Current Rise Research Articles

Seasonal patterns and associations in the incidence of acute ischemic stroke requiring mechanical thrombectomy.

BackgroundIn order to identify risk periods with an increased demand in technical and human resources, we tried to determine patterns and associations in the incidence of acute ischemic stroke due to embolic large vessel occlusions (eLVO) requiring mechanical thrombectomy (MT).MethodsWe conducted a time series analysis over a 9‐year period (2010–2018) based on observational data in order to detect seasonal patterns in the incidence of MT due to eLVO (n = 2628 patients). In a series of sequential negative binominal regression models, we aimed to detect further associations (e.g., temperature, atmospheric pressure, air pollution).ResultsThere was a 6‐month seasonal pattern in the incidence of MT due to eLVO (p = 0.024) peaking in March and September. Colder overall temperature was associated with an increase in MT due to eLVO (average marginal effect [AME], [95% CI]: −0.15 [−0.30–0.0001]; p = 0.05; per °C). A current increase in the average monthly temperature was associated with a higher incidence of MT due to eLVO (0.34 [0.11–0.56]; p = 0.003). Atmospheric pressure was positively correlated with MT due to eLVO (0.38 [0.13–0.64]; p = 0.003; per hectopascal [hPa]). We could detect no causal correlation between air pollutants and MT due to eLVO.ConclusionsOur data suggest a 6‐month seasonal pattern in the incidence of MT due to eLVO peaking in spring and early autumn. This might be attributed to two different factors: (1) a current temperature rise (comparing the average monthly temperature in consecutive months) and (2) colder overall temperature. These results could help to identify risk periods requiring an adaptation in local infrastructure.

A novel evaluation method for the risk of simultaneous commutation failure in multi-infeed HVDC-systems that considers DC current rise

This paper proposes a novel evaluation method for the risk of simultaneous commutation-failures (CFs) in multi-infeed high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) systems, which takes into account the DC current rise caused by the inverter AC system fault. By calculating a multi-infeed interaction factor (MIIF), and using an equivalent model for multi-infeed HVDC systems. The effect of DC-current on commutation failure is analyzed and the factors that affect the simultaneous commutation-failure are determined. Based on the equivalent equation for both the DC line and DC control, a time-domain expression for the DC-current caused by the inverter AC system fault is calculated. Based on this, this paper describes a novel CF evaluation method that takes into account DC current rise by solving for the maximum of the DC current. Several useful parameters like the MIIF, the critical multi-infeed commutation failure factor (CMICFF), and the multi-infeed commutation failure factor (MICFF) are defined, and a method for the risk of simultaneous commutation-failure in multi-infeed HVDC systems by comparing CMICFF and MICFF is proposed. The accuracy of the method proposed in this paper is validated by a comparison with a simulation using the software PSCAD/EMTDC.

The Built Environment and its Impact on Transit based Transportation Users Walking Activity in Semarang, Indonesia

The increase in mobility rate due to the current rise in population has become a challenge in urban development. This led to the development of pedestrian walkways, which are integrated with transit-based transportation, to minimize problems due to the high level of mobility of the urban population. According to some experts, environmental conditions are one of the main factors capable of affecting pedestrians' frequency. Therefore, this study explores the effect of the built environment, such as density, diversity, and design, on the pedestrian frequency of the Bus Trans Semarang passengers. Data were collected from 9 corridors, consisting of 447 bus stops, directly connected to the pedestrian walkways, as one of the feeders for transit-based transportation facilities. The analysis method used for each variable was the formulation technique, with data simulated using various applications, such as ArcGIS. The linear regression partial t-test model was also analyzed using SPSS, with the effect of pedestrian frequency on dependent variables determined, using the built environment elements (independent variable). The results showed a positive significance between the diversity variable and pedestrians' frequency along the Bus Trans Semarang corridors. Furthermore, the land that varies with the dominance of commercial and educational area has the highest attraction features that affects a person's frequency to walk.

Multimodal Interventions to Prevent and Control Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producer-Associated Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Egypt.

The current rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae including the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been increasingly reported worldwide, posing new challenges to health care facilities. Accordingly, we evaluated the impact of multimodal infection control interventions at one of the major tertiary healthcare settings in Egypt for the aim of combating infections by the respective pathogens. During the 6-month pre-intervention period, the incidence rate of CRE and ESBL-producing clinical cultures were 1.3 and 0.8/1000 patient days, respectively. During the post-intervention period, the incidence of CRE and ESBL producers continued to decrease, reaching 0.5 and 0.28/1000 patient days, respectively. The susceptibility rate to carbapenems among ESBL producers ranged from 91.4% (ertapenem) to 98.3% (imipenem), amikacin (93%), gentamicin (56.9%), and tobramycin (46.6%). CRE showed the highest resistance pattern toward all of the tested β-lactams and aminoglycosides, ranging from 87.3% to 94.5%. Both CRE and ESBL producers showed a high susceptibility rate (greater than 85.5%) to colistin and tigecycline. In conclusion, our findings revealed the effectiveness of implementing multidisciplinary approaches in controlling and treating infections elicited by CRE and ESBL producers.

The End of Neoliberal Globalism: A Critical Perspective

There has been a growing trend towards protectionism, particularly in the Global North in recent years. The rise of Trump, Brexit and tighter immigration control across Europe and America seem to run contrary to the conventional neoliberal globalism discourse of free flow of people, capital, goods and information across the globe. Using a qualitative approach and drawing on data from published works, this paper argues that these events are part of the Global North’s rebellion against neoliberal globalism. This process is not external to the process of neoliberal globalism but integral to it. Although the current rise of nationalism and protectionism does not represent an end of globalization, it represents the end of the discourse of globalization as a fit all economic and political solution to diverse nations. This demands that alternatives to the current thinking be considered. A new form of globalization must consider issues of income and economic inequality among nations and people. It must offer the chance to the nation state to reinvent itself as the welfare providing and protecting states.

Characteristics of Electric Currents in Upward Lightning Flashes From a Windmill and its Lightning Protection Tower in Japan, 2005–2016

AbstractWe examine the lightning current of 81 upward lightning (UL) initiated from a windmill and its lightning protection tower in Japan under winter thunderstorms from 2005 to 2016. Among 81 UL, the negative, positive, and bipolar lightning account for 64%, 12%, and 24%, respectively. After checking the current waveforms during the initial stage (IS) of negative UL, we found that self‐initiated negative UL have larger peak value and shorter rise time compared to other‐triggered ones, although two types of negative UL show no significant difference in charge transfer and duration. Among 18 self‐initiated negative UL, half of them are initiated from the windmill. On the other hand, only two of 27 other‐triggered negative UL are from the windmill and both of them have smaller current peak value, shorter duration, and smaller charge transfer. According to whether or not the IS current waveforms exhibit pulsation, we have classified UL into type S (smooth), SP (transition from smooth to pulsation), and P (pulsation). We found that the rate of slow current rise for most type P UL is larger than 0.1 kA/ms, whereas for all type S UL the rate is smaller than 0.01 kA/ms. The type SP UL shows a slow current rise rate ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 kA/ms. We found that the current pulsation of type P UL corresponds to the stepwise propagation of a positive leader. Based on these results, we have discussed the effect of the lightning protection tower and the stepwise propagation of positive leaders.

Effect of pulsed magneto oscillation and phosphorus on microstructure and tensile properties of as-cast Al-25% Si alloy

Abstract The effect of pulsed magneto oscillation (PMO) on the microstructure and tensile properties of Al-25% Si alloys with and without phosphorus addition was investigated. When PMO was applied to the melt during solidification, the results show that the PMO treatment is an effective method for refining the primary Si of Al-25% Si alloy with and without phosphorus addition. The morphology of primary Si was considerably refined via coarse dendritic and polygon shape to fine and regular block under the PMO treatment, and the average size of primary Si was refined to 30.8 μm and 45.3 μm under the optimal processing conditions for the alloy with and without phosphorus addition, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation of the alloys first increased and then decreased with rise of current. Analysis shows that application of PMO decreases Gibbs free energy and critical nucleus radius of the Al-25% Si alloy during solidification. The nucleation rate first increased and then decreased with increasing PMO intensity. The variation tendency of average number of primary Si per unit area is consistent with the theory analysis.

ADVANCES IN THE APPLICATION OF DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS (DEMS) FOR THE EVALUATION OF COASTAL FLOODING

Abstract Meteoceanographic forces act daily, provoking rapid changes in coastal geomorphology and impacting the human infrastructure located near the sea, principally on low-lying coasts. The current ongoing rise in sea level provoked by climate change is also a major source of concern for local and regional authorities. Geospatial models of coastal flooding are evolving rapidly, together with geomorphometric tools and their applications. These initiatives may permit the implementation of medium-and long term actions to minimize the effects of flooding, although a range of methodological considerations must be taken into account. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have become increasingly more accurate due to the integration of altimetric references and vertical data, as well as the increasing quality of the sensors used. For example, the application of the bathtub approach to coastal flooding assessment has been relatively successful. The choice of the flood model should include the careful selection of methods that ensure the most adequate application of the model.

Observation and characterization of impact ionization-induced OFF-state breakdown in Schottky-type p-GaN gate HEMTs

In this work, the impact ionization-induced OFF-state breakdown is revealed and systematically investigated in 100 V Schottky-type p-GaN gate high-electron-mobility transistors. Impact ionization is found to occur in the peak electric-field region at the source-terminated field-plate edge and is initiated by electrons injected from the source-side two-dimensional electron gas channel through the buffer layer. Hot electrons generated from impact ionization, when being captured by surface traps, could lead to redistribution and peak value reduction of electric-field. Consequently, the sudden rise in the OFF-state leakage current by impact ionization could be self-clamped temporally to avoid catastrophic rupture of the device. The impact ionization is further verified by the increase in dynamic OFF-state leakage current and a negative shift in threshold voltage, both of which result from positively charged holes (generated from impact ionization) drifting toward the gated channel.

Rational clinical use of near-patient analytical systems for molecular detection of infectious agents

Abstract Background Tests for diagnosing infectious diseases (ID-POCT) play a special role among the available point-of-care testing (POCT) methods. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed. Based on this literature review and our own experience, aspects associated with using molecular biological methods in the diagnostic amplification of pathogen DNA/RNA (nucleic acid testing = NAT) and/or signal amplification were discussed in an interdisciplinary manner. This resulted in the following recommendations for the near-patient use of NAT methods. Results Due to the current rise in the use of near-patient NAT testing (e.g., using disposable cartridges), recommendations are made for their implementation and appropriate clinical use in the hospital setting. Particular emphasis is placed on the analytical quality of the results. Furthermore, internal best-practice rules and selection criteria are proposed to ensure rapid diagnosis. Equally important are a medically valid interpretation of results and compliance with hygiene requirements. These recommendations emphasize that near-patient NAT should always be procured in conjunction with a (preferably) multidisciplinary institution responsible for POCT and knowledge of the test specifications and risks, as well as quality assurance need to be in place before they are carried out. Conclusions These recommendations are intended to improve patient safety and to avoid economically questionable expenditures.

Mechanism analysis of the effect of different gas manifold positions on proton exchange membrane fuel cell cold start performance

The balanced distribution of water and heat inside the cell during the startup step is the key to the successful cold start of proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The cold start experiments prove that due to the influence on the internal water and heat distribution, different gas manifold positions have a significant effect on cold start performance. When cold start is at −10°C, the generated water in the cathode side mostly exists in the form of supercooled water. This allows all −10°C cases successfully reach the temperature above the freezing point. When the H2 and air inlet manifolds are arranged on the different side, sudden current rise occurs at the beginning of the startup step. When cold start is at −15°C, the generated water freezes quickly, which causes the performance degradation in local areas. Two cases with the same side H2 and air inlet manifolds show the better cold start performance at −15°C. Combining all the results, during cold start, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell gas manifold position that the H2 and air inlets at the bottom and outlets at the top is recommended.

Repurposing Licensed Drugs for Use Against Alzheimer's Disease.

Substantial evidence, composed of drug mechanisms of action, in vivo testing, and epidemiological data, exists to support clinical testing of FDA-approved drugs for repurposing to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Licensed compound investigation can often proceed at a faster and more cost-effective manner than un-approved compounds moving through the drug pipeline. As the prevalence of AD increases with life expectancy, the current rise in life expectancy amalgamated with the lack of an effective drug for the treatment of AD unnecessarily burdens our medical system and is an urgent public health concern. The unfounded reluctance to examine repurposing existing drugs for possible AD therapy further impedes the possibility of improving the quality of patient lives with a terminal disease. This review summarizes some evidence which exists to suggest certain already-approved drugs may be considered for the treatment of AD and will perhaps encourage physicians to off-label prescribe these safe therapeutics.

The natural domination of capitalism: Darwinist organicism and the perverse postcolonial fantasy in Jhumpa Lahiri's The Lowland

Jhumpa Lahiri's status as a prominent author of ‘post colonial literature’ necessitates a probing of her fiction's ‘macro-politics’, a rigorous demystification of her ideological and political sympathies and antipathies. Situating Lahiri's post colonialism must clarify her stance on geo-political and economic developments of the last seventy years. It must inevitably engage with the debates on issues such as neo-liberalism, imperialism and neo-conservative military interventionism, so far not adequately addressed by the critical literature. In the following essay, we propose that a ‘macro-political’ reading of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Lowland could furnish us with the answers that are crucial to the field of postcolonial studies and its self-criticism. A close reading of the narrative, as a politically biased historiography, reveals a deployment of social Darwinist (evolutionary) doctrine coupled with a rather crude dismissal of leftist opposition amounting to an apologetics for neo-liberal capitalism and its aggressively interventionist ‘foreign policy’. This regime has proved increasingly incapable of self-justification, indicated by the current rise of populism and the ‘environmentalist’ movement on a global scale. Furthermore, we will try to draw parallels between this crisis and twentieth-century fascism. Max Horkheimer's analysis will shed light on the novel's ideological content and that, for all its overt unflagging apologetics, it brings to the surface the acute systemic contradictions of neo-liberal capitalism. Today's crisis ties the viability of the future of organised human life to a revolutionary systemic upheaval, and Lahiri's consigning of precisely such revolutionary politics to juvenile utopianism becomes a peculiarly untenable act of denial and projection.

Influence of Current Change Rate During DC Current Limitation on the Coated Conductor Degradation

The paper explores the idea of reducing the amount of REBCO conductor in Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (R-SCFCL) by reducing the temperature of liquid Nitrogen from 77 K to 66 K. Because of lower temperature, the critical current increase approximately two times, and instead of two parallel tapes, one can use only one tape in a 1000 A class R-SCFCL. However, recent experimental results on short samples show a frequent degradation of superconductors by DC current limitation at 66 K. The paper reports our investigation of this phenomenon by experiments complemented by extensive numerical modeling. We suggest that the primary cause of conductor degradation initially appearing at 66 K should be sought in the first sub-millisecond period of the limitation pulse. We observed that a reduced initial rate of the current rise during the limitation event can prevent the conductor damage.

Trust Model for Online Reviews of Tourism Services and Evaluation of Destinations

Obtaining information about destinations and services they provide is ever more based on user-generated content (UGC), which includes reviews of tourism services as well as evaluation of attractions and destinations by visitors. The growing importance of reviews of tourism services is recognized by tourism service providers, and some of them influence the content of reviews on review sites. At the same time, procedures for the prevention of false and misleading reviews, as well as their detection, are being intensively developed. This is documented in relevant sources, which were identified especially on the Web of Science, Scopus, Sciencedirect, Researchgate and the websites of MDPI, Emerald and Taylor & Francis Online. The aim of this study is to reveal how the verification of reviews can be improved with the intention to increase confidence in the review sites. In the form of case studies of TripAdvisor and Booking.com, the current rise of trust in reviews on these review sites was analysed and documented. The outputs of research include a SWOT analysis, processual analysis and an analysis of verification process, conditions, factors affecting trust in reviews on review sites. On these bases, a conceptual model for providing verified reviews of tourism services or verified destination assessment and two process models for providing verified reviews of tourism services and for providing verified destination assessment have been drawn up.

Policy Driven Initiative for Promoting Electric Vehicles to Combat Climate Change in the Developing Countries: A Case From Bhutan

Climate change is a growing threat of current time and the future generations. Contribution from manmade activities is observed increasingly, posing the threats to mankind as well as the environment. With advancement of socioeconomic development of the country, there arises a series of challenges associated with it. The emissions from the developmental activities and the consequences are vital to be monitored and timely corrective actions are needed. Thus, climate change is the greatest threats at present time and has a series of effects if the trends of activities continue as usual. Research made use of primary data which are both qualitative and quantitative in nature to understand the issues of climate change, policy intervention and the implementation, especially in the case of Bhutan. This study showed that one such growing threat of emissions and effect to climate change are increasing number of vehicles making transport sectors as strong contributors of emissions (esp. Greenhouse Gas (GHG)). With pace of development, there are positive indicators of per capita GDP growth which increases the purchasing power and affordability of individuals. This linkage is visible in the trends of current rise in ownership of vehicles with even sharp rise noticed in developing countries like Bhutan. Electric vehicles are found to be promising interventions in growing transport sectors. To curb the issues of rise in the number of vehicles and provide a conductive platform for the purchase and use of electric vehicles, a right policy intervention seems instrumental. A small landlocked country Bhutan is remarked to practice guided policy interventions, backed by its unique developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that aimed for holistic socioeconomic development. Such measures of balancing societal and developmental activities seem to track its approach in a timely manner to make the policy and support mechanism favorable for promotion of the green transport system in Bhutan.

Studies on the implosion of pinches with tailored density profiles

This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies of imploding metal-puff Z-pinches. The experiments were carried out on the MIG high-current pulse generator at a current level of about 2 MA and a current rise time of about 100 ns. A plasma gun was used to produce a plasma column with a tailored density profile through which the main electromagnetic pulse of the MIG generator was passed. The experiments have shown that pinches of this type, being compressed, are resistant to dynamic magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor (MRT) instabilities. The experimental results were analyzed using one-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations. It has been shown that in a pinch with a tailored density profile, the formation of a high-temperature plasma at the pinch axis and the generation of x-rays occur at the stagnation stage, i.e. under conditions close to Bennett equilibrium. At this stage, flute-like MRT instabilities develop, causing the pinch to decay.

Experimental Tests of DC SFCL Under Low Impedance and High Impedance Fault Conditions

DC system protection is more challenging than that for AC system due to the rapid rate of rise of the fault current and absence of natural current zero-crossing in DC systems. Superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) in DC systems is a promising technology to reduce the fault current level and the rate of rise of the fault current, and also SFCLs have no resistance during normal operation. In this paper, the behaviors of an SFCL coil are investigated under both low impedance and high impedance fault conditions in DC systems. In the low impedance fault condition system, the SFCL coil performs effective limitation of the fault current level under different prospective fault current levels. The application of SFCLs with limited inductance in the DC system can be a potential solution to effectively suppress the fault current under low impedance short-circuit faults. The SFCL coil under the high impedance fault condition can only limit the prospective fault current when it is much higher than the critical current of the coil.

A projection of primary knee replacement in Denmark from 2020 to 2050

Background and purpose — The incidence of knee replacements (KRs) has increased in the past decades. Previous studies have forecast a continuous and almost exponential rise in the use of KRs, but this rise must cease at some point. We estimated when and at what incidence the use of KRs will plateau in Denmark. Patients and methods — We retrieved 138,223 primary KRs conducted from 1997 to 2019 from the Danish Knee Arthroplasty Registry. Censuses from 1997 to 2019 as well as population projections from 2020 through 2050 were collected from Statistics Denmark. We applied logistic and Gompertz regression analysis to the data to estimate the future incidence until 2050 with root mean squared error (RMSE) as a quantitative measurement of the models’ fit. Results — The Danish incidence of KRs from 1997 to 2009 increased by more than 300%, but has stalled since 2009. Logistic and Gompertz regression had an RMSE of 14 and 15 indicating that these models fitted the data well. Logistic and Gompertz regressions estimated that the maximum incidence will be reached in 2030 at 250 (95% prediction interval [PI]) 159–316) KRs per 105 or in 2035 at 260 (PI 182–336) KRs per 105, respectively. Interpretation — The Danish incidence of KRs seems set to plateau within the coming decades. Countries experiencing a current exponential rise at a lower incidence may benefit from this study’s projection when forecasting their future demand for KRs.

Sustainability Assessment of the Engineering Properties of Asphalt Concrete Incorporating Pulverized Snail Shell Ash as Partial Replacement for Filler

In furtherance to the search for reliable and cost-effective road construction materials which is expected to engender the development of sustainable and less expensive pavements, coupled with the increase in agricultural wastes due to the current rise in the consumption of white meat, this research investigated the engineering properties of modified bitumen and subsequent performance of asphaltic concrete incorporating Pulverized Snail Shell Ash (PSSA) as strength modifier and filler. In order to achieve specific objectives, preliminary physical and chemical tests were initialized to characterize the virgin bitumen and snail shell ash. Pulverized proportions of the snail shell ash were blended with bitumen at 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % respectively by weight of mineral aggregates; and subsequently incorporated as filler at the same proportions. The rotational viscometer and penetrometer were engaged to determine the viscosity and penetration of the modified bitumen, and the Marshall mix design method was used to determine the mechanical and rheological characteristics of the resultant asphaltic concrete composites. The modification of bitumen with snail shell ash resulted in a decrease in penetration of virgin bitumen from 80/100 pen to 60/70 pen, including the rotational viscosity. Different mixtures of PSSA at the aforementioned proportions, were evaluated by the design method according to Marshall. The stability was found to be higher than the control mix at 30% of grade which satisfied the Marshall specification for wearing course mixes. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed the presence of Oxygen and Calcium in the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) modified with PSSA, while the scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a good blend of the aggregates. The results suggest feasible use of PSSA as partial aggregate substitution in HMA. It was noted that the PSSA was finer than the conventional mineral filler and it filled the voids, engendered a stiffer, and denser mix, as well as reduced the number of voids present in the mix and increased its stability. Experimental results indicated higher stability value of 35.08 KN for the mixture having 30% PSSA as optimum filler content in comparison with conventional mix which was 34.7 kN and standard specification of 34 kN minimum. This study has therefore established the feasibility of using PSSA as alternative filler instead of the conventional in asphalt concrete mix by satisfying the standard specification. Also making the reuse of agricultural waste possible, thereby making construction cost cheaper, and also reducing waste.