bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tolerance variations and mechanisms of Salmonella enterica serovar Newport in response to long-term hypertonic stress
Authors: Zhang Yue , Liao Xinyu , Ding Tian , Feng Jinsong
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To assess the variations in hypertonic tolerance among Salmonella enterica serovar Newport (S. Newport) strains isolated from diverse sources and investigate the mechanism underlying the tolerance differences between the sensitive and tolerant strain.

Materials and Methods

In this work, various S. Newport strains were cultured in 5% and 10% NaCl solutions (hypertonic stress), and the most sensitive and tolerant strains were selected using a Weibull model. The regulatory mechanisms underlying the hypertonic tolerance differences of S. Newport were preliminarily investigated in the aspects of cell phenotype, intracellular solute concentration, and gene expression level.

Results

With prolonged hypertonic stress time, the leakage of nucleic acids and proteins of S. Newport increased gradually, and the membrane potential of S. Newport declined after increasing. Compared with the sensitive strain, the tolerant counterpart exhibited the ability to maintain the integrity of the cell membrane and sustain a high membrane potential level. The expression levels of the upstream genes proV and otsB in the tolerant strain were significantly lower than those in the sensitive strain; but the Kdp and Trk systems and downstream genes proX, proW, and otsA were highly expressed in the tolerant strain compared with the sensitive strain, leading to higher concentrations of intracellular K+ and trehalose, enabling better survival in a hypertonic environment.

Conclusions

The findings of this work offer valuable insights into pathogen survival mechanisms under hypertonic stress and contribute to the development of strategies for mitigating microbiological risks during long-term processing and storage in the cured food industry.
Development of a competitive array for discriminative determination of amphenicols in egg based on ribosomal protein L16
Authors: Cai Yi , Ma Ning , Wu Ningpeng , Wang Jianping
Published: January 2024

Objective

Amphenicols (chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol and florfenicol) can cause aplastic anaemia and other severe side effects to consumers; therefore, it is necessary to inspect their residues in foods of animal origin. However, there has been no report on the use of amphenicols receptor for the determination of their residues, and none of the previously reported immunoassays for amphenicols can differentiate the specific species.

Materials and Methods

In this study, the ribosomal protein L16 of Escherichia coli was first expressed, and its intermolecular interaction mechanisms with the three amphenicols was studied using the molecular docking technique. The protein was then combined with three enzyme-labelled conjugates to develop a direct competitive array on microplate for determination of the three drugs in egg.

Results

Due to the use of principal component analysis to analyse the data, this method could discriminate the three drugs in the range 0.1–10 ng/mL, and the limits of detection for the three drugs were in the range of 0.0002–0.0009 ng/mL. The analysis results for the unknown egg samples were consistent with a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method, and the method performances were superior to the previous immunoassays for amphenicols.

Conclusion

This is the first paper reporting the use of ribosomal protein L16 to develop a competitive array for discriminative determination of amphenicols in food samples.
Assessment of bovine cortical bone fracture behavior using impact microindentation as a surrogate of fracture toughness
Authors: Jahani Babak , Vaidya Rachana , Jin James M , Aboytes Donald A , Broz Kaitlyn S , Krothapalli Siva , Pujari Bhanuteja , Baig Walee M , Tang Simon Y
Published: January 2024

The fracture behavior of bone is critically important for evaluating its mechanical competence and ability to resist fractures. Fracture toughness is an intrinsic material property that quantifies a material’s ability to withstand crack propagation under controlled conditions. However, properly conducting fracture toughness testing requires the access to calibrated mechanical load frames and the destructive testing of bone samples, and therefore fracture toughness tests are clinically impractical. Impact microindentation mimicks certain aspects of fracture toughness measurements, but its relationship with fracture toughness remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to compare measurements of notched fracture toughness and impact microindentation in fresh and boiled bovine bone. Skeletally mature bovine bone specimens (n = 48) were prepared, and half of them were boiled to denature the organic matrix, while the other half remained preserved in frozen conditions. All samples underwent a notched fracture toughness test to determine their resistance to crack initiation (KIC) and an impact microindentation test using the OsteoProbe to obtain the Bone Material Strength index (BMSi). Boiling the bone samples increased the denatured collagen content, while mineral density and porosity remained unaffected. The boiled bones also showed significant reduction in both KIC (P < .0001) and the average BMSi (P < .0001), leading to impaired resistance of bone to crack propagation. Remarkably, the average BMSi exhibited a high correlation with KIC (r = 0.86; P < .001). A ranked order difference analysis confirmed the excellent agreement between the 2 measures. This study provides the first evidence that impact microindentation could serve as a surrogate measure for bone fracture behavior. The potential of impact microindentation to assess bone fracture resistance with minimal sample disruption could offer valuable insights into bone health without the need for cumbersome testing equipment and sample destruction.
Adipose c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase promotes angiotensin II-induced and deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction by inhibition of adiponectin production and activation of SGK1 in mice
Authors: Gan Jing , Shi Yaru , Zhao Ruyi , Li Dan , Jin Hua , Wu Maolan , Liu Zhen , Li Xiaokun , Xu Aimin , Li Yulin , Lin Zhuofeng , Wu Fan
Published: January 2024

Background:

Adipose c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) is a central mediator involved in the development of obesity and its complications. However, the roles of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension remain elusive. Here we explored the role of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension.

Methods and results:

The roles of adipose JNK1/2 in hypertension were investigated by evaluating the impact of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation in both angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-induced hypertensive mice. Specific inactivation of JNK1/2 in adipocytes significantly alleviates Ang II-induced and DOCA salt-induced hypertension and target organ damage in mice. Interestingly, such beneficial effects are also observed in hypertensive mice after oral administration of JNK1/2 inhibitor SP600125. Mechanistically, adipose JNK1/2 acts on adipocytes to reduce the production of adiponectin (APN), then leads to promote serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) phosphorylation and increases epithelial Na+ channel α-subunit (ENaCα) expression in both renal cells and adipocytes, respectively, finally exacerbates Na+ retention. In addition, chronic treatment of recombinant mouse APN significantly augments the beneficial effects of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation in DOCA salt-induced hypertension. By contrast, the blood pressure-lowering effects of adipose JNK1/2 inactivation are abrogated by adenovirus-mediated SGK1 overexpression in Ang II -treated adipose JNK1/2 inactivation mice.

Conclusion:

Adipose JNK1/2 promotes hypertension and targets organ impairment via fine-tuning the multiorgan crosstalk among adipose tissue, kidney, and blood vessels.
Pars plana vitrectomy with or without internal limiting membrane peel for macular hole: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mihalache Andrew , Huang Ryan S. , Patil Nikhil S. , Ahmed Haleema , Popovic Marko M. , Kertes Peter J. , Muni Rajeev H.
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

To compare the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with and without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for macular hole (MH).

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature search on Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar from January 2000-2023. Our primary outcome was the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcomes included MH closure rates and the need for repeat surgery. We performed a random effects meta-analysis on Review Manager 5.4.

Results:

14 studies on 880 eyes were included. PPV with and without ILM peel achieved a similar final BCVA (p=0.66). However, PPV without ILM peeling achieved a significantly better final BCVA in eyes with closed MHs (WMD=0.05 logMAR, 95%CI=[0.01, 0.10], p=0.02). PPV with ILM peeling achieved a significantly higher primary MH closure rate (RR=1.21, 95%CI=[1.04, 1.42], p=0.02) and lower incidence of MH reoperation (RR=0.19, 95%CI=[0.11, 0.33], p<0.001). The final MH closure rate (p=0.12) and incidence of MH recurrence (p=0.25) were similar between groups.

Conclusion:

PPV with and without ILM peel achieved a similar final BCVA. However, PPV without ILM peeling achieved a better final BCVA in eyes with closed MHs. ILM peeling achieved a greater primary MH closure rate and reduced need for reoperation.
Dexamethasone implant versus topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in patients with bilateral retinitis pigmentosa-related cystoid macular edema – a prospective, paired-eye pilot study
Authors: Colombo Leonardo , Montesano Giovanni , Di Domenico Alice , Colizzi Benedetta , Rissotto Roberta , Maltese Paolo , Bertelli Matteo , Autelitano Alessandro , Rossetti Luca
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

To compare within-subject efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IVDI) and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI) in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP)-related cystoid macular edema (CME).

Methods:

Patients with bilateral RP-related CME were treated with IVDI in one eye and topical CAIs in the contralateral eye. The primary endpoint was a change in central macular thickness (CMT). Secondary endpoints were changes in BCVA and microperimetric central retinal sensitivity. IOP and other ocular complications were evaluated for safety assessment.

Results:

Nine patients were recruited for this 12-month follow-up study. CMT was significantly lower in IVDI- than in topical CAI-treated eyes at Months 1 and 7, while mean BCVA was better in eyes treated with topical CAIs at Month 12 (borderline significant p=0.0510). There was no difference in microperimetric sensitivity between the two treatments. Three patients developed ocular hypertension after IVDI. IVDI showed an effect on the contralateral eye in 5/9 patients.

Conclusion:

IVDI was more effective than topical CAIs in reducing RP-related CME one month after treatment. Corticosteroids can play a key role in the management of RP-related CME, however their routes, timing and modes of administration should be further explored.
POTASSIUM IODATE RETINOTOXICITY AFTER AN OVERDOSE OF ANTIRADIATION PILLS: A CASE OF APOCALYPTIC RETINOPATHY
Authors: Bernstein Paul S.
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to report a case of severe retinal toxicity after an attempted suicidal overdose of antiradiation pills containing a well-known retinal pigment epithelial toxin, potassium iodate.

Methods:

Clinical examination and multimodal imaging are provided from a clinic visit 11 years after the suicide attempt.

Results:

A 42-year-old patient had widespread retinal atrophy in both eyes with near-complete absence of the retinal pigment epithelium and severe retinal thinning. A few remaining areas of preserved photoreceptors provided her with 20/60 and 20/200 vision in her right and left eyes, respectively, with very constricted visual fields.

Conclusion:

Despite being first described over 100 years ago, few cases of iodate retinotoxicity have been reported in the published literature, and most are related to accidental or intentional ingestion of iodate salts used to iodize table salt. This unique case of iodate retinotoxicity secondary to antiradiation tablets highlights the risks of unregulated sale of these agents marketed in the United States as essential components of nuclear apocalypse “go bags” because they have a poor margin of safety and no specific warnings of the risk of permanent blindness with overdosage.
OCCLUSIVE RETINAL VASCULITIS AS A PRESENTING FEATURE OF PRIMARY VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA RELAPSE
Authors: Ketkar Manasi , Sahoo Niroj , Raval Vishal
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to report a case of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) relapse presenting as occlusive retinal vasculitis with secondary neovascularization.

Methods:

This study was a retrospective case report.

Results:

A 40-year-old woman presented to the clinic with complaints of blurring of vision in the left eye for 4 months. Her best-corrected VA (BCVA) was 20/20 and 20/500 in the right and left eye, respectively. The vitreous cavities of both eyes showed vitreous opacities (2+). Both eyes fundus showed multifocal yellowish-white subretinal infiltration. A diagnostic vitreous and subretinal biopsy of the left eye revealed large lymphoid cells with CD-20 positivity, confirming the diagnosis of PVRL. The patient received 12 intravitreal methotrexate injections in both eyes over a course of 2 months, after which the lesions completely resolved. However, after 5 months, the left eye showed characteristic subretinal lesions along with perivascular exudates and retinal hemorrhages, diagnosed as PVRL relapse presenting as occlusive retinal vasculitis. Fluorescein angiography revealed retinal neovascularization, for which panretinal photocoagulation was performed along with repeated intravitreal methotrexate injections.

Conclusion:

Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma is a great masquerader, and although rare, PVRL relapse can present as occlusive retinal vasculitis with secondary neovascularization, thereby delaying diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
The Development and Implementation of a Forensic Education Module for Nebraska Critical Access Providers
Authors: Magdaleno Catherine , Cera Jennifer , Struwe Leeza , Blanchard Emily
Published: January 2024

Background

Sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking are traumatic events for individuals and communities. As healthcare shortages increase, critical access hospitals must manage resources to ensure comprehensive forensic care effectively. Current literature indicates a lack of forensic healthcare education for providers within critical access hospitals. This forensic education module for critical access healthcare providers aimed to (a) increase forensic examination competencies, (b) improve forensic interviewing skills, (c) increase provider self-efficacy, and (d) show knowledge retention.

Methods

This mixed-methods pilot study utilized a convenience sample of 45 healthcare providers in Nebraska critical access hospitals who presented for the forensic education module training. Repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t tests assessed the aims of this study. Structured surveys gathered qualitative data on three themes.

Results

Implementation of the forensic education module showed a statistically significant increase in forensic interviewing skills, nonstatistically significant changes in general self-efficacy, and sustainability of knowledge and self-efficacy over 6 weeks. Analysis also showed a clinically significant increase in provider self-efficacy over 6 weeks. Structured questionnaire responses showed participants valued the content to address their perceived barriers to providing care.

Conclusions

This study validates the need for increased education in Nebraska's rural and medically underserved areas to ensure access to forensic care and provision of services. This pilot study shows the potential for forensic education interventions to increase provider competencies and improve provider self-efficacy, with evidence of retention of knowledge and skills.
Association between bone mineral density and coronary plaque burden in patients with coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional study using quantitative computed tomography
Authors: Geng Guang , Li Zhen , Wang Shuai , Yuan Tao , Quan Guanmin
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the association between osteoporosis and coronary calcification and coronary plaque burden in patients with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

This study included 290 men and 177 postmenopausal women with angiography-confirmed atherosclerosis or CAD who underwent chest multidetector row computed tomography covering L1-L2 between September 2020 and October 2021. Quantitative computed tomography was used to measure the lumbar vertebra’s bone mineral density (BMD). The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and total coronary plaque burden were quantified using the Agatston and modified Gensini scores, respectively. Associations between BMD and CACS and modified Gensini scores were assessed using multivariate regression analysis. Lasso regression was used in model selection.

Results

In men, BMD was inversely associated with CACS [β = −0.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.35 to −0.13; P < 0.001) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) presence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52–0.96; P = 0.03) in the unadjusted model. After adjusting for age, modified Gensini score, prior percutaneous coronary intervention and hypertension, BMD was inversely associated with CACS (β = −0.11; 95% CI, −0.22 to −0.01; P = 0.04). In postmenopausal women, BMD was inversely associated with CACS (β = −0.24; 95% CI, −0.39 to 0.10; P < 0.001) and CAC presence (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.92; P = 0.01) in the unadjusted model but no other models (P > 0.05). In both sexes, BMD did not correlate with the modified Gensini score or CAD prevalence (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

In patients with coronary atherosclerosis and CAD, BMD of the lumbar vertebra correlated inversely with CACS in men but not postmenopausal women. Additionally, BMD did not correlate with the modified Gensini score in both sexes.
Mechanisms of alcohol influence on fear conditioning: a computational model
Authors: Lonnberg Adam , Logrip Marian L. , Kuznetsov Alexey
Published: January 2024

A connection between stress-related illnesses and alcohol use disorders is extensively documented. Fear conditioning is a standard procedure used to study stress learning and links it to the activation of amygdala circuitry. However, the connection between the changes in amygdala circuit and function induced by alcohol and fear conditioning is not well established. We introduce a computational model to test the mechanistic relationship between amygdala functional and circuit adaptations during fear conditioning and the impact of acute vs. repeated alcohol exposure. In accordance with experiments, both acute and prior repeated alcohol decreases speed and robustness of fear extinction in our simulations. The model predicts that, first, the delay in fear extinction in alcohol is mostly induced by greater activation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) after fear acquisition due to alcohol-induced modulation of synaptic weights. Second, both acute and prior repeated alcohol shifts the amygdala network away from the robust extinction regime by inhibiting the activity in the central amygdala (CeA). Third, our model predicts that fear memories formed in acute or after chronic alcohol are more connected to the context. Thus, the model suggests how circuit changes induced by alcohol may affect fear behaviors and provides a framework for investigating the involvement of multiple neuromodulators in this neuroadaptive process.
Persisting quantum effects in the anisotropic Rabi model at thermal equilibrium
Authors: Xu He-Guang , Montenegro V. , Xianlong Gao , Jin Jiasen , Neto G. D. de Moraes
Published: January 2024

Quantum correlations and nonclassical states are at the heart of emerging quantum technologies. Efforts to produce long-lived states of such quantum resources are a subject of tireless pursuit. Among several platforms useful for quantum technology, the mature quantum system of light-matter interactions offers unprecedented advantages due to current on-chip nanofabrication, efficient quantum control of its constituents, and its wide range of operational regimes. Recently, a continuous transition between the Jaynes-Cummings model and the Rabi model has been proposed by exploiting anisotropies in their light-matter interactions, known as the anisotropic quantum Rabi model. In this paper, we study the long-lived quantum correlations and nonclassical states generated in the anisotropic Rabi model and how these indeed persist even at thermal equilibrium. To achieve this, we thoroughly analyze several quantumness quantifiers, where the long-lived quantum state is obtained from a dressed master equation that is valid for all coupling regimes and with the steady state ensured to be the canonical Gibbs state. Furthermore, we demonstrate a stark distinction between virtual excitations produced beyond the strong coupling regime and the quantumness quantifiers once the light-matter interaction has been switched off. This raises the key question about the nature of the equilibrium quantum features generated in the anisotropic quantum Rabi model and paves the way for future experimental investigations, without the need for challenging ground-state cooling.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Linear-frequency conversion with time-varying metasurfaces
Authors: Amra Claude , Passian Ali , Tchamitchian Philippe , Ettorre Mauro , Alwakil Ahmed , Zapien Juan Antonio , Rouquette Paul , Abautret Yannick , Zerrad Myriam
Published: January 2024

Frequency conversion is a hallmark of nonlinearity. The spectral manifestations, emergent within a system, can typically be attributed to a marked nonlinearity within the material properties, complex geometric configurations, and/or the unique functional form of interactions taking place in the constitutive subsystems. These phenomena, irrespective of their origins, have been harnessed and exploited in applications ranging from the generation of entangled photons, a cornerstone in quantum technologies, to nanomechanical frequency mixing, advancing subsurface scanning probe microscopy. Here, we propose a frequency conversion mechanism based on time-varying metasurfaces, an emerging frontier in metamaterial research. We show how temporal properties of metasurfaces can effectively emulate a nonlinear medium, thereby facilitating frequency conversion. The proposed material configuration has the potential not only to advance integrated photonics and quantum optics, but also to create opportunities in quantum sensing, quantum materials, and crucially quantum communications.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Asistensi: raising capital for innovation in health insurance, migrants and remittances
Authors: Rodriguez-Orosz Aramis , Fernandez Federico
Published: January 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of this case study, students will be able to describe the funding path for start-ups, including the amounts and profiles of the usual investors or sources of funds, according to the moment in their life cycle and the characteristics of the initiative; highlight the challenges faced by start-up founders in weak entrepreneurial ecosystems and risky institutional environments; and argue in favor of or against different modes and typical instruments of venture capital (VC) investments in the early stages of new businesses, each of them different regarding dilutions, valuation potential, depth of negotiations and term sheets.

Case overview/synopsis

Asistensi, a technology and telemedicine start-up founded in 2020 in Venezuela by three entrepreneurs (Andrés Simón González-Silén, Luis Enrique Velásquez and Armando Baquero), raised US$3m in less than a year in a seed round in which it attracted the attention of professional VC funds such as Mountain Nazca, Alma Mundi Ventures and 468 Capital. Everything was set for launching operations in Mexico and the Dominican Republic in April 2021. However, a series of difficulties led to higher expenditure than planned, prompting the entrepreneurs to seek additional capital. The decision on the financial instrument to be associated with the potential valuation and shareholder dilution figures has been posed as a dilemma.

Complexity academic level

The case study focuses on understanding the start-up financing process. It can be used effectively in management- and finance-related subjects for graduate students taking introductory topics in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance, as well as introductory executive education courses in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial finance and VC.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS3: Entrepreneurship
Job stress and burnout among prison staff: a systematic literature review
Authors: Costa Vítor , Monteiro Samuel , Cunha Ana Isabel , Pereira Henrique , Esgalhado Graça
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the recent empirical literature on job stress and burnout among prison staff with a focus on predictors, outcomes of stress and burnout and the mediating role that stress and burnout can play between its predictors and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors followed systematic literature review (SLR) protocols for the social sciences, and searches were done on two large research databases: SCOPUS and Web of Science. Articles included in the study were from January 2015 to March 2020. After the screening and eligibility processes, 48 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 33 articles were included in the full-text qualitative analysis.

Findings

Characteristics of the samples, main authors and journals and measures used to assess stress and burnout are presented, showing that most research was done in the USA, with cross-sectional studies using similar measures of stress and burnout. Results from the qualitative analysis were organised around the main research questions. Most studies explored the antecedents of stress and burnout in the context of the job demands – resources model. Common predictors that consistently increase stress and burnout among different samples include perceived dangerousness of the job and work–family conflict. Participation in decision-making and social support consistently decrease job stress.

Originality/value

This paper presents a SLR on stress and burnout among prison officers in a pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, providing an important picture of the published scientific research on the topic as well as implications for theory and practice.
Discovery and validation of genes driving drug‐intake and related behavioral traits in mice
Authors: Roy Tyler A. , Bubier Jason A. , Dickson Price E. , Wilcox Troy D. , Ndukum Juliet , Clark James W. , Sukoff Rizzo Stacey J. , Crabbe John C. , Denegre James M. , Svenson Karen L. , Braun Robert E. , Kumar Vivek , Murray Stephen A. , White Jacqueline K. , Philip Vivek M. , Chesler Elissa J.
Published: January 2024

Substance use disorders are heritable disorders characterized by compulsive drug use, the biological mechanisms for which remain largely unknown. Genetic correlations reveal that predisposing drug‐naïve phenotypes, including anxiety, depression, novelty preference and sensation seeking, are predictive of drug‐use phenotypes, thereby implicating shared genetic mechanisms. High‐throughput behavioral screening in knockout (KO) mice allows efficient discovery of the function of genes. We used this strategy in two rounds of candidate prioritization in which we identified 33 drug‐use candidate genes based upon predisposing drug‐naïve phenotypes and ultimately validated the perturbation of 22 genes as causal drivers of substance intake. We selected 19/221 KO strains (8.5%) that had a difference from control on at least one drug‐naïve predictive behavioral phenotype and determined that 15/19 (~80%) affected the consumption or preference for alcohol, methamphetamine or both. No mutant exhibited a difference in nicotine consumption or preference which was possibly confounded with saccharin. In the second round of prioritization, we employed a multivariate approach to identify outliers and performed validation using methamphetamine two‐bottle choice and ethanol drinking‐in‐the‐dark protocols. We identified 15/401 KO strains (3.7%, which included one gene from the first cohort) that differed most from controls for the predisposing phenotypes. 8 of 15 gene deletions (53%) affected intake or preference for alcohol, methamphetamine or both. Using multivariate and bioinformatic analyses, we observed multiple relations between predisposing behaviors and drug intake, revealing many distinct biobehavioral processes underlying these relationships. The set of mouse models identified in this study can be used to characterize these addiction‐related processes further.
Measuring quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities: Psychometric evaluation of the personal outcomes scale in the United Kingdom
Authors: Buxton Helen , Gomes Manuel , Gafoor Rafael , Taylor Zac , Totsika Vaso
Published: January 2024

Background

The Personal Outcomes Scale (POS) is a scale developed to measure quality of life of adults (18+) with intellectual disability. Previous studies have reported good fit for Spanish and Portuguese language versions of POS.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of the English language version of POS when used to measure the quality of life of adults (18+) with intellectual disability in the UK.

Materials and Methods

Analysis was conducted on POS data from 310 adults with an intellectual disability. First and second order factor models and multi‐level models were used to assess fit.

Results

There was poor fit to the data for all tested models. We estimated that 23% of variance in POS scores was accounted for by interviewer cluster.

Discussion

This was the first UK‐based evaluation of POS and our data did not confirm the factor structure of the POS measure. The identification of systematic variability within the dataset indicates that inter‐rater reliability is a potential limitation of the POS tool.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to investigate inter‐rater reliability of POS interviewers and to explore factor structure.
The Initial Residential Patterns of Immigrants across the Urban Hierarchy in Sweden: The Role of Educational Attainment
Authors: Khaef Samaneh , Haandrikman Karen
Published: January 2024

This study employs the aspirations‐capabilities framework to explore the intricate interplay between choices and constraints shaping migrants' settlement patterns, with a particular emphasis on the often‐overlooked aspect of educational attainment. Using Swedish register data containing information about migrants' educational level, this paper examines and typifies the initial residential sorting patterns of migrants arriving in Sweden in the period 2000–2014. Employing multinomial logistic regression to understand how migrant sorting takes place, the results show a clear distinction in settlement patterns, with higher educated migrants being more likely to settle in metropolitan areas, and lower educated migrants ending up in rural areas, even when controlling for region of origin and purpose of migration. Nordic and African migrants, resettled refugees, older migrants, and migrant families with younger children are most likely to live in sparsely populated areas. The paper concludes that these trends exacerbate existing patterns of spatial polarization.
Steel Castings
Authors: Hall John H.
Published: January 2024

This paper deals briefly with the physical properties of steel castings and their improvement through annealing and heat treatment, cost of castings, and the classes of work for which steel castings should be specified. Castings are now made, it is stated, with physical properties nearly twice as good as those of the ordinary commercial product, and where the service demands unusual strength, toughness and resistance to wear and fatigue, their use is urged even though they machine somewhat less freely.
Gray-Iron Castings
Authors: Moldenke Richard
Published: January 2024

After an introductory discussion of the carbon situation in cast iron, the author deals briefly with its chemical composition, giving in this connection a table of recommended compositions for many varied purposes. He then indicates the extent to which specialization has taken place in iron founding and enumerates the various classes of foundries and the lines of work to which they are best adapted. Dealing with recent tendencies in gray-iron foundry practice, he calls attention to the very high sulphur content now met with in castings — a result of the use of abnormal proportions of scrap during the war because of the high price of pig iron — and gives brief particulars of an economical duplexing process by means of which the sulphur in molten cupala metal may be brought down in an electric furnace from, say, 0.12 per cent to 0.05 per cent and even lower.
Pulverized Coal in Metallurgical Furnaces at High Altitudes
Authors: McIntyre Otis L.
Published: January 2024

The following paper describes experiments with pulverized coal which led to the installation of apparatus for its use in the blast furnaces, reverberatories, and sintering machines of the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation at La Fundicion, Peru. Information is given of the method of determining the firing performance of pulverized coal; the behavior of the various mixtures; experiences with different air pressures; and the effects of ash. The experiments were conducted at an elevation of 14,000 ft. and this fact greatly adds to the value of the data presented, for heretofore but little attention has been paid to the effects of altitude upon the burning of pulverized coal.
Side-Cutting of Thread-Milling Hobs
Authors: Buckingham Earle
Published: January 2024

It has long been known that, due to the helix of a thread, the side-cutting action of a hob distorts the form of the thread on the work. In other words, the form of the tooth on the hob is not reproduced on the threaded part. The present paper is the result of a mathematical investigation of this subject and points out the corrections in the form of thread-milling hobs which can be readily made and also produce threads sufficiently correct as to form for all practical purposes.

The profile of the thread cut with a hob is a combination of two distinct curves. First, a small fillet is formed at the root of the thread which is the path of the outside corner of the hob. No correction in the form of the hob is possible to correct this point. Second, the larger part of the flank of the thread consists of a slightly curved profile which is formed by the overlapping paths of the infinite number of cutting points which form the cutting edge of the hob. Mathematically, a curved correction can be applied to the form of the hob which will correct this profile entirely. Practically, a straight-line correction can be applied which is almost exact, as the amount of the actual curvature on the flanks of the thread is seldom greater than one-tenth of a thousandth part of one inch. The greater the angle of helix of the thread, the greater the amount of correction necessary.

One very interesting fact is that the diameter of the hob has no effect on the form of the main part of the profile. The actual amount of side-cutting is more and the height of the fillet at the root of the thread is greater, as the diameter of the hob is increased, but the rest of the profile is unchanged.

This paper deals with both externally and internally threaded parts. The general conditions of side-cutting are identical in both cases. On a screw, however, the flanks of the hobbed thread will be convex, while in a nut they will be concave. Furthermore the height of the fillet at the root of the thread and the actual amount of side-cutting are relatively greater in a nut than on a screw.
The Constitution and Properties of Boiler Tubes
Authors: White Albert E.
Published: January 2024

The investigation recorded in this paper was carried out because of defects which developed in tubes of the boilers at the Park Place Heating Plant of The Detroit Edison Company requiring replacement of the defective tubes and consequent shutting down of the boilers. Investigation was made of the question of water softening for the prevention of scale, changes in baffling for the better distribution of the heat in the boilers, and of the constitution and properties of the metal of the tubes. The paper relates mainly to the third part of the investigation.

The author believes that tube failures, aside from those due to imperfect heat transmission that is mainly the result of scale, are due to: (1) Tube brittleness resulting from absorption by the metal of hydrogen and usually attributable to faulty boiler-feedwater treatment; (2) blowholes or other imperfections in the metal; (3) recrystallization of the metal.

The paper goes into detail only on the last two causes, evidence regarding which is presented in the form of photomicrographs.

All of these conditions encountered lead the author to suggest that tubes with a carbon content of from 0.30 to 0.35 per cent would have better durability than tubes with a carbon content of from 0.08 to 0.18 per cent.
Distillation of Fuels as Applied to Coal and Lignite
Authors: Hood O. P.
Published: January 2024

There is a widespread feeling that the present methods of using coal are not wise, but exaggerated ideas are held as to the possibilities and value of coal distillation. The necessary investment is so large that the popular hope for cheap solid liquid or gaseous fuels produced by distillation processes is not likely to be realized. It is more likely that fuels will be produced whose special qualities will command a good price.

Low temperature distillation of coal has hardly reached the commercial stage, the most advanced experiment being the carbo coal process. Coal distillation will play an increasing part in supplying industrial and city gas and smokeless fuel for domestic heating.

In the lignite areas of the United States where there are large supplies of low grade fuel, distillation methods can be applied to lignite, obtaining gas, tar, ammonium sulphate, and a carbonized residue of excellent heating value.
Steam Formulas
Authors: Heck Robert C. H.
Published: January 2024

The purpose of the following paper is twofold: first, to make a comparison of the experimental data and the various formulations involved in determining the various steam formulas given; and secondly, to present a new set of equations derived by the writer in the course of the investigation.

The paper is divided into four parts. Part I defines quantities and symbols, states exact values of fundamental constants, shows the field of the two characteristic equations, and develops the general form of those equations. Starting from the simplest statement the development runs to complete algebraic form and definition of terms. Part I also contains a general view of the body of physical data in its several departments, a classification of formulations as to kind, and a chronological list of all the formulations that are to enter into subsequent comparisons.

Part II is concerned with the properties of saturated steam, that is, with the boundaries of the region of water-and-steam mixture. These consist of the liquid line on one side and the dry-steam or saturation line on the other, merging at the critical temperature. Over the range up to about 1000 lb. pressure the saturation curves are obtained by evaluating the general steam-gas or superheat equations. For the rest these boundaries are defined by empirical formulas which are set forth.

Part III deals with superheated steam and is the most important section of the paper, giving the two general equations and several sets of constants. These are found in Tables 1 and 2. The curve and data comparisons are of great interest in showing the high “state of the art” of steam formulation.

Part IV gives some account of the methods used in fixing the constants of the general equations, which are listed in the first part of the paper. It also contains matters for debate among specialists.
Self–Supporting Chimneys to Withstand Earthquake
Authors: Weymouth C. R.
Published: January 2024

The studies of the Japanese Imperial Investigation Committee on the nature of the stresses developed in chimneys in consequence of earthquakes are summarized by the author, who also examines the conclusions of the committee in the light of data on failures of chimneys secured from inspections of wrecks caused by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. An advancement to the theory developed by Professor Omori, Chairman of the Japanese Committee, on the design of chimneys to withstand earthquakes, is then presented. This assumes that the chimney, instead of being looked upon as rigid, should be considered as a body oscillating about the center of percussion. Reference is made in the paper to the design of various chimneys where the theory outlined has been applied.
Recording ASH-PIT Loss From Chain-Grate Stokers
Authors: Bailey E. G.
Published: January 2024

This paper presents certain preliminary data obtained from a device recently developed to record the ash-pit loss from chain-grate stokers and thus enable firemen to effectively control this factor.

The device consists of a steel tube or bulb filled with nitrogen and connected through a capillary tube to a recorder consisting of a mercury U-tube, one leg of which is open to the atmosphere and carries a float to which the recorder pen is attached. It has been found that when this bulb is properly located near the rear of a chain-grate stoker, its temperature will respond definitely to changes in the amount of combustiable going to the ash pit and will vary in direct proportion to the heat thus lost.

Records of ash-pit loss, excess air, unburned gas, flue-gas temperature, and boiler rating make it possible to plot characteristic performance curves for stokers showing the losses due to unburned combustible, unburned gases and excess air, and to determine the proper amount of excess air to be maintained and also the most efficient capacity. These curves can be used to compare the relative efficiencies of different types of stokers, the suitability of different kinds of coal, and the effectiveness of the control by the fireman.
Boiler Tests With Pulverized Coal
Authors: Kreisinger Henry , Blizard John
Published: January 2024

In this paper the author presents a summary of the results obtained in an extended series of tests of a 468-hp. water-tube boiler fired with pulverized Illinois coal.

The results show that, contrary to the customary specification, it is not necessary to pulverize the coal to the extreme fineness of 85 per cent through a 200-mesh screen in order to get good combustion and good efficiency. This ability to burn coarser coal means increased capacity of the pulverizing mills and decreased cost of coal preparation.

The results also show that it is not necessary to dry coal to about 1 per cent moisture in order to burn it successfully in pulverized form, and it is stated that with most eastern coals drying is not at all necessary.

Good results can be obtained when the coal is burned at rates varying from ½ lb. to 2 lb. per cu. ft. of combustion space per hour, and the best results at a rate of 1 to 1½ lb.
Future Power Development in the Middle West
Authors: Place C. W.
Published: January 2024

In this paper the author outlines a system in which it is proposed that the fairly efficient steam power plants in the 100-odd cities of over 25,000 population in the 14 middle-western states be interconnected, not by heavy high-voltage lines, but by lines running from each which will pick up the small-town and village load to the point where its next larger neighbor will take its share; hydroelectric plants are to be installed on the streams near the towns and villages, each with a small pondage; the steam stations are to carry the steady continuous load above the maximum stream flow, the hydroelectric plants automatically coming on to carry the peaks. On the off-peak period the hydroelectric plants will restore the pondage and carry local load. The quickness with which the latter can get on the line (12 to 30 seconds) will enable the steam stations always to work at maximum efficiency. The advantages of the system are pointed out in the paper, as well as the procedure necessary to bring about its development.
Stresses and Deformation in Flat Circular Cylinder Heads: A Mathematical Analysis
Authors: Fish Gilbert Dudley
Published: January 2024

An analysis covering homogeneous elastic disks, where form and loading are symmetrical with respect to all diameters, where the loading is a combination of fluid pressures and of forces acting normally on concentric circles, where the thickness is uniform, and where all strains are within limits of true elasticity. Formulas applicable to all cases considered in the paper are developed, and equations are given for the constants of integration involved in the mathematical analysis. Two typical cases of the application of the principles involved have been analyzed and the results presented diagramatically. To facilitate the computation of critical stresses and deflections in cases commonly occurring, simplified formulas are presented which may be solved by the use of charts from which certain terms are derived.
The Vertical Triple-Expansion Pumping Engine: A New Record Performance at Cleveland, Ohio
Authors: Quayle L. A. , Brown E. H.
Published: January 2024

Cleveland, Ohio’s, installations during the past sixty-five years make an interesting study of both the improvement which has been made in the economy of pumping engines, and the increase in energy available to the engine which has resulted from successive increases in steam pressure and temperature. These installations also cover the period of the introduction of stoker firing and the operating records show their effect on the overall economy.

In 1917 Cleveland’s new Division Avenue Pumping Station was put into service. The results of recent tests of the units of this station are given in detail in the present paper, as well as results of the official tests of all of the nine other vertical triple-expansion pumping engines in service in the Cleveland Water Works.

The authors’ investigation leads them to believe that the Division Avenue station contains at least one and possibly four engines whose duty record and thermal efficiency have never been equalled by any other steam-driven pumping engine, namely, 211,000,000 ft-lb. of work per 1000 lb. of steam used and 24.3 per cent thermal efficiency. They consider that the development which has led to such high efficiency in water-works steam pumping engines that require in general a maximum of not over 1500 hp., has been largely the result of the practice, instituted by water-works engineers, of making economy tests on all installations.
Economy in Textile Drying
Authors: Andrews B. R.
Published: January 2024

The following paper reviews the well-known facts of drying, pointing out —

1 The desirability of reducing the drying time in any drier at the expense of steam, or even labor, because of the preponderance of the overhead item.

2 That this increase in the rate of drying must usually be obtained by increased temperature of the material being dried, and decreased vapor tension of the air actually in contact with it.

3 That reduced labor costs, while usually a natural consequence of increased speed from the drier, can often be further reduced by combining the drier with other machinery into a range.

4 That steam consumption can be cut only by eliminating leakage, reducing radiation by insulation, and using the minumum amount of new air for removal of water.

5 Because cans meet all these conditions, they should be used in preference to all other types of driers wherever the nature of the product will permit.