bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE INTER-RATER AND INTRA-RATER RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF WORKPLACE ERGONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT
Authors: Mohd. Rohani Jafri , James Adeyemi Ademola , Abd. Aziz Roseni , Abdul Rani Mat Rebi
Published: December 2017

Observation tools have found wide application in ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) because of their ease of use, ability to be used by multiple users with less specialised training and less operation time. However, their major challenge remains the reliability of their findings. Since MSD is a multidisciplinary problem, there is need for observation tools to be precise when used by practitioners from different professions. This study therefore, investigated the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of workplace ergonomic risk assessment (WERA) observation tool. Thirteen ergonomics and safety stakeholders, from four different professions were trained and thereafter, independently asked to carry out risk assessment of ten different videos-captured work activities. WERA was used to evaluate the participants’ exposure to six physical risk factors of MSDs in six body regions, so as to determine their risk level. The assessment was repeated after two weeks. The interclass reliability analysis was carried out using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with the two-way mixed model and absolute agreement as the preferred types. Two of the tasks, tyre extraction and quay crane operation were rated as high risked with an exposure rating greater than 60%, while the remaining eight were medium-risked. The body regions with high probability of MSD exposure were the neck (70%), leg (60%), wrist (60%) and back (50%). Inter-rater reliability (ICC) of the activities by the professionals ranged between 0.97 and 0.99 while intra-rater reliability of the participants ranged between 0.81 and 1.0. The reliability analysis demonstrated consistency among the different professionals using WERA. Therefore,there is a need to urgently redesign the tasks and carry out ergonomic interventions in the work activities assessed.
INPUT SHAPING TECHNIQUES FOR SWAY CONTROL OF A ROTARY CRANE SYSTEM
Authors: Alhassan Ahmad , Mohamed Z. , M. Abdullahi Auwalu , A. Bature Amir , Haruna Ado , M. Tahir Nura
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates the performance of input shaping techniques for sway control of a rotary crane system. Unlike the conventional optimal controllers, input shaping is simple to design and cost effective as it does not require feedback sensors. Several input shapers were implemented and their performances were compared which are useful for future sway control designs. A nonlinear model of the system was derived using the Lagrange’s energy equation. To investigate the performance and robustness of input shaping techniques, zero vibration (ZV), zero vibration derivative (ZVD), zero vibration derivative-derivative (ZVDD) and zero vibration derivative-derivative-derivative (ZVDDD) were proposed with a constant cable dimension. Level of reduction of the payload sway was used to assess the control performance of the shapers. Simulation and real time experimental results have shown that ZVDDD with an average sway reduction of 88% has the highest level of sway reduction and robustness to modeling errors as compared to 85%, 80% and 65% for ZVDD, ZVD and ZV respectively.
IN-VITRO BIOCOMPATIBILITY STUDY OF HYDROXYAPATITE COATED ON CO-CR-MO WITH OXIDE INTERLAYER
Authors: Mas Ayu H. , Izman S. , Daud R. , Shah A. , Anwar Mahmood , Krishnamurithy G. , Kamarul T.
Published: December 2017

The effects of oxide interlayer on cobalt-chromium-molybdenum substrate were investigated in order to improve the quality of hydroxyapatite (HA) coating as well as enhance the cell responses. Substrates were oxidized at temperature of 850 °C and 1050 °C for 3 hours. Oxidized substrates were then coated with HA slurry using dip coating technique. Analysis of surface morphology, thickness and chemical composition of oxide interlayer prior to HA coating were performed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and grazing X-ray diffraction respectively. It seems that rough surface of oxide interlayer provides better mechanical interlocking of HA particles to the substrate surface with no visible micro-cracks. In addition, the HA coated substrates with oxide interlayer also demonstrate strong attachment and better proliferation of cells compared to HA coated substrates without oxide interlayer. The results also demonstrates that cells were spread out more actively as earlier as day 7 and have greater extensions of filopodium on HA coated substrates with oxide interlayer. It is concluded that the introduction of an intermediate oxide layer on Co-Cr-Mo substrate prior to HA coating has shown a positive effect in terms of improving the quality of HA coating as well as cell bioactivity performance.
A SINGLE-VENDOR SINGLE-BUYER INTEGRATED PRODUCTION-INVENTORY MODEL WITH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND CONTROLLABLE PRODUCTION RATE
Authors: Jauhari Wakhid Ahmad
Published: December 2017

In the classical vendor-buyer inventory models, the common unrealistic assumption is that all the items manufactured are in good quality. However, in reality, it can be observed that there may be some defective items produced and then delivered to the buyer. Thus, the existence of defective items would consequently give significant influence to system behavior. In addition, a manufacturing flexibility such as the capability to adjust production capacity becomes a key success factor for increasing system flexibility as well as reducing total cost. Here, we investigate how a quality improvement program and adjustable production rate can help the supply chain to reduce the total cost. This paper studies the effect of quality improvement and controllable production rate in joint economic lot size model consisting of single-vendor and single-buyer under stochastic demand. The model gives allowance to the vendor to adjust production rate and also to invest an amount of capital investment to reduce the defect rate. The lead time is comprised of production time and setup and transportation time. The model also considers a situation in which the shortages in buyer side are assumed to be partially backordered. To solve the model, an iterative algorithm is proposed to determine simultaneously safety factor, delivery lot size, delivery frequency, production rate and process quality for minimizing total cost is proposed. The result from this study shows that allowing the vendor to both adjust the production rate and reduce the defective product by adopting quality improvement policy can reduce the individual and total cost. In the example given, the proposed model gives significant total cost saving of 45.9% compared to the model without controllable production rate and quality improvement.
P53 AND CYCLIN B1 MEDIATE APOPTOTIC EFFECTS OF APIGENIN AND RUTIN IN ER+-BREAST CANCER MCF-7 CELLS
Authors: Abdul Hamid Hasani Narimah , Mohd Amin Indah , Kamaludin Roziana , Nik Mohd Rosdyd Nik Mohd Mazuan , Johari Ibahim Mohammad , Sheikh Abdul Kadir Siti Hamimah
Published: December 2017

Tamoxifen is an effective treatment for estrogen receptor alpha positive (ERa+)-breast cancer, however patients who received the treatment for five years have greater mortality risk compared to those who did not receive tamoxifen. Furthermore, patients treated with tamoxifen developed resistance to the drug which mediated through p53 and PTEN. Therefore, the study is undertaken to determine the potential adjuvant properties of flavonoids, apigenin and rutin to promote the anticancer activity induced by tamoxifen using ERa+-breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. MCF-7 and non-transformed breast MCF-10A cells were treated separately with apigenin, rutin, tamoxifen or the combination of each flavonoids with tamoxifen. Anti-proliferative activity and respective IC50 concentrations were determined using MTT assay. The respective IC50 concentrations obtained were used in the subsequent experiments. The anti-proliferative mechanism was determined using Annexin V-FITC morphological staining and DNA fragmentation assays. The effect on tumor suppressor (p53 and PTEN) and cell cycle related genes (p21, CDK1 and Cyclin B1) were determined by QuantiGene Plex assay. Our results showed that MCF-7 cells were more sensitive to both apigenin and rutin compared to MCF-10A cells. Both cells were sensitive to tamoxifen. Apigenin and rutin synergistically enhanced tamoxifen anti-proliferative effect in MCF-7. Meanwhile rutin protects MCF-10A against the toxicity of tamoxifen. Our results indicate that the anti-proliferative mechanism of apigenin and rutin is mediated by apoptosis signals. In MCF-7 cells, both tumor suppressor (p53 and PTEN) and cell cycle related genes (p21 and CDK1) were up regulated by apigenin and rutin, contrary to tamoxifen. Apigenin and rutin induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through p53-dependent pathway. Both flavonoids are suggested as potential adjuvant agents to enhance tamoxifen efficacy in ERa+-breast cancer treatment.
THE USE OF MIXED WASTE RECYCLED PLASTIC AND GLASS AS AN AGGREGATE REPLACEMENT IN ASPHALT MIXTURES
Authors: Zakaria Nur Mustakiza , Hassan Mohammad Kamal , Ibrahim Ahmad Nazrul Hakimi , P. Rosyidi Sri Atmaja , Md. Yusoff Nur Izzi , Mohamed Abdullahi Ali , Hassan Norhidayah
Published: December 2017

One of the major problems with landfills is that they contain a large amount of solid wastes. Waste plastics and glasses contribute greatly to this problem, and these materials need to be managed or recycled to extend the life of landfill sites. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using these waste materials in asphalt mixtures for pavement applications. Various types of recycled waste plastics and glasses were selected for this study and the mix containing these materials was designed by the Marshall method. Three types of glass were used: bottle glass, liquid-crystal display (LCD) glass, and sheet glass. In terms of the total weight of the asphalt mixtures, approximately 5% constituted of recycled materials used as an aggregate replacement. In this study, asphalt mixtures were aged in the laboratory to simulate the site conditions of short-term and long-term ageing. After the ageing process, samples were tested for asphalt mixture performance characteristics in terms of the following parameters: Marshall Stability and Flow, Marshall Quotient and resilient modulus. It was found that the replacement combining 1% recycled plastic and 4% recycled glass shows almost similar and satisfactory results compared to the control sample for all tests. Therefore, recycled plastic and recycled glass, when optimally blended, can be considered feasible to be used as an aggregate replacement in asphalt mixtures for flexible road pavements.
Alianza del Pacífico y Mercado Común del Sur: dos enfoques de la integración económica regional
Authors: Martínez Castillo Alberto
Published: December 2017

Tanto el Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur) como la Alianza del Pacífico (AP) son acuerdos de integración económica regional, cuyos principios constitutivos se ajustan al denominado regionalismo abierto. Sin embargo, cuando nace la AP, con la Declaración de Lima del 28 de abril de 2011, el Mercosur estaba alejado del liberalismo económico, y su agenda política, que había adquirido especial relevancia, lo condujo a enfrentamientos con los Estados Unidos. Algunos analistas llegaron a hablar de una confrontación entre los librecambistas eficientes de la AP y los estatistas ineficientes del Mercosur. En este artículo, se hace un análisis de ambos organismos regionales. La investigación, basada en fuentes documentales y estadísticas, pretende evaluar la capacidad de estos organismos para impulsar el desarrollo económico mediante la integración regional, objetivo propuesto en sus documentos constitutivos. La principal conclusión es que la AP está mejor preparada para lograr el objetivo propuesto debido a su compromiso con la integración profunda y el comercio de cadenas globales de valor. Otra es que la política y el enfrentamiento ideológico se han convertido en un elemento perturbador del desempeño del Mercosur.
Cubrimiento mediático de las elecciones locales de 2015 en Colombia: entre la opacidad política y el centralismo informativo
Authors: Cárdenas Ruiz Juan David
Published: December 2017

Los medios de comunicación tienen un rol determinante en los procesos electorales. En octubre de 2015, se celebraron las elecciones para seleccionar a los mandatarios y representantes regionales y municipales en Colombia. La Misión de Observación Electoral y un grupo de universidades realizó un monitoreo al cubrimiento realizado por los principales medios de comunicación al proceso electoral. Este artículo se enfoca en los noticieros de los dos canales nacionales con mayores niveles de rating y con un posicionamiento histórico dentro de las audiencias nacionales, Caracol y RCN, analizando la agenda, los actores y las estrategias de construcción de la información en busca de plantear una serie de reflexiones en torno al rol de los medios en el cubrimiento de procesos electorales en Colombia. En el artículo, se evidencian dos tendencias de este cubrimiento. Primero, el excesivo centralismo en el cubrimiento de la información; y segundo, la falta de transparencia y equilibrio informativo, en la medida en que los medios asumen agendas políticas e ideológicas defendiendo posiciones e intereses políticos determinados.
¿Dónde están y quiénes son los que protestan contra la globalización? Caracterización de las organizaciones participantes en el Foro Social Mundial 2001, 2004 y 2008
Authors: Másmela Carolina Cepeda
Published: December 2017

Este artículo ofrece una caracterización de las organizaciones y los movimientos sociales que suscribieron las declaraciones oficiales del Foro Social Mundial (FMS) en sus versiones de 2001, 2004 y 2008, con el fin de discutir algunas de las críticas más recurrentes que hay frente a este. Para ello, enmarca el análisis dentro de la literatura sobre movimientos sociales globales desde una perspectiva crítica en relaciones internacionales, cuestionando también el carácter unidimensional que las perspectivas liberales le asignan a la sociedad civil. Se ilustran los principales rasgos de los participantes respecto del origen, la frecuencia de la participación, las reivindicaciones centrales y los tipos de organización. El artículo concluye con varias reflexiones sobre la necesidad de indagar con mayor profundidad sobre el rol de organizaciones y movimientos concretos, la construcción de coaliciones en el FMS y las discusiones alrededor de temáticas centrales por ser trabajadas allí.
Fundamentação dos direitos humanos a partir da ética discursiva habermasiana
Authors: Zanon Andrei , Trevisol Marcio
Published: December 2017

O presente estudo pretende analisar a fundamentação dos direitos humanos a partir da perspectiva habermasiana da ética discursiva. No livro Direito e democracia (2003), o autor apresenta um sistema de direitos construídos a partir do princípio do discurso, do princípio da democracia e da forma jurídica que introduz cinco categorias de direitos fundamentais. Esses direitos são denominados absolutos e relativos. Tendo em vista esses grupos de direitos a objetividade do artigo está localizada na tentativa de situar a discussão habermasiana dos direitos humanos na esfera do Direito. Habermas localiza sua discussão sobre a legitimidade dos direitos humanos em sociedades democráticas e altamente diversas e plurais. Sua perspectiva é traçar um diagnóstico seguro que possa sustentar um conjunto de direitos a partir da ação comunicativa. A inovação hebermasiana reside na racionalidade de compreender que a fundamentação de um conjunto de direitos somente é possível através da linguagem como condição para o consenso. A condição da linguagem permite formalizar o consenso de forma intersubjetiva que supera a fragmentação, o relativismo e a dogmatização e estabelece a condição democrática como elemento essencial para definir os direitos humanos. Ao fundamentar teoricamente o conjunto de direitos humanos a partir da ética discursiva será possível lançar um olhar crítico sobre o processo de legitimação dos direitos humanos. A ética discursiva efetiva os direitos.
A longa paz na América do Sul: questionamentos às teses da paz negativa na região
Authors: Duarte Villa Rafael , De Souza Pimenta Marilia Carolina
Published: December 2017

O artigo procura tensionar narrativas teóricas relevantes para a formação de de um discurso de paz negativa en América del Sur. Metodologicamente, discute de forma crítica a maneira como algumas epistemologias, especialmente da Escola Inglesa e Liberal Institucionalista, focam o tema da construção da paz negativa na América do Sul ao mesmo tempo que se apresentam as tensões, contradições e principais contribuições dessas epistemologias. A seguir, as narrativas discutidas são contrastadas com desenvolvimentos empíricos na região relacionados com o tema da paz negativa. Entre os achados mais importante se enfatiza que as narrativas tradicionais sobre a paz negativa não prestam atenção a pesquisas empíricas sobre violência políticosocial doméstica na América do Sul, sendo muito orientadas, tais perspectivas, para uma noção de paz que privilegia ainda uma visão interestatal da sociedade internacional sulamericana; em segundo lugar, as narrativas tradicionais sobre paz na América do Sul são também tencionadas quando se atenta para a nem sempre diferenciação de políticas de segurança e defesa na região. Finalmente, ao examinar alguns índices internacionais sobre violência e políticas públicas em estados sulamericanos percebese uma ambivalência conceitual porque ao mesmo tempo que as narrativas tradicionais fazem uma contribuição importante quando resgatam, analiticamente e empiricamente, a sociologia histórica, de outro lado, excluem uma reflexão sobre o impacto da violência social na formação de um “Estado forte” e no efeito transnacional da violência de grupos não estatais violentos.
La resistencia y la resistencia civil: la importancia de la teoría noviolenta
Authors: Martinez Bernal Daniel Ricardo
Published: December 2017

Son muchos los artículos, los textos y las publi-caciones que hacen referencia a la resistencia y la resistencia civil, pero muy pocos los que hablan de la noviolencia como uno de sus pilares. Es más, es tal su desconocimiento que noviolencia la escriben indistintamente (no violencia, novio-lencia o no-violencia). Por esa razón, el objeto de este artículo es darle un giro a estas ideas, y mostrar cómo la noviolencia es el sustento de las nociones de resistencia y resistencia civil. Gracias a los estudios y las luchas gandhianos es que estos dos conceptos cobraron mayor sentido y en esa medida es que se les puede reconocer como luchas distintas de las militares o bélicas. El fundamento teórico de la noviolencia permite ver tanto la importancia que tiene el factor de lo no armado como la relevancia del estudio de los medios-métodos y fines-estrategias. To-mar como base estas dos variables amplía las perspectivas de análisis y, sobre todo, permite in-cluir valores, como el de la paz, en medio de una constante tan predominante como la violencia. Pensar desde el punto de vista de la noviolencia y sus diferentes acepciones facilita entender y conceptualizar las luchas sociales de forma más precisa y sistematizada.
Grados de ansiedad en la extracción de un tercer molar impactado. Diferencias de género / Anxiety Levels during Impacted Third Molar Extraction. Gender Differences
Authors: Cázares de León Francisco , Lozano Laín Alberto José , Gutiérrez Lizardi Pedro , Salinas Noyola Alfredo
Published: December 2017

RESUMEN. Antecedentes: La ansiedad dental es común en los procedimientos de odontología y particularmente en los de cirugía oral Objetivo: Determinar el grado de ansiedad que se manifiesta ante la extracción quirúrgica de un tercer molar impactado y comparar los resultados de acuerdo a género. Métodos: El tipo de estudio es no experimental, con un diseño transversal, descriptivo y comparativo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 80 pacientes que acudieron a consulta odontológica de ambos géneros (28 varones y 52 mujeres) de entre 17 y 62 años de edad (media de 35.5 años). Resultados: Las mujeres tuvieron grados de ansiedad en un 56.3 %   contra un 27.5 % de los hombres, lo que indica que la proporción de ansiedad es mayor estadísticamente significativa para el género femenino. Conclusiones: la ansiedad es una emoción muy frecuente en los pacientes odontológicos particularmente en los que acuden a cirugía oral y específicamente en las extracciones de terceros molares. Existen diferencias entre géneros ya que el género femenino es el que presenta grados de ansiedad extrema, aunque hay que señalar que se deben considerar los factores socioculturales los cuales pueden determinar el comportamiento de cada individuo. Por último, es muy importante que el odontólogo haga uso de todas las técnicas y destrezas para evitar grados de ansiedad que pudieran conducir a estados críticos durante el tratamiento dental.ABSTRACT. Background: Dental anxiety is common in dental procedure and particular in dental surgery. Purpose: to determine the level of anxiety that is manifested before surgical removed of an impacted third molar and compare the results between the different gender. Methods: the type of study is not experimental design is transversal, but descriptive and comparative analysis. The sample consisted of 80 patients attending dental office of both male and female sex (28 males and 52 females) aged between 17 and 62 years old (mean 35.5 years). Results: the results showed that women anxiety levels showed at 53.4 % against 24.7 % of men, indicating that the proportion of anxiety is significantly higher for women. Conclusions: anxiety is a common emotion in dental patients particularly those who come to oral surgery and specifically in the third molar extractions. There are differences between genders and the female is the one with degrees of extreme anxiety, although it should be noted to consider the sociocultural factors which can determine the behavior of each individual. Finally, it is very important that the dentist makes use of all the techniques and skills to avoid anxiety levels that could lead to critical states during dental treatment.
Láser en odontología: fundamentos físicos y biológicos / Laser in Dentistry: Physical and Biological Foundations
Authors: Briceño Castellanos Jhon Fredy , Gaviria Beitia Diego Alejandro , Carranza Rodríguez Yurani Angélica
Published: December 2017

RESUMEN. Antecedentes: El láser es una tecnología cada vez más utilizada en Odontología. Para tomar decisiones acertadas con respecto a las características y uso del láser es importante conocer sus bases físicas y biológicas en cuanto a su interacción con los tejidos. Objetivo: Analizar los fundamentos biológicos y físicos del láser en odontología. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa con base en literatura publicada entre 1990 y 2016 e incluida en el Medline. La muestra consistió en 30 artículos. Para el análisis se empleó un enfoque hermenéutico. Resultados: Los fundamentos físicos analizados incluyen luz, amplificación, emisión estimulada y radiación. En cuanto a los efectos biológicos se analizan el fototérmico, fotoquímico y fotoacústico. Asimismo, se describen las propiedades ópticas de los tejidos orales:  absorción, penetración y longitud de extinción. Conclusiones: No todos los láseres actúan igual y una misma longitud de onda puede tener interacciones diferenciales en los tejidos. Existen varios estudios que evidencian la efectividad del láser en varias especialidades de la odontología y abren la posibilidad de varias líneas de investigación.ABSTRACT. Background: Laser technology usage is increasing in dentistry. In order to take adequate decisions about characteristics and use, it is important to know the physical and biological foundations of laser and its interaction with oral tissues. Objective: To analyze the physical and biological foundations of laser in dentistry. Methods: A narrative review of literature published between 1990 and 2016 and included in Medline was carried out. The sample consisted of 30 articles. Analysis of literature was performed through a hermeneutical approach Results: Physical foundations of laser analyzed include light, amplification, stimulated emission, and radiation. Biological effects studied are photothermal, photochemical, and photoacoustic. In addition, optical properties of oral tissues are described: absorption, penetration, and extinction length. Conclusion: Not all lasers act the same way and the same wave length can interact differently with tissues. Several studies show evidence of the effectiveness of laser in several dental specialties and open the possibility for several lines of research.
El reto de convertirse en una revista de talla mundial o mantenerse como una publicación institucional / The Challenge of Becoming a World-Class Journal or Staying as an Institutional Publication
Authors: Delgado Troncoso Jorge Enrique
Published: December 2017

RESUMEN. El autor analiza las estrategias que la revista Universitas Odontologica ha implementado para internacionalizarse. Ellas incluyen la publicación electrónica de libre acceso, la creación de comités con amplia participación de miembros de instituciones internacionales y la publicación de dossiers temáticos con editores invitados de diferentes países. Dichas estrategias parecen no ser suficientes en este momento para que los artículos de la revista sean más citados en otras publicaciones. Una mayor citación es un imperativo de cara al nuevo sistema de evaluación de revistas de Colombia. Las dos posibles opciones son quedarse como una revista institucional o continuar el proceso de posicionamiento internacional. Este último involucraría dar el paso a convertirse en una revista bilingüe y asegurar los recursos financieros y organizacionales necesarios.ABSTRACT. The author analyzes the internationalization strategies implemented by Universitas Odontologica. They include open access publication, the creation of committees with an emphasis on members from international institutions, and the publication of thematic dossiers with international guest editors. Currently, those strategies do not seem to be enough to have more of its articles cited in other journals. Achieving more citations is an imperative with the new Colombian journal evaluation system. The two possible options are to stay as an institutional journal or continue internationalizing. The latter would require becoming a bilingual journal and assuring adequate funding and organizational resources.
Eficacia de un programa de higiene oral individualizado con refuerzo a través de redes sociales en jóvenes universitarios con diagnóstico de gingivitis / Efficacy of an Individualized Prevention Program Including Social Media Support on University...
Authors: Serrano Méndez Carlos Alberto , Avendaño Calderón Karen Andrea , Moreno Caro Paula Andrea
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT. Background: Several epidemiology reports have shown high prevalence of gingivitis among adolescents and young individuals in Colombia. The Third Colombian Oral Health Study described how approximately 70 % of individuals 15-24 years had gingival bleeding. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an individualized oral hygiene program that uses social media to treat gingivitis on young university students from Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: Thirty-eight students with gingivitis participated in a program that included: Individualized oral hygiene instruction, professional removal of plaque and calculus and, recall and support on oral hygiene through the use of social media. Evaluated clinical parameters included: plaque accumulation, bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment levels, these measured at baseline and at a follow-up examination four weeks later. Wilcoxon test was used. Results: Plaque accumulation was significantly reduced from 72.6 % to 29.6 %, similarly bleeding on probing was reduced, from 36.7 % to 13.8%, a slight reduction in probing depth and gain in attachment level was observed. Subjects reported an increased frequency for toothbrushing and use of dental floss. Conclusion: The program showed efficacy in the treatment of gingivitis, subjects were highly positive to the use of social media.
Three new Trachytes Michael, 1894 species from the east Mediterranean region (Acari: Mesostigmata: Trachytidae)
Authors: Kontschán Jeno , Kiss Balázs , Tóbiás István
Published: December 2017

Three new species of the genus Trachytes are described, named and illustrated from the east Mediterranean region. T. kozari sp. nov. is from Rhodes and Karpathos, T. jenseri sp. nov. from Cyprus and T. kissi sp. nov. from Eastern part of Greece.
Abrupt shift in the observed runoff from the southwestern Greenland ice sheet
Authors: Ahlstrøm Andreas P. , Petersen Dorthe , Langen Peter L. , Citterio Michele , Box Jason E.
Published: December 2017

We find an abrupt 80% increase in observed Greenland ice sheet runoff in 2003 to be related to atmospheric circulation change.
The Indian monsoon variability and civilization changes in the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Kathayat Gayatri , Cheng Hai , Sinha Ashish , Yi Liang , Li Xianglei , Zhang Haiwei , Li Hangying , Ning Youfeng , Edwards R. Lawrence
Published: December 2017

Speleothem records of Indian monsoon provide climatic context to societal changes in Indian subcontinent over the last 5700 years.
A mixed-kinetic model describes unloaded velocities of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle myosin filaments in vitro
Authors: Brizendine Richard K. , Sheehy Gabriel G. , Alcala Diego B. , Novenschi Sabrina I. , Baker Josh E. , Cremo Christine R.
Published: December 2017

Reconstituted muscle-like assays reveal novel mechanisms that control the speed of muscle contraction.
Why fossil scientists are suing Trump over monuments move
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: December 2017

Downsizing of Utah preserves puts unique deposits at risk of damage from development, researchers argue.
Sudan seeks a science revival
Authors: Nordling Linda
Published: December 2017

Released from sanctions, scientists hope to make up ground lost to other African nations.
Rethinking digital manufacturing with polymers
Authors: Poelma Justin , Rolland Jason
Published: December 2017

Data-driven approaches and improved resin materials can expand applications
A new data effort to inform career choices in biomedicine
Authors: Blank Rebecca , Daniels Ronald J. , Gilliland Gary , Gutmann Amy , Hawgood Samuel , Hrabowski Freeman A. , Pollack Martha E. , Price Vincent , Reif L. Rafael , Schlissel Mark S.
Published: December 2017

Institutions will report student and postdoc outcome data
Compositive Optimal Control for the Seismic Response of a Long-Span Triple-Tower Suspension Bridge
Authors: Wang Hao , Wu Yifeng , Sha Ben , Zheng Wenzhi , Gao Yuqi
Published: December 2017

In the design of super-long-span suspension bridges, the floating system is commonly adopted. However, this system may lead to the excessive earthquake-excited longitudinal displacement (LD) at the end of the main girder, which in return could result in pounding damage at expansion joints. In this paper, Taizhou Bridge, the triple-tower suspension bridge with the longest main span in the world, is taken as an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of three different approaches (elastic links, viscous dampers, and their combination) of mitigating the possible excessive LD. The finite element code ABAQUS is used to build the numerical model of the bridge and calculate the dynamic characteristics as well as the seismic responses. Then, 24 cases with different parameters of elastic links and viscous dampers are investigated and it is observed that the mitigation effect of the 24 cases varies significantly with different parameters. To obtain the optimized mitigation effect for seismic responses, including the LD of the girder, the LD and shear force of all towers, in the 24 cases, the modified analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is introduced to realize the compositive optimal control of the triple-tower suspension bridge. Results show that the 24th case is the optimal one in which the LD of the girder is reduced significantly while the inner force of towers does not get excessive increase.
Asymptotic Bound of Secrecy Capacity for MIMOME‐Based Transceivers: A Suboptimally Tractable Solution for Imperfect CSI
Authors: Zamanipour Makan
Published: December 2017

The paper principally proposes a suboptimally closed‐form solution in terms of a general asymptotic bound of the secrecy capacity in relation to MIMOME‐based transceivers. Such pivotal solution is essentially tight as well, fundamentally originating from the principle convexity. The resultant novelty, per se, is strictly necessary since the absolutely central criterion imperfect knowledge of the wiretap channel at the transmitter should also be highly regarded. Meanwhile, ellipsoidal channel uncertainty set‐driven strategies are physically taken into consideration. Our proposed solution is capable of perfectly being applied for other general equilibria such as multiuser ones. In fact, this in principle addresses an entirely appropriate alternative for worst‐case method‐driven algorithms utilising some provable inequality‐based mathematical expressions. Our framework is adequately guaranteed regarding a totally acceptable outage probability (as 1 − preciseness coefficient). The relative value is almost 10% for the estimation error values (EEVs) ⩽0.5 for 2 × 2‐based transceivers, which is noticeably reinforced at nearly 5% for EEVs  ⩽0.9 for the case 4 × 4. Furthermore, our proposed scheme basically guarantees the secrecy outage probability (SOP) less than 0.05% for the case of having EEVs ⩽0.3, for the higher power regime.
Numerical Study on Hydrogen Flow Behavior in Two Compartments with Different Connecting Pipes
Authors: Liu HanChen , Cao XueWu
Published: December 2017

Hydrogen accumulation in the containment compartments under severe accidents would result in high concentration, which could lead to hydrogen deflagration or detonation. Therefore, getting detailed hydrogen flow and distribution is a key issue to arrange hydrogen removal equipment in the containment compartments. In this study, hydrogen flow behavior in local compartments has been investigated in two horizontal compartments. The analysis model is built by 3-dimensional CFD code in Cartesian coordinates based on the connection structure of the Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) compartments. It consists of two cylindrical vessels, representing the Steam Generator compartment (SG) and Core Makeup Tank compartment (CMT). With standard k-ε turbulence model, the effects of the connecting pipe size and location on hydrogen concentration distribution are investigated. Results show that increasing the diameter of connection pipe (IP) which is located at 800 mm from 150 mm to 300 mm facilitates hydrogen flow between compartments. Decreasing the length of IP which is located at 800 mm from 1000 mm to 500 mm can also facilitate hydrogen flow between compartments. Lower IP is in favor of hydrogen mixing with air in non-source compartment. Higher IP is helpful for hydrogen flow to the non-source term compartment from source term compartment.
MOQPSO‐D/S for Air and Missile Defense WTA Problem under Uncertainty
Authors: Xu Hao , Xing Qinghua , Tian Zhenhao
Published: December 2017

Aiming at the shortcomings of single objective optimization for solving weapon target assignment (WTA) and the existing multiobjective optimization based WTA method having problems being applied in air and missile defense combat under uncertainty, a fuzzy multiobjective programming based WTA method was proposed to enhance the adaptability of WTA decision to the changes of battlefield situation. Firstly, a multiobjective quantum‐behaved particle swarm optimization with double/single‐well (MOQPSO‐D/S) algorithm was proposed by adopting the double/single‐well based position update method, the hybrid random mutation method, and the two‐stage based guider particles selection method. Secondly, a fuzzy multiobjective programming WTA model was constructed with consideration of air and missile defense combat’s characteristics. And, the uncertain WTA model was equivalently clarified based on the necessity degree principle of uncertainty theory. Thirdly, with particles encoding and illegal particles adjusting, the MOQPSO‐D/S algorithm was adopted to solve the fuzzy multiobjective programming based WTA model. Finally, example simulation was conducted, and the result shows that the WTA model constructed is rational and MOQPSO‐D/S algorithm is efficient.
Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Anti–CTLA-4 Antibody Ipilimumab and Lenalidomide in Patients with Advanced Cancers
Authors: Sakamuri Divya , Glitza Isabella C. , Betancourt Cuellar Sonia L. , Subbiah Vivek , Fu Siqing , Tsimberidou Apostolia M. , Wheler Jennifer J. , Hong David S. , Naing Aung , Falchook Gerald S. , Fanale Michelle A. , Cabanillas Maria E. , Janku Filip
Published: December 2017

Preclinical data suggest that combining a checkpoint inhibition with immunomodulatory derivative can increase anticancer response. We designed a dose-escalation study using a 3 + 3 design to determine the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase II dose (R2PD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) of the anti–CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab (1.5–3 mg/kg intravenously every 28 days × 4) and lenalidomide (10–25 mg orally daily for 21 of 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity) in advanced cancers. Total of 36 patients (Hodgkin lymphoma, 7; melanoma, 5; leiomyosarcoma, 4; renal cancer, 3; thyroid cancer, 3; other cancers, 14; median of 3 prior therapies) were enrolled. The MTD has not been reached and ipilimumab 3 mg/kg and lenalidomide 25 mg have been declared as R2PD. DLT were grade (G) 3 rash (3 patients) and G3 pancreatitis (1 patient). G3/4 drug-related toxicities other than DLT were G3 anemia (5 patients), G3 thromboembolism (2 patients), G3 thrombocytopenia, G3 rash, G3 hypopituitarism, G3 pneumonitis, G3 transaminitis, and G4 hypopituitarism (all in 1 patient). Eight patients had tumor shrinkage per immune-related response criteria (−79% to −2%) including a PR (−79% for 7.2+ months) in a refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Using comprehensive genomic profiling, a total mutation burden (mutations/Mb) was evaluated in 17 patients, with one of the patients achieving a PR demonstrated intermediate mutation burden. In conclusion, combination of ipilimumab and lenalidomide is well tolerated and demonstrated preliminary signals of activity in patients with refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and other advanced cancers. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(3); 671–6. ©2017 AACR.
Cot Death: History of an Iatrogenic Disaster
Authors: Obladen Michael
Published: December 2017

Since antiquity, cot death has been explained as accidental suffocation, overlaying, or smothering. Parents were blamed for neglect or drunkenness. A cage called arcuccio was invented around 1570 to protect the sleeping infant. Up to the 19th century, accidents were registered as natural causes of death. From 1830, accidental suffocation became unacceptable for physicians and legislators, and “natural” explanations for the catastrophe were sought, with parents being consoled rather than blamed. Two assumed causes had serious consequences: thymus hyperplasia was irradiated, causing thyroid cancer, and the concept of central apnea was widely accepted, which led to home monitors and distracted from epidemiological evidence. Prone sleeping originated in the 1930s and from 1944, it was associated with cot death. However, from the 1960s, many authors recommended prone sleeping for infants, and many countries adopted the advice. A worldwide epidemic followed, peaking at 2‰ in England and Wales and 5‰ in New Zealand in the 1980s. Although epidemiological evidence was available by 1970, the first intervention was initiated in the Netherlands in 1989. Cot death disappeared almost entirely wherever prone sleeping was avoided. This strongly supports the assumption that prone sleeping has the greatest influence on the disorder, and that the epidemic resulted from wrong advice.
Nasalance Variability in 3- to 5-Year-Old Children during Production of Speech Stimulus in Three Vowel Contexts
Authors: Ha Seunghee , Shin Ilsan
Published: December 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether age and vowel contexts influence test-retest nasalance score variability in typically developing Korean children. Participants: Forty-five 3- to 5-year-old children with normal speech and resonance participated in the study. Methods: All subjects were asked to repeat three 4-syllable speech stimuli in high, low, or mixed vowel contexts twice after the examiner. An immediate test-retest nasalance score was assessed with no headgear change. Test and retest variability in nasalance scores was examined based on the absolute difference in nasalance scores of the first and second repetition for each stimulus. Results: A significant main effect of the vowel context on variability in nasalance scores was found, but the effect of age on nasalance variability was not significant. Mean absolute difference in nasalance scores for the stimuli in the high vowel contexts was significantly greater than for the stimuli in the low and mixed vowel contexts. Conclusions: The results suggested that variability in nasalance scores might not decrease with age and tend to show considerable individual variations. Increased variability in nasalance scores in the high vowel context might be associated with aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics resulting from physiological aspects of the vowel /i/.
Relationship between Activity Noise, Voice Parameters, and Voice Symptoms among Female Teachers
Authors: Pirilä Sirpa , Pirilä Paula , Ansamaa Terhi , Yliherva Anneli , Sonning Samuel , Rantala Leena
Published: December 2017

Objective: Our interest was in how teachers’ voices behave during the delivery of lessons in core subjects (e.g., mathematics, science, etc.). We sought to evaluate the relationship between voice sound pressure level (SPL), vocal fundamental frequency (F0), voice symptoms, activity noise, and differences therein during the first and the last lessons in core subjects of the day. Patients and Methods: The participants were 24 female elementary school teachers. Voice symptoms were evaluated by questionnaire. The data were recorded on 2 portable voice accumulators (VoxLog) from the first and last lessons of the day. The versions of accumulators differed by frequency weighting; therefore, the analysis and the results of noise and voice SPL were treated separately: unweighted (group 1) and A-weighted (group 2). Results: Difference in voice SPL followed difference in activity noise. F0 increased between the first and last lessons. Correlations were found between differences in the noise and the voice symptoms of tiredness and dryness. Irritating mucus was associated with high F0 during the first lesson. Conclusion: An apparent increase in voice loading due to the activity noise was observed during lessons in core subjects. Collaboration between specialists in voice and acoustics and teachers and pupils is needed to reduce this voice loading.
Waiting Time following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Does It Really Matter
Authors: Plastiras Aris , Sideris Michail , Gaya Andy , Haji Amyn , Nunoo-Mensah Joseph , Haq Asif , Papagrigoriadis Savvas
Published: December 2017

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is considered the standard approach before any surgical intervention for locally advanced rectal tumors and has been proven to significantly improve the local recurrence rates of rectal cancer. However, the optimal timing of surgical resection after neoadjuvant CRT remains debatable. Objective and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 65 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative CRT followed by surgical resection in order to evaluate the optimal time for surgical treatment. We used two alternative groups for analysis: patients who underwent surgery up to 6 weeks after CRT (n = 28) and those who underwent surgery 6 weeks or more after CRT (n = 27). Also, we compared patients who were operated on within 3 months (n = 39) with those who underwent surgical resection after more than 3 months (n = 16). Nonresponders to CRT were excluded from the analysis. Results: There was no statistically significant association between waiting period post CRT and radiological downstaging for any group (p > 0.05 for any association). Also, there was no association between recurrence of disease, cancer-related deaths, perineural invasion, or positive lymph node ratio and any waiting period up to 3 months (p > 0.05 for all associations). Conclusion: In this small exploratory study there was no evident difference in outcome according to timing of surgery, which suggests that further research in larger cohorts is warranted.
Nutritional Screening and Clinical Outcome in Hospitalized Patients with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Takaoka Azusa , Sasaki  Masaya , Nakanishi Naoko , Kurihara Mika , Ohi Akiko , Bamba Shigeki , Andoh Akira
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: Hospitalized patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) can develop severe nutritional deficits. However, the nutritional screening tools with the most utility for such patients are still unknown. Methods: Nutritional status of 40 CD patients was assessed on admission using several screening tools and laboratory tests. Their validity was evaluated in relation to length of hospital stay (LOS) and intestinal resection. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to predict prolonged LOS (≥28 days). Results: Prolonged LOS was correlated with each of the following screening parameters: Subjective Global Assessment, Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002), Onodera’s Prognostic Nutritional Index (O-PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status, serum albumin level, and weight loss. These parameters were not correlated with intestinal resection. Evaluation of prognostic yield showed cutoff values of serum albumin 3.3 g/dL (AUC 0.797, sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 89.5%) and O-PNI 36.5 (0.749, 71.4%, 73.7%). By combining the serum albumin cutoff value and NRS 2002 score, patients were divided into 4 groups, with a prolonged LOS rate of 68.2% in the group with the worst prognosis. Conclusions: A combination of serum albumin (given the simplicity of testing) and NRS 2002 as nutritional screening tools may be useful for hospitalized CD patients.