bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Application of UHPC Bridge Deck Overlay in North America
Authors: Sritharan Sri , Doiron Gaston , Bierwagen Dean , Keierleber Brian , Abu-Hawash Ahmad
Published: April 2018

Deterioration of existing bridge decks, which usually originates with the deck cracking on the top surface, is a common problem in North America. It causes frequent repair of the decks to limit further damage resulting from water/chloride ingress. Superior engineering and durability properties facilitate the use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) as an attractive alternative for a deck overlay, minimizing both deck deterioration and maintenance costs. Recently developed UHPC thixotropic mix designs, which are different from commonly used self-leveling UHPC, enable UHPC overlay to be used on decks with slopes and meet specific crowning requirements. The use of a UHPC thixotropic mix design with 3.25% of steel fibers was successfully evaluated under laboratory conditions by applying it on sloping deck surfaces with appropriate roughness between the normal concrete (NC) and UHPC. The feasibility of applying this technology in the field was then investigated on a small bridge for the first time in North America in May 2016. This paper presents the details about the laboratory evaluation, field implementation of UHPC overlay, and lessons learned from this first UHPC overlay project in North America.
Study of the Determinants of Chronic Malnutrition in Northern Nigeria: Quantitative Evidence from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Working Paper 45 (September 2017)
Authors: Amare Mulubrhan , Benson Todd , Fadare Olusegun , Oyeyemi Motunrayo
Published: April 2018

Background:

Close to half of all children younger than 5 years in the Northeast and Northwest geopolitical zones were estimated to be stunted in their growth for their age in 2013 compared to 22% of children in the rest of Nigeria.

Objectives:

We examine the drivers of chronic child undernutrition in northern Nigeria and how those drivers differ from other areas of the country.

Methods:

Both a standard child-level regression-based approach and decomposition analysis were used to address the determinants of stunting and decompose how drivers differ between northern Nigeria and other areas of the country using 2008 and 2013 Nigeria DHS data.

Results:

There are strong differences in the levels of the determinants of undernutrition in young children between the 2 parts of the country. However, equally important, the decomposition analysis shows that there are significant differences between northern Nigeria and other areas of Nigeria in the effect of the same determinant of nutritional status in accelerating or retarding the linear growth of young children.

Conclusions:

A national program to address child undernutrition must recognize this heterogeneity in its design. To impose across Nigeria, a single set of approaches to address the factors which results in stunted children is likely to fail for large numbers of children if these strong geographical differences in how these determinants operate to affect child nutritional status are not considered. Solutions need to be developed within northern Nigeria to more closely reflect the way the determinants of nutritional status operate in this area of the country.
Successful treatment of ventricular arrhythmic storm with percutaneous coronary intervention and catheter ablation in a patient with left ventricular assist device
Authors: Sipahi Nihat Firat , Mehdiani Arash , Saeed Diyar , Boeken Udo , Makimoto Hisaki , Lichtenberg Artur , Dalyanoglu Hannan
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Ventricular arrhythmias are common in patients with advanced heart failure, which may also persist after sufficient intensive therapy for heart failure even with a left ventricular assist device. Although most ventricular arrhythmias have no hemodynamic relevance during left ventricular assist device support, some patients suffer from right ventricular decompensation due to ventricular arrhythmias resulting in severe hemodynamic deterioration and poor clinical outcomes.

Methods:

We describe herein an left ventricular assist device patient with refractory ventricular arrhythmic storm early after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Results:

The patient was admitted to our department after stenting of left anterior descending artery with subsequent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and cardiogenic shock with ongoing multi-organ failure. After 6 days of extracorporeal life-support, a permanent left ventricular assist device was implanted. With postoperatively ongoing tachycardias, a subtotal right coronary artery occlusion was recanalized utilizing a drug-eluting stent. On the first post-intervention day, an additional catheter ablation was successfully performed. No further ventricular tachycardias were detected during the entire hospital stay and the further postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was transferred to a physiotherapy unit to improve his daily physical activities. He is currently at home and doing well 6 months after discharge.

Conclusions:

Our case report demonstrates the feasibility of a successful therapeutic approach with a combination of interventional therapies such as coronary stenting and catheter ablation in a patient with persistent ventricular arrhythmias after assist device implantation.
Destinies of the subject in a society almost completely seduced by knowledge
Authors: Viana Chaves Hamilton , Maia Filho Osterne Nonato
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study is to discuss the possible destinies of the subject in a contemporary society that has been almost completely immersed in and seduced by knowledge, especially knowledge generated in the context of digital technology. First, there will be a quick review of the path taken by the knowledge society from the point of view of two central aspects: governance and sociability. Next, this article will evaluate some of the impacts of digital technology on today’s society, which will consider the interaction between the subject and the knowledge society. This will be done through a sociogenetic analysis, based on historical-cultural psychology. A knowledge society should express itself in a variety of ways, especially starting from principles linked to democracy or social exclusion. At the same time, this dubiety leads some researchers to take on ambiguous positions, sometimes mistrusting knowledge and cultural achievements, sometimes displaying excessive optimism. In this context, one of the possible destinies for the subject once provoked might be to resist the temptation of the charms of the knowledge society, not affording it undue value, but also not underestimating it, thereby the term ‘almost’. A society of subjects situated historically faces the challenge, not of managing knowledge as something ‘per se’, but of understanding that it is the subject who precedes all the various instances of worldly life.
Not Just a Mothers’ Problem: The Consequences of Perceived Workplace Flexibility Bias for All Workers
Authors: O’Connor Lindsey Trimble , Cech Erin A.
Published: April 2018

Flexibility bias and the “ideal worker” norm pose serious disadvantages for working mothers. But, are mothers the only ones harmed by these norms? We argue that these norms can be harmful for all workers, even “ideal” ones—men without caregiving responsibilities who have never used flexible work arrangements. We investigate how working in an environment where workers perceive flexibility bias affects their job attitudes and work-life spillover. Using representative survey data of U.S. workers, we find that perceived flexibility bias reduces job satisfaction and engagement and increases turnover intentions and work-life spillover for all types of workers, even ideal workers. The effects of perceived bias on satisfaction, turnover, and spillover operate beyond experiences with family responsibilities discrimination and having colleagues who are unsupportive of work-life balance. We show that workplace cultures that harbor flexibility bias—and, by extension, that valorize ideal work—may affect the entire workforce in costly ways.
Changing Behavior and Renewing the Brain
Authors: Maddix Mark , Andrews Glena
Published: April 2018

The field of neuroscience and religion continues to explode as researchers seek to understand religious experiences in the brain. Studies in religious experience, called neurotheology, attempt to draw conclusions about the truth of these religious experiences from the study of biological brain events. Given the substantial research on the science of religion, this article explores the physiological changes of college students engaged in regular spiritual practices. Students were asked to engage in intentional spiritual formational practices, such as prayer, meditation, Scripture reading, and contemplation, to see if these practices impacted their physiological activities, including brain wave, heart rate, skin response (sweat), and reaction time changes. A variety of neuropsychological measures such as the Beck Depression Inventory, State/Trait Anxiety Scale, heart beats per minute, galvanic skin response, and electrophysiological encephalography measures were gathered at the beginning and the end of the course to measure physiological activity. The purpose was to discover whether students’ physiological measures changed as a result of spiritual formation practices. This study has implications for Christian educators: As persons engage in regular contemplative practices, this can result in behavioral changes in the brain.
That Dragon, Cancer Goes to Seminary
Authors: Auxier John W.
Published: April 2018

That Dragon, Cancer is a “serious” video game that has garnered wide attention in the gaming community and popular press. The game was created by a team of independent game designers led by Ryan and Amy Green as a way of sharing their family’s journey of caring for their son Joel, who had been diagnosed with pediatric cancer. This article describes the use of the game within a graduate course on pastoral counseling and reflects upon student reactions as an example of the potential usefulness of serious games in theological education.
Multidimensional Acculturation and Identity of Russian-Speaking Youth in Canada: The Role of Parents
Authors: Glozman Jenny , Chuang Susan S.
Published: April 2018

Although recent research has explored the experiences of immigrants in Canada, few researchers have focused on invisible immigrants, and Russian-speaking immigrants in particular. The invisible nature of these immigrants may affect their identity and acculturation following their arrival in their new country. Parents are an important factor in the developmental experience of adolescence, and thus their role in identity and acculturation was the focus of the current study. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 decimal- and second-generation Russian-speaking immigrant youth (15 to 19 years of age). A substantive theory of the role of parents in the identity and acculturation of these youth was developed. Results indicated that youth reported that their parents played a direct role in transmitting culture and influencing their identity in five different ways. The consequent identities of these youth were multidimensional. Moreover, the timing of migration (in the lives of the parents and youth, and in relation to the political context) also affected parents’ decision making and socialization practices. In turn, these factors and practices also affected the relationship between the youth and their parents in a bidirectional manner. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Alopecia Areata: Factors That Impact Children and Adolescents
Authors: Wolf Janice J. , Hudson Baker Pamela
Published: April 2018

Research suggests that several factors affect children and adolescents with alopecia areata (AA). While hair loss is mostly associated with individuals undergoing chemotherapy, AA also causes individuals to lose the hair on their scalp and elsewhere on the body. This loss can be particularly devastating to children and adolescents, and can affect them socially, as well as psychologically. A mixed method research design was used to combine survey data with interview transcripts and field notes to capture a more detailed picture of AA and its effect on children and adolescents. The data reported here were extracted from a larger study utilizing nine demographic items, four independent variable items (gender, age, duration of diagnosis, age of onset), and 27 dependent variable items regarding impact factors. Subsequently, six follow-up interview questions were used with a small group for additional context. An exploratory factor analysis revealed five impact factors: Confidence/Self-Esteem, Psychological Effects, Appearance/Acceptance, Socialization, and Communication. Female participants reported significantly greater difficulty adjusting and managing AA than did their male counterparts. While most participants revealed a positive attitude about themselves, the majority were affected psychologically by this condition. Open communication with family and friends gave comfort and support to the vast majority.
Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulator on Children With Primary Generalized Epilepsy
Authors: Welch William P. , Sitwat Bilal , Sogawa Yoshimi
Published: April 2018

Objective:

To describe the response to vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) in otherwise neurotypical children with medically intractable primary generalized epilepsy.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent vagus nerve stimulator surgery between January 2011 and December 2015.

Results:

Eleven patients were identified. Median follow-up duration was 2.5 years (1.2-8.4 years). Prior to vagus nerve stimulator surgery, all patients had at least 1 seizure per week, and 7/11 (64%) had daily seizures. At 1-year follow-up after vagus nerve stimulator, 7/11 (64%) reported improved seizure frequency and 6/11 (55%) reported fewer than 1 seizure per month. Three patients (27%) reported complications related to vagus nerve stimulator surgery, and no patients required device removal.

Significance:

In children with medically intractable primary generalized epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulator is well tolerated and appears to lead to improvement in seizure frequency. Improvement was not attributable to epilepsy classification, age at vagus nerve stimulator implantation, output current, duty cycle, or follow-up duration.
Systemic Factors Associated With Prosocial Skills and Maladaptive Functioning in Youth Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Howell Kathryn H. , Thurston Idia B. , Hasselle Amanda J. , Decker Kristina , Jamison Lacy E.
Published: April 2018

Children are frequently present in homes in which intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs. Following exposure to IPV, children may develop behavioral health difficulties, struggle with regulating emotions, or exhibit aggression. Despite the negative outcomes associated with witnessing IPV, many children also display resilience. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, this study examined person-level, process-level (microsystem), and context-level (mesosystem) factors associated with positive and negative functioning among youth exposed to IPV. Participants were 118 mothers who reported on their 6- to 14-year-old children. All mothers experienced severe physical, psychological, and/or sexual IPV in the past 6 months. Linear regression modeling was conducted separately for youth maladaptive functioning and prosocial skills. The linear regression model for maladaptive functioning was significant, F(6, 110) = 9.32, p < .001, adj R2 = 27%, with more severe IPV (β = .18, p < .05) and more negative parenting practices (β = .34, p < .001) associated with worse child outcomes. The model for prosocial skills was also significant, F(6, 110) = 3.34, p < .01, adj. R2 = 14%, with less negative parenting practices (β = −.26, p < .001) and greater community connectedness (β = .17, p < .05) linked to more prosocial skills. These findings provide critical knowledge on specific mutable factors associated with positive and negative functioning among children in the context of IPV exposure. Such factors could be incorporated into strength-based interventions following family violence.
Trauma-Related Sleep Problems and Associated Health Outcomes in Police Officers: A Path Analysis
Authors: Chopko Brian A. , Palmieri Patrick A. , Adams Richard E.
Published: April 2018

Police officers are frequently exposed to two different types of potentially traumatic events: one dealing with physical threats to self and the other involving the witnessing of harm to others. These different types of traumatic experiences are thought to produce various posttraumatic reactions. Furthermore, sleep problems are also reported as a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder. There is evidence, however, that sleep problems may mediate the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and health outcomes, especially physical health and depression. Previous research has shown this to be the case among officers from large urban agencies. The purpose of the present study was to test a model involving a pathway from trauma type and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms to physical health and depression that is mediated by sleep quality in officers ( N = 193) using data from small- to mid-size police agencies. Results revealed that sleep problems served as a mediator between posttraumatic stress disorder hyperarousal and avoidance symptoms and health outcomes, that the trauma types are related to different posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and that complicated relationships exist between the study variables. In addition, the results indicated that approximately 25% of our sample displayed probable partial posttraumatic stress disorder or probable full posttraumatic stress disorder, causing substantial functional impairment. Suggestions for improving officer health and performance in the field are provided. Specifically, it appears that interventions designed to address posttraumatic stress disorder hyperarousal symptoms related to personal life threat and the posttraumatic stress disorder avoidance symptoms related to the witnessing of human suffering may maximize officer sleep quality and ultimately overall wellness. In particular, mindfulness-based interventions are well suited for addressing these symptom clusters.
The Role of Social Support on Depression Among Vulnerable Caregivers Reporting Bidirectional Physical Violence
Authors: Ridings Leigh E. , Beasley Lana O. , Bohora Som , Espeleta Hannah C. , Silovsky Jane F.
Published: April 2018

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern found across genders, socioeconomic strata, cultures, and ethnicities. While IPV is traditionally examined from either the victim or initiator role, it is also important to consider relationships in which both partners experience and demonstrate violence. The current study examined the relation between IPV chronicity and depression among 403 female caregivers with young children. Specifically, the current study examined the association between bidirectional IPV and depression. Furthermore, the impact of social support on depression levels among those caregivers was assessed. Results suggest that of those couples who experienced violence, bidirectional IPV was reported significantly more frequently than unidirectional IPV only. No significant differences in depression were found between those reporting bidirectional versus unidirectional IPV. Among those involved in bidirectional IPV, having greater social support was associated with significantly lower depression levels. Findings suggest that both initiation and experiences of IPV should be assessed among caregivers of vulnerable children. The potential impact of social support was also identified in this study. Clinicians may consider assessing family violence broadly, including bidirectional IPV, particularly among parents of young children with other adverse life conditions. Development and sustainment of healthy relationships through social support may facilitate adjustment for the caregivers.
Experiences of Gender-Based Violence at a South African University: Prevalence and Effect on Rape Myth Acceptance
Authors: Finchilescu Gillian , Dugard Jackie
Published: April 2018

Instances of gender-based violence (GBV) on university campuses are rarely reported to the authorities. This makes it difficult to gauge the prevalence of this problem, which in turn affects efforts for prevention. This article describes a university-wide online survey aimed at assessing, first, the prevalence of GBV experienced by the three sectors in the community—students, academic and research staff, and professional/administrative staff. Many of the findings concurred with research elsewhere—students were the predominant victims of GBV; men were the main perpetrators; and instances of rape occurred mainly when the victim/survivor was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In contrast to some of the more well-known U.S. surveys (e.g., Georgetown University), we found relatively few instances of students being exploited by staff members. Occurrences of contrapower harassment were also reported in our survey. The second aim investigated whether rape myth acceptance was related to experiences of GBV. We found that women who had these experiences were more rejecting of rape myths than women who had not had such experiences. The opposite was found for White men. White men who had experienced GBV were more accepting of the rape myths than those who had not had such experiences. It was suggested that this reflected a need for these male victims to establish their hegemonic masculine identity. In general, the level of rape myth acceptance was relatively low. This suggested that widespread victim-blame, and self-blame does not account for the low levels of GBV reports to officials. A limitation of the study was the relatively low response rate (1,350 respondents), which was likely caused by the student protests over university fees that were ongoing at the time of the survey. These protests caused considerable disturbance for all sectors of the university community.
Providing Coordinated, Immediate, Trauma-Focused, and Interdisciplinary Responses to Children Exposed to Severe Intimate Partner Violence: Assessing Feasibility of a Collaborative Model
Authors: Stylianou Amanda M. , Ebright Elizabeth
Published: April 2018

Despite the known consequences associated with children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), numerous children exposed to IPV never access victim services and/or mental health treatment. Informed by the Child Development-Community Policing Program (CD-CP), the Child Trauma Response Team (CTRT) is designed to provide a coordinated, immediate, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary response to children, adolescents, and their impacted family members who are exposed to severe IPV. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of the CTRT from the perspective of the key stakeholders and to identify what facilitated and/or hindered the collaborative model. Interviews were conducted with all 12 CTRT stakeholders of whom three worked for law enforcement, four worked for the district attorney’s office, four worked for the nonprofit victim service organization, and one worked for the city office funding the pilot. Results indicated that the CTRT program evolved through a cyclical process including (a) implementing and enhancing program services, (b) defining and nurturing partner relationships, and (c) shifting practices among partnering agencies. The results provide concrete tools and practices that were successful in the CTRT pilot implementation. Despite the potential barriers to successful multidisciplinary collaborations, it is critical that we invest in developing and implementing collaborative intervention models in the IPV field. The CTRT model is an innovative model that conducts multidisciplinary coordinated outreach to families experiencing severe IPV to enhance family engagement in services and, when appropriate, in the criminal justice process.
Practice-Based Evidence: A Model for Helping Educators Make Evidence-Based Decisions
Authors: Fink Chorzempa Barbara , Smith Michael D. , Sileo Jane M.
Published: April 2018

Within their teacher preparation courses and field experiences, preservice teachers are introduced to numerous instructional practices, not all of which are considered research-based. For this reason, instruction in how to evaluate the effectiveness of one’s practices is essential, but it is often a lacking component of initial certification programs. In this article, a flexible, problem-solving model for collecting and reflecting on practice-based evidence (PBE) is described. The model, utilized in a graduate program in Special Education, was designed to assist teacher candidates in evaluating the effectiveness of the practices they implement to optimize students’ learning outcomes. Implications for practice in the K-12 environment are also provided.
Warfarin Patients With Anemia Show Trend of Out-of-Range International Normalized Ratio Frequency With Point-of-Care Testing in an Anticoagulation Clinic
Authors: DeRemer Christina E. , McMichael Bliss , Young Henry N.
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Many factors influence international normalized ratio (INR); however, few studies have examined the impact of anemia in warfarin patients. The primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between in-clinic anemia and the control of INR within an anticoagulation clinic.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed on a random sample of patients seen in an academic medical center pharmacy-managed anticoagulation clinic. Hemochron® Signature Elite machine was utilized to monitor point-of-care (POC) INR. In-clinic anemia was defined as hematocrit <32%. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA MP a webbased platform ( https://www.stata.com/statamp/ ).

Results:

Of the 300 patients analyzed, 45 (15%) patients had in-clinic anemia. Patients with in-clinic anemia were more likely to be younger ( P < .05), female ( P < .05), and have a diagnosis of sickle cell disease or anemia ( P < .05). In the unadjusted logistic regression model, patients with in-clinic anemia were less likely to have an in-range INR ( OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27-0.98). The adjusted regression model did not show significance.

Conclusion:

Study results suggest that in-clinic anemia may be more prevalent among younger, female patients prescribed warfarin, and patients diagnosed with in-clinic anemia may be a risk factor for out-of-range INR. Pharmacists practicing in anticoagulation clinics can incorporate this information into patient care practice in efforts to maintain optimal management.
Experimental and numerical investigations of the dynamic responses of an asymmetrical arch railway bridge
Authors: Gou Hongye , He Yannian , Zhou Wen , Bao Yi , Chen Genda
Published: April 2018

The dynamic responses of an asymmetrical arch railway bridge subjected to moving trains are experimentally and numerically investigated in this study. The strains, displacements and accelerations at critical sections of the bridge were measured at different speeds of trains. A three-dimensional finite element model of the bridge–vehicle coupling system was established to understand the measured dynamic responses and was validated against the experimental results. The numerical model was used to analyze the influence of asymmetry on the dynamic responses of the bridge and the safety and ride comfort of trains. The results indicate that the dynamic responses of the bridge increase with the train speed. Braking of the train has the largest impact on the vertical dynamic displacement of the bridge. The maximum dynamic strain is in the arch rib. The longer half arch demonstrated much larger counterforce and dynamic responses than those of the shorter half arch, while the symmetrical structures tend to exhibit good symmetry. The asymmetrical arrangement of the bridge reduces the structural stiffness.
Initiation and development of rail corrugation based on track vibration in metro systems
Authors: Xiao Hong , Yang Song , Wang Haoyu , Wu Si X
Published: April 2018

Rail corrugation, one of the most deleterious types of track wear, affects the railroad industries in many countries. Rail corrugation leads not only to vehicle and track vibration, lifespan reduction of infrastructure, and safety and passenger comfort issues but it also produces track noise. This paper, based on the track vibration theory, studies the initiation and development of rail corrugation in both the time and frequency domains. First, four track models for the frequency-domain analysis are developed to model the common short sleeper track, vibration absorbing fastener track, elastic short sleeper track and ladder sleeper track. The frequency response analysis is performed to calculate the characteristic frequencies of the track models. In order to analyse the relationship between the natural vibration of track structures and rail corrugation, the characteristic frequencies are compared with the measured passing frequencies of tracks due to rail corrugation. Second, the vehicle–track–tunnel three-dimensional dynamic models are developed for the four track structures to study the initiation of rail corrugation under the influence of track vibration using the time-domain analysis. Finally, the development of rail corrugation for the four track structures is investigated by means of the wear growth rate. Moreover, the influence of other factors, such as the curve radius, the rail–sleeper relative position, the driving velocity and the wheel–rail friction coefficient, is discussed.
Reliability evaluation of the Chinese Train Control System Level 3 using a fuzzy approach
Authors: Jiang Lei , Wang Xiaomin , Liu Yiliu
Published: April 2018

The Chinese Train Control System Level 3 (CTCS-3) has been developed to ensure the safe and efficient operation of high-speed railway networks in China. Failure of the CTCS-3 may result in serious accidents, causing damage to assets and risking the safety of passengers. In this paper, the reliability evaluation of the CTCS-3, comprising an onboard and trackside subsystem, is conducted using the fault tree analysis where the basic events are divided into known failure rate basic events and unknown failure rate basic events. The probabilities of the occurrence of the known basic events are obtained from field data, while those of the unknown failure rate basic events are estimated by expert judgment. The fuzzy set theory is then adopted to deal with the imprecise expert judgment. Considering a specific operational scenario, to accomplish one mission, the failure probability of the CTCS-3 is calculated. Importance analysis is carried out not only to identify the critical basic events but also to provide suggestions on the improvement of preventive maintenance. Sensitivity analysis shows that hardware factors have the most significant effect on the reliability of the CTCS-3.
Planar path following nonlinear controller design for an autonomous airship
Authors: Zhou Wei-xiang , Zhou Ping-fang , Wang Yue-ying , Duan Deng-ping
Published: April 2018

This paper investigates the planar path following control problem for an autonomous airship taking actuator saturation, actuator dynamics, parameter variation, and wind field into account. Firstly, improved nonlinear models of the airship are introduced and the control objective is formulated. Then, a command filtered backstepping controller combined with nonlinear disturbance observer is derived based on Lyapunov stability theory. The command filter is adopted to approximate the magnitude and rate saturations of actuator. The first-order inertia term is used to approximate the actuator dynamics. And, the nonlinear disturbance observer is employed to handle the disturbance caused by parameter variations and wind field. To guarantee the controller still works when saturations occur, the compensation terms are also designed. It is proved that the proposed controller can drive the airship to track a predefined path under actuator saturation, parameter variations and wind field. Besides, the proposed approach is able to avoid the complex analytic computation of command derivatives which is required in traditional backstepping method. Finally, simulations are carried out to illustrate effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Optimally sized design of a wind/photovoltaic/fuel cell off-grid hybrid energy system by modified-gray wolf optimization algorithm
Authors: Vatankhah Barenji Reza , Ghadiri Nejad Mazyar , Asghari Iraj
Published: April 2018

This study deals with an off-grid hybrid energy generation system composed of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and fuel cells to supply a specific load. The purpose is to minimize the cost of energy generation over a period of lifetime while satisfying a set of system reliability constraints in the system. The stated objective is to determine the optimal value of system components, that is, the number of wind turbines, the number and angle of photovoltaic arrays, the size of electrolyzer, hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, and DC/AC converters. The costs incorporated into this design included net present value of investment, costs of equipment, replacement and maintenance, and the costs arising from power supply interruption, all for a period of 20 years considered as the system lifetime. The data pertaining to load demand, sunlight and wind speed were considered to be known and deterministic. This design considered the failure of three main system components, namely, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and AC/DC converter, and incorporated a number of cost factors such as initial investment, operating and maintenance expenses, and value of lost load. The wind and solar data used in this study pertained to Ankara, Turkey. The gray wolf optimization algorithm for the first time is used to optimize such a system, and the results are compared with the ones obtained by particle swarm optimization algorithm. A new hybrid metaheuristic algorithm based on the modified-gray wolf optimization algorithm and the traditional particle swarm optimization algorithms is proposed to solve the problem. The results indicate that the gray wolf optimization algorithm achieves better optimal results in comparison to the well-known particle swarm optimization algorithm and the developed hybrid method performs better in comparison to the gray wolf optimization and particle swarm optimization algorithms for this specific optimization problem.
A two-stage approach to estimate spatial and spatio-temporal disease risks in the presence of local discontinuities and clusters
Authors: Adin A , Lee D , Goicoa T , Ugarte María Dolores
Published: April 2018

Disease risk maps for areal unit data are often estimated from Poisson mixed models with local spatial smoothing, for example by incorporating random effects with a conditional autoregressive prior distribution. However, one of the limitations is that local discontinuities in the spatial pattern are not usually modelled, leading to over-smoothing of the risk maps and a masking of clusters of hot/coldspot areas. In this paper, we propose a novel two-stage approach to estimate and map disease risk in the presence of such local discontinuities and clusters. We propose approaches in both spatial and spatio-temporal domains, where for the latter the clusters can either be fixed or allowed to vary over time. In the first stage, we apply an agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm to training data to provide sets of potential clusters, and in the second stage, a two-level spatial or spatio-temporal model is applied to each potential cluster configuration. The superiority of the proposed approach with regard to a previous proposal is shown by simulation, and the methodology is applied to two important public health problems in Spain, namely stomach cancer mortality across Spain and brain cancer incidence in the Navarre and Basque Country regions of Spain.
A comparison of point and imaging visible-near infrared spectroscopy for determining soil organic carbon
Authors: Askari Mohammad Sadegh , O'Rourke Sharon M , Holden Nicholas M
Published: April 2018

This study evaluated whether the accuracy of soil organic carbon measurement by laboratory hyperspectral imaging can match that of standard point spectroscopy operating in the visible–near infrared. Hyperspectral imaging allows a greater amount of spectral information to be collected from the soil sample compared to standard spectroscopy, accounting for greater sample representation. A total of 375 representative Irish soils were scanned by two-point spectrometers (a Foss NIR Systems 6500 labelled S-1 and a Varian FT-IR 3100 labelled S-2) and two laboratory hyperspectral imaging systems (two push broom line-scanning hyperspectral imaging systems manufactured by DV optics and Spectral Imaging Ltd, respectively, labelled S-3 and S-4). The objectives were (a) to compare the predictive ability of spectral datasets for soil organic carbon prediction for each instrument evaluated and (b) to assess the impact of imposing a common wavelength range and spectral resolution on soil organic carbon model accuracy. These objectives examined the predictive ability of spectral datasets for soil organic carbon prediction based on optimal settings of each instrument in (a) and introduced a constraint in wavelength range and spectral resolution to achieve common settings for instruments in (b). Based on optimal settings for each instrument, the deviation (root-mean square error of prediction) from the best fit line between laboratory measured and predicted soil organic carbon, ranked the instruments as S-1 (26.3 g kg−1) < S-2 (29.4 g kg−1) < S-3 (34.3 g kg−1) < S-4 (41.1 g kg−1). The S-1 model outperformed in all partial least squares regression performance indicators, and across all spectral ranges, and produced the most favourable outcomes in means testing, variance testing and identification of significant variables. It is assumed that a larger wavelength range produced more accurate soil organic carbon predictions for S-1 and S-2. Under common instrument settings, the prediction accuracy for S-3 that was almost equal to S-1. It is concluded that under standard operating procedures, greater soil sample representation captured by hyperspectral imaging can equal the quality of the spectra from point spectroscopy. This result is important for the development of laboratory hyperspectral imaging for soil image analysis.
Determinants of Health Service Utilization by Urban Households in India
Authors: Mojumdar Sujoy Kumar
Published: April 2018

In this article, an attempt has been made to examine the factors associated with the utilization of health care services among the urban households in India based on NSS case-level data of 42nd (1986–1987) and 60th round (2004–2005). The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis reveals that the education level of household head is not only an important positive predictor in the utilization of health services in general but is also found as a negative predictor to determine the utilization of public facilities in particular (National Sample Survey, 1998). It is also found that the weaker social class like scheduled caste (SC) is less likely to use curative health care facilities but the chances of using public facilities are much higher compared to non-SC households (National Sample Survey, 2006). It is found that the influence of household income for accessing health care services has been sharpened over the period. The study also reveals that the utilization of public health facilities is much higher in low-income states but the rate of improvement of public health care utilization is much higher in case of outpatient care services. The size of town has shown a significant impact on the utilization of health services. The chances of using public facilities have increased in small- and medium-sized town compared to metro cities. The level of intra-household disparities in access to health facilities with respect to age and gender has increased in urban India. Significant gender disparities are found in case of public health service utilization both for inpatient and outpatient care services in urban India.
Predictors of Organizational Commitment in Public Sector Hospitals of Pakistan—A Moderated Mediation Study
Authors: Saleem Muhammad Abid , Yaseen Asif , Zahra Sadaf
Published: April 2018

Organizational commitment, a psychological construction of responsibility towards the mission, is a mounting challenge in the healthcare sector of developing countries. The study aims at examining the factors including organizational cronyism, organizational politics, and informational justice and their moderated mediation relationships affecting employees’ perception of their job and improving their commitment towards their work in hospitals. A total of 496 medical house officers and post-graduate residents from public sector hospitals in Pakistan participated in this study. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the structural model and the measurement model for the constructs. Findings of this study revealed the significant positive effects of organizational politics, supervisor support, organizational cronyism and cynicism on reducing the level of commitment, however, informational justice appeared insignificant. The moderating role of Guanxi network appeared significant in decreasing the impact of counterproductive practices on a high level of commitment. The study concluded with explaining the underlying mechanism of organizational commitment in the service industry with a special focus on the health sector in Pakistan.
What Will Happen to the US Textile and Apparel Industry if the NAFTA Goes?
Authors: Lu Sheng
Published: April 2018

This study provides a quantitative evaluation of how the termination of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) proposed by the Trump administration will affect the US textile and apparel (T&A) industry. By adopting the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) computable general equilibrium model based on the GTAP9 database, the study finds that: first, the termination of NAFTA will significantly reduce US apparel imports from NAFTA members but lead to an increase of US apparel imports from Asian countries; second, ending NAFTA will substantially reduce US textile exports to the NAFTA region, which currently is the single largest export market for the US textile industry; and third, rather than encouraging more ‘Made in the USA’, the termination of NAFTA will reduce further the output of T&A manufacturing in the United States. The findings of this study augment our understanding of the potential economic impact of ending a major free trade agreement, which has been studied little, and shed new lights on the debate regarding the T&A-specific sectoral impact of NAFTA. The findings of the study also provide valuable inputs for policymakers regarding what should or should not be done with NAFTA from the perspective of the US T&A industry.

JEL Classification: F14, F15, F17
India in South Asia: Interaction with Liberal Peacebuilding Projects
Authors: Adhikari Monalisa
Published: April 2018

In fragile and conflict-affected States1 (henceforth FCAS) in South Asia, two distinct forms of international engagement have worked simultaneously—the engagement of India, the regional hegemon, and that of Western states that promote liberal peacebuilding projects. From Norwegian engagement in Sri Lanka to European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) engagement in Myanmar, to the UN-led international engagement in Nepal, liberal peacebuilding, despite its fault lines, has ubiquitous presence in South Asia, a region fraught with different forms of conflict and fragility. The norms, practices and modalities of engagement of India as well as of liberal peacebuilding projects have their distinct specificities in their normative foundations, practices and modalities of engagement. This article contends that the current interaction, though often unacknowledged, is marked by uncertainties, contrasts, instrumental use of norms, lack of coordination and even unexpected overlaps. This article primarily argues that in order for India to play a constructive role in the region, it needs to devise a policy on how it engages with liberal peacebuilding norms and its diffusion in practice through a variety of organisational and institutional networks.
Media portrayal of sportswomen in East Asia: A systematic review
Authors: Xue Yue , Huang Tao , Sun Qilin , Tang Ning
Published: April 2018

It has been widely recognized that women in Western countries are marginalized in the sports field, and sports media is one of the institutions that strengthens such trivialization. However, there are very few studies investigating women in sports in countries outside of Europe and the USA. The aim of this study is to review how sportswomen are portrayed in sports media in China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea. East Asian media is congruous in its disparities regarding quantity of coverage between domestic athletes and abroad athletes, between sportsmen and sportswomen, and between international events and local events. Narratives and commentary focus on nationalism, appropriate femininity, non-sports related aspects of sportswomen’s lives, and the dual identities of sportswomen. Some slight differences regarding quantity, narratives and commentary exist between the four countries. In its current state, scholarly research on media images of sportswomen is contradictory and too limited. Overall, more studies regarding how sportswomen are represented in East Asian media are needed, with further considerations of social media and media autonomy while making essential connections to social and cultural contexts.
Systemic equid alphaherpesvirus 9 in a Grant’s zebra
Authors: Moeller Robert B. , Crossley Beate , Pipkin Arlena , Li Yanqiu , Balasuriya Udeni B.R.
Published: April 2018

A 2-y-old female Grant’s zebra ( Equus quagga [ burchellii] boehmi) was presented with a clinical history of depression, anorexia, and weakness of 1-wk duration. Postmortem examination identified ulcers on the tongue and palate; a large abscess adjacent to the larynx; left lung consolidation; mild swelling, darkening, and congestion of the liver with accentuation of the lobular pattern; and edema and congestion of the distal small and large intestines. Histologic examination identified necrotizing bronchopneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, nephritis, and enterocolitis. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions were detected in syncytial cells and degenerate bronchial epithelium in the lungs and in some hepatocytes associated with necrotic foci. Bacterial cultures of the lung, liver, and laryngeal abscess failed to detect any significant pathogen. Lung and liver tested positive for equine herpesvirus with neuropathogenic marker by real-time PCR. Subsequently, equine herpesvirus was isolated in tissue culture, and the entire viral DNA polymerase gene (ORF30) was sequenced. The zebra lung isolate had a very close nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity to equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9; 99.6% and 99.8%, respectively) in contrast to the neuropathogenic T953 strain of EHV-1 (94.7% and 96.6%, respectively). Although zebras are considered the natural host for EHV-9, we document an unusual acute systemic, fatal EHV-9 infection in a 2-y-old Grant’s zebra.