bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of COVID-19 on the indigenous peoples related to air and road networks and habitat loss
Authors: Vitorino Luciana Cristina , de Souza Ueric José Borges , Oliveira Reis Mateus Neri , Bessa Layara Alexandre
Published: March 2022

The vegetation loss in the Brazil’s Legal Amazon (BLA) in 2020 corresponds to the highest loss observed in a decade, caused by the intensification of fires, mineral extraction activities, and other pressures. The possibility of earning from illegal activities such as deforestation and mining attracts the population to indigenous territories, while fires aggravate respiratory problems and enhance the current COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, the BLA’s road network is usually related to increased deforestation and fires in its areas of influence, and airports are known to contribute to spreading COVID-19 infections worldwide. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the effect of characteristics of Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs) (including population, number of airports, and extent of the road network) and vegetation loss rates (deforestation, and area of vegetation lost by fires and mining) on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among the indigenous population in DSEIs in the BLA. We observed a positive correlation between the number of cases and deaths and the number of Indigenous Primary Healthcare Units, suggesting that many of these units did not increase appropriate activities for prevention and protection from COVID-19 in the DSEIs. The DSEIs with larger air transport and road networks were more affected by COVID-19. These networks constituted critical mechanisms for facilitating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the BLA. Additionally, we noted that changes that impact the landscape of DSEIs, such as fires and mining, also impact legal indigenous areas (IAs). Thus, IAs are not spared from exploratory processes in the district’s landscape. Models that associate the air transport and road networks with the transformation of the landscape in IAs from burning or mining can explain the number of indigenous people who died due to COVID-19. These results are particularly important given the current disruptive scenario imposed by the Brazilian government on critical institutions that detect and fight fires in indigenous lands and the policies enacted to combat COVID-19 in Brazil, which are based on denying isolation measures and delaying vaccinations.
A symbiotic gut bacterium enhances Aedes albopictus resistance to insecticide
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Liu Hongmei , Peng Hui , Wang Yang , Zhang Chongxing , Guo Xiuxia , Wang Haifang , Liu Lijuan , Lv Wenxiang , Cheng Peng , Gong Maoqing
Published: March 2022

Background

The increasing insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus puts many countries in Asia and Africa, including China, at great risk of a mosquito-borne virus epidemic. To date, a growing number of researches have focused on the relationship between intestinal symbiotic bacteria and their hosts’ resistance to insecticides. This provides a novel aspect to the study of resistant mechanisms.

Methods/Findings

This study reveals significant composition and dynamic changes in the intestinal symbiotic bacteria of Ae. albopictus between the resistant and susceptible strains based on full-length sequencing technology. The relative abundance of Serratia oryzae was significantly higher in the resistance strain than in the susceptible strains; also, the relative abundance of S. oryzae was significantly higher in deltamethrin-induced Ae. albopictus than in their counterpart. These suggested that S. oryzae may be involved in the development of insecticide resistance in Ae. albopictus. To explore the insecticide resistance mechanism, adult mosquitoes were fed with GFP-tagged S. oryzae, which resulted in stable bacterial enrichment in the mosquito gut without affecting the normal physiology, longevity, oviposition, and hatching rates of the host. The resistance measurements were made based on bioassays as per the WHO guidelines. The results showed that the survival rate of S. oryzae-enriched Ae. albopictus was significantly higher than the untreated mosquitoes, indicating the enhanced resistance of S. oryzae-enriched Ae. albopictus. Also, the activities of three metabolic detoxification enzymes in S. oryzae-enriched mosquitoes were increased to varying degrees. Meanwhile, the activity of extracellular enzymes released by S. oryzae was measured, but only carboxylesterase activity was detected. HPLC and UHPLC were respectively used to measure deltamethrin residue concentration and metabolite qualitative analysis, showing that the deltamethrin degradation efficiency of S. oryzae was positively correlated with time and bacterial amount. Deltamethrin was broken down into 1-Oleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-PE and 2’,2’-Dibromo-2’-deoxyguanosine. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 9 cytochrome P450s, 8 GSTs and 7 CarEs genes were significantly upregulated.

Conclusions

S. oryzae can be accumulated into adult Ae. albopictus by artificial feeding, which enhances deltamethrin resistance by inducing the metabolic detoxification genes and autocrine metabolic enzymes. S. oryzae is vertically transmitted in Ae. albopictus population. Importantly, S. oryzae can degrade deltamethrin in vitro, and use deltamethrin as the sole carbon source for their growths. Therefore, in the future, S. oryzae may also be commercially used to break down the residual insecticides in the farmland and lakes to protect the environment.
A qualitative study of reinforcement workers’ perceptions and experiences of working in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A PsyCOVID-ICU substudy
Authors: Perraud Florian , Ecarnot Fiona , Loiseau Mélanie , Laurent Alexandra , Fournier Alicia , Lheureux Florent , Binquet Christine , Rigaud Jean-Philippe , Meunier-Beillard Nicolas , Quenot Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2022

Purpose

During the COVID pandemic, many hospitals had to mobilize reinforcement healthcare workers, especially in intensive care (ICUs). We investigated the perceptions and experiences of reinforcement workers deployed to ICUs, and the impact of deployment on their personal and professional lives.

Methods

For this qualitative study, a random sample of 30 reinforcement workers was drawn from 4 centres participating in the larger PsyCOVID-ICU study. Individual semi-structured interviews were held, recorded, transcribed and analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results

Thirty interviews were performed from April to May 2021 (22 nurses, 2 anesthesiology nurses, 6 nurses’ aides). Average age was 36.8±9.5 years; 7 participants had no ICU experience. Four major themes emerged, namely: (1) Difficulties with integration, especially for those with no ICU experience; (2) lack of training; (3) difficulties with management, notably a feeling of insufficient communication; (4) Mental distress relating to the unusual work and fear of contaminating their entourage.

Conclusion

Healthcare workers deployed as reinforcements to ICUs at the height of the pandemic had a unique experience of the crisis, and identified important gaps in organisation and preparation. They also suffered from a marked lack of training, given the stakes in the management of critically ill patients in the ICU.
Comparative safety and efficacy of low- or moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe combination therapy and high-intensity statin monotherapy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Authors: Ah Young-Mi , Jeong Minseob , Choi Hye Duck
Published: March 2022

Statin is highly recommended for dyslipidemia to prevent atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases and death. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacies and safeties of low/moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe combination therapy vs. high-intensity statin monotherapy. Meta-analysis was conducted on data included in published studies performed to compare the effects of the two treatments on lipid parameters and hs-CRP. Safety-related parameters were also evaluated. Eighteen articles were included in the meta-analysis. In terms of efficacy, low/moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe reduced LDL-C (SE = 0.307; 95% CI 0.153–0.463), TC (SE = 0.217; 95% CI 0.098–0.337), triglyceride (SE = 0.307; 95% CI 0.153–0.463), and hs-CRP (SE = 0.190; 95% CI 0.018–0.362) significantly more than high-intensity statin therapy. In terms of safety, the two treatments were not significantly different in terms of ALT elevation, but high-intensity statin increased AST and CK significantly more than combination therapy. This analysis indicates that low/moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe combined therapy is more effective and safer than high-intensity statin monotherapy, which suggests the addition of ezetimibe to statin should be preferred over increasing statin dose and that high-intensity statin should be used more carefully, especially in patients with related risks.
The influence of high-speed rails on urban innovation and the underlying mechanism
Authors: Lu Yue , Yang Siying , Li Jian
Published: March 2022

Innovation is intrinsically dependent on the construction of local infrastructure. Using panel data on 285 cities in China, we empirically examined the impact of high-speed rails on urban innovation and the mechanism underlying this effect. We found that high-speed rails significantly increase urban innovation. In our analysis, high-speed rails were found to increase the agglomeration of innovation factors, including population and investment, which in turn increase urban technological innovation. The agglomeration of investment factors brought about by high-speed rails is the main source of the improvement in urban innovation. Through the use of a spatial panel model, we found that high-speed rails promote knowledge dissemination and technology spillovers among the cities along high-speed railways, thus improving their innovation levels. However, the existing effects of high-speed rails on innovation exhibit spatial heterogeneity. We confirmed the effect of high-speed rails on innovation and explored the mechanism underlying this effect by considering the effects of factor agglomeration and knowledge spillovers. Our conclusions can be used as a resource by policymakers to stimulate knowledge and technology diffusion, which in turn cultivates and stimulates urban innovation.
Açai supplementation (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) attenuates cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats through different mechanistic pathways
Authors: Figueiredo Amanda Menezes , Cardoso Ana Carolina , Pereira Bruna Leticia Buzati , Silva Renata Aparecida Candido , Ripa Andrea Freitas Goncalves Della , Pinelli Tatiana Fernanda Bachiega , Oliveira Bruna Camargo , Rafacho Bruna Paola Murino , Ishikawa Larissa Lumi Watanabe , Azevedo Paula Schmidt , Okoshi Katashi , Fernandes Ana Angelica Henrique , Zornoff Leonardo Antonio Mamede , Minicucci Marcos Ferreira , Polegato Bertha Furlan , Paiva Sergio Alberto Rupp
Published: March 2022

Myocardial infarction has a high mortality rate worldwide. Therefore, clinical intervention in cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction is essential. Açai pulp is a natural product and has been considered a functional food because of its antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of açai pulp supplementation on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats. After 7 days of surgery, male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: sham animals fed standard chow (SA0, n = 14), fed standard chow with 2% açai pulp (SA2, n = 12) and fed standard chow with 5% açai pulp (SA5, n = 14), infarcted animals fed standard chow (IA0, n = 12), fed standard chow with 2% açai pulp (IA2, n = 12), and fed standard chow with 5% açai pulp (IA5, n = 12). After 3 months of supplementation, echocardiography and euthanasia were performed. Açai pulp supplementation, after myocardial infarction, improved energy metabolism, attenuated oxidative stress (lower concentration of malondialdehyde, P = 0.023; dose-dependent effect), modulated the inflammatory process (lower concentration of interleukin-10, P<0.001; dose-dependent effect) and decreased the deposit of collagen (lower percentage of interstitial collagen fraction, P<0.001; dose-dependent effect). In conclusion, açai pulp supplementation attenuated cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats. Also, different doses of açai pulp supplementation have dose-dependent effects on cardiac remodeling.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of alcohol handrub for the prevention of neonatal bloodstream infections: Evidence from HAI-Ghana study
Authors: Fenny Ama Pokuaa , Otieku Evans , Labi Kwaku Appiah-Korang , Asante Felix Ankomah , Enemark Ulrika
Published: March 2022

Published evidence of the cost-effectiveness of alcohol-based handrub (ABH) for the prevention of neonatal bloodstream infections (BSI) is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a multimodal hand hygiene involving alcohol-based hand rub (ABH) for the prevention of neonatal BSI in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting in Ghana using data from HAI-Ghana study. Design was a before and after intervention study using economic evaluation model to assess the cost-effectiveness of a multimodal hand hygiene strategy involving alcohol-based hand rub plus soap and water compared to existing practice of using only soap and water. We measured effect and cost by subtracting outcomes without the intervention from outcomes with the intervention. The primary outcome measure is the number of neonatal BSI episode averted with the intervention and the consequent cost savings from patient and provider perspectives. The before and after intervention studies lasted four months each, spanning October 2017 to January 2018 and December 2018 to March 2019, respectively. The analysis shows that the ABH program was effective in reducing patient cost of neonatal BSI by 41.7% and BSI-attributable hospital cost by 48.5%. Further, neonatal BSI-attributable deaths and extra length of hospital stay (LOS) decreased by 73% and 50% respectively. Also, the post-intervention assessment revealed the ABH program contributed to 16% decline in the incidence of neonatal BSI at the NICU. The intervention is a simple and adaptable strategy with cost-saving potential when carefully scaled up across the country. Though the cost of the intervention may be more relative to using just soap and water for hand hygiene, the outcome is a good reason for investment into the intervention to reduce the incidence of neonatal BSI and the associated costs from patient and providers’ perspectives.
Differences in neuroinvasion and protective innate immune pathways between encephalitic California Serogroup orthobunyaviruses
Authors: Evans Alyssa B. , Winkler Clayton W. , Peterson Karin E.
Published: March 2022

The California serogroup (CSG) of Orthobunyaviruses comprises several members capable of causing neuroinvasive disease in humans, including La Crosse orthobunyavirus (LACV), Jamestown Canyon orthobunyavirus (JCV), and Inkoo orthobunyavirus (INKV). Despite being genetically and serologically closely related, their disease incidences and pathogenesis in humans and mice differ. We have previously shown that following intraperitoneal inoculation of weanling mice, LACV was highly pathogenic while JCV and INKV were not. To determine why there were differences, we examined the ability of these viruses to invade the CNS and compared the host innate immune responses that regulated viral pathogenesis. We found that LACV was always neuroinvasive, which correlated with its high level of neuroinvasive disease. Interestingly, JCV was not neuroinvasive in any mice, while INKV was neuroinvasive in most mice. The type I interferon (IFN) response was critical for protecting mice from both JCV and INKV disease, although in the periphery JCV induced little IFN expression, while INKV induced high IFN expression. Despite their differing neuroinvasive abilities, JCV and INKV shared innate signaling components required for protection. The presence of either cytoplasmic Rig-I-Like Receptor signaling or endosomal Toll-Like Receptor signaling was sufficient to protect mice from JCV or INKV, however, inhibition of both pathways rendered mice highly susceptible to neurological disease. Comparison of IFN and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) responses to INKV in the brains of resistant wild type (WT) mice and susceptible immune knockout mice showed similar IFN responses in the brain, but WT mice had higher ISG responses, suggesting induction of key ISGs in the brain is critical for protection of mice from INKV. Overall, these results show that the CSG viruses differ in neuroinvasiveness, which can be independent from their neuropathogenicity. The type I IFN response was crucial for protecting mice from CSG virus-induced neurological disease, however, the exact correlates of protection appear to vary between CSG viruses.
“Where does it go?”: Perceptions and problems of riverine and marine litter amongst South Africa and Malawi’s urban poor
Authors: Kalina Marc , Kwangulero Jonathan , Ali Fathima , Abera Yared Getachew , Tilley Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

With the world’s oceans in crisis, citizen knowledge and awareness around riverine and marine waste has become an increasingly crucial topic of study. For most investigations, spatial analysis has centered on the coastline, or most specifically the beach, i.e., the space where most respondents (urban, Northern, middle class), encounter marine litter. Yet, by focusing onthe beachas the primary space of analysis, most studies have severely limited the scope of citizens they can engage, because in many African cities it is a space of exclusion. Moreover, for individuals further upstream, in spaces distant from the coast, what are their understandings of riverine and marine litter? What is their knowledge of the hydrological systems standing between them and the sea, and how do they see their ability to influence them? Drawing on extensive qualitative fieldwork in low-income, riverine adjacent communities in Durban, South Africa, and Blantyre, Malawi, the purpose of this article is to understand how Africa’s urban poor experience and understand riverine and marine litter. The study utilises Foucault’s notion of problematisations, and more recent adaptations of Foucault’s work toward waste as a lens to conceptualise processes of problem formation: how individual respondents view riverine and marine litter as aproblem. Findings suggest that problematisations around waste, in the community and in the hydrological system, are formed through daily experience and personal hardship; in the case of Blantyre, through the perceived impact waste can have on hydroelectricity generation, and in Johanna Road, by its contribution to flooding within the community. However, understandings of the marine environment and respondents’ impact on the hydrological system, remain limited. Recommendations include rooting education and messaging around riverine and marine litter within low-income individuals’ lived realities. However, any interventions targeted towards the poormustbe accompanied by broader systemic change: improving access to solid waste management services and creating cleaner and more equitable communities.
Comorbidities and COVID-19 severity in pediatric patients: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Widjanarko Mas Wishnuwardhana , Nindya Mutiara , Fernandez Glenn , Jovito Axel
Published: March 2022

Background COVID-19 has spread around the world. Although symptoms in children are often mild, children remain at risk of developing severe or critical forms of COVID-19, especially those with underlying or comorbid medical conditions.

Objective To evaluate the association between comorbidities and severity of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

Methods A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We used PubMed and Google Scholar to locate observational studies that involved children with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 with comorbidities and compared them with controls without comorbidities. Studies must also involve children with severe COVID-19 and provide the risk of severe COVID-19 in children with and without comorbidities as outcome. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) of severe COVID-19 in children with vs. without comorbidities.

Results We included 41 observational studies with a total of 285,828 pediatric COVID-19 patients, comprising 9,754 patients with comorbidities and 276,074 controls. The comorbidities indentified included obesity, congenital malformations, neurological disease, and genetic syndromes. Children with comorbidities had a significantly higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 compared to those without (pooled OR 4.07; 95%CI 2.31 to 7.19; P<0.00001).

Conclusion The presence of comorbidities increases the risk of severe COVID-19 in children.
Continuing Medical Education Questions: March 2022
Authors: Han Andrew J.
Published: March 2022

Article Title: Pregnancies With Cirrhosis Are Rising and Associated With Adverse Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes
Potential of Open Source Remote Sensing Data for Improved Spatiotemporal Monitoring of Inland Water Quality in India: Case Study of Gujarat
Authors: Singh Neetu , Nalgire Shivanand Mallikarjun , Gupta Meeta , Chinnasamy Pennan
Published: March 2022

Unison of in situ data with satellite remote sensing data has been widely used for water body quality monitoring; however, the developed synergized model is unique and thus needs to be recalibrated and revalidated before applying to other water bodies. In some Indian locations, water
quality monitoring is conducted only once a year due to associated costs and time. To aid such instances, in this study, stepwise linear regression models were developed using in situ (annual) and Landsat 7 (biweekly) remote sensing data and validated for two inland water bodies (Sursagar
and Nalsarovar lakes) in Gujarat state for dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, pH, and nitrate. Results indicated that all models showed good to excellent performance metrics based on an r value (p < 0.01) ranging from 0.86 to 0.98 and 0.72 to 0.99 for
Sursagar and Nalsarovar lakes, respectively. All models had root mean square errors less than 0.5, and residual predictive deviations greater than 2, which depicted good predictability. The models were able to increase the water quality assessment from annual resolution to biweekly resolution
and provided insights on the dynamics of water quality parameters, improved understanding on key drivers for the change, and identified peak pollution leading to unfit conditions for domestic or agricultural consumption.
THE INFLUENCE OF GADGETS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND SOLUTIONS FOR PARENTS BASED ON THE THEORY OF PERENIALISM
Authors: Shelly Alvareza Zazkia  , Fatonah Siti
Published: March 2022

Perennialism is a learning theory that maintains the purity of traditional teachings, and rejects modernization that rejects human life. Gadgets are products resulting from the modernization that is happening at this time. In fact, Gadgets were created to make it easier for humans to communicate between each other, but the fact is that technological advances are still being misused by some groups of people, so that they can have quite a fatal impact on these users. This research method is descriptive qualitative. This type of research is literature or literature research. Literature research is a type of research that collects data sources based on reference materials such as books, journals, articles and other scientific works. The results of this study indicate that gadgets are not a basic requirement for elementary school children, and intense supervision from parents is also needed on this problem.

Keyword: Perennialism, Gadget, Primary School Children
The Impact of Junction Metering for Improving Intersection Performance using Vissim Software
Authors: Budiharjo Anton , Rusmandani Pipit , Inggriani Keke , Maulyda Mohammad Archi
Published: March 2022

Sight distance that’s not suitable with the standard, the queue time and the low awareness of vehicle users to give priority to other road users is the reasons for the hampered of traffic movements and reducing the use of intersections. The majority of vehicles for or on minor road use the opponent’s lane because there are no markers, this causes conflict crossing and merging.  The researchers conducted study of Junction Metering which consisted of control and sensor settings to improve safety for road users. The method that used for analysis of intersection performance using calculation by software Vissim Full Version and Gap Raff and Hunt. Data collected in this study consisted of four aspects, (1) inventory of intersections; (2) traffic volume; (3) traffic speed; and (4) timelapse. Then alternative junction metering carried out with existing condition. Variable of comparison are level of service, queue length and vehicle delay. The Effectiveness alternative treatment using junction metering can reduce the queue length by 75% and vehicle delay by 17% with the average level of service is A.
Analysis of Sedimentation Quantity and Its Handling in the Downstream of Tukad Unda Klungkung using Hec-GeoRAS
Authors: Hidayati Anissa Maria , Yekti Mawiti Infantri , Sujana Gede Fajar Eka Aditya
Published: March 2022

The river is one part of the water resources infrastructure, in addition to drive the water, river is often transporting sediment. Sediment is the result of erosion and is part of problems in the river. Unda watershed having their regional coverage is quite wide, so that erosion that causes to the passage of it is estimated that sedimentation large enough. This research analyze the total weight of the sediment that is settles on the downstream Tukad Unda and compare the analysis of sedimentation between USLE method and sedimentation method in HEC-RAS by supporting ArcGIS and HEC-GeoRAS so that can describing the shape of look over profile of to scatter the sediment that was formed, as well as the efforts to overcome the problems.  The data used in the form of watershed area, soil type, rain and river flow. Furthermore, the method used is Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), the application of HEC-GeoRAS and ArcGIS. The results showed the average erosion that occurred in the last 10 years amounted to 30.57 tons/ha/year, then the results of the HEC-GeoRAS analysis showed that the river bed profile changes experienced a significant silting of 2,365 m3 using the application and 2,654 m3 with USLE method. Countermeasures can be done by normalizing the riverbed with regular dredging at the stationing point UD 64-60 then at the stationing point UD 55-57 and at stationing UD 45-41 in accordance with the analysis results obtained through the HEC-GeoRAS application.
Wonogiri reservoir operation pattern after the construction of new spillway for flood control
Authors: Wijayanti Paska , Istiarto Istiarto , Jayadi Rachmad
Published: March 2022

Wonogiri reservoir in upstream Bengawan Solo experienced sedimentation problems that endanger its operation. Much of sediments come from Keduang watershed. To overcome this problem, closure dike was constructed to localize the sediment from Keduang watershed. The dike divides the reservoir into main and sediment storage reservoirs, each has its spillway. This paper presents results of the study on Wonogiri Reservoir operation during flood period after dike construction. The study followed a two-step calculation. It updated the design flood by employing rainfall data frequency analysis and Collins unit hydrograph. Flood routing was subsequently done by applying level pool method. Two conditions were considered, namely existing condition whose initial water level was +135.3 meters and new condition whose initial water level was +136.3 meters. The study reveals an increase of the flood discharge to Wonogiri reservoir by 7.7% and 3.6% for the 60 year and 500 year floods, respectively, as compared to the previous study of Pradipta (2014). The study shows that Wonogiri reservoir is prone to overtopping under 500 year flood. It is recommended to lower the control water level of the new spillway.
Determination of Fatigue Life and Failure Location of Vehicle Cylindrical LPG Fuel Tanks
Authors: Kartal F. , Kişioğlu Y.
Published: March 2022

This study addresses the determination of the fatigue life and its failure locations of the vehicle cylindrical LPG fuel tanks using both experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) methods. The experimental investigations performed as an accelerated fatigue tests are carried out using a hydraulics test unit in which the cylinders are internally pressurized by hydraulic oil. The LPG cylinders are subjected to repeated cyclic pressure varying from zero to service pressure of the tank. The FEA modeling of these tanks are developed in three dimensional (3D) using non-uniform geometrical parameters and nonlinear material properties. These models are also subjected to zero-based high cycle fatigue pressure load considering the stress life approach. The FEA modeling process is also simulated in non-homogeneous material conditions. Therefore, the fatigue life performance and failure location of the cylindrical LPG fuel tanks are predicted and compared to the experimental results.
Kurz und lang, Spreu und Weizen, Arsch und Mond – Volcnant und Walther
Authors: Herweg Mathias
Published: March 2022

Walther’s von der Vogelweide aggressive stanza against an, otherwise unknown, Volcnant or Wîcman (L 17,25) opens up the lasting tradition of artistic polemics and ›peer-bashing‹ in German Sangspruchdichtung. Henceforth, the agonal rivalry between artists becomes the favourite field of a particularly harsh polemic.

The article examines the pioneer’s text with regard to the split (or doubled) role of the singer who adopts two grammatical persons (which seems also to be crucial for Walther’s disputed authorship), to the metaphorical structure and to the discursive as well as generic references of the text. The singer in the text is boasting himself by constructing and simultaneously destructing an aggressively ridiculed counterpart. This, however, is not to be understood in biographical terms, but in genuinely poetological and professional ones: Walther claims his unsurpassed competence (meisterschaft) in all registers and varieties of an art that ranges far from well-tempered courtesy up to the most exquisite scolding. Scharpfer sanc is not an antithesis but a subset of courtly art and poetry.
The Health and Retirement Study: Contextual Data Augmentation
Authors: Dick Christopher
Published: March 2022

The Health and Retirement Study is an amazing resource for those studying aging in the United States, and a fantastic model for other countries who have created similar longitudinal studies. The raw amount of information, from data on income, wealth, and use of health services to employment, retirement, and family connections on to the collection of clinical biomarkers can be both empowering and overwhelming to a researcher. Luckily through the process of engagement with the research community and constant improvement, these reams of data are not only consistently growing in a thoughtful and focused direction, they are also explained and summarized to increase the ease of use for all. One of the very useful areas of the HRS is the Contextual Data File (CDF), which is the focus of this review. The CDF provides access to easy-to-use helpful community-level data in a secure environment that has allowed researchers to answer questions that would have otherwise been difficult or impossible to tackle. The current CDF includes data in six categories (University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. 2017. HRS Data Book: The Health and Retirement Study: Aging in the 21st Century, Challenges and Opportunities for Americans. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan. Also available at https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/about/data-book, 17): 1. Socio-economic Status and Demographic Structure 2. Psychosocial Stressors 3. Health Care 4. Physical Hazards 5. Amenities 6. Land Use and the Built Environment. Each of these areas have allowed researchers to answer interesting questions such as what is the impact of air pollution on cognition in older adults (Ailshire, J., and K. M. Walsemann. 2021. “Education Differences in the Adverse Impact of PM 2.5 on Incident Cognitive Impairment Among U.S. Older Adults.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 79 (2): 615–25), the impact of neighborhood characteristics on obesity in older adults (Grafova, I. B., V. A. Freedman, R. Kumar, and J. Rogowski. 2008. “Neighborhoods and Obesity in Later Life.” American Journal of Public Health 98: 2065–71), or even what do we gain from introducing contextual data to a survey analysis (Wilkinson, L. R., K. F. Ferraro, and B. R. Kemp. 2017. “Contextualization of Survey Data: What Do We Gain and Does it Matter?” Research in Human Development 14 (3): 234–52)? My review focuses on the potential to expand contextual data in a few of these areas. From new data sets developed and released by the U.S. Census Bureau, to improved measurements of climate and environmental risk, there are numerous new data sources that would be a boon to the research community if they were joined together with the HRS. The following section begins by breaking down the opportunity provided by community or place-based data before moving on to specific recommendations for new data that could be included in the HRS contextual data file.
Co-immobilization of glucose oxidase and catalase in porous magnetic chitosan microspheres for production of sodium gluconate
Authors: Liu Youcai , Zou Pengpeng , Huang Juan , Cai Jun
Published: March 2022

In the process of immobilizing the enzyme, the overflow of enzyme and the decrease of enzyme activity are very serious. In order to improve the stable binding between enzyme and carrier, a kind of porous magnetic chitosan microsphere with appropriate pore size was successfully prepared by adjusting the size of pore-forming agent in this paper. The rough porous structure is favorable for the adsorption of enzyme and the catalytic action of enzyme on substrate. The results showed that when the pore size of the microspheres was at 790.15 ± 250.91 nm, the protein loading and enzyme activity of GOD could be increased effectively, which could reach 58.28 ± 2.64 mg/g and 16.93 ± 0.14 U, respectively. The co-immobilization of CAT and GOD eliminated the harmful by-product H2O2 in time and effectively solved the problem of continuous deactivation of GOD in the reaction process. When the mass ratio of PMCSM/GOD/CAT was 100/6.02/10.96 (mg/mg/mg), the relative enzyme activity of GOD reached the highest (133.32 ± 0.68%). The thermal stability and pH stability of the enzyme were greatly improved after co-immobilization. The relative enzyme activity of PMCSM@GOD@CAT was 57.27 ± 3.04% at 60 °C, while that of free GOD was only 28.76 ± 4.10%. The relative enzyme activity of PMCSM@GOD@CAT was above 63% at pH 5–10, while the relative enzyme activity of free GOD was only 4.98 ± 0.72% at pH 10. The yield of sodium gluconate from 50 mL 250 mg/mL glucose catalyzed by PMCSM@GOD@CAT loading 60.2 mg GOD was 96.19 ± 0.79% at pH 6.0 and 30 °C, and the reaction lasted 6 h. The relative enzyme activity of PMCSM@GOD@CAT remained 69.77 ± 0.78% after repeated use for 10 times. After 30 days of storage, PMCSM@GOD@CAT maintained its initial activity of 76.52 ± 1.41%. The immobilized process studied in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the production of sodium gluconate by double enzyme directly catalyzing and lays a certain foundation for the application of immobilized enzyme in the future chemical industry and food industry.
Estimation of the viscosity for Ag–In and In–Sb liquid alloys using different models
Authors: Živković Dragana
Published: March 2022

The results of the estimation of the viscosity for Ag – In and In–Sb liquid alloys are presented in this paper. Different theoretical models for viscosity determination, according to the Moelwyn–Hughes, Iida –Ueda –Morita, Kozlov– Romanov– Petrov, Hirai, Seetharaman – DuSichen and Kaptay, have been applied in the process of viscosity calculation at different temperatures – for the Ag– In alloys in the range 1073 – 1273 K and for the In–Sb alloys in the range 873 – 1073 K. The results for both systems, obtained using different models, were compared mutually and with available literature experimental data. The models, mostly capable to predict appropriate viscosity data for investigated binary systems, were defined.
Atomic migration and ordering phenomena in bulk and thin films of FePd and FePt
Authors: Kozubski Rafal , Issro Chaisak , Zapała Kinga , Kozłowski Mirosław , Rennhofer Marcus , Partyka Ewa , Pierron-Bohnes Véronique , Pfeiler Wolfgang
Published: March 2022

“Order – order” kinetics was studied by means of “in situ” and quasi-residual (REST) resistometry in bulk and thin films of L10-ordered FePd and FePt intermetallics. Substantial effect of magnetic ordering on the activation energy for chemical ordering was revealed in FePd. A discontinuous change of ordering dynamics was detected in FePt between 800 and 830 K. The results are consistent with the data of Fe* diffusion in FePt multilayer examined by means of nuclear resonant scattering in grazing-incidence geometry (GINRS). Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of “order –order” processes in L10-ordered bulk FePd and FePt and nano-layered FePt have been carried out using Glauber dynamics with vacancy mechanism of atomic jumps. Multi-timescale “order – order” relaxations observed in the bulk were predominated in nanolayers by a reorientation of the initial z-variant L10 superstructure into a mixture of x- and y-variants.
Microstructure and mechanical behavior of Pt-modified NiAl diffusion coatings
Authors: Riethmueller J. , Dehm G. , Affeldt E. E. , Arzt E.
Published: March 2022

The performance of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in jet engines is strongly influenced by thermal and mechanical properties of the bond coat. In this investigation two different types of Pt-modified diffusion coatings developed for application as oxidation protection or as a bond coat in TBC systems were studied with respect to their microstructure and mechanical properties. The microstructural analyses based on different microscopy techniques and X-ray diffraction measurements revealed distinct differences between the two coatings: the coating aluminized by a gas phase process consisted solely of a (NiPt)Al phase, while the coating fabricated by pack-cementation consisted mainly of the two phases (NiPt)Al and Al2Pt, leading to a higher strength in comparison with the single-phase coating. In contrast, the ductility determined with 3-point bend tests between room temperature and 700 °C was clearly better for the single-phase coating. Additionally, the substrate curvature of coated sheets was measured to gain some information about coating stresses.
Phase transformations of iron nitrides at low temperatures (< 700 K) – application of mechanical mixtures of powders of nitrides and iron
Authors: Leineweber Andreas , Aufrecht Jochen , Mittemeijer Eric Jan
Published: March 2022

Annealing at low temperatures (T < 670 K) of mixtures of iron nitride powders and iron powder is shown to induce phase transformations through nitrogen transfer between different powder particles. This nitrogen transfer occurs via loose mechanical contact points between different powder particles; nitrogen transport via the gas phase can be excluded. Unique scientific possibilities offered by this type of phase transformation studies are discussed.
Aqueous solution deposition of indium hydroxide and indium oxide columnar type thin films
Authors: Qiu Yu , Gerstel Peter , Jiang Linqin , Lipowsky Peter , Bauermann Luciana Pitta , Bill Joachim
Published: March 2022

Crystalline In(OH)3 and UV-emitting In2O3 thin films with a unique columnar morphology have been successfully prepared for the first time via a simple aqueous solution deposition method. In the present study, sulfonate-terminated self-assembled monolayers on single-crystal Si wafers were used as substrates for the film deposition. Uniform In(OH)3 thin films formed on self-assembled monolayers in aqueous solutions of InCl3 · 4H2O at 60°C. These films, containing columnar In(OH)3 crystals, showed preferential growth orientation along the [100] direction. The current understanding of the film formation mechanism was discussed. After annealing in air at 400 °C, these films were converted to nanocrystalline In2O3 films without modification of the morphology. Photoluminescence emission from In2O3 films was reported at approximately 3.4 eV, which was ascribed to the near-band-edge emission.
Nanoindentation creep and stress relaxation tests of polycarbonate: Analysis of viscoelastic properties by different rheological models
Authors: Schiffmann Kirsten Ingolf
Published: March 2022

Feedback-controlled nanoindentation with a Berkovich diamond tip has been used to perform creep and stress relaxation tests on polycarbonate at room temperature for a wide range of loads (10 – 30000 μN) and indentation depths (30 – 3000 nm). The creep compliance J(t) and relaxation modulus G(t) have been calculated from experimental data as a function of time in the range t = 0.1 – 100 (1000) s. The data are analysed by different rheological models which are compared: (1) the Burgers model, (2) the generalised Maxwell/generalised Kelvin model, and two empirical approaches: (3) a logarithmic model, and (4) a power law model. The Burgers model gives a poor description of the material behaviour since it assumes a steady-state flow of material which is not observed in the experimental time range. The generalised models yield a set of discrete relaxation- and retardation time constants. It is shown that these time constants do not correlate with specific molecular moving processes in the polymer, but are only one of several possible parameterisations of the creep and relaxation curves. Numerical differentiation of G(t) and J(t) shows that polycarbonate has continuous relaxation- and retardation time spectra, respectively, and the dynamic viscosity η(t) of the material increases linearly with time. The behaviour of polycarbonate is best represented by the empirical power law model, which allows optimum fit of creep/relaxation curves, relaxation and retardation time spectra and time-dependent viscosity.
Multiwall carbon nanotubes-based composites – mechanical characterization using the nanoindentation technique
Authors: Olek M. , Kempa K. , Giersig M.
Published: March 2022

We report on mechanical properties of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-polymer composites using the nanoindentation technique. The nanoindentation experiments conducted on thin films containing MWNTs revealed that the presence of nanotubes does not affect the nanomechanical properties of the composites. Even a layer-by-layer assembly of MWNTs with a high concentration and a homogeneous distribution of carbon nanotubes does not ensure reinforcement of the composites. For that reason, we synthesized and utilized carbon nanotubes with a silica shell. Nanohardness and Young’s modulus have been found to increase strongly with increasing content of these nanotubes in the polymer matrix. The silica shell on the surface of a nanotube enhances its stiffness and rigidity. Our composites, at 4 wt.% of the silica-coated MWNTs, display a maximum hardness of 120 ± 20 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 9 ± 1 GPa. These are, respectively, 2 and 3 times higher than those for the polymeric matrix.
Thermodynamics of high-temperature cuprous sulfide
Authors: Arita Minoru
Published: March 2022

Published measurements of the diatomic sulfur fugacity were used to make a thermodynamic analysis of high-temperature cuprous sulfide between 789 K and 1321 K. Gibbs–Duhem integration of the fugacity data was used to determine the enthalpy of formation of stoichiometric Cu2S as – 123.8 kJ mol–1. Statistical thermodynamics was applied to find partition functions, interaction energies, and free energies to characterize the configurational aspects of the phase. Theoretical calculations indicated that Cu vacancies might be localized in one half of the Cu lattice sites under quasi-chemical equilibrium.
Thermodynamic modeling of the sodium alanates and the Na–Al–H system
Authors: Qiu Caian , Opalka Susanne M. , Olson Gregory B. , Anton Donald L.
Published: March 2022

The thermodynamic properties of the Al –Na and Na–Al – H systems have been assessed by combining the “calculation of phase diagram” approach with first-principles predictions. The Gibbs energies of the individual phases were thermodynamically modeled, where the model parameters were obtained from best fit optimizations to combined experimental and first-principles predicted finite temperature data. The first-principles thermodynamic predictions were based upon density functional theory ground state minimizations and direct method lattice dynamics. The predictions proved to be important adjuncts to the assessments whenever experimental measurements were lacking or not feasible. It was shown that the phase stability conditions of sodium alanates, NaAlH4 and Na3AlH6, were well described with the present models.
Density and excess volumes of liquid copper, cobalt, iron and their binary and ternary alloys
Authors: Brillo Jürgen , Egry Ivan , Matsushita Taishi
Published: March 2022

The densities of liquid copper, cobalt, and iron, their binary and ternary alloys have been measured over a temperature range including the undercooled regime. A non-contact technique was used, consisting of electromagnetic levitation combined with optical dilatometry.

For all samples, the density was a linear function of temperature. The concentration dependence was studied by means of the excess volume which was negligible for Co– Fe and positive for Cu– Fe, Cu– Co, and Cu–Co – Fe.

The density of the ternary alloy could be predicted from the excess volumes of the binary phases without the need to introduce any ternary interactions.
Effect of a low frequency electromagnetic field on the direct-chill (DC) casting of AZ80 magnesium alloy ingots
Authors: Guo Shijie , Le Qichi , Zhao Zhihao , Han Yi , Cui Jianzhong
Published: March 2022

The effects of a low frequency electromagnetic field applied during semi-continuous direct-chill casting on AZ80 ingots were investigated. The experiments were performed both in the absence and in the presence of the electromagnetic field. In contrast to the ingot cast in the conventional process, the microstructure of the ingot was significantly refined by the electromagnetic field and a high degree of grain refinement was realized when the operating frequency was at 22 Hz. The ingot exhibited a relatively increased and uniform distribution of Vickers hardness and decreased segregation of Al when the operating frequency of the electromagnetic field was in the range of 15– 30 Hz.