bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing sexual function and dysfunction in Turkish women undergoing surgical breast cancer treatment
Authors: Öztürk Didem , Akyolcu Neriman
Published: January 2016

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences between Turkish women undergoing postmastectomy breast reconstruction and those undergoing breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy alone.

Methods

The sample of the study, which was designed as a descriptive and regressional one, consisted of a total of 100 female patients, 33 undergoing BCS, 34 undergoing postmastectomy breast reconstruction, and 33 undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, between 2008 and 2012. Data were collected through an individual characteristics form and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Results

The comparison of the type of surgical procedure and the mean FSFI scores for the subscales of desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, and the mean total FSFI scores revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of postmastectomy breast reconstruction and BCS (P < 0.05). When the authors evaluated the effects of age and surgical procedure type from the risk factors associated with total FSFI score classification by the logistic regression analysis, variations of age and surgical procedure type were found significant in the authors' model (P < 0.05). Age and surgical procedure type were independent risk factors effective on the total FSFI score of less than 26.55.

Conclusion

In this study, based on the mean total FSFI scores of women, it was concluded that postmastectomy breast reconstruction had positive effects on sexual lives of Turkish women with breast cancer, that more satisfactory outcomes were obtained in those undergoing BCS, that mastectomy had negative effects on sexual function, thus leading to sexual dysfunction, and that age was negatively associated with sexual functions.
Factors influencing nurses' attitudes and intentions toward medication administration error reporting
Authors: Hung Chang‐Chiao , Lee Bih‐O. , Liang Hwey‐Fang , Chu Tsui‐Ping
Published: January 2016

Aim

The aims of this study were to explore the factors that influence nurses' attitudes and intentions toward medication administration error (MAE) reporting.

Methods

The theory of planned behavior was used as the framework for this study. A cross‐sectional design was used, and data were obtained from self‐administered questionnaires. A total of 596 staff nurses who worked in a regional hospital for at least 3 months were invited to participate in this study. The researchers used exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of each measurement scale. The 1 week data collection period was between September and November 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the demographic and job characteristics of the participants and multiple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses.

Results

Of the 596 nurses invited to participate, 548 (92%) completed and returned a valid questionnaire. The findings indicated that altruism, and nurse managers' and co‐workers' attitudes are predictors for nurses' attitudes toward MAE reporting, and nurses' attitudes and co‐workers' attitudes affect nurses' intention to report MAE. No connection was found between report control and nurses' intentions toward MAE reporting.

Conclusion

The findings reflected that altruism, and nurse managers' and co‐workers' attitude, and nurses' attitudes toward MAE reporting are predictors of nurses' intentions toward MAE reporting. The authors strongly recommended the healthcare system to institute an open communication and learning culture.
Facial and vestibular neuropathy of unknown origin in 16 dogs
Authors: Jeandel A. , Thibaud J. L. , Blot S.
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe the signalment, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and long‐term follow‐up in dogs with concomitant facial and vestibular neuropathy of unknown origin.

METHODS

Appropriate cases were located through medical record searches. Inclusion criteria comprised dogs that had: clinical signs of facial paralysis with concomitant peripheral vestibular syndrome, thyroid function tests, no abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and tympanic bullae, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

RESULTS

Sixteen dogs met the inclusion criteria. Facial paralysis had acute onset (<24 hours) in all dogs, thyroid function was within normal limits. There was albuminocytologic dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid of 69% of the dogs. There was complete resolution of clinical signs in 31% of the dogs but 38% showed long‐term vestibular deficits, 46% developed hemifacial contracture, 15% had permanent facial paralysis and 15% relapsed.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Facial and vestibular neuropathy of unknown origin shares similarities with idiopathic facial paralysis. The prognosis for return of normal facial and vestibular function is guarded and there may be relapse after recovery.
NGOs’ Initiatives to Enhance Social Sustainability in the Supply Chain: Poverty Alleviation through Supplier Development Programs
Authors: Rodríguez Jorge A. , Giménez Thomsen Cristina , Arenas Daniel , Pagell Mark
Published: January 2016

This research studies how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can implement supply‐management practices for poverty alleviation. The research inductively builds a theoretical framework from a nested case study, which includes one NGO and six firms implementing supplier development (SD) programs. The framework suggests a set of resources that enhance the social sustainability of the supply chain without creating trade‐offs between economic and social performance. This study has implications for decision‐makers in firms and NGOs about the type of resources they need to develop, and the characteristics they should seek when choosing partners for undertaking collaborative initiatives in social sustainability.
Estimation for Dynamic and Static Panel Probit Models with Large Individual Effects
Authors: Gao Wei , Bergsma Wicher , Yao Qiwei
Published: January 2016

For discrete panel data, the dynamic relationship between successive observations is often of interest. We consider a dynamic probit model for short panel data. A problem with estimating the dynamic parameter of interest is that the model contains a large number of nuisance parameters, one for each individual. Heckman proposed to use maximum likelihood estimation of the dynamic parameter, which, however, does not perform well if the individual effects are large. We suggest new estimators for the dynamic parameter, based on the assumption that the individual parameters are random and possibly large. Theoretical properties of our estimators are derived, and a simulation study shows they have some advantages compared with Heckman's estimator and the modified profile likelihood estimator for fixed effects.
Entecavir plus tenofovir combination therapy in patients with multidrug‐resistant chronic hepatitis B: results of a multicentre, prospective study
Authors: Park Jun Yong , Kim Chang Wook , Bae Si Hyun , Jung Kyu Sik , Kim Hee Yeon , Yoon Seung Kew , Han Kwang‐Hyub , Ahn Sang Hoon
Published: January 2016

Background & Aims

Sequential therapy posed a high risk of emergence of multidrug resistance and presented a management issue in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment. We evaluated the antiviral efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) plus tenofovir (TDF) combination therapy in multidrug‐resistant (MDR) CHB patients.

Methods

In this prospective, multicentre study, MDR CHB patients, defined as measurable serum HBV DNA (≥60 IU/ml) while on any rescue treatment regimen for at least 24 weeks and the presence of documented prior genotypic resistance to both nucleoside analogue(s) and nucleotide analogue, were treated with ETV 1.0 mg and TDF 300 mg combination therapy for 48 weeks.

Results

A total of 64 eligible patients who had previously failed to a median three lines of antiviral therapy (range, 2–6) were included. At baseline, median age was 47.0 years, 89.1% were HBeAg(+), and median HBV DNA was 4.24 (range, 2.11–6.73) log10 IU/ml. By week 4, 12, 24 and 48, 15/64 (23.4%), 36/64 (56.3%), 43/64 (67.2%) and 55/64 (85.9%) patients achieved a HBV DNA <60 IU/ml respectively. The mean reduction of HBV DNA from baseline to 4 and 48 weeks was 1.23 log10 IU/ml and 2.38 log10 IU/ml respectively. Although five patients experienced virological breakthrough, all were transient and no resistant mutation to TDF or novel mutation was detected in any patients.

Conclusions

In difficult‐to‐treat MDR CHB patients with a high exposure to multiple antiviral drugs, ETV plus TDF combination therapy can provide a very high rate of viral suppression through 48 weeks of treatment.
Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review
Authors: O'Shea Thomas J. , Cryan Paul M. , Hayman David T.S. , Plowright Raina K. , Streicker Daniel G.
Published: January 2016

Despite conservation concerns for many species of bats, factors causing mortality in bats have not been reviewed since 1970. Here, we review and qualitatively describe trends in the occurrence and apparent causes of multiple mortality events (MMEs) in bats around the world.

We compiled a database of MMEs, defined as cases in which ≥ 10 dead bats were counted or estimated at a specific location within a maximum timescale of a year, and more typically within a few days or a season. We tabulated 1180 MMEs within nine categories.

Prior to 2000, intentional killing by humans caused the greatest proportion of MMEs in bats. In North America and Europe, people typically killed bats because they were perceived as nuisances. Intentional killing occurred in South America for vampire bat control, in Asia and Australia for fruit depredation control, and in Africa and Asia for human food. Biotic factors, accidents, and natural abiotic factors were also important historically. Chemical contaminants were confirmed causes of MMEs in North America, Europe, and in islands. Viral and bacterial diseases ranked low as causes of MMEs in bats.

Two factors led to a major shift in causes of MMEs in bats at around 2000: the global increase of industrial wind‐power facilities and the outbreak of white‐nose syndrome in North America. Collisions with wind turbines and white‐nose syndrome are now the leading causes of reported MMEs in bats.

Collectively, over half of all reported MMEs were of anthropogenic origin. The documented occurrence of MMEs in bats due to abiotic factors such as intense storms, flooding, heat waves, and drought is likely to increase in the future with climate change. Coupled with the chronic threats of roosting and foraging habitat loss, increasing mortality through MMEs is unlikely to be compensated for, given the need for high survival in the dynamics of bat populations.
Gene expression regulatory networks in Trypanosoma brucei: insights into the role of the mRNA‐binding proteome
Authors: Lueong Smiths , Merce Clementine , Fischer Bernd , Hoheisel Jörg D. , Erben Esteban D.
Published: January 2016

Control of gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level is essential in all organisms, and RNA‐binding proteins play critical roles from mRNA synthesis to decay. To fully understand this process, it is necessary to identify the complete set of RNA‐binding proteins and the functional consequences of the protein‐mRNA interactions. Here, we provide an overview of the proteins that bind to mRNAs and their functions in the pathogenic bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei. We describe the production of a small collection of open‐reading frames encoding proteins potentially involved in mRNA metabolism. With this ORFeome collection, we used tethering to screen for proteins that play a role in post‐transcriptional control. A yeast two‐hybrid screen showed that several of the discovered repressors interact with components of the CAF1/NOT1 deadenylation complex. To identify the RNA‐binding proteins, we obtained the mRNA‐bound proteome. We identified 155 high‐confidence candidates, including many not previously annotated as RNA‐binding proteins. Twenty seven of these proteins affected reporter expression in the tethering screen. Our study provides novel insights into the potential trypanosome mRNPs composition, architecture and function.
Theology and “What Matters Most”: Distinctions, Connections and Confusions
Authors: Endean Philip
Published: January 2016

This opening paper seeks to situate discussions about the academic status of “softer”, more practical disciplines within wider contexts. The most important and most distinctively theological of these is conditioned by the particular claims of Christian tradition about the saving revelation of a God who yet remains unseen and transcendent. Also relevant are ethical and political questions about the nature of education, and speculative questions about theoretical and practical reason.
“Praying in the Holy Spirit” Spirituality and Pneumatology
Authors: Vetö Etienne
Published: January 2016

While “praying in the Spirit” may evoke “charismatic” prayer, this paper argues that from a scriptural point of view it defines all Christian prayer as having the Holy Spirit as main subject, who leads us to pray and prays in us, by showing us to whom, how and for what we should pray. This has implications for spirituality and pneumatology. On the one hand, prayer is to be understood as much more than the extension of our human desire towards God: it means entering into the divine will, the divine life, and the relations between Father, Son and Spirit – and relating to each in a different way. This actually helps to catch the essence of charismatic prayer as well, which is precisely letting the Spirit pray in us: charisms and “enthusiasm” are an expression of this and are in their right place when they are referred to it. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit manifests itself as a unique type of divine person, which acts and speaks in and through others. The paper contends that this economical specificity needs to be re-elaborated on the level of the immanent Trinity in a novel way: the divine names of Ruah and Pneuma allow us to conceive the Spirit as the most intimate Breath which the Father breathes (spires) into the depths of the Son.
‘Spiritual But Nor Religious’ – Some Final Reflections
Authors: Simmonds Gemma
Published: January 2016

In the discourse of a number of theologians there is a perceived gap between spirituality and ‘theology proper’. This gap would not have been perceived or understood by Aquinas, Augustine or others of the long tradition of theological enquiry, since they saw union with God as the highest fruit of theological thinking. There is another gap today between the term ‘spirituality’ used in a loose and decontextualized fashion by the Mind, Body, Spirit industry and those for whom its study is part of mystical theology and its practice part of the church's mystagogia. The fact that many otherwise orthodox believers, as well as those alienated from regular church belief and practice, turn to more esoteric spiritual paths may be a sign that a return to a better-informed and theologically grounded knowledge of the mystical tradition is long overdue.
Inactivation by Pulsed Light of Bacillus subtilis Spores with Impaired Protection Factors
Authors: Esbelin Julia , Malléa Sabine , Clair Gérémy , Carlin Frédéric
Published: January 2016

The resistance to pulsed light (PL) of spores of Bacillus subtilis strain 168 and of strains with mutations increasing sensitivity to UV‐C or affecting spore structure was evaluated and compared to resistance to continuous UV‐C and moist heat, in order to reveal original mechanisms of inactivation by PL. Spores of B. subtilis strain 168 (1A1) and eight mutant strains (sspA, sspB, sspAB, cotA, gerE, cotE, uvrA and recA) were exposed to PL (up to 1.77 J cm−2), continuous UV‐C (up to 147 mJ cm−2) and moist heat at 90°C. Spores of the strains lacking proteins linked to coat formation or structure (cotA, gerE and cotE) were markedly more sensitive to PL than 1A1, while their sensitivity to continuous UV‐C or to moist heat was similar to the one of strain 1A1. Coat proteins had a major contribution to the resistance of B. subtilis spores to PL irradiation characterized by short‐time and high‐energy pulses of white light in the wavelengths 200–1100 nm. In contrast the role of coat proteins to UV‐C or to moist heat resistance was marginal or null.
Detection of cerebral amyloid angiopathy by 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging and amyloid positron emission tomography in a patient with subcortical ischaemic vascular dementia
Authors: Kida Hirotaka , Satoh Masayuki , Ii Yuichiro , Fukuyama Hidenao , Maeda Masayuki , Tomimoto Hidekazu
Published: January 2016

The patient was an 81‐year‐old man who had been treated for hypertension for several decades. In 2012, he developed gait disturbance and mild amnesia. One year later, his gait disturbance worsened, and he developed urinary incontinence. Conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging using T
2‐weighted images and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery showed multiple lacunar infarctions. These findings fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for subcortical ischaemic vascular dementia. However, susceptibility weighted imaging showed multiple lobar microbleeds in the bilateral occipitoparietal lobes, and double inversion recovery and 3‐D fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images on 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging revealed cortical microinfarctions in the left parietal‐temporo‐occipito region. Pittsburgh compound B‐positron emission tomography revealed diffuse uptake in the cerebral cortex. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with subcortical ischaemic vascular dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. The use of the double inversion recovery and susceptibility weighted imaging on 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging may be a supplemental strategy for diagnosing cerebral amyloid angiopathy, which is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Powerful unconfined turbidity current captured by cabled observatory on the Fraser River delta slope, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Lintern D. Gwyn , Hill Philip R. , Stacey Cooper
Published: January 2016

Turbidity currents are one of the main sediment transport processes on Earth, yet are notoriously difficult to monitor directly. This article presents the first direct and high bandwidth observation of a turbidity current using a cabled sea floor observatory. On 5 June 2012, a platform on Ocean Networks Canada, located in 107 m of water on the Fraser River delta slope, was displaced downslope and severed from its data cable. The platform weighed ca 1000 kg in water. The event took place during high river discharge, high tides and rapid sediment accumulation on adjacent upslope areas of the sea floor. Data recorded as it tumbled downslope allow a reconstruction of the flow, which is inferred to have been an unconfined turbidity current. Lines of evidence indicate that the flow came in as a bed hugging wedge, and built up to between 1 m and 4 m in height as the head passed through. Comparison with laboratory data suggest that the flow was initially supercritical. While the adjacent slope offset to the north clearly exhibits change over an annual resurvey period, the bathymetry directly at the event location show no resolvable change over a period from seven months before the event to one month after. Sediment cores collected after the event were pervasively biototurbated and they contain no obvious deposit connected with this event. The remarkable aspects of this research follow. The flow was powerful enough to carry a 1 tonne platform and sever a heavily armoured cable. The current occurred on the unchannelized open slope. This powerful event failed to cause discernible seabed elevation change. The flow was triggered by tidal conditions. The event was detected by a purpose‐designed cabled observatory, thus providing high bandwidth data and also alerting researchers in real time to mount follow‐on investigations.
An advocacy experience for medical students
Authors: Baribeau Danielle , Ramji Nasreen , Slater Morgan , Weyman Karen
Published: January 2016

Background

Promoting advocacy and social responsibility is a requirement of medical education. This article describes a brief clinical educational initiative to foster advocacy amongst medical students, and explores student attitudes towards homelessness.

Methods

A compulsory clinical experience in homeless health was integrated into the family medicine clerkship curriculum for a subset (n = 30) of all third‐year medical students (n = 254) at the University of Toronto in 2012/13. This programme consisted of four half‐days, in which students provided primary care within a shelter setting under supervision from a physician. The experience was paired with a supportive and reflective debriefing session, and feedback was collected from participating students. Surveys on attitudes towards homelessness were also administered to all third‐year students before and after their rotation in family medicine.

Students provided primary care within a shelter setting under supervision from a physician

Results

Student feedback indicated that the programme was very well received; however, some students described feeling overwhelmed at times when working with this vulnerable population. On attitude surveys, female sex, age, earlier month of survey administration and interest in certain specialties was associated with more positive attitudes towards homelessness.

Discussion

A brief clinical experience outside of a traditional health care setting in which students are exposed to the day‐to‐day reality of advocating for vulnerable populations can meaningfully contribute to a comprehensive advocacy curriculum. We suggest this programme could be feasibility adapted to other settings and populations. The importance of supportive and reflective mentorship and diverse clinical settings are highlighted.
Frictional Behavior and Topography of Porous Polyurethane on Copper and Silicon Dioxide Articulating Contacts
Authors: Ponte David C. , Meyer D. M. L.
Published: January 2016

Frictional behavior and topographical changes of material surfaces with applications in the microelectronics industry were experimentally observed. This work was performed to unveil trends in tribological characteristics of porous polyurethane material separately against copper and silicon dioxide materials typically found in integrated circuit (IC) polishing manufacturing processes. A linear reciprocating tribometer was utilized to translate the loaded contact of the polymer and contacting materials in the presence of a colloidal silica slurry. Contact forces were monitored throughout the experiments while surface topography of contacting surfaces was quantified using profilometry. Trials of polishing experiments were performed through a range of normal pressures and velocities to identify trends of interest, which are important in polishing. Coefficients of friction (COFs) between the polymer and contacting materials showed a decreasing trend with increasing polishing time and distance traveled. The copper and polymer material contacts were found to have a lower COF than that for the silicon dioxide and polymer contacts. Surface roughness of the polymer showed a general decreasing trend with increasing polishing time. This trend indicates a potential correlation between polymer surface roughness and the COF between the polymer and contacting materials. Evolution of the surface roughness of the materials differed depending on the direction along which topography was measured. An uncertainty analysis of the quantified parameters was conducted to provide knowledge in the confidence of the experimental results. Tribological behavior of the porous polyurethane and copper and silicon dioxide contacts is gathered from this experimental work for more complete characterization of the material.
Considering Machining Tolerances in High Speed Corner Tracking
Authors: Zarifmansour Sepehr , Seethaler Rudolf
Published: January 2016

Growing industrial demand for faster machine tools, makes feed-rate and trajectory optimization a challenging problem in machining processes. One of the most challenging machining operations for computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools is corner tracking. In this scenario, most of the conventional feed-rate optimization approaches sacrifice speed for accuracy. This paper, proposes a new feed-rate and trajectory optimization algorithm for CNC machines. At each corner of the trajectory, the presented algorithm regenerates the trajectory, using a circular move within a desired tolerance limit. Then, a new feed rate optimization method is employed, which enables the machine tool to travel at the maximum feasible velocity through the corners, while taking acceleration constraints into account. Experimental results for different desired tolerances indicate that the new algorithm achieves significantly shorter travel times than the theoretical minimum time trajectory with zero tolerance.
In-Line Identification of Two-Dimensional Surface Profile and Defects Using a High-Precision Automated Optical Inspection System With a Cloud-Aided Statistical Analysis System
Authors: Lin Boting Rex , Lu Wei-Hao , Lin Po Ting , Chang Ming , Manuel Mark Christian E.
Published: January 2016

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) systems are expected to replace manual inspection especially for flat and flexible electronic component systems, which require high yield and high speed. A high precision AOI system calibrated for 3.5 microns per pixel resolution was previously developed for defect detection of flat glass where imperfections and defects are obtained with minimal image processing techniques. Due to the large image size, cloud based image processing cannot be performed at the moment but cloud based statistical tools and visualization are now becoming more popular. This paper extends the previous work by adding two-dimensional surface profiling and defect detection for a flexible PCB, more specifically, a digitizer for mobile devices. A non-referential inspection method was sought with the widths of deposited metal wires on the digitizer substrate measured using distance transform. The wire width information is then sent to a web server and statistically processed. Display outputs in the form of Shewhart Xbar and S process control charts are then used as basis to quantify the line information and possibly investigate possible surface defects.
Development of Shear Deformable Laminated Shell Element and its Application to ANCF Tire Model
Authors: Yamashita Hiroki , Jayakumar Paramsothy , Sugiyama Hiroyuki
Published: January 2016

In this investigation, a physics-based tire model for multibody vehicle dynamics simulation is developed using the laminated composite shell element based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation with the transverse slope coordinates. The shell element accounts for the complex deformation coupling exhibited in fiber-reinforced composite rubber materials used in tires, and the element lockings are systematically eliminated by the assumed natural strain and enhanced strain approaches. Furthermore, various nonlinear material models including incompressible rubber material models can be considered for each layer in a way same as solid elements. The load-deflection curve and the contact patch lengths are validated against the test data to ensure that the fundamental structural tire properties can be correctly captured by the tire model.
Fraction Phase Lead Repetitive Control and its Application in Inverter
Authors: Wang Jianhong , Ye Yongqiang , Chen YangQuan
Published: January 2016

In order to reduce turn-off losses, the switching frequency of power devices, which is sampling rate, is usually chosen to be low in high power inverter application. Limited by the digital sampling, phase lead step should be integer, in which case the repetitive control tends to be unstable under low sampling application. Thus fractional phase lead repetitive control is proposed. This method enables the phase lead step can be fractional, thus enlarges the stability region and improves the tracking accuracy as well. The detailed parameters design is given. At last, simulations of inverter using fractional phase lead repetitive control are presented. The results verify that fractional phase lead repetitive control favors better stability and harmonic suppression.
Representation of 3D Motion by Projective Angles
Authors: Legnani Giovanni , Fassi Irene
Published: January 2016

Angular motion in 3D space has been represented using several approaches, such as cardanic angles, quaternions, Euler parameters. Notwithstanding that in some applications some of them are more convenient, none of these solutions is completely satisfactory as a general tool. After a critical review of the main advantages and drawbacks of each notation, the paper defines and discusses the major characteristics of a new angular convention that has recently been proposed. The known results are summarized in a clear and systematic way and the analysis is extended to the analysis of the angular velocity and acceleration.
Reliability Analysis and Performance Predictions of Aged Pipelines Subjected to Internal Corrosion: A Markov Modelling Technique
Authors: Ossai Chinedu I. , Boswell Brian , Davies Ian J.
Published: January 2016

To maintain the integrity of corroded oil and gas pipelines, the reliability at times of exposure over the lifecycle duration need to be understood. This paper describes the procedures for predicting the performance of internally corroded oil and gas pipelines using a probabilistic-based Markovian process. The Pipeline Corrosivity Index (PCI), which is expressed as a function of the retained pipe-wall thickness was used to describe the condition of the corroded pipelines at exposure durations for low, moderate, high and severe corrosion rates. The time variation of the predicted Pipeline Corrosivity Index (PCI) was compared with field measured Pipeline Corrosivity Indexes (PCIs) of corroded API X52 grade pipelines and the results indicate that the model developed in this research is viable for integrated management of aged corroded pipelines and remaining useful life predictions.
Gear Tooth Root Stresses of a Very Heavily Loaded Gear Pair: Case Study — Orbiter Body Flap Actuator Pinion and Ring Gear
Authors: Krantz Timothy L. , Handschuh Robert F.
Published: January 2016

The space shuttle orbiter’s body flap actuator gearing was assessed as a case study of the stresses for very heavily loaded external-internal gear pairs (meshing pinion and ring gear). For many applications, using the high point of single tooth contact (HPSTC) to locate the position of the tooth force is adequate for assessing the maximum tooth root stress condition. But for aerospace gearing such an approach may be inadequate for assessing the stress condition while also simultaneously minimizing mass. In this work specialized contact analyses and finite element methods were used to study gear tooth stresses of body flap actuator gears. The analytical solutions considered the elastic deformations as an inherent part of the solutions. The ratio for the maximum tooth stresses using the HPSTC approach solutions relative to the contact analysis and finite element solutions were 1.40 for the ring gear and 1.28 for the pinion gear.
Camels and Fennec Foxes: A Case Study on Biologically Inspired Design of Sand Traction Systems
Authors: Gendreau Elizabeth J. , Shumaker Andrew W. , Joiner Eric M. , Griffin Alix C. , Pritchett Chase A. , Karmilovich Keith A. , O’Shields Steven T. , Summers Joshua D.
Published: January 2016

This paper presents a demonstration of how biological solutions to mobility in the desert can be used to drive new concepts for sand-traction tires. Biological inspiration is used to translate both camel hooves (shape) and Fennec Fox paw texture (material) into design concepts for tire traction that are prototyped and tested. The steps used in this are captured in a case study of bio-inspired design, with the resulting concepts compared in terms of their performance. It was found that the camel hoof inspired “concave” shaped tire improved traction that the Fennec Fox paw textured “miner’s moss” surface on tires improved traction, and that the integrated solution of the two also improved traction. The greatest improvement was seen with the Fennec Fox textured concepts. Recommendations are made for improvements to steps of bio-inspiration for ideation and future traction concepts.
Automatic Classification for Anti Mixup Events in Advanced Manufacturing System
Authors: Paolanti Marina , Frontoni Emanuele , Mancini Adriano , Pierdicca Roberto , Zingaretti Primo
Published: January 2016

The mix-up is a phenomenon in which a tablet/capsule gets into a different package. It is an annoying problem because mixing different products in the same package could result dangerous for consumers that take the incorrect product or receive an unintended ingredient. So, the consequences could be very dangerous: overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may be taking, or an allergic reaction. The manufacturers are not able to guarantee the contents of the packages and so for this reason they are very exposed to the risk in which users rightly want to obtain compensation for possible damages caused by the mix-up. The aim of this work is the identification of mix-up events, through machine learning approach based on data, coming from different embedded systems installed in the manufacturing facilities and from the information system, in order to implement integrated policies for data analysis and sensor fusion that leads to waste and detection of pieces that do not comply. In this field, two types of approaches from the point of view of embedded sensors (optical and NIR vision and interferometry) will be analyzed focusing in particular on data processing and their classification on advanced manufacturing scenarios. Results are presented considering a simulated scenario that uses pre-recorded real data to test, in a preliminary stage, the effectiveness and the novelty of the proposed approach.
Influence of Low Temperatures on Material Properties and Tooth Root Bending Strength of Case-Hardened Gears
Authors: Dobler Florian , Tobie Thomas , Stahl Karsten
Published: January 2016

This paper presents the main results of performed investigations and discusses the possible influences of different low temperature treatments on relevant material characteristics in correlation with the obtained tooth root bending strength of case-hardened gears made of materials 18CrNiMo7-6, 20MnCr5 and 15NiCr13. Most of the investigations were performed on gears that were exposed to low temperatures after heat treatment. Additionally, the effect of low temperatures within the heat treatment process was examined. For shot blasted gears, which were treated by low temperatures after heat treatment process, all examined materials showed no decrease of the tooth root bending strength. In contrast, for almost all gears which were cooled down to low temperatures within the heat treatment, a decrease in the tooth root bending strength was observed in unpeened as well as in shot blasted condition. Additional investigations show a correlation of tooth root bending strength and relevant material properties.
Calculation Model for Internal Gear Skiving With a Pinion-Type Cutter Having Pitch Deviation and a Run-Out
Authors: Tachikawa Tomokazu , Kurita Nobuaki , Nakamura Morimasa , Iba Daisuke , Moriwaki Ichiro
Published: January 2016

As the emerging economies expand, demand for low cost production of internal gears has been increasing. And skiving is in focus as a potential method than can meet this demand.

Skiving was invented in 1910, since then, mechanical machine has been developed to NC machine and cutter design technologies have developed dramatically. As a result, several machine and tool manufacturer started to release their skiving machine and skiving cutter as well.

Furthermore, many studies on the kinematics have been conducted both in research institutions and private companies. However, most of these studies are subject to understanding the cutting mechanisms as a basic research and establishing cutter design methods.

For further improvement and boost widespread application of the process, optimization of the manufacturing process is an issue. Particularly, the effects of cutter accuracy and cutter set up deviations on the skived gear are important to ensure reliability of the process. Unfortunately, few studies on those effects can be found.

In this paper, geometrical model that can predict the effect of pitch deviation and of run out of a cutter on a skived gear is proposed. Experiments were also carried out to verify the validity of the model, and the results were in good agreement with the simulated ones.
An Efficient Method to Find the Dynamic Balancing Conditions of Mechanisms: Planar Systems
Authors: Acevedo Mario
Published: January 2016

In this work a novel and general method to find the dynamic balancing conditions, based on the use of Natural Coordinates, is introduced. The method is efficient and very easy to automate, and can be used to obtain the shaking force and the shaking moment balancing conditions for the linkages in the plane and can be extended for linkages in space, although at this time is presented only for planar systems. These conditions can be interpreted and used for the design of dynamic balanced linkages. The application of the method is demonstrated here by finding the force and moment balancing conditions of a general four-bar mechanism that, although simple, can serve as a didactic example to evaluate the method. The resulting conditions are used to the effective design of reactionless linkages with counterweights and counter-inertias.
Synthesis of Folded Frame Structures From Cube-Type and Eggbox-Type Kirigami Geometry
Authors: Gattas Joseph M. , Chen Yan
Published: January 2016

Rigid-foldable cube-type and eggbox-type kirigami geometries have been of interest for applications including folded-core sandwich panels and deployable structures. Recent studies of these geometry families noticed that their convex pattern vertices enabled several further potential applications that were not otherwise possible with the concave vertices of more common pattern families such as Miura-type patterns. The following paper investigates one such application: the synthesis of folded frame structures from kirigami pattern geometric parametrisations. A new synthesis method is proposed for two geometries: a two-way orthogonal lattice frame generated from a kirigami cube pattern; and a multi-layer octahedral frame generated from a non-developable eggbox pattern. Both frames are developed with initial translation of folded geometries to frame element centre-lines and subsequent generation of integral frame elements with pattern sub-folds. Simple prototypes are manufactured to validate the synthesis method and it is found that the cube-generated frame compares favourable with typical frames with respect to packaging efficiency.
Constraint-Force-Based (CFB) Modeling of Compliant Mechanisms
Authors: Li Haiyang , Hao Guangbo
Published: January 2016

Numerous works have been done on modeling compliant modules or joints, and the closed-form models of many widely-used compliant modules have been developed. However, the modeling of complex compliant mechanisms with considering external forces is still a challenging work. This paper introduces a constraint-force-based method to model compliant mechanisms. A compliant mechanism can be regarded as the combination of rigid stages and compliant modules. If a compliant mechanism is at static equilibrium under the influence of a series of external forces, all the rigid stages are also at static equilibrium. The rigid stages are restricted by the constraint forces of the compliant modules and the exerted external forces. This paper defines the constraint forces of the compliant modules to be variable constraint forces since the constraint forces vary with the deformation of the compliant modules, and defines the external forces as constant constraint forces due to the fact that the external forces are specific forces exerted which do not change with the deformation of the compliant mechanism. Therefore, the force equilibrium equations for all rigid stages in a compliant mechanism can be obtained based on the variable constraint forces and the constant constraint forces. Moreover, the model of the compliant mechanism can also be derived through solving all the force equilibrium equations. The constraint-force-based modeling method is finally detailed demonstrated via examples, and validated by the finite element analysis. Using this proposed modeling method, a complex compliant mechanism can be modelled with a particular emphasis on considering the position spaces of the associated compliant modules.
An Approach for Solving the Contact Problem in Spur Gear Transmissions Considering Gear Misalignments
Authors: Roda-Casanova V. , Sanchez-Marin F. , Iserte J. L.
Published: January 2016

Gear misalignments originate unwanted uneven load distributions that increase contact pressures and the bending stresses, reducing the service life of gear drives. Therefore, it is very important to take into account the misalignments in the determination of contact pressures when designing a gear transmission. Some of these misalignments are related to manufacturing and assembly errors, but others are produced by the deformation of the shafts when power is transmitted. These deformations cause misalignment of the gears, modifying the contact bearing and the pressure distribution, which modifies the deformation of the shafts, leading to a coupled problem not always easy to solve. In this work, a new approach to solve this problem is proposed, based on an iterative algorithm which uncouples the determination of the deformation of the shafts from the contact problem. The proposed approach has been tested through various configurations of spur gear drives. The obtained results are compared with those obtained using a finite element model, showing a good correlation between them, but with a significant reduction of the computational cost.
Which One Should I Pick? Concept Selection in Engineering Design Industry
Authors: Toh Christine A. , Miele Lisa M. , Miller Scarlett R.
Published: January 2016

There has been a wealth of research focused on methods for encouraging creativity during the conceptual design process due to the innate importance of creativity in engineering design. However, much of the research has focused on creativity in student designers, often neglecting to consider how professional designers perceive creativity — particularly during concept selection. In addition, while there are many formal concept selection techniques that have been adopted in design practice, it is unknown what specific types of tools professional designers use to select design concepts or the importance designers place on creativity during this selection process. In order to address this research void, an exploratory study was conducted with 27 professional designers using an online survey to understand their perceptions of creativity and the use of concept selection techniques in design industry. The results of this study are used to identify the factors that effect concept selection and increase our understanding of the creative process in engineering design industry.
Design of Spatial Non-Anthropomorphic Articulated Systems Based on Arm Joint Constraint Kinematic Data for Human Interactive Robotics Applications
Authors: Moon Hyosang , Robson Nina P.
Published: January 2016

The design of human interactive robotic systems requires additional considerations compared to conventional robotic designs to take into account human factors. In this paper, a recently developed linkage kinematic synthesis incorporating higher order motion constraints is utilized to the synthesis of a five degree of freedom serial TS linkage for human interactive applications. The T represents a universal two degrees-of-freedom shoulder, while the S defines a spherical three degrees-of-freedom wrist joint. The desired hand kinematics and its time derivatives can be obtained by a motion capture system as well as from the hand-object/environment contact geometries at two task locations. In order to determine the design parameters (i.e., locations of the base/shoulder and moving/wrist pivots, as well as the link length connecting these joints), position, velocity and acceleration constraint equations of the TS linkage are solved in the vicinity of the initial and the final reaching locations. The entire robotic joint trajectories are formulated via minimum jerk theory to closely approximate human natural hand profile with an elbow joint constraint. In this manner, the TS linkage system can be designed to guarantee to reproduce the natural human hand kinematics with the minimum amount of information about the desired hand kinematic specifications. The applicability of the proposed technique was verified by designing a TS linkage system from a captured human data, and then comparing the generated end-effector trajectory with the human hand motion trajectory, which show promising results.
Studying Human Design Teams via Computational Teams of Simulated Annealing Agents
Authors: McComb Christopher , Cagan Jonathan , Kotovsky Kenneth
Published: January 2016

Novel design methodologies are often evaluated through empirical studies involving human designers. However, such empirical studies can incur a high personnel cost. Further, it can be difficult to isolate the effects of specific team or individual characteristics. These limitations could be bypassed by employing a computational model of design teams. This work introduces the Cognitively-Inspired Simulated Annealing Teams (CISAT) modeling framework, an agent-based platform that provides a means for efficiently simulating human design teams. A number of empirically demonstrated cognitive phenomena are modeled within the platform, striking a balance between model simplicity and direct applicability to engineering design problems. This paper discusses the composition of the CISAT modeling framework and demonstrates how it can be used to simulate the performance of human design teams in a cognitive study. Results simulated with CISAT are compared directly to the results derived from human designers. Finally, the CISAT model is also used to investigate the characteristics that were most and least helpful to teams during the cognitive study.
Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis of Power-Split Gear Drives Considering Shaft Deformation and Assembly Errors
Authors: Ye Siang-Yu , Tsai Shyi-Jeng
Published: January 2016

The power-split gear mechanisms is widely applied in power transmission because of the advantages of compact design, lighter weight and high power density. The load sharing and the load distribution are the important performance issues while designing the power split mechanisms. The paper propose a computerized approach based on the influence coefficient method for loaded tooth contact analysis of such the gear transmission. Not only the load sharing of the multiple contact tooth pairs and the loaded transmission errors, but also the distributed contact stresses and the corresponding contact patterns on all the engaged tooth flanks can be calculated by using the proposed LTCA approach. Some analysis results are also discussed with a study case of the first planetary stage of a compound cycloid planetary gear drive.