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Cognitive abilities are good predictors of safety performance in many occupations. However, this correlation has not been studied from the perspective of high-speed railway (HSR) dispatchers who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and punctuality of HSR transportation system. Therefore, studying factors affecting HSR dispatchers' safety performance is not only of great importance in filling the theoretical gap, but also conducive to the selection and training of dispatchers, contributing to the reduction of human errors and the prevention of railway accidents. In this study, a total of 118 HSR dispatchers from a branch of China Railway were recruited to complete the tests that examined their cognitive abilities related to the dispatching job, including logical reasoning, visual multiobject tracking, working memory, task switching, and cognitive flexibility. Safety performance, including both the safety evaluation score obtained from the dispatchers' monthly safety performance record of the Railway Bureau and the emergency disposal performance indicated by train delay time, was evaluated with a dispatch simulator. The results suggested that better abilities in visual multiobject tracking, working memory, task switching, and cognitive flexibility were correlated with higher safety evaluation score (reflecting daily safety performance) and shorter train delay time (reflecting safety and efficiency in emergency disposal). No significant correlation was found in logical reasoning. These findings support the recommendation that cognitive abilities investigated as predictors of safety performance could be useful for the selection and training of HSR dispatchers., Author(s): Shi Lei [1,2]; Zizheng Guo [1,2]; Xi Tan [1,2]; Xi Chen [3]; Chengen Li [4]; Jiaming Zou [1,2]; Shi Cao [5]; Guo Feng (corresponding author) [6] 1. Introduction With [...]

With the improvement of operation requirements of power equipment, the stable operation of insulation of equipment is very important. Among them, insulating paper is one of the main factors affecting the state of equipment. Therefore, it is important to improve the performance of insulating paper. The pure cellulose model and h‐BN/cellulose composite model are established to analyze the improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of insulating paper cellulose. The effects of different contents of h‐BN doping on the properties of cellulose are studied by comparing the mechanical parameters, cohesive energy density, thermal conductivity, mean square displacement, and free volume of cellulose before and after h‐BN doping through molecular dynamics method. The results indicate that the thermal conductivity and thermal stability of cellulose are improved by more than 15% at the h‐BN mass fraction of 2% and 3%, the shear modulus and elastic modulus are enhanced by more than 50%, and the deformation resistance and ductility of the composites are enhanced when the mass fraction of h‐BN is 2%. The doping of h‐BN has an important impact on improving the thermodynamic properties of cellulose, which is of great significance to improving the insulation performance of power equipment and reducing equipment faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of (Li,Ce) or (K,Ce) doping on the structures and properties of bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric (BLSF) CaBi4Ti4O15-based ceramics was studied. In Ca1-x(K,Ce)x/2Bi4Ti4O15 and Ca1-x(Li,Ce)x/2Bi4Ti4O15 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) compounds, the effect of the substitution on the lattice parameters was given. The XRD patterns of Ca1-x(K,Ce)x/2Bi4Ti4O15 and Ca1-x(Li,Ce)x/2Bi4Ti4O15 ceramics showed that the compounds were Aurivillius phases. SEM micrographs show that the grains of CBT-based ceramics were plate-like. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) results showed that Li+ was present in bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics. Based on the AES analysis and the comparisons with A-site (K,Ce) substitution, Li substitution of A-site cations in BLSF is possible. For x = 0.15 compositions, (Li,Ce) or (K,Ce) dopants can improve the high temperature resisitivity and piezoelectric constant d33 of the doped ceramics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent age-related degenerative joint disease and a leading cause of pain and disability in aged people. Its etiology is multifaceted, involving factors such as biomechanics, pro-inflammatory mediators, genetics, and metabolism. Beyond its evident impact on joint functionality and the erosion of patients' quality of life, OA exhibits symbiotic relationships with various systemic diseases, giving rise to various complications. This review reveals OA's extensive impact, encompassing osteoporosis, sarcopenia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, mental health, and even cancer. Shared inflammatory processes, genetic factors, and lifestyle elements link OA to these systemic conditions. Consequently, recognizing these connections and addressing them offers opportunities to enhance patient care and reduce the burden of associated diseases, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to managing OA and its complications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Yang, Li, Zhang, Li and Lv.)

This study analyzes 4,095 proactive safety inspection records obtained from a large dispatching centre by utilising the HFACS framework. These proactive safety inspection records offer comprehensive documentation of incidents, capturing major accidents and numerous minor discrepancies and lapses that often go unnoticed in accident reports. The analysis revealed that most incidents were attributed to unsafe actions, primarily skill-based errors and poor decision-making. Additionally, contributing factors such as adverse mental states, personal readiness, and crew resource management were found to play a significant role as preconditions for unsafe acts. Path analyses further established a significant correlation between factors such as unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts, and the occurrence of unsafe acts. In our discussion, we critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of proactive safety inspection records in safety research. Moreover, we emphasise these findings' potential to enhance safety within the railway industry.