Differences In Physical Behavior Research Articles

Is patients’ activities of daily living self-care score in Norwegian home care a proxy for workers standing at work?

BackgroundProlonged standing at work may contribute to increased risk of musculoskeletal pain in home care workers. Patients’ activities of daily living (ADL) score may be a proxy for home care workers’ standing time at work. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between patients’ ADL self-care score, and workers standing time.MethodsThis cross-sectional study measured time spent standing, sitting and in physical activity for seven days using thigh-worn accelerometers, among 14 home care workers. Patients’ ADL self-care scores are routinely adjusted by home care nurses, and time intervals of home care visits are stored in home care services electronic patient journal. We collected ADL self-care scores and start and end time points of visits, and categorized ADL self-care scores as low (ADL ≤ 2.0), medium (ADL > 2.0 to 3.0) or high (ADL > 3.0). Physical behavior data were transformed to isometric log-ratios and a mixed-effect model was used to investigate differences in physical behavior between the three ADL self-care score categories.ResultsWe analyzed 931 patient visits and found that high ADL self-care scores were associated with longer standing times relative to sitting and physical activity, compared to low ADL score (0.457, p = 0.001). However, no significant differences in time spent standing were found between high and medium ADL patient visits (0.259, p = 0.260), nor medium and low (0.204, p = 0.288). High ADL score patients made up 33.4% of the total care time, despite only making up 7.8% of the number of patients.ConclusionOur findings suggest that caring for patients with high ADL self-care score requires workers to stand for longer durations and that this group of patients constitute a significant proportion of home care workers’ total work time. The findings of this study can inform interventions to improve musculoskeletal health among home care workers by appropriate planning of patient visits.

MnCaTa2O7-A Magnetically Ordered Polar Phase Prepared via Cation Exchange.

Reaction between the pseudo-Ruddlesden-Popper phase Li2CaTa2O7 and MnCl2 at 375 °C yields MnCaTa2O7, a paramagnetic polar phase (space group P21nm), which adopts an a-b-c+/b-a-c+ distorted, layered perovskite structure. Magnetization and neutron diffraction data show that MnCaTa2O7 adopts an antiferromagnetically ordered state below TN = 56 K and exhibits large lattice parameter anomalies and a transient increase in its polar distortion mode at TA = 50 K. However, in contrast to the related phase MnSrTa2O7, MnCaTa2O7 shows no strong signature of weak ferromagnetism and thus shows no signs of magnetoelectric coupling. The differences in physical behavior between the two MnATa2O7 phases appear to be related to their differing Mn cation-order and differing TaO6 tilting schemes and demonstrate that even subtle changes to these orderings can have large effects on the distortion-mode couplings, which drive complex behavior of this class of "hybrid improper" ferroelectric material.

Crystallization and polymorphic behaviors of cocoa butter alternatives: A review

AbstractAlthough cocoa butter (CB) has remarkable physical properties, its high price, growing difficulties, and increased consumption have been the main incentive to explore alternatives to replace or improve it. The potential of fats systems obtained from tropical butters, mixtures of them with vegetable oils, or marine fats as cocoa butter equivalent (CBE), extender (CBEx), substitute (CBS), replacer (CBR), or improver (CBI) have been deeply investigated and their physical chemical properties have been compared to those of CB. The TAGs composition of fats systems is a key factor that determines fats crystallization and polymorphic behaviors, and the suitability for an application. Fats with high concentrations of the TAGs StOSt, StOA, or StOB and low concentrations of POP compared to CB show some incompatibility with CB as analyzed by iso‐solid diagrams and a more complex polymorphic behavior. The presence of low melting TAGs such as POO, StOO, and AOO also leads to significant differences in physical behavior compared to CB. In those fats systems, co‐crystallization and polymorphic transitions of co‐existing solid solutions were reported. A few of the studied fat systems may behave as CBE. However, most of them have potential as CBS, CBR, CBEx or CBI in confectionery products. Studies reported the relevance of fractionation and interesterification processes to modify TAGs composition and the need of finding the right processing conditions and additives to extend fats applications.

Grain Reynolds Number Scale Effects in Dry Granular Slides

Scale effects are differences in physical behavior that manifest between a large event and a geometrically scaled laboratory model and may cause misleading predictions. This study focuses on scale effects in granular slides, important in the environment and to industry. A versatile 6 m long laboratory setup has been built following Froude similarity to investigate dry granular slides at scales varied by a factor of 4, with grain Reynolds numbers Re in the range of 10 to 10 . To provide further comparison, discrete element method simulations have also been conducted. Significant scale effects were identified; the nondimensional surface velocity increased by up to 35%, while the deposit runout distance increased by up to 26% from the smallest to the largest model. These scale effects are strongly correlated with Re, suggesting that interactions between grains and air are primarily responsible for the observed scale effects. This is supported by the discrete element method data, which did not show these scale effects in the absence of air. Furthermore, the particle drag force accounted for a significant part of the observed scale effects. Cauchy number scale effects caused by unscaled particle stiffness resulting in varying dust formation with scale are found to be of secondary importance. Comparisons of the laboratory data to that of other studies and of natural events show that data normalization with Re is an effective method of quantitatively comparing laboratory results to natural events. This upscaling technique can improve hazard assessment in nature and is potentially useful for modeling industrial flows.

Hospital in Motion, a Multidimensional Implementation Project to Improve Patients' Physical Behavior During Hospitalization: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study.

BackgroundDespite the evidence of the adverse consequences of immobility during hospitalization, patients spend most of the time in bed. Although physical activity is a modifiable factor that can prevent in-hospital functional decline, bed rest is deeply rooted in the hospital culture. To attack this, a multidimensional approach is needed. Therefore, Hospital in Motion, a multidimensional implementation project, was designed to improve physical behavior during hospitalization.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Hospital in Motion on inpatient physical behavior. Secondary objectives are to investigate the effectiveness on length of hospital stay and immobility-related complications of patients during hospitalization and to monitor the implementation process.MethodsFor this study, Hospital in Motion will be implemented within 4 wards (cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, medical oncology, and hematology) in a Dutch University Medical Center. Per ward, multidisciplinary teams will be composed who follow a step-by-step multidimensional implementation approach including the development and implementation of tailored action plans with multiple interventions to stimulate physical activity in daily care. A prepost observational study design will be used to evaluate the difference in physical behavior before and 1 year after the start of the project, including 40 patients per time point per ward (160 patients in total). The primary outcome measure is the percentage of time spent lying, measured with the behavioral mapping method. In addition, a process evaluation will be performed per ward using caregivers’ and patient surveys and semistructured interviews with patients and caregivers.ResultsThis study is ongoing. The first participant was enrolled in October 2017 for the premeasurement. The postmeasurements are planned for the end of 2018. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in autumn 2019.ConclusionsThis study will provide information about the effectiveness of the Hospital in Motion project on physical behavior and about the procedures of the followed implementation process aimed to incorporate physical activity in usual care. These insights will be useful for others interested in changing physical behavior during hospitalization.Trial RegistrationNetherlands Trial Register NTR7109; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6914 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76dyhdjdd)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/11341

Differences in Physical Behaviour between Obese and Normal Weight Saudi Arabian Boys and Girls: What is Worth Noting?

Objectives: As there still insufficient evidence on the physical behaviours of children who gain weight. Purpose: We aimed to gather data and investigate if any variability in physical behaviours determines whether an urban Saudi school child will be of normal weight or obese. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study of 1023 child, aged 9.00 to 11.99 years, who divided into two groups (normal weight and obese, as classified by their BMI), and further stratified by sex. Participants in each group were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster-sampling technique. A self-paced questionnaire was used to collect data relating to physical activities (PA) and behaviours. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured, and bioelectrical impedance analysis was assessed in all children. Results: Children being “active” during physical education (PE) significantly differed between groups (p = 0.000), and this difference remained after being stratified by sex (boys, p = 0.000; girls, p = 0.039). Regular child activities frequency/week, i.e. jogging or running (p = 0.020), bicycling (p = 0.000), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (p = 0.021), vigorous physical activity (VPA) (p = 0.000), and household work (p = 0.009), were significantly different between groups, and particularly for the boys. The best places for all children to undertake PA were at home and school. Public parks and schools were highly preferred by normal weight boys and girls, respectively. Normal weight children, especially boys, clearly indicated being very active during most recess breaks; the difference was significant (p = 0.000). Sleeping hours were not significantly different between the normal weight and obese groups, or for both genders. Conclusion: Lower levels of physical activities are common behaviours among obese children, and especially boys. There poses an increased risk of obesity that’s needs to be addressed.

Physical behavior of highly deformable products during convective drying assessed by a new experimental device

ABSTRACTThis article presents an experimental device specially designed for the continuous measurement of mass and dimensions of samples submitted to convective drying. This experimental device consists of a magnetic suspension balance and an image acquisition system. The sample deformation is determined by image correlation using a custom software. The entire system is able to achieve accurate mass and dimension measurements over a wide range of temperature and relative humidity. To present the potential of this equipment, experimental data of highly deformable food products (potato and apple) submitted to several drying conditions are presented. The obtained results confirm that it is required to consider the actual sample surface to determine the mass flux. This allowed a first drying stage to be observed for potato. Clear differences in physical behavior of these two vegetable products were also observed, for example, an isotropic shrinkage behavior for potato and an anisotropic behavior for apple. These results were explained by the anatomical structure of the products.

Characterization of Metamorphic GaAsP/Si Materials and Devices for Photovoltaic Applications

GaAs <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1-</sub> <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> anion-sublattice compositionally graded buffers and device structures were grown directly on Si(100) substrates by way of a high-quality GaP integration layer, yielding GaAsP target layers having band gaps of photovoltaic interest (1.65-1.8 eV), free of antiphase domains/borders, stacking faults, and microtwins. GaAs <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1-</sub> <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> growths on both Si and GaP substrates were compared via high-resolution X-ray diffractometry of the metamorphic buffers and deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) of p <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> -n diodes that are lattice matched to the final buffer layer. Structural analysis indicates highly efficient epitaxial relaxation throughout the entire growth structure for both types of samples and suggests no significant difference in physical behavior between the two types of samples. DLTS measurements performed on GaAsP diodes fabricated on both Si and GaP substrates reveal the existence of identical sets of traps residing in the n-type GaAsP layers in both types of samples: a single majority carrier (electron) trap, which is located at <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EC</i> - 0.18 eV, and a single minority carrier (hole) trap, which is located at <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">EV</i> + 0.71 eV. Prototype 1.75-eV GaAsP solar cell test devices grown on GaAs <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> P <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1-</sub> <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">y</i> /Si buffers show good preliminary performance characteristics and offer great promise for future high-efficiency III-V photovoltaics integrated with Si substrates and devices.

Degree of blockiness of amide groups as indicator for difference in physical behavior of amidated pectins

Thickening and gelling properties of commercial amidated pectins depend on the degree of amidation and methyl-esterification, but also the distribution of these groups is of great importance. Methods have been developed during the last few years to determine the distribution of methyl esters over the pectic backbone. We applied the strategies developed for the analysis of high methyl-esterified pectins for studying the distribution of amide groups in amidated pectins. Low methyl-esterified amidated (LMA) pectins were digested before and after removal of methyl esters by an endo-polygalacturonase to determine the degree of blockiness of the substituents. The nature of the substituents (amide groups compared to methyl esters) did not modify the behavior of the enzyme. Oligomers released were separated by using high-performance anion exchange chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) at pH 5. Fractions collected after on-line desalting were identified by using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Oligomers were found to elute from the column as a function of their total charge. For the same overall charge and size, oligomers with methyl esters eluted before oligomers with amide groups. Both amide groups and methyl esters of the LMA pectins studied were found to be semirandomly distributed over the pectic backbone, but this may vary according to the amidation process used.

Anomalous high activity of a subfraction of polyvinyl alcohol ice blocker

Low molecular weight copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are known to be potent inhibitors of ice formation in solutions used for cryopreservation by vitrification, even at concentrations as low as one part per million. Concentrated aqueous solutions of these polymers tend to become turbid after preparation. Condensed particles causing turbidity were isolated from a commercially available PVA-based ice blocker (X-1000) and found to consist of a polymer subfraction that is especially effective at ice blocking. Fifty seven percentage (w/w) of ethylene glycol (EG) in distilled water and 0.025% of the condensate polymer showed similar stability against devitrification as 57% EG + 0.1% ordinary X-1000. At higher concentrations, 56.9% EG + 0.1% condensate polymer was as effective as 56% EG + 1% ordinary X-1000. All solutions containing ice blocker showed much less devitrification during warming than a 57% EG control solution. The condensate polymer was found to be strongly self-associating and less water soluble than ordinary X-1000. The mean molecular weight of the condensate polymer was approximately 1400 compared to 2100 for ordinary X-1000. Proton NMR revealed no large chemical differences. Subtle differences in composition or stereochemistry, perhaps in local regions of molecules, must be responsible for the dramatic differences in physical behavior and ice blocking effectiveness of the condensate polymer.

A New Property of the ISM Equation of State

With a new development of corresponding states principle involving quasi-second virial coefficients of alkali metals, the free parameter of the ISM analytical equation of state, Γ, is shown to incorporate quantum effects. This observation is justified by the assumption that Γ adjusts itself with the value of a second virial coefficient so much that both describe the compressibility behavior of the system. Calculations along with the present data show that Li, and to some extent Na, deviates from the corresponding states behavior, succeeded by K, Rb, and Cs. By developing a corresponding states principle involving ΔHv, which the scaling factor used in the calculation of the quasi-second virial coefficients of alkali metals, the quantum effect in Γ is well justified. The same behaviors are observed among noble gases, where only He deviates. The statistical mechanical view of the open-shell electronic structure of alkalis must be considered as a special difference in physical behavior with noble gases.

バクテリアセルロース混抄シートの物性

Handsheets containing hardwood kraft pulp (LBKP) and either bacterial or algal cellulose were prepared, and their mechanical and optical properties were studied in terms of their reinforcing effects on fiber network in sheet. Bacterial and algal celluloses were disintegrated to form a fine fiber suspension, and were added to paper stock in place of LBKP with 0-100%. The reinforcing effect of bacterial cellulose in LBKP sheet resulted in increases of physical properties such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, folding endurance and dimensional stability, although opacity decreased with bacterial cellulose content in handsheet. Handsheets containing algal cellulose had almost no improvement in tensile strength and folding endurance, although they showed improved dimensional stability and high Young's modulus. The difference in physical behavior between bacterial and algal celluloses, in spite of similar structure of fine fibrils, can be explained by the morphological difference between them. The microfibrils of algal cellulose seemed stiff and straight, while those of bacterial cellulose showed flexible, twisting ribbon-like form. Therefore, bacterial cellulose microfibrils are more likely to entangle with LBKP fibers than those of algal cellulose in handsheets, and thus they may contribute to improvements in the mechanical properties.

Physical properties of a Mollisol, an Oxisol and an Inceptisol

An Inceptisol (Andept) from Ecuador, an OOxisol (Ustox) from Columbia and a Mollisol (Udoll) from the U.S.A. were studied. The clay in the Andept was >85% amorphous with allophane being predominant. The Ustox contained sesqui-oxides of iron and aluminum and kaolinite, while the Udoll contained hydrous mica, quartz and kaolinite in the clay fraction. The water retained at all matric potentials >−100 kPa decreased in the order Andept, Udoll, Ustox. The mean wet strength declined approximately in the order Andept = Ustox > Udoll. Hydraulic conductivity decreased with aggregate size. The Ustox and Andept were more stable under rainfall impact than the Udoll. Greater stability was reflected in higher infiltration rates, lower run off, less soil splash and soil movement in run off water. The differences in physical behavior were clearly related to the widely different characteristics of the clay fraction. The physical properties of the three soils studied have important implications as to their management.

Cell Walls of Tobacco Cells and Changes in Composition Associated with Reduced Growth upon Adaptation to Water and Saline Stress

The relative mass of the cell walls of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cells adapted to grow in medium containing 30% polyethylene glycol 8000 or 428 millimolar NaCl was reduced to about 50% of that of the walls of unadapted cells. Cellulose synthesis was inhibited substantially in adapted cells. The proportions of total pectin in walls of unadapted and adapted cells were about the same, but substantial amount of uronic acid-rich material from walls of cells adapted to either NaCl or polyethylene glycol was more easily extracted with cold sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid solutions (NM Iraki et al. [1989] Plant Physiol. 91: 39-47). We examined the linkage composition of the pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides to ascertain chemical factors that may explain this difference in physical behavior. Adaptation to stress resulted in the formation of a loosely bound shell of polygalacturonic acid and rhamnogalacturonan. Pectins extracted from walls of adapted cells by either cold sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid or hot ammonium oxalate were particularly enriched in rhamnose. Compared to pectins of unadapted cells, rhamnosyl units of the rhamnogalacturonans of adapted cells were more highly substituted with polymers containing arabinose and galactose, but the side groups were of greatly reduced molecular size. Possible functional roles of these modifications in cell wall metabolism related to adaptation to osmotic stress are discussed.

Integral equation for the Smith–Nezbeda model of associated fluids

Our recent reformulation of statistical thermodynamics for fluids of molecules interacting by site–site bonding forces is extended to the Smith–Nezbeda (SN) model of associated fluids, where sites bond to the hard core of another molecule. The formal theory of the SN model with one molecular site is similar to the case of site–site bonding with one site, with many formal expressions identical. The difference in physical behavior is attributable to the quite different graph content of the functions that enter. The reformulated theory contains two densities, a number density ρ and a density ρ0 of molecules with site unbonded. An integral equation of Percus–Yevick type is derived and transformed using factorization methods. Accurate numerical solutions are obtained and pressures, internal energies, and concentrations of molecules with site unbonded, bonded, and bonded partaking in a double bond are calculated. No gas–liquid phase transition is found. This is explained by insufficient clustering due to a preference for double bond formation, which is strongest at low ρ and temperature T. The degree of consistency of the virial and compressibility equations of state improves with decreasing T and becomes extraordinarily high over an extended density range at low T. Agreement with the twelve Monte Carlo simulation states of SN is excellent for the internal energy and the pair distribution function near contact. For the pressure the agreement is not quite as good, with no clear trend visible in the discrepancy between integral equation and simulation.

Comparison of pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase (folate conjugase) from porcine and human intestinal brush border membrane

1. 1. A comparative study of pteroylpolygluatamte hydrolase (folate conjugase) of brush border membrane vesicles from human and porcine intestine was conducted. 2. 2. The enrichment of conjugase activity during membrane isolation was 5-fold greater for the human than the pig. 3. 3. Porcine and human conjugases exhibited similar K m values and could completely hydrolyze pteroyltriglutamate (PteGlu 3) to PteGlu 1 via an exohydrolytic process. 4. 4. Pteroic acid, PteGlu 1 and anionic polysaccharides did not inhibit human or porcine conjugase. 5. 5. Apparent mol. wts for detergent-enzyme complexes were 237,000 (pig) and greater than 500,000 (human). 6. 6. These results indicate similar kinetic properties and mode of action but differences in physical behavior between the intestinal brush border folate conjugases of human and pig.

Effect of particle morphology on the hiding power of talc powder

Two samples of talc powder USP—from different sources—showed remarkable difference, over a wide range of concentrations, in their hiding capacities. Particle size, size distribution and surface area were not adequate to account for the difference in physical behavior of the two samples. Morphological characterization based on Fourier shape descriptors of the particle boundary can better explain the difference. The study suggests that in addition to size parameters, the particle shape is equally important in the quality assurance monographs of pharmaceutical solid excipients.

Effective shell charge of electrons on a sphere

By ignoring the radial motions of the electrons in the valence shell of an atom one formally obtains the problem of electrons constrained to move on a sphere. This sphere will be attracted by the core as if it had an effective charge equal to the number of electrons on it minus a certain quantity resulting from the mutual repulsion of the electrons. This “effective shell charge” is a very simple, but still precise and quantitative concept which provides a good understanding of many empirical facts about atoms and ions, most notably Hund's rules. Implications for negative ions are discussed and chemical bonding is touched briefly. A qualitative difference in physical behavior for small and large sphere radii is pointed out.

138. On the mechanism of the potassium catalysed gasification of activated carbon: Differences in physical behaviour of sodium- and potassium-carbonate

138. On the mechanism of the potassium catalysed gasification of activated carbon: Differences in physical behaviour of sodium- and potassium-carbonate

Physical properties of ethylene-propylene copolymers

Abstract In the present paper the mechanical and photomechanical behavior of two ethylene-propylene copolymers of different ethylene contents has been analyzed. This microstructural difference gives rise to differences in physical behavior. In particular, the physical properties of the sample of higher ethylene content are strongly temperature-dependent in the temperature range investigated. The results are discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions or aggregations and show a direct relationship between interaction phenomena, mechanical hysteresis, and deviations from the ideal Gaussian behavior of a rubberlike network.