bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on effects of TiO2 Nano particles on properties of concrete
Authors: Jayakalyani P , Sujatha Takkellapati , Nithin P , Mydili Priya CH , Mouni J
Published: December 2023

Civil Engineering is one of the vast specializations that required an advanced research to utilize the current trend in Nano technology especially utilizing eco-friendly Nano materials for various constructions such as roads, building, soil stabilization and backfill material treatment. Nanomaterials enhance the strength, durability against aggressive chemical compounds and elements that extend the effective service life of the structure. Nanomaterials can also help to reduce the need for raw materials for upkeep and repair. In particular for heavy-duty applications, Nano materials are crucial in the development of high-strength and low-energy buildings. The outcomes of laboratory and field experiments on the effects of Nano materials on the environment are also thoroughly analyzed. There are many different types of Nano particles accessible nowadays, but TiO2 was chosen for this investigation. There are several civil engineering applications for this, to investigate how mechanical properties (compressive strength and flexure strength) are affected by TiO2 Nano particles (NT). In this investigation, M30grade concrete with TiO2 at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 percent by adding to the weight of cement was used.
Microstructure Analysis of Concrete with Pulverized Used Foundry Sand as Mineral Admixture
Authors: Salim P M , Prasad E V
Published: December 2023

There are several mineral admixtures used in concrete to enhance its properties. Pulverized used foundry sand (PUFS) is a recently introduced patented material into the mineral admixture category. The pulverized used foundry sand is made from the discarded waste foundry sand generated from the foundry operations. In this paper, an effort is made to investigate the different micro structure analysis methods employed in the elemental study of mineral compounds and to accentuate the strength enhancement mechanism of the pulverized used foundry sand in concrete. Representative samples obtained from concrete comprising pulverised used foundry sand content at 0%,5%,10%,15%, and 20% of the cement content by weight as per standard practice were tested with EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). EDX, SEM and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis were conducted on pulverized used foundry sand and silica fume for studying the various elements and its proportions. From the SEM images it is ascertained that the addition of PUFS increases the quantities of CSH (Calcium Silicate Hydrate) and Calcite in the concrete. As an outcome, the microstructure analysis of concrete having different proportions of PUFS portrays how the PUFS as a mineral additive affects the strength characteristics of concrete that contains it.
Compressive strength of geopolymer mortar on different molarities, liquid binder, and alkaline solution ratios.
Authors: Ranga Ramanujam I.V. , Ramachandra Reddy K. , Venkata Ramana N.
Published: December 2023

This article examines the impact of liquid binder (L/B) ratio, molarities, sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratios on the compressive strength of geopolymer mortars. In total 72 trial mixes of geopolymer mortar are prepared with GGBS as base constituent material. In the experimental investigation the molarities varied from 8 to 18 by increment of 2 and liquid binder ratio is varied as 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45. In addition to those two variables, alkaline solution ratios are also changed as 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. From the experimental study it is noticed that the geopolymer mortar with GGBS has shown higher compressive strength. Amongst all the mixes, the specimens with liquid binder ratio of 0.45, alkaline ratio of 2.0 and Molarity 14M of NaOH solution exhibited maximum strength of 52.69 MPa.
Influence of GGBFS and Silica Fume on the Properties of High-Strength Self-Compacting Concrete
Authors: Japthi Sravani , Reddy B Jayarami , Manoj Kumar P
Published: December 2023

When the compaction of concrete becomes challenging to carry out, Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is considered as an alternative to ordinary concrete. The aim of the present work is to obtain high-strength SCC by substituting Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and Silica Fume (SF) for cement. GGBFS and SF have been extensively employed as admixtures in recent years to produce high-strength concrete. SCC was created as a reference mix without any mineral admixtures, whereas the other mixes had varying amounts of GGBS and SF. The remaining six mixtures contained various concentrations of GGBFS from 10 to 30 percent with variations of 10% and silica fume from 5 to 15 percent with variations of 5 percentile. As workability is the primary attribute of SCC, various flowability features, including the Slump test, V funnel, and L box test were recognized. Studies on mechanical performance and durability properties were conducted. At 28 days, a ternary combination of 30% GGBS and 5% SF reaches its maximum compressive strength of 70.12 MPa. Also, when SF is replaced with 5% and GGBFS with 30% by weight of cement, the results showed better improvement in durability.
Study on Strength Characteristics of Granular Materials
Authors: Renuka K , Sudam P Arti
Published: December 2023

Crushing strength of granular material plays vital role in major civil engineering structures like offshore constructions, pile driving, mining under the high stresses. Determining the crushing strength of granular materials and also experimental results get influenced by its size, shape of grains, density, load application, strain rate, and its aspect ratio etc. So, crushing strength value differs from material to material. With this in view, here an attempt is made to determine the crushing strength for different granular materials like Natural River sand, Ennore sand, Glass beads and Geopolymer fly ash sand with specially fabricated mold. All materials are tested and characterized for index and engineering properties and also determined crushing strength by strain controlled digital load frame for different aspect ratios. Similar crushing strength values obtained for 12M Geo-polymer sand compared to other granular materials hence Geopolymer sand as an alternative material to natural river sand. Experimental results are tabulated in the paper.
Utilization of Fly Ash and Coconut Shell as Sustainable Alternatives in M30 Grade Concrete: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Sagar Tummala Santhi , Paluri Yeswanth , Krishna Y Murali , Ravi Bayyavarapu , Ravi Yakkanti
Published: December 2023

The gradual reduction in availability of traditional construction materials and disposal of waste materials are the two most important challenges which engineers or researchers face. To encounter these challenges, industrial or agricultural waste as a substitute for traditional building materials is generally adopted. Among various waste generated in our country, fly ash and coconut shell waste occupy a significant proportion and, if not appropriately managed, can cause serious waste disposal problems. Therefore, in this investigation, a feasibility study on the valorisation of fly ash and coconut shell as substitute materials to cement and natural coarse aggregates (NA), respectively in M30 grade concrete is carried out. The study incorporates the examination of two variables, namely the fly ash (FA) content ranging from 0% to 30% and the coconut shell aggregates (CSA) content ranging from 0% to 30%. The present study assesses the fresh and hardened characteristics of concrete mixtures using different proportions of fly ash as a substitute for cement and coconut shell aggregates as a replacement for coarse aggregate. Based on the obtained data, it is evident that when NA is replaced by CSA in all instances, the hardened properties of the concrete reduced gradually, while the use of FA as a partial substitute to cement by up to 20% showed positive results and could almost counter act the loss in strength of the concrete with incorporation of 20% CSA.
Effect of manufactured sand, micro silica, and GGBS on properties of high-performance concrete
Authors: Chougale Jaydeep B , Bage A A
Published: December 2023

The most often used building material for engineering constructions is concrete. The rapid urbanization has necessitated the need for High Strength (HS) and High -Performance Concrete (HPC) for specialized constructions, such as high rise/tall structure and other important structures. Greater cement content may be required for concrete with higher performance like strength and durability, but code does not permit it, because higher cement content increases the heat of hydration, which leads to the development of thermal cracks in concrete, reduces its structural performance and damage environment by producing CO2 during production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This study tries to replace OPC by Micro Silica (MS) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) by some percentage to find our effect of these materials on properties of concrete HPC.

In this work, the influence of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand), Micro Silica (MS) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) on the mechanical and durability qualities of High - Performance Concrete (HPC) is examined experimentally. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is used to create the HPC mixtures and then 40%,45%, 50% by weight of OPC is replaced with GGBS and 2.5% and 5% by weight of OPC is replaced with MS respectively. Additionally, OPC is replaced by 40%GGBS+ 2.5% MS, 40% GGBS+5% MS, 45%GGBS+ 2.5% MS, 45% GGBS+5% MS, and 50%GGBS+ 2.5%MS, 50%GGBS+5% MS. For each percentage replacement workability test, compressive test at the age of 28,56 and 90 days, water permeability test at 28 days and 90 days, Scanning Elector Microscope (SEM) test after 90 days are carried out. The investigative study’s findings showed that partial replacement of OPC with GGBS, MS, and combinations of GGBS and MS produces more consistent outcomes for strength and durability when compared to control mix.
Study on Mechanical Properties of Alkali-Activated Concrete Developed using Bio Cementation Process
Authors: Nihar Ch , Narayana Rao U.V.
Published: December 2023

The second-most-used material worldwide is concrete. The production of cement is responsible for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. For every kilogram of cement produced, 0.9 kilograms of carbon dioxide are released. OPC use is growing, which has negative repercussions like global warming that have an impact on the environment. We require an eco-binder that can replace OPC in concrete either completely or partially in order to considerably reduce CO2 emissions from the cement industry. An environmentally sustainable approach to reducing carbon emissions from the construction industry is alkali-activated materials. It involves the reaction of industrial wastes like fly ash and GGBS, which are rich in aluminosilicates, with alkali activators like NaOH and Na2SiO3, forming a binding material called alkali-activated concrete. There is a wealth of information on the effectiveness of alkali-activated concrete. The behaviour of such alkali-activated concrete made by bio-cementation is the topic of the current investigation. The process involves the specific action of urease-producing bacteria, which results in calcium carbonate buildup and enhances the mechanical characteristics of cementitious materials. The focus of the current investigation was on the mechanical characteristics of GGBS and fly ash-based alkali-activated concretes using the activators NaOH and Na2SiO3 made with the bio-cementation technique.
Effect of Crab Shell on Properties of Soil: A Mini Review
Authors: Alisha Shaik Subhan , Dumpa Venkateswarlu , Sreenivasulu Vemu
Published: December 2023

Soil stabilization is crucial for infrastructure development, cost savings, environmental protection, construction efficiency, and overall project safety. Cement and lime are frequently used conventional materials for stabilizing soils worldwide. The production of these materials releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses. There is a need to minimize the utilization of these materials. Researchers are finding alternative materials to cement or lime. The fly ash, silica fume, and crab shells are utilized as partial replacement material for cement. Crab shell waste, generated from the seafood processing industry, has gained attention as a potential sustainable partial alternative to cement or lime for soil stabilization due to its abundance and eco-friendly properties. In this study, an attempt has been made to review the effectiveness of crab shells as a soil-stabilizing material in various applications. Also, the physical and chemical parameters of the crab’s shell powder as well as the variables that affect its qualities were also reviewed. The literature shows that the addition of crab shell powder as a partial replacement for cement enhances the strength of the soil. The crab shell possesses an ultimate strength of 36 N/mm2 due to this the soil properties are enhanced when crab shell powder has been added as soil stabilizer. The review suggests that the inclusion of crab shell powder as a replacement to cement up 20% for enhancing the properties of soil and brick.
Quantification of Congestion and Level of Service Determination for Urban Road Infrastructure
Authors: Sushmitha Ramireddy , Srikanth Seelam , Varalakshmi B
Published: December 2023

Level of Service is an important measure for describing traffic condition in terms of travel time, speed, convenience, comfort, and safety. The aim of present study is to measure the congestion in mid-block sections using the corresponding average speed values and determine the LOS of the mid-block sections of urban roads based on v/c values. Three mid-block sections were chosen and video-recording method was used for collecting data. Based on the average speed values the level of congestion was determined and the level of service of each mid-block section was also determined by using the v/c ratios. No/low level of congestion was observed in Section- I and Section-III whereas moderate congestion was observed in Section-II. As a result of congestion, fuel consumption will be more, which in turn causes air pollution. When the dynamic PCU values were used for v/c determination, the LOS was A in all the sections.
Hydrological Modeling of Urban Flooding in Nandigama: Land Use Dynamics and Climate Influence
Authors: Reddy Poli Sainath , Bhavani R
Published: December 2023

Urban flooding affects many areas in the world, caused by heavy rainfall and global warming. Our focus is on Nandigama, a highly urbanized region in Andhra Pradesh, India. Flood maps created based on urbanisation in the study area. TREX model and spatial data used to evaluate the impact of land use changes on runoff. Our analysis showed that urban expansion has increased significantly over the past thirty years, increasing surface area and runoff, leading to more flooding events with lower-intensity rainfall. Climate change has also contributed to this problem, with shorter rainfall durations but higher intensities leading to more frequent small floods. This has resulted in a 21% rise in discharge, from 2.39 m3 /s in 2000 to 2.91 m3 /s in 2020. This study provides essential information for land use planning and flood control management projects.
Mixed iridium-nickel oxides supported on antimony-doped tin oxide as highly efficient and stable acidic oxygen evolution catalysts
Authors: Esquius Jonathan Ruiz , LaGrow Alec P , Jin Haiyan , Yu Zhipeng , Araujo Ana , Marques Rita , Mendes Adélio , Liu Lifeng
Published: December 2023

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis represents a promising technology for green hydrogen production, but its widespread deployment is greatly hindered by the indispensable usage of platinum group metal catalysts, especially iridium (Ir) based materials for the energy-demanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a new sequential precipitation approach to the synthesis of mixed Ir-nickel (Ni) oxy-hydroxide supported on antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles (IrNi
y
O
x
/ATO, 20 wt.% (Ir + Ni), y = 0, 1, 2, and 3), aiming to reduce the utilisation of scarce and precious Ir while maintaining its good acidic OER performance. When tested in strongly acidic electrolyte (0.1 M HClO4), the optimised IrNi1O
x
/ATO shows a mass activity of 1.0 mA µgIr
−1 and a large turnover frequency of 123 s−1 at an overpotential of 350 mV, as well as a comparatively small Tafel slope of 50 mV dec−1, better than the IrO
x
/ATO control, particularly with a markedly reduced Ir loading of only 19.7 µgIr cm−2. Importantly, IrNi1O
x
/ATO also exhibits substantially better catalytic stability than other reference catalysts, able to continuously catalyse acidic OER at 10 mA cm−2 for 15 h without obvious degradation. Our in-situ synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the Ir3+/Ir4+ species are the active sites for the acidic OER. Furthermore, the performance of IrNi1O
x
/ATO was also preliminarily evaluated in a membrane electrode assembly, which shows better activity and stability than other reference catalysts. The IrNi1O
x
/ATO reported in this work is a promising alternative to commercial IrO2 based catalysts for PEM electrolysis.
Statistics, Computation, and Coding in the Retina
Authors: Schwartz Gregory
Published: December 2023

One of the most common ways to approach descriptions of the function of brains is with the language of computation. Neuroscientists often speak about what the brain computes and how it performs the computation using biological hardware. Theories of neural computation in most parts of the central nervous system of vertebrates are difficult to test in satisfying ways because often only partial information is available. Computations can be distributed over millions of neurons and vast regions of the brain, and the definitions of the computations themselves are often either abstract or lack a compelling, quantitative, causal link to a specific behavior.

Although the vertebrate retina is a highly complex part of the central nervous system comprising approximately 150 different cell types, studying computation in the retina has certain advantages that have enabled the field to lead the way in some disciplines of computational neuroscience. These advantages include advanced knowledge of cell types, the repeating “mosaic” structure of retinal circuits, the ability to control precisely the full input (spatiotemporal patterns of light) while recording the full output (retinal ganglion cell spikes), and quantitative links to certain innate visual behaviors. Through the lens of statistics, many retinal computations can be framed as measurements of properties of probability distributions. The ways evolution has found to make these measurements with biological components are both elegant in their simplicity and powerful in their flexibility, in many cases far exceeding the sophistication of modern human-made digital imaging technology.

Fast adaptation to both the mean and the variance of time-varying light distributions allows the retina to encode the enormous dynamic range of natural images within the limited dynamic range of neurons. Signal and noise distributions are estimated and combined in ways approaching theoretical limits. Objects are localized with precision far exceeding individual receptive fields by using a form of triangulation. Predictive information about motion statistics is represented in the population code. These examples and others enable analysis of retinal computation with tools from computer science, engineering, statistics, and information theory, serving as a model for computational neuroscience.
Biotypology, Body, Sex, Gender, and Sports in the Formation of Physical Education Teachers in Uruguay, 1948–1967
Authors: Dogliotti Moro Paola , Amgarten Quitzau Evelise
Published: December 2023

Biotypology was the Latin branch of eugenics. In Uruguay, biotypology had mainly instrumental and practical implementations in physical education and sports. Between 1948 and 1967, it was part of the Academic Programmes incorporated into the Higher Institute of Physical Education teacher training curricula and influenced other subjects taught at the institute. The work of Italian physician Nicola Pende was highly influential on Uruguayan biotypology. Many Higher Institute of Physical Education students produced degree theses explicitly based on Pende’s ideas. In these theses, there is an articulation between biology and psychology to determine and adapt physical education to different stages of individual development. Biomedical knowledge, mainly based on endocrinology, was used to determine the most suitable bodily practices for men and women. This knowledge was also used to assess normality standards for men and women, establishing the “normal” behavior, exercises, and physical performances that should be observed and trained by physical education teachers. Thus, the most practical and evident expression of eugenics in the field of physical education and sport in Uruguay was developed based on biotypological premises through a specific local and instrumental translation shaped by a mixture of measuring instruments and techniques, rates, and coefficients of Latin origin (influenced by Nicola Pende’s ideas), complemented with anthropometric measurements of Saxon influence. These premises directly impacted the students’ ideas on physical exercise, health, sport, and gender. Uruguayan biotypology’s postulates promoted a differentiated, binary, exclusionary physical education between men and women. It delineated specific body types for each one and particular ways of being, behaving, and moving that placed women in a lower hierarchy, which was reinforced and articulated with other social inequalities.
Early Factionalism in Zimbabwe’s Liberation Struggle
Authors: Marmon Brooks
Published: December 2023

The course of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle was fundamentally shaped by tensions among competing nationalist factions. The impact of this dynamic is typically observed from 1963, when Zimbabwe’s long-serving ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)-Patriotic Front, was founded following a fissure in the liberation movement. Earlier instances of intranationalist competition in Southern Rhodesia (colonial Zimbabwe) have generally escaped scholarly attention despite their pioneering contributions to the dynamics of political pluralism in Zimbabwe and the presence of noted political figures amidst their leadership.

In 1961, the Zimbabwean nationalist movement experienced its first significant split with the formation of the Zimbabwe National Party (ZNP) which broke away from the National Democratic Party. The ZNP, in turn, experienced its own rupture a year later when the Pan-African Socialist Union (PASU) was formed. Although these were the two only two nationalist challengers of note in the early 1960s prior to ZANU, several other short-lived Black-led political parties emerged at this time in settler-dominated Southern Rhodesia.

The ZNP and PASU appealed to rising grievances with the prosecution of the anticolonial liberation struggle. They were also a consequence of the changing geopolitics wrought by Africa’s decolonization. The two parties sought to consolidate their position by appealing to the emerging cohort of African anticolonial leaders across the continent. These efforts induced extensive backlash from the main wing of the nationalist movement, then led by Joshua Nkomo. Both the ZNP and PASU were short-lived, effectively collapsing by 1963. While neither party was able to effectively overcome these intense assaults, their comparatively fleeting existence shaped the political environment by influencing tactics and providing a template for subsequent nationalist contenders seeking greater longevity.
Archaeology of the Past Two Thousand Years in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Whitelaw Gavin , Mazel Aron D.
Published: December 2023

Hunter-gatherers were the sole occupants of the southern African landscape for many thousands of years. Khoe-speaking pastoralists and then Bantu-speaking farmers entered the subcontinent around two thousand years ago. They introduced different lifeways, belief systems, and technologies. Archaeological evidence from KwaZulu-Natal reveals interaction between farmers and hunter-gatherers in this region from the time of first contact to the 1800s ad. There may also have been an ephemeral pastoralist presence in western KwaZulu-Natal around two thousand years ago. During the 1st millennium ad in the Thukela basin, hunter-gatherers appear to have focused their lives on the wooded central basin that Early Iron Age farmers favored for settlement. Interaction between the two groups seems to have centered on men and been built around hunting. The Blackburn ceramic facies at the beginning of the 2nd millennium marks the first settlement of Nguni-speaking farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The material cultural signature of Early Iron Age farmers disappeared and relations between hunter-gatherers and farmers shifted as some Blackburn farmers took hunter-gatherer women into homestead life as wives. A renewed hunter-gatherer focus on rock shelters in the Drakensberg coincided with the settling of upland grasslands by farmers in the 14th century. From the 16th century, the region slowly integrated into global networks and then experienced colonization in the 19th century. These processes had implications for both farmers and hunter-gatherers. They contributed to the emergence of large polities in the northeast of the region and, ultimately, the elimination of hunter-gatherer lifeways.
A Review of the Effects of Pay Transparency
Authors: Duchini Emma , Simion Stefania , Turrell Arthur
Published: December 2023

An increasing number of countries have introduced pay transparency policies with the aim of reducing gender inequality in the labor market. Firms subject to transparency requirements must disclose publicly or to employees’ representatives information on their employees’ pay broken down by gender, or indicators of gender gaps in pay and career outcomes. The argument at the base of these policies is that gender inequality may in part persist because it is hidden. On the one hand, employers rarely keep track of employees’ pay and career progression by gender, and, on the other hand, employees rarely engage in conversations with their colleagues about pay. The lack of information on within-firm disparities by gender may therefore hamper progress toward a more egalitarian labor market. Transparency policies have the potential to improve women’s relative pay and career outcomes for two reasons. First, by increasing the salience of gender gaps in the labor market, they can alter the relative bargaining power of male and female employees vis-à-vis the firm and lead lower-paid individuals to demand higher pay from their employer. Second, together with pressures from employees, the public availability of information on firms’ gender-equality performance may also increase public pressure for firms’ action in this domain. A clear message emerges from the literature analyzing the impact of pay transparency policies on gender inequality: these policies are effective at pushing firms to reduce their gender pay gaps, although this is achieved via a slowdown of men’s wage growth. Related results point to a reduction in labor productivity following the introduction of transparency mandates but no detrimental effect on firms’ profits because this effect is compensated by the reduction in labor costs. Overall, the findings in this literature suggest that transparency policies can reduce the gender pay gap with limited costs for firms but may not be suited to achieve the objective of improving outcomes for lower-paid employees.
The Conquest of the Desert and Argentina’s Indigenous Peoples
Authors: Ryan Carolyne L.
Published: December 2023

The Conquest of the Desert was a military campaign launched by the Argentine state (1878–1885) to remove the Indigenous peoples of the Pampas and Patagonia in order to open the region for Argentine occupation. Then Minister of War Julo A. Roca led the campaigns and subsequently became president of Argentina in 1880. Argentine state makers described this campaign as a necessary step in growing the national economy and making Argentina a “modern” and “civilized” nation. The conquest was also celebrated by many contemporaries as marking the emergence of a “White” Argentina. Despite this rhetoric, Indigenous peoples from the pampas and Patagonia have endured throughout the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries. The contentious legacies of the conquest have continued to shape Indigenous peoples’ experiences in Argentine society and with the state through the early 21st century, affecting issues including land rights, cultural recognition, state violence, citizenship rights, historical memory, and social experiences of marginalization and discrimination.
Differential Object Marking in the Romance Languages
Authors: Gerards David Paul
Published: December 2023

In its most narrow sense, differential object marking (henceforth DOM) refers to a state of affairs in which a proper subset of direct objects of a given language receives overt marking by a morpheme A, while the complementary proper subset of direct objects either does not receive any such marking at all or receives overt marking by another morpheme B. DOM is triggered by (usually a complex interplay of) object-related features, such as animacy, referentiality, and topicality, as well as by additional verbal and configurational ones, such as telicity and secondary predication, among others. Further features determining the extension of DOM are transitivity, affectedness, and individuation. Documented in many language families, DOM is also firmly anchored in Romance. Its prenominal nature shows that it is yet another instantiation of the typological change from primarily right-headed Classical Latin to primarily left-headed Romance. Romance varieties differ as to the degree of grammaticalization of DOM. Among the “big five” national languages, only Spanish and Romanian display a well-developed DOM-system (realized by a and pe, respectively). Yet, a pan-Romance look reveals that DOM is also well attested in Asturian, many Italo-Romance dialects (e.g., Corsican, Engadinese Romansh, Sardinian, Sicilian, Southern Italian), and even some Gallo-Romance varieties (e.g., Gascon and Languedocian). These latter partly use DOM-morphemes (henceforth DOM-m; within glosses, DOM reads “direct object marker”) different from a and pe and, in addition, in part display a complementary distribution of DOM and definite articles. Generally speaking, Romance DOM is on the rise, in the sense that it arose with dislocated, topicalized strong personal pronouns in Late Latin and has since been diachronically expanding along typologically well-established pathways. Such processes continue to be visible in a number of contemporary Romance varieties, among which are Argentinian Spanish and some non-prescriptive registers of Galician and Catalan. The potential sensitivity of DOM to language contact is also evinced by some Italian and French regiolects in contact with varieties making wider use of DOM. At the same time, DOM-grammaticalization may be reversible: Cuban and Dominican Spanish, for instance, have been reported to display receding DOM; the same is true of Spanish in a number of language contact and heritage speaker settings and of post-18th-century Portuguese. Even Standard Italian, Northern Italian dialects, Standard French, and Francoprovençal—often argued not to possess DOM at all—do marginally allow for it with dislocated strong first- and second-person personal pronouns.
Amidst an amygdala renaissance in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Stouffer Kaitlin M , Grande Xenia , Düzel Emrah , Johansson Maurits , Creese Byron , Witter Menno P , Miller Michael I , Wisse Laura E M , Berron David
Published: December 2023

The amygdala was highlighted as an early site for neurofibrillary tau tangle pathology in Alzheimer’s disease in the seminal 1991 article by Braak and Braak. This knowledge has, however, only received traction recently with advances in imaging and image analysis techniques. Here, we provide a cross-disciplinary overview of pathology and neuroimaging studies on the amygdala.

These studies provide strong support for an early role of the amygdala in Alzheimer’s disease and the utility of imaging biomarkers of the amygdala in detecting early changes and predicting decline in cognitive functions and neuropsychiatric symptoms in early stages. We summarize the animal literature on connectivity of the amygdala, demonstrating that amygdala nuclei that show the earliest and strongest accumulation of neurofibrillary tangle pathology are those that are connected to brain regions that also show early neurofibrillary tangle accumulation. Additionally, we propose an alternative pathway of neurofibrillary tangle spreading within the medial temporal lobe between the amygdala and the anterior hippocampus. The proposed existence of this pathway is strengthened by novel experimental data on human functional connectivity.

Finally, we summarize the functional roles of the amygdala, highlighting the correspondence between neurofibrillary tangle accumulation and symptomatic profiles in Alzheimer’s disease. In summary, these findings provide a new impetus for studying the amygdala in Alzheimer’s disease and a unique perspective to guide further study on neurofibrillary tangle spreading and the occurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.
“Stronger Than I Thought I Was”: Older Adults’ Coping Across Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fuller Heather R , Huseth-Zosel Andrea , Kinkade Emily , Van Vleet Bryce , Hajdar Melisa
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, older adults developed coping strategies to adapt to the necessary social distancing precautions; however, over time, especially as vaccines became available, their need and ability to adapt and cope shifted. This longitudinal, mixed-methods study investigates changes in older adults’ perceptions of coping across the first 2 years of the pandemic.

Research Design and Methods

Between April 2020 and June 2022, 5 waves of interviews were conducted with 76 Midwestern older adults aged 70–97. At each timepoint, participants rated their level of perceived coping. They also answered a series of open-ended questions about their current daily life, experiences, and perceptions during the pandemic.

Results

Repeated-measure ANOVA indicated participants’ perceived coping significantly increased over 2 years and qualitative explanations contextualized these shifts. Thematic coding of interview transcripts identified themes of: (1) taking problem-focused approaches and (2) cultivating emotional resiliency, with multiple subthemes nested within each. Subtheme meanings shifted once vaccines were available, as participants adapted to a “new normal” lifestyle and appreciated their own resilience.

Discussion and Implications

Findings suggest older adults had nuanced and shifting coping experiences throughout the initial 2 years of the pandemic, but overall coped by drawing on life experiences. Our discussion highlights variability in older adults’ coping over time and directions for future study and practice.
Associations between tea-drinking habits and health-related quality of life in Chinese adults: a mediation analysis based on sleep quality
Authors: Tian Yong , Fan Lijun , Xue Hui , Zhao Xinyu , Zheng Ji , Sun Wancai , Yao Ming , Du Wei
Published: December 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the association between tea-drinking habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese adults and the mediating effect of sleep quality in this association.

Methods

Data were derived from the 2020 Survey of Social Factors for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control among adults in Lishui District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Tea-drinking habits were measured by participants’ self-report. The HRQoL was measured using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. Multiple linear regression modelling and mediating effects modelling were used for analyses.

Results

Habitual tea drinking, frequent tea drinking (drinking tea 6–7 days per week), tea concentration and <10 g of tea per day were strongly associated with an increase in HRQoL among Chinese adults (all p<0.05). The association between tea-drinking habits and HRQoL among Chinese adults was more pronounced in the male population and in those ≥45 y of age (all p<0.05). Tea drinking habits may improve HRQoL in Chinese adults by enhancing sleep quality (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Maintaining the habit of habitual tea drinking (6–7 days per week), in small amounts (<10 g tea per day) was conducive to improving HRQoL of Chinese adults by improving sleep quality.
The UDP-glucose/P2Y14 receptor axis promotes eosinophil-dependent large intestinal inflammation
Authors: Liu Li , Ito Takayoshi , Li Bo , Tani Haruka , Okuzaki Daisuke , Motooka Daisuke , Miyazaki Hazuki , Ogino Takayuki , Nakamura Shota , Takeda Kiyoshi , Kayama Hisako
Published: December 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disorder of the large intestine with inflammation and ulceration. The incidence and prevalence of UC have been rapidly increasing worldwide, but its etiology remains unknown. In patients with UC, the accumulation of eosinophils in the large intestinal mucosa is associated with increased disease activity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the promotion of intestinal eosinophilia in patients with UC remains poorly understood. Here, we show that uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose mediates the eosinophil-dependent promotion of colonic inflammation via the purinergic receptor P2Y14. The expression of P2RY14 mRNA was upregulated in the large intestinal mucosa of patients with UC. The P2Y14 receptor ligand UDP-glucose was increased in the large intestinal tissue of mice administered dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). In addition, P2ry14 deficiency and P2Y14 receptor blockade mitigated DSS-induced colitis. Among the large intestinal immune cells and epithelial cells, eosinophils highly expressed P2ry14 mRNA. P2ry14−/− mice transplanted with wild-type bone marrow eosinophils developed more severe DSS-induced colitis compared with P2ry14−/− mice that received P2ry14-deficient eosinophils. UDP-glucose prolonged the lifespan of eosinophils and promoted gene transcription in the cells through P2Y14 receptor-mediated activation of ERK1/2 signaling. Thus, the UDP-glucose/P2Y14 receptor axis aggravates large intestinal inflammation by accelerating the accumulation and activation of eosinophils.
Membrane vesicles derived from Enterococcus faecalis promote the co-transfer of important antibiotic resistance genes located on both plasmids and chromosomes
Authors: Zhao Mengyu , He Shuang , Wen Renqiao , Li Chao , Chen Xinggui , Lin Xiaolong , Wang Hongning , Tang Yizhi
Published: December 2023

Background

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are novel vehicles of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transfer in Gram-negative bacteria, but their role in the spread of ARGs in Gram-positive bacteria has not been defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of MVs in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods

A linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis CQ20 of swine origin was selected as the donor strain. Linezolid-susceptible E. faecalis SC032 of human origin, Enterococcus faecium BM4105 and Escherichia coli were selected as recipient strains. The presence of plasmids (pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2) and an optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 in CQ20, MVs and vesiculants was verified by WGS or PCR. MVs were isolated with density gradient centrifugation, and MV-mediated transformation was performed to assess the horizontal transferability of MVs. The MICs for CQ20 and its vesiculants were determined by the broth microdilution method.

Results

CQ20-derived MVs (CQ20-MV) were isolated, and PCR identified the presence of two plasmids and the optrA gene in the CQ20-MVs. MV-mediated transformation to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105 was successfully performed, and the WGS data also showed that both plasmids pCQ20-1 and pCQ20-2 and optrA-carrying transposon Tn6674 were transferred to E. faecalis SC032 and E. faecium BM4105, but failed for E. coli. Additionally, vesiculants that had acquired ARGs still had the ability to spread these genes via MVs.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first report of MV-mediated co-transfer of ARG-carrying plasmids and transposons in the Gram-positive bacterium E. faecium.
Comprehensive review of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma: epidemiology, diagnosis, molecular features and treatment
Authors: Ikezawa Kenji , Urabe Makiko , Kai Yugo , Takada Ryoji , Akita Hirofumi , Nagata Shigenori , Ohkawa Kazuyoshi
Published: December 2023

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma is a rare form (0.2–4.3%) of pancreatic neoplasm with unique clinical and molecular characteristics, which largely differ from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma occurs more frequently in males and can occur in children. Serum lipase is elevated in 24–58% of patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma. Pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas tend to be large at diagnosis (median tumour size: ~5 cm) and are frequently located in the pancreas head. Radiologically, pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma generally exhibits a solid appearance; however, necrosis, cystic changes and intratumoral haemorrhage can occur in larger lesions. Immunostaining is essential for the definitive diagnosis of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma. Compared with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma has a more favourable prognosis. Although radical surgery is recommended for patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma who do not have distant metastases, the recurrence rate is high. The effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma is unclear. The response to FOLFIRINOX is generally favourable, and some patients achieve a complete response. Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma has a different genomic profile compared with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although genomic analyses have shown that pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma rarely has KRAS, TP53 and CDKN2A mutations, it has a higher prevalence of homologous recombination-related genes, including BRCA1/2 and ATM, than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, suggesting high sensitivity to platinum-containing regimens and PARP inhibitors. Targeted therapies for genomic alternations are beneficial. Therefore, genetic testing is important for patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma to choose the optimal therapeutic strategy.
A case series of first rib resection patients assessed with a novel MRI protocol for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome
Authors: Whiley Phillip J , Tamhane Rohit , Hardman David T A
Published: December 2023

Selecting patients who will benefit from first rib resection for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS) is made difficult by the variety of overlap symptoms with other musculoskeletal, neurogenic and psychological disease. A single diagnostic test is not available, and the diagnosis is typically made based on clinical findings and history. This case series assessed the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the patient’s arm placed in a symptom provoking position above the head, as a component of diagnosis nTOS and selection of patients to offer surgery. Outcomes from first rib resection were assessed using the guidelines of The Society for Vascular Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The cases demonstrate that the loss of perineural fat signal on MRI of the brachial plexus with the arm in the provocative position is a useful tool for assessing patients who would benefit from first rib resection for nTOS.
Impact of Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Test in Patients With Meningitis or Encephalitis
Authors: Kitagawa Daisuke , Kitano Taito , Uchihara Yuto , Ando Takafusa , Nishikawa Hiroki , Suzuki Rika , Onaka Masayuki , Kasamatsu Takehito , Shiraishi Naoyuki , Takemoto Kiyoshi , Sekine Madoka , Suzuki Soma , Suzuki Yuki , Nakano Akiyo , Nakano Ryuichi , Yano Hisakazu , Yoshida Sayaka , Kawahara Makoto , Maeda Koichi , Nakamura Fumihiko
Published: December 2023

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis panel (FAME) on length of stay (LOS) and duration of antimicrobial treatment in children and adults in a Japanese community hospital.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Japan between January 2016 and December 2022. We included hospitalized patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and those aged <2 months or who had 5 or more white blood cells/μL in the CSF. To compare the days of therapy (DOT) and LOS between the pre-FAME and FAME periods, multivariate Poisson regression analyses were conducted without an offset term.

Results

The number of cases undergoing pathogen-specific polymerase chain reaction increased from 3.7% in the pre-FAME period to 57.5% in the FAME period (P < .001). The pathogen identification rate also increased during the FAME period, from 0.4% to 18.7% (P < .001). While the antibacterial DOT was not statistically different between the 2 periods (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 1.06 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.00–1.13]; P = .063]), the antiviral DOT was significantly shorter in the FAME period (aRR, 0.80 [95% CI, .71–.89]; P < .001).

Conclusions

This study revealed a significant reduction in antiviral use during the FAME period, whereas LOS and antibacterial use did not decrease. Given the possibility of factors (eg, the COVID-19 pandemic) affecting the epidemiology of meningitis and encephalitis, the indications and impact of the FAME test should be evaluated with continuous monitoring of the epidemiology of meningitis and encephalitis and its clinical impact.
How the Early Recorded Operatic Middlebrow Was Made
Authors: Henson Karen
Published: December 2023

The New Jersey-based Victor Talking Machine Company has been credited with producing one of the earliest examples of middlebrow culture when it took singers like Enrico Caruso, recorded two to three minutes of them performing opera, and circulated these recordings across the globe. This chapter draws on the sociology of technology to argue that Victor’s 1900s opera recordings were middlebrow in a more significant sense, for they were created by professionals and technologies that up to that point had had only limited contact, but whose negotiations over “high” and “low” would have a lasting influence on the classical music world.
Police Interviewing and Interrogation of Adolescent Suspects
Authors: Cleary Hayley M. D. , Crane Megan G.
Published: December 2023

Custodial police interrogations are high-stakes social interactions that can result in serious legal consequences for adolescent suspects. Psychological research on youths’ immature judgment and susceptibility to influence reveals specific developmental vulnerabilities in the interrogation room. This chapter reviews scientific evidence regarding adolescents’ Miranda rights comprehension, interrogative suggestibility, and propensity to comply with authority figures. It discusses case law and policy governing interrogation practices and the legal implications of adolescents’ Miranda waivers and confessions. The chapter highlights the experiences of youth suspects of color as an especially disadvantaged group. It integrates contemporary law and developmental research around three key issues—Miranda, parent involvement in interrogations, and police use of coercion—to explore the interplay between developmental science and the law in juvenile interrogations. Finally, the chapter discusses the importance of legislative and policing reforms, including mandatory recording of all custodial interrogations, mandatory assistance of legal counsel, and prohibition of deception with adolescent suspects.