Round-Robin modelling of the load-bearing capacity of slender columns by using classical and advanced non-linear numerical and analytical prediction tools

Non-linear finite element analyses have intrinsic model and user factors that influence the results of the analyses. However, non-linear finite element analysis can provide a tool to assess safety using realistic descriptions of material behaviour with actual material properties. A realistic estimation of the existing safety and capacity of slender column elements can be achieved by means of "true" material properties. Nevertheless, it seems that for some structural components, such as slender columns, non-linear finite element analyses can, due to its complexity and its various setting parameters, cause the risk of overestimating the real performance of analysed components or systems. Hence, an invited expert group has carried out an investigation into the experimental testing and the prediction of the bearing capacity of slender columns by performing independent non-linear finite element analyses in order to determine the practical applicability, and its inconsistencies, with respect to the stability failure of slender columns. This work aims the characterization of modelling uncertainties, concerning the prediction of slender columns stability when forecasted by non-linear finite element analysis.This paper was partly carried out during research exchanges at TU Brno (BUT), Lehigh University (LU). The authors acknowledge also the financial support provided by the SAFEBRIDGE ATCZ190 EU Interreg project, the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic, the Slovak Academy of Sciences VEGA No. 1/0696/14, and Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-150658. The computational results presented have been achieved [in part] using the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC)

The art of indigeneity: Aesthetics and competition in Mexican economies of culture

On the basis of ethnographic research with woodcarvers in Oaxaca, Mexico, this paper investigates the role that aesthetic practices play in economic competition in cultural markets. I explain how one family has become the most successful artisans in their village by aesthetically referencing the indigenous art that is highly sought after by the North American ethnic art market. By reformulating Bourdieu's analysis of artistic fields, I argue that aesthetic competition should be theorised at the level of genres, which allow insight into how individual aesthetic innovations may transform the fields in which art is produced and circulated. I show that by referencing indigeneity, this successful family not only accesses a new market but also renders their work more authoritative than the carvings of their neighbours, which aesthetically reference Mexican ‘artesanías’ (craftwork). In so doing, they not only earn more money but also change the ways that Oaxacan woodcarvings are valued in general

Occupation and mental health in a national UK survey

This paper and the analyses it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Transethnic insight into the genetics of glycaemic traits: fine-mapping results from the Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE) consortium

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Elevated levels of fasting glucose and fasting insulin in non-diabetic individuals are markers of dysregulation of glucose metabolism and are strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Genome-wide association studies have discovered over 50 SNPs associated with these traits. Most of these loci were discovered in European populations and have not been tested in a well-powered multi-ethnic study. We hypothesised that a large, ancestrally diverse, fine-mapping genetic study of glycaemic traits would identify novel and population-specific associations that were previously undetectable by European-centric studies. METHODS: A multiethnic study of up to 26,760 unrelated individuals without diabetes, of predominantly Hispanic/Latino and African ancestries, were genotyped using the Metabochip. Transethnic meta-analysis of racial/ethnic-specific linear regression analyses were performed for fasting glucose and fasting insulin. We attempted to replicate 39 fasting glucose and 17 fasting insulin loci. Genetic fine-mapping was performed through sequential conditional analyses in 15 regions that included both the initially reported SNP association(s) and denser coverage of SNP markers. In addition, Metabochip-wide analyses were performed to discover novel fasting glucose and fasting insulin loci. The most significant SNP associations were further examined using bioinformatic functional annotation. RESULTS: Previously reported SNP associations were significantly replicated (p ≤ 0.05) in 31/39 fasting glucose loci and 14/17 fasting insulin loci. Eleven glycaemic trait loci were refined to a smaller list of potentially causal variants through transethnic meta-analysis. Stepwise conditional analysis identified two loci with independent secondary signals (G6PC2-rs477224 and GCK-rs2908290), which had not previously been reported. Population-specific conditional analyses identified an independent signal in G6PC2 tagged by the rare variant rs77719485 in African ancestry. Further Metabochip-wide analysis uncovered one novel fasting insulin locus at SLC17A2-rs75862513. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that while glycaemic trait loci often have generalisable effects across the studied populations, transethnic genetic studies help to prioritise likely functional SNPs, identify novel associations that may be population-specific and in turn have the potential to influence screening efforts or therapeutic discoveries. DATA AVAILABILITY: The summary statistics from each of the ancestry-specific and transethnic (combined ancestry) results can be found under the PAGE study on dbGaP here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap/cgi-bin/study.cgi?study_id=phs000356.v1.p1

Recommendations for reporting equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations based on long-term pan-European in-situ observations

A reliable determination of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations derived from filter absorption photometers (FAPs) measurements depends on the appropriate quantification of the mass absorption cross-section (MAC) for converting the absorption coefficient (babs) to eBC. This study investigates the spatial–temporal variability of the MAC obtained from simultaneous elemental carbon (EC) and babs measurements performed at 22 sites. We compared different methodologies for retrieving eBC integrating different options for calculating MAC including: locally derived, median value calculated from 22 sites, and site-specific rolling MAC. The eBC concentrations that underwent correction using these methods were identified as LeBC (local MAC), MeBC (median MAC), and ReBC (Rolling MAC) respectively. Pronounced differences (up to more than 50 %) were observed between eBC as directly provided by FAPs (NeBC; Nominal instrumental MAC) and ReBC due to the differences observed between the experimental and nominal MAC values. The median MAC was 7.8 ± 3.4 m2 g-1 from 12 aethalometers at 880 nm, and 10.6 ± 4.7 m2 g-1 from 10 MAAPs at 637 nm. The experimental MAC showed significant site and seasonal dependencies, with heterogeneous patterns between summer and winter in different regions. In addition, long-term trend analysis revealed statistically significant (s.s.) decreasing trends in EC. Interestingly, we showed that the corresponding corrected eBC trends are not independent of the way eBC is calculated due to the variability of MAC. NeBC and EC decreasing trends were consistent at sites with no significant trend in experimental MAC. Conversely, where MAC showed s.s. trend, the NeBC and EC trends were not consistent while ReBC concentration followed the same pattern as EC. These results underscore the importance of accounting for MAC variations when deriving eBC measurements from FAPs and emphasize the necessity of incorporating EC observations to constrain the uncertainty associated with eBC.</p

European aerosol phenomenology - 8 : Harmonised source apportionment of organic aerosol using 22 Year-long ACSM/AMS datasets

Organic aerosol (OA) is a key component of total submicron particulate matter (PM1), and comprehensive knowledge of OA sources across Europe is crucial to mitigate PM1 levels. Europe has a well-established air quality research infrastructure from which yearlong datasets using 21 aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) and 1 aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) were gathered during 2013-2019. It includes 9 non-urban and 13 urban sites. This study developed a state-of-the-art source apportionment protocol to analyse long-term OA mass spectrum data by applying the most advanced source apportionment strategies (i.e., rolling PMF, ME-2, and bootstrap). This harmonised protocol was followed strictly for all 22 datasets, making the source apportionment results more comparable. In addition, it enables quantification of the most common OA components such as hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), biomass burning OA (BBOA), cooking-like OA (COA), more oxidised-oxygenated OA (MO-OOA), and less oxidised-oxygenated OA (LO-OOA). Other components such as coal combustion OA (CCOA), solid fuel OA (SFOA: mainly mixture of coal and peat combustion), cigarette smoke OA (CSOA), sea salt (mostly inorganic but part of the OA mass spectrum), coffee OA, and ship industry OA could also be separated at a few specific sites. Oxygenated OA (OOA) components make up most of the submicron OA mass (average = 71.1%, range from 43.7 to 100%). Solid fuel combustion-related OA components (i.e., BBOA, CCOA, and SFOA) are still considerable with in total 16.0% yearly contribution to the OA, yet mainly during winter months (21.4%). Overall, this comprehensive protocol works effectively across all sites governed by different sources and generates robust and consistent source apportionment results. Our work presents a comprehensive overview of OA sources in Europe with a unique combination of high time resolution (30-240 min) and long-term data coverage (9-36 months), providing essential information to improve/validate air quality, health impact, and climate models.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits

Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits

Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution

Hétérogénéité 3D de la croûte supérieure sous la Mer de Marmara (tomographie sur une grille de sismomètres fond de mer et de profils de tirs)

L hétérogénéité 3D de vitesse des ondes P de la partie supra-crustale du Fossé de la Mer de Marmara est approchée à partir d une inversion tomographique (Simulps) d un ensemble de 16000 lectures de temps de premières arrivées de tirs de la campagne Seismarmara enregistrés par un réseau de 35 sismomètres fond de mer (OBS) et de 5 stations à terre. Après avoir exploré la sensibilité des résultats, du modèle a priori en testant plusieurs modèles initiaux 1D, nous avons élaboré un modèle 3D initial constitué de trois modèles 1D auquel on a rajouté la profondeur du fond marin puis la tendance topographique du socle. La fiabilité du modèle final est validée à la fois par des tests synthétiques et par la comparaison avec la sismique multi-trace et la sismique grand-angle. Les résultats tomographiques montrent que dans la mer de Marmara la forte topographie du socle n est pas limitée entre le fossé profond et son pourtour où les variations de profondeur atteignent 8 km mais existe aussi des dépressions du socle de 2 km dans une distance de 6 km dans le fossé profond. Cette étude fournit une vue 3D de la topographie du socle et l épaisseur sédimentaire ainsi étend la connaissance des études antérieures essentiellement le long des profils 2D en une vision 3D. L utilisation original d un code dédié à la tomographie des séismes locaux (LET) pour cette inversion des tirs permet l intégration du modèle final 3D comme model initial pour les études de LET sans perte d information afin d améliorer les relocalisations des séismesThe 3D velocity heterogeneity of the upper-crustal part of the North Marmara Trough (NMT) is approached by a tomographic inversion (Simulps) of a set of 16000 first arrival times of the shots of the Seismarmara survey recorded by a network of 35 ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) and 5 land stations. In a first step we have checked the sensitivity of the results from the control parameters such as the grid geometry and a priori 1D model. In a second step we have designed a 3D a priori model by taking into account the sea-floor depth and the topographic trend of the basement from the basins to the basin rims. The reliability of the model is validated by synthetic tests and by the comparison with the seismic reflection and refraction profiles which principal characteristics such as the sedimentary infill and basement geometry are remarkably recovered by the inversion in the well resolved regions. This study provides a 3D view of the sedimentary thicknesses and of the basement topography which shows large vertical throws which may reach up to 7 km. It reveals also the variations of more than 2 km of the basement topography in a distance of 5 km along the sea-bottom trace of the North Anatolian Fault and its basins. The original use of a code designed for the local earthquake tomography for this inversion of shots allows also the integration of the final 3D model as an initial model for accurate relocation of the recorded earthquakesPARIS-BIUSJ-Sci.Terre recherche (751052114) / SudocSudocFranceF

Résolution fine du toit de la subduction hellénique par les ondes télésismiques converties

Une question majeure dans l'étude des zones de subduction est la forme et la nature du toit du slab qui participent au contrôle des séismes en méga-chevauchement et des séismes de profondeur intermédiaire. Pour la première fois dans la zone de subduction Hellénique, une couche à faible vitesse au toit du slab est clairement observée sur les fonctions récepteur. Nous développons une analyse multi-échelle en conversion pour établir et utiliser les variations fréquentielles dans le but d'investiguer la nature fine de cette inclusion. Les réponses en ondelettes des données synthétiques et réelles nous mènent à proposer de nouveaux types de modèles de vitesses contenant des gradients ou des lois puissance permettant de rendre compte des observations. Nous développons ensuite une analyse multi-azimutale dans le but de contraindre la géométrie de la structure en profondeur. Cette méthode utilise les variations de la réponse de l'hétérogénéité pentée à différents séismes ayant des géométries de rai variées. Cette approche par minimisation des différences de polarité et des résidus de temps d'arrivée entre données observées et synthétiques apporte de nouvelles informations sur le pendage du slab sous l'Est du Péloponnèse. Nous imageons également la topographie sous le Péloponnèse par une analyse multi-stations. Cette image valide nos résultats d'analyse multi-azimutale, qui diffèrent des conclusions de précédentes études. Une nouvelle stratégie pour l'imagerie dans le cas de structures pentées est proposée par calcul des points de conversion réels afin de corriger l'hypothèse commune de couches horizontales. Ces contraintes fournissent un cadre structural favorable à la compréhension des séismes tels que celui de Leonidio du 06/01/2008, s'il est localisé avec une telle fiabilitéA major issue at subduction zones is the shape and the nature of the slab top which participate to the control of mega-thrust earthquakes and intermediate-depth seismicity. For the first time in the Hellenic subduction zone, a Low Velocity Layer at the top of the slab is clearly observed on receiver functions. We present the multiscale analysis in conversion that has been developed to establish and use the frequency dependent variations in order to investigate the fine nature of the inclusion at the top of the slab. Wavelet responses of synthetic and real data lead us to propose new kind of velocity-depth models of gradient or power-law types in order to account for observations examples in the Hellenic subduction zone. We then develop a multi-azimuthal analysis to constrain the geometry of the structure at depth by using variations of the response of the heterogeneity to earthquakes having various incoming ray geometries. This approach by minimization of polarities misfits and of arrival time residuals between predicted and observed data gives new insights on the slab dip beneath Eastern Peloponnesus. We also image the topography beneath Peloponnesus by a multi-stations analysis. This image is consistent with our previous result of multi-azimuthal analysis and provides new advances on the knowledge of the structure differing from inferences of previous studies. A new strategy for imaging is proposed in the case of dipping structure by computing real conversion points to correct from the common assumption of horizontal layers. These reliable constraints give the frame to the interpretation of earthquakes such as the most significant one over decades, that just occured on 2008/01/06, if it can be located with equal reliabilityPARIS-BIUSJ-Sci.Terre recherche (751052114) / SudocSudocFranceF