bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography in the evaluation of single gunshot injuries
Authors: Aquila Isabella , Sicilia Francesco , Ricci Petrantomo , Antonio Sacco Matteo , Manno Maria , Gratteri Santo
Published: September 2019

Post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) is a new approach in forensic pathology for gunshot injuries. This study determines the role of MSCT in the characterisation of single gunshot injuries. We report three cases. In the first case, an 80-year-old man was found dead in his bedroom with a gun. External examination showed devastating head injuries. In the second case, an 81-year-old man was found dead in his apartment, without a gun. External examination showed gunshot injuries. In the third case, a 56-year-old man was found dead on a road. MSCT and autopsy were performed in all these cases. MSCT not only allowed the determination of entrance and exit wounds but also showed some artefacts. In conclusion, radiology is fundamental for the reconstruction of gunshot injuries, and the manner of death can only be ascertained by autopsy.
Outside-in perspectives on the socio-econo-technological effects of climate change in Africa
Authors: Faiyetole Ayodele Adekunle
Published: September 2019

Humans’ aspirations for development have unsustainably placed momentous pressure on the Earth. Peripheral Africa remains the most susceptible region to climate change and its impacts. By considering externality and world-systems theories, this article uses the Delphi external experts (DEE) approach to weigh the perceptions of global (and mostly core) experts regarding climate change response/sustainability. The socio-econo-technological development factors that contribute to Africa’s climate change issues are evaluated. The article concludes that despite the high rankings of the factors related to emissions’ propensity, such as energy and transportation, governance and socio-cultural preferences are the two factors that are statistically significant to climate change and vulnerability to it. The global governance structure fostered by the core countries facilitates unequal exchanges. Notwithstanding, responsive governance structures are advised for the periphery. Governance is analogous to a thermostat that can be used to regulate other development factors, in particular to entrench socio-cultural preferences that may have a desirable future impact on the climate.
Effect of Meniscal Ramp Lesion Repair on Knee Kinematics, Bony Contact Forces, and In Situ Forces in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Naendrup Jan-Hendrik , Pfeiffer Thomas R. , Chan Calvin , Nagai Kanto , Novaretti João V. , Sheean Andrew J. , Shafizadeh Sven T. , Debski Richard E. , Musahl Volker
Published: September 2019

Background:

Meniscal ramp lesions are possible concomitant injuries in cases of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. Although recent studies have investigated the influence of ramp lesions on knee kinematics, the effect on the ACL reconstruction graft remains unknown.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose was to determine the effects of ramp lesion and ramp lesion repair on knee kinematics, the in situ forces in the ACL, and bony contact forces. It was hypothesized that ramp lesions will significantly increase in situ forces in the native ACL and bony contact forces and that ramp lesion repair will restore these conditions comparably with those forces of the intact knee.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Investigators tested 9 human cadaveric knee specimens using a 6 degrees of freedom robotic testing system. The knee was continuously flexed from full extension to 90° while the following loads were applied: (1) 90-N anterior load, (2) 5 N·m of external-rotation torque, (3) 134-N anterior load + 200-N compression load, (4) 4 N·m of external-rotation torque + 200-N compression load, and (5) 4 N·m of internal-rotation torque + 200-N compression load. Loading conditions were applied to the intact knee, a knee with an arthroscopically induced 25-mm ramp lesion, and a knee with an all-inside repaired ramp lesion. In situ forces in the ACL, bony contact forces in the medial compartment, and bony contact forces in the lateral compartment were quantified.

Results:

In response to all loading conditions, no differences were found with respect to kinematics, in situ forces in the ACL, and bony contact forces between intact knees and knees with a ramp lesion. However, compared with intact knees, knees with a ramp lesion repair had significantly reduced anterior translation at flexion angles from full extension to 40° in response to a 90-N anterior load ( P < .05). In addition, a significant decrease in the in situ forces in the ACL after ramp repair was detected only for higher flexion angles when 4 N·m of external-rotation torque combined with a 200-N compression load ( P < .05) and 4 N·m of internal-rotation torque combined with a 200-N compression load were applied ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

In this biomechanical study, ramp lesions did not significantly affect knee biomechanics at the time of surgery.

Clinical Relevance:

From a biomechanical time-zero perspective, the indications for ramp lesion repair may be limited.
Catalytic pyrolysis of agricultural and forestry wastes in a fixed-bed reactor using K2CO3 as the catalyst
Authors: Fan Haojie , Chang Xuelun , Wang Jie , Zhang Zhongxiao
Published: September 2019

Catalytic pyrolysis of three different agricultural and forestry wastes (pinewood, peanut shell, rice straw) was performed in a fixed-bed reactor heated slowly under a stream of purging argon in the temperature range from 300 °C to 700 °C using K2CO3 as the catalyst. The aim of this study is to investigate the gaseous, liquid, and solid products derived from three different biomasses, and to ascertain the effects of K2CO3 on the pyrolysis behaviours. The products’ yields correlated with the composition of the biomasses and the addition of catalyst in the biomasses. The addition of K2CO3 described a strong catalysis in all three phases of the products: The liquid yield decreased obviously in contrast to the increase in gas yield. The liquid yields of pinewood and peanut shell demonstrated a remarkable decrease, while that of rice straw demonstrated the least decrease owing to a significant difference between the fibre composition of rice straw and those of the other two biomasses. This catalytic pyrolysis procedure was observed to produce low yields of liquid that contained high proportions of ketones and phenols, with minor acids, aldehydes, and furans. Among the three, the phenols of rice straw indicated the most obvious increase, while guaiacols decreased significantly, indicating that K2CO3 facilitated the secondary decomposition of guaiacols. Generally, for K2CO3 catalyst, the order of catalytic effect was pinewood > peanut shell > rice straw.
From Revanchism to Inclusion: Institutional Forms of Planning and Police in Hyde Park, Chicago
Authors: Sherman Stephen Averill
Published: September 2019

Planning and policing are two critical racial projects in the racial state. Planning scholars’ understanding of the police usually focuses on the police violently removing people from urban space, yet critical criminology literature shows their function to be more diverse. I employ an exploratory case study, centered in the South Side of Chicago, to develop propositions to guide emergent research that centralizes the police within planning. The propositions (1) impel further investigation into how police not only exclude people but also define who belongs and (2) draw attention to how planning institutions can create new forms of police.
Controlling Behavior and Intimate Partner Violence: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Urban Area of Delhi, India
Authors: Mukherjee Reema , Joshi Rajneesh Kumar
Published: September 2019

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread issue faced by women across the world. While prevalence and epidemiology of IPV has been studied extensively, its association with controlling behavior has been largely ignored. We carried out this study to assess the prevalence of IPV against married women and its association with sociodemographic factors, justification of violence, and controlling behavior by their spouses in Delhi, India. Five hundred women residing in an urban residential area of Delhi, India, responded to a validated questionnaire asking about IPV and controlling behaviors by their husbands. In our study, 30.6% of women had “ever” experienced IPV, and 43.2% women stated that they had experienced controlling behavior by their husbands. Alcohol consumption by the husband, women’s justification of their partner’s violence, and controlling behavior by the husbands were significantly associated with the experience of IPV among study participants. Women with a lower education status, not financially employed, those who justified violence or faced any form of violence in their marital life were at higher risk of experiencing controlling behavior from their spouses.
Dependence of the primary stability of cementless acetabular cup implants on the biomechanical environment
Authors: Raffa Maria Letizia , Nguyen Vu-Hieu , Tabor Elisabeth , Immel Katharina , Housset Victor , Flouzat-Lachaniette Charles-Henri , Haiat Guillaume
Published: September 2019

Biomechanical phenomena occurring at the bone–implant interface during the press-fit insertion of acetabular cup implants are still poorly understood. This article presents a nonlinear geometrical two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model aiming at describing the biomechanical behavior of the acetabular cup implant as a function of the bone Young’s modulus Eb, the diametric interference fit ( IF), and the friction coefficient µ. The numerical model was compared with experimental results obtained from an in vitro test, which allows to determine a reference configuration with the parameter set: μ*  = 0.3, [Formula: see text], and IF*  = 1 mm for which the maximal contact pressure tN = 10.7 MPa was found to be localized at the peri-equatorial rim of the acetabular cavity. Parametric studies were carried out, showing that an optimal value of the pull-out force can be defined as a function of μ, Eb, and IF. For the reference configuration, the optimal pull-out force is obtained for μ  = 0.6 (respectively, Eb = 0.35 GPa and IF = 1.4 mm). For relatively low value of µ ( µ < 0.2), the optimal value of IF linearly increases as a function of µ independently of Eb, while for µ > 0.2, the optimal value of IF has a nonlinear dependence on µ and decreases as a function of Eb. The results can be used to help surgeons determine the optimal value of IF in a patient specific manner.
Association Between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Falls in Adults Males: Based on the Korean Community Health Survey
Authors: Hwang Tae-Yoon , Kim Sang-Kyu , Kim Ki Ho , Kim Jong-Yeon
Published: September 2019

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and falls considering places where falls can occur in adult males. We analyzed 101 862 males in the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey. LUTSs were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score system. The rate of total and indoor falls significantly increased with the LUTS severity, respectively. After adjusting for age and other confounding variables, the odds ratios (ORs) for total falls were significantly high for the mild (OR = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-1.71), moderate (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 2.16-2.56), and severe groups (OR = 2.83, 95% CI = 2.49-3.22), relative to the normal group. Indoor fall experience was the same for the mild (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.36-1.79), moderate (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.97-2.85), and severe groups (OR = 3.77, 95% CI = 3.00-4.72). Nocturia, hesitancy, and urgency were significantly associated with indoor falls. The association between falls and the degree of LUTS was observed in both the young and the elderly. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the effects of treatment of LUTS on the risk of falls and the effectiveness of the fall prevention program.
Applying Theory to Practice: Implementing a Live Case Competition in a Capstone Strategic Management Course
Authors: Lebrón Mariana J. , Brannon David , Sanford Douglas , Ellison Lori
Published: September 2019

When facilitating large-scale instructional change, leaders face stakeholder tensions that arise from different institutional pressures. Over the past 4 years, we have created an innovative live case competition in a strategic management course as our college’s signature undergraduate experiential learning opportunity. This case has integrated the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business’ (AACSB) business knowledge and skill areas with grounded learning elements and course learning objectives. Each semester, over 350 students apply strategy concepts to analyze challenges provided by a local company. Course section winners present to executive judges in the final competition. We contribute to the literature by describing the live case competition created from a six-step collaborative process that managed stakeholder tensions as institutional pressures changed. Using distributed leadership and information-sharing approaches, our collaboration model helped us address different needs, share resources, adapt to institutional pressures and create sustainable experiential learning opportunities. With shared decision making and constructive dialogue, we developed high-quality student learning experiences that respected faculty autonomy, addressed resource limitations, and institutionalized business partnerships. We describe our motivation, context, and key stakeholders’ (faculty, students, executives, and administrators) challenges and solutions. We hope our collaborative model helps others successfully implement large-scale instructional change.
Challenges and Opportunities for Biomarker Validation
Authors: Hey Spencer Phillips , D'Andrea Elvira , Jung Emily H. , Tessema Frazer , Luo Jing , Gyawali Bishal , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: September 2019

Biomarkers can be powerful tools to guide diagnosis, treatment, and research. However, prudent use of biomarkers requires formal validation efforts. Although the data needed for biomarker validation has traditionally been hard to access, new research initiatives can ease this process.
How Clinical Trial Data Sharing Platforms Can Advance the Study of Biomarkers
Authors: Li Rebecca , Sim Ida
Published: September 2019

Although data sharing platforms host diverse data types the features of these platforms are well-suited to facilitating biomarker research. Given the current state of biomarker discovery, an innovative paradigm to accelerate biomarker discovery is to utilize platforms such as Vivli to leverage researchers' abilities to integrate certain classes of biomarkers.
Cochrane's Linked Data Project: How it Can Advance our Understanding of Surrogate Endpoints
Authors: Mavergames Chris , Beecher Deirdre , Becker Lorne A. , Last A. , Ali A.
Published: September 2019

Cochrane has developed a linked data infrastructure to make the evidence and data from its rich repositories more discoverable to facilitate evidence-based health decision-making. These annotated resources can enhance the study and understanding of biomarkers and surrogate endpoints.
Biomarker Validation: Context and Complexities
Authors: McShane Lisa M.
Published: September 2019

Validation of a biomarker-based medical product development tool or clinical test is an evidentiary process that must be tailored to the proposed use. Appropriate data and analyses are needed to demonstrate that the biomarker meets analytical and clinical performance criteria consistent with favorable benefit: risk balance.
Managing the Use and Dissemination of Information about Biomarkers: The Importance of Incentive Structures
Authors: Stern Ariel Dora
Published: September 2019

The use of biomarkers holds great promise for the development of new therapeutics and the acceleration of clinical research. However, biomarkers must be validated — a complex and costly endeavor. Importantly, biomarker validation is meaningfully shaped by economic and policy-driven incentives.
Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants: Professional Norms, Ethical Tensions, and Practical Workarounds
Authors: Fabi Rachel E. , Taylor Holly A.
Published: September 2019

This paper examines the practice implications of various state policies that provide publicly funded prenatal care to undocumented immigrants for health care workers who see undocumented patients. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with purposively sampled health care workers at safety net clinics in California, Maryland, Nebraska, and New York. Health care workers were asked about the process through which undocumented patients receive prenatal care in their health center and the ethical tensions and frustrations they encounter when providing or facilitating this care under policy restrictions. Respondents discussed several professional practice norms as well as the ethical tensions they encountered when policy or institutional constraints prevented them from living up to professional norms. Using Nancy Berlinger's “workarounds” framework, this paper examines health care workers' responses to the misalignment of their professional norms and the policy restrictions in their state. These findings suggest that the prenatal policies in each state raise ethical and professional challenges for the health care workers who implement them.
Assessing National Public Health Law to Prevent Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Immunization Law as a Basis for Global Health Security
Authors: Ghedamu Tsion Berhane , Meier Benjamin Mason
Published: September 2019

Immunization plays a crucial role in global health security, preventing public health emergencies of international concern and protecting individuals from infectious disease outbreaks, yet these critical public health benefits are dependent on immunization law. Where public health law has become central to preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease, public health law reform is seen as necessary to implement the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). This article examines national immunization laws as a basis to implement the GHSA and promote the public's health, analyzing the scope and content of these laws to prevent infectious disease across Sub-Saharan Africa. Undertaking policy surveillance of national immunization laws in 20 Sub-Saharan African countries, this study: (1) developed a legal framework to map the legal attributes relevant to immunization; (2) created an assessment tool to determine the presence of these attributes under national immunization law; and (3) applied this assessment tool to code national legal landscapes. An analysis of these coded laws highlights legal attributes that govern vaccine requirements, supply chains, vaccine administration standards, and medicines quality and manufacturer liability. Based upon this international policy surveillance, it will be crucial to undertake legal epidemiology research across countries, examining the influence of immunization law on vaccination rates and disease outbreaks.
Patients' Knowledge of Key Messaging in Drug Safety Communications for Zolpidem and Eszopiclone: A National Survey
Authors: Kesselheim Aaron S. , Sinha Michael S. , Rausch Paula , Lu Zhigang , Tessema Frazer A. , Lappin Brian M. , Zhou Esther H. , Dal Pan Gerald J. , Zwanziger Lee , Ramanadham Amy , Loughlin Anita , Enger Cheryl , Avorn Jerry , Campbell Eric G.
Published: September 2019

Drug Safety Communications (DSCs) are used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inform health care providers, patients, caregivers, and the general public about safety issues related to FDA-approved drugs. To assess patient knowledge of the messaging contained in DSCs related to the sleep aids zolpidem and eszopiclone, we conducted a large, cross-sectional patient survey of 1,982 commercially insured patients selected by stratified random sampling from the Optum Research Database who had filled at least two prescriptions for either zolpidem or eszopiclone between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Among the 594 respondents (32.7% response rate), two-thirds reported hearing generally about drug safety information prior to starting a new drug, with the remaining one-third “rarely” or “never” hearing such information. Providers and pharmacists were primary sources of drug safety information. Two-thirds of zolpidem users and half of eszopiclone users reported having heard about the related DSC messages, ability to accurately identify the major factual messages was limited (overall median 2 correct out of 5, with men and those reporting higher educational level scoring higher [2/5 vs. 1/5, p=0.001]). Respondents reacted to new drug safety information about their sleep aids by reporting that they would want to learn about alternative ways to help them sleep (70%) and seek out more information about the safety of their specific sleeping pill (59-78%). Opportunities may exist for the FDA to work with providers and pharmacies to help ensure the DSC information is more widely received and is more fully understood by those taking the affected medications.
The Law and Economics of Grindr: A Response to Carson
Authors: Hardman Jonathan
Published: September 2019

In the Winter 2017 edition ofJLME, Dr. Carson outlined an economic approach to the epidemiology of HIV transmission within the gay community, with a special emphasis on mobile apps. His conclusion is that HIV transmission amongst the gay community constitutes a collective action problem, which is resolved by the social norm of using a condom. This article critiques Dr. Carson's approach from an economic perspective. By utilizing classic law and economic theory, this article will argue that HIV transmission may not, in fact, constitute a collective action problem in economic terms, and that instead condom use as a method of disease protection in theory can arise from purely rational, market driven actions. To do so, it borrows from transactional theory of information asymmetry to show the potential to alert counterparts as to serostatus. This conclusion provides an important supplement to Carson: rather than social norms being the core driver in condom usage to prevent HIV, instead condom use may arise solely as a result of rational, private decision making arising from market signaling. The article then critiques its own findings to demonstrate that it is unclear whether Carson's argument or the argument in this paper is, indeed, correct — which may represent a limitation in the analytical techniques advanced.
Two-year cumulative patency of endovascular arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Beathard Gerald A , Litchfield Terry , Jennings William C
Published: September 2019

Background and objectives:

The recent advent of a device to create a proximal radial artery arteriovenous fistula using an endovascular approach to create the anastomosis represents a significant advance in dialysis access creation. This endovascular arteriovenous fistula offers the beneficial attributes of the proximal radial artery arteriovenous fistula while adding the advantages of avoiding a surgical procedure. The endovascular arteriovenous fistula can be created safely, functions well, has excellent patency, and has a high degree of patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to report the 2-year cumulative patency rate for a large multicenter cohort of endovascular arteriovenous fistula cases.

Design:

An endovascular arteriovenous fistula was created in 105 patients using either local or regional anesthesia and conscious sedation. Patient data were obtained from each program’s electronic health record system. Data collection was truncated at 2 years postprocedure and used to calculate cumulative patency. Post-access creation patient satisfaction was assessed.

Results:

A physiologically mature arteriovenous fistula (blood flow ⩾500 mL/min and a target vein internal diameter ⩾4 mm) was obtained in 98%. A clinically functional arteriovenous fistula (supporting two-needle dialysis according to the patient’s dialysis prescription) was demonstrated in 95%. Access failure resulting in the loss of access occurred in eight cases during the study period. The cumulative patency rate at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months was 97.1%, 93.9%, 93.9%, and 92.7%, respectively. The post-procedure patient evaluation emphasized a high level of patient satisfaction.

Conclusion:

The proximal radial artery arteriovenous fistula created using an endovascular approach for the anastomosis is associated with excellent 2-year cumulative patency and is associated with a high level of patient satisfaction.
Self-determination in young adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Cheak-Zamora Nancy C , Maurer-Batjer Anna , Malow Beth A , Coleman Ann
Published: September 2019

This study examined rates of and contributing factors to self-determination among young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Caregivers of young adults with autism spectrum disorder, 16–25 years, from five Autism Treatment Network sites completed surveys about their young adults’ transition experiences including the American Institutes for Research Self-Determination measure. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Caregivers ( n = 479) reported their young adults with autism spectrum disorder as having moderate overall self-determination ( x = 38; standard deviation = 9.04) with low capacity ( x = 15.3; standard deviation = 5.67) and high opportunities at home ( x = 23.1; standard deviation = 4.59). Young adults with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability or severe autism spectrum disorder symptomology experience significant disparities in overall self-determination compared to those without intellectual disability and less frequent symptom expression and severity. Barring severity indicators, there were few significant predictors of self-determination. Findings show a breakdown in self-determination skill-building. Young adults with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability or severe symptomology experienced significant disparities in self-determination. These findings show that current promotion of self-determination is not meeting the needs of young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Future interventions must identify what supports young adults with autism spectrum disorder need to capitalize on these opportunities to be independent and exert autonomy in their daily lives.
Differentiated bilingual vocabulary assessment reveals similarities and differences compared to monolinguals: Conceptual versus single-language scoring and the relation with home language and literacy activities
Authors: Ehl Birgit , Bruns Gunnar , Grosche Michael
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

As bilingual students often achieve lower scores than monolinguals in single-language vocabulary assessments, a deficit-oriented view of bilingualism is widespread in educational institutions. This study examined whether this alleged difference remains when the conceptual vocabulary scores of bilingual primary students are considered, and when home language and literacy activities are taken into account.

Methods:

Extensive expressive vocabulary measures were administered in both the environmental language (German) and the heritage language (Turkish) to simultaneous and sequential bilingual students, and to their monolingual peers. Their parents provided information about the frequency of home language and literacy activities.

Data:

The study included 302 students (5;9–10;9 years). 83 were simultaneous bilingual, 55 sequential bilingual and 164 monolingual. Comparisons on vocabulary were conducted via separate multiple regression analyses with frequency of home language and literacy activities as a control variable.

Findings:

In single-language vocabulary scores of the environmental language, simultaneous and sequential bilingual students scored lower than monolinguals. In contrast, and most importantly, there were no differences between either bilingual group and monolinguals with regard to conceptual vocabulary and the relationship between conceptual vocabulary and frequency of home language and literacy activities. Controlling for frequency of home language and literacy activities did not change these findings.

Originality:

This study compared the expressive single-language and conceptual vocabulary scores of simultaneous and sequential bilinguals with the scores of monolinguals in a large sample of primary students, for the first time additionally controlling for home language and literacy activities, with the German and Turkish languages.

Implications:

Because bilingual students have the same conceptual vocabulary scores as monolinguals, lower single-language vocabulary scores do not reflect a language deficiency.
A hybrid model of internal pitting corrosion degradation under changing operational conditions for pipeline integrity management
Authors: Heidary Roohollah , Groth Katrina M
Published: September 2019

This article proposes a new framework to estimate the degradation level in oil and gas pipelines corroded by internal pitting when operational conditions change over time. Despite the fact that the operational conditions of a pipeline change at various times, this change has not been addressed in the current available pipeline corrosion degradation models. In this framework, a hierarchical Bayesian method and augmented particle filtering are used for data fusion to address this issue. This framework is applied on a case study and the results are compared with the estimations of a state of the art pitting corrosion degradation model.
Damage mode identification of composite wind turbine blade under accelerated fatigue loads using acoustic emission and machine learning
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Xu Dong , Li Jingguo , Chen Zhiping , Wang Shuaibang , Leng Jianxing , Zhu Ronghua , Jiao Lei , Liu Weisheng , Li Zhongxiang
Published: September 2019

This article studies experimentally the damage behaviors of a 59.5-m-long composite wind turbine blade under accelerated fatigue loads using acoustic emission technique. First, the spectral analysis using the fast Fourier transform is used to study the components of acoustic emission signals. Then, three important objectives including the attenuation behaviors of acoustic emission waves, the arrangement of sensors as well as the detection and positioning of defect sources in the composite blade by developing the time-difference method among different acoustic emission sensors are successfully reached. Furthermore, the clustering analysis using the bisecting K-means method is performed to identify different damage modes for acoustic emission signal sources. This work provides a theoretical and technique support for safety precaution and maintaining of in-service blades.
Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia as Palliative Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study on 106 Patients
Authors: Fiorentini Giammaria , Sarti Donatella , Casadei Virginia , Milandri Carlo , Dentico Patrizia , Mambrini Andrea , Nani Roberto , Fiorentini Caterina , Guadagni Stefano
Published: September 2019

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, resulting in a <10% survival rate at 5 years. Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) has been increasingly used for pancreatic cancer palliative care and therapy. Objective: To monitor the efficacy and safety of mEHT for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods: We collected data retrospectively on 106 patients affected by stage III-IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma. They were divided into 2 groups: patients who did not receive mEHT (no-mEHT) and patients who were treated with mEHT. We performed mEHT applying a power of 60 to 150 W for 40 to 90 minutes. The mEHT treatment was associated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for 33 (84.6%) patients, whereas 6 (15.4%) patients received mEHT alone. The patients of the no-mEHT group received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in 55.2% of cases. Results: Median age of the sample was 65.3 years (range = 31-80 years). After 3 months of therapy, the mEHT group had partial response in 22/34 patients (64.7%), stable disease in 10/34 patients (29.4%), and progressive disease in 2/34 patients (8.3%). The no-mEHT group had partial response in 3/36 patients (8.3%), stable disease in 10/36 patients (27.8%), and progressive disease in 23/36 patients (34.3%). The median overall survival of the mEHT group was 18.0 months (range = 1.5-68.0 months) and 10.9 months (range = 0.4-55.4 months) for the non-mEHT group. Conclusions: mEHT may improve tumor response and survival of pancreatic cancer patients.
Once a Week Resistance Training Improves Muscular Strength in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Santos Wanderson Divino Nilo dos , Vieira Amilton , de Lira Claudio Andre Barbosa , Mota João Felipe , Gentil Paulo , de Freitas Junior Ruffo , Battaglini Claudio Luiz , Bottaro Martim , Vieira Carlos Alexandre
Published: September 2019

Background: Exercise has been shown to reduce adverse outcomes related to breast cancer. However, the rate of adherence to physical exercise is very low among breast cancer survivors (BCS). This study investigated the effects of high supervision ratio resistance training (RT), once a week for 8 weeks, on changes in body composition and muscular strength in BCS. Methods: Twenty-five female BCS undergoing hormone therapy were randomized into resistance training group (TG, n = 12) or control (CG, n = 13) group. The TG performed 8 weeks of supervised RT, with 1 trainer per volunteer, once a week. Body composition was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and muscle strength was evaluated by 10 repetition maximum (10 RM) for leg press (45°) and bench press exercises. A 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare within-group effects at pre- and post-intervention. An analysis of covariance test was used to compare post-intervention values, using pre-intervention measures as covariates. The effect size (ES) was calculated by Cohen’s d. Results: The TG improved muscle strength in 10 RM leg press (45°; Δ 33.75 ± 11.51 kg, P = .02; ES = 0.96) and bench press (Δ 4.08 ± 1.83 kg, P = .01; ES = 1.15). Adherence to training was more than 99%. Changes in body composition were not detected. There were no changes in the CG for any assessment. Conclusion: Once-weekly supervised RT could be an alternative to increase the adherence to exercise and improve muscular strength in BCS.
A comparative analysis of artificial neural network architectures for building energy consumption forecasting
Authors: Moon Jihoon , Park Sungwoo , Rho Seungmin , Hwang Eenjun
Published: September 2019

Smart grids have recently attracted increasing attention because of their reliability, flexibility, sustainability, and efficiency. A typical smart grid consists of diverse components such as smart meters, energy management systems, energy storage systems, and renewable energy resources. In particular, to make an effective energy management strategy for the energy management system, accurate load forecasting is necessary. Recently, artificial neural network–based load forecasting models with good performance have been proposed. For accurate load forecasting, it is critical to determine effective hyperparameters of neural networks, which is a complex and time-consuming task. Among these parameters, the type of activation function and the number of hidden layers are critical in the performance of neural networks. In this study, we construct diverse artificial neural network–based building electric energy consumption forecasting models using different combinations of the two hyperparameters and compare their performance. Experimental results indicate that neural networks with scaled exponential linear units and five hidden layers exhibit better performance, on average than other forecasting models.
Anonymous authentication key agreement scheme with pairing-based cryptography for home-based multi-sensor Internet of Things
Authors: Yu Binbin , Li Hongtu
Published: September 2019

Home-based multi-sensor Internet of Things, as a typical application of Internet of Things, interconnects a variety of intelligent sensor devices and appliances to provide intelligent services to individuals in a ubiquitous way. As families become more and more intelligent, complex, and technology-dependent, there is less and less need for human intervention. Recently, many security attacks have shown that Internet home-based Internet of Things have become a vulnerable target, leading to personal privacy problems. For example, eavesdroppers can acquire the identity of specific devices or sensors through public channels, which is not secure, to infer individual public life in the home area network. Authentication is the essential portion of many secure systems processing of verifying and declaring identity. Before providing confidential information, home-based-Internet of Things service authenticates users and devices. The communication and processing capabilities of intelligent devices are limited. Therefore, in home-based Internet of Things, lightweight authentication and key agreement technology are very important to resist known attacks. This article proposes an anonymous authenticated key agreement protocol using pairing-based cryptography. The protocol proposed in this article provides lightweight computation and ensures the security of communication between home-based multi-sensor Internet of Things network and Internet network.
Exploring Cognitively Loaded Physical Activity Compared With Control to Improve Global Cognitive Function in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zawaly Kristina , Fortier Richard , Buetow Stephen , Tippett Lynette , Kerse Ngaire
Published: September 2019

Objective. A systematic review with a meta-analysis explored effects of cognitively loaded physical activity interventions on global cognition in community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared to any control. Methods. A literature search was conducted in 4 databases (MEDLINE [OvidSP], PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [Wiley]) from inception until January 30, 2018. The meta-analysis was conducted with Review Manager 5.3. Results. Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 547 participants were identified. The interventions ranged from 4 to 52 weeks. Baseline and initial follow-up assessments were used. The primary pooled analysis of all RCTs demonstrated a nonsignificant trivial effect (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.44 to 0.58) favoring the intervention. In pooled subanalysis of 4 RCTs (n = 405) using the same global cognition measure (Mini-Mental State Examination) and duration of intervention >12 weeks, the intervention group achieved a small but significant improvement for global cognition (SMD 0.45, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.75). Conclusion. When all the RCTs were pooled, the effect of cognitively loaded physical activity intervention on global cognitive function in older adults with MCI remained unclear. The subgroup analysis provides translation evidence for future RCT study designs.
Design and preliminary testing of demand-responsive transverse rumble strips
Authors: Hossen Md Shakhawat , Kappes Christopher , Trabia Mohamed , Morris Brendan , Park JeeWoong , Paz Alexander
Published: September 2019

Transverse rumble strips are common practice to alert drivers by engaging their auditory and tactile senses in addition to visual senses by traffic signals. However, continuous exposure to noise and vibration by transverse rumble strips often results in diminished effectiveness and erratic behaviors, leading to additional safety challenges. In response, demand-responsive transverse rumble strips were developed as traffic safety countermeasures that reduce unnecessary noise and vibration associated with transverse rumble strips by incorporating active control of the rumble strips. Rather than staying static, demand-responsive transverse rumble strips are activated based on the presence of pedestrians, at predesignated times, or in response to abrupt changes in traffic flow. To evaluate the effectiveness of demand-responsive transverse rumble strips, the research team assessed noise and vibration data, both inside the vehicles and on the roadside, for various types of vehicles traveling at different speeds. The test data indicate that demand-responsive transverse rumble strips produced noticeable in-vehicle noise and vibration that could alert drivers to downstream events. Furthermore, demand-responsive transverse rumble strips generated sufficient noise to alert roadside pedestrians to vehicle presence but at low enough level to be considered as acceptable for a residential neighborhood use. Accordingly, demand-responsive transverse rumble strips could address the challenges that static transverse rumble strips face, by providing a design with relatively limited noise while enhancing safety.
Parameters decision for an assembly under mechanical structure deformation via probabilistic optimization
Authors: Jeang Angus , Chung Chien-Ping , Ko Chang Pu
Published: September 2019

In regard to the parameter and tolerance design of an assembly, a previous assumption has been that the structure of an assembly is not subject to any geometrical deformation under application. However, the realized deformation of the structure may well have an impact on the appropriate performance of the assembly. The impact may become even greater when the geometric magnitudes are distributed over an uncertain range. The magnitudes of structure geometry can be represented by the associated parameter and tolerance values. In this regard, this study aims to have the optimal parameter and tolerance design determined all together under the impact of structure deformation through a probabilistic method and mathematical programming formulation. An example of an assembly with mechanical loading for uncertain magnitudes of geometry is chosen for demonstrating the proposed approach.
Free vibration of spherical cap subjected to various boundary conditions
Authors: Du Yuan , Huo Ruidong , Pang Fuzhen , Li Shuo , Huang Yongming , Zhang Hang
Published: September 2019

In this article, the free vibration characteristics of spherical caps with different thickness distribution subjected to general boundary conditions are investigated using a semi-analytical approach. Based on the theory of thin shell, the theoretical model of spherical cap is established. Spherical caps are partitioned into sections along the meridional orientation. The displacement components of spherical caps along the meridional direction are represented by Jacobi polynomials. Meanwhile, Fourier series are utilized to express displacement components in the circumferential direction. Various boundary conditions can be easily achieved by the penalty method of the spring stiffness technique. The vibration characteristics of spherical caps are derived by means of the Rayleigh–Ritz energy method. Reliability and validity of the current method are verified by convergence studies and numerical verification. The comparison of results between the current method, finite element method, and those published in the literature prove that the current method works well when handling free vibration of spherical caps. More results of spherical caps with different geometric specifications and edge conditions are displayed in the form of table and graphic, which may serve as a reference for future studies.
An effective approach for robust design optimization of wind turbine airfoils with random aerodynamic variables
Authors: Zhang Xufang , Wu Zhenguang , He Wei
Published: September 2019

The robust design optimization of an airfoil needs to continuously realize the probability-based aerodynamic simulation for various combinations of geometry and wind climate parameters. The simulation time is lengthy when a full aerodynamic model is embedded for the numerical iteration. To this end, a second-order polynomial-based response surface model is first presented to relate the airfoil performance indicator with geometry and random aerodynamic variables. This allows to quickly evaluate the response moments and optimization constraints. Then, the robust design optimization is formulated to simultaneously maximize the mean aerodynamic performance and minimize the variance of design results due to the variation of geometry and aerodynamic parameters. The robust design optimization based on the NACA63418 and the DU93-W-210 airfoils with random Mach and Reynolds numbers is presented to demonstrate potential applications of this proposed model. Results have shown that the mean-value aerodynamic indicator is generally improved, whereas the variance is minimized to archive the robust design objective. The proposed approach is simple and accurate, suggesting an attractive tool for robust design optimization of airfoils with random aerodynamic variables.
Viscous flow over a stretching (shrinking) and porous cylinder of non-uniform radius
Authors: Ali Azhar , Marwat Dil Nawaz Khan , Asghar Saleem
Published: September 2019

The classical models of viscous flows and heat transfer are reformulated in this article. The physical problem describes flow and heat transfer over a stretching (shrinking) and porous cylinder of non-uniform radius. The mathematical model is presented in the form of new equations and dimensionless parameters by means of reframing techniques. A porous and heated cylinder of a non-uniform diameter is stretched (shrunk) with variable stretching (shrinking) velocities. The governing equations and their physical geometrical perspectives are summarized into simplest boundary value ordinary differential equations. A set of unseen, generalized, and convenient transformations are used to solve the complex problem. The current formulation accumulates all the previous models of axisymmetric flow and heat transfer toward stretching (shrinking) and porous cylinder presented in the literature and prevails over all such models. The current model can be easily transformed into classical simulations for particular values of the parameters. The problem is solved numerically and the results were compared with the benchmark solutions. Velocity, temperature, skin friction coefficient, and Nusselt number profiles are plotted and analyzed for different values of the parameters. Moreover, coupling effects of all parameters are seen on flow and heat transfer characteristics and new results are explored and discussed.
Improvement and determination of the influencing factors of coiled tubing fatigue life prediction
Authors: Zhou Zhao-ming , Tan Jin-song , Wan Fu , Peng Bo
Published: September 2019

The fatigue life prediction model cannot accurately predict the service life of coiled tubing operations, resulting in waste and accidental fracture of coiled tubing. This article introduces the fatigue life prediction model of coiled tubing and a detection system developed using weak magnetic detection method and eddy current detection method. The detection device is used to detect accurate defect dimension, wall thickness reduction, and diameter deformation to improve the accuracy of fatigue life prediction. Furthermore, the actual defect dimension is included in the fatigue life assessment calculation to eliminate the influence of the existing model on the immobilization of defects and corrosion influence factors. By analyzing field operation cases and measured values, the effects of defects, wall thickness reduction, and diameter growth on fatigue life are studied to improve the accuracy of parameters and the integrity of basic data in the calculation process. The influence of reverse bending and weld on fatigue life is discussed. The residual life can be predicted more accurately by combining field testing technology and fatigue life evaluation method. Field measurement input of fatigue life prediction model is the main means to improve its accuracy and practicability.