The influence of image valence on visual attention and perception of risk in drivers

Currently there is little research into the relationship between emotion and driving in the context of advertising and distraction. Research that has looked into this also has methodological limitations that could be affecting the results rather than emotional processing (Trick et al., 2012). The current study investigated the relationship between image valence and risk perception, eye movements and physiological reactions. Participants watched hazard perception clips which had emotional images from the international affective picture system overlaid onto them. They rated how hazardous or safe they felt, whilst eye movements, galvanic skin response and heart rate were recorded. Results suggested that participants were more aware of potential hazards when a neutral image had been shown, in comparison to positive and negative valenced images; that is, participants showed higher subjective ratings of risk, larger physiological responses and marginally longer fixation durations when viewing a hazard after a neutral image, but this effect was attenuated after emotional images. It appears that emotional images reduce sensitivity to potential hazards, and we suggest that future studies could apply these findings to higher fidelity paradigms such as driving simulators.     

Driving experience moderates the effect of implicit versus explicit threat priming on hazard perception test

Due to the controversial evidence regarding the efficacy of threat campaigns on driving behavior, we addressed the effects of explicit vs. implicit threats. As in other areas of advertisements, we hypothesized that an implicit threat would be more effective, i.e., generate more anxiety than an explicit threat. Furthermore, we hypothesized that such effects would be moderated by driving experience: more experienced drivers when threatened will rely on driving skills and perform in a less cautious manner vs. less experienced drivers who have not yet acquired these skills, and therefore will tend to calm their fear by exercising more caution. Driving behavior in this experimental design was addressed by the Hazard Perception (HP) task. Results were as expected. Anxiety was higher under implicit vs. explicit threat. HP scores however were overall the same for both groups. Implicit priming generated less-cautious behavior in high-experienced drivers while generating more caution for less-experienced drivers. Demonstrating in a single experiment all three driving patterns following threat, namely, no change in driving behavior (whole sample), more cautious driving behavior (less-experience) and less cautious behavior (more-experience), potentially comprises an important step in resolving the aforementioned disparity concerning effects of threat campaigns on driving behavior.     

A reliable in vitro approach to assess the stability of acetabular implants using digital image correlation

The main cause of failure of the hip acetabular component is aseptic loosening. Preclinical test methods currently used to assess the stability of hip acetabular implants rely on crude simplifications. Normally, either one component of motion or bone strains are measured. We developed a test method to measure implant 3D translations and rotations and bone strains using digital image correlation. Hemipelvises were aligned and potted to allow consistent testing. A force was applied in the direction of the load peak during level walking. The force was applied in 100‐cycle packages, each load package being 20% larger than the previous one. A digital image correlation system allowed measuring the cup‐bone relative 3D displacements (permanent migrations and inducible micromotions) and the strain distribution in the periacetabular bone. To assess the test repeatability, the protocol was applied to six composite hemipelvises implanted with very stable cups. To assess the suitability of the method to detect mobilisation, six loose implants were tested. The method was repeatable: the interspecimen variability was 16 μm for the bone/cup relative translations, 0.04° for the rotations. The method was capable of tracking extremely loose implants (translations up to 4.5 mm; rotations up to 30°). The strain distribution in the bone was measured, showing the areas of highest strain. We have shown that it is possible to measure the 3D relative translations and rotations of an acetabular cup inside the pelvis and simultaneously to measure the full‐field strain distribution in the bone surface. This will allow better preclinical testing of the stability of acetabular implants.     

Intravascular contrast agents in diagnostic applications: Use of red blood cells to improve the lifespan and efficacy of blood pool contrast agents

In medicine,discrimination between pathologies and normal areas is of great importance,and in most cases,such discrimination is made possible by novel imaging technologies.Numerous modalities have been developed to visualize tissue vascularization in cardiovascular diseases or during angiogenic and vasculogenic processes.Here,we report the recent advances in vasculature imaging,providing an overview of the current non-invasive approaches in biomedical diagnostics and potential future strategies for prognostic assessment of vessel diseases,such as aneurysms and coronary artery occlusion leading to myocardial infarction.There are several contrast agents (CAs) available to improve the visibility of specific tissues at the early stage of diseases,allowing for rapid treatment.However,CAs are also hampered by numerous limitations,including rapid diffusion from blood vessels into the interstitial space,toxicity,and low sensitivity.Extravasation from blood vessels leads to a rapid loss of the image.If the contrast medium can fully be confined to the vascular space,high-resolution structural and functional vascular imaging could be obtained.Many scientists have contributed new materials and/or new carrier systems.For example,the use of red blood cells (RBCs) as CA-delivery systems appears to provide a scalable alternative to current procedures that allows adequate vascular imaging.Recognition and removal of CAs from the circulation can be prevented and/or delayed by using RBCs as biomimetic CA-carriers,and this technology should be clinically validated.     

Influence of the constraint effect on the fatigue crack growth rate in S355 J2 steel using digital image correlation

Displacement fields around the fatigue crack tip for a constant value of stress intensity factor (SIF) range were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) technique on the S355 J2 steel grade. The data obtained were resolved into the T‐stress evaluation and quantification of its influence on the fatigue crack growth rate. The higher order terms of the Williams expansion (WE) were calculated as well. The displacements of a set of points outside of the plastic zone were selected for application of the over‐deterministic method (ODM) to obtain several initial WE terms. The computed values of T‐stress show good agreement with finite element analysis and literature. It was shown by collected experimental displacement, that the level of constraint influences the fatigue crack propagation rate.     

The changes in the effects of social media use of Cypriots due to COVID-19 pandemic

Social media is the leading medium which is used for communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research conducted aims to fill the gap of literature related to social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims at uncovering the influences of social media use in several dimensions during lockdown(s). The study aims to answer the research question of: Are the influences of social media use different from normal times? The online questionnaire has been completed by six hundred and sixty-eight users within the period of lockdown. The author prepared the questionnaire, which is composed of 22 positive statements in order to evaluate the effects of social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 5 point Likert scale was used, where reliability and validity were calculated by the Cronbach's alpha value, which was 0.751. Findings highlight that users have more information about COVID-19, and they follow recent information via social media, which shows the shift towards digital medium. Findings also indicate that users are aware of fake news, and they follow official sources. Social media is powerful to affect decision-makers, and respondents' social media use did not create any panic or anxiety amongst them. This research indicates that respondents' social media use during COVID-19 is different from normal times as a common purpose triggers this, survival. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of social media shares were like a dream or a strong desire that may cause anxiety in others. During the pandemic, people are in lockdown and share similar feelings and follow similar behavioural patterns. As there is a common purpose and struggle via users, psychological well-being is not affected negatively.     

A novel method to compensate for the effect of light shift in arubidium atomic clock pumped by a semiconductor laser

Precise measurement of the shift (i.e. microwave frequency shift induced by the electric field of the pumping light) in a rubidium atomic clock pumped by a semiconductor laser is discussed. The spectral lineshape of the microwave resonance, which is used as a frequency discriminator for the atomic clock in the optical microwave double resonance experiment, depends strongly on the spatial distribution of the laser beam intensity, laser frequency detuning, and modulation parameters of the microwave frequency. Based on measurements of the deformation of the resonance lineshape, a self-tuning system was built to compensate for the effect of light shift. As a result of controlling the laser frequency with this system, long-term drift of the microwave frequency as low as 6.3×10^-13/h was obtained     

Role of sodium thiosulfate therapy in the treatment of digital necrosis due to Mönckeberg sclerosis

Accelerated vascular calcification is a well‐described complication of chronic kidney disease often affecting large and small vessels alike through a variety of mechanisms. Accordingly, dysregulation of calcium and phosphate balance, vitamin D metabolism, hyperparathyroidism, and endothelial injury can lead to both macrovascular and microvascular complications. We describe a 56‐year‐old Hispanic male with a history of end‐stage renal disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and medical noncompliance who developed sequential digital ischemia and necrosis involving both hands as well as right foot as a result of Mönckeberg sclerosis. An extensive metabolic and serologic workup was unrevealing but radiographic studies and histopathology revealed the diagnosis. A multifaceted approach was instituted including wound debridement and amputations along with intensive medical support. In addition to improving hypertensive control and striving for improved calcium and phosphate balance, sodium thiosulfate solution was administered for more than 1 year. This aggressive approach allowed his wounds to heal and has arrested further digital ischemia from occurring.     

Unraveling the effect of mixed charge carrier on the electrical conductivity in MAPbBr3 perovskite due to ions incorporation

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - We have investigated the role of H+, Bi3+, and Sb3+ ions incorporation on the structural, morphological, optical, and transport properties...     

A computational study of the piezoelectric response due to the material effect in periodic, single island thin films and the geometric effect in periodic, bi-island thin films

The electromechanical response of a square-periodic array of circular piezoelectric (PE) thin films alternating with non-piezoelectric (NPE) films is studied in this paper. The material effects are studied for four film/substrate combinations in absence of NPE films for which it is found that if d_zxx ? d_zzz (z-axis being normal to the interfacial plane between the film and the substrate), it results in reduced substrate bending leading to reduced degradation in the electromechanical response of the thin film. The bi-island structure is studied for zinc oxide on strontium titanate, and, in general, it is seen that the NPE films not only reduce degradation of the electromechanical response of the PE films but also increase their internal stresses; the effect on the former is less than the latter. These effects are most prominent when the circular NPE thin films fill the space between the PE thin films and are elastically very stiff compared to the substrate.     

A parameter characterizing the effect of thermooptical properties of a vitreous heat-shield material on its rate of melting due to radiative and convective heating

A parameter for assessment of the performance of a vitreous heat-shield material subjected to radiative and convective heating is proposed.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 588–590, April, 1979.     

A device to measure the effects of strong magnetic fields on the image resolution of PET scanners

Very high resolution images can be achieved in small animal PET systems utilizing solid state silicon pad detectors. As these systems approach sub-millimeter resolutions, the range of the positron is becoming the dominant contribution to image blur. The size of the positron range effect depends on the initial positron energy and hence the radioactive tracer used. For higher energy positron emitters, such as and , which are gaining importance in small animal studies, the width of the annihilation point distribution dominates the spatial resolution. This positron range effect can be reduced by embedding the field of view of the PET scanner in a strong magnetic field. In order to confirm this effect experimentally, we developed a high resolution PET instrument based on silicon pad detectors that can operate in a 7 T magnetic field. In this paper, we describe the instrument and present initial results of a study of the effects of magnetic fields up to 7 T on PET image resolution for and point sources.     

A generalized model to predict the effect of voids on modulus in ceramics

An equation recently developed by the present author to describe the modulus of particulate composites as a function of the volume fraction of particles was modified in this study to describe modulus as a function of porosity. This new equation was applied to available modulus literature for ceramics where voids were the particulate phase. By varying the porosity interaction coefficient, σ, this new generalized void/modulus equation was shown to be able to yield equations previously used to predict modulus as a function of voids for ceramics. Wang theoretically described the mode of porosity interaction during compaction with a constant, α, to calculate the void/modulus relationship for three different compaction conditions. The generalized void/modulus equation developed in this study fit Wang's theoretical data exceptionally well, even though the porosity interaction coefficients, σ, obtained did not agree closely with Wang's values of α. Wang also experimentally measured the porosity and Young's modulus of manufactured alumina rods prepared with spherical and “egg-shaped” powders. The optimum fit for spherical particles occurred at σ=0.9 and an initial porosity of P _i=0.405 and for “egg-shaped” particles at σ=1.05 and P _i=0.475. The generalized void/modulus the equation for σ=−1 yields an equation that has the same form as Wang's proposed empirical equation that utilized two empirical constants, b and c. Wang's experimental data fitted with his proposed empirical equation gave a positive value for the constant c of 0.982 which corresponded to a negative value of P _i of -0.0743 which was not defined in the theoretical considerations developed in this study. While this value of the initial porosity, P _i, does give a better fit of the data for the interaction constant σ=-1, it still did not fit all the data as well as the results calculated for interaction coefficients nearer 1.0. The results of this study have shown that an excellent fit of most void/modulus data can be obtained using the generalized void/modulus equation developed in this study without making assumptions inconsistent with the theory presented.     

A scenario to the anomalous Hall effect in the mixed state of superconductors

We argue that the motion of vacancies in a pinned vortex lattice may dominate the contribution to the Hall effect in an appropriate parameter regime for a superconductor. Based on this consideration a model is constructed to explain the anomalous Hall effect without any modification of the basic vortex dynamic equation. Quantitative predictions are obtained. Present model can be directly tested by an observation of the vacancy motion.     

Influence of additives on the global mechanical behavior and the microscopic strain localization in wood reinforced polypropylene composites during tensile deformation investigated using digital image correlation

The structural integrity of polypropylene (PP) matrix composites reinforced by natural wood fibers is investigated by digital image correlation (DIC) coupled with tensile tests. The use of the material as an alternative construction material requires extensive understanding of its micromechanical properties, which primarily define its performance. Addition of several additives such as coupling agents is common practice for such materials. These ingredients improve the performance of these materials mainly by improvement of the chemical and physical interactions between the nonpolar matrix and the polar wood fibers. These interactions facilitate the transfer of the applied deformation particularly in the interphase region between the polymer matrix and the reinforcing fibers. Such localized changes can influence the performance of the material specially its micromechanical behavior. The DIC via photogrammetry was used to study the spatial distribution of the accumulated plastic surface strain, which is based on pattern recognition of the surface before and after straining. The heterogeneous strain distribution reveals a structural inhomogeneity of the material. The magnitude of local strain was much higher than the global strain, suggesting preferred regions for plastic deformation formed by the microstructure.     

The perception of causes of accidents in mountain sports: A study based on the experiences of victims

Each year, accidents involving mountain sports have many repercussions, including alarming public opinion and society. This study outlines the results of a qualitative study on the responses of 135 survivors of accidents that took place while mountaineering, climbing, downhill skiing and ski mountaineering, hiking, cross-country biking, and mountain racing. A content analysis was performed on the textual data obtained from the responses to an online survey. The identified causes were: environmental events, equipment, medical events, behavioral events, and time pressure, but they appear combined in different ways for the analyzed disciplines. Results show that for downhill skiing, direct causes of accidents were mainly behavioral: excessive speed, skiing errors, and fatigue. For ski mountaineering, direct causes were errors in decision-making and skiing. In mountaineering, precursors were unfavorable conditions, fatigue, lack of preparation, and skill errors. In climbing, difficulty is an omnipresent feature, but the precursors are mainly errors. Our results highlight the multi-causal nature of accidents that take place when practicing mountain sports. Finally, we examine the need to promote a mountain sports culture that highlights safety and injury prevention.     

A systems approach to understanding the effect of Facebook use on the quality of interpersonal communication

Social networking platforms such as Facebook have become integrated into the milieu of modern-day social interactions. Facebook, one of the most prominent social networking platforms globally, is widely used as a primary medium for communicating and networking for personal, professional and recreational purposes. To date, studies have focussed on developing an understanding of why people make use of Facebook. Limited studies have explored the effect of Facebook use on interpersonal communication. This paper then investigated the tension between the use of Facebook and the quality of interpersonal communication. From the literature, the need to belong, and the need for self-presentation, were identified as the two main set of complex relations that justifies why people use Facebook. Qualitative system dynamics modelling, specifically causal loop diagrams, was used to gain more insights on the tension between Facebook and the quality of interpersonal communication from the perspective of a potential Facebook user. This tension was represented by the trade-off arising when considering the amount of time spent on Facebook and interpersonal communication. It is argued in this paper that Facebook is not a sufficient substitute to interpersonal communication, as it tends to degrade the quality of interpersonal relationships. Future investigation will require developing a simulation model for a specific case to provide more insights on the extent of this trade-offs and potential intervention measures.     

Evaluation of hydrogen effect on the fatigue crack growth behavior of medium-Mn steels via in-situ hydrogen plasma charging in an environmental scanning electron microscope

Fatigue crack growth(FCG)tests were conducted on a medium-Mn steel annealed at two intercritical annealing temperatures,resulting in different austenite(γ)to ferrite(α)phase fractions and different γ(meta-)stabilities.Novel in-situ hydrogen plasma charging was combined with in-situ cyclic loading in an environmental scanning electron microscope(ESEM).The in-situ hydrogen plasma charging increased the fatigue crack growth rate(FCGR)by up to two times in comparison with the reference tests in vacuum.Fractographic investigations showed a brittle-like crack growth or boundary cracking manner in the hydrogen environment while a ductile transgranular manner in vacuum.For both materials,the plastic deformation zone showed a reduced size along the hydrogen-influenced fracture path in comparison with that in vacuum.The difference in the hydrogen-assisted FCG of the medium-Mn steel with different microstructures was explained in terms of phase fraction,phase stability,yielding strength and hydrogen distribution.This refined study can help to understand the FCG mechanism without or with hydrogen under in-situ hydrogen charging conditions and can provide some insights from the applications point of view.     

A model to examine the effect of loading conditions on scheduling rules in a job shop environment

Although a great deal of research has been carried out in the field of job scheduling this has generally been directed towards examining the benefits of particular rules and presenting improved algorithms. This paper examines how real job shop problems can be modelled and available scheduling rules examined for particular capacity loading conditions. A model of a medium-size production job shop is developed and it is shown that, for their particular shop layout and job mix, the performance and ranking of particular rules with respect to certain criteria, change with shop conditions. The model developed can easily be applied to a wide range of job shop situations and once performance charts have been produced for those scheduling rules available, they can be used to aid the existing scheduling system whether manual or computer based.