bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Robotic Arm Through Hand Gesture Recognition Using Leap Motion Sensor
Authors: Archana T. , Nath Srigitha S. , Praveenkumar S.
Published: May 2020

The objective of this paper has been the development of a prototype of articulated Robotic arm and implementation of a control strategy for gesture recognition through (Leap motion sensor), by means the natural movement of the fore-arm and hand. The series of advances relative to the
control techniques have caused that the robotics it has also introduced as an educational and complement in obligatory basic teachings. To develop and to control Robotic elements locally or remotely, it has always proven to be a clear example of additional motivation. The prototype developed
has exceeded the initial expectations and at low cost.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis from Computer Tomography Images Using Region Based Segmentation and Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Mangayarkarasi P. , Pugazhenthi B.
Published: May 2020

Lungs are the essential organs for respiration (inspiration and expiration) situated at thoracic cavity. Today, the lung cancer is serious disease in the world causing large number of deaths. The cells of all living organisms normally divide and grow in a control manner. When this control
process is lost and tissues start expands then the situation is called cancer. Among the various cancers like bone cancer, breast cancer, blood cancer etc., the lung cancer is the most deadly one. The most preferred option for treating the lung cancer in the final stage is surgical removal
of the diseased lung. Hence it is necessary to detect the lung cancer at an early stage to limit the danger. In this project the lung cancer diagnosis system based on Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) is proposed to detect the lung cancer at the early stage. The FIS plays a vital role in the medical
field to provide medical assistance to the radiologist to diagnose the abnormality in the medical images. The proposed system first segments the suspected lung nodules from the input CT lung image using region based segmentation and classifies the suspected nodules as either benign (normal)
or Malignant (cancerous) based on the feature extraction. Then the extracted features are given to the input of FIS. The Fuzzy system finds the severity of the suspected lung nodules based on IF-THEN rule.
A Study on Brain Tumor Detection and Segmentation Using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Kumar Ambeshwar , Manikandan R. , Rahim Robbi
Published: May 2020

It’s a new era technology in the field of medical engineering giving awareness about the various healthcare features. Deep learning is a part of machine learning, it is capable of handling high dimensional data and is efficient in concentrating on the right features. Tumor is
an unbelievably complex disease: a multifaceted cell has more than hundred billion cells; each cell acquires mutation exclusively. Detection of tumor particles in experiment is easily done by MRI or CT. Brain tumors can also be detected by MRI, however, deep learning techniques give a better
approach to segment the brain tumor images. Deep Learning models are imprecisely encouraged by information handling and communication designs in biological nervous system. Classification plays an significant role in brain tumor detection. Neural network is creating a well-organized rule for
classification. To accomplish medical image data, neural network is trained to use the Convolution algorithm. Multilayer perceptron is intended for identification of a image. In this study article, the brain images are categorized into two types: normal and abnormal. This article emphasize
the importance of classification and feature selection approach for predicting the brain tumor. This classification is done by machine learning techniques like Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machine and Deep Neural Network. It could be noted that more than one technique can be
applied for the segmentation of tumor. The several samples of brain tumor images are classified using deep learning algorithms, convolution neural network and multi-layer perceptron.
Study on Service Oriented Architecture for Clinical Evaluation Using Computational Model
Authors: Thaventhiran C. , Sekar K. R. , Manikandan R. , Rahim Robbi , Kumar Ambeshwar
Published: May 2020

In the recent one and half decades the service oriented architecture (SoA) is the emerging technology and also inevitable for the web community people. The relevant applications are incorporated together through the web service component that provides bountiful Information to the people
and the customers all over the world today. Here orchestration and choreography plays a vital role in SoA. Using the initial and the basic information, it is possible to predict the unforeseen schedule of the scenario through random process methodologies. In that particularly stochastic model
is much appreciated for the above said. The recommendations can be obtained through the above method and provides all the necessary information’s to the customers using SoA interfaces. Normally hybrid linked applications were in the form of SoA. In the recent year of 2016 the leading
journal established the role of SoA is an inevitable web services component and also acting as a aggregation in distributed systems (Traore, B.B., et al., 2016. Integrating MDA and SOA for improving telemedicine services. Telematics and Informatics, 33(3), pp.733–741). For any
cross platform communication and commercial transactions can be possible via SoA modern architecture, which is emphasized in the journal published in the year 2014 (Su, X.Y., et al., 2014. A service oriented tele-health promotion information system with mobile application. Procedia Computer
Science, 37, pp.274–281). The integration of Applications which has got some relevancy and homogeneity needs interoperable communications in health care systems. Decision making support can also be possible through the above said scenario which is accomplished through SoA [21]. In
the research work 21 relevant papers were analyzed in deep and identified the gap about the methodology is the strenuous job. The real theme of the research work is to provide quicker information’s to the customers without making them in starvations.
True Microaneurysms Detection in Cluttered Retinal Photographs for the Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Shamela Rizwana M. , Gowthamy J. , Suganya P.
Published: May 2020

Microaneurysms are the first clinical sign of diabetic retinopathy. The number of microaneurysms is used to indicate the severity of the disease. Early microaneurysm detection can help reduce the incidence of blindness. This paper analyzes the Threshold based technique and Wavelet Decomposition
technique to reject specific classes of noises while passing majority of true Microaneurysms using a set of specialized features. The rejection strategy is formulated based on the occurrence frequency and discriminability of the underlying clutter. Threshold based technique separates both
classes and further allows various subgroups of clutter class to be handled through a cascade solution. Further a set of morphological and appearance based features are introduced to characterize the clutter and MA structures. This gives flexibility to achieve better result of finding Microaneurysms
separately from the clutter classes. These two methods have been analyzed based on Microaneurysms detection. Experimental results shows that, the Threshold based technique reduces the noise in an efficient way and affected Microaneurysms portion is obtained clearly.
Modeling the Magnetic Properties of La0.62Er0.05Ba0.33Fe0.2Mn0.8O3: Mean-Field Study and Bean Rodbell Model
Authors: Yahyaoui Samia , Abassi Amel , Abassi Mounira
Published: May 2020

The Brillouin function, the phase transition and the related magnetic properties in La0.62Er0.05Ba0.33Fe0.2Mn0.8O3 perovskite have been studied using Bean-Rodbell model. The Brillouin function allows determining the total
momentum J and the mean filed exchange parameter λ of the perovskite. The mean-filed equation draws the system to second order phase transition. These constants were used to stimulate the experimental isotherms M (H, T) by meanfield theory. The predicted results
are compared to the available experimental data. It is noted that a good agreement has been found, with minor discrepancies, between theoretical and experimental data.
Infrared Optical Constants from Pressed Pellets of Powders: I. Improved n and k Values of (NH4)2SO4 from Single-Angle Reflectance
Authors: Johnson Timothy J. , Diaz Emmanuela , Hughey Kendall D. , Myers Tanya L. , Blake Thomas A. , Dohnalkova Alice C. , Burton Sarah D.
Published: May 2020

In combination with other parameters, the real, n([Formula: see text]), and imaginary, k([Formula: see text]), components of the complex refractive index, [Formula: see text] =  n + i k, can be used to simulate the optical properties of a material in different forms, e.g., its infrared spectra. Ultimately, such n/k values can be used to generate a database of synthetic reflectance spectra for the different morphologies to which experimental data can be compared. But obtaining reliable values of the optical constants n/k for solid materials is challenging due to the lack of optical quality specimens, usually crystals, large enough to measure. An alternative to crystals is to press the powder into a uniform disk. We have produced pellets from ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, powder and derived the pellets' n and k values via single-angle reflectance using a specular reflectance device in combination with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The single-angle technique measures amplitude of light reflected from the material as a function of wavelength over a wide spectral domain; the optical constants are determined from the reflectance data using the Kramers–Kronig relationship. We investigate several parameters associated with the pellets and pellet formation and their effects upon delivering the most reliable n/k values. Parameters studied include pellet diameter, mass, and density (void space), drying, grinding, sieving, and particle size in the pellet formation, as well as pressing pressure and duration. Of these parameters, using size-selected mixtures of dried, small (<50 µm) particles and pressing at ≥10 tons for at least 30 min were found key to forming highly reflective samples. Comparison of two sets of previous literature n([Formula: see text]) and k([Formula: see text]) values obtained from crystalline (NH4)2SO4 both as crystal reflectance as well as extinction spectra of aerosols measured in a flow tube shows reasonable agreement, but suggests the present values, as confirmed from two independent techniques, represent a substantial improvement for n/k values for (NH4)2SO4, also demonstrating promise to measure the optical constants of other materials.
Perceptual Motor Programs for the Gifted-Handicapped
Authors: Eason Bobby L. , Smith Theresa L. , Steen Maria Fagot
Published: May 2020

Techniques for teaching gifted children with the clumsy child syndrome are presented. Explained are procedures for assessment of motor problems, selection of activities specific to those problems and building practice strategies to promote remediation. Also included are ideas related to the development of appropriate incentive systems, and evaluation of progress. A special activities appendix is provided.
A Needs Assessment for Gifted Education
Authors: Van Tassel Joyce
Published: May 2020

This article presents a conceptual model to be utilized in conducting the necessary needs assessment activities to implement a successful gifted program at the school district or state agency level. Three types of needs are discussed—student, program, and technical assistance.

The model attempts to show the interrelationships of these types of needs and how they may be assessed. Components of the model are discussed and amplified through appropriate instrumentation. Recommendations on how to utilize the model are also included so that a comprehensive approach to needs assessment can be discerned.
Potentially Able Learners (P.A.L.S): A Program for Gifted Pre-Schoolers and Parents
Authors: Bauer Harold , Harris Ruth
Published: May 2020

Since the summer of 1975 the Gifted Department of the Rockford Public Schools has provided a pre-school program for pre-kindergarteners who are potentially able learners (P.A.L.s). The program has been for identified gifted children and their parents attending co-joint sessions with preschoolers in a classroom environment directed by a teacher and parents in a discussion/work group with a psychologist. Identification techniques have ranged from nomination of children by the district's elementary school staffs after pre-kindergarten screening in the Spring to individual testing with the Slosson Intelligence Test. Children have participated in a center-based classroom with some academic emphases. Parents met to discuss topics which included understanding the gifted child, parenting, further enrichment techniques, developing at-home learning experiences, and expressing feelings about topics of personal relevance.
The Extended Classroom: A Gold Mine for Gifted Students
Authors: Dettmer Peggy
Published: May 2020

The traditional school program is not structured for meeting the unique learning needs of gifted students. Although regular curriculum cannot practicably fulfill the assignment of providing differentiated instruction for the gifted, the community which surrounds each school is a virtual gold mine of human and material resources. The imaginative use of resource persons, field trips, and mentor arrangements by regular and special education teachers can be highly effective in stimulating gifted students' interest in school and commitment to learning. The utilization of community resources need not be complicated. When basic planning is combined with some ingenuity and an abundance of flexibility, the larger learning environment of the community and its people, places, and happenings can provide golden opportunities for expanded learning by gifted students.
The Effects of Early Entrance on Subsequent Social and Academic Development: A Follow-Up Study
Authors: Alexander Pauline J. , Skinner Michael E.
Published: May 2020

The purpose of the present study was to describe the social and academic progress of students who qualified for early entrance on the kindergarten level and who are now in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Results support previous research efforts which have demonstrated the predominantly positive effects of such programs on student's social and academic adjustment.
Investigation of the Perceived and Behavioral Levels of Creativity for University Men
Authors: Daniels Roberta R.
Published: May 2020

Sixty-nine university men were tested for perceived levels of creativity as measured by the Something About Myself (SAM) inventory (Khatena, 1976). A second focus of the study was to assess the creative production of these same university men. All men participated in a pre- and post-test of the SAM inventory and six criterion task activities developed by the experimenter that were directly related to the six factors of the inventory. The experimental groups had nearly four hours of activities designed to stimulate creativity. Results revealed no significant differences between pre- and post-test scores of all university men. Nor were there any differences between the freshmen and seniors relative to the Creative Perception Inventory scores. The experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group on the post-test of the SAM inventory. The freshmen men scored significantly higher than the seniors on three of the six factors of the SAM inventory. No differences were found to exist between the major fields of concentration for freshmen and senior men.
Summer Scholastics and Arts for the Gifted: A Holistic Approach
Authors: Goodrum Smith
Published: May 2020

The Summer Scholastics and Arts Program at Mars Hill College is a residential program for elementary and secondary students. Structured for limited enrollment, the program adheres to four goals with complementary instruction and activity components. The following is a description of the program goals, objectives, evaluation practices, and extended efforts to serve the gifted.
Creating a Brighter Future: An Update on the Future Problem Solving Program
Authors: Crabbe Anne Borland
Published: May 2020

This article focuses on the objectives of the Future Problem Solving Program and describes ways in which they are being achieved. Rationale and supportive evidence are offered for each. The objectives of the program are aimed at helping gifted children: develop richer images of the future become more creative in their thinking develop and increase their communication skills, both verbal and written develop and increase their teamwork skills integrate a problem solving model into their lives, and develop and increase their research skills.

Information about securing materials and participating in the program is also provided.
Identifying Musically Gifted Children
Authors: Dorhout Albert
Published: May 2020

The procedure of judging overt performance ability is a widely accepted one for the identification of musically gifted children. There may be those, however, who possess both a high degree of sensitivity to sound and mature insights into the meaning of that sound, yet lack the physical maturation essential to demonstrate these traits. A delay in the development of psychomotor coordination can mask a child's true musical talents. Those responsible for identifying musically gifted children should adopt a multifaceted procedure utilizing information from the child, his/her peers, parents, teachers and impartial judges. A systematic assessment of the child's aptitude, achievement and attitude levels should be employed through formal testing. The strengths and weaknesses of several standardized instruments are discussed to assist the music educator in the selection of the appropriate instruments for the evaluation of the child's potential. A matrix is then suggested to expedite the selection procedure.
Supplementary Materials for Academically Gifted English Students
Authors: Brown Jean E.
Published: May 2020

The recent trend to acknowledge and to meet the needs of gifted and talented students has created a new challenge for academic planners, as well as teachers. One manifestation of this challenge is to provide appropriate supplementary materials to meet the needs of these special students. In seeking stimulating supplementary materials, teachers often overlook the obvious, a varied periodical list, while concentrating on amassing a wide range of audio-visual materials. Each type of supplementary material has advantages in certain settings; however, in programs for academically gifted, carefully selected periodicals can be a vital addition. The following list of supplementary periodicals is designed as a guide for teachers of academically gifted English students in high school. The list is neither definitive, nor is it essential that any school include all of the periodicals in their collections. It does provide a variety of materials to nurture the intellectual growth and personal and social awareness of gifted English students.
Normative and nonnormative pattern in achievement of developmental tasks: Sibling relationship quality and life satisfaction during emerging adulthood
Authors: Ponti Lucia , Smorti Martina
Published: May 2020

The aims of the present study were to investigate whether twins and siblings close in age (1) present a normative pattern in the achievement of residential, working, and economic autonomy (the older sibling assumes a more adult role earlier than the younger, or twins assume an adult role at the same time); (2) differ in sibling relationship quality; and whether the normativity is linked (3) to the quality of sibling relationship and (4) to life satisfaction. A cross-sectional study on 145 emerging adults was conducted. Twins present a normative development pattern more frequently and a warmer sibling relationship than non-twin siblings. A normative development pattern is related to sibling relationships but not to the level of life satisfaction. In particular, normativity in residential conditions is linked with warmer sibling relationships, while nonnormativity in economic conditions is linked to more rivalrous relationships. These data support the assumption that during emerging adulthood a normative development pattern is linked to a more positive sibling relationship.
Nurses’ self-efficacy, rather than their knowledge, is associated with their engagement in advance care planning in nursing homes: A survey study
Authors: Gilissen Joni , Pivodic Lara , Wendrich-van Dael Annelien , Cools Wilfried , Vander Stichele Robert , Van den Block Lieve , Deliens Luc , Gastmans Chris
Published: May 2020

Background:

Considering social cognitive theory and current literature about successful advance care planning in nursing homes, sufficient knowledge and self-efficacy are important preconditions for staff to be able to carry out advance care planning in practice.

Aim:

Exploring to what extent nurses’ knowledge about and self-efficacy is associated with their engagement in advance care planning in nursing homes.

Design:

Survey study as part of a baseline measurement of a randomised controlled cluster trial (NCT03521206).

Setting/participants:

Nurses in a purposive sample of 14 nursing homes in Belgium.

Methods:

A survey was distributed among nurses, evaluating knowledge (11 true/false items), self-efficacy (12 roles and tasks on 10-point Likert-type scale) and six advance care planning practices (yes/no), ranging from performing advance care planning conversations to completing advance directives.

Results:

A total of 196 nurses participated (66% response rate). While knowledge was not significantly associated with advance care planning practices, self-efficacy was. One unit’s increase in self-efficacy was statistically associated with an estimated 32% increase in the number of practices having carried out.

Conclusions:

Nurses’ engagement in advance care planning practices is mainly associated with their self-efficacy rather than their knowledge. Further research is necessary to improve the evidence regarding the causal relationship between constructs. However, these results suggest that educational programmes that focus solely on knowledge might not lead to increasing uptake of advance care planning in nurses.
Counter-institutionalizing First Nation–Crown relations in British Columbia
Authors: Persaud Anthony W. , Satterfield Terre , Macdonald Eliana
Published: May 2020

In Canada, the advance of industrial resource extraction has been moderated by a series of key legal decisions that have found that development activities within the traditional territories of Indigenous Nations may infringe on Aboriginal and treaty rights, requiring a duty to consult and potentially accommodate those affected. In British Columbia this duty is primarily satisfied through the Crown referrals process, whereby affected First Nation groups are notified by the Crown regarding potential rights-affecting decisions and are given an opportunity to formulate a response. This form of institutionalized engagement presents an ongoing challenge for First Nation groups who struggle to manage the influx of Crown referrals, as well as a dilemma for those who question its fairness and inherent colonial structure. For others, it is seen as an opportunity to leverage the duty to consult and accommodate in order to strengthen territorial self-governance. In this paper we introduce the idea of counter-institutionalizing and explore the conditions under which the Crown referrals process is being redrawn to better address, and not, the ability of First Nation groups to improve territorial self-governance and the trade-offs involved.
A comparison of mechanical properties and X-ray tomography analysis of different out-of-autoclave manufactured thermoplastic composites
Authors: Saenz-Castillo Diego , Martín María I , García-Martínez Vanessa , Ramesh Abhiram , Battley Mark , Güemes Alfredo
Published: May 2020

Three different out-of-autoclave manufacturing processes of CF/poly-ether-ether-ketone thermoplastic composites were characterized, including innovative laser-assisted automated fibre placement with in situ consolidation. Characterization techniques included differential scanning calorimetry, ultrasonic non-destructive testing and matrix digestion, in addition to 3D X-ray microcomputed tomography to investigate the void distribution, size and shape. The results revealed that in situ consolidation process can lead to the accumulation of large voids between the upper layers. Interlaminar shear, in-plane shear, tensile and flexure testing were used for mechanical evaluation. A reduction in the mechanical properties was observed for in situ consolidation laminates when compared to the other out-of-autoclave methods. The drop in mechanical properties of in situ consolidation laminates was mainly attributed to the differences found in void distribution and size. Optimization of processing parameters along with higher quality prepreg raw material could be of assistance for the improvement of mechanical properties of in situ consolidation structures.
Nonlinear effects of viscoelastic fluid flows and applications in microfluidics: A review
Authors: Yuan Chao , Zhang Hong-Na , Li Yu-Ke , Li Xiao-Bin , Wu Jian , Li Feng-Chen
Published: May 2020

Viscoelastic fluid naturally has both viscous and elastic properties. Therefore, there are two sources of nonlinear effects, namely inertial and elastic nonlinearities. The existence of elastic nonlinearity brings about various interesting flow phenomena in viscoelastic fluid flow, especially in microfluidics where the inertial nonlinearity can be negligible while the elastic nonlinearity can dominate the flow. Specifically, purely elasticity-induced instability and turbulence can occur in microchannels when the elastic nonlinearity is strong enough. Recently, those intriguing properties of viscoelastic fluid flow have motivated lots of researches on taking viscoelastic fluid as working fluid in different types of microfluidic devices, such as micro-mixers, micro heat exchangers, logic microfluidic circuits and particle manipulation. This paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art review of the nonlinear effect of viscoelastic fluids and its applications in the aforementioned microfluidic fields, which may provide a useful guidance for the researchers who are interested in this area.
Development and validation of a new code for longitudinal train dynamics simulation
Authors: Bosso Nicola , Magelli Matteo , Zampieri Nicolò
Published: May 2020

Longitudinal train dynamics have a significant impact on both safety and performance of railway systems. Numerical simulation of long heavy haul trains can thus provide essential information for the development of diagnostic and signaling systems as well as coupling elements and braking systems. Long trains are usually modeled by considering only the longitudinal degree of freedom and by adding extra resistant forces to represent the track curvature and gradients. The prediction of in-train forces represents the most critical aspect in modeling the longitudinal dynamics of long trains made up of several vehicles. In fact, coupling elements have non-linear force–deflection characteristics, with different behavior in loading and unloading states, thus featuring a hysteretic loop. Look-up tables storing data from experimental tests are generally used to model these elements; however, other strategies, such as fitting curves and white-box models are witnessed in the literature. Recently, an international benchmarking of longitudinal train dynamics simulator was established in order to compare the output results obtained by different models with the same input data. The research group from Politecnico di Torino performed the simulations using the multibody software Simpack, but computational inefficiencies and numerical divergences occurred. To overcome these issues, a new dedicated in-house code was developed in the MATLAB environment. The paper focuses on the description of this new code and its validation, which was carried out by performing the simulations according to the benchmark inputs and comparing the results with the outputs from the other participants.
Comparative study on the economic feasibility of nanogrid and microgrid electrification: The case of Jeju Island, South Korea
Authors: Bae Jinwoo , Lee Soojung , Kim Heetae
Published: May 2020

Due to heavy fuel dependence, the “renewable energy system” idea is an important issue in South Korea. The government of South Korea is endeavoring to convert its energy infrastructure into renewable energy generation. As such, numerous studies have evaluated the economic feasibility of various renewable energy sources in South Korea. This study differs from those studies as it is focused on a smaller scale in terms of self-supporting nanogrid and microgrid energy. The purpose of this study is to determine which type of grid is more economical. To conduct a comparative study on the economic feasibility of nanogrids and microgrids, three substations on Jeju Island were randomly selected. We then suggested two scenarios. The first scenario is , which changes each substation into a nanogrid, and the second is , which connects the three nanogrids to share electricity. This study identifies the optimal combination of hybrid energy resources using HOMER (hybrid optimization model for electric renewables) software to change the substations into an self-supporting energy nanogrid or microgrid. According to the net present cost and cost of energy results for each scenario through HOMER simulations, the  scenario is more economical than the  scenario. However, this study also shows that microgrids can be the better option, depending on the distance between nanogrids. Finally, implications and limitations are discussed in the last section of this paper.
The ‘telegraphic schizophrenic manner’: Psychosis and a (non)sense of time
Authors: Flexer Michael J
Published: May 2020

This paper reads Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and Piercy’s Woman on the Edge of Time as stories of deictic temporal crises. It critically examines the texts, exploring their representations of mental time travel (MTT), and places them into dialectic with health sciences research on autonoesis and episodic memory deficits in people with lived experience of mental health disorders, particularly psychosis or ‘schizophrenia’. The paper uses this dialectic to interrogate how atypical MTT is diagnostically and clinically rendered as pathological, and indicative of psychosis in particular. Similarly, it mines these fictional representations for the insights they might provide in attempting to understand the phenomenological reality of temporal disruptions for people with lived experience of psychosis. The paper moves on to incorporate first-person accounts from people with lived experience, and uses these to refine a Deleuzean static synthesis of time constructed around the traumatic Event and the Dedekind ‘cut’. The paper concludes with some suggestions as to how the literary texts offer possible insights into the experience of people living with ‘psychotic’ temporal disruptions, and in particular how to re-invest their deictic relations to establish functioning fixity and stability of the self in time.
Social Grievances and Corporate Greed: Twenty20 and Conflicts in Kizhakkambalam
Authors: Hari P. Shyam
Published: May 2020

The theoretical framework of greed and grievance provides a perspective for understanding conflicts in a social set-up that comprises competing interests. The greed of a section of a society to maximise its control over resources (social, political and economic) is often combined with the grievances of sections that are deprived of their shares of the resources. Even within such considerations, the positions of greed and grievance are fluidic in any conflict and are a critical factor in the manufacturing and sustaining of conflicts. The Kizhakkambalam Gram Panchayat (GP) in Kerala offers one such opportunity to investigate and explore the conflicts arising from the interactive and shifting nature of greed and grievances. Based on an ethnographic survey of the GP, this study highlights and investigates the role of a corporate functionary, Twenty20, and its interactions with the local population. The study argues that the dominance of the Twenty20 in local politics through electoral victory achieved by leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives is seen to be oscillating between being perceived as a product for managing social grievances and as a product for actualising corporate greed. The interactive and fluidic nature of greed and grievances creates tensions among multiple actors and leads to conflicts in the GP.
Pilot of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Initiative Among Veterans With Serious Illness
Authors: Giannitrapani Karleen F. , Walling Anne M. , Garcia Ariadna , Foglia MaryBeth , Lowery Jill S. , Lo Natalie , Bekelman David , Brown-Johnson Cati , Haverfield Marie , Festa Natalia , Shreve Scott T. , Gale Randall C. , Lehmann Lisa Soleymani , Lorenz Karl A.
Published: May 2020

Background:

Prior to national spread, the Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a pilot of the life-sustaining treatment decisions initiative (LSTDI) to promote proactive goals of care conversations (GoCC) with seriously ill patients, including policy and practice standards, an electronic documentation template and order set, and implementation support.

Aim:

To describe a 2-year pilot of the LSTDI at 4 demonstration sites.

Design:

Prospective observational study.

Setting/Participants:

A total of 6664 patients who had at least one GoCC.

Results:

Descriptive statistics characterized patient demographics, goals of care, LST decisions, and risk of hospitalization or mortality among patients with at least one GoCC. Participants were on average 71.4 years old, 93.2% male, 87.1% white, and 64.7% urban; 27.3% died by the end of the pilot period. Fifteen percent lacked decision-making capacity (DMC). Nonmutually exclusive goals included to be cured (7.6%), to prolong life (34%), to improve/maintain quality of life (61.5%), to be comfortable (53%), to obtain support for family/caregiver (8.4%), to achieve life goals (2.1%), and other (10.5%). Many GoCCs resulted in a do not resuscitate (DNR) order (58.8%). Patients without DMC were more likely to have comfort-oriented goals (77.3% vs 48.8%) and a DNR (84% vs 52.6%). Chart abstraction supported content validity of GoCC documentation.

Conclusion:

The pilot demonstrated that standardizing practices for eliciting and documenting GoCCs resulted in customized documentation of goals of care and LST decisions of a large number of seriously ill patients and established the feasibility of spreading standardized practices throughout a large integrated health care system.
Development of a test device to determine the frictional behavior between honeycomb and prepreg layers under realistic manufacturing conditions
Authors: Hailer Benjamin , Weber Tobias A , Neveling Sebastian , Dera Samuel , Arent Jan-Christoph , Middendorf Peter
Published: May 2020

During the autoclave manufacturing of sandwich components, several defects may arise. A typical defect in the use of honeycombs is core crush. The occurrence of this defect depends, among other things, on the angle of the honeycomb chamfer. To design this angle, the friction between honeycomb and prepreg must be known. Due to the low rigidity of Nomex® honeycomb in lateral direction, the determination of the frictional behavior between face sheets and honeycomb is a particular challenge. This paper shows the development of a test device for measuring the friction between honeycomb with film adhesive and carbon/epoxy prepreg for different temperatures and compressions corresponding to realistic manufacturing conditions. The device is also suitable for the evaluation of interlaminar friction between prepreg plies and tool-part-interaction. The requirements for the device are shown in detail. Advantages and disadvantages of various concepts for the individual modules are discussed in order to select the most promising design. As proof of concept, friction measurements between honeycomb and prepreg as well as prepreg to prepreg measurements are carried out. In the case of interlaminar measurements, the friction coefficient determined at 1 mm deformation deviates by 5.3% from already published values obtained with another device and is within the stated scatter range. The measurement results for honeycomb against prepreg are in direct correlation with manufacturing trials performed. Using the lowest coefficient of friction established, a critical angle of the honeycomb chamfer was determined. Subsequently, component samples were manufactured with an inclination angle of 7.5° above and 7.5° below the critical angle. The specimens with larger angle showed a strong core crush, whereas those with smaller angle exhibited no core crush. This demonstrates that with this device the honeycomb chamfer of sandwich components can be dimensioned based on the lowest friction coefficient determined between honeycomb and prepreg.
Lipidome Profiles Are Related to Depressive Symptoms and Preterm Birth Among African American Women
Authors: Saadat Nadia , Lydic Todd A. , Misra Dawn P. , Dailey Rhonda , Walker Deborah S. , Giurgescu Carmen
Published: May 2020

African American women have the highest rate of preterm birth (PTB; <37 completed weeks’ gestation) of any racial and ethnic group in the United States (14.1%). Depressive symptoms (DS) have been linked to PTB risk of African American women. We hypothesized that maternal lipidomic profiles are related to prenatal DS and gestational age at birth among African American women. Women were enrolled at 9–25 weeks’ gestation, completed questionnaires, and provided plasma samples. Lipidomic profiles were determined by “shotgun” Orbitrap high-resolution/accurate mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using SIMCA P+ software. There was a clear separation in the orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis score plot between women with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores ≥23 and women with CES-D scores ≤22. Similarly, a clear separation was observed in the model between PTB and full-term birth. Corresponding S-plot, loading plot, and variable importance in projection plot/list were used to identify the lipids responsible for the groupings. Higher levels of specific triglyceride (TG) species and lower levels of specific phosphatidylcholines (PCs) PC(37:1), PC(41:6), and PC(39:3) were associated with PTB. PC PC(37:1) levels were also lower among women with CES-D scores ≥23, pointing toward a possible connection between DS and PTB. Although overweight pregnant women showed higher levels of TGs, the PTB model showed specific TGs unique to PTB. Lipidomic profiles in pregnant African American women are related to DS, and our data suggest a role for specific TGs and PCs in PTB.
An NMF-Based Methodology for Selecting Biomarkers in the Landscape of Genes of Heterogeneous Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Populations
Authors: Esposito Flavia , Boccarelli Angelina , Del Buono Nicoletta
Published: May 2020

The rapid development of high-performance technologies has greatly promoted studies of molecular oncology producing large amounts of data. Even if these data are publicly available, they need to be processed and studied to extract information useful to better understand mechanisms of pathogenesis of complex diseases, such as tumors. In this article, we illustrated a procedure for mining biologically meaningful biomarkers from microarray datasets of different tumor histotypes. The proposed methodology allows to automatically identify a subset of potentially informative genes from microarray data matrices, which differs either in the number of rows (genes) and of columns (patients). The methodology integrates nonnegative matrix factorization method, a functional enrichment analysis web tool with a properly designed gene extraction procedure to allow the analysis of omics input data with different row size. The proposed methodology has been used to mine microarray of solid tumors of different embryonic origin to verify the presence of common genes characterizing the heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts. These automatically extracted biomarkers could be used to suggest appropriate therapies to inactivate the state of active fibroblasts, thus avoiding their action on tumor progression.
Care for the Other: Lessons from the streets of Athens
Authors: Voela Angie
Published: May 2020

Austerity in Greece resulted in poverty, political and social turmoil and intense debates about collective identities, citizenship and the future. One of the main arguments has been that the Greeks should re-evaluate their relationship with the past and their over-reliance on national narratives. The task of re-evaluation can only be accomplished in the public spheres of politics and culture, where individual and collective voices gradually transform the imaginary significations that animate the social body. One such voice is Rhea Galanaki, a novelist with a long and distinguished presence in Greek and European literature. The present article draws on her 2015 novel I Akra Tapeinosi (The Utter Humiliation) in order to flesh out a feminist political vision for the future. This vision draws inspiration from women’s struggles against patriarchy in past decades, and resonates with the concepts of vulnerability and care, contributing to thinking a compassionate alternative to the politics of despair within and beyond the Greek borders.
Does international entrepreneurial orientation foster innovation performance? The mediating role of social media and open innovation
Authors: Freixanet Joan , Braojos Jessica , Rialp-Criado Alex , Rialp-Criado Josep
Published: May 2020

This study investigates the relationship between international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) and innovation performance. It analyzes IEO as a key antecedent of innovation performance by considering the underlying effects of open innovation and social media usage. We test the hypothesized relationships by performing partial least squares analysis for data collected from a survey sample of 128 small and medium-sized enterprises. The results indicate that open innovation mediates the relationship between IEO and innovation performance, while social media usage mediates the relationship between IEO and open innovation. This study contributes to literature on entrepreneurship and innovation by providing new evidence regarding the benefits of IEO in terms of innovation effectiveness and the underlying mechanisms in this relationship. It also contributes to the emerging literature on the antecedents of open innovation and social media usage, as well as their effects on innovation performance. The results additionally have relevant management implications.
Multimodal Conservative Treatment of Complicated Open Wound After Total Knee Replacement Arthroplasty in Patients With Comorbidities
Authors: Baek Sang Oon , Shin Jeonghwan , Song Jong Keun , Lee Jun Yong
Published: May 2020

Total knee replacement arthroplasty is a common procedure and postoperative wound complications are sometimes inevitable. Although invasive reconstructive surgery may be an option for nonhealed wounds, such procedures can limit early rehabilitation, adversely affecting the range of joint motion. Patients can achieve a wider range of motion if they undergo early rehabilitation with a conservative approach. From 2015 to 2017, 5 patients with comorbidities who underwent total knee replacement arthroplasty were referred to the reconstructive surgery department for nonhealed open wounds. Depending on their comorbidities and conditions, the patients underwent negative-pressure wound therapy based on multimodal conservative treatment. During the treatment, the patients continued rehabilitation. In the 5 patients, the mean duration of complete wound healing was 65.2 days (range = 57-81), during which all open wounds were well healed. For final wound closure, the patients underwent skin grafting, dermatotraction, or collagen dressing. Four patients achieved ranges of joint motion over 100 degrees after treatment. We believe that early coverage is important for open wounds. For complicated open wounds after total knee replacement arthroplasty in patients with comorbidities, less invasive multimodal treatment along with early rehabilitation may be more effective to achieve adequate final range of joint motion.
Influence of Individual Radiosensitivity on the Hormesis Phenomenon: Toward a Mechanistic Explanation Based on the Nucleoshuttling of ATM Protein
Authors: Devic Clément , Ferlazzo Mélanie L. , Berthel Elise , Foray Nicolas
Published: May 2020

Hormesis is a low-dose phenomenon that has been reported to occur, to different extents, in animals, plants, and microorganisms. However, a review of the literature shows that only a few reports describe it in humans. Also, the diversity of experimental protocols and cellular models used makes deciphering the mechanisms of hormesis difficult. In humans, hormesis mostly appears in the 20 to 75 mGy dose range and in nontransformed, radioresistant cells. In a previous paper by Devic et al, a biological interpretation of the adaptive response (AR) phenomenon was proposed using our model that is based on the radiation-induced nucleoshuttling of the ATM protein (the RIANS model). Here, we showed that the 20 to 75 mGy dose range corresponds to a maximum amount of ATM monomers diffusing into the nucleus, while no DNA double-strand breaks is produced by radiation. These ATM monomers are suggested to help in recognizing and repairing spontaneous DNA breaks accumulated in cells and contribute to reductions in genomic instability and aging. The RIANS model also permitted the biological interpretation of hypersensitivity to low doses (HRS)—another low-dose phenomenon. Hence, for the first time to our knowledge, hormesis, AR, and HRS can be explained using the same unified molecular model.
Trajectory tracking control for chain-series robot manipulator: Robust adaptive fuzzy terminal sliding mode control with low-pass filter
Authors: Wang Pengcheng , Zhang Dengfeng , Lu Baochun
Published: May 2020

This article investigates a difficult problem which focuses on the external disturbance and dynamic uncertainty in the process of trajectory tracking. This article presents a robust adaptive fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller with low-pass filter. The low-pass filter can provide smooth position and speed signals. The fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller can achieve fast convergence and desirable tracking precision. Chattering is eliminated with continuous control law, due to high-frequency switching terms contained in the first derivative of actual control signals. Ignoring the prior knowledge upper bound, the controller can reduce the influence of the uncertain kinematics and dynamics in the actual situation. Finally, the experiment is carried out and the results show the performance of the proposed controller.