bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Kinematics in Cruciate Retaining and Posterior Stabilized for Fixed and Rotating Platform Mobile-Bearing Total Knee Arthroplasty with respect to Different Posterior Tibial Slope
Authors: Kang Kyoung-Tak , Koh Yong-Gon , Son Juhyun , Kwon Oh-Ryong , Lee Jun-Sang , Kwon Sae Kwang
Published: June 2018

Reconstructed posterior tibial slope (PTS) plays a significant role in kinematics restoration after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the effect of increased and decreased PTS on prosthetic type and design has not yet been investigated. We used a finite element model, validated using in vitro data, to evaluate the effect of PTS on knee kinematics in cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilized (PS) fixed TKA and rotating platform mobile-bearing TKA. Anterior-posterior tibial translation and internal-external tibial rotation were investigated for PTS ranging from -3° to 15°, with increments of 1°, for three different designs of TKA. Tibial posterior translation and external rotation increased as the PTS increased in both CR and PS TKAs. In addition, there was no remarkable difference in external rotation between CR and PS TKAs. However, for the mobile-bearing TKA, PTS had less effect on the kinematics. Based on our computational simulation, PTS is the critical factor that influences kinematics in TKA, especially in the CR TKA. Therefore, the surgeon should be careful in choosing the PTS in CR TKAs.
Inhibition of Amphiphilic N-Alkyl-O-carboxymethyl Chitosan Derivatives on Alternaria macrospora
Authors: Liu Qili , Zhang Jianxin , Li Dong , Lang Jianfeng , Zai Shasha , Hao Jianjun , Wang Xiaohui
Published: June 2018

Cotton leaf spot (Alternaria macrospora) is a widespread disease that occurs in the main cotton-producing area of China. In managing this disease, a novel chitosan-based biopesticide, an amphiphilic N-alkyl-O-carboxymethyl chitosan derivative, was prepared. The product was selected from variations of chitosan with different molecular structures, which were obtained via a two-step reaction. First, carboxymethyl chitosans with varying molecular sizes were obtained by etherification with chloroacetic acid; then the carboxymethyl chitosan was alkylated with C4–C12 fatty aldehyde through a Schiff-base reaction. This procedure resulted in derivatives of amphiphilic N-alkyl-O-carboxymethyl chitosan, which showed strong antifungal activities against A. macrospora, and the efficacy was determined by its molecular structure.
Particle Equilibrium Method for Crack Propagation Simulation
Authors: Xiong Bo-Bo , Tian Bin , Lu Xiao-chun
Published: June 2018

Crack propagation simulation is constantly of great significance. This study presents the particle equilibrium method (PEM) to achieve this goal. PEM is based on the idealization of the problem domain as an assemblage of distinct particles, which release interaction forces to their surrounding particles. Once the distance between two particles exceeds the extreme distance, a permanent crack will emerge between them. The function of interaction force describes the mechanical response of elastic and plastic materials. The calculated structure attains its final state to the external load when all the particles reach the equilibrium condition of force. A calculation program is developed based on the proposed method’s theory and is applied to three numerical examples with reliable calculation results.
A Rare Case of ALK-Positive Large B-Cell Lymphoma with CD33 Expression
Authors: Corean Jessica , Li K. David
Published: June 2018

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive large B-cell lymphoma (ALK+ LBCL) is a very rare and aggressive subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma characterized by ALK rearrangement. Immunophenotypically, the tumor cells are typically negative for common B-cell markers, T-cell markers, and CD30; however, they express markers of terminally differentiated B cells/plasma cells such as CD38, CD138, and MUM-1/IRF4. The diagnosis of ALK+ LBCL can be challenging, and often a large panel of immunostains is required to exclude other hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic neoplasms. To date, approximately 130–140 cases have been reported, but here we report the first known case of ALK+ LBCL with unusual CD33 expression.
Ethical Use and Impact of Participatory Approaches to Research in Post-Disaster Environments: An Australian Bushfire Case Study
Authors: Gibbs L. , Block K. , MacDougall C. , Harms L. , Baker E. , Richardson J. , Ireton G. , Gallagher H. C. , Bryant R. , Lusher D. , Pattison P. , Watson J. , Gillett J. , Pirrone A. , Molyneaux R. , Sexton-Bruce S. , Forbes D.
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a case study of Beyond Bushfires, a large, multisite, mixed method study of the psychosocial impacts of major bushfires in Victoria, Australia. A participatory approach was employed throughout the study which was led by a team of academic investigators in partnership with service providers and government representatives and used on-site visits and multiple methods of communication with communities across the state to inform decision-making throughout the study. The ethics and impacts of conducting and adapting the approach within a post-disaster context will be discussed in reference to theories and models of participatory health research. The challenges of balancing local interests with state-wide implications will also be explored in the description of the methods of engagement and the study processes and outcomes. Beyond Bushfires demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating participatory methods in large, post-disaster research studies and achieving rigorous findings and multilevel impacts, while recognising the potential for some of the empowering aspects of the participatory experience to be reduced by the scaled-up approach.
Fresh and Hardened Properties of Self‐Leveling Mortars with Porcelain and Red Ceramic Wastes
Authors: Pereira Valdir M. , Camarini Gladis
Published: June 2018

Self‐leveling mortar (SLM) has several advantages when compared to the conventional mortar used in subfloors, especially when productivity is desired. In Brazil, the use of SLM is not still widespread related to conventional mortar. Few builders are using it in constructions. In the same way, the sustainable reuse of wastes in building materials is not so great, but it has grown, becoming increasingly important. In Brazil, a great amount of waste is generated by the manufacture of electrical porcelain insulators and red ceramic. These materials are formed mainly by amorphous silicates and aluminosilicates, which when added as cement replacement can generate pozzolanic reactions. The present study evaluated the feasibility of using such wastes to replace cement to make SLM. Mortars were studied in the fresh state (fluidity, segregation and/or bleeding, outflow rate, outflow time, and kinetics of temperature) and in the hardened state (compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, capillary water absorption, water penetration height, and air permeability). According to the results, the cement replacement by porcelain or ceramic in SLM diminishes the flow and increases the setting time. The compressive strength is higher than the minimum related to literature, and the low values of water absorption and permeability were reached with porcelain waste.
Integral Inequalities Involving Strongly Convex Functions
Authors: Song Ying-Qing , Adil Khan Muhammad , Zaheer Ullah Syed , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: June 2018

We study the notions of strongly convex function as well as F-strongly convex function. We present here some new integral inequalities of Jensen’s type for these classes of functions. A refinement of companion inequality to Jensen’s inequality established by Matić and Pečarić is shown to be recaptured as a particular instance. Counterpart of the integral Jensen inequality for strongly convex functions is also presented. Furthermore, we present integral Jensen-Steffensen and Slater’s inequality for strongly convex functions.
Evaluating the Effects of Kinesthetic Biofeedback Delivered Using Reaction Wheels on Standing Balance
Authors: Afzal Muhammad Raheel , Eizad Amre , Palo Peña Carlos Ernesto , Yoon Jungwon
Published: June 2018

Aging, injury, or ailments can contribute to impaired balance control and increase the risk of falling. Provision of light touch augments the sense of balance and can thus reduce the amount of body sway. In this study, a wearable reaction wheel-based system is used to deliver light touch-based balance biofeedback on the subject’s back. The system can sense torso tilt and, using reaction wheels, generates light touch. A group of 7 healthy young individuals performed balance tasks under 12 trial combinations based on two conditions each of standing stance and surface types and three of biofeedback device status. Torso tilt data, collected from a waist-mounted smartphone during all the trials, were analyzed to determine the efficacy of the system. Provision of biofeedback by the device significantly reduced RMS of mediolateral (ML) trunk tilt (p<0.05) and ML trunk acceleration (p<0.05). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant interaction between stance and surface on reduction in RMS of ML trunk tilt, AP trunk tilt, ML trunk acceleration, and AP trunk acceleration. The device shows promise for further applications such as virtual reality interaction and gait rehabilitation.
Polymorphisms in Autophagy-Related Gene IRGM Are Associated with Susceptibility to Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases
Authors: Yao Qiu-ming , Zhu Yuan-feng , Wang Wen , Song Zhen-yu , Shao Xiao-qing , Li Ling , Song Rong-hua , An Xiao-fei , Qin Qiu , Li Qian , Zhang Jin-an
Published: June 2018

Background. To date, studies have shown that polymorphisms in an autophagy-related gene, IRGM, are linked with different diseases, especially autoimmune diseases. The present study aimed to examine the roles of IRGM polymorphisms in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Methods. Three polymorphisms in IRGM gene (rs10065172, rs4958847, and rs13361189) were genotyped in 1569 participants (488 with Graves’ disease, 292 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and 789 healthy controls) using PCR-based ligase detection reaction method. Gene-disease associations were evaluated for the three SNPs. Results. T allele of rs10065172, A allele of rs4958847, and C allele of rs13361189 were all higher in Graves’ disease patients than controls, and the ORs were OR = 1.207 (P=0.022), OR = 1.207 (P=0.027), and OR = 1.200 (P=0.027), respectively. After adjusting for sex and age, rs10065172 and rs13361189 were still associated with GD under both the allele model and dominant model, and the adjusted ORs for rs10065172 were 1.20 (P=0.033) and 1.33 (P=0.024), while the adjusted ORs for rs13361189 were 1.19 (P=0.042) and 1.33 (P=0.026), respectively. No significant difference was found between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients and controls. Haplotype analysis found that CTA frequency was distinguishingly higher in Graves’ disease patients (OR = 1.195, P=0.030). The frequency of TCG haplotype was distinguishingly lower in AITD and Graves’ disease patients (OR = 0.861, P=0.044; OR = 0.816, P=0.017). Conclusions. Our study reveals IRGM as a susceptibility gene of AITD and Graves’ disease for the first time.
Gastrointestinal CMV Disease and Tuberculosis in an AIDS Patient: Synergistic Interaction between Opportunistic Coinfections
Authors: Boaretto Teixeira Fernandes Miriã , Nogueira Moisés Cardoso Pedro Afonso , Bassani Altoé Luiza , Junqueira de Castro Izana , Almeida Rosa da Silva Guilherme , de Araújo Eyer-Silva Walter , Lyrio Sindorf Marcia , Basílio de Oliveira Rodrigo Panno , Velho Mendes de Azevedo Marcelo Costa , Francisco da Cunha Pinto Jorge
Published: June 2018

The AIDS pandemic has made diseases such as tuberculosis, CMV disease, and other opportunistic infections more prevalent; these diseases may even be found to be associated among themselves, and the natural history of each disease may present in an unusual manner. We report the case of a 41-year-old man with HIV (CD4 of 144 cells/dL) and HCV with hematochezia due to tuberculosis in the ileocecal valve and descending colon and CMV tissue invasive disease in the esophagus and descending colon. Coinfection among tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus in the gastrointestinal tract was described only once in a patient with a recent diagnosis of HIV that affected the distal ileum and ascending colon. We will discuss the peculiarities of the case and the behavior of the immune system in the face of simultaneous opportunistic infections. This is a challenging scenario that has scarce publications and is of great clinical importance.
Stability Analysis of Additive Runge-Kutta Methods for Delay-Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Qin Hongyu , Wang Zhiyong , Zhu Fumin , Wen Jinming
Published: June 2018

This paper is concerned with stability analysis of additive Runge-Kutta methods for delay-integro-differential equations. We show that if the additive Runge-Kutta methods are algebraically stable, the perturbations of the numerical solutions are controlled by the initial perturbations from the system and the methods.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Characteristics and Patterns in Patients with Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis
Authors: Fang Hongfei , Codipilly Don C. , Ravi Karthik , Ekbom Dale C. , Kasperbauer Jan L. , Halland Magnus
Published: June 2018

Introduction. Idiopathic subglottic stenosis represents a spectrum of subglottic disease without a clear underlying cause. Prior studies have implicated a pathogenic role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in idiopathic subglottic stenosis. The aim of this study was to examine the presence and pattern of gastroesophageal reflux in a large cohort of patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis at a tertiary referral center. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis from January 2010 to December 2016 who had undergone combined pH impedance testing. Patients with prior gastric or esophageal surgery were excluded. Data obtained included esophageal acid exposure times, number of reflux events, patient position during reflux events (defined as upright, supine, or mixed), body mass index, and the presence of proton pump inhibitor therapy. Results. 159 patients with the idiopathic subglottic stenosis were identified, of whom 41 had undergone esophageal pH impedance testing. 40 (97.6%) were women, with a mean age of 54.8 (range 31–79) years and BMI of 31.0 (range 17–55). Overall, 19 (46.3%) patients were found to reflux as confirmed by abnormal esophageal acid exposure or abnormal number of reflux events. 15 of the 19 patients with reflux had predominantly upright gastroesophageal reflux disease, whereas 2 had supine and 2 mixed reflux. Discussion. In patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis who underwent evaluation by combined pH impedance, close to half were found to have gastroesophageal reflux disease. The majority of gastroesophageal reflux occurred while the patients were in the upright position.
Beneficial Role of Mg2+ in Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension
Authors: Romani Andrea M. P.
Published: June 2018

Hypertension constitutes one of the most widespread pathological conditions in developed and developing countries. Currently, more than 1 billion people worldwide are affected by the condition, either as frank hypertension or as prehypertension, raising the risk for major long-term complications and life-threatening pathologies. The costs in terms of health care services, medications for the treatment of hypertension and its complications, and associated loss in productivity represent a major economic burden for the various countries. The necessity of developing treatments that are economically more sustainable and with better compliance has been increasing alongside the incidence of the pathology. Along these lines, attention has been paid to the implementation of affordable but nutritious diets that deliver appropriate levels of macro- and micronutrients as integral part of the diets themselves or as supplements. In particular, experimental and clinical evidence suggests that an appropriate intake of dietary magnesium can be beneficial in controlling blood pressure. Additional advantages of a more diffuse therapeutic and/or preventive utilization of magnesium supplements are the virtual absence of side-effects and their affordable costs. The present review will attempt to frame our knowledge of how magnesium exerts its beneficial effects on blood pressure maintenance, which may lead to the development of more effective treatments of hypertension and its main complications.
Role of Oxidative Stress in Pathophysiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Masarone Mario , Rosato Valerio , Dallio Marcello , Gravina Antonietta Gerarda , Aglitti Andrea , Loguercio Carmelina , Federico Alessandro , Persico Marcello
Published: June 2018

Liver steatosis without alcohol consumption, namely, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a common hepatic condition that encompasses a wide spectrum of presentations, ranging from simple accumulation of triglycerides in the hepatocytes without any liver damage to inflammation, necrosis, ballooning, and fibrosis (namely, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) up to severe liver disease and eventually cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathophysiology of fatty liver and its progression is influenced by multiple factors (environmental and genetics), in a “multiple parallel‐hit model,” in which oxidative stress plays a very likely primary role as the starting point of the hepatic and extrahepatic damage. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive insight on the present researches and findings on the role of oxidative stress mechanisms in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of NAFLD. With this aim, we evaluated the available data in basic science and clinical studies in this field, reviewing the most recent works published on this topic.
Antitumor Activity Associated with Prolonged Persistence of Adoptively Transferred NY-ESO-1 c259T Cells in Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: D'Angelo Sandra P. , Melchiori Luca , Merchant Melinda S. , Bernstein Donna , Glod John , Kaplan Rosandra , Grupp Stephan , Tap William D. , Chagin Karen , Binder Gwendolyn K. , Basu Samik , Lowther Daniel E. , Wang Ruoxi , Bath Natalie , Tipping Alex , Betts Gareth , Ramachandran Indu , Navenot Jean-Marc , Zhang Hua , Wells Daniel K. , Van Winkle Erin , Kari Gabor , Trivedi Trupti , Holdich Tom , Pandite Lini , Amado Rafael , Mackall Crystal L.
Published: June 2018

We evaluated the safety and activity of autologous T cells expressing NY-ESO-1c259, an affinity-enhanced T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing an HLA-A2–restricted NY-ESO-1/LAGE1a–derived peptide, in patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (NY-ESO-1c259T cells). Confirmed antitumor responses occurred in 50% of patients (6/12) and were characterized by tumor shrinkage over several months. Circulating NY-ESO-1c259T cells were present postinfusion in all patients and persisted for at least 6 months in all responders. Most of the infused NY-ESO-1c259T cells exhibited an effector memory phenotype following ex vivo expansion, but the persisting pools comprised largely central memory and stem-cell memory subsets, which remained polyfunctional and showed no evidence of T-cell exhaustion despite persistent tumor burdens. Next-generation sequencing of endogenous TCRs in CD8+ NY-ESO-1c259T cells revealed clonal diversity without contraction over time. These data suggest that regenerative pools of NY-ESO-1c259T cells produced a continuing supply of effector cells to mediate sustained, clinically meaningful antitumor effects.

Significance: Metastatic synovial sarcoma is incurable with standard therapy. We employed engineered T cells targeting NY-ESO-1, and the data suggest that robust, self-regenerating pools of CD8+ NY-ESO-1c259T cells produce a continuing supply of effector cells over several months that mediate clinically meaningful antitumor effects despite prolonged exposure to antigen. Cancer Discov; 8(8); 944–57. ©2018 AACR.

See related commentary by Keung and Tawbi, p. 914.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 899
Comparison of Outcomes in Conservative versus Surgical Treatments for Ludwig’s Angina
Authors: Edetanlen Benlance Ekaniyere , Saheeb Birch Dauda
Published: June 2018

Objective: To compare the treatment outcomes in patients with early stage Ludwig’s angina who received intravenous antibiotics alone with those who received surgical decompression and intravenous antibiotics. Subjects and Methods: Individuals with early stage Ludwig’s angina were studied using a retrospective cohort study design from August 1997 to September 2017. Data were collected from case notes and logbooks. Appropriate statistical tests were chosen to analyze both the independent and outcome variables. Using 2-tailed test, a level of significance of 0.05 was chosen. Results: A total of 55 patients comprising 38 (69.1%) males and 17 (30.9%) females were studied. The conservative group had a higher number of cases that developed airway compromise (26.3%) when compared to those with surgical approach (2.9%). There was an association between the treatment approach and the development of airway compromise (χ2[1] = 4.83, p = 0.03). Conclusion: There was a higher incidence of airway compromise in patients treated with intravenous antibiotics alone than in those treated with surgical decompression and intravenous antibiotics.
Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XL. Polypodiaceae
Authors: SMITH ALAN R. , KESSLER MICHAEL , LEÓN BLANCA , ALMEIDA THAÍS ELIAS , JIMÉNEZ-PÉREZ IVÁN , LEHNERT MARCUS
Published: June 2018

We provide a synopsis to the family Polypodiaceae in Bolivia, comprising 23 genera and 209 species, which renders this the most species-rich fern family in the country. Two large subfamilies are recognized, Polypodioideae, with 113 species in eight genera, and Grammitidoideae, with 95 species in 14 genera; a third subfamily, Platycerioideae, mostly paleotropical, is represented by one native species in the genus Platycerium. Two new combinations are made: Microgramma nana (Liebm.) T.E.Almeida and Pleopeltis burchellii (Baker) Hickey & Sprunt ex A.R.Sm.
Morphological and molecular characterization of Hemicycliophora subbotini n. sp. (Tylenchida: Hemicycliophoridae) from China
Authors: MARIA MUNAWAR , CAI RUIHANG , QU NAN , CASTILLO PABLO , ZHENG JINGWU
Published: June 2018

Sheath nematodes of the genus Hemicycliophora are migratory root-ectoparasites of many crops, but the damage is documented for only a few species. Hemicycliophora subbotini n. sp., isolated in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, from the rhizosphere of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl), is described and characterized morphologically and molecularly with important morphological details elucidated by SEM studies. The new species can be characterized by the conoid lip region, with bulging oral disc protruding beyond the first annulus in some specimens. Oral disc narrow ovate, amphidial apertures covered by lateral plates, lying in the same plane as oral disc when observed en face. Stylet 118 (108–125) μm long and flexible, stylet knobs concave shaped having a slight cavity. The excretory pore is located 1–2 annuli posterior to the base of pharyngeal bulb. Vulval lips slightly modified with small vulval sleeve, spermatheca rounded to oblong. Anus located 18 (15–22) annuli posterior to vulva. Tail elongated, with conoid or slightly offset spike having a narrowly rounded terminus. The study provides the first description of a new Hemicycliophora species from China. Phylogenetic analyses based on D2–D3 expansion segments of the 28S and ITS fragments revealed the new species forming a separate clade from other Hemicycliophora species which supported the status as a new species of this genus.
New species of Victoriopisa Karaman & Barnard, 1979 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eriopisidae) from Vembanad backwaters, Southwest coast of India
Authors: JOSEPH PHILOMINA , NANDAN S. BIJOY , JAYACHANDRAN P.R.
Published: June 2018

The new species is the third of genus Victoriopisa from Indian waters.The species is described from the Valanthakad mangrove area of Vembanad backwater. Victoriopisa cusatensis sp. nov differs from other species of Victoriopisa by presenting: (1) a characteristic projection at dorsolateral margin of peduncle article 2 of antenna 1in male while smooth in female; (2) broad, triangular lateral cephalic lobe; (3) posteroventral tooth in epimeral plates; (4) presence of lateral and subapical spines in telson (5) smooth palm of gnathopod 2 without any excavations.
Trimetazidine in the Prevention of Tissue Ischemic Conditions
Authors: Kallistratos Manolis S. , Poulimenos Leonidas E. , Giannitsi Sofia , Tsinivizov Pavlos , Manolis Athanasios J.
Published: June 2018

Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a metabolic agent with significant anti-ischemic properties. By inhibiting the terminal enzyme in the β-oxidation pathway, it shifts the energy substrate metabolism, enhancing glucose metabolism. Thus, it maintains the required energy production with less oxygen consumption, an effect necessary in cases of myocardi. Trimetazidine was recently reaccredited as add-on therapy for symptomatic treatment in patients with stable angina, not adequately controlled or intolerant to first-line therapy. Trimetazidine was included in the European Society of Cardioloy 2013 guidelines for the management of stable coronary artery disease. Although TMZ has been used in cardiology for >40 years, only a few studies have assessed its effects in patients with acute ischemic conditions. This review summarizes the current literature regarding the addition of TMZ in patients with acute ischemic conditions (acute myocardial infarction, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass grafting). There is growing evidence from recent studies that the addition of TMZ in patients with such conditions is beneficial in terms of myocardial damage and major cardiac events as well as decreasing reperfusion injury and contrast-induced nephropathy.
Application of Raman Spectroscopy for In-Line Measurement of Dispersion Uniformity of Polypropylene–Polystyrene Blends During Melt Extrusion
Authors: Lei Yu , Huang Xi , Guo Xuemei , Wang Mengmeng , Zhu Shichao , Jin Gang
Published: June 2018

At present, there is a widespread phenomenon that product quality is difficult to monitor during the process of polymer melt modification such as blending, filling, and reinforcement. In consideration of this problem, this paper proposes an in-line Raman spectroscopy technique for measuring dispersion uniformity of polystyrene (PS) in polypropylene (PP)/PS blends during melt extrusion. On the basis of the optimal partial least squares (PLS) calibration model for quantitative determination of PS content in PP/PS, the fluctuations of PS content in extruding PP/PS with a mass percentage of 70 : 30 at different screw rotation speeds were predicted. The coefficient of variation (CV) of PS content at each screw rotation speed was obtained to accurately compare the dispersion uniformity, which was in agreement with the PS dispersion result characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, the sensitivity of the measurement was validated by calculating the CV of PP/PS with mass percentages of 69 : 31 and 71 : 29. All of the above demonstrated that the in-line measurement system of Raman spectroscopy was able to accurately measure the dispersion uniformity of PS during the blending extrusion of PP/PS and demonstrated good sensitivity to minor changes in the blends composition.
How Sanctions Affect Public Opinion in Target Countries: Experimental Evidence From Israel
Authors: Grossman Guy , Manekin Devorah , Margalit Yotam
Published: June 2018

How do economic sanctions affect the political attitudes of individuals in targeted countries? Do they reduce or increase support for policy change? Are targeted, “smart” sanctions more effective in generating public support? Despite the importance of these questions for understanding the effectiveness of sanctions, they have received little systematic attention. We address them drawing on original data from Israel, where the threat of economic sanctions has sparked a contentious policy debate. We first examine the political effects of the European Union’s (EU) 2015 decision to label goods produced in the West Bank, and then expand our analysis by employing a survey experiment that allows us to test the differential impact of sanction type and sender identity. We find that the EU’s decision produced a backlash effect, increasing support for hardline policies and raising hostility toward Europe. Our findings further reveal that individuals are likely to support concessions only in the most extreme and unlikely of circumstances—a comprehensive boycott imposed by a sender perceived as a key strategic ally. These results offer theoretical and policy implications for the study of the effects of economic sanctions.
“Why didn’t you just stay where you were, a relic in the memory of poets?”: Yoruban ritual and sororal commonality in Fémi Òsófisan’s Tègònni: An African Antigone
Authors: Wald Christina
Published: June 2018

This article discusses Fémi Òsófisan’s transnational play Tègònni: An African Antigone in the context of other African and European rewritings of Sophocles’ Antigone. The article argues that Òsófisan employs Yoruban ritual for a postcolonial revision of Greek tragedy that constructs an alternative tradition to the Western claim of Antigone as a foundational text of European democratic identity. Through innovative framing and by multiplying the protagonist, the play emphasizes that Sophocles’ Antigone depends on theatrical reincarnations in order to survive. At the same time, the play’s setting in colonial Yorubaland and its cross-racial casting allowed for oblique criticism of the Nigerian leaders of the late 1990s. In contrast to the usual reception of Antigone as a solitary, heroic martyr who scorns her sister’s apolitical cowardice, Òsófisan presents Tègònni’s rebellion as a collective female movement, thus rewriting Ismene’s role. Òsófisan’s portrayal of sisterly solidarity is paralleled in recent feminist readings and literary rewritings of Sophocles’ Antigone which seek to redeem Ismene as a political agent and to explore interpretations beyond the rejection of female commonality that had been taken as typical of Antigone the character and the play itself.
Narratives of Gay Relationship Development and Commitment
Authors: Epstein Flavio Rose , Fershtman Carolyn Shoshana
Published: June 2018

This study was designed to highlight key narratives and themes that might have contributed to long-term romantic relationship development and commitment among gay men. A group of research participants living in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in a guided imagery exercise, a semi-structured interview, and a feedback meeting. Qualitative data analysis was conducted through narrative analysis. The main themes that emerged included First Impressions, Deepening Relationship, Stigma and Prejudice, Coming out to Self, Coming out to Family, Intimacy and Sexuality, and Relationship Commitment. By describing these themes, this study documents key experiences in gay men’s lives, breaking the silence about gay relationships, and the experiences that shape them. Research participants described the experience of telling their relationship stories while participating as therapeutic. The findings have implications for evidence-based practice with gay men in relationships.
The Nigerian Second Generation at Work in Britain: Ethnoracial Exclusion and Adaptive Strategies
Authors: Imoagene Onoso
Published: June 2018

This article examines the workplace experiences of upwardly mobile second generation Nigerians in Britain. It uses data from semi-structured in-depth interviews with 73 second generation Nigerian adults. The analysis distinguishes between incidents of discrimination and stigmatization (assaults on worth) and finds that incidents of stigmatization were more common than incidents of racial discrimination among the Nigerian second generation. Contextual factors, specifically Britain’s colonial history, national identity, and the cultural repertoire of the British class system shaped how individuals perceived, recognized, and interpreted incidents of ethnoracial exclusion. Strategies of non-response, social adaptability, and conciliation were used both to respond to these incidents of ethnoracial exclusion and facilitate economic mobility. The findings present a more complex story than one of simple racial discrimination for second generation Africans in British workplaces.
Economic impacts of alternative greenspace configurations in fast growing cities: The case of Greater Beijing
Authors: Ma Mingfei , Jin Ying
Published: June 2018

Greenspaces at the city scale, like greenbelts, green-wedges or green-grids, have become well-known instruments for shaping urban economic activity and land use. The economic impacts of such instruments are complex and hard to measure. This article addresses one of the rarely studied problems of measuring the economic impacts of alternative greenspace configurations in fast growing cities. In such cities, there is an uncertain basis for making such greenspace related decisions, for example the assumptions about the cities’ total population and economic activity. Decision makers have few tools to measure and predict the potential economic costs and benefits of alternative greenspace configurations. We present a new model that allows tracking over time of both non-divisible land use decisions and a multitude of gradual adaptations made by businesses and consumers. The model is applied to Greater Beijing, one of the fast growing cities that is actively exploring alternative greenspace configurations to control urban expansion. The modelling results suggest that compared with the trend-development scenario of no greenspace intervention, a strict greenbelt would decrease the overall consumer surplus in Beijing by US$3.3 billion, while an adaptive mix of green-wedges and green-grid would increase consumer surplus by US$3.6 billion per year in 2030. The adaptive configuration also reduces car journeys by 11% in Beijing. More generally, modelling results show that a flexible design of strategic greenspaces and careful siting of new development around metro stations within the designated greenspaces could benefit consumers and promote sustainable travel.
Nursing Home Implementation of Health Information Technology: Review of the Literature Finds Inadequate Investment in Preparation, Infrastructure, and Training
Authors: Ko Michelle , Wagner Laura , Spetz Joanne
Published: June 2018

Health information technology (HIT) is increasingly adopted by nursing homes to improve safety, quality of care, and staff productivity. We examined processes of HIT implementation in nursing homes, impact on the nursing home workforce, and related evidence on quality of care. We conducted a literature review that yielded 46 research articles on nursing homes’ implementation of HIT. To provide additional contemporary context to our findings from the literature review, we also conducted semistructured interviews and small focus groups of nursing home staff (n = 15) in the United States. We found that nursing homes often do not employ a systematic process for HIT implementation, lack necessary technology support and infrastructure such as wireless connectivity, and underinvest in staff training, both for current and new hires. We found mixed evidence on whether HIT affects staff productivity and no evidence that HIT increases staff turnover. We found modest evidence that HIT may foster teamwork and communication. We found no evidence that the impact of HIT on staff or workflows improves quality of care or resident health outcomes. Without initial investment in implementation and training of their workforce, nursing homes are unlikely to realize potential HIT-related gains in productivity and quality of care. Policy makers should consider creating greater incentives for preparation, infrastructure, and training, with greater engagement of nursing home staff in design and implementation.
How Do the Hospital Prices Paid by Medicare Advantage Plans and Commercial Plans Compare With Medicare Fee-for-Service Prices?
Authors: Maeda Jared Lane K. , Nelson Lyle
Published: June 2018

The prices that private insurers pay hospitals have received considerable attention in recent years, but most of that literature has focused on the commercially insured population. Although nearly one-third of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, little is known about the prices paid to hospitals by the private insurers that administer such plans. More information on the hospital prices paid by MA plans would provide additional insights into whether MA prices are more closely tied to Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) prices or commercial prices. Moreover, information on whether the hospital prices paid by MA plans vary with market characteristics or other factors would be useful for evaluating the performance of the MA program and analyzing proposals to modify it. In this study, we compared the hospital prices paid by MA plans and commercial plans with Medicare FFS prices using 2013 claims from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) database. The HCCI claims were used to calculate hospital prices for private insurers, and Medicare’s payment rules were used to estimate Medicare FFS prices. We focused on stays at acute care hospitals in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). We found MA prices to be roughly equal to Medicare FFS prices, on average, but commercial prices were 89% higher than FFS prices. In addition, commercial prices varied greatly across and within MSAs, but MA prices varied much less.
State Capitalism and Entertainment Markets: The Socialist Transformation of Quyi in Tianjin, 1949–1964
Authors: Zhao Mi
Published: June 2018

This article explores the relationship between the state and a persistent entertainment market during the socialist transformation period of 1949–1964. Drawing on the competing narratives in state archives and the oral accounts of performers and Chinese Communist Party cadres, the article examines the interplay of central policies, local practices, and personal experiences in the formation of state-run troupes and new quyi in Tianjin. It reveals that state-run troupes applied various marketing strategies to fulfill the task that the Center had assigned them: achieving self-sufficiency amid local economic difficulties. The central government promoted a state capitalist policy, and yet provided little funding. To support themselves, local leaders employed such marketing approaches as performing for pay at parties (“party performances”), staging quyi opera, and charging audiences on a pay-by-time basis. In a process of policy testing and negotiating among multiple levels of government, central policies were adjusted. This study demonstrates that the cultural reform was not simply a contest between a singular state and the market, but rather that the state existed at multiple levels and the lack of state funding facilitated a market economy. State capitalism laid a foundation for the socialist cultural transformation.
Nonlinear optimal tracking control of spacecraft formation flying with collision avoidance
Authors: Liu Ruixia , Liu Ming , Liu Yuan
Published: June 2018

In this paper, the nonlinear optimal control problem is investigated for spacecraft formation flying with collision avoidance. Based on a nonlinear model of formation flying, two optimal tracking control laws are proposed to ensure the formation pattern converges to the predetermined configuration. The first optimal control law which combines Lyapunov optimizing control with a trajectory-following optimization technique is developed to solve the finite-time nonlinear optimal control problem. For the second controller, an extended [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] method is applied to design a closed-form feedback control scheme for nonlinear control problem of spacecraft formation flying with non-standard cost functions. By taking into account the flying safety, a repulsive control scheme is incorporated in the optimal controller to ensure collision avoidance and minimize the performance index. Finally, a numerical example is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Schooling for multi-agent systems via impulsive containment control algorithms with quantized information
Authors: Zhang Hong-Xiao , Ding Li , Liu Zhi-Wei
Published: June 2018

In the paper, schooling problems based on containment control in multi-agent systems that have static or dynamic leaders under directed and undirected communication topologies are investigated. We propose a periodic impulsive containment control algorithm to realize schooling in multi-agent systems. Both ideal and quantized relative state measurements are considered under this framework. Some necessary and sufficient conditions, which depend on the eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrix that is associated with the communication graph, the impulsive period as well as the gain parameters, are obtained to realize the containment control of schooling. Finally, some numerical simulations are illustrated to verify the theoretical results.
Robust flexible adaptation gain based CRM for guaranteed transient performance
Authors: Dey Rajiv , Jain Sachin K , Padhy Prabin K
Published: June 2018

High adaptation gain in model reference adaptive control (MRAC) with closed-loop reference models (CRMs) is a necessary requirement to ensure guaranteed transient performance with better tracking and fast convergence. The high adaptation gain, however, may excite unmodelled dynamics, leading to instability, making the differential equations of the adaptive law stiff and causing numerical instability. Therefore, it becomes apparent that a compromise is required on either convergence speed and transient performance or system stability. This paper attempts to address these issues with a novel CRM-MRAC architecture with flexible adaptation gain, which varies as a function of the derived parameter estimation error. The proposed adaptive scheme mathematically ensures a designable upper bound of the [Formula: see text] norm; it also ensures the absence of high-frequency oscillations in the control input, thereby making the system more robust and stable. The effectiveness of the proposed work has been validated with simulation studies on a standard numerical example and the performance has been compared with recent similar works.
New classification technique: fuzzy oblique decision tree
Authors: Cai Yuliang , Zhang Huaguang , He Qiang , Sun Shaoxin
Published: June 2018

Based on axiomatic fuzzy set (AFS) theory and fuzzy information entropy, a novel fuzzy oblique decision tree (FODT) algorithm is proposed in this paper. Traditional axis-parallel decision trees only consider a single feature at each non-leaf node, while oblique decision trees partition the feature space with an oblique hyperplane. By contrast, the FODT takes dynamic mining fuzzy rules as a decision function. The main idea of the FODT is to use these fuzzy rules to construct leaf nodes for each class in each layer of the tree; the samples that cannot be covered by the fuzzy rules are then put into an additional node – the only non-leaf node in this layer. Construction of the FODT consists of four major steps: (a) generation of fuzzy membership functions automatically by AFS theory according to the raw data distribution; (b) extraction of dynamically fuzzy rules in each non-leaf node by the fuzzy rule extraction algorithm (FREA); (c) construction of the FODT by the fuzzy rules obtained from step (b); and (d) determination of the optimal threshold [Formula: see text] to generate a final tree. Compared with five traditional decision trees (C4.5, LADtree (LAD), Best-first tree (BFT), SimpleCart (SC) and NBTree (NBT)) and a recently obtained fuzzy rules decision tree (FRDT) on eight UCI machine learning data sets and one biomedical data set (ALLAML), the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other decision trees in both classification accuracy and tree size.
Adaptive PID actuator fault tolerant control of single-link flexible manipulator
Authors: Abd Latip Siti Fadilah , Rashid Husain Abdul , Mohamed Zaharuddin , Mohd Basri Mohd Ariffanan
Published: June 2018

Actuator faults may cause performance degradation of a system and may sometimes even lead to instability. This paper deals with the fault tolerant control problem of a single-link flexible manipulator under a loss of actuator effectiveness. The proposed control scheme uses an adaptive proportional–integral–derivative (APID) controller, which may automatically online tune the three control gains, kp, ki, and kd. The adaptation laws of the APID controller are derived in the sense of the Lyapunov function, so that the stability of the closed-loop system may be guaranteed. The main advantage of the proposed methodology is that no prior offline learning or manual retuning of the PID controller is required to accommodate the actuator fault. In addition, the proposed APID controller does not require any knowledge of the fault magnitude in advance. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach is tested for the hub angular position and tracking control of a single-link flexible manipulator under both faulty and fault-free conditions. The results demonstrate that the approach is valid, leading to an accurate fault reconstruction, a better transient and good tracking performance, and significantly improved upon previous approaches in terms of errors with respect to the corresponding traditional fixed-gain PID controller.
Optimal boundary control of a continuum model for a highly re-entrant manufacturing system
Authors: Sun Bing , Wu Mi-Xia
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we are concerned with the optimal boundary control of a continuum model for a highly re-entrant manufacturing system. Using the Dubovitskii–Milyutin functional analytical approach, we establish the Pontryagin maximum principles for the optimal boundary control problems in both fixed and free final time horizon cases. A remark is then made about the application of the obtained results.
Statistical Power for the Comparative Regression Discontinuity Design With a Pretest No-Treatment Control Function: Theory and Evidence From the National Head Start Impact Study
Authors: Tang Yang , Cook Thomas D.
Published: June 2018

The basic regression discontinuity design (RDD) has less statistical power than a randomized control trial (RCT) with the same sample size. Adding a no-treatment comparison function to the basic RDD creates a comparative RDD (CRD); and when this function comes from the pretest value of the study outcome, a CRD-Pre design results. We use a within-study comparison (WSC) to examine the power of CRD-Pre relative to both basic RDD and RCT. We first build the theoretical foundation for power in CRD-Pre, then derive the relevant variance formulae, and finally compare them to the theoretical RCT variance. We conclude from this theoretical part of this article that (1) CRD-Pre’s power gain depends on the partial correlation between the pretest and posttest measures after conditioning on the assignment variable, (2) CRD-Pre is less responsive than basic RDD to how the assignment variable is distributed and where the cutoff is located, and (3) under a variety of conditions, the efficiency of CRD-Pre is very close to that of the RCT. Data from the National Head Start Impact Study are then used to construct RCT, RDD, and CRD-Pre designs and to compare their power. The empirical results indicate (1) a high level of correspondence between the predicted and obtained power results for RDD and CRD-Pre relative to the RCT, and (2) power levels in CRD-Pre and RCT that are very close. The study is unique among WSCs for its focus on the correspondence between RCT and observational study standard errors rather than means.