Leave-Taking’s Prevailing Effect on Real Wage Growth: Paid vs. Unpaid Maternity Leave

Paid maternity leave’s effect on women’s real wage growth is indeterminate in theory. Paid maternity leave could help a woman return to the same job postpartum, reducing the unemployment in between jobs (which we see as external leaves). Simultaneously, paid maternity leave could incentivize women to take more leave within a job (which we see as internal leaves). According to the human capital theory, if more women increase leave-taking due to the subsidy on leave and the cheaper opportunity cost of pregnancy, women’s overall productivity will decline and their wage growth will slow down. This analysis uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY-79) to investigate which one of the two opposing effects of paid maternity leave prevails. Our empirical findings suggest that holding all else equal, an increase in leave-taking led to a bigger decrease in the real wage growth for women who did not receive paid maternity leave compared to women who did receive paid maternity leave

A novel pathway for efficient characterisation of additively manufactured thermoplastic elastomers

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are commonly used to fabricate structures for application in repeatable, energy absorption environments. The emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) means scope now exists to design and build complex TPE components that can mechanically outperform traditionally manufactured equivalents. The ability to efficiently characterize these new TPE AM materials is, however, a barrier preventing wider industrial uptake. This study aims to establish a novel pathway for efficiently characterizing materials used in transient, dynamic applications, to ultimately enable accurate finite element (FE) simulation. A laser sintered TPE powder was characterised by performing low, intermediate and high rate uniaxial tension tests, plus planar and equibiaxial loading states. These data demonstrated significantly different behaviour across strain rates and deformation modes, necessitating fit of an augmented hyperelastic and linear viscoelastic model. FE software was then used to calibrate material model coefficients, with their validity evaluated by comparing the simulated and experimental behaviour of the material in isolated (uniaxial tensile) and mixed modal (lattice-based impact) deformation states. Close correlation demonstrated this novel approach efficiently generated valid material model coefficients, removing a barrier to industry adopting these materials. This creates opportunity to exploit these new technologies for the design optimization and fabrication of high-performance component

Estimation on local transmission of malaria by serological approach under low transmission setting in Myanmar

Background: As the prevalence of the malaria has been decreasing in many endemic countries including Myanmar, malaria elimination in Greater Mekong Region was targeted not later than 2030. The relevance of molecular and serological tools to identify residual transmission remains to be established in this setting. Methods: One-year cohort study was conducted and sera samples were collected in every 3 months with active and passive case detection for clinical malaria episodes by RDT, microscopy and molecular method. The sera were used to detect the malaria antibody against PfMSP1-19, PvAMA1, PvDBPII and PvMSP1-19 by protein microarray. Results: Among the recruited 1182 participants, there was no RDT positive case for malaria infection although two vivax infections were detected by microscopy in initial collection. Molecular methods detected the asymptomatic cases of 28/1182 (2.37%) in first, 5/894 (0.42%) in second, 12/944 (1.02%) in third, 6/889 (0.51%) in fourth collection, respectively. Seropositivity rates against the PfMSP1-19, PvMSP1-19, PvAMA1 and PvDBPII were 73/270 (27.0%), 85/270 (31.5%), 65/270 (24.1%) and 160/270 (59.3%), respectively. PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 showed high and stable antigenicity in acute and subacute samples but declining in 1-year history samples. No cross reactivity of PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 between the two species and higher seropositivity among the asymptomatic carriers were observed. Mapping data indicated serological surveillance can detect the geographical pattern of malaria infection under low transmission setting. Conclusions: These findings support that PfMSP1-19 and PvMSP1-19 are suggested for serosurveillance of the malaria especially in low transmission setting for further necessary actions have to be carried out to eliminate the malaria.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Molecular evidence of drug resistance in asymptomatic malaria Infections, Myanmar, 2015

Artennisinin resistance containment in Myanmar was initiated in 2011 after artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria was reported. Molecular evidence suggests that asymptomatic malaria infections harboring drug resistance genes are present among residents of the Myanmar artemisinin resistance containment zone. This evidence supports efforts to eliminate these hidden infections.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Milk Composition of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in a Natural Environment in Myanmar during Late Lactation

The nutritional content of milk from free-living Asian elephants has not previously been reported, despite being vital for better management of captive populations. This study analyzed both milk composition and consumed plant species of Asian elephants managed in their natural environment in Myanmar. Longitudinal samples (n = 36) were obtained during both the wet and the dry season from six mature females in mid to late lactation in 2016 and 2017. Milk composition averaged 82.44% water, with 17.56% total solids containing 5.23% protein, 15.10% fat, 0.87% ash, and 0.18 µg/mL vitamin E. Solids and protein increased with lactation month. Total protein in milk was higher during the wet vs. the dry season. Observed factors linked with maternal (age, parity, size and origin) and calf traits (sex) had significant associations with milk nutrient levels. Primary forages consumed contained moderate protein and fiber. Higher dietary protein during the wet season (11–25%) compared to the dry season (6–19%) may be linked with increased milk protein observed. Our results call for further field studies of milk and diet composition, over entire seasons/lactation periods, and across maternal and calf traits, to improve feeding management, with an overall goal of maximized health and survival

Laser powder bed fusion of WC-reinforced Hastelloy-X composite: Microstructure and mechanical properties

Nickel-based superalloys such as Hastelloy X (HX) are widely used in gas turbine engines for their exceptional oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength. The addition of ceramic reinforcement further enhances these superalloys’ mechanical performance and high-temperature properties. For this reason, this paper investigates the microstructure and mechanical property of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additively manufactured HX–1 wt% WC (tungsten carbide) composite specimens. The results demonstrate that the LPBF-fabricated composite was observed to have several pores and microcracks, whilst only pores were detected in the as-fabricated pure HX. Compared to the fabricated pure HX, the tensile yield strength of such HX composite parts was increased by 13% without undue sacrifices to ductility, suggesting that the very limited number of microcracks were not sufficient to degrade the mechanical performance. The significantly increased dislocations were considered to be the primary contributor for the mechanical performance enhancement in the LPBF-fabricated composite material. The findings offer a promising pathway to employ LPBF process to fabricate advanced microcrack-free composites with high-strength through a careful selection of ceramic reinforcement materials

Effective high-throughput blood pooling strategy before DNA extraction for detection of malaria in low-transmission settings

In the era of (pre) elimination setting, the prevalence of malaria has been decreasing in most of the previously endemic areas. Therefore, effective cost-and time-saving validated pooling strategy is needed for detection of malaria in low transmission settings. In this study, optimal pooling numbers and lowest detection limit were assessed using known density samples prepared systematically, followed by genomic DNA extraction and nested PCR. Pooling strategy that composed of 10 samples in 1 pool, 20 μl in 1 sample, was optimal, and the parasite density as low as 2 p/μl for both falciparum and vivax infection was enough for detection of malaria. This pooling method showed effectiveness for handling of a huge number of samples in low transmission settings.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Immunogenicity of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog in the induction of naturally acquired antibody and memory B cell responses

Background: The Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (PvMSP1P-19) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored blood-stage protein that is expressed on the merozoite surface. It is proposed as a blood-stage vaccine candidate against P. vivax because of its ability to induce immune responses upon natural P. vivax exposure and in immunized animals. This study aimed to demonstrate the presence of inhibitory antibodies and memory B cell responses to the PvMSP1P-19 antigen during acute P. vivax infection and after recovery from infection. Methods: To evaluate the antibody responses to PvMSP1P-19 during and after recovery from P. vivax infection, heparinized blood was collected from P. vivax-infected patients and recovered subjects to detect the total IgG response. The seropositive samples were defined into high and low responders, according to their optical density (OD) values obtained from ELISA. High responders were the subjects who had OD values above the OD of antisera from non-exposed controls plus 4x standard deviations, whereas low responders were the subjects who had OD values less than OD of antisera from non-exposed controls plus 4x standard deviations. The plasma from high and low responders were taken for testing the inhibitory activity against PvMSP1P-19-erythrocyte binding by in vitro EBIA. The sustainability of PvMSP1P-19-specific memory B cell responses after recovery from infection was analysed by ELISPOT. Results: The anti-PvMSP1P-19 antibody levels were significantly higher in acutely infected P. vivax patients compared to healthy controls (P <0.0001). Monitoring of the anti-PvMSP1P-19 antibody titre showed that the antibody was maintained for up to 9 months after recovery. Almost all high-responder groups strongly inhibited PvMSP1P-19 binding to erythrocytes, whereas no inhibition was shown in most low-responder samples. Interestingly, the inhibitory activity of the antibodies in some individuals from high-responder samples were stable for at least 12 months. The longevity of the antibody response was associated with the presence of PvMSP1P-19-specific memory B cells at 9 months after recovery from infection. Conclusions: The PvMSP1P-19 antigen has immunogenicity during the induction of the antibody response, in which both the levels and inhibitory activity are maintained after the patient recovered from P. vivax infection. The maintenance of the antibody response was associated with the response of PvMSP1P-19-specific memory B cells. Therefore, the PvMSP1P-19 antigen should also be considered as a reliable vaccine candidate to develop a blood-stage vaccine against P. vivax.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe