bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Spatial Pattern Analysis of Land Surface Roughness Heterogeneity and its Relationship to the Initiation of Weak Tornadoes
Authors: Markert Amanda , Griffin Robert , Knupp Kevin , Molthan Andrew , Coleman Tim
Published: June 2019

North Alabama is among the most tornado-prone regions in the United States and is composed of more spatially variable terrain and land cover than the frequently studied North American Great Plains region. Because of the high tornado frequency observed across north Alabama, there is a need to understand how land surface roughness heterogeneity influences tornadogenesis, particularly for weak-intensity tornadoes. This study investigates whether horizontal gradients in land surface roughness exist surrounding locations of tornadogenesis for weak (EF0–EF1) tornadoes. The existence of the horizontal gradients could lead to the generation of positive values of the vertical components of the 3D vorticity vector near the surface that may aid in the tornadogenesis process. In this study, surface roughness was estimated using parameterizations from the Noah land surface model with inputs from MODIS 500-m and Landsat 30-m data. Spatial variations in the parameterized roughness lengths were assessed using GIS-based grid and quadrant pattern analyses to quantify observed variation of land surface features surrounding tornadogenesis locations across spatial scales. This analysis determined that statistically significant horizontal gradients in surface roughness exist surrounding tornadogenesis locations.
On the Computation of Apparent Direct Solar Radiation
Authors: Räisänen Petri , Lindfors Anders V.
Published: June 2019

Near-forward-scattered radiation coming from the vicinity of the sun’s direction impacts the interpretation of measurements of direct solar radiation by pyrheliometers and sun photometers, and it is also relevant for concentrating solar technology applications. Here, a Monte Carlo radiative transfer model is employed to study the apparent direct solar transmittance t(α), that is, the transmittance measured by an instrument that receives the radiation within a half-field-of-view (half-FOV) angle α from the center of the solar disk, for various ice cloud, water cloud, and aerosol cases. The contribution of scattered radiation to t(α) increases with increasing particle size, and it also depends strongly on ice crystal morphology. The Monte Carlo calculations are compared with a simple approach, in which t(α) is estimated through Beer’s law, using a scaled optical depth that excludes the part of the phase function corresponding to scattering angles smaller than α. Overall, this optical depth scaling approach works very well, although with some degradation of the performance for ice clouds for very small half-FOV angles (α < 0.5°–1°), and in optically thick cases. The errors can be reduced by fine-tuning the optical depth scaling factors based on the Monte Carlo results. Parameterizations are provided for computing the optical depth scaling factors for water clouds, ice clouds, aerosols, and for completeness, Rayleigh scattering to allow for a simple calculation of t(α). It is also shown that the optical depth scaling used in delta-two-stream approximations is inappropriate for simulating the direct solar radiation received by pyrheliometers.
Uncertainty of Observation Impact Estimation in an Adjoint Model Investigated with an Observing System Simulation Experiment
Authors: Privé N. C. , Errico R. M.
Published: June 2019

Adjoint models are often used to estimate the impact of different observations on short-term forecast skill. A common difficulty with the evaluation of short-term forecast quality is the choice of verification fields. The use of self-analysis fields for verification is typical but incestuous, and it introduces uncertainty resulting from biases and errors in the analysis field. In this study, an observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) is used to explore the uncertainty in adjoint model estimations of observation impact. The availability of the true state for verification in the OSSE framework in the form of the nature run allows calculation of the observation impact without the uncertainties present in self-analysis verification. These impact estimates are compared with estimates calculated using self-analysis verification. The Global Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5), forecast model with the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation system is used with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (NASA/GMAO) OSSE capability. The adjoint model includes moist processes, with total wet energy selected as the norm for evaluation of observation impacts. The results show that there are measurable but small errors in the adjoint model estimation of observation impact as a result of self-analysis verification. In general, observations of temperature and winds tend to have overestimated impacts with self-analysis verification while observations of humidity and moisture-affected observations tend to have underestimated impacts. The small magnitude of the differences in impact estimates supports the robustness of the adjoint method of estimating observation impacts.
Prediction of Tropical Cyclone Genesis from Mesoscale Convective Systems Using Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Tao , Lin Wuyin , Lin Yanluan , Zhang Minghua , Yu Haiyang , Cao Kathy , Xue Wei
Published: June 2019

Tropical cyclone (TC) genesis is a problem of great significance in climate and weather research. Although various environmental conditions necessary for TC genesis have been recognized for a long time, prediction of TC genesis remains a challenge due to complex and stochastic processes involved during TC genesis. Different from traditional statistical and dynamical modeling of TC genesis, in this study, a machine learning framework is developed to determine whether a mesoscale convective system (MCS) would evolve into a tropical cyclone. The machine learning models 1) are built upon a number of essential environmental predictors associated with MCSs/TCs, 2) predict whether MCSs can become TCs at different lead times, and 3) provide information about the relative importance of each predictor, which can be conducive to discovering new aspects of TC genesis. The results indicate that the machine learning classifier, AdaBoost, is able to achieve a 97.2% F1-score accuracy in predicting TC genesis over the entire tropics at a 6-h lead time using a comprehensive set of environmental predictors. A robust performance can still be attained when the lead time is extended to 12, 24, and 48 h, and when this machine learning classifier is separately applied to the North Atlantic Ocean and the western North Pacific Ocean. In contrast, the conventional approach based on the genesis potential index can have no more than an 80% F1-score accuracy. Furthermore, the machine learning classifier suggests that the low-level vorticity and genesis potential index are the most important predictors to TC genesis, which is consistent with previous discoveries.
Contributions of Stereopsis and Aviation Experience to Simulated Rotary Wing Altitude Estimation
Authors: Hartle Brittney , Sudhama Aishwarya , Deas Lesley M. , Allison Robert S. , Irving Elizabeth L. , Glaholt Mackenzie G. , Wilcox Laurie M.
Published: June 2019

Objective

We examined the contribution of binocular vision and experience to performance on a simulated helicopter flight task.

Background

Although there is a long history of research on the role of binocular vision and stereopsis in aviation, there is no consensus on its operational relevance. This work addresses this using a naturalistic task in a virtual environment.

Method

Four high-resolution stereoscopic terrain types were viewed monocularly and binocularly. In separate experiments, we evaluated performance of undergraduate students and military aircrew on a simulated low hover altitude judgment task. Observers were asked to judge the distance between a virtual helicopter skid and the ground plane.

Results

Our results show that for both groups, altitude judgments are more accurate in the binocular viewing condition than in the monocular condition. However, in the monocular condition, aircrew were more accurate than undergraduate observers in estimating height of the skid above the ground.

Conclusion

At simulated altitudes of 5 ft (1.5 m) or less, binocular vision provides a significant advantage for estimation of the depth separation between the landing skid and the ground, regardless of relevant operational experience. However, when binocular cues are unavailable aircrew outperform undergraduate observers, a result that likely reflects the impact of training on the ability to interpret monocular depth cues.
India and the Civil Nuclear Liability Regime
Authors: Jha Minu
Published: June 2019

The successful winding up of the Indo–US civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2008 had generated a lot of sanguinity of thriving nuclear trade and increased investment surge in India’s civil nuclear power sector. However, the differences over the Indian nuclear liability regime because of its non-conformity with the international liability regime have marred those expectations. In the stated background, the article in its first part traces the chronological development of the international nuclear liability regimes, and, in second part, the Indian liability law and its inconsistencies are dealt with emphasis on shifting tenor of India–US relations vis-à-vis the law.
Compression after ballistic impact response of pseudoelastic shape memory alloy embedded hybrid unsymmetrical patch repaired glass-fiber reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Verma Luv , Sivakumar Srinivasan M , Andrew Jefferson J , Balaganesan G , Arockirajan A , Vedantam S
Published: June 2019

This paper investigated the influence of embedding pseudoelastic shape memory alloy within the external bonded patch made up of glass fibers on the compression after impact response of adhesively bonded external patch repaired glass/epoxy composite laminates. Unsymmetrical patch repair was employed in the current studies. Three innovative pseudoelastic shape memory alloy configurations (straight wired, meshed and anchored) were embedded inside the patch and the changes in high-velocity impact response and damage tolerance at four impact velocities (70, 85, 95, 105 m/s) were compared with the conventional glass/epoxy (glass fiber-reinforced polymer) patch. Anchored specimens showed the best response by improving the compressive strength by 25% under non-impacted conditions and restoring it by 88%, 77%, 29%, and 28% at the impact velocity of 70, 85, 95, and 105 m/s, respectively, in comparison to the conventional normal specimens.
Mode-II toughness of nanostitched carbon/epoxy multiwall carbon nanotubes prepreg composites: Experimental investigation by using end notched flexure
Authors: Bilisik Kadir , Erdogan Gulhan , Sapanci Erdal , Gungor Sila
Published: June 2019

The mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness properties following the end notched flexure method of nanostitched carbon/epoxy nanoprepreg composites were studied. The fracture toughness (GIIC) of the nanostitched and stitched composites showed 3.4 fold and 2.7 fold increase compared to the control, respectively. Thus, the nanostitching improved the mode-II toughness of all the carbon/epoxy composites with regard to the nano, and base composites. It was assumed that the type of stitch fiber as well as fabric pattern, in particular prepreg carbon stitching fiber and satin prepreg woven fabric, was effective. The basic mechanism for the enhancement of the GIIC toughness in the nanostitched composite was the interlaminar resin layer failure especially as a form of shear hackle marks where nanostitching arrested the delamination in the stitching zone during crack propagations. Multiwall carbon nanotubes in the matrix and filament also mitigated the stress concentration probably as an outline of debonding/pull-out/stick-slip/friction. Therefore, nanostitched as well as stitched carbon/epoxy woven composites exhibited improved damage tolerance performance with regard to the base composites.
Purchasing Power: US Overseas Defense Spending and Military Statecraft
Authors: Blankenship Brian , Miles Joyce Renanah
Published: June 2019

The literature on economic statecraft has long focused on the effectiveness of foreign aid and trade as tools of inducement. However, existing scholarship largely neglects the role played by government procurement. By choosing to purchase goods or hire labor in foreign states, governments can provide economic benefits for strategic ends. The United States in particular leverages its defense procurement as a foreign policy tool. We introduce a new data set of US government procurement using information on all contracts executed overseas from 2000 to 2015. We develop a typology of how states use procurement to achieve foreign policy goals—power projection, counterinsurgency, and development—and provide descriptive statistics to explore variation in spending across countries and over time. We illustrate the power of the contract data by using it to code US military access in Africa, assess the relationship between spending and economic growth, and test whether economic inducements can buy influence.
Analyzing the effect of nanofiber orientation on membrane filtration properties with the progressive increase in its thickness: a numerical and experimental approach
Authors: Akampumuza Obed , Xu Huilin , Xiong Jian , Zhang Hongnan , Quan Zhenzhen , Qin Xiaohong
Published: June 2019

One of the merits of modeling is that the computer-generated data is used in optimizing equipment and experimental designs, eliminating the costs associated with scaling up by experimentation. In this work, the filtration performance of nanofibers aligned diversely within virtual webs was numerically analyzed using Star CCM + and Ansys Fluent software. This knowledge was then used to fabricate two distinctly oriented nanofiber membranes via free surface electrospinning. Their filtration performance was studied by capillary flow porometry technology using POROLUX™ 100. The results of this were in agreement with the simulation work.
Expanding Access: Cost‐effectiveness of Cochlear Implantation and Deaf Education in Asia
Authors: Emmett Susan D. , Sudoko Chad K. , Tucci Debara L. , Gong Wenfeng , Saunders James E. ,   Global HEAR (Hearing Loss Evaluation, Advocacy, and Research) Collaborative:, Akhtar Nasima , Bhutta Mahmood F. , Touch Sokdavy , Pradhananga Rabindra Bhakta , Mukhtar Nadeem , Martinez Norberto , Martinez Frances Dianne , Ramos Hubert , Kameswaran Mohan , Kumar Raghu Nandhan Sampath , Soekin Soekirman , Prepageran Narayanan
Published: June 2019

Objective

To determine the cost‐effectiveness of cochlear implantation (CI) with mainstream education and deaf education with sign language for treatment of children with profound sensorineural hearing loss in low‐ and lower‐middle income countries in Asia.

Study Design

Cost‐effectiveness analysis.

Setting

Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka participated in the study.

Subjects and Methods

Costs were obtained from experts in each country with known costs and published data, with estimation when necessary. A disability‐adjusted life‐years model was applied with 3% discounting and 10‐year length of analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of device cost, professional salaries, annual number of implants, and probability of device failure. Cost‐effectiveness was determined with the World Health Organization standard of cost‐effectiveness ratio per gross domestic product (CER/GDP) per capita <3.

Results

Deaf education was cost‐effective in all countries except Nepal (CER/GDP, 3.59). CI was cost‐effective in all countries except Nepal (CER/GDP, 6.38) and Pakistan (CER/GDP, 3.14)—the latter of which reached borderline cost‐effectiveness in the sensitivity analysis (minimum, maximum: 2.94, 3.39).

Conclusion

Deaf education and CI are largely cost‐effective in participating Asian countries. Variation in CI maintenance and education‐related costs may contribute to the range of cost‐effectiveness ratios observed in this study.
Parent–child relationships following spousal/parental death: An application of relational turbulence theory
Authors: Droser Veronica A.
Published: June 2019

The death of a family member is a difficult experience. Although implications of loss are felt on intra- and interpersonal levels, little is known about how it affects the relational functioning of surviving family members, and in particular the parent–child relationship. Using data collected from 144 bereaved parent–child dyads, this study examined how the divergent experiences of spousally bereaved parents and parentally bereaved children impact the parent–child relationship following spousal/parental death. Drawing from relational turbulence theory (RTT), experiences with relational uncertainty and interference from a partner were explored. Findings indicate that parent–child pairs experience different types of relational uncertainty and interference from a partner and that within-dyad disagreement on these experiences can increase the amount of uncertainty and interference from a partner that an individual faces. This study extends RTT and demonstrates its generalizability to the parent–child relationship.
Artificial Intelligence, Discretion, and Bureaucracy
Authors: Bullock Justin B.
Published: June 2019

This essay highlights the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in governance and society and explores the relationship between AI, discretion, and bureaucracy. AI is an advanced information communication technology tool (ICT) that changes both the nature of human discretion within a bureaucracy and the structure of bureaucracies. To better understand this relationship, AI, discretion, and bureaucracy are explored in some detail. It is argued that discretion and decision-making are strongly influenced by intelligence, and that improvements in intelligence, such as those that can be found within the field of AI, can help improve the overall quality of administration. Furthermore, the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of both human discretion and AI are explored. Once these characteristics are laid out, a further exploration of the role AI may play in bureaucracies and bureaucratic structure is presented, followed by a specific focus on systems-level bureaucracies. In addition, it is argued that task distribution and task characteristics play a large role, along with the organizational and legal context, in whether a task favors human discretion or the use of AI. Complexity and uncertainty are presented as the major defining characteristics for categorizing tasks. Finally, a discussion is provided about the important cautions and concerns of utilizing AI in governance, in particular, with respect to existential risk and administrative evil.
Misperceived Luminance Gradients in an Hourglass Illusion
Authors: Anstis Stuart
Published: June 2019

A square contains a linear luminance gradient from white at the top to black at the bottom. Pinching this in at the waist forms an hourglass figure of two tip-to-tip triangles. The pinch reduces the perceptual gradient within each triangle, making the pale upper triangle and the dark lower triangle both look more uniform in brightness We attribute this to undersampling of the mid-greys.
Pluralizing and problematizing carbon finance
Authors: Bridge Gavin , Bulkeley Harriet , Langley Paul , van Veelen Bregje
Published: June 2019

Growing emphasis on finance as key to decarbonization requires social science research that critically attends to the emergent and diverse forms taken by carbon finance. First, we pluralize research into carbon finance, building on existing work to identify four main forms: carbon markets; ecosystem services; natural capital investment; and, capital allocated to low-carbon enterprises and projects. Second, we propose that research should problematize the processes through which carbon is variously translated into financial value. Illustrated with reference to low-carbon investment in electricity generation, our agenda thereby extends from the difficulties of producing carbon-as-commodity to the uncertainties of constituting carbon-as-asset.
Hazardous waste landfill site selection in Western Ghana: An integration of multi-criteria decision analysis and geographic information system
Authors: Stemn Eric , Kumi-Boateng Bernard
Published: June 2019

Most cities in developing countries are fast industrialising, leading to an increased hazardous waste generation. Though disposal occupies the bottom of the waste management hierarchy, it is an important component of the waste management chain, requiring greater focus to mitigate its environmental and human health effects. The selection of a hazardous waste landfill site is a complex decision-making process since it requires the consideration of several laws and regulations and the integration of various data. This study presents a multi-criteria decision analysis for selecting hazardous waste landfill sites in Western Ghana. Thirty-two evaluation criteria arranged according to four hierarchy levels were selected for the study. The selected criteria considered geo-environmental, economic and social factors. Twenty-one intermediate suitability maps were created, which were then aggregated to produce a composite landfill suitability map of the study area. To narrow down the search for space for landfill sites, optimality criteria were applied on the composite suitable map to select the best locations for landfill. The application of the optimality criteria led to the selection of 5% of the study area as optimal for landfill sites. However, the final decision for landfill site selection will require further in situ studies. Overall, this research provides a proven landfill site selection methodology, which provides essential support for decision-makers.
Evaluation of qSOFA as a Predictor of Mortality Among ICU Patients With Positive Clinical Cultures—A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kelly Barry , Patlak Johann , Shaefi Shahzad , Boone Dustin , Mueller Ariel , Talmor Daniel
Published: June 2019

Objective:

To compare the discriminative value of the quick-sequential organ failure assessment score (qSOFA) to SOFA in a critically ill population, in which a microbial pathogen was isolated within 48 hours of admission to intensive care.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Academic tertiary referral center from July 2008 to June 2017.

Patients:

Hospitalized patients admitted to intensive care unit.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality for all patients with confirmed positive microbiological cultures within 48 hours of admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with pathogenic bacteremia or positive cultures in cerebrospinal fluid. Of the 11 415 patients analyzed with positive microbiology specimens within 48 hours of admission, 2933 (25.7%) had a qSOFA ≥2. Of these, 16.6% reached the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality. Unsurprisingly, the discriminative value of qSOFA on admission was significantly worse than that of SOFA (0.73 vs 0.76; P = .0004), despite observing a significant association between qSOFA category and in-hospital mortality ( P < .0001). In secondary analyses, similar observations were found using qSOFA within 6 and 24 hours of ICU admission. When analysis was focused on patients with pathogenic bacteremia or positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures (n = 1646), there was no significant difference between the discriminative value of qSOFA and SOFA (0.75 vs 0.78; P = .17).

Conclusions:

Quick-sequential organ failure assessment score at admission was not superior to SOFA in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with positive clinical cultures within 48 hours of admission to ICU. Quick-sequential organ failure assessment score at admission to the ICU was associated with mortality and showed reasonable calibration and discrimination. When the analysis was focused on patients with pathogenic bacteremia or positive CSF cultures, qSOFA performed similarly to SOFA in discriminatory those who will die from sepsis.
Gender Differences in the Provision of Job-Search Help
Authors: Zhou Min
Published: June 2019

The existing literature has well studied the use of social contacts in job search, including gender inequality, in using social contacts. What is missing is the perspective of social contacts who help others find jobs. Using a large data set from the 2012 China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey, this study reveals significant gender differences in the provision of job-search help. Compared with women, men are more likely to provide job-search help and especially show a greater likelihood of exerting direct influence on the hiring process. While women are gender neutral in their choice of help recipients, men display a selective preference for helping other men. This men’s advantage of providing job-search help, especially influence-based help, and men’s selective preference for helping other men, imply another prominent gender inequality in informal hiring in the labor market. This study suggests several theoretical propositions to explain the revealed gender differences in both “whether to help” and “whom to help,” providing a starting point for further research.
Hydrothermal synthesis of PANI nanowires for high-performance supercapacitor
Authors: Chu Jia , Li Xue , Li Qiaoqin , Ma Jing , Wu Bohua , Wang Xiaoqin , Zhang Runlan , Gong Ming , Xiong Shanxin
Published: June 2019

Polyaniline nanowires (PANI NWs) were synthesized under different temperatures through a facile hydrothermal method and used as electrodes for high-performance pseudocapacitor. The resulting samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron micrographs, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties of these PANI electrodes are studied by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 0.5M H2SO4 aqueous solution. The highest specific capacitance is obtained on the PANI NWs synthesized under 80°C (PANI-80) with 540.0 F g−1 at current density of 0.5 A g−1 accompanied with 82% specific capacitance retention after 1000 charge discharge cycles at 5 A g−1 current density.
Investigation on aerodynamic characteristics of tailing vehicle hood in a two-vehicle platoon
Authors: Li Qiliang , Dai Wentong , Yang Zhigang , Jia Qing
Published: June 2019

Experimental and numerical methods were performed to study the hood aerodynamics of a 1:18 scale vehicle model in a two-vehicle platoon under different fixed intra spacing and dynamic intra spacing at the Reynolds number of 4.9 × 105 and 4.08 × 105 in a 1:15 scale wind tunnel. Blockage ratio was calculated to be 5.6% for experiments. The averaged and fluctuating pressures of the hood of the tailing vehicle are much higher than that of single vehicle, and stronger fluctuation occurs at the front and rear edges of hood. Pressure fluctuation over the tailing vehicle hood increases as the intra spacing diminishes but sharply declines within intra spacing of 0.2 L. The energy of fluctuation is concentrated in frequency bands from 50 to 110 Hz at wind speed of 30 m/s and 40–90 Hz at wind speed of 25 m/s. Energy at the main frequency bands and peak frequencies take up nearly 25% of total energy, respectively. The results of proper orthogonal decomposition show that total energy proportion is 49.6% for the first 11 modes and 67.0% for the first 30 modes, respectively. Relative motion at low speed has no discernible effect on hood behavior and peak frequencies have inclination to decline during the process of vehicle approaching.
Characterising the compressive anisotropic properties of analogue bone using optical strain measurement
Authors: Marter Alex D , Dickinson Alexander S , Pierron Fabrice , Fong Yin Ki (Kiki) , Browne Martin
Published: June 2019

The validity of conclusions drawn from pre-clinical tests on orthopaedic devices depends upon accurate characterisation of the support materials: frequently, polymer foam analogues. These materials often display anisotropic mechanical behaviour, which may considerably influence computational modelling predictions and interpretation of experiments. Therefore, this study sought to characterise the anisotropic mechanical properties of a range of commonly used analogue bone materials, using non-contact multi-point optical extensometry method to account for the effects of machine compliance and uneven loading. Testing was conducted on commercially available ‘cellular’, ‘solid’ and ‘open-cell’ Sawbone blocks with a range of densities. Solid foams behaved largely isotropically. However, across the available density range of cellular foams, the average Young’s modulus was 23%–31% lower (p < 0.005) perpendicular to the foaming direction than parallel to it, indicating elongation of cells with foaming. The average Young’s modulus of open-celled foams was 25%–59% higher (p < 0.05) perpendicular to the foaming direction than parallel to it. This is thought to result from solid planes of material that were observed perpendicular to the foaming direction, stiffening the bulk material. The presented data represent a reference to help researchers design, model and interpret tests using these materials.
A resonant tactile stiffness sensor for lump localization in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery
Authors: Yun Yahui , Wang Yaming , Guo Hao , Wang Yaoyao , Wu Hongtao , Chen Bai , Ju Feng
Published: June 2019

A miniature resonant tactile sensor for tissue stiffness detection in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery is proposed in this article. The proposed tactile sensor can detect tissue stiffness based on the principle of the resonant frequency shift when it contacts with tissue of different stiffness. A PZT (lead zirconate titanate) bimorph works simultaneously as the actuator and the sensing element, which is helpful for simplifying the structure. The resonant frequency shift can be deduced by measuring the electrical impedance of the PZT bimorph, since there will be an abrupt change of the impedance when resonance occurs. A unique structure of an Archimedean spiral metal sheet is introduced to restrict the outer size of the sensor within 10 mm and to keep the resonant frequency low. A theoretical model is established. Finite element method analyses are carried out to validate the working principle and it meets the theoretical model quite well. Several silicone samples are tested with the sensor and the results show that the proposed sensor is capable of measuring tissue stiffness within the range of 0–2 MPa, detecting and locating lumps inside tissue.
J. J. Gibson’s most radical idea: The development of a new law-based psychology
Authors: Raja Vicente
Published: June 2019

J. J. Gibson spent most of his career developing his own theory of perception. The culmination of his work was the ecological approach to visual perception, but during more than three decades he had challenged many of the central concepts of psychology and his own convictions regarding the foundations of perception. In this article I argue that the driving force of the development of ecological psychology was Gibson’s most radical idea: that psychology needs a law-based explanatory strategy at its own scale to be successful. According to Gibson, instead of pursuing explanations based on the patching up of simple stimulus-response events with the postulation of more or less lawful sub-personal mechanisms, psychology needs its own laws at a proper scale to provide legitimate explanations for perception and action.
Evolution of the thermal state of permafrost under climate warming in Central Yakutia
Authors: Varlamov Stepan P , Skachkov Yuri B , Skryabin Pavel N
Published: June 2019

The relevance of the problem under review is explained by the need to study the thermal response of permafrost to the modern climate change. Evolution of the thermal state of grounds has been studied with a view to evaluate the effects of modern climate warming on permafrost in Central Yakutia. The leading method to study this problem is the arrangement and performance of long-term monitoring observations of the permafrost thermal state that enable quantitative evaluation of the thermal response of upper permafrost layers to climatic fluctuations of recent decades. The analysis of long-term records from weather stations in the region has clearly revealed one of the highest increasing trends in the mean annual air temperature in northern Russia. Quantitative relationships in the long-term variability of ground thermal parameters, such as ground temperature at the bottom of the active layer, at the bottom of the annual heat exchange layer, and active thaw depth, have been established. The thermal state dynamics of the annual heat exchange layer under climate warming indicates that both warm and cold permafrost are thermally stable. Short-term variability of the snow accumulation regime is the main factor controlling the thermal state of the ground in permafrost landscapes. The active-layer thickness is characterized by low interannual variability and exhibits little response to climate warming, with no statistically meaningful increasing or decreasing trend. The results of ground thermal monitoring can be extended to similar landscapes in the region, providing a reliable basis for predicting heat transfer in natural landscapes.
CD200Fc Improves Neurological Function by Protecting the Blood–brain Barrier after Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Le Chen-sheng , Hao Xiao-di , Li Jia-wen , Zhong Jia-wei , Lin Hao-ran , Zhou Yi-ting , Travis Zachary D. , Tong Lu-sha , Gao Feng
Published: June 2019

CD200 is widely distributed in the central nervous system and plays an essential role in the immune response in neurological diseases. However, little is currently known about the effects of CD200 signaling on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) function after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this study, the role of CD200 during ICH in an autologous blood induced mouse ICH model was investigated. Following ICH, critical protein expression, BBB permeability, and neurological function were measured with or without CD200Fc administration. Our results showed that both the expression of CD200 and CD200R1 decreased after ICH and administration of CD200Fc attenuated BBB leakage and improved neurological functions. In conclusion, our work demonstrated that CD200Fc might be a potential treatment option for ICH by protecting the BBB and improving functional outcomes.
Increasing Childhood Asthma Care Appointments on a Mobile Asthma Van
Authors: Green Lindsay A. , Ailey Sarah H.
Published: June 2019

Children in two communities of a large city in the Midwestern United States have higher rates of asthma than other areas of the city. The communities have barriers to accessing care, including high rates of unemployment and being uninsured and undocumented. A mobile van provides no-cost asthma care to children at schools in these communities, but use of these services has decreased more than 50% over the past 5 years. School nurses have the potential to improve asthma outcomes by collaborating with health-care providers. The purpose of the program was to increase the number of appointments scheduled and attended on the asthma van at both schools. For this program, we (a) implemented an unaccompanied minor consent, (b) enhanced care coordination, and (c) improved a respiratory health survey tool. Results showed an increased number of appointments scheduled and attended on the asthma van. The program was successful even though community-specific barriers existed.
Opening Space, Poeticizing Community
Authors: Beard Ashley
Published: June 2019

In his book The Poetics of Space, Gaston Bachelard (1964) writes, “We should therefore have to say how we inhabit our vital space, in accord with all the dialectics of life, how we take root, day after day, in a ‘corner of the world’” (1964, p. 4). This short essay, like poetry, pays attention to the particulars1 of our community, in our small Midwest college town, and the socially engaged poetry and performance space that we are creating there, called The Open Space.
Chocolate Kisses and Eyes Watching: Disciplining, Repression, and Expression of Sexuality
Authors: Bhattacharya Kakali
Published: June 2019

In this critical autoethnography, I highlight memories of sexual repression, liberation, and orientation within the cultural context of a Desi-Brown woman from India. I do so not to further exoticize myself, although that happens inevitably, regardless of what I write, but to demonstrate that such issues cross cultural borders and people in various sexual orientations are often silenced, shamed, and disciplined, leading to various forms of accommodation, resistance, and exploration of liberation.
A Political Listing: A Rant, a Confession, and a Hope
Authors: Pelias Ronald J.
Published: June 2019

In this coupling of autoethnography and poetic inquiry, I offer a poem in three parts: the first, a rant; the second, a confession; and the third, a hope. Each part identifies a different way I am experiencing the current political scene, one that I find dangerous to our collective future. I call on the poetic as a method of political intervention.
Removal of Pharmaceuticals From Aqueous Medium Using Entrapped Activated Carbon in Alginate
Authors: Abdel–Gawad Soha A , Abd El–Aziz Hossam M
Published: June 2019

The adsorption of entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer (AG–AC) was investigated by measuring the removal of organic compounds. The general concept is that the entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer could be used as a low–cost adsorbent for ascorbic acid and lactose removal from industrial wastewater. Ascorbic acid and lactose are the most pharmaceutical wastes that can introduce throughout the industrial process and lead to an increase in the amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater. Different ascorbic acid and lactose concentrations were prepared in the laboratory. The efficient removal is affected by external variables (eg, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, concentrations, and stirring rate). Percent removal for ascorbic acid and lactose at pH 3 using dose 30 g for 60 minutes with a fixed stirring rate at 100 rpm was about 70% and 50%, respectively. Ascorbic acid and lactose adsorption onto entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer obey well with Freundlich adsorption isotherm.
Dermatomyositis: An Acute Flare and Current Treatments
Authors: Okogbaa John , Batiste Lakeasha
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this case report is to assess and review the literature to determine the frequency of occurrence of dermatomyositis (DM). Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune condition that disproportionately affects adolescence and pediatric patients. The symptomatology experienced in this condition includes but not limited to fatigue, reduced mobility, and dysphagia. Symptoms of dysphonia and dyspnea have been reported due to weakened esophageal and respiratory muscle. Another major complication seen in DM is calcinosis. Calcinosis is a calcium deposit on soft tissue. This is mostly been attributed to late diagnosis or use of ineffective treatment regimen. Systemic corticosteroid is the first-line treatment for DM; however, other agents such as anti-malaria, IVIG, and immunosuppressive therapies have been used successfully.
Reliability, feasibility and satisfaction of telemedicine evaluations for cervical dystonia
Authors: Fraint Avram , Stebbins Glenn T. , Pal Gian , Comella Cynthia L.
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Telemedicine is used successfully for evaluating patients with neurologic diseases, but has not been tested in cervical dystonia (CD). CD is uniquely suited for telemedicine as the scales validated to assess its severity rely only on visual inspection. The study sought to determine reliability, feasibility and satisfaction of telemedicine visits for evaluating CD.

Methods

Patients 18 years and older with a diagnosis of CD and scheduled for botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections were recruited, with a total of 46 enrolled. Dystonia severity was evaluated using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) motor severity subscale. Three total evaluations took place: an initial telemedicine evaluation on the day prior to a scheduled BoNT injection; an in-person evaluation in clinic immediately before injections; and a follow-up telemedicine visit 4–6 weeks after injection with subsequent completion, by both participants and the clinician, of satisfaction questionnaires. Agreement between telemedicine and in-person TWSTRS data was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and kappa statistics where appropriate. Feasibility was determined by the percent of patients completing all three visits, and satisfaction with telemedicine visits was determined based on answers to satisfaction questionnaires.

Results

There was excellent agreement between visit types for the TWSTRS motor severity summary score (κ = 0.890; 95th CI 0.713; 0.949). Only two individual TWSTRS items failed to meet the threshold for moderate agreement. Feasibility and satisfaction were high.

Discussion

Telemedicine is reliable and feasible in the evaluation of CD. Some CD patients would prefer telemedicine visits. Participants and the clinician were satisfied with telemedicine visits.
Performance assessment of an earthquake-based optimally designed fluid viscous damper under blast loading
Authors: Dadkhah Hamed , Mohebbi Mohtasham
Published: June 2019

Terrorist attacks and explosion devices are one of the growing worldwide threats which seriously threaten the safety of strategic structures. The aim of this study is assessing the performance of the linear fluid viscous damper optimally designed based on seismic loading under blast loading. To this end, the control system is first optimally designed under different earthquakes and the performance of the optimally designed fluid viscous damper is evaluated under different external blast scenarios. In order to design the optimal fluid viscous damper for seismic loading, the design problem is transformed into an optimization problem that the genetic algorithm has been used to solve the optimization problem and determine the optimal values of design variables. The fluid viscous damper configuration including size and distribution has been considered as the design variables and the design objective has been defined to keep the structure behavior in the elastic range with a minimum control cost. The optimization results show that the total added optimal damping is dependent on earthquake record, while in this case study the optimal distributions of the fluid viscous damper under earthquake records are not so different. The performance assessment of the earthquake-based optimally designed fluid viscous damper under blast loading shows its effectiveness in achieving the desired design objective. Therefore, in this case study, the fluid viscous damper designed for seismic loading can be considered as a well-designed control system under multi-hazard of blast and earthquake.
Age-friendly cities in the Netherlands: An explorative study of facilitators and hindrances in the built environment and ageism in design
Authors: van Hoof Joost , Dikken Jeroen , Buttiġieġ Sandra C. , van den Hoven Rudy F. M. , Kroon Esther , Marston Hannah R.
Published: June 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) strives to assist and inspire cities to become more ‘age-friendly’ through the Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide. An age-friendly city offers a supportive environment that enables residents to grow older actively within their families, neighbourhoods and civil society, and offers extensive opportunities for their participation in the community. In the attempts to make cities age-friendly, ageism may interact with these developments. The goal of this study was to investigate the extent to which features of age-friendly cities, both facilitators and hindrances, are visible in the city scape of the Dutch municipalities of The Hague and Zoetermeer and whether or not ageism is manifested explicitly or implicitly. A qualitative photoproduction study based on the Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities was conducted in five neighbourhoods. Both municipalities have a large number of visual age-friendly features, which are manifested in five domains of the WHO model, namely Communication and information; Housing; Transportation; Community support and health services; and Outdoor spaces and buildings. Age-stereotypes, both positive and negative, can be observed in the domain of Communication and information, especially in the depiction of third agers as winners. At the same time, older people and age-friendly features are very visible in the cityscapes of both municipalities, and this is a positive expression of the changing demographics.
Effect of the coordinate frame on high-order expansion of serial-chain displacement
Authors: Milenkovic Paul
Published: June 2019

An algorithmic differentiation technique gives a simpler, faster power series expansion of the finite displacement of a closed-loop linkage. It accomplishes this by using a higher order than what has been implemented by complicated prior formulas for kinematic derivatives. In this expansion, the joint rates and axis lines generate the instantaneous screw of each link. Constraining the terminal link to have a zero instantaneous screw satisfies closure. In order to maintain closure over a finite displacement, it is necessary to track the spatial trajectory of each joint axis line, which in turn is directed by the instantaneous screw of a link to which it is attached. Prior algorithms express these screws in a common ground-referenced coordinate frame. Motivated by the kinematics solver portion of the recursive Newton–Euler algorithm, an alternative formulation uses sparse matrices to update the instantaneous screw between successive link-local frames. The recursive Newton–Euler algorithm, however, conducts the expansion to only second order, where this paper shows local coordinate frames that are only instantaneously aligned with their respective links give identical expressions to those in frames that move with the links. Moving frames, however, require about 40% of the operations of the global-frame formulation in the asymptotic limit. Both incrementally translated (Java) and statically compiled (C++) software implementations offer more modest performance gains; execution profiling shows reasons in order of importance (1) balance of calculation tasks when below the asymptotic limit, (2) Java array bounds checking, and (3) hardware acceleration of loops.