Secondary Effects Research Articles

Spur Dike Applications for the Sustainability of Channels in Incised Steep Bend Streams

Japan’s rivers are shaped by distinctive topography and abundant rainfall, and they face flooding and sediment supply escalation concerns under climate change. Small- and medium-sized rivers tend to catch unprecedented forces that exceed planned levels, leading to substantial widening and excavation. Thus, there is a demand for a method that is capable of managing significant flood flows over an extended period. The spur dike can maintain channel clearance by promoting erosion as well as providing bank protection. However, the effectiveness of this spur dike function has not been well studied in small- and medium-sized rivers and curved reaches. In this study, we evaluate the function of spur dikes in improving channel sustainability based on examples of small- and medium-sized rivers that have maintained their channel for more than ten years after spur dike installation. First, the applicability of the empirical rule was evaluated by comparing it with actual cases of erosion depths in curved sections in Japan. Next, one-dimensional simulations were performed to evaluate the sustainability of the section over a long period. Finally, a depth-averaged morphodynamic simulation, including the secondary flow effect, was applied to evaluate the location of the flow core and elevation changes due to the spur dike. The results showed that a slight difference in the ratio of river curvature radius to river width (r/B) caused the river channel to be erosive and sedimentary. The reasons for the difference were the cross-sectional expansion caused by the excavation of the bend and the difference in the plane flow regime caused by the shift of the flow core to the inside of the bend. Although it is structurally challenging to reproduce localized scour around a spur dike in a depth-averaged simulation, it is essential for designing to apply the simulation model and combine empirical knowledge.

Incorporating frailty to address the key challenges to geriatric economic evaluation

BackgroundThe multidimensional and dynamically complex process of ageing presents key challenges to economic evaluation of geriatric interventions, including: (1) accounting for indirect, long-term effects of a geriatric shock such as a fall; (2) incorporating a wide range of societal, non-health outcomes such as informal caregiver burden; and (3) accounting for heterogeneity within the demographic group. Measures of frailty aim to capture the multidimensional and syndromic nature of geriatric health. Using a case study of community-based falls prevention, this article explores how incorporating a multivariate frailty index in a decision model can help address the above key challenges.MethodsA conceptual structure of the relationship between geriatric shocks and frailty was developed. This included three key associations involving frailty: (A) the shock-frailty feedback loop; (B) the secondary effects of shock via frailty; and (C) association between frailty and intervention access. A case study of economic modelling of community-based falls prevention for older persons aged 60 + was used to show how parameterising these associations contributed to addressing the above three challenges. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) was the main data source for parameterisation. A new 52-item multivariate frailty index was generated from ELSA. The main statistical methods were multivariate logistic and linear regressions. Estimated regression coefficients were inputted into a discrete individual simulation with annual cycles to calculate the continuous variable value or probability of binary event given individuals’ characteristics.ResultsAll three conceptual associations, in their parameterised forms, contributed to addressing challenge (1). Specifically, by worsening the frailty progression, falls incidence in the model increased the risk of falling in subsequent cycles and indirectly impacted the trajectories and levels of EQ-5D-3 L, mortality risk, and comorbidity care costs. Intervention access was positively associated with frailty such that the greater access to falls prevention by frailer individuals dampened the falls-frailty feedback loop. Association (B) concerning the secondary effects of falls via frailty was central to addressing challenge (2). Using this association, the model was able to estimate how falls prevention generated via its impact on frailty paid and unpaid productivity gains, out-of-pocket care expenditure reduction, and informal caregiving cost reduction. For challenge (3), frailty captured the variations within demographic groups of key model outcomes including EQ-5D-3 L, QALY, and all-cause care costs. Frailty itself was shown to have a social gradient such that it mediated socially inequitable distributions of frailty-associated outcomes.ConclusionThe frailty-based conceptual structure and parameterisation methods significantly improved upon the methods previously employed by falls prevention models to address the key challenges for geriatric economic evaluation. The conceptual structure is applicable to other geriatric and non-geriatric intervention areas and should inform the data selection and statistical methods to parameterise structurally valid economic models of geriatric interventions.

Harmonizing government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Public health and safety measures (PHSM) made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been singular, rapid, and profuse compared to the content, speed, and volume of normal policy-making. Not only can they have a profound effect on the spread of the disease, but they may also have multitudinous secondary effects, in both the social and natural worlds. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts by numerous research groups, existing data on COVID-19 PHSM only partially captures their full geographical scale and policy scope for any significant duration of time. This paper introduces our effort to harmonize data from the eight largest such efforts for policies made before September 21, 2021 into the taxonomy developed by the CoronaNet Research Project in order to respond to the need for comprehensive, high quality COVID-19 data. In doing so, we present a comprehensive comparative analysis of existing data from different COVID-19 PHSM datasets, introduce our novel methodology for harmonizing COVID-19 PHSM data, and provide a clear-eyed assessment of the pros and cons of our efforts.

Experimental study on the thermal decomposition of epoxy/anhydride thermoset matrix in composite insulator core rods

Epoxy/anhydride thermoset matrix within composite insulator core rods may thermally decompose by temperature rise caused by partial discharge. The thermal decomposition characteristics of the epoxy/anhydride thermoset was analyzed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY–GC–MS) from 200 to 1000 °C, including the mechanisms of crosslinked network scission and the formation of gaseous or liquid products with potential secondary effects on surrounding materials. Below 360 °C, scission at crosslinking points predominates by ceiling temperature behavior, forming anhydrides. Above 380 °C, scission of main chains leads to the production of corresponding fragments. Beyond 600 °C, decomposition of anhydrides and fragments from main chains leads to the formation of lower molecular weight substances. During the pyrolysis process, organic acids are formed from 240 °C to 1000 °C. Above 600 °C, gases with high vapor pressures and liquids that can induce swelling are produced. These byproducts can have secondary effects on surrounding materials, including the failure of interfacial adhesion, swelling of silicone rubber sheaths, and a reduction in the mechanical strength of glass fibers. Consequently, these effects may accelerate the decay-like deterioration of core rods, characterized by a surface morphology reminiscent of rotting wood. These findings will inform the optimization of materials for enhanced electrical equipment performance and facilitate the evaluation of potential environmental impacts posed by the thermal decomposition of epoxy/anhydride thermosets in future applications.

Migration of low-mass planets in inviscid discs: the effect of radiation transport on the dynamical corotation torque

ABSTRACT Low-mass planets migrate in the type-I regime. In the inviscid limit, the contrast between the vortensity trapped inside the planet’s corotating region and the background disc vortensity leads to a dynamical corotation torque, which is thought to slow down inward migration. We investigate the effect of radiative cooling on low-mass planet migration using inviscid 2D hydrodynamical simulations. We find that cooling induces a baroclinic forcing on material U-turning near the planet, resulting in vortensity growth in the corotating region, which in turn weakens the dynamical corotation torque and leads to 2–3× faster inward migration. This mechanism is most efficient when cooling acts on a time-scale similar to the U-turn time of material inside the corotating region, but is none the less relevant for a substantial radial range in a typical disc (R ∼ 5–50 au). As the planet migrates inwards, the contrast between the vortensity inside and outside the corotating region increases and partially regulates the effect of baroclinic forcing. As a secondary effect, we show that radiative damping can further weaken the vortensity barrier created by the planet’s spiral shocks, supporting inward migration. Finally, we highlight that a self-consistent treatment of radiative diffusion as opposed to local cooling is critical in order to avoid overestimating the vortensity growth and the resulting migration rate.

Thermography of the superfluid transition in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

Heat transport can serve as a fingerprint identifying different states of matter. In a normal liquid, a hotspot diffuses, whereas in a superfluid, heat propagates as a wave called “second sound.” Direct imaging of heat transport is challenging, and one usually resorts to detecting secondary effects. In this study, we establish thermography of a strongly interacting atomic Fermi gas, whose radio-frequency spectrum provides spatially resolved thermometry with subnanokelvin resolution. The superfluid phase transition was directly observed as the sudden change from thermal diffusion to second-sound propagation and is accompanied by a peak in the second-sound diffusivity. This method yields the full heat and density response of the strongly interacting Fermi gas and therefore all defining properties of Landau’s two-fluid hydrodynamics.

The secondary orientation effect of single crystal superalloy thin-wall specimens at 850 °C with [001] primary orientation

An interesting phenomenon is found in Nickel-based single crystal superalloy thin-wall specimens which have the same [001] primary orientation and different secondary orientation with [100], [210], and [110] at 850 °C. Generally, the testing of cylindrical samples exhibits similar creep and tensile properties regardless of their vertical orientation distribution due to the circumferential symmetry of their geometric structure. However, the 850 °C experimental results of thin-wall specimens with the same [001] primary orientation show a significant difference in tensile ductility and creep life when the secondary orientation is different. The mechanism of the secondary orientation effect is completely discussed by combining experiment, digital image correlation (DIC), and finite element modelling (FEM), which result from the strengthening effect of Lomer-Cottrel dislocations and the ability to coordinate plastic deformation in tensile, the shrinkage rate of cross-section caused by the single slip system ({111} <11-2>) and deviation from [001] with a small angle in creep.

Electrophysiological Changes in the Rabbit Ventricular Wedge and Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell Derived (IPSC) Cardiomyocytes Translate to Severe Arrhythmia Observed in a Canine Toxicology Study, Not Predicted by Standard In Vitro Ion Channel Assays.

During drug discovery, small molecules are typically assayed in vitro for secondary pharmacology effects, which include ion channels relevant to cardiac electrophysiology. Compound A was an irreversible inhibitor of myeloperoxidase investigated for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. Oral doses in dogs at ≥5mg/kg resulted in cardiac arrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner (at Cmax, free ≥1.53μM) that progressed in severity with time. Nevertheless, a panel of 13 different cardiac ion channel (K, Na, and Ca) assays, including hERG, failed to identify pharmacologic risks of the molecule. Compound A and a related Compound B were evaluated for electrophysiological effects in the isolated rabbit ventricular wedge assay. Compounds A and B prolonged QT and Tp-e intervals at ≥1 and ≥.3μM, respectively, and both prolonged QRS at ≥5μM. Compound A produced early after depolarizations and premature ventricular complexes at ≥5μM. These data indicate both compounds may be modulating hERG (Ikr) and Nav1.5 ion channels. In human IPSC cardiomyocytes, Compounds A and B prolonged field potential duration at ≥3μM and induced cellular dysrhythmia at ≥10 and ≥3μM, respectively. In a rat toxicology study, heart tissue: plasma concentration ratios for Compound A were ≥19X at 24hours post-dose, indicating significant tissue distribution. In conclusion, in vitro ion channel assays may not always identify cardiovascular electrophysiological risks observed in vivo, which can be affected by tissue drug distribution. Risk for arrhythmia may increase with a "trappable" ion channel inhibitor, particularly if cardiac tissue drug levels achieve a critical threshold for pharmacologic effects.

Monoclonal antibodies in idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a scoping review

BackgroundIdiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) is a rare disease characterized by pulmonary radiological alterations, peripheral eosinophilia, and demonstrated pulmonary eosinophilia. Oral steroids (OSs) are the standard management, but relapses occur in up to 50% of patients during the decrease or suspension of steroids, usually requiring reinitiation of treatment, exposing patients to secondary events derived from the management. Management with monoclonal antibodies has been proposed in these cases to control the disease and limit the secondary effects. The objective is to describe the extent and type of evidence regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies for ICEP.MethodsA panoramic review of the literature was performed. Observational and experimental studies of pediatric and adult populations that managed recurrent ICEP with monoclonal antibodies were included. Data search, selection, and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers.Results937 studies were found. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 37 titles remained for the final analysis: a retrospective, observational, real-life study, two case series publications, and 34 case reports published in academic poster sessions and letters to the editor. In general, the use of monoclonal antibodies approved for severe asthma could be useful for the control of ICEP, since most of the results show a good response for clinical and radiological outcomes. Biological drugs seem to be a safer option for controlling relapses in ICEP, allowing lowering/suspension of OSs, and sometimes replacing them in patients intolerant to them, patients with significant comorbidities, and patients who have already developed adverse events.ConclusionThe extent of the evidence supporting management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 and IgE (omalizumab) is limited, but it could be promising in patients who present frequent relapses, in cortico-dependent individuals, or in patients in whom the use of steroids is contraindicated. The extent of the evidence for management with dupilumab is more limited. Studies with better design and structure are needed to evaluate quality of life and outcomes during a clear follow-up period. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review of the literature showing the extent of the evidence for the management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies.

Cognitive and psychological dysfunction is present after a first seizure, prior to epilepsy diagnosis and treatment at a First Seizure Clinic.

Neuropsychological comorbidities found in chronic epilepsy have also been reported earlier in the disease course. However, recurrent seizures, antiseizure medication (ASM), and adjustment to a chronic diagnosis remain potential confounds of this literature. It thus remains unclear whether these comorbidities are primary or secondary attributes of epilepsy. To capture individuals as close to disease onset as possible, we studied the cognitive and psychological functioning in adults after their first seizure, yet prior to epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. Using a telehealth-based prospective design, we screened cognition, mood, and anxiety symptoms in adult patients referred to a First Seizure Clinic (FSC), who were over 18 years, English-speaking and not taking ASM. We screened cognition via telephone, and psychological symptoms via online questionnaires, all prior to the patients' diagnostic evaluation. Data were collected on 32 individuals subsequently diagnosed with epilepsy at the FSC, and 30 healthy controls from the community, who were matched to the epilepsy group for age, gender, and education. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the groups differed significantly on combined cognitive measures with a large effect size (F[1,56] = 5.75, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.45). Post-hoc analyses showed that performances on measures of verbal memory, working memory, and executive functions were significantly worse for the newly diagnosed epilepsy group than controls. The epilepsy group also exhibited higher rates of clinically significant depressive and anxiety symptoms. Cognitive and psychological dysfunction is prevalent in people with epilepsy as early as the first seizure event, before the influence of diagnosis, ASM and recurrent seizures. Their neuropsychological profile parallels that seen in chronic epilepsy, showing that this dysfunction is already present at the very onset of the disease. The current study demonstrates the viability of telehealth neuropsychological screening for all new epilepsy cases. The results of this study show, using telephone-based cognitive assessment and online questionnaires, that people with newly diagnosed epilepsy can experience problems with their thinking and memory skills, and low mood and anxiety, as early as after their first seizure. These issues are apparent at the very beginning of the disease, before an epilepsy diagnosis is made and before antiseizure medication is commenced, which suggests that they are due to the underlying brain disturbance, rather than the secondary effects of seizures, treatment, or lifestyle changes. Telehealth-screening of thinking skills and mental health for all new epilepsy cases is recommended to promote early management of such problems.

Isotope Effect and Heavy-Light-Heavy Reactivity Oscillation in the Cl + CHD3/CHT3 Reaction.

Previous experiments and theories have shown the existence of heavy-light-heavy (HLH) reactivity oscillation in the Cl + CH4 reaction and anticipated that similar oscillations should exist in many HLH reactions involving polyatomic reagents. However, the total reaction probabilities for the Cl + CHD3 → HCl + CD3 reaction exhibit only a step-like feature, and the total reaction probabilities for Cl + CHT3 → HCl + CT3 do not show any structure at all. Here, we report seven-dimensional state-to-state quantum dynamics studies for this reaction on the FI-NN PES, and we demonstrate that HLH reactivity oscillations also exist in these two reactions, manifesting as peaks in the reaction probabilities for low product rotational states. These oscillations, however, are obscured in the total reaction probability because of the higher excitation of j ≥ 2 product rotational states. Furthermore, the isotope replacement of nonreactive hydrogen with deuterium and tritium significantly enhances reactivity at collision energies above 0.112 eV, indicating an inverse secondary isotope effect on the probabilities, which is proved to be also caused by HLH mass combination. We also demonstrate that the highly rotational excitation of CHD3 substantially enhances reactivity and the HLH oscillations, similar to HLH triatomic reactions. These observations are completely different from those in the H + CHD3 reaction, which is also a late-barrier reaction. Therefore, the HLH mass combination is very important, which affects not only the reactivity oscillation but also the amplitude and product rotational state distribution and makes the initial rotation excitation play a pivotal role in the reaction.

Magnetic flutter effect on validated edge turbulence simulations

Small magnetic fluctuations ( B1/B0∼10−4 ) are intrinsically present in a magnetic confinement plasma due to turbulent currents. While the perpendicular transport of particles and heat is typically dominated by fluctuations of the electric field, the parallel stream of plasma is affected by fluttering magnetic field lines. In particular through electrons, this indirectly impacts the turbulence dynamics. Even in low beta conditions, we find that E × B turbulent transport can be reduced by more than a factor 2 when magnetic flutter is included in our validated edge turbulence simulations of L-mode ASDEX Upgrade. The primary reason for this is the stabilization of drift-Alfvén-waves, which reduces the phase shifts of density and temperature fluctuations with respect to potential fluctuations. This stabilization can be qualitatively explained by linear analytical theory and appreciably reinforced by the flutter nonlinearity. As a secondary effect, the steeper temperature gradients and thus higher η i increase the impact of the ion-temperature-gradient mode on overall turbulent transport. With increasing beta, the stabilizing effect on E × B turbulence increases, balancing the destabilization by induction, until direct electromagnetic perpendicular transport is triggered. We conclude that including flutter is crucial for predictive edge turbulence simulations.

Influence of Sub-Cloud Secondary Evaporation Effects on the Stable Isotopes in Precipitation of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tianshan

Influence of Sub-Cloud Secondary Evaporation Effects on the Stable Isotopes in Precipitation of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tianshan

Simulation of dust grain charging under hypervelocity impact plasma environment

Dust plasma readily forms during hypervelocity impact, which serves as a source of plasma macroscopic charge separation and strong electromagnetic fields. In this study, we examine the dynamic evolution of surface charging of aluminum dust grains with micrometer or submicrometer sizes in a hypervelocity impact plasma environment based on the theory of orbital motion limited. As dust grains traverse the expanding plasma, plasma density and temperature decrease with increasing distance from the impact point. This leads to longer relaxation times for charging equilibrium (ranging from picoseconds to microseconds) and reduced equilibrium charges. The model incorporates thermionic and secondary electron emission effects on dust grain charging processes while also examining the impacts of five heating and cooling mechanisms on the thermal equilibrium temperatures of dust grains. Near the impact point, thermal equilibrium temperatures exceed aluminum's boiling point, which results in phase transition ablation processes. As dust grain temperatures increase, thermionic emission currents may dominate charging dynamics and influence final equilibrium charge numbers. High-temperature dust grains tend to acquire positive charges. Moreover, we observe that the radius of dust grains considerably affects charging processes, and smaller grain radii correspond to low equilibrium charges and longer relaxation times.

Secondary and micronutrient application effects on corn fertilized for different yield goals under highly weathered soil conditions

AbstractHighly weathered soils have low native fertility; thus, optimum nutrient management is critical, especially for a high‐input crop such as corn (Zea mays). Field studies were established in Plains and Tifton, GA, to assess secondary nutrient (SN; Mg, Ca, and S) and micronutrient (MN; B, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Mo) application effects on corn fertilized with primary nutrients (PN; N, P, and K) to achieve 12.5 Mg ha−1 (low) and 25.1 Mg ha−1 (high) yields. Both Plains and Tifton have Ultisol soil. However, the Tifton soil has a 30‐cm top sandy layer, and the Plains soil has no top sandy layer. Differences in corn nutrient concentrations were observed at the V5–V7 stage but not in biomass accumulation. The 12.5 Mg ha−1 target grain yield from applying the low PN was exceeded at both locations (by 19.0%–26.6% in Plains and 6.3%–19.7% in Tifton), irrespective of the SN or MN application. However, the 25.1 Mg ha−1 target grain yield from applying the high PN rate was not achieved, with yields of 16.9–17.7 Mg ha−1 in Plains and 15.7–17.1 Mg ha−1 in Tifton obtained. The SN and/or MN application increased corn yield (by 2.3%–13.6%) across all conditions, but the differences were statistically significant under just the low PN rate in Tifton. Overall, the results showed that SN and MN could be yield‐limiting factors of corn in the Ultisol soils tested in the study, and also 12.5 Mg ha−1 corn yield can be achieved with lower PN rates than currently recommended.

Common commercially available parasiticides do not cause fatal changes in the microbiome of the dung beetle Onthophagus binodis–a pilot study

ABSTRACT Dung beetles perform vital ecosystem functions, but their survival is threatened by parasiticide use in veterinary practices. Currently, it's unclear if parasiticides directly harm dung beetles or cause damage via secondary effects on crucial microbiome components. We investigated the impact of three commercial parasiticides (P1–levamisole and oxfendazole; P2–abamectin, levamisole and oxfendazole; P3–moxidectin) on Onthophagus binodis dung beetle gut and exoskeleton microbiomes. Dung beetles were subjected to parasiticides mixed with fresh dung for 14 days, and we used 16S rRNA genes to detect bacterial diversity changes. The tested parasiticides didn't alter dung beetle gut communities, but slightly affected the exoskeleton microbiota composition. No mortality difference was observed. Onthophagus binodis microbiomes are mainly diet-influenced, and their exoskeleton is more adaptable than their gut. Our study suggests that adjustable dung beetle microbiomes aren't susceptible to parasiticides due to their innate resilience.

A Numerical Design Space Investigation of Low-Speed Axial Compressor Stages Using Single-Row and Tandem Bladings

Abstract The present article numerically investigates the design space of an axial, low-speed compressor stage using tandem and single aerofoil configurations. The investigated rotor and stator designs follow a coupled throughflow and blade-to-blade design approach and will yield quasi-3D designed compressor stages with either single-rotor single-stator or tandem-rotor tandem-stator configurations. In past studies, tandem aerofoil configurations have shown a potential for increasing stage working coefficients, while maintaining their efficiency compared to their single aerofoil reference configuration. However, it was also shown that tandem configurations are able to reduce efficiency due to an increase of secondary flow caused by the higher loading and introduction in the second aerofoil. Currently, there is no clear design guideline on when tandem aerofoil configurations should be preferred over single ones, and under which circumstances they should be avoided. To answer this question, the present article will attempt to create a “Smith chart” for tandem aerofoil stages and compare them to their single aerofoil counterparts. Originally intended for use with turbine stages, the Smith chart maps out the potential efficiencies of turbomachinery designs. It plots the working coefficient (Ψ) over the throughflow coefficient (φ), which gives a direct indication of the shape of velocity triangles in the stage. However, the Smith chart has been well investigated for single aerofoil stages, both numerically and experimentally, as well as for low- and high-speed applications, and this is not the case so far for tandem configurations. The current work presents a fast Q3D design and analysis procedure used on a low-speed axial compressor stage and will yield quasi-3D efficiencies for a large number of different design coefficients. The findings of this work will enable future research to identify preferred combinations of design coefficients for tandem aerofoil configurations, which can then be further analyzed in 3D investigations at a higher fidelity level.

The microclimate impact of treetop walk based on plant community simulation.

The treetop walk is an innovative urban greenway that harmoniously integrates with the natural topography, meandering through the tree canopy. It serves as a vital element in elevating the urban mountain landscape while also significantly impacting the recreational experiences of the public through its microclimate effects. Moreover, the distinctive plant community characteristics of the treetop walk significantly enhance the microclimate. Examining the plant community attributes that potentially influence the microclimate conditions of the treetop walk is of utmost importance. We chose the Fu Forest Trail in Fuzhou as the sample site for this research. By implementing an orthogonal experimental design and using ENVI-met software, we simulated data to explore the impacts of various plant community characteristics on the microclimate of the treetop walk in autumn. The findings revealed the following results: (1) The presence of tree height, leaf area index, crown type, and planting density significantly influenced the microclimate of the treetop walk green spaces, with some factors having primary effects while others having secondary effects. (2) No significant variations were observed in the microclimate effects of diverse plant community characteristics in the treetop walk during morning, noon, and evening hours. (3) Scheme 13 emerged as the optimal choice for cooling and humidifying ventilating, characterized by a tree height of 20m, leaf area index of 4.4, spherical crown shape, and planting spacing of 2m. The tree species available in the Fuzhou area include Ligustrum quihoui Carr., Buxus sinica, Laurus nobilis, Myrica rubra, and Osmanthus fragrans. (4) Compared to traditional understory trails, tree height and planting spacing notably influence the microclimate environment of the treetop walk.

Aukštaičių vaizdeliai, or On the Search for the Autobiography of Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas

Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas has the reputation of an autobiographical author who overshadows his texts. At the same time, he is an author without autobiography, whose epistolary works form the basis of his egodocumentary research. Keeping in mind the characteristic of this reception, I examine Vaižgantas’s autobiographical texts: compile a corpus of his autobiographical texts, and conduct a research of Tumas’ autobiographical narrative, with a focus on the speaker’s relationship to the autobiographical discourse. I began the search for author’s autobiography with the first text that has the status of an autobiographical narrative, Aukštaičių vaizdeliai (Scenes of Aukštaičiai). The research has revealed certain features of Tumas’ treatment of autobiographical texts that have not been studied in detail. The article presents the history of the formation, attempted publication and disassembling of Aukštaičių vaizdeliai. It describes Tumas’ attitude towards his autobiographical texts and raises the question of the boundaries between literary and autobiographical texts, revealing the author’s changing and individual relationship to autobiographical narrative. The research also points to a secondary effect of the research—the highly problematic identity of Aukštaičių vaizdeliai.

Secondary multilevel mixed-effects modelling of seroprevalence trends of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Some review papers and meta-analyses have investigated seroprevalence and fatality trends of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), but it is not clear if its seroprevalence is increasing. To investigate the trend in the seroprevalence of CCHF. We conducted a secondary analysis of the results of a meta-analysis of the seroprevalence of CCHF published in 2019. We used a multilevel mixed effects Poisson regression to find the predictors of seropositivity. To explain the magnitude effect, we reported an incidence rate ratio (IRR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We conducted multilevel modeling using Stata 14 for data analysis. In the fixed effects model, time was significantly associated with increased seropositivity (IRR = 1.025, 95% CI = 1.021-1.030), and no significant association was found for local sampling (IRR = 1.026, 95% CI = 0.988-1.065). In the mixed effects model, random intercepts of the country and parallel of latitude were applied as 3 levels of the model (prevalence rate of each study, nested within countries and latitude parallel). Accordingly, time was significantly associated with a reduction of seropositivity (IRR = 0.899, 95% CI = 0.891-0.907), and local sampling was significantly associated with increased seropositivity (IRR = 2.477, 95% CI = 2.316-2.649). Despite reporting increasing trends for seroprevalence of CCHF in previous reviews and the fixed effects model of the present study, the secondary mixed effects modeling showed a decreasing trend. The multilevel generalized model is recommended for such temporal and spatial designs in the future.