Alternative Measures Research Articles

Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Prevention of Poststroke Epilepsy: Clinical and Research Implications.

Poststroke epilepsy (PSE) is associated with higher mortality and poor functional and cognitive outcomes in patients with stroke. With the remarkable development of acute stroke treatment, there is a growing number of survivors with PSE. Although approximately 10% of patients with stroke develop PSE, given the significant burden of stroke worldwide, PSE is a significant problem in stroke survivors. Therefore, the attention of health policymakers and significant funding are required to promote PSE prevention research. The current PSE definition includes unprovoked seizures occurring more than 7 days after stroke onset, given the high recurrence risks of seizures. However, the pathologic cascade of stroke is not uniform, indicating the need for a tissue-based approach rather than a time-based one to distinguish early seizures from late seizures. EEG is a commonly used tool in the diagnostic work-up of PSE. EEG findings during the acute phase of stroke can potentially stratify the risk of subsequent seizures and predict the development of poststroke epileptogenesis. Recent reports suggest that cortical superficial siderosis, which may be involved in epileptogenesis, is a promising marker for PSE. By incorporating such markers, future risk-scoring models could guide treatment strategies, particularly for the primary prophylaxis of PSE. To date, drugs that prevent poststroke epileptogenesis are lacking. The primary challenge involves the substantial cost burden due to the difficulty of reliably enrolling patients who develop PSE. There is, therefore, a critical need to determine reliable biomarkers for PSE. The goal is to be able to use them for trial enrichment and as a surrogate outcome measure for epileptogenesis. Moreover, seizure prophylaxis is essential to prevent functional and cognitive decline in stroke survivors. Further elucidation of factors that contribute to poststroke epileptogenesis is eagerly awaited. Meanwhile, the regimen of antiseizure medications should be based on individual cardiovascular risk, psychosomatic comorbidities, and concomitant medications. This review summarizes the current understanding of poststroke epileptogenesis, its risks, prognostic models, prophylaxis, and strategies for secondary prevention of seizures and suggests strategies to advance research on PSE.

Selection of automotive brake friction composites reinforced by agro-waste and natural fiber: An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach

The aim of this study is to develop a method for selecting and ranking automotive brake friction composite materials made from agro-waste and natural fibers. This is achieved by using an integrated multi-criteria decision-making methodology. Consequently, six composite samples are produced by reinforcing rice husk, rice husk ash, and Grewia optiva fiber. These samples are then assessed for their frictional properties using a laboratory-scale brake tribometer, in accordance with the requirements outlined in SAE J2522 standard. The selection criteria are based on the analyzed tribological parameters, which include friction coefficients, wear, and friction fluctuations fade-recovery performances. The CRITIC (criteria importance through intercriteria correlation) method was used to determine the importance of criteria for performance evaluation. Based on CRITIC analysis, the average friction coefficient (0.1592), recovery-3 (0.1363), friction fluctuations (0.1347), and performance friction coefficient (0.1240) were identified as the key criteria. The use of MARCOS (measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution) for ranking assessment reveals that composite materials reinforced with rice husk ash exhibit the most favorable tribological characteristics. The validation of the ranking using different decision-making tools demonstrates the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Reliability of two alternative tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measurement methods

Reliability of two alternative tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measurement methods

Cell-penetrating peptide and cationic liposomes mediated siRNA delivery to arrest growth of chronic myeloid leukemia cells in vitro

Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising therapeutic approach for a wide range of disorders, including cancer. Non-viral gene therapy, using specific siRNAs against BCR-ABL1, can be a supportive or alternative measure to traditional chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) therapies, given the prevalence of clinical TKI resistance. The main challenge for such approaches remains the development of the effective delivery system for siRNA tailored to the specific disease model.The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the efficiency of endosomolytic cell penetrating peptide (CPP) EB1 and PEG2000-decorated cationic liposomes composed of polycationic lipid 1,26-bis(cholest-5-en-3-yloxycarbonylamino)-7,11,16,20-tetraazahexacosane tetrahydrochloride (2Х3) and helper lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) for anti-bcr-abl siRNA delivery into the K562 human CML cell line. We show that both EB1 and 2Х3-DOPE-DSPE-PEG2000 (0.62 % mol.) liposomes effectively deliver siRNA into K562 cells by endocytic mechanisms, and the use of liposomes leads to more effective inhibition of expression of the targeted gene (BCR-ABL1) and cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, these findings suggest that PEG-decorated cationic liposomes mediated siRNA delivery allows an effective antisense suppression of certain oncogenes, and represents a promising new class of therapies for CML.

An integrated cost based approach for warehouse performance evaluation: A new multiphase model

Warehouses represent key links in domestic and international commodity flows. The increasing shortage of workers and increasing costs on the one hand, and the increasing number and stricter demands of users on the other hand lead warehouse managers to realize their operations as efficiently as possible. A proposed model has an objective of enabling companies to monitor warehouse performance in an authoritative, reliable, and simple way and define appropriate corrective measures accordingly. The proposed empirical research consists of three stages, where in the first stage a combination of Principal Component Analysis-Data Envelopment Analysis methods was applied in order to determine efficient warehouses based on 90 decision making units. In the second phase, a completely new method called Interval Fuzzy Rough Pivot Pair-wise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment method used for determining criteria weights was developed and applied, which is one of the most important novelties of this study. In the last phase, the Interval Fuzzy Rough Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution method was applied to rank the alternatives. Twelve criteria were observed to evaluate 21 alternatives. Based on the results, it was concluded that salary stood out as the most important criterion, while amortization stood out as the least significant criterion. On the other hand, alternatives A9 and A10 stood out as the best-ranked alternatives while A1, A2, and A3 stood out as the least efficient ones. The paper provides clear scientific contributions that are reflected in the reduction of the gap that was observed after reviewing the literature where there is a lack of papers dealing with this task. Also, the combination of methods applied in the paper has not been used so far, so it can be said that this paper represents an excellent basis for further research. The model has practical contributions as it allows decision-makers to make quality decisions regarding the operation of their warehouses in different time periods or observation periods, as well as it represents a decision support tool that can be used for better warehouse management.

Reframing acute kidney injury as a pathophysiological continuum of disrupted renal excretory function.

Surrogate measures of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) continue to serve as pivotal determinants of the incidence, severity, and management of acute kidney injury (AKI), as well as the primary reference point underpinning knowledge of its pathophysiology. However, several clinically important deficits in aspects of renal excretory function during AKI other than GFR decline, including acid-base regulation, electrolyte and water balance, and urinary concentrating capacity, can evade detection when diagnostic criteria are built around purely GFR-based assessments. The use of putative markers of tubular injury to detect "sub-clinical" AKI has been proposed to expand the definition and diagnostic criteria for AKI, but their diagnostic performance is curtailed by ambiguity with respect to their biological meaning and context specificity. Efforts to devise new holistic assessments of overall renal functional compromise in AKI would foster the capacity to better personalize patient care by replacing biomarker threshold-based diagnostic criteria with a shift to assessment of compromise along a pathophysiological continuum. The term AKI refers to a syndrome of sudden renal deterioration, the severity of which is classified by precise diagnostic criteria that have unquestionable utility in patient management as well as blatant limitations. Particularly, the absence of an explicit pathophysiological definition of AKI curtails further scientific development and clinical handling, entrapping the field within its present narrow GFR-based view. A refreshed approach based on a more holistic consideration of renal functional impairment in AKI as the basis for a new diagnostic concept that reaches beyond the boundaries imposed by the current GFR threshold-based classification of AKI, capturing broader aspects of pathogenesis, could enhance AKI prevention strategies and improve AKI patient outcome and prognosis.

Can a not-for-profit minority institutional investor affect corporate tax avoidance? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT We investigate the impact of the China Securities Investor Service Center (CSISC), a not-for-profit minority institutional investor, on corporate tax avoidance. Employing a difference-in-differences (DID) model based on a sample of Chinese listed companies during 2014–2017, we find that CSISC shareholding reduces corporate tax avoidance. We check this finding’s robustness using alternative measures of tax avoidance, alternative sampling, placebo tests, and parallel trend analysis, and our results still hold. In addition, we find the CSISC’s negative impact on corporate tax avoidance is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), firms with worse internal and external corporate governance, and regions with stricter tax enforcement. Further analyses reveal that the improved information environment is a potential channel through which the CSISC inhibits corporate tax avoidance. This paper enriches the literature on the impact of minority shareholder protection mechanism and the determinants of corporate tax avoidance.

Manuka honey as a non-antibiotic alternative against Staphylococcus spp. and their small colony variant (SCVs) phenotypes

The antibiotic resistance (ABR) crisis is an urgent global health priority. Staphylococci are among the problematic bacteria contributing to this emergency owing to their recalcitrance to many clinically important antibiotics. Staphylococcal pathogenesis is further complicated by the presence of small colony variants (SCVs), a bacterial subpopulation displaying atypical characteristics including retarded growth, prolific biofilm formation, heightened antibiotic tolerance, and enhanced intracellular persistence. These capabilities severely impede current chemotherapeutics, resulting in chronic infections, poor patient outcomes, and significant economic burden. Tackling ABR requires alternative measures beyond the conventional options that have dominated treatment regimens over the past 8 decades. Non-antibiotic therapies are gaining interest in this arena, including the use of honey, which despite having ancient therapeutic roots has now been reimagined as an alternative treatment beyond just traditional topical use, to include the treatment of an array of difficult-to-treat staphylococcal infections. This literature review focused on Manuka honey (MH) and its efficacy as an anti-staphylococcal treatment. We summarized the studies that have used this product and the technologies employed to study the antibacterial mechanisms that render MH a suitable agent for the management of problematic staphylococcal infections, including those involving staphylococcal SCVs. We also discussed the status of staphylococcal resistance development to MH and other factors that may impact its efficacy as an alternative therapy to help combat ABR.

Structural Colored Based Humidity Sensor Consisting of High Resolution 3D Printed Photonic Crystal Coated with Ultrathin Responsive Hydrogels.

Today, humidity sensors have become an integral part of the daily lives. In particular, humidity sensors using an electronic measuring principle have become the standard. Although these sensors have proven to be a stable measurement method, they have some disadvantages, such as their long response time or the danger of using them in explosiveenvironments. This work introduces photonic crystals as an alternative optical measurement approach. The novel technology of ultra-fast two-photon polymerisation printing is combined with a thin-film deposition process, namely iCVD. This allows to print large area high-precision 3D templates, which are subsequently coated with a humidity responsive hydrogel thin film (p(HEMA) of 20nm.The limits of 2PP technology are being pushed allowing the production ofs table and periodic large-area 3D structures. The flexible customization of hydrogels for ambient conditions make them exceptionally promising for a wide range of sensing applications. Additionally, optical methods for measuring humidity seem to be an excellent alternative to overcome the limitations for current state of the art humidity sensors. The optical detection of changes in ambient air humidity is achieved by observing color changes of the printed structure within the visible wavelength range.

Does managerial myopia exacerbate firms excessive financialization? Evidence from Malaysia

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of managerial myopia on the excessive financialization behavior of listed firms on Bursa Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Through a sample of 313 firms from 2015 to 2021, the author examine whether managerial myopia promotes or inhibits corporate financialization. The author uses ordinary least squares and Logit as the baseline models and addresses potential endogeneity through the dynamic-panel generalized method of moments. The results are also robust to alternative measures of financialization and managerial myopia. Findings The results show a significant positive effect of managerial myopia on the excessive financialization of enterprises. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the impact of managerial myopia on the over-financialization of enterprises is more prominent in periods of low economic policy uncertainty. However, the relationship between excessive financialization and managerial myopia is weakened in the presence of female chief executive officers. Practical implications The empirical results have useful policy implications. First, firms should establish scientific managerial assessment and supervision systems to avoid excessive financial investment behavior by myopic managers caused by assessments that place too much emphasis on short-term performance. Second, regulators and policymakers should encourage firms to appoint women to top management positions, which may inhibit short-sighted financialization behavior. Finally, the regulatory authorities should undertake the necessary measures driving companies to disclose the investment direction of the funds so that shareholders and investors can understand the use direction of the funds in a timely manner, which can effectively prevent the economy “from the real to the virtual” and promote the development of the real economy. Originality/value This paper expands the existing research on corporate financialization behavior and provides a new theoretical basis for the underlying factors of excessive financialization. It studies the influence of corporate financialization from the perspective of short-run managerial actions and deepens the understanding of managerial myopia and companies’ financialization levels.

A Research Note on Community Resilience Estimates: New U.S. Census Bureau Data With an Application to Excess Deaths From COVID-19.

In this research note, we describe the results of the first validation study of the U.S. Census Bureau's new Community Resilience Estimates (CRE), which uses Census microdata to develop a tract-level vulnerability index for the United States. By employing administrative microdata to link Social Security Administration mortality records to CRE, we show that CRE quartiles provide more stable predictions of COVID-19 excess deaths than single demographic categorizations such as race or age, as well as other vulnerability measures including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index (NRI). We also use machine learning techniques to show that CRE provides more predictive power of COVID-19 excess deaths than standard socioeconomic predictors of vulnerability such as poverty and unemployment, as well as SVI and NRI. We find that a 10-percentage-point increase in a key CRE risk measure is associated with one additional death per neighborhood during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States. We conclude that, compared with alternative measures, CRE provides a more accurate predictor of community vulnerability to a disaster such as a pandemic.

#2079 The impact of body composition measures on survival and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

Abstract Background and Aims Multimorbidity, frailty and sarcopenia are increasingly prevalent in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Creatinine Muscle Index (CMI) has been proposed as a novel surrogate marker of muscle mass, and lower CMI was associated with frailty and increased mortality in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Community Study [1]. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) has also been proposed as a surrogate marker of visceral adiposity. In order to investigate the impact of body composition on outcomes, we analysed data collected from a large CKD cohort using CMI and WHR as markers of muscle mass and adiposity respectively to examine their effects on 5-year survival and cardiovascular events. Method 1741 people with CKD stage 3 were recruited from 32 primary care practices. Cystatin C was measured using the Abbott c16000 Analyser (Abbott Diagnostics). eGFR cystatin (eGFRcys) was calculated using the CKD-EPI Cystatin C Equation (2012). CMI was calculated as the product of serum creatinine and eGFRcys (CMI [mg/day per 1.73 m2]= eGFRcys [ml/min per 1.73 m2] × serum creatinine [mg/dl] × 1 dl/100 ml × 1440 min/day). Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine if CMI and WHR predicted death or cardiovascular events. Results Mean age of the participants was 72.9 ± 9 years. Mean eGFRCr was 53.5 ± 11.8 ml/min/1.73 m2. Mean eGFRcys was 45.1 ± 16.0 ml/min/1.73 m2. Mean CMI was 766.45 ± 239.2 mg/day/1.73 m2. 300 (17.2%) participants died during 5 years of observation. In a Cox proportional hazards model which included CMI, WHR and age, lower CMI per standard deviation change (B = −0.202, HR 0.817, p = 0.007), higher WHR per standard deviation change (B = 0.313, HR 1.37, p < 0.001) and age at baseline (B = 0.088, HR 1.09, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of mortality at year 5 of follow-up. CMI per standard deviation change also predicted cardiovascular events at 5 years using a univariable cox proportional hazards model, (B = −0.095, HR 0.91, p = 0.03). Conclusion Lower CMI (a surrogate measure of muscle mass) and higher WHR (a surrogate for visceral adiposity) independently predicted 5 year mortality and cardiovascular events in this predominantly elderly population with CKD stage 3. We conclude that body composition has an important impact on mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD and the mechanisms of this merits further investigation. This could inform future interventions that reduce visceral adiposity and improve muscle mass in people with CKD.

Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature: an alternative network geometry measure in the expanding toolbox of graph Ricci curvatures

Abstract The characterization of complex networks with tools originating in geometry, for instance through the statistics of so-called Ricci curvatures, is a well established tool of network science. Various types of such Ricci curvatures capture different aspects of network geometry. In the present work, we investigate Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature, a notion of discrete Ricci curvature that has been studied much in geometry, but so far has not been applied to networks. We explore on standard classes of artificial networks as well as on selected empirical ones to what the statistics of that curvature are similar to or different from that of other curvatures, how it is correlated to other important network measures, and what it tells us about the underlying network. We observe that most vertices typically have negative curvature. Furthermore, the curvature distributions are different for different types of model networks. We observe a high positive correlation between Bakry–Émery–Ricci and both Forman–Ricci and Ollivier–Ricci curvature, and in particular with the augmented version of Forman–Ricci curvature while comparing them for both model and real-world networks. We investigate the correlation of Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature with degree, clustering coefficient and vertex centrality measures. Also, we investigate the importance of vertices with highly negative curvature values to maintain communication in the network. Additionally, for Forman–Ricci, Augmented Forman–Ricci and Ollivier–Ricci curvature, we compare the robustness of the networks by comparing the sum of the incident edges and the minimum of the incident edges as vertex measures and find that the sum identifies vertices that are important for maintaining the connectivity of the network. The computational time for Bakry–Émery–Ricci curvature is shorter than that required for Ollivier–Ricci curvature but higher than for Augmented Forman–Ricci curvature. We therefore conclude that for empirical network analysis, the latter is the tool of choice.

Pleasurable emotions and internalizing psychopathology: A multi-study examination of specificity and alternative explanations.

Past research has been inconclusive regarding the specificity of associations between discrete pleasurable emotions and internalizing symptoms. Contentment may be especially relevant to depression, whereas tranquillity may be especially relevant to worry. The goal of the current research was to clarify the mixed findings regarding the relation between pleasure deficits and internalizing psychopathology. Participants from three samples (Total N = 757) completed alternative measures of depression and pleasurable emotions. Participants in Study 1 also completed a measure of anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, and close peers to a subset of participants (N = 64) reported their perceptions of participants' depression severity. Participants in Studies 2 and 3 also completed a measure of worry. Across the three samples, contentment was significantly negatively associated with self-reported depression. This association could not be accounted for by tranquillity, cheerfulness, anticipatory pleasure, or consummatory pleasure. Contentment was also strongly negatively associated with peer-reported depression. Contentment was more strongly associated with depression than was cheerfulness. However, the strength of the association between contentment and depression relative to the strength of the association between tranquillity and depression depended on how contentment and depression were measured. Conversely, tranquillity was more strongly associated with worry than were contentment or cheerfulness. This study provides further evidence of the potential importance of the role of contentment in depression and tranquillity in worry. It may be useful to attend to contentment when assessing and treating depression and to attend to tranquillity when assessing and treating elevated worry.

Overall Polyp Detection Rate as a Surrogate Measure for Screening Efficacy Independent of Histopathology: Evidence from National Endoscopy Database

Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is challenging to measure, given its dependency on pathology reporting. Polyp detection rate (PDR) (percentage of screening colonoscopies detecting a polyp) is a proposed alternative to overcome this issue. Overall PDR from all colonoscopies is a relatively novel concept, with no large-scale studies comparing overall PDR with screening-only PDR. The aim of the study was to compare PDR from screening, surveillance, and diagnostic indications with overall PDR and evaluate any correlation between individual endoscopist PDR by indication to determine if overall PDR can be a valuable surrogate for screening PDR. Our study analyzed a prospectively collected national endoscopy database maintained by the National Institute of Health from 2009 to 2014. Out of 354,505 colonoscopies performed between 2009–2014, 298,920 (n = 110,794 average-risk screening, n = 83,556 average-risk surveillance, n = 104,770 diagnostic) met inclusion criteria. The median screening PDR was 25.45 (IQR 13.15–39.60), comparable with the median overall PDR of 24.01 (IQR 11.46–35.86, p = 0.21). Median surveillance PDR was higher at 33.73 (IQR 16.92–47.01), and median diagnostic PDR was lower at 19.35 (IQR 9.66–29.17), compared with median overall PDR 24.01 (IQR 11.46–35.86; p < 0.01). The overall PDR showed excellent concordance with screening, surveillance, and diagnostic PDR (r > 0.85, p < 0.01, 2-tailed). The overall PDR is a reliable and pragmatic surrogate for screening PDR and can be measured in real time, irrespective of colonoscopy indication.

Retention rate of vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: A single-centre, retrospective study.

The aim of this single-centre, retrospective, observational study was to evaluate long-term effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) by using retention rate as a surrogate measure for seizure reduction. We included all patients with DRE, treated at the adult neurology department of the University Hospitals Leuven and who started VNS therapy from January 1, 1994, until May 1, 2021, with follow-up data cutoff on January 1, 2023. Retention rate of VNS was defined as the percentage of patients who maintain VNS at established time points. We estimated cumulative retention rate and battery replacement rate and correlated these with seizure reduction, using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Statistical analysis of potential predictors of VNS outcome (age, sex and epilepsy duration at implantation) was performed using mono- and multivariate analyses. VNS was started in 110 patients with DRE, with a mean follow-up of 8.7 years (SD 6.5). VNS was discontinued in 55 patients (50%), with ineffectiveness as the main reason for discontinuation (98%). The battery was replaced at least once in 42 patients (38%). Estimated retention rates were 70%, 52%, 45% and 33% after 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively. Estimated first battery replacement rates were 16%, 42% and 47% after 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Both estimates showed a statistically significant correlation with seizure reduction. No independent predictors of long-term outcome of VNS were found. This is the first long-term study using retention rate of VNS to assess effectiveness. VNS is a well-tolerated therapy, but retention rates decline with long follow-up.

Method for quantifying the Pasteurella multocida antigen adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in swine atrophic rhinitis vaccine.

Swine atrophic rhinitis is a disease caused by Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica that affects pigs. Inactivated vaccines containing the toxins produced by Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica have been widely used for the prevention of swine atrophic rhinitis. The efficacy of a vaccine is correlated with the amount of antigen present; however, the protective toxin of P. multocida bound to aluminum hydroxide, which is used as an adjuvant, can hinder the monitoring of the antigen concentration in the vaccine. This study assessed the applicability of a dot immunoassay as an antigen quantification method using monoclonal antibodies. This quantification method was able to detect the antigen with high specificity and sensitivity even when the antigen was bound to the adjuvant, and its application to vaccine products revealed a correlation between the amount of antigen present in the vaccine and the neutralizing antibody titers induced in pigs. The antigen quantification method presented in this study is a simple and sensitive assay capable of quantifying the amount of antigen present in a vaccine that can be used as an alternative quality control measure.

Individual and regional differences in the effects of school racial segregation on Black students’ health

BackgroundSchool racial segregation in the US has risen steadily since the 1990s, propelled by Supreme Court decisions rolling back the legacy of Brown v. Board. Quasi-experimental research has shown this resegregation harms Black students' health. However, whether individual or family characteristics (e.g., higher family incomes) are protective against segregation's health harms—or whether segregation is more damaging in regions of the US with fewer public sector investments—remains unclear. We leverage the quasi-random timing of school districts being released from Brown-era integration plans to examine heterogeneity in the association between resegregation and Black students' health. Methods & findingsWe took an instrumental variables approach, using the timing of integration order releases as an instrument for school segregation and analyzing a pre-specified list of theoretically-motivated modifiers in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. In sensitivity analyses, we fit OLS models that directly adjusted for relevant covariates. Results suggest resegregation may have been particularly harmful in the South, where districts resegregated more quickly after order releases. We find little evidence that the effects of school segregation differed across family income, gender, or age. ConclusionThe end of court-ordered integration threatens the health of Black communities—especially in the US South. Modestly higher incomes do not appear protective against school segregation's harms. Research using larger samples and alternative measures of school segregation—e.g., between districts, instead of within districts—may further our understanding of segregation's health effects, especially in Northern states.

Experimental Examination of Additively Manufactured Patterns on Structural Nuclear Materials for Digital Image Correlation Strain Measurements

Abstract Background There are a limited number of commercially available sensors for monitoring the deformation of materials in-situ during harsh environment applications, such as those found in the nuclear and aerospace industries. Such sensing devices, including weldable strain gauges, extensometers, and linear variable differential transformers, can be destructive to material surfaces being investigated and typically require relatively large surface areas to attach (> 10 mm in length). Digital image correlation (DIC) is a viable, non-contact alternative to in-situ strain deformation. However, it often requires implementing artificial patterns using splattering techniques, which are difficult to reproduce. Objective Additive manufacturing capabilities offer consistent patterns using programmable fabrication methods. Methods In this work, a variety of small-scale periodic patterns with different geometries were printed directly on structural nuclear materials (i.e., stainless steel and aluminum tensile specimens) using an aerosol jet printer (AJP). Unlike other additive manufacturing techniques, AJP offers the advantage of materials selection. DIC was used to track and correlate strain to alternative measurement methods during cyclic loading, and tensile tests (up to 1100 µɛ) at room temperature. Results The results confirmed AJP has better control of pattern parameters for small fields of view and facilitate the ability of DIC algorithms to adequately process patterns with periodicity. More specifically, the printed 100 μm spaced dot and 150 μm spaced line patterns provided accurate measurements with a maximum error of less than 2% and 4% on aluminum samples when compared to an extensometer and commercially available strain gauges. Conclusion Our results highlight a new pattern fabrication technique that is form factor friendly for digital image correlation in nuclear applications.

Geopolitical risk, supply chains, and global inflation

AbstractThis paper investigates the effects of global geopolitical risks and global supply chain pressures on global inflation for the monthly period of 1999M1–2022M12. The investigation is based on a structural vector autoregression model, where the effects of global oil prices and global monetary policy are controlled for. Four alternative measures of inflation are used, including headline, core, food, and energy inflation. The empirical results show that disruptions in global supply chains are the main drivers of global inflation in the long run as the corresponding shocks explain the lion's share of volatilities in headline inflation (by 32%), core inflation (by 30%), and food inflation (by 22%), followed by oil price shocks and policy rate shocks. In comparison, energy inflation is explained the most by oil price shocks (by 55%) followed by supply chain shocks and policy rate shocks. Positive supply chain pressure and oil price shocks have positive and statistically significant effects on headline inflation even after five years, whereas positive policy rate shocks have negative and statistically significant effects on headline inflation in the long run. In contrast, positive shocks to geopolitical risk result in higher headline inflation only up to one year, with insignificant effects in the long run. Several policy implications follow.