Excess Rate Research Articles

Additive friction stir deposition of Al 6061-B4C composites: Process parameters, microstructure and property correlation

Al 6061-B4C metal matrix composites were fabricated using a novel solid state additive manufacturing technique of additive friction stir deposition (AFSD). Incorporation of B4C particles into the deposit was achieved by employing hollow Al 6061 feed stock filled with B4C powder and three different AFSD tool rotational speeds (200, 300 and 400 rpm). Fabricated deposits exhibited remarkable metallurgical bonding across the substrate/deposit interface and interlayer interfaces for all tool rotational speeds, indicating a wider fabrication window. A physics based pseudo-thermo mechanical model was employed to evaluate the thermo-kinetic conditions experienced by the depositing material to correlate with the microstructural observations. Deposited layers exhibited refinement of grains to ∼10 μm from the corresponding coarse grain structure of feedstock (136 μm). The regions near the B4C particles were observed to have finer grains (<2 μm) signifying particle stimulated nucleation. Although considerable loss in the tensile properties (60 % drop in yield strength) was observed in the AFSD deposits due to the associated dissolution of β’’ precipitates, subsequent heat treatment restored the tensile properties to the level of as received material (∼290 MPa). The thermo-kinetic conditions (temperature in excess of 500 °C and strain rates in excess of 250 s−1) experienced by the builds under higher AFSD tool rotational speeds (300 and 400 rpm) appeared to result in refinement of Al–Fe–Si based secondary intermetallic precipitates/dispersoids leading to the observed higher stability of their microstructure during the subsequent post AFSD heat treatment. Samples AFSD fabricated with a lower tool rotational speed of 200 rpm, however, exhibited significant grain growth on account of relatively larger secondary precipitates/dispersoids.

Harmonic Imaging of Stem Cells in Whole Blood at GHz Pixel Rate.

The pre-clinical validation of cell therapies requires monitoring the biodistribution of transplanted cells in tissues of host organisms. Real-time detection of these cells in the circulatory system and identification of their aggregation state is a crucial piece of information, but necessitates deep penetration and fast imaging with high selectivity, subcellular resolution, and high throughput. In this study, multiphoton-based in-flow detection of human stem cells in whole, unfiltered blood is demonstrated in a microfluidic channel. The approach relies on a multiphoton microscope with diffractive scanning in the direction perpendicular to the flow via a rapidly wavelength-swept laser. Stem cells are labeled with metal oxide harmonic nanoparticles. Thanks to their strong and quasi-instantaneous second harmonic generation (SHG), an imaging rate in excess of 10 000 frames per second is achieved with pixel dwell times of 1 ns, a duration shorter than typical fluorescence lifetimes yet compatible with SHG. Through automated cell identification and segmentation, morphological features of each individual detected event are extracted and cell aggregates are distinguished from isolated cells. This combination of high-speed multiphoton microscopy and high-sensitivity SHG nanoparticle labeling in turbid media promises the detection of rare cells in the bloodstream for assessing novel cell-basedtherapies.

The mortality burden related to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 - years of life lost and excess mortality in 13 countries and sub-national regions in Southern and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Between 2021 and 2023, a project was funded in order to explore the mortality burden (YLL-Years of Life Lost, excess mortality) of COVID-19 in Southern and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. For each national or sub-national region, data on COVID-19 deaths and population data were collected for the period March 2020 to December 2021. Unstandardized and age-standardised YLL rates were calculated according to standard burden of disease methodology. In addition, all-cause mortality data for the period 2015-2019 were collected and used as a baseline to estimate excess mortality in each national or sub-national region in the years 2020 and 2021. On average, 15-30 years of life were lost per death in the various countries and regions. Generally, YLL rates per 100,000 were higher in countries and regions in Southern and Eastern Europe compared to Central Asia. However, there were differences in how countries and regions defined and counted COVID-19 deaths. In most countries and sub-national regions, YLL rates per 100,000 (both age-standardised and unstandardized) were higher in 2021 compared to 2020, and higher amongst men compared to women. Some countries showed high excess mortality rates, suggesting under-diagnosis or under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths, and/or relatively large numbers of deaths due to indirect effects of the pandemic. Our results suggest that the COVID-19 mortality burden was greater in many countries and regions in Southern and Eastern Europe compared to Central Asia. However, heterogeneity in the data (differences in the definitions and counting of COVID-19 deaths) may have influenced our results. Understanding possible reasons for the differences was difficult, as many factors are likely to play a role (e.g., differences in the extent of public health and social measures to control the spread of COVID-19, differences in testing strategies and/or vaccination rates). Future cross-country analyses should try to develop structured approaches in an attempt to understand the relative importance of such factors. Furthermore, in order to improve the robustness and comparability of burden of disease indicators, efforts should be made to harmonise case definitions and reporting for COVID-19 deaths across countries.

Fundamental comminution efficiency gains with the CAHM platform technology

ABSTRACT The Conjugate Anvil Hammer Mill (CAHM) is a platform technology invented by Lawrence Nordell that embodies Dr Klaus Schönert’s guiding principles for highly efficient comminution into a series of commercial, production-scalable devices across multiple product size ranges. Schönert demonstrated that unconfined, compression breakage of single particles (or thin particle beds) between parallel plates produces the most energy efficient particle breakage. The CAHM Mark 1 Prototype and the MonoRoll are 2 new comminution devices that leverage these fundamental principles to produce comparable breakage at a fraction of the energy consumed by SAG mills, Ball mills or even High Pressure Grinding Rolls. The CAHM machine prototype has been tested at feed rates in excess of 60 t/h and is robust enough to be operated at a mine site for a pre-commercial demonstration. The MonoRoll is a 2 t/h retrofit of an existing pilot-scale ball mill. A mining industry consortium led by the Canada Mining Innovation Council and supported by Quebec and Federal government funding has designed, fabricated and tested both prototype machines over the last 4 years. Beyond the dramatic energy savings, implementing these technologies will generate additional benefits from simpler circuits and reduced scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. This paper reviews the design of these 2 prototypes in the context of Schönert’s fundamental principles for efficient breakage.

A Comparison of the Frequency and Intensity of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) during the Meteorological Drought across Harohar-Punpun Basin (India)

The term "drought" applies to a prolonged period when there is a water shortage because of insufficient precipitation, an excessive rate of evaporation, and excessive use of water from reservoirs and other storage, including ground water. It is a slow-onset phenomenon that can have significant social, economic, and environmental impacts. Both the frequency and severity of droughts are increasing globally due to manmade and natural factors. This study looked at how well SPIs (3, 6, 12-month time scales) and RAI (Rainfall Anomaly Index) performed at identifying drought occurrences over a period of 70 years (1951 to 2021) in India's Agro-Ecological Zones. The RAI and SPI values were computed using rainfall data from 9 meteorological stations located throughout the Harohar- Punpun Basin. According to the results, the RAI is more capable than SPIs in detecting historical records of actual occurrences. Additionally, RAI is more effective than SPIs for determining both short- and long-term droughts. Since RAI can better capture the true nature of the drought situation in the Harohar-Punpun Basin, it appears to be more responsive to drought circumstances. The primary causes of drought, according to the study, include minor variations in precipitation, willful ground water removal, changing cropping patterns, and substantial changes in land use. Regional planners and administrators will surely find use for this scientific study and integrated watershed management methods for sustainable water resource management, particularly for this region.

Impaired episodic verbal memory recall after 1 week and elevated forgetting in children after mild traumatic brain injury - results from a short-term longitudinal study.

There is preliminary evidence that children after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF), i.e., an adequate learning and memory performance in standardized memory tests, but an excessive rate of forgetting over delays of days or weeks. The main aim of this study was to investigate episodic memory performance, including delayed retrieval 1 week after learning, in children after mild TBI (mTBI). This prospective study with two time-points (T1: 1 week after injury and T2: 3-6 months after injury), included data of 64 children after mTBI and 57 healthy control children aged between 8 and 16 years. We assessed episodic learning and memory using an auditory word learning test and compared executive functions (interference control, working memory, semantic fluency and flexibility) and divided attention between groups. We explored correlations between memory performance and executive functions. Furthermore, we examined predictive factors for delayed memory retrieval 1 week after learning as well as for forgetting over time. Compared to healthy controls, patients showed an impaired delayed recall and recognition performance 3-6 months after injury. Executive functions, but not divided attention, were reduced in children after mTBI. Furthermore, parents rated episodic memory as impaired 3-6 months after injury. Additionally, verbal learning and group, but not executive functions, were predictive for delayed recall performance at both time-points, whereas forgetting was predicted by group. Delayed recall and forgetting over time were significantly different between groups, both post-acutely and in the chronic phase after pediatric mTBI, even in a very mildly injured patient sample. Delayed memory performance should be included in clinical evaluations of episodic memory and further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of ALF.

On the nonlinearity of the catchment instantaneous response function: Insights obtained from dynamic wave modeling

In the unit hydrograph theory, the catchment response function f to a unit rainfall is described invariant. However, real catchment response is nonlinear in that f varies with rainfall excess rate ie. In particular, the peak f(tp) and peak time tp of f are known to follow power functional relationships with ie. We investigated two fundamental knowledge gaps in the emergence of the nonlinearity: (1) the role of hydrodynamics and (2) the linkage with the linear convolution principle. Employing a sophisticated hydrodynamic model of the tRIBS-FEaST, the power-law nonlinearity was captured in simulations for a series of catchments. We found further that the time of concentration decreases with ie, again following a power law. Nevertheless, we found significant limitations in f obtained by deconvoluting S-hydrographs, as it fails to capture the known tendency of the growing skewness with ie. Further, the hydrographs reproduced with the linear convolution, even the nonlinearity is seen in f, deviates from the continuous simulation results. Alternatively, a series of f was directly simulated as hydrographs from the hydrodynamic model, initiated with varying initial water depth ho all over the catchment, but no additional water or rainfall imposed. This alternative method successfully reproduces not only the nonlinear peak variation but also the skewness variation with ho, which is attributed to the relaxation of the linear convolution framework.

Excess multi-cause mortality linked to influenza virus infection in China, 2012-2021: a population-based study.

The aim of this study is to estimate the excess mortality burden of influenza virus infection in China from 2012 to 2021, with a concurrent analysis of its associated disease manifestations. Laboratory surveillance data on influenza, relevant population demographics, and mortality records, including cause of death data in China, spanning the years 2012 to 2021, were incorporated into a comprehensive analysis. A negative binomial regression model was utilized to calculate the excess mortality rate associated with influenza, taking into consideration factors such as year, subtype, and cause of death. There was no evidence to indicate a correlation between malignant neoplasms and any subtype of influenza, despite the examination of the effect of influenza on the mortality burden of eight diseases. A total of 327,520 samples testing positive for influenza virus were isolated between 2012 and 2021, with a significant decrease in the positivity rate observed during the periods of 2012-2013 and 2019-2020. China experienced an average annual influenza-associated excess deaths of 201721.78 and an average annual excess mortality rate of 14.53 per 100,000 people during the research period. Among the causes of mortality that were examined, respiratory and circulatory diseases (R&C) accounted for the most significant proportion (58.50%). Fatalities attributed to respiratory and circulatory diseases exhibited discernible temporal patterns, whereas deaths attributable to other causes were dispersed over the course of the year. Theoretically, the contribution of these disease types to excess influenza-related fatalities can serve as a foundation for early warning and targeted influenza surveillance. Additionally, it is possible to assess the costs of prevention and control measures and the public health repercussions of epidemics with greater precision.

#1778 Effects of comorbidities, social deprivation and sex on the excess mortality of French ESKD patients on dialysis

Abstract Background and Aims Inequalities in access to care may affect End-stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patient's overall mortality, i.e. mortality directly or indirectly related to ESRD (excess mortality) as well as mortality related to other causes of death. Previous studies in France have identified sex and comorbidities, especially diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as factors influencing the overall mortality of ESKD patients, whereas social deprivation was not associated with overall mortality. However, no study has yet examined the impact of these factors on excess mortality in dialysis patients. This study thus aims to quantify the effects of social deprivation, sex and comorbidities on the excess mortality of ESKD patients on dialysis in France. Method This retrospective observational study included adults aged 18-85 years who started dialysis in France between 2017 and 2019, and were followed up until 31 December 2022. Dialysis patients receiving a transplant were censored. Analyses were based on the excess hazard approach: the overall mortality rate was decomposed into the sum of a mortality rate associated with ESKD (the excess rate) and a mortality rate associated with other causes of death (the expected rate). The latter is usually drawn from mortality tables for the general population stratified by demographic covariates. A model is then fitted in order to estimate the excess mortality hazard: the impact of covariates on this hazard is quantified in terms of excess hazard ratios. In France, mortality tables are provided by the “Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques” and stratified by age, calendar year, sex, and “départements” of residence. However, stratification by level of social deprivation or levels of the Charlson Comorbidity Index is not available, which may bias the excess mortality hazard estimates. To assess the impact of using inadequately stratified life tables on estimating excess hazard, we compared the following models using Akaike's Information Criterion: (i) an excess hazard model using the standard life tables and accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data by including a random intercept for the “département” (M0), (ii) an excess hazard model with a model-based life table correction and with (M1) or without (M2) the random intercept at the “département” level, and (iv) an excess hazard model in which the life table correction is achieved by using an individual frailty term (M3). Results 29148 dialysis patients were included in the study, 65% of whom were men. Compared to the other regression models, the excess hazard model (M2) was the best model (AIC: M0 = 58936.69; M1 = 58966.94, M2 = 58870.41, M3 = 58908.59). There were no differences in excess mortality by deprivation status {EHR (Q5 versus others) 1.054 [0.992; 1.120]; p value = 0.088}. Excess mortality was higher for women than for men {HER (women versus men) = 1.083 [1.017; 1.154]; P-value = .012}. Excess mortality was higher in patients with comorbidities than in those without, and in those who started dialysis in emergency compared with those who started on a planned basis. Elderly patients on dialysis had a higher excess hazard than younger patients. The ratio between the other cause mortality of French dialysis patients and general population was equal to 2.18[1.95; 2.45]. This means that the other cause mortality of French dialysis patients is 2.18 higher than that of the general population with the same characteristics (Table 1, Fig. 1). Conclusion Using a methodology allowing to account for the insufficient stratification of population mortality tables, we identified several factors other than sex that might be targeted by public health interventions. For example, improved referral to nephrologists could reduce the impact of emergency dialysis. The extent of these inequalities will be better understood by comparison of these results with those of ESKD patients on dialysis in European countries.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Veterans With Gulf War Illness Evaluated at VA's War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center.

Excess rates of Gulf War illness (GWI) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two chronic multisymptom illnesses, have long been documented among nearly 700,000 veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. We sought to report the prevalence, characteristics, and association of GWI and IBS decades after the war in a clinical cohort of deployed Gulf War veterans (GWVs) who were evaluated at the Department of Veterans Affairs' War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) for unexplained chronic symptoms. We analyzed data gathered from clinical intake questionnaires of deployed GWVs who were evaluated at WRIISC clinics between 2008 and 2020. We applied Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria to determine the prevalence of severe GWI. IBS was identified using Rome IV diagnostic criteria (current IBS) and veterans' self-reported "history of physician-diagnosed IBS." We examined associations between IBS and GWI using bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression. Among the N = 578 GWVs evaluated by the WRIISC, severe GWI (71.8%), history of physician-diagnosed IBS (50.3%) and current IBS (42.2%) were all highly prevalent. Nearly half of GWVs with severe GWI met Rome criteria for IBS (45.8%), and over half reported a history of physician-diagnosed IBS (56.1%). In multivariable models, severe GWI was significantly associated both with current IBS (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.68, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.54) and with veteran-reported history of physician-diagnosed IBS (aOR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.23). IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) was the most common subtype among GWVs with current IBS (61.1%). However, IBS-mixed affected a significantly greater proportion of veterans with severe GWI, compared to veterans who did not have severe GWI (P = .03). More than 20 years after the Persian Gulf War, our findings indicate a high degree of comorbidity between severe GWI and IBS among deployed GWVs seeking care for unexplained illnesses. Our results suggest GWVs with GWI should be screened for IBS for which evidence-based treatments are available and could potentially reduce symptom burden. Conversely, symptoms of IBS should trigger additional evaluation for non-gastrointestinal symptoms in deployed Gulf War veterans to identify possible GWI and ensure a comprehensive approach to care.

Bivariate extreme value analysis of extreme temperature and mortality in Canada, 2000-2020.

Climate change increases the risk of illness through rising temperature, severe precipitation and worst air pollution. This paper investigates how monthly excess mortality rate is associated with the increasing frequency and severity of extreme temperature in Canada during 2000-2020. The extreme associations were compared among four age groups across five sub-blocks of Canada based on the datasets of monthly T90 and T10, the two most representative indices of severe weather monitoring measures developed by the actuarial associations in Canada and US. We utilize a combined seasonal Auto-regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and bivariate Peaks-Over-Threshold (POT) method to investigate the extreme association via the extreme tail index and Pickands dependence function plots. It turns out that it is likely (more than 10%) to occur with excess mortality if there are unusual low temperature with extreme intensity (all except Northeast Atlantic (NEA), Northern Plains (NPL) and Northwest Pacific (NWP) for age group 0-44), while extreme frequent high temperature seems not to affect health significantly (all except NWP). Particular attention should be paid to NWP and Central Arctic (CAR) since population health therein is highly associated with both extreme frequent high and low temperatures (both for all age groups). The revealed extreme dependence is expected to help stakeholders avoid significant ramifications with targeted health protection strategies from unexpected consequences of extreme weather events. The novel extremal dependence methodology is promisingly applied in further studies of the interplay between extreme meteorological exposures, social-economic factors and health outcomes.

Statistical design and optimization of nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel for transdermal delivery of cefepime

Objectives This research aimed to overcome challenges posed by cefepime excessive elimination rate and poor patient compliance by developing transdermal delivery system using nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel. Methods Rotary evaporation-sonication method and the Box-Behnken model were used to prepare cefepime loaded nano-transfersomes (CPE-NTFs). The physiochemical characterization of CPE-NTFs were analyzed including DLS, deformability index, DSC and antimicrobial study. Optimized CPE-NTFs loaded into chitosan gel and appropriately characterized. In vitro release, ex vivo and in vivo studies were performed. Results The CPE-NTFs were physically stable with particle size 222.6 ± 1.8 nm, polydispersity index 0.163 ± 0.02, zeta potential −20.8 ± 0.1 mv, entrapment efficiency 81.4 ± 1.1% and deformability index 71 ± 0.2. DSC analysis confirmed successful drug loading and thermal stability. FTIR analysis showed no chemical interaction among the excipients of CPE-NTFs gel. The antibacterial activity demonstrated a remarkable reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of cefepime when incorporated into nano-transfersomes. CPE-NTFs based chitosan gel (CPE-NTFs gel) showed significant physicochemical properties. In vitro release studies exhibited sustained release behavior over 24 h, and ex vivo studies indicated enhanced permeation and retention compared to conventional cefepime gel. In vivo skin irritation studies confirmed CPE-NTFs gel was nonirritating and biocompatible for transdermal delivery. Conclusion This research showed nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel is a promising approach for cefepime transdermal delivery and provides sustained release of cefepime.

Premature Mortality Excess Rates Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis Conducted in Bihor County, Romania.

Estimating the excess of premature deaths (before the age of 75 years) and Potential Years of Life Lost allows ranking causes of death as an expression of the burden of disease in a population.We statistically analysedthe impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on excess premature mortality in the total population and specifically, by sexes, compared to the pre-pandemic period, through Potential Years of Life Lost. In this retrospective descriptive observational study, we counted excess of premature mortality in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 by cause of death (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, digestive diseases, injury, COVID-19, and other causes) and by sexes compared to the period average from 2017-2019, based on the deaths registered in Bihor County (48,948 people). Premature deaths due to COVID-19 (1,745 people ofboth sexes) contributed 71.3% to excess mortality, the population being similar for both sexes (71.4% in men and 71.2% in women). The Potential Years of Life Lost/death due to COVID-19 was 11.84 years for both sexes (11.76 years in men and 12.02 years in women). Potential Years of Life Lost/all-cause heath was lower during the pandemic (13.42 years for both sexes, 14.06 years for men and 12.32 years for women) compared to the pre-pandemic period (14.6 years for both sexes, 15.1 years for men and 13.5 years for women). The excess of premature mortality and decreased Potential Years of Life Lost/death during the pandemic, shows an increase in the proportion of deaths at ages closer to the established limit for premature mortality (75 years) compared to the pre-pandemic period.

Were the 2022 Summer Heatwaves a Strong Cause of Europe’s Excess Deaths?

During the 2022 summer, Europe experienced heatwaves with record temperatures, and a study has argued that they caused about 62,000 deaths between 30 May and 4 September. The total number of excess deaths during the same period was about 137,000, indicating that the heatwaves were a substantial contributor. Not ruling out that explanation entirely, this paper argues that it was unlikely a strong cause. First, if the heatwaves were a strong cause of numerous deaths, one would assume that the older and deprived were relatively likely to die. However, during the 2022 summer heatwaves in England, which were claimed to have caused about 2900 deaths, the oldest age cohort did not have a higher excess death rate than the middle age cohort, and the excess death rate actually decreased with deprivation status. Moreover, Iceland had among Europe’s highest excess death rates during the summer, which cannot be attributed to heatwaves. During June, July, and August 2022, comparable southern hemisphere countries furthermore had high excess death rates, which cannot be attributed to heatwaves either, as it was during their winter. Also, Europe’s excess death rate was higher during the 2022–2023 winter than during the 2022 summer, and intuitively not attributed to heatwaves, but neither to cold weather, as that winter was abnormally mild. Finally, the paper discusses the puzzling issue that about 56% more women than men, relative to the population, presumably died from the heatwaves.

Experimental and numerical investigations on the force characteristics of cutter in different regions of the TBM cutterhead

The cutters on the cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) are usually divided into center cutters, face cutters, and gage cutters, and have significantly different force characteristics. In this study, the authors conduct a series of full-scale cutter rotary cutting tests to compare the differences in the cutter force, the morphology of rock ships, and the efficiency of rock breaking. The results indicate that with increasing cutter spacing, the influence exerted by the cutters on one another in terms of their performance at breaking rocks decreases and their normal force gradually increases, while the rolling force of the cutters is less influenced by the spacing between them. The ratio of the normal force to the rolling force of the gage cutter is less than that of the face cutter, indicating a lower efficiency of breaking rock of the gage cutter. The ratio of rock chips with larger size (>50 mm) and smaller size (<10 mm) gradually decreases while that of rock chips with medium size (about 10–50 mm) gradually increases with increasing installation angle, such that the distribution of the particle size becomes more uniform. Excessive or insufficient penetration rate (PR) will increase the proportion of small rock chips, and a moderate PR will produce rock chips with a larger characteristic size and a more uniform size distribution. Then, a three-dimensional rock-breaking model by all cutters of actual TBM cutterhead is established based on the particle flow method. The results of the simulations indicate that the force on the inner ring of the center cutter is greater than that on the outer ring, and an increase in the installation radius weakens the load difference between the two rings. The normal and rolling forces of face cutters gradually increase, while their side force first increases and then decreases. The side force of the gage cutter significantly increases with the installation angle.

105 Water quality analysis and flow rate comparison between wean-finish swine barns

Abstract Water is an essential nutrient to sustain life and a vital component of biological functioning, impacting regulation of pig body temperature along with transporting nutrients to the body. Drinker availability, position, design, water flow rate and pressure, and water quality are major components of pig water intake. The ideal water flow rate for wean-to-finish pigs is 1 L m-1. Excessive flow rates could limit pig water intake and increase humidity in the barn, while too little water flow can lead to a decrease in water intake and biological functioning of the pig. Water should not contain harmful substances and should be readily accessible to pigs. Compounds in water are highly variable depending on region, water source, and pH. Quality of water influences feed consumption along with pig health. Water can contain a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, and protozoa; while not all microorganisms are harmful a highly contaminated water analysis is an index of poor water quality. In this study water quality and water flow rates were analyzed across five wean-finish sites comprising 16 barns for three turns of finishing pigs. Water flow rates were measured twice per turn, wk 1 and wk 17. Each barn contained 36 pens and flow rate measurements were collected in 8 pens evenly distributed within the barn. One suspended water source was available per pen, with two nipple drinkers per water source. Water flow rates were averaged over each turn within barns. Average water flow rates were 1.42 L m-1 with standard deviation of 0.44 L m-1. Overall barn water flow rates ranged from 0.78 to 2.19 L m-1. Barn flow rates were compared over time to evaluate performance and maintenance of facilities. Water quality samples were also collected and submitted for standard water analysis. Results will provide information on management strategies to assess water quality and water flow rates in wean-finish facilities.

The impact of devaluing Women of Color: stress, reproduction, and justice.

This commentary is in response to the Call for Papers put forth by the Critical Midwifery Studies Collective (June 2022). We argue that due to a long and ongoing history of gendered racism, Women of Color are devalued in U.S. society. Devaluing Women of Color leads maternal healthcare practitioners to miss and even dismiss distress in Women of Color. Theresult is systematic underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and the delivery of poorer care to Women of Color, which negatively affects reproductive outcomes generally and birth outcomes specifically. These compounding effects exacerbate distress in Women of Color leading to greater distress. Stress physiology is ancient and intricately interwoven with healthy pregnancy physiology, and this relationship is a highly conserved reproductive strategy. Thus, where there is disproportionate or excess stress (distress), unsurprisingly, there are disproportionate and excess rates of poorer reproductive outcomes. Stress physiology and reproductive physiology collide with social injustices (i.e., racism, discrimination, and anti-Blackness), resulting in pernicious racialized maternal health disparities. Accordingly, the interplay between stress and reproduction is a key social justice issue and an important site for theoretical inquiry and birth equity efforts. Fortunately, both stress physiology and pregnancy physiology are highly plastic-responsive to the benefits of increased social support and respectful maternity care. Justice means valuing Women of Color and valuing their right to have a healthy, respected, and safe life.

Effect of water injector location on combustion and performance of an HCCI engine - A CFD analysis

A homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is capable of producing high thermal efficiency with very low emissions. However, because of the limited upper load level constrained by knocking, the HCCI engine is not yet commercialized. Water injection can tackle this issue, enhancing the upper load limit without excessive heat release rate. However, the effectiveness of water injection depends on in-cylinder water evaporation, which in turn depends on water injection parameters. Therefore, this study is conducted to study the effect of water injector location on the combustion and performance characteristics of an HCCI engine by a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis. The engine specifications and boundary conditions are taken from the literature. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D CFD) model was developed using CONVERGE CFD coupled with detailed chemical kinetics to gain a better understanding of the phenomena of water injection in an HCCI engine. The CFD models used are validated from the available experimental data in the literature for the engine considered. Here, the water injector location is optimized based on the Water vapor distribution within the cylinder, nitric oxide (NOx) emissions, and maximum rate of pressure rise (MRPR). The results show that the water injector at 37 mm from the center of the cylinder gives better results than in other cases considered. With the optimum water injector location, the indicated mean effective pressure is increased by about 35.91% than without the water injection case. This study will be helpful in the development of HCCI engines.

A forward design approach for fault thresholds in redundant flight control systems

Modern fly-by-wire flight control systems use redundancy configurations to meet high safety requirements. The fault threshold value of the redundancy monitoring and voting algorithm affects the false alarm rate and missing alarm rate of the flight control system and the excessive false alarm rate and missing alarm rate reduce the reliability of the flight control system. Traditionally, the design of fault threshold is based on the empirical trial-and-error method, which suffers from the problem of unclear optimization direction. Forward design is needed to improve design efficiency and quality. In this paper, a forward design method for fault detection threshold is proposed to determine the upper limit value of the fault threshold by analyzing the effect of the voting signal change on the transient response of the aircraft when a channel fault occurs. The lower limit value of the fault threshold is determined by analyzing the channel history data. The effectiveness of the design method is demonstrated by digital simulation.

Excess mortality across countries in the Western World since the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘Our World in Data’ estimates of January 2020 to December 2022

IntroductionExcess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic has been substantial. Insight into excess death rates in years following WHO’s pandemic declaration is crucial for government leaders and policymakers to evaluate their...