bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seeking support via mediated channels: The roles of impression goals, stigma, severity, and perceived affordances
Authors: Lee Daniel A. , Cruz Shannon M. , Sweeney Kelly , Bishop Rachael E.
Published: September 2023

Previous research suggests that impression management goals and face threats can be barriers to seeking support, especially among college students and those facing severe problems that are highly stigmatized. In such cases, technologically-mediated communication channels (TMCCs) may be an important resource because they have unique affordances that can help overcome impression concerns and thereby promote well-being. To examine this possibility, the present study explored how impression goals, problem severity, perceived stigma, and perceived affordances interact to affect comfort with seeking support. Contrary to expectations, results from an online survey of undergraduate students ( N = 183) indicated that problem severity was not associated with levels of comfort with seeking support, and the interaction of stigma with impression goals had an unexpected positive effect. Furthermore, TMCCs affording persistence and conversation control facilitated comfort with support seeking as stigma increased. Possible explanations for these findings and implications for scholarship on TMCCs and social support are discussed.
Contribution of extracerebral tracer retention and partial volume effects to sex differences in Flortaucipir-PET signal
Authors: Scott Matthew R , Edwards Natalie C , Properzi Michael J , Jacobs Heidi IL , Price Julie C , Lois Cristina , Farrell Michelle E , Hanseeuw Bernard J , Thibault Emma G , Rentz Dorene M , Johnson Keith A , Sperling Reisa A , Schultz Aaron P , Buckley Rachel F
Published: September 2023

Clinically normal females exhibit higher 18F-flortaucipir (FTP)-PET signal than males across the cortex. However, these sex differences may be explained by neuroimaging idiosyncrasies such as off-target extracerebral tracer retention or partial volume effects (PVEs). 343 clinically normal participants (female = 58%; mean[SD]=73.8[8.5] years) and 55 patients with mild cognitive impairment (female = 38%; mean[SD] = 76.9[7.3] years) underwent cross-sectional FTP-PET. We parcellated extracerebral FreeSurfer areas based on proximity to cortical ROIs. Sex differences in cortical tau were then estimated after accounting for local extracerebral retention. We simulated PVE by convolving group-level standardized uptake value ratio means in each ROI with 6 mm Gaussian kernels and compared the sexes across ROIs post-smoothing. Widespread sex differences in extracerebral retention were observed. Although attenuating sex differences in cortical tau-PET signal, covarying for extracerebral retention did not impact the largest sex differences in tau-PET signal. Differences in PVE were observed in both female and male directions with no clear sex-specific bias. Our findings suggest that sex differences in FTP are not solely attributed to off-target extracerebral retention or PVE, consistent with the notion that sex differences in medial temporal and neocortical tau are biologically driven. Future work should investigate sex differences in regional cerebral blood flow kinetics and longitudinal tau-PET.
Whisker-evoked neurovascular coupling is preserved during hypoglycemia in mouse cortical arterioles and capillaries
Authors: Nippert Amy R , Chiang Pei-Pei , Newman Eric A
Published: September 2023

Hypoglycemia is a serious complication of insulin treatment of diabetes that can lead to coma and death. Neurovascular coupling, which mediates increased local blood flow in response to neuronal activity, increases glucose availability to active neurons. This mechanism could be essential for neuronal health during hypoglycemia, when total glucose supplies are low. Previous studies suggest, however, that neurovascular coupling (a transient blood flow increase in response to an increase in neuronal activity) may be reduced during hypoglycemia. Such a reduction in blood flow increase would exacerbate the effects of hypoglycemia, depriving active neurons of glucose. We have reexamined the effects of hypoglycemia on neurovascular coupling by simultaneously monitoring neuronal and vascular responses to whisker stimulation in the awake mouse somatosensory cortex. We find that neurovascular coupling at both penetrating arterioles and at 2nd order capillaries did not change significantly during insulin-induced hypoglycemia compared to euglycemia. In addition, we show that the basal diameter of both arterioles and capillaries increases during hypoglycemia (10.3 and 9.7% increases, respectively). Our results demonstrate that both neurovascular coupling and basal increases in vessel diameter are active mechanisms which help to maintain an adequate supply of glucose to the brain during hypoglycemia.
Retinal artery occlusion after facial filler injection in a patient with patent foramen ovale: a case report and literature review
Authors: Si Mingwei , Wang Hong
Published: September 2023

We describe a young woman with patent foramen ovale who developed multiple retinal artery occlusion in the right eye after injection of hyaluronic acid into the nasal root. She reported a gradual decline in visual acuity, with visual field defects that had developed in two stages. Multiple retinal artery occlusion was confirmed by slit-lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, optical coherence tomography, visual field examination, and fundus fluorescein angiography. A patent foramen ovale was detected by electrocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and transthoracic sonography. The patient was treated with intravenous dexamethasone and cobamamide, as well as extracorporeal counterpulsation therapy; this approach has not been described in previous literature regarding retinal artery occlusion. The patient’s visual acuity improved from counting fingers at 30 cm to 20/133 within 3 days. Our report emphasizes the need for better understanding of vascular anatomy to minimize the risk of complications. Moreover, patients undergoing hyaluronic acid injection should receive information regarding the potential for mild and severe complications; relevant tests should be performed before surgery to exclude vulnerable patients. Finally, a nursing system is needed to facilitate the emergency recognition, triage, and management of retinal artery occlusion.
General anesthesia with nerve blocks for a patient with femoral fracture and essential thrombocythemia: a case report
Authors: Su Ming , Zhu Yichao , Jing Guangjian , Pang Peng , Zhang Quanyi
Published: September 2023

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an abnormal increase in platelets. We report a female patient with a severe femoral fracture and ET who underwent the femoral intramedullary fracture fixation procedure. Her past medical history included hypertension and ET. On the second day of hospitalization, her platelet count was 922 × 109/L. In our case, general anesthesia combined with a femoral nerve block and a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block were used when the platelet count was within normal range. After surgery, the platelet count increased to 979 × 109/L despite using anticoagulant drugs and hydroxyurea. The postoperative recovery went well after the follow-up of this patient. In this case report, we provide our experience of anesthesia management and review the progress of relevant literature to provide some reference.
Plasma exchange for anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease: A case report and literature review
Authors: Lu Ci , Xu Cheng , Zhu Xiaoying , Han Yongmei
Published: September 2023

The prognosis of anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis (DM)-associated rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) is extremely poor and effective treatment options are limited. In addition, the risk of infection during immunosuppressive treatment is a major challenge. We report here, a case of RPILD in a 31-year-old man with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone and human immunoglobulin, his lung condition worsened and his serum ferritin levels increased. Six cycles of plasma exchange (PE) adjuvant treatment significantly mitigated his symptoms and he was discharged from hospital two months later. We suggest that PE may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RPILD. However, randomized, controlled studies are required to confirm our findings.
Effects of wearing an opaque or transparent face mask on the perception of facial expressions: A comparative study between Japanese school-aged children and adults
Authors: Miyazaki Yuki , Kamatani Miki , Tsurumi Shuma , Suda Tomokazu , Wakasugi Kei , Matsunaga Kaori , Kawahara Jun I
Published: September 2023

The negative side effects of mask-wearing on reading facial emotional cues have been investigated in several studies with adults post-2020. However, little is known about children. This study aimed to determine the negative influence of mask-wearing on reading emotions of adult faces by Japanese school-aged children, compared to Japanese adults. We also examined whether this negative influence could be alleviated by using a transparent face mask instead of an opaque one (surgical mask). The performance on reading emotions was measured using emotion categorization and emotion intensity rating tasks for adult faces. As per the findings, the accuracy of emotion recognition in children was impaired for various facial expressions (disgust, fear, happy, neutral, sad, and surprise faces), except for angry faces. Conversely, in adults, it was impaired for a few facial expressions. The perceived intensity for happy faces with a surgical mask was weaker in both children and adults than in those without the mask. A negative influence of wearing surgical masks was generally not observed for faces wearing a transparent mask in both children and adults. Thus, negative side effects of mask-wearing on reading emotions are observed for more facial expressions in children than in adults; transparent masks can help remedy these.
How to solve engineering problems involving turbulent drag: Exact, asymptotic analytical and numerical techniques
Authors: Rosales-Vera Marco
Published: September 2023

The movement of a body subjected to a drag force proportional to the square of the velocity is of great importance in the field of mechanical engineering, since it is a realistic model in the regime of high velocity of the flow. In this paper, the trajectory of a projectile in quasi-vertical launch with quadratic drag is analyzed using the technique of matched asymptotic expansions. Through the asymptotic analysis, approximate analytical expressions for the projectile movement are found. The asymptotic solutions are compared with exact numerical results.
Long-term outcomes of nummular headache: A series of 168 patients and 1198 patient-years of follow-up
Authors: García-Iglesias Cristina , González-Celestino Ana , Sierra Mencía Álvaro , González Osorio Yésica , Recio García Andrea , Martínez-Badillo Cristina , Echavarría Íñiguez Ana , Varona-Galán Berta , García-Azorín David , Guerrero-Peral Ángel Luis
Published: September 2023

Background

Since the first description of nummular headache (NH), more than 500 cases have been described, delineating its clinical phenotype and response to treatment. However, data on the natural history of NH and outcomes during long-term follow-up are not currently available. The present study aimed to describe the long-term outcomes and follow-up of a large series of patients with NH.

Methods

A descriptive observational ambisective study with a series of cases was conducted. The study population included adult patients with primary NH and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Demographic variables, previous medical history, clinical phenotype, diagnosis and treatment of NH, temporal pattern, and long-term evolution were analysed.

Results

In total, 168 patients were enrolled and followed for a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 80.5 (55–118.5) months. The temporal pattern after NH onset was chronic in 67.9% and, at diagnosis, the median (IQR) number of pain days per month was 20 [10–30] days with 138 (82.1%) patients with ≥8 days of pain per month. Preventive treatment was needed by 112 (66.7%) patients. The most frequently used drugs were gabapentin (69/112; 61.6%), onabotulinumtoxinA (38/112; 33.9%), amitriptyline (31/112; 27.7%) and lamotrigine (21/112; 18.7%). Response to preventive treatment was at least partial in 91/112 (81.3%) patients. At the end of follow-up, 81 (48.2%) patients had inactive NH. Of patients with active NH, the median (IQR) number of headache days per month was 3 (1–12) days and patients had ≥8 days of pain in 35 (20.8%) cases.

Conclusions

Long-term outcomes of NH were positive in most patients. After a median of 6.7 years of follow-up, 48% of cases were inactive. Two-thirds of patients required preventive treatment, and 80% of them were treatment-responsive. In NH cases that remained symptomatic, the headache frequency was lower, and the proportion of patients with chronic NH decreased from 68% to 11%.
Stated Preference Approach for Measuring the Perceived Benefit to Drive-Alone Users If They Switch to Park and Ride: An Indian Perspective
Authors: Kar Manaswinee , Sadhukhan Shubhajit , Parida Manoranjan , Shrivastava Arpit
Published: September 2023

Park and ride facilities can be a potential instrument for addressing the rising congestion problems and ensuring sustainable urban mobility in major Indian cities, equipped with fast and excellent metro systems. The present study attempts to understand the travel behavior of commuters (four-wheeled private vehicle users only) in relation to the introduction of park and ride as a sustainable and economical alternative mode of travel to driving alone in a private vehicle in the context of Delhi, India. The present study measures the perceived benefit to drive-alone users in Delhi with regard to their willingness to pay (WTP) for switching to a better-quality park and ride service instead of using their private vehicles. Choice-based responses along with socioeconomic and travel information were collected from 559 drive-alone users using a tablet-based stated preference survey instrument. The responses were then analyzed using a multinomial logit (MNL) model. Further, WTP estimates of the noncost attributes were calculated to derive the perceived benefit to drive-alone users if they were to switch to using a park and ride service. The study also developed a generalized cost (GC) equation using the parameter and WTP estimates derived from the MNL model. Finally, the study conducted a post-estimation analysis using the GC equation to examine the influences of identified explanatory attributes on the GC for drive-alone users who switched to park and ride. “Trip length,”“parking cost,” and “parking type” exerted a significant influence on the generalized cost, indicating that drive-alone users could expect considerable savings (perceived benefit with regard to utility gain) if they were to choose park and ride.
Visual Recognition Analysis of Optically Long Tunnels: Interaction of Dynamic Vision and Visual Perception
Authors: Zheng Haoran , Rasouli Soora , Du Zhigang , Wang Shoushuo
Published: September 2023

To understand the relation between the geometric design of optically long tunnels and visibility of the exit area, in this study oculomotor (eye movement) data are collected from several drivers in Yunnan Province, China, and drivers’ fixation rate and saccade amplitude in the visible zone of the tunnel are measured as key indicators. The driver’s visual recognition is analyzed and key elements in the optimal design of the exit points of optically long tunnels are discussed. The results show that visual recognition is closely associated with the radius of the road curvature: as the radius of curve decreases, the visual focus is gradually attracted to the inner side of the curve, the proportion of small-angle saccade increases, and the dispersion of the saccade amplitude decreases.
Effect of an Integrated School Garden and Home Garden Intervention on Anemia Among School-Aged Children in Nepal: Evidence From a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Baliki Ghassan , Weiffen Dorothee , Schreinemachers Pepijn , Shrestha Akina , Shrestha Rachana Manandhar , Schreiner Monika , Brück Tilman
Published: September 2023

Background:

Integrated school and home garden interventions can improve health outcomes in low-income countries, but rigorous evidence remains scarce, particularly for school-aged children and to reduce anemia.

Objective:

We test if an integrated school and home garden intervention, implemented at pilot stage, improves hemoglobin levels among school children (aged 9-13 years) in a rural district in the mid-hills of Nepal.

Methods:

We use a cluster randomized controlled trial with 15 schools each in the control and treatment groups (n = 680 school children). To test if nutritional improvements translate into a reduction of anemia prevalence, hemoglobin data were collected 6 months after intervention support had ended. Using structural equation modeling, we estimate the direct and indirect effects of the treatment through several pathways, including nutritional knowledge, good food and hygiene practices, and dietary diversity.

Results:

The integrated school and home garden intervention did not lead to a direct significant reduction in anemia. Causal positive changes of the treatment on nutritional outcomes, although significant, are not strong enough to impact hemoglobin levels. The program improved hemoglobin levels indirectly for children below 12 by increasing the use of good food and hygiene practices at home. These practices are associated with higher hemoglobin levels, particularly for girls, young children, and in households where caregivers are literate.

Conclusions:

Even integrated school and home garden interventions are not sufficient to reduce anemia among school children. Incorporating behavioral change components around food and hygiene practices into integrated garden interventions is important to unlocking their health impacts.
Trypanites ichnofacies and its multifarious significance: A case study from the Miocene Boka Bil Formation of Manipur, India
Authors: Inaobi Khundom , Kundal Pradeep , Singh Mairenbam Chandra , Singh Chabungbam Sharatchand
Published: September 2023

Bioerosional structures are well preserved in the Miocene Boka Bil Formation, exposed in the Kaiphundai section, Thangjing Hill Range of Manipur, India. Eleven ichnospecies representing the Trypanites Ichnofacies, viz., Entobia cateniformis, E. ovula, Gastrochaenolites anauchen, G. cluniformis, G. lapidicus, G. orbicularis, G. ornatus, G. torpedo, Maeandropolydora sulcans, Trypanites solitarius and T. weisei, are recorded from the two sections of the Boka Bil Formation. Two distinctive ichnoassemblages, Entobia-dominated and Gastrochaenolites-dominated are recognised. The Entobia-dominated assemblage suggests relatively deeper marine conditions in the deeper part of the back reef or fore reef while the Gastrochaenolites-dominated assemblage points shallower marine conditions, underwater depth of a few metres in the back reef to patch-reef zone of a back-reef lagoon.
Distribution of recent Benthic foraminifera in Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden; North-West Svalbard, High Arctic
Authors: Chatterjee Debolina , Ghosh Anupam
Published: September 2023

Benthic foraminifera assemblages from two fjords of Svalbard—Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden in the High Arctic—have been studied. The foraminifera assemblages show three characteristic assemblages from the two fjords’ glacial proximal, middle and distal parts. The Cassidulina reniforme– Elphidium clavatum, Textularia spp. assemblage dominates the foraminifera fauna near the glacier proximal that indicates increased sedimentation and meltwater runoff; a Nonionellina labradorica– Islandiella helenae– Lobatula lobatula assemblage relates to well-oxygenated and high energy conditions and mainly occupies the middle part; and the Nonionellina labradorica– Islandiella helenae assemblages dominate in the distal region that indicates high surface primary productivity. Krossfjorden contains an oxygen deficiency zone around the middle part characterised by Stainforthia loeblichi. The abundance of Islandiella helenae and Nonionellina labradorica indicates that the high surface primary productivity of Krossfjorden is more than that of Kongsfjorden.
Microcosmic mechanism of metal–organic framework enhanced thermoplastic polyurethane exposed to laser-induced shock wave
Authors: Ma Dong , Wang Cheng , Xu Wenlong , Qi Fangfang , Jia Shiyu
Published: September 2023

Incorporating nano-particles into polymer matrix has enabled improving shock wave mitigation (SWM) ability. Vast majority of researchers adopted inorganic nano-materials to enhance polymer matrix. Due to the incompatibility between inorganic nano-particles and polymers, complicated interface modification processes were often used. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have good compatibility with polymers and show excellent SWM capabilities. However, they are brittle and experience lattice collapse after shock loading. Based on this, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) enhanced by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was proposed and prepared. The mixtures can not only improve the SWM ability of polymers, but also address the brittleness of MOFs. Additionally, scholars often use simulation methods to study energy dissipation mechanism of materials, rarely evidences of microstructural changes observed to support theoretical speculations. In this work, by analyzing surface morphology and molecular structural changes, energy dissipative mechanism was investigated. With addition amount of 5 wt% and 10 wt% ZIF-8 particles in TPU, the pressure can be reduced by 0.074 GPa and 0.1478 GPa than neat TPU. TPUM-10 had a stronger deformation resistance and SWM ability. Moreover, main chemical structures were remained unchanged after shock. The increased ability of SWM may relate to hydrogen bond forming process and delayed material failure.
Effect of MWCNT on the properties of NCF-CFP hybrid composite fabricated via vacuum infusion
Authors: Pektürk Hatice Yakut , Demir Bilge , Bilgi Cahit , Öz Fatih , Ersoy Nuri
Published: September 2023

This work is an attempt to evaluate the effect of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforcement on the properties of non-crimp fabric (NCF) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer hybrid composite (CFRP). MWCNT NCF-CFRP plates were produced by vacuum infusion. Epoxy-MWCNT mixtures were prepared by adding a surfactant, Triton-X 100, and ethanol and mixing ultrasonically. The plates were subjected to thermal and electrical conductivity, DSC and FT-IR characterizations, and tensile testing. SEM image analyses evaluated tensile fracture surfaces. Results showed that 0.5 wt% MWCNT-reinforced nanocomposite samples exhibited better tensile properties than pure NCF-CFRP composites and other nanocomposite samples. The 1.5% MWCNT reinforced sample was the best conductor at all temperatures. The temperature increases also increase the conductivity. However, the conductivity value of 0.5% MWCNT reinforced material increased significantly at low frequencies such as 100–10,000 Hz. The heat reaction of the 0.5 wt% MWCNT nanocomposite was also a bit higher than that of 1–1.5 % wt MWCNT nanocomposites, indicating a decrease in the cure.
Mitigating the barriers of industrial symbiosis for waste management: An integrated decision-making framework for the textile and clothing industry
Authors: Yadav Vinay Surendra , Majumdar Abhijit
Published: September 2023

Waste management in the textile and clothing (TAC) industry is a challenging issue due to high resource consumption and pollution generation. Therefore, the adoption of industrial symbiosis (IS) is the need of the hour for the TAC industry. However, the adoption of IS in emerging economies like India, Brazil, Bangladesh, etc. is limited due to various impediments. The present work aims to identify and analyse these barriers and develop mitigation strategies in the context of Indian TAC industry. Eighteen IS barriers have been identified and validated; and the interrelationships among them are studied by applying the ‘weighted influence non-linear gauge system (WINGS)’ method, which not only estimates the intensity of influence but also takes the self-strength of barriers into account. The results show that lack of trust amongst supply chain partners, lack of financial incentives from the government, lack of guidance from regularity bodies and industry associations and lack of consumer awareness are the most significant barriers. Additionally, the strategies to mitigate these barriers are developed based on a quadruple helix framework considering academia–-government–industry–society as the main actors. The findings of the study will be helpful for the TAC industry, policymakers and other concerned stakeholders in framing suitable strategies to improve the long-term waste management practices of the industry and to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The effect of economic coercion on companies’ foreign direct investment decisions: Evidence from sanctions against Russia
Authors: McLean Elena V , Ryu Jeheung , Whang Taehee
Published: September 2023

Existing research on the relationship between economic coercion and foreign direct investment suggests that sanctions have no effect on investments in targeted countries or may even encourage investment inflows. A key limitation of this research, however, is its aggregate country-level focus, which fails to capture company-level decision-making processes and factors shaping them. In contrast, this paper evaluates multinational companies’ investment plans as reflected in new investment announcements and shows that sanctions in fact lead to significant adjustments in multinational companies’ plans to invest in a targeted country. Our company-level analyses of new investment projects in Russia show that companies are less likely to announce new investments after the imposition of economic sanctions against the country.
Preparing your emergency department for disaster: Optimizing surge capacity during mass casualty events
Authors: Armstrong John Byron Publow
Published: September 2023

Mass casualty events can cause patient surges within healthcare facilities. These surges can be limited to hours or continue for days or weeks. As emergency departments are the front doors to the healthcare system, it is critical that they are prepared to accept patient surges. Focusing plans on optimizing space, staff, and supplies is critical to a successful response. Boarded or non-emergent patients must be diverted, discharged, and decanted from the emergency department to expand resuscitation space. If inadequate, non-clinical space may be required for patient care. Staff call-in lists should be maintained, and in-house berthing for staff during prolonged responses may be necessary. Further, identifying the spectrum of care, from conventional to crisis, is necessary to thrive during a disaster response: staff must understand that business as usual will not be compatible with austere disaster response before levels of care begin to decline.
Cumulative Incidence of Physical and Sexual Dating Violence: Insights From A Long-term Longitudinal Study
Authors: Temple Jeff R. , Baumler Elizabeth , Wood Leila , Franco Kelli Sargent , Peskin Melissa , Shumate Christie
Published: September 2023

Decades of inquiry on intimate partner violence show consistent results: violence is woefully common and psychologically and economically costly. Policy to prevent and effectively intervene upon such violence hinges upon comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon at a population level. The current study prospectively estimates the cumulative incidence of sexual and physical dating violence (DV) victimization/perpetration over a 12-year timeframe (2010–2021) using diverse participants assessed annually from age 15 to 26. Data are from Waves 1–13 of an ongoing longitudinal study. Since 2010 (except for 2018 and 2019), participants were assessed on past-year physical and sexual DV victimization and perpetration. Participants ( n = 1,042; 56% female; Mage baseline = 15) were originally recruited from seven public high schools in southeast Texas. The sample consisted of Black/African American (30%), White (31%), Hispanic (31%), and Mixed/Other (8%) participants. Across 12 years of data collection, 27.3% experienced sexual DV victimization and 46.1% had experienced physical DV victimization by age 26. Further, 14.8% had perpetrated at least one act of sexual DV and 39.0% had perpetrated at least one act of physical DV against a partner by this age. A 12-year cumulative assessment of physical and sexual DV rendered prevalence estimates of both victimization and perpetration that exceeded commonly and consistently reported rates in the field, especially on studies that relied on lifetime or one-time specified retrospective reporting periods. These data suggest community youth are at continued and sustained risk for DV onset across the transition into emerging adulthood, necessitating early adolescent prevention and intervention efforts that endure through late adolescence, emerging adulthood, and beyond. From a research perspective, our findings point to the need for assessing DV on a repeated basis over multiple timepoints to better guage the full extent of this continued public health crisis.
Effect of unit cell shape and structure volume fraction on the mechanical and vibration properties of 3D printed lattice structures
Authors: Singh Gurminder , Singh Jasvinder , Singh Narinder , Farina Ilenia , Colangelo Francesco , Pandey Pulak Mohan
Published: September 2023

Lattice structures have been proven to be one of the best choices since their inception, for various structural and other commercial applications, for enhanced mechanical properties, especially in the case of vibration isolation, where band gaps play a vital role. In the present study, additively manufactured 3D printed lattices are prepared with the help of fused deposition modelling (FDM) under various design variations such as Diamond, Kelvin, and Octa formations. Further, three variations in the form of cell density have been used in all the designs, such as low, medium, and high density. The effect of the design variations on Young’s modulus, ultimate compressive strength, and plateau stress have been studied, and comparative analysis amongst the designs has been carried out. In the case of the diamond foam, the Young’s modulus of 54.84, 79.43, and 63.13 MPa has been obtained for low, medium, and high density, respectively. However, in the case of Octa formation with a high-density apology, highest value of young modulus is obtained, which is 174.94 MPa. But the plateau stress is the best in the case of high-density diamond topology and least in the case of high-density Octa formation. In addition, the diamond foam with the medium density has shown the best compressive strength, i.e., 5.003 MPa. Moreover, vibration analysis properties were explored; interestingly, it has been seen that the transmissivity of the medium-form structures for all shapes is higher than the others whereas the natural frequency of the Diamond and Octa shapes is lower. Hence the shape and form of the lattice have a significant effect on the final properties of the lattices and lattice structures contribute to structural integrity in terms of better properties and enhanced behaviour.
Forced to Choose: Lessons Learned from Families of Students Within Special Education
Authors: Cowhy Jennifer R. , Gordon Molly F. , de la Torre Marisa
Published: September 2023

In this interview study, we utilize a theoretical framework that combines Bell’s theory of choice sets with DisCrit to explore how parents of students with IEPs (SIEPs) experienced a forced school choice embedded with the 2013 mass school closures in Chicago. We find that a child’s disability was a primary factor in parent’s choices. Further, all parents in our sample had conceptions of ideal schools, but a child’s IEP and other barriers—including safety and transportation—could prevent parents from enrolling their child in an otherwise desired school. In this way a child’s IEP could provide access to needed services while also denying families from desired learning environments. These findings point to the ableist nature of school choice and contribute to the growing body of research that questions the theoretical underpinnings of school choice as an education reform strategy.
Unpacking Legal Advancements for Asian American Students: A Political Discourse Analysis of Illinois’s House Bill 376
Authors: Masamitsu Taylor
Published: September 2023

In 2021, Illinois became the first state in the United States to require that K-12 students learn about Asian American history. Illinois achieved this when lawmakers passed House Bill 376 (H.B. 376), colloquially known as the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act. H.B. 376 received praise for being the first legislation of its kind, and its passage inspired similar bills in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Given the bill’s influence, it is imperative to consider its language and utility. This critical policy analysis specifically investigates lawmakers’ employment of the term “Asian American.” The analysis ultimately argues that H.B. 376 is a necessary first step in breaking centuries of silence and dislocation for Asian Americans; however, the bill advances a social definition—or sociopolitical understanding—of “Asian American” that is potentially harmful.
Stakeholder involvement as a form of accountability? Perspectives on the accountability function of stakeholder bodies in Dutch public agencies
Authors: Brummel Lars
Published: September 2023

This article analyses how managers and officials within public agencies perceive the accountability function of stakeholder bodies. Many agencies have established formal accountability relationships with societal stakeholders by introducing stakeholder bodies, such as client councils and user panels. The academic literature has however debated whether and how stakeholder bodies can reflect a full accountability mechanism. Based on original qualitative interviews with 25 representatives from nine Dutch agencies, this study distinguishes five different perspectives that agency managers and officials have about the accountability function of stakeholder bodies: a control perspective, an institutional perspective, a managerial perspective, learning perspective, and a reputational perspective. Agency managers or officials do not often describe stakeholder bodies as a form of accountability, but their experiences and perceptions include elements of accountability. Rather than strengthening control and scrutiny, stakeholder bodies are perceived as an accountability mechanism that relates to a mixture of agency demands and motives.
Collaborative adaptive cruise control and energy management strategy for extended-range electric logistics van platoon
Authors: Wang Gang , Wang Hongliang , Pi Dawei , Sun Xiaowang , Wang Xianhui
Published: September 2023

This paper improves the economy of the extended-range electric logistics van (ERELV) platoon from two aspects of cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) and energy management strategy (EMS). Based on the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, to improve the economy of heterogeneous vehicle platoon CACC system, a distributed model predictive controller (DMPC) with stability, comfort, and the economy as optimization goals are designed. The sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of the vehicle platoon closed-loop system are obtained by Lyapunov stability analysis. The multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) algorithm is used to solve the EMS of the ERELV platoon. Under the framework of centralized training distributed execution (CTDE), the experience of all agents can be obtained during training, and the actions can be output only according to their local observation states during execution. The simulation results show that the designed ecological cooperative adaptive cruise control (Eco-CACC) effectively balances the stability and economy of a heterogeneous vehicle platoon. Taking dynamic programming (DP) as the benchmark, compared with the single-agent algorithm, EMS based on a multi-agent deep deterministic strategy gradient (MADDPG) algorithm can achieve a near-optimal solution while significantly improving the learning efficiency.
Planning and tracking control of full drive-by-wire electric vehicles in unstructured scenario
Authors: Chen Guoying , Hua Min , Liu Wei , Wang Jinhai , Song Shunhui , Liu Changsheng , Yang Liunan , Liao Shihui , Xia Xin
Published: September 2023

Full drive-by-wire electric vehicles (FDWEV) equipped with X-by-wire technology can enable independent driving, braking, and steering of each wheel, making them an ideal platform for developing autonomous driving technology. However, designing a robust control algorithm that comprehensively integrates vehicle path planning in a complex and unstructured scenario is a challenging task for FDWEV. To address this issue, this paper (1) proposes the artificial potential field (APF) method for path planning in the prescribed park with different static obstacles to generate the reference path information, where speed planning is incorporated considering kinematics and dynamic constraints; (2) designs curvature calculation (CC-based) and model predictive control (MPC-based) tracking methods with the lateral dynamics model to track the desired path under different driving conditions, in which a forward-looking behavior model of the driver with variable preview distance is designed based on the fuzzy control theory; (3) conducts CarSim-AMESim-Simulink co-simulation with the existence of obstacles. The simulation results show that the proposed two control approaches are practical for classical driving scenarios. Especially the MPC-based path-tracking controller enhances dynamic tracking performance and ensures good maneuverability under high-dynamic driving conditions.
The tyre blow-out vehicle lateral pulling control using an active suspension system with comfort-lateral trajectory based control scheme.
Authors: P Sathishkumar , Jayaraman Thiyagarajan , Thangaraj Muthuramalingam
Published: September 2023

When a tyre blows out, the vehicle’s trajectory deviates from the intended path, resulting in an accident and death. Because of its larger contact patch, applying more steering force to the flat tyre will cause the tyre to separate from the wheel. Also, improper braking effort causes rollover related issues due to the sudden vehicle’s centre of gravity (C.G.) displacement and weight transfer towards the blow-out tyre. Therefore, this research attempts to return the C.G. to its initial position through the suspension control. The force supplied between the sprung and unsprung masses of the flat tyre through suspension actuator is estimated and controlled by the model predictive control (MPC) scheme with respect to its input signals. For the non-linear simulation, the four-wheel passenger car vehicle dynamic model and the combined empirical model for the tyre inflation pressure effect are used. And the equivalent plant model is identified through a simple system identification method for the MPC design. The passive and active based suspension of standalone, roll-resistant interconnected and pitch-resistant interconnected systems, including the proposed comfort-lateral trajectory controlled standalone active suspension, were examined. To assess the effectiveness of each suspension and its control strategy in a tyre blow-out scenario, a vehicle was analysed with various longitudinal velocities along with and without steer input.
Estimation of aerodynamic parameters using neural artificial bee colony fusion algorithm for moderate angle of attack using real flight data
Authors: Kumar Prashant , Sonkar Sarvesh Kumar , George Riya Catherine , Ghosh Ajoy Kanti , Philip Deepu
Published: September 2023

Aircraft system identification aims to estimate the aerodynamic force and moment coefficients utilizing intelligent modeling and parametric identification methodologies. Classical methods like output, filter, and equation error methods apply extensively as parametric approaches. In contrast, machine learning approaches like Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS), etc., are alternatives to model-based methods. This work presents a novel aerodynamic parameters estimation technique that fuses two biologically inspired optimization techniques, (i) the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) optimization and (ii) ANN for an actual aircraft while incorporating system and measurement uncertainty. The fusion of ABC and ANN imparts the ability to address sensor noise challenges associated with system identification and parameter estimation. Comparison of the proposed method’s results with the benchmark techniques like Least Square, Filter Error, and Neural Gauss Methods using recorded flight data of the ATTAS (DLR German Aerospace Centre) and HANSA-3 (IIT Kanpur) aircrafts established its adequacy and efficacy. Furthermore, the capability of the proposed hybrid method to extract stability and control variables from the stable aircraft kinematics is shown even with insufficient information in its data history.
ANN_ITU: Predicting rain attenuation with a hybrid model for earth-space links
Authors: Xu Dongyu , Wang Zhaodi , Leng Biao
Published: September 2023

Rain attenuation prediction of earth-space links is of vital significance for the application and development of satellite communication. Recently, most rain attenuation prediction methods are based on semi-empirical models or data-driven models, the former suffering from incompleteness problem, the latter faced with limited performance due to scarce data. In order to realize higher rain attenuation prediction performance, we propose a novel hybrid model ANN_ITU that combines advantages of the semi-empirical model and the artificial neural network. In ANN_ITU framework, the semi-empirical model ITU-R P.618-12 is leveraged to predict rain attenuation, and a six-layer artificial neural network is utilized to correct the rain attenuation predicted by ITU-R P.618-12, thus generating the final rain attenuation value. What’s more, we also present theories of two machine-learning based rain attenuation prediction methods, namely, random forest and support vector regression. Last but not least, we expound on processes of DBSG3 dataset filtering and data preprocessing. Experiments on DBSG3 dataset are carried out. Experimental results demonstrate that the hybrid ANN_ITU algorithm outperforms purely semi-empirical algorithms and data-driven algorithms. The evaluation indexes mean value, standard deviation, and root mean square value are 0.0355%, 19.63%, and 19.63%, respectively, which prove the effectiveness and precision of our rain attenuation prediction model ANN_ITU.
Trypanosoma cruzi screening in people living with HIV in the UK
Authors: Ahmed Nadia , Herbert Sophie , Arenas-Pinto Alejandro , Rickman Hannah , Benn Paul , Edwards Simon G , Chiodini Peter L , Grant Alison D
Published: September 2023

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of reactivation of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. There are no data from UK HIV clinics on the prevalence of T. cruzi. We implemented T. cruzi screening at our clinic as part of routine care for PLWH with epidemiological risk factors. Among 86 patients screened, none had positive serology: one seropositive patient was identified due to increased clinician awareness. Implementing T. cruzi screening as part of routine clinical care was feasible, though labour intensive and identified at-risk individuals.
Knowledge and attitudes of health professionals in Chile towards people living with human immunodeficiency virus: A cross-national survey
Authors: Picón-Jaimes Yelson Alejandro , Lozada-Martinez Ivan David , Orozco-Chinome Javier Esteban , Molina-Franky Jessica , Bolaño-Romero Maria Paz , Fiorillo-Moreno Ornella
Published: September 2023

Introduction: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) often experience discrimination from both other individuals and the health personnel who care for them. Chile has experienced a marked increase in the number of new HIV cases.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. The HIV/AIDS questionnaire for providers and health personnel was obtained from the International Planned Parenthood Federation, initially carrying out a pilot test and evaluating its validity.

Results: A total of 784 health professionals answered the questionnaire correctly. Among them, 68.4% ( n = 536) were women, and 36.2% ( n = 284) were physicians. The study revealed that more than 90% of respondents had a positive attitude towards caring for people living with HIV, and more than 75% did not mind buying food from them or sharing services with them. Furthermore, more than 99% rejected the religiously endorsed labeling of people living with HIV/AIDS as immoral. Additionally, 95.5% ( n = 749) mentioned that they did not feel anxious about knowing whether the next patient on their care list was living with HIV, and 76.9% ( n = 603) of the respondents felt safe taking blood samples.

Conclusions: Chilean health professionals have good knowledge about HIV infection and its mode transmission. Their attitudes towards people living with HIV are also generally positive.
Parametric analysis on temperature influence on brake squeal generation in a single-seater off-road vehicle’s disc brake
Authors: Maciel Mateus Holanda Cardoso , Rodrigues Rômulo do Nascimento , Costa Camilo Augusto Santos , Bezerra Roberto De Araujo , Gonçalves Vanessa Vieira , Freitas Thiago Victor Albuquerque de
Published: September 2023

Brakes are a critical component of automobiles, responsible for converting kinetic energy into heat and vibration. The phenomenon of brake squeal, which produces uncomfortable noises, has been extensively studied in both drum and disc brakes. Many studies have evaluated the influence of material and operational parameters on brake instability to reduce squeal. However, the effect of temperature, a key factor in brake performance, is often overlooked. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing a single rear-axle disc brake from an off-road single-seater vehicle using a parametric approach. Two branches were developed in ANSYS software. The first branch consisted of a finite element model of the brake with disc, pads, and backplates. A static structural analysis was performed to simulate a real braking pressure situation, and the resulting pre-stress state was used to conduct complex modal analysis, which extracted eigenvalues and values responsible for stability. The second branch involved a transient thermal simulation before the static analysis, also considering a real braking situation, to create a gradient of temperature and change component pre-stress reactions accordingly. A design of experiments process was used to explore geometric, thermal, and operational variables. The results showed that temperature and its parameters (convection and emissivity coefficient) increase brake squeal. Thus, considering the effect of temperature is crucial when evaluating brake instability, and optimizing temperature control can help reduce brake squeal, improving safety and comfort for drivers and passengers.