bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biopolitics in the ‘Psychic Realm’: Han, Foucault and neoliberal psychopolitics
Authors: Alphin Caroline , Debrix François
Published: July 2021

This article explores German Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han’s notion of psychopolitics and his concept of the neoliberal subject. For Han, mental processes are now the primary target of power. This means that, according to Han, biopower must give way to what he calls psychopower since perspectives that critically seek to understand neoliberalism through a biopolitical lens are no longer adequate to contemporary regimes of neoliberal achievement. This article examines and evaluates Han’s argument that Foucauldian biopolitics is obsolete in today’s neoliberal age because of biopolitics’ primary focus on the body over mental processes. We suggest that, instead of emphasizing the need to move beyond biopolitics, Han’s theorization of psychopolitics could benefit from paying closer attention to some of Foucault’s insights on biopower and from identifying key connections between biopolitics and psychopolitics. By highlighting some important continuities between Foucault’s biopolitics and Han’s psychopolitics (instead of emphasizing the discontinuities between both theorists’ perspectives, as Han tends to privilege), this article seeks to move towards improved theorizations of concepts like achievement, subjectivity, otherness or optimization, concepts that are key to Han’s understanding of contemporary neoliberal practices.
The Development of a Deprescribing Competency Framework in Geriatric Nursing Education
Authors: Sun Winnie , Grabkowski Magda , Zou Ping , Ashtarieh Bahar
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this article is to report the literature review findings of our larger deprescribing initiative, with the goal of developing a competency framework about deprescribing to be incorporated into the future geriatric nursing education curriculum. A literature review was conducted to examine the facilitators and barriers faced by nurses with regard to the process of deprescribing for older adults, and the development of deprescribing competency in nursing education. We adopted the seven steps of the Comprehensive Literature Review Process Model, which is sub-divided into the following three phases (a) Exploration; (b) Interpretation; and (c) Communication. A total of 24 peer-reviewed documents revealed three major facilitating factors: (a) Effective education and training in deprescribing; (b) Need for continuing education and professional development in medication optimization; and (c) Benefits of multi-disciplinary involvement in medication management.
Collaborative leadership and place-based development
Authors: Broadhurst Kate , Ferreira Jennifer , Berkeley Nigel
Published: July 2021

Place leadership is at a critical juncture. Since the 1990s, it has been taken for granted that for places to prosper, effective partnerships combining the interests of multiple stakeholders are essential. The leadership of place-based partnerships is crucial to their success and has accordingly received increased attention in academic and policy circles, but the notion of place leadership remains an ideological phenomenon founded on numerous case studies with few conclusions that can be generalised across wider spatial scales or beyond advanced economies. This article examines place leadership through examining England’s local enterprise partnerships, in particular looking at the role of the private sector vis-a-vis the public sector. The complexity of these partnerships is explored, and the article argues for the role of collaborative leadership to address that complexity. It contributes a set of guiding principles to guide new ways for place-based working that can better embrace the private sector and engender a more collaborative leadership practice.
Transgenerational evidence of increases in dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity in rodents: Impact on sensorimotor gating, the behavioral response to nicotine and BDNF
Authors: Gill Wesley Drew , Burgess Katherine C , Vied Cynthia , Brown Russell W
Published: July 2021

Background/Aims:

Neonatal quinpirole (NQ) treatment to rats increases dopamine D2 (DAD2) receptor sensitivity in adult animals. We investigated if increased DAD2 sensitivity would be passed to the next (F1) generation, and if these animals demonstrated sensorimotor gating deficits and enhanced behavioral responses to nicotine.

Methods:

Male and female rats were intraperitoneal (IP) administered quinpirole (1 mg/kg) or saline (NS) from postnatal day (P)1–21. Animals were either behaviorally tested (F0) or raised to P60 and mated, creating F1 offspring.

Results:

Experiment 1 revealed that F1 generation animals that were the offspring of at least one NQ-treated founder increased yawning behavior, a DAD2-mediated behavioral event, in response to acute quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg). F1 generation rats also demonstrated increased striatal β arrestin-2 and decreased phospho-AKT signaling, consistent with increased G-protein independent DAD2 signaling, which was equal to F0 NQ-treated founders, although this was not observed in all groups. RNA-Seq analysis revealed significant gene expression changes in the F1 generation that were offspring of both NQ-treated founders compared to F0 NQ founders and controls, with enrichment in sensitivity to stress hormones and cell signaling pathways. In Experiment 2, all F1 generation offspring demonstrated sensorimotor gating deficits compared to controls, which were equivalent to F0 NQ-treated founders. In Experiment 3, all F1 generation animals demonstrated enhanced nicotine behavioral sensitization and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein. Further, F1 generation rats demonstrated enhanced adolescent nicotine conditioned place preference equivalent to NQ-treated founders conditioned with nicotine.

Conclusions:

This represents the first demonstration of transgenerational effects of increased DAD2 sensitivity in a rodent model.
Analysis of the association and predictive value of hyperhomocysteinaemia for obstructive coronary artery disease
Authors: Wu Hao-Yu , Gao Tian-Jiao , Cao Yi-Wei , Diao Jia-Yu , You Peng-Hua , Yao Xiao-Wei
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the predictive value of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in an Asian population in northern China.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled patients at their first cardiac assessment and assigned them to an obstructive CAD group or a non-obstructive CAD group according to the coronary angiography results. HHcy was defined as a homocysteine (Hcy) level > 15 µmol/l.

Results

This study enrolled 2987 participants: 1172 in the non-obstructive CAD group and 1815 in the obstructive CAD group. Hcy level in the obstructive CAD group was significantly higher than in the non-obstructive CAD group. The proportion of patients with HHcy in the obstructive CAD group was significantly greater than in the non-obstructive CAD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that HHcy was independently correlated with obstructive CAD in both young (aged ≤ 55 years) and old patients (aged > 55 years). HHcy showed a higher sensitivity (93.1%), specificity (86.1%) and accuracy (90.0%) for obstructive CAD. The odds ratio for HHcy was 84.2. The Kappa value (0.8) showed substantial agreement between obstructive CAD and HHcy.

Conclusions

HHcy was associated with obstructive CAD and may be a potentially independent risk factor for obstructive CAD with good predictive value.
Enabling cultural heritage spaces in Nigerian public libraries: A case study of the Anambra State Library Board
Authors: Osuchukwu Ngozi Perpetua , Udeze Nkechi Sabina
Published: July 2021

Nigerian public libraries play important roles in enabling the collation and sustainability of communities’ indigenous knowledge. This article is a case study of the activities, services and challenges of sustaining cultural heritage in the Anambra State Library Board. The study involved qualitative research, with physical visits, observation techniques and interviews for data collection. The researchers found that the public library has a cultural heritage section with various indigenous items displayed with their local names. The staff are involved in several activities designed to create effective cultural services. The Library Board organizes an annual cultural festival and talk shows, traditional dance, indigenous skills acquisition, storytelling, Igbo language readingand spelling bee. These programmes are developed in consultation and collaboration with community members, the media and the Nigerian Library Association. The challenges include problems of collation, damage, conservation and preservation. It is recommended that Nigerian public libraries should acquire more indigenous resources and conserve local items in digital collections.
Understanding the Temporal, Regional, Demographic, and Policy Factors Influencing Counties’ Daily Traffic Volume Reductions in Response to COVID-19
Authors: Fisher Mitchell , LaMondia Jeffrey J.
Published: July 2021

This research aims to understand temporal, regional, demographic, and policy factors that influenced travel reduction within the contiguous United States during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, this research combines U.S. Census data, infection rates, and state-level mandates to determine their effects on daily, county-level vehicle miles traveled (VMT) estimations from March 1, 2020 to April 21, 2020. Specifically, this work generates metrics of VMT per capita, daily change in VMT, and VMT immediate reaction rates for every county in the U.S.A. and develops regression models to determine how these factors influence VMT rates over time. Results show that state-mandated orders were deployed in a pattern relative to their expected economic impact. Model results showed infection rates may have had a greater influence on forcing state policy adoption, ensuring reduced VMT, rather than the number of cases directly influencing individual travel to a significant degree. Additionally, counties with higher populations or labeled as urban counties saw a greater reduction in VMT across all three models compared with lower population and rural counties. Planners and policy makers in the future can utilize the results of this research to make better informed responses as well as to know the expected results of their actions.
Design of Zonal Express Bus Services to Reduce User Travel Time and Transfers Considering Demand Diversion
Authors: Moon Sedong , Kim Dong-Kyu , Cho Shin-Hyung
Published: July 2021

Zonal express is an operational strategy for express transit service that only stops in the initial and final zones of its route while skipping stops in-between. Zonal express provides a service with less travel and transfer time by aggregating trip demands with similar origins, destinations, and departure times. In this study, new zonal express routes are designed to reduce the travel and transfer times of transit users efficiently. This study develops a methodology that considers demand diversion. To meet the purpose, the following are conducted: (1) estimation of zonal express demand; (2) clustering of demand with similar origins, destinations, and departure times; (3) selection of candidate clusters; (4) optimization of stops and routes of zonal express; and (5) determining zonal express routes in which the benefit from reduced time and transfers outweighs the cost. The methodology is applied to an actual transportation network in Seoul, South Korea, using smartcard, car navigation, and spatial information data. The result shows that zonal express can reduce users’ travel time and the number of transfers effectively. This study proposes that it is desirable to introduce the zonal express sequentially from the route with the highest net benefit under a budget constraint. This study also presents the results when fares change to provide implications for pricing strategies of the zonal express. Future studies can consider incorporating various objective functions or utilizing vehicles in different time slots.
Delay Propagation in Large Railway Networks with Data-Driven Bayesian Modeling
Authors: Li Boyu , Guo Ting , Li Ruimin , Wang Yang , Ou Yuming , Chen Fang
Published: July 2021

Reliability and punctuality are the key evaluation criteria in railway service for both passengers and operators. Delays spanning over spatial and temporal dimensions significantly affect the reliability and punctuality level of train operation. The optimization of capacity utilization and timetable design requires the prediction of the reliability and punctuality level of train operations, which is determined by train delays and delay propagation. To predict the punctuality level of train operations, the distributions of arrival and departure delays must be estimated as realistically as possible by taking into account the complex railway network structure and different types of delays caused by route conflict and connected trips. This paper aims to predict the propagation of delays on the railway network in the Greater Sydney area by developing a conditional Bayesian model. In the model, the propagation satisfies the Markov property if one can predict future delay propagation in the network based solely on its present state just as well as one could knowing the process’s full history, so that it is independent of such historical procedures. Meanwhile, we consider the throughput estimation for the cases of delay caused by interchange line conflicts and train connection in this model. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work of data-driven delay propagation modeling that examines both spatial and temporal dimensions under four different scenarios for railway networks. Implementation on real-world railway network operation data shows the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed model compared with traditional probability models.
On Time-Dependent Trip Distance Distribution with For-Hire Vehicle Trips in Chicago
Authors: Martínez Irene , Jin Wen-Long
Published: July 2021

For transportation system analysis in a new space dimension with respect to individual trips’ remaining distances, vehicle trips demand has two main components: the departure time and the trip distance. In particular, the trip distance distribution (TDD) is a direct input to the bathtub model in the new space dimension, and is a very important variable to consider in many applications, such as the development of distance-based congestion pricing strategies or mileage tax. For a good understanding of the demand pattern, both the distribution of trip initiation and trip distance should be calibrated from real data. In this paper, it is assumed that the demand pattern can be described by the joint distribution of trip distance and departure time. In other words, TDD is assumed to be time-dependent, and a calibration and validation methodology of the joint probability is proposed, based on log-likelihood maximization and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The calibration method is applied to empirical for-hire vehicle trips in Chicago, and it is concluded that TDD varies more within a day than across weekdays. The hypothesis that TDD follows a negative exponential, log-normal, or Gamma distribution is rejected. However, the best fit is systematically observed for the time-dependent log-normal probability density function. In the future, other trip distributions should be considered and also non-parametric probability density estimation should be explored for a better understanding of the demand pattern.
Performance Assessment Study of Indian Railways – Case of Low Efficiencies in Large Government Monopoly
Authors: Roy Sabyasachi S. , Kulshrestha Mukul
Published: July 2021

Indian Railways is the world’s largest government-owned monopoly, annually carrying passenger numbers that surpass the global population. It is world’s fourth largest rail network after the U.S.A., China, and Russia, and is managed by a separate Ministry of Railways. The operating ratios have consistently been around 90% in the past several years, indicating that that the capability to generate operational surplus is low. Further, its expenditure on staff and their pensions has been increasing. Consequently, capacity growth is increasingly being funded through borrowings, which threatens to further worsen the financial situation. Thus, railway services in India are often perceived as being inefficient and unsatisfactory. However, this perception of inefficient services has no scientific basis as mid- and micro-level efficiency analyses of Indian Railways have never been carried out. This paper adopts a data envelopment analysis (DEA)-based approach to evaluate the performance efficiencies of the 69 divisions of Indian Railways. Six models that deploy a range of performance indicators like operating expenditures, numbers of staff employed or passengers carried, freight carried, rail network length, and revenues generated have been employed to assess efficiencies. The results demonstrate the existence of significant inefficiencies that may possibly be attributed to lack of proper management, planning policies, and mis-governance, resulting in significant financial losses. The paper discusses these issues and the policy reforms needed in the developing country context, while suggesting some reforms that may lead to improved sector performances.
Impact of COVID-19 on Traffic Signal Systems: Survey of Agency Interventions and Observed Changes in Pedestrian Activity
Authors: Singleton Patrick A. , Taylor Mark , Day Christopher , Poddar Subhadipto , Kothuri Sirisha , Sharma Anuj
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant public health crisis since the 1918–1919 influenza epidemic, is the first such event to occur since the development of modern transportation systems in the twentieth century. Many states across the U.S. imposed lockdowns in early spring 2020, which reduced demand for trips of various types and affected transportation systems. In urban areas, the shift resulted in a reduction in traffic volumes and an increase in bicycling and walking in certain land use contexts. This paper seeks to understand the changes occurring at signalized intersections as a result of the lockdown and the ongoing pandemic, as well as the actions taken in response to these impacts. The results of a survey of agency reactions to COVID-19 with respect to traffic signal operations and changes in pedestrian activity during the spring 2020 lockdown using two case study examples in Utah are presented. First, the effects of placing intersections on pedestrian recall (with signage) to stop pedestrians from pushing the pedestrian button are examined. Next, the changes in pedestrian activity at Utah signalized intersections between the first 6 months of both 2019 and 2020 are analyzed and the impact of land use characteristics is explored. Survey results reveal the importance of using technologies such as adaptive systems and automated traffic signal performance measures to drive decisions. While pedestrian pushbutton actuations decreased in response to the implementation of pedestrian recalls, many pedestrians continued to use the pushbutton. Pedestrian activity changes were also largely driven by surrounding land uses.
Estimating the Impact of High-Fidelity Rainfall Data on Traffic Conditions and Traffic Prediction
Authors: Prokhorchuk Anatolii , Mitrovic Nikola , Muhammad Usman , Stevanovic Aleksandar , Asif Muhammad Tayyab , Dauwels Justin , Jaillet Patrick
Published: July 2021

Accurate prediction of network-level traffic parameters during inclement weather conditions can greatly help in many transportation applications. Rainfall tends to have a quantifiable impact on driving behavior and traffic network performance. This impact is often studied for low-resolution rainfall data on small road networks, whereas this study investigates it in the context of a large traffic network and high-resolution rainfall radar images. First, the impact of rainfall intensity on traffic performance throughout the day and for different road categories is analyzed. Next, it is investigated whether including rainfall information can improve the predictive accuracy of the state-of-the-art traffic forecasting methods. Numerical results show that the impact of rainfall on traffic varies for different rainfall intensities as well as for different times of the day and days of the week. The results also show that incorporating rainfall data into prediction models improves their overall performance. The average reduction in mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for models with rainfall data is 4.5%. Experiments with downsampled rainfall data were also performed, and it was concluded that incorporating higher resolution weather data does indeed lead to an increase in performance of traffic prediction models.
Regression Models of Road User Cost Prediction for Highway Maintenance and Rehabilitation for Life Cycle Planning in California
Authors: Kedarisetty Sampat , Kim Changmo , Harvey John T.
Published: July 2021

Road user costs (RUCs) have been studied for the past few decades and still need to be considered to obtain a complete picture of the impact of road construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. RUCs comprise delay costs (value of time), vehicle operating costs, and accident costs. Federal Highway Administration’s Life Cycle Cost Analysis software RealCost has been adapted, customized, and enhanced by California’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for California’s traffic patterns and maintenance practices in RealCostCA. However, the different types of roadways, traffic distributions, and work zone types have not been analyzed. In addition, RealCostCA works for selecting the most cost-effective pavement alternative under a project-specific basis and does not address network-level integration of RUCs. This study aimed to build easy-to-use look-up tables to obtain RUCs for a factorial of different work zone and traffic conditions. Different combinations of three roadway types (freeways, state highways, county roads), four representative hourly traffic distributions, three typical work zone closures (10-hour nighttime, 24-hour, 55-hour weekend closure), the numbers of lanes available in normal conditions (no work zone), and the numbers of lanes open during work zones were included in the factorial to calculate RUCs for specific traffic demand ranges at an interval of 5,000 vehicles per day per direction. The data obtained were subsequently used to combine into mixed regression models. These models enable calculation of RUC at any traffic level customized to the location of the project. Future work will be undertaken to combine the models into Caltrans’ network-level pavement management system.
Differential Relationships Between the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Informant-Rated Cognitive Decline Among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites
Authors: Briceño Emily M. , Mehdipanah Roshanak , Gonzales Xavier F. , Heeringa Steven G. , Levine Deborah A. , Langa Kenneth M. , Zahs Daniel , Garcia Nelda , Longoria Ruth , Vargas Alejandro , Morgenstern Lewis B.
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

We compared the concurrent validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with other cognitive screening instruments among Mexican Americans (MA) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW).

Methods:

In a community-based study in Nueces county, Texas (5/2/18-2/26/20), participants 65+ with MoCA ≤25 completed the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol. Regressions examined associations between MoCA and: 1) Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); 2) abbreviated Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSI-D); 3) Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE).

Results:

MA (n = 229) and NHW (n = 81) differed by education but not age or sex. MoCA and cognitive performance associations (MMSE, CSI-D-Respondent) did not differ between MA and NHW (p’s > .16). MoCA and informant rating associations (IQCODE, CSI-D-Informant) were stronger in NHW than MA (NHW R2 = 0.39 and 0.38, respectively; MA R2 = 0.30 and 0.28, respectively).

Discussion:

Our findings suggest non-equivalence across cognitive screening instruments among MAs and NHWs.
Social Media Affordances and Transactive Memory Systems in Virtual Teams
Authors: Yoon Kay , Zhu Yaguang
Published: July 2021

Recent advances in social media technologies offer a variety of tools for virtual teams to share knowledge among their team members and develop transactive memory systems (TMS). Adopting the media affordances lens, the current study investigates how social media affordances affect individual evaluations of TMS development and perceived team effectiveness in virtual teams. Survey data from 339 virtual team members across 92 hackathon events reveal that types of affordances have differing impacts on each of the three dimensions of TMS (perceptions of accuracy, sharedness, and validation). Furthermore, each dimension of perceived TMS mediates the relationship between its related social media affordance types and perceived team effectiveness. These findings suggest that virtual teams may need to adopt different social media technologies depending on which aspect of TMS development is prioritized.
The Political Sociology of 21st-Century Populism in Latin America: A Critique of the Ecuadorian Case
Authors: Daniel Vásquez Jorge
Published: July 2021

This paper calls into question the universal application of the concept of populism. It points to how particular historical processes need to be taken into account when addressing the formation of populism in Latin American countries. Unlike more theorized cases as Argentinian or Mexican populism, I use the Ecuadorian case to show how critical historical contextualization of 21st-century populism requires analyzing the continuities and ruptures with sociological knowledge about a particular populism. Such an analysis of continuities and ruptures shows the theoretical convergences among Latin America as a region and the political dynamics of specific historical processes. I highlight how the conceptions of 21st-century Ecuadorian populism as a “passive revolution” or “authoritarian disfigurement of democracy” provide some theoretical tools for examining the historical process of Ecuadorian populism but ultimately fall short of critical analysis. In conclusion, I derived from the Ecuadorian case some elements for the analysis of Latin American populist projects.
Investigating on the machinability assessment of precision machining pumice reinforced AA7075 syntactic foam
Authors: Bolat Çağın , Ergene Berkay , Karakılınç Uçan , Gökşenli Ali
Published: July 2021

On the road to real applications, although there are lots of efforts focusing on mechanical and physical features in the literature, their machining abilities were examined in a very limited manner. In this study, machining properties of pumice reinforced AA7075 syntactic foams manufactured via the newly offered sandwich infiltration technique were investigated by performing face turning. Physical and microstructural (optical and SEM works) analyses were conducted on fabricated foams to carry out sample characterization. All machining forces were measured for different cutting speeds (25, 50, and 100 m/min) and feed rates (0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 mm/rev). After the turning operation, areal surface roughness values were measured using a 3D surface profilometer and material removal rate (MRR) values were calculated. Besides, chip mixtures including pumice and metal fragments were collected to probe chip morphology in detail. The results showed that machining forces were affected by the operation parameters differently, and the lowest surface roughness was detected at the cutting speed of 100 m/min and 0.05 mm/rev feed rate. Furthermore, the shape of the metal chips changed from long/continuous characteristic to saw-tooth morphology depending on increasing cutting speed levels while pumice particles exhibited breakaway tendency as the feed rates went up.
Numerical investigations on the effect of volute casing treatment for performance augmentation in a centrifugal fan
Authors: Nilugal Manjunath L , Karanth K Vasudeva , N Madhwesh
Published: July 2021

This article presents the effect of volute chamfering on the performance of a forward swept centrifugal fan. The numerical analysis is performed to obtain the performance parameters such as static pressure rise coefficient and total pressure coefficient for various flow coefficients. The chamfer ratio for the volute is optimized parametrically by providing a chamfer on either side of the volute. The influence of the chamfer ratio on the three dimensional flow domain was investigated numerically. The simulation is carried out using Re-Normalisation Group (RNG) k-[Formula: see text] turbulence model. The transient simulation of the fan system is done using standard sliding mesh method available in Fluent. It is found from the analysis that, configuration with chamfer ratio of 4.4 is found be the optimum configuration in terms of better performance characteristics. On an average, this optimum configuration provides improvement of about 6.3% in static pressure rise coefficient when compared to the base model. This optimized chamfer configuration also gives a higher total pressure coefficient of about 3% validating the augmentation in static pressure rise coefficient with respect to the base model. Hence, this numerical study establishes the effectiveness of optimally providing volute chamfer on the overall performance improvement of forward bladed centrifugal fan.
Rotationally symmetric flow of Reiner-Rivlin fluid over a heated porous wall using numerical approach
Authors: Rafiq Talat , Mustafa M , Khan Junaid Ahmad
Published: July 2021

This research features one parameter family of solutions representing rotationally symmetric flow of non-Newtonian fluid obeying Reiner-Rivlin model. Such flows take place over a revolving plane permeable surface through origin such that fluid at infinity also undergoes uniform rotation about the vertical axis. Heat transfer accompanied with viscous heating effect is also analyzed. A similarity solution is proposed that results into a coupled non-linear system with four unknowns. Boundary layer structure is characterized by a parameter [Formula: see text] that compares angular velocity of external flow with that of the rotating surface. Solutions are developed by a well-known package bvp4c of MATLAB for full range of [Formula: see text]. Flow pattern for different choices of [Formula: see text] is scrutinized by computing both 2 D and 3 D streamlines. It is further noted that value of suction velocity is important with regards to the sign of axial velocity component. Boundary layer suppresses considerably whenever the surface is permeable. For sufficiently high suction velocity with [Formula: see text], entire fluid undergoes rigid body rotation. In no suction case, axially upward flow accelerates for increasing values of parameter [Formula: see text] in the range [Formula: see text], whereas opposite trend is apparent in the case [Formula: see text]. Results for normalized wall shear and Nusselt number are scrutinized for various choices of embedded parameters.
Calibration of CFD grid for simulating the impeller clearance flow and axial hydraulic force of centrifugal pump
Authors: Jin Faye , Wu Yanzhao , Li Na , Xiao Ruofu , Tao Ran
Published: July 2021

The axial hydraulic force of centrifugal pump is an important parameter affecting pump performance. The force mainly includes the force inside impeller and in clearance. Due to the special structural characteristics of the clearance, the influence of grid discretization method on the calculation of axial force in the clearance is not fully understood. Therefore, based on the Reynolds-averaged method with shear stress transport turbulence model, an orthogonal experiment was designed to compare the correlation coefficient of velocity and pressure distribution between shear stress transport model and large eddy simulation models. A more suitable grid discretization strategy was found by artificial neural network for grid calibration. When the strategy is applied to the entire centrifugal pump, the prediction of axial force has high accuracy. The range analysis shows that the grid node number in the wall-wall direction has the greatest impact on velocity distribution. When the mesh parameters are in a certain range, it can compromise between the simulation accuracy and computational resource. The Reynolds-averaged model based simulation is proved accurate in capturing the complex velocity and pressure field inside clearance. The entire pump model is also used for the verification after the calibration of grid. The typical axial force law can be found under different flow rate conditions. This study provides a significant guidance in determining the grid scheme for accurate prediction of centrifugal pump’s axial force. It makes the computational fluid dynamics simulation feasible in the initial design of centrifugal pump which specifically considers the axial force problem.
Particle motion and erosion morphology of the spool orifice in an electro-hydraulic servo valve under a small opening
Authors: Liu Xinqiang , Ji Hong , Liu Fei , Li Nana , Zhang Jianjun , Ren Wen
Published: July 2021

To explore the spool orifice’s particle motion and erosion morphology in an electro-hydraulic servo valve under a small opening, a modeled particle motion visualization test and CFD calculation were conducted to study typical particle trajectory. The influence of pressure differential, particle shape, and particle diameter on the erosion rate along the working edges was discussed. The erosion characteristic morphology and working edges’ fillet diameter distribution were measured and analyzed. There are four typical particle motions: translation and spin on the wall faced the flow, translation and turn on the backflow wall, carried motion by the mainstream and particle rotation in a vortex. A model of the erosive particle motion of the spool orifice was built based on the visualization test and CFD. During these motions, the microscopic scraping and collision of particles with the working edges are the main causes of erosion wear. The erosion wear rate of the working edge is proportional to the pressure differential and the non-roundness of the particles. The fillet of a working edge periodically increases or decreases with the circumferential angle, which occurs due to the morphology and is consistent with the erosion wear rate distribution along the working edge.
Comparison of hydrodynamic and acoustic pressure on automotive front side window
Authors: Yuan Haidong , Yang Zhigang
Published: July 2021

The unsteady flow in the front side window region of the vehicle can generate hydrodynamic and acoustic pressure on the front side window, which can influence the interior sound field. The hydrodynamic pressure on the front side window was achieved by the incompressible wall-modeled large-scale eddy simulation (WMLES) or improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES), and the hybrid computational aeroacoustics (CAA) method based on acoustic perturbation equations (APE) was employed to achieve the acoustic pressure on the front side window. The numerical results of both hydrodynamic and acoustic pressure ware validated by the wind tunnel experiment, especially the corrected force analysis technique (CFAT) is employed to validate the acoustic pressure. The comparison of hydrodynamic and acoustic pressure on the front side window was performed by the Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD). Results show that the hydrodynamic pressure regionally distributes on the front side window and most energy concentrates on area interacted with the side mirror wake, while the acoustic pressure distributes uniformly on the front side window acting as a diffusion field and the energy disperses in frequency region.
MiR-141 attenuates sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy by targeting DAPK1
Authors: Song Bo , Wang Xin-Xiang , Yang Hai-Yan , Kong Ling-Ting , Sun Hong-Yan
Published: July 2021

Objective

To discuss the possible effects of microRNA-141 (miR-141) in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) via targeting death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1).

Methods

An SIC mouse model was constructed by abdominal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and divided into control, LPS, LPS + pre-miR-141, and LPS + anti-miR-141 groups. Hemodynamic indicators and heart function indexes of mice were detected. ELISA was used to determine the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, while TUNEL staining to observe the apoptosis of myocardial cells of mice, as well as qRT-PCR and Western blotting to clarify the expression of miR-141 and DAPK1. Lastly, in vitro experiment was also conducted on the primary neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVCMs) to validate the results.

Results

Mice in the LPS group, as compared to the control group, had lower left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening, left ventricular systolic pressure, and ±dp/dt, but a higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, while the serum expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and cTn-T was up-regulated evidently with the increased apoptotic index of myocardial tissues. However, miR-141 and Bcl-2/Bax were down-regulated with elevated DAPK1 and cleaved caspase-3. The above changes were ameliorated in mice from the LPS + pre-miR-141 group relative to the LPS group, while those in the LPS + anti-miR-141 group were further deteriorated. In vitro experiment showed that miR-141 overexpression could reduce the apoptosis of LPS-induced NRVCMs and the levels of inflammatory cytokines with the increased cell viability.

Conclusion

MiR-141 could decrease inflammatory response and reduce myocardial cell apoptosis by targeting DAPK1, thereby playing the promising protective role in SIC.
Chrysin alleviates alteration of bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and exhibits estrogen-like activity in silico
Authors: Ibrahim Sadiyat O , Mada Sanusi B , Abarshi Musa M , Tanko Muhammad S , Babangida Sanusi
Published: July 2021

Background

Evidences are beginning to accrue that flavonoids, particularly phytoestrogens, could have beneficial effects against several age-related diseases linked to estrogen deficiency including postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methods

In this study, the effect of chrysin on selected bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and its estrogen-like activity in silico were investigated.

Results

The data indicated that administration of chrysin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 6 weeks to OVX rats significantly ( p < 0.05) prevented body weight gain and partially reverse uterine weight loss. In addition, treatment of OVX rats significantly ( p < 0.01) increased femur dry weight, femur ash weight, bone ash calcium, and phosphorous levels in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was significant ( p < 0.001) decline in serum estradiol level in all OVX rats compared to the sham-operated group. Interestingly, administration of chrysin significantly ( p < 0.05) reversed the reduction of estradiol induced by ovariectomy compared to untreated OVX rats. Moreover, administration of chrysin to OVX rats significantly ( p < 0.05) suppressed excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers expression compared to untreated OVX rats. Similarly, molecular docking analysis revealed that chrysin interacts with both α and β estrogen receptors with exothermic binding energies of −229.83 kcal/Mol and −252.72 kcal/Mol, respectively, and also fits perfectly into the active site of both α and β estrogen receptors.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that chrysin exhibits potential antiosteoporotic effects against bone loss in OVX rats through enhanced bone mineral contents and preventing excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers and bone-resorbing cytokine.
Global Social Responsibility and the Internationalisation of Higher Education for Society
Authors: Jones Elspeth , Leask Betty , Brandenburg Uwe , de Wit Hans
Published: July 2021

In this article, we argue that there is an urgent need to align internationalisation and university social responsibility agendas through the construct of Internationalisation of Higher Education for Society. The service or “third mission” of higher education institutions - to contribute to the social, economic, and cultural development of communities - has long been a core function of universities alongside teaching and research. However, the service mission is often disconnected from the internationalisation agenda. Service to society is rarely the focus of internationalisation strategies, and third mission strategies are predominantly domestically oriented. We consider how universities might, in today’s fractured and fragile world, amplify their contributions to society and the global common good by strategically enacting their global social responsibility through internationalisation. Related concepts of relevance are discussed, and we conclude with recommendations for leaders, researchers, and those involved in teaching and learning who seek to contribute to these endeavours.
Practice in a Pandemic: School Social Workers’ Adaptations and Experiences During the 2020 COVID-19 School Disruptions
Authors: Kelly Michael S. , Benbenishty Rami , Capp Gordon , Watson Kate , Astor Ron
Published: July 2021

In March 2020, as American PreK-12 schools shut down and moved into online learning in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was little information about how school social workers (SSWs) were responding to the crisis. This study used a national online survey to understand how SSWs ( N = 1,275) adapted their school practice during the initial 2020 COVID-19 crisis. Findings from this study indicate that SSWs made swift and (relatively) smooth adaptations of their traditional practice role to the new context, though not without reporting considerable professional stress and personal challenges doing so. SSWs reported significant concerns about their ability to deliver effective virtual school social work services given their students’ low motivation and lack of engagement with online learning, as well as significant worries about how their students were faring during the first months of the pandemic. Implications for school social work practice, policy, and research are discussed.
Narratives of Crisis: Female Saudi Students and the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Winkel Carmen , McNally Beverley , Aamir Siddiqua
Published: July 2021

This paper endeavors to portray the narratives of a group of female undergraduate students, in Saudi Arabia, studying during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection occurred in March 2021, at which time students had been in online classes for a year and had experienced several curfews as well as a total lockdown. Students answered open-ended questions and wrote a reflection about how they experienced the pandemic. The majority of the participants reported sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and social isolation, identifying their family as the most important source of support during this time. Others tried to cope using their own resources. The study highlighted the need for increased awareness among faculty, education leaders and policy-makers about the psychological effects of lockdown and social isolation. There is a requirement for more support services for those affected by anxiety, depression, and regular follow-up after the pandemic ends to explore the long-term consequences.
Comparative Analysis of Health Domains for Neuropathic Pain Patients
Authors: Bader Christine , Flynn Diane , Buckenmaier Chester , McDonald Catherine , Meghani Salimah , Calilung Christian , Polomano Rosemary
Published: July 2021

Active duty military members have significant service-related risks for developing pain from injury. Although estimates for neuropathic pain (NP) are available for civilian populations, the incidence and prevalence for NP in military members is less clear. Understanding correlates of pain in military members is vital to improving their physical, mental, and social health. Using a comparative design, a secondary analysis was conducted on longitudinal PASTOR data from 190 pain management center patients. The objectives were to compare trends in patient-reported outcomes over time between those screening positive and negative for NP (NP+, NP−, respectively) based on PROMIS Neuropathic Pain Scale T-scores. Findings showed improvements in fatigue, sleep-related impairment, and anger over time. There was a difference between those screening NP+ and NP− for sleep-related impairment, and the cross-level interaction effect showed sleep-related impairment worsening over time. These results emphasize the need to identify NP and implement and evaluate targeted therapies.
Histologic Aspect of the Curved Vomerine Mucosa in Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Benitez Benito K. , Brudnicki Andrzej , Nalabothu Prasad , Jackowski Jeannette A. von , Bruder Elisabeth , Mueller Andreas Albert
Published: July 2021

Background:

Common surgical techniques aim to turn the entire vomerine mucosa with vomer flaps either to the oral side or to the nasal side. The latter approach is widely performed due to the similarity in color to the nasal mucosa. However, we lack a histologic description of the curved vomerine mucosa in cleft lip and palate malformations.

Methods:

We histologically examined an excess of curved vomerine mucosa in 8 patients using hematoxylin–eosin, periodic acid–Schiff, Elastin van Gieson, and Alcian blue stains. Tissue samples were obtained during surgery at 8 months of age.

Results:

Our histological analysis of the mucoperiosteum overlying the curved vomer revealed characteristics consistent with those of an oral mucosa or a squamous metaplasia of the nasal mucosa, as exhibited by a stratified squamous epithelium containing numerous seromucous glands. Some areas showed a palisaded arrangement of the basal cells compatible with metaplasia of respiratory epithelium, but no goblet cells or respiratory cilia were identified. Abundant fibrosis and rich vascularity were present.

Conclusion:

The vomer mucosa showed no specific signs of nasal mucosa. These findings should be considered in presurgical cleft orthopedics and palatal surgery for further refinement. Shifting the vomer mucosa according to a fixed physiologic belief should not overrule other important aspects of cleft repair such as primary healing and establishing optimal form and function of palatal roof and nasal floor.
Consumer Stockpiling Across Cultures During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ahmadi Iman , Habel Johannes , Jia Miaolei , Lee Nick , Wei Sarah
Published: July 2021

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak a pandemic. In the following days, media reports showed that consumers increasingly stockpiled groceries and household supplies. Interestingly, behavioral data show that this stockpiling exhibited considerable heterogeneity across countries. Building on cultural dimension theory, the authors theorize that this heterogeneity can be explained by countries’ cultural values: consumer stockpiling after the World Health Organization's announcement was more pronounced in countries whose residents show high uncertainty avoidance, low long-term orientation, low indulgence, and high individualism. The authors confirm these propositions using global mobility data from Google matched with country-level data on cultural values, pandemic reaction policies, and other key variables. This research note thereby integrates the previously disconnected literature on cultural dimension theory and consumer stockpiling in general, as well as provides new and significant knowledge about cross-cultural consumer behavior in crises. Furthermore, the authors provide actionable insights for international policy makers and business managers who aim to predict or control consumer stockpiling in future global crises to enhance consumer well-being.