bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of ageing on the mechanical properties of cold formed S700 rectangular hollow
Authors: Kaijalainen A , Mourujärvi J , Tulonen J , Steen P , Kömi J
Published: September 2021

The aim of this work is to study the effect of ageing (250 °C for 1 h) on the mechanical properties of the cold formed S700 rectangular hollow section. The investigated hot rolled steel strip was produced thermomechanical rolling followed by direct quenching. The dimension of the investigated hollow section was 120 x 120 x 10 mm and the corner radii and the other tolerances compliant with EN 10219. Tensile properties and Charpy-V impact toughness were determined for the base material and flat and corner area of the hollow section. The results showed that the tensile strength in the corner was slightly higher in comparison with the flat side, revealing higher cold deformation rate in the corner. Ageing increased the strength level relatively higher than cold forming without losing any elongation properties. The impact energies were at the high level at −40°C and −60°C in cold formed and aged materials. Even at −80°C, the CV results were 118 J/cm2. It is also notable that no difference in CV values between the flat and the corner samples were observed. Thus, the results showed that the flat side specimens testing provides sufficient information of mechanical properties of the cold formed rectangular hollow sections and no need demanding corner sample testing when the structural hollow section is produced by using the thermomechanical controlled and direct-quenched base material. Furthermore, results showed that cold formed S700 is excellent for offshore steels, as steels are used even colder conditions as before.
Effect of high-energy attrition milling and La2O3 content on the microstructure of Mo-La2O3 composite powders
Authors: Komarov P , Tkachenko S , Remešová M , Deák A , Crawford D , Casas-Luna M , Bednaříková V , Bodoki E , Cihlář J , Čelko L
Published: September 2021

Mo-La2O3 composites are potential high-temperature materials for future technology devices operating at temperatures above 1300 °C because of their excellent thermal stability, high mechanical properties and good creep resistance. In this study, we focused on the preparation of Mo-matrix/lanthanum oxide (La2O3) composite powders using high-energy attrition milling. The effects of rotational milling speed (350 and 800 rpm) and La2O3 content (2.5 and 10 vol. %) on the microstructural evolution, phase composition, morphology, and distribution of the second phase in the produced composite Mo-La2O3 powders were investigated in details. The results show that the most interesting composite powder was Mo-10 vol.% La2O3 produced using a rotational speed of 800 rpm, which exhibited better distribution, smaller particle size and higher amount of ceramic phase introduced in the interiors of the Mo grains.
Environmental impact on the life of a polymeric composite with polyamide matrix and glass fibres
Authors: Markovičová L. , Zatkalíková V. , Kojnoková T.
Published: September 2021

Polymer construction materials in composite design achieve high strength, have high chemical and thermal resistance as well as resistance to UV radiation. Due to the fact that polymer composites are often used for a long time outdoors, they are exposed to the weather and living organisms. The polymer composite PA66 + GF30 was used in the experiment. The composite consists of a polyamide matrix (PA) and a short glass fiber. Samples of the composite were subjected to accelerated aging in a UV chamber under precisely defined conditions. After UV degradation, the samples were still exposed in wet soil. After exposure, the samples were evaluated for a change in weight and a change in absorption in boiling water. Changes in the surface topography of the samples were evaluated using a light microscope.
Analysis of forming capacity of HCT490X and DX57D depending on strain rate
Authors: Novák V , Valeš M , Tatíček F , Šanovec J , Chrášt’anský L
Published: September 2021

To evaluate the forming capacity in sheet metal forming, experimentally determined Forming Limit Curves (FLC) are often used. These curves represent the forming limits of a material. The most widely used approach to experimentally determine the onset of necking of sheet metals is formulated in EN ISO 12004-2. The first goal of this work is to investigate the limit strains for dual-phase steel HCT490X (commonly referred to as DP500) with a nominal thickness of 0.6 mm and deep drawing steel DX57D with a nominal thickness of 0.7 mm. The second goal is to evaluate the influence of punch speed (resulting in strain rate) on the position of forming limit curve for materials HCT490X and DX57D. The FLC curve is measured with the Nakajima test on a universal testing machine BUP 600. The test setup and the shape of the specimens follow EN ISO 12004-2. The stochastic, isotropic, and high contrast pattern was applied on the specimens and was measured using a 3D photogrammetric system ARAMIS by GOM. The punch movement velocity was gradually changed, and the experimentally measured results are compared with numerical simulation in AutoForm Forming R8.
A note on spectral multipliers on Engel and Cartan groups
Authors: Chatzakou Marianna
Published: September 2021

The aim of this short note is to give examples of

L
p

L^p

-

L
q

L^q

bounded spectral multipliers for operators involving left-invariant vector fields and their inverses, in the settings of Engel and Cartan groups. The interest in such examples lies in the fact that a group does not have to have flat co-adjoint orbits, and that the considered operator is not related to the usual sub-Laplacian. The discussed examples show how one can still obtain

L
p

L^p

-

L
q

L^q

estimates for similar operators in such settings. As immediate consequences, one gets the corresponding Sobolev-type inequalities and heat kernel estimates.
A lower bound for 𝐿₂ length of second fundamental form on minimal hypersurfaces
Authors: Ge Jianquan , Li Fagui
Published: September 2021

We prove a weak version of the Perdomo Conjecture, namely, there is a positive constant

δ
(
n
)
>
0

\delta (n)>0

depending only on

n
n

such that on any closed embedded, non-totally geodesic, minimal hypersurface

M
n

M^n

in

S

n
+
1

\mathbb {S}^{n+1}

,

∫

M

S
≥
δ
(
n
)
Vol
⁡
(

M
n

)
,

\begin{equation*} \int _{M}S \geq \delta (n)\operatorname {Vol}(M^n), \end{equation*}

where

S
S

is the squared length of the second fundamental form of

M
n

M^n

. The Perdomo Conjecture asserts that

δ
(
n
)
=
n

\delta (n)=n

which is still open in general. As byproducts, we also obtain some integral inequalities and Simons-type pinching results on closed embedded (or immersed) minimal hypersurfaces, with the first positive eigenvalue

λ
1

(
M
)

\lambda _1(M)

of the Laplacian involved.
A hypergeometric proof that 𝖨𝗌𝗈 is bijective
Authors: Bostan Alin , Yurkevich Sergey
Published: September 2021

We provide a short and elementary proof of the main technical result of the recent article “Uniqueness of Clifford torus with prescribed isoperimetric ratio” by Thomas Yu and Jingmin Chen [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 150 (2022), pp. 1749–1765]. The key of the new proof is an explicit expression of the central function (

I
s
o

\mathsf {Iso}

, to be proved bijective) as a quotient of Gaussian hypergeometric functions.
Real Lie groups and o-minimality
Authors: Conversano Annalisa , Onshuus Alf , Post Sacha
Published: September 2021

We characterize, up to Lie isomorphism, the real Lie groups that are definable in an o-minimal expansion of the real field. For any such group, we find a Lie-isomorphic group definable in

R

exp

\mathbb {R}_{\exp }

for which any Lie automorphism is definable.
Evaluation of Endovascular Therapy for Unilateral Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis Using Measurements of Differential Renal Function
Authors: Zhou You , Kou Lei , Yang Yao-guo , Jiao Jian , Tang Xiao-bin , Wu Zhang-min , Liu Hui , Wang Sheng , Chen Zhong
Published: September 2021

Background

To evaluate the efficacy of endovascular therapy in patients with unilateral arteriosclerotic renal artery stenosis using nuclide renal dynamic imaging and to analyze the influencing factors that may affect the renal function.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was made on 60 patients with >70% unilateral arteriosclerotic renal artery stenosis who underwent renal artery stent implantation. Serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, renal artery color Doppler ultrasonography, and renal dynamic imaging results were obtained before and after 1 year of operation. A regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors.

Results

All patients underwent balloon dilatation and stenting of the affected renal artery. The immediate intervention success rate was 100%. The residual stenosis of the affected renal artery was less than 20%. No serious complications occurred during the perioperative period. After operation, systolic blood and diastolic blood pressures were improved (P < 0.01), the serum creatinine was stable (P = 0.25), and the degree of renal artery stenosis of the affected side was relieved significantly (P < 0.01). One year after operation, the patency rate of renal artery stent was 85%. Based on the changes of differential glomerular filtration rate of the affected side, 40 patients (66.7%) were improved while 20 patients (33.3%) were not. A linear regression analysis showed that the renal insufficiency of the affected side before operation was the only significant influencing factor (B = 0.50, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Renal artery stenting is safe and effective in the treatment of unilateral renal artery stenosis. One-year patency rate is 85%. Two-thirds of the patients have an improved renal function after operation. The patients with preoperative renal insufficiency of affected side are more likely to benefit from renal artery stenting.
Histopathological Evaluation of Deceased Persons in Lusaka, Zambia With or Without Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection: Results Obtained From Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling
Authors: Mudenda Victor , Mumba Chibamba , Pieciak Rachel C , Mwananyanda Lawrence , Chimoga Charles , Ngoma Benard , Mupila Zacharia , Kwenda Geoffrey , Forman Leah , Lapidot Rotem , MacLeod William B , Thea Donald M , Gill Christopher J
Published: September 2021

Background

Although much has been learned about the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, pathology data from patients who have died of COVID-19 in low- and middle-income country settings remain sparse. We integrated minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) into an ongoing postmortem surveillance study of COVID-19 in deceased individuals of all ages in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods

We enrolled deceased subjects from the University Teaching Hospital Morgue in Lusaka, Zambia within 48 hours of death. We collected clinical and demographic information, a nasopharyngeal swab, and core tissue biopsies from the lung, liver, and kidneys for pathologic analysis. Individuals were considered eligible for MITS if they had a respiratory syndrome prior to death or a COVID-19+ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nasopharyngeal swab specimen. Samples were retested using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR.

Results

From June to September 2020 we performed MITS on 29 deceased individuals. PCR results were available for 28/29 (96.5%) cases. Three had a COVID-19+ diagnosis antemortem, and 5 more were identified postmortem using the recommended cycle threshold cut-point <40. When expanding the PCR threshold to 40 ≤ cycle threshold (Ct) ≤ 45, we identified 1 additional case. Most cases were male and occurred in the community The median age at death was 47 years (range 40–64). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, tuberculosis, and diabetes were more common among the COVID-19+ cases. Diffuse alveolar damage and interstitial pneumonitis were common among COVID-19+ cases; nonspecific findings of hepatic steatosis and acute kidney injury were also prevalent in the COVID-19+ group. Vascular thrombi were rarely detected.

Conclusions

Lung abnormalities typical of viral pneumonias were common among deceased COVID-19+ individuals, as were nonspecific findings in the liver and kidneys. Pulmonary vascular thrombi were rarely detected, which could be a limitation of the MITS technique. Nonetheless, MITS offers a valuable alternative to open autopsy for understanding pathological changes due to COVID-19.
On the Probability and Automatic Search of Rotational-XOR Cryptanalysis on ARX Ciphers
Authors: Huang Mingjiang , Xu Zhen , Wang Liming
Published: September 2021

Rotational-XOR cryptanalysis is a very recent technique for ARX ciphers. In this paper, the probability propagation formula of RX-cryptanalysis in modular addition is extended, and the calculation of RX-difference probability for any rotation parameter ($0<k<n$) can be realized. By proposing a concept of RX-offset and constructing the corresponding distribution table, the propagation of RX-difference in modular addition can be derived from the propagation of XOR-difference. Combined with the improvement of the automatic search tool for XOR-differential characteristics of ARX ciphers, we only need to add one more operation in each round, i.e. traverse the possible value of RX-offset and XOR it with the output XOR-difference of modular addition, thus it can achieve the search for RX-differential characteristics. With this method, the RX-differential distinguisher of ARX-C primitives without or with linear key schedule can be searched. For the applications, we have obtained the third-party RX-cryptanalysis results for Alzette and CHAM for the first time as far as we know.
Couples’ Life Courses and Women’s Income in Later Life: A Multichannel Sequence Analysis of Linked Lives in Germany
Authors: Möhring Katja , Weiland Andreas P
Published: September 2021

We examine how the life courses of couples in East and West Germany are linked to women’s income in later life using multichannel sequence analysis. By applying a couple perspective, we overcome the individualistic approach in most previous research analysing women’s old-age income. Detailed monthly information on spouses’ employment and earnings trajectories from age 20 to 50 for the birth cohorts 1925–1965 (N = 2020) stems from SHARE-RV, a data linkage of the administrative records of the German public pension insurance with the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We identify seven clusters of couples’ life courses and link them to women’s absolute individual and relative household income in later life using a cohort comparison to identify trends over time. While in older cohorts, women in male-breadwinner type clusters achieve the lowest, and those in dual-earner type couples have the highest incomes, this relationship does no longer prevail in younger cohorts. Here, we identify a polarization in dual-earner and male-breadwinner type clusters. The former increasingly diverge into successful female-breadwinner constellations and those with both partners in marginalized careers. The latter polarize between persistent male-breadwinner constellations and those in which women increase their labor market engagement.
Heat Stress Affects the Physiological and Biochemical Quality of Dalbergia nigra Seeds in vitro
Authors: Medeiros Simões Ingridh , Oliveira Baptista Julcinara , Lins Monteiro Rosa Thuanny , de Mello Tamyris , de Araujo Caroline Palacio , de Lima Paula Aparecida Muniz , dos Anjos Breno Benvindo , de Oliveira João Paulo Bestete , Winckler Caldeira Marcos Vinicius , Campos Otoni Wagner , Sobreira Alexandre Rodrigo , Carlos Lopes José
Published: September 2021

The jacaranda of Bahia (Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Allemão ex Benth) is an endemic tree of a Brazilian neotropical biodiversity hotspot and is of great ecological and economic interest. Given the threat of extinction due to timber overexploitation and climate change, the present study aimed to analyze the physiological and biochemical quality of D. nigra seeds exposed to heat stress. The seeds were sown in a test tube containing woody plant culture medium, kept in a biochemical oxygen demand chamber at 45°C for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, and then maintained in the same chamber at 25°C for 30 days. Physiological analyses of moisture, electrical conductivity, germination speed index, normal and abnormal seedlings, seedling length, root length, hypocotyl length, collar diameter, seedling and root dry mass, and Dickson quality index revealed a drop in germination and vigor with prolonged heat stress, dropping from 95% to 0% between 0 and 96 hours. This was accompanied by a reduction in the content of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Therefore, the vigor and quality of seedlings is negatively influenced by exposure to heat stress at 45°C.
A draft genome assembly for the eastern fox squirrel,Sciurus niger
Authors: Kang Lin , Michalak Pawel , Hallerman Eric , Moncrief Nancy D
Published: September 2021

The eastern fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, exhibits marked geographic variation in size and coat color, is a model organism for studies of behavior and ecology, and a potential model for investigating physiological solutions to human porphyrias. We assembled a genome using Illumina HiSeq, PacBio SMRT, and Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing platforms. Together, the sequencing data resulted in a draft genome of 2.99 Gb, containing 32,830 scaffolds with an average size of 90.9 Kb and N50 of 183.8 Kb. Genome completeness was estimated to be 93.78%. A total of 24,443 protein-encoding genes were predicted from the assembly and 23,079 (94.42%) were annotated. Repeat elements comprised an estimated 38.49% of the genome, with the majority being LINEs (13.92%), SINEs (6.04%), and LTR elements. The topology of the species tree reconstructed using maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis was congruent with those of previous studies. This genome assembly can prove useful for comparative studies of genome structure and function in this rapidly diversifying lineage of mammals, for studies of population genomics and adaptation, and for biomedical research. Predicted amino acid sequence alignments for genes affecting heme biosynthesis, color vision, and hibernation showed point mutations and indels that may affect protein function and ecological adaptation.
Measuring the effects of prenatal care on child birth weight in Cameroon
Authors: Liliane Odette Medjo Obia
Published: September 2021

Low birth weight continues to be a significant public health problem worldwide with a range of short- and long-term consequences. However, the analysis of its determinants remains a less addressed issue in sub-Saharan African countries despite the poor child health indicators observed there. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of prenatal care on child birth weight in Cameroon, using data from the fifth Demographic and Health Survey. For this purpose, we use a system of simultaneous equations that takes into account potential endogeneity and sample selection bias. Two measures of prenatal care are used in this study, namely, adequacy and quality. Estimation of the birth weight production function using the instrumental variable two-stage least square approach reveals that adequate prenatal care increases the child’s birth weight by 882.84 g. Also an increase in the quality of prenatal care by one unit improves the child’s birth weight by 147.79 g. Thus, despite the fact that prenatal care in Cameroon suffers from some shortcomings as regards to the standards recommended by the World Health Organization, it remains a key factor for the improvement of neonatal health outcomes in this country.
‘Heaven-Bound Dung Beetles’: Gregory of Nazianzus and the Ordination of Slaves in the Early Church
Authors: Pigott Justin M
Published: September 2021

Gregory of Nazianzus considered the entry of slaves and freedmen into the clergy as debasing the church, calling bishops drawn from slave stock ‘heaven-bound dung beetles’. Such sentiments were shared by the broader church hierarchy and imperial government of the day with council canons, episcopal rescripts, and imperial laws all prohibiting the ordination of slaves. Yet, the ordination of unfree men was widespread. Indeed, we find Gregory himself complicit in the ordination of the slave of a Cappadocian noblewomen named Simplicia. This prompts two interlinked questions that have garnered little attention. Why was the ordination of slaves and freedmen so problematic for the post-Constantinian church, and what were the drivers that led men such as Gregory to ignore its prohibition? Approaching these questions through a close reading of Gregory’s dispute with Simplicia, we find that within the negotiation between traditional Roman practices and the new Christian narratives of the later Roman empire, the ordination of slaves posed a unique threat to the stability of both the church and state. However, it also becomes clear that despite the potential for social destabilization, slave ordination proved to be an all-too-tempting recruitment strategy for ecclesiasts operating within a crowded religious marketplace.
Migration and development in Ethiopia: Exploring the mechanisms behind an emerging mobility transition
Authors: Schewel Kerilyn , Asmamaw Legass Bahir
Published: September 2021

This article examines the impact of Ethiopia’s historical development on the nature, volume, and direction of internal and international migration. We describe three important trends associated with an emerging ‘mobility transition’: the sedentarization of nomadic and semi-nomadic populations; the urbanization of internal migration trajectories; and the diversification of international migration. Within these overarching trends, we discuss periods of political conflict, resettlement, and famine that led to significant internal and international displacement. We then explore the drivers of these mobility shifts, evaluating the relative influence of various political, economic, cultural, and technological developments on migration patterns over time. Our analyses distinguish between the deep drivers of an emerging mobility transition (e.g. nation-state formation, rising educational attainment, infrastructure development, and industrialization) and the drivers of displacement (e.g. political conflict or resettlement programs) that can suddenly affect the movements of large population segments. This detailed case study contributes to a growing body of research on the ‘mobility transition’ by revealing how a society’s entire mobility complex changes—not only levels of international migration—as the social transformations associated with modern-day development proceed.
Adult-onset Still’s disease or systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and spondyloarthritis: overlapping syndrome or phenotype shift?
Authors: Mitrovic Stéphane , Hassold Nolan , Kamissoko Aly , Rosine Nicolas , Mathian Alexis , Mercy Guillaume , Pertuiset Edouard , Nocturne Gaëtane , Fautrel Bruno , Koné-Paut Isabelle
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Systemic-onset JIA (SJIA) and adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) are the same sporadic systemic auto-inflammatory disease. SpA is a group of inflammatory non-autoimmune disorders. We report the observations of eight patients with SJIA/AOSD who also presented features of SpA during their disease evolution and estimate the prevalence of SpA in SJIA/AOSD.

Methods

This was a retrospective national survey of departments of paediatric and adult rheumatology and internal medicine. To be included, SJIA patients had to fulfil the ILAR criteria, AOSD patients the Yamaguchi or Fautrel criteria, and all patients the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axial or peripheral SpA, ESSG criteria for SpA or Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria for PsA. The data were collected with a standardized form.

Results

Eight patients (five adults) were identified in one paediatric and two adult departments. In all but one patient, SpA manifestations occurred several years after SJIA/AOSD onset [mean (s.d.) delay 6.2 (3.8) years]. Two patients had peripheral and three axial SpA, and four later exhibited PsA and one SAPHO syndrome. The prevalence of SpA in an adult cohort of 76 patients with AOSD was 6.58% (95% CI 2.17, 14.69), greater than the prevalence of SpA in the French general population (0.3%; 95% CI 0.17, 0.46). The prevalence of SpA in an SJIA cohort of 30 patients was 10% (95% CI 2.11, 26.53), more than that reported in the general population of industrialized countries, estimated at 0.016–0.15%.

Conclusion

While the temporal disassociation between SpA and AOSD in most cases might suggest a coincidental finding, our work raises the possibility of an SpA/AOSD spectrum overlap that needs further study.
MRP8/14 serum levels as diagnostic markers for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children with prolonged fever
Authors: Park Carolin , Miranda-Garcia María , Berendes Rainer , Horneff Gerd , Kuemmerle-Deschner Jasmin , Ganser Gerd , Huppertz Hans-Iko , Minden Kirsten , Haas Johannes-Peter , Jansson Annette F , Borte Michael , Schuetz Catharina , Oommen Prasad , Frosch Michael , Schlueter Bernhard , Richter-Unruh Annette , Kessel Christoph , Hinze Claas , Wittkowski Helmut , Roth Johannes , Foell Dirk , Holzinger Dirk
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Differential diagnosis in children with prolonged fever is challenging. In particular, differentiating systemic-onset JIA (SJIA) from infectious diseases is difficult. Biomarkers are needed that support the diagnostic work-up. The aim of this study was to validate the usefulness of Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) measurements in the diagnostic work-up of febrile children and to transfer it to clinical practice.

Methods

Data for 1110 paediatric patients were included and divided into two cohorts: (cohort A) for validation of MRP8/14 test performance with three different testing systems: the experimental ELISA, commercial ELISA and an innovative (point-of-care test) lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA); (cohort B) to validate the diagnostic accuracy with the two latter assays.

Results

In cohort A (n = 940), MRP8/14 was elevated in SJIA (12 110 ± 2650 ng/ml mean ± 95% CI) compared with other diagnoses (including infections and autoinflammatory diseases; 2980 ± 510 ng/ml) irrespective of fever and anti-inflammatory treatment (P < 0.001). In untreated patients with fever (n = 195) MRP8/14 levels in SJIA (19 740 ± 5080 ng/ml) were even higher compared with other diagnoses (4590 ± 1160 ng/ml) (P < 0.001, sensitivity 73%, specificity 90%). In group B1, the performance of the tests was confirmed in untreated patients with fever (n = 170): commercial ELISA (sensitivity 79%, specificity 89%) and LFIA (sensitivity 84%, specificity 81%). Compared with ferritin, IL-18, ESR, soluble IL-2 receptor and procalcitonin, MRP8/14 showed the best accuracy.

Conclusion

MRP8/14 serum analyses have been validated as a helpful tool supporting the diagnosis of SJIA in febrile children. The results could be confirmed with commercial ELISA and LFIA enabling a rapid diagnostic point-of-care screening test.
Resilience, Growth, and Posttraumatic Symptoms among Social Workers Who Are “Doubly Exposed”
Authors: Finklestein Michal , Laufer Avital
Published: September 2021

The current study examined posttraumatic stress (PTS), resilience, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among social workers (SWs) in Israel exposed to trauma both directly and indirectly through their work. Two groups of SWs were examined: SWs with high exposure to rocket attacks (n = 50) and SWs with low exposure to rocket attacks (n = 52). Measures included objective, subjective, and professional exposure; PTS; vicarious traumatization (VT); resilience; and PTG. Differences between the two groups were found regarding objective, subjective, and professional exposure, as well as PTS, VT, and PTG. No differences were found regarding resilience. PTS and PTG were positively associated. An interaction between group and resilience in predicting PTS and PTG was found. In the highly exposed group, resilience was negatively associated with PTS and positively with PTG, whereas for the low-exposed group resilience was not associated with PTS and was negatively associated with PTG. The discussion focuses on the need to understand the role of resilience and PTG in the psychological reaction of SWs to direct as well as indirect trauma; it also weighs the possibility that PTG serves as a salutogenic variable under high-trauma exposure but as an illusionary means of self-enhancement under low-level exposure.
Principal Component Analysis to Distinguish Seizure Liability of Drugs in Human iPS Cell-Derived Neurons
Authors: Ishibashi Y , Odawara A , Kinoshita K , Okamura A , Shirakawa T , Suzuki I
Published: September 2021

Screening for drug discovery targeting the central nervous system requires the establishment of efficient and highly accurate toxicity test methods that can reduce costs and time while maintaining high throughput using the function of an in vitro neural network. In particular, an evaluation system using a human-derived neural network is desirable in terms of species difference. Despite the attention, the microelectrode array (MEA) is attracting among the evaluation systems that can measure in vitro neural activity, an effective analysis method for evaluation of toxicity and mechanism of action has not yet been established. Here we established analytical parameters and multivariate analysis method capable of detecting seizure liability of drugs using MEA measurement of human iPS cell-derived neurons. Using the spike time series data of all drugs, we established periodicity as a new analytical parameter. Periodicity has facilitated the detection of responses to seizurogenic drugs, previously difficult to detect with conventional analytical parameters. By constructing a multivariate analytical method that identifies a parameter set that achieves an arbitrary condition, we found that the parameter set comprising total spikes, maximum frequency (MF), inter- MF interval (IMFI), coefficient of variance of IMFI, and periodicity can uniformly detect the seizure liability of seizurogenic drugs with different mechanisms of action. Seizurogenic drugs were suggested to increase the regularity of the network burst in MEA measurements in human iPS cell-derived neurons.
The Alleged Epidemic of Social Narcissism
Authors: Mortell Susan
Published: September 2021

Research indicates that narcissistic personality disorder and subclinical narcissism may be reaching epidemic proportions within American society. It is thus probable that nursing administrators will encounter narcissistic behavior among their staff, supervisors, and/or patients and patient family members. It is therefore crucial that nurse leaders understand the causes of narcissism and how narcissistic behaviors might be addressed within health care settings. An awareness of these issues can help decrease the damage that narcissistic behaviors can have on individuals and institutions.
New historical records about the construction of the Arch of Ctesiphon and their impact on the history of structural engineering
Authors: Miccoli Stefano , Gil-Martín Luisa María , Hernández-Montes Enrique
Published: September 2021

A piece of historical research about the construction of the ancient Arch of Taq-iKisra, part of the imperial palace of the Sasanian Empire in the city of Ctesiphon, has been carried out. The information obtained, an analysis using graphic statics, the use of a physical model with hanging chains, and an
ad hoc
optimization program written in MATLAB have shown that the designer of this sixth century ad arch, a Byzantine named Farghán, was aware of the effects of the uneven distribution of loads and the differential settlements of the foundations on the equilibrium shape of structures working exclusively in compression and was able to control them. This discovery predates the earliest statement about the link between the shape of the catenary and that of an arch, by Robert Hooke, by eleven centuries and makes this building relevant not only because of its historical, archaeological, and architectural importance, but also because of its importance in the history of structural engineering. The building is currently in need of restoration to stop its collapse, and an awareness of the way it was designed could be of practical use for the definition of the intervention needed.
A primer on rhythm quantification for fish sounds: a Mediterranean case study
Authors: Burchardt Lara S. , Picciulin Marta , Parmentier Eric , Bolgan Marta
Published: September 2021

We have used a lately established workflow to quantify rhythms of three fish sound types recorded in different areas of the Mediterranean Sea. So far, the temporal structure of fish sound sequences has only been described qualitatively. Here, we propose a standardized approach to quantify them, opening the path for assessment and comparison of an often underestimated but potentially critical aspect of fish sounds. Our approach is based on the analysis of inter-onset-intervals (IOIs), the intervals between the start of one sound element and the next. We calculate exact beats of a sequence using Fourier analysis and IOI analysis. Furthermore, we report on important parameters describing the variability in timing within a given sound sequence. Datasets were chosen to depict different possible rhythmic properties:Sciaena umbrasounds have a simple isochronous—metronome-like—rhythm. The /Kwa/ sound type emitted byScorpaena spp.has a more complex rhythm, still presenting an underlying isochronous pattern. Calls ofOphidion rocheimales present no rhythm, but a random temporal succession of sounds. This approach holds great potential for shedding light on important aspects of fish bioacoustics. Applications span from the characterization of specific behaviours to the potential discrimination of yet not distinguishable species.
Estimating the drivers of urban economic complexity and their connection to economic performance
Authors: Gomez-Lievano Andres , Patterson-Lomba Oscar
Published: September 2021

Estimating the capabilities, or inputs of production, that drive and constrain the economic development of urban areas has remained a challenging goal. We posit that capabilities are instantiated in the complexity and sophistication of urban activities, the know-how of individual workers, and the city-wide collective know-how. We derive a model that indicates how the value of these three quantities can be inferred from the probability that an individual in a city is employed in a given urban activity. We illustrate how to estimate empirically these variables using data on employment across industries and metropolitan statistical areas in the USA. We then show how the functional form of the probability function derived from our theory is statistically superior when compared with competing alternative models, and that it explains well-known results in the urban scaling and economic complexity literature. Finally, we show how the quantities are associated with metrics of economic performance, suggesting our theory can provide testable implications for why some cities are more prosperous than others.
Verification of the accuracy of the SIR model in forecasting based on the improved SIR model with a constant ratio of recovery to infection rate by comparing with monitored second wave data
Authors: Kröger M. , Schlickeiser R.
Published: September 2021

The temporal evolution of second and subsequent waves of epidemics such as Covid-19 is investigated. Analytic expressions for the peak time and asymptotic behaviours, early doubling time, late half decay time, and a half-early peak law, characterizing the dynamical evolution of number of cases and fatalities, are derived, where the pandemic evolution exhibiting multiple waves is described by the semi-time SIR model. The asymmetry of the epidemic wave and its exponential tail are affected by the initial conditions, a feature that has no analogue in the all-time SIR model. Our analysis reveals that the immunity is very strongly increasing in several countries during the second Covid-19 wave. Wave-specific SIR parameters describing infection and recovery rates we find to behave in a similar fashion. Still, an apparently moderate change of their ratio can have significant consequences. As we show, the probability of an additional wave is however low in several countries due to the fraction of immune inhabitants at the end of the second wave, irrespective of the ongoing vaccination efforts. We compare with alternate approaches and data available at the time of submission. Most recent data serves to demonstrate the successful forecast and high accuracy of the SIR model in predicting the evolution of pandemic outbreaks as long as the assumption underlying our analysis, an unchanged situation of the distribution of variants of concern and the fatality fraction, do not change dramatically during a wave. With the rise of theαvariant at the time of submission the second wave did not terminate in some countries, giving rise to a superposition of waves that is not treated by the present contribution.
The specious interaction of time and numerosity perception
Authors: Togoli Irene , Fornaciai Michele , Bueti Domenica
Published: September 2021

Magnitude information is essential to create a representation of the external environment and successfully interact with it. Duration and numerosity, for example, can shape our predictions and bias each other (i.e. the greater the number of people queuing, the longer we expect to wait). While these biases suggest the existence of a generalized magnitude system, asymmetric effects (i.e. numerosity affecting duration but not vice versa) challenged this idea. Here, we propose that such asymmetric integration depends on the stimuli used and the neural processing dynamics they entail. Across multiple behavioural experiments employing different stimulus presentation displays (static versus dynamic) and experimental manipulations known to bias numerosity and duration perceptions (i.e. connectedness and multisensory integration), we show that the integration between numerosity and time can be symmetrical if the stimuli entail a similar neural time-course and numerosity unfolds over time. Overall, these findings support the idea of a generalized magnitude system, but also highlight the role of early sensory processing in magnitude representation and integration.
Iron influences the expression of colonization factor CS6 of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Bhakat Debjyoti , Mondal Indranil , Mukhopadhyay Asish Kumar , Chatterjee Nabendu Sekhar
Published: September 2021

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major pathogen of acute watery diarrhoea. The pathogenicity of ETEC is linked to adherence to the small intestine by colonization factors (CFs) and secretion of heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) and/or heat-stable enterotoxin (ST). CS6 is one of the most common CFs in our region and worldwide. Iron availability functions as an environmental cue for enteropathogenic bacteria, signalling arrival within the human host. Therefore, iron could modify the expression of CS6 in the intestine. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of iron availability on CS6 expression in ETEC. This would help in understanding the importance of iron during ETEC pathogenesis. ETEC strain harbouring CS6 was cultured under increasing concentrations of iron salt to assess the effect on CS6 RNA expression by quantitative RT-PCR, protein expression by ELISA, promoter activity by β-galactosidase activity, and epithelial adhesion on HT-29 cells. RNA expression of CS6 was maximum in presence of 0.2 mM iron (II) salt. The expression increased by 50-fold, which also reduced under iron-chelation conditions and an increased iron concentration of 0.4 mM or more. The surface expression of CS6 also increased by 60-fold in presence of 0.2 mM iron. The upregulation of CS6 promoter activity by 25-fold under this experimental condition was in accordance with the induction of CS6 RNA and protein. This increased CS6 expression was independent of ETEC strains. Bacterial adhesion to HT-29 epithelial cells was also enhanced by five-fold in the presence of 0.2 mM iron salt. These findings suggest that CS6 expression is dependent on iron concentration. However, with further increases in iron concentration beyond 0.2 mM CS6 expression is decreased, suggesting that there might be a strong regulatory mechanism for CS6 expression under different iron concentrations.
An Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections and Associated Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kerwin Heather , Briggs Rex , Nair-Desai Sameer , Gorzalski Andrew , Pandori Mark , Friedhoff Stefanie , Tsai Thomas C.
Published: September 2021

Understanding the rate and clinical features associated with vaccine breakthrough infections (VBT) is of critical public health importance. Recent evidence on VBT in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, has prompted guidance on masking for vaccinated individuals in areas of high community-level transmission.1 Additional data is needed to better understand the prevalence and rate of VBT infections. Using detailed disease investigation data from Washoe County, Nevada we sought to assess the rate of symptomatic infection and serious illness among VBT cases compared to non-vaccinated individuals with COVID-19. From February 12 - July 29, 2021, the Washoe County Health District identified and traced 6,128 out of 6,399 reported cases across the sample period. 338 (5.5%) of all cases were identified as breakthrough infections, and 289 (86%) vaccinated individuals had symptomatic infections. Severe clinical outcomes were infrequent with 17 hospitalizations (5% of VBT) and no deaths. Cycle threshold values were not statistically different between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Quantitative interpretation of Sedia LAg Assay test results after HIV diagnosis
Authors: Sempa Joseph , Grebe Eduard , Welte Alex
Published: September 2021

Background

Testing for ‘recent HIV infection’ is common in surveillance, where only population-level estimates (of incidence) are reported. Typically, ‘recent infection’ is a category, obtained by applying a threshold on an underlying continuous biomarker from some laboratory assay(s). Somehow interpreting the biomarker values obtained for individual subjects, for example interpreting them as estimates of the date of infection, has obvious potential applications in the context of studies of early infection, and has also for some years attracted significant interest as an extra component of post-test counselling and treatment initiation. The applicable analyses have typically run aground on the complexity of the full biomarker growth model, which is in principle a non-linear mixed-effects model of unknown structure, the fitting of which seems infeasible from realistically obtainable data.

Methods

It is known that to estimate Mean Duration of Recent Infection (MDRI) at a given value of the recent/non-recent -infection discrimination threshold, one may compress the full biomarker growth model into a relation capturing the probability of a recent test result as a function of time since infection. Noting that the time-derivative (gradient) of this curve (for a value of threshold – h) is identical to the formal likelihood relevant to Bayesian inference of the infection date, for a subject yielding an assay result * h * on the date of their first positive HIV test. This observation bypasses the need for fitting a complex detailed biomarker growth model. Using publicly available data from the CEPHIA collaboration, we calculated curves for a range of thresholds for the Sedia Lag assay and performed Bayesian inference of infection data, given a uniform prior implied by a last negative and first positive test.

Results

We demonstrate the generation of posteriors for infection date, for patients with various delays between their last negative and first positive HIV test, and a range of LAg assay results (ODn) hypothetically obtained on the date of the first positive result.

Conclusion

Depending on the last-negative / first-positive interval, there is a range of ODn values that yields posteriors significantly different from the uniform prior one would be left with based merely on interval censoring. Hence, a LAg ODn obtained on the date of, or soon after, diagnosis contains potentially significant information about infection dating. It seems worth analysing other assays with meaningful dynamic range, especially tests already routinely used in primary HIV diagnosis (for example chemiluminescent assays and reader/cartridge lateral flow tests which admit objective variable line intensity readings) which have a sufficient dynamic range that corresponds to a clinically meaningful range of times-since-infection that are worth distinguishing from each other.
Depressive symptoms are associated with cigarette smoking among tuberculosis patients in Botswana
Authors: Jones-Patten Alexandria , Wang Qiao , Molebatsi Keneilwe , Novotny Thomas E. , Siddiqi Kamran , Modongo Chawangwa , Zetola Nicola M. , Mbongwe Bontle , Shin Sanghyuk S.
Published: September 2021

Background

Researchers have increasingly recognized the adverse effects of smoking on tuberculosis (TB) outcomes. Smoking may be a maladaptive coping mechanism for depression and anxiety among TB patients; however, this association has not yet been investigated.

Design/Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among newly diagnosed TB patients between January and December 2019 in Gaborone, Botswana, and evaluated factors associated with cigarette smoking. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety scale, we collected depression and anxiety scores, respectively; scores of ≥10 indicate depression and scores of ≥36 indicate anxiety. We performed Poisson regression analyses with robust variance to examine whether depression and anxiety were associated with smoking.

Results

One hundred and eighty participants with TB were enrolled from primary health clinics. Among all enrollees, depression was reported in 46 (27.1%) participants, while anxiety was reported in 60 (44.4%) participants. Overall, 45 (25.0%) participants reported current smoking, and the median number of cigarettes per day was 10. Depressive symptoms were associated with a higher prevalence of smoking (aPR: 1.82; 95% CI = 1.11, 3.01) after adjusting for sex, HIV status, food insecurity, anxiety, and income. The association between anxiety symptoms and cigarette smoking did not reach statistical significance (aPR 1.26; 95% CI: 0.78-2.05).

Conclusions

We found the association between depressive symptoms and smoking among TB patients in Botswana to be significant and the association between anxiety symptoms and cigarette smoking insignificant. Future studies should further investigate these associations when addressing TB care.