bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Fatigue-Associated Aberrant Driving Behaviors Using a Dynamic Weighted Moving Average Model With a Long Short-Term Memory Network Based on Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Yu , Cheong He-in , Houghton Robert , Hsu Wen-Hua , Lee Kang-Yun , Kang Jiunn-Horng , Kuan Yi-Chun , Lee Hsin-Chien , Wu Cheng-Jung , Li Lok-Yee Joyce , Lin Yin-Tzu , Lin Shang-Yang , Manole Iulia , Majumdar Arnab , Liu Wen-Te
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study proposed a moving average (MA) approach to dynamically process heart rate variability (HRV) and developed aberrant driving behavior (ADB) prediction models by using long short-term memory (LSTM) networks.

Background

Fatigue-associated ADBs have traffic safety implications. Numerous models to predict such acts based on physiological responses have been developed but are still in embryonic stages.

Method

This study recorded the data of 20 commercial bus drivers during their routine tasks on four consecutive days and subsequently asked them to complete questionnaires, including subjective sleep quality, driver behavior questionnaire and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Driving behaviors and corresponding HRV were determined using a navigational mobile application and a wristwatch. The dynamic-weighted MA (DWMA) and exponential-weighted MA were used to process HRV in 5-min intervals. The data were independently separated for training and testing. Models were trained with 10-fold cross-validation strategy, their accuracies were evaluated, and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values were used to determine feature importance.

Results

Significant increases in the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive heartbeat interval differences (RMSSD), and normalized spectrum of high frequency (nHF) were observed in the pre-event stage. The DWMA-based model exhibited the highest accuracy for both driver types (urban: 84.41%; highway: 80.56%). The SDNN, RMSSD, and nHF demonstrated relatively high SHAP values.

Conclusion

HRV metrics can serve as indicators of mental fatigue. DWMA-based LSTM could predict the occurrence of the level of fatigue associated with ADBs.

Application

The established models can be used in realistic driving scenarios.
A discrete whale optimization algorithm for the no-wait flow shop scheduling problem
Authors: Zhang Sujun , Gu Xingsheng
Published: June 2023

A discrete whale optimization algorithm (DWOA) is presented to solve the no-wait flow shop scheduling problem (NWFSSP) with the optimization objective makespan. An effective combination of nearest neighbor (NN) and standard deviation heuristics (SDH) is used to acquire initial solutions of the population. After that, three crossover operators, the two-point crossover (TPX), multiple-point crossover (MPX) and job-based crossover (JBX) operators, are designed to mimics the humpback whales hunting process. Moreover, the dynamic transform mechanism of search process is designed to better balance the exploration and exploitation ability of DWOA. In order to further improve the optimization effect of DWOA, the parallel neighborhood search (PNS) and the serial neighborhood search (SNS) are selected to execute the local search and promoting global search scheme, respectively. Finally, to test the performance of DWOA, extensive experiments are conducted on benchmarks designed by Reeves and Taillard, which contain parameters tuning, effectiveness of the improvement strategies in the DWOA and comparison with several existing algorithms. From the experimental results, it is validated that the effectiveness of the improved mechanisms and the performance of the DWOA which can find better makespan values compared with other algorithms for solving NWFSSP.
Ten-Year Performance of Posterior 6-mm Implants with Single-Tooth Restorations: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sahrmann P. , Naenni N. , Jung R.E. , Hämmerle C.H.F. , Attin T. , Schmidlin P.R.
Published: June 2023

The aim of the study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of short dental implants (6-mm test group, TG) to longer implants (10-mm control group, CG) with single crown restorations after 10 y of loading. Patients requiring single-tooth replacement in the posterior jaws were randomly assigned to TG or CG. Implants were loaded with screw-retained single crowns after a healing period of 10 wk. Follow-up appointments were scheduled yearly and comprised patient-adapted oral hygiene reinstructions and polishing of all teeth and implants. After 10 y, clinical and radiographical parameters were assessed again. Out of initially 94 patients (47 in TG and CG, each), 70 (36 TG and 34 CG) could be reassessed. Survival rates accounted for 85.7% (TG) and 97.1% (CG), without significant intergroup difference ( P = 0.072). All but 1 lost implant had been located in the lower jaw. These implants were not lost due to peri-implantitis but due to a late loss of osseointegration without signs of inflammation and with actually stable marginal bone levels (MBLs) over the investigation period. In general, MBLs were stable with medians (interquartile ranges) of 0.13 (0.78) mm and 0.08 (1.2) mm, for TG and CG, without significant intergroup differences. Crown-to-implant ratio showed a highly significant intergroup difference of 1.06 ± 0.18 mm and 0.73 ± 0.17 mm ( P < 0.001). Few technical complications (i.e., screw loosening or chipping) were registered during the investigation period. In conclusion, given stringent professional maintenance, short dental implants with single-crown restorations show a slightly worse but statistically not different survival rate after 10 y, especially in the lower jaw, but can still be considered a valuable alternative, especially when vertical bone dimensions are limited (German Clinical Trials Registry: DRKS00006290).
PRRX1+MSCs Enhance Mandibular Regeneration during Distraction Osteogenesis
Authors: Jiang W.D. , Zhu P.Q. , Zhang T. , Liao F.C. , Jiang P.P. , Zhou N. , Wang X.D. , Huang X.P.
Published: June 2023

Bone defect (BD) caused by trauma, infection, congenital defects, or neoplasia is a major cause of physical limitation. Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a highly effective procedure for bone regeneration, while the concrete mechanism remains unknown. In this study, canine DO and BD models of the mandible were established. The results of micro–computed tomography and histological staining revealed that DO led to an increased mineralized volume fraction and robust new bone formation; in contrast, BD demonstrated incomplete bone union. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from DO and BD calluses were isolated and identified. Compared with BD-MSCs, DO-MSCs were found to have a stronger osteogenic capability. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was further performed to comprehensively define cell differences between mandibular DO and BD calluses. Twenty-six clusters of cells representing 6 major cell populations were identified, including paired related homeobox 1–expressing MSCs ( PRRX1+MSCs), endothelial cells (ECs), T cells, B cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Interestingly, 2 subpopulations in PRRX1+MSCs in the DO group were found to express the marker of neural crest cells (NCCs) and were associated with the process of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. The immunofluorescence assay was performed to further corroborate these results in vivo and in vitro, experimentally validating that continuous distraction maintained the PRRX1+MSCs in an embryonic-like state. Finally, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out (KO) PRRX1 in the context of DO, which significantly blunted the capability of jawbone regeneration, resulting in a diminished NCC-like program and reduction of new bone volume. In addition, the ability of osteogenesis, cell migration, and proliferation in cultured PRRX1KO MSCs was inhibited. Taken together, this study provides a novel, comprehensive atlas of the cell fates in the context of DO regeneration, and PRRX1+MSCs act essential roles.
Joyful Stoic Death Writing: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Newcomers Contemplating Death in an Online Group
Authors: Hammer Kate , Van Gordon William
Published: June 2023

Death awareness, which is an integral part of Stoic philosophy, has received little attention in either therapeutic training or empirical psychological research. This study seeks to address this gap by investigating participants’ experiences of completing a Stoic death writing intervention. To understand newcomers’ experiences being in-daily-death-contemplation, in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in December 2021 with six adult participants in a UK program, 28 Days Joyful Death Writing with the Stoics, were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Analysis generated two primary themes: Contemplative Context and Death Contemplation Significance. Contemplative Context included the experiences of a temporary, unstable community (called communitas), otherness (called alterity), and the wider world. Death Contemplation Significance included death and other personal losses, and gains such as personal purpose, positive emotions/experiences, and beneficial behaviors/activities. Findings indicate daily death writing in communitas appears to have potential to provoke personal death awareness and undermine death taboos, accompanied by self-reported changes in emotional clarity, psychological flexibility, worry, and rumination. Furthermore, operationalizing open programs like 28 Days could contribute to idiographic approaches emerging in intervention science, including via augmenting practitioner training. Future studies could investigate practitioners, trainees, and more experienced Stoics as well as develop novel assessment means for evaluating death awareness.
Lethal brands: Terrorist groups’ logos and violence
Authors: Casiraghi Matteo CM , Cusumano Eugenio
Published: June 2023

Terrorist organizations are often described as brands. However, the most important visual representations of these brands – terrorist groups’ logos – have remained unexplored. In this article, we demonstrate that logos are signalling devices that provide vital cues on the propensity to use violence. To this end, we code and analyse 562 terrorist logos (2000–16). After providing a descriptive overview of the main colours and symbols used by terrorist groups worldwide, we rely on a zero-inflated negative binomial model to analyse the relationship between these organizations’ visual choices and their deadly activities. Our results show that the presence of violent, religious, and extremist symbols in terrorist organizations’ logos, as well as the use of black as the main colour, correlates with more frequent and deadlier attacks. These findings have important policy implications, demonstrating that logos serve as behavioural cues predicting the threat posed by terrorist groups not less effectively than their ideology. By highlighting the importance of visual artifacts like logos and their amenability to quantitative research, our article also provides a novel methodological contribution to international relations, helping bridge the gap between explanatory and critical security studies.
Becoming Equitable Educators: Practical Measures to Support Teachers’ Dispositional Growth
Authors: Jensen Bryant , Whiting Erin Feinauer , Hernández Jimmy , Zhang Xiaohang , Pliego Diego , Sudweeks Richard
Published: June 2023

Animating equity in teaching and learning depends on teacher dispositions—orientations to self, others, and society that underlie how we think and act. Teacher dispositions are virtues or qualities of moral character that modify the ways we interact with students and educator colleagues. Although interest in “measuring to improve” teaching and teacher education has grown recently, most measures lack validity evidence for practical usefulness. Integrating Messick’s “unified validity framework” with Janssen et al.’s notion of “practicality” (as face validity), we find through an iterative, mixed-methods analysis of interviews with equitable educators and survey responses from teacher candidates that incorporating recognizability, relevance, and feasibility concerns of equity disposition concepts (i.e., Social Awareness, Meekness, Advocacy for Students) within survey items enhances item-to-factor structure of a self-report measure. We discuss implications (a) to develop and appraise formative measures and (b) to support teacher learning and development to become equitable educators.
Governing capabilities, not places – how to understand social sustainability implementation in urban development
Authors: Janssen Céline , Daamen Tom A , Verheul Wouter J
Published: June 2023

Social sustainability’s implementation in urban development is a complex endeavour that demands alternative forms of governance. This article draws on the capabilities approach as an evaluative framework to better understand this implementation process. Through an in-depth case comparison of two Dutch urban development projects, the study analyses how collaborative governance situations (i.e. actors, activities and phases) relate to the expansions of resident capabilities in the urban areas. The findings present three principles for a ‘capability-centred governance’ of social sustainability in urban development: (1) integrate human logic into urban governance situations (2) balance strong goal commitment with experimentalist approaches and (3) institutionalise social sustainability implementation. The article concludes that social sustainability’s implementation requires a conceptualisation in which improvements in people’s lives are not seen as the self-evident consequences of a set of place-based policy interventions, but instead as a guiding principle that should continuously be reflected upon and learned from during the different phases of urban development processes.
The Comparative Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Making Tourists Behave in More Environmentally Sustainable Ways: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Greene Danyelle , Demeter Csilla , Dolnicar Sara
Published: June 2023

Tourism generates 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. One way of reducing emissions is to deploy behavioral change interventions that entice tourists to behave in more sustainable ways. In search of the most effective approaches, we conducted a meta-analysis of 118 interventions tested in field experiments in the tourism context. Most studies targeted beliefs and focused on towel reuse, food waste, or resource use. Changing choice architecture ( d = 1.40) and increasing pleasure ( d = 0.66) emerge as the most effective approaches. Imposing penalties for unsustainable behavior ( d = −0.12) and leveraging social norms to trigger sustainable behavior ( d = 0.18) have limited effectiveness. Future work should re-direct attention from designing interventions that modify beliefs toward interventions that change choice architecture or increase the pleasure associated with the desired behavior, and aim at changing a wider range of behaviors, including green transportation and the avoidance of single use plastics.
Unraveling Determinants of Inclusive Leadership in Public Organizations
Authors: Ashikali Tanachia
Published: June 2023

The aim of this article is to unravel the determinants of inclusive leadership by combining mixed methods in two phases to explore and test theoretically grounded personal and organizational antecedents of inclusive leadership. The first qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews with public managers, while the second quantitative phase tested assumptions using survey data from employees working in the Dutch public sector. The findings support the hypothesized positive association of leader humility as well as a flexible culture on inclusive leadership. Public managers also tend to have, both social justice and business case arguments for diversity, affecting their inclusive leadership. Motivation and discretionary room enable public managers to cope with structural constrains. Top management support is important to change organizational culture and norms, motivating and stimulating lower level managers to actively show inclusive leadership. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of inclusive leadership in a public sector context.
Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability to Independently Access and Use Point-Of-View Video Models for Virtual Instruction
Authors: Cottrell Jennifer Annette , Smith Robert Alex , Classen Audra I
Published: June 2023

Online instructional delivery has always been viewed as beneficial due to its flexibility in settings and times, but the Covid-19 pandemic produced an essential need for the ability to engage in learning without direct contact with others. For students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability (ASD and ID) who have extensive support needs, developing the skills required to engage with online content is critical for utilizing and interacting with distance learning platforms and resources. Using a visual task analysis, least-to-most prompting, and reinforcement, students with ASD and ID can be taught to use technological devices for virtual instruction without adult support. By teaching students to access and use point-of-view video modeling for online instructional delivery, teachers can facilitate skills their students need to access evidence-based practices and meet diverse learning goals and objectives.
Why to regulate Netflix: the cross-national politics of the audiovisual media governance in the light of streaming platforms
Authors: Vlassis Antonios
Published: June 2023

Today, at a time of major downturn in the audiovisual sector, several regions and countries are reconsidering the scope and reach of domestic or regional audiovisual media governance and are developing policy instruments in order to involve transnational Video on Demand (VOD) platforms, such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, in the financing, distribution and visibility of local, national and regional audiovisual content. A key issue that emerges from this backdrop is to provide convincing answers about why public authorities are feeling the urge to develop new regulations towards global VOD streamers in a specific sequence and temporality and to focus on variables, which are expected to understand this cross-national policy momentum for regulating VOD services. In addition, even though transnational VOD services represent disruptive new actors, creating industrial, technological and institutional shock, this disruption does not lead to the same political issue cross-nationally and to the same kind of policy responses. Firstly, the article explores the key outlines that the academic literature highlights in order to understand the regulation of online platforms in the media sectors. Secondly, it provides a cross-national portrayal of policy initiatives towards the VOD streamers, focusing on the EU Member States, Australia, Canada, Mexico and South Africa. Thirdly, the article argues that political struggles over VOD platforms are expected to be framed and fought simultaneously by two crucial variables, dealing with state-society relationships and global interdependence.
Anthroposea: Planning future ecologies in Mumbai’s wetscapes
Authors: Anand Nikhil
Published: June 2023

In this article, I describe Mumbai’s sea as an “anthroposea” – a sea made with ongoing anthropogenic processes across landwaters – to draw attention to the ways in which it troubles both urban planning and the making of environmental futures. I focus on three moments in which Mumbai’s more-than-human life now emerges in the anthroposea. First, I describe the surprising proliferations of lobsters, gulls, and fishers in a sewage outfall. Second, I draw attention to the city’s flourishing flamingo population amidst industrial effluents in the city’s industrial zone. Finally, the article floats towards a popular city beach where citizen scientists at Marine Life of Mumbai show the ways in which the city’s phenomenal biodiversity is making homes in and with the city’s plastic waste. I argue that these ongoing and dynamic relations between urban waste and more-than-human life make unstable and tenuous the modernist distinctions of nature/culture on which environmental and urban projects depend. The anthroposea does not easily permit the making of near futures. Instead, by crossing spatial scales and epistemological boundaries, the anthroposea holds the city and its citizens in the muddy materialities of an ongoing present; a present in which the vitalities of waste are intransigent, permanent, and generate life in the city’s landwaters.
Challenges in determining death by neurologic criteria in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – A single center experience
Authors: Zhao David X , Caturegli Giorgio , Wilcox Christopher , Stephens R Scott , Kim Bo Soo , Keller Steven , Geocadin Romergryko G , Suarez Jose I , Whitman Glenn JR , Cho Sung-Min
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Apnea test (AT) in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is challenging, leading to variation in determining death by neurologic criteria (DNC). We aim to describe the diagnostic criteria and barriers for DNC in adults on ECMO in a tertiary care center.

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospective observational standardized neuromonitoring study was conducted in adult VA- and VV-ECMO patients at a tertiary center from June 2016 to March 2022. Brain death was defined according to the 2010 American Academy of Neurology guidelines and following the 2020 World Brain Death Project recommendations for performing AT in ECMO patients.

Results

Eight (2.7%) ECMO patients (median age = 44 years, 75% male, 50% VA-ECMO) met criteria for DNC, six (75%) of whom were determined with AT. In the other two patients who did not undergo AT due to safety concerns, ancillary tests (transcranial doppler and electroencephalography) were consistent with DNC. An additional seven (2.3%) patients (median age = 55 years, 71% male, 86% VA-ECMO) were noted to have absent brainstem reflexes but failed to complete determination of DNC as they underwent withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST) before a full evaluation was completed. In these patients, AT was never performed, and ancillary tests were inconsistent with either neurological exam findings and/or neuroimaging supporting DNC, or with each other.

Conclusion

AT was used safely and successfully in 6 of the 8 ECMO patients diagnosed with DNC and was always consistent with the neurological exam and imaging findings, as opposed to ancillary tests alone.
Valproic acid accelerates skin wound healing in mice via its anti-inflammatory and apoptotic cell clearance-promoting effects
Authors: Chen Hong , Liang Feihong , Fu Chudi , Wang Zhao , Zhang Zhiren
Published: June 2023

Objective

To investigate the effects of valproic acid (VPA) on skin wound healing in mice.

Methods

Full-thickness wounds were created in mice, and then VPA was applied. The wound areas were quantified daily. In the wounds, granulation tissue growth, epithelialization, collagen deposition, and the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured; furthermore, apoptotic cells were labeled. In vitro, VPA was added to RAW 264.7 cells (macrophages) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, and apoptotic Jurkat cells were cocultured with the VPA-pretreated macrophages. Then, phagocytosis was analyzed, and the mRNA levels of phagocytosis-associated molecules and inflammatory cytokines were measured in the macrophages.

Results

VPA application significantly accelerated wound closure, granulation tissue growth, collagen deposition, and epithelialization. In wounds, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β were decreased by VPA, whereas those of IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β1 were increased. Additionally, VPA reduced the number of apoptotic cells. In vitro, VPA inhibited the inflammatory activation of macrophages and promoted the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages.

Conclusion

VPA accelerated skin wound healing, which could be partly attributable to its anti-inflammatory and apoptotic cell clearance-promoting effects, indicating that VPA could be a promising candidate for enhancing skin wound healing.
Integrated Scheduling of Automatic Guided Vehicles and Automatic Stacking Cranes in Automated Container Terminals Considering Landside Buffer Zone
Authors: Duan Jianguo , Li Linzhe , Zhang Qinglei , Qin Jiyun , Zhou Ying
Published: June 2023

The enhancement of the efficiency of automated container terminals (ACTs) and promotion of energy saving and emission reduction have attracted increasing attention in the construction of resource-saving and environment-friendly ports. In this paper, an integrated scheduling optimization model of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) and automatic stacking cranes (ASCs) is proposed to resolve the problem of long round trips and high energy consumption of ASCs in typical ACTs. The configurations of ACTs considering the landside buffer zone were analyzed. First, the feasibility of integrated scheduling when considering a landside buffer zone is introduced. The study also analyzes the problems that must be resolved for the integrated scheduling of AGVs and ASCs using the aforementioned layout handling technology. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization model for the integrated scheduling of AGVs and ASCs considering the landside buffer zone was developed. In this model, the operations of AGVs and ASCs are divided into four categories: load transport, no-load transport, load/unload, and waiting. The objective of formulating the model was to minimize the makespan and total energy consumption. Finally, an improved non-dominated ranking genetic algorithm, NSGA-II, is employed to optimize the model. The results show that the makespan and total energy consumption of the integrated scheduling of AGVs and ASCs considering the landside and seaside buffer zones are better than those considering only the seaside buffer zone.
Examining the Word-Level Skill and Reading Comprehension Profiles of Adolescents With and Without Specific Learning Disabilities
Authors: Richmond Cassidi L. , Daucourt Mia C. , Hart Sara A. , Solari Emily J.
Published: June 2023

This study examined the heterogeneity of literacy profiles for adolescents with and without a specific learning disability (SLD) in the U.S. state of Florida Student subgroups displaying common patterns of performance in word-level skills and reading comprehension were identified through latent profile analysis. Results indicate most of the total sample demonstrated below-average performance in one or both areas with word-level skill difficulties being more common than difficulties in reading comprehension alone. Changes in reading performance by profile over time (Grades 6–8) were examined through a latent transition analysis revealing consistent patterns in the SLD sample and variable patterns in the typically developing sample. Resulting profiles were utilized to predict performance on an end-of-year broad reading comprehension measure indicating very little change in performance over time. Findings suggest large numbers of adolescents with concurrent word-level and reading comprehension difficulties likely need sustained intervention in word-level skills to support their reading comprehension.
Consideration of hotspots in the selection of supervision schemes to reduce illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste
Authors: Barakat Boushra , Srour Issam
Published: June 2023

Illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste continues to be a problem hindering circular economy efforts. Controlling illegal dumping necessitates establishing an effective surveillance scheme and investigating the proper penalty value. This problem has previously been described as a game theory problem, with the government and construction contractors as the players. Taking into account illegal dumping hotspots, which can often be identified through topographical and geographical characteristics, is also important when establishing supervision strategies. This study develops an evolutionary game-theoretic model that can assist in devising effective supervision strategies to control the spread of illegal dumping, while taking into consideration hotspots. In specific, this study investigates the suitability of two alternative strategies: police patrols and hybrid monitoring through both patrols and the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in hotspots. The model was applied to two case studies, using parameters informed by real-world contexts, to demonstrate its potential for selecting suitable strategies according to local situations. The results suggest that nine possible scenarios govern the stable evolutionary strategies of game players, with five scenarios in which contractors converge to adopt legal dumping. Accordingly, based on the parameters of the region (hotspot areas, cost of supervision, efficiency of patrols, penalties, etc.), governments would be able to assess which of the strategies would lead to long-term compliance of contractors while also increasing their payoffs. Further analysis allowed to determine the minimum efficiency required, and simulations were performed to demonstrate the influence of different supervision efficiencies and penalties on the evolutionary strategies.
Searching for a Spatial Fix: Patterns of Inter-metropolitan Collaboration in Transportation Planning and Policy-making
Authors: Oden Michael , Sciara Gian-Claudia
Published: June 2023

We analyze rationales for inter-metropolitan collaboration and barriers to systematic planning at larger spatial scales. To understand whether multiple planning challenges are generating meaningful forms of collaboration across metro areas, we detail findings from a survey of U.S. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Our results suggest that inter-MPO joint planning activities are widespread and substantive in light of potential barriers to such collaborations. A majority of MPO leaders see inter-metro planning activities as an important priority and effective in the context of their overall mission. However, the survey results suggest that transportation planning at the megaregional scale is at a nascent stage.
CT and MRI of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours: New Trends and Perspectives
Authors: Barat Maxime , Pellat Anna , Dohan Anthony , Hoeffel Christine , Coriat Romain , Soyer Philippe
Published: June 2023

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are defined as mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract that express positivity for CD117, which is a c- KIT proto-oncogene antigen. Expression of the c- KIT protein, a tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor, allows the distinction between GISTs and other mesenchymal tumours such as leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, schwannoma and neurofibroma. GISTs can develop anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in the mesentery and omentum. Over the years, the management of GISTs has improved due to a better knowledge of their behaviors and risk or recurrence, the identification of specific mutations and the use of targeted therapies. This has resulted in a better prognosis for patients with GISTs. In parallel, imaging of GISTs has been revolutionized by tremendous progress in the field of detection, characterization, survival prediction and monitoring during therapy. Recently, a particular attention has been given to radiomics for the characterization of GISTs using analysis of quantitative imaging features. In addition, radiomics has currently many applications that are developed in conjunction with artificial intelligence with the aim of better characterizing GISTs and providing a more precise assessment of tumour burden. This article sums up recent advances in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of GISTs in the field of image/data acquisition, tumour detection, tumour characterization, treatment response evaluation, and preoperative planning.
Variations in Women’s Attribution of Blame for Sexual Assault
Authors: Strickler Sierra , Martin Laura N. , Khong Kathleen , Cattaneo Lauren
Published: June 2023

In the United States, sexual assault (SA) is a significant problem that has adverse psychological impacts on women. Scholarship has shown that when survivors choose to disclose their experiences, the way their networks react has a powerful impact on their well-being, but literature on response to SA disclosure has not extensively explored variation among women, who are likely recipients of these disclosures. This study explored variation among perceptions of and blame attribution for SA within a geographically and politically diverse but primarily White sample of women. Participants were assigned one of four vignettes, each of which described a non-stereotypical SA. The vignettes differed in two ways: (1) the social status of the perpetrator of the assault and (2) the length of time the victim waited to report. Results showed that being older and more politically conservative was associated with assigning less blame to the perpetrator and more blame to the victim, but neither education level nor where the participant lived were linked with blame attribution. While women’s own experiences of SA were unrelated to their responses, having a loved one who had experienced SA was associated with less victim blaming. With respect to attitudes, women endorsing higher levels of social dominance orientation (SDO) and sexism also reported higher levels of victim blame and lower levels of perpetrator blame. Further research should explore the role of specific personal experiences and knowledge of others’ SA in assignment of blame, investigate the predictors and moderators of SDO, and should extend these findings to more racially/ethnically diverse samples of women.
Development of sustainable and biodegradable materials: A review on banana and sisal fibre based polymer composites
Authors: Makinde-Isola Baraka Abiodun , Taiwo Anuoluwapo Samuel , Oladele Isiaka Oluwole , Akinwekomi Akeem Damilola , Adelani Samson Oluwagbenga , Onuh Linus Nnabuike
Published: June 2023

Natural fibres are biodegradable materials that contribute to the development of a “green” economy due to their numerous merits such as energy efficiency, ease of manufacturing, environmental friendliness, low cost, sustainability, and biodegradability. Natural fibres have lately become more appealing to technology and innovation as substitute materials for synthetic fibre-based composites due to these qualities. Several projects have also been undertaken to reveal the potential applications, economic and environmental benefits of natural fibres sourced from plants for polymer reinforcements. Among the commonly used fibres are banana and sisal fibres which form part of the reasons for their selection in this review. The justification for this is the environmental concerns in the modern days which have increased the demand for natural materials as suitable alternatives for synthetic reinforcements. Hence, this review reveals the impact of banana and sisal fibres as reinforcements in polymers on the environment, the possible future processing pathways, and applications.
Two improved assembly deviation analysis methods based on Jacobian–Torsor matrix and skin model shapes with contact deformation effort
Authors: Ma Songhua , Hu Kaixin , Hu Tianliang , Xiong Zhenqi
Published: June 2023

Assembly deviation analysis methods, which have been studied and improved over the past 30 years, are necessary and effective for checking functional requirements before manufacturing. Contact deformation was not negligible and significantly affected the final assembly deviation, which prevented the application of the current assembly deviation analysis methods. Considering the contact deformation, we aimed to improve the precision of the 3D deviation analysis methods, which are based on the Jacobian-Torsor matrix and skin model shape (SMS), respectively. In this study, the contact deformation was quantified based on the Hertzian contact theory. The unified Jacobian-Torsor matrix is modified with the location points and contact deformation to increase the precision of the stack-up assembly deviation. In the SMS-based method, the assembly components are represented as non-nominal SMS models. The final posture of each component and stack-up assembly deviation were solved by iteratively mimicking the physical assembly process. The practicality of the improved deviation analysis method was successfully demonstrated through two case studies. The modified Jacobian-Torsor matrix-based method is efficient. However, the improved SMS-based method can provide more precise results by mimicking tight fitting on mating surfaces.
The multi-sensor-based measurement of machining signals and data fusion to develop predictive tool wear models for TiAlN-PVD coated carbide inserts during end milling of Inconel 617
Authors: Adishesha Pramod , Lawrence K Deepak , Mathew Jose
Published: June 2023

Machining signals from the Force dynamometer, Acoustic Emission (AE), and Accelerometer are acquired and fused to develop Machine Learning (ML) models for tool wear monitoring of TiAlN-PVD coated carbide inserts. Milling experiments were performed on Inconel 617 with varied process parameter combinations until the tool flank wear met the failure criterion. Support Vector Regression, Random Forest Regression, and Long Short-Term Memory models are developed and compared based on a combination of sensor data fusion for tool wear predictions. It is observed that the Random Forest Regression approach can predict the tool wear with 94% accuracy compared to Support Vector Regression (85%) and Long Short-Term Memory (84%) models while using three-sensor data fusion. Further, the two-sensor data combination was used to test the relative efficacy of all the three developed machine learning tool wear models and found that the force dynamometer and the AE sensor fared better for Random Forest Regression and Long Short-Term Memory models in comparison to Support Vector Regression. For Support Vector Regression-based tool wear predictive models, force dynamometer and accelerometer data fusion performed better.
Vehicle velocity estimation based on WSS/IMU with wheel slip recognition
Authors: Yuan Liangxin , Chen Hao , Wang Yuan , Lian Xiaomin
Published: June 2023

Accurate velocity is of great significance to vehicle dynamic control, and vehicle velocity estimation based on wheel speed sensor (WSS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) is more cost-effective than other sensors. Unavoidable wheel slip will result in velocity vector estimation error. To solve this problem, this paper proposed a novel wheel slip recognition criterion when using WSS/IMU for velocity estimation. The basic idea is to deduce the strict relationship between wheel speed, angular rate, and specific force when the wheel does not slip, and the slipping wheel will destroy this balance, which can be used to determine whether the wheel is slipping. Wheels identified as slipping are isolated from fusion, and only non-slipping wheels can be used for velocity estimation. In addition, the analysis shows that the wheel slip recognition is robust and works well even if there is an estimation error in the lateral velocity during vehicle turning. The co-simulation based on Carsim-Simulink shows that the proposed wheel slip recognition can ensure accurate vehicle velocity estimation at various working conditions. The real vehicle test further verified the important role of wheel slip recognition for velocity estimation.
Lane-changing control for hybrid electric vehicles with dedicated hybrid transmission based on robust model predictive control
Authors: Wang RuoChen , Shen LingJie , Zhou YaZhou , Ding RenKai , Ye Qing
Published: June 2023

Car-following and lane-changing are extremely important for vehicles. The traditional adaptive cruise control (ACC) strategy has various drawbacks due to the complicated driving conditions. A new control strategy of robust model predictive control (RMPC) for car-following and lane-changing is proposed based on a new type of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT-HEV). The control model includes a vehicle model, a following and lane-changing model and an RMPC controller. The vehicle model integrates the DHT-HEV and dynamic models with a longitudinal dynamic model, seven degrees of freedom (DOF) vehicle dynamic model and three DOF control model. The following and lane-changing model is described as car-following and lane-changing models of two-quintic function. The RMPC controller is used to balance the control of vehicle longitudinal and lateral dynamics with the lateral acceleration disturbance. Simulation results demonstrate that the RMPC controller can track the reference trajectory during two lane-changing process when the test scenarios of different accelerations are set compared with the conventional ACC control. Different Np (predictive horizon) and Nc (control horizon) are also analysed to improve the solving performance of RMPC. Results indicate that the solving performance of the system is optimal when Np = 30 and Nc = 1. Furthermore, different weight coefficient matrixes ( Q and R) are taken into the consideration by coordinating the car-following performance and lateral stability. Accordingly, the controllers of RMPC-LC, RMPC-ACC and RMPC-LA are set, demonstrating that the control of RMPC-LA best balances two aspects and is always within a safe car-following distance. Meanwhile, the hardware in the loop (HIL) is utilised to verify the effectiveness of the proposed RMPC control strategy, which comprises model compilation, the establishment connection between the D2P ECU and the simulator and control input.
Distribution of benzene and formaldehyde in tractor cabin: Effects of components, ventilation conditions, and vent positions
Authors: Hou Xiuning , Zhang Xuemin , Wang Yulong
Published: June 2023

Tractor cabin is a relatively closed microenvironment in which operator is exposed to various pollutants that can adversely affect human health. In this study, the distribution of benzene and formaldehyde inside tractor cabin was investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method and verifying its effectiveness with field measurements. The effects of pollution source, ventilation, and vent position on the distribution of pollutants were discussed by using the validated CFD model. The results indicated that the areas with high concentration of pollutants are mostly distributed in the corners, and the ceiling contributes the most to its emission. The concentration difference of benzene and formaldehyde in the driver’s breathing area can reach a maximum of 20% by adjusting the air supply angle. It can also be reduced by 3.9% and 4.3% for every 1 m s−1 increase in air supply speed when the airflow angle emitted from the vent was 90°. In the common vent locations, the vent arranged on the front ceiling has the best pollutant reduction effect. This study provided a reliable CFD simulation method for benzene and formaldehyde distribution, offered a theoretical basis for the selection of ventilation conditions and the design of internal layout in tractor cabins for improving air quality. It also suggested that then environment and air quality of non-road mobile machinery cabs should be paid more attention in the future.
Billion-design-variable-scale topology optimization of vehicle frame structure in multiple-load case
Authors: Wada Yuji , Shimada Tokimasa , Nishiguchi Koji , Okazawa Shigenobu , Tsubokura Makoto
Published: June 2023

In topology optimization, sufficient resolution and a constraint volume of less than 1% are required to obtain a practical vehicle body structure without solid circular-section frames. To meet the requirement for sufficient resolution, the authors are developing voxel topology optimization software, including a finite element solver that utilizes the building cube method framework available in massively parallel environments. The authors have performed a topology optimization of billions of elements intended for a vehicle frame using 35,000–66,000 processors and measured its parallel performance. In addition, four different methods to treat multiple-load cases required for vehicle performance into single objective functions are examined. As a result, normalizing compliance with the appropriate target energy obtained by the original body-in-white frame balances the optimization performance across cases. In the single-load case, thick solid beams are generated through optimization. In contrast, such solid frames are suppressed in multiple-load cases, resulting in a structure similar to a practical body-in-white frame.
Fossil fuel and renewable energy allocation policy toward carbon neutrality under climate change
Authors: Chuang Yen Hsun , Tsao Yu-Chung , Chen Wei Yea
Published: June 2023

Climate change is increasing owing to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly due to anthropogenic activities. In recent years, many countries have set goals to decrease GHG emissions and achieve carbon neutrality while maintaining their economic situation. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal policy for fossil fuels and renewable energy allocation, which could decrease GHG emissions and maintain the economic situation in Taiwan until 2030. The results show that renewable energy rapidly increased to 5.8 billion kWh, and natural gas increased to 54 million m3 when energy consumption was maintained for the values in 2020. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 are expected to decrease to 20% of the value in 2005. Finally, the Taiwanese government should consider the allocation of fossil fuels and renewable energy with linear growth in energy consumption and achieve the goals of carbon emission reduction.
An augmented likelihood approach for the Cox proportional hazards model with interval-censored auxiliary and validated outcome data—with application to the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Authors: Boe Lillian A , Shaw Pamela A
Published: June 2023

In large epidemiologic studies, it is typical for an inexpensive, non-invasive procedure to be used to record disease status during regular follow-up visits, with less frequent assessment by a gold standard test. Inexpensive outcome measures like self-reported disease status are practical to obtain, but can be error-prone. Association analysis reliant on error-prone outcomes may lead to biased results; however, restricting analyses to only data from the less frequently observed error-free outcome could be inefficient. We have developed an augmented likelihood that incorporates data from both error-prone outcomes and a gold standard assessment. We conduct a numerical study to show how we can improve statistical efficiency by using the proposed method over standard approaches for interval-censored survival data that do not leverage auxiliary data. We extend this method for the complex survey design setting so that it can be applied in our motivating data example. Our method is applied to data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos to assess the association between energy and protein intake and the risk of incident diabetes. In our application, we demonstrate how our method can be used in combination with regression calibration to additionally address the covariate measurement error in self-reported diet.