bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphine Use in Renal Failure: A Case Report of Single-Dose Morphine Toxicity in a Patient Requiring Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Slater Nicole A. , Todd Anthony M. , Trimmier Marirose C. , Campbell Kristina C.
Published: June 2019

Objective:

We describe a case of morphine toxicity presumably caused by accumulation of its active metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) secondary to reduced clearance by peritoneal dialysis.

Methods:

We present the relevant history and laboratory data and review pertinent literature regarding the use of opioids in renal failure.

Results:

A 76-year-old African-American female received one dose of morphine sulfate and developed signs and symptoms of morphine toxicity for 2 days, even after multiple peritoneal dialysis sessions.

Conclusion:

Because of reduced renal clearance of morphine and its metabolites in patients requiring peritoneal dialysis, morphine should be avoided as an analgesic option in this population due to increased risk of morphine toxicity.
Combined stiffness characteristic of metal rubber material under vibration loads
Authors: Fu Hailong , Hua Zhengli , Zou Longqing , Wang Yue , Ye Jianbin
Published: June 2019

Metal rubber is one kind of elastic cellular metal material, which is widely used in vibration isolation environment for its excellent properties of elasticity, energy dissipation, and environmental adaptability. However, the stiffness range of one single metal rubber is restricted, which limits its ability of vibration isolation, especially under the complex vibration loads. In this paper, a method of spatial overlay combination is presented to widen the range of the stiffness of metal rubber material. The contact behavior of the metal spiral rolls and the influence factors of manufacture to the stiffness are investigated according to the micro-spring theory and the energy dissipation theory. The static tests under cycling loading are conducted to obtain the average stiffness and the equivalent stiffness of the combined metal rubber. After the comparisons, the combined metal rubber has a better stiffness range than the individual element. The diameter of metal wire and the relative density of metal rubber are two important influence factors to the combined stiffness, which are verified by the experimental tests and finite element simulation.
Mechanical and morphological investigations of 3D printed recycled ABS reinforced with bakelite–SiC–Al2O3
Authors: Singh Rupinder , Singh Inderpreet , Kumar Ranvijay
Published: June 2019

The utilization of thermosetting waste is a serious issue as it is not recycled commercially due to inherent molecular properties and high technology cost. This research details the study of the mechanical behavior and surface analysis with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope of three-dimensional printed parts of the waste thermosetting polymer, bakelite (BAK) as the reinforcement along with ceramic particles (SiC and Al2O3) in recycled thermoplastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene matrix for sustainability. The process involves twin-screw extrusion for the preparation of filament, followed by 3D printing of functional prototypes on fused deposition modeling setup. The 3D printed parts prepared with fused deposition modeling were used for the testing of mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. The results of the present study suggests that for commercial applications recycling of thermoplastic up to 10 wt% can be easily performed without a change in any hardware/ software configuration of the fused deposition modeling setup and the ceramic concentration in thermoplastic-thermosetting blends further led to better mechanical and surface properties.
Pressure control of electro-hydraulic servo loading system in heavy vehicle steering testboard based on integral sliding mode control
Authors: Du Heng , Cheng Youhui , Huang Shuwei , Wu Minghui , Huang Hui , Li Yuzheng
Published: June 2019

Heavy vehicle steering testboard has a key role to play in the fundamental research of heavy vehicle steering performance, and pressure control of electro-hydraulic servo loading system is the precondition and foundation for achieving accurate dynamic loading of heavy vehicle steering testboard. Commonly used proportional–integral–differential control easily fails to track target pressure signal with high amplitude and frequency, while integral sliding mode control is capable of realizing pressure tracking with high accuracy in engineering for its strong robustness and simplicity. A nonlinear mathematical model of electro-hydraulic servo loading system is established, including the nonlinear characteristics of valve-controlled cylinder system and tire elastic force, and an integral sliding mode controller is also designed in this paper. For further comparison and analyses, based on particle swarm optimization and integral of the time absolute error criterion, a proportional–integral–differential self-tuning controller of electro-hydraulic servo loading system is proposed as well, and the corresponding optimal proportional–integral–differential control gains are obtained. Both numerical simulation and experiment results confirm that, compared with proportional–integral–differential self-tuning control, integral sliding mode control can effectively suppress the disturbance of external loads and reach a better pressure tracking performance.
High Endogenous Testosterone Levels Are Associated With Diminished Neural Emotional Control in Aggressive Police Recruits
Authors: Kaldewaij Reinoud , Koch Saskia B. J. , Zhang Wei , Hashemi Mahur M. , Klumpers Floris , Roelofs Karin
Published: June 2019

Although police officers are carefully selected for their high emotion-regulation abilities, excessive aggression in police officers has been reported, particularly in socially challenging situations known to elicit high state testosterone levels. Adequate regulation of emotional actions depends on the prefrontal cortex’s control over the amygdala. We investigated the effects of trait aggression and endogenous testosterone on this emotional-control neurocircuitry in 275 healthy, high-functioning police recruits using a functional MRI social-emotional task eliciting impulsive and controlled approach-and-avoidance actions. Higher levels of aggression were counteracted by increased anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) control over the amygdala when control over automatic emotional actions was required. Crucially, testosterone had a detrimental effect on this aggression-dependent aPFC recruitment: Police recruits with relatively high trait aggression and high state testosterone showed reduced aPFC control over the amygdala during emotion regulation. This provides a mechanistic explanation for inadequate behavioral control during socially challenging situations in otherwise well-functioning individuals.
Temporal dynamics of Linearbandkeramik houses and settlements, and their implications for detecting the environmental impact of early farming
Authors: Meadows John , Müller-Scheeßel Nils , Cheben Ivan , Agerskov Rose Helene , Furholt Martin
Published: June 2019

Long-held ideas concerning early Neolithic Linearbandkeramik (LBK) settlements in central Europe have been thoroughly challenged in recent years, for example, regarding their internal organisation or the use-life of individual houses. These topics have now also been addressed with the help of large radiocarbon (14C) datasets. In the light of this discussion, we present findings of our ongoing research at Vráble in south-western Slovakia. Intensive prospection by fieldwalking, geophysics and sedimentology, complemented by targeted excavations and archaeobotanical investigations, aims to unravel social and temporal relationships between three adjacent LBK settlements. A total of 23 of the c.300 houses revealed by geophysical prospection have been dated. Bayesian chronological modelling of this dataset, comprising 109 14C ages from 104 samples, indicates that the three LBK settlements at Vráble coexisted, and that overall the LBK settlement lasted for c. 200–300 years. Our results imply a ‘short’ use-life for individual houses (median c.20–30 y), suggesting that relatively few houses were inhabited simultaneously. Our data suggest that the overall LBK population at Vráble might have increased over the course of occupation, but probably never exceeded 200–300 individuals, based on the number of houses that could have been occupied contemporaneously. We compare the Vráble evidence with Bayesian chronologies for other LBK sites, and discuss the implications of these findings for models of population agglomeration and recognising the environmental impact of early farming communities.
Regional Disparities, Growth and Divergence in Income in Karnataka
Authors: Dadibhavi R. V.
Published: June 2019

This article not only analyses regional disparities of income but also growth experiences of different districts in Karnataka in the early period of this century. The study reveals that regional disparities in per capita district income in Karnataka have diverged between 1999–2000 and 2012–2013. However, our findings also show that there is conditional convergence of per capita district income in the state. Our district level results indicate that expansion of physical infrastructure, urban agglomeration and improvement of human and financial capital can be important factors in accelerating economic growth in the slow growing regions. The study also points to the conclusion that dependency on agriculture does not ensure regional convergence in the state under the present situation.
Zero Waste Circular Model of MSWM: A Success in Ward 40, Pune, India
Authors: Mastakar Priti , Mastakar Vijay , Mukhopadhyay Kakali , Jaju Surabhi
Published: June 2019

The concept of “zero waste” is a dream that has been actualized in only a couple of pockets of the world, mostly developed ones where there is no paucity of funds. It is in the developing nations that innovations have been made towards sustainability due to the non-availability of funds. “Zero waste,” where the entire municipal solid waste is processed with organic processes, is a perfectly sustainable solution to the exponentially rising environmental and civic problem facing today’s society. “Zero landfills” is another feature of zero waste. Landfills too involve high costs both private and external costs that get hidden in taxes on already tax-burdened citizens. It then becomes very pertinent to work out sustainable solutions to municipal solid waste management (MSWM). Zero waste with “zero” or minimal waste to landfills creates a sustainable solution to MSWM. We neither keep waste for future generations nor do we incur unnecessary costs of maintaining unsustainable processes. Ward 40 (a ward is an administrative division), Katraj of Pune city from the developing world—the subject of the present research—has established and is running the zero waste model successfully since 2012. Through the present research study, Ward 40 was subject to stringent financial, economic, social and environmental analysis, and it was established that it was indeed a zero waste project.
Does Sustainability Reporting Enhance Firms Profitability? A Study on Select Companies from India and South Korea
Authors: Laskar Najul
Published: June 2019

This paper examines the relationship between corporate sustainability reporting and firms profitability of Indian and South Korean companies. For calculating the disclosure score of sustainability performance, content analysis technique is employed based on the reporting format of Global Reporting Initiatives. The study sample consists of 28 listed non-financial firms from India and 26 listed non-financial firms from South Korea over a period of 6 years (2010–2015). Using the disclosure scores, regression analysis is used to examine the association between sustainability reporting/performance and firm performance. The regression results indicate that, for South Korean firms, the association is positive and significant. However, in Indian context, the impact of sustainability performance is negative. Further, the relative impact of sustainability reporting is found to be significantly more in South Korea as compared with India.
Corporate Governance Practices in Listed State-owned Enterprises in India: An Empirical Research
Authors: Kiranmai J. , Mishra R. K.
Published: June 2019

Corporate Governance (CG) refers to a system in which corporations are directed and controlled. The governance structure specifies the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different participants in the corporation and specifies the rules and procedures for making decisions in corporates. Governance provides the structure through which corporations set and pursue their objectives, while reflecting the context of the social, regulatory and market environment. Governance is a mechanism for monitoring the actions, policies and decisions of corporations. Governance involves the alignment of interests among the stakeholders. CG is an umbrella term. In its narrower sense, it describes the formal system of accountability of corporate directors to the owners of companies. In its broader sense, the concept includes the entire network of formal and informal relationships involving the corporate sector and the consequences of these relationships on society in general. The center objective of the paper is to create linkages between firm performance and governance practice in the listed SOEs in India. The present paper makes an attempt to compare the various CG variables of the listed SOEs for a period of five years ie 2012-13 to 2016-17. A detailed analysis of the 42 listed State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in terms of board size, board meetings, board committees, board composition, independent directors, firm age, gender diversity has been compared. Finally conclusions are drawn from empirical analysis.
China’s India Policy: The Importance of Bilateralism— An Appraisal
Authors: Surie Nalin
Published: June 2019

Given the essential positive history of China’s relations with India, China’s world view and the fact of geographical contiguity, the essential approach that China follows vis-à-vis India post 1949 is based on bilateralism. The bilateral approach has defined China’s negotiations over the border as well as economic relations between the two. In the past bilateralism has allowed China to consolidate its control over Tibet and follow a mercantilist economic policy vis- a- vis India. But the change in the geopolitical status of both nations indicates that bilateral relations, after Wuhan, have been reset to represent those between two ‘major powers’ who have broader regional and global interests as well. Although bilateralism will continue to underline their policies towards each other in matters of common development, regional development or the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, China will need to redefine its approach to bilateralism by broadening and deepening it to create a truly mutual relationship.
India–China Relations: Putting the Record Straight
Authors: Bhattacharya Abanti
Published: June 2019

Tansen Sen, India, China, and the World: A Connected History (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018). Pp. 541, ₹770 (Paperback), ISBN 0-19-948554-2.

Berenice Guyot-Rechard, Shadow States: India, China and the Himalayas, 1910–1962 (Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2017). Pp. 321, ₹550 (Paperback), ISBN 978-1-108-40131-9.

Bertil Lintner, China’s India War: Collision Course on the Roof of the World (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018). Pp. 320, ₹675 (Hardcover), ISBN 0-19-947555-5.
A Prospective Approach to Learning- and Innovation-based Development
Authors: Arocena Rodrigo
Published: June 2019

Development policies need to be based on an integrated interpretation of values, facts and trends. With such an aim, the notion of Sustainable Human Development is described as the normative starting point. It can be fruitfully combined with the Innovation Systems’ conceptualization of some main empirical issues that shape development possibilities; a factual approach is sketched where particular attention is given to issues of power. Such a combination of a normative approach with a factual approach needs to be complemented by a prospective approach. Here, some possible and interrelated outcomes of trends concerning knowledge, production, the environment and inequality are discussed. Probable scenarios, main risks and better alternatives are considered; the last include special combinations of ideas, agency and technology. Inclusive and frugal innovation emerges as a fundamental challenge. The success of related policies appears to be highly dependent on solving the difficult political problem of connecting advanced knowledge and not privileged sectors.
Role of red blood cell distribution width in predicting the prognosis of patients with sepsis
Authors: Zhang Jian , He Xin‐hua , Yang Jun , Guo Shu‐bin
Published: June 2019

Background:

Sepsis is a dangerous disease with rapid development and high mortality rate, which is an important cause of death for critically ill patients. Therefore, timely and accurate assessment of patients’ condition is beneficial to improve prognosis and reduce mortality.

Objective:

This study was designed to investigate the potential correlation between red blood cell distribution width and 28‐day prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Methods:

A prospective observational study enrolling 236 patients with sepsis or septic shock was performed at our hospital. All cases were divided into survival versus non‐survival group on 28th day after diagnosis. The two groups were compared for general condition, underlying diseases, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, C‐reactive protein, procalcitonin, and red blood cell distribution width at admission.

Results:

The red blood cell distribution width level in non‐survivors was higher than that in survivors (16.3 ± 2.8 vs 15.2 ± 1.7, p = 0.013). Cox regression analysis indicated that red blood cell distribution width was an independent predictor for 28‐day mortality (hazard ratio: 1.311, 95% confidence interval: 1.119–3.011, p = 0.018). The red blood cell distribution width cutoff value of red blood cell distribution width for 28‐day mortality was 16.1%, while patients with lower red blood cell distribution width levels had a better prognosis as demonstrated by Kaplan–Meier survival curves (log‐rank = 7.398, p = 0.007). Unlike the septic shock group, in the sepsis group, the red blood cell distribution width level was higher in the non‐survival group compared to the survival group (15.82% ± 0.93% vs 15.01% ± 0.89%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Increased red blood cell distribution width may be an important predictor of disease progression and prognosis in patients with sepsis and septic shock. In the sepsis group, higher red blood cell distribution width levels predict poor prognosis.
Case Report of Floating-Harbor Syndrome With Bilateral Cleft Lip
Authors: Ko Jaemin , Pomerantz Jason H. , Perry Hazel , Shieh Joseph T. , Slavotinek Anne M. , Oberoi Snehlata , Klein Ophir D.
Published: June 2019

Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in the Snf2-related CREBBP activator protein ( SRCAP) gene. The syndrome is characterized by proportional short stature, delayed bone maturation, delayed speech development, and facial dysmorphism. Submucous cleft palate and cleft lip have been reported in FHS, but to our knowledge orofacial clefting in this condition has not been assessed in detail. Here, we report on a case of bilateral cleft lip in a patient with FHS confirmed by exome sequencing.
Closer to the Truth on National Fistula Prevalence After Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate Repair? The Cleft Care UK Study
Authors: Yang Arthur S. , Richard Bruce M. , Wills Andrew K. , Mahmoud Osama , Sandy Jonathan R. , Ness Andy R.
Published: June 2019

Objectives:

To (1) determine the prevalence of nonperialveolar palatal fistula up to age 5 following repair of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) in the United Kingdom, (2) examine the association of palatoplasty techniques with fistula occurrence, and (3) describe the frequency of fistula repairs and their success.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

All 11 centralized regional cleft centers in the United Kingdom.

Participants:

Two hundred sixty-eight children born between 2005 and 2007 recruited by Cleft Care UK, a nationwide cross-sectional study of all 5-year-old children born with nonsyndromic UCLP.

Main Outcome Measure:

Nonperialveolar palatal fistula prevalence up to age 5.

Results:

Fistulas were found in 72 children (31.3%, 95% confidence interval: 25.4%-37.7%) and had no significant association with palate repair sequences. Twenty-four fistulas were repaired by age 5, 12 of which had data showing 10 (83.3%) successful repairs.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of nonperialveolar fistulas following primary palatoplasty of UCLP in the United Kingdom was higher than previously reported. This information should be part of the preoperative discussion with families. Prospective collection of the presence of fistulas will be necessary before we can associate the occurrence of fistulas with a surgeon, institution, surgical technique, or protocol of care.
Effect of random structural damage on vehicle–track–bridge coupled response
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Yan Yu , Hu Zhijian
Published: June 2019

With the rapid development of high-speed railway construction around the world, the structural damage problem of tracks and bridges has attracted more and more attention. In this paper, considering the random structural damages of tracks and bridges, an efficient computational procedure is developed based on the probability density evolution method to systematically investigate the random characteristics of the dynamic responses varying with the damages in vehicle–track–bridge time-dependent systems. Firstly, a vehicle–track–bridge dynamic model with random structural damage parameters is established, and the random motion equations are derived based on the generalized energy principle. Then, the probability density evolution equation for each random response is established and the random feature is investigated by the proposed computational procedure. Finally, the representative numerical examples are applied and some conclusions for the effects of the random structural damages on the dynamic responses of the vehicle–track–bridge systems are presented.
Problematic Risk Adjustment in National Healthcare Safety Network Measures
Authors: Fuller Richard L. , Hughes John S. , Atkinson Graham , Aubry Barbara S.
Published: June 2019

This article reviews the risk-adjustment models underpinning the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) standardized infection ratios. After first describing the models, the authors focus on hospital intensive care unit (ICU) designation as a variable employed across the various risk models. The risk-adjusted frequency with which ICU services are reported in Medicare fee-for-service claims data was compared as a proxy for determining whether reporting of ICU days is similar across hospitals. Extreme variation was found in the reporting of ICU utilization among admissions for congestive heart failure, ranging from 25% in the lowest admission hospital quartile to 95% in the highest. The across-hospital variation in reported ICU utilization was found to be unrelated to patient severity. Given that such extreme variation appears in a designation of ICU versus non-ICU utilization, the NHSN risk-adjustment models’ dependence on nursing unit designation should be a cause for concern.
Design of a human-like biped locomotion system based on a novel mechatronic methodology
Authors: Vazquez-Santacruz JA , Torres-Figueroa J , Portillo-Velez R de J
Published: June 2019

In this article, a formal mechatronic design of a biped robot is addressed. It is considered a model-based system engineering methodology since the continuous updating of information, from analysis and evolution of conceptual designs, demands a large volume of data. The definition of a biped robot comes from the need of a system to perform human-like walking as the problem to be solved. A specific robot configuration results from the analysis of conceptual solutions throughout SysML as the language for modeling the synergistic and automatic integration among engineering disciplines. The general design process is developed according to the well-known V-model for mechatronic systems design; however, a three-dimensional focus is proposed in order to address a variety of domains and their interaction along the design process. The detailed study of the solution is evaluated in order to optimize the joint torques and limbs shape from an anthropometric robot to achieve effective human-like motion. Although the mechatronic design is done for the overall biped robot system, this work is particularly focused on mechanical features as the most representative subsystem that incorporates genetic algorithm optimization based on a numerical Newton–Euler model merged with topology optimization tools to define final geometry of limbs with stiffness maximization.
Differential Vascularity in Genetic and Nonhereditary Heterotopic Ossification
Authors: Ware Alisha D. , Brewer Niambi , Meyers Carolyn , Morris Carol , McCarthy Edward , Shore Eileen M. , James Aaron W.
Published: June 2019

Introduction. Nonhereditary heterotopic ossification (NHO) is a common complication of trauma. Progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) are rare genetic causes of heterotopic bone. In this article, we detail the vascular patterning associated with genetic versus NHO. Methods. Vascular histomorphometric analysis was performed on patient samples from POH, FOP, and NHO. Endpoints for analysis included blood vessel (BV) number, area, density, size, and wall thickness. Results. Results demonstrated conserved temporal dynamic changes in vascularity across all heterotopic ossification lesions. Immature areas had the highest BV number, while the more mature foci had the highest BV area. Most vascular parameters were significantly increased in genetic as compared with NHO. Discussion. In sum, both genetic and NHO show temporospatial variation in vascularity. These findings suggest that angiogenic pathways are potential therapeutic targets in both genetic and nonhereditary forms of heterotopic ossification.
Clinical reasoning in feline spinal disease: which combination of clinical information is useful?
Authors: Mella Stephanie L , Cardy Thomas JA , Volk Holger A , De Decker Steven
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate if a combination of discrete clinical characteristics can be used to identify the most likely differential diagnoses in cats with spinal disease.

Methods

Two hundred and twenty-one cats referred for further evaluation of spinal disease were included and categorised as follows: non-lymphoid neoplasia (n = 44); intervertebral disc disease (n = 42); fracture/luxation (n = 34); ischaemic myelopathy (n = 22); feline infectious peritonitis virus myelitis (n = 18); lymphoma (n = 16); thoracic vertebral canal stenosis (n = 11); acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (n = 11); traumatic spinal cord contusion (n = 8); spinal arachnoid diverticula (n = 7); lumbosacral stenosis (n = 5); and spinal empyema (n = 3). Information retrieved from the medical records included signalment, clinical history and clinical presentation. Univariate analyses of variables (clinical history, breed, age, sex, general physical examination findings, onset, progression, spinal hyperaesthesia, asymmetry, ambulatory status and neuroanatomical location) were performed, and variables were retained in a multivariate logistic regression model if P <0.05.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression revealed that intervertebral disc disease most often occurred in middle-aged, purebred cats with a normal general physical examination and an acute onset of painful and progressive clinical signs. Ischaemic myelopathy occurred most often in older cats with a stable or improving, non-painful, lateralising, C6–T2 myelopathy. Spinal fracture/luxation occurred most often in younger cats and resulted most often in a peracute onset, painful, non-ambulatory neurological status. Concurrent systemic abnormalities or abnormal findings detected on general physical examination were significantly associated with feline infectious peritonitis virus myelitis, spinal lymphoma or spinal empyema.

Conclusions and relevance

This study suggests that using easily identifiable characteristics from the history and clinical examination can assist in obtaining a preliminary differential diagnosis when evaluating cats with spinal disease. This information could aid veterinary practitioners in clinical decision-making.
How patrons value casino promotional offers: A conjoint study
Authors: Legg Mark , Hancer Murat
Published: June 2019

Casinos rely extensively on free slot play (FSP) offers for incentivizing patron visitation. However, there has been a lack of understanding its influence on driving patron visitation and patrons’ valuation of FSP compared to other casino promotional offers. This study conducted a conjoint analysis on patrons’ valuations of FSP compared to other promotional offerings at a casino resort. Moreover, this study investigated the roles inter-casino competition and visitation frequency have on patrons’ perceived valuation of FSP through a hierarchical Bayes model. The results show that competition plays a significant negative role on patrons’ valuation of FSP, while competition held insignificant influence on patrons’ valuation of food and beverage (F&B) comp offers. Additionally, patrons who visited the casino more frequently valued FSP greater, while less active patrons valued F&B comp offers more. Using the study’s results, casinos can increase their margins through increased efficiencies with their promotional offering mix.
Experimental and analytical investigation on the nonlinear behaviors of glulam moment-resisting joints composed of inclined self-tapping screws with steel side plates
Authors: Komatsu Kohei , Teng Qicheng , Li Zherui , Zhang Xiaolan , Que Zeli
Published: June 2019

Glulam moment-resisting joint composed of inclined self-tapping screws with steel side plates were designed and its nonlinear moment-rotational skeleton curve was predicted by taking nonlinear load ( P)–deformation ( u) relationships of all moment-resisting components into considerations within step-wise linear calculation process. P-u relationships of all moment-resisting components were estimated by the fundamental shear joint tests or appropriate empirical relationships, and they were approximated by the tetra polygonal line curves or bi-linear curves. The extended Normalized Characteristic Loop model, which was originally developed for reinforced concrete construction, was applied to describe the hysteresis loops. For predicting failure load, the design equations for a mechanical joint loaded with inclination to the grain direction were applied. Three replications of T-shaped beam-column joint specimens were fabricated using Canadian spruce glulam beam and column. Connections of steel plates to glulam members were all composed of full-threaded inclined self-tapping screws. Static push-pull cyclic loading tests were conducted and observed behaviors were compared with step-wise linear analytical results. Agreements between predicted nonlinear behaviors and observed ones were good on the whole.
Simulations of engine knock flow field and wave-induced fatigue of a downsized gasoline engine
Authors: Wang Wenrui , Lu Yu , Li Zhiyong , Li Hanlin
Published: June 2019

A mathematical correlation is developed, based on the thermodynamic model of a downsized gasoline engine, to establish the numerical relationship among the thermodynamic parameters of the combustion chamber. In the developed numerical model, the in-cylinder pressure curves of various operation conditions are simulated by varying the air–fuel ratio in the cylinder, and the associated knock characteristics are recorded. The accuracy of the numerical simulation results is verified against the knock excitation experiment. Then, based on the Rover K16 gasoline engine, a simulation model is developed to simulate the engine knock in the combustion chamber and observe the force acting on the top surface of the piston. The results show that the forces, which act on the piston top surface, are varying at various locations at the same time, and the largest forces occur at the edge of the piston and followed by the piston centre. Then, by comparing the thermo-mechanical coupling strength of the piston under different operating conditions, the results show that the occurrence of the knocking does not exceed the piston’s strength limit. However, the stress and deformation value of the piston is increased significantly, and the failure point of the piston position is changed. Finally, based on the calibrated strength results, the piston durability is predicted for various engine knock conditions. The results show that there is an initial damage of piston in the process of detonation at the surface of the piston pin hole and the joint of the piston cavity. The gasoline engine finally has a predicted mileage of 2,53,440 km continuously, which meet the prescribed mileage of 2,20,000 km.
Stimulating consumer community creation through a co-design approach
Authors: Storvang Pia , Haug Anders , Nguyen Bang
Published: June 2019

Increased competition requires retail stores to increasingly focus on improving their customers’ experiences. Along this line, this article explores how a co-design approach can help retail stores of outdoor products develop consumer communities as a part of their store concept. Such stores may be particularly interesting in relation to consumer communities, because of the consumers’ often passionate relationship to activities related to the products in focus. Two longitudinal case studies of outdoor product stores in Denmark are investigated. The two cases are investigated through interviews, store observations, network meetings, and co-design workshops. Several important findings are discovered: first, in relation to community forms, the article defined three archetypes: business–consumer (BC), consumer–consumer (CC), and a combination of the two (BCCC). Second, in relation to the premises for the creation of communities, the article defined three types: consumer motivation, consumer availability, and consumer homogeneity. Third, in relation to consumer community activities, the article argued that these could be understood as being defined by three elements: the business, the consumers, and the products. Finally, the article defined four overall types of community-initiated activities by distinguishing if they are consumer-initiated or business-initiated and if they have a recreational or goal-oriented purpose.
Disabilities within Sweden’s Art and Music Schools: Discourses of inclusion, policy and practice
Authors: Tillborg Adriana Di Lorenzo
Published: June 2019

The aim of this paper is to investigate the discourses that emerge when Sweden’s Art and Music School leaders talk about the inclusion of pupils with disabilities in relation to policy. A starting point is that both earlier studies and policy documents have revealed inclusion problems within Art and Music Schools. The research question is: how are Art and Music School practice, policy and inclusion of pupils with disabilities connected within and through leaders’ discursive practices? The data are based on three focus group conversations with a total of 16 Art and Music School leaders from northern, central and southern Sweden. Discourse analysis as a social constructionist approach is applied since it provides a means to investigate the connection between social change and discourse. Concepts from both discursive psychology and Foucauldian-inspired discourse analysis are applied in order to investigate connections between rhetorical strategies on a micro level and discourses on an institutional level. The concept of multicentric inclusion is introduced and applied in the analysis. In addition, concepts from educational policy theories are applied in order to analyse how policies are conceptualised and enacted in the context of leaders’ discursive practices. Regarding terminology, the results challenge this researcher when the concept of mixed abilities is introduced by the participants. The analysis exposes three discourses: multicentric inclusion discourse, normality discourse and specialisation discourse. There are tensions between the multicentric inclusion discourse and the normality discourse, as well as between the multicentric inclusion discourse and the specialisation discourse. The analysis leads to the following suggestions in order to achieve justice in music education practices and policies: (a) to enforce a specific national inclusion policy, (b) to challenge the normality discourse and (c) to bring together the multicentric inclusion discourse with the specialisation discourse.
Social Network Disagreement and Reasoned Candidate Preferences
Authors: Ekstrom Pierce D. , Smith Brianna A. , Williams Allison L. , Kim Hannah
Published: June 2019

This study investigates the effects of social network disagreement on candidate preferences. Although much research has explored the effects of disagreement on political tolerance and disengagement, less work has examined the relation between disagreement and political reasoning. We predicted that because disagreement reveals conflicting points of view and motivates people to consider these views, it should promote more effortful reasoning—and thus increased reliance on policy preferences and decreased reliance on party identification when choosing between candidates. Using panel data from the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Presidential elections, we find that respondents in high-disagreement networks tend to shift their candidate preferences to align with their policy preferences regardless of their party identification. In low-disagreement networks, respondents tended to follow party over policy. In sum, the determinants of candidate preferences differ depending on individuals’ social networks. In some cases, disagreement may promote more normatively desirable political decision-making.
Iatrogenic Vascular Injuries of the Abdomen and Pelvis: The Experience at a Hellenic University Hospital
Authors: Filis Konstantinos , Sigala Fragiska , Stamatina Triantafyllou , Georgia Doulami , Zografos Georgios , Galyfos George
Published: June 2019

Background:

The aim of this study is to present the experience of a Vascular Division at a Hellenic University hospital concerning the management of iatrogenic vascular injuries (IVIs) of the abdomen or pelvis.

Patients and Methods:

This is a retrospective study evaluating all IVIs reported during a 10-year period in our institution. Only injuries warranting a vascular surgeon consultation were included in the study. Non-iatrogenic injuries were not included. Mortality and major complications within 30 days were evaluated.

Results:

Overall, 70 cases were recorded, with 41% being venous and 59% being arterial injuries. Iliac arteries (51%) were the most common location and rupture/lacerations (73%) were the most common type of injury. General surgery (61.5%) and cardiology (30%) procedures were the most frequently involved procedures. A 30-day mortality was 5.7%, with 30% of cases treated conservatively. Synthetic bypass grafting (odds ratio [OR] = 65.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.022-1050.358; P = .003) and male gender (OR = 83.77; 95% CI, 4.040-1736.738; P = .004) were associated with death.

Conclusions:

Iatrogenic vascular injuries of the abdomen or pelvis are usually associated with general surgery and endovascular procedures. When vascular consultation is requested early, mortality could remain low. However, a selected number of stable patients with retroperitoneal or pelvic hematomas could be treated conservatively, yielding satisfying results.
Transarterial Embolization With Complementary Surgical Ligation of Gastroduodenal Artery for Ruptured Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Imagami Toru , Takayama Satoru , Hattori Taku , Matsui Ryohei , Kani Hisanori , Tanaka Akimitsu , Ando Miyuki , Kodani Noriko
Published: June 2019

The association between pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm (PDAA) and local hemodynamic changes in pancreaticoduodenal arcades is well established. However, there are few case reports of PDAA associated with acute aortic dissection. In this article, we outline and discuss the case of a 61-year-old man diagnosed with a type A acute aortic dissection who underwent emergency surgery and developed sudden-onset severe abdominal pain and shock 10 days later. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a ruptured PDAA with feeding vessels from the gastroduodenal and superior mesenteric arteries, with evidence that the celiac artery was diverged from a false lumen. Transarterial embolization via the superior mesenteric artery alone was not expected to achieve hemostasis, so we performed a hybrid procedure involving transarterial embolization cannulated from superior mesenteric artery with complementary surgical ligation of the gastroduodenal artery. The postoperative course was uneventful, and follow-up contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed no persistence of the aneurysm 8 days after the second operation. This case proposed that visceral arterial malperfusion due to acute aortic dissection can cause PDAA in the early postoperative period. Although previous reports suggest that endovascular treatment is preferable, it may not always be feasible. Since ruptured PDAAs are often not detected during surgery, surgical treatment can be overly invasive. Whereas, transarterial embolization with complementary clamping or ligation of the gastroduodenal artery for ruptured PDAA is less invasive and can control hemorrhage, especially when cannulation to the celiac artery is impossible. Notably, the technique did not cause organ ischemia, presumably because the small collateral vessels of the pancreaticoduodenal arcades permitted sufficient blood flow. If endovascular treatment is unable to achieve rapid hemostasis, this technique may be a useful option for ruptured PDAA.
Vergessene Opfer von Mord und Missbrauch: Behindertenmorde unter deutscher Besatzungsherrschaft in der Ukraine (1941-1943) und ihre juristische Aufarbeitung in der Sowjetunion
Authors: Penter Tanja
Published: June 2019

In November 1943, shortly after the liberation of the occupied territories by the Red Army, three mass graves with 144 corpses were discovered in a former colony for disabled children in the Zaporizhia region. The disabled inmates had been shot in two mass murder actions by German SS and Wehrmacht units in October 1941 and in March 1943. During the course of the investigations into the case in 1944 by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), seven former Soviet employees of the colony, among them four women, were put on trial and convicted for complicity with the Germans in the crime. The trial not only condemned the murder of the disabled, but also revealed their sexual abuse under the German occupation and in Soviet pre-war times. This article combines three different research perspectives. First, the previously unknown context of the crime is described for the first time on the basis of newly accessible Soviet file material from the Ukrainian secret service archives. In the process, the differing logics behind both the locals and Germans’ roles in the events surrounding the murder are brought to light and examined in the broader context of the German occupation of the Ukraine. Second, the legal treatment of the crime by a Soviet military tribunal is viewed against the background of the general prosecution of Nazi criminals and Soviet collaborators in the Soviet Union. Third, the current handling of the crime in the local Ukrainian culture of remembrance is surveyed. This reveals in particular the consequences of the Soviet memory policies that continue to this day.
Lean manufacturing implementation in Zimbabwean industries: Impact on operational performance
Authors: Maware Catherine , Adetunji Olufemi
Published: June 2019

The impact of Lean Manufacturing (LM) implementation on organizational performance is an ongoing discussion. The effect of implementing LM tools on operational performance across various industries in Zimbabwe, a country with an unstable real gross domestic product is evaluated. A structural model of LM that is aligned with the Toyota Production System (TPS) house was proposed. A structured survey questionnaire was used for the collection of data in identified companies. Of the 600 companies contacted, 214 useful responses were obtained implying a response rate of 35.6%. The structural and operational models were tested using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and SmartPLS 3. The result indicated that operational performance was improved by implementing the selected LM tools.
New Constituents From the Roots and Stems of Paramignya trimera
Authors: Huong Tran Thu , Ha Vu Thi , Cuong To Dao , Son Ninh The , Toan Tran Quoc , Anh Hoang Thi Ngoc , Tram Nguyen Thi Thu , Woo Sun Hee , Kim Young Ho , Cuong Nguyen Manh
Published: June 2019

Paramignya trimera (Oliv.) Guill. (Rutaceae), mostly distributed in the southern regions of Vietnam, has been used as a medicinal plant for treatment of liver diseases and cancer. From the methanol extract of the roots and stems of P. trimera, 3 new compounds (1-3) were isolated, including ninhvanin B (1), paramitrimerol (2), and parabacunoic acid (3), and a known alkaloid, citrusinine-I (4). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data.
A New Macrolactone, Racemolide Along With Seven Known Compounds With Biological Activities From Mangrove Plant, Lumnitzera racemosa
Authors: Gomaa Darwish Ahmed Gomaa , Samy Mamdouh Nabil , Sugimoto Sachiko , Otsuka Hideaki , Matsunami Katsuyoshi
Published: June 2019

One new macrolide, racemolide (1), was isolated from an MeOH extract of the leaves of Lumnitzera racemosa with 7 known compounds (2-8) by various chromatographic techniques via silica gel, octadecylsilyl column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the new compound was determined through a combination of spectroscopic and chemical analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antileishmanial, hepatoprotective, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities. Compound 1 showed potent antileishmanial activity at inhibition % value of 67.6 ± 1.24% compared with the clinical drug miltefosine (93.3 ± 4.39%). Compounds 1 and 5 possessed moderate hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity using human HepG2 cells at protection % value of 21.70 ± 1.97% and 27.5 ± 1.41%, respectively, compared with the standard glycyrrhizin (69.50 ± 3.53%). Compounds 4, 6, 7, and 8 had high DPPH radical scavenging activity (91.10 ± 4.25, 91.53 ± 0.05, 91.91 ± 0.09, and 86.48 ± 2.87%, respectively), while compounds 3 and 5 showed moderate (45.38 ± 3.62% and 62.20 ± 1.47%, respectively), comparable with the standard trolox (89.21 ± 5.88%). These results suggest that the new compound, racemolide (1), and known compounds (3-8) are valuable as promising antileishmanial, hepatoprotective, and anti-oxidant agents.