bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scrutinization of Unsteady Magnetohydrodynamics Williamson Nanofluid Flow and Heat Transfer Past a Permeable Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Maiti Hiranmoy , Nandy Samir Kumar
Published: January 2023

This study contributes to the thermal characteristics and flow behaviour of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) unsteady flow of Williamson nanofluid over a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in the presence of velocity slip at the boundary. The PDEs with the corresponding constraints are
transformed into a set of non-linear ODEs using similarity transformations and are then solved numerically using fourth order Runge-Kutta integration scheme along with shooting technique. The results show that for the flow past a shrinking sheet, dual solutions exist for a certain range of
physical parameters. The analysis shows that velocity profile is an increasing function of magnetic parameter M (0.0 ≤ M ≤ 0.3), velocity slip parameter δ (0.0 ≤ δ ≤ 0.25) and suction parameter s (2.0 ≤ s ≤ 2.2) while
decreasing function of Williamson parameter β (0.0 ≤ β ≤ 0.8) and unsteadiness parameter A (−3.5 ≤ A ≤ 0.0) for the first solution branch. The temperature profile augments due to the increase of M and δ for the first
solution branch. Computational outcomes of the skin friction coefficient, the Nusselt number, the Sherwood number are tabulated with suitable interpretations. The temporal stability analysis reveals that among the two solutions, first solution is stable and physically realizable. Our method
of finding dual solutions and analyzing stability analysis is of practical importance to those interested in fluid dynamics as it provides one with a way to determine whether a steady state solution is physically meaningful or not.
Systematic Review of Endocan as a Potential Biomarker of COVID-19
Authors: Khalaji Amirmohammad , Amirkhani Nikan , Sharifkashani Sourena , Peiman Soheil , Behnoush Amir Hossein
Published: January 2023

Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several biomarkers have been proposed to assess the diagnosis and prognosis of this disease. The present systematic review evaluated endocan (a marker of endothelial cell damage) as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for COVID-19. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for studies comparing circulating endocan levels between COVID-19 cases and controls, and/or different severities/complications of COVID-19. Eight studies (686 individuals) were included, from which four reported significantly higher levels of endocan in COVID-19 cases compared with healthy controls. More severe disease was also associated with higher endocan levels in some of the studies. Studies reported higher endocan levels in patients who died from COVID-19, were admitted to an intensive care unit, and had COVID-19-related complications. Endocan also acted as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker with different cut-offs. In conclusion, endocan could be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for COVID-19. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to evaluate this role of endocan.
Antitrust Litigation in the Protein Markets
Authors: Alderman Brianna L. , Blair Roger D.
Published: January 2023

Allegations of collusion are prevalent in many of the major protein markets including beef, chicken, eggs, pork, salmon, tuna, and turkey. The sources of collusion, however, are different across markets. For some markets, like chicken and pork, the collusion was allegedly facilitated through information exchanges using Agri Stats, a data collection and sharing service. In other markets, the collusion was facilitated among parties within the market. There are allegations of collusion in the input markets for some proteins, the output markets for others, and some like chicken and beef have allegations in both. While many of these cases are ongoing, there have been a few cases where settlements have been reached or the courts have decided on a verdict. This introduction provides a snapshot of the many articles in our symposium that specialize on one protein market or another. We provide a brief review of each case, as well as emphasize the importance of this research given how substantial the protein markets are in the U.S.
Ruffled Feathers: The Chicken Cartel in the United States
Authors: Li Dong , Weisman Dennis L.
Published: January 2023

Allegations of price-fixing by U.S. chicken suppliers in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act date back more than a half-century. The methods to facilitate this collusion have evolved over time from conference calls arranged by the National Broiler Marketing Association to more sophisticated methods of information sharing. Amid the highest rate of inflation in nearly forty years and persistent supply-chain bottlenecks as the country emerges from the pandemic, the chicken industry has been singled out by government officials for monopolistic pricing behavior. We examine the mechanism through which the “chicken cartel” was formed and sustained and its harmful effects on consumers. The analysis indicates that as early as 2008 a plan was hatched by U.S. chicken suppliers to collude in fixing the price of chicken. According to one complaint, this collusion, in concert with increased market concentration, raised chicken prices by approximately 50 percent. The associated consumer surplus losses are estimated at $8 to $10 billion annually with cumulative losses over the duration of the cartel ranging upward of $100 billion. Numerous indictments have been handed down and settlements reached, both civil and criminal.
Meatpackers Feed on Fed Cattle
Authors: Alderman Brianna L.
Published: January 2023

There are numerous accusations of collusion in protein markets throughout the United States. The cattle market is no exception. The four major meatpackers stand accused of acting in concert to lower the quantity of cattle purchased in the cash market for fed cattle. The plaintiffs in these cases allege that these meatpackers have purposefully depressed the price they pay to various cattle ranchers and feedlot operators. This article explores the allegations brought forth in one of these complaints, as well as the economic consequences resulting from the formation of a cartel in this market if a collusive agreement truly exists.
Working For Impact, But Failing to Experience It: Exploring Individuals’ Sensemaking in Social Enterprises
Authors: Drencheva Andreana , Au Wee Chan , Li Yew Jian
Published: January 2023

Individuals start and join social enterprises to catalyze social impact but may not subjectively experience their work as impactful. In this article, we inductively uncover when social enterprise members question the impactfulness of their work and how they engage in sensemaking to experience their work as impactful. Exploring the experiences of members across two social enterprises with different missions, we provide insights into instances creating ambiguity of or discrepancies in impactfulness and unearth how individuals navigate these in different circumstances with two distinct sensemaking practices: internalizing and compensating. We reveal the efforts required to experience work as impactful, highlight the heterogeneity and agency in maintaining this perception, and suggest a potential dark side for members and missions of social enterprises.
Parental Decision-Making in Cancer Therapy: A Long-Term Observational Study
Authors: Michinobu Ryoko , Yamamoto Masaki , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Mikami Takahiro , Igarashi Keita , Iesato Kotoe , Takebayashi Akira , Hori Tsukasa , Tsutsumi Hiroyuki , Tsugawa Takeshi
Published: January 2023

Parental participation in shared decision-making in children’s cancer therapy is essential because parents advocate for and support their children’s wishes. However, little research has focused on this issue. We conducted a longitudinal observational study of 7 parents whose child had received their first cancer treatment. We recorded parents’ behaviors, interactions, and narratives in 1 pediatric ward and 2 outpatient clinics. The recordings were systematically conducted and thematically analyzed using variable-oriented and process-oriented modes to assess the causal relationships among phenomena. We found 4 themes describing the processes by which parents developed and participated in shared decision-making. The first 2 themes reflected the development of reciprocal parental relationships and parent-other child relationships. These 2 types of relationship generated mutual trust and a sense of solidarity among parents (the third theme). This, in turn, became the foundation for parents to share decision-making with health care professionals (the fourth theme).
The Impact of Corruption, Rule of Law, Accountability, and Government Expenditure on Government Effectiveness: Evidence From Sri Lanka
Authors: Ramesh Ramasamy , Vinayagathasan Thanabalasingam
Published: January 2023

In most cases, researchers assume that control of corruption, rule of law, accountability, and government expenditure tend to have a positive impact on government effectiveness. Nonetheless, recent theoretical and empirical evidence supports a mixed relationship between these variables. The paper, therefore, seeks to answer the extent to which corruption, the rule of law, accountability, and government expenditure affect government effectiveness. We employed Johansen method of cointegration and vector error correction model to examine the long-run and short-run relationship between the variables under study. By using Sri Lankan data covering the period from 1996 to 2020, we find a significant and positive relationship only between the control of corruption and government effectiveness both in the long run and in the short run. Yet, rule of law has a positive and significant impact on government effectiveness only in the long run. Voice and accountability, and government expenditure affect the government’s effectiveness negatively in the long run and positively in the short run. The article demonstrates that weak anti-corruption mechanisms and weak legal and criminal justice systems seem to have a detrimental impact on government effectiveness in developing countries.
The Relationship between Ninth Graders’ Perceptions of Teacher Equity and Their Math Identity: Differences by Student Race and School Racial Composition
Authors: Shifrer Dara , Phillippo Kate , Tilbrook Ned , Morton Karisma
Published: January 2023

Using data on ninth graders, math teachers, and schools from the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, we investigate the following questions: (1) How do ninth graders’ perceptions of their math teachers as equitable relate to their math identity at the intersection of adolescents’ race and gender? and (2) Do differences in the percentage of students at the school who share the adolescent’s race moderate (i.e., differentiate) the salience of perceptions of math teachers for adolescents’ math identities? Our results suggest that adolescents who perceive their math teachers as equitable typically have higher levels of math identity regardless of their race or gender. Adolescents’ perceptions of their math teachers as equitable are most salient for adolescents’ math identity in racially diverse schools, where racial differences and stereotypes may be more visible. Findings also indicate the seeming resistance of Black youth to racist stereotypes, whose math identity remains high regardless of their perceptions of their teachers.
A Conversation About the Ethics of Past and Future Memory Care Models: Perspectives from the First Two European Dementia Villages
Authors: Roberts Emily
Published: January 2023

Dementia care organizations face a range of daunting environmental changes and challenges. Internationally, there is a long history of efforts to improve quality of care and life for individuals with dementia. In a time of particular attention to the images of older adults confined to a single or shared room in a care facility due to COVID-19, autonomy becomes the overarching problem, not only because in general institutions limit the freedom of frail elders, but because the existential conditions that create the need for long term care such as chronic disease, cognitive decline, and the need for general support with activities of daily living (ADLs) rail against the autonomy of independent self-sufficiency. Additionally, these environments are institutional in design and size, with little access to outdoor spaces and other amenities. This perspective manuscript addresses the ethics of past and future memory care models, looking specifically at the European Dementia Village (DV) model. This model allows for autonomy and continuation of patterns of daily living through housing integrated with exterior walks, gardens, restaurants, and amenities within familiar and normal surroundings. This pioneering health care experiment negotiates rivaling discourses of intimacy, professionalization, and medicalization. In order to get a deeper understanding of the culture and ethics of this integrated care model, the first two dementia village sites were visited which included meetings with care staff and administrators. Those conversations and observations led to a series of aligned themes relating to the ethics of the DV model which include: the strength of the social approach, clinical support, resident/staff collaborations, and advocating for ethical dementia care. Rethinking the ethics of dementia care entails individual perspectives and group discussions on what can keep individuals social connected within their care community, including focusing on strengths of the individual and normalized daily routines.
Covid-19: crisis, emotional governance and populist fantasy narratives
Authors: Kinnvall Catarina
Published: January 2023

This short article discusses how different fantasy narratives have come together during the Covid-19 crisis in various far-right movements, parties and audiences across the world and how much of these fantasies rely on racialised and gendered notions of a fantastical world-order in which particular forms of emotional governance provide a relief and sense of security to certain societal groups. This involves a close engagement with crisis and crisis narratives in relation to ontological insecurity and anxiety; how such crisis narratives have materialised in fantasies related to borders and corona nationalism, and the emotional governance of these particular fantasies in the hands of populist leaders and their increasingly receptive audiences.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Predicts Sexual Perception and Responses to Sexual Assault Disclosures
Authors: Paganini Gina A. , McConnell A. Alex , Deska Jason C. , Almaraz Steven M. , Hugenberg Kurt , Lloyd E. Paige
Published: January 2023

The current work investigates the effects of target of perception’s waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on perceivers’ judgments of sexual unrestrictedness and sexual victimization prototypicality. Studies 1a and 1b found that women with lower WHRs were perceived as relatively more sexually unrestricted. Studies 2a and 2b found that women with lower WHRs were perceived as relatively more prototypic of sexual victimization. Study 3 built on these findings to consider implications for responses to sexual assault disclosures. Perceivers disbelieved and minimized a disclosure of assault relatively more when made by a woman with a higher WHR. In sum, this body of work implicates WHR as a body cue that can inform consequential sexual perception. Thereby, this work identifies factors that could influence judgments of credibility of sexual violence reports, which may have implications for hesitancy to report sexual violence.
Initial Evidence on the Association Between Audit Fees and Client Participation in Underfunded Multiemployer Pension Plans
Authors: Fornaro James M. , Huang Hua-Wei , Lin Yi-Hung
Published: January 2023

In this study, we examine the association between audit fees and client participation in underfunded multiemployer pension plans. Consistent with our hypothesis, our regression results find that audit fees for firms with underfunded balances in multiemployer pension plans (MEPPs) are consistently higher and statistically significant compared with firms without MEPPs after controlling for other factors known to influence audit fees. The fee premium for firms with a net underfunded plan balance is 6.2%. Thus, the magnitude of the economic effect appears to be an average increase in audit fees of about $280,240. Furthermore, we find a significant inverse relationship between audit fees and estimated MEPP underfunding when firms with higher unionization levels. Our findings are likely to be of interest to standards-setters, regulators, and policymakers in the United States, European Union, and other countries as appropriate.
Perceived stress trajectories from age 25 to 50 years
Authors: Johnson Matthew D. , Krahn Harvey J. , Galambos Nancy L.
Published: January 2023

Trajectories of perceived stress from the transition to adulthood (age 25), during young adulthood (age 32), and into midlife (ages 43 and 50) were examined with four waves of longitudinal survey data ( N = 688; 49% female, 37% with a university degree, 86% White). We explored how between- and within-person variation in perceived stress was associated with age 50 psychological well-being (life satisfaction and eudaimonic well-being), self-reported physical health, career satisfaction, and intimate partnership satisfaction. Growth curve analyses revealed stress followed a linear decreasing trajectory from the transition to adulthood into midlife with substantial variability underlying the average pattern. Between- and within-person variation in perceived stress was associated with midlife functioning. Those with lower initial levels of and more decline in perceived stress reported better psychological and physical health and higher relationship satisfaction at age 50 compared to those with initially higher perceived stress and less decline over time. Higher than one’s own average perceived stress at ages 25, 32, 43, and 50 years was associated with lower psychological and physical health and intimate partnership satisfaction at age 50. These results support key contentions of developmental theory and may prove useful when designing interventions aimed at promoting well-being in midlife.
The D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 decrease operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in male and female rats
Authors: Chellian Ranjithkumar , Behnood-Rod Azin , Wilson Ryann , Lin Karen , Wing-Yan King Grace , Bruijnzeel Adriaan W
Published: January 2023

Background:

The reinforcing properties of nicotine play a critical role in smoking and vaping. There is a need for treatments that decrease the reinforcing properties of nicotine and thereby improve smoking and vaping rates. Dopamine plays a role in the reinforcing properties of nicotine, but little is known about the role of dopamine D2-like receptors in nicotine intake and whether there are sex differences in the effects of dopaminergic drugs on nicotine intake.

Aim:

The goal of the present studies was to investigate the effects of the D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 on nicotine self-administration in male and female rats.

Methods:

The effects of flupentixol and L-741626 on operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in a small open field were investigated.

Results:

There were no sex differences in baseline nicotine intake. The D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 decreased operant responding for nicotine. Blockade of D1/D2-like receptors and blockade of D2-like receptors also decreased operant responding for food and decreased locomotor activity. Flupentixol induced a greater decrease in operant responding for food in males than females. However, in the other tests, there were no sex differences in the effects of the dopamine receptor antagonists.

Conclusions:

Blockade of D1/D2-like receptors with flupentixol and D2-like receptors with L-741626 decreases nicotine and food intake in rats of both sexes. These compounds also decrease locomotor activity which might be indicative of a sedative effect.
Modeling Exhaust-Generated Aerodynamic Pressure Loads on Airfield Matting Repair Systems
Authors: Rittelmeyer Brandon M. , Roueche David B. , Bianchini Alessandra , Davidson James S.
Published: January 2023

Airfield matting systems are commonly used for rapid repair of damaged runways to facilitate continuity of critical operations. Under normal service conditions, matting repair systems are subject not only to wheel loads exerted by airfield traffic but also to aerodynamic pressure loads resulting from high-speed, turbulent exhaust plumes produced by jets during taxi and take-off. Matting systems employed by the U.S. Air Force have been tested with respect to wheel loads, but probabilities of failure because of pressure loads produced by jet exhaust have not yet been established. This study presents a numerical approach for preliminary estimation of worst-case matting anchor forces resulting from exhaust-generated pressure loads. Using a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model, system behavior is evaluated by means of a parametric study of six system variables, of which the most significant are: (1) distance between engine and matting, (2) depth of cavity openings at matting edges, and (3) engine exhaust velocity. The results demonstrate that matting systems are likely to experience net uplift in typical service scenarios, driven by the combined effects of flow separation and cavity pressurization. Worst-case anchor pull-out forces, computed according to a tributary-area approach, are estimated to fall in the range of 130 lb (581 N) to 979 lb (4,350 N), depending on assumed load-sharing behavior among anchors and the size of the repair site. Field testing of instrumented matting systems during jet taxi and take-off sequences is recommended as the best next step toward understanding system behavior.
Influential Factors of Household Car and Vehicle Ownership in Urban Areas of Turkey
Authors: Çelik Ali Kemal , Kabakuş Nuriye , Tortum Ahmet
Published: January 2023

Car and vehicle ownership levels in developing countries are gradually increasing, leading to traffic congestion, energy consumption, and air pollution. As a developing country, Turkey encounters many of the issues caused by this rapid increase in car ownership. This paper aims to examine potential determinants of household car and vehicle ownership behavior in urban areas of Turkey by concentrating on three cities (Ankara, Erzurum, and Bayburt) that are distinct in population, geographical region, and public transit services. For this purpose, a written survey was administered to 1389 households living in these cities. The data is analyzed using alternative ordered response models—the generalized ordered logit, partial proportional odds (PPO), and heteroskedastic ordered logit models. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to compare alternative ordered response models to determine car and vehicle ownership behavior in Turkey. Consequently, the PPO model was found to be the most parsimonious model among the others. The results demonstrated that household car and vehicle ownership behavior in Turkey differs significantly with urban area size. The estimation results also revealed that several key drivers, including type of dwelling, parking availability, household monthly income, and public transit use, significantly influence Turkish households’ car and vehicle ownership levels. This study’s empirical findings may provide insight to policymakers and stakeholders for future transportation strategies and policies.
Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in urothelial bladder carcinoma in an Egyptian cohort: Clinical implication and prognostic significance
Authors: Sami Manal M , Sherief Mahmoud H , El-Abaseri Taghrid B , El-Sakka Ahmed I , El-Serafi Ahmed T
Published: January 2023

Background:

Bladder cancer (BC) has a particular importance in Egyptian patients due to aggressive behavior and absence of prognostic markers.

Objective:

To evaluate the expression of gene and protein expression of HER2 and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) in Egyptian patients with BC and ultimately to investigate their clinical implication and prognostic significance.

Material and methods:

The study was carried out on 46 patients with urothelial bladder BC. Tissue were obtained from transurethral resection ( N = 22) and radical cystectomy ( N = 24) specimens. The original hematoxylin and eosin slides were re-evaluated and the formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues which had sufficient tumor tissue (>75%) and minimal or absent tumor necrosis were selected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RNA extraction. Furthermore, five control biopsies were obtained from patients with cystitis. Follow-up data were retrieved from the medical records which included the treatment regimen, disease recurrence and/or progression, and survival.

Results:

EGFR and HER2 protein were overexpressed in 35% and 46% of patients respectively. EGFR was correlated with the tumor size, grade and pathological stage, with a similar trend for HER2. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with expression of any of the markers. Gene expression was significantly higher (10.6-folds) for EGFR and (21-folds) for HER2 in patients with BC in comparison to control patients. Survival analysis showed lower median disease-free survival in association with HER2 protein overexpression.

Conclusions:

Our data highlighted the prognostic significance of EGFR and HER in BC and proposed their possible use as predictive markers and potential therapeutic targets.
Engagement with Master and Alternative Narratives of Gender and Sexuality Among LGBTQ+ Youth in the Digital Age
Authors: Barsigian Logan L. , Howard Cyrus , Quintero Davalos Anakaren , Walsh Abigail S. , Manago Adriana M.
Published: January 2023

Gender and sexuality are contentious political issues in the US, with a resurgence of traditional master narratives for gender following decades of advances for gender equality. To understand how today’s LGBTQ+ youth navigate this narrative landscape in a polymedia context, we conducted social media tour interviews with 20 LGBTQ+ adolescents (aged 16–19), recording audiovisual data as they guided us through important posts on their top three public social media platforms. Through reflexive thematic analysis, we found that our participants were engaging with both longstanding master narratives (e.g., traditional gender roles) and contemporary alternative narratives (e.g., gender as non-binary) using three key navigational strategies for engaging with narratives on social media platforms: seeking and sharing information, creating queer community, and making choices about visibility and permanence. The meaning and purpose of these strategies for participants, both individually and collectively, could not be fully understood apart from three key navigational contexts: the traditional gender narrative, white liberal community context, and platform affordances. Our results demonstrate that narrative engagement for contemporary LGBTQ+ adolescents is deeply influenced by personal polymedia environments, identity intersections, and power structures shaping possibilities for individual identity expression and collective cultural transformation.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles trigger dysfunction of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and repair dynamics in human alveolar cells
Authors: Anand Avnika Singh , Jain Khushbu , Chauhan Amitabh , Prasad Dipti N , Kohli Ekta
Published: January 2023

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) are commonly used engineered NPs with extensive usage in consumer products, thus leading to direct exposure to humans. The direct route of exposure is through inhalation. Once inhaled, these particles accumulate in the lungs, increasing the chances of respiratory tract illness through cellular organelle damage. Zinc oxide nanoparticle-treated lung cells are reported to display cytotoxicity, increase DNA damage, and induce oxidative stress. The current study focused on the effects of ZnO NPs on mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) in human lung epithelial cells (A549). The lung cells were exposed to ZnO NPs at 50 and 100 μg/ml concentrations, and their mitochondrial dynamics were assessed to understand the effects of the NPs. Treatment with ZnO NPs reduced the activity of mitochondrial complex I and complex III and altered mitochondrial structural and functional characteristics in a concentration-dependent manner. Zinc oxide nanoparticles exposure showed an increase in small and round-shaped mitochondria. The expression of various fission proteins (Drp1 and Fis1) and fusion proteins (Mfn1, Mfn2, and OPA1) was altered upon exposure to ZnO NPs. Our studies showed dysfunction of the mitochondria induced by ZnO NPs. In fibroblast mitochondrial dynamics, fission symbolizes threshold damage. In this paper, we have shown that the mitochondrial fission phenotype increased upon exposure to ZnO NPs. The paper emphasizes that these particles enter mitochondria, triggering a stress response that results in the removal of mitochondria via fission. It provides relevant data for safety guidelines to ensure the safer use of these particles.
Caenorhabditis elegans as a Promising Model Organism in Chronobiology
Authors: Migliori María Laura , Goya María Eugenia , Lamberti Melisa Luciana , Silva Francisco , Rota Rosana , Bénard Claire , Golombek Diego Andrés
Published: January 2023

Circadian rhythms represent an adaptive feature, ubiquitously found in nature, which grants living beings the ability to anticipate daily variations in their environment. They have been found in a multitude of organisms, ranging from bacteria to fungi, plants, and animals. Circadian rhythms are generated by endogenous clocks that can be entrained daily by environmental cycles such as light and temperature. The molecular machinery of circadian clocks includes a transcriptional-translational feedback loop that takes approximately 24 h to complete. Drosophila melanogaster has been a model organism of choice to understand the molecular basis of circadian clocks. However, alternative animal models are also being adopted, each offering their respective experimental advantages. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides an excellent model for genetics and neuro-behavioral studies, which thanks to its ease of use and manipulation, as well as availability of genetic data and mutant strains, is currently used as a novel model for circadian research. Here, we aim to evaluate C. elegans as a model for chronobiological studies, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses while reviewing the available literature. Possible zeitgebers (including light and temperature) are also discussed. Determining the molecular bases and the neural circuitry involved in the central pacemaker of the C. elegans’ clock will contribute to the understanding of its circadian system, becoming a novel model organism for the study of diseases due to alterations of the circadian cycle.
Innovation Through Tradition: The Role of Past Knowledge for Successful Innovations in Family and Non-family Firms
Authors: Gusenbauer Michael , Schweiger Nina , Matzler Kurt , Hautz Julia
Published: January 2023

Innovation literature increasingly considers the importance of the temporal dimension of knowledge search. In particular, several qualitative studies demonstrate how family firms successfully search for and recombine mature knowledge into innovations. This paper extends this line of research by quantitatively examining knowledge search in family versus non-family firms in a unique dataset in global wine technology between 1956 and 2013. Our data show that family firms use mature knowledge in their innovation processes to a greater extent than non-family firms. Furthermore, family firms seem to draw higher value from mature knowledge than non-family firms.
Adaptive demodulation synchro-extracting transform for bearing time-varying fault feature extraction
Authors: Zhao Dezun , Cui Lingli , Liu Dongdong
Published: January 2023

Since bearing fault-induced impulses are time-varying under variable rotational speeds and often polluted by background noise and other interference components, it is still a challenging task for bearing feature extraction and diagnosis. As such, a novel bearing nonstationary fault feature extraction technique, termed adaptive demodulation synchro-extracting transform (ADSET) is developed in this paper. In the developed technique, the reset criterion is defined and introduced into the generalized demodulation transform (GDT) to transform the time-varying fault characteristic frequency (FCF) with strong anti-noise property; In addition, the local maximum criterion is developed and introduced into the synchro-extracting transform (SET) to extract fault-related harmonics and eliminate other interference components; Finally, the diagnosis index model is constructed to detect bearing fault location. The performance of the developed technique is verified using both simulated and different experiment signals, and the results show that rolling bearing fault is quantitatively characterized and accurately detected without rotational speed measurement.
Correlation of the mechanical and structural properties of trabecular bone assessed by wave propagation and imaging methods
Authors: Parvari Yousef , Varzidehkar Tehrani Saeed , Kazemirad Siavash
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to assess the correlation of the location- and direction-dependent mechanical and structural properties of trabecular bone using the wave propagation and imaging methods and to propose a non-invasive approach for the assessment of the quality of trabecular bone. Two bovine femur trabecular bone specimens were prepared and tested using the Rayleigh wave propagation tests and CT-scan imaging. The elastic modulus of the specimens was estimated in different regions of interest (ROIs) and wave propagation directions by the solution of the presented Rayleigh wave propagation model. The structural parameters of the specimens were also obtained via the processing of CT-scan images for all of the tested ROIs and directions. The estimated elastic modulus was in the range between 321and 1322 MPa for different ROIs and directions, showing significant heterogeneity and anisotropy of the bone specimens. The Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were carried out between the obtained mechanical and structural properties, which revealed that the elastic modulus decreased with the trabecular separation and increased with the trabecular thickness and bone volume fraction. A semi-empirical relation was developed to obtain the elastic modulus of trabecular bone using the structural parameters obtained from imaging or vice versa.
Dynamic characteristic of thrust-vectoring nozzle adjusting mechanism considering clearance of motion joint
Authors: Hao Zhang , Lingchao Meng , Qiliang Zhang , Zhong Luo , Qingkai Han
Published: January 2023

An essential device for managing the vectoring nozzle’s thrust direction is the thrust-vectoring nozzle adjusting mechanism. The attitude of an aircraft’s flight may be changed by adjusting the vectoring nozzle’s airflow, which affects the direction of thrust. The adjusting mechanism’s motion precision and operational stability are crucial in this procedure. In this paper, the influence of the clearance of the motion joint on the dynamic characteristics of the thrust-vectoring nozzle adjusting mechanism under different flight conditions are studied. First, a dynamic model of the thrust-vectoring nozzle adjusting mechanism that takes into account the clearance and friction properties of the motion joint is constructed by combining the Lagrange equation of the first sort with the mixed contact force model and the LuGre friction model. Second, the variation law of nonlinear contact stiffness is explored, and the precision of the dynamic model is confirmed by contrasting the results of the numerical simulation with those of the Simulink simulation. Finally, the simulation results reveal that while the motion joint’s clearance causes the adjusting blade’s velocity and acceleration to vibrate violently and momentarily during early operation, this clearance has minimal effect on the precision of blade motion throughout the stable phase.
Pseudo-spectral optimization and model predictive control of vehicle shift process with dual clutch transmission
Authors: Feng Jihao , Qin Datong , Liu Yonggang , Wang Xin , Lv Hao
Published: January 2023

To improve the shift quality of dual clutch transmission (DCT) vehicles and reduce the jerk and sliding friction in the shift process, a real-time planning of clutch optimal engagement trajectory and control method in the shift process is proposed. This method combines pseudo-spectral optimization, machine learning, and model predictive control. First, considering the jerk, sliding friction work, and shift time as the optimization indices, the adaptive pseudo-spectral method is employed to optimize the engagement trajectory of the clutch during the shift process. Based on the optimal trajectory data set, a gradient boosting decision tree-based real-time planning method for the clutch target engagement trajectory is proposed. Second, a model predictive control strategy for the shift process is proposed based on the DCT system model to track the optimal target trajectory in real-time. Simulations and experiments reveal that the proposed target engagement trajectory planning method can plan the clutch target engagement trajectory for various accelerator pedal openings and initial clutch speed states in real-time, and the proposed model predictive control method can accurately track the target trajectory. Compared with the original vehicle strategy, under 35% and 65% accelerator pedal opening, the maximum absolute value of jerk produced by the proposed strategy was reduced by 31.06% and 31.46%, respectively, and the sliding friction work was reduced by 22.87% and 23.24%, respectively. The shift times of the proposed strategy under 35% and 65% accelerator pedal openings were 19.12% and 20.69% lower than that of the original vehicle strategy, respectively.
Effect of MWCNTs and heat treatment on coefficient of friction and wear characteristics of MWCNTs reinforced Al6082 composites under dry sliding condition
Authors: Baghel Madhusudan , Krishna Chimata Murali
Published: January 2023

Herein, MWCNTs/Al6082 composites were produced using a stir casting technique, and their tribological behavior was studied in as-cast and T6 heat-treated conditions using a pin-on-disk tribometer at a sliding speed of 2 m/s (fixed) and varying applied load (40, 60, and 80 N) and sliding distance (500–3000 m). Morphology of composites and worn-out surfaces were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Linear increment in wear rate was observed with sliding distance up to transition limit and then upsurged drastically beyond that limit. At 40 N, a protective layer started forming between the disk and surface of pin, which reduced coefficient of friction (COF), and wear mechanism was abrasion and oxide. Annihilation of protective layer at higher load increased COF and observed wear mechanism was adhesion and delamination. Wear resistance of alloy and nanocomposites was enhanced by heat treatment due to the strengthening of matrix. Wear rate of Al matrix was reduced with MWCNTs due to their self-lubricating property.
A novel method for the analysis of fretting running regime under variable normal load conditions
Authors: Li Xin , Yang Jianwei , Liu Leqiang , Yang Guangxue , Sun Wei
Published: January 2023

Many fretting-related engineering failure cases are under varying normal load and bulk load conditions. This complex loading condition makes fretting running regime very complicated. Since the fretting running regime significantly influences the fretting-induced fatigue and wear, it is worth discussing the fretting running regime under these loading conditions, which is barely studied at present. Based on the kinetics analysis of the commonly used fretting structure, a Q- P curves analysis method was derived. Different loading conditions (proportional and non-proportional) and fretting running regimes (partial slip and gross slip) were carefully discussed. It reveals that the coefficient of friction, stiffness of the specimen and pad support sheets, and loading parameters of variable normal load and bulk load are the main factors which influence the fretting running regime. Due to the variable normal load, the Q- δ curves and the tangential force history become extremely intricate. While the proposed Q- P curves analysis method shows a satisfactory result for the illustration of the fretting running regime under these complex loading conditions. It provides a novel methodology for the fretting mechanism analysis under variable normal load conditions.
The geoarchaeological investigation on the defunctionalisation of an Assyrian canals system reveals Late-Holocene land use transitions in Northern Mesopotamia
Authors: Forti Luca , Costanzo Stefano , Compostella Chiara , Garna Giancarlo , Morandi Bonacossi Daniele , Zerboni Andrea
Published: January 2023

During the Assyrian rule over Northern Mesopotamia (present-day northern Iraq), complex systems of canals were built to increase the surface of cultivable land and improve the movement of people and goods across the irrigated waterscape of the hinterland of Nineveh and other major urban centres, with the aim of granting socio-economic prosperity to the empire. Nevertheless, supra-regional political instability eventually led to the rapid downfall of the Assyrian state during the late seventh century BCE, causing the swift abandonment of the canal systems. In this study, we examine the post-abandonment formation processes of the natural and anthropogenic infillings of three portions of King Sennacherib’s Khinis canal system (705–681 BCE, northwestern Kurdistan Region of Iraq) through means of archaeological, sedimentological and micromorphological analyses. We identify water lain sediments, desiccation features, colluvial gravel intake and pastoral occupation layers, anchoring the deposit to radiometric dating and contextualising it against the known regional climatic history. The interpretation of pedostratigraphic evidence highlights subsequent phases of use, abandonment, and repurposing of the canals, reflecting shifts in land-use from agriculture to pastoralism and dynamic adaptation and resilience of the local ancient communities in response to Late-Holocene climate changes and geopolitical events.
Dissemination and Symptoms of Monkeypox Virus Infection
Authors: Yang San-Duk , Park Hyun-Seok
Published: January 2023

The monkeypox virus is endemic in Africa. However, the virus has spread worldwide since May 2022, and it has now been confirmed in 109 countries (as of September 22, 2022). Thus, an urgent investigation of the outbreak patterns of confirmed cases and evidence of viral infection is needed. This study investigated the spread of monkeypox in 109 countries, including 15 Asian-Pacific countries, by examining the number of cases, symptoms of infection, and the period between diagnosis and death.
Relationship of Marianismo Beliefs With the Self-Care Behaviors of Mexican Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mendoza-Catalán Geu , D’Alonzo Karen , Domínguez-Chávez Claudia Jennifer , Villa-Rueda Alma Angélica , González-Ramírez Javier
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

Mexican women have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and less compliance with T2DM self-care compared with Mexican men. The term marianismo refers to gender and religiocultural based beliefs that may be a barrier to self-care behaviors among Mexican women. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between marianismo beliefs and self-care behaviors in Mexican women with T2DM.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study among women with T2DM who attended primary care centers in Oaxaca, Mexico during 2019. The Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities and the Marianismo Beliefs Scale were used to measure diabetes self-care and marianismo beliefs, respectively.

Results:

Among the 547 participants, those with higher marianismo beliefs reported significantly lower scores in diabetes self-care, ( r = −.128), exercise ( r = −.150), self-monitoring of blood glucose ( r = −.119), foot care ( r = −.093), and oral hygiene ( r = −.114; all p < .01).

Discussion:

Findings suggest that Mexican women with strong marianismo beliefs are less likely to comply with T2DM self-care behaviors. Marianismo beliefs should be considered a potential risk factor for women’s health, since Mexican women may value the social recognition of maintaining these beliefs more than self-care.
A semi-active quasi-zero stiffness vibration isolator based on magnetorheological elastomer with a fast convergence switch control
Authors: Lin Yu , Liu Chengxiang , Wen Guilin , Sedaghati Ramin
Published: January 2023

Quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) isolators have attracted extensive attention due to their high-static–low-dynamic stiffness. The effectiveness of the traditional QZS (T-QZS) isolators to attenuate low-frequency vibration has been extensively studied. The T-QZS isolator, however, cannot usually provide satisfactory vibration mitigation performance under ultra-low frequency excitation. To tackle this challenge, we propose a semi-active QZS isolator featuring magnetorheological elastomer (SAQZS-MRE isolator). The prominent merit of the proposed design is that the applied MRE material can provide varying stiffness and damping to the proposed SAQZS-MRE isolator, making the isolator suitable for vibration isolation under wide-band low-frequency range. The dynamic viscoelasticity properties of the MRE are experimentally characterized, to formulate the dynamic modeling of the SAQZS-MRE isolator. The open-loop vibration isolation characteristics of the SAQZS-MRE isolator are assessed using the harmonic balance method (HBM). Subsequently, two semi-active control strategies including skyhook and fast convergence switch (FCS) are effectively utilized in the proposed SAQZS-MRE isolator to evaluate their closed-loop performance. The results demonstrate that the SAQZS-MRE isolator with FCS control can eliminate the resonance peak and reduce the initial isolation frequency. In the higher frequency range, it can also improve the vibration isolation performance compared with the SAQZS-MRE isolator with passive control.
Aircraft landing gear system with magnetorheological shock strut: Performance evaluation via drop test
Authors: Kang Byung-Hyuk , Kim Bo-Gyu , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: January 2023

This work presents a magnetorheological (MR) damper applicable to the landing gear system in the aircraft. The proposed MR landing gear (MRLG) is modeled as a two degrees of freedom (2-DOF) system for the drop performance evaluation. A mathematical model of the governing equations is then formulated considering a flow path whose pressure depends on the major and minor losses. The flow path of MR fluid is composed of annular orifice and bypass as the required damping force for compression and extension is much different, and relief valve operates in conformity with the motion direction of the piston rod. An entry region is added to guarantee precise controllability of the field-dependent damping force. In addition, the magnetic intensity and total loss coefficient are estimated using magnetic analysis and computational fluid dynamics tools, respectively. It is demonstrated from the drop test based on the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 23 that the shock struct efficiency (SSE) of the proposed MRLG can be increased from 42% at zero current to 84% at 1 A, and the agreement between simulation and experimental results is excellent showing similar pneumatic force, strut force, and jerk behavior which validates the accuracy of the proposed model.