Modeling the effects of particle shape on damping ratio of dry sand by simple shear testing and artificial intelligence
- Baghbani, Abolfazl, Costa, Susanga, Faradonbeh, Roohoollah, Soltani, Amin, Baghbani, Hasan
- Authors: Baghbani, Abolfazl , Costa, Susanga , Faradonbeh, Roohoollah , Soltani, Amin , Baghbani, Hasan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Sciences (Switzerland) Vol. 13, no. 7 (2023), p.
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- Description: This study investigates the effects of sand particle shape, in terms of roundness, sphericity and regularity, on the damping ratio of a dry sand material. Twelve different cyclic simple shear testing scenarios were considered and applied using vertical stresses of 50, 150 and 250 kPa and cyclic stress ratios (CSR) of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 in both constant- and controlled-stress modes. Each testing scenario involved five tests, using the same sand that was reconstructed from its previous cyclic test. On completion of the cyclic tests, corresponding hysteresis loops were established to determine the damping ratio. The results indicated that the minimum and maximum damping ratios for this sand material were 6.9 and 25.5, respectively. It was observed that the shape of the sand particles changed during cyclic loading, becoming progressively more rounded and spherical with an increasing number of loading cycles, thereby resulting in an increase in the damping ratio. The second part of this investigation involved the development of artificial intelligence models, namely an artificial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM), to predict the effects of sand particle shape on the damping ratio. The proposed ANN and SVM models were found to be effective in predicting the damping ratio as a function of the particle shape descriptors (i.e., roundness, sphericity and regularity), vertical stress, CSR and number of loading cycles. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the importance of the input variables; the vertical stress and regularity were, respectively, ranked as first and second in terms of importance, while the CSR was found to be the least important parameter. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Baghbani, Abolfazl , Costa, Susanga , Faradonbeh, Roohoollah , Soltani, Amin , Baghbani, Hasan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Sciences (Switzerland) Vol. 13, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study investigates the effects of sand particle shape, in terms of roundness, sphericity and regularity, on the damping ratio of a dry sand material. Twelve different cyclic simple shear testing scenarios were considered and applied using vertical stresses of 50, 150 and 250 kPa and cyclic stress ratios (CSR) of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 in both constant- and controlled-stress modes. Each testing scenario involved five tests, using the same sand that was reconstructed from its previous cyclic test. On completion of the cyclic tests, corresponding hysteresis loops were established to determine the damping ratio. The results indicated that the minimum and maximum damping ratios for this sand material were 6.9 and 25.5, respectively. It was observed that the shape of the sand particles changed during cyclic loading, becoming progressively more rounded and spherical with an increasing number of loading cycles, thereby resulting in an increase in the damping ratio. The second part of this investigation involved the development of artificial intelligence models, namely an artificial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM), to predict the effects of sand particle shape on the damping ratio. The proposed ANN and SVM models were found to be effective in predicting the damping ratio as a function of the particle shape descriptors (i.e., roundness, sphericity and regularity), vertical stress, CSR and number of loading cycles. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the importance of the input variables; the vertical stress and regularity were, respectively, ranked as first and second in terms of importance, while the CSR was found to be the least important parameter. © 2023 by the authors.
Order of intermittent rock fractured surfaces
- Aligholi, Saeed, Khandelwal, Manoj
- Authors: Aligholi, Saeed , Khandelwal, Manoj
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: According to chaos theory, some underlying patterns can disclose the order of disordered systems. Here, it has been discussed that intermittency of rough rock fractured surfaces is an orderable disorder at intermediate length scales. However, this kind of disorder is more complicated than simple fractal or even multi-scaling behaviours. It is planned to deal with some multifractal spectra that systematically change as a function of the analysed domain. Accordingly, some parameters are introduced that can perfectly take into account such systematic behaviour and quantify the intermittency of the studied surfaces. This framework can be used to quantify and model the roughness of fractured surfaces as a prerequisite factor for the analysis of fluid flow in rock media as well as the shear strength of rock joints. Ultimately, the presented framework can be used for analysing the intermittency of time series and developing new models for predicting, for instance, seismic or flood events in a short time with higher accuracy. © 2022 by the authors.
- Authors: Aligholi, Saeed , Khandelwal, Manoj
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: According to chaos theory, some underlying patterns can disclose the order of disordered systems. Here, it has been discussed that intermittency of rough rock fractured surfaces is an orderable disorder at intermediate length scales. However, this kind of disorder is more complicated than simple fractal or even multi-scaling behaviours. It is planned to deal with some multifractal spectra that systematically change as a function of the analysed domain. Accordingly, some parameters are introduced that can perfectly take into account such systematic behaviour and quantify the intermittency of the studied surfaces. This framework can be used to quantify and model the roughness of fractured surfaces as a prerequisite factor for the analysis of fluid flow in rock media as well as the shear strength of rock joints. Ultimately, the presented framework can be used for analysing the intermittency of time series and developing new models for predicting, for instance, seismic or flood events in a short time with higher accuracy. © 2022 by the authors.
Quantification of intra- vs. inter-row leaching of major plant nutrients in sloping vineyard soils
- Filipović, Lana, Krevh, Vedran, Chen, Rui, Defterdarović, Jasmina, Kovač, Zoran, Mustać, Ivan, Bogunović, Igor, He, Hailong, Baumgartl, Thomas, Gerke, Horst, Toor, Gurpal, Filipović, Vilim
- Authors: Filipović, Lana , Krevh, Vedran , Chen, Rui , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Kovač, Zoran , Mustać, Ivan , Bogunović, Igor , He, Hailong , Baumgartl, Thomas , Gerke, Horst , Toor, Gurpal , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 4 (2023), p.
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- Description: Nutrient leaching from agricultural soils presents an economic loss for farmers and can degrade the quality of the surrounding environment. Thus, leachates from 18 in situ wick lysimeters, installed at 40 cm soil depth at the vineyard hilltop, backslope, and footslope intra- and inter-row area (SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory, Croatia) were collected monthly over two years and analyzed for major plant nutrient ions. Our objectives were to quantify nutrient losses via leaching from the hilltop towards the backslope and to the footslope, and to compare leaching from vine plant rows (intra-row) with grassed areas between vine rows (inter-row). We found that the concentrations of nitrate, orthophosphate, and potassium were significantly higher in leachates collected at the footslope as compared to the hilltop and backslope only at intra- and not at inter-row positions, while ammonium was independent of the slope and row positions. The vineyard intra-row is identified as the probable spatial origin of nutrient leaching along the slope, thus confirming spatially different contributions of overall hillslope to major plant nutrients leaching. The experimental field scheme used in this study, which separately analyses vineyard intra- and inter-row, was confirmed to be an adequate approach for optimizing vineyard management practices. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Filipović, Lana , Krevh, Vedran , Chen, Rui , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Kovač, Zoran , Mustać, Ivan , Bogunović, Igor , He, Hailong , Baumgartl, Thomas , Gerke, Horst , Toor, Gurpal , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 4 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nutrient leaching from agricultural soils presents an economic loss for farmers and can degrade the quality of the surrounding environment. Thus, leachates from 18 in situ wick lysimeters, installed at 40 cm soil depth at the vineyard hilltop, backslope, and footslope intra- and inter-row area (SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory, Croatia) were collected monthly over two years and analyzed for major plant nutrient ions. Our objectives were to quantify nutrient losses via leaching from the hilltop towards the backslope and to the footslope, and to compare leaching from vine plant rows (intra-row) with grassed areas between vine rows (inter-row). We found that the concentrations of nitrate, orthophosphate, and potassium were significantly higher in leachates collected at the footslope as compared to the hilltop and backslope only at intra- and not at inter-row positions, while ammonium was independent of the slope and row positions. The vineyard intra-row is identified as the probable spatial origin of nutrient leaching along the slope, thus confirming spatially different contributions of overall hillslope to major plant nutrients leaching. The experimental field scheme used in this study, which separately analyses vineyard intra- and inter-row, was confirmed to be an adequate approach for optimizing vineyard management practices. © 2023 by the authors.
Radial and oblique impact testing of alpine helmets onto snow surfaces
- Patton, Declan, Mohammadi, Reza, Halldin, Peter, Kleiven, Svein, McIntosh, Andrew
- Authors: Patton, Declan , Mohammadi, Reza , Halldin, Peter , Kleiven, Svein , McIntosh, Andrew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Sciences (Switzerland) Vol. 13, no. 6 (2023), p.
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- Description: Recent studies have found that alpine helmets reduce the risk of focal injuries associated with radial impacts, which is likely due to current alpine helmet standards requiring helmets to be drop-tested on flat anvils with only linear acceleration pass criteria. There is a need to evaluate the performance of alpine helmets in more realistic impacts. The current study developed a method to assess the performance of alpine helmets for radial and oblique impacts on snow surfaces in a laboratory setting. Snow samples were collected from a groomed area of a ski slope. Radial impacts were performed as drop tests onto a stationary snow sample. Oblique impacts were performed as drop tests onto a snow sample moving horizontally. For radial impacts, snow sample collection time was found to significantly (p = 0.005) influence mean peak linear headform acceleration with an increase in ambient temperature softening the snow samples. For oblique tests, the recreational alpine sports helmet with a rotation-damping system (RDS) significantly (p = 0.002) reduced mean peak angular acceleration compared to the same helmets with no RDS by approximately 44%. The ski racing helmet also significantly (p = 0.006) reduced mean peak angular acceleration compared to the recreational alpine sports helmet with no RDS by approximately 33%, which was attributed to the smooth outer shell of the ski racing helmet. The current study helps to bridge the knowledge gap between real helmet impacts on alpine snow slopes and laboratory helmet impacts on rigid surfaces. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Patton, Declan , Mohammadi, Reza , Halldin, Peter , Kleiven, Svein , McIntosh, Andrew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Sciences (Switzerland) Vol. 13, no. 6 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Recent studies have found that alpine helmets reduce the risk of focal injuries associated with radial impacts, which is likely due to current alpine helmet standards requiring helmets to be drop-tested on flat anvils with only linear acceleration pass criteria. There is a need to evaluate the performance of alpine helmets in more realistic impacts. The current study developed a method to assess the performance of alpine helmets for radial and oblique impacts on snow surfaces in a laboratory setting. Snow samples were collected from a groomed area of a ski slope. Radial impacts were performed as drop tests onto a stationary snow sample. Oblique impacts were performed as drop tests onto a snow sample moving horizontally. For radial impacts, snow sample collection time was found to significantly (p = 0.005) influence mean peak linear headform acceleration with an increase in ambient temperature softening the snow samples. For oblique tests, the recreational alpine sports helmet with a rotation-damping system (RDS) significantly (p = 0.002) reduced mean peak angular acceleration compared to the same helmets with no RDS by approximately 44%. The ski racing helmet also significantly (p = 0.006) reduced mean peak angular acceleration compared to the recreational alpine sports helmet with no RDS by approximately 33%, which was attributed to the smooth outer shell of the ski racing helmet. The current study helps to bridge the knowledge gap between real helmet impacts on alpine snow slopes and laboratory helmet impacts on rigid surfaces. © 2023 by the authors.
Soil–water dynamics investigation at agricultural hillslope with high-precision weighing lysimeters and soil–water collection systems
- Krevh, Vedran, Groh, Jannis, Filipović, Lana, Gerke, Horst, Defterdarović, Jasmina, Thompson, Sally, Sraka, Mario, Bogunović, Igor, Kovač, Zoran, Robinson, Nathan, Baumgartl, Thomas, Filipović, Vilim
- Authors: Krevh, Vedran , Groh, Jannis , Filipović, Lana , Gerke, Horst , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Thompson, Sally , Sraka, Mario , Bogunović, Igor , Kovač, Zoran , Robinson, Nathan , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 13 (2023), p.
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- Description: A quantitative understanding of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and soil–water dynamics in a hillslope agroecosystem is vital for sustainable water resource management and soil conservation; however, the complexity of processes and conditions involving lateral subsurface flow (LSF) can be a limiting factor in the full comprehension of hillslope soil–water dynamics. The research was carried out at SUPREHILL CZO located on a hillslope agroecosystem (vineyard) over a period of two years (2021–2022) by combining soil characterization and field hydrological measurements, including weighing lysimeters, sensor measurements, and LSF collection system measurements. Lysimeters were placed on the hilltop and the footslope, both having a dynamic controlled bottom boundary, which corresponded to field pressure head measurements, to mimic field soil–water dynamics. Water balance components between the two positions on the slope were compared with the goal of identifying differences that might reveal hydrologically driven differences due to LSF paths across the hillslope. The usually considered limitations of these lysimeters, or the borders preventing LSF through the domain, acted as an aid within this installation setup, as the lack of LSF was compensated for through the pumping system at the footslope. The findings from lysimeters were compared with LSF collection system measurements. Weighing lysimeter data indicated that LSF controlled ETa rates. The results suggest that the onset of LSF contributes to the spatial crop productivity distribution in hillslopes. The present approach may be useful for investigating the impact of LSF on water balance components for similar hillslope sites and crops or other soil surface covers. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Krevh, Vedran , Groh, Jannis , Filipović, Lana , Gerke, Horst , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Thompson, Sally , Sraka, Mario , Bogunović, Igor , Kovač, Zoran , Robinson, Nathan , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 13 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: A quantitative understanding of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and soil–water dynamics in a hillslope agroecosystem is vital for sustainable water resource management and soil conservation; however, the complexity of processes and conditions involving lateral subsurface flow (LSF) can be a limiting factor in the full comprehension of hillslope soil–water dynamics. The research was carried out at SUPREHILL CZO located on a hillslope agroecosystem (vineyard) over a period of two years (2021–2022) by combining soil characterization and field hydrological measurements, including weighing lysimeters, sensor measurements, and LSF collection system measurements. Lysimeters were placed on the hilltop and the footslope, both having a dynamic controlled bottom boundary, which corresponded to field pressure head measurements, to mimic field soil–water dynamics. Water balance components between the two positions on the slope were compared with the goal of identifying differences that might reveal hydrologically driven differences due to LSF paths across the hillslope. The usually considered limitations of these lysimeters, or the borders preventing LSF through the domain, acted as an aid within this installation setup, as the lack of LSF was compensated for through the pumping system at the footslope. The findings from lysimeters were compared with LSF collection system measurements. Weighing lysimeter data indicated that LSF controlled ETa rates. The results suggest that the onset of LSF contributes to the spatial crop productivity distribution in hillslopes. The present approach may be useful for investigating the impact of LSF on water balance components for similar hillslope sites and crops or other soil surface covers. © 2023 by the authors.
Sustainability of a rainfed wheat production system in relation to water and nitrogen dynamics in the soil in the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
- Phogat, Vinod, Šimůnek, Jirka, Petrie, Paul, Pitt, Tim, Filipović, Vilim
- Authors: Phogat, Vinod , Šimůnek, Jirka , Petrie, Paul , Pitt, Tim , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 18 (2023), p.
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- Description: Rainfed wheat production systems are usually characterized by low-fertility soils and frequent droughts, creating an unfavorable environment for sustainable crop production. In this study, we used a processed-based biophysical numerical model to evaluate the water balance and nitrogen (N) dynamics in soils under rainfed wheat cultivation at low (219 mm, Pygery) and medium rainfall (392 mm, Yeelanna) sites in south Australia over the two seasons. Estimated evapotranspiration components and N partitioning data were used to calibrate and validate the model and to compute wheat’s water and N use efficiency. There was a large disparity in the estimated water balance components at the two sites. Plant water uptake accounted for 40–50% of rainfall, more at the low rainfall site. In contrast, leaching losses of up to 25% of seasonal rainfall at the medium rainfall site (Yeelanna) indicate a significant amount of water evading the root zone. The model-predicted N partitioning revealed that ammonia–nitrogen (NH4–N) contributed little to plant N nutrition, and its concentration in the soil remained below 2 ppm throughout the crop season except immediately after the NH4–N-based fertilizer application. Nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) contributed to most N uptake during both seasons at both locations. The N losses from the soil at the medium rainfall site (3.5–20.5 kg ha
- Authors: Phogat, Vinod , Šimůnek, Jirka , Petrie, Paul , Pitt, Tim , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 18 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Rainfed wheat production systems are usually characterized by low-fertility soils and frequent droughts, creating an unfavorable environment for sustainable crop production. In this study, we used a processed-based biophysical numerical model to evaluate the water balance and nitrogen (N) dynamics in soils under rainfed wheat cultivation at low (219 mm, Pygery) and medium rainfall (392 mm, Yeelanna) sites in south Australia over the two seasons. Estimated evapotranspiration components and N partitioning data were used to calibrate and validate the model and to compute wheat’s water and N use efficiency. There was a large disparity in the estimated water balance components at the two sites. Plant water uptake accounted for 40–50% of rainfall, more at the low rainfall site. In contrast, leaching losses of up to 25% of seasonal rainfall at the medium rainfall site (Yeelanna) indicate a significant amount of water evading the root zone. The model-predicted N partitioning revealed that ammonia–nitrogen (NH4–N) contributed little to plant N nutrition, and its concentration in the soil remained below 2 ppm throughout the crop season except immediately after the NH4–N-based fertilizer application. Nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) contributed to most N uptake during both seasons at both locations. The N losses from the soil at the medium rainfall site (3.5–20.5 kg ha
The effectiveness of online mental health first aid training in community rugby : a mixed-methods approach
- Russell, Suzanna, Kelly, Vincent, Polman, Remco, Warren-James, Matthew
- Authors: Russell, Suzanna , Kelly, Vincent , Polman, Remco , Warren-James, Matthew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
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- Description: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training exists to improve supportive behaviours towards peers, increase mental health literacy, and reduce stigma. Community sport clubs have potential to successfully deliver mental health programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of online MHFA training undertaken by members of the rugby community and evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the online delivery mode and users’ engagement with it. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide depth of understanding through qualitative analysis, combined with quantitative outcomes. Online surveys examining participants’ knowledge and perceptions were administered pre- and post-MHFA training. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all assessed domains were observed post- compared to pre-MHFA training. A large effect size was identified in relation to advice giving and sign and symptom identification. A moderate effect size pre- to post-improvement was identified for users’ perceptions of therapy’s effectiveness, the ability of people with severe mental health conditions to recover, and benefit of a healthcare professional. Participants endorsed the MHFA program to improve mental health literacy, advance non-technical skills, and improve confidence. MHFA training can increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health issues in key individuals in community sport clubs and enable them to aid people with mental health concerns. Online MHFA training is associated with improved mental health literacy and may be a suitable and economically sustainable model for community sport. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Russell, Suzanna , Kelly, Vincent , Polman, Remco , Warren-James, Matthew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training exists to improve supportive behaviours towards peers, increase mental health literacy, and reduce stigma. Community sport clubs have potential to successfully deliver mental health programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of online MHFA training undertaken by members of the rugby community and evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the online delivery mode and users’ engagement with it. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide depth of understanding through qualitative analysis, combined with quantitative outcomes. Online surveys examining participants’ knowledge and perceptions were administered pre- and post-MHFA training. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all assessed domains were observed post- compared to pre-MHFA training. A large effect size was identified in relation to advice giving and sign and symptom identification. A moderate effect size pre- to post-improvement was identified for users’ perceptions of therapy’s effectiveness, the ability of people with severe mental health conditions to recover, and benefit of a healthcare professional. Participants endorsed the MHFA program to improve mental health literacy, advance non-technical skills, and improve confidence. MHFA training can increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health issues in key individuals in community sport clubs and enable them to aid people with mental health concerns. Online MHFA training is associated with improved mental health literacy and may be a suitable and economically sustainable model for community sport. © 2023 by the authors.
The effects of hydrated lime and bleach on carrion decomposition and associated insect succession
- McIntyre, Donna, Conlan, Xavier, Harvey, Michelle
- Authors: McIntyre, Donna , Conlan, Xavier , Harvey, Michelle
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Vol. 55, no. 4 (2023), p. 492-510
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- Description: Necrophagous insect species are used in forensic entomology to assist with the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). However, chemical substances applied to a corpse in a bid to conceal remains may affect the attractiveness of a corpse to insects and consequently the insect succession and decomposition. This study investigated the potential for two readily obtainable substances, hydrated lime and bleach to affect decomposition and associated insect succession in porcine remains outdoors and above ground during autumn, winter and spring in the Geelong region of Victoria, Australia. The substances were correlated with a significantly longer pre-appearance interval (PAI) (>12 hours) and delayed oviposition during colder months. Further, remains deposited during autumn and spring did not skeletonize when substances were present. These findings show the importance of considering the presence of bleach and hydrated lime on remains when estimating PMI. © 2022 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences.
- Authors: McIntyre, Donna , Conlan, Xavier , Harvey, Michelle
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Vol. 55, no. 4 (2023), p. 492-510
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Necrophagous insect species are used in forensic entomology to assist with the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). However, chemical substances applied to a corpse in a bid to conceal remains may affect the attractiveness of a corpse to insects and consequently the insect succession and decomposition. This study investigated the potential for two readily obtainable substances, hydrated lime and bleach to affect decomposition and associated insect succession in porcine remains outdoors and above ground during autumn, winter and spring in the Geelong region of Victoria, Australia. The substances were correlated with a significantly longer pre-appearance interval (PAI) (>12 hours) and delayed oviposition during colder months. Further, remains deposited during autumn and spring did not skeletonize when substances were present. These findings show the importance of considering the presence of bleach and hydrated lime on remains when estimating PMI. © 2022 Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences.
The impact of bilateral anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the premotor and cerebellar cortices on physiological and performance parameters of gymnastic athletes : a randomized, cross-over, sham-controlled study
- Anoushiravani, Sajjad, Alizadehgoradel, Jaber, Iranpour, Asgar, Yousefi Bilehsavar, Omid, Pouresmali, Asghar, Nitsche, Michael, Salehinejad, Mohammad, Mosayebi-Samani, Mohsen, Zoghi, Maryam
- Authors: Anoushiravani, Sajjad , Alizadehgoradel, Jaber , Iranpour, Asgar , Yousefi Bilehsavar, Omid , Pouresmali, Asghar , Nitsche, Michael , Salehinejad, Mohammad , Mosayebi-Samani, Mohsen , Zoghi, Maryam
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 13, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Professional sports performance relies critically on the interaction between the brain and muscles during movement. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique which modulates cortical excitability and can be used to improve motor performance in athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of bilateral anodal tDCS (2 mA, 20 min) over the premotor cortex or cerebellum on motor and physiological functions and peak performance of professional gymnastics athletes. Seventeen professional gymnastics athletes participated in a randomized, sham-controlled, crossover study. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of two anodal tDCS protocols (2 mA, 20 min) with stimulation over the bilateral premotor cortex or cerebellum with the return electrodes placed over the opposite supraorbital areas. Power speed, strength coordination, endurance, static and dynamic strength, static and dynamic flexibility, and rating of perceived exertion were measured before and immediately after tDCS interventions (bilateral anodal tDCS over premotor cortices, anodal tDCS over the cerebellum, and sham tDCS). Additionally, physiological muscle performance parameters, including maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of upper body muscles, were assessed during tDCS. Bilateral anodal tDCS over the premotor cortex, compared to anodal tDCS over the cerebellum and sham tDCS conditions, significantly improved power speed, strength coordination, and static and dynamic strength variables of professional gymnastics athletes. Furthermore, bilateral anodal tDCS over the cerebellum, compared to sham tDCS, significantly improved strength coordination. Moreover, bilateral premotor anodal tDCS significantly increased MVIC of all upper body muscles during stimulation, while anodal tDCS over the cerebellum increased MVIC in only some muscles. Bilateral anodal tDCS over the premotor cortex, and to a minor degree over the cerebellum, might be suited to improve some aspects of motor and physiological functions and peak performance levels of professional gymnastics athletes. Clinical Trial Registration ID: IRCT20180724040579N2. © 2023, The Author(s).
- Authors: Anoushiravani, Sajjad , Alizadehgoradel, Jaber , Iranpour, Asgar , Yousefi Bilehsavar, Omid , Pouresmali, Asghar , Nitsche, Michael , Salehinejad, Mohammad , Mosayebi-Samani, Mohsen , Zoghi, Maryam
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 13, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Professional sports performance relies critically on the interaction between the brain and muscles during movement. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique which modulates cortical excitability and can be used to improve motor performance in athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of bilateral anodal tDCS (2 mA, 20 min) over the premotor cortex or cerebellum on motor and physiological functions and peak performance of professional gymnastics athletes. Seventeen professional gymnastics athletes participated in a randomized, sham-controlled, crossover study. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of two anodal tDCS protocols (2 mA, 20 min) with stimulation over the bilateral premotor cortex or cerebellum with the return electrodes placed over the opposite supraorbital areas. Power speed, strength coordination, endurance, static and dynamic strength, static and dynamic flexibility, and rating of perceived exertion were measured before and immediately after tDCS interventions (bilateral anodal tDCS over premotor cortices, anodal tDCS over the cerebellum, and sham tDCS). Additionally, physiological muscle performance parameters, including maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of upper body muscles, were assessed during tDCS. Bilateral anodal tDCS over the premotor cortex, compared to anodal tDCS over the cerebellum and sham tDCS conditions, significantly improved power speed, strength coordination, and static and dynamic strength variables of professional gymnastics athletes. Furthermore, bilateral anodal tDCS over the cerebellum, compared to sham tDCS, significantly improved strength coordination. Moreover, bilateral premotor anodal tDCS significantly increased MVIC of all upper body muscles during stimulation, while anodal tDCS over the cerebellum increased MVIC in only some muscles. Bilateral anodal tDCS over the premotor cortex, and to a minor degree over the cerebellum, might be suited to improve some aspects of motor and physiological functions and peak performance levels of professional gymnastics athletes. Clinical Trial Registration ID: IRCT20180724040579N2. © 2023, The Author(s).
The roles of depression, life control and affective distress on treatment attendance and perceived disability in chronic back pain sufferers throughout the duration of the condition
- Oraison, Humberto, Loton, Daniel, Kennedy, Gerard
- Authors: Oraison, Humberto , Loton, Daniel , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 19 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
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- Description: The aims of this study were to examine psychological factors that predict treatment seeking and disability over the total duration of experiencing back pain. A sample of 201 adults experiencing chronic back pain was recruited through health professionals and completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), the Oswestry Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the life control and affective distress variables of the West Haven–Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (WHYMP), and participants disclosed the number of treatment sessions attended over the course of the illness. Depression, life control and affective distress were tested as indirect predictors of disability severity that were mediated by treatment attendance. Each unit increase in life control predicted attending nearly 30 more treatment sessions, each unit increase in affective distress predicted attending 16 fewer treatments and each unit increase in depression predicted 4 fewer treatments, together explaining 44% of variance in treatment seeking. The effects of life control and affective distress on disability were explained by treatment attendance, whereas depression retained a direct effect on disability. Treatment attendance had an effect on disability. The findings show that participants with lower life control and higher affective distress and depression had higher levels of pain and disability, in part due to due to their treatment-seeking behaviour. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Oraison, Humberto , Loton, Daniel , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 19 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
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- Description: The aims of this study were to examine psychological factors that predict treatment seeking and disability over the total duration of experiencing back pain. A sample of 201 adults experiencing chronic back pain was recruited through health professionals and completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), the Oswestry Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the life control and affective distress variables of the West Haven–Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (WHYMP), and participants disclosed the number of treatment sessions attended over the course of the illness. Depression, life control and affective distress were tested as indirect predictors of disability severity that were mediated by treatment attendance. Each unit increase in life control predicted attending nearly 30 more treatment sessions, each unit increase in affective distress predicted attending 16 fewer treatments and each unit increase in depression predicted 4 fewer treatments, together explaining 44% of variance in treatment seeking. The effects of life control and affective distress on disability were explained by treatment attendance, whereas depression retained a direct effect on disability. Treatment attendance had an effect on disability. The findings show that participants with lower life control and higher affective distress and depression had higher levels of pain and disability, in part due to due to their treatment-seeking behaviour. © 2023 by the authors.
Understanding and optimising support resources to facilitate CALD student and supervisor allied health fieldwork experiences
- Newton, Fiona, Lee, Den-Ching, Brito, Sara
- Authors: Newton, Fiona , Lee, Den-Ching , Brito, Sara
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 18, no. 8 August (2023), p.
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- Description: Background Although fieldwork supervisors and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students can experience challenges during allied health placements, there is little holistic understanding of how they view and use support resources to address these challenges. This study sought to identify, codify, and map the perceived value attached to support resources used or sought by CALD students and fieldwork supervisors and to ascertain areas where they could be optimised and better presented to users. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis to examine interview and open-ended survey responses from CALD students (n = 18) and fieldwork supervisors (n = 161) respectively. Findings The six generated themes depicted different patterns of perceived value in university and non-university support resources and spanned three levels of specificity: general, discipline-contextualised, and individualised. Fieldwork supervisors valued a staged approach to support resource design and use for CALD students commencing with general level resources to build foundational language skills and socio-cultural familiarisation and moving on to include disciple-contextualised supports, preplacement mechanisms to monitor student readiness, and formalised mechanisms to enable tailoring of placements. CALD students, however, often undervalued institutional general resources relative to discipline-contextualised resources. The commonality of support resources valued and sought by supervisors from different fields suggests they could be optimised for delivery via an inter-professional community of practice. Conclusion Identifying and mapping the perceived value attached to support resources provides actionable insights into how to enhance the ‘fit’ between resources and user needs. Drawing the often-fragmented support resources into a cohesive ecosystem focused around perceived value at different levels of specificity allows CALD students and educators to better conceptualise the types of benefits that can accrue from taking a broader and staged approach to fieldwork placement preparations. Knowing this ecosystem encapsulates what prior uses find of value may enhance perceptions of resource relevance in the minds of new users. © 2023 Newton et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Authors: Newton, Fiona , Lee, Den-Ching , Brito, Sara
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 18, no. 8 August (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background Although fieldwork supervisors and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students can experience challenges during allied health placements, there is little holistic understanding of how they view and use support resources to address these challenges. This study sought to identify, codify, and map the perceived value attached to support resources used or sought by CALD students and fieldwork supervisors and to ascertain areas where they could be optimised and better presented to users. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis to examine interview and open-ended survey responses from CALD students (n = 18) and fieldwork supervisors (n = 161) respectively. Findings The six generated themes depicted different patterns of perceived value in university and non-university support resources and spanned three levels of specificity: general, discipline-contextualised, and individualised. Fieldwork supervisors valued a staged approach to support resource design and use for CALD students commencing with general level resources to build foundational language skills and socio-cultural familiarisation and moving on to include disciple-contextualised supports, preplacement mechanisms to monitor student readiness, and formalised mechanisms to enable tailoring of placements. CALD students, however, often undervalued institutional general resources relative to discipline-contextualised resources. The commonality of support resources valued and sought by supervisors from different fields suggests they could be optimised for delivery via an inter-professional community of practice. Conclusion Identifying and mapping the perceived value attached to support resources provides actionable insights into how to enhance the ‘fit’ between resources and user needs. Drawing the often-fragmented support resources into a cohesive ecosystem focused around perceived value at different levels of specificity allows CALD students and educators to better conceptualise the types of benefits that can accrue from taking a broader and staged approach to fieldwork placement preparations. Knowing this ecosystem encapsulates what prior uses find of value may enhance perceptions of resource relevance in the minds of new users. © 2023 Newton et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Understanding fear after an anterior cruciate ligament injury : a qualitative thematic analysis using the common-sense model
- Little, Cameron, Lavender, Andrew, Starcevich, Cobie, Mesagno, Christopher, Mitchell, Tim, Whiteley, Rodney, Bakhshayesh, Hanieh, Beales, Darren
- Authors: Little, Cameron , Lavender, Andrew , Starcevich, Cobie , Mesagno, Christopher , Mitchell, Tim , Whiteley, Rodney , Bakhshayesh, Hanieh , Beales, Darren
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 4 (2023), p.
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- Description: Fear is a significant factor affecting successful return to sport following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, there is a lack of understanding of the emotional drivers of fear and how fear beliefs are formed. This study qualitatively explored the contextual and emotional underpinnings of fear and how these beliefs were formed, with reference to the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation. Face-to-face online interviews were conducted with ACL-injured participants (n = 18, 72% female) with a mean age of 28 years (range 18–50 years). Participants were either 1 year post ACL reconstruction surgery (n = 16) or at least 1 year post injury without surgery (n = 2) and scored above average on a modified Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Four participants were playing state-level sport or higher. Five themes emerged describing factors contributing to fear: ‘External messages’, ‘Difficulty of the ACL rehabilitation journey’, ‘Threat to identity and independence’, ‘Socioeconomic factors’, and ‘Ongoing psychological barriers’. A sixth theme, ‘Positive coping strategies’, provided insight into influences that could reduce fear and resolve negative behaviors. This study identified a broad range of contextual biopsychosocial factors which contribute to fear, supporting the notion that ACL injuries should not be treated through a purely physical lens. Furthermore, aligning the themes to the common-sense model provided a conceptual framework conveying the inter-related, emergent nature of the identified themes. The framework provides clinicians with a means to understanding fear after an ACL injury. This could guide assessment and patient education. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Little, Cameron , Lavender, Andrew , Starcevich, Cobie , Mesagno, Christopher , Mitchell, Tim , Whiteley, Rodney , Bakhshayesh, Hanieh , Beales, Darren
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 4 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fear is a significant factor affecting successful return to sport following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, there is a lack of understanding of the emotional drivers of fear and how fear beliefs are formed. This study qualitatively explored the contextual and emotional underpinnings of fear and how these beliefs were formed, with reference to the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation. Face-to-face online interviews were conducted with ACL-injured participants (n = 18, 72% female) with a mean age of 28 years (range 18–50 years). Participants were either 1 year post ACL reconstruction surgery (n = 16) or at least 1 year post injury without surgery (n = 2) and scored above average on a modified Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Four participants were playing state-level sport or higher. Five themes emerged describing factors contributing to fear: ‘External messages’, ‘Difficulty of the ACL rehabilitation journey’, ‘Threat to identity and independence’, ‘Socioeconomic factors’, and ‘Ongoing psychological barriers’. A sixth theme, ‘Positive coping strategies’, provided insight into influences that could reduce fear and resolve negative behaviors. This study identified a broad range of contextual biopsychosocial factors which contribute to fear, supporting the notion that ACL injuries should not be treated through a purely physical lens. Furthermore, aligning the themes to the common-sense model provided a conceptual framework conveying the inter-related, emergent nature of the identified themes. The framework provides clinicians with a means to understanding fear after an ACL injury. This could guide assessment and patient education. © 2023 by the authors.
Unraveling spatiotemporal transient dynamics at the nanoscale via wavelet transform-based kelvin probe force microscopy
- Biglarbeigi, Pardis, Morelli, Alessio, Pauly, Serene, Yu, Zidong, Jiang, Wenjun, Sharma, Surbhi, Finlay, Dewar, Kumar, Amit, Soin, Navneet, Payam, Amir
- Authors: Biglarbeigi, Pardis , Morelli, Alessio , Pauly, Serene , Yu, Zidong , Jiang, Wenjun , Sharma, Surbhi , Finlay, Dewar , Kumar, Amit , Soin, Navneet , Payam, Amir
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: ACS Nano Vol. 17, no. 21 (2023), p. 21506-21517
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- Description: Mechanistic probing of surface potential changes arising from dynamic charge transport is the key to understanding and engineering increasingly complex nanoscale materials and devices. Spatiotemporal averaging in conventional heterodyne detection-based Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) inherently limits its time resolution, causing an irretrievable loss of transient response and higher-order harmonics. Addressing this, we report a wavelet transform (WT)-based methodology capable of quantifying the sub-ms charge dynamics and probing the elusive transient response. The feedback-free, open-loop wavelet transform KPFM (OL-WT-KPFM) technique harnesses the WT’s ability to simultaneously extract spatial and temporal information from the photodetector signal to provide a dynamic mapping of surface potential, capacitance gradient, and dielectric constant at a temporal resolution 3 orders of magnitude higher than the lock-in time constant. We further demonstrate the method’s applicability to explore the surface-photovoltage-induced sub-ms hole-diffusion transient in bismuth oxyiodide semiconductor. The OL-WT-KPFM concept is readily applicable to commercial systems and can provide the underlying basis for the real-time analysis of transient electronic and electrochemical properties. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
- Authors: Biglarbeigi, Pardis , Morelli, Alessio , Pauly, Serene , Yu, Zidong , Jiang, Wenjun , Sharma, Surbhi , Finlay, Dewar , Kumar, Amit , Soin, Navneet , Payam, Amir
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: ACS Nano Vol. 17, no. 21 (2023), p. 21506-21517
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mechanistic probing of surface potential changes arising from dynamic charge transport is the key to understanding and engineering increasingly complex nanoscale materials and devices. Spatiotemporal averaging in conventional heterodyne detection-based Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) inherently limits its time resolution, causing an irretrievable loss of transient response and higher-order harmonics. Addressing this, we report a wavelet transform (WT)-based methodology capable of quantifying the sub-ms charge dynamics and probing the elusive transient response. The feedback-free, open-loop wavelet transform KPFM (OL-WT-KPFM) technique harnesses the WT’s ability to simultaneously extract spatial and temporal information from the photodetector signal to provide a dynamic mapping of surface potential, capacitance gradient, and dielectric constant at a temporal resolution 3 orders of magnitude higher than the lock-in time constant. We further demonstrate the method’s applicability to explore the surface-photovoltage-induced sub-ms hole-diffusion transient in bismuth oxyiodide semiconductor. The OL-WT-KPFM concept is readily applicable to commercial systems and can provide the underlying basis for the real-time analysis of transient electronic and electrochemical properties. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
Using dye and bromide tracers to identify preferential water flow in agricultural hillslope soil under controlled conditions
- Defterdarović, Jasmina, Krevh, Vedran, Filipović, Lana, Kovač, Zoran, Phogat, Vinod, He, Hailong, Baumgartl, Thomas, Filipović, Vilim
- Authors: Defterdarović, Jasmina , Krevh, Vedran , Filipović, Lana , Kovač, Zoran , Phogat, Vinod , He, Hailong , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 12 (2023), p.
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- Description: Processes in hillslope soils present a particular challenge for agricultural production and soil management due to their hydropedological specifics and high soil erosion risk. Soil heterogeneities can cause preferential and/or lateral flow on the entire hillslope resulting in the off-site movement of water, fertilizers and chemicals used in crop production. A study was conducted under controlled conditions in a laboratory with undisturbed soil cores (250 cm3), which were used to estimate the soil hydraulic properties (SHP) using HYPROP and WP4C devices, while undisturbed soil columns (diameter = 16 cm, length = 25 cm) were used for the evaluation of preferential flow pathways using potassium bromide and Brilliant Blue. Samples were excavated in triplicate from the hilltop, backslope and footslope regions within the inter-rows of a vineyard from a critical zone observatory, SUPREHILL, in Croatia in Dystric Luvic Stagnosol. The aim of this study was to determine if the erosion-affected hillslope position affected the physical, chemical and hydraulic properties of soil and to identify water flow and possible preferential flow using dye and bromide tracers. The results of the sensor measurements and estimated SHPs were in agreement, showing a faster leaching of the irrigated rainwater in the footslope column. The tracer experiments showed variability even in the columns taken from the same position on the hillslope, which can be linked to plant roots and soil fauna activity. Altogether, the results showed a deeper loose layer at the footslope as a consequence of the soil erosion, which then resulted in higher hydraulic conductivity and the leached mass of the bromide due to better soil structure and pore connectivity. Thus, due to significant differences in the leached mass of bromide, this research should be later expanded in field experiments to reveal the impact of surface runoff, subsurface preferential and lateral flow on a larger scale. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Defterdarović, Jasmina , Krevh, Vedran , Filipović, Lana , Kovač, Zoran , Phogat, Vinod , He, Hailong , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 12 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Processes in hillslope soils present a particular challenge for agricultural production and soil management due to their hydropedological specifics and high soil erosion risk. Soil heterogeneities can cause preferential and/or lateral flow on the entire hillslope resulting in the off-site movement of water, fertilizers and chemicals used in crop production. A study was conducted under controlled conditions in a laboratory with undisturbed soil cores (250 cm3), which were used to estimate the soil hydraulic properties (SHP) using HYPROP and WP4C devices, while undisturbed soil columns (diameter = 16 cm, length = 25 cm) were used for the evaluation of preferential flow pathways using potassium bromide and Brilliant Blue. Samples were excavated in triplicate from the hilltop, backslope and footslope regions within the inter-rows of a vineyard from a critical zone observatory, SUPREHILL, in Croatia in Dystric Luvic Stagnosol. The aim of this study was to determine if the erosion-affected hillslope position affected the physical, chemical and hydraulic properties of soil and to identify water flow and possible preferential flow using dye and bromide tracers. The results of the sensor measurements and estimated SHPs were in agreement, showing a faster leaching of the irrigated rainwater in the footslope column. The tracer experiments showed variability even in the columns taken from the same position on the hillslope, which can be linked to plant roots and soil fauna activity. Altogether, the results showed a deeper loose layer at the footslope as a consequence of the soil erosion, which then resulted in higher hydraulic conductivity and the leached mass of the bromide due to better soil structure and pore connectivity. Thus, due to significant differences in the leached mass of bromide, this research should be later expanded in field experiments to reveal the impact of surface runoff, subsurface preferential and lateral flow on a larger scale. © 2023 by the authors.
Valuing ecosystem services provided by land commons in India: implications for research and policy
- Sandhu, Harpinder, Zhang, Wei, Meinzen-Dick, Ruth, ElDidi, Hagar, Perveen, Saiqa, Sharma, Janvi, Kaur, Japneet, Priyadarshini, Pratiti
- Authors: Sandhu, Harpinder , Zhang, Wei , Meinzen-Dick, Ruth , ElDidi, Hagar , Perveen, Saiqa , Sharma, Janvi , Kaur, Japneet , Priyadarshini, Pratiti
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Environmental Research Letters Vol. 18, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: Commons provide many ecosystem services that support the livelihoods of billions around the world. However, their contribution to people and the economy are rarely estimated in economic terms. Here, we estimate the economic contribution of the land-based commons in India, which cover 66.5 million hectares. We conducted a systematic literature review of publications between 1990 and 2020 and selected 161 peer-reviewed studies to develop an ecosystem services valuation database for India. We identified 34 ecosystem services from this database. We estimate that forest commons provide ecosystem services worth $2108 ha
- Authors: Sandhu, Harpinder , Zhang, Wei , Meinzen-Dick, Ruth , ElDidi, Hagar , Perveen, Saiqa , Sharma, Janvi , Kaur, Japneet , Priyadarshini, Pratiti
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Environmental Research Letters Vol. 18, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Commons provide many ecosystem services that support the livelihoods of billions around the world. However, their contribution to people and the economy are rarely estimated in economic terms. Here, we estimate the economic contribution of the land-based commons in India, which cover 66.5 million hectares. We conducted a systematic literature review of publications between 1990 and 2020 and selected 161 peer-reviewed studies to develop an ecosystem services valuation database for India. We identified 34 ecosystem services from this database. We estimate that forest commons provide ecosystem services worth $2108 ha
A literature review of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on sustainable HRM
- Liang, Xiaoyan, Zhang, Xiwei, Paulet, Renee, Zheng, Leven
- Authors: Liang, Xiaoyan , Zhang, Xiwei , Paulet, Renee , Zheng, Leven
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 14, no. 5 (2022), p.
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- Description: The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to emerge across all facets of the world of work, including the field of human resource management (HRM). Sustainable HRM, drawing on the triple bottom line elements of the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainability, provides an ideal basis from which to understand the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and HRM. In this systematic literature review, we analyze peer reviewed articles published in the nexus of the pandemic and sustainable HRM, identifying the dimensions and extent of research in this topical area of study. Our CEDEL model—complicator–exposer–disruptor–enabler– legitimizer—conceptualizes our understanding of the role of COVID-19 in sustainable HRM. This paper provides a framework from which future studies can benefit when investigating the impacts of COVID-19, and a comprehensive identification of future research avenues. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Liang, Xiaoyan , Zhang, Xiwei , Paulet, Renee , Zheng, Leven
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 14, no. 5 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to emerge across all facets of the world of work, including the field of human resource management (HRM). Sustainable HRM, drawing on the triple bottom line elements of the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainability, provides an ideal basis from which to understand the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and HRM. In this systematic literature review, we analyze peer reviewed articles published in the nexus of the pandemic and sustainable HRM, identifying the dimensions and extent of research in this topical area of study. Our CEDEL model—complicator–exposer–disruptor–enabler– legitimizer—conceptualizes our understanding of the role of COVID-19 in sustainable HRM. This paper provides a framework from which future studies can benefit when investigating the impacts of COVID-19, and a comprehensive identification of future research avenues. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
A review of sediment carbon sampling methods in mangroves and their broader impacts on stock estimates for blue carbon ecosystems
- Fest, Benedikt, Swearer, Stephen, Arndt, Stefan
- Authors: Fest, Benedikt , Swearer, Stephen , Arndt, Stefan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 816, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses, are attracting interest for their potential to mitigate climate change arising from their high rates of carbon accumulation and the significant carbon stocks in their sediments. However, current sediment carbon sampling methods present a mixture of approaches adopted from paleoenvironmental methods focused on historical reconstruction of carbon accumulation, and from soil science methods developed to provide highly accurate and spatially representative carbon stock measurements. Currently, no international standard method for sediment carbon stock analysis exists. Consequently, current estimates of sediment carbon stock values for BCEs may have large uncertainties due to variable methodology. We reviewed and analysed the methods used 217 studies included in two recent global syntheses of carbon stocks in mangrove forest ecosystems to illustrate a lack of consistency in sediment sampling. We then outline how the choice of study design and field sampling methods can introduce inaccuracies and uncertainties in sediment carbon stock analysis. We conclude with examples of how each of these challenges can be resolved and how greater carbon stock quantification accuracy and higher spatial integration can be achieved for blue carbon ecosystems in the future. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
- Authors: Fest, Benedikt , Swearer, Stephen , Arndt, Stefan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 816, no. (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses, are attracting interest for their potential to mitigate climate change arising from their high rates of carbon accumulation and the significant carbon stocks in their sediments. However, current sediment carbon sampling methods present a mixture of approaches adopted from paleoenvironmental methods focused on historical reconstruction of carbon accumulation, and from soil science methods developed to provide highly accurate and spatially representative carbon stock measurements. Currently, no international standard method for sediment carbon stock analysis exists. Consequently, current estimates of sediment carbon stock values for BCEs may have large uncertainties due to variable methodology. We reviewed and analysed the methods used 217 studies included in two recent global syntheses of carbon stocks in mangrove forest ecosystems to illustrate a lack of consistency in sediment sampling. We then outline how the choice of study design and field sampling methods can introduce inaccuracies and uncertainties in sediment carbon stock analysis. We conclude with examples of how each of these challenges can be resolved and how greater carbon stock quantification accuracy and higher spatial integration can be achieved for blue carbon ecosystems in the future. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
A scoping review of community-based adult suicide prevention initiatives in rural and regional australia
- Dabkowski, Elissa, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Prokopiv, Valerie, Jackson, Megan
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 19, no. 12 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
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- Description: The need for continued research into suicide prevention strategies is undeniable, with high global statistics demonstrating the urgency of this public health issue. In Australia, approximately 3000 people end their lives each year, with those living in rural and regional areas identified as having a higher risk of dying by suicide. Due to decreased access and support services in these areas, community-based suicide prevention initiatives provide opportunities to educate and support local communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature pertaining to such programs in rural and/or regional communities in Australia. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Nine databases were searched, from which studies were considered eligible if suicide prevention programs were community-based and catered for adults (aged
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 19, no. 12 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The need for continued research into suicide prevention strategies is undeniable, with high global statistics demonstrating the urgency of this public health issue. In Australia, approximately 3000 people end their lives each year, with those living in rural and regional areas identified as having a higher risk of dying by suicide. Due to decreased access and support services in these areas, community-based suicide prevention initiatives provide opportunities to educate and support local communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature pertaining to such programs in rural and/or regional communities in Australia. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Nine databases were searched, from which studies were considered eligible if suicide prevention programs were community-based and catered for adults (aged
A study on environmental issues of blasting using advanced support vector machine algorithms
- Chen, Lihua, Armaghani, Danial, Fakharian, Pouyan, Bhatawdekar, Ramesh, Samui, P., Khandelwal, Manoj, Khedher, Khaled
- Authors: Chen, Lihua , Armaghani, Danial , Fakharian, Pouyan , Bhatawdekar, Ramesh , Samui, P. , Khandelwal, Manoj , Khedher, Khaled
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 19, no. 7 (2022), p. 6221-6240
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Air overpressure is a critical negative effect of blasting in construction or production sites and projects. So far, many attempts have been made to prevent or reduce this negative effect on the nearby construction, equipment, or people. While various experiential equations have been proposed to forecast the air overpressure value for determining the blasting area, these models are typically inaccurate and impractical. Due to the recent efforts to predict the air overpressure by employing artificial intelligence techniques, this study developed five support vector machine-based models optimized by some praised optimization techniques, including the moth flame optimization, particle swarm optimization, grey wolf optimization, cuckoo optimization algorithm, and whale optimization algorithm. These algorithms optimize the most important parameters of the support vector machine, including “C” and “gamma”, and improve the performance of this model for air overpressure prediction. The findings showed that the moth flame optimization algorithm is the best optimizer for support vector machine and is suitable for air overpressure prediction. The support vector machine–moth flame optimization model achieved the best R2 (train: 0.9939; test: 0.9941) and comprehensive score (34). On the other hand, the worst model was the support vector machine–particle swarm optimization, which achieved the lowest comprehensive score (13). In addition, all optimization techniques improved the performance of the single support vector machine model. The findings of this study imply that all optimization techniques successfully enhanced the performance of the support vector machine model; however, the moth flame optimization optimizer was the most effective one. The support vector machine–moth flame optimization technique can be employed to solve other mining-related issues. © 2022, Islamic Azad University (IAU). Correction to: A study on environmental issues of blasting using advanced support vector machine algorithms (International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, (2022), 19, 7, (6221-6240), 10.1007/s13762-022-03999-y): The original version of this article unfortunately contains two mistakes. The spelling of the third author's name was incorrect. The correct name is Pouyan Fakharian (P. Fakharian). Another error was in the acknowledgment section. The correct Grant No. is KJQN202103415. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Iranian Society of Environmentalists (IRSEN) and Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University 2022
- Authors: Chen, Lihua , Armaghani, Danial , Fakharian, Pouyan , Bhatawdekar, Ramesh , Samui, P. , Khandelwal, Manoj , Khedher, Khaled
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 19, no. 7 (2022), p. 6221-6240
- Full Text:
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- Description: Air overpressure is a critical negative effect of blasting in construction or production sites and projects. So far, many attempts have been made to prevent or reduce this negative effect on the nearby construction, equipment, or people. While various experiential equations have been proposed to forecast the air overpressure value for determining the blasting area, these models are typically inaccurate and impractical. Due to the recent efforts to predict the air overpressure by employing artificial intelligence techniques, this study developed five support vector machine-based models optimized by some praised optimization techniques, including the moth flame optimization, particle swarm optimization, grey wolf optimization, cuckoo optimization algorithm, and whale optimization algorithm. These algorithms optimize the most important parameters of the support vector machine, including “C” and “gamma”, and improve the performance of this model for air overpressure prediction. The findings showed that the moth flame optimization algorithm is the best optimizer for support vector machine and is suitable for air overpressure prediction. The support vector machine–moth flame optimization model achieved the best R2 (train: 0.9939; test: 0.9941) and comprehensive score (34). On the other hand, the worst model was the support vector machine–particle swarm optimization, which achieved the lowest comprehensive score (13). In addition, all optimization techniques improved the performance of the single support vector machine model. The findings of this study imply that all optimization techniques successfully enhanced the performance of the support vector machine model; however, the moth flame optimization optimizer was the most effective one. The support vector machine–moth flame optimization technique can be employed to solve other mining-related issues. © 2022, Islamic Azad University (IAU). Correction to: A study on environmental issues of blasting using advanced support vector machine algorithms (International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, (2022), 19, 7, (6221-6240), 10.1007/s13762-022-03999-y): The original version of this article unfortunately contains two mistakes. The spelling of the third author's name was incorrect. The correct name is Pouyan Fakharian (P. Fakharian). Another error was in the acknowledgment section. The correct Grant No. is KJQN202103415. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Iranian Society of Environmentalists (IRSEN) and Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University 2022
African women’s experience of domestic violence and help-seeking behaviour in Melbourne, Australia
- Kuyini, Ahmed, Kor, Deng, Diu, Joyce, David, Ruffina, Yoa, Tut
- Authors: Kuyini, Ahmed , Kor, Deng , Diu, Joyce , David, Ruffina , Yoa, Tut
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Review of African Studies Vol. 43, no. 2 (2022), p. 59-86
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- Description: This study explored African refugee background women’s experience of domestic violence and help-seeking behaviour. The women were part of a domestic violence prevention and intervention project run by a local community organisation. Underpinned by help-seeking frameworks such as Theory of Planned Behaviour, data were gathered via two focus group interviews with seventeen women in Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The results showed that participants experienced different forms of violence. Many did not seek help early, and help-seeking was constrained by cultural considerations and children in the relationship. Implications are discussed in relation to formal and informal support or interventions. © 2022, Australasian Review of African Studies. All Rights Reserved.
- Authors: Kuyini, Ahmed , Kor, Deng , Diu, Joyce , David, Ruffina , Yoa, Tut
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Review of African Studies Vol. 43, no. 2 (2022), p. 59-86
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study explored African refugee background women’s experience of domestic violence and help-seeking behaviour. The women were part of a domestic violence prevention and intervention project run by a local community organisation. Underpinned by help-seeking frameworks such as Theory of Planned Behaviour, data were gathered via two focus group interviews with seventeen women in Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The results showed that participants experienced different forms of violence. Many did not seek help early, and help-seeking was constrained by cultural considerations and children in the relationship. Implications are discussed in relation to formal and informal support or interventions. © 2022, Australasian Review of African Studies. All Rights Reserved.