bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the complexity of subassemblies in a fully automated assembly system
Authors: Gao Yicong , He Chuan , Zheng Bing , Zheng Hao , Tan Jianrong 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
Complexity is the main challenge for present and future manufacturers. Assembly complexity heavily affects a product’s final quality in the fully automated assembly system. This paper aims to propose a new method to assess the complexity of modern automated assembly system at the assembly design stage with respect to the characteristics of both manufacturing system and each single component to be mounted. Aiming at validating the predictive model, a regression model is additionally presented to estimate the statistic relationship between the real assembly defect rate and predicted complexity of the fully automated assembly system.

Design/methodology/approach
The research herein extends the S. N. Samy and H. A. ElMaraghy’s model and seeks to redefine the predictive model using fuzzy evaluation against a fully automated assembly process at the assembly design stages. As the evaluation based on the deterministic scale with accurate crisp number can hardly reflect the uncertainty of the judgement, fuzzy linguistic variables are used to measure the interaction among influence factors. A dependency matrix is proposed to estimate the assembly complexity with respect to the interactions between mechanic design, electric design and process factors and main functions of assembly system. Furthermore, a complexity attributes matrix of single part is presented, to map the relationship between all individual parts to be mounted and three major factors mentioned in the dependency matrix.

Findings
The new proposed model presents a formal quantification to predict assembly complexity. It clarifies that how the attributes of assembly system and product components complicate the assembly process and in turn influence the manufacturing performance. A center bolt valve in the camshaft of continue variable valve timing is used to demonstrate the application of the developed methodology in this study.

Originality/value
This paper presents a developed method, which can be used to improve the design solution of assembly concept and optimize the process flow with the least complexity.
Designing, writing-up and reviewing case study research: an equifinality perspective
Authors: Verleye Katrien 
Published: October 2019

Purpose
Several researchers struggle with designing, writing-up and reviewing case study research, but constructing a template for describing and justifying methodological choices is – in contrast with quantitative research – undesirable due to the creative nature of qualitative research. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the multitude of paths to rigorous case study research and promote rigorous case study research in the service community.

Design/methodology/approach
Based upon a review of seminal articles and textbooks, different paths to rigorous case study research are identified. Subsequently, these paths are compared with existing practices in case studies in service research published between March 2017 and April 2019.

Findings
Seminal articles and textbooks detail different paths to achieve rigor with regard to research purpose, design, data, analyses and write-up. Overall, the most popular paths in the service community are those proposed by Eisenhardt and Yin. Meanwhile, service researchers increasingly challenge the dichotomy between the inductive and deductive logic by choosing an abductive logic. Transparency and reflexivity are the main points of attention among service researchers doing case study research.

Originality/value
By providing insight into the multitude of paths to rigorous case study research along with their popularity in the service community, this paper helps service researchers to balance rigor and creativity when engaging in case study research. Additionally, this paper offers a framework for reviewing case study research in terms of rigor and creativity.
Topographic path analysis for modelling dispersal and functional connectivity: Calculating topographic distances using the topoDistance r package
Authors: Wang Ian J. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Estimating biologically meaningful geographic distances is essential for research in disciplines ranging from landscape genetics to community ecology. Topographically correcting distances to account for the total overland distance between locations imposed by topographic relief provides one method for calculating geographic distances that account for landscape structure.

Here, I present topoDistance, an r package for calculating shortest topographic distances, weighted topographic paths and topographic least cost paths (LCPs). Topographic distances are calculated by weighting the edges of a graph by the hypotenuse of the horizontal and vertical distances between raster cells and then finding the shortest total path between cells of interest. The package also includes tools for mapping topographic paths and plotting elevation profiles.

Examples from a species with moderate dispersal abilities, the western fence lizard, inhabiting a topographically complex landscape, Yosemite National Park (USA), demonstrate that topographic distances can vary significantly from straight‐line distances, and topographic LCPs can trace very different routes from LCPs and shortest topographic paths.

Topographic paths and distances are broadly useful for modelling geographic isolation resulting from dispersal limitation for organisms that interact with the topographic structure of a landscape during movement and dispersal.
Local anaesthetic delivery regimens for peripheral nerve catheters: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Law W. Z. W. , Sara R. A. , Cameron A. J. D. , Lightfoot N. J. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryThere are numerous possible techniques for delivering local anaesthetic through peripheral nerve catheters. These include continuous infusions, patient‐controlled boluses and programmed intermittent boluses. The optimal delivery regimen of local anaesthetic is yet to be conclusively established. In this review, we identified prospective trials of delivery regimens through peripheral nerve catheters. Our primary outcome was visual analogue scale scores for pain at 48 h. Secondary outcomes were: visual analogue scores at 24 h; patient satisfaction scores; rescue opioid use; local anaesthetic consumption; and nausea and vomiting. Network meta‐analysis was used to compare these outcomes. Predefined sub‐group analyses were performed. Thirty‐three studies enrolling 1934 participants were included. In comparison with continuous infusion, programmed intermittent boluses improved visual analogue pain scores at both 48 and 24 h, the weighted mean difference (95%CI) being −0.63 (−1.12 to −0.14), p = 0.012 and −0.48 (−0.92 to −0.03), p = 0.034, respectively. Programmed intermittent boluses also improved satisfaction scores, the weighted mean difference (95%CI) being 0.70 (0.10–1.31), p = 0.023, and reduced rescue opioid use, the weighted mean difference (95%CI) in oral morphine equivalent at 24 h being −23.84 mg (−43.90 mg to −3.77 mg), p = 0.020. Sub‐group analysis revealed that these findings were mostly confined to lower limb and truncal catheter studies; there were few studies of programmed intermittent boluses for upper limb catheters. Programmed intermittent boluses may provide optimal delivery of a local anaesthetic through peripheral nerve catheters. Further research is warranted, particularly to delineate the differences between upper and lower limb catheter locations, which will help clarify the clinical relevance of these findings.
What are women stressed about after birth?
Authors: Ayers Susan , Crawley Rosalind , Webb Rebecca , Button Susan , Thornton Alexandra ,   the HABiT collaborative group
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundHaving a baby is associated with a variety of stressors, change, and adjustment. This study aimed to identify what women find stressful during the early postpartum period in contemporary Western society.MethodsWomen (n = 148) 6‐12 weeks postpartum wrote anonymously about a situation they found stressful as part of the Health after Birth Trial (HABiT) of expressive writing. Transcripts were analyzed for categories of stressors and cross‐cutting themes.ResultsFive categories of stressors were identified. Stressors in pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum period (49.3%) included physical and emotional difficulties, and insensitive treatment by health professionals. Stressors related to adjusting to life with a baby (35.8%) included difficulties coping with a new baby, parenting, juggling responsibilities, changes to physical health, and loneliness. Stressors related to the baby's health (32.4%) included infant digestive problems, acute health problems, long‐term impact, and neonatal intensive care unit experiences. Stressors related to breastfeeding (23.7%) included pressure to breastfeed, feeling like a ‘bad mum’ for not breastfeeding, or wanting to breastfeed and not being able to. Other stressors related to changing relationships (18.2%): with their partner, children, and other family members. Cross‐cutting themes that emerged in different stressor categories were women making negative self‐appraisals (eg, a bad mum, failure), feeling guilty, and lack of support from others.DiscussionOur findings emphasize the importance of exploring stressors and psychological well‐being with women to provide support, help women's adjustment postpartum, and ensure interventions are offered when appropriate.
Impacts of competition and herbivory on native plants in a community‐engaged, adaptively managed restoration experiment
Authors: Kimball Sarah , Long Jennifer J. , Ludovise Sara , Ta Priscilla , Schmidt Katharina T. , Halsch Chris A. , Magliano Kaitlin , Huxman Travis , Kang Hosun , Santagata Rossella , Nguyen Lana 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRestoring biodiversity to degraded sites in the wildland–urban interface is challenging due to many factors, including competition with non‐native species and increased herbivore pressure. In a unique collaboration between land managers, environmental educators, students, and academic ecologists, we tested the effectiveness of multiple restoration techniques in an adaptive management framework, modifying methods each year based on results in the previous years. We evaluated the impact of non‐native species and rabbit herbivores on soil moisture and native plant growth. We added native seedlings to our site either immediately adjacent to existing native shrubs (potential nurse plants) or in the open. One native species, Artemisia californica, was significantly negatively influenced by the presence of an existing shrub and grew more in the open in both a wet and a dry year. Another native species, Eriogonum fasciculatum, experienced high mortality by rabbit herbivores when it was not protected by fencing. Fencing also increased abundance of non‐native plants, so a combination of fencing and non‐native removal without a nurse plant was optimal for restoration. Soil moisture was greater in the open than under existing native shrubs, indicating that existing shrubs decreased soil water available to seedlings. Data collected by trained students was indistinguishable from that collected by professional ecologists. Our use of community‐engaged science demonstrates how scientific adaptive management experiments can include a diversity of participants and allow for immediate dissemination and implementation of results.
Foot ulceration and its association with mortality in diabetes mellitus: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Saluja S. , Anderson S. G. , Hambleton I. , Shoo H. , Livingston M. , Jude E. B. , Lunt M. , Dunn G. , Heald A. H. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundDiabetic foot ulcers portend an almost twofold increase in all‐cause mortality compared with diabetes on its own.AimTo investigate the association between diabetic foot ulcers and risk of death.MethodsWe performed a meta‐analysis of all observational studies investigating the association between diabetic foot ulcers and all‐cause mortality. Risk ratios and risk differences were pooled in a random‐effects model. The I2 statistic was used to quantify heterogeneity between studies.ResultsAltogether, we identified 11 studies that reported 84 131 deaths from any cause in 446 916 participants with diabetes during a total of 643 499 person‐years of follow‐up. The crude event rate for all‐cause mortality in individuals with diabetes who did not develop foot ulceration was 22% lower at 181.5 deaths (per 1000 person‐years) than in those who developed foot ulcers (230.8 per 1000 person‐years). Diabetic foot ulceration was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality (pooled relative risk 2.45, 95% CI 1.85–2.85). We did not observe any tangible differences in risk of all‐cause mortality from diagnosis in studies reporting a mean duration of follow‐up of ≤3 years (relative risk 2.43, 95% CI 2.27–2.61) or >3 years (relative risk 2.26, 95% CI 2.13–2.40) years. Funnel plot inspection revealed no significant publication bias among studies included in this meta‐analysis.ConclusionsOur study shows an excess rate of all‐cause mortality in people with diabetic foot ulceration when compared to those without foot ulceration. It is imperative that early interventions to prevent foot ulceration and modify cardiovascular disease risk factors are put in place to reduce excess mortality.
Are outside director trades informative? Evidence from acquiring firms
Authors: Gordon Rachel E. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractI show that nonroutine trades by acquirer outside directors premerger contain a significant amount of private information and these directors trade opportunistically on the information. I find that outside directors sell shares before less valuable deals and purchase shares before more value enhancing deals. Mergers with selling (buying) beforehand are associated with 22% lower (41% higher) announcement returns. Their trades provide more information than other insiders' trades, appear concentrated in harder‐to‐value firms, and intensify when more directors trade. Further, more outside directors appear to trade opportunistically in firms where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has significant power, suggesting agency problems may exist.
Early moderate exercise benefits myocardial infarction healing via improvement of inflammation and ventricular remodelling in rats
Authors: Liao Zhaofu , Li Dan , Chen Yilin , Li Yunjian , Huang Ruijin , Zhu Kuikui , Chen Hongyi , Yuan Ziqiang , Zheng Xin , Zhao Hui , Pu Qin , Qi Xufeng , Cai Dongqing 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThus far, the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to early (especially within 24 hours after acute myocardial infarct (MI)) exercise‐mediated beneficial effects on MI have not yet been thoroughly established. In the present study, we demonstrated that acute MI rats that underwent early moderate exercise training beginning one day after MI showed no increase in mortality and displayed significant improvements in MI healing and ventricular remodelling, including an improvement in cardiac function, a decrease in infarct size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and an increase in myocardial angiogenesis, left ventricular wall thickness and the number of cardiac telocytes in the border zone. Integrated miRNA‐mRNA profiling analysis performed by the ingenuity pathway analysis system revealed that the inhibition of the TGFB1 regulatory network, activation of leucocytes and migration of leucocytes into the infarct zone comprise the molecular mechanism underlying early moderate exercise‐mediated improvements in cardiac fibrosis and the pathological inflammatory response. The findings of the present study demonstrate that early moderate exercise training beginning one day after MI is safe and leads to significantly enhanced MI healing and ventricular remodelling. Understanding the mechanism behind the positive effects of this early training protocol will help us to further tailor suitable cardiac rehabilitation programmes for humans.
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic: Early palliative care referral in patients with end‐stage liver disease is associated with reduced resource utilization
Authors: Barnes Alex , Woodman Richard J , Kleinig Paul , Briffa Michael , To Timothy , Wigg Alan J 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackground and AimsPalliative care referral for end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) is uncommon and usually occurs late. We aimed to review the rate of early palliative care referral (EPCR) in ESLD patients, its associations, and its impacts on resource utilization and survival.MethodsA retrospective review of all patients with ESLD admitted to a single Hepatology Unit between 2013 and 2016. Inclusion criteria for study entry were at least two admissions for decompensated liver disease within a 6‐month period and not eligible for liver transplantation. The EPCR group was defined as those patients who received palliative care referral at least 30 days prior to mortality.ResultsA total of 74 patients were included in the study. EPCR rate was 19%. On multivariate analysis, EPCR was associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (OR 4.47, 95% CI 1.02–19.5, P = 0.047) and negatively associated with alcoholic liver disease (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.032–0.88 P = 0.035). There was no difference in survival based on EPCR status. Hospitalization costs were lower in the EPCR group (P = 0.027). There was also a significantly lower number of endoscopies (P = 0.009) and blood transfusions (P = 0.001) in the EPCR group. EPCR was also associated with higher rates of outpatient palliative care and advanced care planning.ConclusionsEPCR in ESLD was uncommon and associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and lack of alcoholic liver disease. EPCR was associated with decreased resource utilization and further high quality studies are required to confirm the benefits of EPCR in ESLD.
Spirituality and associated factors among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
Authors: Kamijo Yuko , Miyamura Toshihiro 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimPatients' spirituality, the relationship between spirituality and physical pain, and the association between spirituality and quality of life (QOL) among patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy were examined. Spirituality was defined as a sense of meaning in one's existence and life, peace of mind, and the strength and comfort drawn from faith.MethodsA cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was distributed to 176 adult cancer patients who received chemotherapy in May–September 2011 at an outpatient clinic in rural Japan. Spirituality was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Spiritual Well‐Being Scale (FACIT‐Sp‐12). Demographic data were collected for performance status, cancer stage, age, marital status, occupational status, persons in household, pain intensity, and other troubling symptoms. The relationship between the patients' spirituality subscale score and QOL was assessed in a structural equation model.ResultsTwo FACIT‐Sp‐12 subscales, meaning/peace and faith, were moderately to strongly associated with age, appetite, and QOL scores. Although physical pain was significantly related to the QOL score (P = .002), it was not related to the FACIT‐Sp‐12 score (P = .427). These results indicated that the patients with higher spiritual scores and severe pain were enjoying life more than the patients with lower spiritual scores and severe pain. Moreover, two subscales of the FACIT‐Sp‐12 had a direct effect on QOL.ConclusionsSpirituality was strongly associated with QOL. Younger patients (<50 years old) and stage I cancer patients need additional assistance to meet their spiritual needs. To maintain cancer patients' spiritual well‐being, nursing interventions should facilitate patients' nutrition support and appropriately address their spirituality.
Tick Bite Risk and Tick‐Borne Disease Perceptions of School District Administrators in the Mid‐Atlantic United States
Authors: Machtinger Erika T. , Li Andrew Y. , Liu Yifen 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDLyme disease is a common tick‐borne disease in the northeastern and midwestern United States. School‐aged children aged 5‐15 years are at high risk for contracting Lyme disease. Many school campuses in the mid‐Atlantic United States are in areas that are near, or border with, wooded habitat.METHODSWe surveyed school administrators to determine the perception of risk of tick encounters and tick control methods implemented on school campuses in the mid‐Atlantic.RESULTSResponses from Pennsylvania and New Jersey districts indicate school district administrators had knowledge of Lyme disease and blacklegged ticks, but knowledge of other tick species and tick‐borne diseases was limited. Overall, the results suggest that targeted communication of educational information regarding ticks and tick control to school districts could encourage increased participation in organized tick control or other preventative measures.CONCLUSIONSOverall, respondents were aware of ticks and Lyme disease, but were not aware or had limited awareness of many other tick‐borne diseases, and how tick bite risk could be reduced. Targeted communication of educational information regarding ticks and tick control to school districts could provide a framework for reducing tick‐borne disease risk in mid‐Atlantic school districts.
Correlation of anti‐Mullerian hormone with humanchorionic gonadotropin test in the evaluation of testicular function of children with 46 XY male hypogonadism: Use of anti‐Mullerian hormone as abiomarker
Authors: Karaoglan Murat 
Published: October 2019

AimIt is challenging to evaluate reproductive potential during childhood. These challenges necessitate the use of invasive dynamic tests. Although the anti‐Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a reliable biomarker in evaluating testicular function, especially in the pre‐pubertal period, there are uncertainties concerning its use in a clinical setting.This study is focused on comparing the AMH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test in boys with hypogonadism.MethodsA total of 160 boys aged between 0 and 18 years who presented with complaints associated with hypogonadism were prospectively enrolled in the study. All children were assigned to the following five groups: gonadal disorders (n= 34), androgen synthesis and end organ effect disorder (n= 48), isolated genital malformation disorders (n= 57), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (n= 15) and constitutional delayed puberty (n= 6). All children underwent a short 3‐day hCG test (1500 U/m2/day). The concordance and correlation were evaluated between the hCG test and AMH.ResultsAll groups exhibited a strong correlation (r160= 0.689) and strong concordance (Kappa coefficient160= 0.7) between the AMH and hCG test. Values of AMH higher than 32.7 pmol/L and hCG responses higher than 86 pmol/L were significant as indicative markers of functional testicular tissue presence.ConclusionsThis study has shown that there is a strong correlation between the AMH and short‐term hCG test and that values of AMH higher than 32.7 pmol/L and stimulated testosterone higher than 86 pmol/L can be used as indicators of functionally sufficient testicular tissue. These results indicate that AMH value can be used as a reliable and useful biomarker in the evaluation of the testicular function in 46 XY hypogonadism.