bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DP in ice environments—development of a dynamic positioning in ice validation platform (DPIVP)
Authors: Mills Jason , Islam Mohammed , Pearson Wayne , Gash Bob
Published: January 2023

This paper presents the development of a dynamic positioning in ice validation platform (DPIVP) which is part of a larger research project aimed at developing dynamic positioning (DP) system technologies for ice-rich environments. One outcome is simulation software to aid research in this area. The DPIVP software was designed to realistically simulate the dynamics of ice-structure interactions for real-time applications and to validate components common to DP in ice simulations. The software consists of many components which the DPIVP ties together as a unified system. All components have well-defined interfaces. Many of them are also distributed, allowing execution on separate computers and/or CPUs which helps ensure real-time operation. These two characteristics also decreases coupling and encourages a more modular design with the benefit of easily substituting alternative component implementations without reprogramming the DPIVP. Alternate implementations are useful for conducting research in specific DP in ice areas without substantially changing the system, such as alternative ice force models, DP control algorithms, vessel models, 3D and 2D visualization, environment models, and data acquisition systems. The integrated system was tested and evaluated using unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. The completed system was also validated using test cases that match physical model tests; the results compared favorably. Although the software has some limitations, for example, validated ice-force models being limited to two vessels, and thus lacks the generality we wish, the end result is a working prototype that satisfies the research requirements and provides an architecture and framework for future development.
An Attachment-Based Management Framework of Destination Attributes: Drawing on the Appraisal Theories of Emotion
Authors: Qu Ying , Han Ruitao , Dong Yinyin
Published: January 2023

A management framework for destination attributes is critical for the reasonable allocation of resources. However, existing management frameworks for destination attributes estimate the management value of attributes by calculating their contribution to cognitive satisfaction, which deviates from the “cognition-affection” relationship in psychology. In this scenario, destination attachment is an important concept reflecting the emotional values of attributes. This study proposes an attachment-based management framework for destination attributes based on the appraisal theories of emotion in the context of the progressive development of Hangzhou, China, as a typical mature destination. A networking method is applied to develop the management framework. This is the first study to establish an emotion-based management framework for destination attributes from a psychological perspective. Implications regarding the framework development method and destination attribute management are also provided.
Reflections of modernization in religious worldviews of Israeli religious minority students
Authors: Kheir Sawsan
Published: January 2023

Scholarship on the hybrid and interrelated nature of religion and secularism among religious minorities is still scarce. This study explores how young adult religious minority students in Israel, Muslims and Druze, integrate their religious worldviews within modernity, separately for each group and comparatively for both, with special attention to their conflictual position as minorities. The research data were collected as part of a mixed-methods research project—Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective (YARG), which used the Faith Q-Sort method (version b)—and through semi-structured interviews. The findings reflect the multiple ways in which modernization processes can shape the religious worldviews of minority students and confirm previous findings on the multifaceted manifestations of religiosity and secularization. Furthermore, the study highlights the indirect manner through which the position of “religious/ ethnic minority” might promote secularization.
Where Protection Meets Punishment: Public Education and the Carceral State in Urban America
Authors: Stern Walter C.
Published: January 2023

This essay calls upon scholars in the largely siloed fields of history of education and carceral studies to examine the history of American education and criminal legal systems in tandem rather than in isolation from one another. In introducing the special section’s articles, it proposes a new template for historicizing the “school-to-prison pipeline” in particular and the intertwined evolution of the state’s protective, preventative, and punitive power more broadly. Specifically, the essay discusses how the carceral state both moved into and emerged from within public schools prior to and following the 1960s and 1970s. It also notes that the relationship between public education and the carceral state evolved in highly localized and contingent ways based upon the actions of individuals, organizations, and institutions at the community, state, and federal level. The essay concludes with a discussion of considerations for further research.
It Is Belief in Dualism, and Not Free Will, That Best Predicts Helping: A Conceptual Replication and Extension of Baumeister et al. (2009)
Authors: Genschow Oliver
Published: January 2023

Previous research found that experimentally reducing people’s belief in free will affects social behaviors. However, more recent investigations could not replicate several findings in this literature. An explanation for the mixed findings is that free will beliefs are related to social behaviors on a correlational level, but experimental manipulations are not able to detect this relation. To test this interpretation, we conceptually replicated and extended a landmark study in the free will belief literature originally conducted by Baumeister et al. In five studies (total N = 1,467), we investigated whether belief in free will predicts helping behavior in comparison to other beliefs related to free will. Overall, our results support the original findings, as belief in free will correlated with helping behavior. However, the results also show that the best predictor of helping behavior is not belief in free will but belief in dualism. Theoretical implications are discussed.
The establishing of subject positions in Swedish news media discourses during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lövenmark Annica , Stier Jonas , Blomberg Helena
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the global media since 2020. To a large extent, it is via the news media that the public has learned about the risks, levels of danger, governmental regulations and mandatory actions. This article highlights the subject positions constructed by the Swedish news media from January 2020 to February 2021 in reports about the pandemic. The result shows that citizens can be active-passive or solitary solidarity, these positions appeal to individual accountability, thus potentially shaping and fostering citizens in line with the Swedish government’s wider response to the pandemic. The news media’s images are of self-regulated citizens who govern and discipline themselves and others according to the current discourses, all of which simultaneously evoke fear, togetherness and hope. The ideological dilemmas for citizens are whether to be active-passive or, if necessary, switch to the solitary solidarity subject position.
Coparenting, Couple Conflict, Social Support, and Relationship Quality: A Dyadic Exploration of Couples From LIEM Backgrounds
Authors: Reimnitz Siera J. , Stolz Heidi , Renegar Rebecca G. , McCaig Jessica L , Baumgardner Megan
Published: January 2023

Economically marginalized families may face enduring vulnerabilities that make adaptive relational processes leading to healthy, long-term relationships more difficult. Informed by the vulnerability-stress-adaptation framework, we utilized an actor-partner interdependence model and dyadic data from a sample of 199 low-income couples who were expecting or had recently given birth to investigate the association of two adaptive processes (couple conflict and coparenting alliance) and two personal resources (instrumental and emotional support) with their relationship quality. Results indicated significant actor effects of men’s and women’s coparenting alliance and men’s instrumental support on their own reports of relationship quality. Additionally, results indicated three significant conjoint actor-partner effects—couple conflict and couple emotional support on women’s relationship quality and couple conflict on men’s relationship quality. These findings contribute to the literature on the transition to parenthood and extend the literature examining dyadic relational processes in families from low-income and economically marginalized backgrounds.
The vexing problem of validity and the future of second language assessment
Authors: Aryadoust Vahid
Published: January 2023

Construct validity and building validity arguments are some of the main challenges facing the language assessment community. The notion of construct validity and validity arguments arose from research in psychological assessment and developed into the gold standard of validation/validity research in language assessment. At a theoretical level, construct validity and validity arguments conflate the scientific reasoning in assessment and policy matters of ethics. Thus, a test validator is expected to simultaneously serve the role of conducting scientific research and examining the consequential basis of assessments. I contend that validity investigations should be decoupled from the ethical and social aspects of assessment. In addition, the near-exclusive focus of empirical construct validity research on cognitive processing has not resulted in sufficient accuracy and replicability in predicting test takers’ performance in real language use domains. Accordingly, I underscore the significance of prediction in validation, in contrast to explanation, and propose that the question to ask might not so much be about what a test measures as what type of methods and tools can better generate language use profiles. Finally, I suggest that interdisciplinary alliances with cognitive and computational neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) fields should be forged to meet the demands of language assessment in the 21st century.
A Comparative Study of Freeway Travel Times from Four Data Sources
Authors: Hou Zenghao , Zhang H. Michael , Zhang Xingyang
Published: January 2023

This study evaluates the quality of estimated travel time data from Waze, HERE, and INRIX against Bluetooth data provided by Caltrans on multiple segments of the I-80 freeway between Davis and Sacramento, CA, U.S. We used the Bluetooth travel time data as the benchmark approximating the ground truth, and we utilize travel time error bias (TEB), average absolute travel time error (ATE), and standard error of mean band satisfaction (SEMBS) to assess the quality of the travel time data reported by Waze, HERE, and INRIX. The comparison result shows that the INRIX and HERE data closely match the Bluetooth data in both the trends and values of reported travel time. However, the quality of all three vendors’ data deteriorates when traffic congestion intensifies. Furthermore, Waze travel time data has a pattern which is distinguishable from the other three sets of data. We conducted a regression analysis to explore the potential causes of this discrepancy. The result suggests that the differences between Waze and Bluetooth are systematic instead of random. Moreover, the regression analyses also indicate that the differences between Waze and Bluetooth are positively associated with common disturbances, segment length discrepancies, segment length, and traffic count.
Age and Technology Readiness Influences on Adults’ Experiences with Highly Automated Vehicles
Authors: Mason Justin , Classen Sherrilene , Hwangbo Seung Woo , Sisiopiku Virginia P.
Published: January 2023

Adults’ access to transportation may improve after the deployment of highly automated vehicles (HAVs). However, the public is hesitant to accept HAVs. This study investigated the influence of adults’ ( n = 210) age—younger (18–29 years), middle-aged (30–64 years), young-old (65–74 years), and older (>75 years)—and readiness to use technology on their intention to use, perceived barriers, well-being, and acceptance of HAVs before and after riding in an autonomous shuttle and a driving simulator operating in autonomous mode. Two-way mixed analysis of variances (ANOVAs) were deployed to assess changes between groups in Automated Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS) domain scores after exposure to the HAVs. When controlling for baseline differences, well-being increased after exposure to HAVs for young-old adults compared with both middle-aged and younger adults. Both young-old and older adults reported greater intention to use compared with middle-aged adults. Regardless of age or technology readiness, adults’ intention to use HAVs increased after experiencing the HAVs. Explorers displayed favorable perceptions (i.e., AVUPS domain scores) of HAVs whereas hesitators reported lower intention to use and acceptance of HAVs and more perceived barriers to adopting HAVs. The three other technology readiness classifications, skeptics, pioneers, and avoiders held relatively similar views of HAVs before and after exposure to both modes of HAVs. General beliefs about technology may inform automakers, autonomous mobility companies, human factors engineers, and driving rehabilitation scientists of adults’ willingness to embrace emerging technology, especially when widespread exposure to the technology is not yet a reality.
Community-Designed Participation: Lessons for Equitable Engagement in Transportation Planning
Authors: Linovski Orly , Baker Dwayne Marshall
Published: January 2023

Despite years of legally mandated public engagement for transportation planning, there is often little evidence that this results in more equitable processes or outcomes. Recently, there has been interest in improving engagement by having community-based or advocacy groups design, lead, and implement public engagement activities. This research examines two separate engagement processes—one led by a public agency, and one designed and carried out by community advocates—to understand the opportunities and barriers for community-led engagement in transportation planning. We assess how these processes differed in: (1) representation of equity-deserving groups in respondents, (2) conceptualization of equity and community needs, and (3) transportation priorities identified in the surveys. While neither process fully reflected city demographics, the community-led process was more representative of equity-deserving groups. We found key differences in priorities between the community- and agency-led surveys, and by respondent identity. Areas that were identified as a high priority in the agency-led survey, such as traffic congestion, were lowly ranked in the community-led survey, as respondents prioritized safety and lower fares. Critically, community- and agency-led processes used substantially different framings of transportation equity, along with different understandings of community needs and experiences, which could have a significant impact on the development of future transportation plans. Community-led strategies require significant resources and capacity to undertake, but meaningful participation in the design and implementation of engagement processes has the potential to better engage a diversity of perspectives and reflect community priorities.
Comparing Regional Energy Consumption for Direct Drone and Truck Deliveries
Authors: Cokyasar Taner , Stinson Monique , Sahin Olcay , Prabhakar Nirmit , Karbowski Dominik
Published: January 2023

Drone delivery, once thought of as fictitious, is becoming a reality with the efforts of both forward-looking enterprises and supportive government policies. This emerging mode of e-commerce delivery raises many concerns. One important concern is the energy efficiency of direct delivery drones compared with conventional delivery trucks at a regional systems level. In this study, we develop and apply methods to quantify the regional energy impacts of drone delivery, then we assess these impacts and compare them with the impacts of truck delivery. To study this problem, we develop an optimization model that determines an optimal set of fulfillment centers (FCs) with variable service capacities that allow drones to make direct e-commerce deliveries. We adopt two drone delivery energy estimation models from the literature and use them as inputs to demonstrate the potential range of energy needs. We also develop another optimization model to account for the energy consumption of diesel trucks (DTs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). We test the models using validated simulation data for the Chicago metropolitan area in the U.S. to quantify the energy implications of these three delivery modes. For drone delivery, we further extend our analyses by considering the impact of wind speed and flight patterns. Our results show that direct delivery drones require 15.8% more energy than BEVs on an average windy day, and they need 15% more energy than DTs on a very windy day. We provide essential parameter values for reproducibility and list relevant open problems.
“I Don’t Feel at Home in This World” Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults’ Self-Perceived Links Between Their Suicidal Thoughts and Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
Authors: van Bergen Diana D. , Dumon Eva , Parra Luis A. , Motmans Joz , Biedermann Lesley C. , Gilissen Renske , Portzky Gwendolyn
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To examine whether sexual and gender minority (SGM) emerging adults perceived their SGM status was linked to suicidal ideation, and to explore if their responses fell within tenets of the minority stress framework.

Method

Open text (survey) responses of Dutch and Flemish SGM emerging adults ( n  =  187) were thematically analysed using the constant comparative comparison method for qualitative analysis.

Results

We identified 8 themes in our qualitative analysis. Two themes fell within the scope of the minority stress framework that has received little attention: (1) concerns about relationships and family planning and (2) feeling different (internal stressor). Two additional themes emerged largely beyond the scope of existing minority stress framework studies on suicidality: (3) SGM-related questioning; (4) negativity in LGBT communities. Four established minority stress framework themes emerged: (5) gender identity stress; (6) victimization; (7) coming-out stress; (8) psychological difficulties linked to SGM status.

Conclusion

Suicide prevention needs to focus on supporting SGM emerging adults who worry about feeling “different”, or who have concerns over their romantic and family life, on reducing gender minority stress, as well as on caring for those who are victimized due to their sexual or gender identity.
‘Repackaging the emptiness’: How Russian regional journalism adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Erzikova Elina , Lowrey Wilson
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the role news organizations play in disseminating information and shaping public response to the crisis. This study adopts an ecological approach in examining Russian regional journalists’ adaptations to the pandemic. Based on in-depth interviews, the study found that a worsened economic situation has increased dependence on state subsidies. Journalists avoided questioning authorities’ response to COVID, with some publishing government information and others focusing on practical tips for readers.
Culturally Adapted Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support for Black Male Learners
Authors: Campbell Aaron Rachelle , Sallese Mary Rose , Thompson Julie L. , Fournier Constance J. , Allen Meghan
Published: January 2023

Black learners, like all other learners, bring their cultural values into the classroom, how they express themselves, and how they problem-solve. In addition, their life experiences influence their social and emotional behaviors. This study examined the effects of a multicomponent intervention approach—including a culturally adapted social and emotional learning curriculum, check-in/check-out, and self-monitoring—on the externalizing behaviors of Black male learners in an urban elementary school. A multiple-baseline-across-classes, single-case, experimental design evaluated the effects of the intervention package. Results from the study show a consistent decrease in externalizing problem behaviors, increases in social and emotional competencies, and high levels of social validity for the intervention package based on the input of relevant stakeholders. An embedded alternating-treatment, single-case design explored the relative impact of self-monitoring. The authors also include a discussion of the limitations of this work and the implications for future research.
Characteristics, ICU Interventions, and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Palliative Care Triggers in a Mixed Community-Based Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Iguina Michele M. , Danyalian Aunie M. , Luque Ilko , Shaikh Umair , Kashan Sanaz B. , Morgan Dionne , Heller Daniel , Danckers Mauricio
Published: January 2023

Objective: Integration of palliative care initiatives in the intensive care unit (ICU) benefit patients and improve outcomes. Palliative care triggers (PCTs) is a screening tool that aides in stratifying patients who would benefit most from an early palliative care approach. There is no consensus on PCT selection or best timing for implementation. We evaluated the clinical characteristics, ICU and palliative care interventions, and clinical outcomes of critically ill patients with PCT in a community-based mixed ICU. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a 44-bed adult, mixed ICU in a 407-bed community-based teaching hospital in Florida. Eleven PCTs were used as a screening tool during multidisciplinary rounds (MDRs). Patients were analyzed based on presence or absence of PCT as well as having met high (>2) versus low (<2) PCT. Data collected included patient demographics, ICU resource utilization and clinical outcomes. We considered a two-sided P value of less than .05 to indicate statistical significance with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Of 388 ICU patients, 189 (48.7%) met at least 1 PCT and 199 (51.3%) did not. The trigger group had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Evaluation (APACHE) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores within 24 h of ICU admission. The most common PCTs identified were ICU length of stay greater than 7 days or readmission to ICU, terminal prognosis and assisting family in transitioning goals of care. There were statistically significant differences in ICU resource utilization, palliative care interventions, and overall worse clinical outcomes in the trigger-detected group. Similar findings were seen in the cohort with high PCT (>2). Conclusions: Our study supports the implementation of a tailored 11-item palliative care screening tool to effectively identify ICU patients with high ICU and palliative care interventions and worse clinical outcomes.
Newcomer Women's Experiences with Perinatal Care During the Three-Month Health Insurance Waiting Period in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Pimienta Jessica , Guruge Sepali , St-Amant Oona , Catallo Cristina , Hart Corinne
Published: January 2023

Background

The three-month health insurance waiting period in Ontario reinforces health inequities for newcomer women and their babies. Little is known about the systemic factors that shape newcomer women's experiences during the OHIP waiting period.

Purpose

To examine the factors that shaped newcomer women's experiences with perinatal care during the three-month health insurance waiting period in Ontario, Canada.

Methods

This qualitative study was informed by an intersectional framework, and guided by a critical ethnographic method. Individual interviews were conducted with four newcomer women and three perinatal healthcare professionals. Participant observations at recruitment and interview sites were integral to the study design.

Results

The key systemic factors that shaped newcomer women's experiences with perinatal care included social identity, migration, and the healthcare system. Social identities related to gender, race, and socio-economic status intersected to form a social location, which converged with newcomer women's experiences of social isolation and exclusion. These experiences, in turn, intersected with Ontario's problematic perinatal health services. Together, these factors form systems of oppression for newcomer women in the perinatal period.

Conclusions

Given the health inequities that can result from these systems of oppression, it is important to adopt an upstream approach that is informed by the Human Rights Code of Ontario to improve accessibility to and the experiences of perinatal care for newcomer women.
Examining the Impact of Jail Sanctions on Recidivism for Domestic Violence Probationers
Authors: Romain Dagenhardt Danielle M. , Heideman Amanda , Freiburger Tina L.
Published: January 2023

There has been a growth of domestic violence courts aimed at increasing offender accountability and victim safety. Although research has examined the effectiveness of these courts compared to typical court processing on recidivism, little is known about the mechanism of judicial accountability. Specifically, judicial review hearings, in which judges have discretion on whether and how to sanction for noncompliance, are common in these courts. This study examines whether incarceration sanctions for noncompliance affect recidivism among a sample of 347 probation review hearings in a Midwestern domestic violence court. Using logistic regression and survival analysis, we find that jail sanctions do not impact likelihood of recidivating but do result in significantly shorter periods of time until recidivating. The findings also signify the importance of addressing substance abuse issues in the prevention of recidivism. Further implications of the findings are discussed.
The Effect of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Inflammation Following Dental Prophylaxis
Authors: Alves João C. , Jorge Patricia , Santos Ana
Published: January 2023

To evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in reducing gingivitis following professional dental prophylaxis in dogs in a prospective, randomly controlled, double-blind study. The study included 47 dogs (male n = 23, female n = 24), with a mean age of 6.5 ± 2.6 years and a bodyweight of 28.9 ± 5.3 kg. Breeds included: Belgian Malinois Shepherd Dogs (n = 23), German Shepherd Dogs (n = 14), Labrador Retriever (n = 4), and Dutch Shepherd Dogs (n = 3). The left side of the mouth was treated by performing dental prophylaxis (control group). The right side received dental prophylaxis and a single session of PBMT using a Class IV therapeutic laser (treatment group). Each side was graded individually for periodontal disease (PD), gingivitis, and calculus. Follow-up observations were conducted on days 1, 3, 8, and 15 post-treatment. Results were compared using a Mann-Whitney Test. Multiple regression was run to predict PD, gingivitis, and calculus scores using age, sex, and breed. A p < .05 was considered significant. The PBMT group (PG) showed significantly lower gingivitis scores from day 1 to 15 post-treatment. PD had an increasing prevalence with age. Age and breed contributed to the prediction of PD, gingivitis, and calculus grading. This study showed that PBMT significantly reduced the grade of gingivitis following dental prophylaxis, and may be a useful adjuvant procedure following dental prophylaxis.
Regulating Political Advocacy by Charities Liberally
Authors: Murray Ian , Umbers Lachlan , Wesson Murray
Published: January 2023

In countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, whether certain classes of civil society groups are eligible to receive state support (by way of tax and other concessions) is primarily based on the entity’s intended purpose. Yet governments often view the advocacy, electioneering, or lobbying activities that are the means adopted by some civil society organizations to achieve their purposes, as unjustified attempts to intervene in the political process. Attempts to restrict these activities are, thus, not uncommon but raise challenges to fundamental tenets of liberal democracies. This article uses recent Australian experience as a case study to analyze such attempts through rule of law and freedom of expression lenses. It focuses on advocacy and electioneering via peaceful protest/civil disobedience activities and argues that charities have a valuable role to play as political actors and that any restrictions should meet the requirements of certainty and proportionality.
The tire slip angle estimation algorithm based on intelligent tire technology
Authors: Li Bo , Gu Tianli , Quan Zhenqiang , Bei Shaoyi , Zhou Dan , Zhou XinYe , Han Xiao
Published: January 2023

Tire slip angle is a very important parameter in tire/vehicle dynamics control. This paper proposes a tire slip angle estimation method that combines intelligent tire technology and machine learning. Firstly, a finite element model of a 205/55/R16 radial tire was established by ABAQUS software, and the tire finite element model is verified by the radial stiffness experiment and dynamics experiment. Secondly, the curves of lateral acceleration and the curves of the lateral displacement obtained by five virtual tri-axial accelerometers installed on the inner line of the finite element tire under different slip angles, tire pressures, loads, and speeds were analyzed. Finally, combined with linear correlation analysis method, the promising input eigenvalues were determined, and three slip angle prediction models were trained based on the same set of train sets to predict the same set of test sets. The prediction results showed that the slip angle prediction curve of BP model has the highest degree of coincidence with the actual curve, and the mean absolute percentage error is 3.55%, indicating that the slip angle estimation algorithm proposed in this paper is feasible, which is very important for the stability control of the vehicle.
Slip ratio estimation of electric wheels based on tire force and road conditions
Authors: Li Hang , Hu Zunyan , Hu Jiayi , Li Jianqiu , Li Jingkang , Li Yuanyuan , Xu Liangfei , Liu Shucheng , Ouyang Minggao
Published: January 2023

The independently controlled electric wheels of distributed drive vehicles provide faster and more accurate actuators for vehicle slip ratio control. Meanwhile, the estimation of the slip ratio of electric wheels has been of vital importance for the dynamics control of distributed drive electric vehicles. However, the conventional slip ratio estimation method is hard to accurately estimate the slip ratio under steering conditions without multiple observations, increasing the cost and introducing errors. Considering that the output torque and motor rotation rate of electric wheels can be accurately collected, the novel slip ratio estimation method takes advantage of the signals of the electric wheels and requires fewer vehicle sensors. Based on the torsional vibration model of electric wheel, the slip ratio estimation method was proposed and validated by simulations and experiments. With the drum dynamometer, the slip ratio estimation method was applied to a single electric wheel for testing, proving the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method. The slip ratio estimation was finally applied to a fuel cell heavy truck for road tests, of which the results show that the error index is reduced from 0.0152 to 0.0064 compared to the conventional slip ratio estimation method, confirming the good estimation performance achievable via the proposed method.
Lateral semi-trailer truck control using a parameter self-learning MPC method in urban environment
Authors: Chen Jiajia , Jiang Shaodong , Zhou Zheng , Zhang Mengyu , Ming Xiaoke , Guo Ning
Published: January 2023

This paper analyzes the lateral control technology of autonomous semi-trailer trucks. Existing researches on the lateral control algorithm of semi-trailer trucks focus on making the head-truck or trailer follow a track well while ignoring the motion characteristics during the turning process, leading to specific security issues. Meanwhile, it is difficult to cope with the complex and uncertain factors influencing lateral control effect, such as the curvature of the desired trajectory, the load, and the velocity of the semi-trailer truck. This paper proposes a parametric self-learning model predictive control (MPC) based on the Proximal Policy Optimization of One Step (OSPPO) method to solve these problems. After modeling the kinematics of the semi-trailer truck, a lateral motion controller for the relationship between the head-truck and trailer based on the MPC method is established. The traditional MPC method has difficulty in adapting to the changeable influencing factors. Thus, a deep reinforcement learning algorithm named OSPPO is introduced to improve the flexibility of the MPC method. OSPPO establishes the nonlinear mapping relationship between the critical parameter of the MPC method and the factors influencing control effect by self-learning, avoiding a large amount of labeled data for training. In simulations, Trucksim and Matlab were used to conduct co-simulation to verify the usefulness of the control method. The method was implemented on an autonomous semi-trailer truck for many outdoor scenes. The actual experimental results showed the validity and advantages of the proposed method.
Model predictive control–based compound control strategy for ducted rockets gas flow with anti-regulation suppression
Authors: Zhang Zongyu , Zeng Qinghua , Wang An , Wang Hongfu
Published: January 2023

Variable flow ducted rockets are excellent candidates for propulsion systems in hypersonic vehicles. However, the anti-regulation characteristics of the gas flow not only decrease the stability of ducted rockets but also create difficulties in the control system design. In this study, a model predictive control (MPC)–based compound control algorithm that suppresses the anti-regulation is proposed. First, a mathematical model involving a gas flow regulation system was developed to describe and analyse the anti-regulation. Next, a fused feedback variable that included both the gas flow and the gas generator pressure signal was constructed. An MPC control system with the fused feedback variable was also designed. Then, to accurately predict the gas flow and the anti-regulation, a nonlinear disturbance observer was constructed. To evaluate the performance of the controller, two scenarios that were regulated by a tracking differentiator proportional–integral–derivative controller and a model reference adaptive control controller were constructed and compared. The theoretical results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibited a superior performance compared to previous methods by overcoming the supposed trade-off between the response rate and the anti-regulation of gas flow systems.
Information culture of university administration: Making personnel bureaucracy a professional bureaucracy
Authors: Deja Marek
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to diagnose the information culture of the university administration. Although university administrative work is commonly associated with bureaucracy, it is a bureaucracy of people in which employees demonstrate a set of competitive group information behavior focused on knowledge sharing and information use in day-to-day tasks. A group of 345 respondents, representing office staff from three institutions in Poland, answered the survey related to information culture. The research framework included 16 information behaviors, grouped by four levels of information and knowledge management and four types of information culture. The results were examined using statistical packages to perform the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and ordinal/linear regression analysis. Professional Bureaucracy culture is the dominant characteristic of the information behavior of university administrations, but its functioning is supported by three parallel information cultures included in the research model. The main limitation of the study is that it covers only lower-level employees’ information practices. The applied scale, based on professional stratification within the university administration, is highly sensitive regarding different institutional contexts covered in the information culture diagnosis. To support the development of Professional Bureaucracy, it is necessary to support internal openness of behavior (socialization), internalization of knowledge, and external networking.
Safety of tacrolimus use during pregnancy and related pregnancy outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective single-center analysis in Japan
Authors: Kitada Ayako , Nakai Takehiro , Fukui Sho , Rokutanda Ryo , Okada Masato , Kusaoi Makio , Yamaji Ken , Tamura Naoto
Published: January 2023

Objective

Tacrolimus is one of the drugs that can be used in pregnancies complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but there are still few reports on its pregnancy outcomes. Although tacrolimus has been reported to cause adverse events, such as increased blood pressure, abnormal glucose metabolism, and susceptibility to infection, there have been no studies on the impact of tacrolimus in SLE pregnancies at these points. We performed a retrospective observational study of pregnancies complicated by SLE at St Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo from April 2003 to August 2021.

Methods

Basic clinical information on SLE, pregnancy outcomes, disease activity before and after pregnancy, laboratory results, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, treatment regimens, and presence of infection was extracted from electronic medical records. We defined overall adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) as follows: (1) fetal death after 10 gestational weeks, (2) preterm delivery, (3) delivery due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, or placental insufficiency, or (4) the diagnosis of small for gestational age infants. We also examined whether there was a statistical difference in APO incidence between patients treated with and without tacrolimus.

Results

Pregnancy outcomes were obtained for 48 patients with a total of 60 pregnancies complicated by SLE. In 20 (33.3%) of these pregnancies, the patients took tacrolimus, and 28 (46.7%) of the pregnancies had APOs. APO incidence did not statistically differ between the tacrolimus and non-tacrolimus groups in the multivariate analysis ( p = 1.00, adjusted OR 1, 95% CI: 0.23–4.39). Multiple regression analyses indicated that tacrolimus use did not significantly affect systolic blood pressure in the third trimester (B = −2.23, p = .74) or blood glucose levels in the first trimester (B = 10.2, p = .056). Incidence of infections did not significantly differ between patients treated with and without tacrolimus in the univariate analysis (10.8% vs. 21.1%, p = .42).

Conclusion

Tacrolimus did not significantly affect pregnancy outcomes, blood pressure, or glucose levels. Further research is required to confirm its effects in a larger population.
Correlation of Screen Time With Eating Behavior Among School-Going Children Aged 8 to 10 Years in East Delhi, India
Authors: Semar Riya , Bakshi Neha
Published: January 2023

Background and aim:

Excessive screen time (ST) negatively impacts physical activity and eating behavior among children <5 years. There is a dearth of data on older Indian children; hence, the present study aimed to assess the effect of ST on eating behavior among older children.

Methods:

The present cross-sectional study purposively recruited 100 school-going children. E-questionnaire was prepared to gather information regarding the demographic profile and self-reported weight and height. For the assessment of ST, the SCREENS questionnaire was used. Eating behavior was assessed using the Children Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and for physical activity, the PAQ-C was used. The nutrition status of children was assessed using body mass index (BMI) for age cut-offs.

Results:

The results revealed that 52% of the children were using screens for > 4 hours per day excluding school-related activities and online classes. ST of children was directly proportional to the parent’s ST ( P < .05). There was a negative correlation between ST and the physical activity of children ( P < .01). A positive correlation was observed between ST and emotional overeating, desire to drink, slow eating, satiety responsiveness, food fussiness, and emotional undereating ( P < .01). BMI was positively associated with ST and negatively associated with physical activity, though the results were not significant. Satiety responsiveness (a food-avoiding subscale) was negatively associated with BMI ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The present study concludes that excessive ST among 8 to 10 years old school-going children has been associated with physical inactivity and poor eating behavior which could lead to an increased risk of being overweight and obese.
Does Labour Market Discriminate Against the Scheduled Castes? Empirical Evidence from Rural Punjab, India
Authors: Singh Harpreet
Published: January 2023

Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes are the two most marginalized sections of Indian society that suffered discrimination through the ages. The government of India since independence has adopted various policy measures to remove the atrocities and discrimination against them. The present study attempts to understand whether or not the Scheduled Castes in rural Punjab continue to suffer from economic discrimination on account of their social attribute—caste—even after seven decades of independence. The nature of caste-based economic discrimination in the labour market of rural Punjab is examined using NSSO’s employment-unemployment data. The analyses support the existence of differences in occupational choices and wage differential among the caste groups. The SC households earn relatively low wages than the non-SC in rural Punjab. The SC workers are engaged in low-status and low-rewarding traditional caste occupations. The probability of SC workers choosing casual work is relatively greater than that of non-SC workers in rural Punjab.
Systematic Review of Enrollment of Students With Disabilities in Charters Compared to Traditional Public Schools
Authors: Smith Brenda K. , Christensen Keith
Published: January 2023

There is a perception that charter schools in the United States enroll students with disabilities at a lower rate than traditional public schools despite federal laws that require charter schools to provide the same services as traditional public schools. This systematic review answers the question: What research exists that explores the representation of students with disabilities in charter schools and the proportionality of that representation in comparison to traditional public schools? The methodology for this review was based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses) statement for reporting systematic reviews. Conclusions from this review include the limited amount of research on the topic, the difficulty of comparing enrollment percentages between state systems, and the difficulty in determining factors affecting the enrollment of students with disabilities in charter schools.
Philtral Height Discrepancy in Patients with Complete and Incomplete Cleft Lips + /-Palate – Results from a Single Nation Consecutive Cohort
Authors: Rivers CM , Drake D , Devlin MF , Russell CJH
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The aim of unilateral cleft lip repair is to restore form and function, including symmetrisation of cleft and non-cleft philtral height. Expectation of best outcome is achieved in situations with minimal asymmetry and is assumed occurs most often in incomplete cleft lip only patients. We sought to investigate philtral height discrepancy (PHD) in children with unilateral cleft lip + /-palate from a single nation cohort.

Methods

Review of prospectively collected PHD measurements taken at time of surgery for all children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair in Scotland born Jan 2017—December 2020. Data was collected using Microsoft Excel and analysed using embedded statistical software.

Results

102 consecutive patients with unilateral lip involvement were identified from the national database. 94 had prospectively documented PHD (92.2%). The majority of patients had an isolated cleft lip (51.1%). Incomplete clefts presented more frequently (52.1%) than complete clefts (47.9%). Mean PHD for the whole cohort was 3.91mm (standard deviation 1.01mm, range 1–6mm). The difference in mean PHD (in-complete versus complete) was 1.1mm (3.4 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001). For lip only versus lip and palate the difference in mean PHD was 1.0mm (3.4 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This single country consecutive cohort review of PHD in children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair statistically supports the anecdote that patients with an incomplete cleft lip and isolated cleft lip have lesser asymmetry at presentation. This study presents a consecutive cohort with a greater range of PHD than has previously been reported in the literature.
Design and experiment of a large-scale space micro-vibration simulator
Authors: Zhu He , He Shuai , Shen Junli , Xia Mingyi , Qin Chao , Wang Xiaoming , Sun Xiangyang , Xu Zhenbang
Published: January 2023

To solve the problems of difficult vibration sources simulation in the ground test of the on-orbit optical load, a multi-dimensional micro-vibration simulator based on the improved Gough–Stewart platform was designed, which can effectively reproduce the characteristics of wide frequency distribution and small vibration magnitude of space micro-vibration. The analytical formula was derived by using the virtual frequent principle and the Newton–Euler equation for the natural frequency of the system, and the simulator’s configuration was optimized. The structure of legs was designed and optimized according to the optimal configuration parameters. Finally, the micro-vibration simulator was tested, and the test results showed that the output bandwidth of the simulator was 5–300 Hz and the maximum magnitude error was 8%, thus demonstrating the multi-dimensional micro-vibration simulation platform has the characteristics of large frequent bandwidth, high load carrying capacity, and small vibration magnitude.