bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of user-guided semi-automatic decomposition tool for hexahedral mesh generation
Authors: Lu Jean Hsiang-Chun , Quadros William Roshan , Shimada Kenji 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Volumetric decomposition is essential for all-hexahedral mesh generation. Because fully automatic decomposition methods that can generate high-quality hexahedral meshes for arbitrary volumes have yet to be realized, manual decomposition is still required frequently. Manual decomposition is a laborious process and requires a high level of user expertise. Therefore, a user-guided semi-automatic tool to reduce the human effort and lower the requirement of expertise is necessary. To date, only a few of these approaches have been proposed, and a lack of user evaluation makes it difficult to improve upon this approach. Based on our previous work, we present a user evaluation of a user-guided semi-automatic tool that provides visual guidance to assist users in determining decomposition solutions, accepts sketch-based inputs to create decomposition surfaces, and simplifies the decomposition commands. This user evaluation investigated (1) the usability of the visual guidance, (2) the types of visual guidance essential for decomposition, (3) the effectiveness of the sketch-based decomposition, and (4) the performance differences between beginner and experienced users using the sketch-based decomposition. The result and user feedback indicate that the tool enables users who have limited prior experience or familiarity with the computer-aided engineering software to perform volumetric decomposition more efficiently. The visual guidance increases the success rate of the user's decomposition solution by 28%. The sketch-based decomposition significantly reduces 46% of the user's time on creating decomposition surfaces and setting up decomposition commands.
Highlights Evaluations of the user-guided semi-automatic decomposition tool were performed. The visual guidance lowers the required user's expertise level. Sweeping schemes and sweepable regions are essential visual guidance to guide users. The sketch-based decomposition significantly reduces time cost and human efforts.
Arts Education as a Vehicle for Social Change: An Empirical Study of Eco Arts in the K-12 Classroom
Authors: Sams Jeniffer , Sams Doreen 
Published: May 2017

AbstractArts education has been part of the United States K-12 educational system for over a century. However, recent administrative policy decisions addressed theeconomic bottom lineand the 1983 report,A Nation at Risk, and complied with theNo Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001(U.S. Department of Education, 2001). These decisions resulted instandardisationof both core curricula and testing, leaving arts programs to function in a diminished capacity, curtailing both individuality and creative thinking. This study unpacks the role of the arts as change agents with the ability to: address current discourse; question ideologies and culture; convey complex problems in artistic form; engage the viewer in aesthetics; provide a perspective not found in regimented thinking; and empower creative problem solvers. This work also highlights the role of eco-art as a medium for addressing complex environmental challenges. The study also empirically examines, through a self-report survey, K-12 arts educators’ perceptions of integrating eco-arts into curricula. Findings revealed respondents’ desire to integrate eco-arts into the arts curricula and identified the most significantly perceived barriers to integration, as well as the role of policy on practicality. The authors also identify the study's limitations and recommend areas for future research.
Sweet syndrome presenting as a febrile rash in a returning traveller
Authors: Hart Alexander , Plenk Katharina , Carr David 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSweet syndrome was discovered in 1964 and is now well described in the dermatology literature. Knowledge of this unique febrile and painful dermatosis is important for the emergency physician because the syndrome can be readily identified and is extremely responsive to oral steroid therapy. Early diagnosis can greatly improve patient satisfaction and avoid days of ineffective treatment. An accurate and timely diagnosis of Sweet syndrome is also important to guide investigation into a number of associated diseases.
EXPERT-ORIENTED ABILITIES VS. NOVICE-ORIENTED ABILITIES: AN ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNT OF EPISTEMIC AUTHORITY
Authors: Croce Michel 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTAccording to a recent account of epistemic authority proposed by Linda Zagzebski (2012), it is rational for laypersons to believe on authority when they conscientiously judge that the authority is more likely to form true beliefs and avoid false ones than they are in some domain. Christoph Jäger (2016) has recently raised several objections to her view. By contrast, I argue that both theories fail to adequately capture what epistemic authority is, and I offer an alternative account grounded in the abilities that different kinds of authorities are required to possess.
Towards an Immanent Conception of Economic Agency: Or, A Speech on Metaphysics to its Cultured Despisers
Authors: Yeomans Christopher , Litaker Justin 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWhen it comes to social criticism of the economy, Critical Theory has thus far failed to discover specific immanent norms in that sphere of activity. In response, we propose that what is needed is to double down on the idealism of Critical Theory by taking seriously the sophisticated structure of agency developed in Hegel’s own account of freedom as self-determination. When we do so, we will see that the anti-metaphysical gestures of recent Critical Theory work in opposition to its attempts to develop immanent critique. In this paper we first briefly reconsider Axel Honneth’s project as it concerns economic institutions and then respond by returning to the problem of freedom and articulating a view according to which the problem of individual self-determination and the problem of social production are the same problem seen from different angles. Then we present briefly Hegel’s own social theory from this perspective before moving on to trace the outlines of such a critical theory of contemporary capitalism.
Management of Risks From Water and Ice From Ice Machines for the Very Immunocompromised Host: A Process Improvement Project Prompted by an Outbreak of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria on a Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (Hsct) Unit
Authors: Guspiel Amanda , Menk Jeremiah , Streifel Andrew , Messinger Keith , Wagner John , Ferrieri Patricia , Kline Susan 
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUNDIn 2011, pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients were moved from an older hospital to a new children’s hospital. To minimize bacterial growth in the new hospital’s water during construction, the plumbing system was flushed and disinfected before occupancy. However, 6 months after occupancy, an increased incidence of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) was detected in clinical cultures. Over 10 months, 15 pediatric HSCT patients were infected, while no pediatric HSCT patients had been infected in the preceding 12 months.OBJECTIVETo determine the cause of the outbreak and to interrupt patient acquisition of RGM.METHODSWater samples were collected from water entering the hospital and from drinking water and ice machines (DWIMs) from the old and new hospitals. Total heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs, CFU/mL) of water were undertaken, and select isolates were identified as RGM.RESULTSThe cause of the outbreak was increased bacterial levels in the water (including RGM) in the DWIMs in the new (2011) hospital. Tests revealed higher HPCs in drinking water and ice from the DWIMs in the new hospital than in the DWIMs in the old hospital. Ultimately, HPCs were reduced by several different interventions.CONCLUSIONIn response to an RGM outbreak, HSCT patients were banned from ingesting DWIM ice and water and bottled water was provided. Since this interverntion 4 years ago, no additional RGM isolates have been identified in HSCT patient cultures. Our measures to reduce HPCs to goal levels in drinking water from DWIMs were successful, but the HPCs for ice have not consistently reached the goal of <500 CFU/mL.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:792–800
THE JIANG–SU ALGEBRA AS A FRAÏSSÉ LIMIT
Authors: MASUMOTO SHUHEI 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we give a self-contained and quite elementary proof that the class of all dimension drop algebras together with their distinguished faithful traces forms a Fraïssé class with the Jiang–Su algebra as its limit. We also show that the UHF algebras can be realized as Fraïssé limits of classes of C*-algebras of matrix-valued continuous functions on [0,1] with faithful traces.
Blood fatty acid changes in healthy young Americans in response to a 10-week diet that increasedn-3 and reducedn-6 fatty acid consumption: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Young Andrew J. , Marriott Bernadette P. , Champagne Catherine M. , Hawes Michael R. , Montain Scott J. , Johannsen Neil M. , Berry Kevin , Hibbeln Joseph R. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractMilitary personnel generally under-consumen-3 fatty acids and overconsumen-6 fatty acids. In a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, we investigated whether a diet suitable for implementation in military dining facilities and civilian cafeterias could benefitn-3/n-6 fatty acid status of consumers. Three volunteer groups were provided different diets for 10 weeks. Control (CON) participants consumed meals from the US Military’s Standard Garrison Dining Facility Menu. Experimental, moderate (EXP-Mod) and experimental-high (EXP-High) participants consumed the same meals, but highn-6 fatty acid and lown-3 fatty acid containing chicken, egg, oils and food ingredients were replaced with products having lessn-6 fatty acids and moren-3 fatty acids. The EXP-High participants also consumed smoothies containing 1000 mgn-3 fatty acids per serving, whereas other participants received placebo smoothies. Plasma and erythrocyte EPA and DHA in CON group remained unchanged throughout, whereas EPA, DHA and Omega-3 Index increased in EXP-Mod and EXP-High groups, and were higher than in CON group after 5 weeks. After 10 weeks, Omega-3 Index in EXP-High group had increased further. No participants exhibited changes in fasting plasma TAG, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, mood or emotional reactivity. Replacing high linoleic acid (LA) containing foods in dining facility menus with similar high oleic acid/low LA and highn-3 fatty acid foods can improven-6/n-3 blood fatty acid status after 5 weeks. The diets were well accepted and suitable for implementation in group feeding settings like military dining facilities and civilian cafeterias.
Selenium, selenoproteins and selenometabolites in mothers and babies at the time of birth
Authors: Santos Cristina , García-Fuentes Eduardo , Callejón-Leblic Belén , García-Barrera Tamara , Gómez-Ariza José Luis , Rayman Margaret P. , Velasco Inés 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe deficiency of Se, an essential micronutrient, has been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study was designed to determine total serum Se, selenoproteins (extracellular glutathione peroxidase (GPx-3), selenoprotein P (SeP)), selenoalbumin (SeAlb) and selenometabolites in healthy women and their newborns at delivery. This cross-sectional study included eighty-three healthy mother–baby couples. Total Se and Se species concentrations were measured in maternal and umbilical cord sera by an in-series coupling of two-dimensional size-exclusion and affinity HPLC. Additional measurements of serum SeP concentration and of serum GPx-3 enzyme activity were carried out using ELISA. Total Se concentration was significantly higher in maternal serum than in cord serum (68·9 (sd15·2) and 56·1 (sd14·6) µg/l, respectively;P<0·01). There were significant correlations between selenoprotein and SeAlb concentrations in mothers and newborns, although they also showed significant differences in GPx-3 (11·2 (sd3·7)v. 10·5 (sd3·5) µg/l;P<0·01), SeP (42·5 (sd9·5)v. 28·1 (sd7·7) µg/l;P<0·01) and SeAlb (11·6 (sd3·6)v. 14·1 (sd4·3) µg/l;P<0·01) concentrations in maternal and cord sera, respectively. Serum GPx-3 activity and concentration were positively correlated in mothers (r0·33;P=0·038) but not in newborns. GPx-3 activity in cord serum was significantly correlated with gestational age (r0·44;P=0·009). SeAlb concentration was significantly higher in babies, whereas SeP and GPx-3 concentrations were significantly higher in mothers. The differences cannot be explained by simple diffusion; specific transfer mechanisms are probably involved. GPx-3 concentrations in mothers, at delivery, are related to maternal Se status, whereas the GPx-3 activity in cord serum depends on gestational age.
How I do it: underwater endoscopic ear surgery for plugging in superior canal dehiscence syndrome
Authors: Yamauchi D , Hara Y , Hidaka H , Kawase T , Katori Y 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackground:Underwater endoscopic ear surgery does not require suction and so protects the inner ear from unexpected aeration that may damage its function in the treatment of labyrinthine fistula. A method of underwater endoscopic ear surgery is proposed for the treatment of superior canal dehiscence.Methods:Underwater endoscopic ear surgery was performed for plugging of the superior semicircular canal through the transmastoid approach. Saline solution was infused into the mastoid cavity through an Endo-Scrub Lens Cleaning Sheath. The tip of the inserted endoscope was filled completely with saline water.Results:Using this underwater endoscopic view, the canal was clearly dissected to expose the semicircular canal membranous labyrinth and dehiscence area. No particular complication occurred during the surgical procedure.Conclusion:The underwater endoscopic ear surgery technique for plugging in superior canal dehiscence secures an excellent visual field and protects the inner ear from unexpected aeration.
Solar wind collisional heating
Authors: Pezzi Oreste 
Published: May 2017

To properly describe heating in weakly collisional turbulent plasmas such as the solar wind, interparticle collisions should be taken into account. Collisions can convert ordered energy into heat by means of irreversible relaxation towards the thermal equilibrium. Recently, Pezzi et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 116, 2016a, 145001) showed that the plasma collisionality is enhanced by the presence of fine structures in velocity space. Here, the analysis is extended by directly comparing the effects of the fully nonlinear Landau operator and a linearized Landau operator. By focusing on the relaxation towards the equilibrium of an out of equilibrium distribution function in a homogeneous force-free plasma, here it is pointed out that it is significant to retain nonlinearities in the collisional operator to quantify the importance of collisional effects. Although the presence of several characteristic times associated with the dissipation of different phase space structures is recovered in both the cases of the nonlinear and the linearized operators, the influence of these times is different in the two cases. In the linearized operator case, the recovered characteristic times are systematically larger than in the fully nonlinear operator case, this suggesting that fine velocity structures are dissipated more slowly if nonlinearities are neglected in the collisional operator.
The new politics of energy security and the rise of the catalytic state in southern Europe
Authors: Prontera Andrea 
Published: May 2017

AbstractEuropean energy security has recently emerged as an important topic of scholarly attention. Many studies have scrutinised the political and institutional innovations triggered by the establishment of the European Union internal energy market and external energy policy. However, the literature indicates a particularly striking gap between growing research and concept development, and only recently have efforts been made to analyse this current dynamic more accurately. By focussing on the security of gas supply and liquefied natural gas development in France, Italy and Spain, and extending the model of the catalytic state to the energy-security realm, this article contributes to the empirical and conceptual debate. In particular, the article argues that the catalytic state model, which emphasises the active role of governments in a liberalised market structure and their wide participation in a networked pattern of energy diplomacy, is better equipped than the regulatory state model to capture the new European politics of energy security.
Sorting, texture and structure
Authors: Barndorff-Nielsen O. E. 
Published: May 2017

SynopsisSands are sorted by the actions of air and water. A mathematical–physical model for the ensuing spatial and temporal variations in the size distributions of the sand grains is outlined. A crucial element in aeolian sorting and transport of sand is the process that takes place when a saltating grain impinges on the sand surface. This raises the problem of describing the texture of sand surfaces. Some initial empirical and mathematical findings concerning this problem are discussed. A closely connected question is that of how the grains in a sand deposit are packed and how this relates to the size distribution. Voronoi tesselations in combination with random point processes seem to offer one useful approach to the question.
Landscape development in Dutch coastal dunes: the breakdown and restoration of geomorphological and geohydrological processes
Authors: van der Meulen F. , Jungerius P. D. 
Published: May 2017

SynopsisIn Dutch coastal dunes, geomorphological and geohydrological processes have been adversely affected by intensive utilisation of the dunes. In the past, wide-scale stabilisation, notably for reasons of coastal defence, stopped nearly all aeolian activity. Rejuvenation did not take place and succession to mature-type ecosystems increased. Artificial infiltration with eutrophic river water and extraction of groundwater for drinking water catchment modified the geohydrology of the wet-dune environment.Today, actions are being taken to restore geomorphological and geohydrological processes. Managing authorities join forces with universities and policy makers to strike the right balance between conflicting interests. Applied research helps to develop management strategies.Two types of research are discussed: (a) geomorphological work on the development of blow-outs; (b) geohydrological work on the development of dune slacks. Questions considered are: do blow-outs grow to an unlimited extent or do they have optimum size and shape corresponding to aerodynamic conditions? Are there natural stabilisation mechanisms for blow-outs? What is the ecological impact of drinking water catchment? Which aspects should be considered to restore the dune slack environment in catchment areas?Our findings are that blow-outs in The Netherlands have an optimum length:width ratio of about 2 with a blow-out length varying between 20 and 30 m. After 10–15 years without artificial stabilisation measures, the areas studied present an average of about one blow-out per hectare. Natural stabilisation mechanisms include algae which colonise deflation sites inside the blow-out and low secondary dunes which develop at the immediate leeward side of the blow-out. Blow-outs situated at or near downhill slopes of 6–12° may easily extend into larger deflation surfaces. Water erosion, probably caused by the water-repellency of humus-rich top soil, often precedes wind erosion on south- and south-east oriented slopes.Drinking water production caused dessiccation of dune slacks and the disappearance of associated vegetation. In areas where infiltration with river water from outside the dunes is also applied, inudation and eutrophication drastically changed the dune environment. Nitrophilous plants appeared, especialy along banks of infiltration ponds, but also in seepage ponds. The plant cover depends on nutrient concentration of the (infiltrated) groundwater but especially on the flux of the groundwater. A high rate of flux leads to high nutrient loads, encouraging the growth and eventually dominance of nitrophilous plants. Restoration of dune slacks depends on the quality and the flux of the groundwater, on the streamlines of the groundwater flow in the dune body in relation to the orientation of the seepage ponds, on the presence of peaty or clayey adsorptive layers in the subsoil and possibly also on the presence of a rainwater lens occurring on top of the infiltration water.
Management for nature conservation
Authors: Doody J. P. 
Published: May 2017

SynopsisSand dunes occur extensively around the coastline of Great Britain and in a wide variety of forms. Management for nature conservation is influenced by a long-term historical perspective which has led to a continued policy of protection. It has aimed firstly to prevent damaging developments such as building and orestry, and secondly to control excessive erosion brought about predominantly by man's own activities. However, an assessment of current nature conservation management problems suggests that at many sites in Great Britain over-stabilisation may be as much a problem as erosion. The implications for management in the face of other competing demands is discussed.
An application of science to the management of coastal dunes along the Atlantic coast of the U.S.A.
Authors: Psuty Norbert P. 
Published: May 2017

SynopsisCoastal foredune management begins with an understanding of and appreciation for the dynamics of dune creation, development and decay. Sediment exchange between the dune and beach components of the total dune–beach profile is a necessary element in foredune creation and development. Foredune development is enhanced by a slightly negative total dune–beach budget. Foredune crestlines display alongshore periodicities in displacement that are related to beach processes. Effective management is based on the dimensions of the alongshore foredune variations and the retention of sediment in the migrating foredune system.
Pain Perception and Response: Central Nervous System Mechanisms
Authors: Hudson Arthur J. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT:Although several decades of studies have detailed peripheral and ascending nociceptive pathways to the thalamus and cerebral cortex, pain is a symptom that has remained difficult to characterize anatomically and physiologically. Positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) have recently demonstrated a number of cerebral and brain stem loci responding to cutaneous noxious stimuli. However, intersubject variability, both in the frequency and increased or decreased intensity of the responses, has caused uncertainty as to their significance. Nevertheless, the large number of available imaging studies have shown that many areas with recognized functions are frequently affected by painful stimuli. With this evidence and recent developments in tracing central nervous system connections between areas responding to noxious stimuli, it is possible to identify nociceptive pathways that are within, or contribute to, afferent spinothalamo-cortical sensory and efferent skeletomotor and autonomic motor systems. In this study it is proposed that cortical and nuclear mechanisms for pain perception and response are hierarchically arranged with the prefrontal cortex at its highest level. Nevertheless, all components make particular contributions without which certain nociceptive failures can occur, as in pathological pain arising in some cases of nervous system injury.