bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthcare Resource Use and Cost Implications in the MOMENTUM 3 Long-Term Outcome Study
Authors: Mehra Mandeep R. , Salerno Christopher , Cleveland Joseph C. , Pinney Sean , Yuzefpolskaya Melana , Milano Carmelo A. , Itoh Akinobu , Goldstein Daniel J. , Uriel Nir , Gulati Sanjeev , Pagani Francis D. , John Ranjit , Adamson Robert , Bogaev Roberta , Thohan Vinay , Chuang Joyce , Sood Poornima , Goates Scott , Silvestry Scott C.
Published: May 2018

Background:

The MOMENTUM 3 trial compares the centrifugal HeartMate 3 (HM3) with the axial HeartMate II (HMII) continuous-flow left ventricular assist system in patients with advanced heart failure, irrespective of the intended goal of therapy. The trial’s 2-year clinical outcome (n=366) demonstrated superiority of the HM3 for the primary end point (survival free of a disabling stroke or reoperation to replace or remove a malfunctioning pump). This analysis evaluates health resource use and cost implications of the observed differences between the 2 devices while patients were enrolled in the trial.

Methods:

We analyzed all hospitalizations and their associated costs occurring after discharge from the implant hospitalization until censoring (study withdrawal, heart transplantation, and pump exchange with a nonstudy device or death). Each adjudicated episode of hospital-based care was used to calculate costs (device-attributable and non–device-attributable event costs), estimated by using trial data and payer administrative claims databases. Cost savings stratified by subgroups (study outcome [transplant, death, or ongoing on device], intended goal of therapy, type of insurance, or sex) were also assessed.

Results:

In 366 randomly assigned patients, 361 comprised the as-treated group (189 in the HM3 group and 172 in the HMII group), of whom 337 (177 in the HM3 group and 160 in the HMII group) were successfully discharged following implantation. The HM3 arm experienced fewer total hospitalizations per patient-year (HM3: 2.1±0.2 versus HMII: 2.7±0.2;
P
=0.015) and 8.3 fewer hospital days per patient-year on average (HM3: 17.1 days versus HMII: 25.5 days;
P
=0.003). These differences were driven by patients hospitalized for suspected pump thrombosis (HM3: 0.6% versus HMII: 12.5%;
P
<0.001) and stroke (HM3: 2.8% versus HMII: 11.3%;
P
=0.002). Controlled for time spent in the study (average cumulative cost per patient-year), postdischarge HM3 arm costs were 51% lower than with the HMII (HM3: $37 685±4251 versus HMII: $76 599±11 889,
P
<0.001) and similar in either bridge to transplant or destination therapy intent.

Conclusions:

In this 2-year outcome economic analysis of the MOMENTUM 3 trial, the HM3 demonstrated a reduction in rehospitalizations, hospital days spent during rehospitalizations, and a significant cost savings following discharge in comparison with the HMII left ventricular assist system, irrespective of the intended goal of therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02224755.
Money in Classical Islam: Legal Theory and Economic Practice
Authors: Oberauer Norbert
Published: May 2018

The present study examines the conception of money in classical Islamic law,
specifically the relationship between scholarly discourses on money and actual
economic practice. I shall argue that the theoretical concept of money was to
some extent a fiction. Muslim jurists conceived of money in terms of a
three-tier currency system that involved gold dinars, silver dirhams and copper
fulūs. The market was much more complex. A wide
range of coins of various metallic content, weight and value circulated. In the
first part of the study I describe the complexity of Islamic money markets. In
the second part, I investigate how scholars reacted to the gap between theory
and practice and posit some tentative conclusions about the relationship between
Islamic law and practice.
Missing the Muscles? Mediation by Conditionality in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Richter Solveig
Published: May 2018

In October 2009, the European Union, in conjunction with the United States, launched a high-level mediation effort in Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to reform the political structure of the state. Since 2005, the constitution which was included in the Dayton Peace Accord has been widely perceived as dysfunctional. In two negotiation rounds, theEUand theUSput a comprehensive proposal on the table and showed strong leverage. However, the talks ended without a tangible result. To explain this failure, a theoretical model is developed based on both mediation and Europeanization literature to explore mediation by conditionality as a type of ‘directive mediation’ in a systematic way. Contrary to the argument that theEUlacked muscle, it is argued that pre-conditions for political conditionality were not fulfilled and strong leverage proved ineffective and counterproductive. These results question conditionality as an effective mediation strategy when state-building is contested between local parties.
EU Mediation in Egypt: The Limits of Reactive Conflict Management
Authors: Pinfari Marco
Published: May 2018

This article reviewsEU’s mediation attempts in Egypt between 2011 and 2013. After presenting the main challenges and opportunities ofEUmediation in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) neighborhood,EUinterventions in Egypt are discussed in relation to the 25 January 2011 revolution, during the presidency of Mohammed Morsi, and after the 3 July 2013 coup d’état, focusing specifically on the choice of mediation styles and their timing. It is argued that three contextual conditions that are typical of the crises that erupt during failed democratic transitions – their fast pace, their eminently domestic nature and significant power asymmetries between the main parties involved – exacerbate the structural problems that theEUfaces when intervening in countries that are not current or potential candidates for accession. The analysis ofEUmediation styles during Egypt’s transition provides a critical perspective onEU’s foreign policy making after the Treaty of Lisbon.
On the West Indian weevil genus Lachnopus Schönherr, 1840 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae): descriptions of six new species, a proposal for species-groups, and an annotated checklist
Authors: GIRÓN JENNIFER C. , O’BRIEN CHARLES W. , ROSE-SMYTH M. CHRISTINE
Published: May 2018

We here describe and illustrate six new species of the genus Lachnopus, the most taxonomically chaotic group of entimines in the Caribbean region. These species are Lachnopus cozumelus Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from Cozumel Island, Mexico, Lachnopus karphos Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from Mayaguana Island in the Bahamas, Lachnopus lucayanus Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from Eleuthera in the Bahamas and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Lachnopus petilusquamus Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from Eleuthera in the Bahamas, Lachnopus rhabdotus Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands and Lachnopus vanessablockae Girón & O’Brien, sp. nov. from the Cayman Islands. These constitute the first species of the genus described for each island group, and expand the geographical range of the genus, by including the Lucayan Archipelago, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel Island. Individuals of L. vanessablockae have been collected on the Cayman endemic banana orchid (Myrmecophila thomsoniana (Orchidaceae)), which represents the first reported occurrence of Lachnopus weevils as pollinators. In addition, we present an annotated checklist of the species of Lachnopus, including collecting localities, host plants, and biological notes obtained from the literature or collection data from labels of collections’ specimens. Lachnopus coffeae Marshall, 1922 is recorded for the first time for Grand Bahama, which appears to be an introduction associated with citrus from Puerto Rico. We also list the fossil species attributed to the genus. Comments on some morphological characters and their variation across the genus are included. Species-groups within the genus are proposed, including diagnostic features to recognize them. Some taxonomic conflicts found in collections are pointed out. This paper compiles fundamental information, and assembles a framework for future revisionary work on Lachnopus.
Can Big Data Predict the Rise of Novel Drug Abuse?
Authors: Perdue Robert Todd , Hawdon James , Thames Kelly M.
Published: May 2018

Existing novel psychoactive drug (NPD) data are woefully inadequate. This gap is especially critical because NPDs are being developed and introduced at alarming rates and pose significant challenges to law enforcement and health care workers. Scholars in numerous fields have used Internet search query analysis to assess and predict health-related outcomes. Here, we explore the utility of these data for predicting NPD and established drug abuse. Google Trends searches for five novel and two established drugs were correlated with data pulled from the Monitoring the Future (MTF). Google Trends data proved highly correlated with data from MTF for all drugs analyzed. Despite limitations, Google Trends appears to be a promising compliment to existing data, providing real time data that may allow us to predict drug abuse trends and respond more quickly.
The Narrative Effects of Shamanic Mythology in Palliative Care
Authors: Santarpia Alfonso , Ricci Tania , Meuche Glenn , Gamberini Nadia , Destandau Mireille
Published: May 2018

We make meaning of disease, suffering, and death through narrative, by telling a story. In a therapeutic narrative approach, this article explores the influence of shamanic intervention in psycho-oncology. This qualitative study seeks to present the narrative effects of detailed shamanic sessions (the use of the drum and telling and interpreting visions according to the shamanic mythology) in the context of psycho-oncological treatment. In particular, the narrative positions of a patient (Mrs. AA) are described (using a software linguistic analysis, T-LAB) as they occurred before and after shamanistic sessions. The authors suggested that the shamanism sessions enabled Mrs. AA to produce a larger and more singular narrative about her end-of-life experience: from the initial narrative position of feeling “the acute consciousness of finiteness” to an emergent narrative position based on “consciousness of an interdependence/interconnection in all human and spiritual relationships.”
Nursing Home Infection Control Program Characteristics, CMS Citations, and Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Policies: A National Study
Authors: Stone Patricia W. , Herzig Carolyn T. A. , Agarwal Mansi , Pogorzelska-Maziarz Monika , Dick Andrew W.
Published: May 2018

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule required that nursing homes (NHs) develop an infection control program that includes an antibiotic stewardship component and employs a trained infection preventionist (IP). The objectives of this study were to provide a baseline assessment of (1) NH facility and infection control program characteristics associated with having an infection control deficiency citation and (2) associations between IP training and the presence of antibiotic stewardship policies, controlling for NH characteristics. A cross-sectional survey of 2514 randomly sampled US NHs was conducted to assess IP training, staff turnover, and infection control program characteristics (ie, frequency of infection control committee meetings and the presence of 7 antibiotic stewardship policies). Responses were linked to concurrent Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting data, which contain information about NH facility characteristics and citations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to account for NH characteristics. Surveys were received from 990 NHs; 922 had complete data. One-third of NHs in this sample received an infection control deficiency citation. The NHs that received deficiency citations were more likely to have committees that met weekly/monthly versus quarterly ( P < .01). The IPs in 39% of facilities had received specialized training. Less than 3% of trained IPs were certified in infection control. The NHs with trained IPs were more likely to have 5 of the 7 components of antibiotic stewardship in place (all P < .05). The IP training, although infrequent, was associated with the presence of antibiotic stewardship policies. Receiving an infection control citation was associated with more frequent infection control committee meetings. Training and support of IPs is needed to ensure infection control and antibiotic stewardship in NHs. As the CMS rule becomes implemented, more research is warranted. There is a need for increase in trained IPs in US NHs. These data can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the CMS final rule on infection management processes in US NHs.
The Future of Coding: A Comparison of Hand-Coding and Three Types of Computer-Assisted Text Analysis Methods
Authors: Nelson Laura K. , Burk Derek , Knudsen Marcel , McCall Leslie
Published: May 2018

Advances in computer science and computational linguistics have yielded new, and faster, computational approaches to structuring and analyzing textual data. These approaches perform well on tasks like information extraction, but their ability to identify complex, socially constructed, and unsettled theoretical concepts—a central goal of sociological content analysis—has not been tested. To fill this gap, we compare the results produced by three common computer-assisted approaches—dictionary, supervised machine learning (SML), and unsupervised machine learning—to those produced through a rigorous hand-coding analysis of inequality in the news ( N = 1,253 articles). Although we find that SML methods perform best in replicating hand-coded results, we document and clarify the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, including how they can complement one another. We argue that content analysts in the social sciences would do well to keep all these approaches in their toolkit, deploying them purposefully according to the task at hand.
Dehumanizing Gender: The Debiasing Effects of Gendering Human-Abstracted Entities
Authors: Martin Ashley E. , Slepian Michael L.
Published: May 2018

The propensity to “gender”—or conceptually divide entities by masculinity versus femininity—is pervasive. Such gendering is argued to hinder gender equality, as it reifies the bifurcation of men and women into two unequal categories, leading many to advocate for a “de-gendering movement.” However, gendering is so prevalent that individuals can also gender entities far removed from human sex categories of male and female (i.e., weather, numbers, sounds) due to the conceptual similarities they share with our notions of masculinity and femininity (e.g., tough, tender). While intuition might predict that extending gender to these (human-abstracted) entities only further reinforces stereotypes, the current work presents a novel model and evidence demonstrating the opposing effect. Five studies demonstrate that gendering human-abstracted entities highlights how divorced psychological notions of gender are from biological sex, thereby decreasing gender stereotyping and penalties toward stereotype violators, through reducing essentialist views of gender. Rather than “de-gendering” humans, we demonstrate the potential benefits of “dehumanizing gender.”
Working While Caring for Mom, Dad, and Junior Too: Exploring the Impact of Employees’ Caregiving Situation on Demands, Control, and Perceived Stress
Authors: Halinski Michael , Duxbury Linda , Higgins Chris
Published: May 2018

Although demographic evidence suggests that, in the developed world, the number of employees who provide both childcare and eldercare is substantial, we know very little about how these “sandwiched” employees differ from those who provide only one form of caregiving (i.e., childcare, eldercare). In this article, we use partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine dual-income employees in households with three different caregiving situations: employees with only childcare ( n = 4,129), only eldercare ( n = 599), and both childcare and eldercare ( n = 767). Findings show that demands contribute to stress more for sandwiched employees than those who provided only one form of caregiving, and more for employees with only eldercare demands than employees with only childcare demands. Results also indicate that control (at work, at home) negatively moderates the relationship between demands (at work, at home) and stress for some employees but not others.
What’s in a Word? Naming Obligations
Authors: Chapman Ashton , Ganong Lawrence , Coleman Marilyn , Ko Kwangman , Kang Youngjin
Published: May 2018

Although obligation is believed to be a central component of family relationships, empirical investigation of if, how, and to what extent connotations associated with terms commonly used to denote “family obligation” affect exchanges of family support remains limited. In this mixed-method study, we explored the effects of words commonly used to denote family obligations (i.e., obligation, responsibility, duty) on perceptions of parents’ and stepparents’ assistance to children in different contexts. Using factorial vignettes, we collected data from 664 individuals from the Midwestern United States. Perceptions about parental assistance to children differed significantly based on the word included in the vignettes. In general, respondents perceived parents’ and stepparents’ assistance to children as a choice more than as an obligation, responsibility, or duty. Perceptions did not differ by type of relationship (i.e., biological- or step-relationship) or gender. Findings have implications for research on beliefs about exchanges of intergenerational support.
Diagnostic performance of CT, MRI, and their combined use for the assessment of the direct cranial or intracranial extension of malignant head and neck tumors
Authors: Choi Hye Yeon , Yoon Dae Young , Kim Eun Soo , Baek Sora , Lim Kyoung Ja , Seo Young Lan , Yun Eun Joo
Published: May 2018

Background

Preoperative radiological evaluation of the cranial or intracranial extension of malignant head and neck tumors is critical in the planning of curative surgery.

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), compared to CT or MRI alone in diagnosing the direct cranial or intracranial extension of malignant head and neck tumors, using histopathologic results as the reference standard.

Material and Methods

CT and MRI images in 41 patients with malignant head and neck tumors abutting the skull were retrospectively reviewed. The images were evaluated for the presence or absence of skull invasion (erosion/destruction of the skull), dural invasion (nodular dural enhancement), and brain invasion (enhancing brain lesion with or without brain swelling/edema). The results of the CT alone, MRI alone, and CT combined with MRI were compared with the histopathologic findings.

Results

Of the 41 patients studied, ten had no invasion, eight had skull invasion, 17 had dural invasion, and six had brain invasion by tumor. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of CT alone, MRI alone, and CT combined with MRI for diagnosing intracranial extension were 78.0%/100%/94.5%, 85.4%/80.5%/93.9%, and 95.1%/100%/98.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of CT combined with MRI was significantly higher than those of CT alone ( P = 0.0156) and MRI alone ( P = 0.0313).

Conclusion

CT combined with MRI is a more sensitive tool for the diagnosis of the direct cranial or intracranial extension of malignant head and neck tumors than CT alone and MRI alone.
Micromechanical modeling of the mechanical behavior of unidirectional composites – A comparative study
Authors: Heidari-Rarani M , Bashandeh-Khodaei-Naeini K , Mirkhalaf SM
Published: May 2018

Laminated fiber reinforced composites are increasingly being used in various load-bearing applications including for instance aerospace and wind energy power industries. Understanding the mechanical behavior of a unidirectional lamina as the basic part of a laminated composite is of great interest from a design perspective and also for the analysis of composite structures. At the micro-level, mechanical behavior of a lamina including stiffness and strength is studied based on the mechanical properties of individual constituents. This study focuses on micromechanical approaches such as strength of materials, elasticity, semi-empirical, and numerical methods for the prediction of the stiffness and strength of a unidirectional lamina. To assess the accuracy of these models, results of each model are compared against experimental results available in the literature for unidirectional composites with different fiber volume fractions. Moreover, recent studies on micromechanical modeling of unidirectional composites are reviewed.
A Phenomenological Study of the Work Environment in Long-Term Care Facilities for the Older Adults
Authors: Choi Sandy Pin Pin , Yeung Cheryl Chi Yan , Lee Joseph Kok Long
Published: May 2018

Attempts to meet the increasing demand for long-term care (LTC) services have been hindered by acute staff shortages and high turnover. Distinct from previous studies, a descriptive phenomenological approach with van Kaam’s controlled explication method was adopted in this study, to delineate how attributes of the LTC work environment shape the workforce crisis. Individual interviews were conducted with 40 LTC workers from 10 facilities in Hong Kong. The results suggest that the work environment in LTC facilities is not only characterized by organization- and job-related attributes that influence staff outcomes but also is a socially constructed concept with derogatory connotations that can influence staff recruitment and retention. Concerted efforts from facility administrators and policy makers are needed to improve the quality of the work environment. Future initiatives should focus on developing a vision and strategic plan to facilitate the rise of the LTC sector as a profession.
Do Leadership Commitment and Performance-Oriented Culture Matter for Federal Teleworker Satisfaction With Telework Programs?
Authors: Kwon Myungjung , Jeon So Hee
Published: May 2018

A substantial number of federal employees have been teleworking due to its perceived benefits—time and location flexibility and better balance between family and work. Yet, managing teleworkers in public organizations can be challenging due to the added expenses associated with monitoring remote workers. Also, the unforeseen drawbacks of remote work may decrease teleworker satisfaction with telework programs. Drawing on insights from the political economy of hierarchy and institution theories, this study examines whether leadership commitment to telework and performance-oriented culture matter for federal teleworker satisfaction with telework programs. It examines two-year datasets of the 2008 and 2015 Federal Employee Viewpoint Surveys. The findings show that leadership commitment to telework, performance-oriented culture, and the enactment of the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act all play significant roles in enhancing federal teleworker satisfaction with telework programs.
Residential Location Choice in the Era of Shared Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Guhathakurta Subhrajit
Published: May 2018

This study examines the potential changes in residential location choice in a scenario where shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) are a popular mode of travel in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This hypothetical study is based on an agent-based simulation approach, which integrates residential location choice models with a SAV simulation model. The coupled model simulates future home location choices given current home location preferences and real estate development patterns. The results indicate that commuters may relocate to neighborhoods with better public schools and more amenities due to reductions in commute costs.
Revisiting the Interactive Effect of Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Responses to Ego Threat: Distinguishing Between Assertiveness and Intent to Harm
Authors: Hart William , Richardson Kyle , Tortoriello Gregory K.
Published: May 2018

We addressed whether narcissism and self-esteem synergize to enhance assertive responses and deter aggressive responses to ego-threatening provocation. Participants ( N = 448) completed measures of narcissism and self-esteem, imagined ego-threatening provocation, and indicated their aggressive and assertive responses. Participants also completed individual difference measures of agreeableness, openness, status/dominance motivation, and endorsement of the notion that aggression begets power. Narcissism and self-esteem interacted to reduce aggressive responses but enhance assertive responses to ego-threat; moreover, this interaction related to enhanced agreeableness, openness, status/dominance motivation, and reduced endorsement of the belief that aggression begets power, and these relations accounted, in part, for relations between the interaction and aggressive and assertive responses. Broadly, the findings contribute to the contentious issue of how self-evaluation influences responses to ego-threat; specifically, we would suggest that this issue be conceptualized in terms of synergistic effects of narcissism and self-esteem and distinguish between assertive versus aggressive responding.
What Do Parents Attribute the Cause of Bullying to? It Can Amplify or Buffer the Vicious Cycle of Bullying Perpetration and Victimization
Authors: Choi Boungho , Park Soowon
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine what do parents attribute the causes of bullying to and how the attributions of parents are related with their adolescents’ experiences of bullying perpetration and bullying victimization in the subsequent year. The data were drawn from 3,293 Korean secondary students and their parents from the Seoul Education Longitudinal Study across two waves (seventh, eighth grades). The results revealed that 1,228 (37.3%) parents thought that bullying was caused by perpetrators’ faults while 512 (15.5%) parents thought bullying was caused by victims’ faults. The other 1,553 (47.2%) showed external attributions (e.g., peer, violent media). Adolescents’ bullying perpetration and victimization interacted with parent’s attribution in predicting later bullying perpetration and victimization. These results indicate that parent’s attribution is a critical factor to understanding the alleviation or deterioration of bullying in adolescents. Intervention programs should be designed to concern parents’ attribution as well as adolescents’ prior bullying experiences.
Preparing Educators for Developing Culturally and Linguistically Responsive IEPs
Authors: Tran Le M. , Patton James R. , Brohammer Margene
Published: May 2018

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the cornerstone for documenting the appropriate education being provided to students who qualify for special education and related services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. A growing group of students with a disability are students who are culturally and linguistically diverse and addressing the particular needs of this group is essential. This research to practice article examines key issues related to how teachers are prepared to develop culturally and linguistically responsive (CLR) IEPs. Reviews of recent research and literature indicate the need for increased attention in the development of CLR IEPs for diverse learners, with specific implications for contemporary educator preparation.
Centripetal and centrifugal incentives in mixed-member proportional systems
Authors: Kurella Anna-Sophie , Bräuninger Thomas , Pappi Franz Urban
Published: May 2018

How does competition for first (candidate) and second ballot (party-list) votes affect the strategic positioning of parties in mixed-member proportional systems? We study this question in a simulation study of multiparty competition in the two tiers. In the first step, we use data from elections for the German Bundestag to estimate individual vote function for each tier based on ideology, policy, and valence incentives. We then use these parameter estimates to calibrate a model in which parties compete for either first- or second-tier votes. Results suggest that parties may face a dilemma when adopting a positional strategy. When national parties and their candidates hold significantly different valences, large valence advantages generate centripetal incentives whereas smaller valences exert a centrifugal pull. Overall, centrifugal incentives dominate the German mixed-member system.
Alexandre Brierre de Boismont and the limits of the psychopathological gaze
Authors: Novella Enric J.
Published: May 2018

One of the most remarkable implications of psychological medicine in the transition from the 18th to the 19th century was the advent of a new way of looking at the human being and new tools for analysing not only behaviour and individual experience, but also historical events, collective behavioural patterns or complex cultural achievements. Unsurprisingly, the deployment of this gaze could not advance without there being a series of disputes and controversies about its reach and the limits to its indiscriminate application. Focusing on the figure of French alienist Alexandre Brierre de Boismont and on the controversial cases of hallucinations and suicide, this article addresses the conflicts generated by the use of certain emblematic concepts and categories present in French psychological medicine throughout the central decades of the 19th-century, as well as the essentially ambivalent relationship of the psychopathological point of view with the criticism of a culture that was made responsible, then, as now, for a great number of psychological disorders and illnesses.
Elastic-plastic analysis of multi-material structures using edge-based smoothed point interpolation method
Authors: Feng SZ , Cheng YH , Li AM
Published: May 2018

An edge-based smoothed point interpolation method is formulated to deal with elastic-plastic analysis of multi-material structures. The problem domain is discretized using triangular elements and field functions are approximated using point interpolation method shape functions. Edge-based smoothing domains are constructed based on the edge of triangular cells and smoothing operations are then performed in these integral domains. Numerical examples with different kinds of material models are investigated to fully verify the validity of the present method. It is observed that all edge-based smoothed point interpolation method models can achieve much better accuracy and higher convergence rate than the standard finite element method, when dealing with elastic-plastic analysis of multi-material structures.
Improved throttle valve modeling for spark-ignition engine simulations
Authors: Haddad Elie , Chalet David , Chesse Pascal
Published: May 2018

Automotive manufacturers nowadays are constantly working on improving their internal combustion engines’ performance by reducing the fuel consumption and emissions, without compromising the power generated. Manufacturers are therefore relying on virtual engine models that can be run on simulation software in order to reduce the amount of time and costs needed, in comparison with experiments done on engine test benches. One important element of the intake system of an internal combustion engine is the throttle valve, which defines the amount of air reaching the plenum before being drawn into the cylinders. This article discusses a widely used model for the estimation of air flow rate through the throttle valve in an internal combustion engine simulation. Experiments have been conducted on an isolated throttle valve test bench in order to understand the influence of different factors on the model’s discharge coefficient. These experiments showed that the discharge coefficient varies with the pressure ratio across the throttle valve and with its angle. Furthermore, for each angle, this variation can be approximated with a linear model composed of two parameters: the slope and the Y-Intercept. These parameters are calibrated for different throttle valve angles. This calibration can be done using automotive manufacturers’ standard engine test fields that are often available. This model is then introduced into an engine simulation model, and the results are compared to the experimental data of a turbocharged engine test bench for validation. They are also compared with a standard discharge coefficient model that varies only with the throttle valve angle. The results show that the new model for the discharge coefficient reduces mass flow estimation errors and allows expanding the applications of the throttle valve isentropic nozzle model.
Smooth time-optimal attitude control of spacecraft
Authors: Hu Yabo , Wu Baolin , Geng Yunhai , Wu Yunhua
Published: May 2018

In this paper, a trajectory optimization method for generating smooth and approximate time-optimal attitude maneuver trajectories of flexible spacecraft is proposed. Smooth attitude maneuver is highly desirable for flexible spacecraft, since vibration of flexible appendices can be suppressed. In order to obtain smooth and approximate time-optimal attitude trajectory, a novel objective function composed of two terms is developed in the problem of trajectory optimization: the first term is proportional to the total maneuver time and the other one is proportional to the integral of the squared control torque derivatives. This latter term ensures that the generated trajectory is smooth. The degree of the smoothness of the trajectory can be adjusted by the weights of these two terms. The constraints on angular velocity and angular acceleration are considered in the proposed method. A closed-loop tracking control law is then employed to track the optimized reference attitude trajectory. Numerical simulations and frequency domain analysis show that the proposed method can generate smoother trajectory than traditional time-optimal methods, which leads to less vibration during attitude maneuver of a flexible spacecraft.
Combining Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Genome Editing Technologies for Clinical Applications
Authors: Chang Chia-Yu , Ting Hsiao-Chien , Su Hong-Lin , Jeng Jing-Ren
Published: May 2018

In this review, we introduce current developments in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), site-specific nuclease (SSN)-mediated genome editing tools, and the combined application of these two novel technologies in biomedical research and therapeutic trials. The sustainable pluripotent property of iPSCs in vitro not only provides unlimited cell sources for basic research but also benefits precision medicines for human diseases. In addition, rapidly evolving SSN tools efficiently tailor genetic manipulations for exploring gene functions and can be utilized to correct genetic defects of congenital diseases in the near future. Combining iPSC and SSN technologies will create new reliable human disease models with isogenic backgrounds in vitro and provide new solutions for cell replacement and precise therapies.
MicroRNA-21 Mediates the Protective Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from iPSCs to Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Injury Under Hypoxia
Authors: Li Cheng-Lin , Xu Zhi-Bin , Fan Xing-Liang , Chen He-Xin , Yu Qiu-Ning , Fang Shu-Bin , Wang Shu-Yue , Lin Yong-Dong , Fu Qing-Ling
Published: May 2018

Airway epithelial cell injury is a key triggering event to activate allergic airway inflammation, such as asthma. We previously reported that administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) significantly alleviated allergic inflammation in a mouse model of asthma, and the mmu-miR-21/ACVR2A axis may be involved. However, whether MSCs protect against bronchial epithelial cell injury induced by hypoxia, and the underlying mechanism, remain unknown. In our study, the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was induced to undergo apoptosis with a hypoxia mimic of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) damage. Treatment of MSCs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) significantly decreased apoptosis of BEAS-2B cells. There was high miR-21 expression in injured BEAS-2B cells after MSC treatment. Transfection of the miR-21 mimic significantly decreased apoptosis of BEAS-2B, and transfection of a miR-21 inhibitor significantly increased apoptosis. More importantly, the protective effects of MSCs on injured BEAS-2B were reversed by transfection of the miR-21 inhibitor. Binding sites of human miR-21 were identified in the 3’UTR of human ACVR2A. We further determined that CoCl2 stimulation increased ACVR2A expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, transfection of the miR-21 mimic further up-regulated ACVR2A expression induced by CoCl2, whereas transfection of the miR-21 inhibitor down-regulated ACVR2A expression. In addition, MSCs increased ACVR2A expression in BEAS-2B cells; however, this effect was reversed after transfection of the miR-21 inhibitor. Our data suggested that MSCs protect bronchial epithelial cells from hypoxic injury via miR-21, which may represent an important target. These findings suggest the potentially wide application of MSCs for epithelial cell injury during hypoxia.
Index Revisions, Stock Liquidity and the Cost of Equity Capital
Authors: Rahman Abdul , Rajib Prabina
Published: May 2018

This study examines the stock liquidity and cost of equity capital (COEC) effects around the CNX Nifty index revisions during the period 1998–2011. To examine these effects, the inclusion (exclusion) firms are compared with their matching peers. The stock liquidity effect has been examined by using distinct liquidity measures, such as trading volume, turnover rate and illiquidity ratio. The COEC effect has been examined with the help of cost of equity, stock liquidity, firm size, leverage and inclusion (exclusion) dummies. It was found that the stocks included to the CNX NIFTY were less liquid than their matching peers were, whereas the stocks excluded were experiencing more liquidity than their matching peers. Further, the study finds an increase in the COEC for the included firms and a decrease in the COEC for the excluded firms.
Self-Management Behaviors Among Patients With Liver Cirrhosis in Shanghai, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dong Ning , Chen Wei-Ti , Bao Meijuan , Lu Yan , Qian Yuqian , Lu Hongzhou
Published: May 2018

Effective self-management of liver cirrhosis requires medication adherence and lifestyle modifications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-management behaviors of liver cirrhosis patients and how their knowledge of cirrhosis, psychological status, and self-efficacy contributes to self-management practices in Shanghai, China. Subjects were recruited from the hepatology units in an infectious hospital in Shanghai, China. Self-administered questionnaires were collected and medical charts were reviewed by the research staff. A total of 134 subjects were enrolled from November 2016 to March 2017. The results indicate that the self-management behaviors mean score was 2.51 out of 4 and that depression, severity of cirrhosis, and self-efficacy significantly affected self-management behaviors and explained 22.9% of the total variance. The findings also indicate that psychological stress, disease severity, and self-efficacy affected self-management behaviors in liver cirrhosis patients. Interventions focusing on decreasing depression and enhancing self-efficacy according to disease severity should improve self-management behaviors in this population.
Instructional Approaches to Teaching a Korean Percussion Ensemble (Samulnori) to Preservice Music Teachers and Preservice Classroom Teachers: An Action Research Study
Authors: Yoo Hyesoo , Kang Sangmi
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this practical action research study was to explore how preservice music teachers, preservice classroom teachers, and a methods course instructor responded to the experience of rehearsing a Korean percussion ensemble piece. Seven preservice music teachers and nine preservice classroom teachers rehearsed Samulnori for 20 minutes per week for 8 weeks. Data sources included reflective narratives produced by the instructor and participants, observation field notes, and participant interviews. Through each step in the action research process, across multiple cycles of instruction and reflection, the teaching approach was altered to better fit participants’ needs and interests in the two groups. While preservice music teachers valued authentic music demonstrations and the hands-on process of learning to perform Samulnori in a polished and accurate manner, preservice classroom teachers required more detailed verbal explanations in addition to music demonstrations and showed interest in learning about the historical and cultural background of Samulnori.
d-Dimer Assessment Improves the Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index for In-Hospital Risk Stratification in Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Kozlowska Marta , Plywaczewska Magdalena , Koc Marcin , Pacho Szymon , Wyzgal Anna , Zdonczyk Olga , Furdyna Aleksandra , Ciurzynski Michal , Kurnicka Katarzyna , Jankowski Krzysztof , Lipinska Anna , Palczewski Piotr , Bienias Piotr , Pruszczyk Piotr
Published: May 2018

d-dimer (DD) levels are used in the diagnostic workup of suspected acute pulmonary embolism (APE), but data on DD for early risk stratification in APE are limited. In this post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study of 270 consecutive patients, we aimed to optimize the discriminant capacity of the simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI), an APE risk assessment score currently used, by combining it with DD for in-hospital adverse event prediction. We found that DD levels were higher in patients with complicated versus benign clinical course 7.2 mg/L (25th-75th percentile: 4.5-27.7 mg/L) versus 5.1 mg/L (25th-75th percentile: 2.1-11.2 mg/L), P = .004. The area under the curve of DD for serious adverse event (SAE) was 0.672, P = .003. d-dimer =1.35 mg/L showed 100% negative predictive value for SAE and identified 11 sPESI ≥1 patients with a benign clinical course, detecting the 1 patient with SAE from sPESI = 0. d-dimer >15 mg/L showed heart rate for SAE 3.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1-9). A stratification model which with sPESI + DD >1.35 mg/L demonstrated improved prognostic value when compared to sPESI alone (net reclassification improvement: 0.085, P = .04). d-dimer have prognostic value, values <1.35 mg/L identify patients with a favorable outcome, improving the prognostic potential of sPESI, while DD >15 mg/L is an independent predictor of SAE.
Khorana Score: Νew Predictor of Early Mortality in Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Vathiotis Ioannis , Dimakakos Evangelos P. , Boura Paraskevi , Ntineri Angeliki , Charpidou Andiani , Gerotziafas Grigoris , Syrigos Konstantinos
Published: May 2018

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a typical complication in patients with lung cancer. Khorana score is an established tool for thromboembolic risk stratification of ambulatory patients with cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the Khorana score for VTE and death in patients with lung adenocarcinoma during first-line or adjuvant chemotherapy. Medical records of 130 patients with lung adenocarcinoma receiving first-line or adjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively studied during the time period June 2013 to May 2015. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 13 (10.0%) patients. Thromboembolic events were significantly correlated with reduced survival during treatment period (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-9.49; P = .032). The VTE rates did not present statistically significant difference between different Khorana score groups ( P = .96). In univariate analysis, the risk of death during treatment period (median: 16 weeks) was 3.75 times higher in high-risk versus intermediate-risk patients (HR: 3.75, 95% CI: 1.36-10.36; P = .001) and had 2.25 times higher per point increase in the Khorana score (HR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.36-3.73; P = .002); the above results were also reproduced in multivariate analysis. Khorana score represents a valuable tool for identifying patients with cancer in low thromboembolic risk but does not preserve its predictive value for higher risk individuals. Khorana score is an independent risk factor for death in patients with lung adenocarcinoma receiving first-line or adjuvant chemotherapy.
The Great Bridge of China? Journalism Education Curriculum Trends Suggest More Research Into the Capacity for International Mobility Among Chinese Journalism Graduates
Authors: Cokley John , Jianlin Wen , Yanling Liu , Wenshuai Xie
Published: May 2018

Current curriculum trends in tertiary journalism and communication education in the People’s Republic of China are investigated using information from the websites of the 2,198 Chinese universities that published course lists in December 2013. Of those, 439 offered journalism majors and this article samples 274 of those universities (12.5% of the national total). They fall into four groups: Research-oriented, Research and Teaching, Teaching only, and Specialized. A content analysis is conducted of subject synopses published on each university’s website. While international research suggests that subject offerings are likely to reflect a combination of internal institutional policies regarding journalism education and domestic student demand, with some external influence from government, educational institutions, and employer requirements, only in China is there evidence that journalism courses include compulsory study of a major global foreign language specifically for journalists (in this case, English). This study suggests further investigation into whether Chinese journalism graduates will have more capacity to be globally mobile and thus more employable than contemporary graduates from Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Some specific aspects of linear homogenization shell theory
Authors: Pruchnicki Erick
Published: May 2018

In this paper we propose a multiscale linear shell theory for simulating the mechanical response of a highly heterogeneous shell of varying thickness. To resolve this issue, a higher-order stress-resultant shell formulation based on multiscale homogenization is considered. At the macroscopic scale level, we approximate the displacement field by a fourth-order Taylor–Young expansion in thickness. The transition between both the microscopic and the macroscopic scales is obtained through the introduction of a specific Hill–Mandel condition. Since we adopt the standard assumption of small strain which is used in linear elasticity, we can present a variant of the homogenization scheme which is valid for small strain. The nonlinearity of the previous model occurs from the assumption of large rotation of the transverse normal.