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Characterization of joining copper rods by upset technique and investigating the effect of preheat treatment on the weld characteristics
Abstract The present work studies the rod-rupture problem that occurs in the Copper and Mechanical State Company during the upcast production of 8 mm copper rods. This rod-breaking problem arises at the time of rolling the upcasted coils due to reasons of electricity fluctuations, impurities in the metal, etc. Upset welding, as a non-melting joining, was chosen and investigated to weld the copper rods to produce coils with the predetermined length for commercial applications. The welding solution was applied to avoid the negative effects of returning the cut drawn length back to the start of the production line to draw the predetermined length of the coil as one unit, which consumes extensive time and cost. The welding was performed by altering the applied welding current in three modes to investigate the effect of changing the heat input on the properties of the joints. Alternatively, the impact of preheat treatment of the welded joints on the various studied properties was also studied. The joint quality of the resultant welded rods has been characterized by studying their mechanical properties (in terms of tensile stress and elongation%), electrical conductivity (by more than one measuring method), metallographic examination, as well as morphological characterization. The results revealed that the tensile stress, average elongation%, as well as electrical conductivity related to the welded rods, were acceptable concerning the unwelded base metal, even in the case of a higher input heat. Moreover, a smooth and crack-free microscopic structure of the welded drawn wires was obtained, despite the nonperformance of preheat treatment, revealing that the heat treatment has no notable impact on the studied properties.
Balconies’ visual preferences: The case of residential apartments in Tehran, Iran
Balcony as a border between internal and external plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the apartments. The current condition of apartment balconies in Tehran, indicates that balconies have been gradually been forgotten due to their non-functional features for users. In architecture, space quality is measured by user preferences and can serve as a guide for designers in future designs. The objective of the present study was to identify the dominant physical characteristics of balconies in Tehran and improve people’s visual preference from both outside and inside viewpoints. Photographing, Delphi technique and collecting public questionnaire were used to do the research, and quantitative data were gathered through administering questionnaires. Valid responses were gathered, then the collected data were analyzed using SPSS. According to the results, there is a significant difference between the two categories of pleasant and unpleasant. In addition, the characteristics of desirable images from the outside and inside are not always the same. From the outside view of the balcony, the area is the most effective parameter, which in pleasant images was between 50% and 75% of the façade area. Fully solid and completely fences parapet, were preferred from the outside view, while from the user’s point of view, the space from the inside of the balcony with a completely fences parapet was unpleasant and a completely solid or a combination of a solid and fences was preferred.
Circulating microRNA profiles in early-stage osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Communicating astrobiology and the search for life elsewhere: Speculations and promises of a developing scientific field in newspapers, press releases and papers
This study examines the communication of astrobiology and the Search for Life Elsewhere (SLE) in academic papers, press releases, and news articles over three decades. Through a quantitative content analysis, it investigates the prevalence of speculations and promises/expectations in these sources, aiming to understand how research results are portrayed and their potential impact on public perception and future research directions. Findings reveal that speculations and promises/expectations are more frequent in news articles and press releases compared to academic papers. Speculations about conditions for life and the existence of life beyond Earth are common, particularly in news articles covering exoplanet research, while promises of life detection are rare. Press releases tend to emphasize the significance of research findings and the progress of the field. Speculations and promises/expectations in news articles often occur without attribution to scientists and in quotes of authors of the studies, and slightly less so in quotes of outside experts. The study highlights the complex dynamics of science communication in astrobiology, where speculations and promises can generate public excitement and influence research funding, but also risk misrepresenting scientific uncertainty and creating unrealistic expectations. It underscores the need for responsible communication practices that acknowledge the speculative dimension of the field while fostering public engagement and informed decision-making.
Investigating the influence of urban land use on asbestos concentration and identifying the most vulnerable areas in Shiraz, Iran
Thirty years of declining stunting in Tanzania: Trends and ongoing challenges
Background Tanzania has made considerable gains in children’s nutrition between 1991/92 and 2022. The country’s stunting rate has decreased from 50% in 1992 to 30% in 2022. However, stunting varies greatly among regions. The purpose of this study was to examine regional trends in stunting rates and associated characteristics related to the risk of being stunted among children under the age of five in Tanzania. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data on stunting, from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) data. A total of 42,408 under-five children from repeated TDHS cross-sectional studies conducted in 1991–1992 (n = 6,585), 1996 (n = 5,438), 1999 (n = 2,555), 2004–2005 (n = 7,230), 2009–2010 (n = 6,792), 2015–2016 (n = 9,001), and 2022 (n = 4,807) were analysed to examine trends in stunting and its associated characteristics in the country. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and presented in tables and graphs as cross-sectional data points. A multivariable logistic regression model was estimated to identify factors associated with stunting in 2022. All analyses have been weighted using the weighting generated by the TDHS. STATA version 15 was used for data management and analysis. Results Over the previous three decades, stunting rates in boys under five have consistently been 4-7 percentage points (ppt) higher than those in girls of the same age. The prevalence of stunted children was greater in households with the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) (38.6%) compared to those with the highest SES (12.6%). Similar to the trend analysis, a multivariable regression analysis found that residency in the Southern Highlands (AOR = 2.368; 95% CI: 1.746-3.212, p < 0.001), male children (AOR = 1.583 [95% CI: 1.349 - 1.858], p < 0.001), low birth weight (AOR = 3.639 [95% CI: 2.279 - 5.810], p < 0.001), maternal exposure to alcohol (AOR = 1.440 [95% CI: 1.057 – 1.963], p < 0.05), and unimproved sanitation facilities (AOR = 1.345 [95% CI: 1.055 – 1.714], p < 0.05) were significantly associated with a higher risk of stunting. In contrast, a birth interval of 24 to 47 months (AOR = 0.762 [95% CI: 0.598 - 0.969], p < 0.001), a high level of maternal education (AOR = 0.715 [95% CI: 0.530 – 0.963], p < 0.05), and high socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.268 [95% CI: 0.178 – 0.403], p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a lower risk of stunting. Conclusion Although child stunting has decreased in the country, it remains a major challenge in Tanzania, driven by factors such as residing in the Southern Highlands, child and maternal issues, and household economic and environmental factors. To combat stunting and eliminate structural obstacles, including the empowerment of marginalised groups, a multisectoral strategy is required. Furthermore, current regulations and standards place more emphasis on educating mothers about diet and health than on empowering them economically.
Enhanced remote sensing image feature classification using STFF-PSPNet
Correction: Multi-methodological approach for the Quality assessment of Senecionis scandentis Herba (Qianliguang) in the herbal market
Lignocellulosic biomass based catalysis for hydrogen generation effect of pistachio shells and Raney nickel in NaBH4 hydrolysis
Impact of lifestyle behaviors on the development of lifestyle diseases: A retrospective cohort study
Background Questionnaires are used to collect data on lifestyle behaviors during specific health checkups; however, the results cannot conclusively determine whether the behaviors influence the onset of lifestyle diseases. By analyzing data from a retrospective cohort, this study aimed to determine the specific lifestyle behaviors that most strongly contribute to the onset of lifestyle diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Methods We administrated the data of 924,932 individuals insured under Gunma Prefecture’s National Health Insurance who underwent specific health checkups between 2011 and 2016. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between the responses to 10 lifestyle questions and the future onset of lifestyle diseases. Results We examined 47,803 individuals who were not identified with lifestyle disorders at the initial checkup. In this study, weight gain of ≥10 kg since the age of 20 years showed the strongest association with MetS (OR: 2.01; 95% CI, 1.79–2.25). Additionally, smoking and weight gain were identified as common risk factors for MetS, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The results revealed that lifestyle behaviors are longitudinally associated with the onset of lifestyle diseases. Conclusion The use of self-administered questionnaires to assess lifestyle behaviors can effectively predict future health risks.
Optical fiber sensor based on Lossy-mode resonance for tamoxifen detection and sensing applications
Sequential islet transplants for type 1 diabetes are not associated with sustained or cumulative increases in hepatic portal venous pressure
Islet transplantation (ITx) is advancing rapidly, with clinical trials of stem cell derived islets demonstrating short-term insulin independence. However, long-term insulin independence may still require multiple infusions. We examined the effects of sequential ITx on portal venous pressure and factors influencing acute pressure changes across 693 intraportal ITx procedures in 298 adults (44% M); who received up to 5 procedures, at the University of Alberta Hospital over 24 years. We assessed acute portal pressure changes per infusion, using linear mixed-effects models to compare sequential pre-infusion pressures to baseline and assess relationships between pressure changes and packed cell volume (PCV), purity, islet dose (IE/kg) and estimated total liver volume (eTLV). Portal pressure transiently increased, similarly, after each infusion by an overall median 2.0 mmHg (IQR 1.0,4.0). PCV exhibited the strongest relationship with change in pressure, with1mmHg increase per 1 mL of PCV, when adjusted for other parameters (Coefficient = 1.0 [95%CI 0.81,1.21];p < 0.0001). Conversely, higher purity and larger eTLV were associated with smaller increases in pressure. A significant interaction term indicated that the effect that PCV has on pressure change may be moderated at higher purities. Our work provides insights from deceased-donor intraportal ITx that can inform the design of future clinical protocols for ITx.
Network-cycle motif participation is associated with individual and collective wealth in Honduran villages
Abstract Geodesic cycles, or loops of nodes connected in a sequence within a network, are an important if under-studied network motif, and their prominence or deficiency is associated with both beneficial and detrimental properties in diverse kinds of networks. Here, we examine cycles formed by people’s reports of informal borrowing/lending and friendship ties among 22,551 rural Hondurans (in 174 isolated villages), and we explore their association with personal and community wealth across two time points. We find that cycles of different lengths (i.e., 3 or 4 ties in a loop) constitute an over-represented motif, and their quantity is strongly associated with individual wealth, i.e., richer individuals are involved in more cycles. Furthermore, we introduce a new metric of cycle composition, defined as the average of some measure (e.g., wealth) of a node’s alters in its cycles, and find that this metric outperforms cycle quantity as an indicator of both current and future wealth. A longitudinal analysis also reflects a higher participation rate in future cycles among wealthier individuals. When benchmarking cycles with eigenvector centrality, we find that cycle participation offers distinctive insights. Finally, cycle composition is a strong indicator of overall village wealth. In sum, the potential for the flow of money in a village through structural social network cycles may relate to both individual-level and village-level wealth.
Providing brief information on clinical trials in appropriate formats may improve impressions and willingness to participate among socioeconomically disadvantaged people in France
Background Clinical trial (CTs) participation rates are low worldwide, including in France. One barrier to participation is a lack of familiarity with CTs, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. We aimed to ascertain whether providing brief information on CTs to these populations could improve their impression of and participation in CTs. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults living in mainland France. The questionnaire included three parts: 1) routine sociodemographic and socioeconomic questions, health-related variables, and questions on health literacy and numeracy, 2) questions on their impression of CTs and their health, and 3) three questions to assess their comprehension of tables. After completing the questionnaire, participants were randomized into three groups that received an information note on CTs in text (one group) or tabular (two groups) format. The content in tabular format was slightly different for both groups. The same CT questions were asked again to assess possible changes in participants’ impression of CTs. Results Among 401 participants, 368 (91.8%) had heard about CTs. Median age of the latter was 40 years, 64% were women, 57% had limited health literacy, and 13% had poor comprehension of tables (score = 0). After reading the brief CT information note, the median CT impression score increased significantly from 5.0 to 6.5 (p-value < 0.001, effect size r = 0.47) within all sub-groups (e.g., according to the comprehension of tables score, according to health literacy level), except for the sub-group with poor comprehension of tables subsequently given CT information in tabular form. Discussion/Conclusion The initial impression of CTs was quite poor in this socioeconomically disadvantaged sample, but improved after the brief information note on CTs was provided. Information campaigns on CTs could help increase CT participation rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. In this perspective, the information format may be just as important as the content.
Fine visualization of biological cells using X-ray micro-CT with the slow freezing contrast improved method
Abstract X-ray computed tomography (CT) is widely used in various fields for the non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) observation of internal structures within objects. However, biological cells are primarily composed of light elements such as oxygen and carbon, which have high X-ray transmittance. Consequently, conventional absorption contrast X-ray CT is unable to achieve fine 3D observations of such specimens. We hereby present a technique of novel contrast improvement, the slow freezing contrast improvement method. This method utilizes the aggregation of solutes during slow freezing of aqueous solutions to increase contrast. As plant cells are slowly cooled, intracellular fluid crystallizes, concentrating sugars in specific areas. This process allows for micron-scale visualization of cell structures without staining, using conventional absorption contrast X-ray CT. Experiments on slowly frozen fruits and formalin-fixed mouse organs using synchrotron-based cryo micro-X-ray CT produced high-resolution images of cellular structures. The ice crystal patterns formed within cells varied based on sugar concentration, suggesting potential for detecting sugar levels in individual cells. This method shows promise as a third approach for fine 3D observation of biological cells, complementing contrast agent and phase-contrast imaging techniques.