19684 research outputs found
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New composite structural member for high dynamic machinery applications using cold forging-based manufacturing method
No full textCarbon fiber composites are typically manufactured using processes such as Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Vacuum Assisted Molding and autoclave processing, which require specialized equipment and heat treatment. These factors increase production costs and resource consumption, making local manufacturing challenging. In this research, commercially available carbon fiber tubes are held together using epoxy carbon fiber composites utilizing the cold forging technique, which requires no additional external energy and resources. An initial study on the cold forged composite coupons revealed that the preparation methods influence the strength of samples due to the elevated level of porosity found using XCT. The span prototype was experimentally tested for deflection subjected to a simply supported beam and yielded a stiffness of 6.4 N/µm. There was a subtle variation compared to the theoretical value resulting from the measurement errors, CMM accuracy, and manufacturing process. Combining CFRP tubes utilizing random epoxy carbon fiber composites utilizing this method has the potential to be used to manufacture robot links or other dynamic machine structures
Identifying Classes and Correlates of Anti-social Behaviour in Early Adolescence
No full textDespite evidence that early anti-social behaviours can persist and escalate into adulthood, understanding of how these behaviours present in early adolescence and the associated factors, is limited. Using secondary data from 11,868 9-to-10-year-olds recruited to the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, we applied latent class analysis (LCA) to 20 items from the parent-rated Child Behaviour Checklist. Three classes were identified: Ruleabiding (66.52%), Infrequent-disobedient (27.85%) and Frequent- delinquent (5.63%). The socio-demographic composition of these classes varied based on sex, ethnicity and household income. A multinomial regression demonstrated that, while the classes were mostly associated with independent sets of factors, there was some commonality in factors associated with increased anti-social behaviour, including the presence of parental mental disorders, increased parental transgressive behaviour and family conflict. Generally, environmental factors were more strongly associated with class membership than psychological factors. These findings can be used to inform the development of targeted preventative policies and interventions
Flexible work conditions in the public relations industry in Latin America and the Caribbean
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to analyze flexible work conditions in the public relations industry in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past 10 years, evaluating the impact of technological, socioeconomic and empathetic leadership factors. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on data from the Latin American Communication Monitor, a longitudinal study covering five editions between 2013 and 2023. Online surveys were conducted with public relations professionals in 20 countries across the region, and the responses were analyzed using statistical tools to identify trends in flexible employment, the use of digital technologies and salary dynamics. Findings: The findings indicate that flexible work has grown considerably, driven by digitalization and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this increase in flexibility has not improved the salary conditions for most professionals. The industry is increasingly outsourced, with a significant rise in consultancy agencies. Additionally, empathetic leadership is identified as a crucial factor for better adapting to flexible work arrangements. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation is the focus on self-reported data and the exclusion of the informal sector, which may bias the results. Future studies should consider more contextual variables. Practical implications: The results can guide the implementation of flexible work policies and the improvement of labor well-being in the region. Social implications: Promoting empathetic leadership could improve job satisfaction and reduce salary precariousness in LAC. Originality/value: This study provides a longitudinal analysis of working conditions in the public relations sector in LAC, addressing a lack of previous research on the relationship between technology, leadership and flexible work conditions.</p
Site-specific labeling uncovers differences in levels and distribution of B-cell receptors of different isotypes on primary B cells
Get PDFExpression of the BCR is essential for survival, development, and effector functions of B cells. Naive B cells express surface IgM and IgD, while surface IgG1 is expressed by class-switched (memory) B cells. Despite similar overall structures, the different BCR isotypes show differences in distribution and expression levels. The dynamics of BCR behavior have been difficult to explore owing to a lack of appropriate tools that can track the BCR without causing concomitant activation. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we inserted a sortase recognition motif (LPETG [LeuProGluThrGly]) at the C-terminus of the OB1 transnuclear ovalbumin-specific Cκ chain (Igκ-LPETG mice). The surface BCR from Igκ-LPETG mice is fully functional and can be labeled site-specifically with biotin or fluorophores. Igκ-LPETG mice show near-normal B-cell development, with an increase in Igλ-producing cells, presumably due to massive contraction of the κ locus V-region cluster upon V-J recombination to generate the OB1 light chain. Using the Igκ-LPETG mice, we compared organization and density of BCRs on the surface of IgM/IgD+ B cells bearing a wild-type (WT) heavy chain locus and IgG1 B cells in the OB1 model. The density of IgG1 BCRs is much reduced compared to IgM/IgD BCRs on primary B cells. Upon activation, IgM/IgD BCRs are found in detergent-insoluble domains, whereas IgG1 BCRs are not. The isotype of the Ig heavy chain thus contributes to surface expression and nanoscale organization of the BCR
A New Family of Ternary Intermetallic Compounds with Dualistic Atomic Ordering – The ZIP Phases
No full textA new family of nanostructured ternary intermetallic compounds − named the ZIP phases − is introduced in this work. The ZIP phases exhibit dualistic atomic ordering, i.e., they form two structural variants: one with the fcc diamond cubic structure (space group Fd (Formula presented.) m) and one with the hexagonal structure (space group P63/mmc). They are also characterized by metallic behavior, ionic bonding, and atomic zigzagging. Powder metallurgical routes involving pressure-assisted densification are adopted to demonstrate ZIP phase synthesis in the Nb-Si-Ni, Nb-Si-Co, Ta-Si-Ni, V-Si-Ni, and Nb-Si-Fe ternary systems. Crucially, reactive hot pressing is capable of producing high-purity ZIP phase materials after the judicious, elemental system-specific optimization of the processing route. Synthesis of phase-pure materials – demonstrated in the Nb-Si-Ni ternary system by the synthesis of quasi phase-pure Nb3SiNi2 and Ni3SiNb2 ZIP phase-based materials – is a steppingstone to the prospective exploitation of the ZIP phases. Characterization of Nb3SiNi2 and Ni3SiNb2 involves crystal structure determination, spatially resolved chemical analysis, and determination of select thermal, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and physical properties. Density functional theory is used to assess the stability of Nb3SiNi2 & Ni3SiNb2 and derivative binary compounds at different temperatures, also exploring the exfoliation of these two ZIP phases along specific surfaces to produce 2D derivatives
The correlation between antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance:a 3-year retrospective study
No full textIntroduction: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms have increased all over the world, which is considered a public health threat. The emergence of MDR bacterial pathogens correlates with the increased antibiotic usage. This study aimed to determine the correlation between antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance within 3 years. Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study reviewing the positive bacterial culture results and the total antibiotic usage in six hospitals in Penang for 3 years from January 2021 to December 2023 through a convenient sampling method. Results: Every sample type has experienced a significant shift over the years. Most microorganisms from all samples significantly changed in distribution over time, except for Streptococcus pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) Escherichia coli, and CRE Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), K. pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed significant changes in the number of total isolates from blood cultures only in the 3 years. In terms of prevalence, statistically significant differences were observed for most microorganisms from all samples except for S. pneumoniae, CRE E. coli, and CRE K. pneumoniae across the years. P. aeruginosa showed significant prevalence in blood culture over time. Cefoperazone/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime showed significant changes in susceptibility for K. pneumoniae over time. A statistically significant difference in total antibiotic usage across the 3 years was observed. Regarding the correlation between antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance, Pearson’s correlation was 0.777 (p = 0.433), which is suggestive of a strong positive correlation between third-generation cephalosporin usage and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), whereas Pearson’s correlation was 0.762 (p = 0.448), which also suggests strong positive correlation between carbapenem usage and CREs. Conclusion: The correlation between the use of third-generation cephalosporins and ESBL rate, as well as the use of carbapenems and CRE rate, further suggests that controlling certain antibiotic usage could help mitigate the rise in MDR microorganisms.</p
Recent Advances in the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids Against Gliomas:A Systematic Review (2022–2025)
No full textGlioma is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults, with glioblastoma (GBM) representing the most aggressive subtype, characterized by diffuse infiltration, resistance to therapy, and a poor prognosis. Despite standard treatments, survival remains only approximately 14 months. Cannabinoids have been increasingly investigated for their therapeutic potential in gliomas, particularly GBM. Although multiple reviews on this field of research have been published, most are current only up to 2022. This systematic review aims to provide an updated summary of studies published between 2022 and 2025, capturing recent developments in anti-glioma mechanisms, combinational strategies, immune modulation, and novel therapeutic platforms. Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink were searched for original English-language journal articles published between January 2022 and February 2025, using search terms related to cannabinoids and brain cancer. From 1031 records, 45 original research articles were included after removing duplicates, non-primary studies, and irrelevant topics. The studies were categorized into seven thematic domains based on content. Recent studies have elaborated on the anti-cancer mechanisms of cannabinoids beyond endocannabinoid signaling via the CB1/CB2 receptor, including ferroptosis induction, mitochondrial dysfunction, integrated stress response activation, and epigenetic modulation. Synthetic cannabinoids and their analogs demonstrated enhanced blood–brain barrier penetration and cytotoxicity in glioma models. Cannabinoids have been shown to modulate immune responses in glioma, influencing T cell infiltration, myeloid suppressor cell recruitment, and tumor-associated macrophage function. Novel formulation and delivery strategies have improved cannabinoid solubility, stability, and tumor targeting. Combination therapies, particularly cannabidiol with temozolomide or radiotherapy, exhibited additive or synergistic anti-tumor effects, although variability between glioma subtypes suggests the need for personalized approaches. Although cannabinoid-based glioma research has expanded our understanding of the mechanisms, discrepancies between preclinical findings and clinical data highlight the need for rigorous clinical trials and mechanistic research before cannabinoid-based treatments can be reliably integrated into standard glioma care.</p
Ancient genomes reveal cosmopolitan ancestry and maternal kinship patterns at post-Roman Worth Matravers, Dorset
No full textKinship can be difficult to discern in the archaeological record, but the study of ancient DNA offers a useful window into one form of kinship: biological relatedness. Here, the authors explore possible kin connections at the post-Roman site of Worth Matravers in south-west England. They find that, while clusters of genetically related individuals are apparent, the inclusion of unrelated individuals in double or triple burials demonstrates an element of social kinship in burial location. Some individuals also carried genetic signatures of continental ancestry, with one young male revealing recent West African ancestry, highlighting the diverse heritage of early medieval Britain.</p
An Extensive Empirical Analysis of Macro-Actions for Numeric Planning
No full textAutomated Planning is a pivotal field of artificial intelligence, focusing on intelligent agents’ ability to generate action sequences leading from an initial state to a desired goal condition. A well-known technique to improve planning performance is based on macro-actions, which can reduce search depth by merging multiple primitive actions together, generating “shortcuts” in the search space. Macros have been studied extensively in classical planning, but rarely in more expressive formalisms. In this study, we investigate macro-actions in numeric planning, formalising the macro generation process and exploring a semi-automated methodology for selecting candidate primitive actions to be combined into macro-actions. Our extensive experimental analysis demonstrates the potential benefits of macros for numeric planning engines, providing useful insights into their effectiveness for efficient plan generation.</p
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