bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Static and Dynamic Injection Characteristics of a Common-Rail Direct Injection Diesel Engine Fuelled by CME-Diesel Blends
Authors: Santos Ervin , Quiros Edwin
Published: August 2017

Much interest is given to the research in biodiesel these days. It is renewable and has similar properties to conventional diesel. Biodiesel is also generally seen to produce less emissions, hence it is seen as an attractive and a greener alternative source of energy. Biodiesels are also referred to as Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME). They are obtained from the transesterification of oils from organic products such as animal fat or vegetable oil. Common biodiesel feedstocks are soybean (USA), rapeseed (Europe), palm, and coconut (Asia). The Philippines, being one of the largest producers of coconut in the world, should have a substantial interest in this. Biodiesel in the Philippines is obtained from coconut oil and is commonly called Coconut Methyl Ester (CME). There is a number of research works available that study the effects of biodiesel when used to run diesel engines, although there is notably less studies on CME and particularly Philippine-CME available. This work aims to show the fuel injection timing and duration of a Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) engine run by CME-diesel with neat diesel as baseline. There are two sets of injection parameters that describe the injection behaviour of an engine. The static injection parameters refer to the electronic commands given out by the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) while the dynamic injection parameters refer to the actual physical injection happening in the fuel injector nozzle. Knowledge of these information may help explain possible differences in performance and/or emissions observed in biodiesel-fed engines. The static injection commands were obtained by tapping into the solenoid signal wire from the ECU. The dynamic injection parameters were estimated from line pressure signals in the fuel injection line. All the tests were done on the AVL Eddy Current Engine Dynamometer in the University of the Philippines Vehicle Research and Testing Laboratory. Baseline data were recorded from 100% neat diesel, then volumetric blends B10 (10% CME biodiesel and 90% neat diesel) and B20 (20% CME biodiesel and 80% neat diesel) were mixed for the tests. The CRDI engine was ran at full load, sweeping the operating range at 400 RPM increments from 800 to 4000. The results showed no significant difference in the static injection parameters of the CME-diesel blend-fed engines as compared to being ran with neat diesel. As for the dynamic injection parameters, there were some significant differences observed in the higher engine speeds starting at 2800 RPM. The observed changes were attributed to the differences in the physiochemical properties of CME biodiesel as compared to neat diesel.
Heat Flux Distribution Over a Solar Central Receiver Using an Aiming Strategy Based on a Conventional Closed Control Loop
Authors: García Jesús , Soo Too Yen Chean , Vasquez Padilla Ricardo , Barraza Vicencio Rodrigo , Beath Andrew , Sanjuan Marco
Published: August 2017

Solar thermal towers are a maturing technology that have the potential to supply a significant part of energy requirements of the future. One of the issues that needs careful attention is the heat flux distribution over the central receiver’s surface. It is imperative to maintain receiver’s thermal stresses below the material limits. Therefore, an adequate aiming strategy for each mirror is crucial. Due to the large number of mirrors present in a solar field, most aiming strategies work using a data base that establishes an aiming point for each mirror depending on the relative position of the sun and heat flux models. This paper proposes a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) closed control loop based on a methodology that allows using conventional control strategies such as those based on Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controllers. Results indicate that even this basic control loop can successfully distribute heat flux on the solar receiver.
Mechanical Modal Phenomena of a Ganged Heliostat
Authors: Armijo Kenneth M. , Ortega Jesus D. , Moya Adam , Christian Joshua , Peacock Gregory , Andraka Charles , Yellowhair Julius , Clair Jim
Published: August 2017

Ganged-heliostats have the potential for large cost reductions with enhanced solar collector field optimization. Unlike typical heliostats that require dual axis tracking actuators and a base or foundation, ganged-heliostats can share actuation and a support structure. This membership greatly reduces system infrastructure and installation costs. However, concentrating solar power (CSP) heliostats are subjected to wind-induced loads, vibration, and gravity-induced deformations. These effects could impact performance and reliability of these structures, where despite the many advantages for the utility of ganged heliostats, modal limitations exist from wind perturbations. In this investigation, an introductory multiphysics finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed using SolidWorks Simulation software to validate experimental measurements of a novel small-scale ganged heliostat system, parametrically under varying azimuth rotations, facet pitch levels, and cable tension levels. The ganged heliostat design featured a number of mirrors resting on two guide wires which were tensioned and rotated to align with any given target. Experimentally, several standard modal tests were conducted on the ganged heliostat, which was designed to operate under a number of orientations, where for this investigation two scenarios were selected to be representative of an operational heliostat. The heliostat was oriented at a 0° (face up) and 45° orientations for the modal test configurations. The modal tests were computationally validated in good agreement with the experiments to within 2.8% and 6.3% error for 0° and 45° orientations respectively.
Numerical Study of Thermal Stresses in a Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack
Authors: Wang Cun , Zhang Tao , Zhao Cheng , Pu Jian
Published: August 2017

A three dimensional numerical model of a practical planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack based on the finite element method is constructed to analyze the thermal stress generated at different uniform temperatures. Effects of cell positions, different compressive loads, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch of different SOFC components on the thermal stress distribution are investigated in this work. Numerical results indicate that the maximum thermal stress appears at the corner of the interface between ceramic sealants and cells. Meanwhile the maximum thermal stress at high temperature is significantly larger than that at room temperature (RT) and presents linear growth with the increase of operating temperature. Since the SOFC stack is under the combined action of mechanical and thermal loads, the distribution of thermal stress in the components such as interconnects and ceramic sealants are greatly controlled by the CTE mismatch and scarcely influenced by the compressive loads.
Flow Distribution Analysis in the SOFC Stack Using CFD Technique
Authors: Zhao Cheng , Wang Cun , Zhang Tao , Pu Jian
Published: August 2017

In this paper, a three dimensional solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) model is constructed to investigate the gas distribution and the pressure variation in the external manifold stack by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. Several geometric parameters of external manifold stack, including the position of inlet tube, depth of the manifold and the channel resistance are optimized to achieve uniform gas distributions among the channels. Simulation results indicate that a gas distributor can enhance the flow uniformity effectively. Besides, with the increasing depth of the manifold, the flow tends to be more uniform in T-manifold but has a small impact on C-manifold stack. It is also shown that flow distribution is intensively enhanced with the raise of resistance, especially from 0Pa to 100Pa. Modeling results highlight the importance of manifold and channel structure design for external manifold stack and can be widely applied to design the geometric parameters.
Hydrogen Production From Various Heavy Hydrocarbons by Steam Reforming
Authors: Takeda Yasuyoshi , Kusumi Masaki , Kamizono Masaaki , Shinoki Toshio , Tanigawa Hirochika , Hirata Katsuya
Published: August 2017

The authors develop a small and simple steam-reforming reactor in a home-use size for such various heavy-hydrocarbons fuels as n-octane, n-decane, n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane in addition to n-dodecane, and measure the inside-temperature profile and the molar fractions of main gas components such as H2, CH4, CO and CO2. As a result, the authors successfully achieve suitable inside-temperature profiles. Namely, temperature almost-linearly increases in the downstream direction along a reactor, under such two conditions as 600–950 K at the upstream end of the catalyst-layer bed in the reactor and as less-than 1,070 K everywhere in the reactor. And, the authors reveal the effects of the liquid-hourly space velocity (LHSV) upon the molar fractions, a conversion ratio and reforming efficiencies for various heavy-hydrocarbons fuels. All the molar fractions, which agree well with thermochemical-equilibrium theory, are approximately independent of LHSV. The conversion ratio is about 90 % for LHSV ≤ 0.6 h−1, and monotonically decreases with increasing LHSV for LHSV > 0.6 h−1. Then, each reforming efficiency always attains the maximum for LHSV ≈ 0.6 h−1 being independent of fuels. This suggests the common upper limit of LHSV for practically-suitable operation.
Educating on anti-oppressive practice with gender and sexual minority elders: Nursing and social work perspectives
Authors: Pack Margaret , Brown Peter
Published: August 2017

INTRODUCTION: This article relates a common dilemma in professional education out of which developed a collaboration between two health disciplines at a regional Australian university. In a literature review across the two disciplines, the authors drew from social work’s teaching knowledge base in an attempt to strengthen the nursing skill base. The intention was to provide students working in the health sector with a consistent theoretical approach and practical tools when working with sexual and gender minorities.METHOD: As associate professors in social work and nursing, the authors argue on the basis of the teaching and the literature review, for an explicitly anti-oppressive approach to be applied to the education of professionals who work with elders identifying with gender and sexual minorities. Working within an anti-oppressive framework, beginning practitioners in social work and nursing in degree-level education programmes were encouraged to explore their own attitudes including taken-for-granted assumptions often unexplored in the prevailing medical models of care. How different demographics within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTQIA) community experience the health industry is a current issue for educators. There have been increasing challenges expressed by transgender individuals and their concerns over their specific health needs/stigma in rest-home-care facilities, for example.CONCLUSION: By embedding anti-oppressive principles in our teaching practice, relating to gender and sexual minorities, we acknowledge and open the debate to some of the possibilities/practicalities/difficulties of advocating for this within a broader multi-disciplinary in small town, rural contexts. The implications for social work and nursing education are discussed.
Hospitals and cultural diversity: social worker experiences and reflections
Authors: Testa Doris Anne
Published: August 2017

INTRODUCTION: Social work accrediting bodies mandate that workers analyse ways in which cultural values and structural forces shape client experiences and opportunities and that workers deconstruct mechanisms of exclusion and asymmetrical power relationships. This article reports the findings of a small-scale qualitative study of frontline hospital social workers’ experiences and understanding of their mandate for culturally sensitive practice.METHODS: The study involved one-hour, semi-structured interviews with 10 frontline hospital social workers. The interviews sought to understand how frontline workers and their organisations understood sensitive practice. Drawing on their own social cultural biographies, workers described organisational policy and practices that supported (or not) culturally sensitive practice. Narrative analysis was used to extract themes.FINDINGS: Data indicate that frontline hospital social workers demonstrated their professional mandate for culturally sensitive practice. Workers were firm in their view that working with the culturally other requires humility as well as a preparedness to value and engage the multiple cultural meanings that evolve in the patient–worker encounter.CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that mandating cultural sensitivity does not necessarily result in such practice. Cultural sensitivity requires an understanding of how cultural and social location may be implicated in sustaining the dominant cultural narrative and signals the need for workers, systems and organisations to facilitate appropriate learning experiences to explore culturally sensitive practice.
Reshaping political ideology in social work: A critical perspective
Authors: Duarte Filipe
Published: August 2017

INTRODUCTION: The article contends that social work is politically constructed, that its values, principles and commitments are deeply shaped by ideology through the political dimension at all levels of social work intervention, and that social work needs not only to embrace, but also to reshape its political ideology, discourse and political movements.APPROACH: It is argued that the articulation of social work values and principles are an expression of ideology, and that political ontology of social workers’ lives precedes their epistemological and methodological choices. From this premise, the article claims that socialism informs progressive social work values, and that a materialist analysis can influence our understanding of social problems and social relations within deregulated capitalist societies.CONCLUSIONS: Firstly, this article synthesises the Marxist approach of ideology and its relations with ideology in social work. Secondly, it draws out the key insights about the so-called “radical” or “structural” perspective in social work, and the commitments and challenges of its advocates. Finally, it explores and proposes insights on the political ideology of social work for the 21st century.
The new social work radicalism
Authors: Ferguson Iain
Published: August 2017

On a cold January morning in 2017, a group of social workers, service users, claimants, psychologists, counselors and others gathered outside the annual meeting of the British Psychological Society (BPS) taking place that year in Liverpool. Those present represented a wide variety of grassroots organisations including the Social Work Action Network, Psychologists against Austerity and the Mental Health Resistance Network (SWAN). They were there to protest the BPS’s involvement in the UK government’s use of “psycho-compulsion” as a tool for getting people off benefits.
Revitalising radical social work
Authors: Briskman Linda
Published: August 2017

The call to radicalise social work is not new. Some of us are “mature” enough toremember Bailey and Brake’s 1975 treatise on the subject. Radical concepts slip and slide around the social work agenda in a semisustainable way. But its enduring presence is masked by terms that fit less controversially into the conservative world order: critical, structural, and transformative among them.In this comment piece, I argue that we do not need to merely revitalise the radical but to name it, proudly and loudly.
Whole-Genome Sequence of the Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 Insect Cell Line
Authors: Nandakumar Subhiksha , Ma Hailun , Khan Arifa S.
Published: August 2017

The draft whole-genome sequence of the
Spodoptera frugiperda
Sf9 insect cell line was obtained using long-read PacBio sequence technology and Canu assembly. The final assembled genome consisted of 451 Mbp in 4,577 contigs, with 12,716× mean coverage and a G+C content of 36.53%.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Newcastle Disease Genotype XIII Virus Isolated from Indigenous Chickens in Zambia
Authors: Abolnik Celia , Mubamba Chrisborn , Dautu George , Gummow Bruce
Published: August 2017

The first complete genome sequence of an African-origin Newcastle disease virus belonging to genotype XIII is described here. The virulent strain chicken/Zambia/Chiwoko/2015 was isolated from diseased chickens in 2015.
Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli ABWA45, an
rmtB
-Encoding Wastewater Isolate
Authors: Zurfluh Katrin , Stephan Roger , Klumpp Jochen , Nüesch-Inderbinen Magdalena , Hummerjohann Jörg , Bagutti Claudia , Marti Roger
Published: August 2017

We present the complete genome sequence of
Escherichia coli
ABWA45, a 16S rRNA methyltransferase-producing wastewater isolate. Assembly and annotation resulted in a 5,094,639-bp circular chromosome and four closed plasmids of 145,220 bp, 113,793 bp, 57,232 bp, and 47,900 bp in size. Furthermore, a small open plasmid (7,537 bp in size) was assembled.
Complete Genome Sequence of JII-1961, a Bovine Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis
Field Isolate from Germany
Authors: Möbius Petra , Nordsiek Gabriele , Hölzer Martin , Jarek Michael , Marz Manja , Köhler Heike
Published: August 2017

Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
causes Johne’s disease in ruminants and was also detected in nonruminant species, including human beings, and in milk products. We announce here the 4.829-Mb complete genome sequence of the cattle-type strain JII-1961 from Germany, which is very similar to cattle-type strains recovered from different continents.
Implementing the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: lessons from a global collaboration
Authors: Perry WRG , Bagheri Nejad S , Tuomisto K , Kara N , Roos N , Dilip TR , Hirschhorn LR , Larizgoitia I , Semrau K , Mathai M , Dhingra-Kumar N
Published: August 2017

The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was developed to ensure the delivery of essential maternal and perinatal care practices around the time of childbirth. A research collaboration was subsequently established to explore factors that influence use of the Checklist in a range of settings around the world. This analysis article presents an overview of the WHO SCC Collaboration and the lessons garnered from implementing the Checklist across a diverse range of settings. Project leads from each collaboration site were asked to distribute two surveys. The first was given to end users, and the second to implementation teams to describe their respective experiences using the Checklist. A total of 134 end users and 38 implementation teams responded to the surveys, from 19 countries across all levels of income. End users were willing to adopt the SCC and found it easy to use. Training and the provision of supervision while using the Checklist, alongside leadership engagement and local ownership, were important factors which helped facilitate initial implementation and successful uptake of the Checklist. Teams identified several challenges, but more importantly successfully implemented the WHO SCC. A critical step in all settings was the adaptation of the Checklist to reflect local context and national protocols and standards. These findings were invaluable in developing the final version of the WHO SCC and its associated implementation guide. Our experience will provide useful insights for any institution wishing to implement the Checklist.
Maternal and child health services and an integrated, life-cycle approach to the prevention of non-communicable diseases
Authors: Brumana Luisa , Arroyo Alvaro , Schwalbe Nina R , Lehtimaki Susanna , Hipgrave David B
Published: August 2017

Described as the ‘invisible epidemic’, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world’s leading cause of death. Most are caused by preventable factors, including poor diet, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol and physical inactivity. Diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases were responsible for 38 million (68%) of global deaths in 2012. Since 1990, proportionate NCD mortality has increased substantially as populations have aged and communicable diseases decline. The majority of NCD deaths, especially premature NCD deaths (<70 years, 82%), occur in low-income and middle-income countries, and among poor communities within them. Addressing NCDs is recognised as central to the post-2015 agenda; accordingly, NCDs have a specific objective and target in the Sustainable Development Goals. While deaths from NCDs occur mainly in adulthood, many have their origins in early life, including through epigenetic mechanisms operating before conception. Good nutrition before conception and interventions aimed at preventing NCDs during the first 1000 days (from conception to age 2 years), childhood and adolescence may be more cost-effective than managing established NCDs in later life with costly tests and drugs. Following a life-course approach, maternal and child health interventions, before delivery and during childhood and adolescence, can prevent NCDs and should influence global health and socioeconomic development. This paper describes how such an approach may be pursued, including through the engagement of non-health sectors. It also emphasises evaluating and documenting related initiatives to underwrite systematic and evidence-based cross-sectoral engagement on NCD prevention in the future.
Interaction effects among IFN-γ+874, IL-2-330, IL-10-1082, IL-10-592 and IL-4-589 polymorphisms on the clinical progression of subjects infected with hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus: a retrospective nested case–control study
Authors: Gao Qiu-Ju , Xie Jia-Xin , Wang Li-Min , Zhou Qiang , Zhang Shi-Yong
Published: August 2017

Background

The natural outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections vary considerably among individuals The infection may heal naturally, or patients may succumb to chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanism is not fully understood.

Objectives

To evaluate the interaction among four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their influence on different clinical outcomes.

Methods

277 individuals infected with HBV and/or HCV, including 81 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, 122 asymptomatic HBV and/or HCV carriers and 74 controls who cleared HBV and HCV spontaneously, were involved in this study. The SNPs of four genes (rs2069762/−330 G/T of IL-2,rs2430561/+874A>TofIFN-γ, rs1800896/−1082G>A andrs1800872/−592C>A of IL-10andrs2243250/−589C>TofIL-4) were analysed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction or sequence-specific primer PCR. The gene–gene interactions were assessed using the multifactor-dimensionality reduction method.

Results

Interleukin (IL)-10-592 AC and IL-4-589 CC/CT showed a synergistic effect on liver inflammatory injury (p<0.01), whereas interferon (IFN)-γ+874  AA and IL-2-330 TT had a synergistic impact (p<0.05). IFN-γ+874  AA and IL-10-1082 AA had an antagonistic effect (p<0.01) on the clinical progression, including asymptomatic HBV and HCV carriers and chronic hepatitis. IL-2-330 TT and IL-10-1082 AA synergistically influenced the clinical outcome (p<0.05). IFN-γ+874 AA, IL-2-330 TT and IL-10-1082 AA interactively affected the clinical outcome including asymptomatic HBV and HCV carriers and chronic hepatitis (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Interactions among polymorphisms of IFN-γ+874 AA, IL-2-330 TT, IL-10-1082 AA, IL10-−592 AC and IL-4-589 CC/CT significantly influenced the clinical progression of the subjects with HBV and/or HCV infection.
Breast cancer mortality and associated factors in São Paulo State, Brazil: an ecological analysis
Authors: Diniz Carmen Simone Grilo , Pellini Alessandra Cristina Guedes , Ribeiro Adeylson Guimarães , Tedardi Marcello Vannucci , Miranda Marina Jorge de , Touso Michelle Mosna , Baquero Oswaldo Santos , Santos Patrícia Carlos dos , Chiaravalloti-Neto Francisco
Published: August 2017

Objective

Identify the factors associated with the age-standardised breast cancer mortality rate in the municipalities of State of São Paulo (SSP), Brazil, in the period from 2006 to 2012.

Design

Ecological study of the breast cancer mortality rate standardised by age, as the dependent variable, having each of the 645 municipalities in the SSP as the unit of analysis.

Settings

The female resident population aged 15 years or older, by age group and municipality, in 2009 (mid-term), obtained from public dataset (Informatics Department of the Unified Health System).

Participants

Women 15 years or older who died of breast cancer in the SSP were selected for the calculation of the breast cancer mortality rate, according to the municipality and age group, from 2006 to 2012.

Main outcome measures

Mortality rates for each municipality calculated by the direct standardisation method, using the age structure of the population of SSP in 2009 as the standard.

Results

In the final linear regression model, breast cancer mortality, in the municipal level, was directly associated with rates of nulliparity (p<0.0001), mammography (p<0.0001) and private healthcare (p=0.006).

Conclusions

The findings that mammography ratio was associated, in the municipal level, with increased mortality add to the evidence of a probable overestimation of benefits and underestimation of risks associated with this form of screening. The same paradoxical trend of increased mortality with screening was found in recent individual-level studies, indicating the need to expand informed choice for patients, primary prevention actions and individualised screening. Additional studies should be conducted to explore if there is a causality link in this association.
Managing the transition (ManTra): a resource for persons with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and their health professionals: protocol for a mixed-methods study in Italy
Authors: Giovannetti Ambra Mara , Giordano Andrea , Pietrolongo Erika , Confalonieri Paolo , De Luca Giovanna , Tortorella Carla , Trojano Maria , Messmer Uccelli Michele , Torri Clerici Valentina , Gitto Lara , Köpke Sascha , Borreani Claudia , Heesen Christoph , Solari Alessandra
Published: August 2017

Introduction

15 years after clinical onset, about 50% of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis convert to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Notwithstanding the importance of this transition, knowledge of the experiences and needs of patients and carers is fragmentary, and targeted interventions are not available. Managing the Transition to SPMS (ManTra) is a mixed methodology project to develop and test a user-led resource for newly diagnosed patients with SPMS. Here, we describe the developmental phase, consisting of a literature review and a new research study involving key stakeholders, in which we construct the resource.

Methods and analysis

Round 1: The literature review and study will be conducted in parallel. The latter will identify patient needs using a qualitative approach consisting of: personal semistructured interviews with >15 recently diagnosed patients with SPMS; three focus group meetings (one with significant others of patients, one with neurologists and one with other health professionals caring for patients with SPMS). An online survey (>200 recently diagnosed Italian patients with SPMS) will follow to verify needs in a larger independent sample. An expert panel will outline a set of candidate resources/interventions that aim to satisfy the needs thus identified. Round 2: Consensus on the final resource will be obtained in a 1-day meeting of recently diagnosed patients with SPMS, significant others, health professionals and other stakeholders, using the nominal group technique. The expert panel will refine the resource, identify the outcome measures to assess its efficacy and ascertain the most suitable comparator (ManTra Phase 2, not part of this protocol).

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved by the ethics committees of each of the involved centres: Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C Besta, Milan ; G D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara and the Aldo Moro University of Bari. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and a lay summary sent to participants.
Distracting and risky behaviours while cycling: a comparison of group and non-group riders in Western Australia
Authors: Fraser Michelle , Meuleners Lynn B , Chow Kyle , Stevenson Mark R
Published: August 2017

Background

Use of mobile phones and portable audio equipment and alcohol are known to negatively affect cycling ability. Evidence suggests that cyclists may be less likely to engage in these behaviours while riding in a group; however, it is unknown whether group riders are also at reduced risk when participating in non-group riding.

Objective

To examine the association between group riding participation and the use of mobile phones and portable audio equipment and alcohol while non-group riding in Perth, Western Australia.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of an online questionnaire was undertaken. Group and exclusive non-group riders were compared and separate binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between group riding participation and the use of mobile phones and portable audio equipment and alcohol while non-group riding, controlling for gender, age, education and frequency of non-group riding.

Results

Participants included 365 cyclists: 187 exclusive non-group riders (51.2%) and 178 group riders (48.8%). Group riders were less likely to have possibly cycled while over the legal blood alcohol limit in the past 12 months (OR: 0.56, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.92) and were less likely to ever use portable audio equipment (OR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.94) than exclusive non-group riders, while participating in non-group riding. Group riding status was not associated with mobile phone use.

Conclusions

This study provides early evidence that there may be differences between group and non-group riders that impact on their safety behaviours while participating in non-group riding.
Ecological analysis of secular trends in low birth weight births and adult height in Japan
Authors: Morisaki Naho , Urayama Kevin Yuji , Yoshii Keisuke , Subramanian S V , Yokoya Susumu
Published: August 2017

Background

Japan, which currently maintains the highest life expectancy in the world and has experienced an impressive gain in adult height over the past century, has suffered a dramatic twofold increase in low birth weight (LBW) births since the 1970s.

Methods

We observed secular trends in birth characteristics using 64 115 249 live births included the vital statistics (1969–2014), as well as trends in average height among 3 145 521 adults born between 1969 and 1996, included in 79 surveys conducted among a national, subnational or community population in Japan.

Results

LBW rates exhibited a U-shaped pattern showing reductions until 1978–1979 (5.5%), after which it increased. Conversely, average adult height peaked for those born during the same period (men, 171.5 cm; women, 158.5 cm), followed by a reduction over the next 20 years. LBW rate and adult height showed a strong inverse correlation (men, r=−0.98; women, r=−0.88). A prediction model based on birth and economical characteristics estimated the national average of adult height would continue to decline, to 170.0cm (95% CI 169.6 to 170.3) for men and 157.9cm (95% CI 157.5 to 158.3) for women among those born in 2014.

Conclusions

Adult height in Japan has started to decline for those born after 1980, a trend that may be attributed to increases in LBW births over time. Considering the known association between shorter adult height and adverse health outcomes, evidence of population-level decline in adult health due to long-term consequences of increasing LBW births in Japan is anticipated.
Second-hand smoke exposure in homes with children: assessment of airborne nicotine in the living room and children’s bedroom
Authors: Arechavala Teresa , Continente Xavier , Pérez-Ríos Mónica , Schiaffino Anna , Fernandez Esteve , Cortés-Francisco Núria , Centrich Francesc , Muñoz Glòria , López Maria J
Published: August 2017

Background

The introduction of ‘smoke-free laws’ has reduced the population’s exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS), although SHS is still an issue in homes and other public places. Children are vulnerable to its health effects, and their greatest exposure occurs at home.

Objectives

To assess airborne nicotine concentration of the living room and children’s bedroom of homes with children under 13 years of age, and to analyse factors associated with these levels.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Barcelona in 2015–2016, selecting a convenience sample from families with at least one child under 13 years of age. The sample comprised 50 families with smokers and 50 without. We measured airborne nicotine concentrations in the living room and children’s bedroom, and, using a questionnaire administered to the parents, collected information about smoking habits at home.

Results

Homes without smokers showed nicotine concentrations below the limit of detection (<0.02 µg/m3), while those with at least one smoker showed 0.16 µg/m3 in the living room and 0.12 µg/m3 in the bedroom. When smoking was allowed inside home, these values increased to 1.04 and 0.48 µg/m3, respectively. Moreover, nicotine concentrations in both rooms were strongly correlated (r=0.89), and higher nicotine levels were associated with the number of cigarettes smoked in the living room, smoking rules, the number of smokers living at home and tobacco smell.

Conclusions

Homes with smokers present SHS in the living room and in the children’s bedroom. Therefore, programmes focused on reducing children’s SHS exposure are urgently needed.
Sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine infusions randomly receiving, or not, butorphanol in standing horses
Authors: Medeiros Luíza Quintão , Gozalo‐Marcilla Miguel , Taylor Polly M , Campagnol Daniela , de Oliveira Flávia Augusta , Watanabe Marcos Jun , de Araujo Aguiar Antonio José
Published: August 2017

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) alone, or combined with butorphanol (BUT), may be administered by constant rate infusions (CRIs) in standing horses. This blinded, randomised, crossover study in six healthy adult horses aimed to determine the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of DEX (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and DEX/BUT (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+3.5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and butorphanol (20 µg/kg+24 µg/kg/hour CRI)). Head height above ground (HHAG), ataxia, responses to tactile/auditory stimuli and cardiopulmonary variables were recorded before, at 5/15/30/60/90 minutes and after CRIs terminated (15/30/60 minutes). Repeated measures analysis of variance with Tukey‐Kramer test were used for cardiopulmonary values (mean±SD) and HHAG reduction (per cent), and Friedman's and Dunn's for non‐parametric data (P<0.05). Maximum HHAG reductions of 54 per cent (DEX) and 58 per cent (DEX/BUT) occurred at 15 minutes, with ataxia for 15 minutes in both treatments. Responses to stimuli were reduced for 30 minutes in both treatments, and auditory up to 60 minutes in DEX. Cardiopulmonary effects typical of α2‐agonists were observed, with no differences between treatments. At the doses and rates reported here, both regimens provided clinically sufficient sedation for only 30 minutes.
Composite operators in functional renormalization group approach
Authors: Zyryanova Olga V.
Published: August 2017

The gauge dependence problem of the effective action for general gauge theories in the framework of a modified functional renormalization group approach proposed recently is studied. It is shown that the effective action remains gauge-dependent on-shell.
Modified top quark condensation model with the extra heavy fermion, the 125 GeV pseudo-Goldstone boson, and the additional heavy scalar bosons
Authors: Khaidukov Z. V. , Zubkov M. A.
Published: August 2017

We discuss the modified top quark condensation model proposed in Ref. 54. This construction was inspired by the top-seesaw scenario, in which the extra heavy fermion [Formula: see text] that may be paired with the top quark is added. Besides, this model incorporates the ideas of the little Higgs scenario, in which the 125 GeV scalar particle appears as a pseudo-Goldstone boson. This model admits (in addition to the 125 GeV scalar boson [Formula: see text]) the heavier scalar excitation [Formula: see text]. We consider the region of parameters, where its mass is [Formula: see text], the width of [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text], while the mass of the heavy fermion is [Formula: see text]. We find that in this model the value of the cross-section [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] is essentially smaller than the present experimental upper bound. Besides, we find that for the chosen values of parameters there should exist the CP-even scalar boson with mass [Formula: see text] and very small width. In addition, the model predicts the existence of the extra neutral CP-even scalar boson and the charged scalar boson with masses of the order of 1 TeV.
Quantum speed limit for a relativistic electron in the noncommutative phase space
Authors: Wang Kang , Zhang Yu-Fei , Wang Qing , Long Zheng-Wen , Jing Jian
Published: August 2017

The influence of the noncommutativity on the average speed of a relativistic electron interacting with a uniform magnetic field within the minimum evolution time is investigated. We find that it is possible for the wave packet of the electron to travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum because of the noncommutativity. It is a clear signature of violating Lorentz invariance in the noncommutative relativistic quantum mechanical region.
Variable speed limit strategies’ analysis with cell transmission model on freeway
Authors: Li Shubin , Cao Danni
Published: August 2017

Mainline freeway traffic flow control is one of the primary methods of traffic management, which can present the best network situation. In this paper, we integrate variable speed limit (VSL) strategy into the cell transmission model (CTM). Then the implementation of the integrated model on freeway traffic network is discussed. A novel optimal model of controlling freeway traffic flow is proposed for minimizing the total travelling time in the network. A solution algorithm is designed by using a simulation method. Considering the main purpose of the speed limit strategy is to control the mainstream flow, we compare the case where the VSL is used with the one without VSL. A simulation is implemented to show that the control strategy is efficient in describing system’s dynamic performance and the dynamic speed limit strategy significantly alleviates congestion.
Stability analysis for the virtual element method
Authors: Beirão da Veiga Lourenço , Lovadina Carlo , Russo Alessandro
Published: August 2017

We analyze the virtual element methods (VEM) on a simple elliptic model problem, allowing for more general meshes than the one typically considered in the VEM literature. For instance, meshes with arbitrarily small edges (with respect to the parent element diameter) can be dealt with. Our general approach applies to different choices of the stability form, including, for example, the “classical” one introduced in Ref. 4, and a recent one presented in Ref. 34. Finally, we show that the stabilization term can be simplified by dropping the contribution of the internal-to-the-element degrees of freedom. The resulting stabilization form, involving only the boundary degrees of freedom, can be used in the VEM scheme without affecting the stability and convergence properties. The numerical tests are in accordance with the theoretical predictions.
Reidemeister transformations of the potential function and the solution
Authors: Cho Jinseok , Murakami Jun
Published: August 2017

The potential function of the optimistic limit of the colored Jones polynomial and the construction of the solution of the hyperbolicity equations were defined in the authors’ previous papers. In this paper, we define the Reidemeister transformations of the potential function and the solution by the changes of them under the Reidemeister moves of the link diagram and show the explicit formulas. These two formulas enable us to see the changes of the complex volume formula under the Reidemeister moves. As an application, we can simply specify the discrete faithful representation of the link group by showing a link diagram and one geometric solution.
Torsion in Bianchi IX cosmology
Authors: Capozziello Salvatore , De Falco Vittorio , Pincak Richard
Published: August 2017

The emergence of early cosmological anisotropies and late accelerated expansion can be achieved considering Bianchi cosmological models equipped with torsion. In this paper, we present a Bianchi IX cosmology with torsion where both the previous issues are addressed by the exact solutions derived from the model. The standard Friedman–Robertson–Walker universe is recovered as soon as torsion is switched off and metric becomes isotropic.
Personalized Microtopic Recommendation on Microblogs
Authors: Li Yang , Jiang Jing , Liu Ting , Qiu Minghui , Sun Xiaofei
Published: August 2017

Microblogging services such as Sina Weibo and Twitter allow users to create tags explicitly indicated by the # symbol. In Sina Weibo, these tags are called
microtopics
, and in Twitter, they are called
hashtags
. In Sina Weibo, each microtopic has a designate page and can be directly visited or commented on. Recommending these microtopics to users based on their interests can help users efficiently acquire information. However, it is non-trivial to recommend microtopics to users to satisfy their information needs. In this article, we investigate the task of personalized microtopic recommendation, which exhibits two challenges. First, users usually do not give explicit ratings to microtopics. Second, there exists rich information about users and microtopics, for example, users' published content and biographical information, but it is not clear how to best utilize such information. To address the above two challenges, we propose a joint probabilistic latent factor model to integrate rich information into a matrix factorization-based solution to microtopic recommendation. Our model builds on top of collaborative filtering, content analysis, and feature regression. Using two real-world datasets, we evaluate our model with different kinds of content and contextual information. Experimental results show that our model significantly outperforms a few competitive baseline methods, especially in the circumstance where users have few adoption behaviors.
An Unsupervised Approach to Inferring the Localness of People Using Incomplete Geotemporal Online Check-In Data
Authors: Huang Chao , Wang Dong , Tao Jun
Published: August 2017

Inferring the localness of people is to classify people who are local residents in a city from people who visit the city by analyzing online check-in points that are contributed by online users. This information is critical for the urban planning, user profiling, and localized recommendation systems. Supervised learning approaches have been developed to infer the location of people in a city by assuming the availability of high-quality training datasets with complete geotemporal information. In this article, we develop an unsupervised model to accurately identify local people in a city by using the incomplete online check-in data that are publicly available. In particular, we develop an incomplete geotemporal expectation maximization (IGT-EM) scheme, which incorporates a set of hidden variables to represent the localness of people and a set of estimation parameters to represent the likelihood of venues to attract local and nonlocal people, respectively. Our solution can accurately classify local people from nonlocal nones without requiring any training data. We also implement a parallel IGT-EM algorithm by leveraging the computing power of a graphic processing unit (GPU) that consists of 2,496 cores. In the evaluation, we compare our new approach with the existing solutions through four real-world case studies using data from the New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC. The results show that our approach can identify the local people and significantly outperform the compared baselines in estimation accuracy and execution time.
Bridging the Chasm
Authors: Storer Tim
Published: August 2017

The use of software is pervasive in all fields of science. Associated software development efforts may be very large, long lived, and complex, requiring the commitment of significant resources. However, several authors have argued that the “gap” or “chasm” between software engineering and scientific programming is a serious risk to the production of reliable scientific results, as demonstrated in a number of case studies. This article reviews the research that addresses the gap, exploring how both software engineering and research practice may need to evolve to accommodate the use of software in science.
On the Collaboration Support in Information Retrieval
Authors: Soulier Laure , Tamine Lynda
Published: August 2017

Collaborative Information Retrieval (CIR) is a well-known setting in which explicit collaboration occurs among a group of users working together to solve a shared information need. This type of collaboration has been deemed as beneficial for complex or exploratory search tasks. With the multiplicity of factors impacting on the search effectiveness (e.g., collaborators’ interactions or the individual perception of the shared information need), CIR gives rise to several challenges in terms of collaboration support through algorithmic approaches. More particularly, CIR should allow us to satisfy the shared information need by optimizing the collaboration within the search session over all collaborators, while ensuring that both mutually beneficial goals are reached and that the cognitive cost of the collaboration does not impact the search effectiveness. In this survey, we propose an overview of CIR with a particular focus on the collaboration support through algorithmic approaches. The objective of this article is (a) to organize previous empirical studies analyzing collaborative search with the goal to provide useful design implications for CIR models, (b) to give a picture of the CIR area by distinguishing two main categories of models using the collaboration mediation axis, and (c) to point out potential perspectives in the domain.
A Survey on Post-Silicon Functional Validation for Multicore Architectures
Authors: Jayaraman Padma , Parthasarathi Ranjani
Published: August 2017

During a processor development cycle, post-silicon validation is performed on the first fabricated chip to detect and fix design errors. Design errors occur due to functional issues when a unit in a design does not meet its specification. The chances of occurrence of such errors are high when new features are added in a processor. Thus, in multicore architectures, with new features being added in core and uncore components, the task of verifying the functionality independently and in coordination with other units gains significance. Several new techniques are being proposed in the field of functional validation. In this article, we undertake a survey of these techniques to identify areas that need to be addressed for multicore designs. We start with an analysis of design errors in multicore architectures. We then survey different functional validation techniques based on hardware, software, and formal methods and propose a comprehensive taxonomy for each of these approaches. We also perform a critical analysis to identify gaps in existing research and propose new research directions for validation of multicore architectures.