Analysis of the vertical vibration effects on ride comfort of vehicle driver

Vehicle vibrations affect the health and comfort of the driver and passengers considerably. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of vertical vehicle vibrations on the driver. To achieve this goal, a human biodynamic model with 11 degrees of freedom was incorporated into a full vehicle model and this combined human-vehicle model was subjected to the road disturbance. After dynamic analysis of the proposed model, root mean square (RMS) acceleration responses of the human body parts over a certain frequency range were obtained. Physiological effects of the vibrations on the human body were analyzed using the criteria specified in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2631. Then, in order to observe the effectiveness of a controller on the vibration isolation of human body, sliding mode controller was applied to the model. Comparison of the vibration effects for the uncontrolled and controlled cases of the human-vehicle model was presented. It can be concluded from the results that sliding mode controller considerably reduces whole body vibrations compared with the uncontrolled case and thereby improves the ride comfort satisfactorily

Measuring takeover premiums in cross-border M&As: insights from Turkey

We investigate whether the merger announcement dates provided in a popular Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) database, SDC, serve as accurate event dates for estimating the wealth effects of mergers on target firms located in Turkey. We find that 74% of SDC’s merger announcement dates are preceded by merger-related events such as merger rumors, target firms’ search for potential acquirers, and early stage merger negotiation announcements. Target cumulative abnormal return (CAR) estimates around these early dates are almost twice as large as the CAR estimates around SDC’s merger announcement dates. We argue that our findings have implications for the recently flourishing cross-border M&A literature

WHY DO PEOPLE HIGH IN COVID-19 WORRY HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS? THE ROLES OF RESILIENCE AND MEANING IN LIFE

Background: The existing literature has not adequately studied the influence of COVID-19 worry on mental health disorders. This study tested the mediating roles of resilience and meaning in life between COVID-19 worry and mental health disorders. Subjects and methods: We recruited 284 Arabic speaking young adults (60.6% females; mean age = 26.25±7.57 years) to complete the COVID-19 Worry Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Meaning in Life Measure, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: Results showed that COVID-19 worry negatively predicted resilience and meaning in life and positively predicted mental health disorders. Furthermore, indirect effect of COVID-19 worry on mental health disorders via resilience and meaning in life was significant. Conclusion: These results will contribute to find effective measures to prevent mental health disorders and promote reduced mental health disorders from the perspective of mitigating COVID-19 worry and increasing resilience and meaning in life

Market Reaction to Cyber Strategy Disclosure: Word Embedding Derived Approach

In this study, we use a semi-supervised natural language processing (NLP) methodology to assess cybersecurity strategy of firms based on their 10-K filings. Adapted from the Cybersecurity Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), five distinct cybersecurity strategies, namely identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery, are measured annually. We find evidence that cybersecurity identification strategy is positively and significantly associated with firm market value. For those firms experienced a cyberattack in the past, disclosing cybersecurity protection strategy is not positively assessed by the market. This paper makes contribution to the literature on cybersecurity by identifying the cyber strategies disclosed in 10-K reports using textual analysis, which can be used in future cyber studies. We further show empirical evidence of how market reacts to different strategies, which have valuable implications for industry as to how to better manage cyber risk

Brain abscess caused by lactococcus lactis in a young male

Lactococcus lactis cremoris is one of the gram positive cocci, not known to be pathogenic in humans. We report a case of brain abscess due to lactococcus lactis in an adolescent. An 18-year male with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries and dextrocardia was admitted with fever, headache and right-sided numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well circumscribed irregular heterogeneous abnormal signal intensity lesion in left temporo-parietal lobe having central area of diffusion restriction and peripheral wall enhancement on post-contrast images. He underwent mini-craniotomy for abscess drainage. Pus culture revealed growth of lactococcus lactis. He was treated with ceftriaxone and remained disability-free on six month follow-up. To our knowledge, this is one of the few reports of brain abscess caused by lactococcus lactis. Key Words: Brain abscess, Lactococcus lactis, Adolescent

Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of influenza pneumonia patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Objective: To determine the sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of influenza pneumonia patients in tertiary care hospital, Karachi Pakistan.Study design: A cross-sectional study.Place and duration of study: The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan from January 2013 to December 2018. Methodology: All adult patients who were older than 18 years and suspected to have viral pneumonia were included in the study. Data were abstracted on 105 patients and were entered on preformed proforma after reviewing the files of patients.Results: Ninety-four (89.5%) patients were influenza positive and 15.2% (n=16) had been vaccinated. Around 92.4% (n=97), 81.9% (n=86) and 61.9% (n=65) patients had cough, fever and shortness of breath, respectively; and 63.8% (n=67), 16.2% (n=17), and 2.9% (n=3) patients had consolidation, nodules, and cavitation, respectively. Almost 91.4% (n=96) patients were given treatment and discharged home; however, 7.6% (n=8) died. Procalcitonin, creatinine, HCO3 , lactate, and bilirubin level were increased in 2nd group (mortality group) after 48 hours; however, the results were only significant for HCO3 (p = 0.035).Conclusion: Influenza pneumonia is very common in our population and older people are more likely to be affected by this disease. Patients can be prevented from adverse outcomes and complications, if diagnosed and treated in time

Leveraging BIM and big data to deliver well maintained highways

The Highway infrastructure is one of the most valuable assets for any state or national Government. Efficient operations of Highways lead to success of national and local economies as well as improve the quality of life of the general public dependent on it.  In order to ensure aging road networks continues to move with its ever increasing number of users, requires maintenance and improvements to the road network at the highest standard. Increasing scrutiny over the cost of maintenance along with increasing pressure from Government and the public for transparency over road network spending, has made a strong case for more efficient management of the Highway road asset and traffic management data. Better management of information could allow for life cycle management of asset data and predictive analytics. This paper focuses on proposing a platform that integrates various technologies and systems of Highways Authority and its supply chain, to allow for continuous flow of data throughout an assets life-cycle, leading to seamless, collaborative and effecting working. The integration takes into account developments in the area of BIM and big data; BIM provides a platform to better integrate information whereas big data can provide analytical platform to draw insights

Assessment of the prevalence and characteristics of dens invaginatus in a sample of Turkish Anatolian population

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of dens invaginatus in anterior teeth and to classify the type of dens invaginatus in a sample of Turkish Anatolian population. Study design: A retrospective study was performed using full-mouth periapical and panoramic radiographs of 1012 patients. Maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were evaluated for the presence and characteristics of dens invaginatus. Statistical evaluation of the presence of dens invaginatus related to gender was performed by the Pearson chi-squared test. Results: Dens invaginatus was observed in 13 out of 1012 subjects and in only maxillary lateral incisors. There were no periapical lesions in teeth with types I and II, whereas both of the subjects with type III had apical periodontitis at the time of referral. Males and females were almost equally affected by dens invaginatus (P= 0.98). Conclusion: The anomaly was detected in only maxillary lateral incisors with no gender difference and the most commonly observed type of dens invaginatus was type I (81.25%)

Satın alım öncesi ve sonrası Türk hedef şirketlerinin finansal performansı

Türkiye’de çoğunluk hissesi satın alınan halka açık hedef şirketlerin ciddi bir kısmı satın alındıktan sonra faaliyetlerine halka açık olarak devam etmekte ve finansal raporlarını kamuyla paylaşmayı sürdürmektedirler. Bu durum, Türk hedef şirketlerin satın alım öncesi ve sonrası finansal performanslarının ölçülebilmesini ve hedef şirketlerin bu esnadaki performanslarını açıklayan hipotezlerin yansız olarak test edilebilmesini mümkün kılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, hedef şirketlerin performansları faaliyet kar oranları ve hisse senedi getirileri baz alınarak ölçülmüş ve bu değişkenler satın alım öncesi ve sonrasındaki dönemde incelenmiştir. Hedef şirketlerin satın alım öncesi düşük performans göstereceği hipotezinin aksine, Türk şirketlerinin satın alım tarihinden önceki üç yıllık dönemde akranlarına benzer faaliyet kar oranlarına sahip oldukları ve al-tut hisse senedi getirilerinin akranlarından daha yüksek olduğu gösterilmiştir. Satın alımdan sonraki üç yıllık dönemde faaliyet kar oranları nispeten düşse de hisse senedi getirileri yüksek seyretmeye devam etmiştir. Çalışmanın son kısmında ise çoklu regresyon yöntemi kullanılarak hedef şirket performansını etkileyen faktörler incelenmiştir