bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Subseasonal Features of the Indian Monsoon
Authors: Dai Lun , Cheng Tat Fan , Wang Bin , Lu Mengqian 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The Indian monsoon is of utmost concern to agriculture, the economy, and the livelihoods of billions in South Asia. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility of distinct subseasonal episodes phase-locked in the Indian monsoon annual cycle. This study addresses this gap by utilizing the self-organizing map (SOM) method to objectively classify six distinct subseasonal stages based on the 850-hPa wind fields. Each subseasonal stage ranges from 23 to 90 days. The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) consists of three substages, the ISM-onset, ISM-peak, and ISM-withdrawal, altogether contributing to 82% of the annual precipitation. The three substages signify the rapid northward advance, dominance, and gradual southward retreat of southwesterlies from mid-May to early October. The winter monsoon also comprises three substages (fall, winter, and spring), distinguishable by the latitude of the Arabian Sea high pressure ridge and hydrological conditions. This study proposes two compact indices based on zonal winds in the northern and southern Arabian Sea to measure the winter and summer monsoons, respectively. These indices capture the development and turnabouts of the six SOM-derived stages and can be used for subseasonal monsoon monitoring and forecasts. The spring and the ISM-onset episodes are highly susceptible to compound hazards of droughts and heatwaves, while the greatest flood risk occurs during the ISM-peak stage. The fall stage heralds the peak season for tropical storms over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The annual start and end dates of the ISM-peak are highly correlated (0.6–0.8) with the criteria-based dates proposed previously, supporting the delineation of the Indian monsoon subseasonal features.

Significance Statement
This research explores the existence of subseasonal features in the Indian monsoon annual cycle. Through the use of machine learning, we discover that the Indian summer monsoon and winter monsoon each consist of three substages. These substages’ evolution can be measured by two compact indices proposed herein, which can aid in subseasonal monsoon monitoring and forecasts in South Asia. Pertaining to hazard adaptations, this work pinpoints the subseasonal episodes most susceptible to droughts, heatwaves, floods, and tropical storms. High correlations are obtained when validating the substages’ yearly start and end dates against those documented in the existing literature, offering credibility to the subseasonal features of the Indian monsoon.
Combining Probabilistic Hazard Information Forecast Graphics with Wireless Emergency Alert Messages: An Exploratory, Qualitative Study
Authors: Bean Hamilton , Takenouchi Kensuke , Cruz Ana Maria 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Since 2019, National Weather Service (NWS) offices have been able to issue 360-character Wireless Emergency Alert (“WEA360”) messages for tornadoes. NWS is now considering changing from a “deterministic” to a “probabilistic” warning paradigm. That change could possibly influence how WEA360 messages for tornado are issued in the future. Recent experimental studies have found that probabilistic hazard information (PHI) forecast graphics improve consumers’ risk perception for tornadoes, but findings from these studies concerning whether PHI forecast graphics improve people’s protective action decision-making are mixed. The present study therefore investigated how mock PHI-enhanced WEA360 messages might influence people’s risk perception and protective action decision-making. Analysis of qualitative data gathered from a combination of questionnaire and focus group interview methods conducted in collaboration with 31 community members in Denver, Colorado, indicated that inclusion of PHI forecast graphics within WEA360 messages elicited high levels of understanding and message believability but did not consistently lead to appropriate precautionary intent. Because warning response is a complex social phenomenon, PHI may not significantly improve protective action decision-making if PHI forecast graphics are eventually presented to consumers via the Wireless Emergency Alerts system. Factors that PHI stakeholders should consider before the adoption of PHI-enhanced WEA360 messages for consumers are discussed.

Significance Statement
This study examines how consumers respond to and talk about mock WEA360 messages for tornadoes that contain embedded PHI forecast graphics. As NWS considers moving to a probabilistic warning paradigm, stakeholders will need to determine how PHI forecast graphics might be communicated directly to consumers, if at all. Our findings suggest that combining WEA360 messages with PHI forecast graphics creates challenges and complexities related to consumers’ assessment of personal risk and protective action decision-making. Overall, the study suggests that any future PHI-enhanced WEA360 messages provided directly to consumers, if at all, must avoid discrepancies (even subtle) between the level of risk represented by the PHI forecast graphic and the protective action guidance included in the text of the messages.
Effects of Social Support, Family Resilience, and Individual Resilience on Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among Persons With Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Li Yan , Li Na , Wang Jinfang , Shang Qiongqiong , Zhang Benyan , Cao Mengke 
Published: September 2023

Background: There is limited research exploring the psychological and social predictors of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Objective: This study tested the effects of social support, family resilience, and individual resilience on FCR among persons with breast cancer. Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select 214 participants from March to August 2021 in 1 tertiary hospital in Jinan, China. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Path analysis was adopted to explore the effects of social support, family resilience, and individual resilience on FCR. Results: Findings showed that 94.6% of the participants reached a clinical level of FCR. Social support (β = −.75, p < .01) and individual resilience (β = −.32, p < .01) negatively and directly impacted FCR. Family resilience indirectly impacted FCR through individual resilience (β = −.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): −.34 to −.08). Social support indirectly impacted FCR through family resilience and individual resilience (β = −.15, 95% CI: −.23 to −.06). Conclusions: Persons with breast cancer experienced a high level of FCR. Individual resilience was a mediator between family resilience and FCR. Resilience (individual resilience and family resilience) partially mediated the effects of social support on FCR. The findings indicate that measures focused on improving individual resilience, family resilience, and social support should be considered by nurses, which are helpful for easing FCR.
Automotive Seating: The Growing Appeal of Foam-in-Fabric Technology
Authors: Deno L. , Dipietrantonio Bernadine F. 
Published: September 2023

Foam-in-fabric technology offers the automotive industry cost reductions, design flexibility and quality consistency for seating and head restraints. Use of all-MDI-based flexible polyurethane foam systems which have a proven record of minimal defects and very low reject rates, together with the development of appropriate machinery and moulding equipment, has led to the establishment of foam-in-fabric (FIF) barrier and non-barrier technologies for volume car manufacture in both the USA and Europe. In barrier technology, standard reactivity all-MDI-based foams are used extensively owing to their fast cure and excellent dimensional stability. This is especially important with complex shapes incorporating negative contours. In non-barrier technology, all-MDI-based foam's fast viscosity build-up and greater potential for rapid cream have made it the system of choice. Barrier technology is being used by several companies on both sides of the Atlantic for seat production. Non-barrier technology is now firmly established for head restraint production in North America and Europe. As in the past, head restraint manufacture is being used as a learning process for the potential use of non-barrier processes in the manufacture of automotive seating. ICI has now developed CFC-free, all-MDI-based foams which have proved successful in both barrier and non-barrier technologies. Fast cure potential and short demould times make them particularly appropriate for just-in-time manufacture. Their wide index latitudes allow dual-hardness pouring and their durability in terms of humid ageing and dynamic fatigue is particularly good.
A Novel Facer for PIR/PUR Boardstock
Authors: Lynch J.J. , Moore M.L. , Randall D. 
Published: September 2023

This paper discusses the insulating and fire properties of rigid PIR/PUR foams from the perspective of facing materials. The insulating effectiveness of a rigid PIR/PUR foam can be expressed in terms of R value, which is the resistance to heat flow of a given thickness of material. The R value is normally at a peak at the time of manufacture but decreases when air permeates through the foam matrix into the cell gas. The rate of decrease in R value is dependent upon several factors including the cell gas content, cell size and orientation, foam density, the integrity of the bond between foam and facing material, and particularly the permeability of the facing material. Rigid PIR/PUR foams which are protected by facing materials with a low gas permeability maintain their initial high R values. Thus, a good facing material will minimize the rate of R value decrease, pass standard fire tests as a composite material with PIR/PUR foams, provide a good substrate for foam adhesion, allow for the use of nails and/or fasteners during fixing, and be cost effective. A facer material has been developed based upon polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) substrate which has been vacuum metallized with a thin layer of aluminium on one surface. This is well known to the packaging industry and one of the best gas and moisture barriers on the market. Laminated to rigid PIR/PUR boardstock the vacuum metallized PET has been found to be superior in maintaining R value and fire performance over typically used A1 foil and A1 foil paper laminates.
The Use of An All CO2 Blown Foam in Production
Authors: Sullivan W.F. , Thomas A.K. 
Published: September 2023

Prior to the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances, dichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11) had been widely used in polyurethane foam formulations as both a blowing agent and to endow the foam with excellent insulation properties. Now, U.S. manufacturers of products containing rigid polyurethane foam insulation must face the challenge of eliminating CFC-11 from their products. This must be done while retaining the excellent insulation properties that have made PUR foam the most effective insulation material in use today. Elimination of CFC-11 without any reduction in foam insulation efficiency can be achieved with novel foam systems now in commercial use. These foam systems use C02 as a replacement for CFC-11, but otherwise they are equivalent to CFC-11 based foams in all other respects. Insulated vending equipment is being produced with foam using all C02 blowing and the foam performance is equivalent to, and in some respects better than, the CFC-based foam it replaced. The vending machines have been tested for dimensional stability and energy consumption and initial measurements indicate that the new C02 blown foam gives the same results as CFC-based foams. Of particular concern to manufacturers is the processability of all C02 blown insulation foams. An experimental design was used to evaluate the processing latitude of variables such as chemical temperatures, mixing pressures, and fixture and preheat temperatures. The effect of varying these process variables on foam performance is reviewed. Particularly how these process variables affect demould time, adhesion, overall physical properties and insulation value.
An Integrated Approach to Foam Development for Automotive Instrument Panels
Authors: Colvin B.G. 
Published: September 2023

The technical requirements of semi-rigid polyurethane foams for automotive instrument panels have become increasingly demanding in recent years. This is predominantly due to the change in design of cars and the consequent impact upon the design of instrument panels. In particular, larger and flatter windscreens have resulted in higher interior temperatures and higher thermal stresses. In addition, some companies have moved towards a closed mould technique which when combined with the requirement to produce longer, more complex instrument panels, has put pressure on foam formulators to provide chemicals with excellent flow characteristics whilst reducing foam demould times. A common problem with the production of instrument panels is the potential staining of the PVC caused or assisted by its reaction with polyurethane foam ingredients. Industrial Foam Systems has carried out extensive evaluation of the effect of formulation changes on the important processing and discoloration properties of polyurethane foams. In particular, we have determined the effect of these parameters on foam reactivity, flowability, mouldability (including void formation and cell collapse), PVC discoloration, adhesion to PVC and rate of cure. Reactivity and flowability studies utilised an automated rise profile/dynamic viscosity apparatus, a technique used to determine the change in foam viscosity as a function of rise height. This apparatus was found to be particularly useful in evaluating the effect of changes in catalyst type on foam flowability. An assessment of foam mouldability has been carried out by foaming into a complex-shaped mould and determining the extent of void formation, cell collapse and knit-line efficiency under these stringent flow conditions. The results of our laboratory evaluation have been transferred to production conditions in two types of application. The first is the production of a complex instrument panel manufactured by the closed mould method. The most important processing criteria were good flowability and fast demould times. The second application was an open mould process where foam flowability was less critical but more importance was attached to a very fast demould time and low levels of PVC staining. In both cases very successful production runs have been realised.
CFC-Free Polyether Polyurethane Systems for Footwear Applications
Authors: Phanopoulos C. , Limerkens N. , Stilling H. , Randall D. 
Published: September 2023

The removal of CFCs from polyurethane systems for footwear applications is an environmental necessity. However this has proven technically difficult for polyether based systems. Although polyether systems have a much superior hydrolytic stability to polyesters the physical properties are inherently lower. In the past this problem was resolved by using CFCs as blowing agents. Such materials blow very efficiently in the interior of the moulded material but much less efficiently in the regions adjacent to the cool mould wall. Hence high density boundaries - or integral skins - are thus formed. The high density layer has improved physical properties which match the needs of modern footwear applications. Potentially therefore there are at least two methods to eliminate CFCs from polyether based systems. Firstly, to improve the inherent physical properties of the polyether systems - so eliminating the need for the high skin density. Secondly to identify alternative blowing agents which, similarly to CFCs, produce the high density boundary layers in a cool mould. ICI Polyurethanes has been active in both these areas of research. Several CFC free polyether systems have been developed which are now commercially available. Such systems are characterized by their improved physical properties over CFC blown systems at the same density. The usual advantages of polyether systems (liquidity, hydrolytic stability, etc.) are left unchanged, whilst the strength properties such as tensile and, tear are improved.
Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride Compounds – A Mathematical Model
Authors: Rusu Mihai , Bucevschi Mircea-Dan 
Published: September 2023

The study demonstrates that the expansion degree of the compounds of plasticised polyvinyl chloride may be estimated as depending on the composite of the plasticiser mixture, on temperature and gelification duration; a mathematical model having the form of a product of two non-linear polynomials has been employed. The average relative absolute error is of 8.71%
Environmental Legislation – Actions Taken by the Flexible foam Industry*
Authors: Hurd R. 
Published: September 2023

An essential preliminary before choosing an abatement method is to (a) obtain as comprehensive a picture as possible of all the compounds present in the emission, and (b) study both present and prospective legislation to determine the pollutants which may have to be treated. Emissions from flexible polyurethane foam production are reviewed and the abatement methods of interest are summarised.
Micro-fine Cellular Technology for the Appliance Industry
Authors: Rosbotham Dave , De Vos Rik , Deschaght Joris 
Published: September 2023

When expanded with CFCs, rigid polyurethane foams display exceptional thermal insulation properties. The imminent phase-out of CFCs due to their environmental impact, however, has produced intensive research programmes throughout the polyurethanes industry. These aim to develop technologies, based on environmentally acceptable blowing agents, which produce foams with equivalent insulation performance to CFC 11 systems. HCFC 22 has been considered as a possible alternative to CFC 11 because of its lower environmental impact. The gas's low boiling point of -40°C, however, results in processing problems which lead to distorted foam morphology, bad initial thermal conductivity X. values and rapid X value ageing. The wide availability of HCFC 22, however, coupled with its low toxicity, non-flammability and high affinity to both polyol and isocyanate make it a strong candidate for replacing CFC 11, if the above problems can be overcome. This paper reports developments with a novel technology based on HCFC 22. The technology results not only in improved X. value performance in rigid polyurethane foams, but also allows high HCFC 22 loadings whilst retaining a fine celled structure. These higher loadings result in further improvements in thermal conductivity, better than production values actually obtained when using reduced CFC 11 systems. Different aspects of this novel technology, including lambda value performance, energy consumption data and relevant physical properties are discussed.
Recent Advances in AH-MDI-Based CFC-Free Flexible Foams
Authors: Murray Dennis , Sparrow David J. , Tab Aun 
Published: September 2023

Since the introduction of CFC-free flexible foams in 1989, ICI Polyurethanes put significant effort into reducing density, so increasing competitiveness of all-MDI-based foams. This new generation of polyurethane systems not only makes it possible to produce low density flexible foams in large and increasingly complex moulds, but also demonstrates improved physical properties, exceeding the stringent requirements of the industry. CFC -free combustion modified high resilience (CMHR) foams have now also been developed for the furniture industry capable of meeting even the most stringent large scale ignition tests. As comfort properties of mouldings used for seating applications have always been of paramount importance, one area of concentrated effort has been in the development of vibration damping foams. While these foams were developed to meet low resilience requirements, they still maintain all the benefits of traditional MDI cold-cure systems - superior humid ageing and compression set properties, H-point retention and a wide hardness range. The fast inherent reactivity of all-MDI-based cream foams not only allows for more rapid cure and thus shorter cycle times, but has also made it possible to develop systems containing low levels of catalysts - leading to excellent fogging performance in automotive applications. In addition, the new systems, which are suitable for both conventional and foam-in-fabric applications, have been designed with recycling in mind.
New Developments in Low Density Structural RIM
Authors: Schroeder J.M. , Mackey P.W. 
Published: September 2023

Over the last two to three years, the automotive industry has recognised the benefits of low density structural reaction injection moulding (LDSRIM) materials in automotive interior applications. Low part weights, consolidation of parts, and improved design freedom associated with this technology help reduce material and labour costs, improve productivity and help engineers meet specific objectives such as CAFE standards. ICI Polyurethanes has actively participated in the development of LDSRIM technology and has developed a series of resins designed for automotive interior application. These CFC-free polyurethane foams are processable on conventional RIM equipment. The resin systems are differentiated for open pour and closed mould processing techniques. Unique processing features allow glass reinforced substrates to be moulded directly behind various vinyl composites, carpeting and fabrics, to produce parts with an aesthetically pleasing look and feel. Excellent adhesion to these substrates eliminates the need for secondary adhesive bonding operations, thereby improving productivity and lowering assembly costs. Composite door panels containing 20% by weight glass mat reinforcement weigh approximately half as much as competitive materials, such as ABS and polypropylene, with comparable physical properties. Typical door panel composite materials have flexural modulus 2370 MPa at 0.55 specific gravity. Unreinforced sections of the part, such as ribs and attachment points, are filled with a durable rigid foam material. Attachment inserts can be moulded in place to eliminate the need for post-mould assembly. Manufacturing mould residence times of 45 seconds are achievable in door panels.
Open Cell Isocyanurate Foams: A Novel Route to High Performance Thermal Insulation Panels
Authors: Ashida K. , Kashiwame J. 
Published: September 2023

This paper discusses a novel type of rigid foam, open cell isocyanurate foam, and its use as a core material for vacuum insulation panels. Due to the forthcoming phase-out of CFCs, alternative blowing agents are being studied worldwide. It has been well recognised that the total thermal conductivity of closed cell foams consists of the factors as shown below: λf = λg + λs + λc + λr where λf = total λg = gas λs = solid λc = convection λr = radiation When open cell foams are used as core materials for insulation panels kept under vacuum, the total thermal conductivity of the panel consists of only two factors shown below: λf = λs + λr Therefore, the thermal conductivity of the panels could be far less than that of CFC-blown foams. This paper describes the preparation, processing, properties and applications of open cell rigid isocyanurate foams. The open cellfoams were blown by using a blend of methylene chloride and n-pentane at specific ratios between 95/5 and 50/50 by weight. The resulting foams had open cell contents of about 50-95%, depending upon the reaction conditions employed at densities of 30-50 kg/m3. When pour-in-place foams were further exposed to vacuum after foaming, the resulting foams had an increased open cell content. This open cell foam technology suggests a variety of potential applications, not only for household refrigerators and deep freezers, but also for cryogenic liquidtank insulation, e.g. liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and liquefied natural gas.