bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of audiovisual equipment (SKYPE) for the treatment of hand injuries for remote consultations
Authors: McMullen Emily 
Published: May 2012

Introduction We present this case of a British patient living and working in Africa who used audiovisual (SKYPE) equipment as a treatment option for remote consultation. This was investigated in response to a request by the patient for further postoperative support at a distance after a complex hand surgery procedure. Methods Audiovisual (SKYPE) equipment was used by the team in combination with manual therapy as a means of seeking advice, progressing treatment and liaison with a specialist hand therapist and surgeon. The audiovisual equipment was used to complete follow-up of treatment episodes once the patient had returned to Africa. Results After five months of audiovisual consultations with the surgeon and clinical specialist hand therapist, the patient reported significant reductions in anxiety regarding the management of his extensive hand injury. The patient's active and passive range of movement and Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand scores had all improved. The wider multidisciplinary team in his local area was supported by a specialist service and evidence was gathered to support the organizational benefits of using audiovisual equipment. Conclusion This case report highlights the potential, clinical and cost benefits of utilizing audiovisual equipment in conjunction with other treatments in the management of remote hand injury patients.
Investigation of the conservative management of mallet injury in Irish acute hospitals
Authors: Minchin Paula , Spirtos Michelle 
Published: May 2012

Introduction Mallet injury is a commonly treated hand injury in acute hospitals. While there is much literature regarding the various treatment options and outcomes, no studies were found that describe the management of this injury across a national health service. This study describes how mallet injury is managed within the acute hospital system in Ireland. An understanding of the current system of service provision is essential for future service development in this area. Method Emergency and occupational therapy departments in the 29 acute case-mix hospitals in Ireland were contacted by telephone and postal questionnaire with 47 respondents participating in the study. Descriptive statistics are used to present the results. Results Results indicate that accessing acute hospital-based services for the conservative management of mallet injury typically follows a predictable pathway, but can result in delays and disruption to treatment for the patient. There is little evidence of direct referral from the emergency department to the occupational therapist which, when compared with published literature, would represent the most efficient and optimum care pathway for the patient. The choice of splint used by both the emergency and occupational therapy departments differs, but treatment provided is in line with available evidence-based practice. Conclusions This preliminary study provides a basis for future service development in the acute management of mallet injury, by describing how treatment is currently provided nationally. Recommendations for further investigation have been made, and the need for audit and outcome measurement has been highlighted. The development of therapy-led services in Ireland is proposed, to improve efficiency and quality of service provision in the conservative management of mallet injury.
Is there a correlation between patient-reported outcome assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire and total active motion after flexor tendon repair?
Authors: Magnani Paola Errera , Ferreira Aline Miranda , da Silva Rodrigues Eula Katucha , Barbosa Rafael Inácio , Mazzer Nilton , Elui Valéria Meirelles Carril , de Cássia Registro Fonseca Marisa 
Published: May 2012

Introduction Gliding without adhesion is imperative to regain full range of motion after flexor tendon repair. The purpose of this study was to find assessment tools that represent these outcomes and to explore their relationship with hand function. Methods Ninety-six flexor tendon injuries in 24 patients were assessed at 12 weeks after flexor tendon repair. Total active motion (TAM) and total passive motion (TPM) were recorded with a goniometer. For patient-reported upper extremity function, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used. Results A moderate negative correlation was found between total active motion and DASH score ( r = −0.3809 to −0.5815, P < 0.0001). While TAM and TPM improved over the 12-week period, mean values did not reach those of the uninjured hand. Mean DASH scores improved from 46.05 points at four weeks to 23.5 points at 12 weeks. Conclusion Despite early flexor tendon rehabilitation in this sample, after 12 weeks, some degree of dysfunction and loss of active ability for finger flexion still persisted. The DASH appears to be an appropriate outcome tool after flexor tendon repair. The combination of patient-reported questionnaire and measures of impairment such as TAM and TMP give a more comprehensive picture of functional outcome.
Forced Migration and the Effects of an Integration Policy in Post-WWII Germany
Authors: Falck Oliver , Heblich Stephan , Link Susanne 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
After World War II, about 8 million ethnic Germans — so called expellees — were forced to leave their homelands and settle within the new borders of West Germany. Subsequently, a law (Federal Expellee Law) was introduced to foster their labor market integration. We evaluate this law by comparing the employment situation between expellees and groups of West Germans and GDR refugees over time. We define our comparison groups to uncover even small effects of the law. Still, we find no evidence that the law met its goal to foster the expellees’ labor market integration.
Combined Soil Moisture Meter and Penetrometer
Authors: Feldman Martin , Hah Dooyoung , Hanifa Khalil , Zhang Zhongjie 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
A combined dynamic cone penetrometer and capacitive soil moisture meter is reported. A novel electrode configuration utilizing a shield electrode increases the effective measurement diameter. A readout circuit is implemented that is relatively insensitive to the resistivity of water in soil. The moisture meter electronics fit within a rugged stainless steel pipe with a wall thickness of 1/8 in. and an outer diameter of 0.75 in.
Morphological Characterization of Induced Fracture in Sandstone Using X-ray Computed Tomography Scanning
Authors: Weerakone W. M. S. B , Wong R. C. K. , Kantzas A. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) scanning is one of the viable techniques to evaluate apertures of rough walled fractures. However, quantitative evaluation of small fracture apertures using CT data requires use of calibration curves. In this study, the increments of fracture apertures were physically measured using the DEMEC points and the integrated CT numbers across the fracture aperture were calculated from the CT data for development of the calibration chart. This method overcomes the difficulty in fabrication of perfectly smooth rock fractures for the calibration process. It was demonstrated that the calibration curve developed from this method could be used to characterize variable aperture fractures in sandstone within a certain accuracy. In addition, geostatistic tools were used to quantify any anisotropy in fracture aperture. Results reveal that the induced fracture in sandstone displays a high aperture variation and undulation with an anisotropy in aperture distribution.
Automatic Monitoring of Inserting or Retrieving SPT Sampler in Drillhole
Authors: Yang W. W. , Yue Z. Q. , Tham L. G. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
This paper presents a new device for the automatic monitoring and measurement of drill rod and sampler depth associated with conventional standard penetration testing (SPT). The device consists of a depth tip transducer and a data logger. The transducer can be firmly mounted onto the drillhole casing on the ground surface. The data logger monitors the passing of the sampler and rods through the transducer into the drillhole during rod insertion or retrieval and therefore records the tip depth in real time. The paper presents the results of calibrations and laboratory and field trials. The test results demonstrate that the device can accurately, reliably, and automatically measure the vertical displacement, velocity, and acceleration of rod insertion or retrieval in real time.
Seismic Simulator Testing to Investigate the Cyclic Behavior of Tailings in an Instrumented Rigid Box
Authors: Pépin Nicolas , Aubertin Michel , James Michael , Leclerc Martin 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Hard rock mine tailings are prone to liquefaction when subjected to the cyclic loading of earthquakes. This response may cause failure of the retaining dams and the release of liquefied tailings. To investigate the geotechnical response of tailings during cyclic loading, an experimental program was conducted using a physical model consisting of an instrumented, rigid box on a large seismic (shaking) simulator. The main objective of the tests performed on tailings was to assess, in a relative manner, their response to cyclic loads, without and with drainage or rigid inclusions (or a combination of both). As the results obtained during such tests can be significantly influenced by the experimental procedure, a rigorous methodology was followed for this experimental program. This paper presents the details of the methodology developed to conduct such tests, as well as some of the results obtained.
Technique for Undrained Triaxial Tests on Unsaturated Soils Using Active Control of Pore-Air Pressure
Authors: Toyota Hirofumi , Takada Susumu 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Triaxial testing apparatus and procedures for unsaturated soils have become common along with the development of equipment and sensors. Although many drainage conditions are related to the pore-air and pore-water phase, the drained pore-air condition is usually adopted for tests of unsaturated soils. The main reason is that it is difficult to keep the pore-air undrained because the air diffuses easily through a rubber membrane. However, pore-air and pore-water are sometimes not allowed to drain under ground deformation problems. Therefore, undrained conditions in which pore-air and pore-water are not allowed to flow in and out of the soil are achieved in the experiments described herein. First, problems of a conventional triaxial apparatus for unsaturated soils were investigated to produce the undrained conditions. Then, triaxial testing methods under the undrained conditions were developed for overcoming the problems. Finally, the performance of the proposed testing procedure was demonstrated in comparison with results obtained using conventional testing.
Response to “Discussion of Stress Concentration Ratio of Model Stone Columns in Soft Clays” by Fattah, M., Shlash, K., and Al-Waily, M.
Authors: Fattah Mohammed Y. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Although there are differences between stone columns and piles by definition, material, mode of failure, and load transfer, the criteria adopted for definition of the failure load are taken from criteria applied to piles. This study makes a short comparison between the behavior of stone columns and piles and discusses the philosophy of selection of the failure criteria of stone columns.
Bond Strength Between Cast-in-Place Ultra-High-Performance- Concrete and Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Plates Using Epoxy Bonded Coarse Silica Sand
Authors: Chen Donna , El-Hacha Raafat 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
A significant amount of attention has been directed toward the use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials in structural applications, particularly as main components in hybrid structural members. As a result, the need for an effective connection mechanism that can maintain full composite action at the interface between adjacent dissimilar materials is critical in order to achieve optimum performance of the hybrid structural members. The objective of this experimental program was to investigate the bond performance between glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) plates and cast-in-place Ultra-High-Performance- Concrete (UHPC) using epoxy bonded coarse silica sand aggregates at the bond interface. Both shear and tension tests were conducted using three different types of epoxy adhesives. The general effectiveness of the connection mechanism at the bond interface as well as the relative performance of each epoxy adhesive used were investigated. Analysis showed that, of the three epoxy adhesives tested, the specimens bonded at the interface between the UHPC and GFRP plates using the moisture tolerant epoxy adhesive intended for bonding of hardened concrete and steel performed the best.
Evaluating the Impact of a Surprise Silicone Additive to a Synthetic Hydrocarbon Lubricant
Authors: Hanks J. T. , Smith D. W. , Stevens C. J. , Winkel R. E. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
A fractional percentage of a silicone compound was inadvertently introduced in one lot of Rheolube synthetic hydrocarbon grease used in the spin bearings of our momentum control systems. As a result, a decision had to made in a very short time as to whether the grease would meet the performance and life requirements. To accomplish this, a series of tests were undertaken to compare the performance of the subject grease or oil extracted from it to compare to the baseline lubricant. These tests represented each phase of bearing life: vibration, beginning of life, normal operational life, and end of life. Included were two different wettability tests, two different types of elastohydrodynamic lubrication tests and two different types of boundary tests. Acceptance test data of existing units with and without the subject grease were also used to determine how operational performance was affected. In addition to this test data, the Honeywell/Hanks lubricant life model was used to conclude that the subject grease would support our requirements.
Application of Different Nuclides in Retrospective Dosimetry
Authors: Konheiser J. , Mittag S. , Viehrig H. -W. , Gleisberg B. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The activities of nuclides produced via the neutron irradiation of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel are used to validate respective fluence calculations. Niobium, nickel, and technetium isotopes from RPV trepans of the decommissioned NPP Greifswald (VVER-440) have been analyzed. The activities were determined by TRAMO (Monte-Carlo) fluence calculations, newly applying 640 neutron-energy groups and ENDF/B7 data. Relative to earlier results, fluences up to 20 % higher have been computed, leading to somewhat better agreement between measurement and calculation, particularly in the case of Tc-99.
Analysis of the Notch Effect in Fatigue
Authors: Yanase K. , Endo M. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The fatigue-crack propagation at stress concentrations is a topic of significant importance in a number of engineering applications. Further, it is recognized that the fatigue limit of notched components is dictated by the critical condition for either initiation or propagation of a small crack at the root of a notch. Moreover, because most fatigue cracks spend the vast majority of their lives as short cracks, the behavior of such a flaw is of significant importance. In the literature, McEvily and co-workers [McEvily, A. J., Eifler, D., and Macherauch, E., “An analysis of the Fatigue Growth of Short Fatigue Cracks,” Eng. Fract. Mech., Vol. 40, No. 3, 1991, pp. 571–584] developed a modified linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach to tackle a number of fatigue problems, including the growth and threshold behavior of small fatigue cracks. In this study, a further extension is presented to deal with notch effects in fatigue. In this method, the elastic–plastic behavior and the crack closure are taken into account, as the major factors responsible for the peculiar behavior of small fatigue cracks emanating from notches. In the present paper, the notch effect in fatigue is systematically investigated by making use of a mechanism-based computational framework. A series of parametric studies demonstrate the predictive capability of the proposed framework. Based on the thorough investigation for notch-fatigue problem, the novelty of present study is illustrated.
Dosimetry of the Decommissioned High-Flux Beam Reactor at Brookhaven Lab
Authors: Hu J. -P. , Reciniello R. N. , Holden N. E. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The high-flux beam reactor (HFBR) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory was a heavy water cooled and moderated reactor that achieved criticality on Oct. 31, 1965. It operated at a power level of 40 megawatts. An equipment upgrade in 1982 allowed operations at 60 megawatts. After a 1989 reactor shutdown to reanalyze safety impact of a hypothetical loss of coolant accident, the reactor was restarted in 1991 at 30 megawatts. The HFBR was shut down in December 1996 for routine maintenance and refueling. At that time, a leak of tritiated water was identified by routine sampling of groundwater from wells located adjacent to the reactor’s spent fuel pool. The reactor remained shut down for almost three years for safety and environmental reviews. In November 1999 the United States Department of Energy decided to permanently shut down the HFBR. The decontamination and decommissioning of the HFBR complex, consisting of multiple structures and systems to operate and maintain the reactor, were complete in 2009 after removing and shipping off all the control rod blades. The emptied and cleaned HFBR dome, which still contains the irradiated reactor vessel, is presently under 24/7 surveillance for safety. Detailed dosimetry performed for the HFBR decommissioning during 1996–2009 is described in the paper.
Design and Testing of a Boron Carbide Capsule for Spectral Tailoring in Mixed-Spectrum Reactors
Authors: Greenwood L. R. , Wittman R. , Pierson B. P. , Metz L. A. , Payne R. , Finn E. C. , Friese J. I. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
A boron carbide capsule has been designed and used for spectral-tailoring experiments at the TRIGA reactor at Washington State University. Irradiations were conducted in pulsed mode and in continuous operation for up to 4 h. A cadmium cover was used to reduce thermal heating. The neutron spectrum calculated with the Monte Carlo N-particle transport code was found to be in good agreement with reactor dosimetry measurements using the STAY’SL computer code. The neutron spectrum resembles that of a fast reactor. The design of a capsule using boron carbide fully enriched in 10B shows that it is possible to produce a neutron spectrum similar to that of 235U fission.
The Power Distribution and Neutron Fluence Measurements and Calculations in the VVER-1000 Mock-Up on the LR-0 Research Reactor
Authors: Košt’ál M. , Juříček V. , Rypar V. , Švadlenková M. , Cvachovec F. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The power density distribution in a reactor has significant influence on core structures and pressure vessel mechanical resistance, as well as on the physical characteristics of nuclear fuel. This quantity also has an effect on the leakage neutron and photon field. This issue has become of increasing importance, as it touches on actual questions of the VVER nuclear power plant life time extension. This paper shows the comparison of calculated and experimentally determined pin by pin power distributions. The calculation has been performed with deterministic and Monte Carlo approaches. This quantity is accompanied by the neutron and photon flux density calculation and measurements at different points of the light water zero-power (LR-0) research reactor mock-up core, reactor built-in component (core barrel), and reactor pressure vessel and model. The effect of the different data libraries used for calculation is discussed.
Los Alamos National Laboratory Fission Basis
Authors: Keksis A. L. , Chadwick M. B. , Selby H. D. , Mac Innes M. R. , Barr D. W. , Meade R. A. , Burns C. J. , Wallstrom T. C. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
This report is an overview of two main publications that provide a comprehensive review of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Fission Basis. The first is the experimental paper, “Fission Product Data Measured at Los Alamos for Fission Spectrum and Thermal Neutrons on 239Pu, 235U, 238U,” [Selby, H. D., et al., Nucl. Data Sheets, Vol. 111 2010, pp. 2891–2922] and the second is the theoretical paper, “Fission Product Yields from Fission Spectrum n+239Pu for ENDF/B-VII.1,” [Chadwick, M. B., et al., Nucl. Data Sheets, Vol. 111, 2010, pp. 2923–2964].
The Influence of Headform Circumference and Mass on Alpine Ski Helmet Performance in Laboratory Tests
Authors: Post A. , Gimbel G. , Hoshizaki T. B. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
With over 200 million individuals participating in alpine skiing and snowboarding worldwide, the number of trauma-related cases and fatalities are on the rise. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in particular, are the most common cause of serious injury and death among skiers and snowboarders, with young participants being identified at greater risk for head injury than adults. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of head mass and geometry on the impact performance of alpine ski helmets in laboratory conditions. To accomplish this, extra large helmets were tested on a monorail drop system, with different mass and geometry conditions. The results indicate that the helmets tested with a heavier mass headform yielded lower linear accelerations than the other conditions. The geometry condition indicates that the helmets tested with the smaller headform yield lower accelerations, which implies that materials respond differently depending on the impact footprint. This could indicate that the mass difference and geometry of the headform are an important factor in the performance of helmet liners under laboratory test conditions.
Evaluation of Fracture Toughness Test Data for Multilayer Dissimilar Joint Welds Using a Weibull Stress Model
Authors: Takashima Yasuhito , Ohata Mitsuru , Seto Masaru , Okazaki Yoshitomi , Minami Fumiyoshi 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Fracture behaviour of welded joints with dissimilar weld metals (WMs) has been investigated in this paper. A low-toughness WM and a high-strength WM with a moderate toughness were layered alternately in the thickness direction. Fracture tests were conducted with 3-point bend (3PB) specimen and tension plate with a through-thickness crack. The 3PB specimen showed a multistage fracture. The first fracture was originated from the low-toughness WM. On the other hand, no multistage fracture occurred in the tension plate, although the low-toughness WM was responsible for brittle fracture initiation in the same manner as in the 3PB specimen. The fracture toughness of the multilayer dissimilar joint was apparently larger than the welded joint made with the low toughness WM only. The weakest-link model has been applied for analyzing those toughness properties of the multilayer dissimilar joint. The estimated fracture toughness by the weakest-link model was not necessarily consistent with the toughness data, which was because of the local stress elevation in the low-toughness WM area close to the high-strength WM. Because of this, a modified Weibull stress model was used to estimate fracture toughness values for the multilayer dissimilar joint WM and to account for an active fracture zone length scale in the multilayer weld joint materials.