Kinematic synthesis of flight control systems for light aircrafts

In this paper, kinematic synthesis of a planar flight control system mechanism has been conducted for a light aircraft designed and built by TAL To achieve a simple construction, the four-bar linkages are used in the synthesis. Freudenstein's Method and Bloch's Method are utilized for analytical three and four bar position syntheses respectively. A case study of an elevator flight control system is presented

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers of People with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the psychological well-being of caregivers of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (PwD/MCI). Electronic databases were searched from inception to August 2022 for observational studies investigating the COVID-19 lockdown and psychological well-being of caregivers of PwD/MCI. Summary estimates of standardized mean differences (SMD) in psychological well-being scores pre- versus during COVID-19 were calculated using a random-effects model. Fifteen studies including 1702 caregivers (65.7% female, mean age 60.40 ± 12.9 years) with PwD/MCI were evaluated. Five studies found no change in psychological well-being parameters, including depression, anxiety, distress, caregiver burden, and quality of life. Ten studies found a worsening in at least one parameter: depression (six studies, n = 1368; SMD = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.09–0.71; p = 0.01, I2 = 86.8%), anxiety (seven studies, n = 1569; SMD = 1.35; 95%CI: 0.05–2.65; I2 = 99.2%), caregiver distress (six studies, n = 1320, SMD = 3.190; 95%CI: 1.42–4.95; p < 0.0001; I2 = 99.4%), and caregiver burden (four studies, n = 852, SMD = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.13–0.56; p = 0.001; I2 = 54.1%) (p < 0.05). There was an increase in depression, anxiety, caregiver burden, and distress in caregivers of PwD/MCI during the lockdown in the COVID pandemic. This could have longer term consequences, and it is essential that caregivers’ psychological well-being is assessed and supported, to benefit both themselves and those for whom they care

Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending >10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Adhesion and proliferation of living cell on surface functionalized with glycine nanostructures

This research presents the application of glycine amino acid for establishing firm cell-substrate interaction instead of expensive adhesion proteins, peptides and peptide derivatives. The glycine amino acid is chemically functionalized on the coverslip to achieve self-assembled nanostructure. Glycine self-assembly on NaCl treated coverslips is initiated with SiONa+:COO− linkage while their nanostructure is achieved with formation of glycine chain through NH3+:COO− covalent linkage between the adjacent molecules. The functionalization steps are confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) investigation. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations reveal that glycine growth initiates at 4 Hours (H) post-treatment while maximum growth appears after 8H-10H. Both the vertical and horizontal growth of nanostructures show dependence on functionalization periods. Various levels of glycine functionalized surface show different levels of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell adhesion and proliferation efficiency with maximum performance for 10H functionalized surface. The adhesion and proliferation performance of 10H glycine functionalized surface shows negligible difference when compared with glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) functionalized surface. Finally, growth curves obtained from both glycine and RGD functionalized surface reveal exponential growth phage up to 48H followed by stationary phage between 48H and 72H while death of many cells appears from 72H to 96H. Thus, this research concluded that glycine functionalized surface is equally effective for cell adhesion and proliferation

Effects of Peer Education on Attitudes Toward Organ Donation in Nursing Students

Background. Nurses play an effective role in the identification of donors and in the families' decision-making processes related to organ donation. It is recommended that nursing students be offered specific education regarding organ donation and transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of peer education on attitudes toward organ donation and the rate of attaining a donor card in undergraduate nursing students

Attitudes of the Third-Year Nursing Students Toward Organ Donation: Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Health professionals can affect attitudes toward organ donation in society; therefore, priority should be given to exploration of attitudes of nursing students as important prospective members of the health profession. The goal of this study was to assess nursing students' attitudes and volunteerism toward organ donation

A thiazolothiazole containing multichromic polymer for glucose detection

Donor-acceptor (DA) type monomers namely 2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole (TTzTh) and 2,5-bis(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole (TTzMTh) were synthesized and their electrochemical and optoelectronic properties were investigated in detail. The spectro-electrochemical analysis showed that the alkyl chain substitution results in a shift in the onset of the pi-pi* transition towards longer wavelengths. Depending on the donor substituents, the polymers exhibited optical band gaps 1.65 and 1.85 eV for PTTzTh and PTTzMTh, respectively. Electrochromic studies revealed that both polymers are p-dopable and multichromic. Moreover, polymer of TTzTh (PTTzTh) has been used for the development of a glucose biosensor. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was anchored on a graphite electrode which was previously modified with a film of the conjugated polymer, PTTzTh by electropolymerization. Such a sensor showed a wide linear range (0.05 - 2.0 mM), good sensitivity (36.32 mu A/(mM.cm(2)) and low limit of detection (LOD) (0.075 mM) under formerly optimized conditions. Moreover, the accuracy of the biosensor was successfully tested using two different beverages to detect glucose. Electrochemical characterizations of the polymers and their biosensor application were investigated for the first time in this work

A PRELIMINARY-STUDY ON IL4 LEVELS IN EXTRINSIC ATOPIC ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN

Interleukin 4, (IL4) known as a lymphokine secreted by type II helper T-cells, is thought to regulate IgG and IgE secretions. Therefore, elevated IL4 levels are expected in atopic allergic disesase and parasitoses