bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rifle Theory: Engels and the History of Technology
Authors: Shafer Matt
Published: March 2023

Friedrich Engels’s “History of the Rifle” was among the longest and most detailed studies of technological development that either he or Marx produced. Yet the piece has been almost entirely forgotten. I recover Engels’s essay as a model for the historiography of technology and for the study of the politics of the technical object today, demonstrating its continuity with the larger critical project he was engaged in with Marx in these years. In a famous footnote to Capital, Marx suggested that the method appropriate to a “critical history of technology” in society should be developed by analogy to Darwin’s revolutionary history of organic life. I show that Engels’s study of the rifle works out such a method in practice, recasting technological development as a nondeterministic interplay between the successive mutations of the artifact and the pressures of its social environment. Moreover, Engels’s technological materialism has a socially engaged and emancipatory end, for it is here directed against a particularly pernicious form of the commodity fetish: the fetishism of weapons.
A Novel Approach for Sunflower Oil Based Polyol Production by Ring Opening of Epoxidized Linoleic Acid
Authors: Azmi Intan Suhada , Ab Kadir Mohd Zulkipli , Sharif Noor Atiqah , Azlan Raofuddin Danial Nuruddin , Jalil Mohd Jumain
Published: March 2023

In numerous chemical industrial sectors, the utilization of epoxidized vegetable oil has emerged as a prospective growing market for polymer development. The experiment was to discover the effectiveness of formic acid to sunflower oil molar ratio and catalysts type toward epoxidation reaction for polyols formation. Hydrolysis of an epoxide involved the reaction of an epoxide with water, resulting in the formation of a diol. Sunflower-based epoxide was carried out by in situ using performic acid mechanism with the temperature of 80°C. The optimum relative conversion to oxirane was obtained within 50 min which is 41.37% from 1:1 molar ratio of formic acid to sunflower oil and natural zeolite as a catalyst. The genetic algorithm was used to find the optimal set of parameters in the mathematical model, and MATLAB is used to implement the numerical integration and the optimization process. The kinetic rate, k parameters obtained k11 = 0.169, k12 = 33.072, k2 = 5.244 for epoxidation palm oil, and k3 = 3.89 × 10−5 in degradation process.
Voice Correction Treatment Promotes Recovery of Vocal Cord Paralysis Caused by Atypical Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Dong Lei , Chen Xiumei , Song Xicheng
Published: March 2023

Atypical Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is caused by varicella zoster viruses (VZV), without herpes, herpes is not around the ear, or posterior cranial nerve palsy is the first clinical manifestation. In this case, a 60-year-old male patient with VZV invades the branches of the vagus nerve alone. The initial symptoms were in the pharynx and larynx, which presented as mucosal ulcers and voice disorders. The ear symptoms were only otalgia and auricular herpes, without deafness, tinnitus, or peripheral facial palsy. Herpes and ulcers healed with medication, but voice disorders caused by vocal cord paralysis did not return. Voice correction treatment has been implemented to help restore the movement and closure of the vocal cords, with ultimately good results. After voice correction treatment, the patient recovered without residual nerve palsy complications. Voice correction treatment has been shown to be potentially effective and promising in shortening the recovery period and improving the recovery rate for vocal cord paralysis caused by viral infection.
Intra-Organizational Communication in Public Agencies: The Effects of Contracting Out Core Services
Authors: Fusi Federica , Zhang Fengxiu , Welch Eric W.
Published: March 2023

This article develops and tests a set of hypotheses examining how contracting out of public services affects intra-organizational communication in public agencies (i.e., the principal organization). We draw from two competing perspectives: contracting scholarship argues that outsourcing reduces an organization's structural complexity and enhances intra-organizational communication, while organizational communication studies suggest that outsourcing might lead to fragmented communication pathways and a loss of information. In order to reconcile these perspectives, we examine how different characteristics of an organization's contracting network affect both the internal gathering and dissemination of information. Using survey and contractual relationship data from approximately 200 US transit agencies, we find that contracting out a large portion of services improves intra-organizational communication but this positive effect decreases as the number of contractors grows. Long and stable relationships with contractors negatively affect intra-organizational communication, especially when occurring with private—as compared to public—contractors. Our results suggest the need to further investigate intra-organizational communication in contracting networks and better understand how it may affect organizational performance and contract management.
Product Placement in Chinese Cinema: From Resistance to Acceptance (1999–2009)
Authors: Ai Qi , Dong Yinan
Published: March 2023

The commercialization of the American film industry has affected the development of cinematic product placement. A similar but distinct situation has happened in China. The difference is that the Chinese film industry achieved considerable commercial progress in a short time from the late 1990s to the 2000s. This rampant commercialization was customarily accompanied by resistance coming from inside the Chinese film industry. This resistance valued artistic integrity in relation to the impact of business interests. Therefore, during this period, Chinese film professionals first resisted, then tried, and eventually accepted product placement. With attention to the historical development, this article aims to investigate the connection between the localization of product placement and the Chinese film industry's commercialization, and how the connection causes this cinematic advertising practice to develop its own cultural peculiarities in such context. It also reveals the causes of the formation of these peculiarities, from the perspective of the country's ideological shifts.
Inclusive growth, public transit infrastructure investments and neighbourhood trajectories of inequality in Montreal
Authors: Breau Sébastien , Wylie Megan , Manaugh Kevin , Carr Samantha
Published: March 2023

Investing in accessible, affordable and sustainable modes of transportation is increasingly seen as an important policy tool for fostering the development of more inclusive cities and combating the rise in inequality. In this article, we review how the concept of inclusive growth has gained traction at the local level framed within a discourse of building more equitable and sustainable cities with a particular emphasis on transportation infrastructure projects as a way of operationalizing the concept as a policy tool. Using Montreal as a case study, we then proceed to evaluate two competing proposals for major public transit infrastructure projects (the Pink line and the REM Phase II) to see if one may potentially offer more inclusive outcomes in terms of transit access and mobility. We do so by first examining changes in the spatial configurations of neighbourhood income disparities in the city between 1981 and 2016. After identifying a pattern of growing spatial polarization between higher- and lower-income neighbourhoods, we use a buffer analysis of transit stations to assess which of the two proposed transit infrastructure projects is best positioned to curb the growth of neighbourhood disparities. Our results suggest the proposed Pink line project provides more coverage in terms of accessibility and connecting economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods from Montreal Nord to Lachine with the downtown core.
A simulation method for dynamic force and vibrations of a roller bearing in the planetary gears considering the roller profile
Authors: Liu Jing , Shi Zhifeng , Xu Jin , Cheng Yan , Li Hongwu
Published: March 2023

The roller profile shape can change the fatigue life and vibrations for planet roller bearing (PRB), as well as the impact between the rollers and cage. In this study, an analytical study of the dynamic forces and vibrations of a PRB considering the roller profile. To avoid the stress concentration at the roller ends, the roller modification method is proposed to improve the dynamic forces. The contact stiffness and load-deformation exponent of the roller-race interaction for four different roller modification types are achieved. A PRB dynamic model is established to discuss the effects of roller modification types on the dynamic forces and vibrations for PRB. Computation results of those four roller modification types are compared to the results of the PRB with the cylindrical roller type. It includes that the roller profile shape can greatly change the contact forces between the rollers and races, as well as the impact forces between the rollers and cage. The roller profile shapes can also influence the vibrations of PRBs.
COVID-19 Impacts on Online and In-Store Shopping Behaviors: Why they Happened and Whether they Will Last Post Pandemic
Authors: Diaz-Gutierrez Jorge Manuel , Mohammadi-Mavi Helia , Ranjbari Andisheh
Published: March 2023

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s online and in-store shopping behaviors changed significantly. As the pandemic subsides, key questions are why those changes happened, whether they are expected to stay, and, if so, to what extent. We answered those questions by analyzing a quasi-longitudinal survey dataset of the Puget Sound residents (Washington, U.S.). We deployed structural equation modeling (SEM) to build separate models for food, grocery, and other items shopping to explore the factors affecting such changes. The results revealed that people’s online and in-store shopping frequencies during the pandemic were affected by their perceived health risk, attitudes toward shopping, and pre-pandemic shopping frequencies. Similarly, it was shown that how frequently people expect to shop post pandemic is influenced by their attitudes toward shopping, changes during the pandemic, and their pre-pandemic frequencies. We also classified respondents into five groups, based on their current and expected future shopping behavior changes, and performed a descriptive analysis. The five groups— Increasers, Decreasers, Steady Users, Returnees, and Future Changers—exhibited different trends across online and in-store activities for shopping different goods. The analysis results showed that, while 25% of the respondents increased their online shopping, only 8% to 13% decreased their in-store activities, implying that online shopping did not completely substitute in-store shopping. Moreover, we found that online shopping is a substitution for in-store shopping for groceries, while it complements in-store shopping for food and other items. Additionally, more than 75% of new online shoppers expect to keep purchasing online, while 63%–85% of in-store Decreasers plan to return to their pre-pandemic frequencies.
Investigating the Probability of Potential Actions Performed by Drivers Experiencing Daytime Sun Glare-Induced Blindness
Authors: Koloushani Mohammadreza , Kaya Mehmet Burak , Karaer Alican , Ozguven Eren Erman
Published: March 2023

There has been extensive visual-disability-focused safety research resulting from various factors/conditions that have a significant impact on a driver’s ability to maneuver safely. One such critical condition among the major environmental issues that contribute to traffic crashes is daytime sun glare-induced temporary visual impairment. Nevertheless, the contribution of relevant factors to the choice of potential actions at the time of such crashes has not been widely studied. Approximately 3,000 crashes per year in the United States are attributed to sun glare, which may indicate that the driver had no control over the situation. Thus, this study investigated several factors to identify crashes that occurred, with acceptable certainty, under the direct influence of sun glare over 4 years (2014 to 2017) in Florida—“the Sunshine State.” A multinomial logistic regression model was developed to formulate relationships between crash-related contributing factors and to evaluate the likelihood of alternative actions being adopted by drivers experiencing sun glare. The results indicated that running red lights/stop signs was the most likely action one might take while experiencing this adverse condition, particularly on local roadways. A further consequence of sun glare is that drivers tend to follow the car in front too closely along segments with higher annual average daily traffic. The findings could help safety officials support the use of emerging intelligent transportation system technologies (i.e., automated traffic signal performance measures and cooperative intersection collision avoidance systems) to alert drivers of the possibility of a temporary vision impairment exactly when high-glare conditions exist.
Use of Mobile Sensing Data for Assessing Vibration Impact of E-Scooters with Different Wheel Sizes
Authors: Ma Qingyu , Yang Hong , Yan Zizheng
Published: March 2023

With the growing demand of shared electric scooters (e-scooters) for short-distance trips in urban areas, their safety issues have received significant attention from various stakeholders. In general, e-scooter riders encounter more vibrations compared with users of other transportation modes such as bicycles that typically have larger wheels and better suspension systems. Such riding experience may lead to discomfort, affect riders’ health, and increase riding risk. Intuitively, increasing e-scooters’ wheel sizes may provide safer and more comfortable riding experience. However, this assumption has not been well tested. The main objective of this paper is to curtail this gap by quantitatively assessing the impacts riders experienced, through the use mobile sensing data. Specifically, a mobile sensing platform was deployed on e-scooters with different wheel sizes to continuously measure encountered vibrations. Then, the instrumented e-scooters were ridden on routes with different pavement materials. Finally, the collected data were further processed and analyzed to evaluate various riding issues in each riding scenario. The comparative results suggest that e-scooters with larger wheels can efficiently alleviate vibrations during a ride compared with those with smaller wheels. To improve riding experience and safety, it is beneficial to use larger-wheel e-scooters, given other similar riding conditions.
Who is Buying SUVs and Light Trucks in Montreal? A Factor and Cluster Analysis
Authors: Hickson Stephen , Badami Madhav G. , Manaugh Kevin , DeWeese James , El-Geneidy Ahmed
Published: March 2023

The steady growth in light truck use and ownership in Canada is a cause for concern because it poses significant negative externalities in the form of higher fatalities, increased congestion, impacts on the environment, and infrastructure wear and tear. Understanding why drivers choose to use these vehicles is important for policymakers interested in decreasing their use. Using data from 2,203 vehicle owners in the Montreal metropolitan area, this study uses a factor-cluster analysis approach to generate five distinct groups of drivers: a uto-dependent families, pragmatic drivers, established drivers, physically active workers, and urban drivers. Identifying these unique groups can be a useful step for policymakers interested in reducing light truck ownership by influencing vehicle choice changes, mode shifts, and land use changes. Findings from this study can help transport policymakers better understand the nuanced factors that influence the choice of a light truck on Montreal’s roads.
Objective Geographic Information System-Based Context Classification Approach Using Nationally Available Data
Authors: Wright Laura , Stamatiadis Nikiforos , Kirk Adam , Steyn Hermanus , Musselman Jennifer , Kent Margaret
Published: March 2023

For decades the functional classification system (FCS) has guided roadway planning and design in the U.S.A. However, the FCS has a narrow focus, is auto centric, and because of its reliance on a binary classification scheme it lacks the resolution needed to develop context-sensitive designs. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 855, An Expanded Functional Classification for Highways and Streets, introduced an expanded context classification system that supports more integrative and context-adapted roadway designs. This system was subsequently adopted in the seventh edition of the Policy of Geometric Design for Highways and Streets ( Green Book). Transitioning from the FCS to context classification entails a major shift in design practices. The context sets expectations for each setting and informs project development. Despite its advances, NCHRP Report 855 lacks guidance on quantitative measures for performing roadway classification. This paper resolves this issue by presenting an objective geographic information system (GIS)-based process transportation agencies can adopt to define contexts and weave context classification into the entire project development process. The proposed classification is based on measures that can be computed using readily available data, such as the TIGER/Line roadway data, U.S. Census urban-area data, U.S. Census population and employment data at the tract level, building polygon data, and GIS-derived intersection and street data. The application process outlined here provides the basic steps for implementing context classification at the state, regional, or project level.
Analysis of systemic inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers in advanced cervical cancer: Prognostic and predictive significance
Authors: Li Ningfeng , Zhang Yan , Qu Wenjie , Zhang Chao , Ding Zhaoxia , Wang Linlin , Cui Baoxia
Published: March 2023

Objective

Peripheral systemic inflammatory, nutritional, and coagulation biomarkers have prognostic and predictive value in various malignancies. We evaluated the prognostic and predictive roles of systemic inflammatory, nutritional, and coagulation biomarkers in the circulating blood of patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study of 795 patients with cervical cancer who received concurrent chemoradiation therapy was performed. Overall survival was evaluated by the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to determine prognostic factors associated with overall survival.

Results

The median follow-up time was 76 months. In the univariate analysis, overall survival showed positive prognostic value in patients with a platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) <164.29 ( P = 0.010), and a plasma fibrinogen (FIB) level <4 g/L( P = 0.012). In the multivariate analysis, the PLR ( P = 0.036), and FIB level ( P = 0.047) maintained their significance for overall survival. Therefore, the PLR and FIB levels are independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Conclusions

Systemic inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers could help to understand survival differences in the clinical treatment of advanced cervical cancer. The PLR and FIB levels are independent prognostic factors of poor survival in patients with advanced cervical cancer.
A Flipped Systematic Debugging Approach to Enhance Elementary Students’ Program Debugging Performance and Optimize Cognitive Load
Authors: Gao Xuemin , Hew Khe Foon
Published: March 2023

Reintroducing computer science (CS) education in K–12 schools to promote computational thinking (CT) has attracted significant attention among scholars and educators. Among the several essential components included in CS and CT education, program debugging is an indispensable skill. However, debugging teaching has often been overlooked in K–12 contexts, and relevant empirical studies are lacking in the literature. Moreover, novices generally have poor performance in domain knowledge and strategic knowledge concerning debugging. They also consistently experience a high cognitive burden in debugging learning. To address these gaps, we developed a flipped systematic debugging approach combined with a systematic debugging process (SDP) and the modeling method. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of this flipped systematic debugging approach, in which 83 fifth-grade students attended the flipped debugging training lessons with the SDP–modeling method, and 75 fifth-grade students attended the unassisted flipped debugging training lessons without the SDP–modeling method. The results indicated that flipped debugging training using the SDP–modeling method improved students’ debugging skills. The results from the questionnaire showed that the proposed teaching approach increased the students’ investment in germane cognitive load by promoting schema construction. It also helped reduce students’ intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load in learning.
The Language Demands of Analytical Reading and Writing at School
Authors: Uccelli Paola
Published: March 2023

Analytical writing poses particularly challenging, yet often overlooked, language demands that need attention in educational research and practice. In this article, I discuss the Core Analytical Language Skills (CALS) construct and its relevance for school reading and writing. CALS refer to the set of learners’ school-relevant language resources that are of high utility to understanding analytical texts across content areas. After a brief review of the relations between mid-adolescents’ language and their school reading and writing proficiencies, I offer illustrative examples of individual differences in middle-schoolers’ analytical writing and CALS. I argue, on the basis of recent but extensive empirical evidence, that without understanding and addressing the immense variability in the language resources that students bring to school and the language demands of reading- and writing-to-learn tasks and texts, schools run the risk of maintaining and even exacerbating the inequalities that exist in the larger society.
Effect of synovial fluid temperature on wear resistance of different polymer acetabular materials
Authors: Li Dahan , Wang Songquan , Lin Hao , Wang Kaijun , Guo Yongbo , Yu Lu , Fang Xingxing
Published: March 2023

In order to investigate the effect of frictional heat on the wear resistance characteristics of polymeric acetabular materials, the tribological tests and wear numerical analysis of three common polymer acetabular materials were carried out under different synovial fluid temperatures. The study results show that XLPE and VE-XLPE exhibit superior wear resistance compared to UHMWPE in high-temperature, heavy load environments. The coefficient of friction of three materials gradually decreases as the temperature of the synovial fluid increases. The wear depth and wear volume of the three materials increased with the increase of the temperature of the synovial fluid, and the forms of wear at 46°C and 55°C were mainly adhesive wear and plastic deformation. The higher temperature of the synovial fluid accelerates the oxidative degradation of the material surface and generates oxidation functional groups, which leads to the breakage of C-C bonds in the surface molecular chains under the sliding shear effect, thus reducing the mechanical properties of the material. Specifically, the surface of the polymer material will soften at a higher ambient temperature, mainly due to the decrease of hardness, and then deteriorate in the friction property, and finally increase the wear rate. Ansys results showed that the volume wear of the three materials increased with the increase of synovial fluid temperature, and the trend could be approximately linear. Numerical calculations predict that VE-XLPE has the highest wear of 0.693 mm3 among the three materials at 37°C, followed by XLPE at 0.568 mm3 and UHMWPE with the lowest wear of 0.478 mm3. At higher synovial fluid temperatures (46°C, 55°C), VE-XLPE still has the largest wear volume among the three materials, while XLPE and UHMWPE have similar wear. The wear cloud pictures showed that the maximum wear volume occurred near the edge of the acetabulum.
Study on unit energy damage and prediction model of concrete under hydraulic impact
Authors: Liu Jialiang , Ju Anjun , Zhu Bin , Liu Renjie , Long Wanpeng , Zhang Xuguang
Published: March 2023

Based on the SPH-FEM (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics – Finite Element Method) coupling method, the hydraulic impact concrete model was established, and the numerical model was verified by hydraulic impact concrete experiments and CT (Computed Tomography) scanning experiments. Secondly, this paper proposes the comprehensive damage factor of unit energy consumption, and explores the damage law of unit energy consumption of concrete under different parameters and optimizes the hydraulic parameters by using image processing techniques. Finally, this paper analyzes the crushing process of concrete under hydraulic impact, and predicts the unit energy consumption comprehensive damage by the multiple linear regression model, the decision tree model and the GBDT (Gradient Boosting Decision Tree) model. The results show that the effects of different parameters on the comprehensive damage of unit energy consumption of hydraulic impact concrete changes in stages, and the concrete particles will completely fail when the concrete damage under hydraulic action accumulates to a certain degree and the von mises stress reaches a certain peak. Secondly, the prediction of the GBDT model is the best, and the study provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for the efficient and economic utilization of hydraulic impact concrete technology.
A review on recent development in aluminium-copper friction stir welding
Authors: Payak Viresh , Paulraj Jawahar , Roy Barnik Saha , Bhargava Manish , Das Pritam
Published: March 2023

Aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu) are widely employed in the industry due to their significant corrosion resistance and electrical conductive properties. The simultaneous requirement of different special properties has increased the trend of joining of Al and Cu. The joining of dissimilar materials has arisen as a new challenge in the research field in the past decade. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a very worthy process to join metals that aren't the same. This article delves into the intricacies of FSW to join compatible metals such as Al and Cu. The various parameters of FSW, namely tool design, tool pin offset, rotation speed, welding speed, tilt angle, and different types of welding joints, are highlighted in this article. It also goes through the different types of defects, microstructures, and intermetallic compounds (IMCs) that are formed during Al-Cu FSW. The electrical behavior and corrosion behavior of the weld zone in Al-Cu FSWed joints were also reviewed. Role of interlayer in some emphasis was also given to form effective joints.
Numerical simulation of melting heat transfer in cylindrical slip flow of complex nanofluid
Authors: Jeevankumar  , Sandeep N
Published: March 2023

The heat diffusion in the cylindrical film stream of the second-grade cross nanofluid is examined numerically. In this study, solid nanoparticles of the aluminum alloys AA7072 and AA7075 are submerged in water as the base liquid. A consistent magnetic field is effective to the stream along with the nonlinear radiation, Ohmic heating, and Catteneo–Christov heat flux to inspect base fluid and composite nanofluids’ stream and thermal transport properties. The flow model is created and solved mathematically utilizing the bvp5c MATLAB scheme. Comparable outcomes for water and composite nanofluids have been delivered and explored. The present research focuses on using solar energy with parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSC). It is discovered that the thermal diffusion rate of the AA7072-AA7075-water combination is more remarkable than the base liquid. The external magnetic field's drag force can be used to moderate the flow and thermal areas. Also, radiative heat contributes to boosting the thermal transport rate of composite nanofluid without impacting the wall resistance. Therefore, AA7072-AA7075-water pumping through PTSC will help to improve heat diffusion to a higher level. The findings are original and aid in understanding how well hybrid nanomaterials function in a second-grade non-Newtonian liquid. The information from this study about the elements that contribute to the working fluid's thermal improvement is also helpful to researchers in this field and a broad audience from industries.
Multi-performance optimization of the diamond burnishing process in terms of energy saving and tribological factors
Authors: Nguyen Trung-Thanh , Nguyen Truong-An , Dang Xuan-Ba , Van An-Le
Published: March 2023

Surface characteristics can be improved using diamond burnishing. In this work, an ecological indicator (energy efficiency- EF) and tribological factors (the coefficient and friction- COF and specific wear rate- SWR) of a single diamond burnishing process were optimized. The process parameters were the burnishing speed ( V), burnishing depth ( D), feed rate ( f), the diameter of the tip ( DT), and initial average roughness ( IR). An efficient cooling-lubrication device comprising the minimum quantity lubrication and Ranque–Hilsch vortex tubes was utilized to facilitate burnishing trials. The Kriging models of burnishing performances were developed regarding parameters. The CRITIC method, Crow Search Algorithm, and TOPSIS were employed to select weights and optimality. The optimizing outcomes indicated that optimal values of the V, D, f, DT, and IR were 160 m/min, 0.10 mm, 0.05 mm/rev., 7 mm, and 2.00 μm, respectively. The EF was improved by 34.1%, while the COF and SWR were decreased by 33.2% and 8.1%, respectively. The optimal data could be applied to practical diamond burnishing to improve energy efficiency and tribological parameters for burnished external surfaces. The optimizing technique comprising the Kriging models, CRITIC, Crow Search Algorithm, and TOPSIS could be efficiently utilized to solve complex issues for burnishing operations and other machining processes. A developed system could be applied to enhance cooling-lubrication efficiencies for different machining operations, such as turning, milling, and grinding processes.
Modeling of a two-axle rail vehicle for state estimation
Authors: Sharma Rakesh Chandmal , Bhardawaj Sono , Gopala Rao LVV , Bahl Shashi
Published: March 2023

A two-axle rail vehicle having solid axle wheel-sets is developed by using Kalman filter state estimator. Approximately 18 states (from all the 8 inertial measurements) are observed by developing a Kalman filter. A total of five gyroscopes and three accelerometers calibrate the lateral acceleration, yaw velocity of the vehicle and two wheel-sets roll velocity. All the vehicle states are observed by formulating the Kalman filter, moreover, the Kalman filter is also used to calculate the different parameters like cant angle and radius of the curvature of the track. The design of the rail vehicle is validated by comparing the actual results with the same from computer simulations. The simulation also helps to develop an optimal and novel controller to assess the performance of the design of an active steering system.
Azilsartan suppresses the antiapoptotic biomarker and pro-inflammatory cytokines in rat model of cisplatin-induced retinal and optic nerve toxicity
Authors: Raheem Noor Majid , Mohammed Ali Mahmood Naza
Published: March 2023

Background

The local renin-angiotensin system has been discovered in the eyes; thus, this study evaluates the Azilsartan effect in the retina and optic nerve toxicity induced by Cisplatin in vivo.

Methodology

Forty-eight male rats were randomly assigned into six groups of 8 animals. Group 1 was healthy control that received 0.5 mL/day of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) orally (PO). Group 2 received a single dose of the 7.0 mg/kg CIS intraperitoneally with 0.5 mL/day of 0.5% CMC-PO. Groups 3 and 4 received 3.5 and 7.0 mg/kg/day of AZIL-PO, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 received 3.5 and 7.0 mg/kg/day of AZIL-PO, respectively together with a single dose of 7.0 mg/kg of CIS-IP. The ocular tissue and serum estimated the TNF-α, NF-kβ, and Casp-3. A complete blood count was also measured, and the eye was sent for histological examination.

Results

The administration of the 3.5 mg/kg AZIL significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced the ocular tissue and serum TNF-α, NF-kB, and Casp-3 levels, when given to CIS treated group, while the 7.0 mg/kg AZIL does not. Additionally, azilsartan shows no negative impact on the CBC in rats. Finally, the eye histological examination showed a significant ( p < 0.05) drop in the signs of inflammation and cellular degeneration, particularly after administration of the 3.5 mg/kg AZIL to the CIS-treated group.

Conclusion

A low dose of AZIL exerts an anti-inflammation and an anti-apoptotic effect through significant suppression of the pro-inflammatory mediators and an apoptotic biomarker by blocking the local angiotensin II type
Research trends in LIS: The case of doctoral research in Pakistan, 1981–2021
Authors: Zareef Muhammad , Arif Muhammad , Jabeen Munazza
Published: March 2023

The current study aims to examine doctoral research works produced by Pakistani universities in the field of library and information science (LIS). The study provides an understanding of the perspective of PhD level research in Pakistan and aims to determine developmental patterns, popular focused areas, current trends, and the most productive universities. The content analysis method was used to conduct this study. A self-structured questionnaire was used for the collection of data. A total of five universities were selected for the collection of softcopies of theses for this study. The information was gathered from department heads at five LIS schools in Pakistan. MS-Excel was used to analyze and present the data in the form of tables and charts to achieve the study’s objectives. The findings show that Pakistani LIS schools have produced a total of 62 PhD theses from 1981 to 2021. Steady development has been observed until 2010. However, the growth of LIS research has increased significantly during the last decade. The study has explored LIS research trends at the doctoral level and presents an agenda for future research to inspire potential LIS scholars. The findings are useful to improve research quality at the doctoral level for LIS scholars and faculty members of LIS schools in Pakistan and other developing countries.
Triptonide Ameliorates Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion-induced Cerebral Ischemic Damage in Rats via Regulation of In flammatory Response
Authors: Wang Shuai , Liu Hongguang , Chen Tao
Published: March 2023

Background

Cerebral ischemic stroke is the second major cause of mortality worldwide that results in persisting disability and mental agony. Ischemic stroke is induced by the diminished blood circulation to the brain, which can be due to obstruction by arteriosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, or thrombosis. Triptonide is a diterpene triepoxide, purified out of extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, and is an emerging target against, for example, cancers and inflammatory insults.

Materials and Methods

Taking this into consideration, this study was designed to analyze the effect of triptonide on ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) cerebral infarction stroke rats.

Results

Our study showed that triptonide decreased the infarct volume and brain edema produced by I/R. Moreover, triptonide protected the rats from any neurological deficits, which were analyzed using a five-point scoring system, augmented antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione content, and lowered the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Triptonide also decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), TNF- α, and IL-6, while it augmented anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In this study, cerebral infarction stroke rats showed an increase in malondialdehyde levels. Triptonide preserved the normal brain architecture from various neurotoxic effects.

Conclusion

Thus, triptonide can be targeted for drug discovery in the future to protect against cerebral infarction stroke.
Euxanthone Suppresses the Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Human Medulloblastoma Cells by Inhibiting the RANK/RANKL Pathway
Authors: Xu Chengyan , He Zixia , Shen Zhipeng
Published: March 2023

Background:

Euxanthone is a plant-based flavonoid that is mostly isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant, Polygala caudate. This study was designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of euxanthone against human medulloblastoma cells.

Materials and Methods:

Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 and EdU assays. Apoptotic cell percentage was determined by annexin V/PI assay. The mRNA expression was determined by qRT-PCR. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to assess cell migration and invasion.

Results:

The results revealed aberrant activation of RANK/RANKL pathway in human medulloblastoma tissues and cell lines. Euxanthone suppressed the proliferation of the D425 medulloblastoma cells with comparatively lower cytotoxic effects against the normal human cerebellar granule cells. The IC50 of euxanthone against the D425 cells was found to be 10 µM. Interestingly, silencing of receptor activator of nuclear factor kβ (RANK) could also suppress the proliferation of the D425 cells via induction of apoptosis. Nonetheless, overexpression of RANK could abolish the cytotoxic effects of euxanthone on the D425 cells. Finally, wound-heal and transwell assay showed that euxanthone suppressed the migration and invasion of the D425 medulloblastoma cells.

Conclusion:

Collectively, the results revealed the anticancer effects of euxanthone against human medulloblastoma cells via RANK/RANKL pathway. These results suggest the potential of euxanthone as a lead molecule in the development of chemotherapy for medulloblastoma.
Association between long-term use of prolactin-elevating antipsychotics in women and the risk of breast cancer: What are the clinical implications?
Authors: Hope Judith D , Keks Nicholas A , Copolov David L
Published: March 2023

Background

Some antipsychotic drugs elevate prolactin, and hyperprolactinaemia is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women with schizophrenia have an increased incidence of breast cancer, but also multiple risk factors for the condition.

Method

This paper will critically review recent epidemiological studies concerning antipsychotics and breast cancer from a psychiatric perspective.

Results

Two recent epidemiological studies have found an association between use of prolactin-elevating antipsychotics and breast cancer in women with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Prolactin-elevating drugs include paliperidone, risperidone, amisulpride and haloperidol, whilst prolactin-sparing antipsychotics included aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine and quetiapine. In the two studies, estimated increased risks of breast cancer were disconcertingly high (up to 62%), but a third recent study found only a weak dose-response association. There are extensive methodological complications in this research, including the extent to which studies measure other risk factors for breast cancer and disagreement about the extent of prolactin elevation by some antipsychotics.

Conclusion

Although causation between prolactin elevating antipsychotics and breast cancer in women has not been demonstrated, recent epidemiological reports are worrying. For women on antipsychotics, informed consent should ideally include discussion of breast cancer concerns within the wider context of treatment benefits and risks.
Brazilian porcupinepox virus infection in a free-ranging neotropical porcupine in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Silva David J. F. , Moreira Janaina M. A. R. , Ribeiro Marlon , Maruyama Fernanda H. , Morgado Thaís O. , Nakazato Luciano , Dutra Valeria , Souza Marcos A. , Colodel Edson M.
Published: March 2023

Although the novel Brazilian porcupinepox virus (BPoPV) can infect wild porcupines, its lethality and zoonotic potential are not well-established. In May 2021, a free-ranging neotropical porcupine ( Coendou longicaudatus boliviensis) rescued from the natural savanna in the Brazilian Cerrado, Mato Grosso State, was presented with a lethal poxviral infection. Clinical signs and PCR detection of BPoPV supported the diagnosis. Poxviral lesions included erythema, exfoliative dermatitis, and erosions involving mainly the face, hindlimb, and vulva. Histologically, the lesions consisted of proliferative and necrotic dermatitis, intraepidermal and follicular pustules, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in keratinocytes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed BPoPV strains closely related to other rodent-infecting poxviruses. This poxviral infection resulted in the death of a specimen of C. l. boliviensis; the effect on species conservation, and the potential of spillover into humans and other vertebrates remain unknown.
Actuation response of typical biased shape memory alloy wire under variable electric heating rates: Experimental investigation and modeling
Authors: Zhang Yuhang , Zhang Xiaoyong , Jiang Jun , Zhang Qiang , Ke Yan , Qiu Shengbin
Published: March 2023

Electric heating is commonly used to induce the inverse martensitic transformation in shape memory alloy (SMA) wire actuators. Different actuation responses can be achieved when adjusting the heating currents. In this study, typical biased NiTi SMA wire actuators were tested under the heating currents of 1.5 A, 3 A, 4 A, and 5 A. It was found that SMA wire actuators under three typical biases (dead weight, linear spring, dead weight & linear spring) behaved differently as the heating current increased. Moreover, under dead weight bias and mixed bias, high heating currents tended to cause dynamic responses during actuation. The maximum inertia load induced by dynamic responses was 2.65 times as much as the static load. In contrast, the actuation response under linear spring bias was relatively steady. A model based on the SMA constitutive equation and the dynamic equation was also established, which was capable of simulating the dynamic actuation responses of SMA wire actuators under high electric heating rates.
A survey of Bouc-Wen hysteretic models applied to piezo-actuated mechanical systems: Modeling, identification, and control
Authors: Cai Jingnan , Dong Wei , Nagamune Ryozo
Published: March 2023

Hysteretic nonlinearity behavior ubiquitously occurs in mechanical systems, particularly in high-precision instruments, which severely degrades system output performance. Consequently, it is unavoidable to establish an accurate hysteretic model to describe the hysteretic characteristic of various mechanical systems and to compensate for the system error caused by hysteresis. The piezo-actuated mechanism is one of the most frequent mechanical systems that occurs hysteretic phenomenon, explained in detail in this survey. Bouc-Wen (BW) model has been popularly applied in modeling hysteretic attributes due to the outstanding advantage of simple structure and identification process. This paper presents the latest BW model applications and investigates different BW models, identification methods, and control strategies in light of various application demands based on the BW model systematically. In addition, this survey is meaningful in choosing an appropriate modeling approach and control means for system design according to the distinct requirements, and in providing future research direction.
Addressing Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review of Motivational Interviewing Infused Interventions
Authors: Lundahl Brad , Howey Whitney , Dilanchian Aundrea , Garcia Myra J. , Patin Kara , Moleni Kristina , Burke Brian
Published: March 2023

Purpose: Brief interventions have been applied to the problem of suicide. This systematic review quantitatively and qualitatively examined the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI)-infused interventions. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed throughout. Results: 147 studies were initially identified, with nine meeting the final inclusion criteria. All studies blended MI with other interventions and were primarily located in triage settings. MI-infused interventions were not significantly stronger in lowering suicidal ideation or behavior. However, such interventions were significantly more likely to result in follow-up care post intervention. Discussion: MI-infused interventions are not linked to statistically significantly lowered risk for suicide ideation or behavior despite increased mental health-seeking behavior post intervention. However, MI-infused interventions may be valuable for suicidal behavior in hospital settings because they increase a key intervention target: following up with mental health care. The literature on MI-infused interventions for suicide is in an early stage with many unanswered questions.
Managing Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivorship: Communication Challenges and Opportunities as Described by Cancer Survivors
Authors: O’Regan Amy , Fish Laura J. , Makarushka Christina , Somers Tamara , Fitzgerald Jones Katie , Merlin Jessica S. , Dinan Michaela , Oeffinger Kevin , Check Devon
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Many cancer survivors experience chronic pain after completing curative-intent treatment. Based on available data, chronic pain may be undertreated in this context; however, little is known about cancer survivors’ experiences with clinical management of chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to better understand cancer survivors’ pain management experiences after curative-intent treatment.

Methods

We conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of cancer survivors who had completed treatment for stage I-III breast, head/neck, lung or colorectal cancer. We used a thematic approach to qualitative data analysis.

Results

Participants described that chronic pain often goes unrecognized by their providers, potentially due to limitations in how pain is assessed clinically and the tendency of both cancer survivors and providers to minimize or invalidate the pain experience. To improve communication, participants suggested that providers ask more open-ended questions about their pain, help them to establish functional goals, and provide patients with options for pain management.

Significance of Results

This study demonstrates the importance of provider-initiated communication around pain management for cancer survivors to make them feel more supported in their care. Communication and shared decision-making interventions may improve cancer survivor-provider communication around chronic pain management, addressing an important gap in survivorship care.
The Roles of Stress, Sleep, and Fatigue on Depression in People with Visual Impairments
Authors: Choi Soyoung , Harrison Tracie
Published: March 2023

The study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of fatigue and the moderating effect of sleep quality on stress and depressive symptoms among people with visual impairments. A total of 155 participants completed the online survey. The Perceived Stress Scale, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Inventory (CES-D), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used. Descriptive analysis, correlations, and moderated mediation modelling were conducted using R software. From the mediator variable (FSI) model (F = 22.427, R2 = 56.5, p < .001) and the dependent variable (CES-D) model (F = 35.912, R2 = 70.5, p < .001), after controlling for age, sex, employment, and education, sleep quality positively predicted fatigue levels (β = 2.422, p = .009), and fatigue positively predicted depressive symptoms (β = .152, p < .001). Sleep quality is an essential component of psychological well-being in people with visual impairments.