bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic recession and cardiovascular disease among women: a cohort study from Eastern Finland
Authors: Jarroch Rand , Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka , Tajik Behnam , Kauhanen Jussi
Published: February 2021

Aims:

Little is known about the effect of economic recessions on cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we investigated the association of the economic recession in Finland in the 1990s with the incidence of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older women.

Methods:

A total of 918 women aged 53–73 years were examined for health and socioeconomic position in 1998–2001, as part of the population-based prospective Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The participants were asked whether Finland’s economic recession in the early 1990s had affected their lives socially or economically. The cohort was followed for 18 years, and incident physician-diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease were obtained through record linkage with the national hospital discharge registry that covers every hospitalisation in Finland. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease among those with and without exposure to socioeconomic hardships during the recession, after adjusting for possible confounders.

Results:

At the baseline, 587 women reported having experienced socioeconomic hardships due to the recession. During the 20 years’ follow-up, 501 women developed cardiovascular disease. After adjustment for age, the risk of cardiovascular disease was 27% higher among women exposed to socioeconomic hardships compared to those who were not (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.06–1.53, P=0.012). Further adjustments for overall socioeconomic position at baseline, prior cardiovascular health, and lifestyle factors did not attenuate the association (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.5, P=0.029).

Conclusions:

The early 1990s economic recession was associated with a subsequently increased risk of cardiovascular disease among Finnish women.
Exploring 10–15-year-old patients’ perspectives of fixed orthodontic treatment
Authors: Longstaff Sarah , Davies Katherine , Benson Philip
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To explore and understand young people’s perspectives of fixed orthodontic treatment. In particular, understanding how young people perceived and experienced having a fixed appliance and how their experiences can change during their treatment.

Design:

Qualitative study carried out longitudinally.

Setting:

In-depth qualitative interviews carried out in participants’ homes, video diaries recorded by participants when and where they wish.

Participants:

Fifteen patients aged 10–15 years undergoing NHS fixed appliance treatment.

Methods:

Data were collected by in-depth interviews and video diaries throughout the participants’ course of orthodontic treatment. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Young people’s friends, family and social media influenced how young people felt about the appearance of their teeth. Young people can perceive negative social judgements are made about them based on the appearance of their teeth; however, the appearance of the brace was not a concern. For some of the young people, the presence of the brace formed a rite of passage throughout adolescence. Pain and discomfort caused by fixed appliances was expected and tolerated and felt normal with time.

Conclusion:

Young people’s perceptions about appearance are influenced by people around them and social media. The physical feeling of the brace was normalised, although it did affect young people’s lives.
Advancements in technology and digital media in tourism
Authors: van Nuenen Tom , Scarles Caroline
Published: February 2021

This article discusses the concomitant processes of increasing familiarisation, responsiveness and responsibility that digital technology enables in the realm of tourism. We reflect on the influence of the proliferation of interactive digital platforms and solutions within tourism practice and behaviour through a range of lenses, from user generated content and associated interactive digital platforms, the emergence of gamification embedded within these, immersive mixed-reality media (such as virtual reality [VR] and augmented reality [AR]) and the changes in tourist behaviour that have paralleled these digital developments. We also explore the use of AI in tourism, and the methodological potential that digital technology has for tourism studies.
Future trajectories of festival research
Authors: Duffy Michelle , Mair Judith
Published: February 2021

In their editorial for the first issue of Tourist Studies, Adrian Franklin and Mike Crang made us aware that tourism research had shifted to an exploration of the extraordinary everyday where ‘more or less everyone now lives in a world rendered or reconfigured as interesting, entertaining and attractive – for tourists’. From our standpoint 20 years later, we suggest this particular departure point has important insights to offer our understanding of a quintessential tourism event, that of the festival, which now intervenes in daily life in all manner of ways. In this commentary, we present a reflective commentary on recent scholarship that advocates for more rigour in festival studies, with greater theory development and testing within the festival context, and how this work is suggestive of future directions for festival research. We present several areas that are ripe for further research, particularly given the tumultuous nature of the world we are living in, such as the challenges of climate change and how we might socialise in a post-Covid world. Much has changed in the 20 years since the inception of Tourist Studies, but festivals remain resilient – they will re-emerge in future, perhaps not unscathed but with a renewed sense of purpose.
Numerical evaluation of hydrodynamic characteristics of planing hulls by using a hybrid method
Authors: Kahramanoglu Emre , Pennino Silvia , Yilmaz Huseyin
Published: February 2021

The hydrodynamic characteristics of the planing hulls in particular at the planing regime are completely different from the conventional hull forms and the determination of these characteristics is more complicated. In the present study, calm water hydrodynamic characteristics of planing hulls are investigated using a hybrid method. The hybrid method combines the dynamic trim and sinkage from the Zarnick approach with the Savitsky method in order to calculate the total resistance of the planing hull. Since the obtained dynamic trim and sinkage values by using the original Zarnick approach are not in good agreement with experimental data, an improvement is applied to the hybrid method using a reduction function proposed by Garme. The numerical results obtained by the hybrid and improved hybrid method are compared with each other and available experimental data. The results indicate that the improved hybrid method gives better results compared to the hybrid method, especially for the dynamic trim and resistance. Although the results have some discrepancies with experimental data in terms of resistance, trim and sinkage, the improved hybrid method becomes appealing particularly for the preliminary design stage of the planing hulls.
Development of an integrated sacrificial sensor for damage detection and monitoring in composite materials and adhesively bonded joints
Authors: Ólafsson G , Tighe RC , Boyd SW , Dulieu-Barton JM
Published: February 2021

Quality assurance of adhesively bonded joints is of vital importance if their benefits are to be exploited across a wide range of industrial applications. A novel lightweight, low-cost, non-invasive embedded sacrificial sensor is proposed, capable of detecting damage within an adhesively bonded joint, which could also be used in a laminated composite structure. The sensor operation uses changes in electrical resistance, increasing as the sensing material area diminishes with damage progression. Initial tests prove the sensor concept by showing that the electrical resistance of the sensor increases proportionally with material removal, mimicking the sensor operation. Thermography is used to verify the current flow through the sensor and that any localised heating caused by the sensor is minimal. Short beam interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests show that embedding sensors in a composite laminates did not cause a reduction in material interfacial structural performance. Finally, the in situ performance of the sensor is demonstrated in quasi-static tensile tests to failure of adhesively bonded single lap joints (SLJs) with sensors embedded in the bond line. Prior to crack initiation, an electrical response occurs that correlates with increasing applied load, suggesting scope for secondary uses of the sensor for load monitoring and cycle counting. Crack initiation is accompanied by a rapid increase in electrical resistance, providing an indication of failure ahead of crack propagation and an opportunity for timely repair. As the crack damage propagated, the electrical response of the sensor increased proportionally. The effect of the sensor on the overall structural performance was assessed by comparing the failure load of joints with and without the embedded sensor with no measurable difference in ultimate strength. The research presented in the article serves as an important first step in developing a simple yet promising new technology for structural health monitoring with numerous potential applications.
Multi-feature integration and machine learning for guided wave structural health monitoring: Application to switch rail foot
Authors: Liu Weixu , Tang Zhifeng , Lv Fuzai , Chen Xiangxian
Published: February 2021

Switch rails are weak but essential components of high-speed railway systems that have urgent nondestructive testing requirements owing to aging and the associated potential for fatigue damage accumulation. This study presents a multi-feature integration and automatic classification algorithm for switch rail damage using guided wave monitoring signals. A combination of piezoelectric transducers and magnetostrictive patch transducers is adopted to improve the monitoring performance and meet actual monitoring requirements. Furthermore, multiple features extracted from various signal processing domains—such as the time domain, power spectrum domain, and time–frequency domain—are proposed and defined according to the structure and characteristics of the switch rail and guided wave to represent the complex nature of the damage. A damage index is defined to eliminate the influence of various environmental and operational conditions, signal power, and other factors. In addition, a feature selection method based on binary particle swarm optimization with a new fitness function is proposed to select the most damage-sensitive features and eliminate irrelevant and redundant features to improve the classification performance. Moreover, considering that the results are easily influenced by experts’ subjective judgment and experience, the least-squares support-vector machine is used to construct automatic classification models to reduce the probability of artificial incorrect diagnosis and improve the generalization ability to unknown environments. Finally, three types of experiments on the foot of a switch rail are presented to evaluate the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method is capable of identifying damage in challenging cases and is superior to conventional methods.
Moral sensitivity and moral distress correlation in nurses caring of patients with spinal cord injury
Authors: Sedghi Goyaghaj Naser , Zoka Amir , Mohsenpour Mohaddeseh
Published: February 2021

Background and aim

Ethical sensitivity of nurses often plays an important role in their occupational commitment and moral decision-making. In some working conditions, nurses are affected by ethical distress and fail to pursue correct ethical actions despite having knowledge and a tendency for moral practice. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation between sensitivity and ethical distress in the nurses of patients with spinal cord injuries.

Materials and methods

This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 160 of the nurses of patients with spinal cord injuries. The participants were selected through the purposive sampling method out of the nurses in Khatamolanbia and Sasan hospitals, Tehran, Iran. Data collection tools included the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire by Han and Corley’s Moral Distress Scale. Data were analyzed by the independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient using the SPSS software version 19.

Results

The mean values of ethical sensitivity was 80.48 ± 14.45 and ethical distress among the subjects was 62.39 ± 3.54. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between moral sensitivityand moral distress (P<0.05, r = −0.37).

Conclusion

According to the results of this study, increased ethical sensitivity is associated with diminished moral distress among the nurses of patients with spinal cord injuries. On the other hand, moral sensitivity is of considerable importance in nurses, especially in taking care of patients with special conditions. Consequently, it is recommended to provide some conditions for maintaining and enhancing ethical sensitivity in nurses taking care of patients with spinal cord injuries.
A comparative analysis of the digital re-constructions of muqarnas systems: The case study of Sultanhanı muqarnas in Central Anatolia
Authors: Dinçer Sevde Gülizar , Yazar Tuğrul
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a comparative case study on the digital modeling workflows of a particular muqarnas system. After the literature review and the definition of the context, several digital modeling workflows were described as element-based, tessellation-based and block-based workflows by using computer-aided design and parametric modeling software. As the case study of this research, these workflows were tested on a muqarnas design located at the Sultanhanı Caravanserai in Central Anatolia. Then, workflows were compared according to three qualities: analytical, generative, and performative. The outcomes of element-based workflow has more analytical solutions for the study, where tessellation-based workflow has more generative potential and block-based workflow is more performative.
Vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis, and lipid metabolism and the occurrence of non-high albuminuria diabetic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Yang Yuwei , Xu Peng , Liu Yan , Chen Xiaohong , He Yiyang , Feng Jiafu
Published: February 2021

Aim:

Atherosclerosis involves vascular endothelial damage and lipid metabolism disorder, which is closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, studies on non-high albuminuria DKD (NHADKD) with an albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) <30 mg/g are rare. This study is to investigate the relationship between atherogenic factors and the occurrence of NHADKD.

Methods:

Serum lipid indicators, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lip-PLA2) and homocysteine levels were measured in 1116 subjects to analyze their relationship with NHADKD.

Results:

Among all subjects, Lip-PLA2 had the closest but relatively weak correlation with ACR ( r = 0.297, p < 0.001) and only homocysteine was moderately correlated with eGFR ( r = −0.465, p < 0.001). However, in patients with NHADKD, these atherosclerotic factors were weakly correlated or uncorrelated with eGFR (max. | r| = 0.247). Stratified risk analysis showed that when ACR was <10 mg/g, homocysteine [OR = 6.97(4.07–11.95)], total cholesterol (total-Chol) [OR = 6.04(3.03–12.04)], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Chol) [OR = 5.09(2.99–8.64)] were risk factors for NHADKD. There was no significant difference of OR between these three factors ( Z = 0.430–1.044, all p > 0.05). When ACR was ⩾10mg/g, homocysteine [OR = 17.26(9.67–30.82)] and total-Chol [OR = 5.63(2.95–10.76)] were risk factors for NHADKD, and ORhomocysteine was significantly higher than ORtotal-Chol ( Z = 3.023, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The occurrence of NHADKD may be related to the levels of homocysteine, total-Chol, HDL-Chol, and Lip-PLA2 in blood. Among them, homocysteine may be most closely related to NHADKD.
Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jin Jing , Yang Lan , Liu Dan , Li Wei Min
Published: February 2021

Background:

The overall prognosis of lung cancer remains unfavorable and novel prognostic biomarkers of lung cancer are needed warranted. Accumulating evidence indicate that systemic inflammation plays a vital role in lung cancer. The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is biomarker that reflects the level of systemic inflammation.

Objective:

To perform a comprehensive meta-analysis exploring the correlation of pretreatment LMR with the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of lung cancer patients.

Methods:

We conducted searches of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to May 2020 to identify relevant studies and calculated combined hazard ratios (HRs) to evaluate the association between pretreatment LMR and survival time in patients with lung cancer.

Results:

A total of 23 studies comprising 8361 lung cancer patients were included. Among the patients, 5702 (68%) were males, 4548 were current smokers and 2212 were diagnosed with squamous carcinoma. The pooled analysis revealed that decreased pretreatment LMR was significantly correlated with reduced of PFS (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.34-1.67, p < 0.01) and reduced OS (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.45-1.79, p < 0.01) among lung cancer patients. Furthermore, in the subgroup analyses according to histologic type, a lower level of pretreatment LMR seemed to be unrelated to the poorer OS of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients (HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 0.87-1.67, P = 0.25).

Conclusions:

Decreased pretreatment LMR in peripheral blood was associated with shorter OS and PFS in lung cancer patients, suggesting its potential prognostic value.
Silencing of Long Non-Coding RNA FGD5-AS1 Inhibits the Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Regulating the miR-493-5p/DDX5 Axis
Authors: Cui Fang , Luo Peng , Bai Yao , Meng Jiangping
Published: February 2021

Background:

Long non-coding RNA FGD5 antisense RNA 1 (FGD5-AS1), identified to be a carcinogenic lncRNA, exhibits a regulatory role in some malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the present research is to decipher the function and underlying mechanism of FGD5-AS1 in progression of NSCLC.

Methods:

Expression of FGD5-AS1, miR-493-5p and DEAD-box protein 5 (DDX5) in NSCLC tissues and cells was quantified utilizing qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 method. Scratch healing test and Transwell assay were used for assaying cell migration and invasion. Expressions of DDX5 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were examined by Western blot. Additionally, targeting relationships between FGD5-AS1 and miR-493-5p, miR-493-5p and DDX5 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

Results:

Expression of FGD5-AS1 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was up-regulated. Expression of FGD5-AS1 was in association with enlarged tumor size and lymph node metastasis of the patients. Knockdown of FGD5-AS1 led to the inhibition of proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of NSCLC cells. FGD5-AS1 directly targeted miR-493-5p, while DDX5 was the target of miR-493-5p in NSCLC cells. Additionally, FGD5-AS1 could positively regulate the expression of DDX5 via suppressing miR-493-5p.

Conclusion:

FGD5-AS1 facilitates the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of NSCLC cells by sponging miR-493-5p and up-regulating DDX5.
Application of Compound Polymyxin B Ointment in the Treatment of Chronic Refractory Wounds
Authors: Tang Jiajun , Guan Haonan , Dong Wei , Liu Yingkai , Dong Jiaoyun , Huang Lifang , Zhou Jingqi , Lu Shuliang
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of compound polymyxin B ointment for treating chronic refractory wounds. A retrospective analysis was performed on 111 patients who underwent chronic refractory wound treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups, with 45 patients included in the experimental group (compound polymyxin B group) and 66 patients included in the control group (silver sulfadiazine group). After thorough debridement in both groups, either compound polymyxin B ointment or silver sulfadiazine cream was evenly applied to the patient’s wound and covered with sterile gauze. In both groups, dressing changes were dependent on the wound’s condition and secretions. Using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT), patients in both groups were scored, after which wound healing, infection, and healing time were compared. There was no significant difference in BWAT scores between the 2 groups on the 7th or 14th day; however, on the 21st day, the BWAT score in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The difference was statistically significant ( P < .05). There was no significant difference in the BWAT-I scores between the 2 groups on the seventh day. The healing time in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < .05). For the treatment of chronic refractory wounds, thorough debridement followed by compound polymyxin B ointment topical application can reduce and control wound infection effectively and accelerate the process of wound repair.
Acupuncture for Arthralgia Induced by Aromatase Inhibitors in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Xiaomeng , Lu Jing , Wang Guoxin , Chen Xiu , Xv Haiping , Huang Jing , Xue Mingxin , Tang Jinhai
Published: February 2021

Background:

Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AIA) is the most common side effect of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) used in breast cancer patients and is related to the rate of adherence to AIs. The clinical effects of acupuncture on AIA have been assessed by some randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, some studies reported that acupuncture was effective, while others claimed that it was ineffective. To clarify the clinical and placebo effects of acupuncture in treating AIA, we conducted this meta-analysis.

Methods:

Two reviewers (XL and GW) independently searched for RCTs in 5 English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Springer, Cochrane Library) and 4 Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), SinoMed, VIP and Wanfang Database) from their inception to 30 November 2019. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this meta-analysis was performed by fixed or random-effects models, and data were pooled with mean differences (MDs).

Results:

Seven trials involving 603 patients were reviewed. The primary outcome, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) score, significantly differed between the acupuncture and control groups [pain-related interference: MD = −1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−2.99, −0.79], Z = 3.36 ( P = .008 < .05), pain severity: MD = −1.57, 95% CI [−2.46, −0.68], Z = 3.45 ( P = .0006 < .05), worst pain: MD = −2.31, 95% CI [−3.15, −1.48], Z = 5.47 ( P < .0001 < .05)]. No severe adverse events were reported in any study.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis showed that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for breast cancer patients with AIA. Additional research with improved blinding methods is warranted to further explore the nature of non-specific and placebo effects in true and sham acupuncture.
The Emerging Role of Robotic Single-site Approach for Myomectomy: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Giovannopoulou Eirini , Prodromidou Anastasia , Blontzos Nikolaos , Iavazzo Christos
Published: February 2021

Objective. To review the existing studies on single-site robotic myomectomy and test the safety and feasibility of this innovative minimally invasive technique. Data Sources. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar (from their inception to October 2019), as well as Clinicaltrials.gov databases up to April 2020. Methods of Study Selection. Clinical trials (prospective or retrospective) that reported the outcomes of single-site robotic myomectomy, with a sample of at least 20 patients were considered eligible for the review. Results. The present review was performed in accordance with the guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Four (4) studies met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 267 patients were included with a mean age from 37.1 to 39.1 years and BMI from 21.6 to 29.4 kg/m2. The mean operative time ranged from 131.4 to 154.2 min, the mean docking time from 5.1 to 5.45 min, and the mean blood loss from 57.9 to 182.62 ml. No intraoperative complications were observed, and a conversion rate of 3.8% was reported by a sole study. The overall postoperative complication rate was estimated at 2.2%, and the mean hospital stay ranged from 0.57 to 4.7 days. No significant differences were detected when single-site robotic myomectomy was compared to the multiport technique concerning operative time, blood loss, and total complication rate. Conclusion. Our findings support the safety of single-site robotic myomectomy and its equivalency with the multiport technique on the most studied outcomes. Further studies are needed to conclude on the optimal minimally invasive technique for myomectomy.
Church Attendance and Mobility Limitation Among Black and White Men With Prostate Cancer
Authors: Bruce Marino A. , Bowie Janice V. , Beech Bettina M. , Norris Keith C. , LaVeist Thomas A. , Howard Daniel L. , Thorpe Roland J.
Published: February 2021

Prostate cancer is a significant impediment that can reduce physical functional status. Mobility is fundamental for quality of life and church attendance to be associated with improved physical functioning. Few studies have examined how religious participation have implications for mobility limitation among men in general and among prostate cancer survivors in particular. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between church attendance and mobility limitation among Black and White prostate cancer patients and survivors. Data for this investigation were drawn from the Diagnosis and Decisions in Prostate Cancer Treatment Outcomes Study that consisted of 804 Black and White men with complete information on the primary outcome and predictor variables. Mobility limitation was the primary outcome variable, and church attendance was the main independent variable. The analytic sample was almost equally divided between Black ( N = 382) and White men ( N = 422). The proportion of Black men reporting mobility limitation (30.09%) more than doubled the corresponding percentage for White men (14.7%). Black men had a higher proportion of individuals who reported weekly church attendance (49.2% vs. 45.0%). Fully adjusted modified Poisson regression models produced results indicating that respondents attending church weekly had a lower mobility limitation prevalence (PR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.39, 0.81]) than those never attending church. Results from this study contribute to the body of evidence asserting the health benefits of church attendance. These findings suggest that health providers should consider how religion and spirituality can present opportunities for improved outcomes in prostate cancer patients and survivors.
Animated Analysis: Drawing Deeper Analytical Insights From Qualitative Data
Authors: Ho Emily S. , Wright F. Virginia , Parsons Janet A.
Published: February 2021

While participant-created drawings in arts-based health research, used as a process of producing knowledge are well known, similar approaches with researcher-created drawings are less common. This article describes the journey of how researcher-created drawings as an arts-based analytical approach helped a novice researcher to draw deeper into the interpretive process. Emerging from a positivist paradigm, a proceduralist understanding of the qualitative methods was readily grasped by this researcher, but developing reflexivity and deep analytical insights required facilitation. An overarching interpretivist qualitative approach that aligns with Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutics was used to analyze participant observation data (field notes, researcher-created drawings) of decision-making encounters between families of youth with brachial plexus birth injuries and the health care team in the clinic setting. Drawing acted as an analytical catalyst such that the task of creating a visual product helped this researcher to look beyond descriptive, factual and procedural information in participant observation data. Drawing created spontaneity that fostered freedom to interpret, while hermeneutic reflection created self-dialogue about understandings that arose from all data sources. Reflexivity was cultivated through deliberating on the creative process that resulted in choices of composition and content to represent the observed sessions. Drawing can help qualitative researchers animate their analyses through a visible and accountable method of constructing new knowledge.
Research on car-following model based on molecular dynamics
Authors: Jia Yanfeng , Qu Dayi , Han Lewei , Lin Lu , Hong Jiale
Published: February 2021

The car-following model has always been a research hot spot in the field of traffic flow theory. Modeling the car-following behavior can quantify the longitudinal interaction between cars, thereby understanding the characteristics of traffic flow, and revealing the inherent mechanisms of traffic congestion and other traffic phenomena. In fact, there is an asymmetry problem in the driver’s acceleration and deceleration operation. The existing car-following model ignores the difference between the acceleration and deceleration of cars. To solve this problem, the cars driving on the road are compared to molecules with interactions. Based on the molecular interaction potential function and the wall potential function, we construct a molecular car-following model. We use NGSIM data set to calibrate the parameters of the model through the genetic algorithm. Finally, we analyze the evolution rule of the disturbance in the traffic flow in different states with the help of the time-space diagram, and compare the molecular model and the classical optimal velocity model. The results show that the molecular car-following model can better describe the car-following behavior from the micro level.
Fuzzy energy management strategy for electric vehicle combining driving cycle construction and air-conditioning load identification
Authors: Pan Chaofeng , Tao Yuanxue , Wang Limei , Li Huanhuan , Yang Jufeng
Published: February 2021

Energy management strategy is developed by considering the random and air conditioning load fluctuation, which greatly affected the torque control of the electric motor in electric vehicle. Firstly, the vehicle power consumption model is established, based on the influencing factors of electric vehicle energy consumption: random load and air conditioning load. Therefore, driving conditions with random characteristics representing the actual random load are constructed. According to the clustered characteristic parameters, the driving conditions were classified as different driving modes. Secondly, the mode of predicted condition was taken as a variable to evaluate the logic threshold strategy and fuzzy control strategy in which the influence of air conditioning was considered. Finally, under the condition of New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the proposed management strategy was simulated in software environment, and the hardware in-loop (HIL) test was performed to verify the strategy. The simulation and HIL test results show that the proposed energy management strategy can increase the driving range by considering the load fluctuation of air conditioning. Furthermore, the strategy combining the driving mode prediction can alleviate the decline rate of SOC. And the fuzzy control strategy has better adaptability in complex conditions and lower battery energy consumption rate.
Experimental and computational modeling of bulk residual stress for aeronautical components with distinct geometries
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Yang Yinfei , Li Liang , Kong Jinxing
Published: February 2021

To predict and minimize machining distortion in the manufacturing process, bulk residual stresses in aeronautical components with distinct geometries were investigated via experimental mechanics and numerical simulation. The residual stress state was appropriately simplified according to geometric/processing feathers and deformation patterns of the investigated parts. In each case study, an optimal experimental method was selected to reconstruct the concerned stress tensor. Thereafter, qualitative comparison and validation were performed using cross-method verification and/or numerical simulation. Additionally, the spatial resolution and distribution characteristics of the residual stress were analyzed and discussed in detail. The results revealed that thermal and mechanical nonuniformity caused by material processing is the main source of bulk residual stress in the investigated components. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the contour method on the measurement of different geometric components was verified by numerical simulation. Combining the accurate measurement of the characteristic plane and the appropriate numerical simulation of the global stress field, an engineering-oriented approach for full-field stress evaluation was proposed. This research can provide valuable engineering guidance and suggestions for stress evaluation and distortion analysis prior to manufacturing of integral structures.
An extended state observer-based full-order sliding mode control for robotic joint actuated by antagonistic pneumatic artificial muscles
Authors: Gong Daoxiong , Pei Mengyao , He Rui , Yu Jianjun
Published: February 2021

Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) are expected to play an important role in endowing the advanced robot with the compliant manipulation, which is very important for a robot to coexist and cooperate with humans. However, the strong nonlinear characteristics of PAMs hinder its wide application in robots, and therefore, advanced control algorithms are urgently needed for making the best use of the advantages and bypassing the disadvantages of PAMs. In this article, we propose a full-order sliding mode control extended state observer (fSMC-ESO) algorithm that combines the ESO and the fSMC for a robotic joint actuated by a pair of antagonistic PAMs. The fSMC is employed to eliminate the chattering and to guarantee the finite-time convergence, and the ESO is adopted to observe both the total disturbance and the states of the robot system, so that we can inhibit the disturbance and compensate the nonlinearity efficiently. Both simulations and physical experiments are conducted to validate the proposed method. We suggest that the proposed method can be applied to the robotic systems actuated by PAMs and remarkably improve the performance of the robot system.
What about school principals’ well-being? The role of social capital
Authors: Beausaert Simon , Froehlich Dominik E , Riley Philip , Gallant Andrea
Published: February 2021

The well-being and mental health of principals is being threatened by changing working conditions such as a broader variety of roles and tasks. In this article, we argue that social capital might buffer against declining (mental) health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential influence of social capital, including both internal (bonding) and external (bridging and linking) social capital, on principals’ well-being. A longitudinal study was set up across three waves of data. Questionnaires were collected from 2084 Australian principals and 829 Irish principals, across six and two timepoints, respectively. The hypotheses were tested using a longitudinal path model approach using maximum likelihood estimation in lavaan for R. In line with our hypotheses, the results indicated that principals who reported higher levels of either internal or external social capital also reported higher levels of well-being. More specifically, support from colleagues outside the school and supervisor support (external social capital) and collaboration and trust in management (internal social capital) predicted well-being positively across time. The results of this study highlight the importance of having social support from colleagues and supervisors and possibilities for collaboration to maintain well-being as a school principal.
Hygrothermal performance of six insulation systems for internal retrofitting solid masonry walls
Authors: Jensen Nickolaj Feldt , Bjarløv Søren Peter , Rode Carsten , Andersen Birgitte , Møller Eva B
Published: February 2021

The study investigated the hygrothermal performance and risk of fungal growth in a phenolic foam system with a closed cell structure and a diffusion-open and capillary active lime-cork based insulating plaster, for internal retrofitting purposes. The setup comprised two 40-feet (12.2 m) insulated reefer container with controlled indoor climate, reconfigured with 24 holes (1 × 2 m each) containing solid masonry walls with embedded wooden elements on the interior side. Focus was on the conditions in the masonry/insulation interface and embedded wooden elements, and the performance of the two systems were compared to three diffusion-open insulation systems and one diffusion-tight. The effect of exterior hydrophobisation was also investigated. Relative humidity and temperature were measured in several locations in the test walls over 2½ years, and the risk of fungal growth was evaluated by on-site measurements and the VTT mould-growth model. The findings indicate that internally insulated walls with bare brick exterior surfaces performed poorly with high risk of fungal growth. The effect of exterior hydrophobisation was found to vary with the orientation and the installed insulation system, with a generally positive effect on walls facing south-west but limited effect for north-east. Furthermore, the more diffusion-tight insulation systems were found to perform better in combination with exterior hydrophobisation than the highly diffusion-open systems. The lime-cork insulating plaster showed high relative humidity and risk of moisture-induced problems. The on-site fungal tests showed no growth in the masonry/insulation interface inside the two insulation systems, probably due to high initial pH-value.
A comparison of hygrothermal simulation results derived from four simulation tools
Authors: Defo Maurice , Lacasse Michael , Laouadi Abdelaziz
Published: February 2021

The objective of this work was to compare the hygrothermal responses and the moisture performance of four wood-frame walls as predicted by four hygrothermal (HAM) simulation tools, namely: DELPHIN, WUFI, hygIRC and COMSOL. The four wall systems differ only in their cladding type; these were fibreboard, vinyl, stucco and brick. Three Canadian cities having different climates were selected for simulations: Ottawa, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta. In each city, simulations were run for 2 years. Temperature and relative humidity of the outer layer of OSB sheathing were compared amongst the four simulation tools. The mould growth index on the outer layer of the OSB sheathing was used to compare the moisture performance predicted by the respective hygrothermal simulation tools. Temperature profiles of the outer layer of the OSB sheathing were all in good agreement for the four HAM tools in the three locations. For relative humidity, the highest discrepancies amongst the four tools were found with stucco cladding where differences as high as 20% could be found from time to time. Mould growth indices predicted by the four HAM tools were similar in some cases but different in other cases. The discrepancies amongst the different HAM tools were likely related to: the material property processing, how the quantity of wind-driven rain absorbed at the cladding surface is computed and some implementation details. Despite these discrepancies, The tools generally yielded consistent results and could be used for comparing the impacts of different designs on the risk of premature deterioration, as well as for evaluating the relative effects of climate change on a given wall assembly design.
Abnormal neurometabolites in fibromyalgia patients: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Jung Ye-Ha , Kim Hyeonjin , Lee Dasom , Lee Jae-Yeon , Lee Won Joon , Moon Jee Youn , Choi Soo-Hee , Kang Do-Hyung
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to investigate distinct neurometabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right and left thalamus, and insula of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared with healthy controls using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), total NAA (tNAA = NAA + NAAG), myo-inositol (ml), glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), Glx (Glu + Gln), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), total choline (tCho = GPC + phosphocholine) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to total creatine (tCr) levels including creatine (Cr) and phosphocreatine (PCr) and relative to Cr levels were determined in the ACC, right and left thalamus, and insula in 12 patients with FM and 13 healthy controls using MRS. In the ACC, NAA/tCr (P = 0.028) and tCho/tCr (P = 0.047) were higher in patients with FM. In the right and left insula, tNAA/tCr (P = 0.019, P = 0.007, respectively) was lower in patients with FM. Patients with FM showed lower levels of ml/Cr (P = 0.037) in the right insula than healthy controls. These findings are paramount to understand decisive pathophysiological mechanisms related to abnormal features in the brain and parasympathetic nervous systems in FM. We suggest that the results presented herein may be essential to understand hidden pathological mechanisms and also life system potential as protective and recovering metabolic strategies in patients with FM.
Neuropeptide W, an endogenous NPBW1 and NPBW2 ligand, produced an analgesic effect via activation of the descending pain modulatory system during a rat formalin test
Authors: Nakamura Shingo , Nonaka Takahiro , Yoshida Koji , Yamada Toshihiko , Yamamoto Tatsuo
Published: February 2021

Neuropeptide W (NPW) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and NPBW1 and/or NPBW2 mRNA are expressed in the descending pain inhibitory system. In the present study, we examined whether NPW microinjected into the descending pain inhibitory system, such as the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), produces an analgesic effect using a rat formalin test. Microinjections of NPW into the PAG ipsilateral and contralateral to the formalin-injected side, LC ipsilateral and contralateral to the formalin-injected side, and RVM produced an analgesic effect. In the RVM study, the analgesic effect was antagonized by WAY100135, a 5-HT1A antagonist, and enhanced by prazosin, an α1 antagonist, and SB269970, a 5-HT7 antagonist. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, also antagonized the effect of NPW in the RVM study. In the ipsilateral LC study, the analgesic effect was antagonized by WAY100135, idazoxan, an α2 antagonist, and naloxone and was enhanced by prazosin and SB269970. In the contralateral LC study, the analgesic effect was antagonized by prazosin, idazoxan, SB269970, and naloxone. The analgesic effect was antagonized by WAY100135, SB269970, idazoxan, and naloxone in the ipsilateral and contralateral PAG studies. These findings strongly suggest that NPBW1/W2 activation by NPW microinjection into the RVM, LC, and PAG affect the descending pain modulatory system and produce anti-nociceptive and pro-nociceptive effects in the rat formalin test.
Masked transposition priming effects are observed in Korean in the same–different task
Authors: Lee Chang H , Lally Clare , Rastle Kathleen
Published: February 2021

Research suggests that readers of Korean Hangul demonstrate precise orthographic coding. In contrast to findings from many other languages, the identification of Hangul words is not speeded by prior masked presentation of transposition primes relative to substitution primes. The present studies asked whether evidence for precise orthographic coding is also observed in the same–different task—a task claimed to reflect pre-lexical orthographic representations. Experiments tested whether masked transposed-letter (Experiment 1) or transposed-syllable-block (Experiment 2) primes facilitate judgements about whether a target matches a reference stimulus. In contrast to previous results using lexical decision, significant transposition effects were observed in both cases. These findings add weight to the proposition that apparent differences across writing systems in the precision of orthographic coding may reflect demands of the word identification process rather than properties of orthographic representations themselves.
Meditation-induced cognitive-control states regulate working memory task performance
Authors: Ma Ke , Deng Na , Hommel Bernhard
Published: February 2021

Single-bout focused-attention meditation (FAM) and open-monitoring meditation (OMM) are assumed to bias metacontrol states towards more persistent versus more flexible processing, respectively. In Experiment 1, we tested whether monitoring and updating of working memory (WM) representations in an N-back task with high (3-back), medium (2-back), and low (1-back) WM demands (varied within participants) is affected by preceding single-bout FAM or OMM meditation (varied between participants and compared with a control group). The results showed that FAM promotes WM performance in the medium (2-back), but not in the high (3-back) or low (1-back) demand condition, whereas OMM did not affect WM performance. A replication of the 2-back condition only (Experiment 2) showed no meditation effect, but a replication of the 3-back condition only (Experiment 3) produced a similar pattern as the 2-back condition in Experiment 1, with FAM promoting performance compared with OMM and the control condition. Taken together, these findings suggest that the single-bout FAM does promote WM performance but only if the capacity demands are neither too high nor too low.
Novel ultrasound-based volume estimation of prostatic benign enlargement to improve decision-making on surgical approach
Authors: Dekalo Snir , Savin Ziv , Schreter Eran , Marom Ron , Bar-Yosef Yuval , Mano Roy , Yossepowitch Ofer , Sofer Mario
Published: February 2021

Aim:

To assess the precision of preoperative ultrasonography (US)-determined prostate volume and to propose formulas for improving it.

Methods:

This retrospective study comprised 155 consecutive men who underwent open prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) between 2013 and 2019. Preoperative prostate volume was estimated by either abdominal US (AUS) ( n = 92) or transrectal US (TRUS) ( n = 63), and was compared with the weight of surgically enucleated tissue at a conversion rate of 1 ml (US) = 1 g tissue. Statistical analysis was conducted and a novel formula for prostate volume was constructed.

Results:

The median prostate volumes by AUS and TRUS were 140 ml [interquartile ratio (IQR) 111–182] and 108 ml (IQR 93–120), respectively. Enucleated tissue weight was lower than the AUS assessment by a median difference of 50 g (IQR 28.7–75.7; p < 0.001), and lower than the TRUS assessment by a median difference of 27 g, IQR 10–43, p < 0.001). Using a cutoff of 80 ml, 30 (33%) AUS patients and 23 (36%) TRUS patients underwent unneeded open procedures. Mathematical calculations revealed two formulas that significantly adjusted for the actual weight: 1.082*Age + 0.523*AUS − 53.845 for AUS and 0.138*age + 2.22*prostate-specific antigen + 0.453*TRUS + 11.682 for TRUS ( p < 0.001). These formulas increased the overall US prostate volume accuracy from 65% to 85%.

Conclusion:

Assessment of prostate volume by US is imprecise for decision-making of whether to perform open simple prostatectomy for BPH. Our novel formulas may enhance stratification of patients with prostatic enlargement to a more optimal surgical approach. Future studies in larger cohorts are needed to substantiate our results.