bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The NANOGrav 11 yr Data Set: Limits on Supermassive Black Hole Binaries in Galaxies within 500 Mpc
Authors: Arzoumanian Zaven , Baker Paul T. , Brazier Adam , Brook Paul R. , Burke-Spolaor Sarah , Becsy Bence , Charisi Maria , Chatterjee Shami , Cordes James M. , Cornish Neil J. , Crawford Fronefield , Cromartie H. Thankful , DeCesar Megan E. , Demorest Paul B. , Dolch Timothy , Elliott Rodney D. , Ellis Justin A. , Ferrara Elizabeth C. , Fonseca Emmanuel , Garver-Daniels Nathan , Gentile Peter A. , Good Deborah C. , Hazboun Jeffrey S. , Islo Kristina , Jennings Ross J. , Jones Megan L. , Kaiser Andrew R. , Kaplan David L. , Kelley Luke Zoltan , Key Joey Shapiro , Lam Michael T. , Lazio T. Joseph W. , Luo Jing , Lynch Ryan S. , Ma Chung-Pei , Madison Dustin R. , McLaughlin Maura A. , Mingarelli Chiara M. F. , Ng Cherry , Nice David J. , Pennucci Timothy T. , Pol Nihan S. , Ransom Scott M. , Ray Paul S. , Shapiro-Albert Brent J. , Siemens Xavier , Simon Joseph , Spiewak Renée , Stairs Ingrid H. , Stinebring Daniel R. , Stovall Kevin , Swiggum Joseph K. , Taylor Stephen R. , Vallisneri Michele , Vigeland Sarah J. , Witt Caitlin A. ,   The NANOGrav Collaboration
Published: June 2021

Supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) should form frequently in galactic nuclei as a result of galaxy mergers. At subparsec separations, binaries become strong sources of low-frequency gravitational waves (GWs), targeted by Pulsar Timing Arrays. We used recent upper limits on continuous GWs from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) 11 yr data set to place constraints on putative SMBHBs in nearby massive galaxies. We compiled a comprehensive catalog of ∼44,000 galaxies in the local universe (up to redshift ∼0.05) and populated them with hypothetical binaries, assuming that the total mass of the binary is equal to the SMBH mass derived from global scaling relations. Assuming circular equal-mass binaries emitting at NANOGrav’s most sensitive frequency of 8 nHz, we found that 216 galaxies are within NANOGrav’s sensitivity volume. We ranked the potential SMBHBs based on GW detectability by calculating the total signal-to-noise ratio such binaries would induce within the NANOGrav array. We placed constraints on the chirp mass and mass ratio of the 216 hypothetical binaries. For 19 galaxies, only very unequal-mass binaries are allowed, with the mass of the secondary less than 10% that of the primary, roughly comparable to constraints on an SMBHB in the Milky Way. However, we demonstrated that the (typically large) uncertainties in the mass measurements can weaken the upper limits on the chirp mass. Additionally, we were able to exclude binaries delivered by major mergers (mass ratio of at least 1/4) for several of these galaxies. We also derived the first limit on the density of binaries delivered by major mergers purely based on GW data.
A Bayesian ILC Method for CMB B-mode Posterior Estimation and Reconstruction of Primordial Gravity Wave Signal
Authors: Yadav Sarvesh Kumar , Saha Rajib
Published: June 2021

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation B-mode polarization signal contains the unique signature of primordial metric perturbations produced during the inflation. The separation of the weak CMB B-mode signal from strong foreground contamination in observed maps is a complex task, and proposed new-generation low-noise satellite missions compete with the weak signal level of this gravitational background. In this paper, for the first time, we employ a foreground model-independent internal linear combination (ILC) method to reconstruct the CMB B-mode signal using simulated observations over large angular scales of the sky of six frequency bands of the future-generation CMB mission Probe of Inflation and Cosmic Origins (PICO). We estimate the joint CMB B-mode posterior density following the interleaving Gibbs steps of the B-mode angular power spectrum and cleaned map samples using the ILC method. We extend and improve the earlier reported Bayesian ILC method to analyze weak CMB B-mode reconstruction by introducing noise-bias corrections at two stages during the ILC weight estimation. By performing 200 Monte Carlo simulations of the Bayesian ILC method, we find that our method can reconstruct the CMB signals and the joint posterior density accurately over large angular scales of the sky. We estimate the Blackwell–Rao statistics of the marginal density of the CMB B-mode angular power spectrum and use them to estimate the joint density of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r and a lensing power spectrum amplitude

A

lens

. Using 200 Monte Carlo simulations of the delensing approach, we find that our method can achieve an unbiased detection of the primordial gravitational-wave signal r with more than 8σ significance for levels of

r
≥
0.01

for input frequency maps with realistic lensing and foregrounds with constant spectral indices.
Cloudy in the Microcalorimeter Era: Improved Energies for Si and S Kα Fluorescence Lines
Authors: Camilloni Francesco , Bianchi Stefano , Amato Roberta , Ferland Gary , Grinberg Victoria
Published: June 2021

The upcoming X-ray missions based on the microcalorimeter technology require exquisite precision in spectral simulation codes in order to match the unprecedented spectral resolution. In this work, we improve the fluorescence Kα energies for Si ii–xi and S ii–xiii in the code Cloudy. In particular, we provide here a patch to update the Cloudy fluorescence energy table, originally based on Kaastra & Mewe, with the laboratory energies measured by Hell et al. The new Cloudy simulations were used to model the Chandra/HETG spectra of the High Mass X-ray Binary Vela X-1, showing a remarkable agreement and a dramatic improvement with respect to the current release version of Cloudy (C17.02).
Macular Alteration of Topical Diclofenac Sodium after Phacoemulsification Surgery in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Delfi Delfi , Virgayanti Vanda , Alandy Julham
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND: Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a serious complication of cataract surgery in a diabetic patient. CME was found 1–19% after phacoemulsification surgery. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and endoperoxides. Inhibition of these enzymes also reduces macular thickening.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess macular thickness alteration after application of 1.00 mg diclofenac sodium eye drops in diabetic patients who receive phacoemulsification surgery.

METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental study. A total of 40 eyes diabetic retinopathy patients having phacoemulsification surgery were randomized to 100 mg diclofenac sodium (n = 20) or placebo eye drops (n = 20), three drops daily on 1 day before surgery until 30 days post-operative. The main outcome measures macular thickness using Ocular Coherence Tomography before and after (14 and 30 days) phacoemulsification.

RESULTS: Utilizing an independent t-test, this study had significantly inner macular (p = 0.0001) and central macular (p = 0.008) thickness differences in the diclofenac sodium group during surgery until 14 days postoperatively. However, significant changes in the outer macular thickness were absent. There were no notable alterations in the center, inner, and outer macular thickness in the diclofenac sodium group until 30 days postoperatively. In the placebo group, no significant changes were found in the macular thickness at every point of time.

CONCLUSION: Two statistically significant central and inner macular thicknesses in the diclofenac sodium group until 14 days postoperatively were present. There were no significant changes in the center, inner, and outer macular thickness in the diclofenac sodium group until 30 days postoperatively.
On q-deformed logistic maps
Authors: Cánovas Jose S.
Published: June 2021

We consider the logistic family \begin{document}$ f_{a} $\end{document} and a family of homeomorphisms \begin{document}$ \phi _{q} $\end{document}. The \begin{document}$ q $\end{document}-deformed system is given by the composition map \begin{document}$ f_{a}\circ \phi _{q} $\end{document}. We study when this system has non zero fixed points which are LAS and GAS. We also give an alternative approach to study the dynamics of the \begin{document}$ q $\end{document}-deformed system with special emphasis on the so-called Parrondo's paradox finding parameter values \begin{document}$ a $\end{document} for which \begin{document}$ f_{a} $\end{document} is simple while \begin{document}$ f_{a}\circ \phi _{q} $\end{document} is dynamically complicated. We explore the dynamics when several \begin{document}$ q $\end{document}-deformations are applied.
A retrospective study comparing creatinine clearance estimation using different equations on a population-based cohort
Authors: Ferreira Abigail ,   OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, Porto 4200-450, Portugal, Lapa Rui , Vale Nuno ,   LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal,   Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernani Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal
Published: June 2021

Renal elimination is an important part of drugs' excretion. At the same time, renal function can be impaired as a side effect of medication, particularly during prolonged treatments. Thus, the assessment of patients' renal function is of major consequence, especially in cases where the therapeutic regimen is adjusted taking into consideration renal clearance. Serum creatinine concentration is the most common indicator of renal clearance, since the most accurate indicator, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), is not easily measured. Using equations developed over the last decades, creatinine clearance (CLCr) is readily estimated taking into account patients' biological sex, age, body composition, and sometimes race. In this work, differences in estimated CLCr between different equations were studied and the influence of some patients' characteristics evaluated. Data collected from 82 inpatients receiving antibiotic therapy was analyzed and CLCr was estimated using a total of 12 equations. Patients were stratified according to their sex, age, and body composition to shed some light on the impact of these parameters in the estimations of renal function. More variability between estimation methods was highlighted (a) in patients between 51 and 60 years old, (b) within the normal body mass index group, and (c) in patients with serum creatinine levels below normal criteria. Furthermore, the Cockcroft-Gault equation considering lean body weight produced lower estimated CLCr in almost all groups.
Usage des technologies et investigation en mathématiques : quels contrats didactiques possibles ?
Authors: Gueudet Ghislaine , Lebaud Marie-Pierre
Published: June 2021

Mettre en œuvre des démarches d’investigation peut être interprété, avec les outils de la didactique des mathématiques, comme faire vivre en classe un contrat didactique qui laisse aux élèves une responsabilité importante vis-à-vis du savoir en jeu et de l’avancée de ce savoir. Le recours à certains outils logiciels peut-il contribuer à l’établissement d’un tel contrat ? Sous quelles conditions, portant sur les situations mathématiques abordées, sur le rôle du professeur, sur la place des technologies ? Dans cet article, nous discutons ces questions en nous appuyant sur des projets de recherche concernant l’enseignement des mathématiques dans le secondaire. Nous analysons le partage de responsabilités entre le professeur et les élèves selon trois dimensions : la formulation de questions initiales ; la production de réponses ; l’avancée du savoir dans la classe.
Démarche d’investigation et explication au collège
Authors: Morselli Francesca , Panucci Elisabetta , Testera Monica
Published: June 2021

Nous présentons une méthode mise en œuvre en Italie à propos de la démarche d’investigation (DI) au collège. Nous souhaitons, à travers cet article, contribuer au débat issu du groupe de travail « La démarche d’investigation dans la classe de mathématiques : fondements et pratiques » (Matheron, Morselli, René de Cotret, Schneider, 2012) notamment en ce qui concerne les questions suivantes : caractériser les typologies de questions à poser et les responsabilités des acteurs (enseignant, élèves, chercheurs).Tout d’abord, la DI est insérée dans le contexte de l’institution scolaire italienne. Nous présentons ensuite un cas spécial de DI, c’est-à-dire la Démarche d’investigation et explication, mise en œuvre dans le contexte d’un projet qui vise à la formation professionnelle des enseignants « pour et à travers » la mise en place de la DI. Nous présentons quelques repères théoriques qui sont à la base de la Démarche d’investigation et explication, notamment les fonctions de l’explication et les dimensions de la rationalité selon Habermas. Ces repères théoriques sont la référence pour la conception et gestion des séquences d’apprentissage. Cela est montré à travers l’analyse d’épisodes issus d’une séquence d’apprentissage au sujet des rectangles isopérimétriques.
Ni bon, ni mauvais. L’élève entre-deux en lecture écriture à l’école primaire
Authors: Peigné Yolande
Published: June 2021

Les élèves ni bons, ni mauvais interpellent ma pratique de professeur des écoles dans l’apprentissage de la langue écrite. Ces élèves aux résultats fluctuants passent inaperçus au cours des années de scolarité de l’école primaire mais ne vont-ils pas aller grossir les statistiques des mauvais résultats en lecture-écriture à la sortie du collège ou à la Journée Défense Citoyenneté ? Les élèves obtenant, en CE1 et en CM2, entre vingt-quatre et trente-six bonnes réponses sur soixante aux évaluations nationales de 2009 et 2012 sont nommés entre-deux. Afin de caractériser leur profil de lecteur-scripteur, trois éléments méthodologiques sont proposés : des entretiens avec leurs enseignants, une analyse de leurs réponses dans les livrets d’évaluation à l’aide du modèle systémique et développemental et un entretien avec ces mêmes élèves afin de percevoir la mise en place de leur raisonnement. Les résultats obtenus dépassent le modèle choisi et font glisser la recherche vers des hypothèses de fonctionnement autour de la mémoire en lien avec une gestion différente du temps scolaire.
Impact of Blockchain on E-Commerce
Authors: Kaur Palvinder , Kaur Manminder
Published: June 2021

The current disruption has created many challenges for all businesses in the short run, but it has created many opportunities in the long time. By helping in crisis and recovery, blockchain can play a prominent role in accelerating post-crisis digital transformation initiatives. Trade has become more efficient, more inclusive, and less costly through blockchain. These innovative technologies in the fourth industrial revolution are transforming the world by making the processes more inclusive and efficient.
Analytical Impact of Technology on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bathla Devesh , Awasthi Shraddha
Published: June 2021

COVID-19 has totally changed the way that we live, and it also changed the way we work. It changed the way all the businesses run. Many of the businesses today either shut down due to lack of technological performance or the others moved towards the online mode to sustain the market. During the time of this pandemic, the businesses had no choice other than to shift to online mode. Some of the businesses operate offline, and it was not possible for them to shift online in a very short time due to lack of technology, lack of knowledge, etc. They faced much difficulty to operate their business smoothly. So, the impact of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic played a very important role throughout the world. When this pandemic was at its peak, technology became a lifeline of the human beings. This chapter shows the trend of digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic and some innovations during this pandemic.
An Improved Decision Support Method for Resilience Assessment Based on Multi-Viewpoint Modeling and Functional Analysis of Interconnected Systems
Authors: Nastov Blazho , Kamisoko Daouda , Chapurlat Vincent
Published: June 2021

Critical infrastructures provide services that are essential to the functioning and well-being of society. Failure to provide these services is unacceptable. This is a problem when considering the unpredictable nature of the environment (leading to crisis, natural disasters, terrorist attacks) and internal failures. The concern is even greater due to the interconnected and interdependent nature of critical infrastructures, which might lead to failure propagation, causing domino and cascade effects. The resilience of a system is the ability to reduce the magnitude and/or duration of disruptive events or their consequences, allowing a satisfactory level of performance and quality of services. Improving critical infrastructures' resilience before any disruption occurs can reassure society's vital needs. The goal of the paper is to define an improved decision support method for resilience by combining resilience assessment and multi-viewpoint modeling methods.
Eutectic Microbonding of Composite Materials Using Microwave Technology
Authors: Marin Robert Cristian , Ştefan Iulian , Iacobici Răzvan Ionuţ , Savu Sorin Vasile
Published: June 2021

The paper aims to report researches in microbonding process of composite magnetic materials using as thermal source the heat produced in base materials by the conversion of the electromagnetic waves with high frequency into thermal energy. This technology can be applied by targeting the base materials with microwaves and taking into account that composite magnetic materials based on ferrites, present good absorbance and conversion properties of the microwaves into heat. For experimental research, the base materials were sintered sampled of raw products obtained from stoichiometric mixtures of 6Fe2O3 + BaCO3. The raw products were obtained by milling and alloying processes using planetary ball mills. The milling and alloying processes have been perfomed in dry environement for homogeneous mixtures and wet environment for mixtures obtained using mechanical alloying. In terms of eutectic alloys used for microbonding, there have been used lead free Sn96,5%+Ag3%+Cu0,5% with melting point around 2170 C. The microbonding process have been perfomed in two steps: first step was focused on prepairing the base materials by cleaning and deposition of eutectic alloys on their surfaces; the second step was the heating of the base materials in microwave field. A microwave generator with adjustable input power from 0 W to 6000 W with a WR340 waveguide have been used as thermal sources. The researches have shown that the base materials were bonded using less than 10 % of microwave power and the eutectic alloys reached the melting temperature în less than 3 seconds when the magnetron was set to full power. A matching load impedance automatic tuner up to 6000 W have been used for increasing the level of absorbed power from nicrowave generator to samples and decreasing the level of rejected power from composite magnetic material to microwave generator. The temperature have been measured using IR pyrometers with range measurement between 0 and 7000 C. The process can be succesfully applied to a large scale for small parts of electrical engines with permanent cermic magnets.
Control of the Properties of Welded Joints in Wet Underwater Welding
Authors: Maksimov Sergey Yu. , Prilipko Olena A. , Radzievskaya Аlla , Shepeliuk Julia
Published: June 2021

The aquatic environment will negatively affect the processes that occur during the formation of a welded joint and leads to a deterioration in its properties. The welding conditions do not allow the use of traditional methods to improve the quality of the weld metal - preheating or subsequent heat treatment. One of the possible effective ways to solve this problem when welding with flux-cored wire is the use of external electromagnetic exposure. Generation of axial alternating control magnetic fields in the welding zone allows controlling the hydrodynamics of the molten weld pool. Because of the interaction of an external electromagnetic field with an electric field of the arc, ponderomotive forces appear in the weld pool, which leads to mixing of the liquid metal. Changing the direction of electromagnetic induction with a given frequency and interval, you can periodically change the direction of flow in the weld pool. Intensive reverse mixing of the melt occurs, during which the hydrogen accumulated in front of the crystallization front as a result of concentration compaction is removed from it, the melt temperature in the central and peripheral areas of the pool is averaged, which slightly reduces the crystallization rate of the weld pool, thereby increasing its degassing time. As a result, it was possible to significantly reduce the porosity of the weld metal (more than 8 times) and reduce the hydrogen content (more than 2.5 times). Metallographic studies showed a significant refinement of the structure both weld metal and the heat-affected zone (2 and 1.3 times, respectively), its homogenization and a decrease in the degree of defectiveness. Thus, the investigations showed that the external electromagnetic effect on the liquid metal pool in the process of wet welding underwater is a useful tool that allows you to control the processes that occur during the crystallization stage of the weld pool and significantly increase the ductility of the weld metal (more than 1.5 times).
Comparative Study on Remaining Life Assessment of a Pressure Vessel, Working in Severe Conditions, Based on Results of Metallographic Replicas and Creep Tests
Authors: Duma Iuliana , Murariu Alin Constantin , Bîrdeanu Aurel Valentin , Popescu Radu Nicolae
Published: June 2021

The paper presents and compares the results on the reliability and remaining life assessment of a reactor (coxing box) from a petrochemical plant. The reactor shell is made of 16Mo5 (W1.5423) steel, with a thickness of 25 mm, plated with 3 mm thick X6CrAl13 (W1.4002) stainless steel. The assessment was made in two steps. For preliminary remnant life assessment, specifications of section VII of the ASME code was used followed by iRiS‑Thermo expert system. Further, experimental creep and metallographic replica analysis were performed. Results comparison of the two methods applied revealed a reduction of the preliminary estimated remaining live obtained using metallographic replica analysis. Based on the results obtained, the possibility to extend the service duration of the coxing box in the safety condition, using current process parameters, with of 20.000 hours was highlighted.
Intelligent Materials and their Direction of Use
Authors: Binchiciu Emilia-Florina , Stefanoiu Radu , Iovănaș Daniela , Mnerie Gabriela-Victoria
Published: June 2021

The paper presents the manufacturing process of two classes of material that feature intelligent precursors, used for welding/cladding, and deposit layers with viable physical proprieties, that can be predetermined by a precise and well-balanced programming of the process parameters. The fields of use for these materials are those of manufacturing welded structures that have equal resistant joints, made from stainless steel with austenitic-ferrite-martensitic structure or mixes of the above mentioned structures, with the possibility of machining, in welded state, namely with self-hardening proprieties during exploitation. The methods of securing the above mentioned materials is programming, according to exploitation requirements, of the preheating and in between rows temperature, as well as the dilution degree of the filler into the base material. Results obtained by structural or morphological changes of the crystalline grains are determined by perturbing the equilibrium state and/or precipitation of secondary phases. The field of use of the methods above mentioned are valid in the interval: 30-55 HRC, namely 500-1200 N/mm2.
FSW-US Hybrid Process Joining of Engineering Materials
Authors: Mnerie Gabriela-Victoria , Binchiciu Emilia-Florina , Oancă Octavian Victor , Perianu Ion Aurel , Botila Lia-Nicoleta
Published: June 2021

The friction processing techniques, respectively those that use ultrasonic waves, have been for several years important research directions for ISIM Timisoara. The remarkable scientific results obtained through the development of complex research programs for these processes, the diversification of the application possibilities, the desire to improve the characteristics of welded joints, were the basis of the development of the US-assisted FSW hybrid welding process. The paper presents the results obtained by ISIM Timișoara regarding the development of the FSW-US hybrid joining process. Variants of original technical solutions for the necessary equipment are presented together with assessments regarding the conditions of application of the FSW-US process. Experimental results are also presented for FSW-US welding for pairs of materials such as aluminum alloys EN AW 5754 and EN AW 1200, respectively steel EN 10111 DD13. Comparative assessments are made between classic FSW welding and FSW-US hybrid welding, which highlight the advantages of applying the hybrid process.
Processes Developed Based on Friction Stir Welding Process
Authors: Botila Lia-Nicoleta , Cojocaru Radu , Ciucă Cristian , Verbiţchi Victor
Published: June 2021

Considering the remarkable results obtained by using friction stir welding process (FSW), ISIM Timisoara has developed research programs for the knowledge and development of processing processes based on the FSW process principle.The paper presents a synthesis of the researches and the results obtained within some of research projects carried out by ISIM Timisoara, regarding possibilities of using some of processes derived from the FSW process, which has focused mainly on two directions (areas): surface engineering (materials surface processing) and joining by friction riveting. In the field of surfaces engineering, there are presented some results that represent own contributions of ISIM Timisoara, regarding: friction stir processing as well as coating with functional layers from lightweight alloys of steel substrates (by friction with consumable tool).Regarding friction riveting, two methods are presented: classic friction riveting, respectively friction riveting with hybrid effect (mechanical grip and friction welding).The paper shows very good results obtained to FSP processing (for cast aluminum alloys), to friction riveting with hybrid effect (for aluminum and copper alloys) and to friction riveting (for aluminum alloy), but also some limitations of these friction processing methods.Also in the paper are presented new research directions that are currently being addressed, respectively that will be addressed in the next period at ISIM Timisoara, regarding new variants of application of FSW welding.
Ecological Joining Process of AZ31B Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Botila Lia-Nicoleta , Cojocaru Radu , Verbiţchi Victor
Published: June 2021

Due to their properties (low density, high corrosion resistance, easy to process), magnesium alloys are used in all important industrial fields (aeronautics, automotive, transport, etc.). Magnesium is the lightest metal for complex metal structures with a density 2-3 times lower than that of aluminum and a quarter than that of steel. The possibility of joining magnesium with other materials allows a greater flexibility in designing and increasing the number of applications for light alloys.This paper presents results obtained by ISIM Timisoara for FSW welding of magnesium alloy AZ31B. Considering the difficulties that arise when welding magnesium alloys using classical processes, it can be assumed that by applying the FSW process for joining these types of materials, the results obtained are very good and can substantiate industrial applications.
Meningeal B Cell Clusters Correlate with Submeningeal Pathology in a Natural Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Church Molly E , Ceja Guadalupe , McGeehan Megan , Miller Miles C , Farias Priscilla , Sánchez Melissa D , Swain Gary P , Assenmacher Charles-Antoine , Stopa Edward G , Vite Charles H , Bar-Or Amit , Alvarez Jorge I
Published: June 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an idiopathic demyelinating disease in which meningeal inflammation correlates with accelerated disease progression. The study of meningeal inflammation in MS has been limited because of constrained access to MS brain/spinal cord specimens and the lack of experimental models recapitulating progressive MS. Unlike induced models, a spontaneously occurring model would offer a unique opportunity to understand MS immunopathogenesis and provide a compelling framework for translational research. We propose granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) as a natural model to study neuropathological aspects of MS. GME is an idiopathic, progressive neuroinflammatory disease of young dogs with a female bias. In the GME cases examined in this study, the meninges displayed focal and disseminated leptomeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging, which correlated with heavy leptomeningeal lymphocytic infiltration. These leptomeningeal infiltrates resembled tertiary lymphoid organs containing large B cell clusters that included few proliferating Ki67+ cells, plasma cells, follicular dendritic/reticular cells, and germinal center B cell–like cells. These B cell collections were confined in a specialized network of collagen fibers associated with the expression of the lympho-organogenic chemokines CXCL13 and CCL21. Although neuroparenchymal perivascular infiltrates contained B cells, they lacked the immune signature of aggregates in the meningeal compartment. Finally, meningeal B cell accumulation correlated significantly with cortical demyelination reflecting neuropathological similarities to MS. Hence, during chronic neuroinflammation, the meningeal microenvironment sustains B cell accumulation that is accompanied by underlying neuroparenchymal injury, indicating GME as a novel, naturally occurring model to study compartmentalized neuroinflammation and the associated pathology thought to contribute to progressive MS.
CXCR5+CD8+ T Cells: A Review of Their Antibody Regulatory Functions and Clinical Correlations
Authors: Elzein Steven M. , Zimmerer Jason M. , Han Jing L. , Ringwald Bryce A. , Bumgardner Ginny L.
Published: June 2021

CD8+ T cells have conventionally been studied in relationship to pathogen or tumor clearance. Recent reports have identified novel functions of CXCR5+CD8+ T cells that can home to lymphoid follicles, a key site of Ab production. In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of conflicting reports regarding the impact of CXCR5+CD8+ T cells on Ab production and examine the data supporting a role for Ab enhancement (B cell helper) and Ab downregulation (Ab-suppressor) by CXCR5+CD8+ T cell subsets. CXCR5+CD8+ T cell molecular phenotypes are associated with CD8-mediated effector functions, including distinct subsets that regulate Ab responses. Coinhibitory molecule PD-1, among others, distinguishes CXCR5+CD8+ T cell subsets. We also provide, to our knowledge, the first in-depth review of human CXCR5+CD8+ T cells in the context of clinical outcomes and discuss the potential utility of monitoring the quantity of peripheral blood or tissue infiltrating CXCR5+CD8+ T cells as a prognostic tool in multiple disease states.
MicroRNA-29b-3p promotes 5-fluorouracil resistance via suppressing TRAF5-mediated necroptosis in human colorectal cancer
Authors: Wu Shuimei , Zhou Yun , Liu Ping , Zhang Hui , Wang Wanliang , Fang Yuan , Shen Xiang
Published: June 2021

Drug resistance in colorectal cancer is a great challenge in clinic. Elucidating the deep mechanism underlying drug resistance will bring much benefit to diagnosis, therapy and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. In this study, miR-29b-3p was shown to be involved in resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced necroptosis of colorectal cancer. Further, miR-29b-3p was shown to target a regulatory subunit of necroptosis TRAF5. Rescue of TRAF5 could reverse the effect of miR-29b-3p on 5-FU-induced necroptosis, which was consistent with the role ofnecrostatin-1 (a specific necroptosis inhibitor). Then it was demonstrated that miR-29b-3p was positively correlated with chemo-resistance in colorectal cancer while TRAF5 negatively. In conclusion, it is deduced that miR-29b-3p/TRAF5 signaling axis plays critical role in drug resistance in chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients by regulating necroptosis. The findings in this study provide us a new target for interfere therapy in colorectal cancer.
Effects of Covid-19 Home Confinement on Eating Behavior: A Review
Authors: Alamri Eman S.
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease is a global pandemic that has led to radical changes in lifestyle habits, including dietary habits. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to evaluate the effect of quarantine on dietary habits when enforcing a lockdown. Some databases were used, including Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Ten studies conducted between March and May 2020 were included. There is an increase in the number of meals and snacks during home confinement as well as unhealthy food such as fast food, sweets and chocolate, sugaradded drinks, and processed meat, while fruit and vegetable consumption was reduced. Very few studies reported that participants had increased fruit and vegetable intake. In conclusion, collateral effects of this pandemic include an environment that is not favorable to healthy dietary habits, which could have a lasting impact on health. The long-term health effects are unknown and worth investigating.
Comparison of Ambu AuraGain at low cuff pressure, Ambu AuraGain at high cuff pressure and i-gel in relation to incidence of postoperative upper airway complications
Authors: Deepak G P , Kumar Rakesh , Agarwal Munisha , Bharadwaj Manoj , Kumar Neera G. , Sarma Riniki
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims:

Postoperative upper airway complications are frequently encountered with the use of supraglottic airway devices (SADs). Cuff pressure is one of the risk factors for upper airway complications with SADs. Among SADs, i-gel has shown lesser incidence. The effect of different cuff pressures on the incidence of postoperative upper airway complications is not known with Ambu AuraGain and nor has Ambu AuraGain been compared with i-gel in this regard. So, we undertook this study.

Methods:

A total of 200 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery were randomised into 3 groups based on the SAD used and intra-cuff pressure: i-gel (IG) (n = 66); Ambu AuraGain at 25 cmH2O cuff pressure (AL) (n = 67); and Ambu AuraGain at 60 cmH2O cuff pressure (AH) (n = 67). The oropharyngeal leak pressures (OLPs) were measured after insertion and generation of carboperitoneum. An observer who was blind to the intraoperative details assessed the patients for two postoperative days for sore throat, dysphagia, dysphonia, or any other upper airway complications.

Results:

The OLPs before and after carboperitoneum in the 3 groups were (IG-24.22 ± 7.87 and 28.31 ± 8.52, AL-24.40 ± 5.84 and 26.94 ± 5.93, AH-25.02 ± 5.02 and 28.91 ± 5.6) cmH2O (P = 0.747 and P = 0.231). The overall incidence of postoperative sore throat among the 3 groups was: IG-5.7%, AL-14.9%, and AH-17.9%; P = 0.135. Dysphagia was seen only with Ambu AuraGain at high pressure in 4 patients (5.97%) (P = 0.017).

Conclusion:

Limiting cuff pressure in Ambu AuraGain to 25, as against 60 cmH2O, does not affect the OLP but has the potential of reducing the incidence of dysphagia.
The Nirenberg problem of prescribed Gauss curvature on $S^2$
Authors: Anderson Michael T.
Published: June 2021

We introduce a new perspective on the classical Nirenberg problem of understanding the possible Gauss curvatures of metrics on

S^{2}

conformal to the round metric. A key tool is to employ the smooth Cheeger–Gromov compactness theorem to obtain general and essentially sharp a priori estimates for Gauss curvatures

K

contained in naturally defined stable regions. We prove that in such stable regions, the map

u \to K_{g}

,

g = e^{2u}g_{+1}

is a proper Fredholm map with well-defined degree on each component. This leads to a number of new existence and non-existence results. We also present a new proof and generalization of the Moser theorem on Gauss curvatures of even conformal metrics on

S^{2}

.

In contrast to previous work, the work here does not use any of the Sobolev-type inequalities of Trudinger–Moser–Aubin–Onofri.
On the rate of equidistribution of expanding translates of horospheres in $\Gamma\backslash G$
Authors: Edwards Samuel
Published: June 2021

Let

G

be a semisimple Lie group and

\Gamma

a lattice in

G

. We generalize a method of Burger to prove precise effective equidistribution results for translates of pieces of horospheres in the homogeneous space

\Gamma\backslash G

.
Reported Barriers to Healthcare Access and Service Disruptions Caused by COVID-19 in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria: A Telephone Survey
Authors: Assefa Nega , Sié Ali , Wang Dongqing , Korte Michelle L. , Hemler Elena C. , Abdullahi Yasir Y. , Lankoande Bruno , Millogo Ourohiré , Chukwu Angela , Workneh Firehiwot , Kanki Phyllis , Baernighausen Till , Berhane Yemane , Fawzi Wafaie W. , Oduola Ayoade
Published: June 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have short-term and long-term impacts on health services across sub-Saharan African countries. A telephone survey in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria was conducted to assess the effects of the pandemic on healthcare services from the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) and community members. A total of 900 HCPs (300 from each country) and 1,797 adult community members (approximately 600 from each country) participated in the study. Adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using modified Poisson regression. According to the HCPs, more than half (56%) of essential health services were affected. Child health services and HIV/surgical/other services had a slightly higher percentage of interruption (33%) compared with maternal health services (31%). A total of 21.8%, 19.3%, and 7.7% of the community members reported that their family members and themselves had difficulty accessing childcare services, maternal health, and other health services, respectively. Nurses had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than physicians (ARR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.56–0.95). HCPs at private facilities (ARR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59–0.84) had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than those at governmental facilities. Health services in Nigeria were more likely to be interrupted than those in Burkina Faso (ARR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19–1.59). Health authorities should work with multiple stakeholders to ensure routine health services and identify novel and adaptive approaches to recover referral services, medical care, maternal and child health, family planning, immunization and health promotion, and prevention during the COVID-19 era.
COVID-19 Knowledge, Perception, Preventive Measures, Stigma, and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Three Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Phone Survey
Authors: Assefa Nega , Soura Abdramane , Hemler Elena C. , Korte Michelle L. , Wang Dongqing , Abdullahi Yasir Y. , Lankoande Bruno , Millogo Ourohiré , Chukwu Angela , Workneh Firehiwot , Sie Ali , Berhane Yemane , Baernighausen Till , Oduola Ayoade , Fawzi Wafaie W.
Published: June 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis globally. Understanding healthcare providers’ (HCPs’) knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 is crucial to identifying effective strategies to improve their ability to respond to the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. A phone-based survey of 900 HCPs in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria (300 per country) was conducted to assess knowledge, perceptions, COVID-19 prevention measures, stigma, and mental health of HCPs. Modified Poisson regression models were used to evaluate predictors of knowledge, perceptions, and prevention measures; adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Three-fourths of the HCPs had adequate knowledge, and over half had correct perceptions of risk and high levels of self-reported prevention measures. The majority of the HCPs (73.7%) reported self-perceived social stigma. There was relatively low prevalence of depression (6.6%), anxiety (6.6%), or psychological distress (18%). Compared with doctors, being a nurse was associated with lower levels of knowledge (ARR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.77–0.90) and was also negatively associated with having correct perceptions toward COVID-19 (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73–0.92). HCPs treating COVID-19 patients had higher likelihood of having high levels of prevention measures (AOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23–1.53). Despite high levels of knowledge among HCPs in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a need to improve COVID-19 perceptions and compliance with prevention measures as well as address social stigma toward HCPs to better ensure their safety and prepare them to deliver health services.
Did You Try Our Good Smoked Ham? Assessing the Quality of Translation as Cross-Cultural Mediation on Croatian Tourist Board Websites
Authors: Veselica Majhut Snježana
Published: June 2021

Tourist discourse has been recognized as a specialized type of cross-cultural communication. Thus, successful translation of tourist texts assumes that translators act as cross-cultural mediators on a number of levels. The rather low quality of translation in the tourism sector has been pointed out by several Translation Studies scholars. However, not much systematic empirical research on the quality of translation in this sector has been carried out. This paper analyses a corpus of multilingual websites produced by Croatian tourist boards. In the analysis of the data I rely on the criteria for assessing translation quality of web translation developed by Pierini (2007), and place a special focus on the achievement of pragmatic level equivalence between source and target texts as a major criterion of successful cross-cultural communication in the translation of tourism discourse.
Reshaping Authorial Presence in Translations of Research Article Abstracts
Authors: Pahor Tadej , Smodiš Martina , Pisanski Peterlin Agnes
Published: June 2021

In multilingual settings, the abstract is the only part of the research article that is regularly translated. Although very brief, abstracts play an important role in academic communication, as they provide immediate access to research findings. Contrastive research has revealed considerable cross-linguistic differences in the rhetorical patterns of abstracts. The present paper focuses on how this variation is bridged in translation, by addressing an important rhetorical dimension of academic discourse, authorial presence. Specifically, it examines how authorial presence is reshaped in translated abstracts. An analysis of a small corpus of 150 Slovene research article abstracts from five disciplines and their English translations reveals several interesting types of recurring translators’ interventions, most notably the tendency to replace personal authorial references with impersonal structures. Data collected in interviews with four experienced translators of academic texts is used to shed light on potential reasons for interventions with authorial presence in translation.
“Visible” at Last? Some Notes on English as a Target Language and Translated Books in the US
Authors: Palumbo Giuseppe
Published: June 2021

In the international system of translations, English has been described as playing a “hypercentral” role. At the same time, translation is seen as playing a marginal role in the Anglo-American cultural and publishing scenarios. The present paper is aimed at revisiting this idea. After an overview of recent studies that have examined the role and significance of translated titles in the publishing markets of English-speaking countries, the paper reports on an exploratory analysis of records available in a database that collects information on books in translation published or distributed in the US starting from 2008. The analysis indicates that translation is enjoying a renewed attention in the US market, in terms of both the number of translated titles and the distribution of translations across different genres.
Translating in Theory and Action: Contemporary Contexts in Translation
Authors: Hirci Nataša , Pisanski Peterlin Agnes , Zupan Simon
Published: June 2021

The guest editors' objective was to open up a space for researchers to reflect on and rethink the role of different categories of translation and interpreting in contemporary contexts, engaging with both theory and practice.
Mandatory Electronic Communication with a Tax Administrator
Authors: Vavříková Martina
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this text is to present an overview of the evolution of digital communication in tax law and highlight major changes which recently occurred in the process of digitalization regarding the communication between a tax administrator and taxpayers when submitting a tax document. The first part of the article will point out leading elements of digital submissions and provide theoretical and functional perspective on characteristics of electronic communication. The second part of the text aspires to analyse sanctions resulting from breaching rules regarding the mandatory electronic submission of tax documents. This article will then discuss the varieties of sanctions as an outcome of enforcing the tax procedural rules regarding the mandatory electronic document submission.
Article 199a of the Tax Ordinance Act in Polish Legal Regime
Authors: Woźniak Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

The regulatory function of Article 199a [Tax Ordinance Act, hereinafter: T.O.] is to supplement tax authoritiescompetences deriving from other regulations of evidence proceeding to establish the facts. Determination of a transaction hidden under apparently correct fiscal and legal state of affairs results in consequences that can be seen in private law, tax law and, ultimately, penal fiscal law. The purpose of the paper is to point out to inter-dependencies that relate to final decisions and to the whole process of decision taking in the above-mentioned aspects of application of law.
Öğrenme Eğrilerinin Karşılaştırılması
Authors: ATICI Uğur
Published: June 2021

Şirketlerin iç ve dış süreçlerinde öğrenme eğrisi önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Üretim sektöründe üretim miktarı veya işin tekrar sayısı arttıkça üretim süresi belirli bir yüzde oranında azalır. Bu çalışmada farklı öğrenme eğri modelleri için üretim miktarının üretim süresi üzerindeki etkisi incelenmiştir. Öğrenme eğrisi modellerinin karşılaştırılması amacı kullanılan veri seti rastgele üretilmiştir. Üretilen veri seti, öğrenme eğrisi eşitlikleri ve lüteratürde önerilen katsayılar kullanılarak üretim için gerekli iş gücü süresi Matlab 2020b yazılımında hesaplanmıştır. Öğrenme eğrisi modelleri için tekrar sayısına bağlı olarak gerekli iş gücü mikarının değişimi araştırılmıştır. İncelenen tüm öğrenme modelleri, üretim miktarının artmasıyla üretim süresinin kısalacağını öngörmüştür. Üretim süresinin belirlenmesinde kullanılacak öğrenme eğrisi modeli üretim prosesine uygun olarak seçilmelidir. Birey ve grup arasında tecrübe aktarımınının modellenmesine imkan tanıyan HLO algoritması iş postaları halinde çalışılan bakım hatlarında üretim süresinin belirlenmesine yönelik büyük bir potansiyele sahiptir.