bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coupling of Wind and Potential Temperature in an Ekman Model in the Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Authors: Ren Shuzhan , Luo Dehai
Published: December 2021

A linear Ekman model in the stratified atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is proposed based on the steady-state version of the linearized three-dimensional primitive equations with the inclusion of the vertical diffusivity. Due to the inclusion of the potential temperature equation and hydrostatic equation, pressure and potential temperature couple with wind in the proposed model, and thus are not arbitrarily specified variables as in previous studies on the baroclinicity in the Ekman model. The extended thermal wind balance equation and the Ekman potential vorticity equation are derived to describe the coupling. The two equations, along with the equation describing the constraint on potential temperature, are employed to derive the analytical solutions of the proposed Ekman model. Because potential temperature is not a specified variable but part of the solution, the derived analytical solutions have very different forms from those derived in previous studies. The differences illustrate the impact of the inclusion of the potential temperature equation and hydrostatic equation on wind, pressure, and potential temperature in the proposed Ekman model. It is found that the computed wind profiles based on the proposed model can capture some important features of the observed wind profiles.
Cardioprotective potential of lithium and role of fractalkine in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Chen Pao-Huan , Hsiao Cheng-Yi , Chiang Shuo-Ju , Shen Ruei-Siang , Lin Yen-Kuang , Chung Kuo-Hsuan , Tsai Shang-Ying
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Over a half century, lithium has been used as the first-line medication to treat bipolar disorder. Emerging clinical and laboratory studies suggest that lithium may exhibit cardioprotective effects in addition to neuroprotective actions. Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is a unique chemokine associated with the pathogenesis of mood disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Herein we aimed to ascertain whether lithium treatment is associated with favorable cardiac structure and function in relation to the reduced CX3CL1 among patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods:

We recruited 100 euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder aged over 20 years to undergo echocardiographic study and measurement of plasma CX3CL1. Associations between lithium treatment, cardiac structure and function and peripheral CX3CL1 were analyzed according to the cardiovascular risk. The high cardiovascular risk was defined as (1) age ⩾ 45 years in men or ⩾ 55 years in women or (2) presence of concurrent cardiometabolic diseases.

Results:

In the high cardiovascular risk group ( n = 61), patients who received lithium as the maintenance treatment had significantly lower mean values of left ventricular internal diameters at end-diastole (Cohen’s d = 0.65, p = 0.001) and end-systole (Cohen’s d = 0.60, p = 0.004), higher mean values of mitral valve E/A ratio (Cohen’s d = 0.51, p = 0.019) and superior performance of global longitudinal strain (Cohen’s d = 0.51, p = 0.037) than those without lithium treatment. In addition, mean plasma levels of CX3CL1 in the high cardiovascular risk group were significantly lower among patients with lithium therapy compared with those without lithium treatment ( p = 0.029). Multiple regression models showed that the association between lithium treatment and mitral value E/A ratio was contributed by CX3CL1.

Conclusion:

Data from this largest sample size study of the association between lithium treatment and echocardiographic measures suggest that lithium may protect cardiac structure and function in patients with bipolar disorder. Reduction of CX3CL1 may mediate the cardioprotective effects of lithium.
In search of logotherapy
Authors: Parker Gordon
Published: December 2021

In his authoritative and extraordinarily influential book Man’s Search for Meaning, psychiatrist Viktor Frankl proposed that any individual’s life task is to find meaning, that meaning cannot be obtained without suffering, and that suffering allows meaning to be identified. He also articulated his therapeutic model—logotherapy, the so-called third Viennese school of psychotherapy. This article contemplates why logotherapy currently has seemingly little salience and suggests that the most likely reasons reflect some components being taken over by other therapies and by tenets of positive psychology articulated in recent decades.
A hybrid data-driven fault detection strategy with application to navigation sensors
Authors: Yang Huahui , Meng Chen , Wang Cheng
Published: December 2021

The integrated navigation system highly relies on the accuracy of measurements of sensors that are susceptible to unknown disturbances. In order to improve the reliability and safety of the navigation system, there is an increasing need for the fault detection of the sensors. In the present study, a hybrid data-driven fault detection strategy is proposed, which is based on residual sequence analysis. Currently, the one-class support vector machine is one of the most popular fault detection methods for navigation systems with many successful cases. Therefore, the one-class support vector machine is combined with time-series similarity measure and modified principal components analysis approaches. The similarity measurement of multi-sequence residuals between a real-time sample and normal condition samples is computed to construct learning features for one-class support vector machine. Similarly, the modified principal components analysis scheme is applied to project residuals onto subspaces and obtain learning features. Moreover, the one-class support vector machine model is applied for abnormal detection if unexpected sensor faults exhibit in measurements and residuals. Finally, experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed strategy for abrupt faults and soft faults on navigation sensors. Experimental results show that the hybrid data-driven fault detection strategy can effectively detect these faults with short time delay and high accuracy.
Civil Society, Rights and Welfare: Exploring the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Cambodia
Authors: Chaney Paul
Published: December 2021

This study examines Cambodia’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Corpus analysis of civil society organisations’ submissions to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review reveals a raft of CRC violations, including sexual abuse, trafficking and child labour. This is due to political and bureaucratic failings. The wider significance of this lies in underlining how the disjuncture between state and civil society underpins ongoing violations. Future progress depends on strengthened mobilisation yet increasing repression of civil society makes this unlikely. Accordingly, the prospects are bleak with children in Cambodia continuing to suffer widespread rights violations.
Culture, Gender and Inequality: Narratives from a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Odisha, India
Authors: Sabar Bhubaneswar
Published: December 2021

This ethnographic paper explores gender inequality in tribal societies vis-à-vis customary practices and challenges the notion of egalitarianism of tribal society by taking Chuktia Bhunjia tribe of Odisha, India as an analytical category. In the light of a discussion on women specific taboos and restrictions, captured through formal interview, narrative and lived experience approach, the paper explicates the deeply embedded nature of the taboos in Chuktia Bhunjia society and unravels how prohibiting women from socio-economic and religious space, backed by purity-pollution philosophy, perpetuate the gender inequality among them. It was found that although economic division of labour is indistinct; women are perceived being portrayal of misfortunes during perceived pollution periods and are prohibited to enter into sacred places – kitchen room, cowshed, sacred groves and forest – and take part in community festivals and other auspicious occasions. The existing material culture, especially kitchen room, alongside economic structure, self-notion of ‘outsiders’ and apparently fixed customary laws have direct influence on the position of women in this society. It is found that the customary laws are not mere symbolic expressions in perpetuating the gender asymmetry, but have become a powerful tool to patriarchal controls not only over women’s education, health, properties and knowledge, but also over individual’s choice, freedom, decision-making and sexuality. However, internal challenges are reported against customary laws and taboos, the fear of social ostracism, the obligation to restore the purity of cultural entity and anxiety reinforce people to be always submissive to those practices. Therefore, unless there is transformation alongside their culture, it is fruitless to think of gender equality.
Fabrication, characterization and mechanical testing of carbon fiber sandwich composites with nanoparticle included polyurethane adhesives
Authors: Çetin Mehmet Emin
Published: December 2021

In honeycomb core and composite face sheet sandwich panels, it is essential to understand the bonding characteristics of adhesive in relevance with its properties to observe synergistic effects of reinforcing nanoparticles such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). This study investigates the effects of MWCNT inclusion on polyurethane (PU) adhesive, which directly affects sandwich structures' structural and mechanical performance. MWCNTs are added to PU adhesive up to 0.2%, and their RAMAN spectroscopic analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo-gravimetric analyses (TGA) and differential-scanning calorimetry analyses (DSC) are evaluated. Aluminum honeycomb carbon-fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC) sandwich panels are fabricated using an out-of-autoclave manufacturing process. Carbon-fiber prepreg is used for top/bottom face sheets. Mechanical strength of face/core bonding evaluated as a function of MWCNT addition and core cell sizes. Manufactured sandwich composite structures are investigated for flat-wise tensile strength and three-point bending strength. Results show that MWCNT reinforcement to PU adhesive and lower cell size increases bending and flat-wise tensile resistances.
Oral Condition and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: A Clustering Analysis
Authors: Deraz O. , Rangé H. , Boutouyrie P. , Chatzopoulou E. , Asselin A. , Guibout C. , Van Sloten T. , Bougouin W. , Andrieu M. , Vedié B. , Thomas F. , Danchin N. , Jouven X. , Bouchard P. , Empana J.P.
Published: December 2021

Poor oral health has been linked to coronary heart disease (CHD). Clustering clinical oral conditions routinely recorded in adults may identify their CHD risk profile. Participants from the Paris Prospective Study 3 received, between 2008 and 2012, a baseline routine full-mouth clinical examination and an extensive physical examination and were thereafter followed up every 2 y until September 2020. Three axes defined oral health conditions: 1) healthy, missing, filled, and decayed teeth; 2) masticatory capacity denoted by functional masticatory units; and 3) gingival inflammation and dental plaque. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed with multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models and adjusted for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, education, deprivation (EPICES score; Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centres), hypertension, type 2 diabetes, LDL and HDL serum cholesterol (low- and high-density lipoprotein), triglycerides, lipid-lowering medications, NT-proBNP and IL-6 serum level. A sample of 5,294 participants (age, 50 to 75 y; 37.10% women) were included in the study. Cluster analysis identified 3,688 (69.66%) participants with optimal oral health and preserved masticatory capacity (cluster 1), 1,356 (25.61%) with moderate oral health and moderately impaired masticatory capacity (cluster 2), and 250 (4.72%) with poor oral health and severely impaired masticatory capacity (cluster 3). After a median follow-up of 8.32 y (interquartile range, 8.00 to 10.05), 128 nonfatal incident CHD events occurred. As compared with cluster 1, the risk of CHD progressively increased from cluster 2 (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.98 to 2.15) to cluster 3 (hazard ratio, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.34 to 4.57; P < 0.05 for trend). To conclude, middle-aged individuals with poor oral health and severely impaired masticatory capacity have more than twice the risk of incident CHD than those with optimal oral health and preserved masticatory capacity (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00741728).
The causes and consequences of fisheries conflict around the Horn of Africa
Authors: Devlin Colleen , Glaser Sarah M , Lambert Joshua E , Villegas Ciera
Published: December 2021

Fisheries conflict is an underappreciated threat to the stability and health of communities. Declining fish populations, rising demand for seafood, and efforts to reduce illegal fishing are increasing the risk that conflict over fisheries resources will undermine stability and peace. Here, we investigate the frequency, causes, and consequences of fisheries conflict in six countries around the Horn of Africa and East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen) between 1990 and 2017. Fisheries conflict events were cataloged from news reports, and events were characterized by the date, location, actors, consequences, and drivers of the conflict. We found the rate of fisheries conflict is gradually increasing in the region, with spikes in conflict driven by the arrival of foreign fishing boats or international naval vessels. Conflict was caused primarily by illegal fishing, foreign fishing, weak governance, limits on access to fishing grounds, and criminal activities including piracy. Two-thirds of all conflict events occurred in Kenyan and Somali waters, with areas of high conflict intensity in the Lake Victoria region, near the Somali coastline, and in the southern Red Sea. During this period, 684 fisheries conflict events in the region resulted in over 400 fatalities, nearly 500 injuries, and over 4,000 arrests.
Effects of Social Exclusion on Psychological-Well-Being and Suicidal Possibilities Among People With Physical Disabilities
Authors: Akyol Güner Türkan , Das Gecim Gözde Yıldız
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to examine the effect of social exclusion on psychological well-being and suicide possibilities among people with physical disabilities. This descriptive and cross-sectional type study was conducted among people with physical disabilities who are members of the Association of Disabled People. Data were collected using the face-to-face interview method with the “Participant Information Form,” “Social Exclusion Scale for the People with Disabilities,” “Psychological Well-Being Scale,” and “Suicide Probability Scale.” It was found that the disabled people participating in the study experienced moderate social exclusion with a score of 72.35 + 31.53, a moderate level of well-being with a score of 34.79 + 16.80, and above a moderate level of suicidal ideation with a score of 78.58 + 9.85. Also, there was a negative moderate and significant relationship between social exclusion and psychological well-being ( p < 0.01; r: −0.492), while there was a positive strong relationship between social exclusion and the possibility of suicide ( p < 0.01; r: 0.518).
Everything Seems So Illogical: Constructing Missingness Between Life and Death in Israel
Authors: Katz Ori
Published: December 2021

This paper discusses the case of missing persons in Israel, to show how the category of “missingness” is constructed by the people who have been left behind, and how this may threaten the life-death dichotomy assumption. The field of missing persons in Israel is characterized not only by high uncertainty, but also by the absence of relevant cultural scripts. Based on a narrative ethnography of missingness in Israel, I claim that a new and subversive social category of “missingness” can be constructed following the absence of cultural scripts. The left-behinds fluctuate not only between different assumptions about the missing person’s fate; they also fluctuate between acceptance of the life-death dichotomy, thus yearning for a solution to a temporary in-between state, and blurring this dichotomy, and thus constructing “missingness” as a new stable and subversive ontological category. Under this category, new rites of passage are also negotiated and constructed.
Bibliometric Evaluation of Publications (2000-2020) on the Prognosis of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Yu Chaoran
Published: December 2021

Background: Gastric cancer remains a global malignancy. The role of bibliometric analysis is increasingly valued. It is feasible and necessary to perform a bibliometric analysis to regurgitate studies in the prognosis of gastric cancer. Materials and methods: Web of Science was selected for the dataset resource. Articles published between 2000 and 2020 within the database of Web of Science Core Collection were included with predefined search terms. CiteSpace version 5.7.R1 and R software program version 4.0.3 were used for bibliometric analysis with parameters extrapolated from included studies. Results: A total of 1721 articles were included from 2000 to 2020 with remarkably increasing trends. China (n=1183), Japan (n=218), and South Korea (n=119) showed the most publications. SUN YAT SEN University, FUDAN University, and NANJING MED University were the top institutions with most publications. Keywords with strongest citation bursts between 2000 and 2020 were characterized. Particularly, “statistics”, “resistance”, “mortality”, “lncrna”, “diagnosis”, “outcome”, “migration”, “promote,” and “regulatory t cell” were the latest rising keywords since 2017, indicating possible study trends ahead. Several articles showed strongest citation bursts, including Jemal A. CA-CANCER J CLIN, Van Cutsem E. LANCET, and Japanese Gastric Cancer Association GASTRIC CANCER. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides a thought-provoking, insightful result concerning the trajectory of research development in prognosis of gastric cancer with a future perspective.
Hegemonic stability in the Indo-Pacific: US-India relations and induced balancing
Authors: Hornat Jan
Published: December 2021

The United States has improved relations with no other country during the Trump administration as much as it advanced its relationship with India. US-India relations have arguably marked their historical high points since Trump entered office and India seems to be overcoming its suspicion of closer cooperation with the US. Given these developments, this article aims to theorize the relationship through the hegemonic stability theory and explain US strategy toward India. We first demonstrate why India is accepting the hegemonic standing of the US in the Indo-Pacific and then – since balance of power politics are still a staple of policymakers’ approach to stability in the Indo-Pacific – we introduce the notion of induced balancing to show what approach the United States has adopted to empower India to expand its balancing capacity vis-à-vis China. The last section of the article empirically maps the various incentives that Washington offers to New Delhi in order to situate it in the desired position of a proxy China-balancer.
Cancer coping self-efficacy mediates the relationship between mental adjustment to cancer and health-related quality of life in persons with cancer
Authors: Onyedibe Maria-Chidi Christiana , Ugwu Lawrence E , Nnadozie Ebele E , Onu Desmond U
Published: December 2021

Individuals with cancer experience significant levels of distress. Improving health-related quality of life of persons with cancer is a major focus in cancer treatment. This study investigated the mediating role of self-efficacy for coping with cancer in the relationship between mental adjustment to cancer and health-related quality of life among individuals with cancer. Two hundred and fourteen persons with cancer (male = 74, female = 140, mean age = 50.57) were recruited from a University Teaching Hospital, in South-West Nigeria. Participants responded to the measures of psychological responses to cancer (mental adjustment to cancer), self-efficacy for coping with cancer (Cancer Behaviour Inventory [CBI]), and health-related quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General). Mediation analysis and structural equation modelling were carried out using IBM AMOS software version 23. Domains of mental adjustment to cancer significantly predicted health-related quality of life, helplessness/hopelessness, and anxious preoccupation had a negative association with health-related quality of life; whereas fighting spirit, cognitive avoidance, and fatalism were positively associated with health-related quality of life. Self-efficacy had a positive association with health-related quality of life. Mediation analysis showed that self-efficacy for coping with cancer partially mediated the association between four domains of mental adjustment to cancer (helplessness/hopelessness, fighting spirit, cognitive avoidance, and fatalism) and health-related quality of life. The findings demonstrated the need for improved coping mechanisms while undergoing cancer treatment. The study has important clinical implications for psycho-oncology practice, particularly with respect to self-efficacy for coping with cancer. Psychosocial therapies aimed at enhancing the self-efficacy of persons with cancer should be incorporated as part of cancer treatment to improve their health-related quality of life.
Robust distributed adaptive consensus for linear multiagent systems with uncertain topologies
Authors: Huang Wenchao , Lin Chengrong , Hu Bo , Niu Tao
Published: December 2021

This paper focuses on the robust mean-square consensus control problem for linear multiagent systems over randomly switching signed interaction topologies. The stochastic process is governed by a time-homogeneous Markov chain with partly unknown transition rates. Sufficient conditions for a consensus in the form of linear matrix inequalities are given via distributed adaptive control based on parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions. The adaptive control protocols require only the neighbor information of the agents, and the algorithm that designs the protocols reduces the influence of the communication topology on the consensus, which can prevent undesirable interaction impacts. Moreover, the disturbance rejection problem is addressed as an extension. Finally, two simulations are utilized to illustrate the effectiveness of the algorithms.
Back to Basics: City Services and 311 Service Requests
Authors: N.L. Stowers Genie
Published: December 2021

With data from service delivery requests in twenty-nine cities, this article reports on a comparative analysis of city service request systems (311 systems) and their operations. The study uses actual 311 service request data available through cities’ open data portals. A typology of thirty service type categories was created. Various hypotheses were tested. As city population increases, the number of service requests also increases. Garbage/recycling is the most commonly requested service, followed by code enforcement requests, parking, pickup of bulk items, and abandoned vehicles. Cities are no longer just using telephones for their users to submit requests but have also now incorporated other service channels. Service resolution times vary across cities and service category but there is some evidence that safety and health types of services receive priority and are resolved more quickly. The article ends with managerial and policy implications.
Caregiving spouses’ experiences of relational uncertainty and partner influence in the prolonged relational transition of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
Authors: Cooper R. Amanda , Pitts Margaret J.
Published: December 2021

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias cause gradual cognitive and communicative decline over a period of several years creating a prolonged transitional period in the lives of people with the disease and their spouse. Relational turbulence theory served as a lens to examine 18 in-depth interviews with caregiving spouses regarding their experiences of relational uncertainty, and interference and facilitation from their partner throughout this prolonged relational transition. Counterintuitively, the experience of relational uncertainty was greatly influenced by the certainties of relational change and termination (death) that shifted the temporal focus of uncertainty to the future. Communicative symptoms and aggressive behavior were a main source of interference. Despite the impairment of the disease, caregiving spouses recognized their partners’ expressions of gratitude, moments of recognition, and simple expressions of love as facilitation.
Associations between seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and ABO/rhesus blood group antigens in healthy blood donors in southwest Iran
Authors: Khosravi Azar Dokht , Sirous Mehrandokht , Saki Morteza , Seyed-Mohammadi Sakineh , Modares Mousavi Seyed Reza , Veisi Hojat , Abbasinezhad Poor Asma
Published: December 2021

Objective

To investigate correlations between ABO/rhesus (Rh) blood group antigens and anti- Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) seropositivity in blood donors.

Methods

A total of 311 blood donors were enrolled. ABO and Rh blood groups were determined using hemagglutination tests. Specific anti- H. pylori IgG and anti-CagA IgG antibodies in sera were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations between blood groups and anti- H. pylori and anti-CagA seropositivity were evaluated using the Chi-square test.

Results

O+ was the most frequent blood type (38%, n = 118). Anti- H. pylori IgG seropositivity was observed in 240 (77.2%) blood donors, while anti-CagA IgG seropositivity was observed in 132 (42.5%) blood donors. Although seropositivity rates for both anti- H. pylori and anti-CagA IgG were higher in individuals with blood type O, no statistically significant associations were observed between seropositivity and any ABO/Rh blood groups.

Conclusion

Individuals with blood type O may have higher rates of H. pylori seropositivity.
The Main Character of the Book of Esther: The Contribution of the Textual Divisions and the Assigned Titles of the Book of Esther to Uncovering Its Protagonist
Authors: Goswell Gregory
Published: December 2021

Scrutiny of the traditional textual divisions of the Hebrew version of the book of Esther—the sedarim, the Hebrew paragraphs and the Latin chapters – throws light on whom some ancient readers thought was the main character (protagonist) of the book. The sedarim appear to favour Mordecai’s role over Esther’s in the events narrated, whereas the positioning of the Hebrew paragraph breaks apportions attention more evenly between Esther and Mordecai, who each sought the welfare of the Jewish people. The chapter divisions show an interest in all three leading characters namely, Esther, Mordecai and Ahasuerus. In terms of assigned titles, the book was given the alternate names of Esther and Ahasuerus. It is plain, therefore, that early readers did not come to a settled conclusion as to who is the main character; however, it is clear that the role of Ahasuerus cannot be ignored and that the Persian king must be a candidate for the main character of the book.
A conceptual beachhead: “Beaches and dunes of human-altered coasts” by Karl F. Nordstrom (1994)
Authors: Lazarus Eli D
Published: December 2021

Approaching 30 years since its publication in Progress in Physical Geography, Nordstrom’s work from 1994 reads like an uncannily current synopsis of grand challenges in interdisciplinary coastal science. The article is a playbook of testable hypotheses for emerging and future empirical coastal research.
Cutaneous allodynia in pediatric and adolescent patients and their mothers: A comparative study
Authors: Raibin Karine , Markus Tal Eidlitz
Published: December 2021

Background

Allodynia in adults with migraine is related to disease duration. In pediatric patients with migraine, the same proportion reported allodynia in the first six months of migraine presentation as in prolonged disease. This study examined a possible association between migraine pediatric allodynia and maternal allodynia.

Methods

We interviewed children with migraine first, and then their mothers, regarding allodynia and headache symptoms. We reviewed hospital charts on pediatric medical background and headache symptoms. Mothers and children older than 11 years filled the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results

Ninety-eight children with migraine, mean age 13.49 ± 3.1 years, and their mothers, mean age 43.5 ± 6.2 years were recruited to the study. Pediatric allodynia was associated with maternal allodynia; the latter was reported in 82.8% of children with allodynia versus 35.3% of children without allodynia (p < 0.001). Maternal migraine was reported in 44 (68.7%) of children with allodynia versus 16.3% without allodynia, p < 0.001. No difference was found in Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores, between children with and without allodynia.

Conclusions

Pediatric allodynia is associated with maternal migraine. Genetic and environmental factors such as maternal behavior may contribute to reduced pain threshold.
Evaluation of the potential of feedstock combinations and their biochars for soil amendment
Authors: Fouladidorhani Maliheh , Shayannejad Mohammad , Arthur Emmanuel
Published: December 2021

One of the approaches for recycling and reusing agricultural and animal wastes is to pyrolyse the residues and subsequently use them as soil amendments. The prevalence of several feedstocks suggests that it is necessary to investigate the optimal combinations of feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature for use as soil amendments. This study was done to evaluate five combinations of raw materials (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, cow manure and pine wood) and their biochars produced by slow pyrolysis at 300°C and 500°C for soil amendment. Several physicochemical properties (electrical conductivity (EC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total organic matter content (C) total porosity (TP), total nitrogen (N), particle density (PD) and bulk density (BD)) were investigated. Comparison among feedstocks showed that the highest PD, BD and CEC were observed in WM (cow manure-pine wood). The pyrolysis process increased the PD, TP, N and monovalent cations and decreased EC, CEC and BD. Compared to the feedstock, pyrolysis increased the N content, but higher temperatures lowered the N content. Pyrolysis at 500°C reduced the EC, N, CEC and biochar yield by 18%, 13%, 21% and 24% respectively, compared to 300°C. Pyrolysis at 500°C increased the pH, Na+ and K+ by 17%, 12% and 22%, respectively, compared to 300°C. Considering the physicochemical properties of biochar and the costs, the bagasse-wood-rice (BWR) combination and temperature of 300°C are suggested for biochar production for soil amendment.
Effect of glass fibers length on the properties of polytetrafluoroethylene composites reinforced by glass fibers and graphite: Experimental and simulation study
Authors: Gao Lei , Xiao Wei , Ji Xin
Published: December 2021

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based matrix composites filled with glass fibers (GF) and graphite (GR) were prepared by an internal mixer and molded using a compression mold to produce test samples. The objective was to study the mechanical and tribological properties of PTFE composites filled with different lengths of GF. The fillers of GR and GF were 5 and 15 wt.%, respectively, with the lengths of the GF of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35-μm in the work. The mechanical performance tests and tribological tests were carried out under the same conditions. The experimental results revealed that the mechanical properties and tribological properties of the PTFE composites filled with GF and GR were associated with the lengths of GF. When the length of GF increased from 15 to 20 μm, GF could be homogeneously dispersed in the PTFE-based matrix composites and the tensile strength reached the maximum value of 21.68 MPa. Also, with 20-μm long GF, the composites exhibited the lowest coefficient of friction values and wear rates compared to PTFE with GF of the other lengths. The changes in frictional heat generation and frictional force of the composites during sliding friction were simulated using the finite element method. The theoretical simulation results matched with the experimental values, which proved the accuracy of the theoretical simulations.
Discrete sizing, cross-sectional shape, topology optimization, and material selection of a framed automotive body
Authors: Ma Chao
Published: December 2021

This study proposed a discrete structural optimization method for a framed automotive body. Up to four types of discrete design variables are considered simultaneously, that is, the sizing, cross-sectional shape, topology, and material variables. Firstly, to solve the nonconvex and nonlinear optimization problem, the original non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm, the third version (NSGA-III), is adapted. An improved extreme points identification scheme and a new mutation operator are proposed to stabilize the normalization of the population and accommodate the manufacturing constraints, respectively. Two test problems demonstrate that the modified NSGA-III can handle continuous and discontinuous multiple objective optimization. Subsequently, the classical 10-bar truss is used to illustrate the proposed method. A weight reduction of 4.5 kg is achieved as compared to previous optimal designs in the literature. Finally, a framed automotive body is optimized for maximizing the first order natural frequency and minimizing the total mass, the maximum stresses and the maximum displacements in different load cases and the manufacturing cost. The results obtained by different optimization procedures are presented and discussed. The results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. A weight reduction of 17.59% is achieved while other structural performances satisfy the design requirements.
Generation of elastic geodesic gridshells with anisotropic cross sections
Authors: Haskell Charles , Montagne Nicolas , Douthe Cyril , Baverel Olivier , Fivet Corentin
Published: December 2021

Geodesic gridshells are shell structures made of continuous elements following geodesic lines. Their properties ease the use of beams with anisotropic cross-sections by avoiding bending about their strong axis. However, such bending may arise when flattening arbitrary geodesic grids, which forbids their initial assembly on the ground. This study provides a process to design elastic geodesic gridshells, that is, gridshells that minimise bending moments in both formed and near-flat configurations. The generation process first brings a target geodesic network onto a plane by maintaining arc lengths. The flat mesh is then relaxed to minimise its main curvatures and hence bending moments in its members. The result is an elastic geodesic gridshell that can be assembled flat on the ground and then lifted up into its target surface. The method is applied to the design of six geodesic gridshells made of reclaimed skis.
Attentional Guidance and Match Decisions Rely on Different Template Information During Visual Search
Authors: Yu Xinger , Hanks Timothy D. , Geng Joy J.
Published: December 2021

When searching for a target object, we engage in a continuous “look-identify” cycle in which we use known features of the target to guide attention toward potential targets and then to decide whether the selected object is indeed the target. Target information in memory (the target template or attentional template) is typically characterized as having a single, fixed source. However, debate has recently emerged over whether flexibility in the target template is relational or optimal. On the basis of evidence from two experiments using college students ( Ns = 30 and 70, respectively), we propose that initial guidance of attention uses a coarse relational code, but subsequent decisions use an optimal code. Our results offer a novel perspective that the precision of template information differs when guiding sensory selection and when making identity decisions during visual search.
Research of characteristics of the flow part of an aerothermopressor for gas turbine intercooling air
Authors: Konovalov Dmytro , Radchenko Mykola , Kobalava Halina , Radchenko Andrii , Radchenko Roman , Kornienko Victoria , Maksymov Vitaliy
Published: December 2021

Complex gas turbine schemes with air intercooling are usually used to bring the compression process of working fluid in compressor closer to isothermal one. A promising way to realize it is to use an aerothermopressor. The aerothermopressor is a two-phase jet apparatus, in which the highly dispersed liquid (water) is injected into the superheated gas (air) stream accelerated to the speed closed to the sound speed value (Mach number from 0.8 to 0.9). The air pressure at the aerothermopressor outlet (after diffuser) is higher than at the inlet due to instantaneous evaporation of highly dispersed liquid practically without friction losses in mixing chamber and with an increase in pressure of the mixed homogenous flow. The liquid evaporation is conducted by removing the heat from the air flow. In the course of the experimental research, the operation of the aerothermopressor for gas turbine intercooling air was simulated and its characteristics (hydraulic resistance coefficients, pressure increase, and air temperature) were determined. Within contact cooling of air in the aerothermopressor, the values of the total pressure increase in the aerothermopressor were from 1.02 to 1.04 (2–4%). Thus, the aerothermopressor use to provide contact evaporative cooling of cyclic air between the compressor stages will ensure not only compensation for pressure losses but also provides an increase in total air pressure with simultaneous cooling. Injection of liquid in a larger amount than is necessary for evaporation ensures a decrease in pressure losses in the flow path of the aerothermopressor by 15–20%. When the amount of water flow is more than 10–15%, the pressure loss becomes equal to the loss for the “dry” aerothermopressor, and with a further increase in the amount of injected liquid, they are exceeded. The values of errors in the relative increase of air pressure in the aerothermopressor measurements not exceeded 4%. The results obtained can be used in the practice of designing intercooling systems for gas turbines.
A sequential test to compare the real-time fatality rates of a disease among multiple groups with an application to COVID-19 data
Authors: Qu Yuanke , Yin Lee Chun , Lam KF
Published: December 2021

Infectious diseases, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, pose a significant threat to public health globally. Fatality rate serves as a key indicator for the effectiveness of potential treatments or interventions. With limited time and understanding of novel emerging epidemics, comparisons of the fatality rates in real-time among different groups, say, divided by treatment, age, or area, have an important role to play in informing public health strategies. We propose a statistical test for the null hypothesis of equal real-time fatality rates across multiple groups during an ongoing epidemic. An elegant property of the proposed test statistic is that it converges to a Brownian motion under the null hypothesis, which allows one to develop a sequential testing approach for rejecting the null hypothesis at the earliest possible time when statistical evidence accumulates. This property is particularly important as scientists and clinicians are competing with time to identify possible treatments or effective interventions to combat the emerging epidemic. The method is widely applicable as it only requires the cumulative number of confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries. A large-scale simulation study shows that the finite-sample performance of the proposed test is highly satisfactory. The proposed test is applied to compare the difference in disease severity among Wuhan, Hubei province (exclude Wuhan) and mainland China (exclude Hubei) from February to March 2020. The result suggests that the disease severity is potentially associated with the health care resource availability during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China.
Shakespeare sonnet reading: An empirical study of emotional responses
Authors: Papp-Zipernovszky Orsolya , Mangen Anne , Jacobs Arthur , Lüdtke Jana
Published: December 2021

The present study combines literary theory and cognitive psychology to empirically explore some cognitive and emotional facets of poetry reading, exemplified by the reading of three Shakespeare sonnets. Specifically, predictions generated combining quantitative textual analysis according to the Neurocognitive Poetics model with qualitative textual analysis based on the Foregrounding assessment Matrix of sonnets no. 27, 60 and 66 are empirically tested by analyzing 45 subjects’ ratings of the three sonnets. Reflecting the differences in foregrounding potential of the three sonnets found in the textual analysis, we expected to find different reader responses, accordingly. Our dependent variables are well-established categories of emotional evaluation (e.g. valence and arousal) and cognitive, affective and aesthetic aspects of readers’ responses (e.g. liking and understanding) as well as less common ones (e.g. wonder, delight and mental images). The statistical analyses suggest that the type of foregrounding is more important than the number of foregrounded elements. This finding motivated further qualitative exploration of reader responses to open questions regarding mental images and perceived feelings. Comparing the free recall data about the feelings perceived in the sonnets with the ratings data about Valence and Arousal indicated that only the former one reflects a clear distinction between all three sonnets, whereas the readers’ overall evaluations did not sustain this variety of feelings. Multi-method, interdisciplinary research of this kind contributes to improving our understanding of the potentially unique mechanisms involved in poetry reception, and to forming more precise hypotheses for future experimental studies using, for example, eye tracking.
Magnetorheological fluid based on amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy magnetic particles
Authors: Yang Chuncheng , Liu Zhong , Pei Xiangyu , Jin Cuiling , Yu Mengchun , Li Yan
Published: December 2021

Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) based on amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy magnetic particles were prepared. The influence of annealing treatment on stability and rheological property of MRFs was investigated. The saturation magnetization ( Ms) of amorphous Fe-Si-B particles after annealing at 550°C is 131.5 emu/g, which is higher than that of amorphous Fe-Si-B particles without annealing. Moreover, the stability of MRF with annealed amorphous Fe-Si-B particles is better than that of MRF without annealed amorphous Fe-Si-B particles. Stearic acid at 3 wt% was added to the MRF2 to enhance the fluid stability to greater than 90%. In addition, the rheological properties demonstrate that the prepared amorphous particle MRF shows relatively strong magnetic responsiveness, especially when the magnetic field strength reaches 365 kA/m. As the magnetic field intensified, the yield stress increased dramatically and followed the Herschel-Bulkley model.
Advance Care Planning and Healthcare Utilization in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Klock Zachary , Dobak Stephanie , Houseman Gail , Cunningham Amy T. , Kreher Margaret
Published: December 2021

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder resulting in functional decline and death. Despite recent emphases on advance care planning (ACP), low rates of documentation of ACP are seen in this population. Objectives: This study aims to determine rates of advance directive (AD) documentation and whether having a documented AD or ACP discussion affects healthcare utilization for ALS patients. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting/Subjects: 130 patients from a multidisciplinary clinic at one U.S. tertiary care medical center. Measurements: The presence of a completed AD uploaded to the electronic medical record; the documentation of ACP discussions; and rates of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement, tracheostomy placement, hospitalization within 2 weeks of death, death in hospital, and hospice utilization. Results: Overall rates of AD documentation in the electronic medical record were low at only 29.2%. Rates of PEG placement, tracheostomy placement, hospitalization within 2 weeks of death, death in hospital, and hospice utilization did not vary between patients with and without AD documentation. However, patients with a documented ACP conversation were more likely to have a PEG placed and to utilize hospice. Conclusions: Our study indicates that while having a documented AD is not correlated to differences in healthcare utilization in patients with ALS, the benefit of ACP in this population is in having a dedicated conversation with patients and caregivers rather than focusing on completion of a static document.
Struggling with good intentions: Music education research in a “post” world
Authors: Mantie Roger
Published: December 2021

In this Perspectives article, the author grapples with the personal challenges of attempting to do ethical and high-quality research in the post world of the maturing 21st century. Among the challenges addressed are matters of purported relevance of research, equity research conducted by nonmembers of equity-seeking groups, the impact of rankings and metrics, peer review, and the relationship between good intentions and symbolic violence.
Investigating the political economy of the territory: The contradictory responses of organisations to spatial inequality
Authors: Lacerda Daniel S
Published: December 2021

The spatial imaginations of organisations can be particularly insightful for examining power relations. However, only recently they have gone beyond the limits of the workplace, demonstrating the role of the territory for organised action, particularly in mobilising solidarity for resistance. In this article, I investigate power relations revealed by the political economy of the territory to explain contradictory actions undertaken by organisations. Specifically, I adopt the theoretical framework of the noted Brazilian geographer Milton Santos, who recognises spatial multiplicity and fragmentation while maintaining an appreciation of the structural conditions of the political economy. This perspective is particularly useful for the analysis of civil society organisations (CSOs) in a Brazilian favela (slum), given the context of high inequality perpetuated by the selective flows of urban development. First, I show that the history of favelas and their role in the territorial division of labour explain the profiles of existing organisations. Then, I examine how the political engagement of CSOs with distinct solidarities results in a dialectical tension that leads to both resistance based on local shared interests and the active reproduction of central spaces even if the ends are not shared. The article contributes to the literature of space and organisations by explaining how territorial dynamics mediate power relations within and across organisations, not only as resistance but also as the active reproduction of economic and political regimes.