bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerated Pavement Testing of Re-Recycled Cold Central Plant Recycled Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Bowers Benjamin F. , Timm David H. , Turochy Elizabeth , Diefenderfer Brian K.
Published: April 2024

Cold central plant recycled asphalt mixtures (CCPR) have been shown to provide a high-quality, economical, and environmentally conscious asphalt base mixture. Existing literature, however, does not indicate what would be an appropriate future rehabilitation method for a pavement that includes CCPR. Given the previously cited benefits of CCPR, it is logical to ask whether a CCPR can be re-recycled and, if so, how will it perform? This paper presents a study of a test section containing a re-recycled CCPR placed at the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track. CCPR from a Virginia Department of Transport study on the Test Track was recovered, re-recycled, and placed at 5-in. thick with a 2-in. asphalt concrete (AC) overlay. In preparing for a re-recycled CCPR layer, milling an existing CCPR layer resulted in a coarser gradation and lower indirect tensile strength values. Initially, the re-recycled CCPR test section did not perform well owing to moisture in the aggregate base present during construction of the re-recycled CCPR layer. It is suspected that this moisture negatively affected the curing of the re-recycled CCPR layer. Thus, the re-recycled CCPR layer was milled and re-recycled again (3rd generation re-recycled CCPR) and placed at 5-in. thick with a 2-in. AC overlay. The 3rd generation re-recycled CCPR performed well through 3 million equivalent single axle loads (ESALs), the same number of ESALs that resulted in fatigue cracking and rutting failures in the initial re-recycled CCPR.
Horizontal Curve Safety Performance Evaluation Based on Naturalistic Vehicle Lane Position Data
Authors: Claros Boris , Chitturi Madhav , Vorhes Glenn , Bill Andrea , Noyce David A.
Published: April 2024

Performance-based design is a renewed approach for project decision-making to specifically address the purpose and needs of projects by providing design flexibility. Resources to evaluate roadway design based on safety performance are an important need for transportation practitioners. In this study, naturalistic driving study (NDS) data were used to estimate the safety effect of elements that influence driving behavior on rural undivided two-lane horizontal curves. Available data included 3,292 horizontal curves and 150,233 traversals, which required a significant data processing effort to conduct data cleaning and quality assessment. From the safety surrogates evaluated and methods implemented, lane position provided the most consistent and statistically significant results. Centerline and edge line encroachment events were modeled with the negative binomial using traffic volume and curve geometry as the predictor components. Encroachment estimates were associated with observed crashes from state data to convert encroachments to crashes. Predictor variables such as curve radius showed a decreasing trend in predicted crashes as curve radius increased. Similarly, as shoulder or lane width increased, predicted crashes decreased. Crash estimates derived from safety surrogates were used to develop an analytical tool aimed at practitioners for curve design considerations. Data input includes curve radius, shoulder width, lane width, curve length, traffic volume, expected service life, and construction cost. The economic assessment provides a quantitative measure for practitioners to evaluate alternative curve designs by assessing the tradeoffs between safety and costs of implementation.
Nanostructure characterisation of welded polyethylene using small angle X-ray scattering
Authors: Oromiehie Ebrahim , Kong Adrian , Djukic Luke , Mata Jitendra , Rodgers Daniel C , Prusty Gangadhara B
Published: April 2024

Polyethylene (PE), a common thermoplastic polymer, is gaining prominence in the construction and packaging industries due to its exceptional mechanical properties, chemical resistance, safety, and integrity. However, internal defects can occur during manufacturing and throughout its service life. Neglecting this problem results in the disposal of plastic and, consequently, the accumulation of plastic waste and environmental issues, which have caused much criticism. A common method to repair the thermoplastics is welding, which introduces seams and localized thermal residual stress fields resulting in areas where damage can nucleate, potentially leading to cracks and failure over time. These cracks often start at the nanoscale and propagate to larger length scales until failure occurs. The objective of this research paper is to develop welding processes, with improved integrity and lifespan for PE. Additionally, it aims to investigate and assess the impact of PE welding on parent materials at nano- and micron-scales, to understand limitations that are challenging to overcome in such welding processes. The study involves joining PE panels together under various pre-heating and post-cooling conditions, followed by evaluating the environmental stress cracking resistance of the welds and the durability of the repaired components. The crystallinity and morphology of the PE material in the weld area and its surrounding regions were analysed using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and the findings were compared with results obtained from optical microscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The study concludes that SAXS results offer exceptional information about the parent PE and weld material within the welding zone.
Analysis of Vancomycin Dosage and Plasma Levels in Critically Ill Adult Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
Authors: Ferre Andrés , Giglio Andrés , Zylbersztajn Brenda , Valenzuela Rodolfo , Van Sint Jan Nicolette , Fajardo Christian , Reccius Andres , Dreyse Jorge , Hasbun Pablo
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Critically ill patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) exhibit unique pharmacokinetics. This study aimed to assess the achievement of vancomycin therapeutic targets in these patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients on ECMO treated with vancomycin between January 2010 and December 2018. Ninety patients were analyzed based on ECMO connection modality, baseline creatinine levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirements, and vancomycin loading dose administration. Results: Twenty-three percent of the patients achieved the therapeutic range defined by baseline levels. No significant differences in meeting the therapeutic goal were found in multivariate analysis considering ECMO cannulation modality, initial creatinine level, initial eGFR, RRT requirement, or loading dose use. All trough levels between 15 and 20 mcg/mL achieved an estimated area under the curve/minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) between 400 and 600, almost all trough levels over 10 mcg/mL predicted an AUC/MIC >400. Discussion: Achieving therapeutic plasma levels in these patients remains challenging, potentially due to factors such as individual pharmacokinetics and pathophysiology. A trough plasma level between 12 and 20 estimated the therapeutic AUC/MIC for all models, proposing a possible lower target, maintaining exposure, and potentially avoiding adverse effects. Despite being one of the largest cohorts of vancomycin use in ECMO patients studied, its retrospective nature and single-center focus limits its broad applicability.
Responsibilization and Retraditionalization: How Neoliberal Logics Reproduce Gender Inequities Among Women Community Organizers in Chicago
Authors: Dungy Mary , Krings Amy
Published: April 2024

Neoliberal capitalism creates a “crisis of care” in which social reproduction—though necessary for society—is undermined by stripping away support for caregivers, who are disproportionately women. “Social reproduction” refers to the reproduction and maintenance of the labor force via childbirth, child rearing, and caregiving for loved ones more generally. This interpretive phenomenological study examines how a crisis of care manifests for women in the workplace. Drawing upon in-depth, semistructured interviews with Chicago-based women who work as community organizers, our findings demonstrate that sexism in the workplace, coupled with the gendering of care work, creates unique difficulties for these women. By integrating the work of feminist critical theorists who argue that neoliberal logics produce gendered impacts, particularly due to processes they call responsibilization and retraditionalization, our findings help explain why and how gender subordination and gendered divisions of labor persist, even in organizations with a professed commitment to social justice.
Perpetrators and Victims Blurred in the Soundscape of Wartime Mass Rallies: The Third-Generation Perspective in Marcel Beyer’s The Karnau Tapes and Kateřina Tučková’s Gerta
Authors: Filipowicz Marcin
Published: April 2024

This article investigates the use of sound at mass rallies during World War II, a topic that has not been explored in depth. By using the concepts of sound memory and soundscape, the article examines how contemporary literature represents past war events, specifically focusing on how national groups and individuals are portrayed in relation to other people, places, events, and axiological systems. The analysis centres on the perspectives of third-generation authors, allowing for a deeper understanding of how the identities of perpetrators and victims are constructed and negotiated differently at the collective and individual levels. To achieve this, the article examines two literary works, Marcel Beyer’s German novel The Karnau Tapes and Kateřina Tučková’s Czech novel Gerta, using a combination of sound studies and literary studies. The article argues that the sensory aspects of memory and oblivion can shed light on the soundscape created by mass rallies during wartime and how this has shaped Czech and German cultural memory. However, even the third generation is not immune to the pressure of silence on certain issues, dictated by a collective need to preserve and consolidate a particular image of the nation.
The visualization of autism: Filming children at the Maudsley Hospital, London, 1957–8
Authors: Harbord Janet
Published: April 2024

This article examines three films made during the 1950s by Elwyn James Anthony at the psychotic clinic for children at the Maudsley Hospital that marked an important transition in the purpose and practice of visual documentation in a clinical setting: film as a research tool was transitioning from the recording of external signs as indicators of internal subjective states, to the capture of the visual flow of communication between subjects. It is a shift that had a particular impact on the emergent classification of autism, a modality not yet properly separated from the broader term of psychosis, as a non-relational condition whose visual capture demonstrated a void of inter-human communicational exchange. Film was significant not only as a recording apparatus, but as a method of cutting and crafting sequences of movements into brief repetitive motifs. The filmed behaviour of children remained opaque to interpretation, a ‘finding’ that facilitated the modelling of an emergent autism as subjects who were isolated, alienated and automaton-like, inhabiting a separate temporality. The article situates this ‘second’, affectless autism, within a broader context of post-war research into gestures as a language of the body, developed largely through an intellectual network of German émigré psychoanalysts who had fled to the US and UK in the 1930s.
Experimental investigation to assess the surface integrity in WEDM of Al-based hybrid composite material
Authors: Lodhi Brajesh Kumar , Agarwal Sanjay
Published: April 2024

Aluminum-based hybrid composites are used in various engineering applications due to their unique properties, such as high strength, good wear resistance, excellent corrosion resistance, and low density. Aluminum metal matrix (AMMC) composites reinforced with ceramic particles can be more difficult to machine than traditional aluminum alloys because of their increased hardness and abrasiveness. Wire electric discharge machining is a non-traditional machining process that uses a thin metal wire, typically made of molybdenum, brass or tungsten to cut through a workpiece using electrical discharge sparks. This process is useful for precision machining of complex shapes and profiles in hard or difficult to machine materials. WEDM is a commonly used process for cutting Al-SiC-ZrO2 HAMMCs due to their hardness and difficulty in machining using conventional techniques. The present study examines the relationship between machining parameters like pulse on time (TON), pulse off time (TOFF), peak current (IP) and wire feed (WF) and material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness ( Ra) for Al-SiC-ZrO2 in WEDM. The Box-Beckham Design was used to plan the experiments, and response surface method was employed to develop the models. The pulse duration, TOFF, IP, and quadratic terms of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the most influential factors of the MRR. The TON, IP and interaction term (TON × IP), and [Formula: see text] were the most significant factors for Ra. Multi-response optimization of process parameters was obtained using the desirability function approach. Furthermore, the machined samples were analyzed for surface integrity using SEM techniques. The prediction from this model validated the confirmation results.
Development of a dual-axis solar tracker for efficient sun energy harvesting
Authors: Sanyal Alok , Mohanta J C , Faiyaz Ahmed MD
Published: April 2024

Climate change, global warming, and rising fossil fuel pose significant challenges in present days across worldwide. To combat these issues, governments and organizations are promoting renewable energy sources, such as solar power, which converts sunlight into electricity or thermal energy. In the current scenario, static-oriented Photovoltaic (PV) panels are hampered by fluctuations in the sun's trajectory, leading to suboptimal solar energy conversion. To address these issues, this manuscript proposes a low-cost prototype of a two-axis solar tracker that integrates four optical sensor modules as feedback sensors and two direct current geared motors to maximize solar energy harvesting. Comparative analysis between a fixed-oriented PV panel and the solar tracker, using conventional on–off and artificial intelligence-based fuzzy logic control methods, verifies the two-axis solar tracker's performance. The fuzzy logic controller-based solar tracker net energy gains approximately 14.2% more power than the fixed-oriented PV panel daily and boasts an average tracking error of 0.29°, indicating its reliability.
Parametric optimisation of 3D-printed PLA/wood dust composite for load-bearing application using grey relational analysis
Authors: Mishra Vishal , Kumar Avinash , Bhatt Naveen Kumar , Negi Sushant
Published: April 2024

This article proposes an investigation on sustainable polylactic acid/wood dust (PLA/WD) composite material for three-dimensional (3D)-printing applications. This eco-friendly material aids a remarkable reduction in thermoplastic waste, while minimising resource depletion, as a result it promotes circular economies, and mitigates environmental pollution. In order to extend the service life of manufactured components, it becomes necessary to investigate the key fused filament fabrication (FFF) processing parameters that affect the mechanical performance of PLA/WD composite parts. Taguchi-based L27 orthogonal array composite design was implemented for experimentation, and mathematical models were developed by using grey relational analysis to predict the responses for the proposed material. Moreover, the FFF input parameters with three levels of values that were considered for the experimentation are the nozzle temperature (190°C–200°C), layer height (0.12–0.28 mm), print speed (30–50 mm/min), infill density (80–100%) and raster angle (0°–90°). The results revealed that the highest grey relational grade obtained was 0.8333 for the experiment run 19 with the sample having ultimate tensile strength and shore D hardness of 20.71 ± 1.24 MPa and 74 ± 2 SHD, respectively. Moreover, raster angle, layer height and infill density were found to be the influential parameters that affect the tensile and hardness properties of the sample. Furthermore, nozzle temperature of 200°C, layer height of 0.2 mm, print speed of 30 mm/min, infill density of 100% and raster angle of 90° were obtained as optimum FFF input parameters.
Investigation of the effect of ultrasonic vibration on the performance of the friction drilling by FEM simulation
Authors: Ansari Parsa , Kazemi Ghouhaki Reza , Ahmadi Farshid
Published: April 2024

The friction drilling process is very important in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, and oil and gas industries. Therefore, they have always sought to find methods to improve this process. One of these methods is to optimize the application of ultrasonic vibrations in the process, and limited research has been done in this regard. The current research aims to investigate the effect of ultrasonic vibrations simultaneously with the parameters of drilling on the friction drilling process to optimize this process with the help of finite element simulation. Due to the nature of the complex transformations of the process, a Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian model of the process was first created in the Abaqus software. Then, the process simulation was carried out in the presence and absence of ultrasonic vibrations. Rotational speed, feed rate, and amplitude of vibrations are the influencing parameters, and sheet temperature and axial force, and torque applied to the tool are the parameters investigated in this research. The results show that higher rotation speed and lower feed rate lead to a reduction of axial force and torque. Also, the application of ultrasonic vibration reduces up to 50.48% the axial force and up to 46.67% torque, and this reduction is improved by increasing the range of vibrations. The optimal mode was selected After analyzing 12 different modes based on the lowest amount of axial force and torque on the pin. It was found that the ideal mode occurs at a feed rate of 4.23 m/s and a rotation speed of 3000 rpm, with a 20-µm range. These findings and optimizing drilling parameters bring new horizons in material bonding techniques in various industries.
Design and optical simulation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct incorporating ultraviolet-C channels based on Bunimovich stadium
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Bisht Devendra Singh , Garg Harry
Published: April 2024

A recent breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic inspired researchers to find ideal solutions for removing SARS-CoV-2 from indoor air. In-duct ultraviolet germicidal irradiation was employed in rooms with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to stop the spread of COVID-19. The current investigation introduces Bunimovich stadium-inspired flow channels inside the square-shaped duct. The impact of the Bunimovich channel shape on light distribution is studied and compared with the traditional rectangular-shaped duct. The core of the Bunimovich channel is a square with δ and γ equal to 0.5. A semi-circle surrounds the square's left and right sides. The air velocity in the HVAC system with the Bunimovich channels varies from 10 m/s to 15 m/s, resulting in variation in aerosol particles’ residence period in front of the ultraviolet-C (UVC) source. The Bunimovich channel delivered better UVC irradiance uniformity than a rectangular duct. The uniformity ratio for the Bunimovich channel was 0.788 compared to 0.6949 for the rectangular duct. The UVC dose delivered by the source in the Bunimovich channel varies from 1.48 mJ/cm2 to 3.03 mJ/cm2. The delivered dose is higher than the required 1.2 mJ/cm2 dose for log-4 reduction (i.e. 99.99%).
Study of the dynamic response of a quarter car model coupled with a human passenger for different speed bumps profiles
Authors: Alenezi Asmaa , Mohammed Abdullah
Published: April 2024

This work proposes a three-degrees-of-freedom Human-Vehicle-Road model to study the system’s dynamic as a response to road-induced excitations and evaluate the effect of vibrations on ride comfort. The study of the dynamic responses of the system is concerned only with the vertical motion of the passenger, sprung mass, and the tire when subjected to different excitation profiles. The model of the human is developed based on literature and then coupled to a quarter-car model using analytical methods. The mathematical model that describes the motion of the system is derived using Newton’s law of motion. The numerical simulations of the mathematical model using MATLAB provide the basis for the ride comfort analysis. The effects of the bump geometry are also studied in terms of the amplitude of each displacement, velocity, acceleration, and transmitted force. The ride comfort analysis is based on the ISO 2631 and BS6841 standards. The new concept of bump rotation is introduced and discussed in comparison with previous results. The investigation of the angle of rotation is presented as a totality of case studies where the bump is rotated with respect to the x-axis from 0 to 75° which is equivalent to a longer bump while maintaining the same height. The dynamic response for all rotation angles is collected to show that longer bumps have better performance because they reduce the forces transmitted to the system while maintaining the required level of discomfort to control the speeds of vehicles on roads. The ride comfort analysis concludes that the cycloidal bump has better performance as a speed control device.
Transient flow and thermodynamics analysis of a scroll compressor based on CFD
Authors: Zhang Ying-li , Yue Xiang-ji , Yang Fan , Ding Jia-nan , Hong Jia-hua , Ba De-chun
Published: April 2024

The scroll compressor is a kind of positive-displacement compressor applied in refrigeration systems, heat pump systems, and air conditioner systems. Using the spring smoothing method and considering the heat transfer, the numerical simulation model of the scroll compressor is established under standard working conditions. The results show that the CFD model is well validated by the experiment result. The compressor performance and the working process are analyzed. The pre-compression and the over-compression phenomenon are also studied. Moreover, the temperature distribution and velocity distribution of gas flow in the compressor are illustrated. The result shows that the pre-compression can improve the performance of the scroll compressor and the optimization of the suction channel geometry can provide a smoother suction process. Under the combined effect of the pre-compression and heat transfer, the refrigerating capacity is increased by approximately 0.54 kW and the volume efficiency is increased by approximately 2.2%. The additional power loss due to over-compression is 47.6615 W, and the setting of over-compression discharges can reduce the pressure and power loss. This study is helpful to the performance prediction and the structural optimization of the scroll compressor.
Design of event-triggered natural second-order observers for second-order vector systems
Authors: Huong Dinh Cong , Huynh Van Thanh , Trinh Hieu
Published: April 2024

The problem of designing event-triggered natural second-order state observers for second-order vector systems subject to external disturbances is considered in this paper. In this work, state observer is constructed using discrete measurements at instants when an event-triggered condition is satisfied. Due to the errors that arise by using the event-triggered mechanism and the external disturbance, the method in this paper only robustly estimates the state position and the state velocity of the second-order vector observers instead of estimating them asymptotically. Instead of using the method based on a parameter-dependent Lyapunov function in investigating the stability of the dynamic error system of natural second-order observers, a convex optimization problem is established in this paper to give an event-triggered mechanism and minimized levels in evaluating the boundedness of the dynamic error system of the event-triggered natural second-order observers. An automobile suspension and two numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Asynchronous event-triggered guaranteed cost control of uncertain 2-D Markov jump Roesser systems with actuator saturation
Authors: Liu Jiazheng , Yang Yang , Song Yaru
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the asynchronous event-triggered guaranteed cost control problem for two-dimensional Markov jump Roesser systems with parameter uncertainties and actuator saturation. The hidden Markov model is constructed to characterize the asynchronous phenomenon induced by the mode mismatch between the system and the controller, and a hidden Markov model-based event-triggered mechanism is adopted in controller design to save communication resources. The convex hull representation is employed to process saturated inputs. By using the quadratic Lyapunov function methods and linear matrix inequality techniques, some sufficient criteria are developed to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the addressed system with a guaranteed cost under three different boundary conditions. Finally, a convex optimization algorithm with linear matrix inequality constraints is proposed to design the optimal asynchronous event-triggered guaranteed cost controller, and a numerical example is considered to demonstrate its validity.
Book review: Hoineilhing Sitlhou (Ed.), Identity and Marginality in North East India, Challenges for Social Science Research
Authors: Hazarika Sanjoy
Published: April 2024

Hoineilhing Sitlhou (Ed.), Identity and Marginality in North East India, Challenges for Social Science Research. Orient BlackSwan, 2023, pp. 352, ₹1250 (Paperback), ISBN: 9789354423871.
Book review: Rajesh Basrur, Subcontinental Drift: Domestic Politics and India’s Foreign Policy
Authors: Gupta Sonika
Published: April 2024

Rajesh Basrur, Subcontinental Drift: Domestic Politics and India’s Foreign Policy. Orient BlackSwan, 2023, pp. 252, ₹1150 (Paperback), ISBN: 9781647122843.
Spatiotemporal Land Use Changes in Remote Rural Regions of India Between 2000 and 2020
Authors: Agrawal Sandeep , Welegedara Nilusha , Parida Debadutta
Published: April 2024

This study tracks the spatiotemporal changes in high-population growth and high-density rural regions of India, also called ‘urural’. The urural areas are remote, high-density rural areas far from zones of urban influence. Deriving the land use and land cover changes from the Global Land Cover and Land Use Change dataset and analysing them in the most populated and dense districts, the study confirms the hypothesis that land uses are continuously changing and have accelerated in high population growth and density in rural districts in India. The findings demonstrate significant changes in land use patterns in the last two decades, that is, 2000–2020, particularly in the last decade. Almost all physical changes, such as an increase in built-up areas, a reduction in agricultural lands, and depletion in vegetative cover and water bodies, were significant. This means that high population density, combined with population pressure in remote rural regions, is a leading contributing factor to considerable land use transformations, essentially turning them into areas with urban characteristics, that is, making them urural.
Untangling expectations and sacrifices: Ultra-Orthodox men in Israel and the religious club model
Authors: Perelman Yossi , Goldberg Chen
Published: April 2024

The ultra-Orthodox population in Israel demonstrates a higher natural growth rate compared to the general population, yet the employment rate among ultra-Orthodox men remains significantly lower. This phenomenon can be attributed to the concept of the religious club model (Berman, 2000), which posits that strict requirements and club goods foster a strong commitment to the religious community. By utilizing individual-level data collected from 256 ultra-Orthodox men and employing K-Means clustering analysis, we identified two distinct types based on their demonstrated levels of voluntary sacrifice which only partially overlapped the club’s formal admission criteria. Our findings illustrate the ultra-Orthodox religious club as inherently limited in its ability to enforce religious norms and prohibitions and as a result it is variably effective in filtering out ‘free riders’ and may not reward nonmembers despite their demonstrably consistently high adherence (‘wannabes’). Our findings also reveal a positive association between wage expectations and the likelihood of ultra-Orthodox men entering the labor market, implying a potential trade-off between earning potential and the extent of social fines. Interestingly, our results also offer insight into the increased adherence to Halacha (Jewish religious law), despite the rise in real wages. Furthermore, our simulation offers policymakers a tool to evaluate the necessary incentives to encourage greater participation of ultra-Orthodox men in the labor market. This has implications for both enhancing economic outcomes and understanding the intricate interplay between religion, social norms, and employment decisions.
Comparing Student and Writing Instructor Perceptions of Academic Dishonesty When Collaborators Are Artificial Intelligence or Human
Authors: Gallagher John R. , Wagner Kyle
Published: April 2024

It remains unclear if perceptions of academic dishonesty concerning artificial intelligence writing technologies (AIWTs) present new challenges or if they reflect prior, non-AI concerns. To structure this problem, we used a randomized control survey experiment. We compared student ( n = 603) and instructor ( n = 312) attitudes toward dishonesty in collaborations involving humans versus AIWT in 10 writing-related scenarios. Results suggest similar perception patterns among students and instructors, with both populations expressing significant differences in perceived dishonesty between AI and human collaborators in some scenarios. This experiment structures the problem of AI writing and academic dishonesty for future research in this emerging field.
Barriers in Cleft Service Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Thematic Analysis of Practical Needs of Rural Families
Authors: Taiwo Abdurrazaq Olanrewaju , Lehmann Uta , Scott Vera , Shafi’u Isah , Lawal Suleman Gusau , Abdulmajid Usamatu , Braimah Ramat Oyebummi , Ibikunle Adebayo Aremu , Abubakar Abdullahi Bello , Mujtaba Bala , Ogbeide Mike Eghosa , Labbo-Jadadi Suwaiba , Adigun Olufemi Ibrahim , Ile-Ogedengbe Bruno Oludare
Published: April 2024

Objective

To explore the experiences and perceptions of barriers of parents and family members of patients with cleft lip and palate in accessing cleft services in remote northwest Nigeria.

Design

Face-to-face semi-structured audio recorded interviews were used to obtained qualitative textual data. Thematic analysis using interpretative descriptive techniques was employed to understand the participants’ lived experiences with barriers and accessibility to cleft services.

Setting

Participants were from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states in remote northwest, Nigeria.

Participants

Consisted of 22 caregivers (17 parents and 5 extended family members) were purposively sampled between 2017 and 2020

Main outcome measures

Barriers experienced while accessing cleft services were identified during thematic analysis.

Result

Over three quarter of the respondents had patients with both cleft lip and palate and without any previous family history (n = 20). About two-thirds of the participants (n = 15) were females. Most of the interviews were conducted before the surgeries (n = 15).

Five themes emerged

lack of information, financial difficulty, misrepresentation from health workers, multiple transportation and previous disappointment.

Conclusions

Areas of poor awareness, misinformation from primary health care workers, financial hurdles, multiple transportation logistics and others were identified. Aggressive broadcasting of information through radio, timely treatment and collaboration with influential religious leaders were emphasized. Support, grants and subsidies from government and voluntary agencies are encouraged to mitigate the huge out of pocket cost of cleft care in the region.
Optimization of the extrusion parameters for the production of lentil–quinoa extrudates enriched with pumpkin
Authors: Eftekhariyazdi Minoo , Zenoozian Masoud Shafafi , Milani Elnaz , Elhami Rad Amir Hossein , Armin Mohammad
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to develop a protein-fiber-rich extruded product based on yellow lentil, quinoa, and pumpkin flours. The final product quality is affected by formulation and extrusion parameters. Therefore, the effect of the pumpkin-flour ratio (A: 25–75%) and feed moisture content (C: 14–22%) besides barrel screw speed (B: 120–180 rpm) on the physical attributes of extrudates was investigated. Box–Behnken experimental design and stepwise-response surface method were used to analyze the effects of various process variables and ingredients on extrudates. The pumpkin-flour ratio had a significant positive correlation with bulk density (BD), water solubility index (WSI), and oil absorption index. Whereas the correlation between pumpkin-flour ratio with hardness, porosity, expansion ratio (ER), and water absorption index (WAI) was negative ( P < 0.05). The feed moisture content positively affected the water activity ( aw) and WAI and negatively affected the harness of samples ( P < 0.05). The screw speed had a positive effect on ER, porosity, and WSI, whereas it negatively influenced the hardness, BD, and aw. By increasing the pumpkin-flour ratio, air cell size and wall thickness of samples had been decreased. The results showed that 44.2% pumpkin flour, 22% feed moisture, and 172.1 rpm screw speed gave an optimized product. There was no significant difference between predicted and experimental values (except for ER). The optimized snack was a good source of fiber (around 15%), protein (17.3%), and antioxidants (TPC = 15.28 mg GAE.g-1 and antiradical scavenging activity (DPPH) = 33.66%). The caloric value of the optimized snack was 362.6 cal.100g−1. The current formulation can be considered as the base of snack food or plant-based meat alternatives.
Amplifying Off-Site Purchases with On-Site Retail Media Advertising
Authors: Zenetti German , Pauwels Koen
Published: April 2024

Retail media is of growing interest to brands, and online retailers offer a large collection of product information that is freely available for consumers’ online and offline purchase decisions. In this study, the authors map webrooming across ten product categories by combining internal data from consumer browsing behavior at an online retailer and survey responses from the same customers about their offsite behavior. Moreover, they build a random forest machine-learning model to predict the magnitude of webrooming across categories. They find that webrooming is economically substantial. On average, for every 10 customers who research the product category on-site and buy on-site, 17 other customers research the product category on-site and buy off-site. As to retail media's impact, upper-funnel and always-on online ad forms are associated with a higher number of online searchers in the laptop category who buy the brand offline. Beyond finding support for their propositions, the authors provide directions for future research on the cross-channel effects of retail media and how they generalize across brands, categories, and retailers.
Design of multifunctional polymethacrylimide foam sandwich with excellent radar absorption capability and compressive performance
Authors: Song Shijun , Xiong Chao , Yin Junhui , Han Chao , Zhao Fang , Yang Zhaoshu , Liu Lei
Published: April 2024

A composite multifunctional radar absorption polymethacrylimide (RAPMI) foam sandwich (MRAPS) was constructed. Analytical models for out-of-plane and in-plane compression of the MRAPS were established. Three-dimensional failure mechanism maps and specific strength cubic cloud maps were drawn. Finally, a multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm was used to achieve an integrated design, and a specific calculation example was tested and verified through experiments. The resulting sandwich with a 43.0 mm thickness core and 0.13 g/cm3 density achieves 90% effective absorption above broadband (RL ≤ −10 dB) in the 2–18 GHz range. As a radar absorption absorber, the MRAPS increased the engineering value and strategic importance of PMI foam for structural components in the military and aerospace sectors.
Low revision rate throughout the adoption of the direct superior approach in primary total hip arthroplasty: an analysis based on 1551 total hip arthroplasties from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register
Authors: Bos Pelle , Dooren Bart-Jan van , Peters Rinne M , Ettema Harmen B , Bolder Stefan B T , van den Berg Frank P , Veeger Nic J G M , Schreurs B Willem , Zijlstra Wierd P
Published: April 2024

Background:

Recently, surgeons introduced a minimally invasive modification on the classic posterolateral approach (PLA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA): the direct superior approach (DSA). We investigated the association between surgeon’s experience and the risk of early revision of the DSA in primary THA, using data from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI).

Methods:

We retrieved all primary THAs performed using the DSA in 4 hospitals between 2016 and 2022 ( n = 1551). Procedures were sorted in 5 groups using the date of operation and number of previous procedures per surgeon: 1–25; 26–50; 51–75; 76–100; >100. Subsequently, data from different surgeons were pooled together and the risk of revision was calculated via a multilevel time-to-event analysis.

Results:

The overall revision rate was 1.5% after a mean follow-up of 2 years. Patients from the 1–25 group had comparable risks of revision compared to patients in the >100 group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.0 [CI, 0.3–3.2]). The risk for patients in groups 26–50, 51–75 and 75–100 was also not statistically different from the >100 group (resp. HR 1.5 [CI, 0.5–5.0], 1.8 [CI, 0.5–6.4] and 0.5 [CI, 0.1–4.0]). Main reasons of revision were dislocation (0.5%) and infection (0.4%).

Conclusions:

We did not identify an association between the surgeon’s experience and the early risk of revision for the DSA in primary THA in the Netherlands. The DSA seems safe in the early adoption phases with a low risk of revision due to dislocation and revision for all other causes.
Developing adaptive teaching competence in preservice physical education teachers
Authors: Cho Kyuil , Tsuda Emi , Ward Phillip
Published: April 2024

This study examined how preservice teachers (PSTs) develop adaptive competence in teaching peers in an introductory physical education pedagogy course underpinned by a pedagogical cycle designed to promote adaptive teaching competence. Two guiding research questions were: (a) what was the total number of adaptations that PSTs made in their peer teaching? and (b) what were the total numbers of missed content (MC) that PSTs had in their peer teaching? We used a descriptive-analytic study to evaluate teaching data from 22 PSTs. The course included different pedagogical strategies (e.g. discussing teaching scenarios, repeated teaching, and reflecting on teaching) to develop adaptive competence. A total of 85 teaching videos were analyzed using three coding variables (adaptations added, adaptation corrections, and MC) by comparing them with the PSTs’ lesson plans. The descriptive analyses showed that all PSTs were able to make substantive and consistent teaching adaptations across the five-week period. The amount of MC decreased across the five weeks. This study demonstrated that the pedagogical cycle designed to promote adaptive teaching competence was effective in helping PSTs make adaptations to their teaching. Simply providing PSTs opportunities to teach or teach repetitively is not sufficient to develop adaptive competence. Intentional integration of the pedagogical strategies is essential to equipping PSTs with effective teaching skills and knowledge, and helping them connect theory and practice with ongoing feedback and reflection.
The case for screening for diabetes distress, depression, and anxiety
Authors: Michot Allen P , Evans Tracy L , Vasudevan Madhuri M , Bradford Andrea , Hundt Natalie E , Christie Israel C , True Gala , Kunik Mark E
Published: April 2024

Our goal was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a sample of U.S. military veterans with type 2 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress (DD). Cross-sectional analyses were conducted. The association between DD and anxiety and depression was assessed with logistic regression. Almost 80% of persons with elevated DD had clinically significant anxiety or depression symptoms. The odds of depression and anxiety increased with DD severity. Given the large overlap of depression and anxiety with elevated DD, we recommend providers screen for all three conditions and, if positive, connect to resources for diabetes self-management and/or clinical treatment.
Effect of vibratory device on the time of administration of vaccines and on patient satisfaction measures
Authors: Thompson Amanda , Rodrigo Minna Leydorf , Roberts Alia , Waddell Jaylyn , Carter Rebecca
Published: April 2024

Previous studies have demonstrated that Buzzy® is effective for pain reduction during vaccination. This study aimed to determine if Buzzy® would have an effect on either duration of vaccine administration and/or patient satisfaction. Pediatric patients aged birth to 18 years old receiving a vaccination were randomized to either a control group receiving no intervention, or the experimental group, utilizing Buzzy®. Time of administration was measured by the number of seconds required by nursing to administer vaccines. Patient satisfaction was measured with a survey given to guardians. Time required was reduced by almost 2 min when utilizing Buzzy®, with median time dropping to 190, 95% CI [26.99, 415.92] seconds from 333, 95% CI [51.35, 627.21] seconds. Patient satisfaction surveys showed positive impacts of using the device, with 100% that used the device reporting that it “made a difference in the pain level experienced,” but did not demonstrate statistical significance. This study shows that use of Buzzy® increases efficiency of appointments with possible positive effect on patient satisfaction.
Experimental verification of active oscillation controller for vehicle drivetrain with backlash nonlinearity based on norm-limited SPSA
Authors: Yonezawa Heisei , Yonezawa Ansei , Kajiwara Itsuro
Published: April 2024

To address vehicle drivetrain vibrations that cause discomfort and poor drivability, this study proposes a new active damping strategy with simple backlash compensation based on the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) with norm-limited update vector. First, an experimental device developed for a simplified drivetrain mechanism is demonstrated. A mechanism for reproducing both the contact mode and the backlash mode is included in the device. For the contact mode, a model-based [Formula: see text] controller is employed as the baseline damping strategy. Further, to mitigate the backlash effect, a simple algorithm based on mode-switching-based compensation is used with the [Formula: see text] controller. In particular, for the critical controller parameters, this article presents a systematic design approach to search for their optimal values. The key parameters, which are needed for the backlash and contact mode controllers, are simultaneously auto-tuned using norm-limited update vector-based SPSA, which ensures the stability in the iterative tuning. The novelty of this study is that both the backlash mode controller and the contact mode controller are simultaneously optimized by the improved version of SPSA, thus realizing a comprehensive auto-tuning design of an active drivetrain damping system. Finally, the active controller is experimentally verified using the actual test device. Comparative studies show that the proposed approach significantly reduces drivetrain vibrations and is robust against fluctuations in the backlash.
Homogenised strength criterion for natural fibre-reinforced composite
Authors: Prajapati Himanshu , Dixit Anurag , Tevatia Abhishek
Published: April 2024

A representative model for multilayer natural fibre composite (NFC) plates is introduced to investigate its homogenised strength criterion. A three-layer NFC plate model is used to analyse the local stress–strain characteristics in multi-layered NFC. Finite element analysis (FEA) is performed on the representative volume element (RVE) under various boundary conditions to investigate stress and strain at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The explicit assessment of homogenised strength requires calculating stress tensors and equivalent stresses to determine parameter values. The precise specification of homogenised strength requirements assists in comprehending the material's behaviour under various loading conditions, which affects composite application design and optimisation techniques. The study examined the effect of fibre orientation angles on NFC's mechanical behaviour. The results demonstrate that flax fibres have comparatively higher stress levels than coir fibres. This study improves the understanding of natural fibre laminate composites’ macroscopic and microscopic behaviours, that is, the material's response under different loadings. The definition of homogenised strength criterion on NFC improves their design evaluations.
The Trajectory of Agency-Employed Nurses in Ontario, Canada: A Longitudinal Analysis (2011–2021)
Authors: Drost Alyssa , Ben-Ahmed Houssem Eddine , Sweetman Arthur
Published: April 2024

In Canada, reports of nursing staff shortages, job vacancies and the use of private agency nurses, especially in hospitals, have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Media reports suggest the pandemic exacerbated nursing shortages among other issues, and nurses are leaving their traditional positions to work at such agencies. Public spending on agency nurses has increased appreciably. Using 2011 to 2021 regulatory college data on all registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) in the province of Ontario, Canada, we investigated trends in the count and share of nurses working for employment agencies. We also examined the rate at which previously non-agency employed nurses transition to employment in at least one agency job. We found the prevalence of RNs and RPNs reporting agency employment was relatively stable from 2011 to 2019, and decreased slightly in 2020 and 2021. However, there was a small increase in transitions from non-agency employment to working at an agency job. We also found the mean hours of practice in all jobs reported by agency and non-agency nurses increased during the pandemic. Based on these findings, an increase in hours and/or prices for agency nurses may explain the increase in public funding for agency nurses, but it was not driven by an increasing share of nurses working for employment agencies. To fully understand employment agency activity, policymakers may need to monitor hours of work and hourly costs rather than only costs. Further research is required to investigate any long-term effects the pandemic may have had on agency-employment.