bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The spin rates of O stars in WR+O Magellanic Cloud binaries
Authors: Shara Michael M , Crawford Steven M , Vanbeveren Dany , Moffat Anthony F J , Zurek David , Crause Lisa
Published: January 2020

Some massive, merging black holes (BHs) may be descendants of binary O stars. The evolution and mass transfer between these O stars determine the spins of their progeny BH. These will be measurable with future gravitational wave detectors, incentivizing the measurement of the spins of O stars in binaries. We previously measured the spins of O stars in Galactic Wolf–Rayet (WR)+O binaries. Here we measure the ve sin i of four Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and two Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) O stars in WR+O binaries to determine whether lower metallicity might affect the spin rates. We find that the O stars in Galactic and Magellanic WR+O binaries display average ve sin i = 258 ± 18 and 270 ± 15 km s−1, respectively. Two LMC O stars measured on successive nights show significant line width variability, possibly due to differing orbital phases exhibiting different parts of the O stars illuminated differently by their WR companions. Despite this variability, the ve sin i are highly supersynchronous but distinctly subcritical for the O stars in all these binaries; thus we conclude that an efficient mechanism for shedding angular momentum from O stars in WR+O binaries must exist. This mechanism, probably related to Roche lobe overflow (RLOF)-created dynamo magnetic fields, prevents nearly 100 per cent breakup spin rates, as expected when RLOF operates, as it must, in these stars. A Spruit–Tayler dynamo and O star wind might be that mechanism.
Exploring what patients with musculoskeletal conditions want from first point-of-contact health practitioners
Authors: Erwin Jo , Chance-Larsen Kenneth , Backhouse Michael , Woolf Anthony D
Published: January 2020

Objectives

This research was conducted to support the development of the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Health Capabilities Framework to ensure that the framework reflected patients’ priorities. The aim of this study was to explore what patients with MSK problems want from their initial consultation with a first contact health practitioner and, from the patient perspective, what characterizes a good first contact health practitioner.

Methods

Focus groups were held in four locations across England. Sixteen participants, aged 19–75 years and with a self-declared MSK condition, took part (11 female, five male). Participants discussed the questions they want answered when first going to see a health professional about an MSK problem and how they would describe a good first contact health provider.

Results

Participants wanted answers to questions about the nature of the problem, the management of the problem, where to get information and support to help themselves, what activities they can do and what the future holds. Values and behaviours they expect and value from first contact health practitioners include good communication skills, appreciation of impact, a willingness to discuss alternative and complementary therapies, shared decision-making and an awareness of their own limitations and when to refer.

Conclusion

The MSK core capabilities framework for first contact health practitioners aims to ensure a person-centred approach in the first stages of managing any MSK problem with which a person may present. The focus groups enabled the developers of the framework to achieve a greater understanding of patient priorities, expectations and needs and allowed the patient perspective to be included in this national framework.
Shakespeare, Arden of Faversham, and Four Forgotten Playwrights
Authors: Taylor Gary
Published: January 2020

This essay attempts to identify the primary author of Arden of Faversham, a play published anonymously in 1592, widely regarded as the first, and perhaps the best, domestic tragedy in English. Although many scholars now believe that Shakespeare wrote a small part of this play, there is no consensus about the authorship of most of it. This essay focuses on four Elizabethan playwrights whose extant work does not contain any securely identified single-author plays: Thomas Achelley, Michael Drayton, Richard Hathwaye, and Thomas Watson. It surveys the documentary evidence of their careers and reputations, and closely examines the literary style, originality, and variety of their extant work. This survey decisively rules out the first three, and provides strong and consistent evidence for Watson’s authorship. It identifies a new source for the play (Ovid’s Remedia Amoris), demonstrates its close connections to the 1591 royal entertainment at Elvetham, links the ahistorical role of Protector Somerset to Watson’s relationship with the Earl of Hertford, and argues that the play combines the earliest extant domestic tragedy with the earliest extant city comedy.
Digestibility of diets containing calcium salts of fatty acids or soybean oil in horses1
Authors: Fehlberg Laura K , Lattimer James M , Vahl Christopher I , Drouillard James S , Douthit Teresa L
Published: January 2020

Calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFAs) frequently are fed to ruminants, but their fate in the equine digestive system is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare Enertia s/f, a proprietary CSFAs, and soybean (SB) oil with respect to impact on apparent total tract nutrient digestion and cecal fermentation parameters in horses. Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a crossover design in which horses consumed a diet for 32 d consisting of 1.5% body weight (BW) (as-fed) smooth bromegrass hay and 0.5% BW (as-fed) pelleted concentrate containing 4.9% CSFAs or 4.1% SB oil. Fecal samples were collected every 4 h from day 30 to 32 of each period and analyzed for apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and gross energy (GE) using acid detergent insoluble ash as an internal marker. Cecal digesta was obtained at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h following the morning meal on day 29 of each period and analyzed for pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Serum was collected on day 33 of each period following a 16-h fast and analyzed for triglycerides and cholesterol. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, CP, CF, and GE were unaffected by lipid source (P > 0.10). Serum triglycerides tended to be greater in horses consuming CSFAs compared to SB (P = 0.10); however, serum cholesterol was not different (P = 0.45). In horses consuming SB, cecal pH decreased below baseline (hour 0) at hours 2, 4, and 6 (P < 0.01), whereas cecal pH in horses consuming CSFAs was below baseline at hours 4 and 6 (P < 0.01). There were no treatment or time effects on cecal pH (P > 0.10). Cecal concentrations of total VFAs were greater in horses consuming SB compared to CSFAs at hour 2 (P = 0.01). Cecal concentrations of acetate, propionate, acetate:propionate (A:P), and butyrate were affected by time (P < 0.01). Propionate was less at hour 2 in horses fed CSFAs compared to horses fed SB (P = 0.04). A treatment × time interaction was detected for total cecal LCFAs concentration (P < 0.01); LCFAs concentration was greater at hour 2 for horses consuming CSFAs compared to horses fed SB (P = 0.02). SB oil and CSFAs have similar effects on the digestion of DM, NDF, ADF, GE, CF, and CP.
Cost of survivorship care and adherence to screening—aligning the priorities of health care systems and survivors
Authors: Benedict Catherine , Wang Jason , Reppucci Marina , Schleien Charles L , Fish Jonathan D
Published: January 2020

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience significant morbidity due to treatment- related late effects and benefit from late-effects surveillance. Adherence to screening recommendations is suboptimal. Survivorship care programs often struggle with resource limitations and may benefit from understanding institution-level financial outcomes associated with patient adherence to justify programmatic development and growth. The purpose of this study is to examine how CCS adherence to screening recommendations relates to the cost of care, insurance status, and institution-level financial outcomes. A retrospective chart review of 286 patients, followed in a structured survivorship program, assessed adherence to the Children’s Oncology Group follow-up guidelines by comparing recommended versus performed screening procedures for each patient. Procedure cost estimates were based on insurance status. Institutional profit margins and profit opportunity loss were calculated. Bivariate statistics tested adherent versus nonadherent subgroup differences on cost variables. A generalized linear model predicted the likelihood of adherence based on cost of recommended procedures, controlling for age, gender, race, and insurance. Adherence to recommended surveillance procedures was 50.2%. Nonadherence was associated with higher costs of recommended screening procedures compared to the adherent group estimates ($2,469.84 vs. $1,211.44). Failure to perform the recommended tests resulted in no difference in reimbursement to the health system between groups ($1,249.63 vs. $1,211.08). For the nonadherent group, this represented $1,055.13 in “lost profit opportunity” per visit for patients, which totaled $311,850 in lost profit opportunity due to nonadherence in this subgroup. In the final model, nonadherence was related to higher cost of recommended procedures (p < .0001), older age at visit (p = .04), Black race (p = .02), and government-sponsored insurance (p = .03). Understanding institutional financial outcomes related to patient adherence may help inform survivorship care programs and resource allocation. Potential financial burden to patients associated with complex care recommendations is also warranted.
Widespread Dysregulation of Long Noncoding Genes Associated With Fatty Acid Metabolism, Cell Division, and Immune Response Gene Networks in Xenobiotic-exposed Rat Liver
Authors: Karri Kritika , Waxman David J
Published: January 2020

Xenobiotic exposure dysregulates hundreds of protein-coding genes in mammalian liver, impacting many physiological processes and inducing diverse toxicological responses. Little is known about xenobiotic effects on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), many of which have important regulatory functions. Here, we present a computational framework to discover liver-expressed, xenobiotic-responsive lncRNAs (xeno-lncs) with strong functional, gene regulatory potential and elucidate the impact of xenobiotic exposure on their gene regulatory networks. We assembled the long noncoding transcriptome of xenobiotic-exposed rat liver using RNA-seq datasets from male rats treated with 27 individual chemicals, representing 7 mechanisms of action (MOAs). Ortholog analysis was combined with coexpression data and causal inference methods to infer lncRNA function and deduce gene regulatory networks, including causal effects of lncRNAs on protein-coding gene expression and biological pathways. We discovered > 1400 liver-expressed xeno-lncs, many with human and/or mouse orthologs. Xenobiotics representing different MOAs often regulated common xeno-lnc targets: 123 xeno-lncs were dysregulated by ≥ 10 chemicals, and 5 xeno-lncs responded to ≥ 20 of the 27 chemicals investigated; 81 other xeno-lncs served as MOA-selective markers of xenobiotic exposure. Xeno-lnc—protein-coding gene coexpression regulatory network analysis identified xeno-lncs closely associated with exposure-induced perturbations of hepatic fatty acid metabolism, cell division, or immune response pathways, and with apoptosis or cirrhosis. We also identified hub and bottleneck lncRNAs, which are expected to be key regulators of gene expression. This work elucidates extensive networks of xeno-lnc—protein-coding gene interactions and provides a framework for understanding the widespread transcriptome-altering actions of foreign chemicals in a key-responsive mammalian tissue.
Tapping Into the Cotton Fungal Phytobiome for Novel Nematode Biological Control Tools
Authors: Zhou Wenqing , Verma Vijay C. , Wheeler Terry A. , Woodward Jason E. , Starr James L. , Sword Gregory A.
Published: January 2020

A number of fungi have been shown to have negative effects on plant-parasitic nematodes. Most of these fungi have been isolated from soil, plant roots, or nematodes themselves. Fungi associated with crops can provide a diverse pool of candidates to test for antagonistic effects against plant parasites and other stressors. We used a hierarchical two-tiered approach to evaluate the efficacy and repeatability of 55 strains of fungi originally isolated as foliar facultative endophytes from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with one commercial isolate of Beauveria bassiana for in planta antagonistic effects on root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). All fungi were inoculated to cotton using a seed treatment. The number of root galls was quantified 3 weeks after egg inoculation of cotton seedlings. The majority of the fungi tested reduced the number of root galls relative to those on untreated control plants. To assess repeatability, 22 strains that exhibited the strongest reductions in gall numbers were further tested in replicate follow-up assays. Ninety-five percent (21/22) of these retested strains significantly reduced galling in the follow-up assay. Strains that reduced galling the most belonged to the genera Alternaria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Diaporthe, Epicoccum, Gibellulopsis, and Purpureocillium. On the contrary, three strains in the genera Alternaria and Curvularia significantly increased gall numbers. Our results indicate that a large proportion of the fungal strains originally isolated from cotton as naturally occurring foliar facultative endophytes are capable of reducing root-knot nematode infection when applied back to the plant as a seed treatment. These findings help establish a rich pool of candidate fungi for further evaluation as novel biological control tools against root-knot nematodes in cotton and other plants.
Community-Driven Metadata Standards for Agricultural Microbiome Research
Authors: Dundore-Arias J. P. , Eloe-Fadrosh E. A. , Schriml L. M. , Beattie G. A. , Brennan F. P. , Busby P. E. , Calderon R. B. , Castle S. C. , Emerson J. B. , Everhart S. E. , Eversole K. , Frost K. E. , Herr J. R. , Huerta A. I. , Iyer-Pascuzzi A. S. , Kalil A. K. , Leach J. E. , Leonard J. , Maul J. E. , Prithiviraj B. , Potrykus M. , Redekar N. R. , Rojas J. A. , Silverstein K. A. T. , Tomso D. J. , Tringe S. G. , Vinatzer B. A. , Kinkel L. L.
Published: January 2020

Accelerating the pace of microbiome science to enhance crop productivity and agroecosystem health will require transdisciplinary studies, comparisons among datasets, and synthetic analyses of research from diverse crop management contexts. However, despite the widespread availability of crop-associated microbiome data, variation in field sampling and laboratory processing methodologies, as well as metadata collection and reporting, significantly constrains the potential for integrative and comparative analyses. Here we discuss the need for agriculture-specific metadata standards for microbiome research, and propose a list of “required” and “desirable” metadata categories and ontologies essential to be included in a future minimum information metadata standards checklist for describing agricultural microbiome studies. We begin by briefly reviewing existing metadata standards relevant to agricultural microbiome research, and describe ongoing efforts to enhance the potential for integration of data across research studies. Our goal is not to delineate a fixed list of metadata requirements. Instead, we hope to advance the field by providing a starting point for discussion, and inspire researchers to adopt standardized procedures for collecting and reporting consistent and well-annotated metadata for agricultural microbiome research.
Reclassification of Streptomyces castelarensis and Streptomyces sporoclivatus as later heterotypic synonyms of Streptomyces antimycoticus
Authors: Komaki Hisayuki , Tamura Tomohiko
Published: January 2020

We investigated the taxonomic relationship between

Streptomyces antimycoticus

, Streptomyces castelarensis, Streptomyces sporoclivatus, and

Streptomyces violaceusniger

. Digital DNA–DNA hybridisation using whole genome sequences and multilocus sequence analysis indicated that S. antimycoticus, S. castelarensis, and

S. sporoclivatus

belong to the same genomospecies. Previously reported phenotypic data also supported this synonymy. Therefore,

S. castelarensis

and

S. sporoclivatus

should be reclassified as later heterotypic synonyms of

S. antimycoticus

. The type strain of

S. antimycoticus

is NBRC 12839T (=ATCC 23880T=CBS 660.68T=RIA 1198T=CGMCC 4.1591T=DSM 40284T=JCM 4228T=JCM 4621T=KCTC 9694T=NRRL 2421T=NRRL ISP-5284T=VKM Ac-1824T). This study also revealed that genome sequence-published

S. violaceusniger

NRRL F-8817 should be reclassified into

S. antimycoticus

.
Mechanical control of morphogenetic robustness in an inherently challenging environment
Authors: Martin Emmanuel , Theis Sophie , Gay Guillaume , Monier Bruno , Rouvière Christian , Suzanne Magali
Published: January 2020

Epithelial sheets undergo highly reproducible remodeling to shape organs. This stereotyped morphogenesis depends on a well-defined sequence of events leading to the regionalized expression of developmental patterning genes that finally triggers downstream mechanical forces to drive tissue remodeling at a pre-defined position. However, how tissue mechanics controls morphogenetic robustness when challenged by intrinsic perturbations in close proximity has never been addressed.

Here, we show that a bias in force propagation ensures stereotyped morphogenesis despite the presence of mechanical noise in the environment. We found that knockdown of the Arp2/3 complex member Arpc5 specifically affects fold directionality without altering neither the developmental nor the force generation patterns. By combiningin silicomodeling, biophysical and ad hoc genetic tools, our data reveal that junctional Myosin II planar polarity favors long-range force channeling and ensures folding robustness, avoiding force scattering and thus isolating the fold domain from surrounding mechanical perturbations.
Recallable but not Recognizable: The Influence of Semantic Priming in Recall Paradigms
Authors: Ozubko Jason D. , Sirianni Lindsey Ann , Ahmad Fahad N. , MacLeod Colin M. , Addante Richard James
Published: January 2020

When people can successfully recall a studied word, they should be able to recognize it as having been studied. In cued recall paradigms, however, participants sometimes correctly recall words in the presence of strong semantic cues but then fail to recognize those words as actually having been studied. Although the conditions necessary to produce this unusual effect are known, the underlying neural correlates have not been investigated. Across two experiments, involving both behavioral and electrophysiological methods (EEG), we investigated the cognitive and neural processes that underlie recognition failures. Experiments 1A and 1B showed that, in cued recall paradigms, presuming that recalled items can be recognized is a flawed assumption: Recognition failures occur in the presence of cues, regardless of whether those failures are measured. Experiment 2 showed that successfully recalled words that are recognized are driven by recollection at recall and by a combination of recollection and familiarity at recognition; in contrast, recognition failures are driven by semantic priming at recall and followed by negative-going ERP effects consistent with implicit processes such as repetition fluency and context familiarity at recognition. These results demonstrate that recall—long-characterized as predominantly reflecting recollection-based processing in episodic memory—can at times also be served by a confluence of implicit cognitive processes.
Isomorphism: `molecular similarity to crystal structure similarity' in multicomponent forms of analgesic drugs tolfenamic and mefenamic acid
Authors: Ranjan Subham , Devarapalli Ramesh , Kundu Sudeshna , Saha Subhankar , Deolka Shubham , Vangala Venu R. , Reddy C. Malla
Published: January 2020

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs mefenamic acid (MFA) and tolfenamic acid (TFA) have a close resemblance in their molecular scaffold, whereby a methyl group in MFA is substituted by a chloro group in TFA. The present study demonstrates the isomorphous nature of these compounds in a series of their multicomponent solids. Furthermore, the unique nature of MFA and TFA has been demonstrated while excavating their alternate solid forms in that, by varying the drug (MFA or TFA) to coformer [4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)] stoichiometric ratio, both drugs have produced three different types of multicomponent crystals, viz. salt (1:1; API to coformer ratio), salt hydrate (1:1:1) and cocrystal salt (2:1). Interestingly, as anticipated from the close similarity of TFA and MFA structures, these multicomponent solids have shown an isomorphous relation. A thorough characterization and structural investigation of the new multicomponent forms of MFA and TFA revealed their similarity in terms of space group and structural packing with isomorphic nature among the pairs. Herein, the experimental results are generalized in a broader perspective for predictably identifying any possible new forms of comparable compounds by mapping their crystal structure landscapes. The utility of such an approach is evident from the identification of polymorph VI of TFA from hetero-seeding with isomorphous MFA form I from acetone–methanol (1:1) solution. That aside, a pseudopolymorph of TFA with dimethylformamide (DMF) was obtained, which also has some structural similarity to that of the solvate MFA:DMF. These new isostructural pairs are discussed in the context of solid form screening using structural landscape similarity.
Cold crucible melting with bottom pouring nozzle
Authors: Bojarevics Valdis , Pericleous Koulis
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new type of nozzle which is free from erosion and non-contaminating the outflow metal. Cold crucible melting technique with electromagnetic induction is used to obtain reactive metal castings and produce high-quality metal powders for aerospace, automotive and medical applications. An important part of this technology is the nozzle used to pour the molten alloy through the bottom opening.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses mathematical modeling technique, previously validated on multiple similar cases, to investigate a new type of nonconsumable nozzle made of copper segments.

Findings

The design of the nozzle requires to satisfy the narrow balance between the thin solidified protective layer on the wall while avoiding the blockage of the outflow if the nozzle is frozen completely. The sensitivity of the outflow to the nozzle diameter is investigated. The AC electromagnetic force leads to high mixing rates, transitional flow structures and turbulence of the melt, contributing to the melt shape dynamics and the heat loss to walls.

Originality/value

The beneficial features of the cold crucible melting to purify the melt from particulate contamination are explained using the full melting and pouring cycle.
Tailored heating of forging billets using induction and conduction heating approaches
Authors: Schulze Martin , Baake Egbert
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with different induction and conduction heating approaches to realize a tailored heating of round billets for hot forming processes. In particular, this work examines the limits in which tailor-made temperature profiles can be achieved in the billet. In this way, a flow stress distribution based on the temperature field in the material can be set in a targeted manner, which is decisive for forming processes.

Design/methodology/approach

For the heating of round billets by induction, the rotationally symmetric arrangement is used and a parameterized 2D finite element method model is created. The harmonic electromagnetic solution is coupled with the transient thermal solution. For heating by means of conduction, the same procedure is used only with the use of a 3D model.

Findings

First results have shown that both methods can achieve very good results for billets with small diameters (d < 30 mm). For larger diameters, an adapted control of the heating process is necessary to ensure through heating of the material. Further investigations are carried out.

Practical implications

Using tailored heating for forging billets, several forming steps can be achieved in one step. Among other things, higher energy efficiency and throughput rates can be achieved.

Originality/value

The peculiarity of the tailored heating approach is that, in contrast to inhomogeneous heating, where only partial areas are heated, the entire component is heated to the target.
Performance of 450 kW permanent magnet heater for aluminum billets
Authors: Forzan Michele , Dughiero Fabrizio , Lupi Sergio , Zerbetto Marcello
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the main experimental results obtained on the first prototype of an innovative induction heating system. MAGNHEAT was a LIFE project, funded by EU Commission, proposed to demonstrate the possibility of industrial application of a new technology for the induction heating of aluminum billets before extrusion. This technology uses permanent magnet heaters (PMHs), which constitute a high efficiency solution for the heating of high conductive metals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper briefly describes the main steps of the project: the design of the PMH, the realization and installation of the demonstrator on an extrusion production line of Pandolfo Alluminio SpA and, mostly, the performance of the system.

Findings

The main results achieved during the preliminary tests on an industrial line have been summarized by evaluating some key performance indicators, as reported in the paper.

Originality/value

The new technology allows a significant reduction of the energy consumption and guarantees the same performance of a classical induction heater.
The impact of lead users on innovation success
Authors: Marzouki Reem , Belkahla Wafa
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of lead users (LUs) on innovation success by proposing and validating an integrative model that links LUs, innovation success and knowledge sharing (KS) variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors research is quantitative in nature and data were collected through a survey conducted among 30 information technology Tunisian companies. The authors preliminary analysis was explored using the “SPSS” software and processed through exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis methods.

Findings

Results showed that LUs who possess advanced skills and valuable knowledge can contribute to enhance new successful innovations, and hence, enable companies to gain short and long-term profits. Besides, the authors confirmed that the impact of LUs on innovation success is mediated by the “KS” behavior.

Practical implications

An integrative framework that links LUs, innovation success and a third variable called KS is presented to see beyond the intended importance of this type of user regarding the development of new innovations.

Originality/value

The paper offers new insights to the topic of LUs by emphasizing the role of “KS” variable in strengthening the LUs – innovation success relationship.
Development and validation of a parental social media mediation scale across child and parent samples
Authors: Ho Shirley , Lwin May O. , Chen Liang , Chen Minyi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Social media use carries both opportunities and risks for children and adolescents. In order to reduce the negative impacts of social media on youth, the authors focus our efforts on parental mediation of social media. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to enhance the conceptualization and operationalization of parental mediation of social media.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors conducted focus groups with both children and parents in Singapore to categorize parental mediation strategies for social media and develop an initial scale of these strategies. Then, a survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,424 child participants and 1,206 parent participants in Singapore to develop and test the scale.

Findings

The focus group results identified four conceptually distinct parental mediation strategies for social media, labeled as active mediation, restrictive mediation, authoritarian surveillance, and non-intrusive inspection, and were used to develop an initial scale of these strategies. Based on the data from survey questionnaires, the authors investigated both inter-item and item-total correlations and performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which developed and validated the scale of parental mediation of social media.

Originality/value

First, this research explained what parents do to manage children’s social media use and identified four conceptually distinct parental mediation strategies of social media, making a significant contribution to the parental mediation theory. Additionally, the research developed the first theory-derived, successively validated and reliable scale in parental mediation of social media.
Enhanced D-H: an improved convention for establishing a robot link coordinate system fixed on the joint
Authors: Guo Fayong , Cai Hao , Ceccarelli Marco , Li Tao , Yao Butang
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Robot kinematic modeling needs to be based on clear physical concepts. The widely used Denavit–Hartenberg (D–H) convention requires the coordinate system to be established on an extension of the axis. This leads to non-trivial problems which this study seeks to address by developing an improved convention.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the problems associated with the traditional D–H convention are systematically analyzed. Then, pursuant of solving these problems, an enhanced Denavit–Hartenberg (ED–H) convention is proposed, and a procedure is delineated for establishing the coordinate frame and obtaining the associated parameters. The transformation equations are derived based on a homogeneous matrix. The characteristics of traditional D–H and ED–H with regard to kinematics and dynamics are comprehensively compared. Finally, an application of dynamics for lead-through programming and collision protection is undertaken to validate the proposed ED–H method. Simulations and experiments are carried out using the Tiansui-One cooperative robot platform with the aim of exploring the merits of the proposed convention.

Findings

The proposed convention is compatible with traditional methods and can solve the problems inherent in these methods. The main characteristic of ED–H is that the coordinate system is fixed on the joint, which is a general modeling method.

Originality/value

An enhanced D–H convention is proposed to establish a unified, intuitive and accurate link model that exhibits stronger adaptability than traditional D–H and can be used effectively in kinematic and dynamic modeling of mechanical arms.
Indigenous works and two eyed seeing: mapping the case for indigenous-led research
Authors: Colbourne Rick , Moroz Peter , Hall Craig , Lendsay Kelly , Anderson Robert B.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore Indigenous Works’ efforts to facilitate Indigenous-led research that is responsive to the socio-economic needs, values and traditions of Indigenous communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is grounded in an Indigenous research paradigm that is facilitated by Indigenous-led community-based participatory action research (PAR) methodology informed by the Two Row Wampum and Two-Eyed Seeing framework to bridge Indigenous science and knowledge systems with western ones.

Findings

The findings point to the need for greater focus on how Indigenous and western knowledge may be aligned within the methodological content domain while tackling a wide array of Indigenous research goals that involve non-Indigenous allies.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the need to develop insights and understandings into how to develop a safe, ethical space for Indigenous-led trans-disciplinary and multi-community collaborative research partnerships that contribute to community self-governance and well-being.
Mentoring beyond the politics of fear
Authors: Russel Magill Kevin , Harper Tracy D. , Smith Jess , Huang Aaron
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine multiple dimensions of reflexive and reciprocal mentorship as they work through the fear of teaching challenging and politically charged ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

This piece is a case study of the complex instances of reciprocal mentorship within a teacher education program. Objects of analysis included the informal educational experiences from the bi-monthly meetings and student-teaching experiences. Semi-structured interviews, field notes, interpersonal discussion and the authors’ own reflections were used as data sources.

Findings

The authors found that having difficult conversations in informal spaces provided social studies teacher candidates with the opportunity to get more comfortable with challenging conversations; that mentorship is helpful when shifting context between formal and informal spaces; and that once these teachers grew more comfortable, they moved from mentee to mentor with support and guidance from their own mentors. The authors conclude by providing several implications for pre-service teachers, teacher and teacher educators, as they help social studies practitioners work with and beyond the politics of fear.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations such as subjectivity, generalizability and implementation exist. Factors such as personality, program, cultural background, lived experience and other elements played a role in the findings. Therefore, the authors do not suggest these are monolithic claims about the nature of mentorship, teacher education or teaching, but rather the authors wish to share these findings and recommendations.

Practical implications

The authors argue that three major findings emerged from the data. First, informal spaces are valuable for initiating difficult conversations among mentors and mentees. Second, shifting between formal and informal spaces can be uncomfortable, but allow for mentoring opportunities during these challenging instances of becoming. Third, moving from mentee to mentor includes valuable reciprocal mentorship within a learning community.

Originality/value

This research project is grounded in the needs of the participants and researchers. To the authors’ knowledge, a project of this type with similar participants has not been done.
The usability of visitor attractions: state-of-the-art
Authors: Navarro-Ruiz Sandra , McKercher Bob
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Visitor attractions constitute the essence of the tourism phenomenon. However, management techniques that are expressly designed for tourism and develop different uses/activities and subsequently influence visitor experiences are under-researched. Hence, the purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual framework that provides a bridge between on-site management, visitor attraction development and visitor experience by introducing a novel concept: “usability of visitor attractions.” This new concept captures how managers can develop uses for visitors to experience the attraction. Thus, this study explores this concept and serves as the foundation for further research on this topic.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematization of the state of the art is based on an exhaustive desk research review of both academic and grey literature to endorse the “usability of visitor attractions” concept.

Findings

The literature review reveals that visitor attraction management affects visitor experience. To succeed, managers should consider the ease of use and the design of activities. Therefore, an innovative conceptual model is built to explore how on-site management techniques based on this new concept impact on visitor’s experience.

Originality/value

Research on visitor experience in attractions has neglected the impact of on-site management tools hitherto. Therefore, the originality of the study lies on providing a robust framework that enlightens how visitor attraction management affects visitor experience by developing the usability. The study proposes a novel concept and an original model that will be of a critical interest to tourism academia and will serve as practical guidance for attraction managers.
Neo Ekistics for flood mitigation in cities
Authors: Abdulkareem Mohanad , Kenawy Inji , ElKadi Hisham
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the potential of ecologically driven urban design interventions to substantiate urban form performance in coping with the increasing flood threats particularly in the Middle East region. The paper applies ecological principles to new urban interventions for pluvial flood adaptation in Muscat city, Oman. The interventions incorporate the physical dimensions of both the natural (topography) and the built environment (urban morphology). The study demonstrates different scenarios in Muscat city in Oman and discusses the different challenges faced at different socio-economic and ecological levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a case study approach. The methods include semi-structured interviews aiming to gain insight from experts in the field of study about salient physical interventions in the urban context that is potentially going to help mitigating flood consequences. Mitigation scenarios were guided by the participants’ recommendations in the area. Scenarios were tested across two complementary phases using two software packages, the first of which is the pre-processing phase accomplished by using the Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System and the second is the flood analysis phase done by the Hydrological Environmental Center for River Analysis System (HECRAS) platform. The scenarios were evaluated in relation to the successfulness and reliability of physical solutions based on to which extent the flood wave depth and coverage was reduced.

Findings

The paper provides an alternative resilient holistic approach to achieve socially and ecologically sensitive and less expensive flood mitigation solutions in the Middle East.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new approach to flood mitigation linking ecological principles to the social dimension of human activities and experience in closely knitted communities.
Indeterminacy, Disagreement and the Human Rights Act: An Empirical Study of Litigation in the UK House of Lords and Supreme Court 1997–2017
Authors: Blackwell Michael
Published: January 2020

This article explores the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the decision making of the House of Lords (UKHL) and the UK Supreme Court (UKSC). How does Convention rights content vary across areas of law in the UKHL/UKSC? Are some judges more likely than others to engage in Convention rights discourse? Is judicial disagreement more common in cases with higher levels of Convention rights discourse? A robust method of answering questions of this nature is developed and applied to decisions of the UKHL/UKSC, showing that the Convention rights content of decisions has varied over time and over substantive areas of law. Higher levels of human rights discourse are associated with greater levels of disagreement. A benchmarked measure of human rights content is developed to show the effect of the particular judge on the human rights content, illustrating the indeterminacy in human rights discourse and how its deployment can be contingent on judicial attitudes.
Vildagliptin‐induced ground‐glass nodules mimicking lung metastases in a cancer patient receiving Lactobacillus probiotic supplementation
Authors: Tanaka Yasuhiro , Soda Hiroshi , Fukuda Yuichi , Nio Kenta , Ono Sawana , Tomono Hiromi , Shimada Midori , Yoshida Masataka , Harada Tatsuhiko , Umemura Asuka , Iwasaki Keisuke , Yamaguchi Hiroyuki , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: January 2020

The association between gut microbiota and the lung immune system has been attracting increasing interest. Here, we report a case of pancreatic cancer in which the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor vildagliptin induced unusual manifestations of interstitial pneumonia, possibly under the influence of Lactobacillus paraplantarum probiotic supplementation. Chest computed tomography and positron emission tomography showed multiple ground‐glass nodules (GGNs) mimicking metastatic lung cancer. Transbronchial biopsy specimens showed mild fibrosis and infiltration of lymphocytes consisting of more CD4+ than CD8+ cells. The CD4+ cells did not include FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed lymphocytosis with a markedly increased CD4+/CD8+ ratio of 7.4. The nodules disappeared shortly after vildagliptin and probiotics were withheld. If unusual interstitial pneumonia is observed in some cancer patients, physicians should pay careful attention to their medication history, including probiotic supplements.
Dutertenomics: Populism, Progress, and Prospects
Authors: Capuno Joseph J.
Published: January 2020

In 2016, when Rodrigo Duterte was elected Philippine President the economy was growing robustly. Despite the record growth, his election is considered a populist revolt of the middle‐ and upper‐class Filipinos. Yet, his economic policies – from his initial 10‐point agenda to the laws he approved – are liberal. This paper distinguishes and relates Duterte's authoritarian‐populist political style (“Dutertismo”) and his economic agenda (“Dutertenomics”). The distinction follows from his lack of interest in economic affairs, which he delegated to his team of economic managers. This team ably pushes important economic reforms because of the president's style, which so far has earned him wide public approval. After slowing down during the first half of Duterte's term, growth has recently picked up. To keep the momentum and public attention off human rights violations, Duterte needs to accomplish his economic agenda by mid‐2022. Drawing on his powers and popularity, he may yet be able to elicit the full support of Congress.
Polypharmacy in schizophrenia
Authors: Baandrup Lone
Published: January 2020

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by a heterogeneous symptom profile which comprises a clinical platform for widespread use of polypharmacy even though antipsychotic monotherapy is the recommended treatment regimen. This narrative review provides a summary of the current gap between evidence and practice for use of antipsychotic combination therapy in patients with schizophrenia. Antipsychotic polypharmacy is frequently prescribed instead of following international consensus of clozapine monotherapy in treatment‐resistant patients. Antipsychotic‐benzodiazepine combination therapy clearly has a role in the treatment of acute agitation whereas there is no evidence to support an effect on core schizophrenia symptoms when chronically prescribed. Antidepressants are typically added to antipsychotic treatment in case of persistent negative symptoms. Available evidence suggests that antidepressants may improve negative symptom control in schizophrenia. Combining an antipsychotic with an antiepileptic is not supported by any firm evidence, but individual mood stabilizers have come out positively in single trials. Generally, the evidence base for polypharmacy in schizophrenia maintenance treatment is sparse but may be warranted in certain clinical situations. Therapeutic benefits and side effects should be carefully monitored and considered to ensure a beneficial risk‐benefit ratio if prescribing polypharmacy for specific clinical indications.
Routing using reinforcement learning in vehicular ad hoc networks
Authors: Saravanan M. , Ganeshkumar P.
Published: January 2020

In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), the frequent change in vehicle mobility creates dynamic changes in communication link and topology of the network. Hence, the key challenge is to address and resolve longer transmission delays and reduced transmission stability. During the establishment of routing path, the focus of entire research is on traffic detection and road selection with high traffic density for increased packet transmission. This reduces the transmission delays and avoids carry‐and‐forward scenarios; however, these techniques fail in obtaining accurate traffic density in real‐time scenario due to rapid change in traffic density. Thus, it is necessary to create a model that efficiently monitors the traffic density and assist VANETs in route selection in an automated way with increased accuracy. In this article, a novel machine learning architecture using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) model is proposed to monitor and estimate the data essential for the routing protocol. In this model, the roadside unit maintains the traffic information on roads using DRL. The DRL predicts the movement of the vehicle and makes a suitable routing path for transmitting the packets with improved transmission capacity. It further uses predicted transmission delays and the destination location to choose the forwarding directions between two road safety units (RSUs). The application of DRL over VANETs yields increased network performance, which provides on‐demand routing information. The simulation results show that the DRL‐based routing is effective in routing the data packets between the source and destination vehicles than other existing method.
Rethinking neurobehavioral comorbidity in Panayiotopoulos syndrome
Authors: Wilson Sarah J
Published: January 2020

This commentary is on the original article by Wald et al. on pages 985–992 of this issue.
Consumer exposure to food and beverage advertising out of home: An exploratory case study in Jamaica
Authors: Nelson Michelle R. , Ahn Regina Jihea , Ferguson Gail M. , Anderson Arianne
Published: January 2020

Consumers are inundated with messages about food and beverages in their daily lives. Research has shown that television advertising contains frequent low‐nutrient food and beverage messages which are thought to influence consumers’ food consumption. Yet, consumption decisions are often made out of the home. We systematically capture and describe food and beverage consumer communications at or near the point of purchase through observation of messages in food environments (Study 1: retail, restaurant) and content analysis of out‐of‐home advertising (Study 2: billboards). To do so, we focus on Jamaica, a ‐middle‐income country that is experiencing a nutrition transition from a traditional to a Westernized diet featuring refined carbohydrates, sugars, fats, sodium and processed foods. Globalization of food and beverage brands is one of the contributory factors to dietary changes and the prevalence of obese and overweight Jamaican consumers is a serious health issue. However, there is no research on advertising in Jamaica to help inform the understanding of its influence on consumers' health. Therefore, we gauge the prevalence and persuasion techniques across two forms of local and global food and beverage advertising that are rarely investigated (retail/restaurant, outdoor). Findings reveal that fast food and sugary beverages, mostly of U.S. origin, were predominantly promoted. Observations in grocery stores and fast‐food restaurants included point‐of‐purchase displays, posters and sales promotion tactics, most typically for low‐nutrient foods. Content analysis results revealed that one in four outdoor advertisements was for a food or beverage. The most frequently advertised foods were energy‐dense processed foods, sodas and fast‐food restaurants. These advertisements typically featured the brand name and a visual. As a whole, this study presents a unique descriptive snapshot which suggests that consumers in Kingston, Jamaica are exposed to multiple messages for low‐nutrient foods in their everyday lives and near the point of purchase.