bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A re-evaluation of the Dynomenidae Ortmann, 1892 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Podotremata), with the recognition of four subfamilies
Authors: GUINOT DANIÈLE
Published: June 2019

A re-evaluation of the Dynomenidae Ortmann, 1892, on the basis of morphological characters, allows four subfamilies to be recognised, viz. Acanthodromiinae n. subfam., Dynomeninae Ortmann, 1892, Metadynomeninae n. subfam., and Paradynomeninae n. subfam. Sequences of character states for each homologous character (morphocline) show a similar polarity. The Acanthodromiinae n. subfam. exhibits a plesiomorphic condition, both in body shape and fronto-orbital disposition as well as in the condition of the thoracic sternum, abdominal holding mechanism and gill structure. Both the Metadynomeninae n. subfam. and Dynomeninae are more advanced, the latter being more “carcinized” and the most derived. The Paradynomeninae n. subfam. evolved a specialised frontal and buccal region, by forming a projecting “face”. The family Dynomenidae, which presently comprises merely five extant genera and 21 species, but with a worldwide distribution, is amongst the most ancestral brachyuran families, with a good fossil record from the Late Jurassic onwards. A few fossil genera such as Kromtitis Müller, 1984, and Kierionopsis Davidson, 1966, appear to conform to the Paradynomeninae n. subfam. A key to the subfamilies of extant Dynomenidae is provided.
Three new species of the freshwater snail genus Tylomelania (Caenogastropoda: Pachychilidae) from the Malili lake system, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: VON RINTELEN THOMAS , GLAUBRECHT MATTHIAS
Published: June 2019

The ancient Malili lake system on the Indonesian island Sulawesi hosts a large species flock of the viviparous freshwater gastropod Tylomelania. Molecular and morphological data have previously shown that this species flock resulted from three independent lake colonizations and subsequent adaptive radiations. In a recent taxonomic revision of these radiations 25 species have been recognized. Here we describe three new species from the system found during new sampling campaigns. Despite their highly distinct shell morphology, these species were previously overlooked because of their very restricted distribution range and, in one case, the very small size. Of these new species, two are endemic to a section of the Larona River, which drains the entire lake system, while the third species has only been found at one locality in central Lake Mahalona. The discovery of these species can contribute significantly to our understanding of evolution in the entire species flock, as two of the species form a basal branch of an entire clade and all show a high degree of habitat specialization. The local endemism of the Larona River species in particular makes them highly vulnerable to extinction caused by habitat destruction.
Review of the subtribe Gyrophaenina Kraatz 1856 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Homalotini) of Middle Asia, with emphasis on the fauna of Kazakhstan
Authors: ENUSHCHENKO ILYA V.
Published: June 2019

A taxonomic and biogeographic review of thirteen species of Encephalus Stephens 1832 and Gyrophaena Mannerheim 1830 (Aleocharinae: Gyrophaenina) of Middle Asia, with an emphasis on the fauna of Kazakhstan is provided. Gyrophaena (s.str.) aryanamensis Enushchenko, sp. nov. from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and G. (s.str.) hochhuthi Bernhauer 1908 are re-(described) and illustrated. Several synonymies are established: Encephalus (s.str.) angusticollis Sahlberg 1880 = E. solskyi Heyden 1880 (replacement name of E. kraatzi Solsky 1875; not synonym of G. nitidula (Gyllenhal 1810)), resyn., = E. torosus Eppelsheim 1893, syn. nov.; G. (s.str.) affinis Mannerheim 1830 = G. glareicola Pace 2010, syn. nov., = G. kangasi Rutanen 1994, syn. nov., = G. ranongensis Pace 2005, syn. nov., = G. rosskotheni Wüsthoff 1937, syn. nov. Illustrations of habitus and sexual characters of E. angusticollis are provided. A key to the species of Gyrophaena of the laetula group of Kazakhstan is given. Several members of Gyrophaenina are recorded for the first time: E. angusticollis, G. (s.str.) bihamata Thomson 1867, G. (s.str.) congrua Erichson 1837, G. (s.str.) joyi Wendeler 1924, G. (s.str.) obsoleta Ganglbauer 1895, G. (Phaenogyra) strictula Erichson 1839 from Kazakhstan and Middle Asia, and G. (s.str.) hochhuthi from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.
Five new species of Otacilia Thorell, 1897 (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from the Wuling Mountain Range, China
Authors: YAO NA , IRFAN MUHAMMAD , PENG XIANJIN
Published: June 2019

Five new species of the genus Otacilia Thorell, 1897 from the Wuling Mountain Range in China are described here based on male and female specimens: O. acerosa sp. nov., O. lata sp. nov., O. palmata sp. nov., O. rulinensis sp. nov. and O. xingdoushanensis sp. nov.. Detailed morphological descriptions, photographs of the habitus and genital organs, line drawings, and locality maps are provided.
Contribution to the knowledge of the subgenus Stigmatodipogon Ishikawa, 1965 of the genus Dipogon Fox, 1897 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)
Authors: LOKTIONOV VALERY M. , LELEJ ARKADY S.
Published: June 2019

Two new species, Dipogon (Stigmatodipogon) siam Loktionov & Lelej, sp. nov. and D. (S.) wasbaueri Loktionov & Lelej, sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on females from northern Thailand and Laos. The subgenus Stigmatodipogon Ishikawa of the genus Dipogon Fox is newly recorded from Thailand. An updated key to the females is provided.
Effect of Wind Speed and Leads on Clear-Sky Cooling over Arctic Sea Ice during Polar Night
Authors: Chechin Dmitry G. , Makhotina Irina A. , Lüpkes Christof , Makshtas Alexander P.
Published: June 2019

A simple analytical model of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) coupled to sea ice is presented. It describes clear-sky cooling over sea ice during polar night in the presence of leads. The model solutions show that the sea ice concentration and wind speed have a strong impact on the thermal regime over sea ice. Leads cause both a warming of the ABL and an increase of stability over sea ice. The model describes a sharp ABL transition from a weakly stable coupled state to a strongly stable decoupled state when wind speed is decreasing. The threshold value of the transition wind speed is a function of sea ice concentration. The decoupled state is characterized by a large air–surface temperature difference over sea ice, which is further increased by leads. In the coupled regime, air and surface temperatures increase almost linearly with wind speed due to warming by leads and also slower cooling of the ABL. The cooling time scale shows a nonmonotonic dependency on wind speed, being lowest for the threshold value of wind speed and increasing for weak and strong winds. Theoretical solutions agree well with results of a more realistic single-column model and with observations performed at the three Russian “North Pole” drifting stations (NP-35, -37, and -39) and at the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean ice camp. Both modeling results and observations show a strong implicit dependency of the net longwave radiative flux at the surface on wind speed.
Climate Effects of Anthropogenic Aerosol Forcing on Tropical Precipitation and Circulations
Authors: Wang Chia-Chi , Lee Wei-Liang , Chou Chia
Published: June 2019

Aerosols are one of the key factors influencing the hydrological cycle and radiation balance of the climate system. Although most aerosols deposit near their sources, the induced cooling effect is on a global scale and can influence the tropical atmosphere through slow processes, such as air–sea interactions. This study analyzes several simulations of fully coupled atmosphere–ocean climate models under the influence of anthropogenic aerosols, with the concentrations of greenhouse gases kept constant. In the cooling simulations, precipitation is reduced in deep convective areas but increased around the edges of convective areas, which is opposite to the “rich-get-richer” phenomenon in global warming scenarios in the first-order approximation. Tropical convection is intensified with a shallower depth, and tropical circulations are enhanced. The anomalous gross moist stability (M′) mechanism and the upped-ante mechanism can be used to explain the dynamic and thermodynamic processes in the changes in tropical precipitation and convection. There is a northward cross-equatorial energy transport due to the cooler Northern Hemisphere in most of the simulations, together with the southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the enhancement of the Hadley circulation. The enhancement of the Hadley circulation is more consistent between models than the changes of the Walker circulation. The change in the Hadley circulation is not as negligible as in the warming cases in previous studies, which supports the consistency of the ITCZ shift in cooling simulations.
New Perspectives on the Generation and Maintenance of the Kuroshio Large Meander
Authors: Yang Yang , San Liang X.
Published: June 2019

The internal dynamical processes underlying the Kuroshio large meander are investigated using a recently developed analysis tool, multiscale window transform (MWT), and the MWT-based canonical transfer theory. Oceanic fields are reconstructed on a low-frequency mean flow window, a mesoscale eddy window, and a high-frequency synoptic window with reference to the three typical path states south of Japan, that is, the typical large meander (tLM), nearshore non-large meander (nNLM), and offshore non-large meander (oNLM) path states. The interactions between the scale windows are quantitatively evaluated in terms of canonical transfer, which bears a Lie bracket form and conserves energy in the space of scale. In general, baroclinic (barotropic) instability is strengthened (weakened) during the tLM state. For the first time we found a spatially coherent inverse cascade of kinetic energy (KE) from the synoptic eddies to the slowly varying mean flow; it occupies the whole large meander region but exists only in the tLM state. By the time-varying multiscale energetics, a typical large meander is preceded by a strong influx of mesoscale eddy energy from upstream with a cyclonic eddy, which subsequently triggers a strong inverse KE cascade from the mesoscale window to the mean flow window to build up the KE reservoir for the meander. Synoptic frontal eddies are episodically intensified due to the baroclinic instability of the meander, but they immediately feed back to the mean flow window through inverse KE cascade. These results highlight the important role played by inverse KE cascades in generating and maintaining the Kuroshio large meander.
Assimilation of Radar Radial Velocity, Reflectivity, and Pseudo–Water Vapor for Convective-Scale NWP in a Variational Framework
Authors: Lai Anwei , Gao Jidong , Koch Steven E. , Wang Yunheng , Pan Sijie , Fierro Alexandre O. , Cui Chunguang , Min Jinzhong
Published: June 2019

To improve severe thunderstorm prediction, a novel pseudo-observation and assimilation approach involving water vapor mass mixing ratio is proposed to better initialize NWP forecasts at convection-resolving scales. The first step of the algorithm identifies areas of deep moist convection by utilizing the vertically integrated liquid water (VIL) derived from three-dimensional radar reflectivity fields. Once VIL is obtained, pseudo–water vapor observations are derived based on reflectivity thresholds within columns characterized by deep moist convection. Areas of spurious convection also are identified by the algorithm to help reduce their detrimental impact on the forecast. The third step is to assimilate the derived pseudo–water vapor observations into a convection-resolving-scale NWP model along with radar radial velocity and reflectivity fields in a 3DVAR framework during 4-h data assimilation cycles. Finally, 3-h forecasts are launched every hour during that period. The performance of this method is examined for two selected high-impact severe thunderstorm events: namely, the 24 May 2011 Oklahoma and 16 May 2017 Texas and Oklahoma tornado outbreaks. Relative to a control simulation that only assimilated radar data, the analyses and forecasts of these supercells (reflectivity patterns, tracks, and updraft helicity tracks) are qualitatively and quantitatively improved in both cases when the water vapor information is added into the analysis.
Safe Habitats: Does the Association Between Neighborhood Crime and Walking Differ by Neighborhood Disadvantage?
Authors: Foster Sarah , Hooper Paula , Burton Nicola W. , Brown Wendy J. , Giles-Corti Billie , Rachele Jerome N. , Turrell Gavin
Published: June 2019

Interrelationships between neighborhood walkability, area disadvantage, and crime may contribute to the inconsistent associations between crime and walking. We examined associations between crime and walking, and tested for differences by neighborhood disadvantage while addressing these additional complexities. Participants ( n = 6,680) from 200 neighborhoods spanning the most and least disadvantaged in Brisbane, Australia, completed a questionnaire and objective measures were generated for the individual-level 1,000-m neighborhood. Multilevel models examined associations between crime (perceived and objective) and walking (recreational and transport), and interactions tested for differences by neighborhood disadvantage. High perceived crime was associated with reduced odds of transport walking, whereas high objective crime was associated with increased odds of transport walking. Patterns did not differ by neighborhood disadvantage. In disadvantaged neighborhoods, the “negative” criminogenic attributes were insufficient to outweigh the “positive” walkability attributes, producing similar walking patterns to advantaged neighborhoods where residents were dislocated from local destinations but buffered from crime.
The youth labour market: From education to work before and after the global financial crisis
Authors: Watson Ian
Published: June 2019

This article examines labour market outcomes for teenagers and young adults before and after the global financial crisis. Using labour market activity calendar data, I analyse two cohorts of young people – a pre-global financial crisis cohort and a post-global financial crisis cohort – over the period from 2001 to 2016. A life course approach (sequence analysis) is used to track education-to-work transitions over this period. Optimal matching methods and cluster analysis are used to subdivide the cohorts into three distinctive categories. These form the basis for further analysis, including regression modelling. The key issue examined is whether labour market outcomes differed between these two cohorts, and, by extension, between the periods before and after the global financial crisis. In addition, the categorisation is used to examine issues of long-term marginalisation in the labour market. The main labour market outcomes analysed were gaining employment and conditions of employment, specifically underemployment and casualisation. The article concludes that gaining employment significantly deteriorated over this period. Furthermore, while the comparison of global financial crisis cohorts showed no significant differences when it came to underemployment and casualisation, this partly reflected the fact that both of these were already very high among this population of teenagers and young adults.
Australian industrial relations in 2018: Inequality, policy stagnation and a brewing storm
Authors: Clibborn Stephen
Published: June 2019

This article introduces the Journal of Industrial Relations' Annual Review of Industrial Relations in 2018. Providing an overview of the other articles contained in the Annual Review issue, this article discusses industrial relations policy stagnation, and manoeuvring for change from both employer and employee representatives. With leadership uncertainty and change within the federal government, it has been a quiet year for industrial relations reform, although some key decisions from courts and tribunals are examined and some states’ return to private sector regulation noted. A number of questions are raised regarding potential for reform in 2019 and for how to conceptualise industrial relations change.
Continuing Bonds With Children and Bereaved Young People: A Narrative Review
Authors: Clabburn Oliver , Knighting Katherine , Jack Barbara A. , O’Brien Mary R.
Published: June 2019

Background

Finding alternative ways to reconnect with the deceased is a common feature of bereavement. However, it is currently unclear how bereaved children or young people establish and develop a “continuing bond” with deceased family members.

Aim

To investigate how bereaved young people continue bonds with deceased family members.

Design

A systematically conducted narrative review was conducted using six electronic databases: CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and BNI. Limiters were applied to peer-reviewed articles published in English. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools.

Results

Twenty articles were included in the review. Three overarching themes were generated: unintended connections, intended connections, and internalized connections.

Conclusion

Bereaved young people establish a sense of connection with deceased family members through various means (e.g., unprovoked or spontaneous reminders, physical mementos, internalized memories). Some connections are unintended and occur spontaneously. However, other young people will specifically seek ways to remember the deceased to provide a sense of enduring connection.
Extraction of natural dyes from the stem of Caulis spatholobi and their application on wool
Authors: Jiang Huiyu , Hu Xiaodong , Meena Bashdar Ismael , Khan Asfandyar , Hussain Muhammad Tahir , Yao Jinbo , Wang Jiasheng
Published: June 2019

Researchers are continuously exploring new candidates in the field of natural dyeing to lighten the burden of synthetic dyestuff on living organisms. In this research, novel natural dye was explored using the Caulis spatholobi plant. The extraction was carried out through the conventional extraction method in the aqueous medium. Various parameters of the natural dye extraction process, such as the material-to-liquor ratio, pH, time and temperature, were optimized to 1:40, 12, 120 min and 100℃, respectively. The extract was filtered twice and used for the characterization and dyeing of wool fabric. The extract was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the determination of dominant functional groups. Natural dyeing of wool was carried out with and without metal mordants, such as aluminum sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. Pre-mordanting, meta-mordanting and post-mordanting techniques were employed. The performances of dyed fabrics were evaluated in terms of color strength K/ S values. The fastness properties of dyed fabrics were also measured. The dyed fabric showed various color shades based on the type of mordant used. Furthermore, enhancement in the colorfastness was observed with mordanting.
Granger Causality between Tourism and Income: A Meta-regression Analysis
Authors: Fonseca Nino , Sánchez Rivero Marcelino
Published: June 2019

In this article, we sum up the literature on the study of Granger causality relationships between tourism and income using a meta-regression analysis. We conclude that the acceptance of the tourism-led growth hypothesis is likelier the higher the countries’ degree of tourism specialization and population size. However, neither these variables nor the level of economic development is relevant for the explanation of the probability of acceptance of the hypothesis of reverse Granger causality. Notwithstanding these results, we find that several features of the research design are associated with the acceptance of both hypotheses.
Typical Roles and Intergroup Relations Shape Stereotypes: How Understanding Social Structure Clarifies the Origins of Stereotype Content
Authors: Koenig Anne M. , Eagly Alice H.
Published: June 2019

How do stereotypes gain their specific content? Social psychologists have argued that stereotypes of groups, defined by demographic indicators such as sex and race, gain their content from their locations in the social structure. In one version of this claim, observations of group members’ typical roles shape stereotype content. In another version, observations of intergroup relations shape this content. This research addressed the validity and compatibility of these two claims. Three experiments manipulating the roles and intergroup relations of hypothetical groups demonstrated that stereotype content emerged from both roles and intergroup relations even when both types of information were available. Another study yielded substantial correlations between actual groups’ typical roles and their intergroup relations. We conclude that stereotype content reflects groups’ positioning in the social structure as defined by their typical social roles and intergroup relations. Discussion considers the implications of this conclusion for changing the content of stereotypes.
Electoral management and the organisational determinants of electoral integrity: Introduction
Authors: James Toby S , Garnett Holly Ann , Loeber Leontine , van Ham Carolien
Published: June 2019

Achieving the ideals of electoral democracy depends on well-run elections. Persistent problems of electoral integrity in transitional and established democracies have prompted a burgeoning literature seeking to explain the determinants of electoral integrity around the world. However, the study of the organisations responsible for managing the electoral process has been limited to isolated national case studies. This article opens up an interdisciplinary and international research agenda on the global study of the organisational determinants of electoral integrity. It defines the concept of electoral management and provides a framework to understand how electoral management body (EMB) institutional design, EMB performance and electoral integrity are related. Findings from new data derived from cross-national surveys of EMBs are described, providing new insights into how elections are managed worldwide.
Better workers, better elections? Electoral management body workforces and electoral integrity worldwide
Authors: James Toby S
Published: June 2019

Building better elections is a central task for the study of democracy and democratisation. Despite this, there have been no cross-national studies on the staff who manage and implement elections: electoral management body (EMB) workforces. This article provides the first macroscopic worldwide picture of workforce characteristics, human resource management practices and employee outcomes, and analyses the effects they have on electoral integrity, based on original international surveys of electoral management bodies (EMBs) ( n = 51) and electoral officials ( n = 2029). Drawing from the human resource management literature, a framework is developed to explain how these factors might interact with EMB performance. Analysis demonstrates them to be highly related. Adding data on human resource management practices and employee outcomes improves explanatory models designed to predict the performance of EMBs. Chiefly, EMBs that enable greater opportunities for employees to be involved in decision-making processes perform better. Recruitment practices, job satisfaction and levels of stress are also important.
The opportunities and value-adding activities of buy-back centres in South Africa's recycling industry: A value chain analysis
Authors: Viljoen Jacoba , Blaauw Derick , Schenck Catherina
Published: June 2019

This paper investigates the entrepreneurial opportunities and value-adding activities of buy-back centres in the recycling industry. Using Porter’s firm-level value chain framework as theoretical framework for this analysis, a concurrent mixed method design was used to collect information from 67 buy-back centres across South Africa by means of face-to-face interviews, accompanied with a questionnaire with open-ended and close-ended questions. Buy-back centres’ competitive advantage is that they have the facilities to add value to the recyclables according to the recycling industry’s standards and specifications. To be viable, they need to attract large and sustainable volumes of recyclables, which often poses a challenge. Increased volumes of recyclables can translate into more jobs and income earning opportunities at all hierarchical levels in the recycling industry. A recycling model that increases the volumes of recyclables recovered by buy-back centres through informal sector activities is proposed. Such a model should facilitate changing citizen behaviour and implementation of, among others, responsible separation at source programmes to increase the volumes of cleaner recyclables. Increased supplies of recyclables should, however, be accompanied by an increase in the demand for products made from recyclables, to absorb the increased supply.
Cities as platforms for progress: Local drivers of Rwanda’s success
Authors: Turok Ivan
Published: June 2019

Rwanda’s has made remarkable all-round progress over the last 25 years. This is usually attributed to a determined national government under single-minded leadership. This paper draws attention to two local drivers of Rwanda’s socio-economic development: community participation and a positive approach to urbanisation. Popular involvement in communal projects has helped to build and maintain many useful public facilities. It has also fostered social solidarity and dialogue between citizens and public officials. The positive urban policy has helped to create more efficient and liveable cities, which are driving economic prosperity and human development. Nevertheless, there is scope for greater consistency and alignment between top-down and bottom-up processes in order to improve the suitability and responsiveness of national policies and practices to grassroots realities.
Positive local externalities of immigration on entrepreneurship: Evidence from the UK East Midlands region
Authors: Nyakudya Frederick Wedzerai
Published: June 2019

This article examines the effects of immigration on entrepreneurship, making a distinction between the individual level and the neighbourhood characteristics. The study combined individual level drawn from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data with neighbourhood level data for the English Index of Multiple Deprivation East Midlands region in the UK and applied a maximum likelihood logit model to test the hypotheses. The empirical evidence suggests that there is no direct link between the internal immigrants and start-ups on the one side; yet, there is direct link between the external immigrants and start-ups on the other side. However, the findings point to the importance of indirect effect of neighbourhood characteristics, as external immigrants have a significant effect on an individual’s perception of new entrepreneurial opportunities which predicts start-up activity. Their presence in the neighbourhood has a positive monotonic effect on individual entrepreneurship. Therefore, the critical factor is not that external immigrants come with unique knowledge and skills they utilise in the creation of their own businesses, instead they produce positive local externalities enabling others to start-up businesses.
A Comparative Analysis of the Risk Profiles of Australian Young Offenders From Rural and Urban Communities
Authors: Butcher Luke , Day Andrew , Miles Debra , Kidd Garry
Published: June 2019

Australian young people from rural areas, particularly Aboriginal young people, are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. Apart from broad evidence regarding the entrenched social disadvantages experienced by young people in rural communities, the literature is limited in describing why this might be case. Due to these social disadvantages, it is hypothesised that young offenders from rural communities will have higher levels of offending risk factors, as measured by the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory—Australian Adaption (YLS/CMI-AA). A total of 6,750 archival records were analysed, showing that significantly more Aboriginal young offenders live in rural areas. Contrary to the hypothesis, urban young offenders had significantly higher risk scores than rural young offenders. These findings suggest that there may be particular ecological factors that are not assessed in the current risk assessment instrument or that rural young people have a range of protective factors that may insulate against the broader context of social disadvantage.
Efficiency and acceptability of an automated electronic system (DayCOR) compared with a telephone call system, for follow-up of day surgery patients
Authors: Tan Nicole LT , Sestan John R
Published: June 2019

Post-discharge phone calls are a widely used yet suboptimal method of ascertaining recovery of day surgery patients. We compared the efficiency of an automated electronic system of follow-up, the Day Care Anaesthesia Outcomes Recording Registry (DayCOR), and a telephone call system that was standard practice in our non-profit private healthcare organisation in Victoria, Australia. We also surveyed a group of clinicians to assess their acceptance of DayCOR compared with the telephone call system. DayCOR is a web-based system which collects, alerts, manages and analyses patient-reported outcomes. Patients may opt in to respond to a 15-question survey via a link sent by text message or email. DayCOR’s patient response rate was 77.5%, compared with 66.0% for the telephone call system. Both systems collected data on clinical, process, and experience outcomes. Completeness of data collection was 100% using DayCOR compared with 51%–61.4% of data items using the telephone call system. We estimated that replacing our telephone call system with DayCOR to follow up 60,000 day surgery patients a year would represent an annual cost reduction of AUD$101,345 (53%) using manual demographic data entry, and AUD$142,745 (74%) if DayCOR was integrated with the institution’s existing administrative software. Seventy-eight percent of day surgery nurses and 94% of anaesthetists preferred DayCOR to the telephone call system. All anaesthetists surveyed stated that DayCOR provided more valuable feedback, and almost one-fifth had changed their clinical practice as a result. DayCOR’s efficiency and acceptability will allow more effective collection of post-discharge patient outcomes than is currently possible in our institution, and will support interventional studies aimed at improving quality of recovery of day surgery patients.
Observational audit of sevoflurane consumption during paediatric anaesthesia
Authors: van der Griend Benjamin FH , Vincent Annabelle R , Kennedy R Ross
Published: June 2019

There is a recognition of the contribution to global warming from emissions of anaesthetic gases into the atmosphere. We audited sevoflurane use to help guide future initiatives to reduce consumption. We observed sevoflurane use during paediatric anaesthesia in a single operating theatre over eight weeks. We recorded demographics, timing of induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, type of circuit used and amount of liquid sevoflurane used (in mL). Ninety-four cases were available for analysis. Of these, 65 had gas inductions and 29 had intravenous (IV) inductions. The median sevoflurane use was 19 mL (interquartile range, IQR 13–24 mL). The median duration of cases was 50.5 min (IQR 35–78 min). The median sevoflurane consumption for cases with a gas induction was 22 mL (IQR 16–26 mL) and for those with an IV induction was 11 mL (IQR 7–17 mL; P < 0.00001). The duration of cases for the gas and IV induction cohorts were similar. During maintenance of anaesthesia, there was no difference between the IV and gas induction cohorts. There was little difference in sevoflurane use between the T-piece and circle system groups. Cases performed with gas inductions consumed twice the sevoflurane as those with IV inductions. Future interventions to reduce sevoflurane consumption should focus on this period.
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin release after conventional and minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Authors: De Mey Nathalie , Cammu Guy , Brandt Inger , Belmans Ann , Van Mieghem Carlos , Foubert Luc , De Decker Koen
Published: June 2019

After cardiac surgery, a certain degree of myocardial injury is common. The arbitrarily proposed biomarker cut-off point in the Third Universal Definition for diagnosing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)–related perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is controversial and unvalidated for non-CABG surgery. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is often thought to be associated with less myocardial damage compared to conventional surgical approaches. We conducted a real-life prospective study with serial sampling of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in patients undergoing conventional and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Four different types of cardiac surgery were performed in 400 patients (February 2014–January 2015): CABG, aortic valve replacement, minimally invasive mitral/tricuspid valve surgery through the HeartPort (HP) technique and combined CABG/valve surgery. Each group was further subdivided for comparison between the different surgical techniques. Blood samples were collected consecutively at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h thereafter. The hs-cTnT values by peak timepoint differed significantly depending on the surgical approach. The overall peak timepoint for hs-cTnT occurred 6 h after ICU admission. The combined surgery and multiple-valve HP groups had the highest values (medians of 1067.5 (744.9–1455) ng/L and 1166 (743.7–2470) ng/L, respectively). The peak hs-cTnT values for patients developing PMI showed high variability. Differentiation between cardiac surgery–related necrosis and PMI remains challenging. This study emphasizes the importance of a clinically reliable biomarker cut-off value in addition to electrocardiography and echocardiography to optimize PMI diagnosis.
Safety findings from Phase 3 lasmiditan studies for acute treatment of migraine: Results from SAMURAI and SPARTAN
Authors: Krege John H , Rizzoli Paul B , Liffick Emily , Doty Erin G , Dowsett Sherie A , Wang Jianing , Buchanan Andrew S
Published: June 2019

Background

We assessed the safety profile of lasmiditan, a selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist without vasoconstrictive activity being developed as an acute therapy for migraine.

Methods

SAMURAI and SPARTAN were Phase 3 double-blind studies of patients with migraine, randomized to oral lasmiditan 50 mg (SPARTAN only), 100 mg, 200 mg, or placebo to be taken within 4 hours of onset of migraine pain. Safety data from the studies were integrated. Treatment-emergent adverse events (occurring within 48 hours of first dose) were considered in the analyses.

Results

The safety population comprised 1262 patients assigned placebo, and 654, 1265, and 1258 assigned lasmiditan 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg, respectively. There were no deaths; serious adverse events were reported for seven patients (placebo, n = 2 [0.2%]; lasmiditan 50 mg, n = 1 [0.2%]; lasmiditan 100 mg, n = 1 [0.2%]; lasmiditan 200 mg, n = 3 [0.2%]). Patients reporting ≥ 1 treatment-emergent adverse events were: Placebo, n = 174 (13.5%); lasmiditan 50 mg, n = 166 (25.4%); lasmiditan 100 mg, n = 458 (36.2%); and lasmiditan 200 mg, n = 510 (40.6%). Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally mild or moderate in severity. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events with lasmiditan were dizziness, paresthesia, somnolence, fatigue, nausea, muscular weakness and hypoesthesia. There were no ischemic events.

Conclusions

As a centrally-penetrant drug, lasmiditan use was associated with neurologic treatment-emergent adverse events; most were mild or moderate in severity and self-limiting.

Trial registration at clinicaltrials.gov

SAMURAI (NCT02439320) and SPARTAN (NCT02605174).
Evaluation of Laboratory Performance and Structural Contribution of Cold Recycled Versus Hot Mixed Intermediate and Base Course Asphalt Layers in New Hampshire
Authors: Nemati Rasool , Dave Eshan V. , Sias Jo E. , Thibodeau Eric S. , Worsman Ryan K.
Published: June 2019

Depending on the local conditions and structural design of the pavement, multiple asphalt concrete layers including base, intermediate, and wearing courses are used. Typically, the base and intermediate layers have larger aggregate sizes and lower total asphalt binder contents as compared with the wearing course. Recently, cold recycled (CR) asphalt mixtures have gained attention as an alternative to the typical base, and to some extent intermediate courses, because of economic and environmental advantages. Challenges with CR include the potential high variability of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and lack of knowledge in relation to structural contribution and long-term performance of such layers. This study investigates four different types of CR and four hot mixed plant-produced asphalt mixtures (three intermediate courses and one base course) that are typical mixtures used in New Hampshire. The laboratory performance evaluation is conducted through the resilient modulus (Mr), complex modulus (E*), semi-circular bend and direct tension cyclic fatigue (S-VECD) tests. Pavement performance prediction is carried out using the results from S-VECD approach in the FlexPAVETM software. The test results indicate that the performance of CR is highly affected by the amount of oil distillate percentage in the emulsion as well as the amount of recovered binder in the RAP. While having a relatively lower rutting resistance capability, the CR mixtures maintained an acceptable fatigue performance. As compared with CR mixtures, hot mixed intermediate and base course mixtures indicated better rutting performance while having lower resistance to cracking.
Revised Method for Rapid Determination of On-Site Water–Cement Ratio using Microwave Oven
Authors: Mardmomen Seyednavid , Chen Hung-Liang (Roger) , Leon Guadalupe
Published: June 2019

The water–cement ratio (w/c) of delivered concrete is one of the most important parameters of the material’s quality. In this study, the AASHTO T318-15 guideline was adopted to estimate the water content of fresh concrete mixes and was revised for better precision. The additional step required sieving out the coarse aggregate after drying the sample in a microwave oven, and using it in the calculation of the absorbed water and cementitious material content. The cementitious content was assumed to be proportional to the mix design ratios. Several laboratory batches, as well as on-site water–cementitious material (w/cm) ratio tests, were performed on concrete mixes containing ordinary Portland cement, ground-granulated blast furnace slag, and Class F fly ash. The results of the experiments indicated the accuracy of the revised method was increased to have an average percentage error of about 2.16% from the actual w/cm ratio whereas the method based on AASHTO calculations was 6.2%. For cases with high chemical admixture dosages, washing vinegar was used to wash out the particles around the dried sieved coarse aggregate to calculate the w/cm ratio with a more precise mass for each sample. The correlation between the measured and calculated compressive strength using the measured amount of w/cm ratios provides evidence for the method’s accuracy. Therefore, the revised method can be used as an accurate and practical process of measuring the on-site w/cm ratios of fresh concrete mixes.
Updating Traffic Inputs for Use in the Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design in Michigan
Authors: Haider Syed Waqar , Musunuru Gopikrishna , Buch Neeraj , Selezneva Olga , Schenkel Justin P.
Published: June 2019

A study, completed in 2009, characterized traffic inputs in support of implementing the new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide for the state of Michigan. The inputs included monthly adjustment factors, hourly distribution factors, vehicle class distributions, axle groups per vehicle, and axle load distributions for different axle configurations. During the last 7 years, new traffic data were collected that reflect recent economic growth, and additional and downgraded weigh-in-motion (WIM) sites. Performance models for the Pavement mechanistic-empirical (ME) design were recently calibrated to local conditions in Michigan. Hence it was appropriate to incorporate these changes in the re-evaluation of traffic inputs. Weight and classification data were obtained from 41 WIM sites throughout the Michigan to develop Level 1 (site-specific) traffic inputs. Cluster analyses were conducted to develop Level 2A inputs. Classification models (decision trees, random forests) were developed to assign a new site to these clusters; however, this proved difficult, hence, an alternative, simplified method to develop Level 2B inputs by grouping sites with similar attributes was also adopted. The optimal set of attributes for developing Level 2B inputs was identified by using an algorithm developed in this study. The effects of the developed hierarchical traffic inputs on the predicted performance of rigid and flexible pavements were investigated using Pavement-ME. Based on the statistical and practical significance of the life differences, appropriate levels were established for each traffic input. The methodology for developing traffic inputs is intuitive and could easily be adopted by Michigan Department of Transportation for future updates.
Development of Warning System and Driving Model for Overtaking Trucks on Two-Lane Highways
Authors: Hassein Udai , Diachuk Maksym , Easa Said
Published: June 2019

Passing collisions are one of the most serious traffic safety problems on two-lane highways. These collisions occur when a driver overestimates the available sight distance. This paper presents a framework for a passing collision warning system (PCWS) that assists drivers in avoiding passing collisions by reducing the likelihood of human error. The system uses a combination of a camera and radar sensors to identify the impeding vehicle type and to detect the opposing vehicles traveling in the left lane. The study involved the development of a steering control model providing lane-change maneuvers, the design of a driving simulator experiment that allows for the collection of data necessary to estimate passing parameters, and the elaboration of the algorithm for the PCWS based on sensor signals to detect impeding vehicles such as trucks. Simulation tests were carried out to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed PCWS algorithm. The impact of driver behavior on passing maneuvers was also investigated. Mathematical and imitation models were enhanced to implement Simulink for replications of real-life driving scenarios. The different factors that affect system accuracy were also examined.
Social Determinants of Racial Disparities in Cognitive Functioning in Later Life in Canada
Authors: Haq Kazi Sabrina , Penning Margaret J.
Published: June 2019

Objective: The objectives of this study were (a) to assess the nature and extent of racial disparities in cognitive functioning among older adults in Canada, and (b) to assess the role of socioeconomic factors and patterned health behaviors as social determinants of racial disparities in cognitive functioning. Method: Data were drawn from the 2009-2010 Canadian Community Health Survey. The study sample included 20,646 people aged 60 years or older. Ordered logistic regression analyses were carried out to test hypotheses linking race, socioeconomic factors, and patterned health behaviors, and cognitive functioning. Results: Our findings revealed a racial gap in cognitive functioning among older adults in Canada. This gap was, in part, mediated by socioeconomic inequalities (in income and food security) and socially patterned behaviors (i.e., drinking, physical activity levels). However, socioeconomic status (SES) and behavioral factors appeared to operate independently of one another. Discussion: The findings suggest a need to focus on the direct effects of race as well as its indirect effects, through socioeconomic factors and patterned health behaviors, for an understanding of racial disparities in cognitive functioning.
Study of comfort performance of novel car seat design for long drive
Authors: Iftekhar Hassan , Ullah Khan Raja Muhammad Waseem , Asghar Muhammad Ayub , Qadeer Abdul , Umair Muhammad , Nawab Yasir , Hamdani Syed Talha Ali
Published: June 2019

Back pain is a commonly known problem for drivers and passengers traveling in long route vehicles, especially buses and trucks. The problem becomes more severe for people suffering from bedsores. The current embodiment is a step toward addressing this problem. This method helps to regulate blood flow and provide comfort to the drivers and bedsore patients. Pneumatic cylinder and 24 semi-circular designed aluminum buds are used in the assembly that moves up and down along with the comforter foam and sheet to serve the purpose. This design is an active way of providing comfort and has significantly helped in reducing back and lower body pain. A survey was conducted by 100 participants to analyze the comfort of the current embodiment. The age of these participants was divided into two categories. Results showed that comfort varies with age and pressure. It was concluded from the survey that young people from 20 to 30 years appreciate high pressure, whereas elderly people from 30 to 50 years like low pressure. The results from analysis of variance were found to be significant with feedback results. This system is also helpful in regulating blood flow. It was concluded that most people like high pressure and the first pattern.
Experimental and numerical investigations on a new developed Savonius turbine for in-pipe hydro application
Authors: Payambarpour S Abdolkarim , Najafi Amir F
Published: June 2019

Due to limitation of energy resources, a large body of research activities has been turned to investigate potential alternative avenues to supply energy. In this regard, the renewable sources, which can provide the sustainable and cleaner energy production, have increasingly become attractive. Hydropower has the highest proportion of the renewable energy sources. Availability and high efficiency are the undeniable advantages of the hydro potentials. In this paper, hydro-energy extraction from pipelines by a new designed vertical axis turbine is studied experimentally and numerically. The turbine scheme is inspired by the Savonius rotor turbine, which includes two semicircular blades that is built by the 3D printer and installed vertically in a 100 mm transparent pipe. A sloped block is used just before the turbine blades to concentrate the flow and enhance the efficiency. In experiments, flow rate ranges from 2.7 × 10−3 m3/s to 7.3 × 10−3 m3/s and pressure drop that occurs through the turbine is less than 10.5 kPa. Numerical results show an acceptable agreement with experiments and assure that numerical method is reliable. Following successful validation, numerical studies are expanded, in order to study more details on the new turbine performance. According to the numerical results, the characteristic curves of the new turbine are depicted and described. In numerical simulation, for different turbine rotational speeds, the flow rate and the pressure difference examined are up to 12 × 10−3 m3/s and 30 kPa, respectively. Using the obtained results, investigations and studies are performed to describe turbine behavior under the effects of changing the clearance and flow field conditions. Finally, cyclic variations of turbine flow rate, torque and minimum pressure on the turbine blade are described by velocities streamlines. This approach might preform design improving for such a turbine.