bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the intensity of heartwood formation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) ontogenesis
Authors: Galibina Natalia A. , Moshnikov Sergey A. , Nikerova Kseniya M. , Afoshin Nikita V. , Ershova Maria A. , Ivanova Diana S. , Kharitonov Vladimir A. , Romashkin Ivan V. , Semenova Ludmila I. , Serkova Aleksandra A. , Tarelkina Tatiana V.
Published: July 2022

An essential stage in woody plant ontogeny (heartwood (HW) formation) determines tree resistance to weather conditions, wood quality (moisture, colour, resistance to biodegradation), and regulates the proportion of functionally active sapwood (SW) in the total trunk biomass. In this study, the patterns of HW formation depending on tree age and cambial age within the same tree were studied in the North-West of Russia in Scots pine in a lingonberry pine forest. It is shown that HW either repeats the trunk profile or shows a maximum proportion on average at the height of 1.5 m. Models using the square root transformation and logarithm transformation have been proposed to predict the number of annual rings in HW depending on the cambial age. Multiple regression is proposed to predict the radial width in HW. Validation of the developed models on random trees gave a good result. HW formation begins at the age of 17–18 years and continues at the rate of 0.3 rings per year for 20–30-year-old trees, 0.4–0.5 rings per year for 70–80-year-old trees, and about 0.7 rings per year for 180-year-old trees. The lifespan of xylem parenchyma cells ranged from 10–15 years in 20-year-old trees to 70 years in 180-year-old trees. At the age of the previous felling (70–80 years) the HW area in the trunk biomass is about 20%, and in 180-year-old pine forests, it increases to 50%. These data can be used to assess the role of old-growth forests in carbon sequestration.
Bridging Parliamentary Cultures in the Americas – Enhancing Parliamentary Dialogue in the World
Authors: Fitsilis Fotis , Cincunegui Juan de Dios
Published: July 2022

After much anticipation, the International Workshop of Scholars and Parliamentarians took place in Villa La Angostura, Argentina, from 7–8 April 2022. This report will first outline the general framework of the workshop’s organisation and implementation. It then describes the main areas of scientific debate, with a particular focus on the digital transformation of parliamentary institutions. Finally, the report outlines the main outcomes that, notably, seek to enhance parliamentarism through the development of an international culture of dialogue.
Salmoneus shojaei, a new species of mangrove-dwelling alpheid shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea) from Iran
Authors: ASHRAFI HOSSEIN , ANKER ARTHUR , ĎURIŠ ZDENĚK
Published: July 2022

During a survey of the mangrove infauna on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman several specimens of a new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus shojaei sp. nov., were collected around pneumatophores of mangrove trees, mostly in association with the larger burrowing snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798. The new species appears to be a member of the S. gracilipes species group and is morphologically closest to S. colinorum De Grave, 2004 and S. alpheophilus Anker & Marin, 2006. However, a unique combination of morphological characters, such as the carapace without rostral carina, the unarmed ischium of the major cheliped, the armed ischia of the minor cheliped and second pereiopod, the very slender dactyli of the fourth and third pereiopods, and the posterior margin of the telson with a deep U-shaped notch, distinguishes the new species from all other members of the S. gracilipes group. In addition, S. shojaei sp. nov. presents a diagnostic, albeit very faint, banding of the pleon, which separates it from most other species of the S. gracilipes group with known colour patterns. A DNA barcode (a partial fragment of the mitochondrial gene, CO1), as well as partial fragments of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and the nuclear H3 genes, are provided to genetically characterise the new taxon.
New Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1897 species and further new bicolored species of the Neoserica calva group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini)
Authors: AHRENS DIRK
Published: July 2022

In this paper, additional new species of Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1897 and the Neoserica calva group from continental Southeast Asia are described: Gynaecoserica krausi Ahrens, new species (Laos), G. obfuscata Ahrens, new species (Laos), Neoserica champassakensis Ahrens, new species (Laos), N. fairyqueen Ahrens, new species (Thailand), and N. samuelsoni Ahrens, new species (Laos). The habitus as well as the aedeagus of the new species are illustrated. New records of further species of the two genera are given.
Rumen ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora) associated with goats: checklist, geographic distribution, host specificity, phylogeny and molecular dating
Authors: DA SILVA ZACARIAS ROSALINA JOÃO , CEDROLA FRANCIANE , ROSSI MARIANA FONSECA , COSTA FABIOLA DA SILVA , DIAS ROBERTO JÚNIO PEDROSO
Published: July 2022

Although the diversity (~35 species) and worldwide distribution of goats (Ruminantia, Bovidae, Caprinae) are significant, studies on the diversity of symbiont ciliates in these mammals are scarce in comparison to other ruminants. The present work is a review and checklist of species based on taxonomic, morphologic, and ecologic studies of rumen ciliate protozoa in goats, presenting geographic distribution and hosts, as well as estimating the macroevolutionary relationships of the species observed in the studies. To that end, all of the available literature on databases was reviewed, the schematic drawings were made based on information present in the original description of the taxa, and the phylogenetic relationships were inferred based on Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. According to our review, 72 species and 14 genera of ciliates have been associated with goats. Through the analysis of the association between ciliate genera and caprine hosts, it was shown that ciliates are more associated with domestic animals (Capra hircus—14 genera) than wild ones (Rupicapra rupicapra—six genera, Capra ibex—one genus, Capra pyrenaica—one genus). Thirteen countries were identified in the distribution map as having had reports of ciliate species associated with goats. The interaction networks of ciliates and their hosts showed that the species of ciliates associated with goats also occur in other herbivore mammal species. The recovered phylogenetic hypotheses show that the ciliate species in goats form a non-monophyletic group with maximum and minimum ages of ~8.2My and ~2.4My. We have also found that a large portion of the studies on the diversity of ciliates in goats does not employ all necessary techniques in an integrative way, despite it being essential for detailed descriptions and better knowledge of this fraction of biodiversity.
Intraspecific wing venation and phallosome taxonomy updates in species of Loneura Navás (Psocodea, Ptiloneuridae), with one new species from cave and key to Loneura species from Brazil
Authors: CUTRIM MARCELO , DA SILVA NETO ALBERTO MOREIRA , ALDRETE ALFONSO N. GARCÍA , FERREIRA RODRIGO LOPES , RAFAEL JOSÉ ALBERTINO
Published: July 2022

cavernicola sp. nov. is here described and illustrated, based on male and female specimens collected in caves located in an ecotone region between the Brazilian Savannah (Cerrado biome) and the Atlantic Forest, in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. Illustrations are provided of 19 types of variation in the fore and hindwings veins of males and females. Illustrations are presented of the holotype of L. maracaensis García Aldrete, along with illustrations of 18 types of variation in the fore and hindwing veins of males and females. Additionally, a new methodology applied in some specimens of L. maracaensis to process the genital pieces allowed us to know the arrangement and delimitations of each of the sclerites and their possible position during copulation. We therefore propose a phallosome taxonomic update. In these everted male genitalia, the spermatic sac and attached glands were identified for the first time. An identification key is presented to the Brazilian species of Loneura, based on males.
The Utility of Simulink Subsystems in Handling and Processing of Biomedical Signals and Images
Authors: Ma Qiufang , Manikandan C. , Elamaran V. , Thilagaraj M.
Published: July 2022

To model, simulate, and analyze multi-domain dynamical systems, Simulink, which is a Matlab-based graphical programming environment, can be used effectively. Due to the drag-drop facility, accessible graphic user interface components, and zero coding environments, Simulink becomes the
most used tool both in industry and academia. The design cycle time of any real-time systems can be reduced using Simulink than other software tools. This article focuses mainly on the utility behind the subsystems such as enabled subsystem, triggered subsystem, triggered and enabled subsystem,
and control flow subsystem in biomedical signal and image processing. Image segmentation using enabled subsystem, voiced/unvoiced classification using triggered subsystem, and the computation of root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude using If Action subsystem are implemented using breast cancer
image and human voice signal. The Matlab 9.4 tool is used for experimental simulation with the biomedical signals and images.
Multi-Class Brain Disease Classification Using Modified Pre-Trained Convolutional Neural Networks Model with Substantial Data Augmentation
Authors: Nandhini I. , Manjula D. , Sugumaran Vijayan
Published: July 2022

The integration of various algorithms in the medical field to diagnose brain disorders is significant. Generally, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques have been used to diagnose brain images. Subsequently, segmentation and classification of brain disease remain
an exigent task in medical image processing. This paper presents an extended model for brain image classification based on a Modified pre-trained convolutional neural network model with extensive data augmentation. The proposed system has been efficiently trained using the technique of substantial
data augmentation in the pre-processing stage. In the first phase, the pre-trained models namely AlexNet, VGGNet-19, and ResNet-50 are employed to classify the brain disease. In the second phase, the idea of integrating the existing pre-trained model with a multiclass linear support vector
machine is incorporated. Hence, the SoftMax layer of pre-trained models is replaced with a multi class linear support vector machine classifier is proposed. These proposed modified pre-trained model is employed to classify brain images as normal, inflammatory, degenerative, neoplastic and
cerebrovascular diseases. The training loss, mean square error, and classification accuracy have been improved through the concept of Cyclic Learning rate. The appropriateness of transfer learning has been demonstrated by applying three convolutional neural network models, namely, AlexNet,
VGGNet-19, and ResNet-50. It has been observed that the modified pre-trained models achieved a higher classification rate of accuracies of 93.45% when compared with a finetuned pre-trained model of 89.65%. The best classification accuracy of 92.11%, 92.83% and 93.45% has been attained in the
proposed method of the modified pre-trained model. A comparison of the proposed model with other pre-trained models is also presented.
Morning Transition of the Boundary Layer over Dallas–Fort Worth
Authors: Nielsen Kip F. , Rahn David A.
Published: July 2022

Temperature profiles of the lower atmosphere (<3 km) over complex urban areas are related to health risks, including heat stress and respiratory illness. This complexity leads to uncertainty in numerical simulations, and many studies call for more observations of the lower atmosphere over cities. Using 20 years of observations from the Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) program over Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, average profiles every 0.5 h are created from the 1.5 million individual soundings. Dallas–Fort Worth is ideal because it is a large urban area in the central Great Plains, has no major topographic or coastal influences, and has two major airports near the center of the urban heat island. With frequent and high-quality measurements over the city, we investigate the evolution of the lower atmosphere around sunrise to quantify the stability, boundary layer height, and duration of the morning transition when there are southerly winds, few clouds, and no precipitation so as to eliminate transient synoptic events. Characteristics of the lower atmosphere are separated by season and maximum wind speed because the the Great Plains low-level jet contributes to day-to-day variability. In all seasons, stronger wind over the city leads to a weaker nocturnal temperature inversion at sunrise and a shorter morning transition period, with the greatest difference during autumn and the smallest difference during summer. During summer, the boundary layer height at sunrise is higher on average, deepens the most as wind strengthens, and has the fewest days exhibiting a surface temperature inversion over the city.

Significance Statement

Cities impact health by creating an urban heat island caused by more heating at the surface, less evaporative cooling, and increased anthropogenic waste heat, and they can have high pollution. Cooling overnight stabilizes the lower atmosphere and traps pollutants near the surface until surface heating after sunrise mixes them away. Inadequate pollution observations make it difficult to study these issues. The greatest mixing occurs about 2 h after sunrise but can be modulated by wind speed. Observations from 1.5 million aircraft landing and taking off over Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, reveal that strong low-level wind leads to morning transitions ending 0.84 h earlier on average than with light wind. Details from this vast dataset contribute to improved understanding of the lower atmosphere over cities and provide a baseline for simulations.
Atmospheric Energy Sources for Winter Sea Ice Variability over the North Barents–Kara Seas
Authors: Tian Yinglin , Zhang Yu , Zhong Deyu , Zhang Mingxi , Li Tiejian , Xie Di , Wang Guangqian
Published: July 2022

Anomalous poleward transport of atmospheric energy can lead to sea ice loss during boreal winter over the Arctic, especially in the North Barents–Kara Seas (NBKS), by strengthening downward longwave radiation (DLW). However, compared with the extensive studies of latent energy sources, those of sensible energy sources are currently insufficient. Therefore, we focus on the intraseasonal sea ice loss events from the perspectives of both energy forms. First, the contributions of latent and sensible energy to DLW and sea ice reduction are quantified using the lagged composite method, a multiple linear regression model, and an ice toy model. Second, a Lagrangian approach is performed to examine sources of latent and sensible energy. Third, possible underlying mechanisms are proposed. We find that the positive anomalies of latent and sensible energy account for approximately 56% and 28% of the increase in DLW, respectively, and the DLW anomalies can theoretically explain a maximum of 58% of sea ice reduction. Geographically, the North Atlantic, the Norwegian, North, and Baltic Seas, western Europe, and the northeastern Pacific are major atmospheric energy source regions. Additionally, while the contributions of latent energy sources decrease with increasing distance from the NBKS, those of sensible energy sources are concentrated in the midlatitudes. Mechanistically, latent energy can influence sea ice decline, both directly by increasing the Arctic precipitable water and indirectly by warming the Arctic atmosphere through a remote conversion into sensible energy. Our results indicate that the Rossby waves induced by latent heating over the western tropical Pacific contribute to anomalous energy sources at midlatitude Pacific and Atlantic both dynamically and thermodynamically.

Significance Statement

Winter sea ice retreat in the Arctic has been attributed to increasing poleward atmospheric energy transport. While latent energy sources are extensively examined in previous studies, studies on sensible energy sources remain limited. Considering both atmospheric energy forms, we detected energy sources for the intraseasonal sea ice-loss events in the winter NBKS. Geographically, the North Atlantic, the Norwegian, North, and Baltic Seas, western Europe, and the northeastern Pacific are predominant energy source regions. Mechanistically, Rossby waves in the Northern Hemisphere triggered by tropical latent heating contribute to warm and moist air intrusions into the Arctic. This work suggests that latent energy can impact Arctic sea ice directly by moistening the atmosphere and indirectly by warming the Arctic atmosphere through remote conversion into sensible energy.
An Updated Investigation of Post-Transformation Intensity, Structural, and Duration Extremes for Extratropically Transitioning North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Sarro Giorgio , Evans Clark
Published: July 2022

The transformation stage of extratropical transition characterizes the process by which a tropical cyclone transforms into an extratropical cyclone at higher latitudes in a cooler, more baroclinic environment. A 2006 study connects extremes in transformation-stage duration, post-transformation intensity change, and post-transformation thermal structure for North Atlantic basin tropical cyclones to synoptic-scale environmental variability. However, the 2006 study’s findings are derived from coarse atmospheric analyses that include fictitious tropical cyclone vortices applied to small samples with substantial variability between cases. This study updates the 2006 study’s findings using larger sample sizes, improvements in atmospheric reanalysis resolution and fidelity, and advances in scientific understanding over the last two decades. Transformation-stage duration is primarily a function of the duration that a transforming cyclone remains in an environment supportive of tropical development after entering a region supportive of baroclinic development. Post-transformation intensity-change composites are distinguished primarily by whether proper phasing is achieved between the transforming cyclone and upstream trough following the transformation stage. Finally, post-transformation thermal structure is distinguished primarily by whether the transforming cyclone moves into a strongly confluent synoptic-scale environment following the transformation stage. This study also presents the first composite analyses of North Atlantic tropical cyclones that maintain a lower-tropospheric warm-core structure post-transformation, termed instant warm-seclusion cyclones, which have previously only been diagnosed in case studies of individual North Atlantic tropical cyclones and for a limited climatology of western North Pacific tropical cyclones. These cyclones, comprising approximately one-third of all cases, are characterized by the transforming TC becoming negatively tilted with respect to the upstream trough and undergoing cyclonic Rossby wave breaking.
Sensitivity to Deaf Culture Among Otolaryngology and Audiology Trainees
Authors: Epstein Sherise , Johnson Luke M. , Sie Kathleen C.Y. , Norton Susan J. , Ou Henry C. , Horn David L.
Published: July 2022

Objective:

The Deaf community is an ethnolinguistic minority group. Low sensitivity to Deaf culture contributes to health disparities among Deaf patients. This study determines the level of sensitivity to Deaf culture among otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) and audiology trainees.

Methods:

Cross-sectional survey study of OHNS and audiology trainees from 10 large US institutions. Trainees were queried on their exposure to and comfort with Deaf patients and their education on, attitude toward, and awareness and knowledge of Deaf culture. Sensitivity to Deaf culture was operationalized as awareness and knowledge of Deaf culture. These were assessed using a 35-item instrument that was previously developed using a d/Deaf community-based participatory approach to research. We used T-tests to compare the sample to previous samples of medical students with training in Deaf culture (MS-TDCs) and general practitioners (GPs).

Results:

There were 91 completed surveys (response rate 44.5%). Almost all were aware of Deaf culture (97.8%). The mean knowledge score was 55.0% (standard deviation (SD) 13.4%), which was significantly higher than that for GPs at 43.0% (SD 15.0%) (95% confidence interval 8.1%, 15.8%, P < .0001) but significantly lower than that for MS-TDCs at 69.0% (SD 13.0%)(CI −20.3%, −7.6%, P < .0001). Knowledge scores were comparable for OHNS and audiology trainees ( P = .09).

Conclusion:

This sample of OHNS and audiology trainees was more sensitive to Deaf culture than GPs but less sensitive than MS-TDCs. Developing specialty-specific education may be warranted.

Level of evidence:

4.
Optimal Microtargeting of Advertising
Authors: Danaher Peter J.
Published: July 2022

Historically, advertising allocation decisions have operated mostly at a macro level, comprising determination of the total budget followed by apportionment among media channels. Owing to the rapid and sustained rise of digital media, an additional decision now operates at a micro level, namely, which specific customers to target with advertising. In the macro case, optimal control theory provides a powerful framework for firm profit maximization, specifically allowing for ad response, cost per medium, and discount rate, all in the presence of multiple competing brands. However, optimal control theory has never been applied to the situation of microtargeting individual customers. Consequently, in this study the author shows how optimal control theory can be adapted for application to individual customers. The author estimates a multinomial logit model with individual-specific advertising response parameters. In turn, these parameters are used to determine the optimal number of exposures each customer should receive for each advertising medium. An empirical example demonstrates that using the optimal microtargeting method improves firm profits over existing ad scheduling methods by between 150% and 183%.
Bereavement in the Time of COVID-19: Learning from Experiences of those Bereaved as a Result of Deaths in an Acute Hospital Setting in 2020
Authors: Lightbody Sophie , Catt Lorraine , Ahmad Aysha , Glover David , Whitney Julie , Hasan Sharmeen
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many people experiencing bereavement in challenging circumstances. In April 2020 at a large London Trust, a “Bereavement Welfare Hub” was established to offer support and advice by telephone to relatives and carers of all adults who died as inpatients. Data from BWH call records regarding 809 adults who died at the Trust in March, April and May 2020 were collated. A random selection of 149 call records were examined using thematic analysis. Six themes which influenced the bereavement experiences and grief status of call recipients were identified. These included family and community support, care up to the point of death, communication, care after death and death rituals and customs. Several factors positively and negatively influenced the experiences of people bereaved during the first wave of COVID-19. From these findings, recommendations have been made which have the potential to improve the bereavement experience, particularly during the pandemic era.
Research on co-simulation of multi-resolution models based on HLA
Authors: Cao Qi
Published: July 2022

Intelligence, hierarchy, and multi-resolution (MR) modeling are vital to the complex system simulation. Based on the proposed MR-Agent-Discrete EVent System (MR-Agent-DEVS) specification, this paper discusses the co-simulation of MR models under high-level architecture (HLA). First, the structure and formal description of MR-Agent-DEVS federate models were proposed. The communication mechanism and simulation process of MR-Agent-DEVS federate models were analyzed. Finally, an example of distributed interactive simulation for emergency material supply was given. The results of the simulation test show that HLA enhances the reusability of MR-Agent-DEVS models, knowledge updating and model coupling enrich the interoperability of MR-Agent-DEVS models, and the real-time memory of knowledge base in Agent ensures the consistency of MR-Agent-DEVS models in aggregation and disaggregation.
Capitals, occupational fields and consumption preferences: An analysis of the British family expenditure survey (2009–2016)
Authors: Pavlisa Karina , Scott Peter M.
Published: July 2022

Relationships between occupational membership and personal consumption have long been an important area of social analysis. Occupational groups represent important contexts of consumption, where individuals’ advantages and resources are accumulated and often impose reproduction of field-specific practices and patterns of behaviour. Drawing on Bourdieu’s conceptualization of capitals and using the British family expenditure survey, we explore consumption of capital-signalling goods across particular occupational groups within the professional-managerial ‘class’, associated with different capital structures, and demonstrate distinct spending strategies geared to the pursuit of occupational advancement. We examine consumption behaviours for six managerial/professional groups – business professionals; technical professionals; educational professionals; higher, and lower, private sector management; and public sector management. We test whether distinct patterns of ‘capital-signalling’ consumption can be identified and find significant effects of capital composition on presentational, socialization-related and informational expenditure, consistent with our hypotheses. We argue that consumption is a part of the signalling strategy of career agents, and between-occupational contrasts in capital-signalling expenditures are important but overlooked measures of capitals in cultural class analysis. We conclude that granular analysis of consumption patterns is important for revealing differences in accumulation of non-economic capitals across occupational groups, with significant implications for understanding inequality and class divisions.
Indian Women’s Unpaid and Unrecognised Work: Results from Time-Use Data
Authors: Deb Surajit
Published: July 2022

The present contribution is the fourteenth part of the Social Change Indicators series. We have deliberated on the social and economic challenges due to the pandemic in the previous issues, and the topics covered include vulnerable households, poverty and migration, living conditions, social protection networks, rural labour displacement and health conditions of older adults. In this part, we examine women’s unpaid and unrecognised work in different states of India. We present the state ranking of percentage of persons participating in a day in employment and related activities as major activity in time-use activity classification and then information on percentage of females participating in a day in unpaid activities as well as in non-System of National Accounts (Non-SNA) production, considering all the activities in the time slot.
Melanoma In Situ of the Hard Palate
Authors: Vos Teresa G. , Googe Paul B. , Blumberg Jeffrey M.
Published: July 2022

Mucosal melanoma of the oral cavity is rare and highly aggressive, thought to represent less than 1% of melanomas. Within this subgroup, melanoma in situ has been rarely described. We describe the case of a 54-year-old male with history of tobacco use presented with extensive pigmented changes to the hard and soft palate. Biopsy demonstrated melanoma in situ. Mucosal surgical resection was performed with all peripheral epithelial margins involved and negative deep margins. After extensive multidisciplinary discussion, remaining mucosal margins were re-resected to the teeth and posteriorly onto the soft palate. Deep margins remained negative with melanoma in situ still present peripherally. The patient is routinely surveilled without evidence of recurrence. Oral cavity melanoma in situ has been rarely described. The treatment of choice is surgical excision, ranging from wide local excision to composite resections, with consideration given to medical adjuncts. This unique entity should be considered in pigmented oral abnormalities.
The information behaviour of individuals changing health insurance plans and an exploration of health insurance priorities
Authors: Vardell Emily , Wang Ting
Published: July 2022

This study investigated why individuals change their health insurance plans, factors that influence their health insurance plan choices and information sources used to compare and select their desired plans. Semi-structured interviews and card sorting exercises with state university employees in the Midwest region were performed. Saving money was the main reason for switching health insurance plans. Health insurance plan coverage and cost, past experiences with the plans and coverage, health saving accounts, personal and/or family health status and forecasting health care demands for the upcoming year determined their choice of health insurance plan. Human Resource departments, printed materials, health insurance companies, online tools for comparing plans and interpersonal communications were the primary information sources for comparing and selecting health insurance plans. The study suggests that although individuals evaluate various factors and refer to multiple information sources when choosing a plan, they still experience uncertainty regarding selected plans for the coming year.
Surgical repair of a posterior left ventricular aneurysm in a 4-year-old boy
Authors: Nagase Takashi , Yamagishi Masaaki , Maeda Yoshinobu , Asada Satoshi , Hongu Hisayuki , Yamashita Eijiro , Nakai Rie , Yaku Hitoshi
Published: July 2022

Left ventricular aneurysms are rarely encountered in pediatric patients. A 4-year-old boy was diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation and a posterior left ventricular aneurysm associated with a viral infection. The aneurysm was surgically resected and plicated longitudinally with a combination of an interrupted mattress and continuous over-and-over sutures with an outer felt reinforcement. The mitral regurgitation was reduced to a trivial degree postoperatively. The patient’s postoperative recovery was good. He was discharged 31 days after surgery without cardiac dysfunction or lethal arrhythmia. Considering the location and spread of the aneurysm, an appropriate surgical procedure should be adopted for pediatric patients.
Musicking in Chinese kindergartens: Case studies in Qingdao
Authors: Yan Kunyu
Published: July 2022

This research asks the question: “How and why does “musicking” occur throughout the day in kindergartens in Qingdao city, Shandong Province, China?’ This study was carried out in 12 kindergartens, of which 6 were public and 6 were private. Two data collection methods were utilised: semi-structured interviews with teachers, as well as participant and non-participant observation of all activities over the research period. The research demonstrates that musicking occurs in kindergartens within three themes: (i) organised music sessions, (ii) socially functional musicking and (iii) background music. Although there were many functions that emerged during such musicking (e.g. music for physical exercises, music for fun, etc.), the most important music activity for teachers and children in kindergartens is structured music lessons, the main purpose of which is for children’s musical learning. This study not only demonstrates that organised music sessions in kindergartens were group activities within a teacher-centred teaching style, but it also reveals how teachers rely heavily on textbooks.
Effectiveness of Different Sterilization Methods on Clinical Orthodontic Materials
Authors: Ardeshna Anil , Chavan Krupa , Prakasam Anjana , Ardeshna Dev , Shah Dhara , Velliyagounder Kabilan
Published: July 2022

Background

Orthodontic appliances such as wires and brackets received from manufacturers come unsterilized and may be contaminated with various microorganisms before being used in the mouth. In this study, we evaluated and identified the bacterial contamination on orthodontic appliances along with the disinfecting efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) light and various sterilization methods.

Methods

Different orthodontic appliances were obtained from manufacturers divided into 5 sterilization methods and a control group (control, UV, dry heat and steam autoclave, ethyl alcohol, and 2% glutaraldehyde). Microbiological and DNA sequencing was performed on the appliances to identify the contaminated bacteria.

Results

Bacterial contamination identified on the orthodontic appliances were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Lactobacilli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus cereus. UV sterilization method effectively prevented the bacterial growth when compared to the control (unsterilized) orthodontic appliances.

Conclusion

We concluded that the orthodontic appliances received from the manufacturer showed bacterial contamination. All of the tested sterilization methods including UV light were effective in eliminating the bacterial contamination on the orthodontic appliances. Since UV light does not cause change in material properties and is cost effective with relative ease of use, its use in clinical practice for the disinfection of orthodontic appliances is suggested before placement in the mouth.
Enhancing the use of technology in the long-term care sector in Canada: Insights from citizen panels and a national stakeholder dialogue
Authors: Wilson Michael G. , Gauvin François-Pierre , DeMaio Peter , Alam Saif , Drakos Anastasia , Soueidan Sarah , Costa Andrew , Reid Rob , Simeonov Dorina , Sixsmith Andrew , Sveistrup Heidi , Lavis John N.
Published: July 2022

Enhancing the use of technology in long-term care has been identified as a key part of broader efforts to strengthen the sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform such efforts, we convened a series of citizen panels, followed by a national stakeholder dialogue with system leaders focused on reimagining the long-term care sector using technology. Key actions prioritized through the deliberations convened included: developing an innovation roadmap/agenda (including national standards and guidelines); using co-design approaches for the strengthening the long-term care sector and for technological innovation; identifying and coordinating existing innovation projects to support scale and spread; enabling rapid-learning and improvement cycles to support the development, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies; and using funding models that enable the flexibility needed for such rapid-learning cycles.
The impact of COVID-19 on relative health outcomes among healthcare workers in Canada
Authors: Tiagi Raaj
Published: July 2022

Although the COVID-19 pandemic increased stress and anxiety for most people, frontline workers have been particularly vulnerable. This article focuses on doctors and nurses and analyzes their perceived mental and life stress relative to allied healthcare workers. The study uses data from Statistics Canada's crowdsource initiative, analyzed within a multinomial logistic regression framework. Results point to increased stress among these workers. More specifically, results suggest that compared with pre-COVID-19, mental stress increased for doctors. In contrast, although mental stress did not increase for nurses, it remained poor, similar to that experienced pre-COVID-19.
Optimization of a multi-objective lean assembly problem with reconfigurable machine cells
Authors: Pattanaik Laxmi Narayan , Kant Rajeev
Published: July 2022

Manufacturing sector is regularly facing the challenges caused due to high market dynamics and mass customization. Traditionally designed machine cells fail to address this issue due to lack of flexibility in capacity and functionality. However, the benefits of cell based production can be achieved by changing the machines involved and the design of cells. This paper presents a hybrid model of machine cells comprising of reconfigurable machine tools (RMTs) that are acting as part feeders for a lean assembly line of discrete products. The strategies of lean manufacturing to maintain the Takt time and synchronized one-piece-flow are considered in the model. A multi-objective optimization problem is formulated and solved to minimize the inter-cellular part movement, the error for Takt time among machine cells and the total reconfiguration time of the RMTs using NSGA-II metaheuristic. A numerical case example for the model is solved using MATLAB© and illustrated along with computational steps and Pareto optimal solutions.
Effect of process parameters on porosity defects in Al-Si alloy hot rolling
Authors: Zhao Yanling , Jin Yuan , Bao Yudong
Published: July 2022

Hot-rolled Al-Si alloy sheets are used to be formed Al alloy welding additions and cladding materials that are widely used in the aviation, automotive, and air conditioning industries. However, if parameters of hot-rolling process are not properly selected, porosity defects during casting will lead to cracks or fractures in Al-Si alloy sheets. This study based on meso-damage theory and established a damage equation describing porosity defects in the hot rolling process. The parameters of GTN (Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman) void defect evolution, including the volume fraction of voids in different periods, the plastic equivalent variation of void nucleation, the standard variance of equivalent variation of void nucleation, and the correction coefficient of the material, are determined in this study. A finite element model of the porosity defects is developed based on the determined parameters. The finite element method is used to analyze the effect of different process parameters on the porosity defects and cracks in Al-Si alloy sheets during hot rolling, then we performed the hot rolling test to validate the results. The results show that the void stress and diameter are reduced and the quality of porosity defects is improved by decreasing rolling reductions and increasing the temperature. The optimized process parameters were a 20% depression and a temperature of 550°C.
Simulation study on pressure fluctuation characteristics of a high-pressure common rail system
Authors: Gao Zi-Guang , Li Guo-Xiu , Xu Chun-long , Li Hong-Meng , Wang Min
Published: July 2022

Pressure fluctuations in the high-pressure common rail systems have a significant impact on the fuel injection and engine performance. In this study, the pressure fluctuation in a high-pressure common rail system was investigated using simulations. The fluctuation can be caused by hydraulic structures and control factors. The degree of influence of those two causes was evaluated and discussed in this work. First, the hydraulic and control factors that dominate the models of injection systems were established. Then, the mechanism of pressure fluctuation on high-pressure common rail systems was highlighted. A dimensionless parameter was defined to quantitatively describe the effects of control factors and hydraulic structures on pressure fluctuation. Finally, the developed model was used to study the effects of injection conditions and structural parameters on pressure fluctuation. The results show that the injection frequency has a limited effect on the system pressure fluctuation. In addition, the increase in the injection energizing time and the injection pressure will increase the hydraulic pressure fluctuations of the system, thus increasing the total pressure fluctuations of the system. Moreover, the increase in the volume by increasing the diameter was found to decrease the pressure fluctuations more effectively compared to the impact of the length, but there is a marginal diminishing effect. The results demonstrated that the effect of a 20 bar signal error and a 160 mm common rail length is almost the same on decreasing pressure fluctuations. It can be concluded that the improvements in the electronic part of the high-pressure common rail system have more potential than the mechanical part.
Vehicle dynamics response due to the adjustment of K&C parameters with the aid of a dynamic simulator with 9 DOF and a correlated virtual model
Authors: Dias Cádmo , Landre Jánes
Published: July 2022

Given the increasing use of virtual simulation in automotive vehicle designs, the correlation of virtual models is a fundamental part of the process. The present work seeks to develop a methodology for the development of virtual vehicle dynamics models correlated with kinematics and compliance (K&C) parameters for use in a real-time vehicle dynamics simulator. Aiming this and with the aid of an SPMM 5000e to obtain data from the physical vehicle and from the ADAMS/Car and VI-CarRealTime (VI-CRT) software to the development and simulation and from MATLAB to the correlation, a multibody virtual model correlated in K&C to a hatchback car, with McPherson strut and twist-beam front and rear suspensions, respectively, is developed. At the end of the work, it was observed that the correlation between the virtual model and the test vehicle was found successfully and that, therefore, the virtual simulation allows to find reliable results regarding the vehicle’s suspension and steering system behavior. Subsequently, with the tests carried out with a driver in a VI-Grade DiM 150, a real-time driver-in-the-loop simulator with 9 degrees of freedom (DOF), the model and thus the methodology is validated through the steering ratio analysis: The lateral acceleration analysis in the vehicle’s center of gravity in different maneuvers allowed to observe that the model with higher steering ratio requires greater steering wheel angle values about the model with the lowest steering ratio so that the same maneuver is performed.
Influence of the angle between tibial and prosthesis mechanical axes on tibial bone remodeling in total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Hadizadeh Hossein , Hadizadeh Hasan , Ganjiani Mehdi , Karimpour Morad
Published: July 2022

Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common diseases that affect the quality of life in the elderly population, and Total Knee Arthroplasty is considered the only real treatment for it, and as with any other surgery, a suboptimal technique may lead to an undesirable outcome. This paper aims to investigate the effects of the angle between mechanical axes of the tibia and the implant on the bone remodeling process. A 3D model was reconstructed using CT images, which was then used in an ABAQUS model with a USDFLD subroutine to simulate bone remodeling post TKA. The USDFLD subroutine compares the strain energy density from each increment to that of the previous increment to determine how the bone density will change. Simulation results suggest that when the prosthesis is inclined to one side, stress and density distribution increase, whereas stress and bone density decrease substantially on the opposite side. This decrease in bone density can be as much as 35% in the coronal plane. Sagittal malalignment results suggest that the effect would be relatively localized to the vicinity of the cutting plane. Results suggest uniform load distribution may be achieved when the two mechanical axes are kept parallel, which in turn can lead to decreased prosthesis loosening and bone fractures.
Formation tracking control of fractional-order multi-agent systems with fixed-time convergence
Authors: Zamani Hossein , Johari Majd Vahid , Khandani Khosro
Published: July 2022

In this article, the fixed-time formation problem in fractional-order multi-agent systems is addressed. By using the Reimann–Liouville fractional derivative, the memory effects are considered in the dynamics of agents. The goal is to design distributed controllers for such agents of fractional order to achieve formation with a fixed-time convergence rate. To solve this problem, a fractional-order control protocol with a neighborhood-based error variable is proposed. By using the fixed-time Lyapunov stability theorem, it has been theoretically shown that the fixed-time formation tracking can be achieved within a certain settling time, and the upper bound of the settling time has been obtained explicitly. The proposed upper bound does not depend on the initial conditions. Finally, several simulations are worked out to verify the theoretical results. The superiority of the proposed method over finite-time protocols has been illustrated.
Dyslipidemia is insufficiently treated in antiphospholipid syndrome patients
Authors: Yelnik Cécile M , Martin Claire , Ledoult Emmanuel , Sanges Sébastien , Sobanski Vincent , Farhat Meryem , Morell-Dubois Sandrine , Maillard Hélène , Drumez Elodie , Launay David , Hachulla Eric , Lambert Marc
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Although dyslipidemia is a strong risk factor for thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), it has been poorly studied. This study aimed to assess lipids profile and risk factors for unachieved cholesterol levels in a real-life APS population.

Methods

Inclusion criteria were: APS diagnosis according to international classification criteria, referring to the out-patients clinic of our tertiary care center for their follow-up, and having a blood sample collection for lipids levels determination. Cholesterol level targets for each patient were defined according to 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia.

Results

Between January 2020 and April 2021, 114 APS patients were included (male 37 (32.5%); mean age 49 ± 14 years). Among them, 40 (35.1%) had a history of dyslipidemia, 48 (42.1%) were under lipid-lowering therapies, and 59 (51.8%) had a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mean levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride were, respectively, 110 ± 40 mg/dL, 60±20 mg/dL, and 120 (80–190) mg/dL. Unachieved LDL-C levels were found in 77 (67.5%) patients of whom 53 had history of CVD. Overall, 90 (78.9%) had protective HDL-C and 31 (27.2%) had hypertriglyceridemia. In the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for unachieved LDL-C levels were older age and history of CVD; triple aPL negativity, defined as complete disappearance of aPL over time in APS patients who were previously positive in accordance to international criteria, was an independent protective factor for unachieved LDL-C.

Conclusion

Our finding suggested that dyslipidemia is frequent in APS patients and mainly insufficiently treated, especially in patients with history of CVD, who are at highest risk of future CV events.
Successive Relearning: An Underexplored but Potent Technique for Obtaining and Maintaining Knowledge
Authors: Rawson Katherine A. , Dunlosky John
Published: July 2022

Successive relearning involves practicing a task until it is performed correctly and then practicing it again until it is performed correctly during other spaced practice sessions. Despite its widespread use outside of education, few students use this approach to obtain and maintain knowledge in formal educational settings. We review evidence that demonstrates its potency and emphasize how investigations of successive relearning will shift research agendas away from single-session studies in which time on task is fixed toward studies involving multiple practice sessions in which time on task is tailored for students and is treated as an outcome variable of interest. Doing so arguably will align the outcomes of cognitive-education research with real-world learning objectives by revealing not only the benefits of using successive relearning (or any learning technique) but also the time required to obtain those benefits.