiat money without a state, and credit money without debt. In conclusion, it is suggested that Bitcoin poses an ideological challenge to conventional forms of money in so far as it not only provokes sedimented beliefs about money but also exposes the forms of exploitation, risk and even violence inherent in the existing system of state authorized credit money.
The emergence of a multiscalar growth regime and scalar tension: the politics of urban development in Songdo New City, South Korea
Authors: Shin HaeRan , Park Se Hoon , Sonn Jung Won
Published: December 2015

This study approaches the politics of urban development from within the framework of the emergence of a new multiscalar growth regime and the path dependence of the Korean developmental state. Through a case study of the Songdo New City development in South Korea, this study looks at how the scalar division of labor among various actors has interacted with the emergence of a multiscalar growth regime. We focus on the logic by which different scales of governmental and nongovernmental actors cooperate and, at the same time, compete with one another for authority over economic development. Our findings demonstrate, first, that the new regime resulted from the emergence of downward state rescaling to the local scale and of private business as a key actor. Second, the regime actors have been involved in scalar tensions and have constantly negotiated the scalar divisions of labor among them. This research provides a contextualized example of a spatiotemporal logic in which statehood has been transformed into a network.
Local governance, disadvantaged communities and cultural intermediation in the creative urban economy
Authors: Warren Saskia , Jones Phil
Published: December 2015

The creative economy is a key arena where austerity, localism and social policy debates are being played out. This paper explores how cultural intermediation has been captured by a broader state agenda on socio-economic exclusion, examining how these processes function at the local level in Birmingham, UK. Intersections of local cultural policy with grass-roots practice are explored in the neighbourhood of Balsall Heath, through two case studies: (1) Birmingham City Council's Community Cultural Pilot and (2) Balsall Heath Biennale. We argue that despite savage cuts the local state is still having a considerable – and not always enabling – influence on processes and outcomes of non-state cultural intermediation, directing ways in which creative initiatives function at the local level. The paper ends on a hopeful note that these unstable times offer a moment where a renegotiation of the relationship between cultural intermediation, disadvantaged communities and the creative economy beyond monetised market-value is possible.
Market share mobility in regional newspaper markets
Authors: Björkroth Tom , Grönlund Mikko
Published: December 2015

With a dataset from all 20 Finnish regions spanning a time period from 1950 to 2010, this article analyses how the market share mobility index in newspaper circulation and ownership has developed over time and whether entry and exit have played any significant role therein. It compares the results obtained at the ownership level with those of the newspaper level and infers whether the market share mobility index complements or substitutes the conventional concentration measures. The results show that entry and exit of newspapers have not contributed significantly to the market share mobility index and that analysis of ownership and newspaper circulation yields remarkably different results. Our conjecture that market share mobility would peak in the decade of a severe economic downturn was not indisputably upheld. The results indicate that traditional concentration measures and compound market indices should rather be seen as allies than rivals.
Cue-induced striatal activity in frequent cannabis users independently predicts cannabis problem severity three years later
Authors: Vingerhoets WAM , Koenders L , van den Brink W , Wiers RW , Goudriaan AE , van Amelsvoort T , de Haan L , Cousijn J
Published: December 2015

Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug worldwide, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying continued cannabis use. Cue-reactivity (the physical, psychological, behavioural and neural reaction to substance-related cues) might be related to continued cannabis use. In this 3-year prospective neuroimaging study we investigated whether cannabis cue-induced brain activity predicted continued cannabis use and associated problem severity 3 years later. In addition, baseline brain activations were compared between dependent and non-dependent cannabis users at follow-up. Analyses were focussed on brain areas known to be important in cannabis cue-reactivity: anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, amygdala and striatum. At baseline, 31 treatment-naive frequent cannabis users performed a cue-reactivity functional magnetic resonance imaging task. Of these participants, 23 completed the 3-year follow-up. None of the cue-induced region of interest activations predicted the amount of cannabis use at follow-up. However, cue-induced activation in the left striatum (putamen) significantly and independently predicted problem severity at follow-up ( p < 0.001) as assessed with the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test. Also, clinically dependent cannabis users at follow-up showed higher baseline activation at trend level in the left striatum compared with non-dependent users. This indicates that neural cue-reactivity in the dorsal striatum is an independent predictor of cannabis use-related problems. Given the relatively small sample size, these results are preliminary and should be replicated in larger samples of cannabis users.
Rho kinase activity governs arteriolar myogenic depolarization
Authors: Li Yao , Brayden Joseph E
Published: December 2015

Cerebral arterioles contribute critically to regulation of local and global blood flow within the brain. Dysfunction of these blood vessels is implicated in numerous cardiovascular diseases. However, treatments are limited due to incomplete understanding of fundamental control mechanisms at this level of circulation. Emerging evidence points to a key role of Rho-associated protein kinase in regulation of microvascular contractility. This study sought to decipher the mechanisms of Rho-associated protein kinase–mediated myogenic vasoconstriction in cerebral parenchymal arterioles. Here, we report that the Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor H1152 strongly attenuated pressure-induced constriction, cytosolic [Ca2+] increases, and depolarization of isolated parenchymal arterioles. Further, the RhoA activator CN03 potentiated parenchymal arteriole myogenic constriction and depolarization, indicating important involvement of RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase signaling in myogenic excitation-contraction mechanisms. Because of the well-established role of TRPM4 in pressure-induced depolarization, possible modulatory effects of Rho-associated protein kinase on TRPM4 currents were explored using patch clamp electrophysiology. TRPM4 currents were suppressed by H1152 and enhanced by CN03. Finally, H1152 elevated the apparent [Ca2+]-threshold for TRPM4 activation, suggesting that Rho-associated protein kinase activates TRPM4 by increasing its Ca2+-sensitivity. Our results support a novel mechanism whereby Rho-associated protein kinase–mediated myogenic vasoconstriction occurs primarily through activation of TRPM4 channels, smooth muscle depolarization, and cytosolic [Ca2+] increases in cerebral arterioles.
The Use of Collaborative Midterm Student Evaluations to Provide Actionable Results
Authors: Veeck Ann , O’Reilly Kelley , MacMillan Amy , Yu Hongyan
Published: December 2015

Midterm student evaluations have been shown to be beneficial for providing formative feedback for course improvement. With the purpose of improving instruction in marketing courses, this research introduces and evaluates a novel form of midterm student evaluation of teaching: the online collaborative evaluation. Working in small teams, students comment on their course using an online collaborative document creation tool. Compared with a standard individual evaluation, the online collaborative evaluation was rated significantly higher by students in enjoyment, ease, and ability to provide useful feedback. In addition, comments yielded from the collaborative evaluation provided formative information that could be used to improve student learning. In a marketing class that emphasizes teamwork, the collaborative evaluation of teaching can reinforce the benefits of functioning well as a team, while providing useful information to the instructor to improve the course.
Brucellosis-related acute pancreatitis: A rare complication of a universal disease
Authors: Suvak Burak , Dulger Ahmet Cumhur , Karadas Sevdegul , Gonullu Hayriye , Bayram Yasemin , Gonullu Edip , Batur Abdussamet , Aykaç Mehmet Coşkun , Gunduz Ali Mahir , Aytemiz Enver , Guducuoglu Huseyin
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and determinants of acute pancreatitis in patients with acute brucellosis.

Methods

Adult patients with brucellosis were retrospectively recruited. Brucellosis and acute pancreatitis were diagnosed according to standard criteria. Laboratory analyses included Wright agglutination titre, serum biochemical parameters and blood count.

Results

Patients with acute pancreatitis ( n = 21) had significantly higher Wright agglutination titres, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, amylase, lipase and serum glucose concentrations, and significantly lower haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit than patients with brucellosis alone ( n = 326).

Conclusions

Hyperglycaemia, anaemia, and liver transaminase and cholestatic enzyme concentrations may represent new approaches for assessing disease severity in patients with brucellosis and acute pancreatitis.
Diffusion tensor tractography measurement of the distance between corticospinal tracts in patients with spontaneous intraventricular haemorrhage
Authors: Ho Jang Sung , Do Lee Han
Published: December 2015

Objective

The difference in the widest distance between corticospinal tracts (CST) on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in stroke patients with hydrocephalus was investigated retrospectively.

Methods

Distances were measured on an axial slice of the corona radiata, which provided the widest distance between CSTs. Two distances were measured, the absolute distance – the distance between the most medial point of the CSTs and the relative distance – calculated as a percentage of the absolute distance.

Results

The absolute distances of CSTs were 55.34 mm for the patient group and 46.75 mm for the control group. The relative distances of the CSTs were 44.12% and 35.96% for the patient group and the control group. Significant differences in the absolute and relative distances of CSTs were observed between the patient and the control group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the absolute and relative distances between CSTs might be used to diagnose hydrocephalus in stroke patients.
Risk factors for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury: Analysis of parameters in proximal tibia using anteroposterior radiography
Authors: Xiao Wen-Feng , Yang Tuo , Cui Yang , Zeng Chao , Wu Song , Wang Yi-Lun , Lei Guang-Hua
Published: December 2015

Objective

To investigate the relationship between the proximal tibial parameters of tibia width (TW), eminence width (EW), and eminence width index (EWI), and noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, in a Chinese population.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study was conducted of all ACL reconstructions (ACL group) and meniscal surgeries (control group) undertaken at two Chinese hospitals. Patients in the ACL group were age- and sex-matched with controls. Anteroposterior knee radiographs were used to measure the TW, EW and EWI.

Results

A total of 73 pairs of patients who were verified by knee arthroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging and physical examination were included in the study. There was no significant difference between the ACL group and the control group in terms of TW in the total population and in the two sex subgroups. The ACL group had a significantly smaller EW and EWI compared with the control group in the total population and in the two sex subgroups.

Conclusion

Decreased EW and EWI are associated with increased risk of noncontact ACL injury in a Chinese population.
Clumsy beginnings: from ‘modernizing mission’ to humanitarianism in the US occupation of Haiti (1915–34)
Authors: Lopez Patricia J
Published: December 2015

The US occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 marks the turn from military ‘modernizing missions’ to militarized humanitarianism in US interventionism. Political unrest in Haiti coupled with growing public concern in the US and Haiti over the occupation in the first five years forced an escalating series of official investigations. Together with the growing recognition of voices of dissent, these investigations exposed the brutal violence and failure of the humanitarian mission in Haiti. Tasked with meeting the mandates of the Haitian–American Convention and struggling to meet the promised aid, the US Navy, with the help of the State Department, enlisted the Rockefeller Foundation to manage and mediate the militarized humanitarian endeavors in Haiti. In this paper I explore the failed attempts at humanitarianism in the area of health and the events leading up to and informing the investigations. I argue that the turn to nongovernmental organizations in the 1920s, while not wholly unfounded, ushered in a new era of US humanitarianism that attempted to soften the appearance of the ‘modernizing mission’.
Mechanical behavior of pipe reinforced by steel wires under external pressure
Authors: Bai Yong , Wang Peng , Xiong Haichao , Tang Gao
Published: December 2015

Plastic pipe reinforced by helically cross-winding steel wire (namely PSP) is a novel kind of composite pipe which consists of an inner high-density polyethylene layer, steel wire layers and an outer polyethylene coating. PSP has the potential application as subsea pipeline. Based on numerical 2D ring model, proposed by Yong Bai, the wall thickness change, transverse shear deformation and pre-buckling deformation have been considered in the collapse investigation of PSP under external hydrostatic pressure. Based on finite element method, reinforced layers were taken as transverse isotropic material, and equivalent elastic modulus was obtained based on Halpin–Tsai model. It is shown that steel wires layer has little effect (just 0.2% difference) on the behavior of PSP under external pressure. The external pressure–ellipticity and external pressure–hoop strain curves derived from the theoretical method and finite element method are compared and show a good agreement (deviation of buckling pressure is 1.4%). Finally, maximum experimental external pressure values of two pipe specimens were obtained by increasing hydrostatic pressure in a closed cylinder. The results of theoretical analysis and finite element method are in great agreement with the experimental values.
Behind the Growth
Authors: Tian Li
Published: December 2015

This article examines the evolution of planning education in China in response to rapid social and economic changes, the growth of planning schools and students, and curriculum design development in various planning schools. It argues that the legacy of the planned economy still influences planning education, which means top–down, elite-driven, and blueprint-style planning that lacks a wide social foundation. With the advent of rapid urbanization and explosive economic growth, further changes to planning education in terms of values, approaches, and targets will be needed in the future.
Breastfeeding Duration and Primary Reasons for Breastfeeding Cessation among Women with Postpartum Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Bascom Erin McElderry , Napolitano Melissa A.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Although postpartum depression is associated with lower breastfeeding initiation rates and shorter breastfeeding duration, the potential mechanisms through which this relationship functions are not well understood.

Objective:

This study examined the breastfeeding behaviors of women with postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) to identify potential motivations for early breastfeeding cessation.

Methods:

An analysis of quantitative data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II examined the relationship between PDS and breastfeeding behaviors, including breastfeeding duration and primary reasons for early breastfeeding cessation.

Results:

Of the women in the sample, 30.9% met criteria for mild PDS. Women with PDS had shorter overall (18.4 vs 21.8 weeks, P = .001) and exclusive breastfeeding duration (3.6 vs 4.7 weeks, P = .012) than women without PDS. A larger proportion of women with PDS stopped breastfeeding before 6 months (68.7% vs 57.2%, P < .001). After controlling for socioeconomic status, education, marital status, employment status, race/ethnicity, maternal age, parity, and breastfeeding intentions, presence of PDS significantly predicted higher odds of reporting “too many household duties” (OR = 1.90, P = .011) as a primary reason for breastfeeding cessation among women who stopped breastfeeding before 6 months. After controlling for these same covariates, women with PDS had, on average, 2.4 weeks shorter breastfeeding duration than women without PDS ( P = .025).

Conclusion:

There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among new mothers, and most do not breastfeed for recommended time periods. Increased PDS screening during prenatal and postpartum visits and promotion of lactation support services may better address the high rates of PDS and suboptimal breastfeeding behavior.
Analysis on the effect of discharge energy on machining characteristics of wire electrical discharge turning process
Authors: Giridharan Abimannan , Samuel GL
Published: December 2015

Energy conservation is one of the most important aspects of electrical discharge machining process in which the material removal is by means of spark erosion. Metal removal in wire electrical discharge turning is a complex erosion mechanism which involves melting, vaporization and rapid cooling of molten material. In this work, the significance of discharge energy on the performance of wire electrical discharge turning process, namely, material removal rate, surface finish, thickness of recast layer and surface crack, is analyzed. New model to estimate material removal rate and surface finish in wire electrical discharge turning process have been proposed. Erosion energy and kinetic energy imparted by electrons and average physio-thermal properties of work material are utilized for the modeling. Proposed models are validated by conducting experiments on AISI 4340 steel material. The results obtained from the model are well in agreement with the experimental values. The influence of discharge energy on surface crack and recast layer thickness is analyzed using scanning electron microscope micrographs and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. Surface crack is observed at higher discharge energy. The thickness of recast layer increases with the increase in discharge energy. Three-dimensional surface topography reveals the turbulent nature of machining process resulted from transient erosion phenomena of wire electrical discharge turning process. Higher material removal rates of the order of about 0.06 g/min with consistent average roughness in the range of 4.5–5.5 µm at the expense of 1.6–2.6 J of discharge energy are achieved in this work. The proposed models can be utilized for machining of difficult to machine material by effective utilization of energy that leads to energy conservation in wire electrical discharge turning process.
Ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing of V-groove arrays on hard and brittle materials
Authors: Zhao Qing L , Sun Zhi Y , Guo Bing
Published: December 2015

Silicon carbide (SiC) and binderless tungsten carbide (WC) with the excellent mechanical and physical properties are promising mold materials in glass molding of microstructured optical elements. However, the high microstructured surface quality can be hardly generated by grinding because of the high hardness and brittleness of SiC and WC. In this article, the ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing was carried out aiming to improve the V-groove arrays’ surface quality. The angle of the polishing wheel’s V-shape section was first corrected to avoid rounding the tops of the V-grooves. And then the correction of the profile of the polishing wheel’s V-shape section was investigated to maintain the profile accuracy of the V-grooves. Finally, the grating array and pyramid array were polished on SiC and WC by introducing the ultrasonic vibration. The experimental results indicate that after corrected the angle of the polishing wheel’s V-shape section, the arc radius R of the top corner is reduced from 12 to 5 µm. The maximum profile deviation of the V-groove polished by the polishing wheel with no corrected profile is 1.0487 µm, while through polished by the polishing wheel with corrected profile, the maximum profile deviation is only 0.1768 µm with a factor of six times improvement. Furthermore, ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing could bring a better grating and pyramid surface quality on SiC and WC than through grinding. The edges and tops of the V-groove are sharp and without damage by ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing.
Design of multi-bolted joints to prevent self-loosening failure
Authors: Dinger G
Published: December 2015

The rotational self-loosening of bolted joints under cyclic loading is a process, which means a screw rotation against the assembly direction by periodic load cycles. Thus, the preload balance is released and the clamping function is no longer maintained. The effect is well known, but prevention is usually performed experimentally only after occurrence of self-loosening events. The paper gives a systematic presentation of the dimensioning and the possibility to consider self-loosening in the development process. The procedure for self-loosening dimensioning and the influences are demonstrated with safety-relevant multi-bolted connections from the automotive industry. The aim of this paper is to provide a numerical design method with finite element analysis for detecting and understanding of the self-loosening process at bolted joints. Another focus of the work is to investigate the self-loosening behaviour under combined loading with a superposition of translation and rotation. Combined loading can lead to self-loosening even before reaching the limit of self-loosening for transverse loading. The computational results of the numerical simulation (FEA) are compared with experimental investigations.
Computer vision system for detecting the loss of rail fastening nuts based on kernel two-dimensional principal component – two-dimensional principal component analysis and a support vector machine
Authors: Wang Ling , Zhang Bing , Wu Jinjin , Xu Hong , Chen Xiai , Na Wenbo
Published: December 2015

In most railway companies in China, the loss of nuts from rail fasteners is still found by visual inspections performed by maintenance workers; this approach cannot meet the continuing requirements to reduce maintenance costs and improve maintenance efficiency. In this paper, a computer vision system for detecting the loss of nuts from rail fasteners is proposed that is based on kernel two-dimensional principal component – two-dimensional principal component analysis (K2DPCA-2DPCA) and a support vector machine (SVM). The framework of this information-technology-based system is introduced, and the calculation method to find the positions where nuts are missing is also proposed. The K2DPCA-2DPCA feature extraction method and SVM used for feature classification in the computer vision system are described in detail. Finally, the combination of K2DPCA-2DPCA and SVM is compared with other feature extraction and feature classification methods in an experiment on the detection of the loss of nuts from rail fasteners. In this paper, it is found that the algorithm based on K2DPCA-2DPCA and a SVM is a better method for the computer vision system. It can identify the loss of nuts from a rail fastener with a high recognition rate and reach the maximum recognition rate using only a relatively small number of features. Furthermore, for the same number of training samples, the algorithm based on K2DPCA-2DPCA and SVM is also better than other algorithms for use in the computer vision system.
Morphological and mechanical properties of the posterior leaflet chordae tendineae in the mitral valve
Authors: Lodder Joost , Verkerke Gijsbertus J , Delemarre Ben JM , Dodou Dimitra
Published: December 2015

A number of studies have investigated the morphological and mechanical properties of the chordae tendineae of the mitral valve, providing comparisons between basal, marginal, and strut chordae and between chordae at the anterior and posterior leaflets. This study contributes to the literature by comparing the failure load of the chordae tendineae attached to the three posterior leaflet scallops, the anterolateral scallop (P1), middle scallop (P2), and posteromedial scallop (P3) of the mitral valve. In all, 140 chordae isolated from 23 porcine hearts were tested. First, the cross-sectional diameters of all branches in each chorda were measured using a microscope. Next, after positioning the chorda in a tensile testing machine, a preload of 0.2 N was applied, and the chordal length was measured. Cyclic loading between 0 and 0.3 N, 10 times with a speed of 1.5 mm/s, was conducted, after which the machine travelled at 1.5 mm/s until the chorda broke. We found that P2 chordae were thicker than P1 and P3 chordae and longer than P1 chordae. P2 chordae failed at significantly higher loads than P1 and P3 chordae. For all three types of chordae, almost half of the failures occurred at the chordal branch that was closest to the leaflet.
Failure of Intuition When Choosing Whether to Invest in a Single Goal or Split Resources Between Two Goals
Authors: Clarke Alasdair D. F. , Hunt Amelia R.
Published: December 2015

In a series of related experiments, we asked people to choose whether to split their attention between two equally likely potential tasks or to prioritize one task at the expense of the other. In such a choice, when the tasks are easy, the best strategy is to prepare for both of them. As difficulty increases beyond the point at which people can perform both tasks accurately, they should switch strategy and focus on one task at the expense of the other. Across three very different tasks (target detection, throwing, and memory), none of the participants switched their strategy at the correct point. Moreover, the majority consistently failed to modify their strategy in response to changes in task difficulty. This failure may have been related to uncertainty about their own ability, because in a version of the experiment in which there was no uncertainty, participants uniformly switched at an optimal point.
3D CFD simulation of the runaway process of a Pelton turbine
Authors: You Jianfeng , Lai Xu , Zhou Wei , Cheng Yongguang
Published: December 2015

During the runaway process of a Pelton turbine, the runner bears huge amounts of water pressure pulsations and centrifugal forces, which is different from the steady-state condition. In this work, a fine 3D CFD simulation of the runaway process of a Pelton turbine is performed. Both the macro-parameter changing patterns of rotational speed, torque and efficiency, and the micro-flow features of pressure pulsations and flow patterns are intensively studied and analyzed. It is found that the maximum runaway speed is 1.78 times of the rated speed, acceleration is the main feature in the early stage of runaway, and the jet fragment breaks away and strikes once again on the lip region and backside of the buckets in the middle and late stages. The multiple strikes make the frequency of pressure pulsations increase, and the cavitation occurs on the backside mold line. This successful 3D simulation shows that it is possible to simulate other transient processes of Pelton turbines and conduct fluid–structure interaction analysis of the runner.
Geomorphologic and paleoclimatic evidence of Holocene glaciation on Mount Olympus, Greece
Authors: Styllas Michael Nikolaos , Schimmelpfennig Irene , Ghilardi Matthieu , Benedetti Lucilla
Published: December 2015

This study investigates the possibility of Holocene glaciation on Mount Olympus (Greece) with a respective local temperature–precipitation equilibrium line altitude (TP-ELA) at c. 2200 m a.s.l., based on geomorphologic and paleoclimatic evidence. At present, the local TP-ELA is situated above the mountain’s summit ( c. 2918 m a.s.l.), but permanent snowfields and ice bodies survive within Megala Kazania cirque between c. 2400 and c. 2300 m a.s.l., because of the cirque’s maritime setting that results from its close proximity ( c. 18 km) to the Aegean Sea and of the local topographical controls. The snow and ice bodies occupied a considerably larger area and attained a stabilization phase between AD 1960 and 1980, also manifested from aerial photographs, a period characterized by increased winter precipitation ( Pw) with subsequent TP-ELA depression to c. 2410 m a.s.l. Mid- to late-20th-century Pw and TP-ELA variations exhibit negative correlations with the winter North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAOw) at annual and multidecadal (30 years) timescales. Late Holocene (AD 1680–1860) reconstructed summer mean temperatures were lower by Ts < 1.1°C in relation to the reference period between AD 1960 and 1980 and were also superimposed to negative NAOw phases, thus bracketing this time interval as a favorable one to glacial formation and/or advance. Millennial-scale annual precipitation reconstructions at the hypothesized TP-ELA ( c. 2200 m a.s.l.) point the period between 8 and 4 kyr BP as another glacier-friendly candidate. The mid-Holocene rather simplistic sequence of potential glacial advance phase was disturbed by short-lived cold climatic deteriorations, well-documented over the northern Aegean region that may partly explain the multicrested shape of the highest ( c. 2200 m a.s.l.) morainic complex of Megala Kazania cirque.
Regendering the military: Theorizing women’s military participation
Authors: Duncanson Claire , Woodward Rachel
Published: December 2015

This article considers how, in the light of contemporary military transformations, feminist theorizing about women’s military participation might be developed to take account of an emergent reality: the inclusion of increasing numbers of women in a range of roles within armed forces. A brief overview of established debates within feminist scholarship on women’s military participation is provided, and we explore the trajectory of feminist strategies for change within both militaries and other institutions. The promise and limitations of mainstreaming gender into security institutions, as a consequence of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, are discussed. The article argues that existing feminist critiques often remain deterministic and have too readily dismissed the possibilities for change created by women’s military participation, given the context of military transformations. Drawing on the idea of the regendered military, the article presents a conceptual strategy for considering how feminist theorizing about the gender–military nexus can take seriously women’s military participation while remaining alert to feminist political goals of gender equality, peace and justice.
The Wesselhoefts: A medical dynasty from the age of Goethe to the era of nuclear medicine
Authors: Davidson Jonathan RT
Published: December 2015

For six generations, members of the Wesselhoeft family have practiced medicine in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada and/or the USA. In the early decades of the 19th century, two Wesselhoeft brothers left Europe to eventually settle in New England, where they and their progeny gave rise to a regional medical dynasty. The Wesselhoeft doctors became well-known practitioners of homeopathy, hydropathy, conventional medicine and surgery, in academic and general clinical settings. An additional connection was established to the literary worlds of Germany and the USA, either through friendships or as personal physicians.
Current developments in the regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic testing in Europe
Authors: Kalokairinou Louiza , Howard Heidi C. , Borry Pascal
Published: December 2015

Over the past years, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing has provoked controversy regarding its still questionable risks and benefits. The safety and performance of such devices, when entering the European market, are currently regulated by the Directive 98/79 EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on in vitro diagnostic medical devices. In September 2012, a new Regulation was proposed to replace this Directive, and the legislative process is still ongoing. This article presents the main points of the European Commission’s proposal for the new Regulation and the subsequent amendments voted by the European Parliament, aiming to evaluate the potential contribution of the proposal for a more effective regulation of DTC genetic testing in Europe. In this regard, the proposal seems to enhance the current regulatory framework by further elucidating the scope of the Regulation and by establishing a risk-based classification system that guarantees increased pre-market scrutiny of the tests. Furthermore, the proposal attempts to establish higher safety and performance requirements and to enhance transparency. In addition, the European Parliament introduced amendments according to which appropriate genetic counselling is required in the context of genetic tests, and such tests are classified as prescription only, banning, at the same time, their DTC advertising. These developments have already provoked controversy among stakeholders and, if eventually adopted, they may lead to a radical change in the European DTC genetic testing landscape. In this light, the political decisions that will be taken imminently will be determinant.
Parent’s Opinion of Children’s Influence in Purchase Decisions: A Comparative Analysis between Rural and Urban Delhi
Authors: Batra Dharminder Kumar , Ali Akhter
Published: December 2015

This study aimed to explore the parent’s perceptions of children’s influence on purchase decisions and determine whether there were differences based on location (rural versus urban), product type, age of the child, gender of the parent and communication style of the parent. A survey was carried out on 400 parents of which 205 were from urban areas and 195 were from rural areas. An analysis of the data showed differences in opinion of parents regarding children’s influence based on product type and age of the child. No difference in perceptions of parents regarding children’s influence based on gender and parental style was observed. Parent’s opinion for children’s influence was highest for older children in the family regarding the purchase of personal-use products.
Designing and Creating Global Economic/Business Regions: A Case Study of the Rio Grande Valley Region
Authors: Inamete Ufot B.
Published: December 2015

This study focuses on the present, and the possible future, economic dynamics in the Lower Rio Grande Valley region. The main goal of the study is to identify factors that can be used to transform the region into a major global economic region. Since the Lower Rio Grande Valley region is not yet a major global economic region, this study also analyzes how to design and implement the frameworks of factors that will transform the region into such a major global economic region. A new conceptual framework, termed premier global economic/business region conceptual or theoretical framework, is created by this study to guide and gird this study. The Oresund region (Denmark–Sweden) and the Puget Sound region (United States–Canada) are models of what Lower Rio Grande Valley can be transformed into in the future. Therefore, this study draws from the main features of the Oresund region and the Puget Sound region to create the premier global economic/business region conceptual or theoretical framework. Essentially, this theoretical framework consists of 12 factors or variables that can be used to transform an international region into a premier global economic/business region. A significant portion of this study analyzes how each of these factors or variables can be designed and utilized to help transform the Lower Rio Grande Valley region into premier global economic/business region.
Do Videogames Simulate? Virtuality and Imitation in the Philosophy of Simulation
Authors: Karhulahti Veli-Matti
Published: December 2015

Simulation. The concept of simulation has been contested in academia since its proliferation in the 1960s. This is hardly the case in videogame research, the subject of which is commonly discussed as a simulation or something that simulates with little analytical consideration of the term’s other scientific roles.

Comparison. The article compares the simulation of videogame research to the ways in which other scientific sectors utilize the term.

Problematic science communication. It turns out that videogame research has found an eccentric use for simulation with none or little relation to the term’s scientific (knowledge-driven) and etymological (imitational) predecessors. This becomes a problem in cross-scientific communication.

Intentional philosophy. In order to overcome the problem, the article encourages scholars to adopt an intentional philosophy of simulation according to which videogames and their components may be structured as computerized simulators or simulations if functional evidence for a reference system exists. For those cases that lack functional evidence, the article (re)proposes the conceptual framework of virtuality.
Returning to Work After Treatment for a Hematological Malignancy
Authors: McGrath Pam
Published: December 2015

Many individuals diagnosed with cancer can experience a crisis associated with the challenge of returning to work posttreatment. To date, there is limited work on this topic. This article makes a contribution to this area by providing a subset of findings from a qualitative study that documents the role of the employer during posttreatment return to work from the perspective of individuals diagnosed with a hematological cancer. The study involved 45 in-depth interviews with individuals diagnosed with a hematology cancer that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analyzed. The findings indicate that the crisis posed by return to work after treatment for a hematological malignancy was ameliorated for individuals with supportive links to prior employers. There are a number of strategies that supportive employers used to facilitate the return to work, including keeping the position open, staging the return, and changing the work role if necessary. The practical implications of the findings for posttreatment supportive care are explored.
Handoffs in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Hochman Beth R. , Barry Mark E. , Lane-Fall Meghan B. , Allen Steven R. , Holena Daniel N. , Smith Brian P. , Kaplan Lewis J. , Pascual Jose L.
Published: December 2015

Operating room (OR) to intensive care unit (ICU) handoffs are complex and known to be associated with adverse events and patient harm. The authors hypothesized that handoff quality diminishes during nights/weekends and that bedside handoff practices are similar between ICUs of the same health system. Bedside OR-to-ICU handoffs were directly observed in 2 surgical ICUs with different patient volumes. Handoff quality measures were compared within the ICUs on weekdays versus nights/weekends as well as between the high- and moderate-volume ICUs. In the high-volume ICU, transmitter delivery scores were significantly better during off hours, while other measures were not different. High-volume ICU scores were consistently better than those in the moderate-volume ICU. Bedside handoff practices are not worse during off hours and may be better in ICUs used to a higher patient volume. Specific handoff protocols merit evaluation and training to ensure consistent practices in different ICU models and at different times.
Equi-stress boundaries in two- and three-dimensional elastostatics: The single-layer potential approach
Authors: Vigdergauz Shmuel
Published: December 2015

The well-known developments in elastostatics concerning the equi-stressness criterion of optimality for two-dimensional multi-connected unbounded solids under the bulk-dominating load are generalized toward the transient three-dimensional case with rotational symmetry. This paper advances our previous work by focusing specifically on explicitly identifying the optimal equi-stress surfaces through a simple regular integral equation which involves the single-layer potential kernel associated with the axially symmetric Laplacian. Its two-dimensional analogue is also obtained as a competitive counterpart to the commonly used complex-variable formalism. In both cases, the equations are reformulated as a minimization problem, solved numerically with a standard genetic algorithm over a wide variety of governing parameters thus permitting comparison of the shape optimization results in spatial and plane elasticity for multi-connected domains.