bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of weld joints produced by continuous wave and double pulse gas metal arc welding in naval grade high-strength low-alloy steel
Authors: Venkateshkannan M , Arivazhagan N , Nageswara Rao M , Madhusudhan Reddy G
Published: September 2022

The current research examines gas metal arc welding (GMAW) joints generated in naval grade high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel using both continuous wave GMAW (CW-GMAW) and double pulse GMAW (DP-GMAW). The joint was created in four passes with DP-GMAW, whereas CW-GMAW required eight passes. Weld joints were characterized using various techniques, including optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), residual stress analysis, and mechanical evaluation. The mechanical evaluation consisted of microhardness, impact, and tensile tests. The Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact test was performed at room temperature and −60°C. For both CW-GMAW and DP-GMAW, the heat-affected zone and the fusion zone were harder than the base metal. The fracture occurred in the base metal region in all the tensile test specimens containing the weld joints. The DP-GMAW joints showed higher impact toughness at both room temperature and −60°C. In comparison to the fusion zone of the CW-GMAW joint, the fusion zone of the DP-GMAW joint had a greater volume fraction of acicular ferrite, a finer grain size, and a higher percentage of high-angle grain boundaries. These factors have contributed, it is believed, to the higher impact toughness of the DP-GMAW joint.
Wind turbine power prediction via deep neural network using hybrid approach
Authors: Ahilan Dr. T. , Sujesh G , Yarrapragada KSS Rao
Published: September 2022

Due to the chaotic nature of wind speed, short-term wind power prediction is a challengeable one. A reliable and accurate wind power prediction model is necessary for the wind turbine industry. Based on their improved ability to cope with complicated nonlinear issues, an increasing number of deep learning-based models are being explored for wind power prediction as artificial intelligence technologies, especially in deep neural networks. In this research, the wind power prediction model is divided into three stages. The first stage is to collect data from wind turbines. The second stage is to apply the optimal tuning of the Deep Neural Network (DNN) to predict the wind power. Here, the hybrid algorithm termedBird Swarm Merged Seagull Optimizer(BSMSO) stipulates DNN’s weight optimization points for wind power prediction; in addition, it reduces the time required for the same. Finally, the efficacy of the proposed BSMSO-DNN prediction model is proved by matching the statistical performance measures as regards toerror metrics with other existing techniques. The simulation results reveal thatthe proposed hybrid modelreduces the prediction errors significantly.
Environmental regulation, technological innovation, and industrial structure upgrading
Authors: Yin Kedong , Miao Yuqing , Huang Chong
Published: September 2022

The conflict between rapid economic development, resource mismatch, and ecological damage is growing more severe. Industrial structure upgrading, as a bridge between economic activity and the ecological environment, is a crucial strategy for solving ecological and environmental problems. Based on the mediating effect and threshold models, this study selected 30 provincial panel data points in China from 2000 to 2020 to study the impact of environmental regulation and technological innovation on industrial structure upgrading. According to the findings, environmental regulation has a “U” shaped impact on industrial upgrading and passes the three threshold tests, with technological innovation playing a partially positive mediating role. There is regional heterogeneity in the impact of environmental regulation on industrial upgrading, with a “U” shaped impact on the eastern regions; there is inhibited industrial upscaling in the central and western areas. Foreign trade hinders industrial development in the eastern region but promotes rapid development and achieves structural adjustment in the central and western areas. The expansion of fixed asset investment hinders industrial restructuring. Government regulation can encourage industrial structure upgrading in all regions. We propose policy recommendations based on China’s current situation. The development of technological innovation should be promoted, and environmental rules should be differentiated according to local conditions. This study has a certain guiding significance and reference value for balancing environmental governance and economic development, effectively implementing an innovation-driven development strategy, and formulating China's regional development strategy.
Gestational bisphenol A exposure impairs hepatic lipid metabolism by altering mTOR/CRTC2/SREBP1 in male rat offspring
Authors: Yang Q , Mao Y , Wang J , Yu H , Zhang X , Pei X , Duan Z , Xiao C , Ma M
Published: September 2022

Lipid metabolism is an important biochemical process in the body. Recent studies have found that environmental endocrine disruptors play an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. Bisphenol A (BPA), a common environmental endocrine disruptor, has adverse effects on lipid metabolism, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gestational BPA exposure on hepatic lipid metabolism and its possible mechanism in male offspring. The pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to BPA (0, 0.05, 0.5, 5 mg/kg/day) from day 5 to day 19 of gestation to investigate the levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), and the expression of liver lipid metabolism-related genes in male offspring rats. The results showed that compared with the control group, the TG and TC levels in serum and liver in BPA-exposed groups was increased. And the expressions of liver fatty acid oxidation related genes, such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1α (CPT1α), were down-regulated. However, the expressions of fatty acid synthesis related genes, such as sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1 (SREBP-1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1), were up-regulated. The increased protein levels of mTOR and p-CRTC2 suggested that CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) might be an important mediator in the mTOR/SREBP-1 pathway. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that mTOR/CRTC2/SREBP-1 could be affected by gestational BPA exposure, which may involve in the lipid metabolic disorders in later life.
An Empirical Analysis of the Influence of Project Governance and Information Technology Governance on Project Delay
Authors: Khalid Mahwish , Khan Rao Aamir , Khushnood Muhammad , Aslam Sohail , Khattak Zeeshan Zaib , Abbas Sammar
Published: September 2022

Project delay adversely affects the cost overrun, poor quality and stakeholder’s disputes thus resulting in unsuccessful projects. Project delay has a number of antecedents including the governance of project and information technology. The study provides empirical analysis of determinants of schedule delays in project completion. This will test the hypothesis that assumes that project governance and information technology governance are major predictor of project schedule delays. The study considers the software industry located in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Security and Exchange Commission, there are 245 software houses registered in Islamabad while 80 are registered in Rawalpindi. The study has used survey questionnaires to gather required information. Data was collected through simple random sampling techniques from 220 respondents. The data collected was analysed by doing structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine the said relationships. The reliability and validity of the instrument is established by the Cronbach’s α, composite reliability, and average variance extracted having values above threshold of 0.7, 0.7, and 0.5, respectively. The regression weight for first hypothesis (H1) assuming negative relationship between ITG and PD is −0.292. The second hypothesis (H2) assuming negative relationship between PG and PD has regression value of −0.418. The values of both hypotheses are significant. The study empirically tests the relationship between ITG, PG, and PD. The results suggest that better project governance (PG) reduces project delay (PD) and vice versa. Similarly, an appropriate information technology governance (ITG) also reduces the project delay (PD).
Response to NIOSH Request for Information on Interventions to Prevent Work-Related Stress and Support Health Worker Mental Health
Authors: Punnett Laura
Published: September 2022

The root causes of health care worker strain and depression include excessive job demands, extended work schedules, little decision-making opportunity, assault, bullying, and fear of injury. Potential links between working conditions and opioid overuse have also been discussed, beginning with psychological job strain or with physical pain leading to medication use. Promising solutions have been identified and many would be cost-effective, as enhanced working conditions could improve workers’ mental health, job satisfaction, retention, and patient outcomes. Considering the number of health care workers leaving work during the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is urgent to address preventable root causes. In 2021, the US Congress called for educating health workers and first responders on the primary prevention of mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The CDC issued a Request for Information; this submission summarized research from CPH-NEW, a NIOSH Center of Excellence in Total Worker Health®, supplemented by a selective literature review.
A conceptual model of the impact of including carers in museum programmes for people with dementia
Authors: Kinsey Debbie , Orr Noreen , Anderson Rob , Lang Iain
Published: September 2022

Background

Research has highlighted a need for more theoretical work in arts interventions, including the role of the dyad. This study aimed to test theories from a literature review on the impact of including carers in museum programmes for people with dementia, and develop a model which can be used in other programmes to consider the impact of including carers more broadly.

Methods

Using a realist evaluation approach, theory was developed through interviews and participant-observation at six museums in the UK.

Findings

The impacts of including carers fell into seven broad areas – caring responsibility, session function, controlling access, preventing engagement, comparisons and losses, long-term impact of in-the-moment activities, and reducing social isolation and opening up the museum.

Conclusions

Including carers may have both unanticipated benefits and negative consequences, and greater attention is needed on how both carers and people with dementia can be supported in shared sessions. Carers should be viewed as participants of programmes, and can even be the main beneficiaries, even where the programme is ostensibly ‘for’ the person with dementia – it’s not simply that carers are the enablers of, or barriers to, the impacts on the person with dementia.
Study of the mechanical, chemical, and surface behaviors of non-woven abrasive made from waste chemically modified tow fibers
Authors: Elaissi Arwa , Ghith Adel , Alibi Hamza , Legrand Xavier
Published: September 2022

This article aims to develop a non-woven abrasive material based on textile waste with suitable mechanical properties and surface conditions for the washing treatment of jeans. For this proposal, tow fibers mixed with cotton fibers were reinforced into a polyurethane resin and iron shavings using a coating technique. Abrasive morphology has been examined using MEB analysis. Their elemental composition was identified by EDX Test. The chemical characterization (FTIR) of iron grains was also mentioned. The influence of chemical fiber treatments (alkalinization and cationization) on the mechanical performance and surface properties of nonwovens has been analyzed. To examine fiber-matrix bonding and adhesion, a fiber pullout test was performed. The results showed that nonwoven created with cationized tow fibers improve interfacial properties compared to those made with untreated or alkalized fibers. While their mechanical qualities (Tear test, traction, etc.) were slightly reduced. The variation in the percentages of fibers (tow/cotton) has also an impact on the mechanical strength of the reinforcements. Using the Universal Surface Tester (UST), roughness measurements of nonwovens surface showed that the incorporation of Tow fibers led to significant improvement in the roughness. Cationization at 3% gives good interfacial adhesion and acceptable mechanical performance. This sample has been tried and validated by washing-out experts.
Parametric optimisation of shear thickening fluid treatment for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene woven fabric
Authors: Bajya Mukesh , Majumdar Abhijit , Butola Bhupendra S , Mawkhlieng Unsanhame , Bhattacharjee Debarati
Published: September 2022

The shear thickening fluid (STF) treatment enhances the low and high velocity impact resistance performances of para-aramid woven fabrics for soft armour application. This research investigates the effects of important parameters on the STF add on and impact energy absorption with the aim to develop a hybrid soft armour. The STF add-on on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) woven fabrics was varied by altering the silica particle size, dilution ratio of STF and padding pressure. The results of the full factorial design of experiment showed that the energy absorption is independent of the add-on. Further, a soft armour panel (SAP) was made from the STF treated woven fabric. The ballistic performance of the panel was evaluated in terms of back face signature (BFS) against a 9 × 19 mm lead core bullet and was compared to that of a weight equivalent untreated panel. A hybrid SAP with unidirectional (UD) laminates of UHMWPE as strike face layers and STF treated woven fabrics as backing layers was prepared, and the BFS was found to be equivalent to that of a SAP containing 100% UD laminates (∼30 mm). The results imply that a certain number of UD laminate layers can be replaced with STF treated flexible woven fabrics without compromising on the ballistic performance of SAP.
Blame it on the Inputs: Overexcited Entorhinal Inputs Drive Dentate Gyrus Hyperexcitability in a Mouse Model of Dravet Syndrome
Authors: Feng Yu , Shuman Tristan
Published: September 2022

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A Virtual, Multi-Session Workshop Model for Integrating Patient and Public Perspectives in Research Analysis and Interpretation
Authors: Oravec Nebojša , Schultz Annette S.H. , Bjorklund Brian , Gregora April , Monnin Caroline , Dave Mudra G. , Duhamel Todd A. , Arora Rakesh C. , Chudyk Anna M.
Published: September 2022

The importance and value of engaging patients and the public as co-researchers (i.e., “patient engagement in research”) is becoming more evident, and guiding methods must be available for researchers conducting their work at different points along the engagement spectrum. This article provides a virtual workshop model for integrating patient and public stakeholder perspectives in data analysis and interpretation. The model is based upon a critical reflection on the methods that underlaid the consultation stage of our scoping review on patient and caregiver preferences for cardiac surgery. It involves four virtual workshop sessions held on separate days, each achieving the unique goals of (a) establishing participants’ technological literacy within the virtual platform, (b) obtaining responses to the research question, (c) introducing participant perspectives into research analysis and interpretation, and (d) prioritizing research findings or future research agendas. Further, a description of the considerations related to virtual engagement, including those pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion; features of the virtual platform; and roles for the research team are provided. This paper contributes toward a methodological toolkit for patient engagement in research, especially as an adjunct to research with otherwise minimal patient engagement. It also adds to the emerging literature on practical approaches to patient engagement in research as more engagement is occurring virtually.
Home-based digital health technologies for older adults to self-manage multiple chronic conditions: A data-informed analysis of user engagement from a longitudinal trial
Authors: Sheng Yiyang , Doyle Julie , Bond Raymond , Jaiswal Rajesh , Gavin Shane , Dinsmore John
Published: September 2022

Background

Ageing populations are resulting in higher prevalence of people with multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity). Digital health platforms have great potential to support self-management of multimorbidity, increasing a person's awareness of their health and well-being, supporting a better understanding of diseases and encouraging behaviour change. However, little research has explored the long-term engagement of older adults with such digital interventions.

Methods

The aim of this study is to analyse how 60 older adults with multimorbidity engaged with digital symptom and well-being monitoring through a digital health platform over a period of approximately 12 months. Data analysis focused on user retention, frequency of monitoring, intervals in monitoring and patterns of daily engagement.

Results

Our findings show that the overall engagement with the digital health platform was high, with more than 80% of participants using the technology devices for over 200 days. The submission frequency for symptom parameters (e.g. blood glucose (BG), blood pressure (BP), etc.) was between three and four times per week which was higher than that of self-report (2.24) and weight (2.84). Submissions of exercise (6.12) and sleep (5.67) were more frequent. The majority of interactions happened in the morning time. The most common time of submission for symptom parameters was 10 am, whereas 8 am was the most common time for weight measurements.

Conclusions

The findings indicate the patterns of engagement of older adults with complex chronic diseases with digital home-based self-management systems.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Frailty at 6 months Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With End-Stage OA
Authors: Kuwakado So , Kawaguchi Kenichi , Otsuka Hiroshi , Fujita Akio , Kusaba Ryuichi , Tokieda Miki , Fujiyoshi Daisuke , Kamishima Takahide , Fujino Eijiro , Motomura Goro , Hamai Satoshi , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Lower-limb osteoarthritis (OA) in the elderly can be a risk factor for frailty, which is the preliminary of disability, but it may be reversible with appropriate interventions. We aimed to use the Kihon Check List (KCL) to assess multiple domains of frailty and to identify the characteristics of frailty in patients with hip or knee OA following total joint arthroplasty.

Materials and Methods

This study included 136 ≥ 65-year-old patients (mean age: 73.0 years) who underwent total arthroplasty with end-stage hip and knee OA. We assessed frailty status, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to the KCL, functional ambulatory index (FAI) and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ5D), respectively, as well as the extent of pain preoperatively and at postoperative 6 months.

Results

Using KCL, seventy-eight (57.4%) patients were frail preoperatively, but the prevalence significantly decreased to 52 patients (38.2%) at postoperative 6 months. Total arthroplasty intervention provided significant improvements in the total KCL scores, including the physical domain ( P < .01), pain ( P < .01), FAI scores ( P < .01), and EQ5D ( P < .01), but not the social domain. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age at surgery (OR: .93, 95% CI: .86-.99) and preoperative FAI score (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19) as independent predictors of postoperative frailty.

Conclusions

Total arthroplasty procedures on patients with hip and knee OA reduced their KCL score, but social aspects were less improved than physical aspects in the shortterm. Older age and preoperative lower IADL score can be useful for accurately estimating less improvement of frailty in the early postoperative phase. Our results suggest that long term follow-up of OA is needed to provide comprehensive interventions, including in social aspects, especially for patients with lower activity.
PrEP Prescription for Black Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Alabama: Findings from a Survey of Healthcare Providers
Authors: Pratt Madeline C. , Hill Samantha V. , Elopre Latesha , Simpson Tina , Lanzi Robin , Matthews Lynn T.
Published: September 2022

Black adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective for HIV prevention, but prescription rates remain low. We conducted a survey of medical providers caring for Black AGYW in Alabama to explore PrEP prescription practices. While over half of the N = 36 providers reported minimal HIV testing of AGYW in clinic, most (N = 29, 81%) reported feeling confident discussing HIV prevention. Most reported willingness to prescribe PrEP to Black AGYW (58%-72%), but only 11 (31%) had prescribed PrEP to any female client. Low familiarity with CDC guidelines (N = 20, 56%) and PrEP options (N = 19, 53%) were barriers to prescription. Prescribing PrEP to AGYW was associated with provider training, with internal medicine providers being least likely to prescribe. These findings support the need to develop training tools to directly address unique training needs of providers who care for this population.
Translation and Theology: The Lord’s Prayer in Three Chinese Versions
Authors: Zha Changping
Published: September 2022

This study examines translations of the Lord’s Prayer in the Chinese Union Version, Today’s Chinese Version, and the Contemporary Chinese Version (New Testament), exploring how the doctrine of the incarnation is woven into these translations. The author explains how an ideal translation aims at “relevance in faithfulness.” Having provided his own rendering of the prayer, the author goes on to discuss the theology of God’s sovereignty and the theology of the cross that it demonstrates, concluding that biblical translation involves both a theological grasp of the text’s objective revelation and reflection on the subjective theological position(s) held by the translator.
Geotechnical characterization of Viña del Mar for areas where buildings were affected by mega-earthquakes in Central Chile
Authors: Villavicencio Gabriel , Suazo Gonzalo
Published: September 2022

Over the course of little more than a century, several large-magnitude earthquakes have struck Central Chile. In the area within the Marga-Marga basin in the city of Viña del Mar, notable damage to buildings suggests the occurrence of local seismic site effects. While seismic microzonation studies have attempted to explain such effects, the geotechnical characteristics adopted are generally oversimplified. This article addresses this with a thorough geotechnical characterization of the areas in Viña del Mar that sustained outsized damage to structures. The article provides a robust and updated geotechnical and geophysical database of the area, with additional analysis from records of the city’s urban development, geomorphology, and geology features. The study builds on geotechnical data from previous seismic zonation studies following the 3 March 1985 earthquake; building design projects undertaken between 1977 and 2018, including 89 standard penetration test (SPT) boreholes, 58 dynamic cone penetration tests (DCPT), 18 refraction microtremor surveys (ReMI), and 16 Down-Hole tests; and rock depth estimates from 63 horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) tests. These data were used in data spatialization techniques to model geotechnical units along one (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) profiles, for the foundations of buildings damaged after the 1906, 1985, and 2010 earthquakes. The results show the existence of deep the existence of deep soft soils, high impedance contrast between geotechnical units shape of rock, and the dynamic soil properties can explain the damage observed in the studied area damage in the studied area. The study provides significant background and experimental information for the area, where there is enough seismic potential available to produce a large earthquake in the coming decades of similar characteristics as the 1730 Valparaiso earthquake (9.1–9.3 Mw).
Combining default choices and an encounter decision aid to improve tobacco cessation in primary care patients: protocol for a cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Hempel-Bruder Christina , Habfast-Robertson Inès , Durand Marie-Anne , Berlin Ivan , Marti Joachim , Khazaal Yasser , Quinto Carlos , Faouzi Mohamed , Selby Kevin
Published: September 2022

Background

While quitting smoking dramatically decreases overall mortality, general practitioners (GPs) are less likely to prescribe medications for smoking cessation than other cardiovascular risk factors. Guidelines recommend providers first assess patients’ “readiness” to quit, an “opt-in” strategy, but only a minority of tobacco users are ready to quit on a given day. An “opt-out” strategy offering treatment as the default choice increased quit attempts in hospital and with pregnant women, but has not been tested in primary care. We will assess the efficacy of training GPs to offer treatment as the default choice using an encounter decision aid with current smokers seen in primary care.

Methods

This is a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled superiority trial with block randomization at the GP level in private practice in French-speaking Switzerland. GPs will be blinded to the arm allocation. The intervention is a half-day training course teaching an ‘opt-out’ approach to smoking cessation using an encounter decision aid (paper or electronic). GPs in the enhanced usual care group receives a brief refresher training about smoking cessation without changing their behaviour. GPs in both arms will recruit 23 patients each prior to routine primary care visits. The primary outcome is the effect of consulting a GP who received the intervention on the 7-day, point prevalence, smoking abstinence 6 months after the baseline appointment. Secondary outcomes include continuous abstinence; number of quit attempts; use of smoking cessation aids; patient-perceived involvement in discussions; and changes in GP behaviour. Patient outcomes will be collected using paper and telephone questionnaires. Assuming 15% drop-out, recruiting 46 GPs with 23 patients each will give us 80% power to detect an increase in smoking cessation from 4% (control) to 10.5% (intervention), with an alpha < 0.05.

Discussion

GP visits are an opportunity to administer proven smoking cessation treatments. We hypothesize GPs offering smoking cessation treatment as the default choice using an encounter decision aid will increase the number of patients who quit. This study could significantly change our approach to smoking cessation in primary care. Default choices and the electronic decision aid are low-cost, easily diffusible interventions.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04868474, First Posted May 3, 2021, Last Update Posted October 6, 2021.
Machine learning-derived prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with severe acute respiratory infection: analysis of claims data from the German-wide Helios hospital network
Authors: Leiner Johannes , Pellissier Vincent , König Sebastian , Hohenstein Sven , Ueberham Laura , Nachtigall Irit , Meier-Hellmann Andreas , Kuhlen Ralf , Hindricks Gerhard , Bollmann Andreas
Published: September 2022

Background

Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) are the most common infectious causes of death. Previous work regarding mortality prediction models for SARI using machine learning (ML) algorithms that can be useful for both individual risk stratification and quality of care assessment is scarce. We aimed to develop reliable models for mortality prediction in SARI patients utilizing ML algorithms and compare its performances with a classic regression analysis approach.

Methods

Administrative data (dataset randomly split 75%/25% for model training/testing) from years 2016–2019 of 86 German Helios hospitals was retrospectively analyzed. Inpatient SARI cases were defined by ICD-codes J09-J22. Three ML algorithms were evaluated and its performance compared to generalized linear models (GLM) by computing receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC).

Results

The dataset contained 241,988 inpatient SARI cases (75 years or older: 49%; male 56.2%). In-hospital mortality was 11.6%. AUC and AUPRC in the testing dataset were 0.83 and 0.372 for GLM, 0.831 and 0.384 for random forest (RF), 0.834 and 0.382 for single layer neural network (NNET) and 0.834 and 0.389 for extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Statistical comparison of ROC AUCs revealed a better performance of NNET and XGBoost as compared to GLM.

Conclusion

ML algorithms for predicting in-hospital mortality were trained and tested on a large real-world administrative dataset of SARI patients and showed good discriminatory performances. Broad application of our models in clinical routine practice can contribute to patients’ risk assessment and quality management.
Effect of climate change on earthworks of infrastructure: statistical evaluation of the cause of dike pavement cracks
Authors: Illés Zsombor , Nagy László
Published: September 2022

The flood protection embankments of Hungary and Europe face numerous challenges. Some dike bases were constructed more than 200 years ago; since then, they have been elevated and extended. Because of these iterative adaptations, the dikes bear many construction errors, which can trigger failures and slides. Due to climate change, droughts and low-water periods of the rivers in central Europe are becoming more frequent. As a result of these effects, the water balance of the dikes can alter and desiccate in the long term. The most staggering fissures appeared on dikes built from clays susceptible to volume change. The General Directorate of Water Management ordered a comprehensive survey of dike pavement cracks in Hungary. This was one of the most extensive surveys of such kind. Hungary has some 4400 km of primary flood protection embankments, out of which 1250 km is paved. There are multiple reasons why the pavement of an embankment can crack. The main features of crack patterns related to clays with shrink-swell potential are identified. The results of international studies and the present survey are synthesised. The main objective of this paper is to draw a correlation between drought (aridity) zones, plasticity index of the soil samples, and crack thickness.
Population and Poverty in Ireland on the Eve of the Great Famine
Authors: Fernihough Alan , Ó Gráda Cormac
Published: September 2022

We revisit the link between demographic pressure and economic conditions in pre-Famine Ireland and harness highly disaggregated parish-level data from the 1841 census in our analysis. The results indicate that on the eve of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s, population pressure was positively associated with two measures of poverty—illiteracy and the prevalence of poor-quality housing. Malthus mattered in the sense that our results indicate that a “no population growth” scenario between 1800 and 1841 would have led to a 6% improvement in poor-quality housing and a 4% reduction in illiteracy. However, the strength of this relationship is reduced when additional explanatory factors are considered, and factors relating to location and economic geography offer greater explanatory power. Incorporation of data from the 1821 census reveals that in the two decades before 1841, population growth was fastest in areas under less population pressure, supporting the notion that preventive check forces were at play. These findings are consistent with some elements of Malthusian theory, although ultimately they refute the notion that overpopulation was the principal cause of pre-Famine Irish poverty.
Αποσπάσματα μυθοπλασίας
Authors: Χασκής Κωνσταντίνος
Published: September 2022

Στη διδακτορική μας διατριβή επιχειρούμε να μελετήσουμε τους τρόπους, με τους οποίους οι θεωρούμενοι ως ελάσσονες ποιητές του 5ου και 4ου αι. π.Χ. αξιοποίησαν στις τραγικές τους δημιουργίες τους μύθους, που σχετίζονται με τους μυθικούς οίκους του Κάδμου, του Μινύα, του Οινέως και του Πηλέως. Με άλλα λόγια, διευρευνούμε το μυθολογικό υπόβαθρο, που αποκαλύπτεται από τη μελέτη του περιεχομένου των υποθέσεων των αποσπασματικά διασωζόμενων τραγωδιών των ελασσόνων ποιητών, αντλώντας πληροφορίες από τη σχετική μυθολογική παράδοση, όπως αυτή αποτυπώνεται στο έπος, τη λυρική ποίηση και τους μείζονες τραγικούς ποιητές, ώστε να κατανοήσουμε τον τρόπο ανάπλασής τους από τους ελάσσονες τραγικούς στις ποιητικές τους συνθέσεις. Παρά τον πλούτο των πρόσφατων ερευνών πάνω στα ποικίλα προβλήματα, που ανακύπτουν από τη μελέτη του διασωθέντος έργου των ελασσόνων τραγικών, εργασίες τις οποίες θα παρουσιάσουμε στην εισαγωγή μας, η διεξοδική παρουσίαση και διερεύνηση του τρόπου, με τον οποίο οι ελάσσονες τραγικοί του 5ου και του 4ου αι. π.Χ. χειρίστηκαν τους τραγικούς μύθους, αποτελεί ακόμη ζητούμενο της έρευνας. Στην εισαγωγή παρουσιάζεται η επισκόπηση της προηγούμενης έρευνας, η δομή και οι στόχοι της διατριβής. Στο πρώτο μέρος της μελέτης, το οποίο καταλαμβάνει και τη μεγαλύτερη έκταση, διερευνάται το μυθολογικό υπόβαθρο των διασωθέντων τραγικών αποσπασμάτων, των οποίων η πιθανή υπόθεση είναι εμπνευσμένη από τους θηβαϊκούς μύθους. Στο δεύτερο μέρος εξετάζεται ο τρόπος ανασύνθεσης του μύθου στα μοναδικά δύο διασωθέντα απόσπασματα, η πιθανή υπόθεση των οποίων σχετίζεται με τους μύθους του Ορχομενού. Στο τρίτο μέρος διερευνάται η αξιοποίηση του μύθου από τους ελάσσονες δραματουργούς στην πλοκή των διασωζόμενων αποσπασμάτων, που αντλούν την έμπνευσή τους από τους μύθους της Αιτωλίας. Στο τέταρτο μέρος εξετάζεται η ανάπλαση του μύθου από τους ελάσσονες ποιητές στα διασωθέντα τραγικά αποσπάσματα, των οποίων η πιθανή πλοκή είναι εμπνευσμένη από τους μύθους της περιοχής της Φθίας. Στο πέμπτο μέρος με βάση τα πορίσματα, που προκύπτουν από την έρευνά μας, διατυπώνουμε ορισμένα επιμέρους συμπεράσματα και διερευνούμε τον πιθανό τρόπο, με τον οποίο οι ελάσσονες δραματουργοί πραγματεύτηκαν στη μετακλασική περίοδο τους τέσσερις προαναφερθέντες μυθολογικούς κύκλους. Έπονται τα γενικά συμπεράσματα και το επίμετρο, όπου πραγματοποιείται μια συνοπτική θεώρηση των μυθολογικών κύκλων, ώστε ο αναγνώστης να έχει πληρέστερη εικόνα. Στο επίμετρο, οι παραπομπές περιορίζονται μόνο στις πρωτογενείς πηγές. Ωστόσο, σε κάθε κεφάλαιο του επιμέτρου παρατίθεται ενδεικτική βιβλιογραφία δευτερογενών πηγών. Η διατριβή ολοκληρώνεται με τους πίνακες βιβλιογραφίας και τους χρονολογικούς πίνακες των υπό εξέταση τραγικών συγγραφέων και των έργων τους.
Η Εβραϊκή επιχειρηματικότητα στη Θεσσαλονίκη 1900-1950
Authors: Καρατζόγλου Ιωάννης
Published: September 2022

Η διατριβή παρουσιάζει την εβραϊκή επιχειρηματικότητα στη Θεσσαλονίκη από την ακμή της στις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα, τη μείωσή της μετά την έλευση των προσφύγων από την Ανατολή και την καταστροφή της στην γερμανική κατοχή, με την εκτόπιση του εβραϊκού πληθυσμού της πόλης στα στρατόπεδα του θανάτου. Παρακολουθεί τα γεγονότα στα 3,5 χρόνια της κατοχής, την εικόνα που παρουσίαζε η αγορά της πόλης με το βλέμμα του Εμπορικού Επιμελητηρίου και του Τύπου της εποχής, την πείνα και την μαύρη αγορά. Η διατριβή παρουσιάζει για πρώτη φορά στην ιστοριογραφία την διαδικασία λεηλασίας των εβραϊκών επιχειρήσεων από τις Αρχές Κατοχής και τους διορισθέντες μεσεγγυούχους που διαχειρίστηκαν τα κενά εβραϊκά καταστήματα αποκτώντας μεγάλες περιουσίες από την εκποίηση των εμπορευμάτων τους.Επίσης η διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στο φαινόμενο του δοσιλογισμού στη Θεσσαλονίκη κατά την περίοδο της γερμανικής Κατοχής αναλύοντας επίσης για πρώτη φορά στην ιστοριογραφία τις διάφορες μορφές δοσιλογισμού και την εθνοτική καταγωγή των δοσιλόγων.Ακόμα η διατριβή εντοπίζει τους κατοίκους της πόλης που πλούτισαν κατά την διάρκεια του πολέμου και της κατοχής, και αναγκάστηκαν να πληρώσουν τον σχετικό φόρο μετά την απελευθέρωση.Τέλος η διατριβή ασχολείται με τις εβραϊκές επιχειρήσεις που ανασυστάθηκαν μετά την κατοχή αποτελώντας πλέον ένα μικρό ποσοστό του συνόλου των επιχειρήσεων της πόλης
Comparison of the efficacy of erector spinae plane block according to the difference in bupivacaine concentrations for analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Park Yoo Jung , Chu Sujung , Yu Eunju , Joo Jin Deok
Published: September 2022

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a noninvasive surgery, but postoperative pain is a major problem. Studies have indicated that erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has an analgesic effect after LC. We aimed to compare the efficacy of different ESPB anesthetic concentrations in pain control in patients with LC.Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged 20 to 75 years scheduled for LC with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I or II. ESPB was administered using 0.375% bupivacaine in group 1 and 0.25% in group 2. Both groups received general anesthesia. Postoperative tramadol consumption and pain scores were compared and intraoperative and postoperative fentanyl requirements in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) were measured.Results: Eighty-five patients were included in this analysis. Tramadol consumption in the first 12 hours, second 12 hours, and total 24 hours was similar between groups (p>0.05). The differences between postoperative numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at rest did not differ significantly. The postoperative NRS scores upon bodily movement were not statistically different between the two groups, except at 12 hours. The mean intraoperative and postoperative fentanyl requirements in the PACU were similar. The difference in the requirement for rescue analgesics was not statistically significant (p=0.788). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided ESPB performed with different bupivacaine concentrations was effective in both groups for LC analgesia, with similar opioid consumption. A lower concentration of local anesthetic can be helpful for the safety of regional anesthesia and is recommended for the analgesic effect of ESPB in LC.
Comparative structural insight into the unidirectional catalysis of ornithine carbamoyltransferases from Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119
Authors: Do Hackwon , Nguyen Dieu Linh , Lee Chang Woo , Lee Min Ju , Oh Hoejung , Hwang Jisub , Han Se Jong , Lee Sung Gu , Lee Jun Hyuck
Published: September 2022

Ornithine carbamoyltransferases (OTCs) are involved in the arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway and in arginine biosynthesis. Two OTCs in a pair are named catalytic OTC (cOTC) and anabolic OTC (aOTC). The cOTC is responsible for catalyzing the third step of the ADI pathway to catabolize citrulline into carbamoyl phosphate (CP), as well as ornithine, and displays CP cooperativity. In contrast, aOTC catalyzes the biosynthesis of citrulline from CP and ornithine in vivo and is thus involved in arginine biosynthesis. Structural and biochemical analyses were employed to investigate the CP cooperativity and unidirectional function of two sequentially similar OTCs (32.4% identity) named Ps_cOTC and Ps_aOTC from Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119. Comparison of the trimeric structure of these two OTCs indicated that the 80s loop of Ps_cOTC has a unique conformation that may influence cooperativity by connecting the CP binding site and the center of the trimer. The corresponding 80s loop region of in Ps_aOTC was neither close to the CP binding site nor connected to the trimer center. In addition, results from the thermal shift assay indicate that each OTC prefers the substrate for the unidirectional process. The active site exhibited a blocked binding site for CP in the Ps_cOTC structure, whereas residues at the active site in Ps_aOTC established a binding site to facilitate CP binding. Our data provide novel insights into the unidirectional catalysis of OTCs and cooperativity, which are distinguishable features of two metabolically specialized proteins.
Knowledge of chronic kidney disease among undergraduate and postgraduate students in a public university in Klang Valley, Malaysia: A cross sectional study
Authors: Loo Lean Cheong , Ong Kah Wei , Ahmad Nidzwal Aida Khalisha , Razali Muhammad Helmi , Ahmad Nizal , Naim Azlinah , Daud Faiz , Abdul Gafor Abdul Halim , Ahmad Norfazilah
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity among the young Malaysians are increasing. Understanding the factors associated with CKD knowledge could assists healthcare providers to design health education programmes. There are scarce local studies on CKD knowledge and its associated factors among university students. This subpopulation comprises of young people with diverse background and characteristics. This study was aimed to assess the CKD knowledge and its associated factors among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students from July 2020 to August 2020. A convenience sampling method was applied. All students were invited to complete an online survey using Google Forms that were sent to their email. The survey consisted of questions related to their sociodemographic, socioeconomics, university programme enrolled, medical history, lifestyle characteristics and CKD knowledge. The data were analysed using SPSS Statistics 26.0. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the final associated factors after controlling for confounders. A total of 3074 students participated and 32.6% of them had below average CKD knowledge. Students of male gender, enrolment in undergraduate programmes and non-health-related faculties/institutes were more likely to have below average CKD knowledge. Students who are Chinese, from high monthly household income family and with family history of CKD were less likely to have below average CKD knowledge. Almost one-third of the students had below average CKD knowledge. The six associated factors with CKD knowledge were non-modifiable. Of the six factors, three were associated with students being more likely to have below average CKD knowledge; another three were associated with students being less likely to have below average CKD knowledge. Future health education programmes to enhance CKD knowledge should be designed focusing on students who are more likely to have below average CKD knowledge.
Treatment-seeking and recovery among young undernourished children post-hospital discharge in Bangladesh: A qualitative study
Authors: Uddin Md. Fakhar , Molyneux Sassy , Muraya Kui , Jemutai Julie , Berkley James A. , Walson Judd L. , Hossain Md. Alamgir , Islam Md. Aminul , Zakayo Scholastica M. , Njeru Rita Wanjuki , Ahmed Tahmeed , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer , Sarma Haribondhu
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Post-hospital discharge mortality is high among undernourished children in many low and middle-income countries. Although a number of quantitative studies have highlighted a range of potential socio-cultural, economic and health system factors influencing paediatric post-discharge treatment-seeking and recovery, few studies have explored family and provider perspectives of the post-discharge period in-depth.

Methods

This work was part of a large, multi-country prospective cohort study, the Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network. We conducted a qualitative sub-study to understand the post-discharge treatment-seeking and recovery experiences of families of undernourished children aged 2–23 months admitted in a rural and urban icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) hospital. Methods included repeat in-depth interviews (73 interviews in total) with 29 family members of 17 purposively selected children. These data were supplemented by interviews with 33 health workers, and by observations in hospitals and homes.

Results

Important drivers of treatment-seeking perceived to support recovery included advice provided to family members while in hospital, media campaigns on hygiene practice, availability of free treatment, and social and financial support from family members, relatives and neighbours. Key perceived challenges included low household incomes, mothers having to juggle multiple responsibilities in addition to caring for the sick child, lack of support (sometimes violence) from the child’s father, and family members’ preference for relatively accessible drug shops, physicians or healers over hospital admission.

Conclusion

Development of interventions that address the challenges that families face is essential to support post-discharge adherence to medical advice and recovery. Potential interventions include strengthening information giving during hospitalization on what post-discharge care is needed and why, reducing direct and indirect costs associated with hospital visits, engaging fathers and other ‘significant others’ in post-discharge advice, and building mobile phone-based support for follow-up care.
FEATURES OF EMERGENCY HOUSING STOCK MANAGEMENT IN THE ALTAI TERRITORY AS A FACTOR OF URBAN IMPROVEMENT AND COMFORT OF LIVING OF THE POPULATION
Authors: Koroleva E. N. , Mishchenko Val. V. , Koroleva O. N. , Speranskaya N. Y.
Published: September 2022

The article is devoted to the issues of resettlement of emergency housing stock on the territory of the Altai Territory. The authors conducted a review of the existing state of the housing stock, a comparative analysis of data, research materials on this issue.

As a result, the problems of the implementation of housing stock settlement in the city of Barnaul were formulated proposals formulated its mechanism. The proposals indicated in the article can be implemented not only on the territory of the city of Barnaul, but also in all cities of both the Altai Territory and the Russian Federation.

The problems of the urban emergency housing stock identified in the article and the outlined proposals for the implementation mechanism: preparation of programs, redistribution of funding, creation of a regulatory framework, etc. will increase the comfort of residents and increase the comprehensive improvement of cities. Authorities at all levels will have the opportunity to provide targeted assistance to residents in the first place, when there is an urgent need.
Surgical Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction Caused by Intramural Anomalous Left Coronary Artery in a Young Female Athlete
Authors: Saitto Guglielmo , Lio Antonio , Polizzi Vincenzo , Russo Marco , Nicolò Francesca , Ranocchi Federico , Musumeci Francesco
Published: September 2022

In the complex spectrum of coronary anomalies, the origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva with intramural course could represent a catastrophic life-threatening condition leading to extensive myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, especially in young athletes. We report the case of a young female athlete with anomalous left coronary artery from the opposite sinus who survived a major non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction during the eighth kilometer of a running race. It was successfully treated by creating a neo-ostium of the left coronary artery in the left sinus at the point at which the artery left the aortic wall.