bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HAART medication and oral health status in children and adolescent HIV infected: A case control study
Authors: Kumar Krishna , Subramaniam Priya , Prakash Aarathi J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe advent of Highly Active Anti‐Retroviral Therapy (HAART) does influence the overall oral health care of children. The children undergoing HAART have shown an increase in caries activity owing to sugars in medicines to make them more palatable.AimThe aim of the study was to assess and compare the Oral Health of Children Living with HIV/AIDS (CLHAs) and Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS (ALHAs) undergoing HAART and those who are HAART‐naïve.MethodsThis study was carried out at different Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGO's) across Kerala, India. The study group consisted of 150 HIV‐infected children aged 6–18 years. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised of children prior to onset of HAART and Group 2 included children who had been on HAART for more than 3 years (HAART naïve). The assessment of dental caries status and dental plaque status was done. The observations were tabulated and statistically analyzed.ResultsOn Statistical Analysis, significant difference was noted between the groups with the Group 1(2.26 ± 0.58;p value = .000*) showing higher scores of dental plaque and a significant difference was also observed with respect to dental caries scores with DMFT and dmft scores higher in Group 2(dmft 2.08 ± 2.85; p value = .001* and DMFT 4.10 ± 1.71;p value = .003*).ConclusionIt was concluded that oral hygiene conditions were poor in children with HIV, with dental plaque scores more in HAART‐naïve which may be due to their lesser visits and reinforcements regarding oral hygiene from a dentist and dental caries score more in HAART group, this may be attributed to the hidden sugars present in HAART medications to make it more palatable. Early recognition and management of oral conditions are important to improve the quality of life for these children.
Sedimentological and ichnological variations in fluvio‐tidal translating point bars, McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada
Authors: Fietz Susanne W. , MacEachern James A. , Gingras Murray K. , Ranger Michael , Dashtgard Shahin E. 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACTSedimentological and ichnological descriptions of fluvio‐tidal translating point bars are rare, and complex physico‐chemical processes make highly detailed but concise facies descriptions challenging. Herein, mesofacies are defined to describe and interpret three ancient translating point bars from the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada. Twenty‐three mesofacies are defined, based on their recurring sedimentological and ichnological characteristics. These mesofacies form the building blocks of beds and bedsets that make up three depositional facies. Facies 1 reflects sand dune migration at the channel base, which grades into inclined heterolithic stratification of Facies 2 and 3. Facies 2 occurs in the centre and seaward portions of the translating point bars and records tide‐dominated deposition of sand and muddy sand during periods of reduced river discharge. Ichnological suites and bioturbation intensities in these beds reflect persistent but variable brackish‐water conditions, fluctuating deposition rates and the deposition of mud. Mud beds are derived from flows with high suspended‐sediment concentrations. Tidally derived mud beds are typically bioturbated with trace fossil suites indicative of slow deposition rates and brackish‐water conditions. Mud deposited during elevated river discharge is burrowed after the dewatering of the bed. Facies 3 occurs at the landward apex of the translating point bar and is marked by sand‐rich and mud‐rich dune deposits with abundant soft‐sediment deformation, indicative of elevated flow velocities and deposition rates. Bioturbation is rare and sporadically distributed owing to unstable substrates. The distribution of the facies reflect the hydrodynamic variations that occurred vertically and laterally across the bar in response to temporal variations in fluvial and tidal flow interaction, as recorded by their mesofacies. The detailed facies analysis strongly suggests that deposition of the three McMurray Formation translating point bars occurred in proximity to the turbidity maximum zone of a fluvio‐tidal channel system.
Straw residue incorporation: Influence on soil microbial biomass and carbon–nitrogen dynamics in an oilseed rape–rice rotation
Authors: Wang Kunkun , Ren Tao , Yan Jinyao , Zhu Dandan , Fang Yating , Cong Rihuan , Lu Zhifeng , Li Xiaokun , Lu Jianwei 
Published: November 2023

AbstractSoil C and N input drives microbial biomass in paddy–upland rotations. We explored how crop straw return impacts microbial C and N (MBC and MBN) dynamics and their role in rice–oilseed rape rotations at three sites in Hubei Province, China. These sites, under a subtropical monsoon climate, were categorized (using the modified Nemoro equation) as high, moderate and low soil fertility respectively. We found that with straw return, total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic carbon (SOC) increased to the greatest degree in the high fertility soils. Notably, soil MBC and MBN levels varied with soil fertility and were seasonably dependent, being lower in the rice season compared to the oilseed rape season. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed diminishing effects of MBC and MBN on soil N accumulation during the oilseed rape season compared to the rice season. In summary, our results highlight the role that microbial biomass can play in C and N accumulation as a soil fertility indicator in paddy–upland rotations.
Opting for open‐source? A review of free statistical software programs
Authors: Shepherd Melissa A. , Richardson Elizabeth J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractStatistical software is commonly used in undergraduate social sciences statistics courses. Due to the increase in online/hybrid courses and the cost of SPSS, instructors may wish to switch to another statistical software. We cover seven programs: Excel, Google Sheets, jamovi, JASP, PSPP, R, and SOFA. We compare programs using the following criteria: ease of download, quality of online instructions, availability of instructor resources, sophistication of analyses available, ease of use, operating system requirements, whether it uses point‐and‐click or code, and whether a VPAT is available. Adopting new course materials is a valuable part of instruction but time‐consuming. Therefore, this review provides information about commonly available or free open‐source programs so instructors can choose based on the needs of their students and/or institutions.
An assessment of bacterial contamination of indirect ophthalmoscopes and condensing lenses used in clinical practice: A multi‐center study
Authors: Smith James L. , Tzouganakis Ioannis , Allen Ramona , Adams Vicki J. , Rhodes Mike 
Published: November 2023

AbstractPurposeTo investigate bacterial contamination of indirect ophthalmoscopes and condensing lenses used in three UK veterinary referral centers, and the impact of an implemented cleaning protocol.MethodsBacteriology samples from 10 indirect ophthalmoscopes and 10 condensing lenses were taken at each center (n = 30 T0), before initiating one of three cleaning frequencies (every 2 weeks/once weekly/daily) for 28 days. The most contaminated indirect ophthalmoscope and condensing lens from each center were re‐sampled 30 min prior to (T1; n = 9) and 30 min after (T2; n = 9) the final clean. Sensitivity testing was completed using MIC.ResultsSeventy‐three isolates representing 15 different bacterial populations (genus/species) were cultured from 36 of 48 (75%) swabs tested. The most frequently cultured isolates were Staphylococcus spp. 30%, Micrococcus 22%, and Bacillus 14%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pantoea, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius demonstrated resistance to >50% of antibiotics against which they were tested.Eighty‐three percent of T0 samples (54 isolates across 11 species, median 2 isolates/swab), all T1 samples (15 isolates across 8 species, median 2 isolates/swab), and 22% of T2 samples (4 isolates across 4 species, median 0 isolates/swab) were contaminated. Head contact points were most contaminated irrespective of time point. A T1 sample was 57 times more likely (95% CI: 2.4–1376) to have a positive culture than a T2 sample (p = .01).ConclusionsBaseline contamination was high, representing a potential source of nosocomial infection in ophthalmic patients and handlers of diagnostic equipment. No center implemented a cleaning protocol prior to this study. Routine cleaning reduces bacterial contamination.
Satisficing Strategy in Engineering Design
Authors: Guo Lin , Chen Suhao 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In engineering-design problems, usually, there are multiple goals (or objectives), continuous and discrete variables, nonlinear equations, nonconvex equations, goals with various units, and coupled decisions that are required. Ideally, the target of the multiple goals needs to be reached simultaneously within the feasible space bounded by constraints and bounds. However, the optimal solution to a problem that incorporates one or more of the complexities above may not be available or obtained by designers within the available resource. To deal with all those complexities, a modeling strategy named “satisficing” was proposed in the 1980’s and applied to various design problems in the past three decades. The satisficing strategy allows designers to find “good enough” solutions that “make things work,” yet the solutions may not be optimal. Moreover, with the satisficing strategy, designers may explore the solution space and gain knowledge on the performance through the design space. To carry out the satisficing strategy, a model formulation framework, the compromise Decision Support Problem (cDSP), was once proposed for modeling engineering-design problems, and a solution algorithm, the Adaptive Linear Programming algorithm (ALP), was created for linearizing and solving a nonlinear cDSP and output satisficing solutions, and a solver, the Decision Support in the Design of Engineering Systems (DSIDES), was developed to realize cDSP formulation and solving. In the past 30 years, satisficing strategy has been improved and applied to a wide variety of engineering-design problems. Derived methods, concepts, and platforms using the satisficing strategy are developed. This paper is a review of the representative publications regarding utilizing the satisficing strategy in managing engineering design. Among the publications, different topics are reviewed and summarized, including methods, theories, and frameworks to facilitate the robust design, multiscale and microstructure design, multistage design and concurrent design, coupled decision-making in designs, exploration of the solution space and design space, multigoal and multidisciplinary design, and knowledge-based design and platformation. We generalize the specialties, advantages, and scope of applications of the methods in the satisficing strategy. We expect this paper provides useful information on when and how designers may or should attach to satisficing as a strategy for their problems.
Multi-Objective Optimal Design of Gravity Compensators Using Pareto Front With Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Nguyen Vu Linh 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This paper presents a multi-objective optimal design method for gravity compensators. The proposed optimization aims to minimize the ratio of the compensated torque to the uncompensated torque and the joint reaction forces of the gravity compensators. Pareto front of multiple fitness functions using a genetic algorithm is adopted to solve the optimization problem. This work takes a spring four-bar mechanism as a case study. The optimization problem of the gravity compensator is established with consideration of the spring constraints, which facilitate the practical design. This work also provides a numerical example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is shown that the technique can reduce the joint reaction forces by an average of 35.6% as compared to the original single-objective optimal design method. The gravity compensation performance of the mechanism is effective with a torque reduction ratio of 0.05. Moreover, a prototype of an 0.2-kg gravity compensator was built, and an experimental test was conducted. It was found that the measured motor torque of the mechanism was reduced by up to 93% within a range of 3π/4.
Quantification Model Uncertainty of Label-Free Machine Learning for Multidisciplinary Systems Analysis
Authors: Li Huiru , Panchal Jitesh H. , Du Xiaoping 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Many engineering systems involve multiple interacting disciplines or subsystems. For a design or analysis task, unknown linking variables, which are those variables that are outputs of some disciplines and inputs of other disciplines, are obtained by solving the system of implicit interdisciplinary compatibility equations for a given set of system inputs. This study creates surrogate models for linking variables using label-free training with neural networks. The compatibility equations are embedded in the cost function of the model training. They are calculated and are not solved for given input training variables, thereby avoiding label acquisition. To quantify the prediction errors of the surrogate models, we build their error models with Gaussian Process regression, which uses the existing training points and the derivatives of the compatibility equations at the training points. The error models are then used to compensate for the errors of neural network surrogate models of the linking variables, producing more accurate predictions of linking variables with quantified model uncertainty for predicting system responses. The linking variables with quantified model uncertainty are then used to predict the system responses and associated prediction errors. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by the application to a propane combustion problem.
Control Co-Design With Varying Available Information Applied to Vehicle Suspensions
Authors: Bayat Saeid , Allison James T. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Recent optimization strategies for Control Co-Design (CCD) often utilize open-loop optimal control (OLOC) to explore the physical performance limits of actively controlled engineering systems. For most real systems, however, closed-loop control (CLC) is required for implementation. OLOC methods incorporate the use of present, past, and future information in making control decisions at each point in time. For systems with any uncertainty, CLC is needed for stability and robustness. The physical (plant) design generated by an OLOC CCD method will normally not interact optimally with CLC, producing results that are not system optimal. The ideal outcome of CCD optimization is the combined physical and control system design that produces maximum system utility, while accounting for the realities of implementable control systems, such as causality and other limits on information available to inform real-time control decisions. In this article an intuitive strategy is presented for investigating empirically the impact of information availability on CCD optimization results. Model Predictive Control (MPC) provides a flexible means to vary what information is used in making real-time control decisions. This is used as a proxy for the vast space of potential controllers, from simple to sophisticated. This method for studying information-based characteristics of CCD problems is demonstrated using a canonical CCD problem based on an active automotive suspension problem. Different plant architectures with various plant design variables are considered. Results show that varying the amount of information in the control design yields different plant designs and different objective values, and has the potential to yield insights into promising CLC architectures (beyond MPC), fruitful directions to head for plant design, and a deeper understanding of the interface between physical and control system design. It is also observed in the studies here that by using more advanced system architectures, the MPC prediction horizon can be reduced and still produce superior system performance compared to cases with simpler architectures and a longer prediction horizon, or, even when using an open-loop controller. Comparison studies are performed that provide in-depth knowledge of the effect of control sampling time and plant design on states and control. Furthermore, a hybrid Kalman filter is designed that couples with the MPC controller to provide state estimation in the presence of measurement noise and process noise. This article introduces the concept of information-based studies in CCD, but utilizes an applied approach based on MPC to generate insights. A more theoretical approach could be taken in the future that yields more generalizable understanding of how information limitations influence CCD optimization outcomes.
DeltaFlex: An Additively Manufactured Monolithic Delta Robot With Compliant Joints
Authors: Parmiggiani Alberto , Ottonello Emilio , Masoud Kargar Seyyed , Baggetta Mario , Hao Guangbo , Berselli Giovanni 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This study presents the design and validation of a compliant Delta robot created through additive manufacturing (AM) with a monolithic structure. The use of AM expedites the development cycle of robots, enabling faster prototype development and deployment, as well as facilitating experimentation with new robot kinematics. The use of compliant joints poses a challenge in achieving substantial workspaces for robots. However, parallel architectures are well-suited for implementing flexible joints because they require lower ranges of motion for individual joints than serial architectures. Thus the Delta configuration was chosen for this study. A Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) strategy was adopted to minimize the need for support structures and maximize mechanical strength. The overall performance of the Delta was evaluated quantitatively in terms of stiffness and precision. The stiffness test aimed to measure the device’s capability to withstand applied loads, while the repeatability test assessed the robot’s precision and accuracy Moreover, FEM verification was adopted. Structural simulations are a powerful tool for verifying the experimental results of a robotic system. The approach presented in this work offers an interesting avenue for robot design with significant potential for future advancements and practical applications and sheds light on the trade-offs that designers should consider when adopting this methodology.
Embedded Vision System for Real-Time Shelves Rows Detection for Planogram Compliance Check
Authors: Pietrini Rocco , Galdelli Alessandro , Mancini Adriano , Zingaretti Primo 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In retail environment monitor store shelves is a key factor for retailers and brands to provide the best customer shopping experience and maximize sales. Computer vision and deep learning are well suitable this task and are already used for detection and recognition of products displayed in shelves. Recently, retailers started using autonomous robotic applications for monitoring store shelves. Commercial robotic solutions for full store inventory are rising on the market, equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology or vision-based systems. Such robots usually browse the store fulfilling a task regarding inventory or planogram compliance check. Detect and recognize product on a shelf, however, is not enough to have a proper picture of a shelf. Physical structure of the shelf must be taken into account in order to assign every detected product to its shelf row. Know exactly in which shelf row a product is displayed enables the calculation of some specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as the Share of Shelf. In this paper after analyzing the techniques currently used in the state-of-the-art, we realized that there is no reliable and lightweight solution to detect shelf rows, so we provide an end-to-end solution for that and we prove the feasibility of the approach on a newly collected dataset.
CAD Challenges App: An Informatics Framework for Parametric Modeling Practice and Research Data Collection in Computer-Aided Design
Authors: Deng Yuanzhe , Mueller Matthew , Shields Matthew 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Computer-aided design (CAD) is a key tool in modern engineering design and manufacturing, making design education and design research with CAD important fields of study. Effectively teaching modelling strategies in traditional classrooms is challenging and the design research community faces barriers in participant recruitment for research studies. In this paper, we propose a framework that connects the teaching and research community with design informatics in CAD. We productized the framework, named the “CAD Challenges” web application, and integrated it to Onshape, a commercially available cloud-CAD software. With free and easy access to this app, users gain access to a library of modelling challenges from within an Onshape document. The app automatically evaluates submissions and provides feedback, enabling asynchronous learning and the development of CAD expertise through practice. After challenge attempts, data on both the design process and the completed model are collected, enabling insight into the different strategies that can be used to create the same geometry. While providing a free and accessible training tool for learners, the big data generated through challenge attempts can provide valuable insight into how students learn CAD and the modeling strategies used by experts. Benefits and opportunities enabled by the framework are discussed in detail with preliminary research analysis.
Paper or Tablet? The Impact of Digital Tools on Sketching During Engineering Design Concept Generation
Authors: Das Madhurima , Huang May , Yang Maria 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Sketching is an important tool for engineers during concept generation. Sketch quantity during this early stage of design has been linked with eventual design outcomes and sketch quality has been linked with design perceptions. As such, both are important metrics to track. Prior work has also found gender differences in some of these sketch attributes. Given the increase in use of digital tablets for sketching, it is important to assess how tablet use affects early stage engineering design sketches. This is especially important as tablets can automatically smooth lines and help perfect sketch features, but these features may also take longer to use and may result in fewer sketches produced.
This study investigates differences in sketch quality, quantity, and understandability (the effectiveness of the sketch as a communication tool) between sketching on a tablet and sketching with pen on paper during an engineering design concept generation exercise.
Results indicate that there is no difference in sketch quantity or understandability between the two tools. However, sketch quality, smoothness, and proportion/accuracy are all higher for the pen and paper condition than for the tablet condition. Finally, no gender differences in performance for either sketch quantity or quality were found.