bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disperse Systems Based on the Structure and Properties of Oligomer Blends
Authors: Kandyrin L.B. , Surikov P.V. , Kuleznev V.N.
Published: September 2018

This article demonstrates the potential for both homogeneous and heterogeneous structures to form in oligomer blends. The nature of the dependence of viscosity on the composition of the heterophase blend has been found to be governed by the phenomenon of wetting of the surface of the disperse phase dispersion medium. Selectivity offiller distribution in oligomer blends is shown. Also demonstrates the potential for filler formation during the actual composite matrix curing process.
Heat-Resistant Films of Silanol-Crosslinked Polyethylene
Authors: Markov A.V. , Kuleznev V.N. , Ivanov V.V. , Persits V.G. , Markov V.A. , Krivolapova O.V.
Published: September 2018

This article looks at the process of silanol crosslinking of high-pressure polyethylene using the PENTA®-1002 modifier. Demonstrates that silanol-crosslinked PE films with a gel fraction content of over 50% may be used at high temperatures, as when this is done, a sparse but continuous network of chemical intermolecular bonds is formed in the polyethylene.
Effect of Orientation Stretching on the Geometric Shape of Track-Etched Polyethylene Terephthalate Membranes
Authors: Vlasov S.V. , Kochnev Yu.K. , Vilenskii A.I. , Sultanova N.M. , Mchedlishvili B.V.
Published: September 2018

This article looks at the effect of orientation stretching of irradiated polyethylene terephthalate films on the shape of the pores formed during chemical pore etching. Shows that orientation stretching enables latent tracks in the polymer to be stretched, which gives rise to track membranes with elliptical pores. Examines the effect of deformation of irradiated polymer on the structure and physical/mechanical characteristics of the track membranes formed. It is assumed that the change in the polymer structure resulting from heavy-ion irradiation may be linked to local heating at the locations where the charged particles pass.
High-Density Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites with Low-Melting Diurethane Plasticisers
Authors: Tereshatov V.V. , Strel'nikov V.N. , Senichev V.Yu. , Krasnosel'skikh S.F.
Published: September 2018

High-density pure thermoplastic polyurethanes with low-melting diurethane plasticisers were obtained, and the laws governing the formation of the physicomechanical properties of polyurethane composites filled with microdispersed tungsten were studied.
Modelling of the Permeability of Needle-Punched and Calendered Materials
Authors: Dedov A.V.
Published: September 2018

Approaches to describing the flow of fluids as applied to air filtration are investigated. It is shown that the coefficient of porosity of the filter material is unsuitable for assessing permeability.
Electrical Properties of a Polymer Composite Based on Waste Umbrella Fabric Containing Polycaproamide and Polyethylene Terephthalate
Authors: Mironovich L.M. , Pavlenko A.A.
Published: September 2018

It has been established that a polymer composite based on waste umbrella fabric (UFPC) has a dielectric loss tangent tg δ of 0.054. The electric strength (12.15 kV/mm) confirms the dielectric properties of the polymer composite. For a water-filled specimen, a small drop in electric strength to 10.09 kV/mm occurs, which enables the UFPC to be used under natural conditions as electrical insulation material, including cable grip material. The water absorption of the UFPC was investigated. It was established that the water absorption of the UFPC (4.25%) depends on the time of water absorption, correlates with the composition, and lies at the level of the water absorption of glass- and mineral-filled polyamides. The surface topography of the UFPC before and after water absorption is given.
Investigating the Effect of Extrusion Processing of Polyethylenes on their Molecular Weight and Physicomechanical Characteristics
Authors: Abbasov A.M. , Bilalov Ya.M. , Abbasova L.M.
Published: September 2018

An investigation was made of the process of extrusion processing of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) (CEB-1 and CEH-1) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with the aim of studying the effect of a change in their fractional composition on the properties of articles.
Improving the Stability of Magnetic Fillers in Plastics during Processing
Authors: Gardocki A. , Drummer D. , Schmachtenberg E.
Published: September 2018

Polymer-bonded permanent magnets can be cost-effectively produced by injection moulding of polymers with magnetic fillers. Rare-earth fillers (RE) such as NdFeB or SmCo have substantially better magnetic properties as compared with other permanent magnetic fillers. Nevertheless, they are highly reactive and susceptible to oxidation, and this leads to polymer degradation and filler oxidation during processing. This paper considers two different approaches to improving the stability of rare earth-filled compounds during processing: inert processing and filler coating.
Weather-Resistant Composite Materials Based on Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene Modified with Organosilicon and Organometallic Compounds
Authors: Kalinina N.K. , So Arkar , Mishkin S.I. , Kostromina N.V. , Osipchik V.S.
Published: September 2018

An investigation was made of the effect of organosilicon and organometallic compounds on the weather resistance of systems based on chlorosulphonated polyethylene. The effects of modification with tetrabutoxytitanium, ethyl silicate, and titanosiloxanes on the water and acid resistance, the steam permeability, and also the resistance to UV radiation and elevated temperatures were studied.
Investigating Features of the Modification of Polyvinyl Chloride with Polybutadiene Maleinisation Products
Authors: Tikhonov N.N. , Kirin B.S. , Egorov V.N.
Published: September 2018

Comprehensive studies of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) modified with the maleinisation products of low-molecular-weight polybutadiene were carried out. The region of modifier concentrations that corresponds to the optimum combination of properties of PVC-based polymeric materials was established. The possibility of complex control of the properties of polyvinyl chloride using oligomer modifiers was shown. It was established that the effectiveness of the modifying action of the additive is connected with the degree of maleinisation of polybutadiene and with the modifier content.
Scientific and Technical Problems of Producing Composite Materials Based on Structural Thermoplastics
Authors: Kravchenko T.P. , Ermakov S.N. , Kerber M.L. , Kostyagina V.A.
Published: September 2018

An examination is made of the scientific and technical problems arising in the development and production of thermoplastic blends.
Nanofilled Polymer Systems for Biomedical Tribology
Authors: Krasnov A.P. , Osipchik V.S. , Klabukova L.F. , Afonicheva O.V. , Mit V.A. , Tikhonov N.N. , Said-Galiev E.E. , Nikolaev A.Yu. , Vasil'kov A.Yu. , Naumkin A.V.
Published: September 2018

An investigation was made of the role of nanosized biocompatible polymer systems based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in the formation of the friction surface and tribological properties of nanocomposites. The investigation was conducted on porous (including micro- and nanoporous) UHMWPE modified with supercritical carbon dioxide, nanosized silver, and dispersed hydroxyapatite. It was found that, during processing, modified UHMWPE forms a microporous surface that, during friction, ensures discrete contact of the interacting bodies. The introduction into modified UHMWPE of small amounts (0.05–0.4%) of nanosized silver and dispersed hydroxyapatite considerably stabilises the discrete surface relief and improves the tribological properties, and here nanosilver is far more efficient than hydroxyapatite.
The Development of Illumination-Engineering Polymer Composites
Authors: Lazareva T.K. , Andreeva T.I. , Osipchik V.S. , Kravchenko T.P.
Published: September 2018

Composite materials for the diffusers of modern instruments with light-emitting diodes are examined.
Properties Prediction of Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composites during Melt Processing
Authors: Lellinger D. , Skipa T. , Saphiannikova M. , Conzen C. , Meyer H. , Alig I.
Published: September 2018

Detailed knowledge on the dependence of material and component properties on the processing conditions during melt processing of carbon nanotube-polymer composites is of importance for product quality and economic efficiency. Combining of in-line process monitoring, laboratory tests, development of material models and implementation into process simulation can contribute to optimise the manufacturing process and the electrical and mechanical properties of the final plastic parts.
Properties of Composite Materials Based on High-Impact Polystyrene
Authors: Kakhramanov N.T. , Alieva R.V. , Bagirova Sh.R.
Published: September 2018

In order to improve the physical and mechanical properties of specimens of high-impact polystyrene, a graft copolymer of atactic polypropylene with styrene was introduced into its composition. The graft copolymer is distinguished by the fact that there is no homopolymer of the monomer being grafted, i.e. polystyrene, in its composition. It was found that, depending on the length and distribution frequency of the grafted chains, the introduction of the graft copolymer helps to improve the breaking stress, bending strength and impact strength of the composite material.
Polymers as Natural Nanocomposites: Description of the Elasticity Modulus within the Framework of Micromechanical Models
Authors: Bashorov M.T. , Kozlov G.V. , Mikitaev A.K.
Published: September 2018

It has been demonstrated that the modified Kerner equation provides a good description of the elastic properties of linear amorphous polycarbonate. This makes it possible to consider the polymer in question as a natural nanocomposite. The factors that influence the polycarbonate shear modulus are examined.
Moulding Properties of Highly-Filled Composites Based on Polypropylene and Wood Flour
Authors: Ishkov A.V. , Panov Yu.T.
Published: September 2018

This paper presents the results of studies of the moulding properties of highly-filled wood-polymer composites (WPCs) based on polypropylene. Studies were made of the properties of WPCs produced using an injection moulding method.
Housing affordability: Is new local supply the key?
Authors: Fingleton Bernard , Fuerst Franz , Szumilo Nikodem
Published: September 2018

This paper seeks to predict the impact of future housing supply on the affordability of residential space in the United Kingdom, using quantitative model-based simulation methods. Our spatially disaggregated analysis focuses on the greater South East region, approximately within 1.5 hours commuting time from Central London. A dynamic spatial panel model is applied to account for observed temporal variations in property prices and housing affordability across districts. The dynamic structure of this model allows us to assess the scale and extent of knock-on effects of local supply shocks in one district on other districts in the region. These complex spatial effects have been largely ignored in local or regional housing market forecasting models to date. Applying this model, we are able to demonstrate that local house prices and affordability are not only determined by the underlying supply and demand conditions in the market in question, but also depend crucially on conditions in neighbouring housing markets whose properties can be considered close substitutes within a larger regional housing market. We also show that increasing housing supply in the most critical areas has little impact on (both local and regional) affordability, even if wages do not change in response to an increase in employment.
Energy response of S355 and 41Cr4 steel during fatigue crack growth process
Authors: Lesiuk Grzegorz , Szata Mieczysław , Rozumek Dariusz , Marciniak Zbigniew , Correia José , De Jesus Abílio
Published: September 2018

In this research, a novel approach of the fatigue crack growth rate description has been proposed. Based on theoretical and experimental approach, the mean stress effect expressed by R-ratio is present in classical da/dN–Δ K diagram. According to energy approach – based on the irrevocably dissipated energy accumulated in material (hysteresis loop) during fatigue process – the mean stress effect can be minimalized. Experimental validation of the proposed model was performed using results of fatigue crack propagation data for S355 and 41Cr4 steels in terms of strain energy density parameter Δ S or cyclic J-integral range –Δ J. In contrast to the force approach based on Kmax (or Δ K), the energy parameters Δ S or Δ J represent unambiguously the fatigue crack propagation rate, without influence of mean stress effect – R-ratio. However, in near threshold range of kinetic fatigue fracture diagram, the energy parameter displays a slight dispersion of the experimental data. According to the crack closure theory and its U-Elber parameter, the dispersion of experimental data is decreased. Therefore, the crack closure effects have a high significance in energy model – similar to the ‘force approach’ based on Δ K concept.
Modeling the Structural Relationships of Activity-Travel Participation of Working Women
Authors: Rafiq Rezwana , McNally Michael G.
Published: September 2018

The structural relationships between work and non-work activity participation and associated travel engagements are developed for single working mothers and married working mothers. Multiple-group structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to analyze the relationships between work and non-work time usage of the two groups for both in-home and out-of-home contexts. Non-work activities are childcare, maintenance, and discretionary activities. In addition to revealing interrelationships between work and non-work activity participation for each group, this multiple-group SEM model allows for the comparison of how these relationships differ across the two study groups. Data were obtained from the American Time Use Survey for 2012. The resulting model shows that these two groups demonstrate statistically significant differences in their activity interactions in terms of how participation in an activity affects the duration of other activities and travel. The model also captures the different degree of impacts of household and person-level socio-demographic characteristics (exogenous effects) of these two groups on activity participation (activity duration) and travel engagement (travel time). The findings of this research advance the understanding of the activity participation and time-allocation decisions made by working mothers, which can lead toward policy formulation for them in terms of social, land-use planning, and activity-based approach perspectives.
Simultaneous Estimation of Flexible Models and Associated Hyperparameters: An Application to Travel Activity-Duration Modeling
Authors: Emaasit Daniel , Paz Alexander
Published: September 2018

Estimation of flexible-statistical models of travel demand involves tuning varying parameters, hyperparameters, manually and iteratively. Proper tuning of hyperparameters results in superior models. However, considerable expertise, including technical knowledge of statistics, data mining or machine learning, and experience are required to tune hyperparameters and consequently generate appropriate models. Moreover, tuning hyperparameters is prone to subjective error and consequently produces travel demand models that are difficult to reproduce and extend, and makes the development more an art than a science. There is a need for methods to reduce or eliminate subjectivity during the tuning process. This study proposed a framework to reduce subjectivity during the tuning of hyperparameters required for the estimation of nonparametric models of activity-duration. That is, a flexible-statistical framework, which leverages state-of-the-art innovations in Bayesian optimization (BO), was proposed to estimate Gaussian process models of activity duration and associated hyperparameters. The framework was applied to estimate duration models for five types of out-of-home non-mandatory activity episodes for household individuals in the greater Los Angeles area. Experiments demonstrate that the accuracy of results from the proposed framework are superior to those from the current tuning process, and are obtained in a fraction of the time. The proposed framework could potentially increase the productivity of modelers by reducing time required to tune hyperparameters.
Closed-Course Study to Assess the Conspicuity of Wrong-Way Driving Countermeasures
Authors: Finley Melisa D. , Miles Jeffrey D.
Published: September 2018

Alcohol has been found to be the primary contributing factor in many wrong-way crash studies. Thus, Texas A&M Transportation Institute researchers conducted a night-time closed-course study to assess the conspicuity of select signing and pavement marking wrong-way driving countermeasures from the perspective of alcohol-impaired drivers. Lowering the sign height, making the sign larger (i.e., oversized), adding red retroreflective material to the sign support, or adding flashing red light-emitting diodes around the border of the sign did not improve the ability of the alcohol-impaired drivers to locate WRONG WAY signs in a search task. However, in post-task assessments it was the opinion of the participants that the oversized sign, red retroreflective material, and flashing lights made it easier to find the WRONG WAY sign. The participants also thought that these three countermeasures caught their attention more than the standard size WRONG WAY sign mounted at 7 ft. Researchers did not find a significant difference in the recognition time between standard and modified wrong-way arrow marking designs. The modified arrow had a narrower head that provided equivalent recognition while potentially reducing maintenance costs. The participants also similarly assessed the ease at which they could find the two arrow designs among the other markings. Thus, it appears that the modified design performed as well as the current design. Researchers recommend implementing the modified wrong-way arrow design as existing wrong-way arrows are replaced.
Effect of Light Duty Vehicle Performance on a Driving Style Metric
Authors: Tanvir Shams , Frey H. Christopher , Rouphail Nagui M.
Published: September 2018

Eco-driving involves alterations to driving style to improve energy efficiency. The observed driving style reflects the combined effects of roadway, traffic, driver, and vehicle performance. Although the effect of roadway and traffic characteristics can be inferred from microscale driving activity data, the effect of vehicle performance on driving style is not properly understood. This paper addresses two questions: (1) how different is an individual driver’s driving style when operating vehicles with differences in performance?; and (2) how dissimilar are the driving styles of different drivers when operating vehicles that have similar performance? To answer these questions, we have gathered microscale vehicle activity measurements from 17 controlled real-world driving schedules and two years of naturalistic driving data from five drivers. We also developed a metric for driving style termed “envelope deviation,” which is a distribution of gaps between microscale activity (1 Hz) and fleet average envelope. We found that there is significant inter-driver heterogeneity in driving styles when controlling for vehicle performance. However, no significant inter-vehicle heterogeneity was present in driving styles while controlling for the driver. Findings from this study imply that the choice of vehicle does not significantly alter the natural driving style of a driver.
Dijkstra’s-DBSCAN: Fast, Accurate, and Routable Density Based Clustering of Traffic Incidents on Large Road Network
Authors: Zhang Yang , Han Lee D. , Kim Hyun
Published: September 2018

Incident hotspots are used as a direct indicator of the needs for road maintenance and infrastructure upgrade, and an important reference for investment location decisions. Previous incident hotspot identification methods are all region based, ignoring the underlying road network constraints. We first demonstrate how region based hotspot detection may be inaccurate. We then present Dijkstra’s-DBSCAN, a new network based density clustering algorithm specifically for traffic incidents which combines a modified Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm with DBSCAN (density based spatial clustering of applications with noise). The modified Dijkstra’s algorithm, instead of returning the shortest path from a source to a target as the original algorithm does, returns a set of nodes (incidents) that are within a requested distance when traveling from the source. By retrieving the directly reachable neighbors using this modified Dijkstra’s algorithm, DBSCAN gains its awareness of network connections and measures distance more practically. It avoids clustering incidents that are close but not connected. The new approach extracts hazardous lanes instead of regions, and so is a much more precise approach for incident management purposes; it reduces the [Formula: see text] computational cost to [Formula: see text], and can process the entire U.S. network in seconds; it has routing flexibility and can extract clusters of any shape and connections; it is parallellable and can utilize distributed computing resources. Our experiments verified the new methodology’s capability of supporting safety management on a complicated surface street configuration. It also works for customized lane configuration, such as freeways, freeway junctions, interchanges, roundabouts, and other complex combinations.
Sensitivity analysis on the microscale combustion calorimeter for polyurethane foam using a full factorial design methodology
Authors: Wilkens Flecknoe-Brown Konrad , van Hees Patrick
Published: September 2018

A sensitivity analysis on test outcomes from the microscale combustion calorimeter was performed using flexible polyurethane foam as the sample material. Three input factors were investigated: sample preparation, heating rate and pyrolysis chamber atmosphere. The experiments were setup according to the principles of design of experiments and a full factorial design was implemented. In total, 39 experiments were performed as part of this study: 27 unique tests and 12 repeat experiments. Results from the microscale combustion calorimeter showed excellent repeatability in most cases. Sample inhomogeneity was suggested as a possible explanation for the variation observed. A statistical analysis was performed to quantitatively assess how each input factor affected the test results. Analysis showed that all three factors had some effect on the test outcomes, with heating rates and pyrolysis chamber atmosphere proving to be the most influential in regard to the analysed output quantities. Increasing the heating rate from 15 to 180°C/min illustrated the effects of thermal lag, increasing the temperatures at which the sample reactions took place. Interaction effects between input parameters were also observed. The pyrolysis chamber atmosphere, either inert or oxidative, was observed to have the largest effect on the tested output parameters. The energy release was observed to decrease with the introduction of 20% oxygen. Increasing the oxygen levels also produced a drop in the peak reaction temperatures; this was consistent for all tested atmospheres (from 0% to 10% and 10% to 20% oxygen). This study illustrated that outcomes from this apparatus, for materials such as flexible polyurethane foam, can be dependent on sample preparation as well as heating rate and testing atmosphere. In addition, it highlights the importance of apparatus characterisation for less homogeneous materials to understand how input factors choices can influence the outcomes of the tests performed.
White Light During Daytime Does Not Improve Alertness in Well-rested Individuals
Authors: Lok Renske , Woelders Tom , Gordijn Marijke C. M. , Hut Roelof A. , Beersma Domien G. M.
Published: September 2018

Broad-spectrum light applied during the night has been shown to affect alertness in a dose-dependent manner. The goal of this experiment was to investigate whether a similar relationship could be established for light exposure during daytime. Fifty healthy participants were subjected to a paradigm (0730-1730 h) in which they were intermittently exposed to 1.5 h of dim light (<10 lux) and 1 h of experimental light (24-2000 lux). The same intensity of experimental light was used throughout the day, resulting in groups of 10 subjects per intensity. Alertness was assessed with subjective and multiple objective measures. A significant effect of time of day was found in all parameters of alertness ( p < 0.05). Significant dose-response relationships between light intensity and alertness during the day could be determined in a few of the parameters of alertness at some times of the day; however, none survived correction for multiple testing. We conclude that artificial light applied during daytime at intensities up to 2000 lux does not elicit significant improvements in alertness in non-sleep-deprived subjects.
Implicating a Temperature-Dependent Clock in the Regulation of Torpor Bout Duration in Classic Hibernation
Authors: Malan André , Ciocca Dominique , Challet Etienne , Pévet Paul
Published: September 2018

Syrian hamsters may present 2 types of torpor when exposed to ambient temperatures in the winter season, from 8°C to 22°C (short photoperiod). The first is daily torpor, which is controlled by the master circadian clock of the body, located in the SCN. In this paper, we show that daily torpor bout duration is unchanged over the 8°C to 22°C temperature range, as predicted from the thermal compensation of circadian clocks. These findings contrast with the second type of torpor: multi-day torpor or classic hibernation. In multi-day torpor, bout duration increases as temperature decreases, following Arrhenius thermodynamics. We found no evidence of hysteresis from metabolic inhibition and the process was thus reversible. As a confirmation, at any temperature, the arousal from multi-day torpor occurred at about the same subjective time given by this temperature-dependent clock. The temperature-dependent clock controls the reduced torpor metabolic rate while providing a reversible recovery of circadian synchronization on return to euthermy.
The compatibilization effect of exfoliated graphene on rheology, morphology, and mechanical and thermal properties of immiscible polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) polymer blends
Authors: Abbasi Fatemeh , Shojaei D Alireza , Bellah Samad Moemen
Published: September 2018

In this article, the compatibilizing effect of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnPs) on polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) (80/20) blends was investigated, focusing on the rheology, morphology, and mechanical and thermal properties. Rheological analyses were shown, the addition of xGnP tends to increase the storage modulus and complex viscosity, due to the confinement of polymer chains and reducing their motion. Scanning electron microscope observation revealed that incorporation of xGnP results in obvious reduction in the domain diameter of dispersed PS phase, indicating that xGnP is an effective compatibilizer. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs showed the presence of graphene nanoparticles in the phase interface as expected. The addition of xGnP to PP/PS blend increased the tensile modulus and decreased elongation at break because of its rigidity and intrinsic mechanical characteristics. Reinforcement of flexible polymer chains with very high modulus graphene pellets leads to a more brittle and a stiffer blend. It was also shown that graphene nanoplatelets can increase crystalline part of the samples and affect the behavior of blends.
Cefotetan-Induced Hemolytic Anemia: Case Series and Review
Authors: Lim Kathlyn , Tran Hai , Hirai-Yang Angela , Vakil Niyati , Marks Gregory , Klapper Ellen
Published: September 2018

Purpose:

To raise awareness of cefotetan-induced hemolytic anemia, a known rare but serious side effect that occurred in 5 patients at our medical center.

Five cases of cefotetan-induced hemolytic anemia, which presented over the period of a single year at our center, are described. In each case, hemolytic anemia was confirmed by testing for the presence of anti-cefotetan antibodies. Each case occurred approximately 1 to 2 weeks following exposure to the drug. All five patients survived. A brief review of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is also discussed.

Conclusion:

DIIHA may be difficult to distinguish from other causes of hemolytic anemia, but should be included in the differential in patients exposed to medications associated with DIIHA. Once suspected, antibody testing should be performed, and once diagnosed, further exposure should be avoided.
Caring for Thai Older Persons With Long-Term Care Needs
Authors: Knodel John , Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan , Pothisiri Wiraporn
Published: September 2018

Objective: To provide a situation analysis of recent long-term care (LTC) needs among older persons in Thailand. Method: The 2014 Survey of Older Persons in Thailand (SOPT) provides data to assess patterns of caregiving, whether care needs are met, and who are main caregivers for older Thais. We examine how types of familial and nonfamilial caregivers are associated with the well-being of older persons. Results: The need for LTC increases sharply with age and is more common among women than men. Spouses and children constitute approximately 90% of main caregivers. The association of a family member as the main caregiver and education or value of assets is quite weak underscoring the general normative prescription for family members to serve as care providers. Discussion: Thailand is experiencing acute population aging but empirical evidence to support LTC needs remains lacking. This analysis helps close the gap.
The Positive and Negative Consequences of “Managerialization”: Evidence From Japanese Nonprofit Elderly Care Service Providers
Authors: Shirinashihama Yoshitaka
Published: September 2018

In recent decades, many researchers have pointed out that nonprofit organizations are becoming “managerialized.” Although the “managerialization” may enable these organizations to improve their financial performance, it may also reduce their unprofitable mission-related services. However, there are few studies examining both aspects simultaneously. This study focuses on the managerialization of nonprofit organizations, especially the tightness of budgetary control systems and characteristics of top managers, as well as the negative and positive consequences of becoming managerialized. To test our hypotheses, we collected information about Japanese nonprofit elderly care service providers using a survey. Research results revealed top managers with more experience tend to improve the financial performance of nonprofit elderly care service providers using tight budgetary control. However, the results show no relationship between tight budgetary control and the provision of unprofitable mission-related services. Thus, in our setting, managerialization has a positive effect; there is no negative effect.
A paradox in curved beams
Authors: Strozzi Antonio , Bertocchi Enrico , Mantovani Sara
Published: September 2018

It is sometimes possible to relieve the stresses in a mechanical component by removing material, where relief grooves are the commonest expedient approach. Within the rectilinear beam realm, rare situations are known in which, by removing material in the cross-sectional zones that are farthest from the neutral axis, a bending stress diminution is achieved. With regard to curved beams, selected examples are presented in which a bending stress diminution is achieved by laterally removing material from the zones close to the neutral axis. An approximate mathematical approach based on Gateaux linearization is developed that delimits the lateral zones of the beam cross-section in which material removal is accompanied by bending stress reduction. While the achievable stress diminution is generally marginal, the reduction of the beam’s cross-section is technically interesting.
Freight car target detection in a complex background based on convolutional neural networks
Authors: Zhou Fuqiang , Li Juan , Li Xiaosong , Li Zuoxin , Cao Yu
Published: September 2018

Freight car target detection plays an important role in railway traffic safety, which typically depends on artificial observation or conventional machine learning, with insufficient accuracy and high demand for an observer's physical strength and image quality. Motivated by the recent advances of the convolutional neural network in object detection, this study investigates how deep neural networks can be applied in freight car target detection to better solve the aforementioned problems. We propose a novel two-training method for freight car target detection; the method includes general training and special training. In addition, online hard example mining and deformable convolutional network are introduced to select hard examples and extract better features for the special training stage to improve the problem of tiny target detection in poor images obtained from freight car target detection. The proposed methods are verified using experimental results based on three aspects, i.e. indexes, visualization, and speed. High accuracy can be achieved with good recall and acceptable speed for freight car target detection applications. Finally, we illustrate the utility of using such a model to test high robustness for changes in image quality and other target detection tasks with slight modification.
Amphibious airplane for underwater observation: Conceptual design
Authors: Yoshida Yuki , Dziemińska Edyta , Goetzendorf-Grabowski Tomasz
Published: September 2018

This paper aims at presenting the conceptual design of an amphibious airplane for underwater observation in the territory of Japan. Taking into account the specificity of this type of vehicles, particular attention should be paid to the analysis of aerodynamic and dynamic characteristics of aircraft. In order to cope up with this topic, commercial tools have been exploited (such as ANSYS Fluent for wing aerodynamics analysis) as well as the home-built software PANUKL package for aerodynamic analysis of the entire airplane and simulation and dynamic stability analysis for dynamic analysis. Special attention was given to the priorities resulting from understanding the characteristics of the Japanese client.
In vitro study of antimicrobial and cell viability on newly synthesized bioglass-based bone grafts: Effects of selenium and silver additions
Authors: Aksakal B , Demirel M
Published: September 2018

Selenium (Se)- and Silver (Ag)-doped Bioglass®-based biografts were synthesized using the sol–gel method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses were carried out in order to examine mechanostructure of synthesized bioglass-based bioceramics. The effects of Se and Ag additions on cell viability were investigated via cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity analysis, respectively. The bacteria of Escherichia coli ( E. coli, JM103) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus, ATCC29293) were used to perform the antibacterial tests. Moreover, cell viability studies were conducted using the Saos-2 osteoblast cells by performing dimethylthiazol diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. It was observed that while (PO4)3− and (CO3)2− peaks were observed in Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses, crystallinity also increased with increasing amount of AgNO3 addition into the Bioglass®. In addition, it was determined from scanning electron microscopy images that small irregular thin lamellar grain distribution was formed in synthesized B45Ag5Se20 and B30Ag10Se15 biografts. From antibacterial activity tests, it was determined that while some grafts was affected by E. coli, which is a Gram-negative, however, some did not affect the Gram-positive S. aureus and had antimicrobial activity on E. coli and S. aureus. According to the cell viability tests, it was found that the synthesized grafts did not have toxic effect on living cells. While the cell growth was greater for some grafts, however, some others had lower growth.
Patient-specific mobility assessment to monitor recovery after total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Gargiulo Paolo , Edmunds Kyle Joseph , Gíslason Magnús K , Latour Chase , Hermannsson Þröstur , Esposito Luca , Bifulco Paolo , Cesarelli Mario , Fraldi Massimiliano , Cristofolini Luca , Jónsson Halldór
Published: September 2018

Total hip arthroplasty is a ubiquitously successful orthopedic surgical procedure, whose prevalence is rising worldwide. While many investigations focus on characterizing periprosthetic pathophysiology, the objective of our research is to develop and describe multi-metric assemblies as a first step toward creating a patient-specific mobility index that rehabilitators and orthopedic surgeons can utilize for prescribing their respective procedures. In total, 48 total hip arthroplasty patients (both cemented and uncemented) undergoing unilateral, primary surgery went through computed tomographic scans and gait analysis measurements both before and 1 year following their surgery. Altogether, the reported quantitative metrics include 11 spatial and temporal gait parameters, muscle density, and electromyography signals from the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis, and bone mineral density values from bioimage analysis around the implant stem. We found that measured parameters from a subgroup were sensitive to changes observed during patient recovery, implicating the predictive sensitivity of these patient conditions. Most post-operative gait parameters changed significantly, while electromyography data indicated few significant differences. Moreover, results from bioimage analyses indicate a general reduction of periprosthetic bone mineral density after 1 year, in association with increasing density of the quadriceps muscles. Furthermore, this work identifies which quantitative metrics undergo the greatest variation after total hip arthroplasty and demonstrates the clinical feasibility of a multimodal approach to mobility assessment that may ultimately support decision-making for post-surgical rehabilitation protocols.
The Src homology and collagen A (ShcA) adaptor protein may participate in the pathogenesis of membranous lupus nephritis
Authors: Cao W , Liu X , Xu X , Zeng M , Sun B , Yu X , Wang N , Mao H , Zhang B , Yuan Y , Xing C
Published: September 2018

The Src homology and collagen A (ShcA) adaptor protein that binds to tyrosine kinase receptors. ShcA plays a role in insulin signaling, stress resistance and energy metabolism. The 66-kDa Src homology 2 domain-containing protein (p66shc) belongs to the ShcA family and has been associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS); increased ROS is involved in the pathology of lupus nephritis (LN). However, whether ShcA can act as a biomarker for oxidative injury in LN is unknown. This study is aimed to investigate the ShcA expression in kidney tissues from patients presenting with LN and the association between ShcA expression and clinical parameters. Renal biopsy tissues were obtained from 62 LN, 20 primary membranous nephropathy (MN) and 10 other secondary MN patients. ShcA was measured by immunofluorescence. The expression of ShcA in the membranous lupus nephritis (class V) group showed a higher trend but there were no significant differences compared with pure mesangial disease (class II) and proliferative (Class III/IV) lupus nephritis. ShcA deposits were negative in primary and other secondary MN. ShcA might act as a new biomarker and a diagnostic tool to identify membranous lupus nephritis with other MN.
Eliminating systematic bias from case-crossover designs
Authors: Wang Xiaoming , Wang Sukun , Kindzierski Warren
Published: September 2018

Case-crossover designs have been widely applied to epidemiological and medical investigations of associations between short-term exposures and risk of acute adverse health events. Much effort has been made in literature on understanding source of confounding and reducing systematic bias by reference-select strategies. In this paper, we explored the nature of bias in the ambi-directional and time-stratified case-crossover designs via simulation using actual air pollution data from urban Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We further proposed a calibration approach for eliminating systematic bias in estimates (coefficient estimate, 95% confident interval, and p-value). Bias check for coefficient estimation, size check and power check for significance test were done via simulation experiments to show advantages of the calibrated case-crossover studies over the ones without calibration. An application was done to investigate associations between air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations in urban Edmonton. In conclusion, systematic bias in a case-crossover design is often unavoidable, leading to an obvious bias in the estimated effect and an unreliable p value in the significance test. The proposed calibration technique provides an efficient approach to eliminating systematic bias in a case-crossover study.
Inference for the treatment effect in multiple-period cluster randomised trials when random effect correlation structure is misspecified
Authors: Kasza Jessica , Forbes Andrew B
Published: September 2018

Multiple-period cluster randomised trials, such as stepped wedge or cluster cross-over trials, are being conducted with increasing frequency. In the design and analysis of these trials, it is necessary to specify the form of the within-cluster correlation structure, and a common assumption is that the correlation between the outcomes of any pair of subjects within a cluster is identical. More complex models that allow for correlations within a cluster to decay over time have recently been suggested. However, most software packages cannot fit these models. As a result, practitioners may choose a simpler model. We analytically examine the impact of incorrectly omitting a decay in correlation on the variance of the treatment effect estimator and show that misspecification of the within-cluster correlation structure can lead to incorrect conclusions regarding estimated treatment effects for stepped wedge and cluster crossover trials.
The Entropic Mechanism of Water Solvation by Polymers
Authors: Mikheev Yu. A. , Zaikov G.E.
Published: September 2018

Mathematical analysis of isotherms of the equilibrium water absorption of polymers displays their consistency with the equation for the theory of volume-centred filling of micropores, regardless of the hydrophilicity of the polymers. The structure of a microporous adsorbent, absent in the initial state, is formed in consequence of the reorganization of chains of a molecular-chain sponge during absorption. Thus, some chain units combine to isolate water molecules as clusters, and another part is redistributed around the clusters as a fringe that stabilizes the system by increasing the configurational entropy.
Heat Stability and Degradation of Thermally Stable Prepolymers in a Controlled Atmosphere
Authors: Richer S. , Alamercery S. , Paisse O. , Raffin G. , Sanglar C. , Waton H. , Grenier-Loustalot M.F.
Published: September 2018

The heat stability and thermal degradation of two acetylene-chromene terminated polymers, called polyA (polymer of 6,6′-isopropyl dichroman) and polyF (polymer of 6,6′-hexafluoroisopropyl dichroman) were investigated in controlled conditions. The environmental impact of their degradation was studied in order to predict their remediation and fate after use.

Degradation of the polymers was followed by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Both polymers degraded starting at 350°C, according to a single mechanism for polyA and two distinct mechanisms for polyF. In addition, the isothermal TGA study of thermal ageing for 24 hours showed that both compounds were very stable at 250°C (losses of mass less than 3%) and that polyF was more stable than polyA when heated between 350 and 550°C.

Degradation residues were analyzed by infrared-Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR). Volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by pyrolysis were analyzed by pyrolysis/thermal desorption cold trap/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. These methods enabled us to determine degradation mechanisms in the same temperature interval. The data showed that the major part of the degradation occurred in the cyclic ether, with breaks at cross-linking nodes and C–O bonds. Since the skeletons of the cross-linking nodes of both compounds were identical, the higher stability can be attributed to the presence of fluorine in its central hexafluorinated pivot, providing greater heat stability than the isopropyl pivot in polyA.
Thermal Fatigue in Carbon Fibre Polymer-Matrix Composites, Monitored in Real Time by Electrical Resistance Measurements
Authors: Wang Shoukai , Chung D.D.L.
Published: September 2018

Thermal fatigue and temperature of a continuous carbon fiber epoxy-matrix composite were simultaneously monitored by measurement of the contact electrical resistivity of the interlaminar interface. A temperature increase caused the resistivity to decrease reversibly within each thermal cycle, while thermal fatigue caused the resistivity to increase. The increase took the form of a spike increase at the maximum temperature of a cycle in an early stage of fatigue, and took the form of an abrupt increase of the baseline in a later stage of fatigue.
Interlaminar Fracture Properties of Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Matrix Composites Interleaved with Polyethylene Terephthalate (Pet) Films
Authors: Jiang Wei , Tjong S.C. , Chu P.K. , Li R.K.Y. , Kim J.K. , Mai Y.W.
Published: September 2018

A study has been made of the interlaminar fracture behaviour of unidirectional carbon fibre-epoxy matrix composites containing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) interleaving films, with and without plasma surface treatment. Comparisons are made of the initiation values of mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness, GIc and GIIc, for composites with and without interleaves. It is shown that the interleaves have completely reverse effects on interlaminar fracture toughness with different modes of fracture. The interleaves have the detrimental effect of reducing GIc, up to 70%, and the plasma treatment is effective in mitigating the toughness reduction. In sharp contrast, the interleaves improve the corresponding toughness in mode II, with a negligible influence of plasma treatment on GIIc. The major failure mechanisms associated with the presence of interleaves are discussed.
Hydrolysis of Kevlar Fibres
Authors: Lin Jeng-Shyong , Chiu Hsien-Tang
Published: September 2018

Kevlar fibres were hydrolyzed in a concentrated aqueous solution of either sulphuric acid or sodium hydroxide. The hydrolyzed fibres were characterized by measuring the tensile strength and the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The active sites on the hydrolyzed surface were determined by the dyeing-decolorizing method. The tensile strength of the hydrolyzed fibres decreased with an increase in hydrolysis time and showed a turning point. The alkaline hydrolysis improved the ILSS by about 4%, while acid hydrolysis showed insignificant improvement. From the experimental results, the better hydrolyzing condition is by treating the fibres in 10 M NaOH at 100°C for 5 h.