Juxta-anastomotic stenosis severely compromises hemodialysis access; however, non-invasive acoustic screening lacks quantitative physical validation that directly links flow disturbances to sound generation. To address this critical knowledge gap, this study experimentally explored post-stenotic vortex dynamics under specific pulsatile flow conditions (60 bpm) to provide quantitative insights into the hydrodynamic mechanisms underlying vascular sound generation. Transparent vascular models (0 % control, 40 % mild, 75 % severe, and 75 % tandem double stenosis) were analyzed using high-speed particle image velocimetry (11000 fps) and a 40th-order autoregressive model. Under the investigated flow regime, severe stenosis (75 %) accelerated jet velocity to approximately 3.0 m/s (vs. 1.5 m/s in control) and substantially amplified vorticity fluctuations to approximately ±3500s-1 during flow deceleration (t=0.25-0.8s). Spectral analysis indicated a potential redistribution of kinetic energy, with severe single and double stenoses exhibiting a trend toward suppressing low-frequency power (∼8 dB/Hz reduction below 500 Hz) and elevating high-frequency bandwidths (>800 Hz, with peaks of 10–12 dB/Hz at 900–1200 and 1500–1800 Hz). Notably, tandem stenosis with spacing of 3.75D (diameter) exhibited a novel fluid-coupling mechanism in which proximal jet wake impingement appeared to sustain distal high-frequency vorticity fluctuations into late systole (t=0.65-0.8s). Although further systematic validation is warranted, these preliminary findings offer unprecedented physical evidence that post-stenotic vorticity fluctuations may constitute a key hydrodynamic source of high-frequency acoustic emissions and provide essential insights into sensor placement for non-invasive screening.
Growing concerns about the environmental impact of nature-based sporting events underscore the need to examine whether such experiences foster pro-environmental behavior (PEB). This study investigated the effects of ultramarathon participation on actual PEB and explored underlying psychological mechanisms using the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). A longitudinal survey was conducted with tourists participating in Shimanto River Ultramarathon for the first time at three time points: before the event, two weeks after, and one month after. Results revealed a significant increase in actual PEB after the event, particularly among participants with initially lower environmental intentions, indicating a behavioral change. Biospheric values significantly increased post-event, while environmental self-efficacy remained stable; both positively predicted PEB intention. The conditional latent growth model revealed that lower initial intentions were associated with greater behavioral improvements. These findings provide empirical support for the transformative potential of nature-based sporting events and extend PMT by capturing longitudinal changes from intention to behavior. The study offers practical insights for tourism and event organizers, policymakers, and sponsors seeking to foster environmental engagement through sport-based interventions. Despite some limitations, the findings suggest that nature-based sporting events enhance environmental awareness, with the greatest gains in PEB among those starting with lower initial intentions.
Blending discussion with ethnographic writing, this article examines repeated visits to a residence in Japan that functions as a space for events organized by migrants for migrants. Beyond the visible themes of these gatherings lie subtler processes through which the house becomes meaningful. The house is enlivened through storytelling and interactions with objects, practices that forge relatedness over time. These practices express the migrants' desire to belong with the host society. Yet belonging takes an unexpected form: the original owners with whom kinning unfolds are physically absent but experienced through material traces and imaginative engagement. Frequent references to the owners' affluence reveal another migrant aspiration: to be well off. The article conceptualizes this crafting of relatedness as "kinning-through-the-house," emphasizing its temporal dimension. It contributes to broader debates on kinning and belonging in migrant contexts by foregrounding the role of place in shaping social ties across time.
The limited existing studies elucidate the significant contribution of open dumpsites to greenhouse gas emissions in Sri Lanka and underscore the necessity of improved waste management practices. Considering this, this study formulates and implements a scenario-based transition framework to assess the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by diverting biodegradable waste in a semi-urban governance setting in Sri Lanka, which is marked by data limitations and operational challenges. This study concludes that the environmental feasibility analysis reinforces the potential benefits of solid waste compost adoption in municipal solid waste management and agriculture. Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, and N2O) were analyzed using the IPCC Tier 1 methodology. The findings revealed that the total emissions declined significantly from 163.10 tonne CO2 eq/month to 99.31 tonne CO2 eq/month. The results indicate that diverting biodegradable waste to composting can play a crucial role in climate mitigation in semi-urban contexts, while promoting organic farming. These findings represent the first scenario-based GHG quantification in a semi-urban context in Sri Lanka, addressing a governance level that has received negligible attention in the composting and waste management literature. The scenario-based evaluation framework offers indicative guidance for municipalities in similarly constrained developing contexts, although direct applicability is contingent on comparable waste compositions, governance structures, and operational conditions.
We investigate whether the classic Go-Go technique remains effective in modern VR by comparing it with a novel kinetic energy-based method (GomuGomu). Our user study (N=12) evaluated three arm extension techniques across task completion time, SUS, NASA-TLX, and embodiment measures. Results showed that Go-Go methods significantly outperformed the physics-based approach. These findings validate Go-Go technique's continued relevance and highlight the importance of balancing innovation with cognitive efficiency in VR interface design.
