bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Long-Term and Thermal Cycling Tests for a Commercial Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Authors: Lee Dustin , Lin Jing-Kai , Tsai Chun-Huang , Wu Szu-Han , Cheng Yung-Neng , Lee Ruey-Yi
Published: July 2017

The effects of isothermally long-term and thermal cycling tests on the performance of an ASC type commercial solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been investigated. For the long-term test, the cells were tested over 5000 h in two stages, the first 3000 h and the followed 2000 h, under the different flow rates of hydrogen and air. Regarding the thermal cycling test, 60 cycles in total were also divided into two sections, the temperature ranges of 700 °C to 250 °C and 700 °C to 50 °C were applied for the every single cycle of first 30 cycles and the later 30 cycles, respectively. The results of long-term test show that the average degradation rates for the cell in the first 3000 h and the followed 2000 h under different flow rates of fuel and air are 1.16 and 2.64%/kh, respectively. However, there is only a degradation of 6.6% in voltage for the cell after 60 thermal cycling tests. In addition, it is found that many pores formed in the anode of the cell which caused by the agglomeration of Ni after long-term test. In contrast, the vertical cracks penetrating through the cathode of the cell and the in-plane cracks between the cathode and barrier layer of the cell formed due to the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch after 60 thermal cycling tests.
Computationally Efficient Optimal Video Comparison for Machine Monitoring and Process Control
Authors: Anthony Brian W. , Chua Fitriani
Published: July 2017

Real-time algorithms are needed to compare and analyze digital videos of machines and processes. New video analysis techniques, for computationally efficient dimensionality-reduction, for determination of accurate motion-information, and for fast video comparison, will enable new approaches to system monitoring and control. We define the video alignment path (VAP) as the sequence of local time-and-space transformations required to optimally register two video clips. We develop an algorithm, dynamic time and space warping (DTSW), which calculates the VAP. Measures of video similarity, and therefore system similarity, are estimated based on properties of the VAP. These measures of similarity are then monitored over time and used for decision-making and process control. We describe the performance, structure, and computational complexity of a DTSW implementation, which is parallelizable and which can achieve the processing rates necessary for many video-based industrial monitoring applications. We describe two case studies of unsupervised monitoring for mechanical wear and for fault detection. Results suggest opportunities for boarder applications of video-based instrumentation for real-time feedback control, wear and defect detection, or statistical process control.
Additive Manufacturing With Conductive, Viscoelastic Polymer Composites: Direct-Ink-Writing of Electrolytic and Anodic Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Composites
Authors: Nesaei Sepehr , Rock Mitch , Wang Yu , Kessler Michael R. , Gozen Arda
Published: July 2017

Conductive viscoelastic polymer composites (CVPCs) consisting of conductive fillers in viscoelastic polymer matrices find numerous applications in emerging technologies such as flexible electronics, energy storage, and biochemical sensing. Additive manufacturing methods at micro- and mesoscales provide exciting opportunities toward realizing the unique capabilities of such material systems. In this paper, we study the direct-ink-writing (DIW) process of CVPCs consisting of electrically conductive additives in a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix. We particularly focus on the deposition mechanisms of the DIW process and the influence of these mechanisms on the printed structure geometry, morphology, and functional properties. To this end, we utilized a novel practical approach of modeling the ink extrusion through the nozzles considering the non-Newtonian viscous effects while capturing the viscoelastic extensional flow (drawing) effects through the variation of the nozzle exit pressure. We concluded that inks containing higher amounts of high molecular weight (HMW) PEO exhibit drawing type deposition at high printing speeds and low inlet pressures enabling thinner, higher aspect ratio structures with ideal three-dimensional stacking. Under this deposition mechanism, the electrical conductivity of the anodic structures decreased with increasing printing speed, indicating the effect of the drawing mechanism on the printed structure morphology.
Redox Flow Batteries for Energy Storage: A Technology Review
Authors: Ye Ruijie , Henkensmeier Dirk , Yoon Sang Jun , Huang Zhifeng , Kim Dong Kyu , Chang Zhenjun , Kim Sangwon , Chen Ruiyong
Published: July 2017

The utilization of intermittent renewable energy sources needs low-cost, reliable energy storage systems in the future. Among various electrochemical energy storage systems, redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising with merits of independent energy storage and power generation capability, localization flexibility, high efficiency, low scaling-up cost, and excellent long charge/discharge cycle life. RFBs typically use metal ions as reacting species. The most exploited types are all-vanadium RFBs (VRFBs). Here, we discuss the core components for the VRFBs, including the development and application of different types of membranes, electrode materials, and stack system. In addition, we introduce the recent progress in the discovery of novel electrolytes, such as redox-active organic compounds, polymers, and organic/inorganic suspensions. Versatile structures, tunable properties, and abundant resources of organic-based electrolytes make them suitable for cost-effective stationary applications. With the active species in solid form, suspension electrolytes are expected to provide enhanced volumetric energy densities.
The Design for Additive Manufacturing Worksheet
Authors: Booth Joran W. , Alperovich Jeffrey , Chawla Pratik , Ma Jiayan , Reid Tahira N. , Ramani Karthik
Published: July 2017

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have become integral to modern prototyping and manufacturing. Therefore, guidelines for using AM are necessary to help users new to the technology. Many others have proposed useful guidelines, but these are rarely written in a way that is accessible to novice users. Most guidelines (1) assume the user has extensive prior knowledge of the process, (2) apply to only a few AM technologies or a very specific application, or (3) describe benefits of the technology that novices already know. In this paper, we present a one-page, visual design for additive manufacturing worksheet for novice and intermittent users which addresses common mistakes as identified by various expert machinists and additive manufacturing facilities who have worked extensively with novices. The worksheet helps designers assess the potential quality of a part made using most AM processes and indirectly suggests ways to redesign it. The immediate benefit of the worksheet is to filter out bad designs before they are printed, thus saving time on manufacturing and redesign. We implemented this as a go-no-go test for a high-volume AM facility where users are predominantly novices, and we observed an 81% decrease in the rate of poorly designed parts. We also tested the worksheet in a classroom, but found no difference between the control and the experimental groups. This result highlights the importance of motivation since the cost of using AM in this context was dramatically lower than real-world costs. This second result highlights the limitations of the worksheet.
A Taylor Expansion Approach for Computing Structural Performance Variation From Population-Based Shape Data
Authors: Wang Xilu , Qian Xiaoping
Published: July 2017

Rapid advancement of sensor technologies and computing power has led to wide availability of massive population-based shape data. In this paper, we present a Taylor expansion-based method for computing structural performance variation over its shape population. The proposed method consists of four steps: (1) learning the shape parameters and their probabilistic distributions through the statistical shape modeling (SSM), (2) deriving analytical sensitivity of structural performance over shape parameter, (3) approximating the explicit function relationship between the finite element (FE) solution and the shape parameters through Taylor expansion, and (4) computing the performance variation by the explicit function relationship. To overcome the potential inaccuracy of Taylor expansion for highly nonlinear problems, a multipoint Taylor expansion technique is proposed, where the parameter space is partitioned into different regions and multiple Taylor expansions are locally conducted. It works especially well when combined with the dimensional reduction of the principal component analysis (PCA) in the statistical shape modeling. Numerical studies illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of this method.
Kinematic Optimization of a Five Degrees-of-Freedom Spatial Parallel Mechanism With Large Orientational Workspace
Authors: Xie Fugui , Liu Xin-Jun , Wang Jinsong , Wabner Markus
Published: July 2017

This paper deals with the kinematic optimization of a five degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) spatial parallel mechanism with three kinematic chains. Inspired by the structure of the icosahedron, the base of the discussed mechanism has been designed into a compact and light-weight frame. Due to the potential advantages, this mechanism is used as a movable plug-in module in a multi-axis machine center to process large-scale parts with rotary contour surfaces. To derive its optimal parameters, kinematic optimization based on the motion/force transmissibility is carried out. The parameter design space (PDS) is generated first. Then, the performance evaluation index (i.e., local transmission index (LTI)) is derived sequentially. On this basis, the good transmission positioning workspace (GTPW) for a given orientation is defined by constraining the value of LTI with a certain metric. Thereafter, the atlases of the GTPW and the optimal region satisfying the workspace constraint are derived in the PDS. Within this region, a set of optimal parameters without dimension are selected. Consequently, the cuboid workspaces within GTPWs are identified in detail. By using the ratio between required workspace in application and the derived cuboid workspaces, optimal geometric parameters with dimension are derived. Workspace analysis results show that, for an arbitrary orientation between the vertical and horizontal directions, there is always a cuboid workspace within GTPW larger than required workspace. In addition, the orientational capability of the mechanism can reach more than 90 deg, and the flexible 2DoFs rotations can also be realized. The work in this paper is very helpful to the development of a mobile machining module.
Drowned wildebeest provide ecological feast
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: July 2017

Mass migration boosts the productivity of an African river ecosystem.
Texas signals support for unproven stem cell therapies
Authors: Servick Kelly
Published: July 2017

State aims to offer desperately ill patients more options.
A top mathematician joins the Macron revolution
Authors: Pain Elisabeth
Published: July 2017

New National Assembly member Cédric Villani sees a “unique and extraordinary” chance to reform France.
The footprints of giants
Authors: McLaughlin Kathleen
Published: July 2017

Paleontologist Xing Lida is racing China's rapid growth to find the tracks of dinosaurs and map their ancient habitats.
Trial balloons
Authors: Mann Adam
Published: July 2017

Companies selling stratospheric balloon flights offer scientists a cheap avenue to the edge of space.
Cholera vaccine faces major test in Yemen
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: July 2017

Difficult choices ahead as stockpiled doses are rushed to a war-torn country.
Predicting where victims of Mexico's violence are buried
Authors: Wade Lizzie
Published: July 2017

Statistical model of hidden grave sites could guide future searches for the disappeared.
European bee study fuels debate over pesticide ban
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: July 2017

Neonicotinoids harm domesticated bees and wild cousins in study, but leave some honey bee colonies unaffected.
NASA armada targets thaw in Arctic soil
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: July 2017

Air fleet to study effects of melting permafrost on ecosystems and the climate
Neandertals mated early with modern humans
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: July 2017

Ancient encounter may have completely replaced Neandertals' mitochondrial DNA
AI in Action: How algorithms can analyze the mood of the masses
Authors: Hutson Matthew
Published: July 2017

Algorithms sift masses of social media data
Maximizing the right stuff: The trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity
Authors: Park Ho Bum , Kamcev Jovan , Robeson Lloyd M. , Elimelech Menachem , Freeman Benny D.
Published: July 2017

Filtering through to what's important

Membranes are widely used for gas and liquid separations. Historical analysis of a range of gas pair separations indicated that there was an upper bound on the trade-off between membrane permeability, which limits flow rates, and the selectivity, which limits the quality of the separation process. Park
et al.
review the advances that have been made in attempts to break past this upper bound. Some inspiration has come from biological membranes. The authors also highlight cases where the challenges lie in areas other than improved separation performance.

Science
, this issue p.
eaab0530
Discovery of orbital-selective Cooper pairing in FeSe
Authors: Sprau P. O. , Kostin A. , Kreisel A. , Böhmer A. E. , Taufour V. , Canfield P. C. , Mukherjee S. , Hirschfeld P. J. , Andersen B. M. , Davis J. C. Séamus
Published: July 2017

A deeper look into iron selenide

In the past 10 years, iron-based superconductors have created more puzzles than they have helped resolve. Some of the most fundamental outstanding questions are how strong the interactions are and what the electron pairing mechanism is. Now two groups have made contributions toward resolving these questions in the intriguing compound iron selenide (FeSe) (see the Perspective by Lee). Gerber
et al.
used photoemission spectroscopy coupled with x-ray diffraction to find that FeSe has a very sizable electron-phonon interaction. Quasiparticle interference imaging helped Sprau
et al.
determine the shape of the superconducting gap and find that the electron pairing in FeSe is orbital-selective.

Science
, this issue p.
71
, p.
75
; see also p.
32
Liquefied gas electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage devices
Authors: Rustomji Cyrus S. , Yang Yangyuchen , Kim Tae Kyoung , Mac Jimmy , Kim Young Jin , Caldwell Elizabeth , Chung Hyeseung , Meng Y. Shirley
Published: July 2017

Separating charges is a gas

Solid and liquid electrolytes allow for charges or ions to move while keeping anodes and
cathodes separate. Separation prevents short circuits from occurring in energy storage
devices. Rustomji
et al.
show that separation can also be achieved by
using fluorinated hydrocarbons that are liquefied under pressure. The electrolytes show
excellent stability in both batteries and capacitors, particularly at low
temperatures.

Science
, this issue p.
eaal4263
Quantum and isotope effects in lithium metal
Authors: Ackland Graeme J. , Dunuwille Mihindra , Martinez-Canales Miguel , Loa Ingo , Zhang Rong , Sinogeikin Stanislav , Cai Weizhao , Deemyad Shanti
Published: July 2017

Lithium gets a new ground state

For the past 70 years, the lowest-energy crystal structure of lithium was believed to be a relatively complex one called the 9R structure. Ackland
et al.
show that this is incorrect. The actual lowest-energy structure for lithium is the much simpler closest-packed face-centered cubic form. In addition,
6
Li and
7
Li isotopes have crystal phase transitions at slightly different pressures and temperatures. This difference is chalked up to large quantum mechanical effects between the isotopes. Lithium is the only metal that shows this type of quantum effect and presents a challenge for theoreticians to explain.

Science
, this issue p.
1254
Breaking Lorentz reciprocity to overcome the time-bandwidth limit in physics and engineering
Authors: Tsakmakidis K. L. , Shen L. , Schulz S. A. , Zheng X. , Upham J. , Deng X. , Altug H. , Vakakis A. F. , Boyd R. W.
Published: July 2017

Resonant systems with high bandwidth

The performance of an active system, whether it is optical, electrical, or mechanical, is often described by its quality (
Q
) factor. Typically, one learns the rule that the higher the
Q
factor, the sharper the resonance—that is, the bandwidth of the device is reduced. Tsakmakidis
et al.
show that this is indeed the case, but only for symmetric systems. However, for the case of asymmetric (or nonreciprocal) systems, the rule need not be obeyed. They show theoretically that the more asymmetric a system with high
Q
is, the wider the bandwidth can be. The effect raises the prospect of designing high-
Q
devices operating over large bandwidths.

Science
, this issue p.
1260
Atomic structure of the human cytomegalovirus capsid with its securing tegument layer of pp150
Authors: Yu Xuekui , Jih Jonathan , Jiang Jiansen , Zhou Z. Hong
Published: July 2017

Strong under pressure

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family that can cause
life-threatening infections in those who are immunocompromised. HCMV encodes a genome
that is about 50% larger than that of herpes simplex virus 1 (the virus that causes cold
sores), but these two viruses have similar-sized capsids. Yu
et al.
used cryo–electron microscopy to determine the structure of the HCMV capsid to
3.9-Å resolution. This is the first high-resolution capsid structure from the
herpesvirus family. It reveals extensive interactions that stabilize the capsid to
withstand the high pressure that comes from accommodating such a large genome.

Science
, this issue p.
eaam6892
Increase in predator-prey size ratios throughout the Phanerozoic history of marine ecosystems
Authors: Klompmaker Adiël A. , Kowalewski Michał , Huntley John Warren , Finnegan Seth
Published: July 2017

The size of marine invertebrate predators has increased over the past 500 million years.
Brains, environments, and policy responses toaddiction
Authors: Humphreys Keith , Malenka Robert C. , Knutson Brian , MacCoun Robert J.
Published: July 2017

Reward and decision-making circuitry are critical
The most perfect thing, explained
Authors: Spottiswoode Claire N.
Published: July 2017

The requirements of flight best explain the evolution of different egg shapes
Taking six-dimensional spectra in finite time
Authors: Goodknight Joseph , Aspuru-Guzik Alan
Published: July 2017

Clever data acquisition can probe how vibrations couple to electronic states in
molecules
Inside the eager mind
Why: What Makes Us Curious
Mario Livio
Simon & Schuster, 2017. 268 pp.
Authors: Peschel Joseph
Published: July 2017

An inquisitive physicist delves into the psychology and neuroscience of human curiosity
Glycophorin alleles link to malaria protection
Authors: Winzeler Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2017

Genome-wide association studies identify variants in the human glycophorin
ABE
locus
The enlightened empiricist
Priest of Nature: The Religious Worlds of IsaacNewton
Rob Iliffe
Oxford University Press, 2017. 536 pp.
Authors: Stanley Matthew
Published: July 2017

Revered today for his scientific contributions, Isaac Newton's religious scholarship is often all but forgotten
What's next for the Ju/'hoansi?
Affluence Without Abundance: The Disappearing Worldof the Bushmen
James Suzman
Bloomsbury USA, 2017. 320 pp.
Authors: Barnard Alan
Published: July 2017

A community of Kalahari hunter-gatherers struggles to find their way in a changing world
Releasing plant volatiles, as simple as ABC
Authors: Eberl Franziska , Gershenzon Jonathan
Published: July 2017

A protein actively expels volatile compounds from plants
Why are neurons susceptible to Zika virus?
Authors: Griffin Diane E.
Published: July 2017

The Zika viral genome binds to a protein expressed by neural progenitor cells
Influence of de qi on the immediate analgesic effect of SP6 acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and cold and dampness stagnation: A multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhao Min-yi , Zhang Peng , Li Jing , Wang Lin-peng , Zhou Wei , Wang Yan-xia , She Yan-fen , Ma Liang-xiao , Wang Pei , Hu Ni-juan , Lin Chi , Hu Shang-qin , Wu Gui-wen , Wang Ya-feng , Sun Jun-jun , Jiang Si-zhu , Zhu Jiang
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aim of this multicentre randomised controlled trial was to investigate the contribution of de qi to the immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and the specific traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis cold and dampness stagnation.

Method

Eighty-eight patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and cold and dampness stagnation were randomly assigned to de qi (n=43) or no de qi (n=45) groups and underwent 30 min of SP6 acupuncture. The de qi group received deep needling at SP6 with manipulation using thick needles; the no de qi group received shallow needling with no manipulation using thin needles. In both groups the pain scores and actual de qi sensation were evaluated using a visual analogue scale for pain (VAS-P) and the acupuncture de qi clinical assessment scale (ADCAS), respectively.

Results

Both groups showed reductions in VAS-P, with no signficant differences between groups. ADCAS scores showed 43/43 and 25/45 patients in de qi and no de qi groups, respectively, actually experienced de qi sensation. Independent of original group allocation, VAS-P reductions associated with actual de qi (n=68) were greater than those without (28.4±18.19 mm vs 14.6±12.28 mm, p=0.008).

Conclusions

This study showed no significant difference in VAS-P scores in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and cold and dampness stagnation immediately after SP6 acupuncture designed to induce or avoid de qi sensation. Both treatments significantly reduced VAS-P relative to baseline. Irrespective of group allocation, patients experiencing actual de qi sensation demonstrated larger reductions in pain score relative to those without, suggesting greater analgesic effects.

Trial registration number

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-TRC-13003086); Results.
The Supporting Patient Activation in Transition to Home (sPATH) intervention: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial using motivational interviewing to decrease re-hospitalisation for patients with COPD or heart failure
Authors: Flink Maria , Lindblad Marléne , Frykholm Oscar , Kneck Åsa , Nilsen Per , Årestedt Kristofer , Ekstedt Mirjam
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Deficient hospital discharging and patients struggling to handle postdischarge self-management have been identified as potential causes of re-hospitalisation rates. Despite an increased interest in interventions aiming to reduce re-hospitalisation rates, there is yet no best evidence on how to support patients in being active participants in their self-management postdischarge. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for an upcoming randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Supporting Patient in Activation to Home (sPATH) intervention.

Methods/analysis

The described study is a randomised, controlled, analysis-blinded, two-site trial, with primary outcome re-hospitalisation within 90 days. In total, 290 participants aged 18 years or older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure who are admitted to hospital and who are living in an own home will be eligible for inclusion into an intervention (n=145) or control group (n=145). Patients who need an interpreter to communicate in Swedish, or who have a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment, will be excluded from inclusion. The sPATH intervention, developed with a theoretical base in the self-determination theory, consists of five postdischarge motivational interviewing sessions (face to face or by phone). The intervention covers the self-management areas medication management, follow-up/care plan, symptoms/signs of worsening condition and relations/contacts with healthcare providers. This RCT will add to the literature on evidence to support patient activation in postdischarge self-management.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Regional Research Ethics Committee (No. 2014/1498-31/2) in Stockholm, Sweden. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international and national scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT02823795; Pre-results.
Factors associated with non-persistence to oral and inhaled antiviral therapies for seasonal influenza: a secondary analysis of a double-blind, multicentre, randomised clinical trial
Authors: Flicoteaux Remi , Protopopescu Camelia , Tibi Annick , Blanchon Thierry , Werf Sylvie Van Der , Duval Xavier , Mosnier Anne , Charlois-Ou Cécile , Lina Bruno , Leport Catherine , Chevret Sylvie
Published: July 2017

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate and compare non-adherence to oral and inhaled antiviral therapies prescribed of a randomised clinical trial in outpatients with influenza A infection.

Design

A parallel, three-arm, double-blinded trial randomly allocated antiviral therapies twice daily for 5 days: (1) oral oseltamivir plus inhaled zanamivir (arm OZ); (2) oseltamivir plus inhaled placebo (arm Opz); or (3) oral placebo plus inhaled zanamivir (arm poZ). Analysis of non-adherence was a secondary objective of the trial.

Settings

Outpatients were enrolled by 145 general practitioners throughout France during the 2008–2009 seasonal influenza epidemics.

Participants

A total of 541 adults presenting with influenza-like illness for less than 36 hours.

Primary outcomes

Non-persistence, the time between inclusion and the last dose treated as a failure time, was used as the primary endpoint.

Results

The proportions of patients who persisted on treatment until the end of prescription were estimated at 85.73% (±3.28%) for the oral route and 82.73% (±3.44%) for the inhaled route. Based on multivariable models, non-persistence was associated with a PCR confirmation of influenza for both the oral (HR=0.54, p=0.010) and inhaled (HR=0.59, p=0.018) drugs and antibiotic coprescriptions (HR=2.07, p=0.007; and HR=1.88, p=0.017, respectively) and active combination treatment (HR=1.71, p=0.035; and HR=1.58, p=0.035, respectively). The hazard of non-persistence of the inhaled therapy was increased compared with that of the oral therapy (HR=1.23, p=0.043).

Conclusion

In addition to the clinical and virological profiles of influenza infection, non-persistence may have been influenced by an active combination and the route of administration.

RCT registration number

NCT00799760. This is a post-result analysis.
The Scottish school leavers cohort: linkage of education data to routinely collected records for mortality, hospital discharge and offspring birth characteristics
Authors: Stewart Catherine H , Dundas Ruth , Leyland Alastair H
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The Scottish school leavers cohort provides population-wide prospective follow-up of local authority secondary school leavers in Scotland through linkage of comprehensive education data with hospital and mortality records. It considers educational attainment as a proxy for socioeconomic position in young adulthood and enables the study of associations and causal relationships between educational attainment and health outcomes in young adulthood.

Participants

Education data for 284 621 individuals who left a local authority secondary school during 2006/2007–2010/2011 were linked with birth, death and hospital records, including general/acute and mental health inpatient and day case records. Individuals were followed up from date of school leaving until September 2012. Age range during follow-up was 15 years to 24 years.

Findings to date

Education data included all formal school qualifications attained by date of school leaving; sociodemographic information; indicators of student needs, educational or non-educational support received and special school unit attendance; attendance, absence and exclusions over time and school leaver destination. Area-based measures of school and home deprivation were provided. Health data included dates of admission/discharge from hospital; principal/secondary diagnoses; maternal-related, birth-related and baby-related variables and, where relevant, date and cause of death. This paper presents crude rates for all-cause and cause-specific deaths and general/acute and psychiatric hospital admissions as well as birth outcomes for children of female cohort members.

Future plans

This study is the first in Scotland to link education and health data for the population of local authority secondary school leavers and provides access to a large, representative cohort with the ability to study rare health outcomes. There is the potential to study health outcomes over the life course through linkage with future hospital and death records for cohort members. The cohort may also be expanded by adding data from future school leavers. There is scope for linkage to the Prescribing Information System and the Scottish Primary Care Information Resource.
Evaluation of the organisation and effectiveness of internal audits to govern patient safety in hospitals: a mixed-methods study
Authors: van Gelderen Saskia C , Zegers Marieke , Boeijen Wilma , Westert Gert P , Robben Paul B , Wollersheim Hub C
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Hospital boards are legally responsible for safe healthcare. They need tools to assist them in their task of governing patient safety. Almost every Dutch hospital performs internal audits, but the effectiveness of these audits for hospital governance has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the organisation of internal audits and their effectiveness for hospitals boards to govern patient safety.

Design and setting

A mixed-methods study consisting of a questionnaire regarding the organisation of internal audits among all Dutch hospitals (n=89) and interviews with stakeholders regarding the audit process and experienced effectiveness of audits within six hospitals.

Results

Response rate of the questionnaire was 76% and 43 interviews were held. In every responding hospital, the internal audits followed the plan–do–check–act cycle. Every hospital used interviews, document analysis and site visits as input for the internal audit. Boards stated that effective aspects of internal audits were their multidisciplinary scope, their structured and in-depth approach, the usability to monitor improvement activities and to change hospital policy and the fact that results were used in meetings with staff and boards of supervisors. The qualitative methods (interviews and site visits) used in internal audits enable the identification of soft signals such as unsafe culture or communication and collaboration problems. Reported disadvantages were the low frequency of internal audits and the absence of soft signals in the actual audit reports.

Conclusion

This study shows that internal audits are regarded as effective for patient safety governance, as they help boards to identify patient safety problems, proactively steer patient safety and inform boards of supervisors on the status of patient safety. The description of the Dutch internal audits makes these audits replicable to other healthcare organisations in different settings, enabling hospital boards to complement their systems to govern patient safety.
A cross-sectional study using freedom of information requests to evaluate variation in local authority commissioning of community pharmacy public health services in England
Authors: Mackridge Adam John , Gray Nicola Jane , Krska Janet
Published: July 2017

Objectives

This study aims to provide a national picture of the extent and nature of public health services commissioned by local authorities (LAs) from community pharmacies across England in financial year 2014/15.

Design

Cross-sectional survey of public health services commissioned in community pharmacies by LAs, gathered via freedom of information requests and documentary analysis.

Setting and participants

All 152 LAs in England.

Results

A total of 833 commissioned services were reported across England (range 3–10 per LA). Four services were commissioned by over 90% of LAs: emergency hormonal contraception (EHC), smoking cessation support, supervised consumption of methadone or other opiates and needle and syringe programmes (NSPs). The proportion of pharmacies commissioned to deliver these services varied considerably between LAs from <10% to 100%. This variation was not related to differences in relevant proxy measures of need. NHS Health Checks and alcohol screening and brief advice were commissioned by fewer LAs (32% and 15%, respectively), again with no relationship to relevant measures of need. A range of other services were commissioned less frequently, by fewer than 10% of LAs.

Supervised consumption and NSPs were the most frequently used services, with over 4.4 million individual supervisions and over 1.4 million needle packs supplied. Pharmacies provided over 200 000 consultations for supply of EHC, over 30 000 supplies of free condoms and almost 16 000 chlamydia screening kits. More than 55 000 people registered to stop smoking in a community pharmacy, almost 30 000 were screened for alcohol use and over 26 000 NHS Health Checks were delivered.

Conclusions

There is significant variation in commissioning and delivery of public health services in community pharmacies across England, which correlate poorly with potential benefit to local populations. Research to ascertain reasons for this variation is needed to ensure that future commissioning and delivery of these services matches local need.
Efficacy of conventional treatment with composite resin and atraumatic restorative treatment in posterior primary teeth: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ladewig Nathalia Miranda , Sahiara Cíntia Saori , Yoshioka Laysa , Olegário Isabel Cristina , Floriano Isabela , Tedesco Tamara Kerber , Mendes Fausto Medeiros , Braga Mariana Minatel , Raggio Daniela Procida
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Despite the widespread acceptance of conventional treatment using composite resin in primary teeth, there is limited evidence that this approach is the best option in paediatric clinics. Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement has gradually become more popular because it performs well in clinical studies, is easy to handle and is patient friendly. Therefore, the aim of this randomised clinical trial study is to compare the restoration longevity of conventional treatment using composite resin with that of ART in posterior primary teeth. As secondary outcomes, cost-efficacy and patient self-reported discomfort will also be tested.

Methods and analysis

Children aged 3–6 years presenting with at least one occlusal and/or occlusal-proximal cavity will be randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the dental treatment: ART (experimental group) or composite resin restoration (control group). The dental treatment will be performed at a dental care trailer located in an educational complex in Barueri/SP, Brazil. The unit of randomisation will be the child. A sample size of 240 teeth with occlusal cavities and 188 teeth with occlusal-proximal cavities has been calculated. The primary outcome will be restoration longevity, which will be clinically assessed after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by two examiners. The duration of the dental treatment and the cost of all materials used will be considered when estimating the cost-efficacy of each treatment. Individual discomfort will be measured after each dental procedure using the Facial Scale of Wong-Baker.

Ethics and dissemination

This clinical trial was approved by the local ethics committee from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo (registration no. 1.556.018). Participants will be included after their legal guardians have signed an informed consent form containing detailed information about the research.

Trial registration number

www.clinicaltrials.gov,NCT02562456; Pre-results.
The characteristics of national health initiatives promoting earlier cancer diagnosis among adult populations: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Calanzani Natalia , Weller David , Campbell Christine
Published: July 2017

Introduction

The increasing burden of cancer morbidity and mortality has led to the development of national health initiatives to promote earlier cancer diagnosis and improve cancer survival. This protocol describes a systematic review aiming to identify the evidence about such initiatives among the adult population. We will describe their components, stakeholders and target populations, and summarise their outcomes.

Methods and analysis

We will search databases and websites for peer-reviewed publications and grey literature on national health initiatives in high-income countries as defined by the World Bank. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies will be included and assessed for their methodological quality. Study selection, quality assessment and data extraction will be carried out independently by two reviewers. Narrative synthesis will be used to analyse the findings.

Ethics and dissemination

This systematic review analyses secondary data and ethical approval is not required. Review findings will be helpful to researchers, policy makers, governments and other key stakeholders developing similar initiatives and assessing cancer outcomes. The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal in order to reach a diverse group of healthcare professionals, researchers and policy makers. This systematic review protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD42016047233).
Suboptimal vitamin D status in Korean adolescents: a nationwide study on its prevalence, risk factors including cotinine-verified smoking status and association with atopic dermatitis and asthma
Authors: Byun Eun Jung , Heo Jinyoung , Cho Sang Hyun , Lee Jeong Deuk , Kim Hei Sung
Published: July 2017

Objective

To determine the prevalence and risk factors for suboptimal vitamin D status in Korean adolescents and to assess its relationship with atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma at a national level.

Design

This is a cross-sectional study with data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Information regarding socioeconomic characteristics, clinical data and environmental factors was collected. Blood and urine samples were taken for vitamin D and cotinine, respectively. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression was performed on the data.

Setting

South Korea (nationwide).

Participants

2515 individuals aged 10–18 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011.

Main outcome measures

Vitamin D status was determined through measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD). Smoking status was classified based on the urine cotinine level. Physician diagnosed with AD and asthma were assessed using a questionnaire.

Results

Overall, 73.3% of the subjects were vitamin D deficient (25OHD <20 ng/mL) and 24.4% of the subjects were vitamin D insufficient (25OHD, 20–29.9 ng/mL). Older age (p<0.001), female gender (p<0.001), urban residence (p=0.019), higher body mass index (p=0.003) and sampling in winter months (November–March) (p<0.001) were independently associated with low serum 25OHD levels. With cotinine verification, 18.2% of the participants were classified as active smokers, and 43.4% were classified as passive smokers. After adjusting for potential confounders, serum 25OHD status showed no association with AD or asthma.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Korean adolescents. Cotinine-verified prevalence of smoking was also high, but its relationship with vitamin D deficiency was not confirmed in our study. Above all, our results provide epidemiological evidence against the association of vitamin D status with AD and asthma at the national level among Korean adolescents.
Formal firearm training among adults in the USA: results of a national survey
Authors: Rowhani-Rahbar Ali , Lyons Vivian H , Simonetti Joseph A , Azrael Deborah , Miller Matthew
Published: July 2017

Despite broad support for policies requiring that prospective firearm owners receive training before acquiring a firearm, little is known about the scope and content of firearm training in the USA. Nationally representative surveys conducted in 1994 estimated that 56%-58% of the US firearm owners had received formal firearm training. We conducted a nationally representative survey in 2015 (n=3932; completion proportion=55%) to update those estimates and characterise training contents. 61% of firearm owners and 14% of non-owners living with a firearm owner reported having received formal firearm training. The most commonly reported combination of training topics was safe handling, safe storage and preventing accidents. 15% of firearm owners reported that their training included information about suicide prevention. The proportion of the US firearm owners with formal firearm training has not meaningfully changed since two decades ago. Training programme contents vary widely. Efforts to standardise and evaluate the effectiveness of firearm training are warranted.
A Dab2Ip Genotype: Sex Interaction is Associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion
Authors: Ye Zi , Austin Erin , Schaid Daniel J , Bailey Kent R , Pellikka Patricia A , Kullo Iftikhar J
Published: July 2017

A faster expansion rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) increases the risk of rupture. Women are at higher risk of rupture than men, but the mechanisms underlying this increased risk are unknown. We investigated whether genetic variants that influence susceptibility for AAA ( CDKN2A-2B, SORT1, DAB2IP, LRP1 and LDLR) are associated with AAA expansion and whether these associations differ by sex in 650 patients with AAA (mean age 70±8 years, 17% women) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Vascular Disease Biorepository. Women had a mean aneurysm expansion 0.41 mm/year greater than men after adjustment for baseline AAA size. In addition to baseline size, mean arterial pressure (MAP), non-diabetic status, SORT1-rs599839[G] and DAB2IP-rs7025486[A] were associated with greater aneurysm expansion (all p<0.05). The associations of MAP and rs599839[G] were similar in both sexes, while the associations of baseline size, pulse pressure (PP) and rs7025486[A] were stronger in women than men (all p -sex interaction ≤0.02). A three-way interaction of PP*sex* rs7025486[A] was noted in a full-factorial analysis (p=0.007) independent of baseline size and MAP. In the high PP group (≥median), women had a mean growth rate 0.68 mm/year greater per [A] of rs7025486 than men (p -sex interaction=0.003), whereas there was no difference in the low PP group (p -sex interaction=0.8). We demonstrate that variants DAB2IP-rs7025486[A] and SORT1-rs599839[G] are associated with AAA expansion. The association of rs7025486[A] is stronger in women than men and amplified by high PP, contributing to sex differences in aneurysm expansion.
Extra-rectal lymphogranuloma venereum in France: a clinical and molecular study
Authors: Desclaux Arnaud , Touati Arabella , Neau Didier , Laurier-Nadalié Cécile , Bébéar Cécile , de Barbeyrac Bertille , Cazanave Charles
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To describe a series of extrarectal lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) cases diagnosed in France.

Methods

Consecutive LGV cases confirmed at the French Reference Centre for chlamydiae with an extrarectal sample from January 2010 to December 2015 were included. The first part of the study consisted of a retrospective case note review and analysis. In a second part, the complete ompA gene sequence of our samples was determined.

Results

There were 56 cases overall: 50 cases of genital LGV and six cases of pharyngeal LGV. Subjects were all men, median age 39 years, 27/53 were HIV-positive, 47/51 reported having sex with other men, 43/49 reported multiple sexual partners (a mean 25 in the last 6 months). Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 21 days. Subjects most commonly presented with inguinal adenopathy alone (19 of 50 genital cases) and adenopathy with genital ulcer (17 of 50). Three pharyngeal cases were symptomatic. Fever was reported in 11 cases. Inguinal abscess was reported in 22 of 42 cases presenting with lymphadenopathy. Co-infections were frequent: eight cases of syphilis, four non-LGV Chlamydia trachomatis infections, one case of gonorrhoea. Cure was always achieved with doxycycline therapy but prolonged treatment was necessary in eight cases with inguinal abscess. Genotyping according to ompA sequencing showed the co-circulation of genovars L2 (16 of 42 strains successfully typed) and L2b (24 of 42). There was no association between HIV status and disease severity or genovar distribution.

Conclusion

In the span of 6 years, 56 extrarectal LGV cases were confirmed through genotyping in France. Extrarectal LGV seemed to share a common epidemiological background with rectal disease in terms of affected population and genovar distribution. HIV prevalence was lower than expected.
Nuclear hexacontatetrapole deformation effects on the rotational structures at large deformations in 158Er
Authors: Kardan A.
Published: July 2017

Effect of the nuclear hexacontatetrapole deformation on the rotational structure of [Formula: see text]Er is analyzed using the Cranked Nilsson–Strutinsky (CNS) approach. Our calculations show that it will lead to a decrease of the total energy of [Formula: see text] 700[Formula: see text]keV in the strongly deformed (SD) region and only a few keV in the triaxial superdeformed (TSD) region. Therefore, it is concluded that the effect of the hexacontatetrapole deformation is significant for SD shapes and essentially negligible for TSD shapes.
BOX-COUNTING DIMENSION COMPUTED BY α-DENSE CURVES
Authors: GARCÍA G. , MORA G. , REDTWITZ D. A.
Published: July 2017

We introduce a method to reduce to the real case the calculus of the box-counting dimension of subsets of the unit cube [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. The procedure is based on the existence of special types of [Formula: see text]-dense curves (a generalization of the space-filling curves) in [Formula: see text] called [Formula: see text]-uniform curves.
SUPER-HEDGING AMERICAN OPTIONS WITH SEMI-STATIC TRADING STRATEGIES UNDER MODEL UNCERTAINTY
Authors: BAYRAKTAR ERHAN , ZHOU ZHOU
Published: July 2017

We consider the super-hedging price of an American option in a discrete-time market in which stocks are available for dynamic trading and European options are available for static trading. We show that the super-hedging price [Formula: see text] is given by the supremum over the prices of the American option under randomized models. That is, [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and the martingale measure [Formula: see text] are chosen such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] prices the European options correctly, and [Formula: see text] is the price of the American option under the model [Formula: see text]. Our result generalizes the example given in Hobson & Neuberger (2016) that the highest model-based price can be considered as a randomization over models.
Lead–Lag Relationship Between Returns and Implied Moments: Evidence from KOSPI 200 Intraday Options Data
Authors: Kim Sol , Lee Geul
Published: July 2017

This study investigates whether a lead–lag relationship exists between the returns and the moments of the implied risk-neutral density (RND) in Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) 200 spot, futures, and options markets. The empirical analysis suggests that although there is a bidirectional lead–lag relationship between the returns and the implied moments, the skewness and kurtosis of the implied RND Granger-cause the spot and futures returns more strongly than the returns do. In contrast, the implied volatility is shown to Granger-cause the returns less strongly than the returns do. In addition, this study shows that the lead–lag relationship strengthens when the spot market is exceptionally bullish or bearish.