bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of COVID-19 Risk: How Did People Adapt to the Novel Risk?
Authors: Sepucha Karen , Rudkin Aaron , Baxter-King Ryan , Stanton Annette L. , Wenger Neil , Vavreck Lynn , Naeim Arash
Published: January 2024

Background

There is limited understanding of how risk perceptions changed as the US population gained experience with COVID-19. The objectives were to examine risk perceptions and determine the factors associated with risk perceptions and how these changed over the first 18 mo of the pandemic.

Methods

Seven cross-sectional online surveys were fielded between May 2020 and October 2021. The study included a population-weighted sample of 138,303 US adults drawn from a market research platform, with an average 68% cooperation rate. Respondents’ risk perception of developing COVID in the next 30 days was assessed at each time point. We examined relationships between 30-day risk perceptions and various factors (including sociodemographic features, health, COVID-19 experience, political affiliation, and psychological variables).

Results

COVID risk perceptions were stable across the 2020 surveys and showed a significant decrease in the 2021 surveys. Several factors, including older age, worse health, high COVID worry, in-person employment type, higher income, Democratic political party affiliation (the relatively more liberal party in the United States), low tolerance of uncertainty, and high anxiety were strongly associated with higher 30-d risk perceptions in 2020. One notable change occurred in 2021, in that younger adults (aged 18–29 y) had significantly higher 30-d risk perceptions than older adults did (aged 65 y and older) after vaccination. Initial differences in perception by political party attenuated over time. Higher 30-d risk perceptions were significantly associated with engaging in preventive behaviors.

Limitations

Cross-sectional samples, risk perception item focused on incidence not severity.

Conclusions

COVID risk perceptions decreased over time. Understanding the longitudinal pattern of risk perceptions and the factors associated with 30-d risk perceptions over time provides valuable insights to guide public health communication campaigns.

Highlights

The study assessed COVID-19 risk perceptions at 7 time points over 18 mo of the pandemic in large samples of US adults. Risk perceptions were fairly stable until the introduction of vaccines in early 2021, at which point they showed a marked reduction. Higher COVID-19 30-d risk perceptions were significantly associated with the preventive behaviors of masking, limiting social contact, avoiding restaurants, and not entertaining visitors at home.
Non-classical Bordetella sp. (closely related to Bordetella hinzii and Bordetella pseudohinzii) lower respiratory tract infection in a patient with extensive bronchiectasis: a case report
Authors: Loong Shih Keng , Liam Chong Kin , Karunakaran Rina , Tan Kim-Kee , Mahfodz Nur Hidayana , AbuBakar Sazaly
Published: January 2024

An increasing number of reports have described the pathogenic nature of several non-classical Bordetella spp. Among them, Bordetella hinzii and Bordetella pseudohinzii have been implicated in a myriad of respiratory-associated infections in humans and animals. We report the isolation of a genetically close relative of B. hinzii and B. pseudohinzii from the sputum of a woman in her early 60s with extensive bronchiectasis who presented with fever and brown colored sputum. The isolate had initially been identified as Bordetella avium by API 20NE, the identification system for non-enteric Gram-negative rod bacteria. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA, ompA, nrdA, and genes used in the Bordetella multilocus sequence typing scheme could not resolve the identity of this Bordetella isolate. Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis positioned the isolate between B. hinzii and B. pseudohinzii in the phylogenetic tree, forming a distinct cluster. Whole-genome sequencing enabled the further identification of this rare organism, and should be considered for wider applications, especially the confirmation of organism identity in the clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
Airway leakage due to malpositioning of esophageal temperature probe during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a case report
Authors: Lee Jong Min , Lim Chang Mook , Jung Jae Hoon , Lee Seok Jin , Yang Hong Seuk , Jeong Chang Yeong , Park Dong Ho
Published: January 2024

Measuring patients’ core body temperature during surgery is essential and commonly performed with an esophageal temperature probe. The probe must be placed in the lower third of the esophagus for accurate measurement. In this case report, we describe our experience of discovering an inadvertently malpositioned esophageal temperature probe in the right inferior lobar bronchus, which led to ventilation-related problems in a patient undergoing prostate surgery.
Moral mobilization in the digital space: Seafarers exercising agency during the pandemic
Authors: Tang Lijun
Published: January 2024

The agency of casualized and spatially isolated workers has recently received increased research attention. This paper extends this line of research to seafarers, a traditional but also casualized and spatially isolated workforce. More specifically, it examines cases of collective action by Chinese seafarers on WeChat, a social media platform, in response to problems and grievances caused by COVID-19 control measures during the pandemic. It shows that seafarers, building on the WeChat platform and together with other maritime stakeholders, have established a socio-technological infrastructure that enables them to mobilize their peers to take action when they experience injustice at work. Their mobilization is morally charged, involving a frame of injustice that evokes moral sentiments in the participants and compels them to act to provide moral support to the distressed seafarers and to exert moral pressure on the authorities. These agency practices on WeChat thus highlight the moral dimension of collective action and reflect what can be called moral mobilization.
Forecast of wind speed based on MLP network model using Levenberg Marquardt and gradient descent algorithms in Tetouan city, Northern Morocco
Authors: Masmoudi Wissal , Djebli Abdelouahed
Published: January 2024

This study aims to find the most powerful algorithm between LM and GD, applying them to the multilayer neural network (MLP) to predict the wind speed of the city of Tetouan. To achieve this we will use the meteorological data of this city from 31/07/2017 to 31/08/2022. The MLP adopted for our study is composed of two hidden layers, 30 neurons in the first layer and 15 in the second, 7 inputs and one output. The data is divided into 80% for training and 20% for testing. The results obtained showed that the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm is more efficient than the gradient descent (GD) algorithm with a correlation coefficient R = 0.988102 and a mean square error MSE = 0. 0458. These results will allow us to accurately predict the wind speed of August for the year 2022 in this city.
Mechanical properties of a novel tri-component high stiff auxetic reinforced composite structure
Authors: Lolaki Asal , Zarrebini Mohammad , Mostofinejad Davood , Abtahi Sayyed Mahdi , Shanbeh Mohsen
Published: January 2024

Helical Auxetic Yarn (HAY) possesses negative Poisson’s ratio. These yarns can be successfully used as reinforcing elements in composite materials. This paper proposes a novel tri-component helical auxetic structure capable of enhancing the initial modulus of HAY. The novel structure comprises a high modulus thin secondary core II positioned along the first low modulus thick primary core I. An additional stiff strand wraps the cores I and II. Using statistical techniques, evaluation of the secant modulus and not Young’s modulus was carried out and validated. The resultant structure was found to possess a relatively high elastic modulus in the range of 11–15 GPa. The structure exhibited an auxetic phenomenon of −62. It was revealed that such high stiffness auxetic yarn could successfully be utilized as reinforcing elements in high stiffness cost-effective auxetic composite structures.
Block it and rock it: Smoke suppressants that form a protective layer in PA 6.6
Authors: Goller Sebastian Manfred , Schartel Bernhard , Krüger Simone
Published: January 2024

To ensure fire safety, polymers are filled with flame retardants and smoke suppressants. To meet the highest requirements, it is essential to understand the decomposition of those polymeric materials. This study reveals interactions between polymer, smoke suppressants, and flame retardants, and discusses their impact on the materials’ flame retardancy, smoke emission, smoke toxicity, and particle emission in conventional loadings to provide deeper general understanding. Low melting oxide glass, melem, spherical silica, sepiolite, melamine polyphosphate, and boehmite in an aluminum diethylphosphinate flame-retarded polyamide 6.6 were investigated. All smoke suppressants improve the protective layer and act as an adjuvant. Silica and melem performed best under forced flaming conditions. Spherical silica reduces the peak of heat release rate by 39% and the total heat evolved by 14%, whereas 10 wt% melem lowers the total smoke production by 41%. Melem alters the mode of action of aluminum diethylphosphinate from gas to more condensed phase activity. This change reduces flame inhibition and hence smoke toxicity, but further improves the protective layer due to charring reactions in the decomposition mechanism. In addition, the sizes of the smoke particles decrease because of the prolonged time in the pyrolytic zone. This study highlights that interactions between polymer, flame retardants, and smoke suppressants can significantly determine the smoking and burning behavior.
An assessment of recent thermal radiation model performance for propane gas fire experiments
Authors: Chong Vui San Michael , Mohd Tohir Mohd Zahirasri , Spearpoint Michael , Saadon Syamimi , Abu Talib Abd. Rahim
Published: January 2024

In this article, the performance of five radiation models is investigated, including one conventional radiation model, that is, single-point source model, as well as four recently developed models, that is, a weighted multipoint source model, a cuboid flame model, a multicuboid flame model and a multicylinder flame model. The models are assessed in terms of the height of a target above flame base, the horizontal distance of target from flame source, heat release rate and size of burner. The estimations of the theoretical models are compared with propane-based experimental data with heat release rate ranging from 100 to 300 kW and assessed through numerical and graphical analysis. From the results obtained, the single-point source model outperformed the recently developed radiation models in estimating radiant heat received by an object located at a distance from the fire source, albeit it does exhibit some sensitivity to modifications in input parameters.
“The suffering we collectively inhabit”: Relational understandings of citizenship by the Colombian post-accord generation
Authors: García Gómez Diana Carolina
Published: January 2024

This paper explores children’s and youth’s understandings of Colombian citizenship. Drawing from ethnographic work in the Museo Casa de la Memoria in Medellín, where I accompanied 15 school visits with young museum workers and over three hundred school-aged children, this paper proposes that citizenship appears to be a double-bind and disputable categorization. Citizenship was defined as a failed formal project and lived as relational and bounded by the shared violence historically suffered by vulnerable communities. To the post-accord generation, being Colombian is about learning of the collective suffering, and their perceived civic responsibility is to collective memory and peacebuilding.
Machining-induced residual stress and deformation during Mg–Li alloy thin-walled rib-web parts milling
Authors: Chen Zhijun , Qian Lingyun , Ji Xiaoyuan , Zhang Qingdong , Wei Tengbowen , Chen Jingju , Hao Sufeng
Published: January 2024

The deformation of thin-walled parts based on the lightweight Mg–Li alloy materials caused by machining-induced stress is an important factor hindering the further development of lightweight in the aerospace field. Prediction of the machining-induced residual stress is the key to understand the deformation and derive low-stress machining scheme. In this study, the equivalent cutting deformation loads were applied to substitute the strongly coupled thermal-mechanical behavior between the tool and part to realize the prediction of the machining-induced stress and deformation of thin-walled rib-web part under different milling conditions. The local regular and complex rib-web parts share a same deformation mode, both behave as in-plane bending deformation of the machined surface. The low-stress milling scheme of up milling combined with cryogenic cooling obtained based on the local regular four rid-web thin-walled part was applicable to the prediction of the complex Mg-Li alloy disk rib-web part. Compared with the initial scheme, the maximum stress and deformation displacement based on the low-stress scheme were reduced from 80 to 36 MPa and from 0.04060 to 0.00814 mm, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of low-stress milling scheme were verified based on the milling and measurement experiments of the complex thin-walled disk rib-web part. These results indicate the effectiveness of the modeling method for thin-walled rib-web parts and prove the results obtained based on the local model can be extended and applied to large complex parts with the same structural type.
A numerical study on effect of intra and inter spaced winding configuration on performance of oil forced transformer cooling system
Authors: Muralikrishna Yamala , Satyanarayana Reddy Seerapu Siva , Sahu Mithilesh Kumar , Mohan Jagadeesh Kumar M
Published: January 2024

The present work aims at investigating, numerically, the heat transfer characteristics of transformer cooling system under forced circulation for three different winding configurations. The purpose of a transformer cooling system is to keep the hot spot temperature within the critical value for a long life of transformer, which increases with enhanced cooling of transformer windings. Thus, two different winding configurations are modeled by providing space within the windings (an intra-space model) and in between the windings (an inter-space model) to improve the fluid-solid interaction. A conventional winding, without spacing, is also modeled for comparative study. A 315 kVA, 3-phase core type transformer is taken as the base model from which the winding and core specifications are obtained analytically. Parameters chosen to measure the influence of winding configuration are local temperature distribution in the windings and core and maximum transformer temperature. Results are obtained for all three models with varying space for various cooling mediums like naphthenic oil, silicon oil, and synthetic ester oil at flow velocities ranging from 0.72 m/s to 2.16 m/s. It is observed that the gap between the windings, interspacing, decreases the secondary winding temperatures, while it increases the core and primary winding temperatures. However, the intra spacing configuration finds a drop in local temperatures at all locations of the transformer windings and core. The enhanced heat dissipation to the cooling agent, with intra spacing winding configuration, reduces the maximum transformer temperature. Contrasting to the above, the inter-space model has an adverse effect on maximum temperature at all widths of space considered. Quantitatively, the space within the transformer reduces the maximum temperature by 5% in comparison with the space between the windings. The increased velocity of the cooling medium, Naphthenic oil, from 0.72 m/s to 2.16 m/s reduces the maximum temperature by 4.5 units. The study made to know the role of cooling medium discloses that the synthetic ester oil shows better performance for reducing temperature values due to its highly viscous nature.
Varying effects of public pensions: Pension spending and old-age employment under different pension regimes
Authors: Lee Kun
Published: January 2024

Socioeconomic consequences of pension reforms have often been discussed without careful consideration of institutional contexts, despite the fact that institutional designs of public pensions differ substantially across countries. This study argues that the outcomes of pension reforms vary depending on the institutional structure of public pensions, by showing that the associations between public pension spending and old-age employment rates of different socio-demographic groups vary across different institutional contexts. Using time-series cross-section data from 20 European countries and the United States from 1998 to 2019, the study examines how changes in public pension spending ‘per older person’, a comparable measure for the welfare state effort towards old-age income security, are associated with gender- and education-specific employment rates in old age. The study also explores how these associations differ under different pension regimes, constructed based on the degree to which financing and benefit structures exhibit redistributive orientations. The results reveal complex gender and educational gradients in the relationship between public pension spending and old-age employment. Female employment rates, especially among the low-educated, are more sensitive to changes in pension spending in the ‘Beveridgean’ regime that focuses on basic income security. In the Bismarckian regime characterized by earnings-related pensions, educational differences in the marginal effects on male employment rates are, in particular, larger. Future pension reforms balancing the goal of activation and social equity should therefore consider the longstanding institutional design of public pensions.
A micromechanical modeling approach for predicting the piezoelectric and mechanical properties of piezoelectric fiber-reinforced multiphase composites containing CNT/GNP hybrids
Authors: Zhou Yuhua , Li Jianwei , Chirukam Brighton Nyasha , Zhang Yanhu , Lu Congshan
Published: January 2024

This paper focuses on the prediction of piezoelectric coefficients, Young’s moduli and shear moduli of unidirectional piezoelectric fiber/carbon nanotube (CNT)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-reinforced polymer composites using a novel micromechanics modeling technique. The multiphase composite configuration is that piezoelectric fibers are embedded within a polymer matrix filled by CNT/GNP hybrids. Agglomeration of hybrid nanofillers as a significant factor is identified and incorporated in the micromechanical calculation. Parametric studies are carried out to understand the effect of volume fraction, size and dispersion type of carbonous nanofillers as well as the piezoelectric fiber volume fraction on the effective material constants of multiphase composites. It is found that in comparison with the piezoelectric fibrous composite, the piezoelectric fiber multiphase composite containing CNT/GNP hybrids shows better elastic and piezoelectric properties. Also, further improvement in effective properties can be obtained by increasing the length and percentage of CNTs and GNPs. But, degradation in the elastic and piezoelectric constants is observed by the agglomeration of CNT/GNP hybrids. The current results are found to be in close proximity with the experimental data and other numerical results available in the literature.
Measuring Anxiety Among Latino Immigrant Populations: Within-Country and Between-Country Comparisons
Authors: Sahbaz Sumeyra , Cox Ronald B. , Montero-Zamora Pablo , Salas-Wright Christopher P. , Maldonado-Molina Mildred M. , Bates Melissa M. , Pérez-Gómez Augusto , Mejía-Trujillo Juliana , Vos Saskia R. , Scaramutti Carolina , Perazzo Patrizia A. , Duque Maria , Garcia Maria Fernanda , Brown Eric C. , Schwartz Seth J.
Published: January 2024

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder among adults worldwide. Given its increased prevalence among migrants due to their marginalized position in the societies where they reside, psychometric evaluations of anxiety measures such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7 (GAD-7) are needed for use with migrants. The present study is the first attempt to compare the structure of GAD-7 scores for (a) different Latino groups in the same country and (b) the same Latino group in two different countries. Using three samples of Mexican and Venezuelan migrants (total N = 933), we provide reliability and validity evidence of the GAD-7 for use with adult Latino migrants. Utilizing confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory, we demonstrate that the GAD-7 is internally consistent, possesses a strong single-factor structure, and generates scores with equivalent psychometric properties. GAD-7 is appropriate for use with Mexican and Venezuelan migrants across differing gender groups and education levels.
Reinsertion of tunneled-cuffed catheter in hemodialysis patients with catheter loss and limited access options
Authors: Jin Lizhu , Zhao Qiuyan , Sun Jibo , Cui Tianlei
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

Maintenance hemodialysis patients who rely on tunneled-cuffed catheters (TCCs) often face difficulty in reinserting a new catheter when the original catheter has been extruded or removed. Potential pathological changes of vessel caused by long-term indwelling of a catheter may contribute to this predicament. The aim of this study was to report and evaluate a re-catheterization technique through the same exit site and tunnel for hemodialysis patients with TCC loss.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 19 patients with TCC loss was conducted from January 2020 to August 2022. These patients underwent reinsertion through the same exit site and subcutaneous existing tunnel. Procedure-related complications and clinical follow-up data were collected.

Results:

All 19 patients with catheter loss underwent this procedure and the median duration of catheter loss was 14 days (5–57 days). Five of them had central venous occlusion, and four of them experienced catheter loss due to removal for catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBI). In the end, 18 case received successful catheterization using this technique. The most common complication was minimal bleeding after the operation. There were no procedure-related deaths or serious complications. The average blood flow was 265.79 ± 25.89 ml/min at the end of the follow-up period.

Conclusion:

This maneuver is a safe and convenient technique that can be used to reinsert a TCC for patients with long-time catheter loss. It helps to preserve the limited central venous resources for patients who have difficulty establishing other stable vascular access.
‘It Feels Like a Big Performance’: Space, Performativity and Young Woman Skateboarders
Authors: Paechter Carrie , Stoodley Lyndsey , Keenan Michael , Lawton Chris
Published: January 2024

In this article, we apply philosophical and sociological theory to consider how young women skateboarders interact with and are affected by performative aspects of skateboarding cultures. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study of three skateparks plus other skate spaces in and around two English cities, we argue that these spaces are performative in nature and that this is frequently problematic for young woman skateboarders. We suggest that, due to their comparative rarity in these spaces, young women are put under an immediate spotlight on entry, with an expectation that they perform a competent skateboarder identity while under scrutiny from other users of the space; we examine their experiences of this. We conclude by suggesting ways that skateparks and skatespaces can be designed and used to make them more accessible to woman and girl skaters, and to other groups marginalised in skateboarding cultures.
What is wellness? Investigating the importance of different domains of wellness among laypeople and experts: A survey study
Authors: Kauppi Krista J. , Roos Eira T. , Borg Patrik T. , Cantell Katarina S. , Torkki Paulus M.
Published: January 2024

Aims:

Lack of consensus on wellness has led to a vast number of different conceptualisations, which hinder international efforts to monitor individual-level wellness and social progress comparably. This study aimed to aid in the harmonisation of the concept by contributing to the scarce research on laypeople’s views on wellness. The study investigates whether the importance of different areas of wellness varies depending on age, gender, education or socio-economic position. Furthermore, considering that wellness models are often constructed by expert panels, this study aimed to shed light on how experts’ and laypeople’s views on wellness vary.

Methods:

Altogether, 1152 laypeople and 23 Finnish experts rated the importance of 61 systematic review-based wellness domains. Each domain received an ordinal number, which, together with the Mann–Whitney U-test or Kruskal–Wallis test, was used to examine the differences between the groups.

Results:

Thirteen wellness domains were found at the top of the lists, regardless of whether the results were analysed based on gender, age, education or socio-economic position. When looking at the priority order of different domains, we were able to identify several differences between the expert panel and laypeople.

Conclusions:

To ensure the relevance of wellness models, it is vital to understand the areas that laypeople consider to be important for their comprehensive wellness. This study offers 13 domains that could be combined with an expert view on wellness and used as a starting point for creating a more comprehensive, inclusive and better-suited wellness instrument.
Mental health problems among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study from Sweden
Authors: Källmen Håkan , Hallgren Mats
Published: January 2024

Objective:

Most international studies have concluded that exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with worse mental health. Sweden implemented lighter restrictions than many other countries. We evaluated the association between changes in exposure of COVID-19 restrictions and changes in mental health problems among Swedish adolescents.

Method:

Repeated cross-sectional data were derived from the Stockholm school survey, mandatory for all students in municipal schools and voluntary for students in private schools. Unexposed students were assessed in the year 2020 and exposed were assessed in 2022. Mental health was assessed using items similar to the psychosomatic problem scale. All variables were dichotomised, and a non-parametric logistic regression was used to evaluate associations.

Results:

A significant positive association was found between exposure of COVID-19 restrictions and self-reports of five to seven mental health problems a week for girls (odds ratio (OR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–1.41), but a non-significant association was found for boys (also after controlling for relevant covariates). Among boys and girls (shown), changes in mental health during the pandemic were moderated by social support from parents (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.98–2.51), bullying victimisation (OR 2.24, 95% CI 2.06–2.66), a sensation-seeking temperament (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24–1.58) and school achievement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18–1.51).

Conclusions:

Compared with boys, adolescent girls self-reported worse mental health following COVID-19 exposure. Girls may have been more affected by social distancing regulations in Sweden during the pandemic than boys and may require additional psychosocial support post-pandemic. Social support from parents may play an important role.
A comprehensive investigation on the internal flow and outflow characteristics of GDI elliptical divergent nozzles
Authors: Yu Shenghao , Yin Bifeng , Chen Chen , Jia Hekun , Wang Weifeng
Published: January 2024

The substantial demand for enhanced combustion efficiency and achieving near-zero emissions in GDI engines has spurred the introduction of a novel approach employing elliptical divergent nozzle spray technology. This innovative method, which marries the elliptical shape with a divergent nozzle, not only elevates downstream atomization quality but also mitigates nozzle tip wetting. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of documented research regarding the internal flow and outflow characteristics related to the atomization potential of elliptical divergent nozzles. Numerical investigations have been carried out to scrutinize alterations in the three-dimensional cavitation morphology, the dispersion of turbulent vortex structures, and the nozzle exit flow parameters across a range of cavitation number conditions for both circular and elliptical divergent nozzles. The research findings demonstrate that the cavitation intensity of the elliptical divergent nozzle consistently surpasses that of the circular divergent nozzle. Also, the elliptical divergent nozzle consistently exhibits a greater number of turbulent vortex structures compared to the circular divergent nozzle across all cavitation number conditions. Additionally, as the cavitation number decreases, the difference in turbulence vorticity magnitude between the exits of the circular and elliptical divergent nozzles gradually increases. Furthermore, the elliptical diverging orifices are more susceptible to cavitation compared to their circular counterparts. The elliptical divergent nozzle outperforms the circular nozzle with a substantial 24.6% increase in exit velocity, especially at a cavitation number of 1.016.
Application of synchro spline-kernelled chirplet transformation in nonlinear ultrasonic wave modulation: self-sensing method with temperature protection
Authors: Sepehry Naserodin , Asadi Sina , Amindavar Hamidreza
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this work is to investigate the synchro spline-kernelled chirplet extracting transformation (SSCET) method for defect detection in the nonlinear ultrasonic wave modulation (NUWM) method. To implement the NUWM method using only one piezoelectric transducer, the self-sensing method is used. Self-sensing has many advantages, but it is sensitive to temperature changes. To reduce the temperature effects, a novel circuit has been designed and implemented. A sandwich beam with bolt loosening and an aluminum beam with boundary loosening damages are used to test the results of the SSCET method on the signal received from the self-sensing circuit. First, an aluminum beam with a loosened boundary is modeled based on beam theory including self-sensing circuits with temperature effects. In this study, SSCET results are compared with those of other time–frequency methods for the detection of the loosened boundary. Based on the temperature effects, the theoretical results are compared with the experimental results of the circuit. To quantify defect detection, a damage index calculated based on instantaneous frequency is provided. Three piezoelectric configurations are also compared with the self-sensing method damage index results. SSCET is then used to check bolt loosening in a sandwich beam for further investigation. The proposed method is compared to a previous self-sensing temperature compensation method. Based on the SSCET method, the severity of the bolt loosening is determined.
Refined composite multiscale dynamic causality diagram: a novel time-series analysis approach and its application in fault diagnosis of rotating machinery
Authors: Dong Wei , Zhang Shuqing , Song Shanshan , Zhang Xiaowen , Wu Xiang
Published: January 2024

Entropy-based feature extraction methods have been widely used in the fault diagnosis of rotating machinery, but the entropy-based methods still have the defects of poor noise robustness, weak feature extraction, and low computational efficiency. To solve this problem, this article proposes a fault diagnosis method based on refined composite multiscale dynamic causal diagram (RCMSDCD) and local receptive field extreme learning machine (LRFELM). First, a novel feature extraction method, named dynamic causal diagram (DCD), is proposed to comprehensively quantify static and dynamic complexity. DCD is obtained by combining generalized inverse fractional order entropy with complexity–entropy causal plane. Then, combined with the coarse-graining process, DCD is extended to a multiscale analysis called RCMSDCD to complement the feature description at cross-time scales. Third, RCMSDCD features are input into LRFELM classifier for fault recognition of rotating machinery. The effectiveness of the proposed RCMSDCD-LRFELM method is verified by the Paderborn University bearing test and real wind turbine gear signals. The results show that this method has the highest classification accuracy of 100% with high computational efficiency, good stability, and strong generalization ability.
Adaptive bearing fault diagnosis using reference frequency and modified scalogram
Authors: Ko Taehwan , Park Jaewoong , Jang Junmyoung , Oh Ki-Yong , Lee Seung Hwan
Published: January 2024

Previous studies on the diagnosis of natural faults in rolling element bearings have primarily concentrated on detecting an increase in the frequency amplitude across a broad frequency spectrum within the measured signal when a fault occurs in the bearing. However, this study introduces an adaptive method centered on the conspicuous distinction in frequency amplitude between the shaft and bearing fault frequencies as the bearing fault progresses. Specifically, we propose a bearing fault diagnosis approach leveraging the shaft frequency amplitude as a constant reference independent of prevailing conditions, as it consistently maintains a relatively steady level regardless of the presence of bearing faults. Moreover, we devised a modified scalogram to enhance the diagnostic performance for bearing faults by consistently and prominently visualizing information pertinent to faults. We comprehensively assessed fault diagnosis accuracy between a convolutional neural network employing the scalogram and one employing the modified scalogram to verify the diagnostic performance of the adaptive method. This analysis yielded accuracies of 93.6% and 99.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the relationship between the bearing fault diagnosis results and the visualized fault-related information in the scalogram and modified scalogram was analyzed using gradient-weighted class activation mapping, providing evidence supporting improved fault diagnosis performance using the adaptive method.
Image quality improvement in multi-mode laser ultrasound imaging using reconstructed synthetic aperture focusing technique
Authors: Ying Kai-Ning , Ni Chen-Yin , Dai Lu-Nan , Cao Wen-Xi , Yang Zhi , Kan Wei-Wei , Yuan Ling , Shen Zhong-Hua
Published: January 2024

The synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) is used as a laser ultrasonic imaging algorithm for non-destructive internal defect testing, and multi-mode time domain SAFT (MMT-SAFT) imaging is developed to enhance the imaging capability of defect detection. However MMT-SAFT algorithm has the problem of artifacts caused by the laser ultrasound (LU) modes waves. Thus to solve this problem, an automatic imaging technique based on MMT-SAFT called Reconstructed synthetic aperture focusing technique (Re-SAFT) is proposed. This technique consists of two steps: a preliminary MMT-SAFT is firstly performed to locate the defect position tentatively and futher separate LU modes wave signals using the defect-reflected signal; then a secondary reconstructed MMT-SAFT based on the priori defect location information is achieved for artifacts removal. In addition, directivity patterns of LU modes wave have been used in Re-SAFT to achieve more accurate defect imaging in the second step. Results indicate that by using Re-SAFT, the typical artifact caused by laser ultrasonic waves can be removed and the imaging quality can be significantly improved from 19.67 to 33.85 dB. Further, the consumed time of Re-SAFT is economized by optimizing the imaging pixel size without compromising the image quality. Therefore, Re-SAFT has potential applications in industrial laser ultrasonic testing.
Taking boys seriously: Utilising participatory action research to tackle compounded educational disadvantage
Authors: Hamilton A. , Morgan S. , Murphy B. , Harland K.
Published: January 2024

This paper presents successive phases of Taking Boys Seriously (TBS), a longitudinal participatory action research initiative bringing together diverse educational bodies and indigenous educators across a highly stratified education system in a contested society. The voices and everyday life and school experiences of adolescent boys are positioned firmly at the centre of a research methodology aimed at re-engaging, empowering, and learning from marginalised boys. We discuss how a collaborative and reflexive process co-produced with a committed steering group has been vital in pursuit of systemic change. New concepts of compounded educational disadvantage, relational education, and an educational ecosystem have been co-theorised and applied in practical ways to counter deficit narratives and support holistic approaches and new partnerships across educational settings in Northern Ireland. Strengths and limitations of our participatory approach are considered, particularly in relation to the role and participation of boys in the research process.
Association between interpretation flexibility and emotional health in an anxious sample: The challenge of measuring flexible adoption of multiple perspectives
Authors: Ji Julie L. , Salemink Elske , Teachman Bethany A.
Published: January 2024

Interpreting ambiguous situations in a rigidly negative manner contributes to emotional disorders. Although negative interpretation biases have been well studied in relation to anxiety and depression, the relationship between interpretation flexibility (vs. rigidity) and emotional health remains understudied. The present study is a secondary analysis to test the hypothesis that higher interpretation flexibility is associated with better emotional health, as indicated by lower anxiety and depression levels, and higher quality of life. Here, interpretation flexibility focuses specifically on the ability to recognize multiple possible interpretations within and across ambiguous situations. Using baseline data from N = 939 high trait-anxious community participants who enrolled in an online anxiety intervention, multiple ways of computing interpretation flexibility were applied to help the field learn how different operationalizations can lead to varied conclusions about the connection between interpretation flexibility and emotional health. Using two measures of interpretation style, four approaches (some pre-registered , some exploratory) to computing interpretation flexibility were tested using an internal replication analytic approach. Results varied across type of approach, but in general, contrary to hypotheses, results indicated that higher interpretation flexibility was either unrelated to, or associated with higher, anxiety, and depression, and lower quality of life.
Tuberculosis of the wrist causing carpal tunnel syndrome in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: A case report
Authors: Basnayake Oshan , Jayarajah Umesh , Beneragama Thushan
Published: January 2024

Among extrapulmonary tuberculosis, osteoarticular tuberculosis is a rare manifestation, and cases related to osteoarticular tuberculosis of large joints have been reported previously. However, tuberculous tenosynovitis causing carpal tunnel syndrome is a rare manifestation, especially in the background of rheumatoid arthritis. A 67-year-old Sri Lankan male with a background of rheumatoid arthritis presented with progressively enlarging left wrist swelling associated with pain and numbness for 2 months. He was on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine as disease-modifying agents, and his symptoms related to arthritis were well controlled. On examination, lobulated subcutaneous swelling was noted in distal forearm extending to the palmar region with evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome which was confirmed by nerve conduction studies. There was no pre-operative evidence to suggest tuberculosis both clinically and biochemically. Synovial thickening due to rheumatoid arthritis was considered as the probable diagnosis and surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel was performed. Intraoperatively, synovial thickening was noted around the flexor tendons with evidence of median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel. Thickened synovial mass was completely excised. Histology and culture were positive for tuberculosis. Following excision and 9 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment, he was asymptomatic with good range of motion of fingers. In conclusion, a combination of surgical excision and anti-tuberculosis treatment was successful to achieve good functional outcomes. In a country like Sri Lanka, where tuberculosis is still prevalent, uncommon musculoskeletal manifestations may not be infrequent. Therefore, clinicians should have a high degree of suspicion when treating such patients.
Asante Kente: A Home Craft and a Cultural Repository of the Place Identity History of the Asantes
Authors: Adom Dickson
Published: January 2024

This descriptive phenomenological study driven by the place-identity theory investigated the historical and physical evidence that suggests that the Asante Kente is a home craft and a place-identity of the Asante people. Thirty-one (31) study participants were sampled using purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. The data garnered via in-depth face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions and descriptive observations were analyzed using the qualitative thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. The findings of the study revealed that the discovery of the Asante Kente, the abundance and nomenclature of the weaving looms and accessories in the majority of homes at Bonwire, as well as the iconography of the Asante Kente weave patterns show the place identity history of the Asantes. The study contends that the Asante Kente encapsulates the history, political, and religious worldviews, values, and norms of the Asantes and as such must not be seen as a generalized African cloth.
Unlocking Prevalence Data: Describing the Job Stress and Well-being of U.S. Correctional Nurses
Authors: Keller Elizabeth G. , Hittle Beverly M. , Boch Samantha J. , Davis Kermit G. , Gillespie Gordon L.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Little is known about the health and well-being of U.S. correctional nurses. To protect correctional nurses, a better understanding of organizational characteristics, job stress, and well-being must be undertaken.

Method:

A cross-sectional design was used in the form of an online survey. Correctional nurses were conveniently recruited using national listservs and snowball sampling. Variables were measured with the Health & Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool, Nurse Wellbeing Index, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analyses of variance.

Findings:

Two hundred seventy participants (142 registered nurses, 83 licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, and 42 advanced practice nurses) completed the survey. Job stress scored moderate ( M = 16.26, SD = 7.14), and well-being levels were just below the risk for adverse events ( M = 1.8, SD = 3.06). Lower scores were noted for managerial support ( M = 3.13, SD = 0.35) and job demands ( M = 3.56, SD = 0.92), but slightly better for job control ( M = 3.57, SD = 0.77), peer support ( M = 3.85, SD = 0.64), and workplace relationships ( M = 3.73, SD = 0.95).

Conclusions:

Significant differences between organizational characteristics, job stress, and well-being were found across nursing licensure, workplace environments, biological sex, and employment through state or private agencies. Registered nurses working in U.S. prisons experienced the highest job stress and worse well-being.

Application to Practice:

This work is an essential next step in promoting healthy workspaces, urging the need for further research establishing the impact of organizational characteristics and job stress on nurse well-being.
In vitro assessment of Momordica charantia/Hypericum perforatum oils loaded PCL/Collagen fibers: Novel scaffold for tissue engineering
Authors: Ediz Emre Fatih , Güneş Cansu , Demirel Kars Meltem , Avcı Ahmet
Published: January 2024

The research on tissue engineering applications has been progressing to manufacture ideal tissue scaffold biomaterials. In this study, a double-layered electrospun biofiber scaffold biomaterial including Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Collagen (COL) fibrous inner layer and PCL/ Momordica charantia (MC) and Hypericum perforatum (HP) oils fibrous outer layer was developed to manufacture a functional, novel tissue scaffold with the advantageous mechanical and biological properties. The main approach was to combine the natural perspective using medicinal oils with an engineering point of view to fabricate a potential functional scaffold for tissue engineering. Medicinal plants MC and HP are rich in functional oils and incorporation of them in a tissue scaffold will unveil their potential to augment both new tissue formation and wound healing. In this study, a novel double-layered scaffold prototype was fabricated using electrospinning technique with two PCL fiber layers, first is composed of collagen, and second is composed of oils extracted from medicinal plants. Initially, the composition of plant oils was analyzed. Thereafter the biofiber scaffold layers were fabricated and were evaluated in terms of morphology, physicochemistry, thermal and mechanical features, wettability, in vitro bio-degradability. Double-layered scaffold prototype was further analyzed in terms of in vitro biocompatibility and antibacterial effect. The medicinal oils blend provided antioxidant and antibacterial properties to the novel PCL/Oils layer. The results signify that inner PCL/COL layer exhibited advanced biodegradability of 8.5% compared to PCL and enhanced wettability with 11.7° contact angle. Strength of scaffold prototype was 5.98 N/mm2 thanks to the elastic PCL fibrous matrix. The double-layered functional biofiber scaffold enabled 92% viability after 72 h contact with fibroblast cells and furthermore provided feasible attachment sites for the cells. The functional scaffold prototype’s noteworthy mechanical, chemical, and biological features enable it to be suggested as a different novel biomaterial with the potential to be utilized in tissue engineering applications.