Apparent Correlation Research Articles

Theories of Apparent and Real Correlation between Reason and Divine Law in Twelver Shīʿī Legal Theory

Abstract For the Muʿtazila, “reason” (either as a human faculty or as an abstract process of argumentation and deduction) can uncover the moral properties of actions. In Twelver Shīʿī legal theory, this position was subject to extensive elaboration, and discussions around the relationship between an action’s moral properties and its legal assessments (aḥkām) gave rise to a theory of “necessary correlation” (mulāzama) between legal and moral descriptions of actions. In the thirteenth/nineteenth century, Twelver Shīʿī legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) experienced a renaissance, and many established concepts were reevaluated, including the theory of mulāzama. One innovative, but controversial, new version of mulāzama was proposed by Muḥammad Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Raḥīm al-Iṣfahānī (d. 1253/1837 or 1261/1845) in his book al-Fuṣūl al-Gharawiyya fī al-Uṣūl al-Fiqhiyya (“The Gharawī Chapters in Legal Theory”). He argued that the correlation was logically necessary, but only at the level of appearance (ẓāhir), leaving the question of “real” (ḥaqīqī) correlation moot. In this article, I examine al-Iṣfahānī’s theory and its reception (and ultimately, its rejection) in subsequent Twelver Shīʿī legal theory.

Deconvoluting Alkali Metal Cation and Hydroxide Anion Effects on the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution and Oxidation Reactions on Platinum

The platinum (Pt) catalyzed hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) usually show considerable slower kinetics in alkaline electrolytes than that in acidic environment. The fundamental origin of such distinct kinetics has been a topic of considerable interest. In general, the electrode-electrolyte (Pt-water) interface in alkaline electrolytes is far more complex than the acidic environment due to the presence of alkali metal cations (AM+) and hydroxide anions (OH-) as potential competitive surface adsorbates and interfacial species that may fundamentally change the local chemical environment. Despite considerable efforts in probing the HER kinetics in alkaline electrolytes, the effects of different species are often highly convoluted, and the exact role of each specie is difficult to resolve.Herein, we conduct a systematic study to deconvolute the effects of AM+ and OH- by designing twenty-eight electrolytes from 0.001M NaOH to 1M NaOH. Our study reveals a nontrivial dependence of HER/HOR activities on the AM+ or OH- concentrations. The electrochemical measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses demonstrate an apparent correlation between the kinetic exchange current density, charge transfer resistance and the electrical double layer capacitance. It is found that the increasing OH - concentration reduces the electrical double layer thickness, increases the surface electric field and the OHad coverage to lower the kinetic barrier for water dissociation (for HER) or Had and OH - recombination (for HOR). The Na+ shows a positive effect at low concentration by decreasing the double layer thickness and increasing surface electric field to polarize the interfacial water; but a negative effect at high concentration by forming ion pairs that reduces interfacial water polarization and rigidify the interfacial water layer to slow the transport of the reactants and products to and away from the electrode surface. These combined effects result in a complex cation and pH dependent HER/HOR activities. This study for the first time deconvolute the effect of AM+ and OH- concentrations and establishes a comprehensive view of their roles in the Pt-catalyzed alkaline HER/HOR, offering valuable insights for further electrocatalyst design.

Occurrence, Fate, and Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Small- and Large-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the United States.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could be conduits of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants in the environment. This study investigated the fate of 40 PFAS compounds across nine municipal WWTPs with varying treatment capacity and processes. High concentrations of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected in wastewater, with the ratio of their total concentrations (∑PFCAs/∑PFSAs) always greater than one. Transformation of precursors by activated sludge processes significantly increased the concentrations of short-chain PFCAs (e.g., perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)), while further advanced treatment processes offered minimal removal of perfluoroalkyl acids. Treatment capacity and PFAS removal efficiency showed no apparent correlation. The maximum possible PFAS loads discharged from WWTPs were 340-9645 g·year-1, similar to those entering the WWTPs. Among six regulated PFAS compounds, detection frequency was 100% for five (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)) and 67% for hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (Gen-X). Concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in WWTP discharges consistently exceeded 4 ng·L-1. The hazard index (HI) for mixtures containing two or more of the four PFAS (PFNA, PFBS, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA) ranged from 0.2 to 6.1. These findings indicate that wastewater discharges may pose a risk, emphasizing the need for enhanced PFAS removal strategies in wastewater treatment processes.

Changes in soluble PD-L1 levels in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Soluble programmed death-1 ligand (sPD-L1) in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is a crucial factor in disease prognosis and an indicator for immunotherapy response. This study aimed to evaluate changes in sPD-L1 levels in advanced NSCLC patients. Between May 2018 and October 2022, 80 patients with advanced-stage NSCLC and 30 healthy volunteers participated in a prospective study. The findings revealed a significant rise in sPD-L1 concentration in the lung cancer group compared to the normal control group (1.08 vs. 0.42, p < 0.001). No apparent correlation was found between sPD-L1 concentration and membrane-bound programmed death-1 ligand (mPD-L1) expression. The optimal diagnostic threshold for sPD-L1 was set at 0.92 ng/mL, showing a sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 77.33%, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.743 (p = 0.001). Although increased sPD-L1 levels were prevalent in individuals with advanced age, prolonged disease duration, large tumor size, and finger clubbing, these associations did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sPD-L1 levels significantly increased in advanced NSCLC patients compared to controls (p < 0.05), with no association observed with mPD-L1 (p = 0.304). The study suggests that sPD-L1 concentration can be a specific biomarker for guiding the diagnosis of advanced NSCLC, with a recommended cutoff value of 0.92 ng/mL, demonstrating a sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 77.33% (p = 0.001). Importantly, no apparent relationship was established between sPD-L1 levels and clinical or paraclinical characteristics in advanced NSCLC patients.

Comparative bioavailability of single-dose zavegepant during and between migraine attacks: A phase 1, randomized, open-label, fixed-sequence, two-period study.

To compare the rate and extent of absorption of zavegepant 10 mg (therapeutic dose) or 20 mg (supratherapeutic dose) nasal spray during a migraine attack versus non-migraine period, assess safety, and explore efficacy and the relationship between zavegepant concentration and therapeutic response. Physiologic changes occurring during a migraine attack could affect the pharmacokinetics of treatments for migraine. This was a Phase 1, multicenter, open-label, randomized, single-dose, two-period, fixed-sequence, comparative bioavailability study. Participants with a history of 2-8 migraine attacks per month of moderate or severe pain intensity were randomized to a single dose of zavegepant 10 or 20 mg, administered intranasally during a migraine attack (Period 1) and in a non-migraine period (Period 2). Blood samples were collected pre-dose and at pre-specified intervals up to 24 h post-dose for plasma zavegepant concentration measurement. Safety was monitored throughout, and efficacy (migraine pain intensity score, nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, aura, and functional disability) assessed during Period 1. Plasma zavegepant pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by standard noncompartmental methods, including maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf), and time of Cmax (Tmax). A total of 37 participants were evaluable for pharmacokinetics. Following administration of zavegepant 10 mg, geometric mean ratios for Period 1/Period 2 were 82.8% (90% confidence interval [CI] 60.5-113.2) for Cmax and 90.1% (90% CI 70.2-115.5) for AUC0-inf. Following administration of zavegepant 20 mg, geometric mean ratios for Period 1/Period 2 were 72.5% (90% CI 57.9-90.8) for Cmax and 73.4% (90% CI 58.8-91.7) for AUC0-inf. Averaging over the study period, geometric mean ratios for zavegepant 20 mg/10 mg were 142.5% (90% CI 118.6-171.4) for Cmax and 157.0% (90% CI 133.6-184.5) for AUC0-inf. Median Tmax was 0.5 h for both doses regardless of Period. Zavegepant was well tolerated in both study periods and effective during Period 1 at both dose levels. There was no apparent correlation between concentration at 0.5 h or 2 h post-dose and efficacy outcomes. Zavegepant exposure was comparable during a migraine attack and a non-migraine period, particularly at the therapeutic dose of 10 mg. When averaging over migraine and non-migraine periods, there was a less-than-dose proportional increase in zavegepant exposure when the dose was doubled from 10 to 20 mg. The median Tmax was 0.5 h regardless of migraine attack or dose. Zavegepant 10 and 20 mg exhibited favorable safety profiles during migraine attacks and non-migraine periods, and were effective to relieve pain, associated symptoms, and functional disability during migraine attacks, with no apparent correlation between zavegepant concentration and efficacy outcomes.

Association of maternal 25(OH)D levels during pregnancy with fetal birth weight and preschooler growth status: A retrospective birth cohort study.

There is limited and conflicting evidence available regarding the correlation between maternal vitamin D status and childhood overweight and body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the following: (1) potential association between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and newborn growth status; (2) relationship between maternal 25OHD levels and BMI and the risk of overweight with preschoolers being overweight. A cohort of 3213 eligible singleton mother-infant pairs were used to investigate the possible associations between maternal 25(OH)D levels and fetal growth status. Data of 1767 available singleton mother-infant pairs and 6-year-old preschoolers was applied to analyze the potential correlations between maternal 25(OH)D status and risk of childhood overweight. Compared with sufficient 25(OH)D in pregnancy group (≥75 nmol/L), there were no correlations between the maternal 25(OH)D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) and large gestational age (LGA) (p = 0.465), small gestational age (SGA) (p = 0.607), lower birth weight (LBW) (p = 0.725) or fetal macrosomia (p = 0.535). Moreover, no significant associations between insufficient maternal 25(OH)D (50-75 nmol/L) and LGA (p = 0.505), SGA (p = 0.816), LBW (p = 0.816), or fetal macrosomia (p = 0.413) were observed. We found statistically significant disparities between the fetal birth weight and height (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), head circumference (p = 0.001) of 6-years preschooler. No significant associations were found between the maternal 25(OH)D levels and BMI and risk of overweight at 6-year-old preschoolers. There were no apparent correlation found between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and fetal birth status. There was no evidence found to suggest the effect of maternal 25(OH)D level on overweight at 6-year-old preschoolers.

New method for graphing impedance values as an analytical tool suitable for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

A new method for graphing electrical impedance values named a “differentiation-based Bode plot” is proposed. This method facilitates the analysis procedure and reduces the arbitrariness of the interpretation of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data. Among the various methods for graphing impedance values, Nyquist plots are commonly adopted (primarily in the field of EIS) because of the apparent correlation between their shape and the corresponding equivalent circuit. However, because Nyquist plots do not contain frequency information, Bode phase and magnitude plots are frequently utilized. Although such plots are suitable for determining the absolute magnitude and phase of the impedance, they are not always useful for selecting the structure of an equivalent circuit, which is a hypothetical model for electrochemical cells. In the proposed method, instead of the real (Z’) and imaginary (Z’’) parts, two functions of the impedance derivatives with respect to frequency, i.e., dZ’/d(log f) and dZ’’/d(log f), are plotted. As substitutions for the Bode phase and magnitude plots, arctan{dZ’’/d(log f) ÷ dZ’/d(log f)} and log[sqrt{(dZ’/d(log f))2 + (dZ’’/d(log f))2}] are plotted against log f. Unlike the classical Bode plot, the differentiation-based Bode plot is independent of the lateral shift in the Nyquist plot, which is advantageous for determining an equivalent circuit. To demonstrate this advantage, the impedance values of typical equivalent circuits used in electrochemistry are calculated and plotted to compare differentiation-based Bode plots with Nyquist and classical Bode plots.

Ethanol stability from nine years of a blind quality control program in blood alcohol analysis.

A blind quality control (BQC) program in blood alcohol analysis was implemented at the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) in September 2015. By mimicking authentic toxicology blood evidence, the laboratory can perform a concurrent evaluation of their technical and administrative casework procedures and test the accuracy and reliability of their volatile analysis method in a format that is blinded to the analyst. From September 2015 to November 2023, HFSC's Quality Division submitted 1228 antemortem whole blood samples: 292 ethanol-negative samples and 936 ethanol-positive samples at sixteen target concentrations (0.051, 0.080, 0.100, 0.110, 0.120, 0.130, 0.150, 0.160, 0.170, 0.180, 0.190, 0.200, 0.230, 0.240, 0.250, and 0.260 g/dL). A second, unopened blood tube in 168 of the 1228 BQCs was also analyzed after 721-1140 days: 24 ethanol-negative samples and 144 ethanol-positive samples at five target concentrations (0.080, 0.100, 0.130, 0.180, and 0.240 g/dL). All 316 ethanol-negative samples remained negative. After 42-758 days, the average (median, range) change in ethanol concentration of the 936 positive samples was -1.4% (-1.3%, -12.0% to +8.4%) with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) observed for the gradual decline in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over time. The average BAC percentage differences per target concentration, ranged from -6.4% (-0.008 g/dL) to +5.7% (+0.011 g/dL), were within HFSC's current measurement uncertainty (9.4% at k=3), showing no apparent correlation between the change in ethanol and the theoretical target concentration. As the analysis time between the two blood specimens from the same evidence kit extended, the loss in ethanol significantly increased (P < 0.001).

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora: leaf cuticle and bioclimatic variability

A chemical, morphological, structural, optical, and histological analysis of the waxes of the Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora leaf surfaces was here conducted. The wettability of the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces was also examined in detail. The results obtained were correlated with the bioclimatic (thermopluviometric) characterization of this species, based on the wild occurrence of its parental species (C. aurea and C. pottsii). To get a better insight into the potential correlation existent between chemical/morphological/structural characteristics and thermopluviometric data, the data for Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora were subsequently contrasted with the corresponding body of information we reported earlier for seven species with different biogeographic distributions (Ceratonia siliqua L., Cercis siliquastrum L., Arundo donax L., Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmann, Corymbia citriodora (Hook), Eucalyptus gunnii Hook. (Hook), and Eucalyptus globulus Labill). The results of this comparison highlight major correlations between the bioclimatic variability of the species and the chemical composition of waxes, but low or no apparent correlations with the other parameters examined. This conclusion strongly suggests the relevance of the chemical composition of leaf cuticle waxes in describing the response of vascular plants to the environmental matrix.

Construction of a comprehensive meteorological risk index for wheat Fusarium head blight prediction based on more than a half-century of monitoring data.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) represents a critical threat to wheat production globally, not only reducing yields but also contaminating crops with harmful mycotoxins. This study aimed to elucidate new spatiotemporal patterns of FHB incidence and to develop a comprehensive meteorological risk index to enhance scientific prevention and control of the disease. Through the analysis of annual and decadal variations from 1965 to 2023, the study assessed FHB trends across four agricultural regions (I, II, III, and IV) in Jiangsu Province, located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River-a hotspot for FHB in China. Key findings include: Since 1965, Regions I and III consistently exhibited higher FHB incidence rates compared to Regions II and IV. Post-2000, there was a notable increase in years with high incidence rates, with Region III overtaking Region I as the region with the highest incidence. Since 2010, occurrences of FHB reaching the most severe grade (Grade 5) have surpassed those in previous decades across all regions. The study also revealed a stronger correlation between meteorological factors (cumulative precipitation, number of days with rainfall ≥ 0.1 mm, total rainy days with ≥ 2 and ≥3 consecutive days of rain, total rainy days with both average daily air temperature ≥ 15 °C and daily rainfall ≥ 0.1 mm, days with average daily relative humidity ≥ 85%, cumulative sunshine hours, and cumulative cloudy days) and the FHB incidence rates during the heading-flowering-grain filling period in Regions I, II, and III, compared to the heading-flowering period alone. This indicates that optimal temperature and high humidity during the grain filling stage significantly contribute to the final FHB incidence rates. Despite the less apparent correlation between temperature changes and disease rates, the significant warming trend observed since 2000 has likely fostered conditions conducive to the proliferation of FHB. The comprehensive meteorological risk index, constructed to incorporate key meteorological factors during the heading-flowering-filling period, showed a strong correlation with actual disease incidences. The index demonstrated fitting accuracy rates of 84.7% for Region I, 72.9% for Region II, 83.1% for Region III, and 90.9% for Region IV, underscoring its effectiveness in predicting FHB occurrences. This tool offers both convenience and practicality, providing valuable insights for strategically managing FHB risks based on local weather conditions.

The role of stellar mass in the cosmic history of star formation as seen by Herschel and ALMA

Aims . We explore the contribution of galaxies, as a function of their stellar mass, to the cosmic star formation history (CSFH). In order to avoid uncertain extrapolations of the infrared luminosity function, which is often polluted by the contribution of starbursts, we base our analysis on stellar mass. Attenuation by dust is accounted for thanks to the combination of deep surveys by Herschel and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter array (ALMA). Methods. We combined for the first time the deepest Herschel (GOODS-South, GOODS-North, COSMOS and UDS) and ALMA (GOODS-South) surveys. We constrained the star formation rate (SFR), dust mass ($M_ dust $), dust temperature ($T_ dust $) and gas mass ($M_ gas $) of galaxies as a function of their stellar mass ($M_ star $) from $z to $z by performing a stacking analysis of over 128,000 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) H -band selected galaxies. We studied the evolution of the star formation efficiency of galaxies as a function of redshift and $M_ star Results . We show that the addition of ALMA to Herschel allows us to reach lower $M_ star $ and higher redshifts. We confirm that the SFR-$M_ star $ star formation main sequence (MS) follows a linear evolution with a slope close to unity with a bending at the high-mass end at $z&lt;2$. The mean $T_ dust $ of MS galaxies evolves linearly with redshift, with no apparent correlation with $M_ star $. We show that, up to $z massive galaxies (i.e. star M_ odot $) account for most of the total SFR density ($ SFR $), while the contribution of lower-mass galaxies (i.e. $M_ star M_ odot $) is rather constant. We compare the evolution of star-forming galaxy (SFGs) to the cosmological simulation TNG100. We find that TNG100 exhibits a noticeable difference in the evolution of the CSFH, that is, the marked evolution of massive galaxies found in the observations appears to be smoothed in the simulation, possibly due to feedback that is too efficient. In this mass complete analysis, $H$-dropout (also called HST-dark) galaxies account for $ 23&lt;!PCT!&gt;$ of the CSFH in massive galaxies at $z$$&gt;$3. Finally, we find hints that the star formation efficiency of distant galaxies ($z$=3--5) is stronger (shorter depletion time) as compared to low-redshift galaxies.

Association of RAAS inhibitors on osteoporosis and fracture risk in the hypertensive population–A prospective population-based cohort study in Lanzhou, China

BackgroundRenin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors appear to benefit bone tissue in antihypertensive treatment. However, the association between RAAS inhibitors and bone metabolism was inconsistent.Methods and study designBased on the study of Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals(REACTION) conducted in 2011, We followed 6,252 Lanzhou residents aged 40–75 years from 2014 to 2016. Finally, 1,625 hypertension cases with complete data were included in the analysis. The study subjects were divided into four groups according to the type of antihypertensive drugs. We employed logistic or multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the association between different antihypertensive drug use and osteoporosis, the risk of fracture, and the change in bone mineral density (BMD) level. The association of osteoporosis or the fracture risk by cumulative duration of use of these medications (< 3 years.) and (> 3 years.) was also estimated.ResultsThe cross-sectional study showed that there was no significant association between baseline antihypertensive drugs (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)) use and osteoporosis and fracture. During a mean follow-up of 3.4 years in the longitudinal study, there were 478 new osteoporosis cases and 76 fractures. Compared with patients without antihypertensive drug use, the hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for the risk of osteoporosis were 1.005(0.651,1.552) and 1.077(0.793,1.462) in ACEI or ARB use (p > 0.05). ACEI or ARB use was also not significantly associated with fracture risk (HR 1.102(0.326,3.726), 0.735(0.251,2.148), p > 0.05). Further analysis showed that the use of ACEI (HR 1.078(0.146,7.950)) or ARB (HR 1.169(0.347,3.939)) was not significantly associated with the improvement of osteoporosis (p > 0.05). In addition, the duration of RAAS inhibitors used showed no apparent correlation with the risk of osteoporosis (≤ 3 years: HR 0.872 (0.516, 1.474), > 3 years: HR 1.151 (0.574, 2.308)), nor with the improvement of osteoporosis and the risk of fracture. Meanwhile, the association mentioned above did not change compared to different RAAS inhibitors.ConclusionsThe use of RAAS inhibitors, including ACEIs and ARBs, was not significantly associated with osteoporosis, risk of fracture, or BMD change.

Effect of postemergence applications of aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, 2,4-D, and dicamba on non–auxin resistant soybean

Abstract Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that lack resistance to auxin herbicides [i.e., not genetically modified for resistance] have well-documented responses to those particular herbicides, with yield loss being probable. When a soybean field is injured by auxin herbicides, regulatory authorities often collect a plant sample from that field. This research attempted to simulate soybean exposures due to accidental mixing of incorrect herbicides, tank contamination, or particle drift. This research examined whether analytical testing of herbicide residues on soybean to aminocyclopyrachlor (ACP), aminopyralid, 2,4-D, or dicamba would be related to the visual observations and yield responses from these herbicides. ACP and aminopyralid were applied to R1 soybean at 0.1, 1, and 10 g ae ha−1; 2,4-D and dicamba were applied at 1, 10, and 100 g ae ha−1. Visual evaluations and plant sample collections were undertaken at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d after treatment (DAT), and yield was measured. The conservative limits of detection for the four herbicides in this project were 5, 10, 5, and 5 ng g−1 fresh weight of soybean for ACP, aminopyralid, 2,4-D, and dicamba, respectively. Many of the plant samples were non-detects, especially at lower application dosages. All herbicide concentrations rapidly declined soon after application, and many reached nondetectable limits by 14 DAT. All herbicide treatments caused soybean injury, although the response to 2,4-D was markedly lower than the responses to the other three herbicides. There was no apparent correlation between herbicide concentrations (which were declining over time) and the observed soybean injury (which was increasing over time or staying the same). This research indicated that plant samples should be collected as soon as possible after soybean exposure to auxin herbicides.

X-Ray and Multiwavelength Polarization of Mrk 501 from 2022 to 2023

We present multiwavelength polarization measurements of the luminous blazar Mrk 501 over a 14 month period. The 2–8 keV X-ray polarization was measured with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) with six 100 ks observations spanning from 2022 March to 2023 April. Each IXPE observation was accompanied by simultaneous X-ray data from NuSTAR, Swift/XRT, and/or XMM-Newton. Complementary optical–infrared polarization measurements were also available in the B, V, R, I, and J bands, as were radio polarization measurements from 4.85 GHz to 225.5 GHz. Among the first five IXPE observations, we did not find significant variability in the X-ray polarization degree and angle with IXPE. However, the most recent sixth observation found an elevated polarization degree at >3σ above the average of the other five observations. The optical and radio measurements show no apparent correlations with the X-ray polarization properties. Throughout the six IXPE observations, the X-ray polarization degree remained higher than, or similar to, the R-band optical polarization degree, which remained higher than the radio value. This is consistent with the energy-stratified shock scenario proposed to explain the first two IXPE observations, in which the polarized X-ray, optical, and radio emission arises from different regions.

Pleistocene glacial advances and exposure age scatter in the Olympus Range, Antarctica: A study of cosmogenic 36Cl/3He in dolerites and 10Be in sandstones

In three cirques in the western Olympus Range of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, previous advances of cirque glaciers are recorded by a sequence of three drifts in each of the cirques. We dated drift limits and the deposits on modern glaciers in two of these cirques, Dean and Dipboye, via cosmogenic 3He in pyroxene from 41 dolerite boulders, 36Cl in pyroxene from 12 of those dolerites, and 10Be in quartz from 11 sandstone boulders. Exposure age scatter is high on all deposits. The 3He exposure ages across all deposits range from ∼35 to ∼2300 ka and 10Be exposure ages range from ∼7 to ∼435 ka. Coupled 36Cl/3He from dolerites support constant exposure with erosion for nine of the 12 samples, while the other three might have experienced complex exposure-burial histories. Due to the mesa-butte topography and slow bedrock erosion rates, nuclide inheritance is the primary cause of age scatter in dolerites, accounting for >1 Myr of exposure age error. Mean exposure ages from sandstones are 2–7 times younger than those from dolerites for the same deposits, indicating that inheritance is less common in sandstones in this region. Weathering analyses of sandstone boulders show an increase in average siliceous crust thickness and rock strength with deposit age, an example of case hardening. Based on both relative and exposure age dating, drift age increases with distance from the modern glaciers in both Dean and Dipboye cirques, with three advances during the past <700 ka. However, due to high exposure age scatter, it cannot be determined if the three drifts are temporally correlated across the two cirques and therefore the drifts might record different glacial advances in Dean Cirque vs. Dipboye Cirque despite the apparent stratigraphic correlation of the drifts. This study has implications for drift depositional processes of cold-based glaciers and the importance of source-bedrock lithology and geomorphology on nuclide inheritance in Antarctica.

The influencing factors of nurses' job engagement in tertiary, A grade hospitals in East China: A cross-sectional study.

To explore the effects of demographic characteristics, mental workload, and Adversity quotient (AQ) on the job engagement of nurses in East China. A quantitative and cross-sectional study. The survey collected questionnaire data on mental workload, adversity quotient, and job engagement from 473 nurses selected working in 12 Grade-A tertiary hospitals based on informed consent in East China between July 2020 and March 2021. The total score of mental workload was 78.24 ± 11.65, the adversity quotient score was 128.26 ± 15.84, job engagement score was 42.32 ± 7.79. Job engagement has a remarkable positive correlation with adversity quotient (r = 0.613, p<0.001), and a negative correlation with mental workload (r = -0.499, p<0.001). Mental workload has an apparent negative correlation with adversity quotient (r = -0.291, p<0.001). Labor-management relationship with current organization, department, study to get a degree or diploma in spare time, attitude towards a career in Nursing, attitude towards the current career position, satisfaction with marriage, social support, load feelings, self-assessment, control, and endurance could predict 70.9% of job engagement of nurses. The mental workload of nurses was higher, the AQ was at a medium level, and the job engagement of nurses was also slightly higher. Labor-management relationship with current organization, department, study to get a degree or diploma in spare time, attitude towards a career in Nursing, attitude towards the current career position, satisfaction with marriage, social support, load feelings, self-assessment, control, and endurance had predictive effects on nurses' job engagement. It is necessary to take a variety of measures according to the social-demographic characteristics, improve the adversity quotient, and evaluate the mental workload correctly, to improve the job engagement of nurses. The epidemic situation and other emergencies make the work pressure of nurses in Grade-A tertiary hospitals increase suddenly. It should pay attention to the influence of different demographic factors, and pay attention to the correct guidance of work demand-mental workload, as well as the cultivation, and improvement of job resource-AQ, which can improve the job engagement of nurses to some extent. No patient or public contribution.

Comparison of univariate and bivariate Poisson regression methods in the analysis of determinants of female schooling and fertility in Malawi

Recent research has established existence of a correlation between women’s education and fertility, suggesting that they share similar risk factors. However, in many studies, the two variables were analysed separately, which could bias the conclusions by undermining the apparent correlations of such paired outcomes. In this article, the univariate and bivariate Poisson regression models were applied to nationally representative sample of 24,562 women from the 2015-16 Malawi demographic and health survey to examine the risk factors of women’s education levels and fertility. The R software version 4.1.2 was used for the analyses. The results showed that estimates from the bivariate Poisson model were consistent with those obtained from the separate univariate Poisson models. The sizes of estimates of coefficients, their standard errors, p-values, and directions were comparable in both bivariate and univariate Poisson models. Using either the univariate or bivariate Poisson model, it was found that the age of a woman at first sexual experience, her current age, household wealth index, and contraceptive usage were significantly associated with both the woman’s schooling and fertility. The study further revealed that ethnicity, religion, and region of residence impacted education level only and not fertility. Similarly, marital status and occupation impacted fertility only and not education. The study also found that higher education levels were linked to a lower number of children, with a strong negative correlation of -0.62 between the two variables. The study recommends using bivariate Poisson regression for analysing paired count response data, when there is an apparent covariance between the outcome variables. The results suggest that efforts by policymakers to achieve the desired women’s sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa should be intertwined with improving women’s and girls’ education attainment in the region.

U.S. Ethane Emissions and Trends Estimated from Atmospheric Observations.

Oil and natural gas (O&G) production and processing activities have changed markedly across the U.S. over the past several years. However, the impacts of these changes on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are not clear. In this study, we examine U.S. ethane (C2H6) emissions, which are primarily from O&G activities, during years 2015-2020. We use C2H6 observations made by the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory and partner organizations from towers and aircraft and estimate emissions from these observations by using an inverse model. We find that U.S. C2H6 emissions (4.43 ± 0.2 Tg·yr-1) are approximately three times those estimated by the EPA's 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) platform (1.54 Tg·yr-1) and exhibit a very different seasonal cycle. We also find that changes in U.S. C2H6 emissions are decoupled from reported changes in production; emissions increased 6.3 ± 7.6% (0.25 ± 0.31 Tg) between 2015 and 2020 while reported C2H6 production increased by a much larger amount (78%). Our results also suggest an apparent correlation between C2H6 emissions and C2H6 spot prices, where prices could be a proxy for pressure on the infrastructure across the supply chain. Overall, these results provide insight into how U.S. C2H6 emissions are changing over time.

Unveiling the Enigmatic nature of six neglected Amazonian Leishmania (Viannia) species using the hamster model: Virulence, Histopathology and prospection of LRV1.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is highly endemic in the Amazon basin and occurs in all South American countries, except Chile and Uruguay. Most Brazilian ATL cases are due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, however other neglected Amazonian species are being increasingly reported. They belong to the subgenus L. (Viannia) and information on suitable models to understand immunopathology are scarce. Here, we explored the use of the golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus and its macrophages as a model for L. (Viannia) species. We also studied the interaction of parasite glycoconjugates (LPGs and GIPLs) in murine macrophages. The following strains were used: L. (V.) braziliensis (MHOM/BR/2001/BA788), L. (V.) guyanensis (MHOM/BR/85/M9945), L. (V.) shawi (MHOM/BR/96/M15789), L. (V.) lindenbergi (MHOM/BR/98/M15733) and L. (V.) naiffi (MDAS/BR/79/M5533). In vivo infections were initiated by injecting parasites into the footpad and were followed up at 20- and 40-days PI. Parasites were mixed with salivary gland extract (SGE) from wild-captured Nyssomyia neivai prior to in vivo infections. Animals were euthanized for histopathological evaluation of the footpads, spleen, and liver. The parasite burden was evaluated in the skin and draining lymph nodes. In vitro infections used resident peritoneal macrophages and THP-1 monocytes infected with all species using a MOI (1:10). For biochemical studies, glycoconjugates (LPGs and GIPLs) were extracted, purified, and biochemically characterized using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). They were functionally evaluated after incubation with macrophages from C57BL/6 mice and knockouts (TLR2-/- and TLR4-/-) for nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine/chemokine production. All species, except L. (V.) guyanensis, failed to generate evident macroscopic lesions 40 days PI. The L. (V.) guyanensis lesions were swollen but did not ulcerate and microscopically were characterized by an intense inflammatory exudate. Despite the fact the other species did not produce visible skin lesions there was no or mild pro-inflammatory infiltration at the inoculation site and parasites survived in the hamster skin/lymph nodes and even visceralized. Although none of the species caused severe disease in the hamster, they differentially infected peritoneal macrophages in vitro. LPGs and GIPLs were able to differentially trigger NO and cytokine production via TLR2/TLR4 and TLR4, respectively. The presence of a sidechain in L. (V.) lainsoni LPG (type II) may be responsible for its higher proinflammatory activity. After Principal Component analyses using all phenotypic features, the clustering of L. (V.) lainsoni was separated from all the other L. (Viannia) species. We conclude that M. auratus was a suitable in vivo model for at least four dermotropic L. (Viannia) species. However, in vitro studies using peritoneal cells are a suitable alternative for understanding interactions of the six L. (Viannia) species used here. LRV1 presence was found in L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) shawi with no apparent correlation with virulence in vitro and in vivo. Finally, parasite glycoconjugates were able to functionally trigger various innate immune responses in murine macrophages via TLRs consistent with their inflammatory profile in vivo.

Interfacial characterization and bonding performance of additively manufactured GH4169/cast iron bimetal

Bimetal has excellent potential for high-power density cylinder heads due to its design flexibility, functionality, and economy. Interfacial characterization and bonding performance affect the reliability of the bimetal in service. In this paper, the GH4169/cast iron bimetal has been manufactured by the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF). The morphology, microstructure, and phases of the GH4169/cast iron bimetallic bonding interface were characterized, and the element distribution was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The nano-hardness and nano-elastic modulus of the GH4169/cast iron bimetallic bonding interface were tested. Shear tests were used to characterize the bonding strength of the GH4169/cast iron bimetallic bonding interface. The results show that the bonding interface of the GH4169/cast iron bimetal is wavy and shows excellent metallurgical bonding. Traces of cyclic flow formed at the bonding interface due to the low energy density and the rapid solidification rate of the molten pool, which prevent the elements from mixing and diffusing sufficiently. As the energy density increases, the traces of cyclic flow at the bonding interface gradually decrease, and the width of the bimetallic diffusion zone (DZ) grows. The bonding of the GH4169/cast iron bimetal is mainly accompanied by the melting and diffusion of Ni, Fe, and C elements to form Ni–Fe compounds, carbides, etc. Spearman correlation analysis reveals that the shear strength shows an apparent positive correlation with the nano-hardness of the DZ, and higher nano-hardness of the DZ improves the bonding strength of the bimetallic bonding interface. The morphology, element distribution, and properties of the bonding interface are all factors that affect the bonding performance. This study can provide data support and a theoretical basis for applying the GH4169/cast iron bimetal from the material to the structural level.