bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automated Tradeoff Analysis of Cost Versus Machinability for Design Feedback
Authors: Grier Alan T. , Campbell Matthew I. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
As computer aided design (CAD) tools become more sophisticated, engineers are able to more easily create complex part geometries with minimal mass given strength and stiffness requirements. However, these complex part geometries can be difficult to subtractively manufacture, which consequently increases manufacturing cost and production time. This paper presents a method for use during the embodiment design process to automatically evaluate a given part’s machinability and to provide visual geometric additions that decrease manufacturing cost while maintaining the part’s strength and stiffness requirements. Dividing a single part into multiple subparts—joined together after being machined—offers additional possibilities for cost reduction and machinability improvements by utilizing smaller stock material that requires fewer machining operations. Evaluating and culling candidates based on two objectives (added volume and cost) provide the design engineer with a set of Pareto-optimal solutions that show where material can be added to reduce manufacturing costs. These methods’ capability and utility are demonstrated through analyses of five example parts.
Exact Spectral Moments and Differentiability of the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot Fractal Function
Authors: Green Itzhak 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Fractal mathematics using the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot (WM) function has spread to many fields of science and engineering. One of these is the fractal characterization of rough surfaces, which has gained ample acceptance in the area of contact mechanics. That is, a single mathematical expression (the WM function) contains characteristics that mimic the appearance of roughness. Moreover, the “roughness” is “similar” across large dimension scales ranging from macro to nano. The field of contact mechanics is largely divided into two schools of thought: (1) the roughness of real surfaces is essentially random, for which stochastic treatment is appropriate, and (2) surface roughness can be reduced to fractal mathematics using fractal parameters. Under certain mathematical constraints, the WM function is either stochastic or deterministic. The latter has the appeal that it contains no randomness, so fractal mathematics may offer closed-form solutions. Spectral moments of rough surfaces still apply to both approaches, as these represent physical metrology properties of the surface standard deviation, slope, and curvature. In essence, spectral moments provide a means of data reduction so that other physical processes can subsequently be applied. It is well known, for example, that the contact model of rough surfaces, by Greenwood and Williamson (GW), depends on parameters that are direct outcomes of these moments. Despite the vast amount of publications on the WM function dedicated to surfaces, two papers stand out as originators, where the others mostly rework their results. These two papers, however, contain some omissions and approximations that may lead to gross errors in the estimation of the spectral moments. The current work revisits these papers and adds information, but departs in the mathematical treatment to derive exact expressions for the said moments. Moreover, it is said that the WM function is nondifferential. That is also revisited herein, as another approach to derive the spectral moments depends on such derivatives. First, the complete mathematical treatment of the WM function is made, then the spectral moments are derived to yield exact forms, and finally, examples are given where the physical meanings of the approximate and exact moments are discussed and their values are compared. Numerical procedures will be introduced for both, and the effectiveness of the computational effort is discussed. One numerical procedure is particularly effective for any digitized signal, whether that originates from analytical functions (e.g., WM) or real surface measurements.
Considering Link Flexibility in the Dynamic Synthesis of Closed-Loop Mechanisms: A General Approach
Authors: Shafei A. M. , Shafei H. R. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This paper has focused on the dynamic analysis of mechanisms with closed-loop configuration while considering the flexibility of links. In order to present a general formulation for such a closed-loop mechanism, it is allowed to have any arbitrary number of flexible links in its chain-like structure. The truncated assumed modal expansion technique has been used here to model link flexibility. Moreover, due to the closed nature of the mentioned mechanism, which imposes finite holonomic constraints on the system, the appearance of Lagrange multipliers in the dynamic motion equations obtained by Lagrangian formulation is unavoidable. So, the Gibbs-Appell (G-A) formulation has been applied to get rid of these Lagrange multipliers and to ease the extraction of governing motion equations. In addition to the finite constraints, the impulsive constraints, which originate from the collision of system joints with the ground, have also been formulated here using the Newton's kinematic impact law. Finally, to stress the generality of the proposed formulation in deriving and solving the motion equations of complex closed-loop mechanisms in both the impact and non-impact conditions, the computer simulation results for a mechanism with four flexible links and closed-loop configuration have been presented.
Modeling of Hardwood Pyrolysis Using the Convex Combination of the Mass Conversion Points
Authors: Dhaundiyal Alok , Toth Laszlo 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This work investigates the kinetics of a pyrolysis reactor. Pyrolysis is demarcated as a two-step process that is the primary and the secondary decomposition of hardwood in the presence of nitrogen. The qualitative aspect of the analysis is performed by allowing the heterogeneous characteristics of the initial distribution function of volatile content. The temperature inside the reactor varies from 19 °C to 363.761 °C. The pressure of producer gas changes from 6 Pa to 26.8 Pa during the pyrolysis of hardwood, which affects the conversion of biomass with respect to temperature. The weighted fraction of the Weibull and the Rayleigh models is used for modeling the mass variation of the biomass inside the rector. The dimension of the reactor used for the experimental work has a length of 400 mm and a cross-sectional area of 9498.5 mm2. The pyrolysis test rig is programed for the cubical form of thermal history [T = (at3 + bt2 + ct − d)].
Individualized Training Based on Force–Velocity Profiling During Jumping in Ballet Dancers
Authors: Escobar Álvarez Juan A. , Fuentes García Juan P. , Da Conceição Filipe A. , Jiménez-Reyes Pedro 
Published: November 2019

Purpose:Ballet dancers are required to achieve performance feats such as exciting and dramatic elevations. Dancers with a greater jump height can perform a wider range of skills during their flight time and implement more specific technical skills related to the aesthetic components of a dance choreography. New findings suggest the relationship between force and velocity mechanical capabilities (F-V profile) as an important variable for jumping performance. A new field method based on several series of loaded vertical jumps provides information on the theoretical maximal force, theoretical maximal velocity, theoretical maximal power, and the imbalance between force and velocity (F-VIMB). The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of 9 wk of individualized F-V profile-based training during countermovement jumps (CMJs) in female ballet dancers.Methods:CMJ and mechanical outputs of 46 dancers (age = 18.9 [1.1] y, body mass = 54.8 [6.1] kg, height = 163.7 [8.4] cm) were estimated in a pre–post intervention. The control group (10 participants) continued with the standardized training regimen (no resistance training), whereas the experimental group (36 participants) performed 2 sessions over 9 wk of a training plan based on their F-V profile.Results:The experimental group presented significant differences with large effect sizes in CMJ height (29.3 [3.2] cm vs 33.5 [3.72] cm), theoretical maximal force (24.1 [2.2] N/kg vs 29.9 [2.8] N/kg), and theoretical maximal velocity (4 [0.6] m/s vs 3.2 [0.5] m/s). Significant differences with a very large effect size were found inF-VIMB(43.8% [15.3%] vs 24.9% [8.7%]).Conclusion:A training program addressingF-VIMBis an effective way to improve CMJ height in female ballet dancers.
Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines by Walking in Older Adults From Three Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the International Mobility in Aging Study
Authors: Davis Chevelle M.A. , Sentell Tetine L. , de Souza Barbosa Juliana Fernandes , Ylli Alban , Curcio Carmen-Lucia , Pirkle Catherine M. 
Published: November 2019

Physical activity (PA) among older adults is understudied in middle-income countries. The authors examined the associations of factors across levels of the social ecological model (individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community) with older adults meeting guidelines of 150 min of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA per week through walking in three middle-income countries: Albania (n = 387), Colombia (n = 404), and Brazil (n = 402). Using 2012 International Mobility in Aging Study data, multivariate logistic regression models identified the following significant associations with meeting PA guidelines through walking (a) individual level: depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.45, 0.86]), being female (OR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.56, 0.998]), and high relative education (OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.33, 2.41]) and (b) interpersonal level: high life partner (OR = 1.38, 95% CI [1.04, 1.83]) and friend social ties (OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.05, 1.83]). While individual and interpersonal variables were associated with meeting PA guidelines, community-level social and environmental variables were not.
Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity—A Question of Item Framing and Age?
Authors: Popp Johanna , Notthoff Nanna , Warner Lisa Marie 
Published: November 2019

Older adults process and remember positive information relatively better than negative information, compared with younger adults; this is known as the positivity effect. This study examined whether older adults compared with younger adults also respond differently to positively and negatively framed questionnaire items. Participants (N = 275; age = 18–81 years) were randomly assigned to a positively or negatively framed version of a self-efficacy for physical activity questionnaire. Self-efficacy, physical activity intentions, and planned physical activity in the following week were regressed on experimental group and age, controlling for baseline physical activity and covariates. A significant Age × Frame interaction showed that item framing made a difference in planned physical activity for the oldest age group (+350 min compared with the youngest group). This study provides initial support for the positivity effect in item framing on physical activity plans, but not on intentions or self-efficacy. Item framing should be taken into consideration for accurate measurement, but could also be a simple intervention approach.
Estimation of fibrosis progression rates for chronic hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis update
Authors: Erman Aysegul , Krahn Murray D. , Hansen Tawnya , Wong Josephine , Bielecki Joanna M. , Feld Jordan J. , Wong William W.L. , Grootendorst Paul , Thein Hla-Hla 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesMathematical models are increasingly important in planning for the upcoming chronic hepatitis C (CHC) elimination efforts. Such models require reliable natural history inputs to make accurate predictions on health and economic outcomes. Yet, hepatitis C virus disease progression is known to vary widely in the literature and published inputs are currently outdated. The objectives of this study were to obtain updated estimates of fibrosis progression rates (FPR) in treatment-naïve patients with CHC and to explore sources of heterogeneity.DesignA systematic review was conducted using Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE and PubMed databases (January 1990 to January 2018) to identify observational studies of hepatic fibrosis in treatment-naïve patients with CHC.OutcomesStage-constant FPRs were estimated for each study given the reported fibrosis scores and duration of infection. Stage-specific FPRs (ie, F0→F1; F1→F2; F2→F3; F3→F4) were estimated using Markov maximum likelihood estimation. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis and heterogeneity was evaluated by stratification and random-effects meta-regression.ResultsThe review identified 111 studies involving 131 groups of patients (n=42 693). The pooled stage-constant FPR was 0.094 (95% CI 0.088 to 0.100); stage-specific FPRs were F0→F1: 0.107 (95% CI 0.097 to 0.118); F1→F2: 0.082 (95% CI 0.074 to 0.091); F2→F3: 0.117 (95% CI 0.107 to 0.129); F3→F4: 0.116 (95% CI 0.104 to 0.131). Stratified analysis revealed substantial variation in progression by study population. Meta-regression indicated associations between progression and infection age, duration, source, viral genotype and study population. Findings indicate that FPRs display substantial heterogeneity across study populations and pooled values from more homogenous subpopulations should be considered when estimating prognosis.ConclusionsThis large meta-analysis presents updated prognostic estimates for CHC derived from newer studies using better diagnostic methods and improves estimates for important patient populations in terms of clinical policy (eg, injection drug users, non-clinical populations, liver clinic patients) and should be a valuable resource for patients, clinicians and clinical policymakers.
Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the Efficacy of cannabis-based Medicine Extract in slowing the disease pRogression of Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis or motor neurone Disease: the EMERALD trial
Authors: Urbi Berzenn , Broadley Simon , Bedlack Richard , Russo Ethan , Sabet Arman 
Published: November 2019

IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure and with an average life expectancy of 3–5 years post diagnosis. The use of complementary medicine such as medicinal cannabis in search for a potential treatment or cure is common in ALS. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in extending the survival and slowing of disease progression in animal models with ALS. There are anecdotal reports of cannabis slowing disease progression in persons with ALS (pALS) and that cannabis alleviated the symptoms of spasticity and pain. However, a clinical trial in pALS with these objectives has not been conducted.Methods and analysisThe Efficacy of cannabis-based Medicine Extract in slowing the disease pRogression of Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis or motor neurone Disease trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cannabis trial in pALS conducted at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Australia. The investigational product will be a cannabis-based medicine extract (CBME) supplied by CannTrust Inc., Canada, with a high-cannabidiol-low-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration. A total of 30 pALS with probable or definite ALS diagnosis based on the El Escorial criteria, with a symptom duration of <2 years, age between 25 and 75years and with at least 70% forced vital capacity (FVC) will be treated for 6 months. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of CBME compared with placebo in slowing the disease progression measured by differences in mean ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised and FVC score between the groups at the end of treatment. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of CBME by summarising adverse events, the effects of CBME on spasticity, pain, weight loss and quality of life assessed by the differences in mean Numeric Rating Scale for spasticity and Numeric Rating Scale for pain, percentage of total weight loss and ALS specific quality of life-Revised questionnaire.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the local Institutional Review Board. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberNCT03690791
Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network—Scleroderma Support group Leader EDucation (SPIN-SSLED) program: non-randomised feasibility trial
Authors: Thombs Brett D , Dyas Laura , Pépin Mia , Aguila Kylene , Carrier Marie-Eve , Tao Lydia , Harb Sami , Malcarne Vanessa L , El-Baalbaki Ghassan , Peláez Sandra , Sauve Maureen , Hudson Marie , Platt Robert W 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesThe Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network—Scleroderma Support group Leader EDucation (SPIN-SSLED) Programme was designed to improve confidence and self-efficacy and to reduce burden for support group leaders. Objectives were to (1) evaluate feasibility of programme delivery, including required resources, management issues and scientific aspects (eg, performance of outcome measures) and (2) assess user satisfaction and identify any modifications needed to improve programme content or delivery based on participant feedback.DesignNon-randomised feasibility trial.SettingNorth American patient organisations.ParticipantsCurrent support group leaders or potential new leaders referred by patient organisations.InterventionThe programme included 13 modules delivered live via videoconference over 3 months (April to July 2018) in 60 to 90 min sessions.Outcome measures(1) Elements of feasibility, including enrolment and consent procedures, percentage of referred group leaders who consented to participate, session attendance and technical support requirements; (2) programme usability, understandability, organisation and clarity; (3) leader satisfaction with the programme and (4) planned trial outcome measures, including support group leader self-efficacy, burnout, emotional distress and physical function.ResultsAll 12 referred potential participants consented to enrol, and 10 were included in two training groups of five participants each. Participants attended 95% of sessions. Required technical support was minimal, and videoconferencing technology functioned well. Overall programme satisfaction rating was 9.4/10. Mean item rating on the eight items of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 was 3.83 (1=low satisfaction; 4=high satisfaction). Pre-post scores on the Scleroderma Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale increased by 1.7 SDs (large effect); scores on burnout, emotional distress and physical function improved by 0.44, 0.38 and 0.45 SDs (moderate effects).ConclusionThe SPIN-SSLED Programme was feasibly delivered, including management, resource and scientific aspects. Participant satisfaction was high. The programme is ready to be tested in a full-scale randomised controlled trial.Trial registration numberNCT03508661
Choice of anaesthetic in emergency operations: a protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Elliott Lucy , Morley Rachael L , Mouton Ronelle , Hinchliffe Robert 
Published: November 2019

IntroductionThe effect of mode of anaesthesia in emergency surgery is uncertain. This scoping review will identify and summarise the evidence for local, regional or general anaesthetic in adult patients undergoing emergency surgical procedures.Methods and analysisScoping review methodology will be followed. The search will be run in EMBASE and Medline. Further articles will be identified from searching references in relevant studies. A descriptive analysis will be performed considering the following main outcomes; mortality, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, postoperative pain and morbidity. Data on complications including acute coronary syndrome, stroke, thromboembolic events, delirium, acute kidney injury, respiratory tract infection, surgical site infection and study-specific additional outcomes will also be collected.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approval is required. The results will be used to inform a funding application for a clinical trial comparing local/regional anaesthetic with general anaesthetic. The study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed manuscript and conferences.Trial registration numberResults will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Statement. There are currently no registries that accept scoping reviews.
Effect of the Pregnant+ smartphone application in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomised controlled trial in Norway
Authors: Borgen Iren , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Jacobsen Anne Flem , Garnweidner-Holme Lisa Maria , Fayyad Seraj , Noll Josef , Lukasse Mirjam 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of the Pregnant+ app on the 2-hour glucose level of the routine postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The Pregnant+ app was designed to provide information about GDM, and promote physical activity and a healthy diet.DesignA multicentre, non-blinded randomised controlled trial.SettingFive diabetes outpatient clinics in the Oslo region.ParticipantsWomen ≥18 years old with a 2-hour OGTT blood glucose level ≥9 mmol/L who owned a smartphone; understood Norwegian, Urdu or Somali; and were <33 weeks pregnant. A total of 238 women were randomised; 158 women completed the OGTT post partum.InterventionThe Pregnant+ app and usual care, the control group received usual care.Primary and secondary outcomesThe primary outcome was the 2-hour blood glucose level of the routine postpartum OGTT. Secondary outcomes reported were mode of delivery, induction of labour, Apgar score, birth weight, transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit and breast feeding practice. Blood glucose levels during pregnancy, knowledge of diabetes, diet and physical activity are not reported.ResultsNo difference was found for the 2-hour blood glucose level of the postpartum OGTT, with 6.7 mmol/L (95% CI 6.2 to 7.1) in the intervention group and 6.0 mmol/L (95% CI 5.6 to 6.3) in the control group. The significant difference in the proportion of emergency caesarean sections between the intervention group, 10 (8.8%) and the usual care group, 27 (22.1%), disappeared when adjusted for parity. There were no differences in birth weight, breast feeding practice, obstetric complications or transfer to the intensive neonatal care unit. No adverse events were registered.ConclusionThe Pregnant+ app had no effect on 2-hour glucose level at routine postpartum OGTT. After controlling for parity, the difference in emergency caesarean section was not statistically significant.Trial registration numberNCT02588729.