Search

The Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a widely used measure of functional capacity in (p)rehabilitation of cancer patients, but it is time-consuming and requires specific space conditions. In this study we explore the association between the 6MWT with other measurements of physical functioning and their predictive value in classifying patients according to their estimated functional capacity. This prospective study included cancer patients referred to a prehabilitation programme prior to major surgery. For each patient, data on different measurements of physical functioning including the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), the handgrip strength, the 30" Sit-to-Stand Test and self-reported physical activity levels were collected. Bivariate associations were performed to determine the association between the 6MWT and other variables. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify potential predictive factors of 6MWT in this population. A subsequent algorithm was developed to classify patients based on their functional capacity (good performance – 6MWT>400 m or poor performance 6MWT<400 m) Between mid-2018 to mid 2022, 692 patients were assessed of whom the 6MWT was performed in 524 (75.7 %) (mean age 72.5 ± 11.8 years; 57.1 % men). Moderate-to-strong correlations were found between 6MWT and 30" Sit-To-Stand Test (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), DASI (r = 0.68; p < 0.001) and handgrip strength (r = 0.5; p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed that a combination of six variables were able to classify 80 % of patients in good (>400 m) or poor (<400 m) performance in the 6MWT. The 6MWT was moderately associated with several variables of physical functioning, a combination of which can be used to predict performance in the 6MWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pyrazinamide-benzenesulfonohydrazide hybrid N' -(phenylsulfonyl)pyrazine-2-carbohydrazonamide (1), which was studied by physical measurements and computational tools, is reported. Compound 1 was synthesized using a metallic Na-assisted interaction of 2-cyanopyrazine with benzenesulfonylhydrazine in dry methanol. Our newly developed synthetic approach allowed to obtain the title compound witht the yield of 74%, which is more than twice higher in comparison to the previously reported synthesis using pyrazine-2-carbohydrazonamide and benzenesulfonyl chloride. Molecules of the title compound are linked via N–H⋯O, C–H⋯Ph, S=O⋯2-pyrazine and π⋯π interactions. As it was found by the Hirshfeld surface analysis, molecules of 1 interact through H⋯X (X = H, C, N and O) contacts. Electronic properties of 1 were revealed using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations. 1 was expected to be a fourth-class toxicity, and it does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, while can potentially be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. It was predicted that compound 1 , which demonstrated the strongest activity against PLpro, Nsp3_range 207–379 MES and Nsp16_SAM site, are of interest to suppress activity of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Although the K i value is slightly higher, the ligand efficiency scores for complex PLpro– 1 were found to be characteristic for a Hit. We report on a novel pyrazinamide-benzenesulfonohydrazide hybrid N' -(phenylsulfonyl)pyrazine-2-carbohydrazonamide (1), which was studied by physical measurements and computational tools. [Display omitted] • N' -(phenylsulfonyl)pyrazine-2-carbohydrazonamide (1) is reported. • Crystal structure of 1 was studied in detail. • Electronic properties of 1 were revealed using the DFT computations. • 1 was probed in silico as a potential inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method for simultaneously measuring thermal conductivity and emissivity. • Verified by comparing experimental results of Pt wire with standard values. • Measurement of thermal conductivity and emissivity of the polymer composited fiber. • This method suitable for measurement of any individual micro/nano wire. Although thermal conductivity of micro/nano scale material has been readily measured, the high specific surface area leads to non-negligible radiative heat transfer. Here, a method for simultaneous measurement of intrinsic thermal conductivity and emissivity of micro/nano materials was developed and verified. The physical model of this measurement principle consisted of two parallel platinum wires, which serve as both heaters and heat flux meters. Thermal conductivity and emissivity can be derived by comparing the changes in the average temperature rise of the heater and sensor platinum wires before and after attaching the test sample. The thermal conductivity and emissivity of an individual platinum wire were determined to 71.7 W/(m·K) and 0.14, which are consistent with the reference values. Subsequently, the thermal conductivity and emissivity of the polymer composite fiber were measured to be 1.45 W/(m·K), 0.73 and 1.87 W/(m·K), 0.8 at different composite filler concentrations. In principle, this method is applicable for accurately measuring the thermal transport properties of any micro/nano wires using appropriate sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a physical fact, randomness is an inherent and ineliminable aspect in all physical measurements and engineering production. As a consequence, material parameters, serving as input data, are only known in a stochastic sense and thus, also output parameters, e.g., stresses, fluctuate. For the estimation of those fluctuations it is imperative to incoporate randomness into engineering simulations. Unfortunately, incorporating uncertain parameters into the modeling and simulation of inelastic materials is often computationally expensive, as many individual simulations may have to be performed. The promise of the proposed method is simple: using extended material models to include stochasticity reduces the number of needed simulations to one. This single computation is cheap, i.e., it has a comparable numerical effort as a single standard simulation. The extended material models are easily derived from standard deterministic material models and account for the effect of uncertainty by an extended set of deterministic material parameters. The time-dependent and stochastic aspects of the material behavior are separated, such that only the deterministic time-dependent behavior of the extended material model needs to be simulated. The effect of stochasticity is then included during post-processing. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated for three different and highly non-linear material models: viscous damage, viscous phase transformations and elasto-viscoplasticity. A comparison to the Monte Carlo method showcases that the method is indeed able to provide reliable estimates of the expectation and variance of internal variables and stress at a minimal fraction of the computation cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Accurately measuring household food waste is pivotal to quantify its issue, recognize drivers, and track progress. • Common food waste measurement methods are compared in a single setting. • All common measurement methods lead to inaccurate results. • Investing in better measurement methods is likely to pay off and reduce environmental, economic, and social costs. • Barriers to accurate food waste measurements need to be studied in isolation, assessed, and overcome. The United Nations' sustainable development goals call for a 50 % reduction in global household food waste by 2030, but an accurate measurement method to quantify household food waste has yet to be developed. In a field experiment with 359 households, this study compares standard food waste measurement methods (survey, diary, kitchen caddy) and assesses the barriers to accurate measures. Based on our experimental design, we derive a minimal estimate of food waste (ground truth) that allows us to examine and explain the differences in the results of these methods. The results suggest that physical waste measurement is the most accurate measurement method, as it evokes the least behavioral adaptations. However, this method is resource-intensive and not always feasible. We provide guidance on how to measure food waste based on the purpose of the measurement, including specific materials to use and reporting standards to follow. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CoPhyLab (Cometary Physics Laboratory) project is designed to study the physics of comets through a series of earth-based experiments. For these experiments, a dust analogue was created with physical properties comparable to those of the non-volatile dust found on comets. This 'CoPhyLab dust' is planned to be mixed with water and CO2 ice and placed under cometary conditions in vacuum chambers to study the physical processes taking place on the nuclei of comets. In order to develop this dust analogue, we mixed two components representative for the non-volatile materials present in cometary nuclei. We chose silica dust as a representative for the mineral phase and charcoal for the organic phase, which also acts as a darkening agent. In this paper, we provide an overview of known cometary analogues before presenting measurements of eight physical properties of different mixtures of the two materials and a comparison of these measurements with known cometary values. The physical properties of interest are particle size, density, gas permeability, spectrophotometry, and mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. We found that the analogue dust that matches the highest number of physical properties of cometary materials consists of a mixture of either 60 per cent/40 per cent or 70 per cent/30 per cent of silica dust/charcoal by mass. These best-fit dust analogue will be used in future CoPhyLab experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses thermal comfort in intelligent and traditional buildings in Poland. It provides a comprehensive study on the subjective assessment of indoor environment conditions as well as on parameters that influence human thermal sensations and preferences. Direct measurements of physical parameters (e.g., air and globe temperature, relative humidity) as well as simultaneously conducted anonymous questionnaire studies were used to provide the necessary data. The study covered all seasons and a large number of participants representing various age groups and body build types, who completed a total of 1778 questionnaires. The results indicate that typically smart buildings offer higher levels of thermal comfort than the traditional ones and that people tend to prefer warmer environments. Moreover, it has been observed that the BMI index, air movement and the number of people per surface area can have an impact on the perceived thermal sensations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable physical activity measurements in community-dwelling older adults are important to determine effects of targeted health promotion interventions. Many exercise interventions aim to improve time spent sedentary (SED), in light-intensity-physical-activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity-physical-activity (MVPA), since these parameters have independently proposed associations with health and longevity. However, many previous studies rely on self-reports which have lower validity compared to accelerometer measured physical activity patterns. In addition, separating intervention-effects from reactivity measurements requires sufficient test-retest reliability for accelerometer assessments, which is lacking in older adults. Objectives: The study objective was to investigate the reliability of sensor-based PA-patterns in community-dwelling older adults. Furthermore, to investigate change over time of physical activity patterns and examine any compensatory-effect from the eight-week supervised exercise-intervention. Methods: An exercise-group (n = 78, age-range:65-91yrs) performed two 1h-exercise sessions/week during eight-weeks. PA-pattern was assessed (using hip-worn accelerometers), twice before and once during the last-week of the intervention. A control-group (n = 43, age-range:65-88yrs) performed one pre-test and the end-test with no exercise-intervention. A dependent-t-test, mean-difference (95%-CI), limits-of-agreement and intraclass-correlation-coefficient-ICC were used between the two pre-tests. Repeated-measures-ANOVA were used to analyze any intervention-effects. Results: The exercise-groups´ two pre-tests showed generally no systematic change in any PA- or SED-parameter (ICC ranged 0.75–0.90). Compared to the control group, the exercise intervention significantly (time x group-interaction, p<0.05) increased total-PA-cpm (exercise-group/control-group +17%/+7%) and MVPA-min/week (+41/-2min) and decreased %-of-wear-time for SED-total (-4.7%/-2.7%) and SED-bouts (-5.7%/-1.8%), and SED-bouts min/d (-46/-16min). At baseline level, no significant differences were found between the two groups for any parameter. Conclusions: The current study presents a good test-retest-reliability of sensor-based-one-week-assessed-PA-pattern in older-adults. Participating in an 8-week supervised exercise intervention improved some physical activity and sedentary parameters compared to the control group. No compensatory-effect was noted in the intervention-group i.e., no decrease in any PA-parameter or increase in SED at End-test (in %-of-wear-time, min/day or total-PA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain the discrete element contact parameters of wet and viscous paddy field mud particles, an accurate numerical simulation model was constructed. In order to obtain the discrete element contact parameters of wet and viscous paddy field mud particles, an accurate numerical simulation model was constructed. Firstly, the paddy field mud with an average particle size of 0.2 mm was taken as the research object, and the basic physical parameters and rheological behavior laws were obtained through physical measurements and rotational rheological tests. Based on the slump test, combined with the particle scaling theory and Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) model, and the slump and slump-flow values were taken as response values, the Plackett-Burman test, the steepest climb test and the Box-Behnken test were designed by Design-Expert software to complete the simulation parameters calibration. The optimal significance parameters are as follows: 0.096 J/m2 for the JKR surface energy of mud, 0.13 for the mud-mud restitution coefficient and 0.6 for the mud-steel static friction coefficient. Finally, the mud slump and fluidity verification tests showed that the relative errors between the simulation values and the physical values of slump and slump-flow are 1.73% and 0.42%, and the average error of torque is 2.47%, and the parameters are accurate and reliable. The calibration method can accurately construct the discrete element model of wet-viscous particles, which provides basic data and technical guidance for the coupling mechanism of paddy machinerymud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined if the cranial measurements from Data Collection Procedures for Forensic Skeletal Material 2.0 are repeatable when measured in dry bones and MSCT images and if the virtual measurements correspond to the physical ones. The sample included 33 dry crania imaged by MSCT. Two observers measured dry bones, two placed landmarks on 2D and 3D MSCT reconstructions, and one conducted measurements/landmarking on both media. One of the observers for each media repeated the measurements. Technical and relative technical error of measurement (TEM and rTEM) and percentage differences were calculated to examine the repeatability of measurements and compare measuring modalities. Intraobserver rTEM was above 1.5% for six bone measurements: FOB, ZOB, OBB, NLH, DKB, MDH (1.51%–4.87%) and for seven MSCT measurements: OBH, FOB, OBB, MDH, NLB, ZOB, DKB (1.57%–5.55%). The interobserver rTEM was above the acceptable level (>2%) for 11 measurements: PAC, NLH, OBB, EKB, MAL, FOB, NLB, OBH, ZOB, DKB, and MDH (2.01%–9.34%). The percentage differences were not systematically larger for measurements taken by the same user on both modalities than those obtained by different users on the same modality. When physical and MSCT measurements were tested on sex classification standards, the proportion of crania classified as male or female did not significantly differ (p > 0.05). The study showed that physical and virtual cranial measurements could be interchangeable for developing or applying sex estimation standards. However, clarifications and adaptations are necessary for measurements of mastoid, nasal, and orbital regions that did not meet the standard criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peracarid crustaceans contribute to the homogenization of macroinvertebrate communities as one of the most important group of aquatic invaders. This study investigated the relationship between alien peracarids and physical and chemical parameters indicative of nutrient and organic pollution, and their contribution to biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages. The impact of alien macroinvertebrates, particularly alien peracarids, on selected biological metrics was examined. Sampling was conducted twice (2015 and 2016/2017) at 46 sites on four major rivers (Danube, Sava, Drava, Mura), accompanied with eight measurements of physical and chemical parameters. Invasive peracarids showed predominantly negative correlations with nutrient pollution, the strongest negative correlations with ammonia, nitrites and orthophosphates. Biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages, calculated as family-level Site-specific Biocontamination Index, was mostly high and severe, whilst the abundance of alien Peracarida mainly determined the biocontamination class. Sites with higher densities of alien Peracarida had lower organic and nutrient pollution and higher biological metrics than sites with lower densities. Biological metrics showed a positive correlation with alien Peracarida densities, whilst their exclusion or exclusion of all alien macroinvertebrates species affected biological metric values. Invasive peracarids can be used as indicators of nutrient and organic pollution and should be included in the calculation of biological metrics for assessing ecological status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of raw acceleration data and/or ‘novel’ analytic approaches like machine learning for physical activity measurement will not be widely implemented if methods are not accessible to researchers. Objective : This scoping review characterizes the validation approach, accessibility and use of novel analytic techniques for classifying energy expenditure and/or physical activity intensity using raw or count-based accelerometer data. Approach : Three databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 and February 2021. Use of each method was coded from a list of citing articles compiled from Google Scholar. Authors’ provision of access to the model (e.g., by request, sample code) was recorded. Main Results : Studies (N = 168) included adults (n = 143), and/or children (n = 38). Model use ranged from 0 to 27 uses/year (average 0.83) with 101 models that have never been used. Approximately half of uses occurred in a free-living setting (52%) and/or by other authors (56%). Over half of included articles (n = 107) did not provide complete access to their model. Sixty-one articles provided access to their method by including equations, coefficients, cut-points, or decision trees in the paper (n = 48) and/or by providing access to code (n = 13). Significance : The proliferation of approaches for analyzing accelerometer data outpaces the use of these models in practice. As less than half of the developed models are made accessible, it is unsurprising that so many models are not used by other researchers. We encourage researchers to make their models available and accessible for better harmonization of methods and improved capabilities for device-based physical activity measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Top Submerged Lance (TSL) furnaces used for non-ferrous smelting have high heat and mass transfer rates due to the intensive stirring and splashing generated by the lance. While splashing can cause accretion build-up in the upper cooler regions of the furnace, it plays an important role in heat and mass transfer and needs to be controlled to minimise accretion formations while maximising furnace productivity. In this work, splashing was studied by measuring the splash flux from a molten slag bath in a 300 kg pilot-scale TSL furnace and also from an ambient temperature aqueous-glycerol solution bath in a physical model. In both systems, total injection gas flowrate, lance immersion depth and splash height were examined to determine their effects on the splash flux. An empirical correlation was developed based on the results of the aqueous-glycerol physical model using the methodology of dimensional analysis. This correlation was then used to predict the splash for high temperature smelting conditions. Comparison of the predictions with both hot and cold experimental measurements showed the same variation trends and the predicted values were within an acceptable range, particularly in splash heights within 1 m above the bath surface and at medium to high gas flowrates with lance immersion depths being 1/6– 1/3 of the bath height. It is concluded that the correlation can be potentially applied to predict splashing behaviour in TSL furnaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Sport Sciences / Magallat ulum Al-Riyadat is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study aims to (1) quantify physical behavior through self-reports and sensor-based measures, (2) examine the correlation between self-reported and sensor-based physical activity (PA) and (3) assess whether bariatric patients adhere to PA guidelines. Methods: A Fitbit accelerometer was used to collect minute-to-minute step count and heart rate data for 14 consecutive days. Total physical activity levels (PAL), moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were used to quantify physical behavior. Self-reported PA was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). To analyze the association between sensor-based and self-reported PA, Spearman's correlation was used. A minimum of 150 MVPA minutes per week was considered as compliance with the PA guidelines. Results: Fitbit data of 37 pre- and 18 post-surgery patients was analyzed. Participants averaged 7403 ± 3243 steps/day and spent most of their time sedentary (832 min, IQR: 749 – 879), especially in prolonged periods of ≥ 30 min (525, IQR: 419 – 641). Median MVPA time was 5.6 min/day (IQR: 1.7 – 10.6). Correlations between self-reported and sensor-based MVPA and SB were respectively 0.072 and 0.455. Only 17.1% was objectively adherent to MVPA guidelines ≥ 150 min/week, while 94.3% met the guidelines in case of self-reports. Conclusion: PA quantification confirmed that bariatric patients are highly sedentary and rarely engage in MVPA, despite a relatively high daily step count. Moreover, bariatric patients are not able to assess MVPA and moderately their SB by self-reports. Our results indicate the need for sensor-based PA monitoring in routine bariatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Mine Automation is the property of Industry & Mine Automation Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The reset noise sampling feedforward (RNSF) technique is proposed in this paper to reduce the noise floor of the readout circuit for micro-electromechanically systems (MEMS) capacitive accelerometer. Because of the technology-imposed size restriction on the sensing element, the sensing capacitance and the capacitance variation are reduced to the femto-farad level. As a result, the reset noise from the parasitic capacitance, which is pico-farad level, becomes significant. In this work, the RNSF technique focuses on the suppression of the parasitic-capacitance-induced noise, thereby improving the noise performance of MEMS capacitive accelerometer. The simulation results show that the RNSF technique effectively suppresses the thermal noise from the parasitic capacitance. Compared with the traditional readout circuit, the noise floor of the readout circuit with the RNSF technique is reduced by 9 dBV. The presented circuit based on the RNSF technique is fabricated by a commercial 0.18- μ m BCD process and tested with a femto-farad MEMS capacitive accelerometer. The physical measurement results show that, compared with the readout circuit without the RNSF technique, the RNSF technique reduces the noise floor of the readout circuit for MEMS capacitive accelerometer from −72 dBV to −80 dBV. Compared with other similar works, the proposed readout circuit achieves better F o M   (F o M = (p o w e r × n o i s e   f l o o r) / s y s t e m   b a n d w i d t h = 490   μ W · μ g / Hz) among the switched-capacitor readout circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Study models are essential tools used in the dental teaching process. The aim of the present study was to compare the values obtained by manual and digital orthodontic measurements on physical and digital case study models. Materials and Methods: The physical experimental models were obtained by traditional pouring (improved stone-type IV gypsum products) and by additive manufacturing (resins). The digital experimental models were created by scanning the physical ones, using a white light-emitting diode (LED) source and an L-shaped dental scanner—Swing DOF (DOF, Seoul, Korea). The physical study models were first measured using a digital caliper, and then, they were scanned and evaluated using the DentalCad 3.0 Galway software (exocad GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany). The Pont, Linder–Harth, and Bolton indices, which are used in orthodontics for training students, were derived using the available data. Results: When comparing the linear measurement mean ranks taken on physical study models to those of digital models, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found. A similar result was also shown when the dentoalveolar growth indicators were analyzed. Conclusions: It can be concluded that dental study models made by direct light processing (DLP) and pouring type IV class gypsum are both acceptable for orthodontic teaching purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The eastern blue‐tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), native to eastern Australia, is commonly kept as both a pet and for breeding. As a sexually monomorphic species, it is important to develop reliable techniques for sex identification, both for breeding and health purposes. Numerous techniques have been developed for the identification of sex in other reptile species but, other than possibly morphometric analysis, none have proven to be reliable in this species. Two techniques showing promise are contrast radiography of the hemepenes/hemeclitores, and morphometrical analysis. This study looks at both techniques and compares them for accuracy. Methods and Materials: Twenty captive eastern blue‐tongued skinks (of known sex) were sedated, contrast radiography of their hemepenes /hemeclitores was performed, and physical measurements were taken for morphometric analysis. The radiographs were examined by a panel of three researchers (blinded to the known sex) to identify sex. The morphometric data were statistically analysed, following a previously published methodology, and the individual sex identified. Again, the researchers were blinded to the known sex. Results: The contrast radiography technique was 100% accurate in correctly identifying the sex of all the skinks. Morphometric analysis was, by contrast, only 70% accurate. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Physical differences between wild and captive skinks, as well as different environmental and nutritional factors, may have contributed to the lower accuracy of morphometric analysis in identifying the sex of eastern blue‐tongued skinks. While contrast radiography was more accurate, the need for specialised equipment may render this technique impractical for field researchers, but more suitable for owned animals. More research is needed to assess the impact of captivity on eastern blue‐tongued skinks' physical morphometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bariatric surgery is an effective weight loss method for patients with obesity. One side effect of bariatric surgery is uncomfortable excess skin. Much remains to be learned about physical measurements and patients' subjective perceptions of it. Here, we investigated the pre- to post-bariatric changes in patients' perception and physical measurements of the skin on the arms and thighs, in order to find possible subgroups especially affected by post-operative excess skin and to identify predicting factors. Methods: One hundred forty-seven patients eligible for bariatric surgery completed the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ) and underwent measurements of their skin before and 18 months after the procedure. Results: Although most physical measurements decreased post-operatively, many patients reported increased discomfort. We identified one subgroup particularly prone to report excess skin on the arms post-operatively: women with high discomfort from excess skin on the arms and high body mass index (BMI), pre-operatively. Ptosis of the excess skin seems to be a feasible measurement for predicting post-operative discomfort. For every centimetre of ptosis pre-operatively, patients had 1.37- and 1.31-fold higher odds of achieving a score for post-operative discomfort from excess skin on the upper arms and thighs, respectively, of ≥ 6 (on a 0–10 scale). Conclusions: We identified a subgroup especially affected by discomforting excess skin on arms and thighs after weight loss. Furthermore, we suggest a pre-operative pro-operative ptosis measuring to predict post-operative discomfort level. The result of this study further increases the knowledge of excess skin and should be useful in further improving patient education. Level of Evidence: Level III, risk / prognostic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Developing and raising replacement beef heifers requires a large capital investment for producers. Therefore, it is imperative to discover traits and management practices to eliminate subfertile heifers prior to breeding and pregnancy determination. In this study, four years of data was analyzed from a centralized heifer development yard in the Midwest of the United States. The objective of this study was to analyze various heifer physical characteristics and management practices in order to quantify their impact on pregnancy and date of conception. Physical measurements can be used to improve the ability to select and develop heifers for improved reproductive longevity. Veterinarians have an opportunity to work with their clients to utilize this information to select replacements that fit the ranch environment. This should result in increased reproductive efficiency and cost optimization for the replacement heifer enterprise. Developing and raising replacement heifers requires a large capital investment for producers. Therefore, it is imperative to discover traits and management practices to eliminate subfertile heifers prior to breeding and pregnancy determination. In this study, four years of data was analyzed from a centralized beef heifer development yard in the Midwest of the United States. The objective of this study was to analyze various heifer physical characteristics and management practices in order to quantify their impact on pregnancy and date of conception. Logistic regression models were built to investigate risk factors associated with conception to artificial insemination (AI), pregnancy by natural service after AI exposure, and pregnancy in the first 21-days of the breeding season. Age at entry, average daily gain from entry to breeding, pelvic width, and year were associated with AI pregnancy (p < 0.05). On the second model, average daily gain from entry to yearling weight, weight at breeding, weight at pregnancy diagnosis, and age at AI were significantly associated with pregnancy. There were no associations with reproductive tract score with any of the response variables analyzed. These results indicate there are physical measurements that can be used to improve the ability to select and develop heifers for improved reproductive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave interferometers have been attractive devices for high-precision measurements of displacement-related physical quantities in a variety of scientific and engineering applications. However, due to the long operating wavelength, the displacement measurement resolution of microwave interferometers is limited to the micrometer scale. In this article, we propose and demonstrate a novel technology based on microwave interferometry for displacement measurements with potential picometer resolution. An open-ended (OE) transmission line resonator based on a homemade hollow coaxial cable is explored in proof-of-concept numerical and experimental investigations. The technique involves two stages of displacement sensitivity amplification: one is the open end-based phase sensitivity amplification, and the other is the destructive interference-based phase sensitivity amplification. We experimentally demonstrate a wavelength sensitivity amplification factor of 1800 through spectral interrogation where only the open end-based amplification is involved, and a phase sensitivity amplification factor of 1.4 million through phase interrogation where both the open end-based amplification and the destructive interference-based phase shift amplification are involved, i.e., two-stage phase shift amplified microwave interferometry (TPAMI). The numerical investigations and the experimental results match well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A constant coefficient of friction (Coulomb) is commonly used as the current industry standard to describe friction on the sheet metal forming simulation software. The use of constant Coulomb's friction may reduce precision and so the effectiveness of the simulation to represent real-world processes. This paper presents an approach using a physical measurement of friction combined with pressure dependent friction model as an input for the metal forming simulation of a hood inner part on AutoForm. The input variable parameters are the constant Coulomb and the enhanced pressure-dependent model. For the output this study analyses the Forming Limit Diagram (FLD) and blank's draw-in in a real problem provided by a car manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative data are generated differently. To justify inferences about real-world phenomena and establish secured knowledge bases, however, quantitative data generation must follow transparent principles applied consistently across sciences. Metrological frameworks of physical measurement build on two methodological principles that establish transparent, traceable—thus reproducible processes for assigning numerical values to measurands. Data generation traceability requires implementation of unbroken, documented measurand-result connections to justify attributing results to research objects. Numerical traceability requires documented connections of the assigned values to known quantitative standards to establish the results' public interpretability. This article focuses on numerical traceability. It explores how physical measurement units and scales are defined to establish an internationally shared understanding of physical quantities. The underlying principles are applied to scrutinise psychological and social-science practices of quantification. Analyses highlight heterogeneous notions of 'units' and 'scales' and identify four methodological functions; they serve as (1) 'instruments' enabling empirical interactions with study phenomena and properties; (2) structural data format; (3) conceptual data format; and (4) conventionally agreed reference quantities. These distinct functions, employed in different research stages, entail different (if any) rationales for assigning numerical values and for establishing their quantitative meaning. The common numerical recoding of scale categories in tests and questionnaires creates scores devoid of quantitative information. Quantitative meaning is created through numeral-number conflation and differential analyses, producing numerical values that lack systematic relations to known quantity standards regarding the study phenomena and properties. The findings highlight new directions for the conceptualisation and generation of quantitative data in psychology and social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cesium-137, as the main fission product, is of special interest in the marine environment because of its solubility, which results to very low sinking time. Nevertheless, the conservative form of the main percentage of 137Cs introduced in the marine environment (70%) makes 137Cs to be included in the salinity of sea water. Based on this property, in this study, we examine potential relations between 137Cs activity concentrations and marine parameters issued from Earth Observation (EO) data products in the Southern Aegean Sea, in order to investigate the possibility of 137Cs to be recorded by satellite data. In particular, measurements of physical and biological marine parameters issued from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) database and MODIS ocean products are retrieved for the dates of 137Cs field measurements. Single and multiple regression analyses are performed between the marine parameters and 137Cs activity concentration measurements for three distinctive time periods (total, cold, and warm period). The best results are obtained from multiple regressions, one for each time period (r2 > 0.70). The models show that during cold period, 137Cs activity concentrations are highly correlated to both chlorophyll and nutrients (phosphates) while during warm and the total period, they seem to be mainly correlated to the photosynthetic available incident solar radiation on the sea surface. For each period, we propose a multiparameter model linear in its parameters. Although the results of this study must be considered preliminary due to the limited size of the datasets, for the first time, we show that estimations of 137Cs activity concentrations from EO measurements and CMEMS environmental models are feasible, and they can be used as a marine radiological assessment tool for a closed Mediterranean bay such as Souda Bay in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the MEMS nature are black box problems, and the evaluation of fitness process is based on physical measurements or hard to be transformed into augmented form. Moreover, traditional methods do not guarantee finding the global optimum solution, because they are susceptible to local entrapment. BFA has shown can overcome the falling in local minima/maxima problem and fill local entrapment gap. This research work inquires the first applications of BFA emerging novel optimization algorithm to optimize electro-thermal MEMS micro-actuator performance problem considering geometry specifications. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with a number of algorithms that are most commonly used and reported in the corresponding scientific literature such as Pattern-Search, Genetic-Algorithm, Particle-Swarm, Global-Search. The results lie in favor of better performance of the proposed algorithm. An analytical model that can accurately predict the performance of a polysilicon thermal flexure actuator has been used. To verify the validity of the model, polysilicon thermal flexure actuators has been FEM modeled and verified. Compared results are in good agreement with theoretical predications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we present optical, X-ray, and UV photometry, and X-ray spectroscopy of dwarf nova Gaia18awg (ASASSN-16le). We report an analysis of photometry, spectroscopy, and measurements of physical, orbital characteristics. Gaia18awg is a U Gem + SU UMa dwarf nova system. That system, showing non-periodic outbursts and superoutbursts, superhumps during superoutbursts. From the Lisnyky (MPC 585) data we determined the superhump period. This system shows positive superhumps with period 1.56 hr, respectively, and we identify an orbital the period of 1.51 hr. We determined the hitherto unknown mass of the secondary component, radii, and orbital characteristics. Analysis of the X-ray spectra showed strong Fe Kα lines at 6.7-6.8 keV, Fe L complex around 1.1 keV, Ne Kα, Mg Kα, Si Kβ lines with energies 0.9 keV, 1.3 keV, 1.83 keV, respectively. EPIC-pn, RGS photometry shows dominant soft X-rays during quiescence. We interpreted this as the radiation of the boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a long-distance polarizing microscope system combined with a solenoid-type superconducting magnet. By inserting an infinity-corrected objective lens into the magnet, direct or polarizing microscope images are observed in magnetic fields of up to 12 T at various temperatures down to 2 K. Through magneto-optical measurements in the transmission geometry, the local magnetization process of a transparent magnet is evaluated in areas of 10 × 10 µm2. This system enables simultaneous measurements of other physical properties over a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The basic principle of the proposed long-distance microscopy can be applied to imaging experiments in various research fields, particularly biology and chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach for seismic monitoring of buildings is presented. Starting from the seismic recordings of a small number of physical accelerometers, a high number of virtual sensors can be created, making it possible to get a more complete and refined evaluation of the post-seismic damage. The main novelty of the proposed method lies in the fact that the mathematical model which simulates the seismic response of the building, in order to create the virtual sensors, is not a classic finite element model, but it has a purely experimental origin and it is built directly from the vibrations of the building measured in its ordinary operating conditions. A preliminary condition for the virtual sensors creation is to perform a one-time ambient vibrations measurement, by installing temporary physical sensors where the desired physical and virtual sensors of the permanent monitoring system will be located. Once the building modal parameters are identified from the one-time measurement, a predictive seismic modal model of the building can be implemented, according to the basic concept of the so-called Seismic Model from Ambient Vibrations (SMAV) already presented by the authors in other papers. As well known, when a building is hit by a seismic shock, its apparent natural frequencies and levels of damping vary according to the oscillations amplitude, as a result of its non-linear behavior. The key point in the proposed approach is precisely to identify such varied parameters by using a model updating procedure, based on genetic algorithms, which aims at best reproducing the structural response measured by the small number of physical sensors, by applying the same seismic excitation suffered by the real building to the model. The seismic excitation has to be measured at the base of the building by a physical sensor installed on the ground, that must therefore necessarily be included in the monitoring system together with the sensors arranged on the structure. The calibrated model permits to evaluate the structural response also in the virtual sensors, thus providing a measurement integrated system for a more complete post-event damage assessment of the monitored building. The use of the genetic algorithm is fundamental for the reliability of the updating process, avoiding errors due to the presence of local minima or to the over-reliance of the solution on the initial choice of the parameters. The proposed approach has been initially tested with some numerical simulation of increasing complexity and then validated using two real buildings as experimental case studies: a reinforced concrete building in Zafferana Etnea (Catania-Sicily) and a masonry building in Giuncugnano (Lucca-Tuscany), both endowed with a permanent monitoring system that recorded a moderate and a strong seismic event, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Rafidain Journal For Sport Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciencias de la Actividad Física UCM is the property of Ediciones Universidad Catolica del Maule and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This narrative review examines the interplay among body image perceptions, social media influence, physical measurements, and their impact on psychological well-being, focusing on the roles of cultural and gender differences and the need to understand the research methodologies employed in this field. In the age of digital proliferation, platforms like Instagram and Facebook have reshaped body image concerns, often leading to increased dissatisfaction and psychological distress due to constant exposure to idealized images and a culture of social comparison. Physical attributes such as weight, height, and BMI are scrutinized under societal standards of health and attractiveness, contributing to a spectrum of mental health issues including low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. This examination reveals how cultural norms and gender expectations further complicate body image perceptions, affecting individuals differently based on societal and personal ideals. It synthesizes current research and types of methods to illuminate how these factors together influence mental health and self-esteem, advocating for comprehensive interventions and policy measures aimed at mitigating body dissatisfaction and promoting a healthier, more inclusive understanding of body image. By delving into the complexities of body image satisfaction and its psychological implications, this review highlights the necessity of addressing these concerns within public health and social policy frameworks, underscoring the importance of a multifaceted approach to enhance individual and societal well-being.

Quantitative dynamic strain measurements of the ground would be useful for engineering scale problems such as monitoring for natural hazards, soil-structure interaction studies, and non-invasive site investigation using full waveform inversion (FWI). Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), a promising technology for these purposes, needs to be better understood in terms of its directional sensitivity, spatial position, and amplitude for application to engineering-scale problems. This study investigates whether the physical measurements made using DAS are consistent with the theoretical transfer function, reception patterns, and experimental measurements of ground strain made by geophones. Results show that DAS and geophone measurements are consistent in both phase and amplitude for broadband (10 s of Hz), high amplitude (10 s of microstrain), and complex wavefields originating from different positions around the array when: (1) the DAS channels and geophone locations are properly aligned, (2) the DAS cable provides good deformation coupling to the internal optical fiber, (3) the cable is coupled to the ground through direct burial and compaction, and (4) laser frequency drift is mitigated in the DAS measurements. The transfer function of DAS arrays is presented considering the gauge length, pulse shape, and cable design. The theoretical relationship between DAS-measured and pointwise strain for vertical and horizontal active sources is introduced using 3D elastic finite-difference simulations. The implications of using DAS strain measurements are discussed including directionality and magnitude differences between the actual and DAS-measured strain fields. Estimating measurement quality based on the wavelength-to-gauge length ratio for field data is demonstrated. A method for spatially aligning the DAS channels with the geophone locations at tolerances less than the spatial resolution of a DAS system is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coding system Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM) serves the unambiguous electronic communication of physical quantities and their measurements and has faced a slow uptake. Despite being closely related to popular healthcare standards such as LOINC, laboratories still majorly report results using proprietary unit terms. Currently available methods helping users create mappings between their units and UCUM are not flexible and automated enough to be of great use in trying to remedy this. We propose the "LOINC to UCUM Mapping Assistant" (LUMA) as a tool able to overcome the drawbacks of existing approaches while being more accessible even to inexperienced users. By mapping LOINC's Property axis to representations within UCUM reflecting its semantics, we were able to formalize the association between the two. An HL7 FHIR back-end provides LUMA with UCUM unit recommendations sourced from existing lookup tables simply by providing it with a LOINC code. Additionally, the mappings users created may be used to perform unit conversions from proprietary units to UCUM. The tool was evaluated with five participants from the LADR laboratory network in Germany, who valued the streamlined approach to creating the mappings and particularly emphasized the utility of being able to perform unit conversions within the tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across a plethora of social situations, we touch others in natural and intuitive ways to share thoughts and emotions, such as tapping to get one's attention or caressing to soothe one's anxiety. A deeper understanding of these human-to-human interactions will require, in part, the precise measurement of skin-to-skin physical contact. Among prior efforts, each measurement approach exhibits certain constraints, e.g., motion trackers do not capture the precise shape of skin surfaces, while pressure sensors impede skin-to-skin contact. In contrast, this work develops an interference-free 3D visual tracking system using a depth camera to measure the contact attributes between the bare hand of a toucher and the forearm of a receiver. The toucher's hand is tracked as a posed and positioned mesh by fitting a hand model to detected 3D hand joints, whereas a receiver's forearm is extracted as a 3D surface updated upon repeated skin contact. Based on a contact model involving point clouds, the spatiotemporal changes of hand-to-forearm contact are decomposed as six, high-resolution, time-series contact attributes, i.e., contact area, indentation depth, absolute velocity, and three orthogonal velocity components, together with contact duration. To examine the system's capabilities and limitations, two types of experiments were performed. First, to evaluate its ability to discern human touches, one person delivered cued social messages, e.g., happiness, anger, sympathy, to another person using their preferred gestures. The results indicated that messages and gestures, as well as the identities of the touchers, were readily discerned from their contact attributes. Second, the system's spatiotemporal accuracy was validated against measurements from independent devices, including an electromagnetic motion tracker, sensorized pressure mat, and laser displacement sensor. While validated here in the context of social communication, this system is extendable to human touch interactions such as maternal care of infants and massage therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock discontinuities play an important role in the behavior of rock masses and have a high impact on their mechanical and hydrological properties, such as strength and permeability. The surfaces roughness and physical aperture of rock joints are vital characteristics in joint shear strength and fluid flow properties. This study presents a method to digitally measure the physical aperture of a rock fracture digitized using photogrammetry. A 50 cm × 50 cm rock sample of Kuru grey granite with a thoroughgoing fracture was digitized. The data was collected using a high-resolution digital camera and four low-cost cameras. The aperture and surface roughness were measured, and the influence of the camera type and 3D model rasterization on the measurement results was quantified. The results showed that low-cost cameras and smartphones can be used for generating 3D models for accurate measurement of physical aperture and roughness of rock fractures. However, the selection of appropriate rasterization grid interval plays a key role in accurate estimations. For measuring the physical aperture from the photogrammetric 3D models, reducing rasterization grid interval results in less scattered measurement results and a small rasterization grid interval of 0.1 mm is recommended. For roughness measurements, increasing the grid interval results in smaller measurement errors, and therefore a larger rasterization grid interval of 0.5 mm is recommended for high-resolution smartphones and 1 mm for other low-cost cameras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In airborne array interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Array-InSAR) tomography, the measurements acquired by conventional uniform sampling array are always restricted by the number of physical baseline elements and the size of baseline aperture. It is desirable to capture new acquisitions and enlarge the aperture with virtual signal processing instead of actually adding array baselines. For this motivation, we utilize the disparity of a pair of coprime sampling subarrays to enlarge the baseline aperture and construct new observations virtually. The generation of virtual measurements is equal to estimating cross-correlation matrices in real SAR data. Due to the spatial target variation, we adopted an adaptive filtering method to estimate the cross-correlation matrix. We call the abovementioned processing of generating virtual measurements as a coprime sensing technique. The newly generated virtual measurements have more degrees of freedom, a larger baseline aperture, and a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the physical measurements. These advantages offer the possibility to obtain competitive 3-D imaging results without increasing the hardware cost of the Array-InSAR. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by the coprime acquisitions selected from AIRCAS Array-InSAR data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Even though the taxonomy of bat-infesting chiggers has been studied extensively, information about the distribution and morphological variability of many species is still lacking. In fact, the only available distribution records for several species are their type localities. The purpose of this paper is to broaden the knowledge of the Indonesian group. Methods: Hosts and chiggers were captured from April 2018 to March 2020 in Bali and Nusa Penida Islands in Indonesia by using standard bat-capturing and parasite-collecting methods. A list of bat-infesting chiggers in Indonesia was compiled by searching the public databases using specific keywords. Results: When compared with already published data on type specimens, the physical measurements and morphology of Whartonia diosi, W. maai and Grandjeana sinensis revealed only minor differences that fell within intraspecific variability of the mentioned species. Two species (W. diosi and G. sinensis) are recorded here for the first time outside of their type localities (Panay Island in the Philippines and China) and, in both cases, represent the first records for Indonesia. The checklist summarizes all 16 species in 9 genera of bat-infesting chiggers collected from 12 bat species belonging to 5 families all collected on 8 Indonesian islands. Conclusion: Indonesia comprises more than 17,000 islands, is home to over 200 bat species, and harbors hundreds of still undiscovered caves. With such a huge potential for chigger diversity and endemism, it is likely that our results document only a fraction of the actual diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate over whether viruses are living organisms tends to be paradigmatically determined. The metabolic paradigm denies that they are, while new research evidences the opposite. The purpose of this paper is to deliver a generic model for viral contexts that explains why viruses are alive. It will take a systems biology approach, with a qualitative part (using metacybernetics) to provide deeper explanations of viral contexts, and a quantitative part (using Fisher Information deriving from the variational principle of Extreme Physical Information) which is in principle able to take measurements and predict outcomes. The modelling process provides an extended view of the epigenetic processes of viruses. The generic systems biology model will depict viruses as autonomous entities with metaphysical processes of autopoietic self-organisation and adaptation, enabling them to maintain their physical viability and hence, within their populations, mutate and evolve. The autopoietic epigenetic processes are shown to describe their capability to change, and these are both qualitatively and quantitatively explored, the latter providing an approach to make measurements of physical phenomena under uncertainty. Viruses maintain their fitness when they are able to maintain their stability, and this is indicated by information flow efficacy. A brief case study is presented on the COVID-19 virus from the perspective that it is a living system, and this includes outcome predictions given Fisher Information conditions for known contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cylinder expansion experiment is a well‐established performance test for condensed explosives that is utilized routinely to determine pressure‐energy‐volume relationships for detonation products. The modern cylinder test employs optical interferometric techniques to measure velocity, as opposed to older realizations where streak cameras were commonplace. Despite their widespread use, questions sometimes remain as to what kind of data the velocity diagnostics in a cylinder test provide along with how to interpret such measurements and relate them to physical quantities of interest. In this study, equations are derived that fully describe the kinematics of the cylinder wall during expansion. These equations are then applied to experimental as well as synthetic data generated via a hydrodynamic simulation in order to verify the mathematical framework developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sylt Roads pelagic time series covers physical and hydrochemical parameters at five neighboring stations in the Sylt-Rømø Bight, Wadden Sea, North Sea. Since the beginning of the time series in 1973, sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) were measured twice a week. Other parameters were introduced later (dissolved silicate (Si) - since 1974, pH - since 1979, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) - since 1996, dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) - since 2001, chlorophyll a - since 1979, suspended particulate matter (SPM) - since 1975) and in case of dissolved oxygen were already discontinued (1979-1983). In the years 1977, 1978 and 1983 no sampling took place. Since the start of the continuous sampling in 1984, the sea surface temperature in the bight has risen by +1.11 °C, with the highest increases during the autumn months, while the pH and salinity decreased by 0.23 and 0.33 units, respectively. Summer and autumn salinities are generally significantly elevated compared to spring and winter conditions. Dissolved nutrients (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and SRP) displayed periods of intense eutrophication (1973-1998) and de-eutrophication since 1999. Silicate showed significantly higher winter levels since 1999. Interestingly, phytoplankton parameters did not mirror these large changes in nutrient concentrations, as a seasonal comparison of the two eutrophication periods showed no significant differences with regard to chlorophyll a. This phenomenon might be triggered by an important switch in nutrient limitation during the time series: Until 1998, the phytoplankton was probably primarily limited by silicate, and since 1999 SRP limitation became increasingly important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the activity and participation level of children has an important place in the planning and development of their activities at home, school and social areas. Activity and participation assessment tools developed for pediatric population are widely used all over the world and many of them have been adapted into Turkish. According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Children and Youth Version, activity and participation are evaluated with sub-di mensions such as gross motor functions, upper extremity functions, level of independence in activities of daily living, balance, walking, timed performance and functional independence level. In this context, it is very important to use valid and reliable tools for monitoring the development of children and determining treatment goals. When the re lated literature is examined, it is noteworthy that there are few Turkish-adapted forms of the tools that evaluate gross motor function, balance, gait, and quality of life. It is seen that Turkish measurement tools evaluating upper extremity functions are in the majority, but there are limited numbers of physical activity and physical activity measurements, mostly made with observational and experimental methods. The fact that the instructions of the balance scales were long increased the need for Turkish adaptation. Access to languageadapted measurement tools has become even more impor tant with the increasing need for evaluating the level of activity and participation. The use of scales without language adaptation may be insufficient to obtain objective results. In this respect, having detailed information about the Turkish-adapted tools that measure the level of activity and participa tion in children will make a significant contribution to clinicians and academics working in the field of pediatrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports activity plays an important and irreplaceable role in adolescence, since its regular practice not only protects people against non-communicable diseases but also contributes to a better quality of life. The objectives of this study were to analyze the type of regulation of motivations and motives for carrying out physical activity according to sex and the type of physical-sports practice. A total of 331 university students participated in the first year of the Master's Degree, 34.4% men (n=114) and 65.6% women (n=217), with a mean age of 20.02 ± 2.55. They responded to the Exercise Behavior Regulation Questionnaire (BREQ-3) and to the Measurement of Reasons for Physical Activity Revised Questionnaire (MPAM-R). The results reveal significant differences (p <.00), with a high effect size (d> .500), in the regulation of motivations, except in external regulation (p> .05), and in the reasons for practice depending on the type of task performed. Therefore, it is appreciated that the reasons for participating in physical activity have an influence on university students in a different way, since the most valued by the participants are those who have an intrinsic and more self-determined association towards the sport itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface measurements are used extensively in many industries and research disciplines to characterize a material's mechanical properties and strength without the need for traditional, time consuming, and expensive laboratory tests, or for large volumes of sample material. This paper briefly reviews indentation methodologies for index and physical properties measurements and then focuses on the implementation of a method of using the measured force versus time of an impact to infer mechanical properties. By relying only on the measurement of force versus time, the method greatly simplifies the measurement process and thus allows for applications requiring rapid and automated measurements of both elastic stiffness and/or inelastic deformation during indentation. The indenter tip geometry, free-fall height, and the mechanical model used to describe the interaction of the contact between the indenter and material are investigated through the analysis of measurements performed on a wide variety of materials including plastics, rocks, ceramics, and asphalt. It is shown that using a spherical tip the method can be used to provide measurements of the elastic stiffness by fitting the measured force versus time curves to predictions of quasi static elastic theory. We then show how conversion of the force–time data into force–displacement curves realizes a direct connection with the already established static indentation interpretation framework. Through the use of force–displacement interpretation, the method becomes applicable to arbitrary tip geometries and inelastic mechanical properties. Through illustrative examples, we show how the force–displacement data from an impact can be interrogated for critical parameters such as loading and unloading characteristics, and maximum, residual, and elastic displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus flavus is a common field and stored grain fungus that infects cottonseed and other protein-rich grains and oilseeds. This fungus produces aflatoxin, a toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin, which is initially found in the field and then proliferates during storage as A. flavus metabolizes. When consumed, cottonseed contaminated with aflatoxin has an associated health risk for dairy and beef cattle and poses a cancer threat to humans. There is a need to separate and clean batches of cottonseed before processing. The objective of this study was to determine the key physical properties of contaminated and non-contaminated (healthy) cottonseed. Healthy fuzzy cottonseed (350 g) and cottonseed contaminated with 150 ppb of aflatoxin (350 g), with an initial moisture content of 8.3% dry basis, were stored at 25°C and 85% relative humidity for 21 days. The properties of the healthy and contaminated fuzzy cottonseed after the 21-day storage period that were characterized included sphericity, surface area, individual seed mass, projected area, color, and volume. The presence of aflatoxin and fungus showed significant effects on the density (>1.3 g cm-3), dimensions (>9.8, 5.6, and 4.9 mm for major, intermediate, and minor diameters, respectively), surface area (>368.4 mm²), projected area (>56.7 mm²), and volume (>0.08 cm³) of fuzzy cottonseed. The results of this study provide measurements of physical properties that relate to separating cottonseed contaminated with aflatoxin and fungus during storage and before processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the conformal deformation of physical parameters on the measurement, Berry phase, and resonance of a spin are investigated. We first construct a form-invariant yet measurement-tunable representation of a spinor from the deformed parameter surface. Then, it is shown that the evolution path of the Berry phase is tunable by the conformal index. Third, the source of the path-tunable Berry phase is shown to be the conformal monopole revealed by the recent investigation of the transformation design of quantum states. The dual fields produced by the dual conformal monopole are presented. It is demonstrated that the strengths of the pole and its dual partner are determined by the reciprocally quantized conformal index. Finally, we discuss the influence of the deformation on the resonance of the spin, and show that the resonant frequency follows the quantization rule ω ¯ R = ω R conformal factor n / n with ω R as the Rabi frequency without deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chip test escapes can pass the complete test procedure but fail prematurely in system applications. Statistical testing methods can screen chip test escapes by analyzing test data without additional physical measurements. This paper proposes a screening method to reduce chip test escapes using multi-correlation analysis of parameters. This method takes the strength of locational correlation or structural correlation as criterion information. The main steps of the method are as follows: first, quantifying the strength of locational correlation or structural correlation of the chip parameters, then verifying the statistical distribution of the characterization and setting the screening limit, and finally, screening the chip test escapes. Silicon carbide junction barrier Schottky diode (JBS) measurement data are used to verify the method. The results show that when the location information of the chip on the wafer is known, the screening effect based on locational correlation is significantly better than the method specified in AEC Q101. Without additional physical measurements, screening methods based on structural correlation can further identify the remaining chip test escapes in single-parameter screening. This screening method can be used to supplement the existing measurement technology to reduce the cost of packaging, testing, and aging testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at knowing the effect of aerobic training, drinking water and aerobic training just before meals on weight and some physical qualities of junior female athletes of the endurance races in athletics team at Yarmouk University for the academic year (2017-2018). The study sample consisted of (12) players divided into two groups, the experimental group consists of (6) players and the control group consists of (6) players. The researcher used the experimental method called pre and post measurement because of its suitability to the nature of this study, where the experimental group applied the aerobic training program with drinking water before eating meals, while the control group applied the aerobic training program without drinking water. The application of the training program took eight successive weeks, with three training units per week, ranging in time for one training unit,between (45- 60) minutes. The results of the study showed that there are statistically significant differences for the pre and post measurements and in favor of the post measurement to lose weight and some physical characteristics of the experimental group. The study also showed that there are no statistically significant differences among the players of the control group. Thus, the study recommends the necessity of using aerobic training and drinking water before meals, as they have positive impact on weight loss and on some physical attributes in addition to its impact on the improvement of some physical measurements and obtaining a consistent body and ideal weight suitable for the nature of sports practice,. The studyalso recommends conducting studies similar to this study and samples involving different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]