bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Work–life management in legal prostitution: Stigma and lockdown in Nevada’s brothels
Authors: Blithe Sarah Jane , Wolfe Anna Wiederhold
Published: December 2016

Across occupations, people contend with the difficult task of managing time between their work and other aspects of life. Previous research on stigmatized industries has suggested that so-called ‘dirty workers’ experience extreme identity segmentation between these two realms because they tend to cope with their occupational stigma by placing distance between their work and personal lives. Through a qualitative study of Nevada’s legal brothel industry, this article focuses on the prevalence of boundary segmentation as a dominant work–life management practice for dirty workers. Our analysis suggests that work–life boundaries are disciplined by legal mythologies and ambiguities surrounding worker restrictions, occupational ideologies of ‘work now, life later,’ and perceived and experienced effects of community-based stigma. These legal, occupational and community constructs ultimately privilege organizations’ and external communities’ interests, while individual dirty workers carry the weight of stigma.
Project-based learning applied to an embedded systems course
Authors: Fernandes Marcelo AC
Published: December 2016

The aim of this work is to present a proposal for project-based learning applied to an embedded systems course. The proposal involves projects associated with the area of control and automation, in which the student develops solutions in embedded systems with microcontrollers. The projects envisage the development of closed-loop control techniques for various types of dynamic system. The proposed method was applied during four semesters (2012.1, 2012.2, 2013.1, and 2013.2) in the Digital Systems course of the Computer Engineering programme at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). The results of opinion surveys conducted with the students during the four semesters are presented in order to validate the proposed project-based learning method. Full details of implementation of the method are also provided in order to assist others involved in teaching similar academic programmes.
Los Angeles employment concentration in the 21st century
Authors: Kane Kevin , Hipp John R , Kim Jae Hong
Published: December 2016

This paper is an empirical analysis of employment centres in the Los Angeles region from 1997 to 2014. Most extant work on employment centres focuses on identification methodology or their dynamics during a period of industrial restructuring from 1980 to 2000. We analyse employment centres using point-based, rather than census tract-based employment data and a non-parametric identification method with a single concept of proximity. We focus on changes across five key industries: knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS), retail, creative, industrial and high-tech, emphasising changes in centre composition as well as their boundaries. Results show far greater change across centres than previous longitudinal studies. Only 43% of the land area that is in an employment centre is part of one in both 1997 and 2014. Using a persistence score, centres range from stable to highly fluctuating, but emerging, persisting and dying centres are found in core and fringe areas alike. KIBS are most associated with stable centres, while high tech employment is attracted toward emerging areas and retail exists throughout. Emerging centres are more likely to have greater accessibility, while industrial employment becomes far more concentrated in centres by 2014.
The hegemony of the real estate industry: Redevelopment of ‘Government/Institution or Community’ (G/IC) land in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Joanna Wai Ying , Tang Wing-Shing
Published: December 2016

The high property price syndrome in Hong Kong has led to heightened concern about the role of landed capital in property development. Recently, the hegemony of the real estate industry has become a buzzword in local literature, but unfortunately there is neither adequate theoretical articulation nor informed understanding of the concept of hegemony. There is widespread misunderstanding of hegemony, equating it to domination by property tycoons. The local literature has overlooked the government-business collusion in constructing the common sense of society so as to dominate others. Through an empirical investigation of the redevelopment of ‘Government/Institution or Community’ (G/IC) land in Hong Kong, this article attempts to offer an alternative explanation to the land question of G/IC redevelopment by highlighting that the everyday life of the silent majority and of professionals has in fact perpetuated the hegemony of the real estate industry in Hong Kong. It is argued that the government, property developers, professionals, charitable organisations and the general public have altogether participated, in different ways and to different extents, in the capital accumulation projects of leading developer conglomerates in Hong Kong. A land (re)development regime has thus contributed to the property boom in Hong Kong.
A Comprehensive Nutrition‐Focused Quality Improvement Program Reduces 30‐Day Readmissions and Length of Stay in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Sriram Krishnan , Sulo Suela , VanDerBosch Gretchen , Partridge Jamie , Feldstein Josh , Hegazi Refaat A. , Summerfelt Wm. Thomas
Published: December 2016

Background: Although screening patients for malnutrition risk on hospital admission is standard of care, nutrition shortfalls are undertreated. Nutrition interventions can improve outcomes. We tested effects of a nutrition‐focused quality improvement program (QIP) on hospital readmission and length of stay (LOS). Materials and Methods: QIP included malnutrition risk screening at admission, prompt initiation of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) for at‐risk patients, and nutrition support. A 2‐group, pre‐post design of malnourished adults with any diagnosis was conducted at 4 hospitals: QIP‐basic (QIPb) and QIP‐enhanced (QIPe). Comparator patients had a malnutrition diagnosis and ONS orders. For QIPb, nurses screened all patients on admission using an electronic medical record (EMR)–cued Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST); ONS was provided to patients with MST scores ≥2 within 24–48 hours. QIPe had ONS within 24 hours, postdischarge nutrition instructions, telephone calls, and ONS coupons. Primary outcome was 30‐day unplanned readmission. We used baseline (January 1–December 31, 2013) and validation cohorts (October 13, 2013–April 2, 2014) for comparison. Results: Patients (n = 1269) were enrolled in QIPb (n = 769) and QIPe (n = 500). Analysis included baseline (n = 4611) and validation (n = 1319) comparator patients. Compared with a 20% baseline readmission rate, post‐QIP relative reductions were 19.5% for all QIP, 18% for QIPb, and 22% for QIPe, respectively. Compared with a 22.1% validation readmission rate, relative reductions were 27.1%, 25.8%, and 29.4%, respectively. Similar reductions were noted for LOS. Conclusions: Thirty‐day readmissions and LOS were significantly lowered for malnourished inpatients by use of an EMR‐cued MST, prompt provision of ONS, patient/caregiver education, and sustained nutrition support.
Heat treatment of Pennsylvania jasper
Authors: Dillian Carolyn D
Published: December 2016

Heat treatment of silicate toolstone was performed prehistorically, which we assume was to improve characteristics desired in flintknapping, such as increased brittleness and more predictable and controlled conchoidal fracture. However, despite research into heat treatment spanning 50 years, the mechanisms by which stone was improved, and the reasons why people did it, remain unclear. In this study, experiments were designed to test two potential outcomes of heat treatment for Pennsylvania jasper. First, does heating reduce the disruptive effect of macroscopic impurities and flaws on controlled flaking? Second, does heating increase the stone’s brittleness as suggested by Crabtree and Butler in 1964? Such physical alterations would improve the quality of lithic material but may not always occur in high quality stone. The results of these experiments are used to hypothesize the expected heat treatment outcomes sought after by prehistoric flintknappers.
A material political economy: Automated Trading Desk and price prediction in high-frequency trading
Authors: MacKenzie Donald
Published: December 2016

This article contains the first detailed historical study of one of the new high-frequency trading (HFT) firms that have transformed many of the world’s financial markets. The study, of Automated Trading Desk (ATD), one of the earliest and most important such firms, focuses on how ATD’s algorithms predicted share price changes. The article argues that political-economic struggles are integral to the existence of some of the ‘pockets’ of predictable structure in the otherwise random movements of prices, to the availability of the data that allow algorithms to identify these pockets, and to the capacity of algorithms to use these predictions to trade profitably. The article also examines the role of HFT algorithms such as ATD’s in the epochal, fiercely contested shift in US share trading from ‘fixed-role’ markets towards ‘all-to-all’ markets.
Understanding How Learners Use Massive Open Online Courses and Why They Drop Out
Authors: El Said Ghada Refaat
Published: December 2016

This article presents a qualitative study on Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) dropout in a developing world. Thematic analyses of semistructured interviews were conducted with 52 learners, eight weeks after their actual registration for a course of their choice as part of a self-learning activity. The results uncover novel design factors affecting MOOC retention. Among these factors are Learner Control, in which users can design their own long-term learning track from various course modules; Integrative Design, comprising learners’ own accounts on social media; and Independent Design, in which a course’s modules can be taught separately and learners need not complete an overall course but rather can select modules from various courses. Mobility and Language are identified as important decisive factors for users to drop out from or complete a MOOC Course. This research also highlights the importance of Diversity and Novelty for this type of application. The research reveals the Multitasking Behavior of users, leading to the need for Easy-to-Scan content. The findings provide a basis for improving the understanding toward reasons for MOOC drops and suggest a number of practical design recommendations for designers and providers. Furthermore, the completion rate observed in this study was slightly higher than was typically found in previous studies. This result might suggest that using a MOOC as a learning opportunity within the context of a university-accredited program would increase the likelihood of completion.
Learning Object Retrieval and Aggregation Based on Learning Styles
Authors: Ramirez-Arellano Aldo , Bory-Reyes Juan , Hernández-Simón Luis Manuel
Published: December 2016

The main goal of this article is to develop a Management System for Merging Learning Objects (msMLO), which offers an approach that retrieves learning objects (LOs) based on students’ learning styles and term-based queries, which produces a new outcome with a better score. The msMLO faces the task of retrieving LOs via two steps: The first step ranks LOs using a unified learning style model and creates better LOs by merging the top-ranked LOs. The second step maps LOs onto a hierarchy of concepts to avoid duplicated topics. An experiment was conducted to evaluate this approach in an applied computing course. A total of 84 students were randomly split into four groups. The experimental results demonstrated that the msMLO is a promising approach that provides useful LOs based on students’ learning styles and the merging process for reusing stored LOs. Furthermore, this approach improves overall student learning performance and reduces the number of LOs reviewed.
Family Rhythms: Re-visioning family change in Ireland using qualitative archived data from Growing Up in Ireland and Life Histories and Social Change
Authors: Geraghty Ruth , Gray Jane
Published: December 2016

The Family Rhythms project examined the Irish experience of family life over an extended period of time, in which we traced evolving relationships and practices against a backdrop of immense social, cultural and economic change, from the early years of the Irish state to the present day. We combined qualitative data from Growing Up in Ireland (GUI), with Life Histories and Social Change (LHSC) to construct a longitudinal, qualitative database with a distinct focus on family relationships. Family Rhythms demonstrated the potential for bringing data from two major qualitative studies into dialogue to develop new insights into the motives, feelings and rationalities behind Irish people’s family practices and experiences in changing social contexts. Combining the data from two unrelated studies presented methodological challenges, namely how to consolidate these data and how to compare the retrospective life story data in LHSC with the prospective data in GUI. To overcome this, we worked ‘forwards’ and ‘backwards’ across the two collections to specify patterns of continuity and change in key dimensions of family relationships. The strengths of this dynamic approach were that we could examine family relationships across an extended timeframe and from different generational standpoints.
‘A fiction of long standing’
Authors: Dayé Christian
Published: December 2016

There appears to be a widespread belief that the social sciences during the 1950s and 1960s can be characterized by an almost unquestioned faith in a positivist philosophy of science. In contrast, the article shows that even within the narrower segment of Cold War social science, positivism was not an unquestioned doctrine blindly followed by everybody, but that quite divergent views coexisted. The article analyses two ‘techniques of prospection’, the Delphi technique and political gaming, from the perspective of a comprehensive set of ideas attributed to ‘positivism’. Both techniques were developed in the early 1950s by researchers at the RAND Corporation, a Californian think tank with tight relations to the US Air Force. Despite the closeness of origin, the two techniques show considerable differences in their basic epistemologies. The article thus concludes that more important than positivism in uniting US Cold War social science was the shared sense of urgency and of the potential of social science to put decision-making in foreign policy on a rational basis. In this sense, as far as the Cold War social sciences were of a piece, they were made so by the sense of danger and urgency of action evoked by the image of the Iron Curtain.
On (im)permeabilities
Authors: Boldyrev Ivan , Kirtchik Olessia
Published: December 2016

While the history of Cold War social and human sciences has become an immensely productive line of inquiry and has generated some exciting research, a lot remains still to be done in studying more deeply the known stories, venturing into the unknown ones and, in particular, looking in greater detail at the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain. In our expository introduction to this special issue, we demonstrate how its articles enhance our understanding of the postwar social and human sciences. The special issue invites us to rethink the role of the local intellectual and disciplinary contexts in the postwar cultures of knowledge; to pay more attention to the networks and institutions that fostered communication across the Iron Curtain; to trace various asymmetries at work in the divided academic world and the ambiguous status of many actors who enable the East–West contacts despite the general hostility and ideological cleavages; and finally to arrive at a more differentiated and complex view of the whole intellectual landscape in the history of social and human sciences opening up once all the Cold War protagonists, including the countries of the eastern bloc, are subject to a detailed study. This project, we believe, is worthwhile not just for the sake of historical accuracy but also for understanding and changing the societies we live in, which are often still contaminated by the maladies of the Cold War.
An unconventional adaptive flutter suppression actuation system: From modeling to experimentation
Authors: Cassaro Mario , Battipede Manuela , Gili Piero , Marzocca Pier
Published: December 2016

This article contributes to the definition of an unconventional actuation system coupled with an adaptive control algorithm, it is intended specifically for slender/highly flexible wings flutter suppression. The design and validation process of the novel actuation architecture is presented together with the performance analysis of the post-flutter dynamics control. Robustness of the overall control architecture is verified with respect to the uncertainties deriving from the unpredictable degradation of the structural properties. The proposed actuation system is based on a row of multiple mini-spoilers, located in proximity of the leading edge and coordinated by a modified model reference adaptive control algorithm. The spoiler configuration is optimized by computational fluid dynamics numerical simulation, whereas the aerodynamic database is derived by wind tunnel tests on the prototype by means of a six-axes force balance. The resulting aeroelastic mathematical model is then used to implement and validate the adaptive control algorithm for a wide range of conditions, from on-design flutter speed and nominal structural stiffness to post-flutter speed and reduced structural stiffness. The two degree of freedom aeroelastic model is successfully controlled in all conditions. This article aims at defining a robust procedure for aeroelastic phenomena control system design, which employs a synergy of modeling, simulation, and experimental approaches. Pertinent conclusions are discussed in the final section of the article.
An experimental and theoretical study of two-dimensional traveling waves in plates
Authors: Malladi Vijaya VN Sriram , Albakri Mohammad , Tarazaga Pablo A
Published: December 2016

The present work explores the generation of two-dimensional steady-state flexural waves that are non-reflective on a thin rectangular plate with free boundary conditions when excited by two macro-fiber composites (MFCs). The voltage signals to the MFCs have a frequency lying halfway between two adjacent resonant frequencies with a phase difference of [Formula: see text]. Locations of MFCs and frequencies of actuation are varied to study the response of the plate due to these forces. A finite element plate model is developed and updated based on experimental modal tests on the plate. This model is able to predict up to the 40th damped eigenvalue with a maximum error of 2.5% and match mode shapes accurately, with a lowest Modal Assurance Criterion value of 0.92. Numerical simulations of traveling waves have been carried out and are compared with experimental results. Preliminary results show that the location of the MFCs and the frequency of excitation have an effect on the type and the quality of the traveling waves. These results shall lay the foundation for an exhaustive analysis of planar traveling waves in plates.
Evaluating the Impact of Increasing General Education Teachers’ Ratio of Positive-to-Negative Interactions on Students’ Classroom Behavior
Authors: Cook Clayton R. , Grady Erin A. , Long Anna C. , Renshaw Tyler , Codding Robin S. , Fiat Aria , Larson Madeline
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to isolate and evaluate the impact of increasing teachers’ ratios of positive-to-negative interactions with their students. Training teachers on the 5:1 ratio was evaluated using a randomized-block pre–post control design with general education classroom teachers ( N = 6) that were characterized by a higher ratio of negative-to-positive interactions between students, as well as low academic engagement and high disruptive behaviors. Teachers in the intervention group were trained on the 5:1 ratio, instructed to wear a device that prompted them on a VI 5-min schedule to deliver specific praise, approval statements, and positive non-verbal gestures to specific students exhibiting expected behaviors or the entire class as a whole, and completing a self-monitoring chart to increase their awareness of their ratios. Results revealed that students in the intervention group displayed significantly fewer disruptive behavior problems and higher academic engaged time when compared with students in control classrooms. Social validity results also revealed that teachers found the strategy feasible, acceptable, and effective. Limitations of this research, including the small-scale nature of this study, and future directions for teacher training, retention, and schoolwide universal prevention are discussed.
Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences
Authors: Peperkoorn Leonard S. , Roberts S. Craig , Pollet Thomas V.
Published: December 2016

Color-in-context theory is the first theoretical framework for understanding color effects in human mate preferences, arguing that red clothing enhances attractiveness ratings. Here we present three empirical studies failing to support this prediction. We aimed to extend the current literature by differentiating color effects by temporal context (short-term vs. long-term mating). Experiment 1 involved Dutch participants rating a woman in red, white, and black on (sexual) attractiveness. Experiment 2 replicated the first experiment with an American sample. In the final experiment, we aimed to replicate a study that did find evidence of a red effect, using a substantially larger sample size. The results from each of the three studies (totaling N = 830 men) fail to support the red effect. We discuss the implications of our results and avenues for future research on red effects and attractiveness.
How First-Generation College Students Adjust to College
Authors: Gibbons Melinda M. , Rhinehart Alessandra , Hardin Erin
Published: December 2016

This study explored the perceived barriers and supports related to college adjustment for first-generation college students at a large public university in the southeastern United States. Using social cognitive career theory as a framework, 15 college students participated in focus groups to discuss their adjustment to college and what they believed would have helped them better prepare for college. A qualitative analysis of themes resulted in identification of various barriers and supports, provided a multifaceted understanding of college adjustment, and highlighted the importance of preparing for college. Implications for career and school counselors are provided.
β-Lapachone Inhibits Lung Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer by Inducing Apoptosis of CT26 Cells
Authors: Kee Ji-Ye , Han Yo-Han , Park Jinbong , Kim Dae-Seung , Mun Jeong-Geon , Ahn Kwang Seok , Kim Hyun-Jung , Um Jae-Young , Hong Seung-Heon
Published: December 2016

Background: β-Lapachone is a quinone-containing compound found in red lapacho ( Tabebuia impetiginosa, syn. T avellanedae) trees. Lapacho has been used in traditional medicine by several South and Central American indigenous people to treat various types of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimetastatic properties of β-lapachone and the underlying mechanisms using colon cancer cells. Methods: This research used metastatic murine colon cancer cell lines, colon 26 (CT26) and colon 38 (MC38). A WST assay, annexin V assay, cell cycle analysis, wound healing assay, invasion assay, western blot analysis, and real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction were performed to examine the effects of β-lapachone on metastatic phenotypes and molecular mechanisms. The effect of β-lapachone on lung metastasis was assessed in a mouse experimental metastasis model. Results: We found that the inhibition of proliferation of the colon cancer cell lines by β-lapachone was due to the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. β-Lapachone induced the apoptosis of CT26 cells through caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage; and downregulation of the Bcl-2 family in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, a low concentration of β-lapachone decreased the cell migration and invasion by decreasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9, and increased the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 and -2. Moreover, β-lapachone treatment regulated the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers such as E- and N-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, and Snail in CT26 cells. In the mouse experimental metastasis model, β-lapachone significantly inhibited the lung metastasis of CT26 cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of β-lapachone on colorectal lung metastasis. This compound may be useful for developing therapeutic agents to treat metastatic cancer.
Males’ Ability to Report Their Partner’s Contraceptive Use at Last Sex in a Nationally Representative Sample: Implications for Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Evaluations
Authors: Garbers Samantha , Scheinmann Roberta , Gold Melanie A. , Catallozzi Marina , House Lawrence , Koumans Emilia H. , Bell David L.
Published: December 2016

Addressing and enabling the role of males in contraceptive choices may facilitate efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy rates and disparities in the United States, but little is known about males’ ability to report their partners’ contraceptive use. Data from the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth from 2,238 males aged 15 to 44 years who had vaginal sex with a noncohabiting or nonmarital partner and were not seeking pregnancy were examined to tabulate the proportion of males able to report whether their partner used a specific contraceptive method use at last sex (PCM) by sociodemographic and sexual history characteristics. Logistic regression was used to assess odds of being unable to report PCM, adjusting for age and sexual history factors. Most (95.0%) were able to report PCM, with no difference by age group (chi-square = 7.27, p = .281) in unadjusted analyses. Males with a new sex partner (14.8% of the sample), compared with those with an established sex partner, had significantly higher odds of being unable to report PCM in bivariate (11.7% vs. 3.7%, chi-square = 39.39, p < .001) and multivariable (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.74, 5.65]) analyses. Those whose last sexual encounter was more than 3 months ago also had higher odds of being unable to report in bivariate ( OR: 1.74, 95% CI [1.05, 2.87]) and multivariable analyses (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI [1.04, 4.03]). Most men were able report PCM, but reporting was significantly lower among men with new sex partners. To inform future research and evaluation relying on male report, validation studies comparing male report with partner report, specifically among new couples, are needed.
Multi-Institutional Survey of Medical Treatment for Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Japan
Authors: Taniguchi Hisanori , Matsuda Tadashi
Published: December 2016

The adequate criteria for late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) diagnosis, including serum testosterone levels, type (total or free testosterone) and duration of androgen replacement therapy, and evaluations of treatment effectiveness remain controversial. To evaluate the current status of medical treatment for LOH in Japan, the first nationwide survey were performed. A total of 35 questionnaires answered by urologists in high-volume facilities were analyzed. The median numbers of patients with hypogonadism-related symptoms per month were 10. Aging Male Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function, and International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires were widely used for questionnaires. The diagnostic criteria for LOH varied. Among the patients who presented with hypogonadism-related symptoms, the mean proportion of patients undergoing treatment for LOH was 62.3%. In Japan, LOH was treated not only with testosterone enanthate injections or testosterone ointment but also with Kampo medicine. In many facilities, LOH treatment effectiveness was assessed after a 3-month period. Efficacy was assessed in different ways. Treatment effectiveness rate ranged from 30% to 80%. The duration of LOH treatment was not fixed and was established individually by both the patient and treating physician. This study showed that the real clinical practices for LOH are very diverse, and a general consensus is needed.
Adaptability to stratum characteristics for layout of thrust system in tunneling machines based on variation coefficient
Authors: Deng Kongshu , Meng Bangliang , Xiang Cong
Published: December 2016

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of adaptability to stratum for thrust system in tunneling machines in composite stratum. Initially, variation coefficient thrust model has been constructed on the basis of a mechanical model. By analyzing the variation coefficient thrust model, the variation coefficient surface can be discovered. Second, by analyzing the relationship between spaces of variation coefficient surface and adaptability to compound ground, the variation coefficient surface family which indicates the adaptive ability to stratum conditions for pushing system has been discovered. Eventually, applying variation coefficient adaptability model to the driving system of shield machine in engineering applications, adaptability for two layouts with the same number of hydraulic cylinders in thrust system has been discussed in detail through comparison of numerical analysis and simulation in ADAMS. The results could provide theoretical foundation and support for the design of an adaptability thrust system under composite stratum.
Nonlinear joint model updating using static responses
Authors: Yuan Ping-Ping , Wang Zuo-Cai , Ren Wei-Xin , Yang Xia
Published: December 2016

Nonlinear behavior is often observed in structural joint system due to external loads. A new technique of nonlinear structural joint model updating with static load test results is proposed in this article to investigate the actual behavior of a joint system. To calibrate the nonlinear parameters of the structural joint system, an appropriate finite element model is first established to characterize the complex nonlinear behavior caused by the joint connections. Combined with the sensitivity analysis, the parameters that describe the nonlinear behavior of the joint connections are selected as the parameters to be updated. Subsequently, an objective function is created in accordance with the residual between experimentally measured static deflections and analytically calculated static deflections through finite element model. The objective function is then optimized to obtain the proper values of the nonlinear force–displacement parameters with the regular simulated annealing algorithm. To validate the efficiency of this updating approach, two numerical examples under static concentrated loads are conducted. The obtained results indicate that the nonlinear joint model parameters can be successfully updated, and the updated new model can further forecast the true deflections of the nonlinear structure with good accuracy and stability.
Research on the operational reliability system control methodology and its application for aerospace mechanism
Authors: Gao Xin , Wu Haoxin , Du Mingtao , Chen Gang , Sun Hanxu , Jia Qingxuan , Wang Yifan
Published: December 2016

According to the characteristics of space missions and space environment, to slow performance deterioration and possible reliability attenuation for aerospace mechanisms, an operational reliability system control methodology is proposed in this article. A space manipulator – a kind of typical complicated aerospace mechanism – is chosen as the research object. First, considering relevant materials and structure mechanism of joint and link parts, the influence factors of operational reliability for space manipulator are divided. Then, by introducing the responding layer factors, a mapping relationship between the influence factors of operational reliability and control variables is analysed. On this basis, a new method to build a hierarchical control system of operational reliability for the aerospace mechanisms is proposed. In this method, the mechanism how the influence factors of operational reliability are introduced into the control system is defined, and an operational reliability system control model is built, which is made up of task planning, path planning, and motion control. Finally, the proposed methodology is further explained with the operational stability of a space manipulator as an example. After analysing the mapping relationship among the influence factors of operational reliability, the factors of responding layer and control variables, a multi-objective optimization method based on Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is proposed to ensure the operation stability for a space manipulator. These optimization objectives are introduced into the optimized control model at path planning level as constraints. According to these constraints, the optimized control system can be adjusted to improve the operation stability of the manipulator, and the operational reliability is also improved during this process correspondingly. Simulation results prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Design and motion analysis of a novel coupled mechanism based on a regular triangular bipyramid
Authors: Gao Huifang , Liu Jingfang , Yu Yueqing
Published: December 2016

Traditional methods and theories on synthesizing parallel mechanisms are not applicable to related researches on hybrid mechanisms, thus hampering the design of innovative coupled mechanisms. Polyhedrons with attractive appearance and particular geometrical construction provide many choices for coupled inventions. A novel mechanism with one translational degree of freedom based on a regular triangular bipyramid is proposed in this article. First, the basic equivalent geometrical model is spliced with new-designed components substituting for vertexes and edges by revolution joints (R-pairs) only. The expected motion for the basic coupled model can be achieved by adding links to modify the constraint sets and arrange spatial allocation of an elementary loop based on the screw theory. Then, the mobility of one branch is calculated to investigate the movability of the novel structure, and a Denavit–Hartenberg (D-H) model with properties of symmetry is implemented to investigate the inverse kinematic analysis. Furthermore, a numerical example is given to verify the correctness of analysis results and related motion simulation is conducted to illustrate the potential application of the proposed novel system as an executing manipulator for mobile robots.
Circling Around the Uncanny Valley: Design Principles for Research Into the Relation Between Human Likeness and Eeriness
Authors: Lay Stephanie , Brace Nicola , Pike Graham , Pollick Frank
Published: December 2016

The uncanny valley effect (UVE) is a negative emotional response experienced when encountering entities that appear almost human. Research on the UVE typically investigates individual, or collections of, near human entities but may be prone to methodological circularity unless the properties that give rise to the emotional response are appropriately defined and quantified. In addition, many studies do not sufficiently control the variation in human likeness portrayed in stimulus images, meaning that the nature of stimuli that elicit the UVE is also not well defined or quantified. This article describes design criteria for UVE research to overcome the above problems by measuring three variables (human likeness, eeriness, and emotional response) and by using stimuli spanning the artificial to human continuum. These criteria allow results to be plotted and compared with the hypothesized uncanny valley curve and any effect observed can be quantified. The above criteria were applied to the methods used in a subset of existing UVE studies. Although many studies made use of some of the necessary measurements and controls, few used them all. The UVE is discussed in relation to this result and research methodology more broadly.
A graphic contract
Authors: Keating Adrian , Andersen Camilla Baasch
Published: December 2016

This article explores the concept of visualisation and law in relation to the development of a contract comprised of comic strips/panels. It explores some other initiatives in law and visualisation, and some of the legal issues which visualisation in contracts may raise.
Endovascular treatment of spontaneous isolated abdominal aortic dissection
Authors: Giribono Anna Maria , Ferrara Doriana , Spalla Flavia , Narese Donatella , Bracale Umberto , Pecoraro Felice , Bracale Renata , del Guercio Luca , Bracale Umberto Marcello
Published: December 2016

Isolated abdominal aortic dissection is a rare clinical disease representing only 1.3% of all dissections. There are a few case series reported in the literature. The causes of this pathology can be spontaneous, iatrogenic, or traumatic. Most patients are asymptomatic and symptoms are usually abdominal or back pain, while claudication and lower limb ischemia are rare. Surgical and endovascular treatment are two valid options with acceptable results. We herein describe nine cases of symptomatic spontaneous isolated abdominal aortic dissection, out of which four successfully were treated with an endovascular approach between July 2003 and July 2013. All patients were men, smokers, symptomatic (either abdominal or back pain or lower limb ischemia), with a history of high blood pressure, with a medical history negative for concomitant aneurysmatic dilatation or previous endovascular intervention. Diagnosis of isolated abdominal aortic dissection were established by contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. All nine patients initially underwent medical treatment. In four symptomatic cases, non-responsive to medical therapy, bare-metal stents or stent grafts were successfully positioned. All patients completed a CTA follow-up of at least 12 months, during which they remained symptom-free. Endovascular management of this condition is associated with a high rate of technical success and a low mortality; therefore, it can be considered the treatment of choice when it is feasible.
Venovenous ECMO Support in an Infant With Single Ventricle Physiology and Catastrophic Pulmonary Venous Abnormalities
Authors: Fernandez Richard P. , Hayes Don , McConnell Patrick I. , Berman Darren
Published: December 2016

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an accepted treatment modality for life support refractory to conventional efforts in neonates with complex congenital heart lesions. Cannulation for ECMO can be accomplished by venovenous (VV) access where patients receive primarily respiratory support or venoarterial (VA) access which provides complete cardiopulmonary support. VV ECMO delivered by a single-vessel cannulation with a dual-chamber venous cannula allows for respiratory support while the patient remains dependent upon intrinsic cardiac function to support hemodynamics. We present a case of support of a newborn with single ventricle physiology and intraparenchymal near-atresia of the pulmonary veins using VV ECMO.
BCR-ABL–specific T-cell therapy in Ph+ ALL patients on tyrosine-kinase inhibitors
Authors: Comoli Patrizia , Basso Sabrina , Riva Giovanni , Barozzi Patrizia , Guido Ilaria , Gurrado Antonella , Quartuccio Giuseppe , Rubert Laura , Lagreca Ivana , Vallerini Daniela , Forghieri Fabio , Morselli Monica , Bresciani Paola , Cuoghi Angela , Paolini Ambra , Colaci Elisabetta , Marasca Roberto , Cuneo Antonio , Iughetti Lorenzo , Trenti Tommaso , Narni Franco , Foà Robin , Zecca Marco , Luppi Mario , Potenza Leonardo
Published: December 2016

Key Points

BCR-ABL–specific CTLs may be obtained by stimulation with peptides derived from BCR-ABL junctional region and alternative splicing. T-cell therapy with BCR-ABL–specific CTLs from healthy donors or patients mediates molecular or hematologic CR in patients with Ph+ ALL.
Finding an appropriate equation to measure similarity between binary vectors: case studies on Indonesian and Japanese herbal medicines
Authors: Wijaya Sony Hartono , Afendi Farit Mochamad , Batubara Irmanida , Darusman Latifah K. , Altaf-Ul-Amin Md , Kanaya Shigehiko
Published: December 2016

Background

The binary similarity and dissimilarity measures have critical roles in the processing of data consisting of binary vectors in various fields including bioinformatics and chemometrics. These metrics express the similarity and dissimilarity values between two binary vectors in terms of the positive matches, absence mismatches or negative matches. To our knowledge, there is no published work presenting a systematic way of finding an appropriate equation to measure binary similarity that performs well for certain data type or application. A proper method to select a suitable binary similarity or dissimilarity measure is needed to obtain better classification results.

Results

In this study, we proposed a novel approach to select binary similarity and dissimilarity measures. We collected 79 binary similarity and dissimilarity equations by extensive literature search and implemented those equations as an R package called bmeasures. We applied these metrics to quantify the similarity and dissimilarity between herbal medicine formulas belonging to the Indonesian Jamu and Japanese Kampo separately. We assessed the capability of binary equations to classify herbal medicine pairs into match and mismatch efficacies based on their similarity or dissimilarity coefficients using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. According to the area under the ROC curve results, we found Indonesian Jamu and Japanese Kampo datasets obtained different ranking of binary similarity and dissimilarity measures. Out of all the equations, the Forbes-2 similarity and the Variant of Correlation similarity measures are recommended for studying the relationship between Jamu formulas and Kampo formulas, respectively.

Conclusions

The selection of binary similarity and dissimilarity measures for multivariate analysis is data dependent. The proposed method can be used to find the most suitable binary similarity and dissimilarity equation wisely for a particular data. Our finding suggests that all four types of matching quantities in the Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) table are important to calculate the similarity and dissimilarity coefficients between herbal medicine formulas. Also, the binary similarity and dissimilarity measures that include the negative match quantity d achieve better capability to separate herbal medicine pairs compared to equations that exclude d.
Economic evaluation of artesunate and three quinine regimens in the treatment of severe malaria in children at the Ebolowa Regional Hospital-Cameroon: a cost analysis
Authors: Maka Daniel Ethe , Chiabi Andreas , Obadeyi Bolaji , Mah Evelyn , Nguefack Séraphin , Nana Pamela , Mbacham Wilfred , Mbonda Elie
Published: December 2016

Background

Severe malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in under-fives in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently quinine has been replaced by artesunate as the first-line drug in the treatment of severe malaria in Cameroon. Artesunate has been shown to be cost-effective in African children, but whether these findings are transferable to Cameroonian children remains to be explored.

Objectives

To conduct a cost-analysis of four different regimens used in the treatment from the perspective of the healthcare payer.

Methods

An economic evaluation alongside a randomized comparative study was conducted in children aged 3 months to 15 years, admitted at the Ebolowa Regional Hospital with severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Patients were randomized to receive one of the four treatment alternatives. Group 1 (ARTES) received parenteral artesunate at 2.4 mg/kg at H0, H12, H24 and then once daily; Group 2 (QLD) received a loading dose of quinine base at 16.6 mg/kg followed 8 h later by an 8-hourly maintenance dose of 8.3 mg/kg quinine base; Group 3 (QNLD3) received 8.3 mg/kg quinine base every 8 h, and Group 4 (QNLD2) received 12.5 mg/kg quinine base every 12 h. The main outcome measure for effectiveness of treatment was the parasite reduction rate. Based on a healthcare perspective, an evaluation of direct medical costs was done, including costs of anti-malarials, nursing care materials, adjuvant treatment, laboratory investigations, hospitalisation and professional fees. Guided by a cost minimalization approach, the relative costs of these treatment alternatives was compared and reported.

Results

Overall cost was higher for ARTES group at $65.14 (95% CI $57.68–72.60) than for quinine groups ($52.49–$62.40), but the difference was not statistically significant. Cost of the anti-malarial drug was significantly higher for artesunate-treated patients than for quinine-treated patients, whereas cost of hospitalization was significantly lower for artesunate-treated patients than for quinine-treated patients. Incremental analysis of ARTES against QLD as a baseline resulted in an ICER of $46.8/PRR24 and suggests ARTES as the most cost effective of all four treatment options.

Conclusion

Artesunate is a cost effective malaria treatment option relative to quinine alternatives with the lowest incremental cost per unit of effectiveness.

Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02563704. Registered 19 September 2015, retrospectively registered
A distributed ASTRA toolbox
Authors: Palenstijn Willem Jan , Bédorf Jeroen , Sijbers Jan , Batenburg K. Joost
Published: December 2016

While iterative reconstruction algorithms for tomography have several advantages compared to standard backprojection methods, the adoption of such algorithms in large-scale imaging facilities is still limited, one of the key obstacles being their high computational load. Although GPU-enabled computing clusters are, in principle, powerful enough to carry out iterative reconstructions on large datasets in reasonable time, creating efficient distributed algorithms has so far remained a complex task, requiring low-level programming to deal with memory management and network communication. The ASTRA toolbox is a software toolbox that enables rapid development of GPU accelerated tomography algorithms. It contains GPU implementations of forward and backprojection operations for many scanning geometries, as well as a set of algorithms for iterative reconstruction. These algorithms are currently limited to using GPUs in a single workstation. In this paper, we present an extension of the ASTRA toolbox and its Python interface with implementations of forward projection, backprojection and the SIRT algorithm that can be distributed over multiple GPUs and multiple workstations, as well as the tools to write distributed versions of custom reconstruction algorithms, to make processing larger datasets with ASTRA feasible. As a result, algorithms that are implemented in a high-level conceptual script can run seamlessly on GPU-enabled computing clusters, up to 32 GPUs or more. Our approach is not limited to slice-based reconstruction, facilitating a direct portability of algorithms coded for parallel-beam synchrotron tomography to cone-beam laboratory tomography setups without making changes to the reconstruction algorithm.