bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Updated Blizzard Climatology of the Contiguous United States (1959–2014): An Examination of Spatiotemporal Trends
Authors: Coleman Jill S. M. , Schwartz Robert M.
Published: October 2016

Blizzards are extreme winter storms that are defined by strong winds and falling or blowing snow that significantly reduces visibility for an extended period of time. For the conterminous United States, blizzard occurrence by county was compiled from Storm Data for 55 winter seasons from 1959/60 to 2013/14. Spatiotemporal patterns were examined for blizzard seasons (September–August) at annual, decadal, and monthly frequencies. Linear regression and spectral analysis were used to detect any blizzard cycles or trends. Societal impacts such as fatalities, injuries, property damage, and federal disaster declarations were also tallied. Data revealed 713 blizzards over the 55 years, with a mean of 13 events per season. Seasonal blizzard frequency ranged from one blizzard in 1980/81 to 32 blizzards in 2007/08. The average area per blizzard was 83 474 km2, or approximately the size of South Carolina. Blizzard probabilities ranged from 1.8% to 76.4%, with a distinct blizzard zone in North Dakota, western Minnesota, and northern South Dakota. Every month except July, August, and September has reported blizzards with a peak occurrence in December and January. Federal disaster declarations resulting from blizzards totaled 57, with more than one-half of them occurring in the twenty-first century. Storm Data attributed 711 fatalities during the 55-yr study period, with an average of one individual per event; 2044 injuries were reported, with a mean of nearly three per blizzard. Property damage totaled approximately $9.11 billion in unadjusted dollars, with an approximate mean of $12.6 million per storm.
Whirlwinds and Hairpins in the Atmospheric Surface Layer
Authors: Oncley Steven P. , Hartogensis Oscar , Tong Chenning
Published: October 2016

Vortices in the atmospheric surface layer are characterized using observations at unprecedented resolution from a fixed array of 31 turbulence sensors. During the day, these vortices likely are dust devils, though no visual observations are available for confirmation. At night, hairpin vortices appear to have been observed. The structure and dynamics of several types of vortices are described and related to other vortex investigations, including tornadoes and hurricanes.
X-Band Wave Radar for Coastal Upwelling Detection off the Southern Coast of Sicily
Authors: Raffa F. , Ludeno G. , Patti B. , Soldovieri F. , Mazzola S. , Serafino F.
Published: October 2016

The main aim of this work is to show the potentialities of an X-band radar system about the detection of the coastal upwelling phenomenon. This is made possible by means of the estimation of the sea surface current, which moves from the coastal areas toward the open sea for wind-induced upwelling events. The study presents the results of the X-band radar data processing for a system installed at Capo Granitola (southwestern Sicily). In particular, the radar data acquired in three different periods—namely, 5–6 November 2013, 8–9 February 2015, and 6 March 2015—indicated upwelling events. The occurrence of these events was confirmed by independent information derived from in situ wind data provided by a meteorological station and the analysis of the satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration.
Maternal Experiences in a Parenting Group Delivered in an Urban General Pediatric Clinic
Authors: Kimmel Mary C. , Cluxton-Keller Fallon , Frosch Emily , Carter Tracy , Solomon Barry S.
Published: October 2016

Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can result in impaired maternal-infant interactions. Pediatricians have a unique opportunity to identify and support mothers with mood and anxiety disorders. A parenting intervention, Circle of Security, was delivered in a pediatric clinic targeting women with mood and anxiety disorders. A qualitative assessment of the program’s acceptability, participant engagement, and general experiences was conducted. Data collection included medical record abstraction, semistructured psychiatric diagnostic interviews, and semistructured questionnaires. Findings indicate Circle of Security is a feasible and practical approach to providing parenting support to women of young children with mood and anxiety disorders in the pediatric medical home. Additional larger studies will be helpful in tracking outcomes of participating women and infants and in further aiding pediatricians in teaching about attachment and emotions, empowering mothers to talk about their struggles, and ensuring support for mothers in reflecting on their emotions and experiences that affect parenting.
Asthma Control Test
Authors: duRivage Nathalie , Ross Michelle , Mayne Stephanie L. , Suh Andrew , Weng Daniel , Grundmeier Robert W. , Fiks Alexander G.
Published: October 2016

We compared results of a modified version of the Asthma Control Test using parent proxy report (PP-ACT) with results reported by children and parents using the validated Childhood–Asthma Control Test (C-ACT). 104 parent-child dyads with a child aged 6 to 12 years with asthma were randomized to complete PP-ACT followed by C-ACT or C-ACT followed by PP-ACT. Scores ≤19 indicated uncontrolled asthma. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the PP-ACT in comparison with the C-ACT, and calculated concordance between the 2 scales. The PP-ACT had sensitivity of 86% and negative predictive value of 88% for detecting uncontrolled asthma. More than 75% of surveys were concordant (κ = 0.54, moderate agreement). Our results suggest that while the PP-ACT missed few children with uncontrolled asthma and may simplify reporting of asthma control in circumstances when child report is not feasible or creates barriers to survey receipt, limitations of proxy reporting should be considered.
How Social Scientists Make Causal Claims in Court
Authors: Brandmayr Federico
Published: October 2016

This paper contributes to two topics that have received insufficient attention in science and technology studies: the social dimensions of causal reasoning and how the knowledge-making site of expert testimony affects the production and reception of social scientific knowledge. It deals with how social scientists make causal claims when testifying as expert witnesses in trials where causal claims are relevant, using as a case study the so-called L’Aquila trial, in which experts were summoned by the parties to testify on the causes of risk-related behavior by the inhabitants of an Italian city in early 2009. In particular, I analyze the process of selection of causal loci, the attribution and removal of agency, the increase and decrease of causal factors in the explanation of an event, and the delimitation of the explanandum. As a general insight derived from the case, it is argued that the position of experts in a trial––which side summons them––may be a more important factor than their branch of expertise to account for certain types of these practices.
Reconsidering the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ – memory rights and the right to memory in the new media era
Authors: Tirosh Noam
Published: October 2016

In 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) established the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ (RtbF). Since its establishment, more than 500,000 people filed requests with Google to be ‘de-listed’ from its search. At the same time, the Court’s decision has stirred debates focused on the tension the decision raised between a person’s right to privacy and freedom of expression. This study offers, yet, a different reading of the decision and its meaning. It first outlines the theoretical foundations of the concept of memory and its relation to rights. Then, it focuses on media, memory, and the RtbF. Afterward, the study discusses the legal origins of the RtbF and claims that the right is actually a right to construct one’s narrative. Therefore, in order to analyze the RtbF, this study places it within memory studies and analyzes it through its tools. From this perspective, this study criticizes the emphasis placed on forgetting in the definition of the right and problematizes its focus on individuals. Eventually, this study uses the legitimization the RtbF gives to a new discourse about memory in relation to rights in order to suggest an extended ‘right to memory’ that will answer the memory needs of our time.
Evaluation of the suitability and performance of cassava waste (peel) extracts in a microbial fuel cell for supplementary and sustainable energy production
Authors: Adekunle Ademola , Raghavan Vijaya
Published: October 2016

In a number of energy-poor nations, peel from cassava processing represents one of the most abundant sources of lignocellulosic biomass. This peel is mostly discarded indiscriminately and eventually constitutes a problem to the environment. However, energy can be extracted from this peel in a microbial fuel cell. In this study, the viability of cassava peel extract as a substrate in a single-chamber air cathode microbial fuel cell is demonstrated, and optimum performance conditions are explored. The effects of different pretreatments on the extract are also discussed in the context of observed changes in the internal resistances, conductivity and Coulombic efficiencies. At the best conditions examined, the extract from cassava peel fermented for 168 h and adjusted to a pH of 7.63 attained a peak voltage of 687 mV ± 21 mV, a power density of 155 mW m−3 of reactor volume and a Coulombic efficiency of 11 %. Although this energy is limited to direct use, systems exist that can effectively harvest and boost the energy to levels sufficient for supplementary energy usage in cassava producing regions.
If Someone Asked, I’d Participate: Teachers as Recruiters for Political and Civic Participation
Authors: Jacobsen Rebecca , Casalaspi David
Published: October 2016

Whereas much has been written about the role of resources and motivation for activating adolescents to become engaged citizens, less work considers the role that recruitment within schools might play in shaping youth civic engagement patterns. Drawing on interviews with over 100 high school students and over 40 school officials, our research illuminates the critical role that school-based recruitment plays in fostering youth civic engagement. We find that while a majority of the students we interviewed are actively involved in their local community, a sizable portion of students remain unengaged and that a lack of recruitment from school officials is one important factor explaining this phenomenon. We also find that teachers, especially social studies teachers, can play a key role in recruiting and motivating students. However, teachers tend to act as “rational prospectors” who selectively recruit certain subsets of students (i.e., advanced students)—something that likely contributes to later inequality in participation.
Focal Seizures in Patients With SCN1A Mutations
Authors: McDonald Christopher L. , Saneto Russell P. , Carmant Lionel , Sotero de Menezes Márcio A.
Published: October 2016

The SCN1A gene has been implicated in the etiology of various forms of epilepsy. New research has linked this gene to specific types of epilepsy, all of which present in infancy or early childhood. This study examines the time course and pathology of pediatric patients who have a mutation in the SCN1A gene in order to open a discussion regarding the key trends of this form of epilepsy as well as important clinical considerations in management for patients who present with symptoms relating to the SCN1A mutations. We retrospectively examined 20 patients who presented to the clinic with focal seizures, as well as were positive for an SCN1A genetic mutation. Despite the small sample size, we were able to find important trends in the time course of the disorder as well as important areas of clinical practice that must be taken into consideration for these patients.
Differences in Abuse, Neglect, and Exposure to Community Violence in Adolescents With and Without PTSD and Depression
Authors: Nöthling Jani , Suliman Sharain , Martin Lindi , Simmons Candice , Seedat Soraya
Published: October 2016

South African adolescents are exposed to high levels of violence and trauma, including community violence, abuse, and neglect. Violence and trauma are associated with negative mental health outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Demographic characteristics, additional exposure to trauma, community violence, and types of childhood abuse and neglect may place adolescents at greater risk of developing PTSD. This study aimed to first assess the weighted contribution of demographic factors, trauma load, community violence, and types of abuse and neglect in predicting PTSD symptom severity. Second, we aimed to determine group differences in demographic factors, trauma load, community violence, and types of abuse and neglect among participants with no disorder, PTSD only, PTSD and depression, and depression only. Participants were 215 adolescents identified with emotional and/or behavioral problems and referred to an adolescent trauma clinic from schools in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Clinical assessments were undertaken to assess community violence exposure; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; physical and emotional neglect; and a clinical diagnosis of PTSD and comorbidity. Trauma-exposed adolescents with PTSD and depression reported significantly higher levels of emotional abuse and community violence exposure in comparison with trauma-exposed adolescents without a disorder. Emotional abuse, community violence exposure, and female gender were significant predictors of PTSD in regression analysis. These findings underscore the contribution of different types of trauma in the development of PTSD. Interventions focused on preventing trauma, PTSD, and depression should be multifaceted and be targeted at various levels, for example, individual/interpersonal level (reduce abuse in the household and immediate environment) and community/societal level (reduce crime rates in communities and strengthen conviction policies). Traumatized youth should routinely be screened for a history of abuse and particularly exposure to community violence, given their strong association with PTSD.
The Impact of Random Metal Detector Searches on Contraband Possession and Feelings of Safety at School
Authors: Bhatt Rachana , Davis Tomeka
Published: October 2016

Weapons at school pose a danger to students as well as faculty. Educational administrators have attempted to reduce their prevalence by implementing random weapons searches in schools. This article examines the effectiveness of this approach using data from two geographically adjacent school districts in Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward). In the 1998-1999 school year, Miami-Dade County Schools implemented mandatory random weapons searches in schools, whereas Broward County did not. Using a difference-in-differences estimation strategy, the results indicate that the searches reduced the likelihood that students brought weapons to school and reduced incidences of being offered illegal drugs at school in Miami. Moreover, students in Miami were less likely to report skipping school due to safety concerns following the introduction of the searches.
Rechallenging Statin Therapy in Veterans With Statin-Induced Myopathy Post Vitamin D Replenishment
Authors: Kang Jenny H. , Nguyen Quynh-Nhu , Mutka Juleann , Le Quang A.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Statins are the primary class of medications used to lower cholesterol and reduce risks for coronary heart disease. However, statin muscular adverse effects are one of the main reasons for statin nonadherence and a barrier to cardiovascular risk reduction.

Objectives:

The primary objective of our study was to examine the effect of replenishing vitamin D on statin-induced myopathy in veteran patients who failed to maintain statin therapy in a pharmacist-run ambulatory care setting. Secondary objectives were to examine changes in patients’ vitamin D levels, fasting lipid profiles, and achievement of lipid goals after reinitiation of statin therapy.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cohort study of veteran patients conducted at a pharmacist-managed cholesterol-optimization clinic. Patients with low-serum vitamin D, history of statin-induced myopathy, and who received vitamin D replenishment prior to rechallenging statin therapy between December 1, 2008, and April 1, 2015, were identified. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who maintained their statin therapy at 12 months after statin reinitiation.

Results:

Twenty-seven patients met the study criteria. All patients were able to maintain their statin therapy without myalgia after vitamin D supplementation. Eleven patients (40.7%) tolerated their previously failed statins. The most frequently restarted statins were atorvastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin. A 22% to 30% increase in the number of patients who achieved cholesterol goals based on the national lipid guidelines was observed at 12-month follow-up.

Conclusion:

Replenishing low vitamin D in patients with statin-induced myopathy appears to be an effective strategy in improving medication adherence and subsequently preventing cardiovascular and mortality events.
Reliability of a Novel Social Activity Questionnaire: Perceived Social Support and Verbal Interaction in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention
Authors: Zuelsdorff Megan L. , Koscik Rebecca L. , Okonkwo Ozioma C. , Peppard Paul E. , Hermann Bruce P. , Sager Mark A. , Johnson Sterling C. , Engelman Corinne D.
Published: October 2016

Objective: Social activity is associated with healthy aging and preserved cognition. Such activity includes a confluence of social support and verbal interaction, each influencing cognition through rarely parsed, mechanistically distinct pathways. We created a novel verbal interaction measure for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) and assessed reliability of resultant data, a first step toward mechanism-driven examination of social activity as a modifiable predictor of cognitive health. Method: Two WRAP subsamples completed a test–retest study to determine 8-week stability ( n = 107) and 2-year stability ( n = 136) of verbal interaction, and 2-year stability of perceived social support. Reliability was determined using quadratic-weighted kappa, percent agreement, or correlation coefficients. Results: Reliability was fair to almost perfect. The association between social support and interaction quantity decreased with age. Discussion: Social activity data demonstrate moderate to excellent temporal stability. Moreover, in older individuals, social support and verbal interaction represent two distinct dimensions of social activity.
Trading health for money: agential struggles in the (re)configuration of subjectivity, the body and pain among construction workers
Authors: Ajslev Jeppe ZN , Møller Jeppe L , Persson Roger , Andersen Lars L
Published: October 2016

Construction work is physically demanding and often associated with bodily pain. This article presents a study of construction workers’ practices of using and relating to their bodies at work through an agential realist framework for analysing the (re)configuration of the workers’ embodied subjectivity. The analysis draws on interviews with 32 Danish construction workers as well as brief observations. The article shows how ‘trading health for money’ becomes a mode for maintaining positive social, occupational and masculine identity among construction workers. Furthermore, it shows how the agency of the body is overruled by the intra-acting agencies of productivity, collegiality, job security and masculine working-class identity. Finally, it shows an instability in this configuration of masculine working-class identity that leaves room for a focus on the body.
Creating a culture for radical innovation in a small mature business
Authors: McLaughlin Patrick
Published: October 2016

This article describes an approach in organizational development to develop an innovation culture for radical product development in a small mature engineering company. The research took place in a business based in the United Kingdom that designed and manufactured instrumentation and specialized packing machines. An initial study within the company’s new product development team identified key aspects that influenced a radical innovation culture. Nine key themes were found to be pertinent, following an iterative process with the development team. These themes were triangulated using the established Organization Culture Assessment Instrument and the Creative Climate Assessment Tool. A third assessment was developed that gauged the development team culture proximity to an ideal position. Seven interventions were developed in conjunction with the company development team, senior managers, the analysis of previous empirical case research and dialogue with UK companies that promote discontinuous innovation. The results of the interventions were evaluated 4 years after implementation. The culture was re-assessed using the same assessment tools and the changes were identified. The outcomes are described and they indicate the success of the company’s attempt to embed a sustainable radical innovation culture into the product development area.
Multi-objective discrete particle swarm optimisation algorithm for integrated assembly sequence planning and assembly line balancing
Authors: Ab Rashid Mohd Fadzil Faisae , Hutabarat Windo , Tiwari Ashutosh
Published: October 2016

In assembly optimisation, assembly sequence planning and assembly line balancing have been extensively studied because both activities are directly linked with assembly efficiency that influences the final assembly costs. Both activities are categorised as NP-hard and usually performed separately. Assembly sequence planning and assembly line balancing optimisation presents a good opportunity to be integrated, considering the benefits such as larger search space that leads to better solution quality, reduces error rate in planning and speeds up time-to-market for a product. In order to optimise an integrated assembly sequence planning and assembly line balancing, this work proposes a multi-objective discrete particle swarm optimisation algorithm that used discrete procedures to update its position and velocity in finding Pareto optimal solution. A computational experiment with 51 test problems at different difficulty levels was used to test the multi-objective discrete particle swarm optimisation performance compared with the existing algorithms. A statistical test of the algorithm performance indicates that the proposed multi-objective discrete particle swarm optimisation algorithm presents significant improvement in terms of the quality of the solution set towards the Pareto optimal set.
Molecular dynamics simulation of elastic–plastic deformation associated with tool–workpiece contact in force sensor–integrated fast tool servo
Authors: Cai Yindi , Chen Yuan-Liu , Shimizu Yuki , Ito So , Gao Wei
Published: October 2016

The tool–workpiece interactions when a single-point diamond cutting tool with specific tool edge geometry is made to contact with a copper workpiece are evaluated by the molecular dynamics simulations under different temperatures, boundary conditions and model sizes for ultra-precision microcutting and in-process surface form measurement based on a force sensor–integrated fast tool servo. It is confirmed that the proposed multi-relaxation time method is effective to stabilize the workpiece molecular dynamics model over a wide temperature range up to the room temperature under which a practical microcutting and on-machine surface form metrology process are conducted. The boundary condition and model size of the molecular dynamics model are then optimized to make reliable and cost-effective simulations for evaluation of the elastic–plastic transition contact depth and the corresponding contact force when a diamond tool with a practical edge sharpness of up to 30 nm is employed for microcutting and on-machine surface form metrology.
Fast parametric curve interpolation with minimal feedrate fluctuation by cubic B-spline
Authors: Lu Lei , Zhang Lei , Gu Yan , Zhao Ji
Published: October 2016

Due to the reliable feedrate fluctuation and computation load of the existing parametric curve interpolation, a fast interpolation method by cubic B-spline for parametric curve is presented which results in a minimum feedrate fluctuation and light computation load. As there are many geometry implementation tools and many good properties in the B-spline compared with the polynomial, the relation between the arc length s and curve parameter u can be fitted by the cubic B-spline accurately. Because the feedrate fluctuation of the generally used Taylor approximation method is sensitive to the curvature of the toolpath, its accuracy cannot be controlled. For a given feedrate fluctuation of 0.05%, the proposed interpolation method can guarantee the error requirements by increasing the number of the control points. After the de Boor method is applied in real time, the computation load of the cubic B-spline interpolation is decreased compared with the Taylor approximation method and higher order polynomial-fitting method. In order to save the memory consumption for storing the parameters of the fitted cubic B-spline, an iterative optimization process is applied to obtain the knot vector elements and optimize the control points. Simulations and experiments show that the interpolation method can attain high accuracy and computation efficiency. According to the simulations, for most of the complex curves, the feedrate fluctuation of the proposed interpolation method is decreased by about 50% when the feedrate is scheduled and the computation load of the proposed method is decreased by about 70% compared with the second-order interpolation method.
Effect of cutting fluid on precision machined surface integrity of heat-resistant stainless steel
Authors: Yan Pei , Rong Yiming , Wang Xibin , Zhu Junyi , Jiao Li , Liang Zhiqiang
Published: October 2016

The machined surface integrity of blades is of utmost importance in the power equipment manufacturing industry. Recently, many blade accidents have been attributable to the misuse of cutting fluids that were necessary in the actual machining of difficult-to-cut materials, but the effect of the cutting fluid on surface integrity and service performance has been persistently neglected. In this article, an investigation into the effect of cutting fluids on the surface quality of a typical blade material was undertaken, combined with properties of two universal cutting fluids. Element composition, surface morphology, residual stress and hardness of the machined surfaces were investigated. The results indicated that cutting fluids could not reduce cutting forces in precision machining. There were some places where local and irregular elemental Cr loss was incurred when machined with the additive Cl, and the depth of Cr loss was 1–2 µm. The machined surface under CF-206 was smooth, and the roughness of CF-210 was the highest. The tensile residual stresses of dry cutting were the highest, whereas those of CF-210 were the lowest. Surface work hardening under cutting fluids was higher, with depths of 20–30 µm. These results are significant for the control of precision machined surfaces and subsurfaces of blades with high integrity and service performance.
The potential environmental consequences of shifts in UK energy policy that impact on electricity generation
Authors: Hammond Geoffrey P , O’Grady Áine
Published: October 2016

Internationally, there has been a move by nations to decarbonise their electricity systems in an effort to tackle rising territorial emissions. No consensus has been fully reached on best approach, which has led to significant divergence in energy policy between countries and a consequential lack of long-term clarity. Additionally, recent UK policy failures, in terms of stimulating greater energy efficiency and encouraging energy innovation, highlight the huge challenge involved in developing and achieving a low carbon future. Steps to decarbonise electricity whilst also providing a secure and affordable supply, can lead to varying life-cycle environmental consequences. A UK research consortium developed three pathways to explore this move to a more electric low carbon future out to 2050. These pathways have been previously evaluated in terms of their life-cycle energy and environmental performance within a wider sustainability framework. Over the course of the project, greater understanding of the generation technologies and the functionality of the overall system under the different regimes were gained. Here, the environmental consequences of the most recent version of the pathways are presented on a life-cycle basis from ‘cradle-to-gate.’ Thus, the environmental impact of technological trends in UK energy policy and their effect on the pathways are explored through a series of sensitivity analyses. The three UK energy futures incorporating ‘disruptive’ technological options were examined based on the phase out of coal use in favour of gas-fired power, ranging penetration levels of carbon capture and storage, and the allocation and fuel type used for combined heat and power. Recommendations are proposed to help frame future energy policy choices in order to limit the environmental consequences of future electricity systems.
Collective bargaining, wage dispersion and the economic cycle: Spanish evidence
Authors: Domínguez Juan Francisco Canal , Rodríguez Gutiérrez César
Published: October 2016

This research analyses the effect of a ‘two-tier’ system of collective bargaining (firm bargaining and multi-employer bargaining levels) on wage dispersion in Spain. The effect of collective bargaining on the two main concepts that make up wages (the contractual or basic-bargained wage, and the wage cushion) are analysed during the last period of the upward cycle (2002–2006) and the beginning of the global financial crisis (2006–2010). The wage cushion is defined as the difference between the earned wage and the basic-bargained wage. The results show that workers covered by firm bargaining experienced greater wage dispersion than workers covered by multi-employer bargaining. On the other hand, wage dispersion for all workers decreased during the analysis period, mainly during the first stage of the current economic crisis, and particularly among workers covered by multi-employer bargaining. Both the decreasing relevance of the wage cushion in actual wage formation and its reduced dispersion make it possible to explain this wage compression.
Relationships Between Radiographic Pre- and Postoperative Alignment and Patient Perceived Outcomes Following Weber B and C Ankle Fractures
Authors: Hohmann Erik , Foottit Frith , Tetsworth Kevin
Published: October 2016

Background:

Anatomic reduction of ankle fractures may influence outcomes but the relationships between these 2 variables are still unknown and require further investigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between radiologic alignment of surgically treated ankle fractures and functional outcomes.

Methods:

This retrospective study included patients who were surgically treated for Weber B and C ankle fractures. The outcome measures consisted of the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and the foot and ankle disability measure. Standard radiographs included anteroposterior, lateral, and mortise views of the ankle, both on pre- and postoperatively. Between June 2011 and December 2013, a total of 152 patients were treated for ankle fractures and 76 patients with a mean age of 41.3 ± 17.1 years and a mean follow-up of 39.6 ± 8.9 months were included. There were 45 Weber type B fractures (mean age 43.4 ± 17.8, 28 females, 17 males) and 31 Weber type C fractures (mean age 40.7 ± 17.3, 12 females, 19 males).

Results:

Linear regression did not reveal any significant relationships with the exception of age. There was a moderate correlation between the OMAS outcome score and age ( r2 = 0.46, P = .01).

Conclusion:

We found that younger age was a moderate predictor of functional outcome following surgical treatment of ankle fractures. Radiographic alignment using standard non-weight-bearing radiographs and fracture severity did not predict functional outcomes at 24 months postoperatively.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, prognostic, retrospective cohort study.
Moving Roots: A “Small Story” of Settler History and Home Places
Authors: Bell Avril
Published: October 2016

In the early stages of research into the life of my great-great-grandfather, George Graham, I have repeatedly come across scraps of his life story relating to trees in various central city locations in Auckland, New Zealand, locations now abutting and on the university campus at which I work. These trees and places directly link me with George in powerful ways, becoming channels into affective responses of pride and excitement that also connect me viscerally to George’s role in the colonization of Auckland and dispossession of Māori. Here, I explore these affective states and the ways they provoke my thinking about being a descendant of settler colonizers and about my relation to my settler homeland. These material connections to colonial history “thicken” my relationship to Auckland and to the colonial story, and I use these experiences to point to the possibility of a different, “alter-colonial” form of settler relation to place.
Implementing Public–Private Partnerships
Authors: Verweij Stefan , Teisman Geert R. , Gerrits Lasse M.
Published: October 2016

Most research on Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development focuses on phases prior to construction. The implementation phase itself has received less attention. However, sound public–private agreements and project preparations can fail during project implementation because of, for example, unforeseen events and ineffective responses to them. We conducted case studies on two infrastructure projects to examine which management responses to events during implementation produce (un)satisfactory outcomes. We found that externally oriented responses or a cooperative stance between the public and private partners produce satisfactory outcomes in responding to events. In practice, however, management responses are often internally oriented and non-cooperative, resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes. We identified three explanations for this, related to time pressure in implementation, the organization of the involvement of external stakeholders, and project culture in the PPP. The article concludes with implications for management and policy of infrastructure PPPs.
Progress towards a decision record is lamentable
Authors: Leigh Bertie
Published: October 2016

The debate about the decision in Montgomery reveals a much deeper malaise in which hospital practice has failed to keep pace with a silent revolution in medical practice. The use of a Form recording that a patient consents to undergo an operation distracts doctors from the real problem, which is that patients need to undergo a formal training process to take any major decision about their healthcare. This training needs to be recorded for medical as well as legal reasons. It applies to decisions to use conservative therapy as well as surgery. The author describes what such a process might look like and how proper defensible records could be made.
Modeling and control of fuel distribution in a dual-fuel internal combustion engine leveraging late intake valve closings
Authors: Kassa Mateos , Hall Carrie , Ickes Andrew , Wallner Thomas
Published: October 2016

In internal combustion engines, cycle-to-cycle and cylinder-to-cylinder variations of the combustion process have been shown to negatively impact the fuel efficiency of the engine and lead to higher exhaust emissions. The combustion variations are generally tied to differences in the composition and condition of the trapped mass throughout each cycle and across individual cylinders. Thus, advanced engines featuring exhaust gas recirculation, flexible valve actuation systems, advanced fueling strategies, and turbocharging systems are prone to exhibit higher variations in the combustion process. In this study, the cylinder-to-cylinder variations of the combustion process in a dual-fuel internal combustion engine leveraging late intake valve closing are investigated and a model to predict and address one of the root causes for these variations across cylinders is developed. The study is conducted on an inline six-cylinder heavy-duty dual-fuel engine equipped with exhaust gas recirculation, a variable geometry turbocharger, and a fully flexible variable intake valve actuation system. The engine is operated with late intake valve closure timings in a dual-fuel combustion mode in which a high reactivity fuel is directly injected into the cylinders and a low reactivity fuel is port injected into the cylinders. The cylinder-to-cylinder variations observed in the study have been associated with the maldistribution of the port-injected fuel, which is exacerbated at late intake valve timings. The resulting difference in indicated mean effective pressure between the cylinders ranges from 9% at an intake valve closing of 570° after top dead center to 38% at an intake valve closing of 620° after top dead center and indicates an increasingly uneven fuel distribution. The study leverages both experimental and simulation studies to investigate the distribution of the port-injected fuel and its impact on cylinder-to-cylinder variation. The effects of intake valve closing as well as the impact of intake runner length on fuel distribution were quantitatively analyzed, and a model was developed that can be used to accurately predict the fuel distribution of the port-injected fuel at different operating conditions with an average estimation error of 1.5% in cylinder-specific fuel flow. A model-based control strategy is implemented to adjust the fueling at each port and shown to significantly reduce the cylinder-to-cylinder variations in fuel distribution.
Lamb-wave-based two-dimensional areal scan damage imaging using reverse-time migration with a normalized zero-lag cross-correlation imaging condition
Authors: He Jiaze , Yuan Fuh-Gwo
Published: October 2016

This article presents a two-dimensional, non-contact, areal scanning system to image and quantify multiple sites of damage in isotropic plates using reverse-time migration with a normalized zero-lag cross-correlation imaging condition. The hybrid system composed of a single piezoelectric actuator mounted onto the structure and a laser Doppler vibrometer for two-dimensional scan. The laser Doppler vibrometer scanned a region in the vicinity of the lead zirconate titanate actuator to capture the scattered wavefield introduced by the damage. The proposed damage imaging technique takes into account the amplitude, phase, and all the frequency content of the single-mode Lamb waves propagating in the plate; thus, the size of multiple sites of damage can be imaged without bias, regardless of the damage locations. Damage image quality was used as a metric to compare two-dimensional areal scans and linear scans as well as to compare the proposed method with existing imaging conditions. The experimental results show that the two-dimensional reverse-time migration/normalized zero-lag cross-correlation technique is capable of imaging and quantification of multiple damage sites in an aluminum plate using a single lead zirconate titanate actuator and a nearby, areal laser Doppler vibrometer scan.
The Regulation of Combination: The Implications of Combining Natural Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection
Authors: Hopper JoyAnna S.
Published: October 2016

In 15 American states, environmental protection agencies perform both pollution-control and natural resource conservation functions. In this study, I examine how this combination of functions affects the regulatory style embraced by these agencies. I find, through interviews with environmental agency workers and empirical analyses using enforcement data from 2010 to 2014, that the cooperation and flexibility with industry inherent to natural resource conservation efforts is a fundamental part of the regulatory process within these combined agencies. Great efforts are made to garner voluntary or negotiated compliance without the possible economic consequences of punitive actions. Enforcements are less frequent and less severe. The effect of this agency design choice is powerful, maintaining its effect even when controlling for political, ideological, and economical pressures. In a time where environmental protection agencies are increasingly interested in incorporating management-based regulation and voluntary compliance to supplement command and control regulation, it is more important than ever to understand the regulation that emerges from this combination.
Individual and Environmental Barriers to Successful Aging
Authors: Hernandez Daphne C. , Johnston Craig A.
Published: October 2016

The cornerstone to successful aging is maintaining a consistent physical activity routine and healthy diet. This is particular important for aging adults to preserve their independence. However, for low-income aging adults there are significant individual and environmental barriers that reduce their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Understanding how environmental supports can be found in existing programs geared toward older adults is a way to insure long-term behavioral changes.
An off-line programming system for palletizing robot
Authors: Chen Youdong , Li Ling , Tang Wei
Published: October 2016

Off-line programming systems are essential tools for the effective use of palletizing robots. This article presents a dedicated off-line programming system for palletizing robots. According to the user practical requirements, there are many user-defined patterns that can’t be easily generated by commercial off-line robot programming systems. This study suggests a pattern generation method that users can easily define their patterns. The proposed method has been simulation and experiment. The results have attested the effectiveness of the proposed pattern generation method.
Exploiting impedance shaping approaches to overcome force overshoots in delicate interaction tasks
Authors: Roveda Loris , Pedrocchi Nicola , Tosatti Lorenzo Molinari
Published: October 2016

The aim of the presented article is to overcome the force overshoot issue in impedance based force tracking applications. Nowadays, light-weight manipulators are involved in high-accurate force control applications (such as polishing tasks), where the force overshoot issue is critical (i.e. damaging the component causing a production waste), exploiting the impedance control. Two main force tracking impedance control approaches are described in literature: (a) set-point deformation and (b) variable stiffness approaches. However, no contributions are directly related to the force overshoot issue. The presented article extends both such methodologies to analytically achieve the force overshoots avoidance in interaction tasks based on the on-line estimation of the interacting environment stiffness (available through an EKF). Both the proposed control algorithms allow to achieve a linear closed-loop dynamics for the coupled robot-environment system. Therefore, control gains can be analytically on-line calculated to achieve an over-damped closed-loop dynamics of the controlled coupled system. Control strategies have been validated in experiments, involving a KUKA LWR 4+. A probing task has been performed, representative of many industrial tasks (e.g. assembly tasks), in which a main force task direction is defined.
Ensemble image registration by a spatially constrained clustering approach
Authors: Zhu Hao , Shi Qiqun , Li Yongfu , Wu Qiuxuan
Published: October 2016

In this article, a novel spatially constrained clustering approach is proposed for ensemble image registration. We use a spatially constrained Gaussian mixture model, which is based on a joint Gaussian mixture model and Markov random field, to model the joint intensity scatter plot of the unregistered images. The spatially constrained Gaussian mixture model has the capability of performing the correlation among neighboring observations. A cost function of reducing the dispersion in the joint intensity scatter plot is proposed using the spatially constrained Gaussian mixture model to simultaneously register a group of images. We derive an expectation maximization algorithm for the proposed model. Computer simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Adaptive fuzzy/proportion integration differentiation (PID) compound control for unbalance torque disturbance rejection of aerial inertially stabilized platform
Authors: Zhou Xiangyang , Li Lingling , Jia Yuan , Cai Tongtong
Published: October 2016

This article describes an adaptive fuzzy/proportion integration differentiation (PID) compound control scheme to promote the disturbance rejection ability of an aerial inertially stabilized platform. To deal with the serious influence of predominant unbalance torque disturbance on the steady precision of inertially stabilized platform, dynamic modeling and simulation analysis are conducted, which reveal that the unbalance torque disturbance is nonlinear and time varying. Then, an adaptive fuzzy/PID compound controller is designed that can automatically adjust and control parameters of the system in real time. In this way, the effects of unbalance torque disturbance on control performance are suppressed greatly so that the pointing accuracy and stability are obviously improved. To validate the scheme, the simulations and experiments are conducted to a real three-axis inertially stabilized platform. The results show that under the environment of unbalance torque disturbance, the inertially stabilized platform could reach better dynamic performances by the compound scheme, leading to the high pointing accuracy and stability.