bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glutathione-S-Transferase
p
1
Gene Promoter Methylation in Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ye Jinghe , Wu Mao , He Long , Chen Peng , Liu Hongtao , Yang Hongwei
Published: January 2023

Background. Promoter methylation of glutathione-S-transferase

p
1

(GSTP1) is related to the occurrence of prostate cancer (PCa), but reports are inconsistent about the accuracy of GSTP1 promoter methylation in PCa diagnosis and prognosis. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of GSTP1 promoter methylation in PCa. Methods. The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PMC databases were searched for all relevant studies from the date of inception to November 31, 2021. We compared differences in the incidence of GSTP1 promoter methylation in cfDNA between prostate cancer patients and controls. The odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) were used as effect sizes, and the result of each effect size is expressed as a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results. Our meta-analysis showed that the combined sensitivity and specificity of GSTP1 promoter methylation in cfDNA for the diagnosis of prostate cancer were 0.37 (95% CI = 0.23, 0.53) and 0.97 (95% CI = 0.88, 0.99), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) with 95% CI was 0.78 (95% CI = 0.75, 0.82). For prognostic variables, hypermethylation of GSTP1 was associated with shorter survival in PCa (HR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.30, 5.10), with statistical significance in between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 72%,

P
=
0.006

). The results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the heterogeneity of studies may be due to differences in the observed indicators. Conclusions. The results of the meta-analysis substantiate the high specificity of promoter methylation of GSTP1 in cfDNA for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, and it may be used to more precisely evaluate the prognosis of patients with prostate cancer. It may be helpful for the early detection of prostate cancer, but it still must be combined with traditional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or other methylated genes to accomplish this goal.
Integrated Methods for Household Greywater Treatment: Modified Biofiltration and Phytoremediation
Authors: Waqkene Tolossa , Mereta Seid Tiku , Terfe Amare , Ousman Wuhib Zeine
Published: January 2023

Most countries around the world have experienced water scarcity in recent decades as fresh water consumption has increased. However, untreated wastewater is routinely discharged into the environment, particularly in developing countries, where it causes widespread environmental and public health problems. The majority of wastewater treatment method publications are heavily focused on high-income country applications and, in most cases, cannot be transferred to low and middle-income countries. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the performance efficiency of pilot-scale physicochemical and biological treatment methods for the treatment of household greywater in Jimma, Ethiopia. During the experiment, grab samples of greywater were taken from the combined treatment system’s influent and effluent every 7 days for 5 weeks and analyzed within 24–48 hours. Temperature, DO, EC, turbidity, TDS, and pH were measured on-site, while BOD, COD, TSS, TP, TN PO4−3-P, NO3-N, NH4-N, Cl−, and FC were determined in the laboratory. During the five-week pilot-scale combined treatment system monitoring period, the combined experimental and control system’s mean percentage reduction efficiencies were as follows: turbidity (97.2%, 92%), TSS (99.2%, 97.2%), BOD5 (94%, 57.4%), COD (91.6%, 54.7%), chloride (61%, 35%), TN (68.24, 42.7%), TP (71.6%, 38.7%), and FC (90%, 71.1%), respectively. Similarly, the combined experimental and control systems reduced PO4−3-P (12.5 ± 3 mg/L), NO3-N (4.5 ± 3 mg/L), and NH4-N (10.19 ± 2.6 mg/L) to PO4−3-P (3.5 ± 2.6 mg/L, 7.5 ± 1.6 mg/L), NO3-N (0.8 ± 0.5, 3.6 ± 2.3 mg/L), and NH4-N (7 ± 2.9 mg/L, 15.9 ± 3.9 mg/L), respectively. From the biofiltration and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland combined systems, the experimental combined technology emerged as the best performing greywater treatment system, exhibiting remarkably higher pollutant removal efficiencies. In conclusion, the combined biofiltration and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treatment system can be the technology of choice in low-income countries, particularly those with tropical climates.
Recombinant Adenovirus siRNA Knocking Down the Ndufs4 Gene Alleviates Myocardial Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress Injury
Authors: Wang Beibei , Zhang Jinsheng , Xu Aijun
Published: January 2023

Oxidative stress results in myocardial cell apoptosis and even life-threatening heart failure in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Specific blocking of the complex I could reduce cell apoptosis. Ndufs4 is a nuclear-encoded subunit of the mitochondrial complex I and participates in the electron transport chain. In this study, we designed and synthesized siRNA sequences knocking down the rat Ndufs4 gene, constructed recombinant adenovirus Ndufs4 siRNA (Ad-Ndufs4 siRNA), and primarily verified the role of Ndufs4 in oxidative stress injury. The results showed that the adenovirus infection rate was about 90%, and Ndufs4 mRNA and protein were decreased by 76.7% and 64.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the flow cytometry assay indicated that the cell apoptosis rate of the Ndufs4 siRNA group was significantly decreased as compared with the H2O2-treated group. In conclusion, we successfully constructed Ndufs4 siRNA recombinant adenovirus; furthermore, the downexpression of the Ndufs4 gene may alleviate H2O2-induced H9c2 cell apoptosis.
A Novel Method for Dynamically Assessing the Prognosis of Patients with pT1 Gastric Cancer: A Large Population-Based Dynamic Prognostic Analysis
Authors: Pan Siwei , Cao Mengxuan , Hu Can , Zhang Yanqiang , Du Yian , Xu Zhiyuan , Cheng Xiangdong
Published: January 2023

Background. While early gastric cancer (EGC) patients are likely to experience relatively long postoperative survival, certain disease-related findings are associated with a poorer prognosis. This study sought to develop and validate a novel predictive model capable of estimating conditional disease-specific survival (CDSS) in EGC patients. Methods. A total of 3016 patients diagnosed with pT1NxM0 GC after gastrectomy between 1998 and 2016 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and were separated into training and validation cohorts. Kaplan‒Meier curves and log-rank tests were employed to evaluate DSS, after which univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to construct a predictive nomogram and to estimate CDSS at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively in these patients. Results. In the training cohort, the 3-year CDSS rose from 89.1% to 94.6% from 0 to 5 years postoperatively, while the 5-year CDSS rose from 84.5% to 92.0%. Cox regression analyses led to the construction of a nomogram that was able to reliably predict 3- and 5-year CDSS at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively (all

P
<
0.05

) based upon patient age, tumor size, pT stage, pN stage, and the number of retrieved lymph nodes. This model exhibited good discriminative power in the training and validation cohorts (concordance index: 0.791 and 0.813, respectively), and nomogram calibration curves confirmed that actual and predicted survival outcomes were close to one another. Conclusions. We herein developed a nomogram capable of accurately predicting the CDSS of EGC patients that had survived for multiple years after undergoing surgery.
Functional Aging: Integrating Functionality to a Multidimensional Assessment of Healthy Aging
Authors: Frangos Emilia , Graf Christophe , Samaras Nikolaos
Published: January 2023

Worldwide, the number of old adults will peak in the coming decades. Relying solely on the chronological age to make treatment decisions and shape general or specific societal and medical considerations may reinforce ageism and lead to flawed reasoning. Defining physiological age using biological markers is not yet reliable, and an approach based on comorbidities without considering their impact on quality of life is inadequate. A multidimensional approach with strong integration of functionality is presented here to draw a real-world aging approach, easily accessible, clinically relevant, and of societal value.
Antiplatelet Resistance: A Review of Concepts, Mechanisms, and Implications for Management in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Krishnan Kailash , Nguyen Thanh N. , Appleton Jason P. , Law Zhe Kang , Caulfied Mark , Cabrera Claudia P. , Lenthall Rob , Hewson David , England Timothy , McConachie Norman , Dhillon Permesh , Malik Luqman , Podlasek Anna , Smith Craig J. , Dawson Jesse , Robinson Thompson G. , Sprigg Nikola , James Martin A. , White Phil , Desborough Michael J.R. , Hermans Joannes , Bath Philip M.
Published: January 2023

Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and major disability worldwide. Approximately 50% of ischemic strokes are caused by atherothrombotic occlusion of the cerebral arteries, and antiplatelets are the mainstay of secondary stroke preventative treatment. Aspirin is beneficial if given early, and short‐term treatment using aspirin and clopidogrel is increasingly used for patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease, minor stroke, and or transient ischemic attack. However, up to 50% of patients continue to have recurrent stroke and major vascular events, which may be partly attributable to resistance to aspirin and or clopidogrel. Although the precise mechanisms are unknown, clinical and genetic factors associated with bioavailability and binding to target receptors are implicated. This narrative review begins with the concept of aspirin and clopidogrel resistance in ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, potential mechanisms including genetic polymorphisms, and an overview of platelet function measures and limitations. We conclude by highlighting practical issues in the management of patients with aspirin andclopidogrel resistance including the emerging interest in ticagrelor, prasugrel, and cilostazol as well as directions for future trials in transient ischemic attack and acute ischemic stroke.
Functional Arterial Anatomy of the Cranial Base
Authors: Ota Takahiro
Published: January 2023

Two main vascular routes supply the brain, internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and vertebral arteries. The external carotid artery (ECA) mainly supplies the skin, muscle, and skull; thus, neurointerventionalists should be aware of ECA‐ICA, ECA‐vertebral artery, and extracranial–intracranial anastomoses. These anastomoses are not newly formed but are arteries that are remnants of developmental processes. During development, the ICA has anastomoses with the original ECA at the first and second pharyngeal arches, and carotid‐basilar anastomoses exist between the ICA and vertebral artery/basilar artery. Advances in neurointerventional technology are increasingly expanding the indications for transarterial embolization in the ECA territory. To avoid embolic complications to the brain and cranial nerve palsy, knowledge and understanding of such extracranial–intracranial anastomosis are crucial for neurointerventionalists interested in neurovascular diseases. The arterial contributions to these anastomoses are mainly the branches of the maxillary artery, ascending pharyngeal artery (extracranial), ophthalmic artery, and branches of the ICA (intracranial). Knowledge of the embryological processes is essential for understanding the routes and patterns of these anastomoses. This review discusses ECA development, the ICA segmental concept and functional anatomy of the extracranial‐intracranial anastomoses in the orbit, cavernous sinus, petrosal bone, and posterior fossa from an embryological point of view.
Bridging Thrombolysis and ASPECTS in Patients With Stroke Treated With Endovascular Thrombectomy
Authors: Donnelly Joseph , Hong Jae Beom , Yong Vivien T.Y. , Diprose William K. , Caldwell James R. , Lee Shane S. , McGuinness Ben J. , Brew Stefan , Barber Peter Alan
Published: January 2023

Background

In patients with stroke with large‐vessel occlusion and extensive ischemic change denoted by low Alberta Stroke Programme Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), the role of bridging thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is still to be determined. We aimed to examine the impact of ischemic change on clinical outcomes and how this is modified by bridging thrombolysis in patients treated with EVT.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing anterior circulation EVT from a prospectively collected registry were included in this retrospective analysis. ASPECTS was evaluated from baseline noncontrast computed tomography scans with lower scores indicating larger areas of ischemic change. Outcome measures included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at day 90. Multivariable logistic regression models with interaction terms between ASPECTS and bridging thrombolysis were created. ASPECTS was treated as numeric variable in the primary analysis and trichotomized (ASPECTS ≤5, 6–8, 9–10) in a sensitivity analysis.

Results

A total of 872 patients undergoing EVT (384 women, mean±SD age of 67±15, baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale 16 [interquartile range, 11–20]) were included. A total of 549 (63%) patients were transferred from primary stroke centers for EVT and 436 (50%) received bridging intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase. On baseline computed tomography scan, median [interquartile range] ASPECTS was 8 [7–9], with 408 (47%) having minimal (ASPECTS 9–10), 376 (43%) moderate (ASPECTS 6–8), and 88 (10%) extensive (ASPECTS ≤5) ischemic change. With decreasing numeric ASPECTS, the probability of functional independence reduced (ASPECTS main effect adjusted odds ratio, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.23–1.52];
P
<0.001), but this was attenuated in those with bridging thrombolysis (interaction
P
=0.046). This interaction was significant for patients transferred to the EVT center after thrombolysis (interaction
P
=0.03) but not for patients presenting directly to the EVT center (interaction
P
=0.46). The interaction between ASPECTS and bridging thrombolysis was not significant when ASPECTS was split into the 3 categories (
P
=0.35).

Conclusion

In a cohort of patients undergoing EVT where most were transferred from a primary stroke center, ischemic change was associated with decreased probability functional independence, but this effect was attenuated with bridging thrombolysis. These results suggest that patients with large areas of ischemic change may still benefit from the earliest possible reperfusion afforded by bridging thrombolysis.
Extracranial Internal Carotid and Vertebral Dissecting Pseudoaneurysms: Clinical Features and Long‐Term Outcomes
Authors: Seven Nathan A. , Casanegra Ana I. , Lanzino Giuseppe , Keser Zafer
Published: January 2023

Background

The formation of dissecting pseudoaneurysms (dPSAs) is a common sequela of cervical artery dissection, which has been suggested to increase thrombotic risk in previous studies. This study reported clinical features and long‐term outcomes of cervical internal carotid (cICA) and vertebral artery (cVA) dPSAs.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review over a 10‐year period (January 2012–December 2021). Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics, medical and endovascular treatments, and long‐term outcomes were reported for cICA and cVA dPSA groups separately. Nonparametric tests were used to compare group differences.

Results

In our cohort, 120 (12%) of 999 cervical artery dissection patients had dPSA, with 85% occurring in the cICA and 15% in the cVA. Most dPSAs occurred spontaneously or in association with minor trauma. Compared with cICA dPSA, patients with cVA dPSA were younger (median age [range]=34.5 [24–70] versus 52 [30–77];
P
<0.01), had a smaller dPSA size (median size [range]=4.5 mm [2–17] versus 8 mm [1.2–32];
P
<0.01), and were more likely to reduce in size at follow‐up (median size change [range]=−2.8 mm [−17;0] versus 0 [−24;10.8]). Antithrombotic therapy was predominately aspirin monotherapy. No patients with cVA dPSA experienced recurrent strokes and only 3% of patients with cICA dPSA developed new/recurrent stroke in the territory of dPSA while on an antithrombotic regimen requiring endovascular intervention, and none of the dPSAs ruptured. A total of 98% of the patients had an excellent outcome (modified Rankin scale 0–2 at final follow‐up).

Conclusion

Most cICA and cVA dPSAs have a benign prognosis with medical therapy alone. Further prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to provide high quality evidence on the necessity of additional endovascular therapy at diagnosis in addition to medical therapy alone.
Orientation estimation for instrumented helmet using neural networks
Authors: Zaheer Muhammad Hamad , Yoon Se Young , Higginson Brian K
Published: January 2023

This work presents an integrated solution for head orientation estimation, which is a critical component for applications of virtual and augmented reality systems. The proposed solution builds upon the measurements from the inertial sensors and magnetometer added to an instrumented helmet, and an orientation estimation algorithm is developed to mitigate the effect of bias introduced by noise in the gyroscope signal. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) techniques are introduced to develop a dynamic orientation estimation algorithm with a structure motivated by complementary filters and trained on data collected to represent a wide range of head motion profiles. The proposed orientation estimation method is evaluated experimentally and compared to both learning and non-learning-based orientation estimation algorithms found in the literature for comparable applications. Test results support the advantage of the proposed CNN-based solution, particularly for motion profiles with high acceleration disturbance that are characteristic of head motion.
Quasi-static indentation damage mechanics of PU foam core reinforced with fly ash particulate
Authors: Pareta Ashish Singh , Singh PK , Sarkar Arnab , Panda SK
Published: January 2023

The fly ash (FA) particulates are used in this study to reinforce the polyurethane foam (PUF) core. The FA particles inclusion improves the mechanical performance of the PUF core under compression by increasing its modulus of elasticity. Low-velocity impacts have damage dynamics that are pretty similar to quasi-static indentation. Consequently, the indentation resistance capability of the PUF core is investigated for three types of indenter nose tips with varied FA wt. Percentages (flat-circular, hemispherical, and conical). The results reveal that the reinforced foam core’s resistance varies with reinforcement percentage under indentation. However, FA reinforcement to PUF does not necessarily improve indentation resistance. The damage mechanism of the PUF core under indentation has been evaluated for each type of indenter. The interaction of crushing, shear, and tear of the damaged surface with the change in indenter nose tip has been explained with 0–20% variation of FA particles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images are taken for the analysis of the damaged PUF core cross-section at the indented location. Earlier mechanical findings of the scatter in deformation behavior with the indenter nose tip geometry are substantiated by the SEM studies.
“If I speak like you, I am you”: Racial passing in Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime and Other Stories
Authors: Levin Adam
Published: January 2023

In his memoir Born a Crime and Other Stories (2016), stand-up comedian Trevor Noah, draws on the thematic concerns of his stand-up performances, as he documents his experiences of racial passing in apartheid and then post-apartheid South Africa. Noah’s reflections on these experiences of passing are integral to shaping his commentary on how racial identities are constructed and perceived. In this article, I will examine how Noah’s racial passing narrative expands upon depictions of and commentaries on race presented within works of South African racial passing memoir writing. As I will demonstrate, Noah’s use of elements of humour and imagination in constructing his childhood self’s perceptions of the racialized world, positions his persona as one that contrasts that of the tragic mulatto as it is represented in other works of South African racial passing memoir writing. Through this contrast, I will suggest that Noah’s memoir challenges the notion that one’s identity is restricted and limited by systems of racial categorization by reflecting on how race can, in fact, be interpreted as a site of creative expression.
Telling translocal histories: Reading the migrant life-worlds in Gulf-Keralan writing
Authors: Varghese Heba Thankam
Published: January 2023

This article discusses three Malayalam texts written by Gulf-Kerala migrants: V. Musafar Ahammed’s (2014) Kudiyettakkarante Veedu [House of the emigrant], a collection of memoirs; Benyamin’s (2016) Kudiyettam: Pravasathinte Malayalivazhikal [Emigration: Malayali routes of exile], an anthology of essays; and Sam Pynummoodu’s (2016) Kuwait Indian Kudiyetta Charitram: Kuwaitile Indian Pravasavum Malayali Sanidhyavum [A history of Indian emigration into Kuwait: India’s Emigration to and Malayali Presence in Kuwait], a historical work. This essay introduces them as microhistorical writings that attempt to document Kerala’s diasporic history — in particular, the history of the Gulf-Keralan diaspora to which the writers belong. At the micro-level, these diasporic histories are distinguished by their multiplicity, particularity, and dialogic association. Furthermore, this essay maintains that the writings acknowledge the agential force of the migrant subject, thereby reinforcing the primacy of the migrant writer and migrant protagonists. In the course of translating subjective experiences into vivid moments of articulation, migrant memory summons a heterogeneous narrative fabric that is characterized by epistemic disjunctures and methodological shifts. Consequently, these texts present an alternative to the canonical literature (as manifested within the ambit of state and academic engagements) on Gulf-Kerala migration, thereby reinventing the dominant historical discourse and recontextualizing history in the private realm of embodied narratives.
A WEIRD Theory? On the Prevalence of Western Folk Theory of Social Change in the West and Asia
Authors: Klackl Johannes , Ochoa Danielle P. , Du Hongfei , Jonas Eva , Kashima Emiko S. , Ah Gang Getrude C. , Kashima Yoshihisa
Published: January 2023

According to Western folk theory of social change, modernization of societies causes them to become less warm but more competent over time. Since WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) societies are often at the forefront of modernization (with some exceptions, most notably China), these societies may also be most prone to internalizing this folk theory. In this research, we test this idea by making a comparison across a sample group of Western and Asian societies, using a self-report measure of perceived societal warmth and competence: The Social Change Perception Scale (SCPS). We found the scale to be metrically invariant among university students from a set of Western and Asian countries (United States, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, The Philippines, China, and Malaysia). In all seven countries, people expected their society to become more competent over time. In most countries, people also expected their society to become colder over time, although this tendency was slight and insignificant among New Zealanders and Americans. The perceived social cooling tended to be more prevalent in Asian countries rather than in Western countries. The countries’ degrees of WEIRDness, as reflected in their country-level indicators of individualism, education, industrialization, wealth, and democracy, did not adequately account for the observed variation. Though there is still much work to be done in applying the SCPS to broader samples and contexts, this study provides a starting point for measuring and understanding how people experience the social implications of modernization around the world.
Some Myths in Dentin Bonding: An Evidence-Based Perspective
Authors: Reis A. , Loguercio A.D. , Favoreto M. , Chibinski A.C.
Published: January 2023

Laboratory investigations are essential models responsible for science development. However, laboratory discoveries must be confirmed in a clinical environment where many known and unknown variables and complex mechanisms are involved. Using conclusions from laboratory studies to make clinical recommendations can lead to widespread “unreliable truths” or so-called myths in any field of knowledge. These myths may increase the costs (financial and time) or even cause harm (side effects) that would be unnecessary, given that the current protocol or conduct was previously evaluated in a more complex and complete clinical setting. This article will discuss certain myths in dentin bonding that may influence clinical decision-making, bringing some principles of evidence-based practice to allow a more critical evaluation of the literature findings.
Computational fluid dynamics simulation of airborne COVID transmission in urban bus with different HVAC configurations
Authors: Ramajo Damian , Corzo Santiago
Published: January 2023

The HVAC systems in closed buses promote high particle spread. Lagrangian particle tracking simulations were carried out to evaluate airborne COVID transmission through droplets emitted by sneezing while Eulerian simulations were performed to account for the spread of aerosols emitted by breathing. The position of passengers as well as the effect of three HVAC configurations were evaluated. On one hand, it was concluded that large droplets can travel more than 3 m without being significantly affected by the inflow conditions, but small droplets are easily dispersed by the airflow, and many of them are captured by the HVAC systems. On the other hand, the HVAC systems quickly spreads aerosols along the whole of the bus, increasing the average risk for all passengers, but sensibly reducing the high local risks observed under motionless inflow conditions. The transmission risk was calculated by applying the Wells-Riley model, concluding that the transmission risk for a 20-min trip could remain below 0.5% if HVAC configurations with many inlet/outlet vents are implemented, and the passengers remain in silence and wear face masks.
Healing the Collective: Community-Healing Models and the Complex Relationship Between Individual Trauma and Historical Trauma in First Nations Survivors
Authors: Bookman-Zandler Rebecca , Smith Justin M.
Published: January 2023

Community-healing models (CHMs) are effective approaches in addressing intergenerational, historical, and racial traumas within American Indian–Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals, families, and communities. While medical models of healing and White evangelical scholarship have favored individual approaches to change, growing evidence in support of CHMs in outcome research and evangelical theology is presented. CHMs understand the importance of the context in which problems develop and are sustained and consequently are uniquely suited to address the systemic nature of historical trauma and how intergenerational and racial trauma impacts People of Color and Indigenous individuals (POCI). The application of sovereignty, spirituality, and communal grief for AI/AN trauma survivors is explored. The role of community in individual identity and healing is explored as a biblical theme by both prominent White evangelical theologians and POCI Christians. The efficacy of CHMs in treating trauma within AI/AN communities provides hope for restoration within other cultural groups.
Quality Conversation Can Increase Daily Well-Being
Authors: Hall Jeffrey A. , Holmstrom Amanda J. , Pennington Natalie , Perrault Evan K. , Totzkay Daniel
Published: January 2023

The associations among the frequency and quality of social interactions and in-the-moment and global well-being have been well-documented. Fewer studies explore whether the content of social interactions is associated with well-being using experimental methods. Drawing from the communicate bond belong theory, seven candidate communication episodes and behaviors were identified. In three studies, participants ( NStudy 1 = 347, NStudy 2 = 310, NStudy 3 = 250) were randomly assigned to engage in one of these communication episodes or behaviors and then completed end-of-day measures of well-being. Compared to participants in the control groups, participants engaging in candidate behaviors experienced increased well-being. MANCOVA results from all studies suggest the frequency of engaging in candidate behaviors was associated with increased well-being. A mini-meta-analysis found a weighted average effect size of d = 0.255. Results suggest that engaging in as little as one communication behavior with one friend in a day can improve daily well-being.
Optimal fractional-order proportional–integral–derivative control enabling full actuation of decomposed rotary inverted pendulum system
Authors: Yang Yi , Zhang Haiyan H , Voyles Richard M
Published: January 2023

Allowing for a “virtual” full actuation of a rotary inverted pendulum (RIP) system with only a single physical actuator has been a challenging problem. In this paper, a hybrid control scheme that involves a pole-placement feedback controller and an optimal proportional–integral–derivative (PID) or fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller is proposed to simultaneously enable the tracking control of the rotary arm and the stabilization of the pendulum arm in an input–output feedback linearized RIP system. The PID controller is optimized first with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) to obtain three optimal gains, and then the other two parameters of the FOPID controller are optimized with the PSO. Compared to the optimized PID controller, the optimized FOPID controller improves the tracking and stabilizing accuracy by 53% and 29%, respectively, and demonstrates better adaptability for tracking different reference signals. Moreover, the hybrid FOPID controller exhibits 74.8% and 53% higher tracking accuracy than previous optimized model reference adaptive control PID (MRAC-PID) and linear–quadratic regulator (LQR) controllers, respectively. The proposed hybrid controllers are also digitized with different rules and sampling times, showing a closer performance between the discrete-time and continuous-time hybrid controllers under smaller sampling times.
Cerebellar cavernous angioma associated with developmental venous anomaly presenting as a cerebellopontine angle neoplasm in CT scan
Authors: Ogul Hayri , Gozgec Elif , Demirdogen Filiz , Kantarci Mecit
Published: January 2023

Association of developmental venous anomaly (DVA) and cavernous malformation (CM) of the posterior fossa is rare. If bleeding occurs, it must be assigned to the CM. Developmental venous anomalies, considered as normal vascular variation, are rarely symptomatic. Indeed, the CMs are true malformations and have a high bleeding potential.
Nutritional status and eating behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders in Vietnam: A case-control study
Authors: Trinh Ngoc Bao , Phan Ngoc Dieu Thi , Bui An Tuong , Phan Hai Thanh , Nguyen Lieu Thu Thi , Nguyen Lan Huong Thi , Do Khanh Nam , Dang Anh Kim
Published: January 2023

Background: Atypical eating behaviors and feeding issues are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aim: This study aims to evaluate the nutritional status and eating behavior of the ASD and typically developing groups. Methods: A case-control study was conducted from January to April 2019 in Nghe An, Vietnam. A total of 93 children in each group participated in the study with their main caregivers. We applied the Children's Eating Behavior Inventory (CEBI) to evaluate the eating behaviors of children. Results: Overweight and obesity in ASD children accounted for 41.9%. The CEBI score and %CEBI of the ASD group was higher than that of the control group (104.0 ± 14.2 and 91.3 ± 8.3; 24.1 ± 21.4 and 5.0 ± 11.8, respectively). Most of the adverse mealtime behaviors of ASD children focused on excessive duration (52.7%), distraction (40.9%), and food refusal (39.8%). In total 88.2% of caregivers had to comfort their ASD children at every meal, followed by threatening, scolding, or punishing children if they refused to eat (57.0%). Conclusion: Being overweight/obese and having eating behavior difficulties were prevalent among ASD children in Vietnam. Safer alternatives, such as lifestyle measures and seeking help from a nutritional therapist, can help ASD children reduce weight and modify their erroneous feeding habits.
Economic development, corruption, and income inequality: The role of the informal sector
Authors: Wong Mathew Y H
Published: January 2023

This article investigates how the relationship between economic development and income inequality is conditioned by corruption and the informal sector. While corruption has traditionally been believed to worsen inequality through resource concentration, this study suggests that it can also lead to the opposite through the informal sector. In countries with a high level of corruption or a large informal sector, individuals can bypass regulations and barriers by offering bribes or participating in the informal economy; this allows the benefits of economic development to be widely distributed, thereby reducing inequality. The reverse is true when corruption is low or the informal sector is small. However, at low levels of economic development, an increase in informal economy or corruption alone would not lead to a more egalitarian distribution without an economic expansion. The arguments are supported with a time-series cross-sectional analysis of 127 countries from 1964 to 2007. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying the relationship between corruption and the informal sector and how they affect inequality jointly with economic development.
Cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular resistance across the adult lifespan: A multimodality approach
Authors: Tomoto Tsubasa , Lu Marilyn , Khan Ayaz M , Liu Jie , Pasha Evan P , Tarumi Takashi , Zhang Rong
Published: January 2023

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreases across the adult lifespan; however, more studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. This study measured CBF and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) using a multimodality approach in 185 healthy adults (21–80 years). Color-coded duplex ultrasonography and phase-contrast MRI were used to measure CBF, CBF velocity, and vessel diameters of the internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral arteries (VA). MRI arterial spin labeling was used to measure brain perfusion. Transcranial Doppler was used to measure CBF velocity at the middle cerebral artery. Structural MRI was used to measure brain volume. CBF was presented as total blood flow (mL/min) and normalized CBF (nCBF, mL/100g/min). Mean arterial pressure was measured to calculate CVR. Age was associated with decreased CBF by ∼3.5 mL/min/year and nCBF by ∼0.19 mL/100g/min/year across the methods. CVR increased by ∼0.011 mmHg/mL/100g/min/year. Blood flow velocities in ICA and VA decreased with age ranging from 0.07–0.15 cm/s/year, while the vessel diameters remained similar among age groups. These findings suggest that age-related decreases in CBF can be attributed mainly to decreases in blood flow velocity in the large cerebral arteries and that increased CVR likely reflects the presence of cerebral vasoconstrictions in the small cerebral arterioles and/or capillaries.
The Relationship Between ICT Perceived Competence and Adolescents’ Digital Reading Performance: A Multilevel Mediation Study
Authors: Yu Rushi , Wang Meishu , Hu Jie
Published: January 2023

The age of information and communication technology (ICT) has witnessed the prevalence of computer-based reading. Previous studies yielded mixed results concerning the relationship between ICT perceived competence, ICT use and digital reading performance, and the underlying mechanism was rarely explored. This study aimed to explore the relationship between ICT perceived competence and adolescents’ digital reading performance and the potential mediating roles of three types of ICT use. Multilevel mediation analyses were conducted for 199,646 15-year-old students from 29 OECD countries/regions in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, in which digital reading performance was assessed by multistage adaptive computer-based testing. The results revealed that a) ICT perceived competence and digital reading performance were positively correlated; b) ICT use significantly mediated the relationship; c) students with higher-level ICT perceived competence tended to use ICT for leisure at home more frequently, which led to better digital reading performance; d) the suppression effects were revealed, indicating the need to consider the interrelationship between ICT perceived competence and ICT use. These findings provided new evidence for the self-determination theory and the ICT engagement model, suggesting that appropriate ICT use driven by high-level ICT perceived competence might help improve adolescents’ digital reading performance.
Determination of the anisotropic electrical conductivity of carbon fabric reinforced composites by the six-probe method
Authors: Van den Berg Sebastiaan , Luckabauer Martin , Wijskamp Sebastiaan , Akkerman Remko
Published: January 2023

Currently, it is challenging to obtain consistent values for the anisotropic electrical conductivity of fabric ply based thermoplastic composites. In this study, the anisotropic electrical conductivity of this type of material was obtained by combining six-probe voltage measurements with a numerical evaluation method to process the voltage measurements. The effect of probe distance and specimen dimensions on the test results was investigated. The measurements show low specimen to specimen variability and the obtained electrical conductivities agree with values obtained by the rule of mixtures and the two-probe measurement method. The conducted research shows that with one experiment, both the in- and the out-of-plane electrical conductivity of polymer composites reinforced with carbon fabrics can be reliably determined, simultaneously.
Mechanical design and position-tracking control of a novel robotic joint with a circular rotary electro-hydraulic actuator
Authors: Yang Mingxing , Zhang Xing , Shi Yunde , Wang Xingsong
Published: January 2023

Robotic exoskeletons with different actuators have been extensively investigated for decades, but designing a robot joint with compact structure, sufficient output torque, and satisfactory kinematic performance still remains a challenge. The paper introduces the mechanical design and control scheme of a novel joint with a circular rotary electro-hydraulic actuator in order to provide walking assistance for the hip joint. First, measurement and analysis techniques are applied in the gait recognition to determine an accurate swing range of the target joint and provide essential information for the structure design of the hydraulic rotary drive joint. Secondly, the functional structure and working principle of the hydraulic rotary joint are described in detail and the corresponding mathematical model is established for the valve-controlled hydraulic servo system. In addition, an adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) method is proposed for position-tracking and improving the anti-disturbance ability of the controlled system. The global asymptotic stability and finite-time convergence of the closed-loop system are proved by Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, the feasibility and position-tracking performance of the designed ASMC controller were experimentally verified. Compared to the PID controller and the conventional sliding mode control scheme, the proposed controller improved the position-tracking control accuracy by 20%.
Effects of honing process parameters on residual stress fields of grey cast iron engine cylinder liners: Experimental and numerical study
Authors: Shokrollahi Naser , Shabgard Mohammadreza , Jahani Kamal
Published: January 2023

Super polishing methods are widely employed to improve the surface integrity of machined parts. These methods not only improve the surface texture of the machined parts, but also modify the residual stresses induced at the outer layer of the machined surface. In this study, the effects of honing process parameters on the distribution of residual stresses at the surface of grey cast iron investigated numerically and experimentally. To this aim, a finite element (FE) model developed to evaluate the effects of process parameters, including cutting speed, grain size, and pressure of honing tools, on the residual stresses induced at the surface of samples. The friction coefficient introduced as an updating parameter in the model to get the best correlation between the results of FE and experiments. In addition, the X-ray diffraction method used to experimentally measuring the distribution of residual stresses at the honing surface of the samples. The experimental and numerical results showed that in majority of combinations of the process parameters, the maximum compressive residual stress occurs at a depth of approximately 0.03 mm from the cutting surface of the sample. Additionally, it was seen that decreasing the size of abrasive grains and cutting speed and increasing the pressure on the cutting tool result in higher levels of induced compressional stresses at the surface of samples. However, the depth at which the maximum residual stress occurs can proceed up to 0.06 mm by an increase in the diameter of abrasive grains and cutting speed.
Experimental stress analysis of enhanced sliding contact spur gears using transmission photoelasticity and a numerical approach
Authors: Hussein Ahmed W , Abdullah Mohammad Q
Published: January 2023

Free-Form-Gear (FFG) is a recently published title for a gear that has a curved path of contact and offers contact between a convex addendum and a concave dedendum during the meshing cycle. Based on this method of designing a gear pair, the path of contact can be altered to improve the way the gears mesh and slide against each other by only adjusting the maximum pressure angle and the involute curve parameter. The analytical investigations into this gear pair indicated that, when compared to the standard involute gear pair, the sliding velocity, meshing efficiency, contact, and fillet strengths are improved while the contact ratio is decreased. In this study, experimental stress analysis is conducted on various configurations of the tooth profile and tooth fillet shape for the proposed FFG and the standard involute gear to validate the analytical results. Since it is difficult to measure the contact stress for the gear specimens, the contact stresses at critical points are estimated using an effective computational technique based on photoelastic data and a numerical approach utilizing the nonlinear least squares method. At the fillet zone, isochromatic fringe patterns are used to directly measure the maximum fillet stress. Using addendum modification coefficients, the reduction in contact ratio for the proposed FFG is eliminated, and the results are then verified experimentally. Based on the experimental estimations, the finite element analyses are conducted using ABAQUS to simulate the examined gear specimens. Under the same loading conditions, the experimental, analytical, and numerical results have all been in good agreement.
Modeling of biomechanical human body model for seat to head transmissibility analysis
Authors: Bhardawaj Sono , Sharma Rakesh Chandmal , Sharma Sunil Kumar , Gopala Rao LVV , Vashist Amit
Published: January 2023

Under low-frequency excitation, the human subject is highly sensitive to Whole Body Vibrations (WBV). In the present paper, a biodynamic human model is seated posture without backrest support and also with backrest support at different angles (i.e., 0°, 15° and 30°) is formulated to analyse the influences of the frequency and the magnitude of the vibration, backseat support and the angles of inclination of the backseat support on Seat To Head Transmissibility (STHT) of the biodynamic human subject in seating position exposed to WBV. The model parameters such as damping, mass and stiffness of the mathematical model considered in this paper are derived from an alternate methodology which is based on anthropometric data. The STHT is computed analytically with the help of MATLAB software for all the considered cases. The effect of vibration and excitation frequencies on STHT is analysed. The results of STHT evaluated from this work are justified by comparing the same with the mean STHT characteristics reported in past studies and the results of the present analysis come out to be in good agreement with past published research.
Early-Stage end-of-Life prediction of lithium-Ion battery using empirical mode decomposition and particle filter
Authors: Meng Jianwen , Azib Toufik , Yue Meiling
Published: January 2023

The predictive maintenance is a major challenge for improving battery safety without compromising performance. Its main objective is to predict the end-of-life (EOL) and assess the associated prediction uncertainty. In this paper, we consider this issue and propose a hybrid method combining empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and particle filter (PF) to perform the battery early EOL prediction and its uncertainty assessment. The proposed approach is tested on the two most widely accessible public lithium-ion battery degradation datasets from the Prognostics Center of Excellence at NASA Ames and the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering at the University of Maryland. To avoid the overfitting, a major constraint in the prediction phase, only the residual sequence obtained after EMD decomposition of the raw data is used as the measurement input for PF. Besides, the sum of standard deviation of all intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) is used to determine the noise characteristic for the PF algorithm. Extensive experiments are conducted to show the importance of uncertainty assessment for the early EOL prediction. Although the distance between the true EOL and the mean predicted EOL has no obvious decrease when more operation data is available, the results show a clear decreasing trend of EOL prediction uncertainty when the prediction starts from later operation cycles. Particularly, a strong experimental support is provided for filtering-based prediction methods in the early EOL prediction.
Meaningful measurement requires substantive formal theory
Authors: Borgstede Matthias , Eggert Frank
Published: January 2023

In this article, we take the opportunity to elaborate on some aspects of our article “Squaring the Circle: From Latent Variables to Theory-Based Measurement” (Borgstede & Eggert, 2023) that gave rise to the concerns uttered by Hasselman (2023) and Slaney (2023), and to clarify why we think that theory-based measurement is indeed necessary and sufficient for the establishment of meaningful psychological measurement procedures. Moreover, we will illustrate how theory-based measurement might be accomplished in psychology by means of an example from behavioral selection theory.