bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A NOVEL DISCRETE, MESOSCALE MODELING FRAMEWORK FOR THE SIMULATION OF THE DAMAGING AND FRACTURING BEHAVIOR OF COMPOSITES
Authors: SALVIATO MARCO , PHENISEE SEAN E. , DELEO ANTONIO A. , PELESSONE DANIELE , FLORES MARK
Published: October 2022

Unidirectional (UD) and 2D/3D textile composites are increasingly being employed in systems acrossed many industrial sectors including aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. This is due to the excellent specific mechanical properties and tailorability of composites, paving new avenues for structural optimization and weight savings. One of the challenges with the simulation of the mechanical response of composite materials is that their damage mechanisms depend strongly on the material micro- and mesostructures. Phenomena such as fiber micro-buckling and kinking in compression or fiber scissoring and matrix microcracking in shear in UD composites are only a few examples. Homogenized continuum models that describe these mechanisms are extremely mathematically complex, lack generality, and can only be used to fit experimental data. In fact, the constitutive equations compensate for not modeling fibers and matrix explicitly by introducing several complex equations and fitting parameters of unclear physical meaning. This makes model calibration extremely cumbersome and limits the predictive capability of the model. In reality, the modeling of damage and fracture in composite materials does not have to be complex if the physics of the micro-and mesostructures is simulated explicitly. This is the goal of the Discrete Model for Composites (DM4C), a novel discrete mesoscale modeling framework that simulates the mechanical behavior of UD and textile composites. Specifically, this framework is only based on physical laws and does not depend on element erosion to simulate fracture. As it will be shown in this presentation, in DM4C, fibers, groups of fibers, and tows are simulated explicitly as Timoshenko beam elements while the matrix is described by vectorial constitutive laws defined on the facets of a tetrahedral mesh anchored to the nodes of the beam elements. These vectorial laws describe both the elastic and inelastic behavior of the matrix, including the traction-separation laws governing the fracture process and the friction between facets governing the compressive behavior. Thanks to the facet-based formulation, fracture is modeled in a discrete way and the need for element erosion can be avoided. Furthermore, since fibers and matrix are now simulated explicitly, the constitutive laws of each material can be physics-based, simple, and with clearly defined material parameters. To demonstrate the predictive capability of the proposed framework, simulations of several typical damage mechanisms in composites will be compared to experimental data such as shear band formation in transverse compression, fiber micro-buckling and kinking in longitudinal compression, and sub-critical matrix microcraking in off-axis layers.
DISCRETE MODELING AND MACHINE LEARNING ASSISTED CALIBRATION OF 3D PRINTED CARBON FIBER REINFORCED PLASTICS (CFRP) STRUCTURAL JOINTS
Authors: DELEO ANTONIO A. , PHENISEE SEAN E. , PELESSONE DANIELE , FURMANSKI JEVAN , FLORES MARK , SALVIATO MARCO
Published: October 2022

Over the past few decades, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has rapidly grown and has been very quickly adopted across a wide variety of industrial and academic fields. Although materials and structures manufactured using this technique are generally inferior in strength than those manufactured using traditional techniques, the many inherent advantages of AM still make it a great alternative to conventional composites. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is by far the most widely used AM technique due to its capability to create complex parts by melting and extruding filaments of many different materials according to a specific and a-priori optimized pattern. With improvements in controls and robotics technologies, it is nowadays possible to deposit long continuous bundles of carbon fibers embedded in a snap-cure resin, allowing to greatly increase the strength-to-weight ratio of a complex structural joint where different layers of materials are thoughtfully and methodically placed to better react the loading conditions. The Discrete Model for Composites (DM4C), currently under development, is used to generate both simple and more complex joint structures, which will be calibrated using machine learning algorithms after computational results are gathered by a massively parallelized HPC code and stored in a Structured Query Language (SQL) database.
DEFLECTION-TIME CHARACTERIZATION ON HIGH- PRESSURE IMPACTED THERMOPLASTIC-METAL HYBRID PANELS
Authors: PATTON EVAN G. , HART ROBERT J.
Published: October 2022

High strain rate events pose high levels of complexity when analyzing a materials deformation characteristics. In high strain rate events like blast and impact, understanding the damage progression within the tested material is crucial when optimizing material design to give a desired performance. Under extreme loading cases inertial effects play a large role on how a material system performs. When a structure is blast loaded and begins deformation, inertial effects cause the structure to continue to deform past its stressed equilibrium point even after the main front of the shock wave has passed until it stabilizes its inertial effects with the material’s strength. At the point of momentary rest, the inertial effects are zero, and the structure begins to rebound causing the structure to elastically “snap back”. This behavior may repeat and oscillate to release the energy that was transferred into it until remaining at rest at its plastically deformed state. In this work, high-pressure impact loading was implemented on a thermoplastic-metal hybrid panel via free piston shock tube. Finite element models, and pressure-time and deflection-time histories, were used to correlate the deformation characteristics to an applied blast loading. Deformation characteristics are obtained in real time during the blast test using fringe projection methods. To correlate and better describe experimental observations, finite element models were developed in LS Dyna for the blast apparatus and hybrid composite panel, and the results are compared to the experimental blast tests. The results show a lag in the deformation response within the material structure from peak loading to peak deflection of 0.5ms in both the model and fringe projection analysis. Furthermore, the deflection-time history between the model and fringe projection data show similar correlations behaviorally for the duration of valid testing.
NEW FAILURE CRITERIA FOR COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
Authors: KWON YOUNG W. , DEFISHER STANLEY
Published: October 2022

The paper presents new failure criteria which can be applied to brittle polymer composites. The criteria can be applied to specimens regardless of whether they have cracks, cutout, or none of them. The new criteria consist of two failure conditions, both of which must be satisfied if failure occurs at any critical location. The first condition is the stress-based failure criterion. This condition of failure determines potential failure locations. For failure to occur, not only a location but also its neighbor should possess criteria favorable to failure. The second condition is related to the neighbor condition, and it is the stress gradient-based failure criterion. This condition states that failure may occur when the cubic power of the effective stress divided by its stress gradient is equal to or greater than the critical failure value of the selected material. The second condition determines the failure path from the failure location. Laminated fibrous composites have different stiffnesses and strengths depending on the orientation of the layers. This paper proposes a way to predict failure strengths of laminates with different layer orientations containing holes if the failure strength is known for a laminate.
DEEP NEURAL NETWORK ALGORITHM FOR CMC MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION AND VARIABILITY QUANTIFICATION
Authors: HAMZA MOHAMED H. , KHAFAGY K. H. , CHATTOPADHYAY A.
Published: October 2022

Microstructure characterization and variability quantification are crucial for understanding ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms across length scales. Traditionally, analyses of the micrographs obtained from microscopy are labor-intensive. However, with the vast improvement in computer vision (CV) and deep learning (DL), an automated algorithm can be designed to extract essential microstructure variability from micrographs which can then be used to construct a statistically representative volume element (SRVE). The DL-based algorithm spans the taxonomy of microstructure analyses, including 1semantic segmentation of microstructure constituents, secondary phases, matrix/fiber interface, and defects, and quantifying the microstructure variability in terms of probability distributions. In this work, C/SiNC and SiC/SiNC CMCs microstructures are semantically segmented through a deep convolutional neural network, followed by variability quantification through the implementation of a fully connected regression layer, hence forming a deep regression network. The deep regression network operates in a feedforward regime, in which the neuron output signal traverses through the network in a unidirectional manner. The weight tensor associated with each layer is updated through a backpropagation stochastic gradient descent approach. The input gray-scale image obtained through in-house scanning electron microscope and confocal microscope micrographs is augmented through affine transformations to increase the training set size, which is then processed through four strided convolutional layers. This compresses the image resolution by half at each layer while increasing the image depth by applying different filters (image encoding). The class activation maps (CAMs) corresponding to the applied filters highlight the key architectural features and assist with the semantic segmentation of the microstructure.
Approximate Nash Equilibria in Large Nonconvex Aggregative Games
Authors: Liu Kang , Oudjane Nadia , Wan Cheng
Published: October 2022

This paper shows the existence of [Formula: see text]-Nash equilibria in n-player noncooperative sum-aggregative games in which the players’ cost functions, depending only on their own action and the average of all players’ actions, are lower semicontinuous in the former, whereas γ-Hölder continuous in the latter. Neither the action sets nor the cost functions need to be convex. For an important class of sum-aggregative games, which includes congestion games with γ equal to one, a gradient-proximal algorithm is used to construct [Formula: see text]-Nash equilibria with at most [Formula: see text] iterations. These results are applied to a numerical example concerning the demand-side management of an electricity system. The asymptotic performance of the algorithm when n tends to infinity is illustrated.
Recruitment, integration and retention of international nurses in NHS Trusts
Authors: Olsen BJ
Published: October 2022

BJ Olsen shares her experiences as a nurse who trained in another country and now works in the UK and considers how an international nurse liaison role might help overcome barriers to retention
Unsupervised segmentation of biomedical hyperspectral image data: tackling high dimensionality with convolutional autoencoders
Authors: Bench Ciaran , Nallala Jayakrupakar , Wang Chun-Chin , Sheridan Hannah , Stone Nicholas
Published: October 2022

Information about the structure and composition of biopsy specimens can assist in disease monitoring and diagnosis. In principle, this can be acquired from Raman and infrared (IR) hyperspectral images (HSIs) that encode information about how a sample’s constituent molecules are arranged in space. Each tissue section/component is defined by a unique combination of spatial and spectral features, but given the high dimensionality of HSI datasets, extracting and utilising them to segment images is non-trivial. Here, we show how networks based on deep convolutional autoencoders (CAEs) can perform this task in an end-to-end fashion by first detecting and compressing relevant features from patches of the HSI into low-dimensional latent vectors, and then performing a clustering step that groups patches containing similar spatio-spectral features together. We showcase the advantages of using this end-to-end spatio-spectral segmentation approach compared to i) the same spatio-spectral technique not trained in an end-to-end manner, and ii) a method that only utilises spectral features (spectral k-means) using simulated HSIs of porcine tissue as test examples. Secondly, we describe the potential advantages/limitations of using three different CAE architectures: a generic 2D CAE, a generic 3D CAE, and a 2D convolutional encoder-decoder architecture inspired by the recently proposed UwU-net that is specialised for extracting features from HSI data. We assess their performance on IR HSIs of real colon samples. We find that all architectures are capable of producing segmentations that show good correspondence with HE stained adjacent tissue slices used as approximate ground truths, indicating the robustness of the CAE-driven spatio-spectral clustering approach for segmenting biomedical HSI data. Additionally, we stress the need for more accurate ground truth information to enable a precise comparison of the advantages offered by each architecture.
The feedback loop of METTL14 and USP38 regulates cell migration, invasion and EMT as well as metastasis in bladder cancer
Authors: Huang Ji , Zhou Weimin , Hao Chao , He Qiuming , Tu Xinhua
Published: October 2022

Background

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally. Previous study has reported the inhibitory effect of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) on BCa tumorigenesis, but its role in the cell migration, invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BCa remains unknown.

Materials and methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot were applied to measure RNA and protein expression respectively. Cell migration, invasion and EMT were evaluated by wound healing, Transwell, and immunofluorescence (IF) assays as well as western blot of EMT-related proteins. In vivo experiments were performed to analyze metastasis of BCa. Mechanism investigation was also conducted to study METTL14-mediated regulation of BCa progression.

Results

METTL14 overexpression prohibits BCa cell migration, invasion in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo. METTL14 stabilizes USP38 mRNA by inducing N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and enhances USP38 mRNA stability in YTHDF2-dependent manner. METTL14 represses BCa cell migration, invasion and EMT via USP38. Additionally, miR-3165 inhibits METTL14 expression to promote BCa progression.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that METTL14 suppresses BCa progression and forms a feedback loop with USP38. In addition, miR-3165 down-regulates METTL14 expression to promote BCa progression. The findings may provide novel insight into the underlying mechanism of METTL14 in BCa progression.
Estimates of the number and distribution of zero-dose and under-immunised children across remote-rural, urban, and conflict-affected settings in low and middle-income countries
Authors: Wigley Adelle , Lorin Josh , Hogan Dan , Utazi C. Edson , Hagedorn Brittany , Dansereau Emily , Tatem Andrew J. , Tejedor-Garavito Natalia
Published: October 2022

While there has been great success in increasing the coverage of new childhood vaccines globally, expanding routine immunization to reliably reach all children and communities has proven more challenging in many low- and middle-income countries. Achieving this requires vaccination strategies and interventions that identify and target those unvaccinated, guided by the most current and detailed data regarding their size and spatial distribution. Through the integration and harmonisation of a range of geospatial data sets, including population, vaccination coverage, travel-time, settlement type, and conflict locations. We estimated the numbers of children un- or under-vaccinated for measles and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, within remote-rural, urban, and conflict-affected locations. We explored how these numbers vary both nationally and sub-nationally, and assessed what proportions of children these categories captured, for 99 lower- and middle-income countries, for which data was available. We found that substantial heterogeneities exist both between and within countries. Of the total 14,030,486 children unvaccinated for DTP1, over 11% (1,656,757) of un- or under-vaccinated children were in remote-rural areas, more than 28% (2,849,671 and 1,129,915) in urban and peri-urban areas, and up to 60% in other settings, with nearly 40% found to be within 1-hour of the nearest town or city (though outside of urban/peri-urban areas). Of the total number of those unvaccinated, we estimated between 6% and 15% (826,976 to 2,068,785) to be in conflict-affected locations, based on either broad or narrow definitions of conflict. Our estimates provide insights into the inequalities in vaccination coverage, with the distributions of those unvaccinated varying significantly by country, region, and district. We demonstrate the need for further inquiry and characterisation of those unvaccinated, the thresholds used to define these, and for more country-specific and targeted approaches to defining such populations in the strategies and interventions used to reach them.
Patient-reported outcomes evaluation and assessment of facilitators and barriers to physical activity in the Transplantoux aerobic exercise intervention
Authors: Masschelein Evi , De Smet Stefan , Denhaerynck Kris , Ceulemans Laurens J. , Monbaliu Diethard , De Geest Sabina
Published: October 2022

Background

Transplantoux’s MVT exercise intervention prepares organ transplant recipients to cycle or hike up France’s Mont Ventoux. We aimed to assess (i) MVT’s effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and (ii) perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity.

Methods

Using a hybrid design, a convenience sample of transplant recipients participating in MVT (n = 47 cycling (TxCYC); n = 18 hiking (TxHIK)), matched control transplant recipients (TxCON, n = 213), and healthy MVT participants (HCON, n = 91) completed surveys to assess physical activity (IPAQ), health-related quality of life (HRQOL; SF-36 and EuroQol VAS), mental health (GHQ-12), and depressive symptomatology, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21) at baseline, then after 3, 6 (Mont Ventoux climb), 9, and 12 months. TxCYC and TxHIK participated in a 6-month intervention of individualized home-based cycling/hiking exercise and a series of supervised group training sessions. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity (Barriers and Motivators Questionnaire) were measured at 12 months.

Results

Regarding PROs, except for reducing TxHIK stress levels, MVT induced no substantial intervention effects. For both TxCYC and TxHIK, between-group comparisons at baseline showed that physical activity, HRQOL, mental health, depressive symptomatology and stress were similar to those of HCON. In contrast, compared to TxCYC, TxHIK, and HCON, physical activity, HRQOL and mental health were lower in TxCON. TxCON also reported greater barriers, lower facilitators, and different priority rankings concerning physical activity barriers and facilitators.

Conclusion

Barely any of the PROs assessed in the present study responded to Transplantoux’s MVT exercise intervention. TxCON reported distinct and unfavorable profiles regarding PROs and barriers and facilitators to physical activity. These findings can assist tailored physical activity intervention development.

Trial registration

Clinical trial notation: The study was approved by the University Hospitals Leuven’s Institutional Review Board (B322201523602).
The Monongahela tradition in “real time”: Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates
Authors: Hart John P. , Means Bernard K.
Published: October 2022

Despite advances in techniques, methods, and theory, northeastern North American archaeologists continue to use early to mid-twentieth century culture historical taxa as units of analysis and narrative. There is a distinct need to move away from this archaeological practice to enable fuller understandings of past human lives. One tool that enables such a move is Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates, which provides a means of constructing continuous chronologies. A large dataset of radiocarbon dates for late prehistoric (ca AD 900/1000–1650) sites in the lower upper Ohio River basin in southwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent portions of Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia is used here as an example. The results allow a preliminary assessment of how the settlement plans of contemporaneous villages varied considerably, reflecting decisions of the village occupants how to structure built environments to meet their needs.
Investigation of suddenly expanded flows at subsonic Mach numbers using an artificial neural networks approach
Authors: Quadros Jaimon Dennis , Nagpal Chetna , Khan Sher Afghan , Aabid Abdul , Baig Muneer
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore two concepts: first, the use of artificial neural networks (ANN) to forecast the base pressure (β) and wall pressure (ω) originating from a suddenly expanded flow field at subsonic Mach numbers. Second, the implementation of Garson approach to determine the critical operating parameters affecting the suddenly expanded subsonic flow process in the subsonic range. In a MATLAB environment, a network model was constructed based on a multilayer perceptron with an input, hidden, and output layer. The network input parameters were the Mach number (M), nozzle pressure ratio (η), area ratio (α), length to diameter ratio (γ), micro jet control (ϵ), and duct location to length ratio (δ). The network output included two variables; base pressure (β) and wall pressure (ω). The ANN was trained and tested using the experimental data. The experimental results found that micro-jet controls were successful in increasing the base pressure for low Mach numbers and high nozzle pressure ratios. It was also found that the wall pressure was same for with and without micro jet control. The ANN predicted values agreed well with the experimental values, with average relative errors of less than 5.02% for base pressure and 6.71% for wall pressure. Additionally, with a relative significance of 32% and 43%, the nozzle pressure ratio and duct location to length ratio had the highest influence on the base pressure and wall pressure, respectively. The results demonstrate that the ANN model is capable of accurately predicting the pressure results, enabling theoretical foundation for research into pressure distribution in aerodynamic systems.
Assessing the accuracy of altitude estimates in avian biologging devices
Authors: Lato Kimberly A. , Stepanuk Julia E. F. , Heywood Eleanor I. , Conners Melinda G. , Thorne Lesley H.
Published: October 2022

Advances in animal biologging technologies have greatly improved our understanding of animal movement and distribution, particularly for highly mobile species that travel across vast spatial scales. Assessing the accuracy of these devices is critical to drawing appropriate conclusions from resulting data. While understanding the vertical dimension of movements is key to assessing habitat use and behavior in aerial species, previous studies have primarily focused on assessing the accuracy of biologging devices in the horizontal plane with far less emphasis placed on the vertical plane. Here we use an Unaccompanied Aircraft System (UAS) outfitted with a laser altimeter to broadly assess the accuracy of altitude estimates of three commonly used avian biologging devices during three field trials: stationary flights, continuous horizontal movements, and continuous vertical movements. We found that the device measuring barometric pressure consistently provided the most accurate altitude estimates (mean error of 1.57m) and effectively captured finer-scale vertical movements. Conversely, devices that relied upon GPS triangulation to estimate altitude typically overestimated altitude during horizontal movements (mean error of 6.5m or 40.96m) and underestimated amplitude during vertical movements. Additional factors thought to impact device accuracy, including Horizontal- and Position- Dilution of Precision and the time intervals over which altitude estimates were assessed, did not have notable effects on results in our analyses. Reported accuracy values for different devices may be useful in future studies of aerial species’ behavior relative to vertical obstacles such as wind turbines. Our results suggest that studies seeking to quantify altitude of aerial species should prioritize pressure-based measurements, which provide sufficient resolution for examining broad and some fine-scale behaviors. This work highlights the importance of considering and accounting for error in altitude measurements during avian studies relative to the scale of data needed to address particular scientific questions.
Work time allocation at primary health care level in two regions of Albania
Authors: Muho Altiona , Peshkatari Altina , Wyss Kaspar
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Although well-performing workforce is essential to equitable and efficient health service delivery, few countries have systematically addressed performance improvements. How health workers use their work time and what tasks they accomplish is here an important starting point. Therefore, a time motion study was conducted to assess the work time allocation patterns of primary health care doctors and nurses in two regions of Albania.

Methods

We used observation tool to record the time allocation along eight predefined main categories of activities. Conditional to presence at work, 48 health workers were continuously observed in early 2020 before start of the Covid-19 pandemic over five consecutive working days.

Results

The observed health workers spent 40.7% of their overall working time unproductively (36.8% on waiting for patients and 3.9% on breaks), 25.3% on service provision to users, 18.7% on administrative activities, 12.7% on outreach activities, 1.6% on continuous medical education and 1% on meetings. The study found variations in work time allocation patterns across cadres, with nurses spending more time unproductively, on administrative activities and on outreach and less on all other activities than doctors. Further, the work time allocation patterns were similar between urban and rural settings, except for nurses in rural settings spending less time than those in urban settings on administrative work.

Conclusion

This study found that primary health care workers in Albania devote a substantial amount of work time to unproductive, service provision to users and administrative activities. Consequently, there is possibility for productivity, respectively efficiency gains in how health workers use their time.
Analysis of interface mechanical properties between geotextiles and tailings during pull-out tests
Authors: Du Changbo , Li Dongze , Yi Fu , Wang Laigui , Niu Ben
Published: October 2022

Considering the strain-softening characteristics of the pull-out interface between geotextiles and tailings; to determine the interface interaction characteristics, this paper proposes a trilinear shear stress displacement softening model of geotextile-reinforced tailings. The obtained nonlinear governing equations were dimensionless, which were expressed in finite difference form. The results indicated that an accurate numerical solution could be obtained within a reasonable calculation time by discretizing the reinforcement length into 300 units. Three new dimensionless interaction terms, namely, the relative stiffness α, relative displacement β, and relative interface shear stiffness η of the reinforcement-tailings interaction, were introduced. In addition, an estimation method based on the approximate value of the relative stiffness α of the reinforcement-soil interface in the low-tensile-force displacement range was proposed. The interface shear stress range according to parameters α, β, and η was parameterized, and the normalization relationship between the tensile force and pull-out end displacement was determined. The numerical values calculated by the model were compared with the pull-out test results, demonstrating that the proposed model can accurately predict the pull-out behavior of the extensible reinforcement.
Low husband involvement in maternal and child health services and intimate partner violence increases the odds of postpartum depression in northwest Ethiopia: A community-based study
Authors: Kebede Azmeraw Ambachew , Gessesse Dereje Nibret , Aklil Mastewal Belayneh , Temesgan Wubedle Zelalem , Abegaz Marta Yimam , Anteneh Tazeb Alemu , Tibebu Nebiyu Solomon , Alemu Haymanot Nigatu , Haile Tsion Tadesse , Seyoum Asmra Tesfahun , Tiguh Agumas Eskezia , Yismaw Ayenew Engida , Mihret Muhabaw Shumye , Nenko Goshu , Wondie Kindu Yinges , Taye Birhan Tsegaw , Tsega Nuhamin Tesfa
Published: October 2022

Background

Depression is the most common mental health problem that affects women during pregnancy and after child-birth. Postpartum depression, in particular, has both short and long-term effects on the lives of mothers and children. Women’s health is a current global concern, but postpartum depression is a neglected issue in the maternal continuum of care and is rarely addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess postpartum depression and associated factors in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1st to 30th, 2021 in Gondar city. A cluster sampling technique was employed to select 794 postpartum women. Data were entered by EPI DATA version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with postpartum depression. The adjusted odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval at a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to declare the level of significance.

Results

A total of 794 women were included in the analysis, giving a response rate of 98.5%. The prevalence of postpartum depression was 17.25% (95% CI: 14.5, 20.2). Younger maternal age (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.23, 5.85), low average monthly income (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.24, 5.91), low decision-making power (AOR = 2.04, 95%CI: 1.31, 3.18), low husband/partner involvement in MNCH care service (AOR = 2.34, 95%CI: 1.44, 3.81), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 3.16 95% CI: 1.77, 5.62), and experience of intimate partner violence (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.96, 4.99) were significantly associated with increased odds of postpartum depression.

Conclusion

In this study, nearly 1/5th of the study participants had postpartum depression. Thus, it is important to integrate maternal mental health services with the existing maternal health care services. It is also crucial to advocate the need for husband’s involvement in MNCH care services and ensure women’s decision-making power in the household. Moreover, community-based sexual and reproductive health education would be better to reduce risk factors of postpartum depression.
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviours (KAPB) around water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in villagers exposed to schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe
Authors: Lampard-Scotford Alexandra R. , Pfavayi Lorraine , Kasambala Maritha , Choto Emilia , Vengesai Arthur , Lim Rivka , Tagwireyi Paradzayi , Banda Geoffrey , Mazigo Humphrey , Mduluza Takafira , Mutapi Francisca
Published: October 2022

There is paucity of comprehensive studies on social, cultural and behavioural aspects that influence and constrain toilet and borehole adoption and use in rural Africa. The objective of this study was to provide an evidence base to inform policies on increasing end-user adoption of toilets and access to safe water sources. One hundred and twenty-seven households in the Murewa district of Zimbabwe were surveyed via questionnaire to determine the social, cultural and behavioural influences that drive ownership and use of toilets and safe water sources. Rates of the water borne schistosome infection amongst pre-school aged children (PSAC) in the community were determined as a marker of the relationship between water, sanitation and health. The study showed that the community’s water and sanitation (WASH) coverage was as follows: 60.62% had access to toilets and 48% had access to boreholes. Of those with access to toilets 16% of adults and 36% of children did not use the toilets, instead they practiced open defecation. Schistosomiasis prevalence in PSAC was 42.4%, with 13% of schistosome infection being attributed to open defecation and 27% to using river water. In relating WASH to status or wealth symbols, the study showed that 34% of the adults possessed livestock and 30.7% had a mobile phone but did not have a toilet. Reasons for non-uptake of WASH and non-adherence to toilet use included lack of suitable sanitation facilities, lack of cleanliness in existing facilities, cultural factors and sub-optimal health education. An integrative approach is needed to effectively improve uptake and adherence to WASH. The use of context relevant behavioural theories and interventions is required to influence prioritisation and subsequent adherence to WASH facilities.
The Experiential Horror of Old
Authors: Binotto Ethan
Published: October 2022

Old (2021)

USA

Director M. Night Shyamalan Runtime 108 minutes
Modelling pyro-convective activity in Pedrógão Grande mega fire
Authors: Couto Flavio T. , Filippi Jean-Baptiste , Baggio Roberta , Salgado Rui
Published: October 2022

The development of PyroCumulonimbus (PyroCb) clouds during mega fire events has high impact in the evolution of the fire fronts and have been observed more frequently in the last years. In 2017, Portugal was affected by several episodes of extreme wildfires with associated cloud systems. The present study aims to investigate the development of pyro-convective activity during the PedrÃ³gÃ£o Grande episode. The study used the reference fire propagation deduced from the official investigation (forced fire) as well as reference boundary condition from atmospheric analysis to simulate the coupled simulation with a mesoscale atmospheric model at high temporal and spatial resolution. The Meso-NH model has been configured into three nested domains with horizontal resolutions of 2000 m, 400 m and 80 m. The emission of heat and vapour into the atmosphere was made using the ForeFire model. The results highlights the importance of the use of cloud resolving models configured with very-high spatial and temporal resolutions for representing the development of phenomena associated to pyro-convective activity, namely those occurring in the micro-scale from the cloud microphysics processes, like very-localised microbursts.
Preventive irrigation for fire defence in Mediterranean wildland-urban interface areas based on the ecosystem water status
Authors: Blanco-Cano Laura , Molina-Herrera A. J. , González-Sanchis M.C. , Pérez-Romero J. , Campo-García A.D. Del
Published: October 2022

In highly anthropized Mediterranean environments, more intense and persistent droughts alter the characteristics of the soil substrate and consequently the water status of the vegetation. Causing an increase water stress of the forest stands implies an increase in dead fuel availability and fire risk. This situation together with the current trend of urbanisation in areas adjacent to forest areas, generating the wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas, represents a new field in the firefighting, which presents both regulatory and technical deficits. This paper presents a management model based on the water quantification of the soil-plant-atmosphere system that defines the optimal amount of irrigation needed to decrease fire intensity to a suppression stage in the WUI of La Vallesa forest in the Natural Park of TÃºria (Valencia, Spain). Mainly highlighted is the ability to manipulate the fire behaviour by intervening the water status of the system through prescribed irrigation. We report that by means of irrigation, the moisture content of the forest system can be increased by 5.49 Â± 3.97 %, which translated to energy, implies an increase in the capacity of the system to absorb 14.24 Â± 10.32 kJ/kg and this translates into a decrease in a potential flame length of 0.10 Â± 0.26 m above its height.
Simulated flame shape and heat transfer of quasi-equilibrium grass fires at transitional Byram numbers
Authors: Sutherland Duncan , Sharples Jason , Moinuddin Khalid
Published: October 2022

There are two basic modes of fire spread: buoyancy driven where the fire plume is approximately vertical, and wind driven where the fire plume is attached to the surface. The buoyancy driven mode is usually identified by Byram number Nc>10, and the wind driven mode identified by Nc
The enemy lives next door: ecological consequences of woody encroachment in a grassland ecosystem in southern Brazil
Authors: Ferreira Tiago de Souza , Tetto Alexandre França , Soares Ronaldo Viana , Batista Antonio Carlos , Marcon Amanda Köche
Published: October 2022

The replacement of grasslands by woody plants represents one of the main threats to the biodiversity conservation in open landscapes around the world. This transformation occurs when ecological processes that are essential to avoid the canopy closure are prevented, such as fire. We sampled trees and shrubs and evaluated the effects of fire in an old-growth grassland remnant released from fire for 18 years in Southern Brazil. Our main objective was to analyze whether woody encroachment promotes a biome shift of the grassland ecosystem. We hypothesized if woody encroachment is deterministically structured towards a dominance of forest species and a significant decrease in fire intensity and severity along the encroachment gradient occur. Then, the woody encroachment does not represent a simple process of woody densification, but a biome shift towards an alternative forest state, that change the ecology of the system in a positive feedback loop and get stability as the woody community expands. We found clear evidences that woody encroachment promotes a biome shift from an open grassland state to an alternative forest state. In this process, our results indicated that woody encroachment was structured deterministically in the multivariate space with the occurrence of indicator species in the early and late stages. Throughout the entire encroachment gradient analyzed, a significant dominance of forest species was found, indicating that Southern Brazilian grasslands have the potential to be converted into forests more rapidly than savannas in the absence of fire. A significant decrease in fire intensity was found as the process of woody encroachment increased, indicating a change in the system behaviour that favoured the occurrence of a positive feedback loop between the canopy cover and the recruitment of shade-tolerant forest species. Simultaneously to fire intensity decrease, we observed that the reversion of the woody encroachment process was significantly reduced as the woody dominance increased. Thus, the woody encroachment mediated by fire suppression can be considered a degradation factor in our study area, since it can shift the system balance to another alternative stable state. By elucidating the ecological consequences behind woody encroachment, we recommend the use of prescribed fires to the conservation of the grasslands landscapes in Southern Brazil.
Design and Radiative heat transfer in a fireman in wildfire environment
Authors: Conceição Eusébio , Gomes João , Lúcio Maria Manuela , Viegas Domingos Xavier , Viegas Maria Teresa
Published: October 2022

This work presents the heat and mass exchanges in a fireman subjected to forest fire. A fireman thermal response systems is made. The human body model is divided into 35 elements. Each element is subdivided into several layers, constituted by fat, muscle, core and skin, and can be shielded from the outside environment by several clothing layers. In both systems, special attention is required with conduction, convection, evaporation and radiation. There are also considered the heat exchanges by radiation between the fire front and both bodies. A vertical fire front, with 2 m of height and 20 m of length, was considered. The air temperature, air velocity, air relative humidity and mean radiant temperature are used. The results of the flame mean radiant temperature, temperature of the bodies surfaces and view factors are obtained. The fireman has a skin surface temperature controlled by the human thermoregulatory and clothing systems.
Firefighters’ lifestyle and well-being
Authors: Carmona Laura , Pinheiro Raquel , Faria-Anjos Joana , Namorado Sónia , Chambel Maria José
Published: October 2022

The firefightersâ€™ lifestyle has important consequences in their well-being. A sample of 861 Portuguese firefighters answer an adapted version of the FANTISTIC checklist that included questions related to family and friendsâ€™ relationships, physical activity, nutrition, sleep and stress, alcohol and tobacco consumption's, career and shifts, and heath behaviors. We observed that the majority did not have physical activity in the professional context, only sometimes had a healthy nutrition, was overweight, had a tobacco consumption higher than that observed in the Portuguese population and a consumption of alcohol identical to that observed in Portuguese population, about 10% never sleep well and about 50% sometimes sleep well, about 40% only sometimes had capacity to manage stress and about 49% only sometimes relax in free time. Furthermore, we observed that the firefighterâ€™s lifestyle was an important predictor of his(er) general well-being, namely his(er) flourishing (e.g., meaning and purpose in life, positive relationships, self-esteem, feelings of competence, optimism, and involvement in daily activities), after control the gender, age, marital status, tenure as firefighter, and hours of work per week. We concluded that is important to develop an intervention to promote the lifestyle of Portuguese firefighters: encouraging the practice of physical exercise, healthy eating, non-consumption of tobacco or dangerous consumption of alcohol and promoting of a healthy sleep and management of stress. These programs must adjust to the idiosyncrasies of corporations and transform those same idiosyncrasies in valid and essential resources. In fact, some of the cultural or operational characteristics (e.g,. shift work, combination of professionals and volunteers) must be considered so that these programs can be successfully implemented.
Identifying the factors affecting the willingness of villagers to participate in forest firefighting in Iran’s Zagros forests
Authors: Ghaderi Soleyman , Shafiei Abbas Banj , heidarlou Hadi beygi
Published: October 2022

One of the environmental factors affecting the forest ecosystem is fire. Local volunteer firefighters are often those who first respond to forest fires. This study was conducted aimed to determine the factors affecting their willingness to participate in firefighting in the northern Zagros forests of Iran (Sardasht County). For this purpose, after extracting Sardasht fire statistics during a 14-year period (2006-2019), the villages with the highest frequency of fires in the above period were selected. Organizing, facilities and equipment, indigenous knowledge and education for firefighting were selected as factors affecting the willingness to participate in firefighting. The research tools were a questionnaire and face-to-face interview. The statistical population included 649 households. According to Morgan's Table, the number of samples required for the distribution of questionnaires was n=242. The questionnaire questions were designed openly and closed with scores based on the Likert scale and the factors affecting villagersâ€™ willingness to participate in firefighting were investigated by face-to-face interviews. The results of statistical analysis of data showed that organizing, knowledge and facilities had a significant effect on the participation of respondents. This study showed that for the villagers, organizing was the most effective factor and facilities was the last factor affecting their willingness to participate. Also, a positive and significant relationship was found between the participation and the level of education. Therefore, it is necessary for the promotion department of the Iran's Forests, Range and Watershed management Organization (FRWO), along with the protection unit of the organization, to provide special programs and policies for the organizing of the public, rural and volunteer firefighting forces before the fire spreads to control it in principle.
Manipulating fire regimes in sensitive ecosystems to adapt to climate change
Authors: Leavesley Adam , Yebra Marta , Nyman Petter , Scherl Tony
Published: October 2022

Fire regimes in Australian temperate forests have changed with the area burnt by bushfires having increased due to changing climate extremes every decade for the past 40 years. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has been heavily impacted with year-since-last-fire in forests being the shortest of all Australian jurisdictions due to large, intense bushfires during the droughts of 2003 and 2020. The forested landscapes of the ACT are predominantly mountainous and scattered throughout are species and communities which are likely to be disadvantaged by an increase in the frequency of high intensity fire. Examples include alpine bogs, Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) and Mountain Plum Pine (Podocarpus laurencei). Many of these systems were severely burnt in 2003 and 2020. Protection of these species and communities from bushfires is a high priority for conservation, but suppression operations are difficult due to inaccessibility and the danger to firefighters. A potential solution is to use prescribed burning to manipulate fire regimes to reduce risk. In this paper, we describe an approach designed to reduce bushfire risk while optimising land management workloads and total area burnt. The approach has two key components: 1) development of a method for managing landscape bushfire risk in time; and 2) utilisation of landscape flammability mapping to design burn infrastructure to meet ecological objectives. Bushfire risk planning is focused on space, but risk also changes in time with the effects of drought on fuel moisture accumulating and drying over multiple years. This time-scale offers an opportunity to intervene to reduce bushfire risk in fire sensitive ecosystems and influence fire regimes in favour of those ecosystems using prescribed burning. To do this, bushfire planners need to identify ecosystems at risk and develop burns which are to be implemented contingent on agreed climatic triggers. Landscape flammability in mountainous landscapes in southeastern Australia during the autumn prescribed burning season is driven by solar radiation with north faces being drier and much more likely to burn than south faces. This imposes a critical constraint on prescribed burn planning. We analysed conducted an assessment of the feasibility of designing burns to protect alpine bogs, Mountain Plum Pine and Alpine Ash. There appears to be some potential for reducing fuels around alpine bogs and good potential for emhancing protection of Mountain Plum Pine. On the other hand Alpine Ash stands largely occur on southern slopes are do not appear to be easily amenable to fire regime manipulation.