bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Use of X-Band Weather Radar for Wind Field Retrieval in Coastal Zone
Authors: Forget P. , Saillard M. , Guérin C.-A. , Testud J. , Le Bouar E.
Published: February 2016

This paper documents the study of the radar signature of the sea surface on the images collected by an X-band weather radar and its application to remote sensing of the coastal zone. The main radar parameters considered here are the reflectivity factor [which was converted into a normalized radar cross section (NRCS)], the differential reflectivity, and the mean radial velocity. Measurements of the NRCS in the vicinity of an instrumented offshore buoy allowed for identifying its variations with wind speed and relative direction, which are found to be consistent with the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) model and other measurements. A more accurate empirical model for the NRCS is developed. For moderate to strong winds, the mean radial velocity is linearly related to the radial component of the wind speed, showing the potentiality of weather radars to map the radial surface wind speed at the scale of a basin. The influence of surface currents is weak here but should be likely taken into account in other places with stronger currents. Measurements of the differential reflectivity are also consistent with other measurements made elsewhere for the polarization ratio. The analysis of radar data over the entire coverage could also be performed using surface wind estimates from a meteorological model. Similar but less accurate results are obtained for the NRCS and the mean radial velocity. The extra spatial variability not due to wind speed variations is identified. An inversion procedure is proposed to recover the wind vector field from radar measurements after calibration of the NRCS values. Results are promising and pave the way to the concept of weather radar for ocean remote sensing.
Sensitivity to the Representation of Microphysical Processes in Numerical Simulations during Tropical Storm Formation
Authors: Penny Andrew B. , Harr Patrick A. , Doyle James D.
Published: February 2016

An analysis of in situ observations from the nondeveloping tropical disturbance named TCS025 revealed that a combination of unfavorable system-scale and environmental factors limited further development. In this study, a multiphysics ensemble of high-resolution simulations of TCS025 are analyzed and compared. A simulation that overdeveloped the TCS025 disturbance is compared with one that correctly simulated nondevelopment and reveals that convection was stronger and diabatic heating rates were larger in the developing simulation. This led to continued spinup of the low-level circulation primarily through vorticity stretching. In contrast, convection was much weaker in the nondeveloping simulation, and after an initial period of deep convection, average vorticity tendencies from stretching became weakly negative, which allowed for the frictional spindown of the low-level circulation.

Convective-scale differences identified early in the simulations appear to have resulted from the explicit representation of graupel in the developing simulation. The net impacts resulting from these differences in convection are manifest in the average diabatic heating profiles that are important for determining the developmental outcome. Additional simulations are conducted whereby the diabatic heating rates are artificially adjusted. Relatively small changes in the diabatic heating rate led to significantly different outcomes with respect to storm development, and the degree of overdevelopment is largely dictated by the diabatic heating rate. These findings suggest the correct representation of convective processes and associated diabatic heating are necessary to adequately forecast tropical cyclogenesis, especially for systems near a threshold of development like TCS025.
A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jeynes William H.
Published: February 2016

This meta-analysis of 28 studies examines the relationship between parental involvement and the academic achievement and school behavior of Latino pre-kindergarten-college-age children. Analyses determined the effect sizes for parental involvement overall and specific categories of involvement. Results indicate a significant relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement and overall outcomes, but not for school behavior. This relationship between involvement and academics existed both for younger (grades K-5) and older (secondary school and college freshman) students, as well as for certain specific components of parental involvement. Parental involvement, as a whole, was associated with better school outcomes by .52 of a standard deviation unit. The significance of these results is discussed.
The Impact of School Closures on Equity of Access in Chicago
Authors: Lee Jin , Lubienski Christopher
Published: February 2016

This study examines the impact of school closures on the sociospatial distribution of equitable access to schooling following the school closure policy pursued by the Chicago Public Schools in 2013. By examining access in terms of proximity between students and schools, the study estimates the changes in accessibility before and after school closings. The change in accessibility is compared with density maps constructed around a number of variables, including population aged 5 through 14 by race and ethnicity, proportion of families with children younger than 18 years old below the poverty level, and crime incidence during the previous 12 months. The overall results suggest that school closing may cause sociogeographic inequality in access to education.
Polybenzoxazine foams: Modeling mechanical properties
Authors: Zúñiga Camilo , Larrechi Maria Soledad , Lligadas Gerard , Ronda Juan Carlos , Galià Marina , Cádiz Virginia
Published: February 2016

Flame-retardant polybenzoxazine foams containing 1% phosphorus were prepared from diphenolic acid-based benzoxazine and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide. Statistical predictive models were developed to determine the influence of the foaming time ( tf) and foaming temperature ( Tf) on the density, compressive modulus, and compressive strength of the foams. Results showed that the density of the foams exhibited great dependence on tf, whereas both compressive properties were more dependent on Tf and tf. Additionally, the flammability of the foams was also characterized by the limiting oxygen index. The presence of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide greatly improved the flame retardancy of the resulting foams.
Effect of surface geometry on low-velocity impact behavior of laminated aramid-reinforced polyester composite
Authors: Ayten Ali İmran , Ekici Bülent , Güllüoǧlu Arif Nihat
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of surface geometry for low-velocity impact applications. To achieve this purpose, aramid fiber-reinforced laminated polyester composite with various geometries such as cylindrical, elliptical, and spherical were prepared, and low-velocity impact properties were investigated numerically and experimentally. All properties such as orientation, fiber volume fraction, matrix material, and average thickness are the same in all samples. Experimental low-velocity impact behaviors of structure were determined by drop weight tester at low velocity 2.012 m/s. Simulations were carried out by LS-Prepost 4.2 and LS-Dyna v971 software. By this way, results of impact tests were verified and modeled with finite element method. Results of the impact tests showed that the elliptical samples have the highest energy absorption capability due to effective stress transfer capacity. According to experimental results, maximum energy absorption rate difference is 17% between elliptical 10 mm and cylindrical 5 mm geometries.
Recall of Dental Pain and Anxiety in a Cohort of Oral Surgery Patients
Authors: Kyle B.N. , McNeil D.W. , Weaver B. , Wilson T.
Published: February 2016

Dental patients generally recall more pain than they originally report, with ratings of pain related to state anxiety and dental fear, but the role of depression in recall of dental pain remains uncertain. This study examined the relative contributions of different variables in explaining dental pain recalled after tooth extraction. Patients presenting for tooth extraction, prior to extraction, rated their current dental pain and state anxiety, prediction of pain and state anxiety during extraction, depression, and dental fear. Immediately postprocedure and then 1 mo later, patients rated their pain and state anxiety during extraction. Hierarchical linear regression equations were used to explain variance in recalled pain and state anxiety. In addition, patients were divided into high and low dental fear and depression groups and compared on ratings of pain and state anxiety across time. In a final sample of 157 patients, the most important predictors of recalled pain were pain reported during extraction (β = .53) and recalled state anxiety (β = .52). Dental fear and depression had a significant interaction: only when patients reported less depression did those patients who reported more dental fear also report more pain than patients who reported less dental fear ( P < 0.05, ω2 = .07). Patients who reported more depression entered the dental operatory reporting more pain, but all patients generally reported less pain during extraction than they predicted or recalled. Memory of state anxiety and pain reported during tooth extraction, not depression or state anxiety at the time of extraction, were critical factors in memory of the pain associated with the procedure. At higher levels of depression, patients higher and lower in dental fear did not differ in report of pain. Future studies are needed to further clarify interactions of depression and dental fear over time.
A lateral thoracotomy approach for thoracic duct cannulation and lymphatic fluid collection in a feline model
Authors: Hardie Robert J , Sheehan Nora K
Published: February 2016

This study describes a lateral thoracotomy approach for thoracic duct cannulation and lymphatic fluid collection in a feline model. The thoracic duct was cannulated via a left lateral intercostal thoracotomy in 12 cats. Lymphatic fluid was collected for up to 16 days and analyzed on days 3, 9 and 16. The volume collected and duration of cannula patency were recorded. Contrast imaging of the thoracic duct was performed if fluid ceased to flow or at the end of the 16-day study period. In two cats, the cannula became dislodged within 24 h. For the remaining 10 cats, mean daily volume collected was 43.7 mL (median 41.0, range 2.3 to 152.4 mL), and mean duration of cannula patency was 8.2 days (median 6.5, range 3 to 16 days). Contrast imaging revealed that the cannula was patent in three cats, obstructed in two cats, and the thoracic duct had ruptured or had extravasation of contrast outside the duct in five cats. Cytological examination of lymphatic fluid from the three time points revealed normal appearing small lymphocytes (97%) and few (3%) non-degenerate neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, and plasma cells. Based on the results of this study, lateral thoracotomy approach for thoracic duct cannulation is a feasible technique for collecting lymphatic fluid in cats. This technique may have application as a model for short-term evaluation of thoracic fluid in cats; however, cannula patency was unpredictable and should be considered when utilizing this technique.
Fighting and Bullying Among Asian Americans and Latinos
Authors: Maffini Cara S. , Kim-Ju Greg M.
Published: February 2016

This study examined ethnicity and ethnic identity (EI) as moderators in the relationship between self-efficacy (SE) and fighting and bullying. We sampled 315 Asian American and Latino early adolescents residing in an urban community. Results demonstrated that Latinos and male participants were more likely to engage in fighting and bullying than Asian Americans and females. Ethnicity and EI moderated the relationship for SE and fighting but not for SE and bullying. Findings suggest that EI and SE may serve as psychological resources that help reduce violence for Asian American and Latino early adolescents in more nuanced ways than previous research has shown. These findings address some of the conflicting findings regarding the role of EI in violence and bullying and suggest these behaviors may depend on the relationship between ethnicity and EI.
An Investigation of Factors Influencing Nurses’ Clinical Decision-Making Skills
Authors: Wu Min , Yang Jinqiu , Liu Lingying , Ye Benlan
Published: February 2016

This study aims to investigate the influencing factors on nurses’ clinical decision-making (CDM) skills. A cross-sectional nonexperimental research design was conducted in the medical, surgical, and emergency departments of two university hospitals, between May and June 2014. We used a quantile regression method to identify the influencing factors across different quantiles of the CDM skills distribution and compared the results with the corresponding ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates. Our findings revealed that nurses were best at the skills of managing oneself. Educational level, experience, and the total structural empowerment had significant positive impacts on nurses’ CDM skills, while the nurse–patient relationship, patient care and interaction, formal empowerment, and information empowerment were negatively correlated with nurses’ CDM skills. These variables explained no more than 30% of the variance in nurses’ CDM skills and mainly explained the lower quantiles of nurses’ CDM skills distribution.
Sinonasal Tract Inflammation as a Precursor to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Riley Charles A. , Marino Michael J. , Hawkey Nathan , Lawlor Claire M. , McCoul Edward D.
Published: February 2016

Objective

Chronic inflammation has been described as a precursor to the development of malignancy in several disease states. However, the relationship of sinonasal tract inflammation to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains poorly defined.

Data Sources

Systematic review of primary studies identified through PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane.

Methods Review

Systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were queried for English‐language studies published between 1980 and 2015. Studies were excluded that did not provide quantitative data on sinonasal tract inflammation such as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), allergic rhinitis (AR), or human papillomavirus (HPV) status and NPC. An itemized assessment of the risk of bias was conducted for each included study.

Results

Of the 325 studies identified during systematic review, 5 met the criteria for analysis. The level of evidence of those studies was generally low. There was an increased risk of NPC in patients with a previous diagnosis of CRS or AR. Meta‐analysis demonstrated an odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 2.35 (2.00‐2.76) for all studies. Subgroup analysis of patients with sinonasal inflammation had an odds ratio of 2.39 (95% CI, 2.20‐2.60). Patients with AR had an odds ratio of 2.29 (95% CI, 2.06‐2.54), while those with CRS had an odds ratio of 2.70 (95% CI, 1.98‐3.70).

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta‐analysis suggests an association between previous sinonasal inflammatory disease and subsequent NPC. Prospective studies are needed to further examine this relationship.
Safety of Ultrasound‐Guided Botulinum Toxin Injections for Sialorrhea as Performed by Pediatric Otolaryngologists
Authors: Shariat‐Madar Bahbak , Chun Robert H. , Sulman Cecille G. , Conley Stephen F.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate incidence of complications and hospital readmission as a result of ultrasound‐guided botulinum toxin injections to manage sialorrhea.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Subjects and Methods

A case series with chart review was performed of all cases of ultrasound‐guided injection of botulinum toxin by pediatric otolaryngologists from March 5, 2010, to September 26, 2014,. Primary outcomes included complications such as dysphagia, aspiration pneumonia, and motor paralysis. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization, intubation, and nasogastric tube placement.

Results

There were 48 patients, 111 interventions, and 306 intraglandular injections identified. Botulinum toxin type A and type B were utilized in 4 and 107 operative interventions, respectively. Type A was injected into 4 parotid and 4 submandibular glands, utilizing doses of 20 U per parotid and 30 U per submandibular gland. Type B was injected into 98 parotid and 200 submandibular glands, with average dosing of 923 U per parotid and 1170 U per submandibular gland, respectively. There were 2 instances of subjectively worsening of baseline dysphagia that self‐resolved. No cases were complicated by aspiration pneumonia or motor paralysis. No patients required hospital readmission, intubation, or nasogastric tube placement.

Conclusion

Prior published data indicated 16% complication incidence with ultrasound‐guided injection of botulinum toxin. Our study found a low complication rate (0.6%) with ultrasound‐guided injections of botulinum toxin to manage sialorrhea, without cases of aspiration pneumonia or motor paralysis. Of 306 intraglandular injections, there were 2 cases of worsening baseline subjective dysphagia that self‐resolved.
ClariVein® – Early results from a large single-centre series of mechanochemical endovenous ablation for varicose veins
Authors: Tang TY , Kam JW , Gaunt ME
Published: February 2016

Objectives

This study assessed the effectiveness and patient experience of the ClariVein® endovenous occlusion catheter for varicose veins from a large single-centre series in the UK.

Methods

A total of 300 patients (371 legs) underwent ClariVein® treatment for their varicose veins; 184 for great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence, 62 bilateral GSV, 23 short saphenous vein (SSV), 6 bilateral SSV and 25 combined unilateral great saphenous vein and SSV. Patients were reviewed at an interval of two months post procedure and underwent Duplex ultrasound assessment. Postoperative complications were recorded along with patient satisfaction.

Results

All 393 procedures were completed successfully under local anaesthetic. Complete occlusion of the treated vein was initially achieved in all the patients, but at eight weeks’ follow-up, there was only partial obliteration in 13/393 (3.3%) veins. These were all successfully treated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Procedures were well tolerated with a mean pain score of 0.8 (0–10). No significant complications were reported.

Conclusions

ClariVein® can be used to ablate long and short saphenous varicose veins on a walk-in–walk-out basis. Bilateral procedures can be successfully performed, and these are well tolerated as can multiple veins in the same leg. Early results are promising but further evaluation and longer term follow-up are required.
How healthcare systems evaluate their advance care planning initiatives: Results from a systematic review
Authors: Biondo Patricia D , Lee Lydia D , Davison Sara N , Simon Jessica E ,   on behalf of the Advance Care Planning Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunities Program (ACP CRIO)
Published: February 2016

Background:

Advance care planning initiatives are being implemented across healthcare systems around the world, but how best to evaluate their implementation is unknown.

Aim:

To identify gaps and/or redundancies in current evaluative strategies to help healthcare systems develop future evaluative frameworks for ACP.

Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

Peer-reviewed and gray literature searches were conducted till February 2015 to answer: “What methods have healthcare systems used to evaluate implementation of advance care planning initiatives?” A PICOS framework was developed to identify articles describing the implementation and evaluation of a health system–level advance care planning initiative. Outcome measures were mapped onto a conceptual quality indicator framework based on the Institute of Medicine and Donabedian models of healthcare quality.

Results:

A total of 46 studies met inclusion criteria for analysis. Most articles reported on single parts of a healthcare system (e.g. continuing care). The most common outcome measures pertained to document completion, followed by healthcare resource use. Patient-, family-, or healthcare provider-reported outcomes were less commonly measured. Concordance measures (e.g. dying in place of choice) were reported by only 26% of studies. The conceptual quality indicator framework identified gaps and redundancies in measurement and is presented as a potential foundation from which to develop a comprehensive advance care planning evaluation framework.

Conclusion:

Document completion is frequently used to evaluate advance care planning program implementation; capturing the quality of care appears to be more difficult. This systematic review provides health system administrators with a comprehensive summary of measures used to evaluate advance care planning and may identify gaps in evaluation within their local context.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy and augmentation strategies prior to clozapine initiation: a historical cohort study of 310 adults with treatment-resistant schizophrenic disorders
Authors: Thompson Joseph V , Clark Joanne M , Legge Sophie E , Kadra Giouliana , Downs Johnny , Walters James TR , Hamshere Marian L , Hayes Richard D , Taylor David , MacCabe James H
Published: February 2016

Rationale:

Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) is commonly used in schizophrenia despite a lack of robust evidence for efficacy, as well as evidence of increased rates of adverse drug reactions and mortality.

Objectives:

We sought to examine APP and the use of other adjunctive medications in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenic disorders (ICD-10 diagnoses F20–F29) immediately prior to clozapine initiation, and to investigate clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with APP use in this setting.

Methods:

Analysis of case notes from 310 patients receiving their first course of clozapine at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) was undertaken using the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) case register. Medication taken immediately prior to clozapine initiation was recorded, and global clinical severity was assessed at time points throughout the year prior to medication assessment using the Clinical Global Impression – Severity scale (CGI-S). Logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with APP.

Results:

The point prevalence of APP prior to clozapine initiation was 13.6% ( n=42), with 32.6% of subjects prescribed adjuvant psychotropic medications. APP was associated with increasing number of adjuvant medications (odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–3.06), concurrent depot antipsychotic prescription (OR 2.64, CI 1.24–5.62), concurrent antidepressant prescription (OR 4.40, CI 1.82–10.63) and a CGI-S over the previous year within the two middle quartiles (Quartile 2 vs 1 OR 6.19, CI 1.81–21.10; Quartile 3 vs 1 OR 4.45, CI 1.29–15.37; Quartile 4 vs 1 OR 1.88, CI 0.45–7.13).

Conclusions:

APP and augmentation of antipsychotics with antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are being employed in treatment-resistant schizophrenia prior to clozapine. The conservative APP rate observed may have been influenced by an initiative within SLaM that reduced APP rates during the study window. Efforts to reduce the use of poorly evidenced prescribing should focus on adjuvant medications as well as APP.
Expanding the Supply of Pasteurized Donor Milk
Authors: Perrin Maryanne Tigchelaar , Goodell L. Suzanne , Fogleman April , Pettus Hannah , Bodenheimer Amanda L. , Palmquist Aunchalee E. L.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Lactating women in the United States have several options for what they do with excess breast milk, including donating to milk banks that serve medically fragile infants, sharing directly with families seeking milk, and selling to individuals or for-profit entities. The World Health Organization and the US Surgeon General have issued calls to increase access to pasteurized donor milk for medically fragile infants.

Objective:

To explore how lactating women with a surplus of breast milk come to the decision to share their milk with a peer rather than donate to a milk bank.

Methods:

A qualitative design using a grounded theory approach was employed. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 27 women who had shared milk with a peer but not with a milk bank.

Results:

Five dominant themes were identified: a strong belief in the value of breast milk, unexpected versus planned donation, sources of information regarding milk exchange, concerns and knowledge gaps about milk banks, and helping and connecting.

Conclusions:

This research offers insights into potential strategies for promoting milk bank donation among peer-to-peer milk sharers, including developing donor education campaigns focused on knowledge gaps regarding milk banks and developing health care professional referral programs that can reduce barriers associated with the convenience of milk bank donation.
Optimal control of thrust force for delamination-free drilling in glass-fiber-reinforced plastic laminates
Authors: Singh Amrinder Pal , Sharma Manu , Singh Inderdeep
Published: February 2016

Damage due to delamination is an important issue during drilling in glass-fiber-reinforced plastic composite laminates. Feed-rate during drilling is the most critical parameter. High feed-rate during drilling results in high thrust force on the composite laminate. In this work, dynamics of drilling in glass-fiber-reinforced plastic composite laminates are captured in the form of third-order state-space model between thrust force and feed-rate. Optimal control is then used to control the thrust force generated during drilling. Research has revealed that there is a critical limit on thrust force during drilling in composite laminate below which no delamination occurs. This critical thrust force profile is used in this work as reference in the optimal controller to ensure delamination-free drilling. Present controller precisely tracks the given critical thrust force reference profile and gives optimal feed-rate profile. The glass-fiber-reinforced plastic composite laminate is then drilled at this optimal feed-rate profile to obtain delamination-free holes. Delamination around the holes is quantified in the form of a delamination factor. Experimental results show that the control strategy is efficient and effective in preventing drilling-induced delamination in glass-fiber-reinforced plastic composite laminates.
Kinematic analysis and testing of a 6-RRRPRR parallel manipulator
Authors: Yu Yang , Xu Zhen-bang , Wu Qing-wen , Yu Peng , He Shuai , Wang Guo-qiang
Published: February 2016

The Gough-Stewart platform has been successfully used in a wide variety of fields ranging from medical to automotive applications. This paper proposes a 6-RR RPRR parallel manipulator with orthogonal non-intersecting RR-joint configurations and ball screw actuators without guide mechanisms. A novel methodology is developed to define the dependent RR-joint variables and a numerical algorithm is employed to calculate the joint variables. The parasitic motion caused by the helical motion of the ball screw can be expressed and solved with vector method. The inverse kinematics of this manipulator can be solved. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, simulations are performed with software package ADAMS. A prototype of this manipulator is manufactured. Its resolution, accuracy, and repeatability are measured. It is shown that the presented method is effective for this parallel manipulator.
Acoustic behaviour analysis and optimal design of a multi-chamber reactive muffler
Authors: Xiang Longyang , Zuo Shuguang , Wu Xudong , Zhang Jun , Liu Jingfang
Published: February 2016

A two-dimensional analytical approach is developed to study the acoustic behaviour of a multi-chamber reactive muffler. The value of the transmission loss is obtained by matching the acoustic pressure and the particle velocity across the interfaces between different domains in the muffler. The analytical approach is validated by experimental results. Unlike the transfer matrix method, with this approach the acoustic behaviours can be studied above the first cut-off frequency of the muffler. Next, the effects of several structural parameters on the transmission loss value are invetigated, including the radii of the baffle holes, the inlet and the outlet, as well as the lengths and the radii of the expansion chambers. The variations in these parameters lead to quite large changes in the value of the transmission loss of the multi-chamber reactive muffler. Then, these parameters are chosen as the variables for the optimal design of the muffler, where the objective is the average transmission loss value between 1000 Hz and 3000 Hz. The results show that the objective value increases from 23.3 dB to 54.9 dB during optimization. The analytical approach in this paper can be used for analysis and optimization of the multi-chamber reactive muffler to reduce the noise effectively and efficiently in various applications.
Physician health and wellbeing provide challenges to patient safety and outcome quality across the careerspan
Authors: Williams Betsy White , Flanders Philip
Published: February 2016

Objective:

Age correlated changes in mental and physical capacity have contributed to increasing concerns about older physicians’ clinical competence. This paper explores the relationship between age and health in a clinical population referred for fitness for duty evaluations.

Methods:

Fifty cases from an evaluation center performing fitness for duty evaluations were randomly selected. Cases were reviewed for referral reason, demographic information, diagnosis, and recommendations.

Results:

Age ranged from 28–70 (median age of 51, mode of 45). Eighty-eight percent of cases had a diagnosed medical condition with potential cognitive sequellae.

Conclusion:

While the literature supports performance concerns in aging practitioners, health independent of age, appears to be an important contributing factor. A screening process considering biopsychosocial reserve and professional load while applicable to older clinicians would optimally be implemented for physicians across their careerspan.
Aripiprazole long-acting injection: promising but more evidence needed
Authors: Keks Nicholas A , Hope Judy , Culhane Christine
Published: February 2016

Objective:

Aripiprazole long acting injection (ALAI) is now available, and this paper aims to assist clinicians in deciding when to use ALAI.

Conclusion:

Aripiprazole is a partial dopamine agonist with low sedation, relatively favourable metabolic profile and a tendency to lower, rather than raise, prolactin. Available for over a decade, aripiprazole has been increasingly recognised by many clinicians as a useful option in the treatment of psychoses. ALAI is a suspension of crystalline aripiprazole in water which takes 5–7 days to reach steady state after an initial intramuscular injection. Monthly injections achieve steady state in four months. Studies have demonstrated that ALAI is effective in aripiprazole-responsive patients. ALAI was generally well tolerated, but more prone to cause extrapyramidal side-effects than the oral form. ALAI has not been compared with other depots. Although the recommended starting dose is 400 mg, it is likely that there will be significant inter-individual dose variation. Dose optimisation in each patient will be necessary for best effectiveness and tolerability. ALAI is currently appropriate for aripiprazole-responsive patients who need a depot, but clinicians are likely to try ALAI in patients who have been on other depots, particularly in whom weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia have been problematic.
Medical student teaching in the private sector – An overlooked opportunity?
Authors: Galletly Cherrie A , Turnbull Carol , Goldney Robert
Published: February 2016

Objective:

One in four psychiatric beds in Australia are located in the private sector, and more than half of Australian psychiatrists undertake private work. However, nearly all medical student teaching in psychiatry takes place in public hospitals. This paper explores the learning opportunities in the private sector. We report the South Australian experience; medical students have been taught in Ramsay Health Care (SA) Mental Health facilities for more than 23 years.

Conclusions:

Our experience demonstrates that clinical teaching in private hospitals is sustainable and well accepted by students, patients and clinicians. The private sector has the capacity to make a much greater contribution to medical student training in psychiatry.
Modeling BAS Dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Hamaker Ellen L. , Grasman Raoul P. P. P. , Kamphuis Jan Henk
Published: February 2016

Time series analysis is a technique that can be used to analyze the data from a single subject and has great potential to investigate clinically relevant processes like affect regulation. This article uses time series models to investigate the assumed dysregulation of affect that is associated with bipolar disorder. By formulating a number of alternative models that capture different kinds of theoretically predicted dysregulation, and by comparing these in both bipolar patients and controls, we aim to illustrate the heuristic potential this method of analysis has for clinical psychology. We argue that, not only can time series analysis elucidate specific maladaptive dynamics associated with psychopathology, it may also be clinically applied in symptom monitoring and the evaluation of therapeutic interventions.
The Relationship Between Plasma Whole Blood Viscosity and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Celik Turgay , Yilmaz Mahmut Ilker , Balta Sevket , Ozturk Cengiz , Unal Hilmi Umut , Aparci Mustafa , Karaman Murat , Demir Mustafa , Yildirim A. Osman , Saglam Mutlu , Kilic Selim , Eyileten Tayfun , Aydin İbrahim , Iyisoy Atila
Published: February 2016

Background:

Plasma levels of estimated whole blood viscosity (eWBV) have been increased by endothelial inflammation. Because there were no consistent data for assessing the eWBV levels for prediction of cardiovascular event (CVE) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma eWBV levels and CVEs in patients with CKD.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, long-term follow-up study, assessing the relationship between plasma eWBV levels and CVE (either fatal or nonfatal) in patients with newly diagnosed CKD. We also evaluated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), pentraxin 3 (PTX3), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).

Results:

Study patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with CVE and patients without CVE. The eWBV levels were higher in patients with CVE. Additionally, PTX3 and hsCRP were higher, and FMD and eGFR were lower in patients with CVE compared to those without CVE. According to the Cox regression analysis, WBV, plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine levels, FMD, hsCRP, eGFR, systolic blood pressure, calcium, and history of diabetes were independent predictors of CVEs in patients with CKD. Kaplan Meier survival curves were generated to establish the impact of the WBV on the cumulative survival of the cohort. Patients with eWBV values higher than 5.2 centipoise (cP) had lower survival rates when compared to patients with eWBV values lower than 5.2 cP (log rank = 4.49 df = 1 P = .034).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, plasma eWBV levels may increase the presence of lower eGFR and affect CVE in patients with CKD independent of classical and unconventional risk factors.
Adolescents’ Conformity to the Television Viewing Behaviour of their Classmates
Authors: Beyens Ine , Vandenbosch Laura , Bekalu Mesfin Awoke , Eggermont Steven
Published: February 2016

While it is well understood that demographic, cultural, and personality characteristics predict adolescents’ television viewing, little is known about adolescents’ conformity to the television viewing behaviour of their peers. In particular, there is a lack of research that investigates the similarity in television programme preferences among adolescents and their classmates. The current three-wave panel study involving 732 adolescents showed that, at baseline, adolescents watched one-fourth of the television programmes that their classmates watched. Adolescents were more likely to conform to the television programme preferences of their classmates than to the preferences of non-classmates. Latent growth curve modelling demonstrated that the similarity in programme preferences among adolescents and their classmates increased over time. Adolescents’ overall television viewing predicted the baseline similarity in programme preferences and adolescents’ degree of social viewing, access to a bedroom television, and the total amount of television viewing predicted the long-term growth in similarity.
The right location? Experiences of refugee adolescents seen by school-based mental health services
Authors: Fazel Mina , Garcia Jo , Stein Alan
Published: February 2016

Access to needed mental health services can be particularly difficult for newly arrived refugee and asylum-seeking adolescents, although many attend school. This study examined young refugees’ impressions and experience of mental health services integrated within the school system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 adolescent refugees discharged by three school-based mental health services across the United Kingdom. Two-thirds preferred to be seen at school. Rumination and worry about insecurity in the asylum process had a negative impact particularly on the adolescents’ social functioning and ability to focus at school. The important role played by teachers in supporting and mediating contact with mental health services was valued by those interviewed. The study confirms that schools offer an important location for mental health services for adolescent refugees and provide an important portal for integration of services.
Analytical study of point fixed glass façade systems under monotonic in-plane loading
Authors: Sivanerupan S , Wilson JL , Gad EF , Lam NTK
Published: February 2016

The point fixed glass façade system is popular and considered a more elegant façade option compared to the framed glass façade system mainly for storefront, walkways and lobby areas in buildings. Point fixed glass façade system is fixed to the support structure using special bolt fittings and structural spider arms. Generally, the racking performance of these systems is not considered at the design stage in low to moderate seismic region and the system may be vulnerable if there is insufficient in-plane drift capacity compared with the demand imposed during earthquakes and wind actions. A unique full-scale in-plane racking laboratory test on a typical point fixed glass façade system was conducted and a maximum drift of 2.1% was measured before catastrophic failure. Non-linear finite element models were then developed and benchmarked against experimental results. The experimental results and finite element analyses indicated that a significant amount of the drift capacity was attributed to the rigid body translation in the façade system connections at the built-in oversize holes provided for construction tolerances. In this article, the laboratory test setup and the experimental results are summarised, and the finite element modelling methodology and non-linear analysis approach undertaken using ANSYS for the experimental test are discussed along with number of parametric studies.
Inelastic parametric analysis of two-way asymmetrical multi-storey buildings
Authors: Jiang Xinliang , Kuang Yuping
Published: February 2016

This article presents a parametric study on the lateral-torsional coupling behaviour of the simplified bidirectional asymmetric multi-storey dual lateral load-resisting model. The implementation process for establishing the simplification model is shown in an illustrative example on a three-storey reinforced concrete building system. Combined with the force–displacement relationships of the lateral load-resisting members and the inter-story restoring force models, the dynamic stiffness matrix and the equations of motion under different loading conditions can also be determined. On this basis, parametric analyses for the systems are carried out through the whole loading process from the elastic stage to the inelastic stage. Effects of uncoupled torsion to lateral frequency ratios (Ω) and the stiffness eccentricities on the frequencies are investigated. The analysis shows that the asymmetrical system with a smaller Ω value has a smaller torsional stiffness and a stronger lateral-torsional coupling effect. The effects of the eccentricities in both directions on the frequencies are remarkably different. Smaller Ω values and greater eccentricities lead to greater reductions in the effects of Ω and eccentricities on the frequencies in the inelastic stage.
Daylighting performance improvement of a light-shelf using diffused reflection
Authors: Lee Heangwoo , Jeon Gangmin , Seo Janghoo , Kim Yongseong
Published: February 2016

A light-shelf is a highly efficient daylighting system about which a great deal of research has been performed. However, improvements to the daylighting performance of light-shelves have been limited, because light-shelves could introduce external natural light into the interior space through specular reflection, rather than into a specific region of the interior environment. In this study, to improve the performance of a light-shelf, a light-shelf using the principle of diffused reflection was proposed, and its validity was verified through performance verification. The conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) The optimal angles of a flat type light-shelf and a light-shelf using diffused reflection could vary depending on measurements taken in different seasons. (2) With the installation of the light-shelf using diffused reflection in the summer, the uniformity ratio of illuminance could be improved by 29.9%–34.3% with the external type and by 10.4%–13.7% with the internal type compared to the existing flat type light-shelf. (3) For the light-shelf using diffused reflection, the lighting energy could be reduced by 7.98%–13.3% in the case of the external type and by 1.8%–4.4% in the case of the internal type compared to the existing flat type light-shelf.
Breaking down barriers: The ambivalent nature of technologies in the classroom
Authors: Aagaard Jesper
Published: February 2016

This article provides a critical study of the ambivalent nature of educational technology. Departing from the fact that the contemporary classroom is no longer a bounded and discrete space, the article uses ethnographic participant observation to provide thick descriptions of technologies-in-use at a Danish business college. These observations suggest that educational technologies play much more nuanced roles than hitherto imagined. Building on the notion of spatial imaginaries, the article explores two complementary patterns of spatial relations in the classroom: Educational technologies open a gateway to the world that can be used both to bring relevant information into the space of the classroom (“outside-in”) and to escape educational activities in favor of off-task activity (“inside-out”). By exploring these twin movements, this article hopes not only to provide a glimpse into the 21st-century digitized classroom but also to showcase the uneasy position of educational technology between burden and blessing.
First-line lesional aspiration in acute stroke thrombectomy using a novel intermediate catheter: Initial experiences with the SOFIA
Authors: Kabbasch C , Möhlenbruch M , Stampfl S , Mpotsaris A , Behme D , Liebig T
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on endovascular therapy (EVT) of stroke have proven a clinical benefit over conservative treatment or IV-thrombolysis alone. Lesional clot aspiration with a dedicated system can achieve revascularization without an additional retriever (a direct-aspiration first-pass technique, ADAPT), and the SOFIA has been shown to be both safe and efficacious in a multicentric retrospective study. We have evaluated a subset of these data acquired in two major stroke centers with regard to using the SOFIA for first-line lesional aspiration.

Methods

Thirty patients with large-vessel occlusions treated with first-line lesional aspiration were identified. Procedural data, clot length, reperfusion success (mTICI), procedural timings, complications, and clinical status at admission, discharge and at 90 days were analyzed.

Results

The median baseline NIHSS was 16. IV thrombolysis was administered in 15/30 patients. Ninety-three percent of occlusions were in the anterior circulation. TICI ≥ 2b was achieved in 90% of multimodality treatments; lesional aspiration was successful in 67% within a median time of 20 minutes. The highest first-attempt success rate was in MCA occlusions (median time to recanalization 10 minutes). There were no device-related events. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) occurred in 10%, but never with sole lesional aspiration. Embolization to new territories was recorded in 1/30 (3%). Median discharge NIHSS was 7; 30% were mRS ≤ 2 at discharge and 43% at 90-day follow-up.

Conclusions

Lesional aspiration with SOFIA is in line with published data. The SOFIA may be used as a first-line device, aiming at fast recanalization by sole aspiration with good safety and efficacy. If unsuccessful, it converts into part of a stent retriever-based multimodality treatment.
A failure rate interaction model for two-component systems based on copula function
Authors: Peng Wei , Zhang Xiaoling , Huang Hong-Zhong
Published: February 2016

Failure rate estimation of a component or a system plays an important role for reliability analysis and maintenance decision-making. In some systems, failure mechanisms from different components interact with each other, and the interaction may accelerate the failure procedure of a certain component. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the correlation of failures from different components for obtaining an accurate reliability prediction. In this article, a failure rate interaction model for two components based on copula function is proposed. In this model, the failure correlation of two components in the same system is estimated using copula function. Then, the joint failure probability distribution function of the two components and the conditional failure probability distribution of failures for each component are determined. Finally, the failure rate is calculated considering the correlation of failures between components, and the failure rate estimation of the oil pump and oil seal is presented and discussed to illustrate the validity of the proposed method.