bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of the brief esophageal dysphagia questionnaire
Authors: Taft T. H. , Riehl M. , Sodikoff J. B. , Kahrilas P. J. , Keefer L. , Doerfler B. , Pandolfino J. E. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractBackgroundEsophageal dysphagia is common in gastroenterology practice and has multiple etiologies. A complication for some patients with dysphagia is food impaction. A valid and reliable questionnaire to rapidly evaluate esophageal dysphagia and impaction symptoms can aid the gastroenterologist in gathering information to inform treatment approach and further evaluation, including endoscopy.Methods1638 patients participated over two study phases. 744 participants completed the Brief Esophageal Dysphagia Questionnaire (BEDQ) for phase 1; 869 completed the BEDQ, Visceral Sensitivity Index, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for phase 2. Demographic and clinical data were obtained via the electronic medical record. The BEDQ was evaluated for internal consistency, split‐half reliability, ceiling and floor effects, and construct validity.Key ResultsThe BEDQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity. The symptom frequency and severity scales scored above the standard acceptable cutoffs for reliability while the impaction subscale yielded poor internal consistency and split‐half reliability; thus the impaction items were deemed qualifiers only and removed from the total score. No significant ceiling or floor effects were found with the exception of 1 item, and inter‐item correlations fell within accepted ranges. Construct validity was supported by moderate yet significant correlations with other measures. The predictive ability of the BEDQ was small but significant.Conclusions & InferencesThe BEDQ represents a rapid, reliable, and valid assessment tool for esophageal dysphagia with food impaction for clinical practice that differentiates between patients with major motor dysfunction and mechanical obstruction.
Bringing critical realism to nursing practice: Roy Bhaskar's contribution
Authors: Williams Lynne , Rycroft‐Malone Jo , Burton Christopher R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIn the context of modern nursing practice that is embedded within complex social situations, critical discussions about the contribution of major philosophers are relevant and important. Whilst nurse theorists have advanced and shaped nursing as a discipline, other major philosophers can offer much to advance nursing enquiry. In this paper, we focus on philosopher Roy Bhaskar who, amongst others, developed critical realism, a philosophy for social science which connects with how many of us think about the world. Bhaskar's work focuses our attention on the interplay between structure and agency and on the search for the causative or generative mechanisms that explain the social world. Bhaskar was interested in human emancipation, and we suggest his work is of great importance to advance understanding of complex social situations. Critical realism has already been endorsed by a range of disciplines, especially in research which focuses on real problems and acknowledges the complexities of the social world. In recent evidence from healthcare literature, there has been a surge in research using realist methodology (realist evaluation and realist synthesis), which is underpinned by the philosophy of critical realism and which offers a different perspective to understanding nursing and healthcare problems through the realist lens. However, we suggest that sufficient attention is not always paid to the philosophical roots of this methodology. In this paper, we provide insight into Bhaskar's work and demonstrate how research positioned within critical realism and realist methodology can advance nursing and healthcare‐related knowledge. Through shining a light on Bhaskar, we illustrate how critical realism philosophy is a natural fit with human and health science enquiry, including nursing.
Global Engagement and Returns Volatility
Authors: Girma Sourafel , Lancheros Sandra , Riaño Alejandro 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper finds that a greater reliance on foreign market sales increases the volatility of firms’ stock returns, using high‐frequency data for publicly listed Japanese manufacturing firms over the period 2000–10. The two margins of global engagement we consider, namely, exports and sales via foreign affiliates (horizontal foreign direct investment), have both a positive and economically significant effect on firm‐level volatility. We find, however, that increasing the intensity of sales through foreign affiliates has a stronger effect on volatility than a similar change in export intensity. We also uncover evidence consistent with the notion that firms’ need to use external finance to cover the substantial costs involved in reaching foreign consumers can be an important channel through which firms’ participation in international markets increases their exposure to economic uncertainty.
Refugee child oral health
Authors: Riggs E , Rajan S , Casey S , Kilpatrick N 
Published: July 2016

The number of people forced to flee their homes and move around the world is increasing rapidly. Such refugee populations are not only more likely to have poor physical, mental and social health outcomes but also to experience difficulties accessing health services in their new country. In particular, children from refugee backgrounds are at increased risk of poor oral health which in time is associated with poor adult oral health and impacts on child health (e.g. growth and development) and well‐being. To date, there is little evidence about the nature and extent of their oral health problems nor interventions to improve their oral health status. This article summarises the evidence surrounding the oral health status of children from refugee backgrounds. In addition, a systematic review of the international literature over the past 10 years is presented which identifies interventions to improve the oral health of these vulnerable paediatric populations. Based on this evidence, potential strategies available to dental service providers to optimise provision of responsive dental care are discussed.
Culture and Innovation: Evidence from the European Union and Neighbouring Countries
Authors: Kaasa Anneli 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis exploratory study investigates the effect of different cultural dimensions on different innovation indicators covering as many EU countries and neighbouring countries as possible. The measures of cultural dimensions were composed on the basis of the EVS/WVS data with the help of confirmatory factor analysis. Correlation, regression, graphical and cluster analyses were used. It was confirmed that innovation processes are strongly reliant on culture: power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity turned out to be negatively and individualism positively related to innovation performance. The final innovation performance may develop on the basis of the combined effect of the four cultural dimensions that may or may not balance each other in a particular country. Hence, the Culture Index was calculated on the basis of the four cultural dimensions and it appeared to explain the differences in innovation performance between different countries quite well.
First report of monomicrobial Candida parapsilosis necrotizing fasciitis
Authors: Gassiep I. , Douglas J. , Playford E.G. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCandida parapsilosis is an emerging pathogen worldwide. It commonly causes soft tissue infection; however, to our knowledge there has been no previous report of monomicrobial necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) secondary to C. parapsilosis. We report the first case of NSTI caused by C. parapsilosis in an immunocompromised renal transplant patient, with the diagnosis proven both histologically and microbiologically. Our patient required aggressive surgical intervention and antifungal therapy, with postoperative survival at 90 days.
Time Zone Effect and the Margins of Exports
Authors: Bista Rishav , Tomasik Rebecca 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe negative effect of time zone on trade flows has recently been established in the literature. However, thus far, no paper has explored the differing time zone effect on the intensive and extensive margin. Utilising product‐level trade data, this paper examines the impact of time zone differences on the intensive and extensive margin of exports. Furthermore, this paper examines the non‐linear impact of different levels of time zone differences on exports. Using the Poisson pseudo‐maximum likelihood estimation, the results indicate that the time zone differences negatively affect exports primarily via the extensive margin, with no effect on the intensive margin, which suggests that time zone differences act as a fixed cost of exporting. Furthermore, quartile analysis shows non‐linearities in the time zone measure, more specifically that time zones matter more at larger time zone differences. These results can have important policy implications for nations looking to increase their trade presence.
A pilot study evaluating the use of cervical ultrasound to confirm endotracheal intubation in dogs
Authors: Herreria‐Bustillo Vicente J. , Kuo Kendon W. , Burke Pierre J. , Cole Robert , Bacek Lenore M. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the accuracy and usability of cervical ultrasound as a means to confirm endotracheal (ET) intubation in dogs.DesignRandomized pilot study.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsSix recently euthanized cadaver dogs.InterventionsEndotracheal and esophageal intubations were randomly performed. The investigators performing the ultrasound examinations were blinded to the type of intubation. Ultrasound examinations were performed in right and left lateral recumbency. The time taken to obtain the images was recorded.Measurements and Main ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with their correspondent 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 91.7% (CI, 82.7–96.7), 72.7% (CI, 60.4–84.0%), 78.6% (CI, 68.3–86.8%), and 88.9% (CI, 77.4–95.8%), respectively. The overall test accuracy with its correspondent 95% CI was 82.8% (CI, 75.4–88.1%). The mean time for confirmation with ultrasound was 20.2 seconds (standard deviation, 14.3 s). Cervical ultrasound was significantly more accurate at recognizing ET intubations than esophageal intubations (odds ratio, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.43–14.27; P = 0.010). There was a significant relationship between increase in body weight and accuracy, indicating that the test is more accurate in larger dogs (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.08; P = 0.042).ConclusionsCervical ultrasound has high sensitivity and moderate specificity for ET intubation, and may be a useful tool to confirm ET intubation in dogs.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF CELL GROWTH OF FRESHWATER MICROALGA CHLORELLA SP. IN PHOTOAUTOTROPHIC, HETEROTROPHIC AND MIXOTROPHIC CULTURES
Authors: Joannes Costantine , Mansa Rachel Fran , Md. Yasir Suhaimi , Dayou Jedol 
Published: July 2016

Lately, research on biodiesel production as a renewable and sustainable energy has become increasingly apparent due to the fact that fossil fuel is decreasing and the concern of global warming issues. The third generation of biofuel, which is microalgae-based biodiesel had gained interest over the last decade. The ability of microalgae to grow in various conditions is one of its advantages as the potential and promising feedstock for biodiesel. Microalgae can be cultivated in three modes such as photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic culture mode. Unlike photoautotrophic mode where light is required, the heterotrophic mode mainly utilized carbon compounds to grow. On the other hand, the mixotrophic mode is the condition where light and carbon compounds are supplied for microalgae culturing. This paper investigates the cell growth of Chlorella sp. cultivated in photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic culture mode. It was found that Chlorella sp. was capable of producing the highest cell concentration of 6.67 ± 0.56 x 106 cell mL-1 in the photoautotrophic mode for 23 days of cultivation period. This was 1.3 times and 3.2 times greater than the cell concentration in mixotrophic (5.02 ± 0.49 x 106 cell mL-1) and heterotrophic (2.03 ± 0.29 x 106 cell mL-1) culture, respectively. On the contrary, the highest specific growth rate obtained in the study was from heterotrophic mode (0.32 ± 0.04 day-1) followed by photoautotrophic and mixotrophic mode with 0.26 ± 0.05 day-1 and 0.20 ± 0.04 day-1, respectively. Chlorella sp. cell grew well under the photoautotrophic and mixotrophic mode. However, the insufficient of glucose level had contributed to lower cells productivity in the heterotrophic culture. Therefore, the mixotrophic mode could also be an alternative pathway in microalgae cultivation for biodiesel production if the glucose supplied was adequate and at the suitable level.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES (PHAS) PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM BRACKISH STREAM
Authors: Mohd Zain Nor Azimah , Ali Zargoun Laila Muftah , Elias Nur Fatihah , Abdul-Wahab Mohd Firdaus , Suhaimi Mohd Suardi 
Published: July 2016

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers which have similar characteristics with petrochemical plastics but a step better due to its biodegradable property. A total of 23 strains were isolated from two different brackish sources. In order to detect the PHAs granules, the PHAs producing bacteria were first screened with Sudan Black B staining. Twenty strains were observed with lipid granules and were subjected to further confirmation with Nile blue staining. From the Nile blue staining, only 10 strains have the ability in producing PHAs and 2 were identified as strong PHAs producers. This study focuses on the 2 strains named S1 and L1. Further identification procedure was carried out and found that strain S1 and L1 belongs to Pseudomonas sp. L1 strain was found to be promising for PHAs production since it accumulated PHAs for about 88.3%. The PHAs produced by this strain was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis and was identified as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P-3HB).
ONLINE PEER-TO-PEER TRAFFIC IDENTIFICATION BASED ON COMPLEX EVENTS PROCESSING OF TRAFFIC EVENT SIGNATURES
Authors: Stephen Bassi Joseph , Hui Ru Loo , Ismail Ismahani , Mohammed Khammas Ban , Marsono Muhammad Nadzir 
Published: July 2016

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications are bandwidth-heavy and lead to network congestion. The masquerading nature of P2P traffic makes conventional methods of its identification futile. In order to manage and control P2P traffic efficiently preferably in the network, it is necessary to identify such traffic online and accurately. This paper proposes a technique for online P2P identification based on traffic events signatures. The experimental results show that it is able to identify P2P traffic on the fly with an accuracy of 97.7%, precision of 98% and recall of 99.2%.
ARID HYDROLOGICAL MODELING AT WADI ALAQIQ, MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA
Authors: Abd Rahman Norhan , Taher Saud , Alahamdi Fahad , Mohd Nasir Kamarul Azlan 
Published: July 2016

Madinah is one of the urban centers that have experienced several devastating floods during the past 50 years. The objectives of this study are to estimate the flood hydrograph and peak discharge in the Wadi Alaqiq in Madinah and its major sub-catchments based on daily rainfall distribution. Daily annual maximum records are chosen for rainfall distribution in the study area. Wadi Alaqiq is located in the western part of the Madinah city and consists of five major sub-catchments, namely, Aqiq, Ruwawah, Reem, Al-Yutmah and Annaqi. The HEC-HMS and modified Talbot models are applied to estimate design flood for various average recurrence intervals (ARI). The analysis involves two stages, where stage one is concerned with modeling of the Wadi Alaqiq sub-catchment and comparison of the peak flow values obtained by previous studies and empirical formulae based on rainfall distribution analysis. In the second stage, the HEC-HMS is run separately for the five sub-catchments of Wadi Alaqiq. The model parameter values are then used to simulate for 25-year, 50-year and 100-year flood hydrographs. The HEC-HMS model is used to analyze the hydrologic behaviour of the wadi catchments. Initial and constant rate loss method is used to determine the hydrologic loss and the excess rainfall was transformed using the Clark’s Unit Hydrograph. The peak flow simulations are very close with reported values and those derived by modified Talbot. Also, the peak discharges are applied to model discharges from the HEC-HMS and modified Talbot equations of the five sub-catchments for a set of selected return periods. The direct runoff ratio for Madinah region in wadis Al-Yutmah, Annaqi, Aqiq, Reem and Ruwawah ranged from 25% to 28% of the total rainfall. This is due to topography condition, wadi catchment area and the use of predicted maximum daily rainfall results. The model results are reasonable for rainfall-runoff application and can be used for wadi corridor management in arid region.
INDUCED PHOTODEGRADATION EFFECT ON THE FUNCTIONALIZED FE(III) COMPLEX ADDITIVE-POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) THIN FILM
Authors: Yousif Emad , Haddad Raghad , Yahya Badrul Hisyam , Aizad Syazwan , Zainal Abidin Noraziani , Omar Hazreen , Ab Kadir Ili Afiqa , Zaman Huri Hasniza , Abdullah Bashar Mudhaffar , Zubairi Saiful Irwan 
Published: July 2016

A complex of Fe(III) with 4-amino-5-(pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol was prepared and evaluated as a photodegradation for polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Polyvinyl chloride was dissolved in THF solvent (5%, w/w) and functionalized with Fe (III) complex to form PVC films by means of solvent-casting method with a thickness of 40 μm. To study the effectiveness of Fe (III) complex additive, different concentrations (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 g) were introduced into the PVC solution. The films’ photodegradation was investigated; the photodegradation activity of the compounds was determined by monitoring the carbonyl group, weight loss method and morphological study with irradiation time. The obtained experimental results showed that the additive behaved successfully as a photoinducer for the degradation process for the PVC films and the photooxidation rate increased with the increase of additive concentration.
DEVELOPMENT OF ROBUST VELOCIMETER FOR NATURAL WATER FLOW MONITORING
Authors: Shirakashi Masataka , Yeo Kye Wei , Koide Mizuyasu , Takahashi Tsutomu , Shaikh Salim Sheikh Ahmad Zaki 
Published: July 2016

The ring-velocimeter coupled with a hot wire/film probe was developed and has been applied to wind and water tunnel experiments in Fluids Engineering Laboratory of Nagaoka University of Technology. In this study, the hot-wire/film probe is replaced by a cantilever attached by a strain gauge to detect the drag acting on the ring. The vortex shedding frequency from the ring is determined from the drag fluctuation by applying the spectrum analysis, and the flow velocity in turn since it is proportional with the vortex shedding frequency. This technique for flow velocity measurement is robust in the sense that it is strong against the noise or decay of the detected signal since the dominant frequency is insensitive to such disturbances, and that the detecting probe is strong against the contaminants or particles/objects carried by the fluid. These advantages, together with its simple and cheap characteristics, make it possible to apply to natural water flow with severe conditions.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIAL FLOW ARCHITECTURE USING RFID TECHNOLOGY IN REAL INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Zulkifli Che Zalina , Abd Malek Shafawati , Mohd Nor Nursyahida , Jaffer Siti Suraya 
Published: July 2016

The development of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is widely used to monitor pallets, cases or individual items in industrial manufacturing fields. However, this method was implemented only at the warehouse where it captured raw materials that need to undergo with manufacturing process until it becomes products but it was not monitor during the process in production line. Our proposed is to build the RFID system that can capture real-time data and monitoring during the entire production work flow where the transmission, tracing, storage and retrieval of overall process can be done. This technology is associate with unique electronic identity that are embedded to raw materials throughout the manufacturing cycle where it was registered to the RFID reader at every workstation so that the information for the start and end at each job can be transmitted to the main server at real-time for storage, categorizing, tracing, processing and analyzing. By these technology systems, we can promptly update of production-line information with real-time visibility of the whole work in progress production management among offices and sites in a construction supply chain environment.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF CO2 LASER CUTTING QUALITY OF UHSS USING OXYGEN AS AN ASSISTED GAS
Authors: Mohamad Tahir Abdul Fattah , Rashid Ahmad Razelan 
Published: July 2016

Development of new material known as Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) able to improve the vehicle mass thus reflecting better fuel consumption. Transformation into high strength steel has been a significant drawback in trimming the UHSS into its final shape thus laser cutting process appeared to be the solution. This study emphasizes the relationship between Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser cutting input parameters on 22MnB5 boron steel focusing on the kerf width formation and Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). Experimental research with variation of laser power, cutting speed and assisted gas pressure were executed to evaluate the responses. Metrological and metallographic evaluation of the responses were made on the outputs that are the kerf width formation and HAZ. Positive correlation for power and negative interaction for cutting speed were found as the major factors on formation of the kerf. For the HAZ formation, thicker HAZ were formed as bigger laser power were applied to the material. Cutting speed and gas pressure does not greatly influence the HAZ formation for 22MnB5 boron steel.
REVIEW ON DECOMPOSED FUZZY PID STRUCTURE FOR POWER INVERTERS REGULATION
Authors: Arif M. S. , Ayob S. M. , Salam Z. 
Published: July 2016

The aim of this paper is to critically review prominent decomposed Fuzzy PID control structures. Structural construction and output control laws of these controllers will be discussed. Their merits and drawbacks are highlighted. Based on the critical discussions, a new structure of Fuzzy PID controller is proposed. It is based on cascaded structure, which yields simpler design flow and parameters tuning. Other advantages of the proposed Fuzzy PID structure are the reduction of tuning parameters and rules of the Fuzzy controller. In addition, the proposed structure allows the usage of signed distance method. The application of the method reduces the computation burden significantly as the power inverter regulation needs very fast and precise computations.