Changes In Physical Conditions Research Articles

Inclusion of fading memory to Banister model of changes in physical condition

We introduced the fading memory effect to the model portraying the prediction in physical condition. The classical model is known as the Banister model. We presented the existence and uniqueness conditions of the exact solutions of this model using three different memory including the bad memory induces by the power law and the good memories induced by exponential decay law and the Mittag-Leffler law. We derived the exact solutions using the Laplace transform for the non-delay version.

Influence of design and installation of emergency exit signs on evacuation speed

ABSTRACT Emergency exit signs have an important role in the fire safety of buildings. Exit signs help evacuees rapidly escape fire by following the fastest and safest escape routes immediately after the detection of fire. In other words, evacuation can greatly vary according to environmental factors regarding evacuation within the building. In this study, change in the evacuation speed by exit signs and environmental conditions was analyzed through experiments with 138 subjects. Four environmental factors in the experiment are visibility, distance between exit sign and evacuees, spatial configuration, and size and brightness of exit sign. In conclusion, changes in the spatial conditions around exit signs influenced the evacuation speeds of the subjects in poor visibility, and the changes in physical conditions of exit signs exerted more influence when the visibility was relatively better.

The effect of forestry management activities on stream water quality within a headwater plantation Pinus radiata forest

Many long-term forestry water quality studies focus on the impact of the harvesting phase of forestry operations. As a result, the water quality impacts of other activities such as forest (re)planting, thinning and fertilising are less well understood. Here we report the results from 23 years of monthly water quality monitoring from a steep headwater catchment within the Waikato region, New Zealand. Three experimental sub-catchments were planted in different proportions of Pinus radiata (PW2 = 100%, K-Pine 57%; PW3 = 36%). PW2 and PW3 were historical pastoral sites in the first rotation of plantation forestry and K-Pine was harvested and subsequently planted in a second rotation of forestry. All sites underwent two phases of stand thinning six and eight years after planting. The most significant effect of forestry was the increase in nitrate-N (NO3-N) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in response to both stand planting and stand thinning operations. Planting resulted in significant increases in NO3-N, TN and DRP over a four-year planting period at PW2. Significant increases in NO3-N and TN were detected over a four-year thinning period, at all three experimental sites. We propose that stream NO3-N and TN concentrations increased in response to stand planting at PW2 because of the change in physical conditions (e.g. increased stream shading, proliferation of nitrogen fixing weeds and decreased spatial extent of seepage wetlands) caused by the change in land use. Increasing nitrogen concentrations due to decreasing stream runoff could also be contributing a factor. Any decrease in NO3-N and TN concentrations in response to increased uptake by the rapidly growing P. radiata appears to have been masked by these other factors. However, the increase in NO3-N and TN concentrations in response to stand thinning at all three experimental sites suggests that NO3-N uptake by growing trees is an important process. Over the entire forestry period, median NO3-N concentrations at PW2 (first rotation site) increased by a factor four (400–1590 µg l−1). The median NO3-N during the post-thinning period was also one order of magnitude higher than those measured at K-Pine (second rotation site) during the post-thinning period. We attribute these differences to the NO3-N legacy within soil and/or groundwater of the previous sheep and beef cattle grazing land use. Long-term use of the PW2 catchment for forestry may eventually reduce NO3-N concentrations to the lower levels measured at K-Pine. Therefore, while NO3-N concentrations and loads may increase in response to the establishment of plantation forestry we envisage that these will decline if plantation forestry continues beyond the first rotation. This research highlights: (i) the complex nature of the response of stream water quality to catchment land use changes, and (ii) the value of studies that monitor the impact of land use/cover change over the long-term.

A simple and short microbiology practical improves undergraduate nursing students\u2019 awareness of bacterial traits and ability to avoid spreading infections

BackgroundNurses are responsible for implementing appropriate measures to reduce hospital infections, especially with multidrug resistant bacteria, so nursing students should learn about microbiology. This helps them to understand bacterial dissemination and infectious disease control. Because of tight schedules, however, its teaching is limited in undergraduate nursing classes in Japan. We therefore tested whether a simple short practical session in a microbiology class could help to improve undergraduate nursing students’ awareness of bacterial traits and how to prevent infections.MethodsThis study involved second-grade nursing students (n = 76). Two short practical sessions (a total of 3 h, across 2 days) were used to assess the effectiveness of washing or disinfection on hand bacteria in a 16-class microbiology course (total class time was 24 h, plus an exam). Hand bacteria were sampled on LB agar plates with orientation during the first half-day, and the plates examined for colonies with distinct color or morphological traits, and discussed, in the second session, a week later. Questionnaires before and after the exercise were used to assess changes in awareness of unseen bacteria inhabiting around us connecting bacterial traits and how to prevent infections.ResultsThe results showed that the practical increased the nursing students’ awareness of fomites (utensils) (p = 0.0115), fomites (contact-based) (p = 0.0016), habitats (body surface) (p = 0.0127), action facilitating hospital infection (p = 0.0166), and changes in physical condition caused by bacterial infections (p = 0.0136). There were no changes in word associations (p = 0.627) or habitats (inside body) (p = 0.308). Difficulty score, which is an element in questionnaire psychometric properties, tended to be close to the expected score through the practical, but not statistical significant. In addition, regardless of before or after practical, Cronbach α score, which is an indicator of the reliability among items of multi-choice questions, showed > 0.8, indicating validity of evaluation items. Thus, the student’s awareness of unseen bacteria inhabiting around us was significantly increased as compared to those before practical in microbiology class.ConclusionsThe simple short practical effectively improved nursing students’ awareness of unseen bacteria inhabiting around us in microbiology course, useful for even tight teaching schedules.

Personal Factors that Affect Adherence of Fluid Restriction in Patient with Hemodialysis

Background: Adherence to fluid restriction are a common problem and a major challenge for dialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to predict various patient personal factors which included changes in physical conditions (duration of dialysis, severity), psychological factors (stress, motivation), social factors (family support, peer support) and perceptions of adherence that affect dialysis patient�s adherence on fluid restriction. Method: A descriptive analytic with cross sectional approach was this research�s design. There were 135 respondents involved in this research. The inclusion criteria for patients with a minimum age of 18 years, receiving similar dialysis therapy for at least 3 months, in stable medical conditions, and not experiencing psychological problems. The variables include fluid restriction adherence and the patient�s personal factors which are physical factors (knowledge, length of dialysis, severity); psychological factors (stress, motivation); social factors (family support, peer support); and perceptions related to adherence. Data were analyze using logistic regression analysis. Findings: The results showed that the most influential variable on adherence to fluid restriction was the level of stress experienced by patients. Odds Ratio (OR) of stress variables was 11.4 which means that dialysis patients who experience stress will show adherence of fluid restriction 11.4 times lower than other dialysis patients after controlling for variables of age, education, knowledge, severity, motivation, family support, peer support and perception. Conclusion: psychological changes (stress) are the main predictors of fluid restriction compliance after being controlled by other variables. © 2019, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.

Accuracy improvement of mathematical model for the prediction of driver's sudden change in physical condition

Accuracy improvement of mathematical model for the prediction of driver's sudden change in physical condition

Alumina as environmentally stable adsorbent for the removal of diresul black dye from waste water

Abstract Various adsorbents for the removal of dyes from waste water may or may not be stable, resulting in the desorption of adsorbed dyes with slight changes in physical conditions. To avoid this problem, environmentally stable adsorbent such as activated aluminum oxide or alumina has been used for the removal of Diresul Black, which is a dye used in the textile processing industry. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the non-tetrahedral framework of alumina. The efficiency of alumina via adsorption implies that 1 g alumina having the Brunauer–Emmett–Telle surface area of 2.65 ± 0.25 m2/g is enough to achieve up to 85% removal of concentrated dye solution in just 20 minutes. Adsorption energy as well as adsorption capacity is calculated by different adsorption isotherms. The sorption energy E turns out to be 19.3 KJ/mol. The thermodynamic studies show that the value of ΔH for the adsorption process is −976.5 J/mol while that of ΔS is −4.748 J/mol/K. Desorption studies show that the dye remains in its adsorbed form over aluminum oxide up to a pH of 2. Various ions present in the matrix interfere with the adsorption process, however none can decrease the adsorption below 65%.

Indonesian mother’s feeling and thought during pregnancy: a qualitative study

During pregnancy, the mother may have a different experience based on many factors. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of pregnant women in Indonesia. Some studies establish to explore experience during pregnancy in a particular area. However, limit number study underlined the experience in the general area. A descriptive phenomenological study was used to explore the experience of pregnant women during pregnancy. Purposive sampling, one-on-one, in-depth with semi-structural interviews were conducted to collect data. Narratives were analyzed by Colaizzi’s (1978) seven-step method. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 3 pregnant women. Four themes and the sub-themes were : having feelings (happy for pregnancy coming true and worry about cannot have vaginal delivery), changes in physical condition (evening sickness, appetite changes, difficult sleep, and eating pattern have to change), deal with pregnant physical condition (lying down when vomiting and changing the meals time), ensure pregnancy safety (seeking help from husband, continuous monitoring of fetal head’s position, pay attention to changes in body weight, and pay attention to the data of hemoglobin). This finding presents the evidence for midwives to the importance of understanding the feeling and experience of the mother during pregnancy. Support and attention consider important for mother who experiences CS history and Placenta Previa in the current pregnancy.

Indonesian Mother’s feeling and thought during pregnancy: a qualitative study

During pregnancy, the mother may have a different experience based on many factors. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of pregnant women in Indonesia. Some studies establish to explore experience during pregnancy in a particular area. However, limit number study underlined the experience in the general area. A descriptive phenomenological study was used to explore the experience of pregnant women during pregnancy. Purposive sampling, one-on-one, in-depth with semi-structural interviews were conducted to collect data. Narratives were analyzed by Colaizzi’s (1978) seven-step method. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 3 pregnant women. Four themes and the sub-themes were : having feelings (happy for pregnancy coming true and worry about cannot have vaginal delivery), changes in physical condition (evening sickness, appetite changes, difficult sleep, and eating pattern have to change), deal with pregnant physical condition (lying down when vomiting and changing the meals time), ensure pregnancy safety (seeking help from husband, continuous monitoring of fetal head’s position, pay attention to changes in body weight, and pay attention to the data of hemoglobin). This finding presents the evidence for midwives to the importance of understanding the feeling and experience of the mother during pregnancy. Support and attention consider important for mother who experiences CS history and Placenta Previa in the current pregnancy.

Modelling Adaptation through Social Allostasis: Modulating the Effects of Social Touch with Oxytocin in Embodied Agents

Social allostasis is a mechanism of adaptation that permits individuals to dynamically adapt their physiology to changing physical and social conditions. Oxytocin (OT) is widely considered to be one of the hormones that drives and adapts social behaviours. While its precise effects remain unclear, two areas where OT may promote adaptation are by affecting social salience, and affecting internal responses of performing social behaviours. Working towards a model of dynamic adaptation through social allostasis in simulated embodied agents, and extending our previous work studying OT-inspired modulation of social salience, we present a model and experiments that investigate the effects and adaptive value of allostatic processes based on hormonal (OT) modulation of affective elements of a social behaviour. In particular, we investigate and test the effects and adaptive value of modulating the degree of satisfaction of tactile contact in a social motivation context in a small simulated agent society across different environmental challenges (related to availability of food) and effects of OT modulation of social salience as a motivational incentive. Our results show that the effects of these modulatory mechanisms have different (positive or negative) adaptive value across different groups and under different environmental circumstance in a way that supports the context-dependent nature of OT, put forward by the interactionist approach to OT modulation in biological agents. In terms of simulation models, this means that OT modulation of the mechanisms that we have described should be context-dependent in order to maximise viability of our socially adaptive agents, illustrating the relevance of social allostasis mechanisms.

Protective factors in the attainment of resilience in persons with disability

People who live with a physical disability requires further attention. Living as a disabled person is not easy, especially if the individual was born as a normal person. This study aims to identify the protective factors that play an influential role in the attainment of resilience in individuals who experience physical changes as a disabled person. This research applied the instrumental case study approach. The participants consisted of eight individuals with physical disabilities. The data was gathered using an in-depth interview, while the thematic analysis technique was used in the data analysis. The results show that there were eight protective factors involved in achieving resilience in individuals who experience physical change as a disabled person. The eight factors consist of four external protective factors; social support, psychological intervention, the presence of a source of inspiration and the availability of public facilities for persons with disabilities. There are also four internal protective factors, namely religiosity, the willingness to learn, an awareness of social support, and an awareness of self-identity. The results of this study can be implemented in order to assist in the attainment of resilience among other groups of individuals who also undergo a change of physical condition through the strengthening of the eight protective factors.

A day, a month, a year, a life. Women’s lifecycle and moods (1) -The moods, skin conditions, and physical conditions change of four cycles-

A day, a month, a year, a life. Women’s lifecycle and moods (1) -The moods, skin conditions, and physical conditions change of four cycles-

Assessment of the efficiency of training at middle altitude as the means for physical state improvement in middle distance runners

The influence of middle altitude on the physical state of middle distance runners has been considered. Objective. Determination of the effectiveness of middle altitude training on the basis of a comparative estimation of the level of physical condition of middle distance runners. Methods. Analysis of scientific literature, testing, comparison. Results. The study involved 19 athletes specialized in 400 m and 800 m running (qualification MS and MSIL, average age 23.9 ± 3.82 years). Testing was conducted twice before the training session and 25-27 days after training at middle altitude and sea level. During the second study, the athletes were divided into three groups: the control and the two main ones. The control group included runners who had passed training sessions at sea level. The first main group included athletes, in whom the adaptation to the middle altitude conditions occurred in the face of high tension of the body regulatory systems, whereas the second one – those with adaptation in the face of moderate tension. The effectiveness of training in the conditions of middle altitude was determined on the basis of a comparative estimation of physical condition of athletes specialized in middle distance running, after training in the conditions of middle altitude and at sea level. To determine the level of physical condition, the development of motor qualities (strength, speed, special endurance, speed-strength abilities), the developed integrated pedagogical tests for athletes specialized in speed-power sports events were used. It is shown that the adaptive effects of altitude training are not equally effective for all athletes. The most significant positive changes in physical condition after training sessions at the altitude were observed in athletes, in which the adaptation to hypoxia was accompanied by moderate tension of the body regulatory mechanisms

Dynamic Biological Functioning Important for Simulating and Stabilizing Ocean Biogeochemistry

AbstractThe biogeochemistry of the ocean exerts a strong influence on the climate by modulating atmospheric greenhouse gases. In turn, ocean biogeochemistry depends on numerous physical and biological processes that change over space and time. Accurately simulating these processes is fundamental for accurately simulating the ocean's role within the climate. However, our simulation of these processes is often simplistic, despite a growing understanding of underlying biological dynamics. Here we explore how new parameterizations of biological processes affect simulated biogeochemical properties in a global ocean model. We combine 6 different physical realizations with 6 different biogeochemical parameterizations (36 unique ocean states). The biogeochemical parameterizations, all previously published, aim to more accurately represent the response of ocean biology to changing physical conditions. We make three major findings. First, oxygen, carbon, alkalinity, and phosphate fields are more sensitive to changes in the ocean's physical state. Only nitrate is more sensitive to changes in biological processes, and we suggest that assessment protocols for ocean biogeochemical models formally include the marine nitrogen cycle to assess their performance. Second, we show that dynamic variations in the production, remineralization, and stoichiometry of organic matter in response to changing environmental conditions benefit the simulation of ocean biogeochemistry. Third, dynamic biological functioning reduces the sensitivity of biogeochemical properties to physical change. Carbon and nitrogen inventories were 50% and 20% less sensitive to physical changes, respectively, in simulations that incorporated dynamic biological functioning. These results highlight the importance of a dynamic biology for ocean properties and climate.

What role does human activity play in microbial biogeography?: The revealing case of testate amoebae in the soils of Pyramiden, Svalbard

The role of human activity as a vector in the movement of soil microorganisms is uncertain and disputed. It is increasingly clear that some larger microorganisms have restricted distributions and plausible to imagine that many human activities could lead to exotic species introductions, but concrete examples are lacking. We investigated an unusual case study: the former mining settlement of Pyramiden on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago. In around 1983 large quantities of chernozem soils were imported from the southern USSR as part of an urban greening initiative, bringing large numbers of soil organisms to a very different physical environment. Focusing on a readily-identifiable group of protists with documented regional endemism (testate amoebae), we assessed morphospecies assemblages after thirty years. We analysed communities from Pyramiden imported soils and conducted comparisons to: i) nearby locations with non-imported near-natural soils; ii) previously-established datasets from near-natural Svalbard soils and chernozem soils in southern Russia, and iii) regional species inventories from both regions. Our aims were to assess how the community has adapted to the change in physical conditions and identify any evidence for the import of exotic taxa. Our results show significant differences between the assemblages of imported soils and those of nearby reference sites but strict comparisons are complicated by the different treatment of soils in different locations. No taxa were identified which can be unambiguously identified as atypical for the region. Assemblages of imported soils were more similar to those of other sites on Svalbard than to assemblages from southern Russia. Our data are equivocal but suggest that the testate amoeba assemblages of soils transported more than 3000 km northwards have substantially acclimated to the new conditions, contrasting with micro-invertebrates in the same site. ‘Accidental experiments’ like the soils of Pyramiden provide unique opportunities for long-term, large-scale, soil biological research.

Dynamics of SiO Masers around VX Sgr

Abstract We performed Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of SiO masers ( ) toward VX Sgr from 2006 July to 2008 August. With the application of a phase reference technique, the accurate relative positions of maser spots at the two transitions can be acquired. The relative positions enable us to obtain more matched masers in the same coordinate frame to better study the dynamics of the maser shell. We adopt two different methods to investigate the global motions of the maser shell, which is found to expand in a decelerated manner. At the beginning of this process, the decelerative force can be interpreted as a force dominated by the gravitational attraction of the star. However, in the later epochs, the deceleration has a smaller magnitude, suggesting that an outward force is combating the stellar gravity. In addition, we construct a model of a rotating and expanding maser shell. The consistency of the model and observations at the first two epochs suggests approximate Keplerian rotation of the shell with a period of 46.9 years. However, other explanations, such as an axisymmetric outflow, are also possible. We also find two matched maser spots with double-peak spectra moving at a velocity of 6.8 km s−1. The special spectra provide direct observational evidence that the motion of a maser spot reflects the real gas stream, rather than changes in physical conditions. Finally, the distance to VX Sgr is calculated to be 1.10 ± 0.11 kpc using a statistical parallax method. This value is within the range reported in the literature.

The 1975 Type Japanese Diet Improves Lipid Metabolic Parameters in Younger Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

In our previous study, the health benefits of the 1975 Japanese diet were shown to be the highest, since the diet suppressed visceral and liver fat accumulation, and hyperglycemia. In addition, the 1975 Japanese diet promoted maintenance of learning memory ability and a lengthened life span. However, the effect of the 1975 Japanese diet has not been ascertained in humans. In the current study, a diet with the characteristics of the 1975 Japanese diet was prepared to examine if this diet is beneficial for human health. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine effects of the 1975 Japanese diet (JD) in comparison with a modern Japanese diet (MD). Subjects aged 20~29 years old were randomly assigned to the MD (n=16) and JD (n=16) groups. Each subject consumed the diet three times a day for 28 days. Changes in physical conditions, including body composition and blood biochemistry, from before to after the study period were evaluated. As a result, body weight (p < 0.05), body fat percentage (p < 0.05), body fat mass (p < 0.05), serum triglyceride level (p < 0.05), and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) and serum magnesium levels (p < 0.05) were significantly increased in JD group. These results showed that a diet with the characteristics of the 1975 Japanese diet has a beneficial effect on lipid metabolic parameters.

Rapid development of anoxic niches in supraglacial ecosystems

ABSTRACT Microorganisms play a significant role in changing the physical properties of the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Cryoconite holes are a hotspot for this microbial activity, yet little is known about the REDOX conditions that develop within them. In this study, we used oxygen microelectrodes and microoptodes to measure for anoxic conditions at the microscale, for the first time revealing a potential niche for anaerobic microorganisms and anaerobic processes. The development of an anoxic zone 2 mm deep within a 6 mm-thick layer of cryoconite sediment was observed within an hour of disturbance, showing rapid acclimation to changing physical conditions. Long-term (half year) incubations of cryoconite material showed a peak of oxygen production and consumption after forty days and reached a low-activity, steady state by day 116, with a persisting anoxic zone beginning between 2 mm and 4 mm deep. Anaerobic microorganisms, which have received little attention to date, should therefore be considered an important component of the cryoconite ecosystem. We discuss the possible dynamics of oxygen concentrations in the supraglacial system and infer that anoxic zones are an important factor in the development of cryoconite sediment communities.

The temporal behaviour of MHD waves in a partially ionized prominence-like plasma: Effect of heating and cooling

Context.During heating or cooling processes in prominences, the plasma microscopic parameters are modified due to the change of temperature and ionization degree. Furthermore, if waves are excited on this non-stationary plasma, the changing physical conditions of the plasma also affect wave dynamics.Aims.Our aim is to study how temporal variation of temperature and microscopic plasma parameters modify the behaviour of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves excited in a prominence-like hydrogen plasma.Methods.Assuming optically thin radiation, a constant external heating, the full expression of specific internal energy, and a suitable energy equation, we have derived the profiles for the temporal variation of the background temperature. We have computed the variation of the ionization degree using a Saha equation, and have linearized the single-fluid MHD equations to study the temporal behaviour of MHD waves.Results.For all the MHD waves considered, the period and damping time become time dependent. In the case of Alfvén waves, the cut-off wavenumbers also become time dependent and the attenuation rate is completely different in a cooling or heating process. In the case of slow waves, while it is difficult to distinguish the slow wave properties in a cooling partially ionized plasma from those in an almost fully ionized plasma, the period and damping time of these waves in both plasmas are completely different when the plasma is heated. The temporal behaviour of the Alfvén and fast wave is very similar in the cooling case, but in the heating case, an important difference appears that is related with the time damping.Conclusions.Our results point out important differences in the behaviour of MHD waves when the plasma is heated or cooled, and show that a correct interpretation of the observed prominence oscillations is very important in order to put accurate constraints on the physical situation of the prominence plasma under study, that is, to perform prominence seismology.

Age dynamic of physical condition changes in pre-school age girls, schoolgirls and students, living in conditions of Eastern Siberia

Purpose: to analyze dynamic of physical condition, considering sex (females) and age of the tested, living in region with unfavorable ecology. Material: we studied pre school age girls (n=1580, age 4-7 years). In the research we did not include children with chronic diseases, who were under observation. We tested schoolgirls (n=3211, age 7-17 years) and girl students (n=5827, age 17-21 years, 1-4 years of study. Girl students were divided into five age groups: from 17 to 21 years. All participants lived in conditions of Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk). This region is characterized by unfavorable ecology and climate geographic characteristics. Results: in dynamic of physical condition of pre-school girls, schoolgirls and students we marked out three substantial periods of it characteristics' changes. Age 7-8 years is critical (transition from 1st to 2nd stage). The least values of these characteristics are found in older (after 17-18 years) ages. In students we observed relative stabilization of these indicators. Conclusions: the received results shall be considered in building physical education training process in pre-school educational establishments, secondary comprehensive schools and higher educational establishments.