scholarly journals Abrasive Sensitivity of Engineering Polymers and a Bio-Composite under Different Abrasive Conditions

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5239
Author(s):  
Hasan Muhandes ◽  
Ádám Kalácska ◽  
László Székely ◽  
Róbert Keresztes ◽  
Gábor Kalácska

Two different test systems were designed to evaluate the tribological behavior of five engineering plastics (Polyamide—PA grades and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene—UHMW-PE) and a fully degradable bio-composite (Polylactic Acid—PLA/hemp fibers) targeted to agricultural machinery abrasive conditions. Pin-on-plate tests were performed with different loads, sliding velocity and abrasive particles. The material response was further investigated in a slurry containing abrasive test system with different sliding velocities and distances, abrasive media compositions and impact angles. The abrasive wear, the change of the 3D surface roughness parameters, the friction force and contact temperature evolution were also analyzed as a function of the materials’ mechanical properties (H,E,σy,σc,εB,σF,σM) and the dimensionless numbers derived from them. Using the IBM SPSS 25 software, multiple linear regression models were used to statistically evaluate the measured data and to examine the sensitivity of the material properties and test system characteristics on the tribological behavior. For both test setups, the system and material characteristics influencing the dependent variables (wear, friction, heat generation) and the dimensionless numbers formed from the material properties were ranked using standardized regression coefficients derived from the regression models. The abrasion sensitivity of the tested materials were evaluated taking into account a wide range of influencing parameters.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
J. Cotuá ◽  
H. LLinás ◽  
S. Cotes

Chagas is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi with no effective treatment in all its forms. There is a need to find more effective therapeutic alternatives with reduced toxicity. In this contribution, multiple linear regression models were used to identify the molecular descriptors that best describe the inhibitory activity of 52 fenarimol analogues against Trypanosoma cruzi. The topological, physicochemical, thermodynamic, electronic, and charge descriptors were evaluated to cover a wide range of properties that frequently encode biological activity. A model with high predictive value was obtained based on geometrical descriptors and descriptors encoding hydrophobicity and London dispersion forces as necessary for the inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi-CYP51. Docking methodology was implemented to evaluate molecular interactions in silico. The virtual screening results in this study can be used for rational design of new analogues with improved activity against Chagas disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannie Haggerty ◽  
Jean-Frederic Levesque ◽  
Mark Harris ◽  
Catherine Scott ◽  
Simone Dahrouge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Primary healthcare services must respond to the healthcare-seeking needs of persons with a wide range of personal and social characteristics. In this study, examined whether socially vulnerable persons exhibit lower abilities to access healthcare. First, we examined how personal and social characteristics are associated with the abilities to access healthcare described in the patient-centered accessibility framework and with the likelihood of reporting problematic access. We then examined whether higher abilities to access healthcare are protective against problematic access. Finally, we explored whether social vulnerabilities predict problematic access after accounting for abilities to access healthcare. Methods This is an exploratory analysis of pooled data collected in the Innovative Models Promoting Access-To-Care Transformation (IMPACT) study, a Canadian-Australian research program that aimed to improve access to primary healthcare for vulnerable populations. This specific analysis is based on 284 participants in four study regions who completed a baseline access survey. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to explore the effects of personal or social characteristics on the abilities to access care; logistic regression models, to determine the increased or decreased likelihood of problematic access. Results The likelihood of problematic access varies by personal and social characteristics. Those reporting at least two social vulnerabilities are more likely to experience all indicators of problematic access except hospitalizations. Perceived financial status and accumulated vulnerabilities were also associated with lower abilities to access care. Higher scores on abilities to access healthcare are protective against most indicators of problematic access except hospitalizations. Logistic regression models showed that ability to access is more predictive of problematic access than social vulnerability. Conclusions We showed that those at higher risk of social vulnerability are more likely to report problematic access and also have low scores on ability to seek, reach, pay, and engage with healthcare. Equity-oriented healthcare interventions should pay particular attention to enhancing people’s abilities to access care in addition to modifying organizational processes and structures that reinforce social systems of discrimination or exclusion.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bithika Chatterjee ◽  
Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar ◽  
Shekhar C. Mande

AbstractIn the first few months of its deadly spread across the world, Covid-19 mortality has exhibited a wide range of variability across different nations. In order to explain this phenomenon empirically, we have taken into consideration all publicly available data for 106 countries on parameters like demography, prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, BCG vaccination status, sanitation parameters etc. We ran multivariate linear regression models to find that the incidence of communicable diseases correlated negatively while demography, improved hygiene and higher incidence of autoimmune disorders correlated positively with Covid-19 mortality and were among the most plausible factors to explain Covid-19 mortality as compared to the GDP of the nations.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1343
Author(s):  
Ádám Kalácska ◽  
László Székely ◽  
Róbert Zsolt Keresztes ◽  
András Gábora ◽  
Tamás Mankovits ◽  
...  

The wear behaviour of two martensitic and one multiphase steel targeted for abrasion and erosion applications in agriculture and mining industry were investigated in three abrasive test systems with different complexity. Scratch tests were performed with different indenter radii, shapes, and loads. The material behaviour was also investigated in multi-asperity contact systems. Pin-on-disc tests were performed with various loads and abrasive particles, as well as abrasive slurry-pot tests with different sliding velocities, distances, and impact angles of the abrasive media were performed. Comparing the test systems, the tested materials ranked similarly based on their wear performance, however, in each configuration, the dominant variable of the wear mechanism differed. The significance and contributions of test paramecenterters, the material’s mechanical properties (H, σM, σY, E, εεM, εεB, W, σc, Ec) and the dimensionless numbers formed from them were investigated on the wear behaviour and the surface deformation. Correlation between parameters was established by multiple linear regression models. The sensitivity of the tested materials to abrasion was evaluated taking into account the wide range of influencing parameters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Rahati ◽  
Mostafa Qorbani ◽  
Anoosh Naghavi ◽  
Milad Heidari Nia ◽  
Hamideh Pishva

Abstract Background Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK), an essential element of the positive regulatory arm in the human biological clock, is involved in metabolic regulation. The aim was to investigate the behavioral (sleep duration, food timing, dietary intake, appetite and chronobiologic characteristics) and hormonal (plasma ghrelin and Glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations) factors that could explain the previously reported association between the CLOCK 3111T/C SNP and obesity. Methods This cross-sectional study included 403 subjects, overweight and/or obesity, aged 20- 50 years from Iran. The CLOCK rs1801260 data were measured by the PCR-RFLP method. Dietary intake, food timing, sleep duration, appetite and Chrono-type were assessed using validated questionnaires. Ghrelin and GLP-1 were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples. Participants were also divided into three groups based on rs1801260 genotype and BMI. Logistic regression models and general linear regression models were used to assess the association between CLOCK genotype and study parameters. Univariate linear regression models were used to assess the interaction between CLOCK and VAS, Food timing, chronotype and sleep on food intakes. Results After controlling for confounding factors, there was a significant difference between genotypes for physical activity (P=0.001), waist circumference (P˂0.05), BMI (˂0.01), weight (P=0.001), GLP-1 (P= 0.02), ghrelin (P= 0.04), appetite (P˂0.001), chronotype (P˂0.001), sleep (P˂0.001), food timing (P˂0.001), energy (P˂0.05), carbohydrate (P˂0.05) and fat intake (P˂0.001). Our findings also show that people with the minor allele C who ate lunch after 3 PM and breakfast after 9 AM are more prone to obesity (P˂0.05). furthermore, there was significant interactions between C allele carrier group and high appetite on fat intake (Pinteraction=0.041), eat lunch after 3 PM on energy intake (Pinteraction=0.039) and morning type on fat intake (Pinteraction=0.021). Conclusion Sleep reduction, changes in ghrelin and GLP-1 levels, changes in eating behaviors and evening preference that characterized CLOCK 3111C can all contribute to obesity. Furthermore, the data demonstrate a clear relationship between the timing of food intake and obesity. Our results support the hypothesis that the influence of the CLOCK gene may extend to a wide range of variables related to human behaviors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 294-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alka Rani Goyal ◽  
Sverre Bergh ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Marit Kirkevold ◽  
Øyvind Kirkevold

Background/Aims: Little is known about anxiety and its associations among persons with dementia in nursing homes. This study aims to examine anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates in persons with dementia in Norwegian nursing homes. Methods: In all, 298 participants with dementia ≥65 years old from 17 nursing homes were assessed with a validated Norwegian version of the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale (RAID-N). Associations between anxiety (RAID-N score) and demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed with linear regression models. Results: Anxiety, according to a cutoff of ≥12 on the RAID-N, was found in 34.2% (n = 102) of the participants. Irritability (59.7%) and restlessness (53.0%) were the most frequent anxiety symptoms. The participants' general physical health, a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and anxiolytic use were significant correlates of higher RAID-N scores. Conclusion: Knowledge about anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates may enhance early detection of anxiety and planning of necessary treatment and proactive measures among this population residing in nursing homes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-71
Author(s):  
Wigiyanti Masodah

Offering credit is the main activity of a Bank. There are some considerations when a bank offers credit, that includes Interest Rates, Inflation, and NPL. This study aims to find out the impact of Variable Interest Rates, Inflation variables and NPL variables on credit disbursed. The object in this study is state-owned banks. The method of analysis in this study uses multiple linear regression models. The results of the study have shown that Interest Rates and NPL gave some negative impacts on the given credit. Meanwhile, Inflation variable does not have a significant effect on credit given. Keywords: Interest Rate, Inflation, NPL, offered Credit.


Author(s):  
Nykolas Mayko Maia Barbosa ◽  
João Paulo Pordeus Gomes ◽  
César Lincoln Cavalcante Mattos ◽  
Diêgo Farias Oliveira

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