bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved design of threaded connections by autofrettage in aluminium compounds for cyclic high pressure loading: design calculations and experimental verification
Authors: Sellen S. , Maas S. , Andreas T. , Plapper P. , Zürbes A. , Becker D.
Published: January 2015

Threaded connections in an aluminium valve body under high internal pulsating pressure are investigated. A static straining process called autofrettage leads to an improved fatigue behaviour of the aluminium component, while normally the threaded connections are unloaded during this autofrettage. But by unloading the thread during autofrettage, the first loaded thread flank becomes the weakest point of this valve component. This effect is analysed with nonlinear finite element simulations, the FKM guideline for fatigue assessment and by experimental testing. The analytical and experimental parts match very well. It can be shown that a well‐designed autofrettage without unloading the threaded connection is helpful for the aluminium thread and extends its fatigue lifetime, as residual compressive stresses and an equalized stress distribution over the thread flanks can be achieved. Finally, different materials were chosen for the plug or screw, and this material influence for cyclic loading is shortly analysed.
AUFKLÄRERISCHE BOTSCHAFT UND ERZÄHLTECHNIK IN SCHILLERS DER VERBRECHER AUS VERLORENER EHRE
Authors: Avgerinou Sophia
Published: January 2015

This essay analyses Friedrich Schiller's short story Der Verbrecher aus verlorener Ehre from the viewpoint of narratology, based on the categories of time, mode and voice established by Gérard Genette in his Narrative Discourse. Schiller's commitment to the Enlightenment underlies the structure, form and content of the story. Certain formal elements, such as the narrative pause at the opening, the linear time schema and the mixture of authorial narration and narration in the first person singular enhance the understanding of the causes of the crime; others, such as the abrupt, dramatic ending of the story suggest a questioning of the traditional form of the crime story as well as a mitigation and at the same time enrichment of the pursuit of rational knowledge through elements of empathy with and sympathy for the criminal. The author's intention to enlighten his readers is also expressed through the content itself, where the case for objectivity, tolerance and humanism, as far as the penal system is concerned, is made. Apart from some doubts concerning the absolute validity of the Enlightenment's view of the world, in this short story Schiller indicates his belief in the priority of moral autonomy over the natural and social predetermination of human beings.
SCREENING OUT THE EAST: THE PLAYING OUT OF INTER‐GERMAN RELATIONS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
Authors: Ward Elizabeth M.
Published: January 2015

This article examines the previously unexplored role of the Cannes Film Festival as an alternative arena for Cold War politics and the playing out of the West German Hallstein Doctrine in 1957 and 1959. The Hallstein Doctrine was an important strategic tool for the West German government, designed to marginalise the East German state on the world stage. With its politicians and diplomats unwelcome in most of the western world, the GDR increasingly invested in cultural ambassadors who were able to travel to countries to which East German politicians were routinely refused entry. In December 1956, the West German Foreign Office learnt of the intention of the organisers of the Cannes Film Festival to invite the East German film studio, DEFA, to participate in the Festival. The decision provoked outrage in Bonn and officials embarked on a sustained diplomatic campaign to remove East Germany from the Festival the following year. The Foreign Office's efforts were ultimately frustrated: not only did DEFA participate in the Festival but, two years later, the East German film Sterne (Konrad Wolf, 1959), went on to win the coveted Prix du Jury. This article will trace the efforts of the West German government to exclude the GDR from the Festival and examine how Sterne managed to break through notions of what constituted an ‘East German’ production in 1959.
1968 AND TRANSNATIONAL HISTORY IN EMINE SEVGI ÖZDAMAR'S DIE BRÜCKE VOM GOLDENEN HORN
Authors: Schonfield Ernest
Published: January 2015

This article considers the representation of transnational political movements around 1968 in Özdamar's autobiographical novel Die Brücke vom Goldenen Horn (1998). The transnational perspective enables Özdamar to articulate cultural transfers between Turkey, West Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy in the context of Cold War political activism. The article will show how the novel reappraises the political movements of the late sixties and early seventies as transnational phenomena which in West Germany included the participation of ‘Gastarbeiter’, thus serving as a corrective to Eurocentric histories of 1968. This is followed by a consideration of the cultural practices of the political activists. The characters continually reference a canon of revolutionary authors including Brecht, Lorca, Rosa Luxemburg and Nâzım Hikmet in order to foster a sense of transnational identity. The article comments on the relevance of Hikmet's concept of secular resurrection for Özdamar's novel. Finally the article considers how words are depicted as physical presences and bodies are subjected to physical transformation. These techniques are central to Özdamar's utopian presentation of transnational political activism as an erotic experience.
Prevalence and significance of CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17 alleles in a New Zealand acute coronary syndrome population
Authors: Larsen P. D. , Johnston L. R. , Holley A. , La Flamme A. C. , Smyth L. , Chua E. W. , Kennedy M. A. , Harding S. A.
Published: January 2015

Background

High on‐treatment platelet reactivity has been associated with poor outcomes following acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Both the loss of function CYP2C19*2 allele and the gain of function CYP2C19*17 allele along with a range of clinical characteristics have been associated with variation in the response to clopidogrel.

Aim

The study aims to examine the frequency of CYP2C19 variants and understand the factors associated with on‐treatment platelet reactivity in a New Zealand ACS population.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 312 ACS patients. We collected clinical characteristics and measured on‐treatment platelet reactivity using two validated point‐of‐care assays, VerifyNow and Multiplate. DNA was extracted and CYP2C19*2 and *17 alleles were identified using real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

CYP2C19*2 or CYP2C19*17 alleles were observed in 101 (32%) and 106 (34%) of patients, respectively, with significant differences in distribution by ethnicity. In Maori and Pacific Island patients, 47% (confidence interval (CI) 31–63%) had CYP2C19*2 and 11% (CI 4–19%) CYP2C19*17 compared with 26% (CI 19–32%) and 41% (CI 32–49%) in white people. Carriage of CYP2C19*2 alleles was associated with higher levels of platelet reactivity measured by either assay, but we observed no relationship between platelet reactivity and CYP2C19*17. In multivariate analysis diabetes, clopidogrel dose and CYP2C19*2 status were all significant independent predictors of platelet reactivity.

Conclusions

Both CYP2C19*2 and *17 were common in a New Zealand ACS population, with CYP2C19*2 observed in almost half the Maori and Pacific Island patients. CYP2C19*2, diabetes and clopidogrel dose were independent contributors to on‐treatment platelet reactivity.
Is post‐pneumonia chest X‐ray for lung malignancy useful? Results of an audit of current practice
Authors: Macdonald C. , Jayathissa S. , Leadbetter M.
Published: January 2015

Background/Aim

Patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) are often screened with repeat chest X‐ray within 6–12 weeks following an admission. This practice is aimed to detect underlying lung malignancy, which can be difficult to identify initially when an acute infiltrate is present on X‐ray. We conducted a study on the use of follow‐up chest X‐rays after an admission with CAP to determine the yield of suspected or diagnosed cancer.

Methods

During the 2‐year period, January 2010–January 2012, we evaluated all patients over the age of 50 who had no previous history of lung cancer and were admitted to Hutt Hospital with CAP.

Results

A total of 302 patients was included. Of these, 53% received a follow‐up chest X‐ray within 6–12 weeks after admission. A total of six patients (2.0%) was diagnosed with lung cancer based on a chest X‐ray within 6–12 weeks after admission. After a median period of follow up of 19.5 months, a further five patients who had normal chest X‐ray were diagnosed with lung malignancy.

Conclusion

The majority of patients were screened with follow‐up X‐rays. The yield from a 6‐ to 12‐week chest X‐ray following CAP is low, which is consistent with previous studies. The development of clear guidelines to ensure identification of patient groups at significantly high risk of lung cancer is important to increase the sensitivity of screening. High yielding strategies, such as low‐dose computed tomography, should be considered as an alternative.
Microwave Dielectric Properties of a Low‐Firing Ba2BiV3O11 Ceramic
Authors: Li Jie , Li Chunchun , Wei Zhenhai , Tang Ying , Su Congxue , Fang Liang
Published: January 2015

A low‐firing microwave dielectric ceramic Ba2BiV3O11 was prepared via solid‐state reaction method. Ba2BiV3O11 ceramic could be well sintered at 840°C–880°C, with a εr ~14.2, a high Q × f value ~68 700 GHz (at 8.7 GHz), and a negative temperature coefficient of −81 ppm/°C. τf of Ba2BiV3O11 was tuned to be near zero by formation of a composite with TiO2. 0.7Ba2BiV3O11–0.3TiO2 ceramic sintered at 910°C showed improved properties with εr = 15.7, Q × f = 53 200 GHz, and τf  = −2 ppm/°C.
Barriers to Referral for Elevated Blood Pressure in the Emergency Department and Differences Between Provider Type
Authors: Souffront Kimberly , Chyun Deborah , Kovner Christine
Published: January 2015

A multidisciplinary sample of emergency department providers across the United States (n=450) were surveyed to identify barriers to referral for elevated blood pressure (BP) in the emergency department and differences between provider type. Registered nurses reported less knowledge of stage I hypertension (P=.043) and prehypertension (P<.01); were less aware of definitions for hypertension (P<.001); reported more difficulty in caring for patients who are asymptomatic (P=.007); required financial compensation to refer (P=.048); and perceived that BP referrals are influenced by the medical director (P<.001). Medical doctors reported more skills to refer (P=.008) and time as a barrier (P=.038). Physician assistants were more likely to report patients are not aware of health benefits (P=.035), doubted their concern for their BP (P=.023), and felt emotionally uncomfortable when referring (P=.025). Despite these differences, there was no significant difference between provider type and referral rates.
Symptom severity as a risk factor for self‐injurious behaviours in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Rattaz C. , Michelon C. , Baghdadli A.
Published: January 2015

Background

Self‐injurious behaviours (SIB) are highly prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and have deleterious effects on the individual and their environment. The aim of this study was to examine SIB prevalence and associated features in a population of 152 adolescents with ASD and to determine risk factors for SIB.

Methods

The present study uses a subset of data of a longitudinal follow‐up of 152 children with ASD. The presence of a low or high level of self‐injury was assessed at adolescence through the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist completed by parents. Clinical and social variables regarding severity of autism symptoms, psychological development, adaptive behaviours, parental quality of life and total intervention time were collected during childhood (mean age = 5 years, SD = 1.6) and at adolescence (mean age = 15 years, SD = 1.3).

Results

About 35.8% of adolescents with ASD in our sample displayed self‐injury, which was frequently associated with other challenging behaviours and was related to severity of autism symptoms, adaptive skills, intellectual functioning and language level (P < 0.001). The main risk factor for SIB at adolescence was severity of autism symptoms (P = 0.04). Cognitive development during childhood was found to be a protective factor (P = 0.03) whereas at adolescence, the main protective factor was communicative abilities (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

These data showed that SIB remained highly prevalent at adolescence and yielded risk and protective factors for developing SIB at this period of life. Limitations and perspectives for future research are discussed.
Diabetic neuropathy: comparison between Bangladeshi immigrants and Greek‐born subjects
Authors: Zambelis Thomas , Papadakis George , Chatzipanagiotou Stylianos , Michalopoulou Maria , Kokotis Panagiotis , Karandreas Nikolaos
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study was to compare Bangladeshi immigrants with diabetes to native Greeks with diabetes and to distinguish the different risk factors for polyneuropathy (PN) in the two ethnic groups. Subjects were recruited from the outpatient diabetic clinic of a general hospital. A total of 111 Bangladeshi immigrants (97 men and 14 women of mean age 47 years) and 101 native Greeks (82 men and 19 women of mean age 49 years) were included in the study. Sex, mean age, age at diabetes diagnosis, and diabetes duration did not differ between the two groups. PN was diagnosed in 53 (48%) Bangladeshi and in 59 (58%) Greek patients (p = 0.12). Large fiber neuropathy was less prevalent among Bangladeshis (18%) than in Greeks (53%) (p < 0.01). Small fiber neuropathy on the contrary were more frequent in Bangladeshis (18% vs. 7%) (p < 0.02). Regarding the risk factors for PN, Greek patients were taller, with higher BMI, and smoked more cigarettes (p < 0.001). They were also treated with more anti‐lipid and antihypertensive agents. The higher percentage of SFN in Bangladeshi was mainly a result of the significantly greater incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in their group (68 Bangladeshi vs. 38 Greek men). It is well known that there are many causes of ED aside from SFN which were not evaluated in this study. Thus this conclusion should be taken with caution.
Consequences of crown shortening canine teeth in Greenland sled dogs
Authors: Kortegaard H. E. , Anthony Knudsen T. , Dahl S. , Agger J. F. G. , Eriksen T.
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the consequences of crown shortening, focusing on the prevalence of pulp exposure and periapical pathology in Greenland sled dogs that had had their canine crowns shortened at an early age.

METHODS

Five cadaver heads and 54 sled dogs underwent an oral examination for dental fractures and pulp exposure of canines. All canines were radiographed and evaluated for periapical pathology.

RESULTS

The prevalence of canine pulp exposure in 12 (5 heads and 7 dogs) crown shortened dogs was 91 · 7%, and 21 · 3% in 47 not‐crown shortened dogs. A significant (P < 0 · 001) risk of pulp exposure of the canines in the crown shortened group compared to the not‐crown shortened group was seen with a relative risk of 4 · 3 on a dog basis and a relative risk of 12 · 2 on a tooth basis. In dogs with pulp exposure of canines (n = 51) the prevalence of periapical pathology was 82 · 4%, but only 0 · 8% in dogs without pulp exposure (n = 133) resulting in a significant (relative risk, 109 · 5; P < 0 · 001) risk of periapical pathology in teeth with pulp exposure compared to teeth without pulp exposure.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The high risk of periapical pathology observed in teeth with pulp exposure confirms that these teeth should not be neglected in affected dogs.
Why does Public Investment Fail to Raise Economic Growth? The Role of Corruption
Authors: Haque M. Emranul , Kneller Richard
Published: January 2015

In an endogenous growth model with information asymmetry between the government and the bureaucracy, the bureaucrats can falsely report of high‐quality high‐cost procurement, while providing low‐quality low‐cost product. This reduces the quality of public services, but inflates the public spending, which in effect reduces growth. We test our results by using three‐stage least squares method in a panel set up for a system of four equations on growth, public investment, corruption and private investment. Our primary results are twofold. First, corruption increases public investment. Second, corruption reduces the returns to public investment and makes it ineffective in raising economic growth.
Multimodal neuroimaging evidence linking memory and attention systems during visual search cued by context
Authors: Kasper Ryan W. , Grafton Scott T. , Eckstein Miguel P. , Giesbrecht Barry
Published: January 2015

Visual search can be facilitated by the learning of spatial configurations that predict the location of a target among distractors. Neuropsychological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) evidence implicates the medial temporal lobe (MTL) memory system in this contextual cueing effect, and electroencephalography (EEG) studies have identified the involvement of visual cortical regions related to attention. This work investigated two questions: (1) how memory and attention systems are related in contextual cueing; and (2) how these systems are involved in both short‐ and long‐term contextual learning. In one session, EEG and fMRI data were acquired simultaneously in a contextual cueing task. In a second session conducted 1 week later, EEG data were recorded in isolation. The fMRI results revealed MTL contextual modulations that were correlated with short‐ and long‐term behavioral context enhancements and attention‐related effects measured with EEG. An fMRI‐seeded EEG source analysis revealed that the MTL contributed the most variance to the variability in the attention enhancements measured with EEG. These results support the notion that memory and attention systems interact to facilitate search when spatial context is implicitly learned.
RNA complex purification using high‐affinity fluorescent RNA aptamer tags
Authors: Panchapakesan Shanker Shyam S. , Jeng Sunny C.Y. , Unrau Peter J.
Published: January 2015

RNA plays important roles in cellular processes, but RNA–protein complexes are notoriously hard to isolate and study. We compare and contrast existing RNA‐ and protein‐purification strategies with the potential of new RNA‐tagging systems such as RNA Spinach and RNA Mango. Each RNA aptamer binds a small fluorophore, resulting in a highly fluorescent complex that is thousands of times brighter than the unbound fluorophore. Provided that the aptamer binding affinity is high enough, derivatized dyes can be used in conjunction with these aptamers to purify RNA complexes while simultaneously using their intrinsic fluorescence to track the complex of interest. The known strengths and weakness of these RNA tagging systems are discussed.
Application of microRNA gene resources in the improvement of agronomic traits in rice
Authors: Zheng Ling‐Ling , Qu Liang‐Hu
Published: January 2015

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important nonprotein‐coding genes that are involved in almost all biological processes, including cell differentiation and fate determination, developmental regulation, and immune responses. Investigations have shown that some miRNAs can highly affect plant agricultural traits, including virus resistance, nematode resistance, drought and salinity tolerance, heavy metal detoxification, biomass yield, grain yield, fruit development and flower development. Therefore, these miRNAs are considered a newly identified gene resource for the genetic improvement of crops. In this review, we will summarize the recent findings of the rice miRNA‐directed regulatory network, which controls agronomic traits such as yield, quality and stress tolerance, and explore the outlook for the uses of these miRNA‐associated traits in rice biotechnology.
Accused for Involvement in Collective Violence: The Discursive Reconstruction of Agency and Identity by Perpetrators of International Crimes
Authors: Rauschenbach Mina , Staerklé Christian , Scalia Damien
Published: January 2015

This study explores discourses about involvement in violent intergroup conflict and international crimes from the perspective of perpetrators. Through a critical discourse analysis of 12 personal interviews carried out with individuals accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for crimes committed during the Yugoslav conflicts, we uncover how their discourse reveals conceptions of lacking agency and powerlessness during the conflict, how it reconstructs power relationships within and between ethnic groups, and how it reflects identity management strategies destined to elude blame and responsibility. Our findings demonstrate how discourses are tainted by the legitimizing framework in which the conflict unfolded but also how they are shaped by the particular context of the communicative situation. Findings are discussed in terms of their significance for international criminal justice and its stated objectives.
The tomato res mutant which accumulates JA in roots in non‐stressed conditions restores cell structure alterations under salinity
Authors: Garcia‐Abellan José O. , Fernandez‐Garcia Nieves , Lopez‐Berenguer Carmen , Egea Isabel , Flores Francisco B. , Angosto Trinidad , Capel Juan , Lozano Rafael , Pineda Benito , Moreno Vicente , Olmos Enrique , Bolarin Maria C.
Published: January 2015

Jasmonic acid (JA) regulates a wide spectrum of plant biological processes, from plant development to stress defense responses. The role of JA in plant response to salt stress is scarcely known, and even less known is the specific response in root, the main plant organ responsible for ionic uptake and transport to the shoot. Here we report the characterization of the first tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant, named res (restored cell structure by salinity), that accumulates JA in roots prior to exposure to stress. The res tomato mutant presented remarkable growth inhibition and displayed important morphological alterations and cellular disorganization in roots and leaves under control conditions, while these alterations disappeared when the res mutant plants were grown under salt stress. Reciprocal grafting between res and wild type (WT) (tomato cv. Moneymaker) indicated that the main organ responsible for the development of alterations was the root. The JA‐signaling pathway is activated in res roots prior to stress, with transcripts levels being even higher in control condition than in salinity. Future studies on this mutant will provide significant advances in the knowledge of JA role in root in salt‐stress tolerance response, as well as in the energy trade‐off between plant growth and response to stress.
Counterfactual comparison modulates fairness consideration in the mini‐ultimatum game: An event‐related potentials study
Authors: Liang Jiafeng , Lin Huiyan , Xiang Jing , Wu Hao , Li Xu , Liang Hongyu , Zheng Xue
Published: January 2015

Existing literature on the mini‐ultimatum game indicates that counterfactual comparison between chosen and unchosen alternatives is of great importance for individual's fairness consideration. However, it is still unclear how counterfactual comparison influences the electrophysiological responses to unfair chosen offers. In conjunction with event‐related potentials’ (ERPs) technique, the current study aimed to explore the issue by employing a modified version of the mini‐ultimatum game where a fixed set of two alternatives (unfair offer vs. fair alternative, unfair vs. hyperfair alternative, unfair offer vs. hyperunfair alternative) was presented before the chosen offer. The behavioral results showed that participants were more likely to accept unfair chosen offers when the unchosen alternative was hyperunfair than when the unchosen alternative was fair or hyperfair. The ERPs results showed that the feedback‐related negativity (FRN) elicited by unfair chosen offers was insensitive to the type of unchosen alternative when correcting for possible overlap with other components. In contrast, unfair chosen offers elicited larger P300 amplitudes when the unchosen alternative was hyperunfair than when the unchosen alternative was fair or hyperfair. These findings suggest that counterfactual comparison may take effect at later stages of fairness consideration as reflected by the P300.
The Making and Re‐making of a Regional Product: The Case of Zeeland Madder
Authors: Joosse Sofie
Published: January 2015

Regional products play an increasingly important role in European economies and policies. The economic value of these products is considerable, and they are frequently regarded as significant generators of rural and regional development. But what processes underlie the formation of a regional product? While scholars have rightly called for attention to be paid to the contextual nature of regional products, this article aims to take a progressive step in this discourse and explore if, given the contextual nature of regional products, specific patterns can be identified that serve to make products regional. To this end I investigate the qualification of a reinvented agricultural product, madder (Rubia tinctorum), which is grown to produce dyestuff in Zeeland, The Netherlands. Based on the case of Zeeland madder and a comparison with other regional products I identify five qualification patterns, namely essentialism, strategic positioning, identity work, internal mobilisation and localising control. These patterns cross the divide between economy and culture and show how both elements become interwoven in the process of making products regional. Moreover, the patterns usefully highlight the hybridity of regional products, that is, their association with alternative food networks and conventional food networks.
The Spatiality of Local Immigration Policies in the United States
Authors: Walker Kyle E.
Published: January 2015

Recent scholarship within geography has emphasised the co‐implication of multiple forms of spatiality within sociospatial theory. This scholarship contends that spatial relationships like scale, networks, and place, which tend to be treated as ontologically separate, ought to be considered as mutually constitutive. In this paper, I argue that this framework helps explain why local communities have pursued vastly different policy responses to immigration in the United States. Drawing evidence from local policies considered in two Chicago‐area communities in the late 2000s, I show how these debates simultaneously reflected a politics of scale, a politics of networking, and a politics of place, each of which interacted to constrain or enable different political responses.
Identifying locations of recent TB transmission in rural Uganda: a multidisciplinary approach
Authors: Chamie Gabriel , Wandera Bonnie , Marquez Carina , Kato‐Maeda Midori , Kamya Moses R. , Havlir Diane V. , Charlebois Edwin D.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Targeting high Tuberculosis (TB) transmission sites may offer a novel approach to TB prevention in sub‐Saharan Africa. We sought to characterise TB transmission sites in a rural Ugandan township.

Methods

We recruited adults starting TB treatment in Tororo, Uganda, over 1 year. Fifty four TB cases provided names of frequent contacts, sites of residence, health care, work and social activities, and two sputum samples. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture‐positive specimens underwent spoligotyping to identify strains with shared genotypes. We visualised TB case social networks, and obtained, mapped and geo‐coded global positioning system measures for every location that cases reported frequenting 1 month before treatment. Locations of spatial overlap among genotype‐clustered cases were considered potential transmission sites.

Results

Six distinct genotypic clusters were identified involving 21 of 33 (64%) MTB culture‐positive, genotyped cases; none shared a home. Although 18 of 54 (33%) TB cases shared social network ties, none of the genotype‐clustered cases shared social ties. Using spatial analysis, we identified potential sites of within‐cluster TB transmission for five of six genotypic clusters. All sites but one were healthcare and social venues, including sites of drinking, worship and marketplaces. Cases reported spending the largest proportion of pre‐treatment person‐time (22.4%) at drinking venues.

Conclusions

Using molecular epidemiology, geospatial and social network data from adult TB cases identified at clinics, we quantified person‐time spent at high‐risk locations across a rural Ugandan community and determined the most likely sites of recent TB transmission to be healthcare and social venues. These sites may not have been identified using contact investigation alone.
Large animal evaluation of riboflavin and ultraviolet light–treated whole blood transfusion in a diffuse, nonsurgical bleeding porcine model
Authors: Okoye Obi T. , Reddy Heather , Wong Monica D. , Doane Suzann , Resnick Shelby , Karamanos Efstathios , Skiada Dimitra , Goodrich Raymond , Inaba Kenji
Published: January 2015

Background

The Mirasol system has been demonstrated to effectively inactivate white blood cells (WBCs) and reduce pathogens in whole blood in vitro. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of Mirasol‐treated fresh whole blood (FWB) to untreated FWB in an in vivo model of surgical bleeding.

Study Design and Methods

A total of 18 anesthetized pigs (40 kg) underwent a 35% total blood volume bleed, cooling to 33°C, and a standardized liver injury. Animals were then randomly assigned to resuscitation with either Mirasol‐treated or untreated FWB, and intraoperative blood loss was measured. After abdominal closure, the animals were observed for 14 days, after which the animals were euthanized and tissues were obtained for histopathologic examination. Mortality, tissue near‐infrared spectroscopy, red blood cell (RBC) variables, platelets (PLTs), WBCs, and coagulation indices were analyzed.

Results

Total intraoperative blood loss was similar in test and control arms (8.3 ± 3.2 mL/kg vs. 7.7 ± 3.9 mL/kg, p = 0.720). All animals survived to Day 14. Trended values over time did not show significant differences—tissue oxygenation (p = 0.605), hemoglobin (p = 0.461), PLTs (p = 0.807), WBCs (p = 0.435), prothrombin time (p = 0.655), activated partial thromboplastin time (p = 0.416), thromboelastography (TEG)–reaction time (p = 0.265), or TEG–clot formation time (p = 0.081). Histopathology did not show significant differences between arms.

Conclusions

Mirasol‐treated FWB did not impact survival, blood loss, tissue oxygen delivery, RBC indices, or coagulation variables in a standardized liver injury model. These data suggest that Mirasol‐treated FWB is both safe and efficacious in vivo.
Diophantine properties of nilpotent Lie groups
Authors: Aka Menny , Breuillard Emmanuel , Rosenzweig Lior , de Saxcé Nicolas
Published: January 2015

A finitely generated subgroup${\rm\Gamma}$of a real Lie group$G$is said to be Diophantine if there is${\it\beta}>0$such that non-trivial elements in the word ball$B_{{\rm\Gamma}}(n)$centered at$1\in {\rm\Gamma}$never approach the identity of$G$closer than$|B_{{\rm\Gamma}}(n)|^{-{\it\beta}}$. A Lie group$G$is said to be Diophantine if for every$k\geqslant 1$a random$k$-tuple in$G$generates a Diophantine subgroup. Semi-simple Lie groups are conjectured to be Diophantine but very little is proven in this direction. We give a characterization of Diophantine nilpotent Lie groups in terms of the ideal of laws of their Lie algebra. In particular we show that nilpotent Lie groups of class at most$5$, or derived length at most$2$, as well as rational nilpotent Lie groups are Diophantine. We also find that there are non-Diophantine nilpotent and solvable (non-nilpotent) Lie groups.
Consistency of Assembly Related Product Information: Part 1 — Representation
Authors: Baysal Mehmet Murat , Roy Utpal
Published: January 2015

In this work, NIST’s Core Product Model (CPM) and the Open Assembly Model (OAM) are extended to integrate product information including function and behavior, with an emphasis on assembly, throughout all phases of product development.

The consistency validation of product information, and the verification of modified product information are discussed. These processes ensure that the product information has no contradictions and allows tracing through associations without any deficiency or disconnection. In other words, the information model has to be complete in terms of traceability of function, behavior, spatial relationships, etc., in order to support all information exchange activities. The product information representation provides a mechanism for capturing product information and storing it in a database. This representation schema also provides necessary information for any future decision making activities at the End_Of_Life (EOL) environment, such as the replacement or reuse of any part or subassembly. When there is a need to replace one artifact with another, one must consider all of the associations of the existing artifact with other artifacts and the environment, not just functional and space requirements, and the relevant modification(s) of the associated objects has to be verified. So one can manage product lifecycle activities in different perspectives by knowing how the product information is interconnected in various domains and how its characteristics affect each other.
LQG Control and Robustness Study for a Prestressed Membrane With Bimorph Actuators
Authors: Ferhat Ipar , Sultan Cornel
Published: January 2015

Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control is developed for a prestressed square membrane with bimorph actuators attached to it. The membrane is modeled using the finite element method and the membrane is assumed to be clamped on all edges. After obtaining the mass, damping, stiffness and input matrices in second order form using the weak form Finite Element Method (FEM), the problem is represented in first order form to develop the LQG controller. To study the robustness of the system, the control and observer gain matrices developed for the nominal system are applied to systems obtained from the nominal system by modifying material properties and prestress.
A GCP Design Approach for Infinitesimally and Multiply Separated Positions Based on the Use of Velocity and Acceleration Vector Diagrams
Authors: Mirth John A.
Published: January 2015

Geometric Constraint Programming (GCP) provides a powerful method for the synthesis of planar mechanisms using parametric modeling programs that are common to industry. The graphical nature of GCP allows for the ready incorporation of many existing graphical constructions into the design process. This paper examines the use of vector diagrams for velocity and acceleration analysis of a four-bar linkage and how such diagrams can be incorporated into the design process using the methods of GCP. The method is implemented by using GCP to create a mechanism at one or more design positions. Velocity and acceleration vector diagrams are added to positions of interest to allow for the inclusion of velocity and acceleration information in the design process. The result is an approach to GCP synthesis that allows a designer to create mechanisms to match requirements for infinitesimally and multiply separated positions using techniques that are commonly taught in an introductory undergraduate mechanisms course. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the utility of the methods described.
An Examination of Trispiral Hinges Suitable for Use in ABS-Based Rapid Prototyping of Compliant Mechanisms
Authors: Mirth John A.
Published: January 2015

This paper examines the use of a trispiral hinge in compliant mechanisms generated by low cost, ABS-based, rapid prototyping machines. Hinges are examined to establish relationships between hinge geometry parameters (core radius, spiral angle, spiral pitch, and spiral thickness) and hinge performance (in-plane rotation, off-axis stability). A number of joint parameter combinations are found that provide good joint rotation characteristics with minimal off-axis instability. These joints allow for joint rotations up to ±90 degrees from a neutral position with little parasitic motion during the rotation. The implementation of these joints is further examined through the building and testing of fully compliant mechanisms based on the Roberts and Hoeken approximate straight-line mechanism geometries. The fully compliant mechanisms are shown to have the ability to closely recreate the approximate straight-line motion of the equivalent 4-bar chains. As such, the trispiral joint provides promise as a joint type that can be used effectively in conjunction with fused deposition modeling (FDM) machines that use ABS as the build material.
Using Shape Grammars to Identify Salient Features in Support of Product Family Design
Authors: Culbertson Timothy D. , Simpson Timothy W.
Published: January 2015

Product form and aesthetics play a major role in consumer preference and product differentiation. During product family design, it is important to differentiate products in the family yet similarities among some stylistic features may connote a more coherent design strategy. Shape grammars offer a method for producing designs with a coherent style along with the ability to control the variation of the output shapes. In this paper, we investigate the use of shape grammars to support product family design, namely, identification of features that shape the perceptions of similarity within a family. A survey-based approach is implemented wherein the impact of a shape parameter on product style is evaluated by comparing design variants to a baseline design. Respondents are asked to rate the style similarities on a Likert-like scale, and candidate shape parameters are screened for aesthetic significance using a fractional factorial experiment. The approach is demonstrated using a family of medical ultrasound transducers, and our screening is validated using a full factorial experiment with practicing ultrasound transducer designers and engineers.
Chained Beam-Constraint-Model (CBCM): A Powerful Tool for Modeling Large and Complicated Deflections of Flexible Beams in Compliant Mechanisms
Authors: Ma Fulei , Chen Guimin
Published: January 2015

Modeling large deflections has been one of the most fundamental problems in the research community of compliant mechanisms. Although many methods are available, there still exists a need for a method that is simple, accurate, and can be applied to a vast variety of large deflection problems. Based on the beam constraint model (BCM), we propose a new method for modeling large deflections called chained BCM (CBCM), which divides a flexible beam into a few elements and models each element by BCM. It is demonstrated that CBCM is capable of modeling various large and complicated deflections of flexible beams in compliant mechanisms. In general, CBCM obtains accurate results with no more than 6 BCM elements, thus is more efficient than most of the other discretization-based methods.
Polynomial Inverse Kinematic Solution of the Jaco Robot
Authors: Gosselin Clément , Liu Hanwei
Published: January 2015

This article presents a polynomial solution to the inverse kinematic problem of the 6R serial Jaco robot. The solution is specifically tailored to the Jaco robot, which is not wrist-partitioned. The derivation of the univariate 16-degree polynomial is presented, starting from the direct kinematic equations providing the position and orientation of the end-effector as a function of the joint variables. Upon calculation of the roots of the polynomial, all joint variables are obtained by backsubstitution, leading to a unique set of joint variables for each of the roots. Also, it is shown that for certain configurations, the 16-degree polynomial contains only terms of even powers while all terms are not zero in general. Two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the solution process.
Design-Driven Integrated-Comprehensive Model CDFS Strategic Relationships
Authors: Khorasani Sasan T.
Published: January 2015

Measuring quality in design-driven innovation is part of the larger subject of product design, supply chain management and new product development (NPD). In other words, better design and supply chain integration increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the production development process. In this work, I have studied the role of understanding the needs of customers and design approaches for new products through a combination of customer feedback and participation of designers in the first phase of new product development. Furthermore, I discuss why the incorporation of both designers and customer needs is important to design-driven innovation. In the second phase of this study, I present several case studies in terms of supplier-buyer relationships in order to find a solution that achieves a long-term relationship (the alliance-star model) in new product development, which is a crucial problem in the Blue Ocean Strategy. Finally, by presenting the CDFS (Customer-Designer-Firm-Supplier) strategic model, we show schematically the integrated-comprehensive process approach for creating a new innovative product from the concept phase through to the end of Product life cycle. This model presents the process of new innovation, which can ensure added value during Product life cycle.
4x4 SUV Energy Efficiency and Mobility: Hybrid-Electric Transfer Case vs Mechanical Driveline System
Authors: Vantsevich Vladimir V. , Paldan Jesse R.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, an investigation is performed into the optimization of wheel power distribution between the drive axles of an AWD hybrid-electric SUV. The paper presents a criterion to maximize the vehicle’s slip efficiency through control of the kinematic discrepancy factor. The optimization criterion is combined with a mathematical model of a driveline for an AWD hybrid-electric vehicle using a new hybrid-electric power transmitting unit to control power distribution between the front and rear drive wheels. A technical concept is described for the hybrid-electric power transmitting unit that is functionally fused with a series hybrid-electric transmission. The mode of operation of the power transmitting device is described and simulations are performed for a 4×4 hybrid-electric vehicle of different driveline characteristics to compare the influence of driveline type on vehicle energy efficiency, including battery depletion, and vehicle mobility when traveling on a road or off-road under severe terrain conditions.
The Applicability of Hybrid Control to a Small Off-Road Vehicle Without a Differential
Authors: Strydom Anria , Els P. Schalk
Published: January 2015

The use of controllable semi-active damping is considered by the vehicle dynamics community to be a cost effective and fail-safe method to reduce the ride comfort and handling tradeoff of a vehicle. This paper investigates the semi-active control of a suspension system for a 4-wheeled single seated off-road vehicle for both ride comfort and handling. The test vehicle is distinct with several characteristics that are not commonly observed on normal vehicles or addressed in existing literature. For instance, the absence of a differential in the driveline causes drivability and handling issues that are aggravated by increased damping. The suspension system contains controllable dampers and passive hydro-pneumatic spring-damper units. Passive damping is not entirely eliminated from the suspension, but the effect of various passive damping factors on the performance of the suspension is also investigated. Skyhook and groundhook control is implemented on a nonlinear, three-dimensional, 12 degrees of freedom simulation model to determine the achievable improvement in ride comfort and handling ability of the test vehicle. Simulation results show that reduced passive damping is capable of improving both the ride comfort and maneuverability of the test vehicle.
3D Reconstruction of Individual Tooth Shapes by Integrating Dental CAD Templates and Patient-Specific Anatomy
Authors: Barone Sandro , Paoli Alessandro , Razionale Armando V. , Savignano Roberto
Published: January 2015

The accurate reconstruction of a human digital dental model represents a wide research area within the orthodontic field due to its importance for the customization of patient treatments. Usually, 3-D dental root geometries are obtained by segmenting tomographic data. However, concerns about radiation doses may be raised since tomographic scans produce a greater X-ray dose than conventional 2-D panoramic radiographs (PAN). The present work is aimed at investigating the possibility to retrieve 3-D shape of individual teeth by exposing the patient to the minimum radiation dose. The proposed methodology is based on adapting general CAD templates over patient-specific dental anatomy, which is reconstructed by integrating the optical digitization of dental plaster models with a PAN image. The radiographic capturing process is simulated through the Discrete Radon Transform (DRT) and performed onto the patient crowns geometry obtained by segmenting the digital plaster model. A synthetic PAN image is then reconstructed and used to integrate the radiographic data within the digitized plaster model, thus allowing to retrieve roots information which guide the CAD templates adapting over the patient anatomy.
A Novel Hybrid 3-RPR Mechanism With Scalable Platforms for Self-Crossing Locomotion
Authors: Li Ruiming , Miao Zhihuai , Yao Yan’an , Kong Xianwen
Published: January 2015

To investigate novel mobile robots is still of its fantasy. In this paper, we proposed a novel hybrid 3-RPR mechanism with scalable platforms for self-crossing locomotion. The hybrid mechanism is constructed by replacing the lower and upper rigid platforms of over-constrained 3-RPR parallel mechanism (PM) each with a scalable planar 3P mechanism. Through the contraction and expansion of the two scalable platforms, the mechanism can achieve a novel locomotion, which is called self-crossing locomotion (SCL). By actuating three limbs, the mechanism can also achieve inchworm locomotion and combined locomotion of SCL and inchworm locomotion. The mobility and kinematic analysis of the mechanism are then dealt with. As a demonstration, the pipe-climbing gaits with the above modes of locomotion are planned. According to the gaits analysis, the mechanism can adapt to a wide range of pipe diameters and overcome bigger fracture in pipe. The specific mechanical design is introduced and the prototype is fabricated to verify the feasible of the mechanism.
Evaluating Compliant Hinge Geometries for Origami-Inspired Mechanisms
Authors: Delimont Isaac L. , Magleby Spencer P. , Howell Larry L.
Published: January 2015

Origami-inspired design is an emerging field capable of producing compact and efficient designs. Compliant hinges are proposed as a way to replicate the folding motion of paper when using non-paper materials. Compliant hinges function as surrogate folds and can be defined as localized reduction of stiffness. The purpose of this paper is to organize and evaluate selected surrogate folds for use in compliant mechanisms. These surrogate folds are characterized based on the desired motion as well as motions typically considered parasitic. Additionally the surrogate folds’ ability to rotate through large deflections and their stability of center of rotation are evaluated. Existing surrogate folds are reviewed and closed-form solutions presented. A diagram intended as a straightforward design guide is presented. Areas for potential development in the surrogate fold design space are noted.