bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No Fear, Just Fun!: Meaningful, Memorable Musicking in Secondary General Music
Authors: VanWeelden Kimberly , Davis Virginia Wayman , Singletary Laura
Published: March 2019

Secondary general music is hard to define. For some, this denotes an accelerated version of elementary general music or a decelerated version of a college music appreciation course. Others view this as any nontraditional ensemble geared for middle or high school students, such as guitar, keyboard, or steel pans. Still, for others, secondary general music is not so much a stand-alone course as it is any time devoted to teaching fundamental skills to students in band, orchestra, and choir so they may more successfully perform the repertoire. The authors acknowledge each of the above-listed views as valid; thus, rather than debate what is secondary general music, we will highlight each viewpoint in a three-part series. The first of this series will focus on a class structure where students experience various activities all while learning music fundamentals, studying music history, and developing music literacy skills.
A Practical Guide to Improving School Climate in High Schools
Authors: VanLone Janet , Freeman Jennifer , LaSalle Tamika , Gordon Lola , Polk Tiffany , Rocha Neves Jesslynn
Published: March 2019

Research focusing on school climate has shown that healthy, safe, and positive school environments are associated with improved psychological, social, behavioral, and academic outcomes for secondary students. For this reason, it is important for schools to understand how to improve perceptions of school climate through effective, evidence-based interventions. Despite the importance of school climate, secondary schools continue to struggle to implement evidence-based interventions that may improve school climate in these settings. The purpose of this guide is to provide a practical step-by-step guide for improving school climates in high schools within a multitiered system of support (MTSS) framework, specifically focusing on how to use the critical features of MTSS (i.e., outcomes, data, practices, systems) to support effective implementation.
TRENDS: Toward a Separate Ethics of Political Field Experiments
Authors: Whitfield Gregory
Published: March 2019

In this article, I develop a critical view of the development and state of research ethics in political science. The central problem is that political scientists have inappropriately followed the lead of clinical biomedical research ethics in thinking about their own designs. Specifically I argue that the focus on institutional and group decision-making contexts distinctive to political research presents normative problems not well-addressed by clinical biomedical approaches. First, I make the case that research ethics as it has been conceived won’t capture all that might be wrong in political research designs because some of the potential harms/wrongs will be to political norms and institutions and thus will violate political (although not individual ethical) rights/values/and so on. Second, I rebut the challenge that principles of justice and equipoise standard to biomedical research ethics might be suitable for political research. And third, I argue that political theorists and philosophers must involve themselves in empirical political science research ethics if we are to effectively communicate the stakes of these research designs to practitioners, consumers, funders, and editors who remain steeped in the norms of biomedical research ethics.
Harnessing Digital Media in the Fight Against Prejudice: Social Contact and Exposure to Digital Media Solutions
Authors: Lissitsa Sabina , Kushnirovich Nonna
Published: March 2019

The current research focuses on the role of both physical and virtual environments in facilitating subtle and blatant prejudice reduction of the Jewish majority toward the Arab minority in Israel. This research was conducted through an online survey of 450 Jewish students who use digital media daily. Virtual contact and exposure to negative content about Arabs on digital media were found to reduce subtle prejudice. We found that face-to-face contact reduces both types of prejudice, whereas the effect of traditional media was not found.
Toward a Phenomenology of the Material
Authors: McGregor Kristidel
Published: March 2019

Can phenomenological approaches to experience allow me to attend to not just the human experience but also the material discursive forces that are a part of the shifting, moving network of agents at work in a phenomenon? Focusing on the material structures of experience means not asking what materiality is, but rather asking what it is doing in the context of an intra-active phenomena. In this article, I consider what possibilities for data gathering and analysis are opened if I think the Husserlian concept of encounters with the world within a feminist new materialist framework, and find the tensions provocative.
Merleau-Ponty’s Body and Beyond? Early Childhood Studies, Philosophical–Empirical Inquiry, and Educational Research
Authors: Elwick Sheena , Green Bill
Published: March 2019

This article draws on a recent study of infant participation in research, and work in practice theory and professional education, to explore the implications and challenges of educational research of particular encounters, which we call “moments of wonder”. Working with Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy of expression, we look closely at one such “moment,” as a rich field of sense—an excess of signification and affect. We see this account as demonstrating the value of what we call philosophical–empirical inquiry for opening up the complexity of educational research and practice, and specifically the interplay of early childhood education (ECE) practitioners/researchers and young children in “participatory research.”
It’s Raining Complaints! How Weather Factors Drive Consumer Comments and Word-of-Mouth
Authors: Bujisic Milos , Bogicevic Vanja , Parsa H. G. , Jovanovic Verka , Sukhu Anupama
Published: March 2019

Limited attention has been given to the drivers of customer behavior that originate from less direct factors, such as weather. Weather is known to significantly alter consumers’ moods and consequently their behavior. Building on the theoretical alignment between weather, mood, and consumer behavior, this research examined how specific weather factors drive the valence of consumer comments. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between perceived weather, consumers’ moods and affective experience, and word-of-mouth. By analyzing secondary data from 32 restaurants belonging to a national fast-casual chain, this research demonstrates that weather factors such as rain, temperature, and barometric pressure drive consumers’ complaint behavior in restaurants. Additionally, the findings of a survey study and an experimental study indicate that mood and affective experience mediate the relationship between perceived weather and word-of-mouth.
Otoscopy and aural cytological findings in a population of rescue cats and cases in a referral small animal hospital in England and Wales
Authors: Tyler Sophie , Swales Nicola , Foster Aiden P , Knowles Toby G , Barnard Natalie
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Otitis externa is seen clinically in cats, although studies investigating this condition within the UK are lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis mites and microbial infection in the ear canals of cats in various rescue centres and a referral hospital.

Methods

Otoscopy was performed in 332 cats. Otoscopic findings were noted, including the gross visualisation of Otodectes species. A sample of cerumen was collected for cytological evaluation and a cerumen smear for detection of Otodectes mites if there was a large amount of aural exudate present.

Results

O cynotis infestation was noted in 3/341 cats (0.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3–2.6). A total of 129/341 (37.8%; 95% CI 32.7–43.0) cats were found to have Malassezia species within one or both ears. Bacteria were found unilaterally in 9/341 (2.6%; 95% CI 1.4–4.9) cats. Analysis of the cytological findings showed an increased likelihood for Malassezia species to be present as age increased (n = 293; Pearson r = 0.204, P <0.001). There was also an increased likelihood of finding Malassezia species in both ears if found within one ear (n = 327; r = 0.499, P <0.001). There was a positive correlation between the number of Malassezia organisms and the quantity of aural exudate (n = 338; r = 0.778, P <0.001). Cats in which Otodectes species infestation were noted (n = 3) had moderate or large quantities of cerumen.

Conclusions and relevance

This study shows that there was a low prevalence of O cynotis in this cohort of cats. In normal cats it was not unusual to find Malassezia microorganisms upon aural cytology, bacteria were noted far less frequently and in two cats this was associated with underlying anatomical pathology.
Effect of 2-year nutritional supplementation on progression of age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Piatti Alberto , Croce Antonella , Mazzacane Danilo , Traina Giovanni , Ambrosino Lina , Boni Luigi , Lisi Luca , Cascella Maria Caterina , Grunberger Alberto
Published: March 2019

Purpose:

To examine the effect of a long-term nutritional supplementation on age-related macular degeneration progression.

Methods:

In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration were randomized (2:1) to receive 1 tablet/day of a nutritional supplement containing a mixture of carotenoids, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids or placebo. Age-related macular degeneration progression assessed by digital fundus photography (primary outcome) and best-corrected visual acuity were evaluated. Differences between arms were tested using chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test.

Results:

Seventy-four patients completed the follow-up at 24 months (48 in the treated arm and 26 in the placebo arm). An age-related macular degeneration progression was observed in the 2.1% of patients of the treated arm and in the 15.4% of patients in the placebo arm (p = 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). Best-corrected visual acuity data alone were not statistically significant among groups.

Conclusion:

A clinically meaningful stabilization of intermediate age-related macular degeneration over a period of 2 years may be obtained by treating patients with a mixture of carotenoids, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.
Switching from ranibizumab to aflibercept in choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks
Authors: Sekfali Rim , Mimoun Gérard , Cohen Salomon Yves , Querques Giuseppe , Bandello Francesco , Sacconi Riccardo , Souied Eric H , Capuano Vittorio
Published: March 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy of switching from intravitreal ranibizumab to intravitreal aflibercept in choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks.

Design:

Multicenter retrospective interventional case series.

Methods:

Patients previously treated with intravitreal ranibizumab with at least 12-month follow-up (M12) after switching (M0) to intravitreal aflibercept. Switch to intravitreal aflibercept was decided in cases of refractory or recurrent choroidal neovascularization. Primary endpoint: Change of best-corrected visual acuity using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters. Secondary endpoints: Mean change of central macular thickness, absence of intraretinal/subretinal fluid on spectral domain optical coherence tomography and the percentage of eyes with absence of leakage on fluorescein angiography.

Results:

Fourteen eyes of 13 patients were included. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 65.0 ± 21.03 letters at M0 and 63.5 ± 17.30 letters at M12 (p = 0.5). Secondary endpoints: Mean central macular thickness was 344 ± 194.65 µm at M0 and 268 ± 79.97 µm at M12 (p = 0.008). Absence of intraretinal/subretinal fluid was observed in 71%. Fluorescein angiography (nine eyes) showed absence of leakage in 77% (seven eyes).

Conclusion:

Switching from intravitreal ranibizumab to intravitreal aflibercept represents a therapeutic option in patients with refractory or recurrent choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks.
Achieving party unity in the Netherlands: Representatives’ sequential decision-making mechanisms at three levels of Dutch government
Authors: van Vonno Cynthia MC
Published: March 2019

How do parties at different levels of government get their representatives to vote according to the party line? Employing the sequential decision-making approach to party unity, we explore the relative importance of cue-taking, party agreement, party loyalty, and party discipline as individual representative decision-making mechanisms. On the basis of the Dutch version of the PartiRep comparative Member of Parliament survey, we find few differences between national and subnational representatives when it comes to the first two mechanisms, but party loyalty and party discipline seem to play a less important role in determining representatives’ decision whether to vote with the party group line. This is, in part, in line with our theoretical expectation that subnational representatives are less likely to be motivated by office-seeking and vote-seeking than their national counterparts.
Tourism–growth nexus in Pacific Island Countries: A panel study on information and communication technology as a contingent factor
Authors: Jayaraman Tiru K , Makun Keshmeer Kanewar
Published: March 2019

Growth in tourism earnings, aside from adding real resources in terms of foreign exchange and rising income in the organized sector of the hospitality industry, has given rise to employment opportunities in the informal sectors of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The spread of information and communication technology (ICT), on the other hand, has facilitated faster and smoother international tourism and provides greater opportunities for tourists travelling in interior islands for ecotourism and home stays at affordable costs. In this article, we assess the role of tourism with ICT as a contingent factor on economic growth in a panel study of five selected PICs. The results show that in the long run, tourism and ICT contribute around 0.25 and 0.02%, respectively. The interaction term of tourism with ICT is positive and statistically significant, indicating they act as complements. The complementary relationship begins to work when ICT reaches a certain threshold level.
Making success: What does large-scale integration of making into a middle and high school look like?
Authors: Trahan Keith , Romero Stephanie Maietta , Ramos Renata de Almeida , Zollars Jeffrey , Tananis Cynthia
Published: March 2019

Making is a movement present in the United States which fosters creativity and invention through the creation and sharing of products. This case study of one Western Pennsylvania school district’s integration of Making into its lower and upper secondary schools shows how the investment in space and equipment, guided by visionary leadership, can bring about innovation. Our findings after year 1 of this 2-year project indicate that Elizabeth Forward School District has been successful in fostering an atmosphere where students and teachers are given permission to fail, thereby allowing for experimentation, exploration, and the integration of girls into this normally male-dominated field.
Data-work for personalized care: Examining nurses’ practices in remote monitoring of chronic patients
Authors: Grisot Miria , Moltubakk Kempton Alexander , Hagen Laila , Aanestad Margunn
Published: March 2019

Healthcare professionals are increasingly working with data in their care delivery practices. However, there is limited understanding of how data work is enabling novel practices. This study focuses on novel nursing practices emerging in the context of remote monitoring of chronic patients. Specifically, we analyze how personalization of care is achieved in practice through data work. The study is based on a case of a pilot center in Norway where nurses provide remote care to patients by using a specialized system. We examine the practices of the nurses and how data in the form of graphs, alerts, questionnaires and messages are used to personalize care. We identify three main practices of data work for personalization: preparatory work, continuous adjustment and question fine-tuning. Finally, we discuss the pivotal role of nurses’ data work for personalized care in remote care.
What is the impact of introducing inpatient electronic prescribing on prescribing errors? A naturalistic stepped wedge study in an English teaching hospital
Authors: Franklin Bryony Dean , Puaar Seetal
Published: March 2019

Most studies evaluating the impact of electronic prescribing on prescribing safety have used comparatively weak study designs such as uncontrolled before-and-after studies. This study aimed to apply a more robust naturalistic stepped wedge study design to compare the prevalence and types of prescribing errors for electronic prescribing and paper prescribing. Data were collected weekly during a phased electronic prescribing implementation across 20 wards in a large English hospital. We identified 511 (7.8%) erroneous orders in 6523 paper medication orders, and 312 (6.0%) in 5237 electronic prescribing orders. Logistic regression suggested no statistically significant effect of electronic prescribing use or of study week; patient and ward had significant effects. Errors involving incorrect doses and illegible or incomplete orders were less common with electronic prescribing; those involving duplication, omission, incorrect drug and incorrect formulation were more common. Actions are needed to mitigate these error types; future studies should give more consideration to the effects of patient and ward.
Navigating the brogrammers and the boys’ club: Women’s representation and experiences in political technology
Authors: Kreiss Daniel , Adams Kirsten
Published: March 2019

This article offers the first systematic study of the hiring patterns and career experiences of women working on U.S. presidential campaigns in the new field of political technology. We paired the quantitative analysis of a dataset of 995 staffers active in technology, digital media, data, and analytics across four presidential election cycles (2004–2016) with data from 45 in-depth interviews with women active on 12 presidential campaigns. We find that women are systematically under-represented, they do not ascend to leadership positions at the same rates as men, and they do not have the same entrepreneurial opportunities. When women do get hired, many find it challenging to be heard, are judged according to different standards than men, and have few ways of holding people accountable for inappropriate behavior or arbitrary exercises of power. The findings likely have implications for other fields that have been reshaped by technology, from journalism to entertainment media.
The Use of Prolonged Exposure Therapy Augmented With CBT to Treat Postpartum Trauma
Authors: Reina Samantha A. , Freund Blanche , Ironson Gail
Published: March 2019

Approximately 1% to 2% of women suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, with obstetric emergencies being a key risk factor for birth-related PTSD. The current study augmented prolonged exposure (PE) with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and agoraphobia in a 28-year-old married Hispanic female following a life-threatening case of postpartum preeclampsia. To target distressing symptoms and reach treatment goals, the patient engaged in two preparatory sessions, 12 active PE sessions, and five supplementary CBT sessions. Posttreatment assessment indicated a significant reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Panic attacks reduced in frequency and severity, and by the end of treatment, the patient no longer met criteria for PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), or agoraphobia. In the case of postpartum PTSD, CBT can augment PE treatment to reduce symptomatology.
Self-efficacy and Reach Performance in Individuals With Mild Motor Impairment Due to Stroke
Authors: Stewart Jill Campbell , Lewthwaite Rebecca , Rocktashel Janelle , Winstein Carolee J.
Published: March 2019

Background: Persistent deficits in arm function are common after stroke. An improved understanding of the factors that contribute to the performance of skilled arm movements is needed. One such factor may be self-efficacy (SE). Objective: To determine the level of SE for skilled, goal-directed reach actions in individuals with mild motor impairment after stroke and whether SE for reach performance correlated with actual reach performance. Methods: A total of 20 individuals with chronic stroke (months poststroke: mean 58.1 ± 38.8) and mild motor impairment (upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer [FM] motor score: mean 53.2, range 39 to 66) and 6 age-matched controls reached to targets presented in 2 directions (ipsilateral, contralateral). Prior to each block (24 reach trials), individuals rated their confidence on reaching to targets accurately and quickly on a scale that ranged from 0 ( not very confident) to 10 ( very confident). Results: Overall reach performance was slower and less accurate in the more-affected arm compared with both the less-affected arm and controls. SE for both reach speed and reach accuracy was lower for the more-affected arm compared with the less-affected arm. For reaches with the more-affected arm, SE for reach speed and age significantly predicted movement time to ipsilateral targets ( R2 = 0.352), whereas SE for reach accuracy and FM motor score significantly predicted end point error to contralateral targets ( R2 = 0.291). Conclusions: SE relates to measures of reach control and may serve as a target for interventions to improve proximal arm control after stroke.
Automated calibration of advanced cyclic plasticity model parameters with sensitivity analysis for aluminium alloy 2024-T351
Authors: Peč Michal , Šebek František , Zapletal Josef , Petruška Jindřich , Hassan Tasnim
Published: March 2019

The plasticity models in finite element codes are often not able to describe the cyclic plasticity phenomena satisfactorily. Developing a user-defined material model is a demanding process, challenging especially for industry. Open-source Code_Aster is a rapidly expanding and evolving software, capable of overcoming the above-mentioned problem with material model implementation. In this article, Chaboche-type material model with kinematic hardening evolution rules and non-proportional as well as strain memory effects was studied through the calibration of the aluminium alloy 2024-T351. The sensitivity analysis was performed prior to the model calibration to find out whether all the material model parameters were important. The utilization of built-in routines allows the calibration of material constants without the necessity to write the optimization scripts, which is time consuming. Obtaining the parameters using the built-in routines is therefore easier and allows using the advanced modelling for practical use. Three sets of material model parameters were obtained using the built-in routines and results were compared to experiments. Quality of the calibration was highlighted and drawbacks were described. Usage of material model implemented in Code_Aster provided good simulations in a relatively simple way through the use of an advanced cyclic plasticity model via built-in auxiliary functions.
A boundary layer flow analysis of a magnetohydrodynamic fluid over a shrinking sheet
Authors: Hsu Cheng-Hsing , Tsai Te-Hui , Chang Ching-Chuan , Huang Wen-Han
Published: March 2019

A steady-state boundary layer flow analysis of a non-Newtonian magnetic fluid over a shrinking sheet was studied. The boundary layer thickness and the velocity distribution in the layer were studied under the conditions of a uniform magnetic field normal to the shrinking sheet and/or a vertical uniform mass suction across the sheet. The similarity transformation method was used to transform the governing partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations. The shooting method with Newton’s algorithm and Runge–Kutta integration method were used to obtain the solutions of the equations. The results showed that the variation of the flow velocity profiles in the boundary layer was significant, the thickness of the boundary layer was thinner, and the skin friction coefficient was bigger for either shear thinning or shear thickening magnetic fluids under the conditions of a stronger magnetic field or a larger mass suction effect.
From rock microstructure to macromechanical properties based on fractal dimensions
Authors: Huang Dongmei , Chang Xikun , Tan Yunliang , Fang Kai , Yin Yanchun
Published: March 2019

Basic rock mechanical parameters, that is, the uniaxial compressive strength σc and elastic modulus E, have close relationships with the fractal dimension and inhomogeneity. Scanning electronic microscopy and fractal dimension calculations are applied to four different rock types (mudstone, sandstone, limestone, and basalt) in order to investigate the relationships between the rock mechanical properties, fractal dimensions, and homogeneity. The results show that the fractal dimension of each rock type fluctuates as the scanning electronic microscopy magnification increases. Rocks with different uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus values possess different self-similarity properties, and when the uniaxial compressive strength or elastic modulus increases, the fractal dimension of the rock microstructure decreases. The rock homogeneity is consistent with the fractal dimension, that is, the higher the homogeneity is, the larger the fractal dimension. Generally, homogeneity refers to the macroscale, and fractal dimension refers to the microscale. Overall, this research provides an innovative and effective approach for researching the mechanical behavior of rocks through a combination of uniaxial compression tests, homogeneity, and fractal dimensions.
Generalized finite element formulation for efficient first-order plastic hinge analysis
Authors: Kim Dae-Jin , Son Hong-Jun , Yi Yousun , Hong Sung-Gul
Published: March 2019

This article presents generalized finite element formulation for plastic hinge modeling based on lumped plasticity in the classical Euler–Bernoulli beam. In this approach, the plastic hinges are modeled using a special enrichment function, which can describe the weak discontinuity of the solution at the location of the plastic hinge. Furthermore, it is also possible to insert a plastic hinge at an arbitrary location of the element without modifying its connectivity or adding more elements. Instead, the formations of the plastic hinges are achieved by hierarchically adding more degrees of freedom to existing elements. Due to these features, the proposed methodology can efficiently perform the first-order plastic hinge analysis of large-frame structures. A generalized finite element solution technique based on the static condensation scheme is also proposed in order to reduce the computational cost of a series of linear elastic problems, which is in general the most time-consuming portion of the first-order plastic hinge analysis. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by analyzing several representative numerical examples.
Skill acquisition and transfer through common subgoals
Authors: Gökçe Barış , Akın H Levent
Published: March 2019

The main challenge of using robots in social environments such as houses is coping with the frequent changes in tasks. Since it is infeasible to come up with an implementation for all possible cases of all tasks, robots should find solutions for new problems by themselves. So, learning is one of the major abilities for a robot to deal with changing tasks. However, it is generally time-consuming to find even a near-optimal solution for complex tasks through learning. On the other hand, learning in humans is a never-ending process and much faster, thanks to transferring prior knowledge. In this work, we build a knowledge base (called as skill library) from the subsets of the tasks discovered during the learning process. Since most of the tasks encountered have common subsets, the skill library enables us to transfer previous experiences while learning the strategy of a new task. The robot progressively accumulates skills to reduce the difficulty of learning the forthcoming tasks. We choose navigation in different unknown environments as the test bed. The results show a significant improvement especially on the performance of the robot in the initial episodes, a substantial reduction in the cost of the overall learning process, and in the convergence time to the (near-)optimal policy.
Robust exponential point stabilization control of the high-speed underactuated unmanned marine vehicle with model asymmetry
Authors: Dong Zaopeng , Wang Yabin , Song Lifei , Zheng Mao , Chu Shixin , Mao Yunsheng
Published: March 2019

Point stabilization control of a class of asymmetric underactuated high-speed unmanned marine vehicle is discussed, and a robust exponential stabilization control algorithm is proposed based on homogeneous theory, average system theory, and nonlinear backstepping technology. Firstly, point stabilization control problem of a high-speed underactuated unmanned marine vehicle with model asymmetry is formulated, and then global differential homeomorphism transformation is designed, in order to overcome the difficulties caused by unmanned marine vehicle with model asymmetry. Secondly, the control system is transformed into the standard form of homogeneous interference system by output state variable transformation design and input transformation design. A novel interference function is designed, and then difficulties caused by the higher order velocities in damping coefficients are solved, via homogeneous stability design and homogeneity degree analyzing the expansion of the designed new state variables. Thirdly, by introducing the virtual input of backstepping and the average system theory, point stabilization controller for the underactuated high-speed unmanned marine vehicle is proposed based on homogeneous theory, which could achieve global and periodic time-varying robust exponential stability, and then stability of the point stabilization control algorithm is proved by using homogeneous stability theory and average system stability theory. At last, the effectiveness and accuracy of the control algorithm proposed is verified by semi-physical simulation experiment carried out in our laboratory.
Typical configuration analysis of a modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot
Authors: Zhao Tao , Zi Bin , Qian Sen , Yin Zeqiang , Zhang Dan
Published: March 2019

To obtain better flexibility and multifunction in varying practical applications, several typical configurations of a modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot are analyzed in this article. The spatial topology of the modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot can be reconfigured by manually detaching or attaching the different number of modular branches as well as changing the connection points on the end-effector to satisfy diverse task requirements. The structure design of the modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot is depicted in detail, including the design methodology, mechanical description, and control architecture. The inverse kinematics and dynamics of the modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot considering diverse configurations are derived according to the vector closed rule and Lagrange method, respectively. The numerical simulation and related experiments of a typical configuration are achieved and analyzed. The results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the inverse kinematics and dynamics models for the modular reconfigurable cable-driven parallel robot.
Determination of fasiglifam-induced liver toxicity: Insights from the data monitoring committee of the fasiglifam clinical trials program
Authors: Shavadia Jay S , Sharma Abhinav , Gu Xiangqiong , Neaton James , DeLeve Laurie , Holmes David , Home Phillip , Eckel Robert H , Watkins Paul B , Granger Christopher B
Published: March 2019

Background

Different approaches to safety event collection influence the determination of liver toxicity within drug development programs. Herein, a description of how fasiglifam-induced liver injury was detected is provided.

Methods

This eight-trial drug development program was intended to evaluate fasiglifam (25 mg, 50 mg) against placebo or active comparators (glimepiride, sitagliptin) in approximately 11,000 suboptimally controlled patients with type 2 diabetes (terminated Dec 2013 due to liver toxicity). Liver safety had been pre-identified as a concern, and within the phase 3 trials, was measured through (1) adverse event reporting, (2) central predefined liver monitoring schedule with various thresholds for potential drug-induced liver injury, and (3) blinded adjudication of serious liver toxicity by a panel of experts in drug-induced liver injury. A single data monitoring committee provided safety oversight across all trials within the program.

Findings

Prior to program termination, 7595 of 7602 (99.9%) randomized participants across the eight trials received at least one dose of the study drug (fasiglifam, placebo, or active control). No concerning trends were noted in adverse or serious adverse event frequency, suspected unexpected serious adverse reaction, alanine or aspartate transaminase elevations, or hepatobiliary or gastrointestinal adverse events as reported by local site investigators. However, the predefined central liver safety measurements revealed a greater frequency of possible Hy’s Law cases (5 vs 2) and a 3- to 7-fold greater relative risk in alanine or aspartate transaminase elevation (with respect to upper limit of normal) within fasiglifam recipients compared with placebo/active control: alanine or aspartate transaminase > 3×: relative risk 3.34 (95% confidence interval 2.29–4.90), alanine or aspartate transaminase > 5×: relative risk 6.60 (95% confidence interval 3.03–14.38), alanine or aspartate transaminase > 8×: relative risk 6.14 (95% confidence interval 2.18–17.27), and alanine or aspartate transaminase > 10×: relative risk 6.74 (95% confidence interval 2.05, 22.14). All elevations resolved on study drug discontinuation. Drug-induced liver injury was adjudicated as highly likely or probably related in 0.64% of fasiglifam-treated versus 0.06% placebo or active control-treated patients.

Conclusion

In spite of clear liver toxicity detected with a systematic surveillance program, liver safety signals were not identified from investigator adverse event reporting alone. By integrating key safety monitoring processes within the randomized design of adequately sized clinical trials, the rare but serious liver toxicity signal became clear, leading to timely program termination.
Patient reported outcomes in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor immunotherapy registration trials: FDA analysis of data submitted and future directions
Authors: King-Kallimanis Bellinda L , Howie Lynn J , Roydhouse Jessica K , Singh Harpreet , Theoret Marc R , Blumenthal Gideon M , Kluetz Paul G
Published: March 2019

Background

Patient-reported outcome measures can be used to capture the patient’s experience with disease and treatment. Immunotherapy agents including the anti-programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand-1 inhibitor therapies have unique symptomatic side effects and patient-reported outcome data can help to characterize the benefits and burdens associated with therapy.

Methods

We reviewed registration trials in the Food and Drug Administration database for five anti-programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand-1 inhibitor therapies to characterize trial design and patient-reported outcome assessment strategy (cutoff 31 December 2017). We evaluated the patient-reported outcome measurement coverage of eight key symptoms related to adverse events reported in immunotherapy agent product labels (fatigue, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath, musculoskeletal pain, rash, pruritus, and fever).

Results

There were a total of 28 trials across seven disease types and one tumor agnostic indication reviewed, of which 17 were randomized and 25 were open label. Of the 28 trials, 21 contained patient-reported outcome measures and all 21 used >1 instrument. The most common instruments were the EuroQol five dimension (N = 19), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (N = 17). Disease-specific patient-reported outcome tools were included in nine trials (six lung, one head and neck, one melanoma and one renal cell). No trial used a patient-reported outcome strategy assessing all eight selected adverse events.

Conclusion

Collection of patient-reported outcome data in anti-programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand-1 inhibitor trials were variable and did not consistently assess important symptomatic adverse events. Use of a patient-reported outcome instrument with well-defined functional scales supplemented by item libraries to incorporate relevant symptomatic adverse events may allow for improved understanding of the patient experience while receiving therapy. These data, along with other clinical data such as hospitalizations and supportive care medication use can help inform the benefit–risk assessment for regulatory purposes.
Robust INS/SFPPP-BDS tightly coupled navigation algorithm with adaptive cycle slip compensation model
Authors: Ma Hangshuai , Wang Rong , Xiong Zhi , Liu Jianye , Li Chuanyi
Published: March 2019

The application of Beidou Satellite Navigation System (BDS) is developing rapidly. To satisfy the increasing demand for positioning performance, single-frequency precise point positioning (SFPPP) has been a focus in recent years. By introducing the SFPPP technique into the INS/BDS integrated system, higher navigation accuracy can be obtained. Cycle slip, which is caused by signal blockage during the measurement of the carrier phase, is a challenge for SFPPP application. In the INS/SFPPP-BDS integrated system, cycle slip can cause serious bias in BDS carrier phase measurements. In this paper, a new INS/SFBDS-PPP tightly coupled navigation system and a robust adaptive filtering method are proposed. Using a low-cost single-frequency receiver integrated with INS, an observation model was built based on the pseudo range and carrier phase by PPP preprocessing. The cycle slip was introduced into the state vector to improve the estimation precision. The test statistics, comprising the innovation and its covariance, were used to estimate the time at which cycle slip occurred and its amplitude to compensate for its effect on the observation. Finally, the proposed system model and algorithm are validated by simulation.
Subsidiarity and the moral foundations of populism
Authors: Turk Žiga
Published: March 2019

Across Europe there is growing concern about populism. In this article populism is analysed through the lens of Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundation theory. People make choices, including political choices, based on their morals. Political families also base their policies on moral foundations. The article analyses this phenomenon and identifies both the opportunities it provides for the European People’s Party (EPP) and the threats it poses. The opportunities have to do with a special feature of conservative parties: they address the entire spectrum of moral foundations while other political families specialise in one or just a few of those foundations—this is even truer of populists. This factor also forms the threat to the EPP: while others can specialise, the EPP family must stay balanced and broad. The other way to address populism is through subsidiarity—the closer people are to decisions, the less abstract they are and the less they are guided by moral foundations, and thus there is less opportunity for populism.
European defence policy and subsidiarity: The imperative of the EU level
Authors: Howorth Jolyon
Published: March 2019

Since the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, defence policy, across Europe, has traditionally been the preserve of the nation state. That remains the default situation today, despite over two decades of movement towards a common EU security and defence policy. European leaders, ever since the 1980s, have insisted that the EU level is the most appropriate for this policy area, and public opinion appears to agree with them. Yet, despite many developments in the direction of a ‘European army’, and despite the launch of dozens of EU overseas missions, defence planning and procurement, as well as the deployment of forces, remain the preserve of the EU’s national governments. Since 2016 we have witnessed an intensification of the move towards the EU level. This article argues that it is still too soon to determine whether a genuine shift away from the nation-state level is now in progress.
Selective Exposure to Public Service News over Thirty Years: The Role of Ideological Leaning, Party Support, and Political Interest
Authors: Dahlgren Peter M.
Published: March 2019

The transition from a low-choice to a high-choice media environment has led to concerns about audience fragmentation, ideological enclaves, and selective exposure to partisan news media consistent with people’s political preferences. However, previous research has mainly focused on two-party systems (e.g., the United States) and partisan news (e.g., Fox News or MSNBC), studied at single points in time. The aim of this paper is therefore to provide the most comprehensive study of which political preferences (ideological leaning, party support, and political interest) have driven selective exposure to public service news over thirty years, covering the transition from a low-choice to a high-choice media environment. Using an annual representative survey conducted from 1986 to 2015 in Sweden ( n = 103,589), results suggest that (1) the ideological left and right have used public service news to the same extent over time and that (2) support for parties outside (rather than inside) parliament accounts for a large decline in public service news use over time. But most importantly, (3) those who lack political interest show the largest decline in public service news use, while public service news use has remained more stable among politically interested citizens.
A case series on the clinical profile of avoidant–restrictive food intake disorder in Singapore
Authors: Lai Damien , Chee Ashwin , Kwok Victor
Published: March 2019

Little is known about the new Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition, diagnosis of Avoidant–Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Without sufficient knowledge about the disorder, its detection and treatment are hampered. This study highlights eight cases diagnosed with ARFID between 2013 and June 2016 who presented to our treatment facility, the only specialized Eating Disorders program in Singapore. Informed consent was obtained from the patients and their parents, and their case notes retrieved and reviewed. There were five males and three females, with ages ranging from 15 to 39 years, a mean age of 20 years and body mass index of 16.1 kg/m2 at time of diagnosis. The presentation of cases was heterogeneous, including selective eating behaviors, very restricted food choices, anxiety towards specific foods and with comorbid mood symptoms. A majority of the cases displayed ARFID symptoms early in childhood, suggesting the need to inform parents, educators and healthcare professionals. The study also found a high treatment default rate amongst the patients, warranting further investigation. Due to the heterogenous presentation of ARFID, the authors appeal for further exploration to be carried out and more to be done to increase the awareness of this condition in both the medical profession and general population.
Design and numerical assessment of a rapid-construction corrugated steel-concrete-steel protective structure
Authors: Jeon Sangwoo , Rigby Samuel Edward
Published: March 2019

A protective structure should be sufficiently resilient to protect its occupants from the harmful effects of an impact or explosion. In many instances, protective structures are also required to be assembled quickly, and be cost-effective. Steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich structures combine the benefits of steel; ductility and anti-scabbing, and concrete; energy absorption and rigidity. Despite these favourable characteristics, the performance of profiled-plate steel-concrete-steel structures under blast and impact loads has yet to be studied in detail. This article presents the results from a numerical study investigating the efficacy of a newly proposed profiled-plate arched steel-concrete-steel structure under the loading from an extremely near-field high explosive detonation. It is observed that as arch thickness (concrete infill depth) increases, a greater proportion of energy is absorbed through concrete crushing and a larger concrete mass is mobilised. It is shown that a 240 mm arch thickness is adequate to resist the blast load from a 5.76 kg TNT charge, therefore proving the suitability of the proposed protective structure.
Right ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral‐to‐pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio: a non‐invasive metric of pulmonary arterial compliance differs across the spectrum of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Bhattacharya Priyanka T. , Troutman Gregory S. , Mao Frances , Fox Arieh L. , Tanna Monique S. , Zamani Payman , Grandin E. Wilson , Menachem Jonathan N. , Birati Edo Y. , Chirinos Julio A. , Mazimba Sula , Smith Kerri Akaya , Kawut Steven M. , Forfia Paul R. , Vaidya Anjali , Mazurek Jeremy A.
Published: March 2019

Pulmonary arterial compliance (PAC), invasively assessed by the ratio of stroke volume to pulmonary arterial (PA) pulse pressure, is a sensitive marker of right ventricular (RV)‐PA coupling that differs across the spectrum of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and is predictive of outcomes. We assessed whether the echocardiographically derived ratio of RV outflow tract velocity time integral to PA systolic pressure (RVOT‐VTI/PASP) (a) correlates with invasive PAC, (b) discriminates heart failure with preserved ejection‐associated PH (HFpEF‐PH) from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and (c) is associated with functional capacity. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with PAH (n = 70) and HFpEF‐PH (n = 86), which was further dichotomized by diastolic pressure gradient (DPG) into isolated post‐capillary PH (DPG < 7 mmHg; Ipc‐PH, n = 54), and combined post‐ and pre‐capillary PH (DPG ≥ 7 mm Hg; Cpc‐PH, n = 32). Of the 156 patients, 146 had measurable RVOT‐VTI or PASP and were included in further analysis. RVOT‐VTI/PASP correlated with invasive PAC overall (ρ = 0.61, P < 0.001) and for the PAH (ρ = 0.38, P = 0.002) and HFpEF‐PH (ρ = 0.63, P < 0.001) groups individually. RVOT‐VTI/PASP differed significantly across the PH spectrum (PAH: 0.13 [0.010–0.25] vs. Cpc‐PH: 0.20 [0.12–0.25] vs. Ipc‐PH: 0.35 [0.22–0.44]; P < 0.001), distinguished HFpEF‐PH from PAH (AUC = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.63–0.81) and Cpc‐PH from Ipc‐PH (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.88), and remained independently predictive of 6‐min walk distance after multivariate analysis (standardized β‐coefficient = 27.7, 95% CI = 9.2–46.3; P = 0.004). Echocardiographic RVOT‐VTI/PASP is a novel non‐invasive metric of PAC that differs across the spectrum of PH. It distinguishes the degree of pre‐capillary disease within HFpEF‐PH and is predictive of functional capacity.
Novel early life risk factors for adult pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Goss Kara N. , Austin Eric D. , Battiola Therese J. , Tepper Robert S. , Lahm Tim
Published: March 2019

The role of perinatal insults in the development of adult onset pulmonary hypertension (PH) is unclear. We surveyed patients with and without PH for a history of early life risk factors, and identified prematurity, oxygen use, and respiratory illness each as risk predictors for development of adult PH.