High Intensity Levels Research Articles

Can cross-border e-commerce development improve supply chain efficiency? Empirical evidence from China

ABSTRACT Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) is becoming critical for a strong supply chain. Using data from Chinese listed firms and a difference-in-difference (DID) model, this paper examines the impact of CBEC development on supply chain efficiency from the perspective of enterprise inventory. CBEC significantly reduces enterprises’ non-finished goods inventory and improves supply chain efficiency. The mechanism tests reveal three ways in which CBEC optimizes enterprises’ inventory and enhances supply chain efficiency: improving the performance of upstream-facing sourcing, increasing the efficiency of enterprises’ product transformation, and optimizing downstream-facing demand coordination. The heterogeneous results suggest that CBEC has a greater impact on the supply chain efficiency of firms with high operational volatility and capital intensity and low digitization levels. Further, the effect of CBEC on the reduction of non-finished goods inventory is more significant in regions with weak infrastructure development and location endowment. This study provides empirical evidence for the emerging development topic of new international trade patterns empowering industrial supply chains.

Studying the X-ray absorption characteristics of Centaurus X-3 using nearly 14 years of MAXI/GSC data

Centaurus X-3 is a persistent high-mass X-ray binary with the long-term light curve from the source exhibiting orbit-to-orbit intensity variations with no apparent superorbital periodicity. We used sim 13.5 years of MAXI /GSC data to study the long-term behaviour of X-ray absorption caused by the stellar wind from the companion star and any absorbing structures present in the binary. We used orbital-phase-resolved spectroscopy to study the variation in the photoelectric absorption along the line of sight of the source for both the intensity-averaged data and intensity-resolved data after dividing all the data binned with orbital period into three intensity levels. We find an asymmetric variation in the photoelectric absorption along the line of sight across an orbit of the source. The orbital-phase-resolved spectra show a clear increase in photoelectric absorption after $ orb 0.5, which deviates from a spherically symmetric stellar wind model. The flux of Cen X-3 shows significant variation between consecutive orbits. An intensity-resolved spectral analysis of the source was performed, followed by an intensity-resolved and orbital-phase-resolved spectral analysis, which showed that at the medium and high intensity levels, the orbital-phase-resolved photoelectric absorption is slightly asymmetric with respect to mid-phase ($ orb =$ 0.5). The asymmetry is very pronounced at the lowest intensity level and cannot be explained by a spherically symmetric wind from the companion star. The differences in the orbital phase-dependence of absorption for different intensity levels suggest that the presence of an accretion wake, photoionization wake, or tidal stream is more prominent at a lower intensity level for Centaurus X-3 than at a higher intensity level.

An innovative two-level yielding knee-braced frame with deformation-controlled ring damper

Previous earthquake experiences have shown that conventional yielding dampers designed for an earthquake intensity cannot perform adequately at higher intensity levels. This paper addresses this issue by proposing a two-level yielding configuration for knee-braced steel frames having an innovative deformation-controlled ring damper (CRD). The proposed configuration includes a knee element damper (KED) and a CRD with a deformation-control device. In weak or moderate earthquakes, the CRD serves as the primary energy absorber. In contrast, in higher-intensity earthquakes, the deformation of the CRD is controlled and the KED acts as a secondary fuse for energy dissipation. In this study, four traditional ring dampers with different geometric properties and two CRD were experimentally tested and their numerical models in Abaqus were successfully verified. The results demonstrated stable and asymmetric hysteretic curves with satisfactory ductility and energy absorption of the ring dampers. Additionally, the CRD revealed a proper control of deformation. Subsequently, a previously tested knee-braced frame specimen with the common ring damper was numerically modeled. After verifying the validity of the model, the behavior of a typical knee-braced frame equipped with a deformation-controlled multi-ring damper (CRD-KBF) was investigated and compared with a common KBF and ring-braced frame (RBF). The obtained results confirmed the expected two-level yielding behavior of the proposed configuration. The numerical analyses demonstrated higher ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the CRD-KBF compared to the other frames.

Associations Between Physical Activity, Systemic Inflammation, and Hospital Admissions in Adults With Heart Failure

Purpose: Among individuals with diagnosed heart failure (HF), the impact of physical activity on systemic inflammation and risk of hospital admissions remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between physical activity and (1) systemic inflammation measured through C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and (2) frequency of hospital admissions in those with HF. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey in this observational cross-sectional study to include 377 community-dwelling adults with HF. Demographic, clinical, and functional variables were extracted from the data and included in the regression models as covariates during analysis. Associations between activity and hospital admissions were examined using Poisson regression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for association between CRP and physical activity. Results: We found a direct linear relationship between CRP levels and hospital admissions, with higher levels of CRP significantly associated with greater number of hospital admissions in HF (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.18, P < .001). Similarly, participating in vigorous activity was significantly associated with decreased expected rate of hospital admissions (IRR = 0.38, P = .013 (C.I. = 0.18–0.80) and with a significant decrease in the CRP levels (B = −0.44, P = .018 (C.I. = −0.80 to −0.83). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using population-level data to examine the association between physical activity level, systemic inflammation, and hospitalizations in individuals with HF. The findings of this study demonstrate that irrespective of sex, engagement in physical activity at higher intensity levels is strongly associated with favorable health outcomes in older adults with HF.

Refined prediction of SO2 concentration around Chinese coking enterprises and exposure risk assessment of different populations based on buffer Latin hypercube

Coking enterprises in China are recognized as significant sources of SO2 emissions, making them a key industry with high levels of SO2 intensity. Assessing the health risks for different populations around these coking enterprises nationwide is challenging due to the lack of clarity regarding SO2 concentrations at varying distances from these facilities. To address this issue, we developed a buffer Latin hypercube XGBoost particle swarm optimization (BLH-XGB-PSO) algorithm that combines efficient global search capabilities and accurate prediction performance. This algorithm enables effective traversal of monitoring points located at varying distances and directions around the enterprise while automatically seeking optimal model parameters. Using this model, we accurately predicted the concentration of SO2 every 0.5 km within a 10 km radius around China's coking enterprises in 2017, achieving a high prediction accuracy with an R2 value of 0.97. The prediction results indicate that the highest concentration of SO2 in the vicinity of Chinese coking enterprises is observed in the central region of Shanxi province (65.88 μg/m3). The average annual concentration of SO2 around all production enterprises amounts to 27.9 μg/m3. Furthermore, we conducted an assessment on the impact of coking enterprises on different age groups, genders, and regions regarding the number of affected individuals, health exposure risks, and control effectiveness. Our findings reveal that in 2017, around 5.5 thousand newborns (14.5% male, 85.5% female) had a hazard quotient (HQ) exceeding threshold value which poses potential human health risks. The implementation of the control policy successfully prevented 64,375 thousand people from being affected by higher concentrations of SO2. Greater attention should be devoted to the health risks faced by newborns residing in proximity to coking enterprises, with a particular emphasis on female infants.

A programmatic description of an early, intensive behavioral intervention program in Australia

AbstractThere is currently limited research on early, intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) within Australia. The purpose of this paper was to provide a programmatic description and preliminary findings of an intervention approach which provides a high level of intensity of intervention to preschool aged children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 154 children with autism participated in the program from 2011 to 2022. At the group level, children who received 27 hr per week of intervention showed significant gains on standardized cognitive and adaptive behavior measures during an average one year of intervention. Further examination of the response to intervention at an individual level demonstrated that 84% of children showed an acceleration in their rate of learning during intervention, with 52% more than doubling their rate of learning in this time. Age was determined to predict improvement in developmental trajectory, but intake cognitive abilities did not. In general, children who commenced intervention at a younger age made substantial improvements in their rate of learning, but children who commenced intervention at an older age made even greater improvements relative to their skills at commencement. The results as well as limitations given the exploratory nature of this paper are discussed, along with implications for addressing the needs of young autistic children in Australia.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards physical activity among healthcare students at a public university in Saudi Arabia.

This research aimed to study the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward physical activity (PA) of healthcare students at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia. A prospective web-based cross-sectional study was carried out among healthcare students of King Khalid University from March to May 2024. The questionnaire contained questions on sociodemographic details, five questions about knowledge, eight questions about attitudes, and seven practice-related questions. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Out of the 383 participants, 175 (45.7%) were men and 208 (54.3%) were women. Most of the students, 292 (76.2%), had a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9. Among the 383, 264 (68.9%) showed good knowledge, 288 (75.2%) had positive attitudes, and 242 (63.2%) had satisfactory PA practice. Most of them, 310 (80.9%), were aware that "regular exercise helps promote strong bones and muscles." Three hundred and fifty-two (91.9%) students believed that individuals who frequently engaged in PA had longer lifespans. More than half of the students (n = 239, 62.4%) engaged in the recommended level of PA. Of the students, 179 (46.8%) agreed that they planned to begin increasing their physical activity during the next 6 months. One hundred and fifty-six (40.7%) stated that they did sports with a high level of intensity for 20 min, three to five times a week, and 175 (45.7%) stated that they did moderate-intensity sports for 30 min, more than five times a week. None of the independent variables had a significant effect on good knowledge levels (p > 0.05). The regression results show being male OR = 0.473 (CI 0.285-0.783 p = 0.004), and being a first-or third-year student OR = 0.329 (CI 0.130-0.832 p = 0.013), OR = 0.276 (CI 0.100-0.762 p = 0.019) has a significant effect on positive attitude levels, while being male OR = 1.945 (CI 1.207-3.135 p = 0.006) and having a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 OR = 10.101 (CI 2.104-48.49 p = 0.004) has a significant effect on satisfactory practice levels. The majority of participants in our study showed good knowledge and positive attitudes toward PA. A lower number of participants, though still the majority, had satisfactory levels of PA. Health education and health promotion initiatives should maintain and enhance knowledge of the positive effects of PA on health.

The experience and implications of pain in systemic lupus erythematosus: A qualitative interview study focusing on the patient's perspective.

Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms and often one of the first subjective symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A previous study indicated that most patients with SLE reported low levels of SLE-related pain. However, a subgroup of patients reported high levels of pain ≥40mm (0-100mm) and had a substantial symptom burden in terms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and reduced health-related quality of life. Thus, there is a need to elucidate the implications of high levels of pain in everyday life. This study explored the patient's experiences and implications of SLE-related pain in daily life and the support requested from healthcare providers. A total of 20 patients, previously reported high levels of SLE-related pain intensity measuring ≥40mm (0-100mm) in a research context at one or two occasions participated in individual semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analysed with content analysis. The interviews revealed four main categories and 13 generic categories. SLE-associated pain was described by its multifaceted nature, exhibiting longstanding, unpredictable, migrating, and various physical sensations. The pain entailed multidimensional consequences, restricting everyday life by interfering with roles and relationships and causing various emotions, including existential thoughts. The informants used comprehensive strategies to deal with the pain, including their inner resources, support from family and significant others, and pharmaceuticals and relieving treatments. They expressed the need for security and acknowledgement, which involved individualized support and accessibility of healthcare. This study provides comprehensive insights into the nature and multifaceted impact of SLE-related pain in different dimensions of the informants' daily lives. Except for medications the informants used several strategies, including their inner resources and support from family and others, to manage the pain. Support requested from healthcare providers by the informants included understanding, compassion, individualized care and accessibility.

Unsteady relationships between instantaneous surface heat flux, instantaneous surface temperature, and tracked shock wave phenomena

Investigated are unsteady relationships between surface heat flux variations, surface temperature fluctuations, and tracked shock wave phenomena. The level of coherence and time lag between events at different flow locations are used to quantify the associated interactions at different frequencies. With this approach, time-varying surface heat flux and surface temperature fluctuations are used to track events at different flow locations relative to unsteadiness associated with the test section inlet and relative to unsteadiness associated with different shock wave phenomena. Employed for the investigation is a specialty test section with an inlet Mach number of 1.54, which contains a normal shock wave, a lambda foot (which is comprised of an upstream oblique shock wave leg, and a downstream oblique shock wave leg), and a flow separation zone beneath the lambda foot. High and low unsteady Mach wave intensity levels are produced at the test section inlet by different numbers and different amounts of unsteadiness of families of intersecting and interacting Mach waves, as these are located within and just downstream of the test section entrance. When correlated with respect to normal shock wave tracked locations, values and magnitudes of the most highly correlated frequency bands are different depending upon the level of test section inlet unsteady Mach wave intensity, and the location where unsteady flow events originate. With low freestream unsteady Mach wave intensity at the test section inlet, unsteady events are generally present at normal shockwave locations prior to times when their influences are present at thin film temperature and heat flux gage surface locations. The presence of high unsteady Mach wave intensity at the test section inlet produces an environment wherein the low Mach wave intensity inlet flow is overwhelmed by highly active Mach wave fluctuations, when they are present, such that the normal shock wave is no longer a primary originating source of flow unsteadiness.

Should we feel the same? Mutual recognition and congruence between therapist and client regarding ruptures and repairs.

The pattern of rupture and repair within therapeutic alliances has been associated with improved outcome. The present study adds to this body of research by examining rupture and repair from a dyadic perspective. First, we examined the relationship between mutual recognition of ruptures, rupture intensity, and client ratings of session helpfulness. We then examined client-therapist congruence regarding rupture and repair characteristics and their relation to client ratings of session helpfulness. Data were collected from 90 client-therapist dyads (providing two subsamples of 61 and 45 dyads) during 16 sessions of short-term psychodynamic therapy. Clients and therapists rated the occurrence of ruptures, rupture characteristics, and rupture repair following each session. Clients also rated session helpfulness following each session. We found a significant negative interaction effect, indicating that when clients rated ruptures as more intense, therapist rupture recognition was related to lower client ratings of session helpfulness. Client-therapist congruence in the perception of rupture intensity was positively related to client perceptions of the extent to which ruptures were discussed. Finally, we found a significant positive relationship between client-therapist congruence in their perception of rupture repair and client ratings of session helpfulness. This study demonstrates the significance of the dyadic view of the rupture/repair process. Therapist recognition of ruptures may not be enough to facilitate repair, specifically in ruptures with a high level of intensity. Nevertheless, congruence in intensity is valuable for addressing the rupture within the session, and congruence in repair is valuable for session helpfulness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Технология получения вакуумных ионно-плазменных износостойких покрытий

A review of the technologies of vacuum ion plasma (VIP) coating spraying based on the reasonability of science intensity, its criteria and evaluation methods is carried out. The technological features of producing VIP coatings are viewed with the emphasis on the process of coating formation on a substrate, which occurs under the impact of the most powerful forces in nature, i.e. these are forces of interatomic interaction. This leads to a very high level of cohesive strength of the coatings, which results in wear resistance and corrosion resistance. This leads to a very high level of cohesive strength of the coatings, succeeding in wear and corrosion resistance. Methods of research, diagnosis and testing of VIP coatings, due to the peculiarities of their structure and properties, include, as a rule, equipment and techniques of leading world manufacturers in the field of electron microscopy, microrentgen spectral analysis, diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, continuous and dynamic indentation, bench testing of unique properties. With respect to scientific and practical activities of the authors, examples of coatings of various nature (nitride, carbon, metalloceramic), different architectures (monolayer – single-phase, multilayer – 2D composites, dispersed – 3D composites) and various applications (wear–resistant, tribotechnical, antierosion, thermal barrier) are given. In particular, some types of nitride coatings TiN, TiAlN, CrAlSiN, which are characterized by high hardness H  24 GPa and abrasive wear resistance, are in the focus. However, in conditions of relatively smooth sliding friction, only the multiphase nanostructured CrAlSiN coating retains wear resistance. In conditions of drop-impact erosion, nanocompositional multilayer VIP coatings of TiN/MoN composition demonstrate the highest resistance, which compete with the recognized champion in this field - welded plates of stellite VZK (WCoCr). Despite the fact that the thickness of the VIP coatings viewed in the paper is a film of 1...10 microns, whereas the stellite plates have a thickness of at least 4 mm. In conclusion, it is noted that VIP technology continues to develop new materials, for example, to create diamond-like coatings or coatings made of high-entropy alloys. VIP technology corresponds to a high level of science intensity, and VIP coatings are promising for putting to use in mechanical engineering.

Optimal management of citrus disease and extreme climatic factors

This study develops a dynamic bioeconomic model using the Bellman equation to derive the optimal management strategy for Witches’ Broom Disease of Lime (WBDL) and the optimal replanting age of citrus trees after the first attack under multiple scenarios of disease management options and climate conditions. In addition, the study investigates different scenarios of disease presence and spread given different climatic conditions of arid, semi-arid and tropical zones in Oman. Factors such as disease incidence, severity, spread, and specific climatic conditions of three growing regions are considered. The farmers' optimal disease mitigation decision is determined by the disease density and insect vector level on the farm, and adverse climate conditions have a significant negative impact on the economic value of citrus cultivation. Results indicate that management measures by citrus growers and policymakers should be based on the climatic conditions of the growing region with a high level of treatment frequency and intensity in the arid region, and lime production should be concentrated in the tropical and semi-arid regions of the country.

An energy efficiency and cost analysis of utilizing high-intensity profile UVC systems on air handling unit under cool-humid climate

The feasibility of the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) application has been proven over the past few decades, especially in disinfection performances; however, a small number of studies were found that explored the energy efficiency improvement and cost savings of real buildings by implementing the UVC systems on cooling coils. The goal of this study is to verify the energy efficiency improvements and cost savings of AHU in a real building environment by removing biofilms on the cooling coil surfaces with the UVC irradiation techniques that can provide higher lamp output (300 μW/cm2) as well as higher intensity levels (1000–4000 μW/cm2) on the cooling coil surfaces. A series of experiments were conducted in an AHU in a medical center located in Michigan, US, to estimate energy efficiency improvement of cooling coils, chiller, and fan with UVC application. The results show that after 7 weeks of UVC operation increased coil overall enthalpy-based thermal conductance by 15.62 %, achieved chiller-side energy savings by up to 28.2 %, reduced pump energy by 32.1 %, and fan energy by 17.7 %. A return on investment (ROI) based only on energy savings is estimated to be 43 % and has a payback period of 2.32 years. When the labor, chemical, and water-saving costs for coil cleaning were included, the ROI was increased to 49 % and reduced the payback period to 2.04 years. When it comes to UVC's disinfection performances, six pathogens showed a more than 99 % removal rate while Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridium difficile showed a relatively lower 94 % removal rate.

Pushing the limit to reach meaningful change: the impact of intensity-driven exercise on clinical outcomes for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. A single-subject design

Purpose Parkinson’s disease creates an inability to perform previous learned autonomic tasks, such as walking, which worsens with disease progression. Recommendations to incorporate exercise at moderate to high intensities for this population has been established but there is limited knowledge about its impact on clinical based outcomes. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week intensity-driven walking program on clinical-based outcomes in individuals with PD. Materials/Methods Five individuals with PD were recruited for this single-subject withdrawal design (A-B-A-B) study. 6-minute walk performance and other core neurological measures of gait were collected. Intervention phases incorporated a 30-minute individualized intensity-driven treadmill walking program practiced at 65% or more of ones maximum heart rate. Increased treadmill speed, incline, and resistance were manipulated to reach the target heart rate zone. Results 6-minute walk test within condition visual analysis demonstrated a therapeutic change during intervention phases and a countertherapeutic change during withdraw periods for all 5 individuals. An abrupt therapeutic effect was demonstrated for all individuals between conditions with the percent of nonoverlapping data ranging from 70-90%. Band method analysis revealed a range of 9-19 sessions two standard deviations above baseline mean performances for all individuals. Conclusion To achieve sufficient walking performance, gait practiced at higher intensity levels may provide the optimal solution as an adjunct to standard care for individuals with PD who want to improve their walking.

Body weight and morphological profile of blood of deer (Cervus elaphus) in the conditions of Polissia Volyn

The homeostasis of the whole organism and the analysis of hematological parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus) play an essential role in comparative physiology for health assessment and disease diagnosis. The obtained blood results can be the basis for assessing the condition of wild deer populations with an existing clinical picture or characterize the nutritional status, habitat, or other stress factors, as the hematopoietic system is susceptible to any changes in the animal body. In the course of the research, it was found that the body weight of adult deer varied depending on the population. Female deer of the Latvian and Lithuanian crossbreeds and the Eastern European population had the highest weight. As for the males, the animals of the Hungarian population had a higher weight than the English population. A high level of growth intensity in the early postnatal period was characteristic of both young females (body weight gain was in the range of 44.8–45.8 kg) and males (42.6–44.12 kg). The analysis of hematological parameters confirmed that the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin content increased in the blood of animals of the English population under technological stress (by 5.6 and 4.4 %). Regarding individual populations, it was noted that under the same conditions of immobilization of animals (medication), the number of red blood cells in the blood of Latvian crossbred deer was 8.5 % higher than the English population. The hemoglobin content was 5.3 % lower, and the saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin was 12.9 % lower. It was found that the hematological parameters of 3–4 month-old fawns (females and males) of the English population were characterized by relative stability. Against the background of a tendency to a higher number of red blood cells in females (by 12.8 %), the hemoglobin content was 3.3 % lower than in males. The number of leukocytes in the blood of females was slightly higher than that of males, although no significant deviations were noted in some forms of white blood cells.

Performance of hydraulic structures during 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, earthquake sequence

The earthquake sequence that occurred on 6 February 2023 in Türkiye, Kahramanmaraş, had a significant impact on 140 dams, most of which are located within a distance of 50 km from surface projection of the fault rupture. These dams experienced moderate to high levels of seismic intensity, with peak ground acceleration (PGA) estimated to vary between 0.1 and 1.3 g during the Pazarcık earthquake and 0.15 to 0.45 g during the Elbistan earthquake, depending on their proximity to the fault rupture. Although all dams were able to maintain water-retaining capabilities, some of them suffered from moderate to large permanent deformations. As part of the emergency response measures, the water levels at two of these dams, namely Sultansuyu and Arıklıkaş, were lowered in a controlled manner. Following the earthquakes, a comprehensive survey of all hydraulic structures within the influence zone was conducted, and the findings are represented in this study. These findings revealed that earthfill and rockfill dams sustained more significant damage compared with concrete dams, particularly in areas close to the fault rupture, where the shaking intensity was most pronounced. The amount of permanent displacements was observed to consistently increase with the height of the dam’s transverse section.

An experimental investigation of an energy regeneration suspension

Energy absorbed from road bumps in traditional suspensions is dissipated as heat. An energy regeneration suspension (ERS) has the capability to capture and store this energy in batteries. It has the potential to be used in several categories of vehicles, encompassing cars, trucks, buses, and even trains. ERS technology shows significant promise in enhancing the fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability of vehicles. In this paper, the design of an ERS that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy is presented. The primary objective is to identify key design parameters that result in high magnetic intensity levels in the air gap of the ERS model. Optimizing these parameters is essential to maximize the advantages of ERS while minimizing any drawbacks. The study investigates the impact of different magnetic permeability materials in the ERS model using ANSYS software. A test rig is established based on the analysis results to assess the energy regeneration efficiency of the ERS model under various excitations. Experimental results demonstrate that ERS models with higher permeability inner sleeves exhibit superior energy regeneration efficiency.

The Moderating Role of Capital Intensity in the Nexus of Formal Training and Labor Productivity: The Case of Vietnam's Enterprises

Recent statistics have shown that the quality of Vietnamese labor was below that of many countries and not improving for faster economic growth. The research question is whether formal training for the workforce can enhance their skills, leading to a higher output rate. This study explores the impact of formal training on labor productivity in Vietnam’s enterprises. The regression analysis results of a World Bank Enterprise Survey in 2023 show that for firms with a high level of capital intensity, investments in formal training have a positive effect on labor productivity. Formal training programs for production workers are not significant in the productivity model, but when firms purchase and use substantial physical capital, investments in human capital through training return positive sales per worker. The results suggest that investment in human capital should not be decoupled from investment in physical capital to gain productivity.

In-line PIV Using a Schlieren System

"The article describes recent tests and developments of PIV recording and evaluation techniques that take advantage of strong forward scattering of tracer particles by in-line recording set ups. By collimating the light of a low-power light source between a pair of schlieren mirrors the observation area is increased to more than 350 mm. The same setup allows for schlieren recording of density gradients. The in-line imaging arrangements have a relatively high background intensity level on which brighter particle images can be detected. Ideally this background is constant in time such that it can be removed through subtraction. The use of forward scattering has a significant influence on the required pulse energy of the light source used. Typically, sufficient illumination is achieved with about 1% of the pulse energy that would normally be used for a conventional orthogonal PIV arrangement employing a laser light sheet. "

Effects of acute aerobic exercise on resting state functional connectivity of motor cortex in college students

This study intends to inspect the effects of acute aerobic exercise (AE) on resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in motor cortex of college students and the moderating effect of fitness level. Methods: 20 high fitness level college students and 20 ordinary college students were recruited in public. Subjects completed 25 min of moderate- and high-intensity acute aerobic exercise respectively by a bicycle ergometer, and the motor cortex’s blood oxygen signals in resting state were monitored by functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS, the Shimadzu portable Light NIRS, Japan) in pre- and post-test. Results: At the moderate intensity level, the total mean value of RSFC pre- and post-test was significantly different in the high fitness level group (pre-test 0.62 ± 0.18, post-test 0.51 ± 0.17, t(19) = 2.61, p = 0.02, d = 0.58), but no significant change was found in the low fitness level group. At the high-intensity level, there was no significant difference in the difference of total RSFC between pre- and post-test in the high and low fitness group. According to and change trend of 190 “edges”: at the moderate-intensity level, the number of difference edges in the high fitness group (d = 0.58, 23) were significantly higher than those in the low fitness group (d = 0.32, 15), while at high-intensity level, there was a reverse trend between the high fitness group (d = 0.25, 18) and the low fitness group (d = 0.39, 23). Conclusions: moderate-intensity AE can cause significant changes of RSFC in the motor cortex of college students with high fitness, while high fitness has a moderating effect on the relationship between exercise intensity and RSFC. RSFC of people with high fitness is more likely to be affected by AE and show a wider range of changes.