Moderate Contact Research Articles

Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of Eight Totally Eclipsing Contact Binaries with Small Mass Ratios

This paper selected eight totally eclipsing contact binaries for photometric and spectroscopic studies. Spectral data were analyzed by University of Lyon Spectroscopic analysis Software, and photometric data were analyzed using PHOEBE through Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. We used two methods to calculate the initial values for running MCMC: one method is a new approach proposed by ourselves to model light curves without spots, while the other method is the genetic algorithm, which can determine physical parameters with spots. The results imply that these eight targets are all contact binary stars with a small mass ratio below 0.25. There are four systems exhibiting the O’Connell effect. By adding a dark spot on the primary component, the ideal fitting can be obtained. Meanwhile, it was found that two systems are shallow contact binaries, while the remaining six are moderate contact binaries. An O − C analysis of the eight eclipsing binary stars revealed that seven of them exhibit long-term changes. Four of them display a long-term decreasing trend in orbital period, while the other three show a long-term increasing trend, and two targets exhibit periodic variations. A decrease in period may be caused by the transfer of matter from the more massive component to the less massive component, while an increase in period may be caused by transfer in the opposite way. The absolute physical parameters, orbital angular momentum, initial masses, and ages of these eight systems were calculated. Additionally, their mass–luminosity and mass–radius distributions were analyzed.

Exploring the Socio-economic Conditions of Potato Farmers in Farrukhabad District of Uttar Pradesh, India

This study investigates the socio-economic profile of potato growers in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, aiming to understand their demographic composition, educational background, caste distribution, marital status, family structure, landholding size, occupation, income levels, social participation, and possession of farming resources. A sample of 100 respondents cultivating potatoes as the main crop was selected from Kamalganj block, Farrukhabad district. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-structured schedule and analyzed using percentages. The results reveal that the majority of respondents are middle-aged, literate, and belong to scheduled castes. Most respondents are married and come from joint families with medium-sized households. Marginal and small landholdings dominate, and agriculture is the primary occupation, supplemented by subsidiary activities such as dairying and business. Income levels vary, with a significant proportion falling within the medium-income bracket. Social participation is moderate, with most respondents engaging in multiple organizations. Farm resources such as farm power and implements are moderately possessed. Extension services and information sources play a crucial role, with most respondents exhibiting moderate contact. This study provides valuable insights into the socio-economic landscape influencing agricultural practices among potato growers, which can inform policy formulation and extension activities aimed at fostering agricultural development and rural prosperity.

Exploiting Materials Binding Peptides for the Organization of Resilient Biomolecular Constructs.

Elastomers based on the resilin protein confer exceptional mechanical resilience in nature, but it remains elusive to recover the remarkable properties of these materials when they are made in the laboratory. This is possibly due to preorganized conformations of resilin in its natural setting, facilitating Tyr-based cross-linking. Here, resilin-like peptides (RLPs) are conjugated with a graphene-binding peptide, P1, to produce P1/RLP conjugates, in which the P1 domain may provide favorable preorganization on a graphene surface. Experiments using quartz crystal microbalance analysis and atomic force microscopy identified that the parent RLPs demonstrate negligible graphene binding; however, integration of the P1 with the RLPs resulted in the formation of dense, patterned bioligand overlayers on graphene. To complement this, molecular simulations revealed a notable difference in binding mode of the conjugates compared with typical materials binding peptides. Specifically, the adsorption of the P1/RLP conjugates did not focus on a few strongly bound "anchor" residues, but instead supported a more diffuse mode of binding, with many more participating residues featuring moderate contact. Analysis of the number of available Tyr residues (i.e., those not adsorbed at the surface) indicate that the RLP2-based conjugates will provide greater opportunity for cross-linking when adsorbed on graphene, providing a framework to generate patterned elastomeric materials.

Impact of Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project on the Smallholder Beneficiaries in Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur District of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, plenty of development projects are assumed, though success of very few is evaluated. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project (IAPP) on the smallholder beneficiaries. The proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 90 smallholder beneficiaries from seven project villages implemented. Data were collected during 2018 to 2019 using a predesigned interview schedule. The perceived advantages of the project and the beneficiaries' annual income change were utilized to assess the impact of the project on the smallholder beneficiaries. Majority (58.8%) of the smallholder project farmers were under young to middle age category, with literacy belonged to moderate family size, small farm category, average annual income of BDT 134989 and 227633 during before and after the project intervention, respectively. They showed moderate contact with the extension source (95.6%) and moderate organizational participation (64.5%). Benefits derived from different components of the project were caused change in the usages of different agricultural improved technologies by the beneficiaries. The technologies implemented were improved fish, crop, livestock and water technology. All technologies had statistically significant contributions to the beneficiaries. The changes were significant for all the cases, viz. improved fish technology (t=13.65), improved crop technology (t=24.36), improved livestock technology (t = 20.43) and improved water technology (t= 22.29). There was also significant change in annual income comparing before and after the project intervention. Major problems faced during the intervention of the project were poor coordination of activities followed by training, poor quality deliverables and inadequate supply of project incentives. It is recommended that the authority needs to consider necessary measures to sustain the tempo and resolve the problems experienced by the beneficiaries in the future interventions.

Neighborhood environment and quality of life of older adults in eastern Nepal: findings from a cross-sectional study

IntroductionQuality of life (QoL) is a subjective measure reflecting individuals’ evaluations based on their personal goals and values. While global research shows the role of neighborhood factors like ethnic diversity and socio-cultural dynamics on QoL, these are unexplored in the Nepali context. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood environment and QoL among Nepali older adults in eastern Nepal.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 847 non-institutionalized older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from two districts in eastern Nepal. QoL was evaluated using the 13-item brief Older People’s Quality of Life questionnaire, where a mean score of < 3 indicated low/poor QoL. The neighborhood environment, conceptualized across three domains (demographic, socio-cultural, and built environment), included ethnic diversity, connections with family, friends, and neighbors, cultural ties, residential stability, and rurality. Their association with QoL was examined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAround 20% of older adults reported poor QoL. Higher ethnic diversity (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04–0.36), moderate contact with family and relatives (aOR = 0.26, CI: 0.11–0.61), and high contact with neighbors (aOR = 0.09, CI: 0.03–0.21) were associated with lower odds of poor QoL. Conversely, high contact with friends (aOR = 2.29, CI: 1.30–4.04) and unstable residence (OR = 6.25, CI: 2.03–19.23) increased the odds of poor QoL. Additionally, among the covariates, chronic disease, tobacco use, unemployment, and lack of education were also significantly associated with poor QoL.ConclusionOverall, the demographic environment, socio-cultural factors, and the built environment of the neighborhood influence QoL. Therefore, diversifying the neighborhood’s ethnic composition, promoting social connections such as frequent contact with family, relatives, and neighbors, and ensuring residential stability can enhance the QoL of older adults.

Two Novel Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum Pendulum.

Two previously uncharacterized compounds, an aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloid (1) and a napelline-type diterpenoid alkaloid C20-diterpenoid alkaloid (2), as well as ten known compounds (3-12), were isolated from Aconitum pendulum. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The anti-insecticidal activities of these compounds were evaluated by contact toxicity tests against two-spotted spider mites, and compounds 1, 2, and 9 showed moderate contact toxicity, with LC50 values of 0.86±0.09, 0.95±0.23, and 0.89±0.19 mg/mL, respectively. This study highlights the potential use of diterpenoid alkaloids as natural plant-derived pesticides for the management of plant pests.

Photochromic luminescence of organic crystals arising from subtle molecular rearrangement

Photoluminescence (PL) colour-changing materials in response to photostimulus play an increasingly significant role in intelligent applications for their programmability. Nevertheless, current research mainly focuses on photochemical processes, with less attention to PL transformation through uniform aggregation mode adjustment. Here we show photochromic luminescence in organic crystals (e.g. dimethyl terephthalate) with PL varying from dark blue to purple, then to bright orange-red, and finally to red. This change is attributed to the emergence of clusters with red emission, which is barely achieved in single-benzene-based structures, thanks to the subtle molecular rearrangements prompted by light. Crucial to this process are the through-space electron interactions among molecules and moderate short contacts between ester groups. The irradiated crystals exhibit reversible PL transformation upon sufficient relaxation, showing promising applications in information storage and smart optoelectronic devices. This research contributes to the development of smart photochromic luminescent materials with significant PL colour transformations through molecular rearrangement.

The Study of Profile Characteristics of Agro- Input Dealers Towards Agro Services in Junagadh District of Gujarat State

Aim: To study the selected characteristics of the input dealers.&#x0D; Study Design: Ex-post facto research design.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was undertaken in Junagadh district of Gujarat state.&#x0D; Methodology: Junagadh district comprises of nine talukas out of which five talukas viz, Junagadh, Keshod, Mendarda, Vanthali and Maliya-hatina were randomly selected for the study. From each taluka thirty input dealers were selected randomly for the study. Thus, total 150 input dealers were selected randomly from five talukas.&#x0D; Results: With regard to characteristics, approximately half (49.34%) of input dealers were in the middle age group, while nearly half (46.00%) had attained a graduation/post-graduation level of education. Around half (48.67 %) of input dealers had moderate social participation, and a majority (69.34 %) reported a high to very high annual income. Approximately 60.00%% of input dealers utilized sources of information at a moderate level, while 51.34%% had a medium level of mass media exposure. Only 16.64%% of input dealers had received training, and a majority (61.34 %%) had moderate extension contact. Additionally, 58.67 % of input dealers exhibited a moderate level of risk orientation, while 62.00%% displayed a medium level of management orientation. Approximately 75.34%% of agro-input dealers had a medium level of economic motivation, and slightly over half (58.67 %) demonstrated a medium level of progressivism.&#x0D; Conclusion: It can be concluded that the majority of the respondents were from the middle age group with a graduation/post-graduation level of education. Additionally, more than half of the input dealers had medium social participation and belonged to the high to very high annual income bracket. Similarly, over half of the input dealers utilized sources of information and had mass media exposure at a moderate level. However, the data indicates that only a few input dealers received training from various institutes, while most had moderate extension contact and exhibited a medium level of risk and management orientation. Moreover, a significant proportion of agro-input dealers demonstrated a medium level of economic motivation and progressivism.

Evaluating mobility extraction reliability in non-ideal organic transistors utilizing weak epitaxy-grown pentacene films

Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) have exhibited enhanced carrier mobilities, albeit often accompanied by non-ideal electrical characteristics, posing challenges in accurately assessing device performance. Therefore, it is critical to understand the reliability of mobility values derived from these non-ideal current–voltage curves. In this study, high-quality pentacene films and their OTFTs were fabricated by using organic weak-epitaxy growth technology. We focused on investigating the relationship between effective mobilities and contact resistance by varying the interlayer thicknesses of MoO3 while maintaining the optimized semiconductor layer unchanged. An inverse correlation between the reliability factors and claimed mobilities is identified. For OTFTs with moderate contact resistance, the effective mobility exhibited minimal variation, remaining within a narrow 10% margin, accompanied high reliability factor. These results indicated the reliability of mobility extraction. Notably, the optimal thickness of MoO3 ranged between 2.0–3.0 nm. In contrast, a thicker MoO3 layer significantly decreased the reliability factor due to a high contact resistance, thereby rendering the effective mobility unreliable. Our works underscore the robustness of the estimation method for OTFTs featuring moderate contact resistance, providing guidance for the evaluation of material and device performance.

Light curve analysis and evolutionary status of four newly identified short-period eclipsing binaries

We present the physical and orbital parameters of four short-period eclipsing W UMa systems: ZTFJ000030.44+391106.9\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ZTFJ000030.44 +391106.9$$\\end{document} (referred to as S1), ZTFJ000817.08+402532.1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ZTFJ000817.08+402532.1$$\\end{document} (referred to as S2), ZTFJ002158.44+252934.04\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ZTFJ002158.44+252934.04$$\\end{document} (referred to as S3), and ZTFJ003357.62+415747.8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ZTFJ003357.62+415747.8$$\\end{document} (referred to as S4). The absolute parameters and evolutionary status of these systems are determined, and new times of minima are calculated. Additionally, we present the 3D fill-out configuration for each system. The four Systems exhibit moderate contact W UMa binary with a fill-out factor of 49%, 38%, 28%, and 51%, respectively. Comparing the systems’ periods, we observed a proportional relationship, where shorter periods correspond to lower fill-out factors, and longer periods were associated with higher fill-out factors. Based on the derived surface temperatures and mass ratios of the components, all systems are classified as A-type W UMa binaries. The obtained parameters in addition to a list of previously published data are then utilized to derive an updated Mass-Luminosity relation (M-L) for both A and W-type eclipsing W UMa systems. A comparison with previously published relations reveals that the majority of the EW systems lie between 0.2 and 2 Msun on the M-L diagram. Moreover, we discuss the dynamical evolutionary aspects and evolutionary status of the four components, along with their positions on the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS) and Terminal Age Main Sequence (TAMS).

Covalent crosslinking chemistry for controlled modulation of nanometric roughness and surface free energy.

Smooth interfaces embedded with low surface free energy allow effortless sliding of beaded droplets of selected liquids-with homogeneous wettability. Such slippery interfaces display low or moderate contact angles, unlike other extremely liquid repellent interfaces (e.g. superhydrophobic). These slippery interfaces emerged as a promising alternative to extremely liquid repellent hierarchically rough interfaces that generally suffer from instability under severe conditions, scattering of visible light because of the hierarchically rough interface, entrapment of fine solid particulates in their micro-grooves and so on. However, a controlled and precise modulation of surface free energy and nanometric roughness is essential for designing a more compelling solid and dry antifouling interface. Here, we have unprecedentedly demonstrated the ability of covalent cross-linking chemistry for precise and simultaneous modulation of both essential surface free energy (∼49 mN m-1 to ∼22 mN m-1) and roughness (root mean square roughness from 30 nm to 3 nm) of a solid interface for achieving liquid, substrate, and process independent, robust slippery properties. The strategic selection of β-amino-ester linkage through a 1,4-conjugated addition reaction between amine and acrylate groups of a three component reaction mixture (dominated by a 61% (w/w) crosslinker) under ambient conditions provided a facile basis for associating various important and relevant properties-including self-cleaning ability, anti-smudge properties (against both water and oil-based inks), thermal stability (>300 °C), chemical stability, physical durability, optical transparency (∼95%) and so on. The embedded slippery properties of the coating remained unaffected at both low (0 °C) and high (100 °C) temperatures. Thus, the prepared coating would be appropriate to maintain the unperturbed performance of commercially available solar cell modules and other relevant objects under outdoor conditions.

Nonlinear analysis and vibro-impact characteristics of a shaft-bearing assembly

This study investigates the nonlinear frequency response of a shaft-bearing assembly with vibro-impacts occurring at the bearing clearances. The formation of nonlinear behavior as system parameters change is examined, along with the effects of asymmetries in the nominal, inherently symmetric system. The primary effect of increasing the forcing magnitude or decreasing the contact gap sizes is the formation of grazing-induced chaotic solution branches occurring over a wide frequency range near each system resonance. The system's nominal setup has very hard contact stiffness and shows no evidence of isolas or superharmonic resonances over the frequency ranges of interest. Moderate contact stiffnesses cause symmetry breaking and introduce superharmonic resonance branches of primary resonances. Even if some primary resonances are not present due to the system's inherent symmetry, their superharmonic resonances still manifest. Branches of quasiperiodic isolas (isolated resonance branches) are also discovered, along with a cloud of isolas near a high-frequency resonance. Parameter asymmetries are found to produce a few significant changes in behavior: asymmetric linear stiffness, contact stiffness, and gap size could affect the behavior of primary resonant frequencies and isolas.

The d‐band energy level splitting of ferric group (Fe, Co, Ni) metals drives the adsorption‐conversion of polysulfides

AbstractThe notorious lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttle effect, which results in low capacity, subpar rate performance, and quick capacity deterioration, has severely restricted the practical applications of lithium sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. Therefore, it is very important for modified materials to promote thermodynamics and redox kinetics in the entrapping‐conversion process of polysulfides. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that ferric group (Fe, Co, Ni) transition metals not only provide moderate binding contacts with LiPSs but also act as an active catalyst in the spontaneous and sequential lithiation of S8 to Li2S by d‐band energy level splitting, and quick migration of Li ions can be operated on their surface, enhancing the utilization of LiPSs. Experimentally, felicitously‐fabricated ferric group (Fe, Co, Ni) transition metals encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes (M@NCNT) electrocatalysts were introduced into Li‐S batteries via separator functionalization. Actually, the experiments demonstrated that the excellent shuttle effect hindering was enabled. Consistent with theoretical predictions, Li‐S batteries with Ni@NCNT modified separators had significantly improved rate capacity and cycling stability. The cells with Ni@NCNT were able to achieve a high initial discharge capacity of 1035 mAh g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 70% at 500 discharges at 1.0 C with a 0.060% capacity decay each cycle, performing considerable cycle‐life with state‐of‐the‐art separators. Our work demonstrated a realistic separator‐modified strategy of d‐band energy level splitting from ferric group metals for high‐performance and long‐life Li‐S batteries, further propelling Li‐S battery commercialization.

Controlling Superhydrophobicity on Complex Substrates Based on a Vapor-Phase Sublimation and Deposition Polymerization.

The superhydrophobic properties of material surfaces have attracted significant research and practical development in a wide range of applications. In the present study, a superhydrophobic coating was fabricated using a vapor-phase sublimation and deposition process. This process offers several advantages, including a controllable and tunable superhydrophobic property, a dry and solvent-free process that uses well-defined water/ice templates during fabrication, and a coating technology that is applicable to various substrates, regardless of their dimensions or complex geometric configurations. The fabrication process exploits time-dependent condensation to produce ice templates with a controlled surface morphology and roughness. The templates are sacrificed via vapor sublimation, which results in mass transfer of water vapor out of the system. A second vapor source of a polymer precursor is then introduced to the system, and deposition occurs upon polymerization on the iced templates, replicating the same topologies from the iced templates. The continuation of the co-current sublimation and deposition processes finally renders permanent hierarchical structures of the polymer coatings that combine the native hydrophobic property of the polymer and the structured property by the sacrificed ice templates, achieving a level of superhydrophobicity that is tunable from 90° to 164°. The experiments demonstrated the use of [2,2]paracyclophanes as the starting materials for forming the superhydrophobic coatings of poly(p-xylylenes) on substrate surfaces. In comparison to conventional vapor deposition of poly(p-xylylenes), which resulted in dense thin-film coatings with only a moderate water contact angle of approximately 90°, the reported superhydrophobic coatings and fabrication process can achieve a high water contact angle of 164°. Demonstrations furthermore revealed that the proposed coatings are durable while maintaining superhydrophobicity on various substrates, including an intraocular lens and a cardiovascular stent, even against harsh treatment conditions and varied solution compositions used on the substrates.

Numerical Investigation of the Effect of the Wall Properties on Downward Mercury Flow and Temperature Fluctuations in a Vertical Heated Pipe under a Transverse Magnetic Field

The work is motivated by the need to study the effect of abnormal quasi-periodic high-amplitude temperature fluctuations in a liquid metal flow in pipes and channels, which arise under conditions close to those specific for liquid metal (PbLi alloy, etc.) hydrodynamics and heat transfer in blankets of tokamak fusion reactors. Such temperature fluctuations in the cooling channels of the fusion reactor blanket pose a threat to the strength of the channel walls. The influence of the physical properties of the channel walls and potential fouling of their inner surface on the generation of these fluctuations has not been studied as yet. Therefore, this problem has been numerically investigated for a MHD mixed convection of a liquid metal in a round tube for a downward flow of mercury with the one-side heating condition under a strong transverse magnetic field using conjugate problem statement by the LES (Large Eddy Simulation) method. Numerical simulation was performed for four cases: (i) the effect of thermophysical and electrophysical properties of the steel pipe wall is neglected, (ii) the effect of wall material properties is included, (iii) the effect of the moderate contact electrical resistance caused by a layer of fouling deposits or oxides on the inner surface of the pipe is accounted for, and (iv) the resistance of the thin fouling layer is assumed to be very high. The predictions for the cases (i) and (iv) are in good agreement with the experimental data and the results of the direct numerical simulation. They demonstrate the existence of quasi-periodic abnormal high-amplitude temperature fluctuations in the fluid with a frequency of approximately 0.14 Hz. With a relatively low electrical resistance of the fouling film (case iii), the frequency of high-amplitude temperature fluctuations was considerably lower (0.07 Hz). In the absence of electrical contact resistance on the inner surface of the steel pipe (case ii), high-amplitude velocity and temperature fluctuations were not revealed in the fluid. Thus, it was shown for the first time that the physical properties of a wall and the electrical resistance between the fluid and the electrically conducting wall were responsible for the development of abnormal temperature fluctuations in the liquid and the wall and control of their amplitude and frequency. The causes of the revealed effects are discussed.

Role of miR-24-3p and miR-146a-5p in dendritic cells’ maturation process induced by contact sensitizers

MiRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Although allergic contact dermatitis has been studied extensively, few studies addressed miRNA expression and their role in dendritic cell activation. The main aim of this work was to investigate the role of miRNAs in the underlying mechanism of dendritic cell maturation induced by contact sensitizers of different potency. Experiments were conducted using THP-1-derived immature DCs (iDCs). Contact allergens of different potency were used: p-benzoquinone, Bandrowski’s base, and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene as extreme; nickel sulfate hexahydrate, diethyl maleate and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole as moderate; and α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and imidazolidinyl urea as weak. Selective inhibitor and mimic miRNAs were then used and several cell surface markers was evaluated as targets. Also, patients patch tested with nickel were analyzed to determine miRNAs expression. Results indicate an important role of miR-24-3p and miR-146a-5p in DCs activation. miR-24-3p was up-regulated by extreme and weak contact allergens, while miR-146a-5p was up-regulated by weak and moderate contact allergens and down-regulated only by the extreme ones. Also, the involvement of PKCβ in contact allergen-induced miR-24-3p and miR-146a-5p expression was demonstrated. Furthermore, the expression of the two miRNAs maintains the same trend of expression in both in vitro and in human conditions after nickel exposure. Results obtained suggest the involvement of miR-24 and miR-146a in DCs maturation process in the proposed in vitro model, supported also by human evidences.

The effectiveness of external anti-inflammatory therapy for contact dermatitis in infants

Contact dermatitis in paediatric population is a fairly common pathology, which occurs where the skin comes into contact with irritating factors. It refers to steroid-sensitive dermatoses, therefore, the prescription of topical glucocorticosteroids in this pathology is a proved method of treatment. 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream that has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects is a medium-potency effective topical glucocorticosteroid. In this article, the authors presented their own experience and clinical cases of the effective use of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream in contact dermatitis in paediatric population. The first clinical case demonstrates the use of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream once a day as part of the combination therapy in a 5-month-old baby with moderate contact dermatitis caused by cosmetic substances (massage oil). The treatment resulted in a pronounced improvement and the achievement of remission on the 8th day from the start of therapy. The second clinical case demonstrated the effectiveness of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream used once daily as part of the combination therapy in a 6-month-old baby with mild diaper contact dermatitis. The use of barrier medications (5% dexpanthenol ointment) for 3 days showed no positive changes, due to which 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream was prescribed. The treatment resulted in the relief of acute signs of inflammation in the buttocks and complete remission on the 5th day of the use of the cream. The third clinical case demonstrated the effectiveness of topical glucocorticosteroid in the form of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream used once daily as part of combination therapy in a 4-month-old baby with severe contact dermatitis, which developed after washing the perineum and feet with laundry soap. The pronounced positive changes in the skin improvement process were observed from the 5th day of the therapy, and a remission was achieved on the 10th day of the therapy, which was demonstrated as relief of acute inflammatory process in the buttocks and lower extremities, and disappearance of itching and scratching. Overall, the above clinical cases showed the high effectiveness of the use of the topical glucocorticosteroid in the form of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream as part of the combination therapy of contact dermatitis in pediatric population (at any severity level).

Beyond appreciation and rejection: reactions of Europeans without a migration background to being an ethnic minority

ABSTRACT Previous research concerned with the reactions of ethnic majority members to becoming a minority has often portrayed these responses as being polarised. On the one side, there is a group which supports ethnic diversity, on the other side, a group which rejects ethnic diversity. But our data shows that the reactions to ethnic diversity are more nuanced. This research has developed an empirically grounded typology of reaction patterns to being an ethnic minority through a k-means cluster analysis. When operationalised as appreciation of ethnic diversity and inter-ethnic contact, five distinct reactions emerged in the sample: (i) segregated sceptics (low appreciation of diversity with little inter-ethnic contact), (ii) integrated enthusiasts (high appreciation of diversity with a lot of inter-ethnic contact), (iii) integrated sceptics (low appreciation of diversity with a lot of interethnic contact), (iv) moderates (moderate appreciation and moderate inter-ethnic contact) and (v) segregated enthusiasts (high appreciation of diversity with little inter-ethnic contact). This article further explains why some people without a migration background are more open towards embracing majority-minority developments than others by scrutinising the role of socio-economic status, previous exposure to diversity and feeling like a minority.

WISE J185503.7+592234: A particularly low mass ratio contact binary approaching merger

ABSTRACT In this paper, the total eclipsing binary WISE J185503.7+592234 (hereinafter J185503), whose mass ratio is around the mass ratio limit, was observed and investigated for the first time. The stellar atmospheric parameters of the primary (more massive) component were calculated by the spectral fitting, and the following results are obtained: Teff = 5747 ± 25 K, [Fe/H] = −0.16 ± 0.04 dex, logg = 4.78 ± 0.05 cm s−2. Although J185503 has a very small amplitude (∼ 0.17 mag in V band) and a short period (0.2800782 d), its light curves exhibit total eclipses (eclipse duration: ∼ 40 min, which is about 0.1 phase). The light curves derived from TESS exhibit some unusual behaviour, such as inversion of the O’Connell effect, exchange of occultation, and transit depths. Photometric solutions obtained from the multiband observations suggest that J185503 has a particularly low mass ratio (q = 0.0514) and a moderate contact degree of $26{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. Based on 103 newly determined times of minimum spanning 14 yr, a secular period decrease was found, which is calculated to be dP/dt = −2.24 × 10−7 d yr−1. Through analysing the instability criterion, such as the instability separation, the instability mass ratio, and the ratio of spin angular momentum (Jspin) to the orbital angular momentum (Jorb), J185503 can be regarded as a progenitor of luminous red novae.

Comparison of Functional Vision and Eye-Related Quality of Life between Myopic Children Treated with Orthokeratology and Single-Vision Spectacles in Southern China.

To compare eye-related quality of life between Chinese children wearing orthokeratology (OK) contact lenses and single-vision spectacles (SVS) using the Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ) and to evaluate the impact of different myopia correction methods on children and their parents. Children aged 12-17 years and their parents/legal guardians were recruited. The children's myopia ranged from -0.50 to -5.00 diopters (D), and their astigmatism was <1.50 D. They had all been wearing OK contact lenses or SVS for at least 12 months. The children completed the Child PedEyeQ. One of their parents (or a legal guardian) completed the Proxy PedEyeQ and the Parent PedEyeQ. Rasch-calibrated PedEyeQ scores were calculated for each domain and were converted to a scale from 0 to 100 for statistical analysis. A total of 50 children wearing OK contact lenses, 43 children wearing SVS, and their parents/legal guardians completed the questionnaires. The scores of all Child, Proxy, and Parent PedEyeQ domains in the OK contact lens group were higher than those in the SVS group (all P < 0.05). In the mild and moderate myopia subgroups, the Child, Proxy, and Parent PedEyeQ scores in the mild myopia OK contact lens subgroup were higher than those in the mild myopia SVS group (all P < 0.05) except functional vision and bothered by eyes/vision domains for the proxy PedEyeQ. Similarly, the Child, Proxy, and Parent PedEyeQ scores in the moderate myopia OK contact lens subgroup were higher than those in the moderate myopia SVS subgroup (all P < 0.05) except impact on parent and family domain for the parent PedEyeQ. In the subgroup analysis of glasses type, no significant score difference of any Child, Proxy, and Parent PedEyeQ domain was detected between mild and moderate myopia in either the OK contact lens group or the SVS group (all P > 0.05). Compared with children wearing SVS, children wearing OK contact lenses have better functional vision and eye-related quality of life. Moreover, OK contact lens has a better correction effect, higher acceptance rates, and less impact on parents and families than SVS.