bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF DECISION TREE AND RELATIVE PROXIMITY TO EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITIES OF LISTED ELECTRIC POWER COMPANIES
Authors: Mou Hao , Tang Xiaobo , Gao Hexuan , Liu Yalan
Published: July 2022

In a complex market environment with fierce competition, maintaining their current market positions is an important issue for electric power companies. Sustainable development not only requires them to pay attention to their current operating efficiencies but also to actively participate in environmental and social responsibilities to maintain their competitive advantages. This paper proposes a model for evaluating the sustainable development capacities of power companies. Firstly, the preliminary evaluation indicator system is constructed with the seven dimensions of production safety, public relations and social welfare, shareholder rights protection, environmental sustainability, employee rights protection, scientific research innovation ability, and financial status. Then, specific financial indicators are selected by CART to avoid indicator redundancies and the final evaluation indicator system is constructed. Finally, the relative proximity calculated by the TOPSIS method is applied to evaluate the sustainable development capacities. An empirical study of 18 listed electric power companies is conducted to verify the evaluation model. The results show that the performances of these companies in production safety and environmental sustainability are generally satisfactory, but the overall performances in public relations and social welfare, employee rights protection, and scientific research innovation ability are relatively poor, so these dimensions should be strengthened.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF RC BEAMS REINFORCED WITH FRP AND ECC MATERIALS
Authors: Sun Guorui , Lai Jie , Zheng Yuzhou , Zheng Kaikai , Shi Jun
Published: July 2022

This paper investigates the structural working behavior of reinforced concrete beams bonded with fiber reinforced polymer and engineered cementitious composite materials subjected to bending using structural stressing state theory. First, six reinforced concrete beams externally bonded with composite reinforcement layer and one control beam are tested to investigate the effects of the bond length, fiber reinforced polymer grid thickness and fiber content on the flexural behavior. Then, the finite strain data of RC beams are interpolated by the numerical shape function method. The generalized strain energy density model is established to characterize the stressing state of the structure. Through the MannKendall criterion, the characteristics load P and Q of the beams are detected, and the whole loading process is divided into three stage. Finally, the analysis of the strain and deformation on the beams reveals the effect of different parameters on different stage. The characteristic load P increases as the bond length increases, and the characteristic load Q increases as the thickness of the FRP and the fiber content increase. The vertical deformation of the strengthened beam for the characteristic load Q and ultimate load is significantly smaller than that of the unreinforced beam.
EVALUATING ECONOMIC FREEDOM VIA A MULTI-CRITERIA MEREC-DNMA MODEL-BASED COMPOSITE SYSTEM: CASE OF OPEC COUNTRIES
Authors: Ecer Fatih , Hashemkhani Zolfani Sarfaraz
Published: July 2022

Economic freedom indicators create a beneficial and suitable guide and a crucial reference for investors, policymakers, lenders, and market researchers worldwide. In light of these indicators, the economic freedom performances of countries can be determined. The Heritage Foundation annually releases a ranked list of the country based on their performance in terms of fourteen economic freedom criteria with equal weights through a simple aggregation approach. According to an average-based aggregator, equal weight of economic freedom criteria and calculating rank of countries cannot be a completely reliable approach. Thus, this work establishes a composite index system in the form of a decision support system that employs the method based on the removal effects of criteria (MEREC) and the double normalization-based multi-aggregation (DNMA) to specify the economic freedom levels of the OPEC countries. MEREC obtains the importance weights of indicators without the interference of any stakeholder or decision-makers. Afterward, DNMA, as a novel ranking multi-criteria method, is applied to sort countries based on their performance against all economic freedom criteria. This is the first attempt in the literature to calculate the index of economic freedom utilizing an integrated multi-criteria decision support model. Whereas “investment freedom” is the most significant indicator of economic freedom, the UAE is in the best position in terms of economic freedom among OPEC countries. A fourphased sensitivity control is also performed so as to verify the robustness and usefulness of the developed decision tool.
Flat-spectrum Radio Quasars and BL Lacs Dominate the Anisotropy of the Unresolved Gamma-Ray Background
Authors: Korsmeier Michael , Pinetti Elena , Negro Michela , Regis Marco , Fornengo Nicolao
Published: July 2022

We analyze the angular power spectrum (APS) of the unresolved gamma-ray background (UGRB) emission and combine it with the measured properties of the resolved gamma-ray sources of the Fermi-LAT 4FGL catalog. Our goals are to dissect the composition of the gamma-ray sky and to establish the relevance of different classes of source populations of active galactic nuclei in determining the observed size of the UGRB anisotropy, especially at low energies. We find that, under physical assumptions for the spectral energy distribution, i.e., by using the 4FGL catalog data as a prior, two populations are required to fit the APS data, namely flat-spectrum radio quasars at low energies and BL Lacs at higher energies. The inferred luminosity functions agree well with the extrapolation of the flat-spectrum radio quasar and BL Lac ones obtained from the 4FLG catalog. We use these luminosity functions to calculate the UGRB intensity from blazars, finding a contribution of 20% at 1 GeV and 30% above 10 GeV. Finally, bounds on an additional gamma-ray emission due to annihilating dark matter are also derived.
A “Hyperburst” in the MAXI J0556–332 Neutron Star: Evidence for a New Type of Thermonuclear Explosion
Authors: Page Dany , Homan Jeroen , Nava-Callejas Martin , Cavecchi Yuri , Beznogov Mikhail V. , Degenaar Nathalie , Wijnands Rudy , Parikh Aastha S.
Published: July 2022

The study of transiently accreting neutron stars provides a powerful means to elucidate the properties of neutron star crusts. We present extensive numerical simulations of the evolution of the neutron star in the transient low-mass X-ray binary MAXI J0556–332. We model nearly 20 observations obtained during the quiescence phases after four different outbursts of the source in the past decade, considering the heating of the star during accretion by the deep crustal heating mechanism complemented by some shallow heating source. We show that cooling data are consistent with a single source of shallow heating acting during the last three outbursts, while a very different and powerful energy source is required to explain the extremely high effective temperature of the neutron star, ∼350 eV, when it exited the first observed outburst. We propose that a gigantic thermonuclear explosion, a “hyperburst” from unstable burning of neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen or neon, occurred a few weeks before the end of the first outburst, releasing ∼1044 ergs at densities of the order of 1011 g cm−3. This would be the first observation of a hyperburst, and these would be extremely rare events, as the buildup of the exploding layer requires about a millennium of accretion history. Despite its large energy output, the hyperburst did not produce, due to its depth, any noticeable increase in luminosity during the accretion phase and is only identifiable by its imprint on the later cooling of the neutron star.
AGILE Observations of GRB 220101A: A “New Year's Burst” with an Exceptionally Huge Energy Release
Authors: Ursi A. , Romani M. , Piano G. , Verrecchia F. , Longo F. , Pittori C. , Tavani M. , Bulgarelli A. , Cardillo M. , Casentini C. , Cattaneo P. W. , Costa E. , Feroci M. , Fioretti V. , Foffano L. , Lucarelli F. , Marisaldi M. , Morselli A. , Pacciani L. , Parmiggiani N. , Tempesta P. , Trois A. , Vercellone S.
Published: July 2022

We report the AGILE observations of GRB 220101A, which took place at the beginning of 2022 January 1 and was recognized as one of the most energetic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) ever detected since their discovery. The AGILE satellite acquired interesting data concerning the prompt phase of this burst, providing an overall temporal and spectral description of the event in a wide energy range, from tens of kiloelectronvolts to tens of megaelectronvolts. Dividing the prompt emission into three main intervals, we notice an interesting spectral evolution, featuring a notable hardening of the spectrum in the central part of the burst. The average fluxes encountered in the different time intervals are relatively moderate, with respect to those of other remarkable bursts, and the overall fluence exhibits a quite ordinary value among the GRBs detected by MCAL. However, GRB 220101A is the second farthest event detected by AGILE, and the burst with the highest isotropic equivalent energy of the entire MCAL GRB sample, releasing E
iso = 2.54 × 1054 erg and exhibiting an isotropic luminosity of L
iso = 2.34 × 1052 erg s−1 (both in the 400 keV–10 MeV energy range). We also analyzed the first 106 s of the afterglow phase, using the publicly available Swift-XRT data, carrying out a theoretical analysis of the afterglow, based on the forward shock model. We notice that GRB 220101A is with high probability surrounded by a wind-like density medium, and that the energy carried by the initial shock shall be a fraction of the total E
iso, presumably near ∼50%.
Sensitivity of the Hubble Constant Determination to Cepheid Calibration
Authors: Mörtsell Edvard , Goobar Ariel , Johansson Joel , Dhawan Suhail
Published: July 2022

Motivated by the large observed diversity in the properties of extragalactic extinction by dust, we reanalyze the Cepheid calibration used to infer the Hubble constant, H
0, from Type Ia supernovae, using Cepheid data in 19 Type Ia supernova host galaxies from Riess et al. and anchor data from Riess et al. Unlike the SH0ES team, we do not enforce a fixed universal color–luminosity relation to correct the Cepheid magnitudes. Instead, we focus on a data-driven method, where the optical colors and near-infrared magnitudes of the Cepheids are used to derive individual color–luminosity relations for each Type Ia supernova host and anchor galaxy. We present two different analyses, one based on Wesenheit magnitudes, resulting in H
0 = 73.2 ± 1.3 km s−1 Mpc−1, a 4.2σ tension with the value inferred from the cosmic microwave background. In the second approach, we calibrate an individual extinction law for each galaxy, with noninformative priors using color excesses, yielding H
0 = 73.9 ± 1.8 km s−1 Mpc−1, in 3.4σ tension with the Planck value. Although the two methods yield similar results, in the latter approach, the Hubble constants inferred from the individual Cepheid absolute distance calibrator galaxies range from H
0 = 68.1 ± 3.5 km s−1 Mpc−1 to H
0 = 76.7 ± 2.0 km s−1 Mpc−1. Taking the correlated nature of H
0 inferred from individual anchors into account, and allowing for individual extinction laws, the Milky Way anchor is in 2.1–3.1 σ tension with the NGC 4258 and Large Magellanic Cloud anchors, depending on prior assumptions regarding the color–luminosity relations and the method used for quantifying the tension.
K2 Photometry on Oscillation Mode Variability: The New Pulsating Hot B Subdwarf Star EPIC 220422705
Authors: Ma Xiao-Yu , Zong Weikai , Fu Jian-Ning , Reed M. D. , Wang Jiaxin , Charpinet Stéphane , Su Jie
Published: July 2022

We present an analysis of oscillation mode variability in the hot B subdwarf star EPIC 220422705, a new pulsator discovered from ∼78 days of K2 photometry. The high-quality light curves provide a detection of 66 significant independent frequencies, from which we identified nine incomplete potential triplets and three quintuplets. Those g- and p-multiplets give rotation periods of ∼36 and 29 days in the core and at the surface, respectively, potentially suggesting a slightly differential rotation. We derived a period spacing of 268.5 s and 159.4 s for the sequence of dipole and quadrupole modes, respectively. We characterized the precise patterns of amplitude and frequency modulations (AM and FM) of 22 frequencies with high enough amplitude for our science. Many of them exhibit intrinsic and periodic patterns of AM and FM, with periods on a timescale of months as derived by the best fitting and Markov Chain Monte Carlo test. The nonlinear resonant mode interactions could be a natural interpretation for such AMs and FMs after other mechanisms are ruled out. Our results are the first step to building a bridge between mode variability from K2 photometry and the nonlinear perturbation theory of stellar oscillation.
Implementation of Healthy Living Community Movement Supported Automatic Telehealth Machine for Public Health at Poltekkes Kemenkes Palu
Authors: Zainul Zainul , Junaidi Junaidi , Nuzul Sigit Mohammad , Bungawati Andi , Nasrul Nasrul , Hafid Fahmi
Published: July 2022

Background: Indonesia faces serious challenges from a double burden disease caused by changes in people's lifestyles. Since 2010, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) include hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes have taken up a growing share of health-care resources. The coronavirus disease epidemic of 2019 (COVID 19) caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV2 is the most serious global health issue. Patients with COVID-19 had more hypertension, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases, which all require routine health monitoring. Health monitoring will greatly develop along with the development of technology and information 4.0. This includes nursing services in the future that will take advantage of developments in information technology.
Objective: This study aims to implement the healthy living community movement programs using Automatic Telehealth Machine (ATMs) as internet of things for health checking and education at Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Palu.
Methods: This research method is a quasi-experimental intervention research. The population of study were 167 employees of Poltekkes Kemenkes Palu. Sampling process used simple random sampling method with sample size consist of 96 people. The study revealed that majority of respondents were gender and aged, physical activity was generally good, and fruits intake was also good.  The measuring instrument used are ATMs device and a questionnaire that has been tested for validity and reliability. Analysis of research data using univariate test (frequency distribution) and bivariate test (t test or alternatives)
Results: The variables that were significantly related to systole were gender and age category (p = 0.03). The variables which were significantly related to diastole were gender (p = 0.02) and age category (p = 0.01). The results revealed that gender, age, physical activity and fruits intake was not associated with total cholesterol levels.
Conclusions: Automatic Telehealth Machine (ATMs) can be implemented for health checking and education in healthy living community movement programs
Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicola gen. et sp. nov. (Cryphonectriaceae, Diaporthales) causing stem blight of Elaeocarpus spp. in China
Authors: Huang Hua-Yi , Huang Huan-Hua , Zhao Dan-Yang , Shan Ti-Jiang , Hu Li-Li
Published: July 2022

Cryphonectriaceae is a diaporthalean family containing important plant pathogens of which Cryphonectria parasitica is the most notorious one. An emerging stem blight disease on Elaeocarpus apiculatus (Elaeocarpaceae) and E. hainanensis was observed in Guangdong Province of China recently. Typical Cryphonectria blight-like symptoms including cankers on tree barks with obvious orange conidial tendrils were observed. Forty-eight isolates were obtained from diseased tissues and conidiomata formed on the hosts E. apiculatus and E. hainanensis. These isolates were further identified based on both morphology and molecular methods using the combined sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, large subunit of the nrDNA (LSU), the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) genes. As a result, the fungus represents an undescribed genus and species within the family Cryphonectriaceae. Hence, Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicolagen. et sp. nov. is proposed herein to represent these isolates from diseased barks of E. apiculatus and E. hainanensis. Pseudocryphonectria differs from the other genera of Cryphonectriaceae in having dimorphic conidia. Further inoculation results showed that P. elaeocarpicola is the causal agent of this emerging blight disease in China, which can quickly infect and kill the hosts E. apiculatus and E. hainanensis.
Maps of area of habitat for Italian amphibians and reptiles
Authors: Nania Dario , Lumbierres Maria , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Falaschi Mattia , Pacifici Michela , Rondinini Carlo
Published: July 2022

Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of species’ habitats can help identify sites where the species is most likely to thrive, as viable populations depend on it. Area of Habitat (AOH) maps reveal the distribution of the habitat available to the species within their geographic range. We produced high resolution, freely accessible global area of habitat maps for 60 species of reptiles and amphibians distributed in Italy, which represent 60% of all Italian amphibian and reptile species. We validated a total of 44 AOH maps through a presence-only based evaluation method, with 86% of these maps showing a performance better than expected by chance. AOH maps can be used as a reference for conservation planning, as well as to investigate macroecological patterns of Italian herpetofauna. Furthermore, AOH maps can help monitoring habitat loss, which is known to be a major threat to many reptile and amphibian species in Europe.
Scanning the horizon for invasive plant threats using a data-driven approach
Authors: Kendig Amy E. , Canavan Susan , Anderson Patti J. , Flory S. Luke , Gettys Lyn A. , Gordon Doria R. , Iannone III Basil V. , Kunzer John M. , Petri Tabitha , Pfingsten Ian A. , Lieurance Deah
Published: July 2022

Early detection and eradication of invasive plants are more cost-effective than managing well-established invasive plant populations and their impacts. However, there is high uncertainty around which taxa are likely to become invasive in a given area. Horizon scanning that combines a data-driven approach with rapid risk assessment and consensus building among experts can help identify invasion threats. We performed a horizon scan of potential invasive plant threats to Florida, USA—a state with a high influx of introduced species, conditions that are generally favorable for plant establishment, and a history of negative impacts from invasive plants. We began with an initial list of 2128 non-native plant taxa that are known invaders or crop pests. We built on previous invasive species horizon scans by developing data-based criteria to prioritize 100 taxa for rapid risk assessment. The semi-automated prioritization process included selecting taxa “on the horizon” (i.e., not yet in the target location and not on a noxious weed list) with climate matching, naturalization history, “weediness” record, and global commonness. We derived overall invasion risk scores with rapid risk assessment by evaluating the likelihood of each of the taxa arriving, establishing, and having an impact in Florida. Then, following a consensus-building discussion, we identified six plant taxa as high risk, with overall risk scores ranging from 75 to 100 out of a possible 125. The six taxa are globally distributed, easily transported to new areas, found in regions with climates similar to Florida’s, and can impact native plant communities, human health, or agriculture. Finally, we evaluated our initial and final lists for potential biases. Assessors tended to assign higher risk scores to taxa that had more available information. In addition, we identified biases towards four plant families and certain geographical regions of origin. Our horizon scan approach identified taxa conforming to metrics of high invasion risk and used a methodology refined for plants that can be applied to other locations.
Two new species of the genus Floresorchestia (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae) from Amphawa Estuary, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand
Authors: Suklom Anotai , Keetapithchayakul Tosaphol Saetung , Abdul Rahim Azman , Wongkamhaeng Koraon
Published: July 2022

Two new species ofFloresorchestia(Crustacea: Amphipoda) are described from Amphawa Estuary, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand.Floresorchestia amphawaensissp. nov.is a riparian-hoppers living near agricultural and urban areas, being distinguished by the following character states: left mandible lacinia mobilis 4-dentate; gnathopod 2 palm reaching about 34%; telson as broad as long, with four robust setae per lobe.Floresorchestia pongratisp. nov.are described as riparian-hoppers living in the moist area near Mae Klong canal banks with a unique left mandible lacinia mobilis 5-dentate; gnathopod 2 palm reaching 30% and telson with seven robust setae per lobe. The status and the problem of diagnostic character states of the genusFloresorchestiaare discussed.
Simplified Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (SASDAS) Versus ASDAS: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Schneeberger Emilce E. , Citera Gustavo , de Leon Dario Ponce , Szumski Annette E. , Kwok Kenneth , Cutri Mariel , Dougados Maxime
Published: July 2022

Objective

To compare the Simplified Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (SASDAS) against the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) for measuring and categorizing disease activity using data from the EMBARK trial (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01258738), a randomized controlled trial of etanercept (ETN) for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods

Patients with early active axSpA received ETN 50 mg once weekly (n = 106) or placebo (PBO; n = 109) for 12 weeks in a double-blind manner; they then received open-label ETN for 92 weeks. For this analysis, ASDAS–C-reactive protein (CRP) and SASDAS-CRP were calculated at baseline, week 12, and week 24. The SASDAS was calculated by the linear addition of the ASDAS components without adjustment.

Results

A very strong correlation, as determined by the Spearman correlation coefficient, was observed between the ASDAS and SASDAS for continuous variables at baseline and during treatment. For pooled categorical data at baseline, the SASDAS placed 69.9% of patients in the same disease categories as the ASDAS but overestimated for 17.8% of patients and underestimated for 12.2% of patients. A similar pattern was seen postbaseline. Cohen weightedstatistics for all individual and pooled treatments and timepoints (0.54-0.73) reflected moderate to substantial agreement. The capacity to differentiate between treatments (ie, ETN and PBO/ETN) was higher with the ASDAS (effect size −0.74, 95% CI −1.03 to −0.46) compared with the SASDAS (effect size −0.51, 95% CI −0.79 to −0.23), but sensitivity to change was generally similar.

Conclusion

A very strong correlation between the SASDAS and ASDAS was observed when considering continuous variables; however, moderate to substantial agreement was observed for categorical data, and the SASDAS classified a lower proportion of patients as being in the inactive and low disease activity categories.
An Evidence-Based Guideline Improves Outcomes for Patients With Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Macrophage Activation Syndrome
Authors: Taylor Maria L. , Hoyt Kacie J. , Han Joseph , Benson Leslie , Case Siobhan , Chandler Mia T. , Chang Margaret H. , Platt Craig , Cohen Ezra M. , Day-Lewis Megan , Dedeoglu Fatma , Gorman Mark , Hausmann Jonathan S. , Janssen Erin , Lee Pui Y. , Lo Jeffrey , Priebe Gregory P. , Lo Mindy S. , Meidan Esra , Nigrovic Peter A. , Roberts Jordan E. , Son Mary Beth F. , Sundel Robert P. , Alfieri Maria , Yeun Jenny Chan , Shobiye Damilola M. , Degar Barbara , Chang Joyce C. , Halyabar Olha , Hazen Melissa M. , Henderson Lauren A.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To compare clinical outcomes in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) who were managed before and after implementation of an evidence-based guideline (EBG).

Methods

A management algorithm for MAS-HLH was developed at our institution based on literature review, expert opinion, and consensus building across multiple pediatric subspecialties. An electronic medical record search retrospectively identified hospitalized patients with MAS-HLH in the pre-EBG (October 15, 2015, to December 4, 2017) and post-EBG (January 1, 2018, to January 21, 2020) time periods. Predetermined outcome metrics were evaluated in the 2 cohorts.

Results

After the EBG launch, 57 children were identified by house staff as potential patients with MAS-HLH, and rheumatology was consulted for management. Ultimately, 17 patients were diagnosed with MAS-HLH by the treating team. Of these, 59% met HLH 2004 criteria, and 94% met 2016 classification criteria for MAS complicating systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. There was a statistically significant reduction in mortality from 50% before implementation of the EBG to 6% in the post-EBG cohort (P = 0.02). There was a significant improvement in time to 50% reduction in C-reactive protein level in the post-EBG vs pre-EBG cohorts (log-rank P < 0.01). There were trends toward faster time to MAS-HLH diagnosis, faster initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, shorter length of hospital stay, and more rapid normalization of MAS-HLH–related biomarkers in the patients post-EBG.

Conclusion

While the observed improvements may be partially attributed to advances in treatment of MAS-HLH that have accumulated over time, this analysis also suggests that a multidisciplinary treatment pathway for MAS-HLH contributed meaningfully to favorable patient outcomes.
Relationship Between Inflammation and Radiographic Progression in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis Attaining a BASDAI of Less Than 4 During Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment
Authors: Koo Bon San , Oh Ji Seon , Park Seo Young , Shin Ji Hui , Nam Bora , Lee Seunghun , Joo Kyung Bin , Kim Tae-Hwan
Published: July 2022

Objective

To determine the relationship between inflammation and radiographic progression over time in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) attaining a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) of < 4 during tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) treatment.

Methods

Medical records data of patients with AS with BASDAI scores of < 4 during TNFi treatment were analyzed at 6-month intervals from January 2001 to December 2018. To determine the relationship between the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) and C-reactive protein (CRP) over time, we fitted linear mixed models with mSASSS as the response variable, baseline mSASSS and the cumulative sum of CRP with different lag times (6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months) as fixed effects, and patients as random effects. Associations between mSASSS and the cumulative sum of CRP, or the lag times with the highest beta coefficients, were further investigated with linear mixed models that included additional clinical variables.

Results

A total of 2956 intervals were obtained from 333 patients. Among different lag times, the cumulative sum of log CRP in the previous 18 to 36 months associated with mSASSS showed significant beta coefficients. In the final linear mixed model, the cumulative sum of log CRP in the previous 24 months was significantly associated with mSASSS at 24 months (β 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.07,P= 0.004).

Conclusion

Remnant inflammation correlates with radiographic progression, even in patients attaining a BASDAI of < 4 during TNFi treatment. CRP is a surrogate marker for radiographic progression despite clinical improvement with TNFi treatment.
Canadian Rheumatology Association Living Guidelines for the Pharmacological Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs
Authors: Hazlewood Glen S. , Pardo Jordi Pardo , Barnabe Cheryl , Schieir Orit , Barber Claire E.H. , Proulx Laurie , Richards Dawn P. , Tugwell Peter , Bansback Nick , Akhavan Pooneh , Bombardier Claire , Bykerk Vivian , Jamal Shahin , Khraishi Majed , Taylor-Gjevre Regina , Thorne J. Carter , Agarwal Arnav , Pope Janet E.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To provide the initial installment of a living guideline that will provide up-to-date guidance on the pharmacological management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Canada.

Methods

The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) formed a multidisciplinary panel composed of rheumatologists, researchers, methodologists, and patients. In this first installment of our living guideline, the panel developed a recommendation for the tapering of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/ts DMARD) therapy in patients in sustained remission using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach, including a health equity framework developed for the Canadian RA population. The recommendation was adapted from a living guideline of the Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network.

Results

In people with RA who are in sustained low disease activity or remission for at least 6 months, we suggest offering stepwise reduction in the dose of b/tsDMARD without discontinuation, in the context of a shared decision, provided patients are able to rapidly access rheumatology care and reestablish their medications if needed. In patients where rapid access to care or reestablishing access to medications is challenging, we conditionally recommend against tapering. A patient decision aid was developed to complement the recommendation.

Conclusion

This living guideline will provide contemporary RA management recommendations for Canadian practice. New recommendations will be added over time and updated, with the latest recommendation, evidence summaries, and Evidence to Decision summaries available through the CRA website (www.rheum.ca).
Environmental enrichment reverses cerebellar impairments caused by prenatal exposure to a synthetic glucocorticoid
Authors: Valencia Martina , Santander Odra , Torres Eloísa , Zamora Natali , Muñoz Fernanda , Pascual Rodrigo
Published: July 2022

During prenatal life, exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids (SGCs) can alter normal foetal development, resulting in disease later in life. Previously, we have shown alterations in the dendritic cytoarchitecture of Purkinje cells in adolescent rat progeny prenatally exposed to glucocorticoids. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. A possible molecular candidate whose deregulation may underlie these changes is the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and neurotrophin 3/ tropomyosin receptor kinase C, neurotrophic complex (NT-3/TrkC), which specifically modulates the development of the neuronal connections in the cerebellar vermis. To date, no evidence has shown that the cerebellar expression levels of this neurotrophic complex are affected by exposure to a synthetic glucocorticoid in utero. Therefore, the first objective of this investigation was to evaluate the expression of GR, NT-3 and TrkC in the cerebellar vermis using immunohistochemistry and western blot techniques by evaluating the progeny during the postnatal stage equivalent to adolescence (postnatal Day 52). Additionally, we evaluated anxiety-like behaviours in progeny using the elevated plus maze and the marble burying test. In addition, an environmental enrichment (EE) can increase the expression of some neurotrophins and has anxiolytic power. Therefore, we wanted to assess whether an EE reversed the long-term alterations induced by prenatal betamethasone exposure. The major findings of this study were as follows: i) prenatal betamethasone (BET) administration decreases GR, NT-3 and TrkC expression in the cerebellar vermis ii) prenatal BET administration decreases GR expression in the cerebellar hemispheres and iii) enhances the anxiety-like behaviours in the same progeny, and iv) exposure to an EE reverses the reduced expression of GR, NT-3 and TrkC in the cerebellar vermis and v) decreases anxiety-like behaviours. In conclusion, an enriched environment applied 18 days post-weaning was able to restabilize GR, NT-3 and TrkC expression levels and reverse anxious behaviours observed in adolescent rats prenatally exposed to betamethasone.
Spatiotemporal Trace of Human Behaviors and Responses Pertaining to Winter Storm Dylan
Authors: Yum Seungil
Published: July 2022

This study highlights how Winter storm Dylan plays a significant role in human behaviors and responses according to a multitude of periods, geographical scales, census regions, sociodemograhpic, and regional characteristics. This study finds that people show different behaviors and responses according to periods, states, and regional characteristics. Second, tweets are relatively uploaded across the US states during the winter storm week, compared to the pre-winter storm and post-winter storm weeks. Third, regions play an important role in displacements. Minnesota and Massachusetts exhibit 5.1 and 1.8 times more displacements than Montana. Fourth, while total employment is negatively associated with displacements, jobs per household and regional diversity are positively associated with them. The dense business areas show 0.4 times less displacements than the thin business areas, and places that have many workers per household and high regional diversity show 2.3 and 1.6 times more displacements than the other places.
The Role of Social Responsibility of the Egyptian Private Hospitals in Overcoming the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Allam Nehal Mohammed
Published: July 2022

With the increase risks associated to COVID-19 all over the world, many firms in different sectors have participated by providing immediate assistance to relief the pandemic’s negative effects, this paper explores the role of Egyptian private hospitals’ social responsibilities in comfort undesirable impacts of the COVID-19. Based on the collected data from 303 workers in private hospitals (doctors, nursing staff, and administrative staff), the results show that Egyptian private hospitals that are socially committed to their employees are likely to apply the activities of overcoming COVID-19 compared with those activities applied to their patients and the external parties (government, community, and the environment). This requires increasing private hospitals’ attention to their societal role towards patients and other external parties that deal with them.
Emerging Markets and Marketing Intelligence
Authors: Mandal Pratap Chandra
Published: July 2022

Multinational companies enter markets with emerging economies to expand their businesses. Multinationals need to obtain marketing intelligence to understand the emerging markets which have requirements different from that of developed markets. They require adopting new approaches to gathering and using marketing intelligence in emerging markets. The study discusses the importance of obtaining marketing intelligence in emerging markets. Multinationals require to treat and manage marketing intelligence as a strategic asset, organize differently for marketing intelligence in emerging markets, and use a wide range of sources and methods to obtain marketing intelligence. Multinationals should also ensure shared responsibility for marketing intelligence between corporate office and executives in the emerging markets. The above strategies will help multinational companies in obtaining adequate marketing intelligence and in growing in fast-changing economies.
Fabrication and Evaluation of Superhydrophobic Surfaces Using Carbon Soot and Different Adhesives
Authors: Singh Sartaj , Kumar Vijay , Kango Saurabh , Verma Rajeev , Sharma Nitin
Published: July 2022

The aim of this research is to create self-cleaning hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) on a glass substrate. Carbon soot has been deposited from the candle flame in order to manufacture a SHS on glass slides. The water contact angle (WCA) and roll-off angle were measured after carbon soot deposition using a test rig built in the laboratory. Further, to make SHS on glass slides more robust, candle wax and vassilline were applied on a glass substrate with or without roughening it using emery paper of grade (P80, P220 & P400). The highest WCA was 160° for a candle sooted on glass roughened with emery paper of grade P80 using vassilline as an adhesive. The mechanical durability of the prepared surfaces has been investigated using a peel-off technique with highly glue adhesive tape. The WCA was measured after each peel-off to check the changes in the degree of wettability of the fabricated surface. From the investigation, it has also been observed that more roughened glass slides show more resistance to the removal of carbon soot.
Multistage Corrosion of Fuel Element Materials in Nuclear Reactors
Authors: Hapon Yuliana , Kustov Maksym , Chyrkina Maryna , Romanova Olesia
Published: July 2022

One of the factors limiting the operation time of nuclear reactor is corrosive wear of the reactor core structural materials and fuel element cladding due to continuous action of water coolant. Thus, for VVER (water-water energetic reactor) type reactors, local galvanic corrosion, which occurs between the surface of fuel element cladding made of zirconium alloy and various grade steel parts of other structural elements is peculiar. A short-circuited galvanic cell formed on the inner wall of Zr + 1% Nb alloy fuel elements is shown. Changes in oxide films thicknesses depending on the time at different water medium acidity are analyzed. A generalized model demonstrating that dissimilar metals in the reactor core (zirconium alloy and steel) form a short-circuited galvanic cell, resulting from which an increase in local corrosion of zirconium alloy occurs is presented.
Cluster Structure Control of Coatings by Electrochemical Coprecipitation of Metals to Obtain Target Technological Properties
Authors: Hapon Yuliana , Tregubov Dmytro , Slepuzhnikov Yevhen , Lypovyi Volodymyr
Published: July 2022

The article considers the possibility of controlling the macromolecular structure of ternary alloys in the form of compact coatings, which are obtained by electrochemical means. This method of obtaining metal clusters is more economical than from plasma one. The influence of the cluster structure of the synthesized coatings in the form of a triple alloy of polyligand complex electrolytes on their functional properties is shown. There are presented the results of testing coatings from this ternary alloy of different elemental and cluster composition for microhardness according to Vickers. The highest microhardness was obtained by the coating with the lowest molecular weight of the cluster, which provided a denser packing of atoms.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Membrane from Cigarette Butts as Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Dyartanti Endah Retno , Jumari Arif , Paramitha Tika , Putri Annisa Yustika Mulya , Sunaryati Nurma
Published: July 2022

In this study, polymer electrolyte gel membranes (GPEs) as separators in Lithium-Ion battery cells were prepared using polymer blends between polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and cellulose acetate (CA). The CA used was obtained from the recovery process from cigarette butts. The prepared GPEs showed increased thermal stability and membrane strength. This research consists of two stages, the CA recovery process from cigarette butts is the initial stage, then the next stage is the synthesis of GPEs membranes. In the CA recovery process from cigarette butts, using a solvent mixture of ethanol and toluene with the ratio of 1:1.0, 1:1.1, 1:1.2, and 1:1.3 respectively. Furthermore, CA was characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM methods. The characterization results showed that the solvent variation of 1:1.3 produced CA with the most suitable properties with commercial CA. In the synthesis stage, GPEs were made using the Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation method. Membrane solutions were prepared by mixing PVDF/CA polymers with variations of cellulose acetate (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% wt), PVP additives, and ZnO filler. This solution is then printed on glass and then immersed in a non-solvent (water) for the solidification process of membranes. The result shows that the modified GPEs have the best porosity and electrolyte uptake properties of 79.05% and 942.105%, respectively, in the modification with the addition of 10% wt CA.
Correlating the Microstructure with the Mechanical Behaviour of Titanium Structures Produced by Robotic Assisted Deposition
Authors: Kashimbetova Adelia , Tkachenko Serhii , Remešová Michaela , Mata-Leija Aida , Gejdoš Pavel , Čelko Ladislav , Montúfar Edgar Benjamin
Published: July 2022

Titanium is a high-performance material with relatively high specific mechanical strength, high fracture toughness, low elastic modulus, and high corrosion resistance with important applications in aerospace, medical, and chemical industries. Nowadays, developing and fabrication of titanium-based structures by means of additive manufacturing technologies, especially robotic assisted deposition, is exceptionally attractive and challenging. The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of sintering conditions on microstructure and mechanical behaviour of complex robotic deposited porous titanium structures. The results demonstrated that the mechanical behaviour of such structures can be determined not only by their macrodesign, but also microstructural features, such microporosity and grain size controlled by sintering conditions, have an effect on it. The stiffest titanium structure with the densest filaments and with elastic modulus in a range of that of human trabecular bone was obtained by sintering at 1400 °C for 10 h.
Microstructure of Mo-La2O3 Composite Powder Prepared Using Two Different High Energy Ball Milling Systems
Authors: Tkachenko Serhii , Čelko Ladislav , Remešová Michaela , Bednaříková Vendula , Dvořák Karel , Komarov Pavel , Zábranský Karel
Published: July 2022

The present study was focused on the high-energy ball milling preparation of the oxide dispersed Mo-10 vol.%La2O3 composite powder by using two high-energy ball milling systems, including an attritor mill with a horizontally operating rotor and a planetary mill. Microstructural investigations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) found out that composite powders with a refined laminated microstructure can be obtained using both milling systems. Under selected milling conditions, Mo-La2O3 powder with better particle size homogeneity and more uniform and dispersed ceramic phase distribution was received in the planetary mill that can be connected with the more balanced contribution of breaking and cold welding processes during high energy milling.
Influence of Forging Parameters on Microstructure and Properties of En AW-6082 Alloy
Authors: Mára Vladimír , Horník Jakub , Bednář Radek
Published: July 2022

Aluminum alloys are widely used in automotive industry due to their low density and good corrosion resistance. This category includes alloys based on AlSiMg which are suitable for load bearing parts operating under higher temperatures. This paper deals with analysis of influence of deformation parameters and heat treatment on structure and mechanical properties of EN AW-6082 (AlSi1MgMn) alloy manufactured by horizontal cast module technology. Casted rods were used as a billet, which was formed to defined height by hot open-die forging. Subsequently the precipitation hardening was used as heat treatment. Changes in microstructure were evaluated based on the metallographic analyzes performed by light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy using an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and electron backscatter diffraction. Mechanical properties were determined by uniaxial tensile test and hardness testing. The results showed, that due to the process parameters, no significant structural changes were observed in the surface layer of forging. However, microstructure is significantly inhomogeneous in the core due to the dynamic softening processes. Mechanical properties are increasing which is significantly influenced by the type and distribution of precipitates emerging during the artificial aging.
Investigation of the Regularities of the Influence of Technological Factors and External Conditions on the Temperature and Content of Condensed Products Oxide-Containing Mixtures
Authors: Kyrychenko Ievgen , Diadiushenko Oleksandr , Kyrychenko Oksana , Dibrova Oleksii
Published: July 2022

The results of thermodynamic calculations of temperature dependences of combustion products of pyrotechnic mixtures based on magnesium, aluminum and metal oxides and their content of high-temperature condensate on the relevant technological parameters and relevant external conditions are presented. The ratio of the components of the mixture, the type of metal fuel, the type of oxidant are considered as technological parameters of pyrotechnic mixtures. The influence of temperature and external pressure is determined as external conditions. It is determined that high values of combustion products and high content of condensed combustion products of pyrotechnic oxide-containing mixtures pose a fire hazard to the surrounding objects when the products are forced to operate under external thermal conditions. As a result of the calculations, it was found that the value of the combustion temperature of oxide-containing mixtures has a maximum value of 3870 K at a maximum value of the relative fuel content of 0.35 and the corresponding external pressures of 105...3107 Pa. It is determined that with increasing external pressure in the ranges from 105 tо 3107 Pa there is a significant increase in the temperature of combustion products: for oxide-containing mixtures based on metallic fuel magnesium - up to 3650 K; for oxide-containing mixtures based on metallic aluminum fuel - up to 3870 K. It is determined that in oxide-containing mixtures with metallic fuel content from 0.06 to 0.49, regardless of the type of metallic fuel and oxidant with increasing external pressure increases the temperature to 1.8 times.