bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the global dynamics of path-following control of automated passenger vehicles
Authors: Vörös Illés , Orosz Gábor , Takács Dénes
Published: February 2023

The nonlinear dynamics of the path-following control of passenger cars is analyzed in this paper. The effect of specific modeling aspects, such as tire deformation, steering dynamics, feedback delay and controller saturation, is considered. Possible equilibrium points and singularities in the state space are uncovered and analyzed for different vehicle model and controller designs. The equilibrium of stable path following is then analyzed in greater detail: The domains of stabilizing control gains are presented in stability charts and the basin of attraction of the equilibrium along the stable domain is approximated with the help of numerical continuation. Unsafe zones of control gains are highlighted, where the stable equilibrium is surrounded by low-amplitude unstable limit cycles. Finally, it is shown how specific modifications of the control law can remove unwanted equilibrium points and increase the basin of attraction of stable path following, resulting in safer and more reliable control of the vehicle.
Arguing in Direct Democracy: An Argument Scheme for Proposing Reasons in Debates Surrounding Public Votes
Authors: Müller Michael A. , Campell Joannes B.
Published: February 2023

We develop a novel argument scheme tailored to debates surrounding public votes on a state action. It can be used to propose reasons for voting “yes” or “no” and allows for natural reconstructions of such debates. These reconstructions are of particular use to voters trying to weigh the pros and cons of the proposed state action. The scheme for proposing reasons helps answering two questions: What changes will the proposed state action bring with it? And are these changes good or not? Using the scheme, we derive a three-layered structure of public debates surrounding votes that aides in constructing systematic and comprehensive overviews. The scheme for proposing reasons also lends itself to concise summaries for voter information and can be incorporated into more general deliberation dialogues.
Occurrence rates and risk factors of in-hospital venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and death in patients receiving fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery
Authors: Ding Ya , Han Bowen , Yuan Bin , Nie Mingjun , Liu Renyang , Zhao Ming , Wang Hongliang
Published: February 2023

Aim

Fondaparinux is a synthetic anticoagulant that inhibits thrombosis by suppressing factor Xa. The efficacy of fondaparinux for orthopedic surgeries has been revealed by several foreign studies; however, relevant evidence in Chinese patients is lacking. This study intended to investigate the occurrence rate and risk factors of in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE), major bleeding, and death in patients receiving fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery.

Methods

Totally, 1258 patients who received fondaparinux after orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery were retrospectively enrolled. Meanwhile, in-hospital VTE, major bleeding, and death were obtained for assessment. Besides, adverse events were recorded.

Results

The occurrence rates of in-hospital VTE, major bleeding, and death were 2.5%, 21.8%, and 0.0%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only age (> 60 years vs. ≤ 60 years) (odd ratios (OR) = 3.380, P = 0.013) was independently correlated with increased risk of in-hospital VTE. Additionally, osteoarthritis diagnosis (OR = 3.826, P < 0.001), femoral head necrosis diagnosis (OR = 1.809, P = 0.034), hip replacement (vs. internal fracture fixation) (OR = 2.199, P = 0.007), knee replacement (vs. internal fracture fixation) (OR = 2.781, P = 0.002), and serum creatinine (abnormal vs. normal) (OR = 1.677, P = 0.012) were independently linked to a higher risk of in-hospital major bleeding. Moreover, the common adverse events included pain (56.6%), wound bleeding (23.0%), increased drainage (5.2%), etc.

Conclusion

Fondaparinux realizes low occurrence rates of in-hospital VTE and major bleeding with tolerable adverse events in patients receiving orthopedic surgery or trauma surgery.
Retiolitid graptolites from the collection of Hermann Jaeger III. Paraplectograptus, Gothograptus and their relatives
Authors: Maletz Jörg
Published: February 2023

The graptolite collection of Hermann Jaeger at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany includes a number of Paraplectograptus and Gothograptus specimens. The material provides another glimpse into the dramatic changes affecting retiolitine graptoloids across the Lundgreni Extinction Event of the mid Homerian (Wenlock, Silurian) which led to the demise of most earlier groups of retiolitines. The material indicates that the diversity of the pre-extinction retiolitines might have been larger than is already known through the recognition of previously unknown constructional details in earlier Gothograptus and Paraplectograptus species. Especially, Gothograptus shows a much higher diversity in the pre-extinction interval than previously recognized. In the Pristiograptus parvus/Gothograptus nassa Biozone interval Gothograptus re-emerged with new species and Semigothograptus is shown to have survived unchanged, indicating that these two genera represent survivors of the extinction event. A number of new genera originated and diversified in the Pristiograptus dubius/Gothograptus nassa to Colonograptus praedeubeli/deubeli Biozone interval, but their evolutionary relationships with earlier taxa are still only partly understood. Paraplectograptus hermanni sp. nov., Gothograptus berolinensis sp. nov. and Gothograptus osgaleae sp. nov. are described as new. Several species are described in open nomenclature due to the lack of sufficiently well preserved material.
Een richtlijn voor inflammatoire blaasaandoeningen?
Authors: Janssen Dick A. W. , de Kort Laetitia M. O.
Published: February 2023

Samenvatting

De urineblaas kan worden aangetast door verschillende, vaak zeldzame inflammatoire blaasaandoeningen. De meeste van deze aandoeningen zullen een verregaand negatief effect hebben op de individuele gezondheid en kwaliteit van leven. Het behandelen van deze aandoeningen is complex en vereist frequent multidisciplinaire zorg. Momenteel is er geen richtlijn voor het merendeel van deze aandoeningen om clinici te helpen bij deze complexe patiëntengroep. Deze review geeft een overzicht van de uitdagingen waar clinici in praktijk mee worden geconfronteerd wanneer ze te maken krijgen met een patiënt met een inflammatoire blaasaandoening.
Obesity Stigma: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions
Authors: Westbury Susannah , Oyebode Oyinlola , van Rens Thijs , Barber Thomas M.
Published: February 2023

Purpose of Review

This review aims to examine (i) the aetiology of obesity; (ii) how and why a perception of personal responsibility for obesity so dominantly frames this condition and how this mindset leads to stigma; (iii) the consequences of obesity stigma for people living with obesity, and for the public support for interventions to prevent and manage this condition; and (iv) potential strategies to diminish our focus on personal responsibility for the development of obesity, to enable a reduction of obesity stigma, and to move towards effective interventions to prevent and manage obesity within the population.

Recent Findings

We summarise literature which shows that obesity stems from a complex interplay of genetic and environment factors most of which are outside an individual’s control. Despite this, evidence of obesity stigmatisation remains abundant throughout areas of media, entertainment, social media and the internet, advertising, news outlets, and the political and public health landscape. This has damaging consequences including psychological, physical, and socioeconomic harm.

Summary

Obesity stigma does not prevent obesity. A combined, concerted, and sustained effort from multiple stakeholders and key decision-makers within society is required to dispel myths around personal responsibility for body weight, and to foster more empathy for people living in larger bodies. This also sets the scene for more effective policies and interventions, targeting the social and environmental drivers of health, to ultimately improve population health.
Economic feasibility study for artificial lighting of microalgal flat-panel photobioreactors
Authors: Kratky L. , Jirout T. , Belohlav V.
Published: February 2023

Lightning belongs among critical process parameters that significantly affect growth and microalgal yield in photobioreactors. Sunshine or artificial lighting is applied to irradiate photobioreactors. Nevertheless, sunshine lighting is limited by locality and weather conditions. On the contrary, there is a typical demand for nonstop or 8000 annual working hours for industrial biorefineries using photobioreactors as an economic point of view. Thus the paper scopes to evaluate the fundamental economic feasibility of artificial lightning provided by electric energy from fossil fuels, renewable energy systems, or their mutual combinations. The economic feasibility is discussed concerning local annual sunshine hours for a model 1-ha microalgae cultivation plant. It was found that combined sunlight, solar energy- and electric energy-based artificial lighting has a significant positive effect on the economic behavior of a model biorefinery. The mutual combination of sunshine, solar energy- and electric artificial energy-based light evinces a profit increase of 2.18 for microalgal powder, 3.09 for microalgal lipids and 4.11 for microalga carotenoids production technologies all compared only to sun lighted photobioreactors. Nevertheless, capital investments in artificial lightings, solar systems, or photobioreactors, and high operating expenses represent the dominant risk factors of the discussed microalgal biorefinery. Developing cheap and reliable artificial lighting systems, solar and energy storage systems, and improving process characteristics of microalgal cultivation (process stability, high concentrated suspension in thin layer photobioreactors avoiding biofilm formation) were identified as the essential research needs and challenges to improve the economic feasibility of artificially lighted microalgal biorefinery.
Bactericide gold decorated mulberry fibers for therapeutic and non-therapeutic tenacities
Authors: Amna Touseef
Published: February 2023

In this study an approach was made to efficaciously synthesize gold decorated mulberry fibers by a facetious dip coating procedure. Assortments of inorganic compounds are being employed to impart antimicrobial properties to fabrics and textiles. Earlier workers have used gold as coloring agent for cotton and yarn etc. Herein, for the first time an attempt was made to liftoff a progressive textile conjured of gold and mulberry fibers which will be exploited for fabrication of antimicrobial stuffs for diverse medical and non-medical uses. The morphology, physicochemical and antibacterial characteristics of gold decorated mulberry fibers were scanned via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and antibacterial testing. The average size of gold particles was between 1.9 and 3 μm. The even distribution of Au on mulberry fibers was corroborated by SEM, and the results of XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed integration of nanogold in mulberry. The XRD data of Au blended fibers revealed no change in peak location, implying that gold coating has no effect on mulberry fiber structure. Gold decorated mulberry has a little higher intensity and a slight change in peak position toward higher wavenumber, which could be related to functionalization or interaction of gold particles with mulberry fibers. These gold incapacitated mulberry fibers shown out antibacterial activity against illustrative bacterium E. coli. Thus our study provides optimistic indications to pick up mulberry fibers decked with nanogold as prime material for fabrication of forthcoming antimicrobial materials for therapeutic and non-therapeutic tenacities.
Exactly solvable urn models under random replacement schemes and their applications
Authors: Inoue Kiyoshi
Published: February 2023

We examine urn models under random replacement schemes, and the related distributions, by using generating functions. A fundamental isomorphism between urn models and a certain system of differential equations has previously been established. We study the joint distribution of the numbers of balls in the urn, and determined recurrence relations for the probability generating functions. The associated partial differential equation satisfied by the generating function is derived. We develop analytical methods for the study of urn models that can lead to perspectives on urn-related problems from analytic combinatorics. The results presented here provide a broader framework for the study of exactly solvable urns than the existing framework. Finally, we examine several applications and their numerical results in order to demonstrate how our theoretical results can be employed in the study of urn models.
Politics, not Vulnerability: Republicans Discriminated against Chinese-born Americans throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Abascal Maria , Makovi Kinga , Xu Yao
Published: February 2023

Asian Americans became targets of increasingly hostile behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. What motivated this? Fears of contagion arising from a behavioral immune system may have motivated hostility toward Asian Americans, especially among those Americans vulnerable to COVID-19. Additionally, stigmatizing rhetoric from right-wing figures may have legitimated anti-Asian behavior among those Americans who held stronger anti-Asian sentiments to begin with or who were more receptive to right-wing rhetoric. We explore these possibilities using a behavioral game with a representative sample of Americans at two points: in May and October 2020. Participants were partnered with a U.S.- or Chinese-born American in a give-or-take dictator game. The average American discriminated against Chinese-born Americans in May but not October 2020, when China was no longer a COVID-19 hotspot. But among Republicans, who may have held stronger anti-Asian sentiments to begin with and who were likely more receptive to right-wing rhetoric, discrimination—that is, differential treatment—was both stronger in May compared to non-Republicans and persisted into October 2020. Notably, Americans who were more vulnerable to COVID-19 were not especially likely to discriminate.
Active control to augment rotor lead-lag damping
Authors: Kessler C. , Reichert G.
Published: February 2023

Hingeless and bearingless rotor designs are today well accepted for modern helicopters. Continued development, however, revealed some deficiencies in the area of aeromechanical stability and vibration. In general there is a good basic understanding of how to avoid these instabilities. But since it becomes more and more desirable to focus rotor design on aerodynamic features and flight performance, these aeromechanical instabilities gain new importance due to the difficulties to provide the required damping.

Since all rotor concepts suffer from the lack of sufficient natural lead-lag or inplane damping most designs in use show artificial lead-lag dampers to overcome aeromechanical instabilities. Additionally, active control offers the possibility for an artificial stabilisation of aeromechanical instabilities. Meanwhile, many research activities focus on active control to augment rotor lead-lag damping and many authors demonstrate the potential inherent in this approach.
Satellite attitude slew manoeuvres using inverse control
Authors: Mclnnes C.R.
Published: February 2023

Inverse dynamics is investigated as an efficient means of generating large angle satellite attitude slew manoeuvres. The required slew manoeuvres are specified using high order polynomials which result in a smooth control torque profile. Such smooth torque profiles are of importance in avoiding excitation of elastic modes of the satellite structure. In addition, the polynomial functions may be used to define a slew trajectory between arbitrary initial and final states allowing track-to-track manoeuvres. To compensate for uncertainties in the satellite dynamics, the inverse control is extended to include feedback linearisation about the nominal reference trajectory. It is shown that for rest-to-rest slew manoeuvres the resulting composite control is robust to uncertainties in the satellite inertia matrix and to actuator degradation. In addition, it is shown that complex paths may be generated through the use of high order polynomial functions which contain all the information required to enforce user defined constraints and boundary conditions in a compact, computationally efficient form.
Through thickness fatigue failure of fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Wisnom M. R. , Jones M. I.
Published: February 2023

Simple straight and curved beams of unidirectional glass-epoxy were tested in fatigue to investigate failure under overall interlaminar tension and shear combined with local stresses at cut plies. Similar behaviour was observed as under static loading, with overall and local stresses interacting to cause delamination. When normalised, all the results lay close to, or above, a line determined from previous tension tests on specimens with cut plies, suggesting that this could be used as the basis for through thickness fatigue strength calculations.
The feasibility and benefits of dynamic reconfiguration in integrated modular avionics
Authors: Johnson D. M. , Omiecinski T. A.
Published: February 2023

Integrated modular avionics has been proposed as a means of reducing avionics development and operating costs, by standardisation of avionics hardware and non-application-specific software. With the introduction of integrated modular avionics, there is the possibility of dynamically reconfiguring available resources, to preserve the most critical functions, when failures occur. This paper examines the feasibility of dynamic reconfiguration within the system architectures proposed by ARINC 651 and assesses the potential benefits. The analysis shows that at least two of the architectures proposed by ARINC 651 are well suited to reconfiguration and that although there are certification problems that must be considered, these problems do not appear intractable. Significant benefits, in terms of reduced redundancy, improved availability and higher levels of safety can potentially be obtained. The paper also shows that reconfiguration is only required locally, within a cabinet, and that large benefits are still obtainable even with relatively small cabinet sizes. This reduces the complexity and cost of any reconfiguration scheme and increases flexibility so that any reconfiguration scheme developed can be easily adapted to differing aircraft requirements. The development of an autonomous reconfiguration scheme, in which individual modules determine their own function is particularly attractive, as it can offer reduced susceptibility to common mode failure, and provides fault tolerance within the reconfiguration process itself.
Variable cycle jet engines for a Mach 2·7 supersonic civil transport
Authors: Aleid L. , Pilidis P.
Published: February 2023

The aim of the work outlined in this paper is to compare three different variable cycle jet engine concepts for future SSTs. These engines are: the turbofan-turbojet, the mid-tandem fan engine and the double bypass engine. The comparison is carried out on the basis of unin-stalled and installed performance, handling and sizing issues.

This preliminary analysis compares SFC, size, variable geometry and cycle changes for each engine. The installed performance was estimated by calculating the air friction, the pre-entry and the afterbody drags, together with the wave drag due to the shock waves. A sizing calculation was carried out for the whole nacelle. The uninstalled and installed fuel bill, for two standard missions, is also estimated.

These preliminary results indicate that the turbofan-turbojet and the mid-tandem fan engines are quite similar in terms of general suitability. The mid-tandem fan appears to be an attractive proposition from the point of view of sizing, however, this comes with a small penalty in fuel consumption. The present double bypass engine was found to be the least attractive for the application, although the differences are small.
Some aspects of centrifugal fan characteristics in blower windtunnels
Authors: Johnson A. E. , Hancock P. E.
Published: February 2023

Measurements have been made in the exit flows of the fan, diffuser, settling chamber and contraction of a low speed blower windtunnel driven by a centrifugal fan. A velocity deficit and streamwise vortex were observed at the diffuser exit when the fan was operating at less than about 0·9 of maximum efficiency but not when operating above. Unacceptably large unsteadiness (-0·7% rms) occurred at low speeds when the fan speed was increased from rest, but not when the fan speed was decreased from full speed. This unsteadiness was at the rotor frequency, and appears to have been caused by laminar boundary layer separation on one or more adjacent aerofoil blades, coupled with slight asymmetry in the rotor. Unsteadiness at the rotor frequency and of comparable magnitude has also been seen in another, larger fan, but was not eliminated in the same way. Attaining high quality flow is likely to require careful attention to the characteristics of individual fans.
A note on the potential contribution of wing-body interference drag to the total drag of an aircraft
Authors: Bernstein L.
Published: February 2023

The implications of a rise in the pressure drag of a wing near its junction with a fuselage are examined. Based on some data measured for a swept-wing-plate junction, in which the wing was of NACA 0015-profile normal to its leading edge and swept back at 20°, it is found that there is a potential penalty of order 1% of the total aircraft drag in the cruise condition.
Efficient lift enhancement of a blunt edged delta wing
Authors: Traub L. W.
Published: February 2023

A windtunnel study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of leading edge vortex plates in enhancing the lifting abilities of a blunt edged delta wing. In the investigation, vortex plates were attached to both the upper and lower surfaces of the leading edge. Various positions of the vortex plates with respect to the wing's leading edge were evaluated. The results indicate that a vortex plate located on the upper surface of the wing is capable of increasing lift so as to be comparable to a similar sharp edged wing, whilst reducing drag through some retained leading edge thrust. The increase in zero lift drag associated with vortex plate attachment tends to limit potential performance improvements. A vortex plate mounted on the lower wing surface decreased lift slightly compared to the blunt wing. However, drag was found to decrease markedly.
Flight investigations of the effect of yaw on the intake and fan nozzle flow of a natural laminar flow nacelle
Authors: Riedel H. , Sitzmann M.
Published: February 2023

Two major technologies in aeronautics promise substantial improvements in the fields of economy and ecology. One is laminar flow technology and the other arises from new developments related to aircraft turbofan engines. The trend in turbofan engine development is towards engines possessing higher bypass ratios. This, however, entails larger engine dimensions, leading not only to an increase in the skin friction drag but also to negative engine-airframe interactions. As a consequence, the need for laminar flow nacelles becomes all the more important as part of the general process of engine-air-frame integration optimisation for advanced transport aircraft.

This paper deals with some results obtained from flight tests with a laminar flow nacelle demonstrator and specifically addresses the topic of aerodynamics of intakes and nozzles. The results described relate to a European collaborative programme in which a natural laminar flow (NLF) nacelle was flight tested. Results of the effect of the angle of yaw on the static pressure distribution on the fan cowl including the intake of an NLF nacelle are presented for the maximum cruise flight condition. At zero yaw, a comparison of Euler calculations with flight test data is made. Measured flow variables of the fan nozzle flow directly downstream of the fan nozzle exit, exemplified by the Mach number and the flow density distributions, are also presented for the condition of maximum cruise.
Testing a new model of ram-air parachute inflation
Authors: Potvin J.
Published: February 2023

This paper reports on the experimental validation of a new model of slider-reefed ram-air parachute opening, using jump data collected by this investigator and others. The model is based on the parachute load equation of motion coupled with a new differential equation which describes the rate of change of the parachute's drag area. The model clearly identifies the important factors which determine the inflation peak load and opening time. It also features many scaling relationships useful for design work. Several predictions are shown to be design-independent. The experimental data used in this model validation were gathered during sport parachuting jumps performed by this author. Also used are data generated by the US Navy during tests of the MC-5, MT-1X/SL and MT-1XX parachutes. The experimental results and model predictions are found to agree within 20% accuracy over a wide range of opening speeds and deployment altitudes.
Large excrescences on transport aircraft: a cautionary tale
Authors: Greenwell D. I.
Published: February 2023

In recent years the increasing importance of electronic warfare has resulted in a proliferation of assorted antennae, large fairings and other foreign bodies attached to transport aircraft airframes. In many cases the size, shape and location of these excrescences are fixed by the requirements of the relevant electronic devices and it is then left to the engineers and aerodynamicists to attach them to the airframe in the least adverse manner.

This note describes an installation which was extensively tested in a large-scale commercial windtunnel and was found to give apparently well-behaved steady-state aerodynamic characteristics but which, when flight tested, exhibited unacceptable levels of airframe buffeting and rather unusual directional stability problems. A re-examination of the fuselage flowfield using a simplified model, but with attention focused on the unsteady aspects of the flow, rapidly identified the underlying cause and enabled a successful aerodynamic fix to be developed. The lessons learnt from this experience are presented as a warning to those contemplating the addition of large excrescences to any airframe.
V-22 Osprey aerodynamic development — a progress review
Authors: McVeigh M. A. , Liu J. , O'Toole S. J. , Woods S.
Published: February 2023

Events in the aerodynamic development of the multi-service V-22 Osprey tiltrotor are reviewed, with emphasis on recent flight test findings and the solutions developed. A discussion of the performance in the USMC, Navy and SOCOM missions is presented.
Neural network models of human operator performance
Authors: May A.
Published: February 2023

This paper examines the feasibility of using neural networks to represent the effects of human operators in computer models of complex man-machine systems. In the suggested approach, data from man-in-the-loop simulators are used to train the networks. The method has been tested on several typical data sets using a stand-alone prototype system, consisting of a three-layer feed-forward network with a Chemotaxis training algorithm. Successful results have been obtained, and these can be used to place constraints on the quality, quantity and type of simulator data required in future applications.
NH90 — the new all military services helicopter
Authors: Geissinger O. W. , Traldi S. L.
Published: February 2023

The NH90 project formally started in September 1992 when France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands agreed a contract with NH Industries on the design, development and qualification of an 8-9 tonne class helicopter which shall replace the present fleet of light transport and naval helicopters in the various military services of these states.

The NH90 comprises two versions that are based on a weapon system development specification for a Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and a Nato Frigate Helicopter (NFH). The design of the NH90 follows the principle of having as many common basic systems and subsystems as possible in both versions, and to utilise a high level of avionics system integration to provide the capabilities to carry out the required tactical missions with a minimum of crew and crew workload.

Consequently, structure, dynamics, general vehicle, and flight control systems, core avionics, and mission equipment are principally common features for both weapon systems. The integration of two specific mission systems, on the other hand, provides the capabilities to employ both versions with a high rate of efficiency in their individual roles. The TTH tactical transport for air forces and armies, and the NFH as a ship embarked anti-submarine/anti-surface unit warfare (ASW/ASUW) for navies, both with the potential for a variety of other missions. The various subsystems of both mission systems, use modern equipment for acquisition of mission relevant information and data, their processing, transformation and display and provide automatic actions or advise to initiate adequate crew reactions.
Validation of a blade-element helicopter model for large-amplitude manoeuvres
Authors: Houston S. S.
Published: February 2023

The contemporary approach to helicopter mathematical modelling in simulation for handling qualities applications is to represent each blade individually. This allows incorporation of effects not possible with a multiblade disc representation of the rotor system. This paper addresses the validation of such a model, which is uniquely performed for large amplitude manoeuvres, using a recently-developed approach to inverse simulation. The method is reviewed in the context of model validation, and comparisons between simulation and actual data are presented for a Puma helicopter executing sidestep manoeuvres in low-speed flight. The focus for interpreting the results is in the area of wake modelling. It is concluded that further developments are necessary in this area if helicopter flight mechanics models are to be used in simulation of role-related flight.
Development of unstructured dynamic grids for solving unsteady two-dimensional Euler equations
Authors: Kozic M. S. , Sredojevic D.
Published: February 2023

A method for the solution of the time dependent Euler equations on unstructured grids is presented for unsteady flows about oscillating aerofoils. The flow solver involves a finite volume spatial discretisation and a Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme. A dynamic mesh algorithm is used for problems where the aerofoil moves and/or deforms. Steady and unsteady results are obtained for single and multi-element aerofoils.
Fluctuations of immigration salience: testing alternative explanations of policy salience among US Latinos
Authors: Gomez-Aguinaga Barbara , Morín Jason L. , Sanchez Gabriel R.
Published: February 2023

What makes immigration a salient issue among Latinos? We focus on immigration – one of the most pressing issues facing the United States (US) – and evaluate the factors that motivate immigration salience among Latinos over several election cycles. Although immigration policy has been linked with the Latino electorate over the period of our study due to high foreign-born rates and mixed-status families within this community, immigration policy has actually not been the dominant issue for the majority of Latino voters over this time period. Using survey responses from the 2008, 2012 and 2016 elections, we test multiple theories of issue salience by exploring social, political and individual determinants of policy salience among Latino voters. We find that in addition to nativity, consumption of ethnic media and group identity are associated with reporting immigration as a salient issue. These findings provide a valuable addition to literature of public opinion on immigration and the origins of policy issue salience among ethno-racial minorities in the US.
Robotic spray painting path planning for complex surface: boundary fitting approach
Authors: Wu Hongrui , Tang Qing
Published: February 2023

Currently, most of the robot path planning methods for spray painting are based on slicing the Computer-Aided Design model of the target surface to generate a series of path points. They usually neglect the geometric boundary of the model and the smoothness of the generated path, leading to a non-uniform coating thickness. To ameliorate it, an improved “boundary fitting approach” is proposed. In this method, the upper and lower boundaries of the target surface are firstly detected based on the topology of the stereolithography model. For each pass, several sample points are extracted with a uniform length interval from the intersection points generated by the basic slicing method. The path pass is then described by a fourth-order polynomial curve. It fits the boundary points and sample points for the
$z$
-
$t$
and
$y$
-
$t$
relationships, respectively. Based on the spray gun’s motion direction and spray direction, the orientation of each path point is also defined. The parameters of the path pass are optimized by particle swarm optimization to get the optimal uniformity of the resulting coating thickness. Both of the global uniformity and the local uniformity between two adjacent passes are considered. The strength of the proposed approach is validated by comparing the simulation with the basic and other typical algorithms. The results denote that boundary fitting approach could improve the uniformity of coating thickness. It brings about a better performance for the painted workpiece.
Public health interventions successfully mitigated multiple incursions of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the Australian Capital Territory
Authors: Hall Robyn N , Jones Ashley , Crean Emma , Marriott Victoria , Pingault Nevada , Marmor Alexandra , Sloan-Gardner Timothy , Kennedy Karina , Coleman Kerryn , Johnston Vanessa , Schwessinger Benjamin
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique opportunity to understand how real-time pathogen genomics can be used for large-scale outbreak investigations. On 12 August 2021, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) detected an incursion of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. Prior to this date, SARS-CoV-2 had been eliminated locally since 7 July 2020. Several public health interventions were rapidly implemented in response to the incursion, including a territory-wide lockdown and comprehensive contact tracing. The ACT has not previously used pathogen genomics at a population level in an outbreak response; therefore, this incursion also presented an opportunity to investigate the utility of genomic sequencing to support contact tracing efforts in the ACT. Sequencing of >75% of the 1793 laboratory-confirmed cases during the 3 months following the initial notification identified at least 13 independent incursions with onwards spread in the community. Stratification of cases by genomic cluster revealed that distinct cohorts were affected by the different incursions. Two incursions resulted in most of the community transmission during the study period, with persistent transmission in vulnerable sections of the community. Ultimately, both major incursions were successfully mitigated through public health interventions, including COVID-19 vaccines. The high rates of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in the ACT and the relatively small population size facilitated detailed investigations of the patterns of virus transmission, revealing insights beyond those gathered from traditional contact tracing alone. Genomic sequencing was critical to disentangling complex transmission chains to target interventions appropriately.
Quel Plaisir! Quel Plaisir? – On Bodies in Performance
Authors: van Treeck Elisabeth
Published: February 2023

Let's start with where opera happens: the opera house. For the 2022/23 season, Opernhaus Dortmund, known for its fine instinct for rare gems on the operatic stage, decided to mount Jacques François Fromental Halévy's La Juive. Having been introduced to this grand opéra as a first-year musicology student, I was excited to see the premiere of Sybrand van der Werf's production on a Sunday night in November 2022 – while preparing this review. As it turns out, the performance transferred me straight into the core arguments of each of the three books under consideration here: the intense co-presence unfolding between the performer and audience, generated as in Clemens Risi's account by a briefly indisposed singer; the inclusion of visual codes evoking SM erotic play on stage, which also informs Axel Englund's investigation; and finally, the production of a hypermedia spectacle, which is Tereza Havelková's central concern. A single performance demonstrated the relevance and applicability of each of Risi's, Englund's and Havelková's studies.
QALYs, Disability Discrimination, and the Role of Adaptation in the Capacity to Recover: The Patient-Sensitive Health-Related Quality of Life Account
Authors: Mosquera Julia
Published: February 2023

Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) are two of the most commonly used health measures to determine resource prioritization and the population burden of disease, respectively. There are different types of problems with the use of QALYs and DALYs for measuring health benefits. Some of these problems have to do with measurement, for example, the weights they ascribe to health states might fail to reflect with exact accuracy the actual well-being or health levels of individuals. But even if these weights represent accurately the well-being levels of individuals, there is room for questioning whether these measures capture everything that we care about in these cases, or whether there are important issues that they leave out, including considerations of fairness or equality. In this regard, the measures have been criticized for treating the aggregation of small benefits as greater than the aggregation of fewer but bigger benefits,1for disregarding fair chances in favor of utility maximization,2and for raising problems when applied in the context of variable population size.3Perhaps one of the most pervasive ethical issues that has been associated with the use of these measures is the fact that they seem to discriminate against disabled people.4Since the measures assume that disabled people have lower well-being and a shorter life span, treating a disabled person’s medical condition contributes less to the maximization of years of life with good health than treating a non-disabled patient’s medical condition.
Evaluation of a state-wide intervention on salt intake in primary schoolchildren living in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Grimes Carley A , Bolton Kristy A , Trieu Kathy , Reimers Jenny , Armstrong Sian , Bolam Bruce , Beckford Kelsey , Santos Joseph Alvin , Rosewarne Emalie , Dunford Elizabeth K , Jan Stephen , Webster Jacqui , Neal Bruce , Nowson Caryl , Woodward Mark
Published: February 2023

Objective:

In 2015, the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership launched a 4-year multifaceted salt reduction intervention designed to reduce salt intake by 1 g/d in children and adults living in Victoria, Australia. Child-relevant intervention strategies included a consumer awareness campaign targeting parents and food industry engagement seeking to reduce salt levels in processed foods. This study aimed to assess trends in salt intake, dietary sources of salt and discretionary salt use in primary schoolchildren pre- and post-delivery of the intervention.

Design:

Repeated cross-sectional surveys were completed at baseline (2010–2013) and follow-up (2018–2019). Salt intake was measured via 24-h urinary Na excretion, discretionary salt use behaviours by self-report and sources of salt by 24-h dietary recall. Data were analysed with multivariable-adjusted regression models.

Setting:

Victoria, Australia.

Participants:

Children aged 4–12 years

Results:

Complete 24-h urine samples were collected from 666 children at baseline and 161 at follow-up. Mean salt intake remained unchanged from baseline (6·0; se 0·1 g/d) to follow-up (6·1; 0·4 g/d) (P = 0·36), and there were no clear differences in the food sources of salt and at both time points approximately 70 % of children exceeded Na intake recommendations. At follow-up, 14 % more parents (P = 0·001) reported adding salt during cooking, but child use of table salt and inclusion of a saltshaker on the table remained unchanged.

Conclusion:

These findings show no beneficial effect of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership intervention on children’s salt intake. More intensive, sustained and coordinated efforts between state and federal stakeholders are required.
Audiovisual Warfare: Music and International Persuasion in Documentary Films during the Spanish Civil War
Authors: LÓPEZ GÓMEZ LIDIA
Published: February 2023

During the Spanish Civil War, cinema became one of the most powerful weapons of propaganda. The music of the films, full of anthems and political references, was an essential tool for displaying the documentary's intentions and for influencing spectators’ reactions. Between 1936 and 1939, there was a surge in the production of documentaries targeting international audiences, as they were an invaluable resource for engaging the European countries that had signed the Non-Intervention Agreement against involvement in the Spanish conflict. The objective of this article is to analyse the music of the documentaries set in Spain that were exhibited internationally during the years of the war. We will study the politically tendentious uses of anthems and popular songs on the soundtracks, as well as the importance of the figure of the composer – for those documentaries with original music – attending to the social and political circumstances surrounding their participation in the production.
Three distinct symptom profiles among older adults with severe dementia: A latent class analysis
Authors: Malhotra Chetna , Chaudhry Isha , Shafiq Mahham , Malhotra Rahul
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Older adults with severe dementia experience multiple symptoms at the end of life. This study aimed to delineate distinct symptom profiles of older adults with severe dementia and to assess their association with older adults’ and caregiver characteristics and 1-year mortality among older adults.

Methods

We used baseline data from a cohort of 215 primary informal caregivers of older adults with severe dementia in Singapore. We identified 10 indicators representing physical, emotional, and functional symptoms, and responsive behaviors, and conducted latent class analysis. We assessed the association between delineated older adults’ symptom profiles and their use of potentially burdensome health-care interventions in the past 4 months; older adults’ 1-year mortality; and caregiver outcomes.

Results

We delineated 3 profiles of older adults – primarily responsive behaviors (Class 1; 33%); physical and emotional symptoms with responsive behaviors (Class 2; 20%); and high functional deficits with loss of speech and eye contact (Class 3; 47%). Classes 2 and 3 older adults were more likely to have received a potentially burdensome intervention for symptoms in the past 4 months and have a greater hazard for 1-year mortality. Compared to Class 1, caregivers of Class 2 older adults were more likely to experience adverse caregiver outcomes, that is, higher distress, impact on schedule and health, anticipatory grief, and coping and lower satisfaction with care received (p<0.01 for all).

Significance of results

The 3 delineated profiles of older adults can be used to plan or optimize care plans to effectively manage symptoms of older adults and improve their caregivers’ outcomes.
Musical Self-Borrowing in Ottocento Opera and the Composer's Toolbox
Authors: Marvin Roberta Montemorra
Published: February 2023

Self-borrowing was a common practice in primo ottocento opera. Even though commentators of the era could find it somewhat troublesome, composers indulged in the practice. Drawing on existing scholarship, and reflecting on the work of my co-contributors to this journal issue, I ponder a few sundry notions about the procedure and its context, addressing theoretical, historical and practical perspectives relating to composers, historical commentators, listeners and modern-day scholars. I begin with a survey of terminology that has been applied in discussions of self-borrowing and a review of the manner in which selected present-day scholars have characterized the practice. I then consider the nature of self-borrowing in the ottocento opera repertory against a backdrop of contemporaneous theoretical discussions about how to compose opera, and I contemplate the extent to which self-borrowings in this repertory can be deemed to bear meaning. I conclude by raising the possibility of applying concepts from cognitive theory to operatic encounters with self-borrowing, proposing that the practice served as a tool for composers to fuel expectation, predictability, anticipation and even surprise to enhance musical pleasure. My purpose is to prompt reflection on the reasons behind as well as an appreciation for the value of this oft-maligned compositional ‘tool’ in the interest of gaining insight into its impact on the listening experience and the evaluation of musical works.
The role of social deprivation and depression in dementia risk: findings from the longitudinal survey of health, ageing and retirement in Europe
Authors: Hofbauer L. M. , Rodriguez F. S.
Published: February 2023

Aims

Knowledge on the link of individual social deprivation with dementia is incomplete. We thus aimed to see whether an association with dementia risk can be observed using a recently developed Social Deprivation Index (SoDep Index). Further, as deprivation is related to depression, we investigated the role of depression in the association.

Methods

We analysed data of 11 623 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) respondents. Social deprivation status was determined by SoDep Index score. Dementia was determined by self-reported diagnosis. Dementia risk by social deprivation status was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models, including relevant covariates (gender, marriage status, chronic conditions). Depressive symptom status was added in a second step. Further, we completed subgroup analyses by social deprivation status and analysed the relevance of depressive symptoms in dementia risk in each deprivation group. In an additional sensitivity analyses we corrected for mortality and used impaired cognitive testing performance as an alternative outcome.

Results

High (v. low) social deprivation status was associated with an increased dementia risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.79 [95% CI 1.31–2.45]) in the Cox analysis adjusted for covariates only. Further adjustment for depressive symptom status indicated a largely direct association between social deprivation status and dementia risk. Moreover, compared to not having experienced depressive symptoms in the past or at baseline, those with past (HR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.23–2.25]), baseline (HR = 1.48 [95% CI 1.04–2.10]) or stable depressive symptoms (HR = 2.96 [95% CI 2.12–4.14]) had an increased dementia risk. The association between stable depressive symptom status and dementia risk was in the high social deprivation subgroup particularly pronounced. Sensitivity analyses replicated results.

Conclusions

Results add to a growing body of evidence indicating that a public health approach to dementia prevention must address socioeconomic inequity. Results suggest a largely direct association between social deprivation and dementia risk. Adults who experience high social deprivation appear particularly affected by detrimental effects of depressive symptomatology on dementia risk and need intervention.