bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Do Australian Library and Information Professionals Experience as Evidence?
Authors: Gillespie Ann , Miller Faye , Partridge Helen , Bruce Christine , Howlett Alisa
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Objective – This article presents the findings of a project which established an empirical basis for evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP). More specifically, the paper explores what library and information professionals experienced as evidence in the context of their professional practice.

Methods – The project consisted of two sub-studies. The public library sub-study was conducted using ethnography. Over a 5-month period, a member of the research team travelled to a regional public library on 15 occasions, staying between 3 and 4 days on each visit. The researcher observed, interacted, and became involved in the day-to-day activities of this library. These activities were recorded in a journal and added to the researcher’s insights and thoughts. Additionally, 13 face-to-face interviews with staff in positions ranging from the operational to the executive were conducted. The academic sub-study was conducted using Constructivist Grounded Theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted either in person or via Skype, with 13 librarians from Australian universities. Interviewees were in a diverse array of roles, from liaison librarian to manager and library director.

Results – The project found that the Australian academic librarians and the public librarians who participated in the project experienced six elements as evidence: observation, feedback, professional colleagues, research literature, statistics, and intuition. Each of these will be described and highlighted with examples from each of the two studies.

Conclusions – The findings of this study revealed many similarities in the way that library professionals from both studies experienced evidence. Evidence was not hierarchical, with evidence from many sources being valued equally. In contextualizing evidence and applying to the local environment, library professionals were able to draw upon more than one source of evidence and apply their professional knowledge and experiences. In this way evidence was more nuanced.
Comparison of E-Book Acquisitions Strategies Across Disciplines Finds Differences in Cost and Usage
Authors: Costello Laura
Published: March 2017

A Review of:
Carrico, S.B., Cataldo, T.T., Botero, C., & Shelton, T. (2015). What cost and usage data reveals about e-book acquisitions: Ramifications for collection development. ALCTS, 59(3). Retrieved from https://journals.ala.org/lrts/article/view/5752/7199

Abstract

Objective – To compare e-book cost-usage data across different acquisitions styles and disciplines.

Design – Case study.

Setting – A public research university serving an annual enrollment of over 49,000 students and employing more than 3,000 faculty members in the Southern United States.

Subjects – Cost and usage data from 15,006 e-books acquired by the Library through packages, firm orders, and demand-driven acquisitions.

Methods – Data was collected from publishers and vendors across the three acquisitions strategies. Usage, cost, and call number information was collected for the materials purchased via firm order or demand driven acquisitions and these were sorted into disciplines based on the call number assigned. Discipline, cost, and use were determined for each package collection as a whole because information on individual titles was not provided by the publishers. The authors then compared usage and cost across disciplines and acquisitions strategies.

Main Results – Overall, e-books purchased in packages had a 50% use rate and an average cost per use of $3.39, e-books purchased through firm orders had a 52% use rate and an average cost per use of $22.21, and e-books purchased through demand driven acquisitions had an average cost per use of $8.88 and 13.9 average uses per title. Package purchasing was cost effective for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) materials and medicine (MED) materials. Demand driven acquisition was a particularly good strategy for humanities and social sciences (HSS) titles.

Conclusion – There are differences between the acquisitions strategies and disciplines in cost and use. Firm orders had a higher cost per use than the other acquisitions strategies.
Developing academic literacies through understanding the nature of disciplinary knowledge
Authors: Clarence Sherran , McKenna Sioux
Published: March 2017

Much academic development work that is framed by academic literacies, especially that focused on writing, is concerned with disciplinary conventions and knowledges: conceptual, practical, and procedural. This paper argues, however, that academic literacies work tends to conflate literacy
practices with disciplinary knowledge structures, thus obscuring the structures from which these practices emanate. This paper demonstrates how theoretical and analytical tools for conceptualizing disciplinary knowledge structures can connect these with academic literacies development work.
Using recent studies that combine academic literacies and theories of knowledge in novel ways, this paper will show that understanding the knowledge structures of different disciplines can enable academic developers to build a stronger body of practice. This will enable academic developers
working within disciplinary contexts to more ably speak to the nature of coming to know in higher education.
La objeción de conciencia y el Tribunal del Jurado en España
Authors: Villanueva Turnes Alejandro
Published: March 2017

El presente estudio tiene por finalidad aclarar los aspectos básicos del derecho a la objeción de conciencia determinando su fundamento dentro de la norma superior del ordenamiento Jurídico español como un derecho constitucional con base en un derecho fundamental. Una vez resuelto esto se expondrá el razonamiento que ampare su existencia y aplicación en el caso de los Jurados populares como una excusa por parte de los seleccionados para ser partícipes del mismo.
Gestión municipal desde la perspectiva de las organizaciones inteligentes y ámbito jurídico
Authors: Arroyo Chacón Jennifer Isabel
Published: March 2017

El presente texto pretende realizar una propuesta para mejorar la gestión del sector municipal desde la perspectiva de las organizaciones inteligentes y el marco jurídico aplicable a partir del análisis de la problemática que presenta este sector. Para ello comienza analizando la figura de la descentralización en el ordenamiento jurídico costarricense y procede a realizar una descripción detallada de la problemática del sector a partir de los resultados del Índice de Gestión Municipal, considerando las debilidades de la gestión presupuestaria y analizando la gestión tributaria municipal. A partir de ésta contextualización procede a realizar propuestas desde el ámbito del diseño de las organizaciones como desde la perspectiva jurídica. Desde el enfoque del diseño de las organizaciones se recalca la necesidad de Líderes transformacionales, la necesidad de la caórdica en el ámbito municipal, plantea la aplicación de la adhocracia en proyectos municipales y la implementación del enfoque sistémico en el ámbito municipal, todo ello con el fin de arribar al modelo de la nueva gerencia pública. Desde el marco jurídico se analiza la necesidad de aplicar una interpretación sistémica del ordenamiento jurídico vigente y la aprobación de un Código Tributario Municipal y reforma a las leyes que crean tributos especiales municipales. Concluye con la imperiosa necesidad de transformar romper los paradigmas imperantes en la gestión municipal y avanzar del modelo burocrático al diseño de las organizaciones inteligentes modernas.
Impactos da Modernização Sobre as Estruturas Sociais: O Exemplo dos Pecuaristas de Poconé-MT
Authors: Lacerda André Luiís Ribeiro , Lima João Vicente R. B. da Costa
Published: March 2017

Este trabalho parte da constatação de um processo social de transformação, identificado na estrutura do status ocupacional de pecuarista pantaneiro, a partir de entrevistas de surveys realizadas entre 2014 e 2015 com pecuaristas pantaneiros que têm propriedades no município de Poconé-MT. Considerando o status ocupacional como variável dependente, identificamos algumas variáveis familiares ao que a literatura sociológica chama de teoria da modernização e que consideramos potenciais variáveis independentes. A hipótese de que o impacto da modernização nas estruturas sociais parece uma boa explicação para as transformações na estrutura ocupacional de pecuarista pantaneiro é defendida a partir do que os trabalhos empíricos sociológicos chamam de padrões de movimento nas estruturas ocupacionais de maneira geral e da relação entre o background dos fazendeiros e o processo de estratificação social.
Análise do Capital Social da Agricultura no Município de Pentecoste (CE)
Authors: Sousa Gerlânia Maria Rocha , Rojas Guillermo Gamarra , Nunes Emanoel Márcio , Reis José Newton Pires , Bento José Alex Do Nascimento
Published: March 2017

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o nível de capital social da agricultura do município de Pentecoste (CE). Para a obtenção dos dados foram aplicados questionários com questões sobre ao tema proposto em 42 comunidades rurais do município correspondendo a 163 famílias. O tratamento analítico dos dados consistiu na aplicação da técnica de análise multivariada conhecida como análise fatorial e a partir da aplicação dessa técnica construiu-se o Índice de Capital Social para as comunidades rurais do município e, adicionalmente, na identificação e classificação das comunidades em clusters, de acordo com a mensuração do capital social nessas comunidades através da análise de agrupamento ou cluster. Com isso, foi feito inicialmente a análise do índice que se acredita ser capaz de dar uma ideia a respeito do nível de capital social de acordo com as categorias: grupos e redes, confiança e solidariedade, ação coletiva e cooperação, coesão inclusão social e políticas públicas e assistência técnica. Em seguida, aplicou-se a análise de agrupamento ou cluster para agrupar esse índice em categorias de ordem baixa, média e alta. O ICS proposto mostrou um nível médio de capital social e uma deficiência em relação às variáveis estudadas.
Infância e tecnologia: aproximações e diálogos
Authors: Ravasio Marcele Homrich , Fuhr Ana Paulo de Oliveira
Published: March 2017

Frente às críticas do excesso da tecnologia na infância, o presente estudo tomou como ponto de partida a seguinte pergunta: quais as influências da tecnologia sobre a infância do século XXI? Este estudo de cunho monográfico utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica, na qual se optou em apresentar como embasamento teórico idéias e conceitos de autores como Ariès (1981), Boto (2002), Postman (1999), Dornelles (2005), Levin (2007) e Moita (2007). O primeiro momento do trabalho dedicou-se a um resgate histórico da infância, e, em seguida, abordaram-se as discussões referentes às concepções de infância do século XXI. Para finalizar, tratou-se de apontamentos positivos e negativos da tecnologia em sua relação com a infância.
Editorial
Authors: Santos Gildenir Carolino , Passos Rosemary
Published: March 2017

A Biblioteca da Faculdade de Educação/UNICAMP em busca de colaboração com qualidade para o meio acadêmico tem a satisfação de colocar disponível a "Revista On-line da Biblioteca Prof. Joel Martins". Trata-se de uma revista composta por trabalhos produzidos por alguns dos vários Grupos de Pesquisa da Faculdade de Educação/UNICAMP. Inicialmente com enfoque significativo para áreas temáticas que envolvem: Gerontologia; Cidadania & Movimentos Sociais; Educação na América Latina; Biblioteconomia (Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação)...
Fluid Flow and Mixing Induced by AC Continuous Electrowetting of Liquid Metal Droplet
Authors: Hu Qingming , Ren Yukun , Liu Weiyu , Chen Xiaoming , Tao Ye , Jiang Hongyuan
Published: March 2017

In this work, we proposed a novel design of microfluidic mixer utilizing the amplified Marangoni chaotic advection induced by AC continuous electrowetting of a metal droplet situated in electrolyte solution, due to the linear and quadratic voltage-dependence of flow velocity at small or large voltages, respectively. Unlike previous researchers exploiting the unidirectional surface stress with DC bias at droplet/medium interface for pumping of electrolyte where the resulting flow rate is linearly proportional to the field intensity, dominance of another kind of dipolar flow pattern caused by local Marangoni stress at the drop surface in sufficiently intense AC electric field is demonstrated by both theoretical analysis and experimental observation, which exhibits a quadratic growth trend as a function of the applied voltage. The dipolar shear stress merely appears at larger voltages and greatly enhances the mixing performance by inducing chaotic advection between the neighboring laminar flow. The mixer design developed herein, on the basis of amplified Marangoni chaotic advection around a liquid metal droplet at larger AC voltages, has great potential for chemical reaction and MEMS actuator applications, because of generating high-throughput and excellent mixing performance at the same time.
Cross-Spectral Local Descriptors via Quadruplet Network
Authors: Aguilera Cristhian A. , Sappa Angel D. , Aguilera Cristhian , Toledo Ricardo
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a novel CNN-based architecture, referred to as Q-Net, to learn local feature descriptors that are useful for matching image patches from two different spectral bands. Given correctly matched and non-matching cross-spectral image pairs, a quadruplet network is trained to map input image patches to a common Euclidean space, regardless of the input spectral band. Our approach is inspired by the recent success of triplet networks in the visible spectrum, but adapted for cross-spectral scenarios, where for each matching pair there are always two possible non-matching patches; one for each spectrum. Experimental evaluations on a public cross-spectral VIS-NIR dataset shows that the proposed approach improves the state-of-the-art. Moreover, the proposed technique can also be used in mono-spectral settings, obtaining a similar performance to triplet network descriptors, but requiring less training data.
Hernia paraestomal. Experiencia en una Sección de Cirugía de la Pared Abdominal
Authors: Zorraquino González Ángel
Published: March 2017

El desarrollo de una hernia paraestomal es el problema más frecuente consecutivo a la creación de un estoma, en respuesta a la fi siopatología de todo defecto en la pared anterolateral del abdomen.En este artículo se describen las técnicas quirúrgicas más habituales para la reparación de laeventración paraestomal, los principios básicos generales y la orientación hacia la reparación local o la recolocación del estoma.Por último, se realiza un repaso de nuestra experiencia en la Unidad de Cirugía de la Pared Abdominal del Hospital Universitario Basurto, y termina con una refl exión sobre la cirugía de la eventración paraestomal en la urgencia y la tendencia actual hacia el gesto quirúrgico que se considera más efi caz en su tratamiento: la profilaxis.
Analysis of acid-base misconceptions using modified certainty of response index (CRI) and diagnostic interview for different student levels cognitive
Authors: Sadhu Satya , Tima Maria Tensiana , Cahyani Vika Puji , Laka Antonia Fransiska , Annisa Desfi , Fahriyah Atina Rizanatul
Published: March 2017

The authors in this paper draw attention to the importance of an instrument that can analyze student’s misconception.This study described the kind of the misconception in acid-base theory, and the percentage students’ misconception occur in every subconcept of acid-base theory. The design of this study is a descriptive method, involved 148 of 11th grade science students from Senior High School, which divided into two classes are high cognitive and low cognitive. Further analysis of using Modified Certainty of Response Index (CRI) as a diagnostic instrument is used to explore misconception which in that test included evaluating only content knowledge with considering the reason behind the students' choice of response and their certainty of response in every question. The result of data analysis has shown that misconception occurred in high cognitive class, gained 43,86% and misconception occurred in low cognitive class, gained 24,63%. Based on the diagnostic interview has shown that misconception occurred in students due to students does not understand the concept well and they related the one concept to the other concepts with partial understanding, the result students make the failed conclusions. The type of misconception occurred is a conceptual misunderstanding.  According to the data analysis showed that Modified Certainty of Response Index (CRI) is effective used to analyze students’ misconceptions and the diagnostic interview is effective used to know the reasons that caused students which having misconceptions.
Critical thinking skills profile of high school students in learning chemistry
Authors: Utami Budi , Saputro Sulistyo , Ashadi Ashadi , Masykuri Mohammad , Widoretno Sri
Published: March 2017

Critical thinking skill is the priority in the goals of education. In this case, the critical thinking has the higher process, such as analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, drawing conclusion and reflecting which enables the individual to make the reasonable assessment both in the classroom and in the daily life.  This research is aimed to determine the students’ critical thinking skill in learning Chemistry at senior high school. This research used descriptive method in which the instruments were developed based on the indicators of critical thinking skill. The population of this research was 100 students of tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade from senior high schools in Surakarta which was chosen using cluster random sampling technique. The result of the research shows that the students of tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade have adequate critical thinking skills.
Influence integrated science model and implamantation learning with the unity of science in basic biology course to increase critical thinking
Authors: Khasanah Nur , Sajidan Sajidan , Sutarno Sutarno , Baskoro Baskoro
Published: March 2017

This research purposed to investigate the effect of  integrated science model and its implementation in learning by Unity of Science in Basic Biology courses to improve students' critical thinking. This method research is a quasi-experimental with experimental design posttest only control group design. The population was all students of the first semester Biology, 2015/2016 academic year with consists  of  two classes.  Samples were taken with a simple random sampling technique. The data was collected using an open essay tests and observation of critical thinking skills. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis and MANOVA test. The results showed as follows: (1) There are differences between the understanding of basic biology concepts students learn to use the integrated science model of with students who learn to use the direct teaching model (F = 7.783; p <0.05), (2) there are differences in thinking skills critical significantly between students learning with integrated science model and its implementation in Unity of science learning with students who learn to use the direct teaching model (F = 11.11, p <0.05).
Behavioural Response Analysis Using Vision Engineering (BRAVENet)
Authors: Gustilo Reggie C. ,   ECE Department, De La Salle University, Dadios Elmer P. ,   MEM Department, De La Salle University
Published: March 2017

A new engineering methodology is proposed to improve the automation process in monitoring the water quality in a small scale aquaculture system. Behavioural Response Analysis using Vision Engineering Network or BRAVENet is proposed, as a support system to a traditional sensor-based system, to monitor critical water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen. BRAVENet is based on the reactions or behavioural responses of tiger prawns to different water conditions. The performance of both the sensor-based system and BRAVENet are analysed and discussed. It is shown that the BRAVENet can identify unsafe levels of water parameters and is a good monitoring and prediction tool for water conditions especially those instances when industry grade sensors fail or become erroneous. Promising results show that BRAVENet can be used as a support system, if not as a replacement, in continuously monitoring the status of the critical water quality parameters of aquaculture systems.
Battlefield Agent Decision-Making Based on Markov Decision Process
Authors: Zhang Jia ,   School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Wang Xiang , Deng Fang , Xin Bin , Chen Wenjie ,   Key Laboratory of Complex System Intelligent Control and Decision
Published: March 2017

Battlefield decision-making is an important part of modern information warfare. It can analyze and integrate battlefield information, reduce operators’ work and assist them to make decisions quickly in complex battlefield environment. The paper presents a dynamic battlefield decision-making method based on Markov Decision Processes (MDP). By this method, operators can get decision support quickly in the case of incomplete information. In order to improve the credibility of decisions, dynamic adaptability and intelligence, softmax regression and random forest are introduced to improve the MDP model. Simulations show that the method is intuitive and practical, and has remarkable advantages in solving the dynamic decision problems under incomplete information.
Extracting Initial Iterative Control Signal Based on Trajectory Primitives Matching and Combining
Authors: Xu Jianming ,   College of Information Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Kong Lingxin , Wang Yaodong
Published: March 2017

The initial iterative control signal is often adopted a zero or a certain value in the conventional iterative learning control (ILC) system, and an ILC process needs to renew again as long as the desired trajectory is changed. In this paper, the NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) model is used for describing all trajectory primitives and the desired trajectory. It is studied that the problem of the initial iterative control signal is extracted in ILC, which presents a method of extracting the initial iterative control signal based on the trajectory primitive optimal matching and combining algorithm. Firstly, the definition of the similarity index between the two different spacial trajectories is introduced. Secondly, an optimal matching and combining algorithm is designed under a certain similarity index, which is used to find two or more combined primitive sequences with space patterns similar to the desired trajectory. Thirdly, the initial iterative control signals of the desired trajectory are extracted by using the control information of the combined primitive sequences. Finally, the simulation is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present method.
A Survey of Video-Based Crowd Anomaly Detection in Dense Scenes
Authors: Ma Junjie ,   School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Dai Yaping , Hirota Kaoru
Published: March 2017

Population growth has made the probability of incidents at large-scale crowd events higher than ever. In the past decades, automated crowd scene analysis done by computer vision has attracted attention. However, severe occlusions and complex crowd behaviors make such analysis a challenge. As a key aspect of crowd scene analysis, a number of works dealing with dense crowd anomaly detection based on computer vision have been presented. This work is a survey of computer vision techniques for analyzing dense crowd scenes. It covers two aspects: crowd density estimation and abnormal event detection. Some problems and perspectives are discussed at the end.
Precise Synchronization Control for Biaxial System via a Cross-Iterative PID Neural Networks Control Algorithm
Authors: He Wang-Yong ,   School of Automation, China University of Geosciences, Zhang Rui-Huan , Li Yong-Bo , Peng Jian
Published: March 2017

The crossiterative proportion, integration, and differentiation (PID) Neural Networks control algorithm presented here enhances position synchronization control in machine tools driven by two ball screws. An electromechanical coupling dynamics model reflecting typical system characteristics is established and then, based on dynamic analysis, a coordination control between two motor forces is investigated by separating machine tool translational and rotational dynamics. Based on state feedback, we adopt a crossiterative PID Neural Networks control algorithm using the Lyapunov function to guarantee controller stability to achieve coordination between two motor forces. Computer simulation and experimental results indicate that the algorithm follows reference input well and shows good control performance in reducing synchronization errors. The proposed algorithm also has good control performance on a biaxial synchronous machine system regardless of whether interference effects are large or small.
A Tradeoff-Based Interactive Multi-Objective Optimization Method Driven by Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Chen Lu ,   School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Xin Bin , Chen Jie ,   Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology,   State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology
Published: March 2017

Multi-objective optimization problems involve two or more conflicting objectives, and they have a set of Pareto optimal solutions instead of a single optimal solution. In order to support the decision maker (DM) to find his/her most preferred solution, we propose an interactive multi-objective optimization method based on the DM’s preferences in the form of indifference tradeoffs. The method combines evolutionary algorithms with the gradient-based interactive step tradeoff (GRIST) method. An evolutionary algorithm is used to generate an approximate Pareto optimal solution at each iteration. The DM is asked to provide indifference tradeoffs whose projection onto the tangent hyperplane of the Pareto front provides a tradeoff direction. An approach for approximating the normal vector of the tangent hyperplane is proposed which is used to calculate the projection. A water quality management problem is used to demonstrate the interaction process of the interactive method. In addition, three benchmark problems are used to test the accuracy of the normal vector approximation approach and compare the proposed method with GRIST.
Artificial Neural Network Based Step-Length Prediction Using Ultrasonic Sensors from Simulation to Implementation in Shoe-Type Measurement Device
Authors: Widodo Romy Budhi ,   Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Wada Chikamune ,   Informatics Engineering Study Program, Ma Chung University
Published: March 2017

Step-length measurement as a spatial gait parameter is useful for the physician and physical therapist for determining the patient’s gait condition. We hypothesized that this could be determined using ultrasonic sensors mounted on a shoe-type measurement device. For that purpose, we have developed a shoe-type measurement device to measure gait parameters. Our system was found to effectively measure step-length and pressure distribution. However, we found that the presence of shoes leads to perishable and fragile conditions for the sensors. Therefore, we redesigned the number, angle, and range of the ultrasonic sensors mounted on the shoes in order to clarify and improve the step-length prediction. This paper discusses the improvement of a shoe-type measurement device from the implementation with real shoes and the step-length prediction using an artificial neural network (ANN). The results of the experiment show that the number, angle, and positioning of ultrasonic sensors affect their ability to capture the human step region, that is, 50×70 cm under the experimental condition of foot progression angle up to 30 degrees. The results of the predictive performance of step-length using the proposed ANN architecture demonstrate an improvement.
Using Finger Dexterity in Elderly and Younger People to Detect Cognitive Decline
Authors: Fujiwara Katsuya ,   Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University, Fujii Hiroyuki , Mitobe Kazutaka
Published: March 2017

Because the number of elderly people is rapidly growing, using information and communication technology (ICT) for services to watch single-elder-person households has been attracting attention. Most of these services are aimed at detecting elders’ abnormalities. They could become more effective, from the preventive-medicine point of view, if additional functions were added to watch for any decline in the elders’ cognitive functions. In this paper, we describe a method for detecting minor declines in elders’ cognitive functions, which they may not be aware of, by measuring and analyzing their spiral-tracing ability using a tablet device. We developed such a measurement/analysis system and applied it to three groups of test participants: young, non-frail elders, and frail elders. This paper first describes the method for analyzing the numbers of out-of-orbit tracing attempts, the numbers of uncompleted attempts, the required time, and the angular velocities, and then refers to these tasks to reveal the elders’ characteristics from the analytic results.
An Attempt to Improve Food/Sound Congruity Using an Electromyogram Pseudo-Chewing Sound Presentation System
Authors: Endo Hiroshi ,   Human Informatics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Kaneko Hidekazu , Ino Shuichi , Fujisaki Waka
Published: March 2017

Improving the texture of foods provided during nursing care is necessary to improve the appetite of elderly individuals. We developed a system to vary perceived food texture using pseudo-chewing sounds generated from electromyogram (EMG) signals. However, this previous system could not provide chewing sounds that were sufficiently congruous with foods. Because food/sound combinations that seem unnatural cause individuals to feel uncomfortable with pseudo-chewing sounds, food/sound congruity is important. This research aims to improve the derivation and presentation of pseudo-chewing sounds so as to be able to provide various kinds of chewing sounds. The developed system adjusts the volume of pseudo-chewing sounds that are stored in a digital audio player based on the amplitude of the EMG signal envelope. Using this system, food/sound congruity was examined with two kinds of softened Japanese pickles. Six kinds of pseudo-chewing sounds were tested (noisy chewing sound, EMG chewing sound, and four kinds of actual chewing sounds: rice cracker, cookie, and two kinds of Japanese pickles). Participants reported that food/sound combinations were unnatural with the noisy and EMG chewing sounds, whereas the combinations felt more natural with the pseudo-chewing sounds of Japanese pickles. We concluded that the newly developed system could effectively reduce the unnatural feeling of food/sound incongruity.
Experimental Study on Physical Burden of Transfer Assistance for Excretion – Comparison Between Transfer-Type Wheelchair and Ordinary Wheelchair –
Authors: Ozawa Emi ,   Showa-Inan General Hospital, Chikai Manabu , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Miyazawa Hiroshi , Koizumi Nozomi , Miyajima Takashi , Kitano Akihiko , Ino Shuichi ,   National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology,   Idea Life Care Co., Ltd.,   Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center
Published: March 2017

Assisting the elderly to or from a toilet for excretion is a heavy burden, and staff at nursing homes and families at home have problems such as backache and tiredness. There are several previous studies on standing up from a chair, bed, or toilet seat but almost no studies on the series of actions required for excretion (i.e., from a bed to a transfer apparatus and from the transfer apparatus to the toilet seat). The difference in the physical burden (muscular strength) for helpers when using the Norisukesan II, a transfer-type wheelchair developed in collaboration with the authors, and an ordinary wheelchair when transferring a patient to or from a toilet for excretion was studied by biometrics with surface electromyogram (EMG) patterns. We chose a total of 11 healthy adult examinees, 10 males and one female, with an average age of 47.7±9.7. Muscle activity was measured at eight positions: right and left biceps brachii muscles, right and left quadriceps femoris muscles, upper right and left trapezius muscles, and right and left waist muscles. The results showed that if the transfer-type wheelchair was used, the muscle activity of the helpers’ biceps brachii muscles decreased by 70%, that of the quadriceps femoris muscles decreased by 60%, that of the trapezius muscles decreased by 70%, and that of the waist muscles decreased by 40%, when compared to using the ordinary wheelchair. It was therefore quantitatively clarified that assisting patients with the transfer-type wheelchair could reduce the assisting burden significantly, as the helpers did not have to tightly hold or turn the patients.
Verification of a Method for Estimating Building Damage in Extensive Tsunami Affected Areas Using L-Band SAR Data
Authors: Gokon Hideomi ,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo 4-6-1-Be604, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan, Koshimura Shunichi , Meguro Kimiro ,   International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Published: March 2017

Remote sensing technology is effective for identifying the Remote sensing technology is effective for identifying the extensive damage caused by tsunami disasters. Many methods have been developed to detect building damage at the building unit scale. Of these methods, X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data has a high resolution and is useful to investigate the detailed conditions on the Earth’s surface, although its spatial coverage is relatively small. In contrast, L-band SAR data has a lower resolution, leading to difficulties detecting building damage, although it can cover a broad area. During disasters, it is important to understand the damage across extensive areas in a short time; therefore, it is necessary to develop a method with broad coverage with high accuracy. The primary objective of this study is to develop a method to estimate building damage in tsunami affected areas using L-band SAR (ALOS/PALSAR) data. We developed our method by extending a previously proposed method for X-band SAR (TerraSAR-X) data. This study focused on Sendai City and Watari town in Miyagi Prefecture, where many houses were washed away during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. We verified that the function we developed produced good performance in estimating the number of washed-away buildings, corresponding with ground truth data with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.97. Verification was conducted in another study area, which yielded a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.87.
Object-Based Building Damage Assessment Methodology Using Only Post Event ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 Dual Polarimetric SAR Intensity Images
Authors: Bai Yanbing ,   Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University Aoba 468-1, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0845, Japan, Adriano Bruno , Mas Erick , Gokon Hideomi , Koshimura Shunichi ,   International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2017

Earthquake-induced building damage assessment is an indispensable prerequisite for disaster impact assessment, and the increasing availability of high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery has made it possible to construct damaged building inventories soon after earthquakes strike. However, the shortage of pre-seismic SAR datasets and the lack of available building footprint data pose challenges for rapid building damage assessment. Taking advantage of recent advances in machine learning algorithms, this study proposes an object-based building damage assessment methodology that uses only post-event SAR imagery. A Random Forest machine learning-based object classification, a simplified approach to the extraction of built-up areas, was developed and tested on two ALOS2/PALSAR-2 dual polarimetric SAR images acquired in affected areas soon after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. In addition, a series of texture metrics as well as the random scattering metric and reflection symmetry metric were found to significantly enhance classification accuracy. The feature selection was found to have a positive effect on overall performance. Moreover, the proposed Random Forest framework resulted in overall accuracies of 93% with a kappa coefficient of 0.885 when the object scale of 60 × 60 pixels and 15 features were adopted. A comparative experiment with the k-nearest neighbor framework demonstrated that the Random Forest framework is a significant step toward the achievement of a balanced, two-class classification.
Open Compared with Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of the Native Knee
Authors: Johns Brenton P. , Loewenthal Mark R. , Dewar David C.
Published: March 2017

Background:

Acute native knee septic arthritis is a joint-threatening emergency. Operative treatments by open or arthroscopic methods are available to surgeons. To our knowledge, the literature to date has primarily consisted of case series and no large study has yet compared these methods. The aim of this study was to compare open and arthroscopic treatment for acute native knee septic arthritis.

Methods:

All adult patients with acute native knee septic arthritis treated at our institution with either open or arthroscopic irrigation from 2000 to 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. The clinical findings, laboratory evidence, arthrocentesis and microbiology results, knee radiographs, and outcomes were compared.

Results:

There were 161 patients (166 knees) with acute native knee septic arthritis treated between 2000 and 2015. Initially, 123 knees were treated by arthroscopic irrigation and 43 knees were treated by open irrigation; however, 71% in the open treatment group required repeat irrigation compared with 50% in the arthroscopic treatment group. The superiority of an arthroscopic procedure persisted after adjustment for potential confounders by multivariable analysis, with an odds ratio of 2.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 5.9; p = 0.027). After 3 irrigation procedures, the cumulative success rate was 97% in the arthroscopic treatment group and 83% in the open treatment group (p = 0.011). The total number of irrigation procedures required was fewer in the arthroscopic treatment group (p = 0.010). In the arthroscopic treatment group, the mean postoperative range of motion was greater (p = 0.016) and there was a trend toward a shorter median length of stay (p = 0.088).

Conclusions:

Arthroscopic treatment for acute native knee septic arthritis was a more successful index procedure and required fewer total irrigation procedures compared with open treatment. Long-term postoperative range of motion was significantly greater following arthroscopic treatment.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Dynamic Stress Testing Is Unnecessary for Unimalleolar Supination-External Rotation Ankle Fractures with Minimal Fracture Displacement on Lateral Radiographs
Authors: Nortunen Simo , Leskelä Hannu-Ville , Haapasalo Heidi , Flinkkilä Tapio , Ohtonen Pasi , Pakarinen Harri
Published: March 2017

Background:

This study aimed to identify factors from standard radiographs that contributed to the stability of the ankle mortise in patients with isolated supination-external rotation fractures of the lateral malleolus (OTA/AO 44-B).

Methods:

Non-stress radiographs of the mortise and lateral views, without medial clear space widening or incongruity, were prospectively collected for 286 consecutive patients (mean age, 45 years [range, 16 to 85 years]), including 144 female patients (mean age, 50 years [range, 17 to 85 years]) and 142 male patients (mean age, 40 years [range, 16 to 84 years]) from 2 trauma centers. The radiographs were analyzed for fracture morphology by 2 orthopaedic surgeons, who were blinded to each other’s measurements and to the results of external rotation stress radiographs (the reference for stability). Factors significantly associated with ankle mortise stability were tested in multiple logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed for continuous variables to determine optimal thresholds. A sensitivity of >90% was used as the criterion for an optimal threshold.

Results:

According to external rotation stress radiographs, 217 patients (75.9%) had a stable injury, defined as that with a medial clear space of <5 mm. Independent factors that predicted stable ankle mortise were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.5 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4 to 4.6]), a posterior diastasis of <2 mm (corresponding with a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.39) on lateral radiographs (OR, 10.8 [95% CI, 3.7 to 31.5]), and only 2 fracture fragments (OR, 7.3 [95% CI, 2.1 to 26.3]). When the posterior diastasis was <2 mm and only 2 fracture fragments were present, the probability of a stable ankle mortise was 0.98 for 48 female patients (16.8%) and 0.94 for 37 male patients (12.9%).

Conclusions:

Patients with noncomminuted lateral malleolar fractures (85 patients [29.7%]) could be diagnosed with a stable ankle mortise without further stress testing, when the fracture line widths were <2 mm on lateral radiographs.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Comparison of Single Intra-Articular Injection of Novel Hyaluronan (HYA-JOINT Plus) with Synvisc-One for Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Sun Shu-Fen , Hsu Chien-Wei , Lin Huey-Shyan , Liou I-Hsiu , Chen Yin-Han , Hung Chia-Ling
Published: March 2017

Background:

Viscosupplementation has been widely used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Because we found no well-controlled trial comparing single-injection regimens of hyaluronan for knee osteoarthritis, we compared the efficacy and safety of a single intra-articular injection of a novel cross-linked hyaluronan (HYA-JOINT Plus) with a single injection of Synvisc-One in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods:

In a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial with a 6-month follow-up, 132 patients with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) were randomized to receive 1 intra-articular injection of 3 mL of HYA-JOINT Plus (20 mg/mL) (n = 66) or 6 mL of Synvisc-One (8 mg/mL) (n = 66). The primary outcome was the change from baseline in the visual analog scale (VAS) (0 to 100 mm) pain score at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC, Likert scale), Lequesne index, timed “Up & Go” (TUG) test, single-limb stance (SLS) test, use of rescue analgesics, and patient satisfaction.

Results:

A total of 121 patients were available for the intention-to-treat analysis at 6 months. Both groups had a significant improvement in the VAS, WOMAC, and Lequesne index scores at each follow-up visit (p < 0.001). Patients who received HYA-JOINT Plus experienced a significantly greater improvement in the VAS pain score at 1, 3, and 6 months compared with those treated with Synvisc-One (adjusted mean difference: −12.0, −8.5, and −6.6; p = 0.001, 0.033, and 0.045, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences in any of the secondary outcomes except the WOMAC stiffness scores at 6 months, which favored HYA-JOINT Plus treatment (p = 0.043). The TUG time did not change significantly in either group during the study (p > 0.05), but the SLS time improved significantly in both the HYA-JOINT Plus and the Synvisc-One group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.022, respectively). No significant between-group differences were observed with respect to patient satisfaction or consumption of analgesics. No serious adverse events occurred following the injections.

Conclusions:

A single injection of either HYA-JOINT Plus or Synvisc-One is safe and effective for 6 months in patients with knee osteoarthritis. HYA-JOINT Plus is superior to Synvisc-One in terms of reducing the VAS pain score at 1, 3, and 6 months and the WOMAC stiffness score at 6 months, with similar safety.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Efficacy of Patient-Specific Instruments in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Thienpont Emmanuel , Schwab Pierre-Emmanuel , Fennema Peter
Published: March 2017

Background:

Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) was introduced with the aim of making the procedure of total knee arthroplasty more accurate and efficient. The purpose of this study was to compare PSI and standard instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty with regard to radiographic and clinical outcomes as well as operative time and blood loss.

Methods:

A meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. PubMed and Embase were searched from 2011 through 2015. We included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies that reported the effect of PSI on the aforementioned outcomes. The primary end point was deviation from the mechanical axis by >3°. Random and fixed-effect models were used for analysis.

Results:

A total of 44 studies, which included 2,866 knees that underwent surgery with PSI and 2,956 knees that underwent surgery with standard instrumentation, were evaluated. The risk of mechanical axis malalignment was significantly lower for PSI, with a pooled relative risk of 0.79 (p = 0.013). The risk of tibial sagittal-plane malalignment was higher for PSI than for standard instrumentation (relative risk = 1.32, p = 0.001), whereas the risk of femoral coronal-plane malalignment was significantly lower (relative risk = 0.74, p = 0.043). The risk of tibial coronal-plane malalignment was significantly higher for PSI only when employing fixed-effect meta-analysis (relative risk = 1.33, p = 0.042). Minor reductions in total operative time (−4.4 minutes, p = 0.002) and blood loss (−37.9 mL, p = 0.015) were noted for PSI.

Conclusions:

PSI improves the accuracy of femoral component alignment and global mechanical alignment, but at the cost of an increased risk of outliers for the tibial component alignment. The impact of the increased probability of tibial component malalignment on implant longevity remains to be determined. Meta-analyses indicated significant differences with regard to operative time and blood loss in favor of PSI. However, these differences were minimal and, by themselves, not a substantial justification for routine use of the technology.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.