Correlative analyses for Homestake neutrino data

We present results from linear correlative analyses between Homestake data and several solar-activity parameters in the period 1970-1992. Our findings support the hypothesis that the observed neutrino flux exhibits a significative correlation with some solar-activity parameters, particularly with those related with the heliomagnetic field

Effect of the Pin Geometry on the Wear Behavior of Weld-Deposited Hardfacing

AbstractHarfacing welding is a widely used method on severe worn, corroded or oxidized surfaces to regain its functionality. For metal-to-metal sliding or rolling contact applications, in which oxidative wear, subsurface fatigue and adhesive wear are the main wear mechanisms, the materials usually selected are steels with a carbon contents between 0,1 and 0,7% and up to 20% of alloy content, such as martensitic tool steels. Among them, H13 tool steel has a great number of applications. Variables such as sliding speed, load, or contact stress may have decisive influence on wear rates. Laboratory tests like Pin-On-Disk (POD) are frequently used to evaluate the tribologic behaviour of different pairs of material. The objective of this work was to study the influence of the pin geometry (flat and spherical) in a POD test on the wear resistance of a weld-deposited hardfacing of H13 modified steel against low carbon steel AISI 1020 under different load and sliding speed conditions. It was observed an influence of the pin geometry on the wear rates, especially at high sliding speeds. Under light loads, the worn volume of the flat pin was greater, while under heavier loads it is the spherical pin the one with greater worn amount

Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Repair at the time of Left-Sided Valve Surgery. the Impact on the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Objective: to compare the early post-operative functional status and the efficacy of the cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) after isolated left-sided valvular surgery or with concomitant tricuspid valve repair (TVR). Methods: we retrospectively enrolled patients admitted to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit of our institution from January 2014 to January 2019, following mitral or aortic valve surgery. In agreement with current guidelines, concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty was added to patients with severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and in those with mild to moderate TR when annulus dilatation was present. A 6-minute walk test (6mWT) was performed within the second day of admission and repeated predischarge. The distances walked on the 6mWT were reported as absolute value and as a percentage of the predicted value, taking into account anthropometric variables. Changes in the 6mWT performance and Barthel index (BI) were assessed to evaluate the impact of CRP on exercise tolerance and functional independence, respectively. Results: of 117 patients, 62 (53%) had isolated left-sided valvular surgery and 55 (47%) had concomitant TVR. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the baseline 6mWT performance and its improvement at the end of CRP. TVR was associated with a worse BI on admission, but with a greater improvement after the CRP and a pre-discharge BI comparable to isolated left-sided surgery. Upon linear regression analysis, diabetes and chronic renal disease were predictors of the baseline 6mWT performance. Conclusion: TVR does not affect the early post-operative functional status and the efficacy of the CRP after valvular surgery

UTCI field measurements in an urban park in Florence (Italy)

The aim of this study is to evaluate human thermal comfort in different green area settings in the city of Florence by using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Field measurements of air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed and black globe thermometer were collected during hot summer days in various parts of Cascine Park, the biggest urban park in Florence (Italy). UTCI was evaluated over different surfaces (asphalt, gravel and grass) completely exposed to the sun or shaded by a large lime tree (Tilia × europaea). The results showed strong differences in UTCI values depending on the exposure to tree shade, while no significant difference was found among ground-cover materials when all surfaces were equally exposed to solar radiation. Future studies are needed to investigate the microclimatic effects of different tree species on UTCI

Central obesity in Yemeni children: A population based cross-sectional study

AIM: To establish percentile curves and to explore prevalence and correlates of central obesity among Yemeni children in a population based cross-sectional study. METHODS: A representative sample of 3114 Yemeni children (1564 boys, 1550 girls) aged 6-19 years participating in the HYpertension and Diabetes in Yemen study was studied. Data collection was conducted at home by survey teams composed of two investigators of both genders. Study questionnaire included questions about demographics, lifestyle, and medical history. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumferences. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were then calculated. Age and gender specific smoothed percentiles of WC, WHR, and WHtR were obtained using lambda-mu-sigma parameters (LMS method). The independent predictors of central obesity defined as (1) WC percentile ≥ 90(th); (2) WHtR ≥ 0.5; or (3) WC percentile ≥ 90(th) and WHtR ≥ 0.5, were identified at multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, urban/rural location, years of school education, sedentary/active life-style. RESULTS: Percentile curves for WC, WHR and WHtR are presented. Average WC increased with age for both genders. Boys had a higher WC than girls until early adolescence and thereafter girls had higher values than boys. WHR decreased both in boys and girls until early adolescence. Thereafter while in boys it plateaued in girls it continued to decrease. Mean WHtR decreased until early adolescence with no gender related differences and thereafter increased more in girls than in boys towards adult age. Prevalence of central obesity largely varied according to the definition used which was 10.9% for WC ≥ 90(th) percentile, 18.3% for WHtR ≥ 0.5, and 8.6% when fulfilling both criteria. At adjusted logistic regression WC ≥ 90(th) percentiles and WHtR ≥ 0.5 were less prevalent in rural than in urban areas (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.41-0.67 and 0.66, 0.54-0.79 respectively), being more prevalent in children with sedentary lifestyle rather than an active one (1.52, 95%CI: 1.17-1.98 and 1.42, 95%CI: 1.14-1.75, respectively). CONCLUSION: Yemeni children central obesity indices percentile curves are presented. Central obesity prevalence varied according to the definition used and was more prevalent in urban sedentary subjects

Relationship Characteristics Associated with Teen Dating Violence Perpetration

Teen dating violence (TDV) is unstable across dating relationships, suggesting that characteristics of the relationship could be related to TDV. Few empirical studies have examined these links. This study examined associations between relationship characteristics and TDV perpetration among teens and sex differences in those associations. Relationship characteristics examined include tactics used to manipulate partners; ways of responding to relationship problems; relationship duration; exclusivity of the relationship; age difference between partners; and history of sexual intercourse with partner. Data were drawn from 667 teens in a current relationship (62.5% female and 81.4% white) enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade in 14 public schools in a rural US state. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses examined proposed associations. 30.1% and 8.2% of teens reported controlling and physical TDV perpetration, respectively. In multivariable models, frequent use manipulation tactics increased risk for controlling or physical TDV perpetration. Teens dating a partner two or more years younger were at significantly increased risk for both controlling and physical perpetration. A significant interaction emerged between sex and exit/neglect accommodation for physical TDV. Characteristics of a current dating relationship play an important role in determining risk for controlling and physical TDV perpetration

A systematic review of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration

AbstractThis systematic review examined 140 outcome evaluations of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration. The review had two goals: 1) to describe and assess the breadth, quality, and evolution of evaluation research in this area; and 2) to summarize the best available research evidence for sexual violence prevention practitioners by categorizing programs with regard to their evidence of effectiveness on sexual violence behavioral outcomes in a rigorous evaluation. The majority of sexual violence prevention strategies in the evaluation literature are brief, psycho-educational programs focused on increasing knowledge or changing attitudes, none of which have shown evidence of effectiveness on sexually violent behavior using a rigorous evaluation design. Based on evaluation studies included in the current review, only three primary prevention strategies have demonstrated significant effects on sexually violent behavior in a rigorous outcome evaluation: Safe Dates (Foshee et al., 2004); Shifting Boundaries (building-level intervention only, Taylor, Stein, Woods, Mumford, & Forum, 2011); and funding associated with the 1994 U.S. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA; Boba & Lilley, 2009). The dearth of effective prevention strategies available to date may reflect a lack of fit between the design of many of the existing programs and the principles of effective prevention identified by Nation et al. (2003)

Relationship between hypertension, diabetes and proteinuria in rural and urban households in Yemen

Little information is available on the meanings of proteinuria in low-resource settings. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was performed in Yemen on 10 242 subjects aged 15–69 years, stratified by age, gender and urban/rural residency. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) of ⩾140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP of ⩾90 mm Hg, and/or self-reported use of antihypertensive drugs; diabetes is diagnosed as fasting glucose of ⩾126 mg dl(−1) or self-reported use of hypoglycaemic medications; proteinuria is defined as ⩾+1 at dipstick urinalysis. Odds ratios (ORs) for associations were determined by multivariable logistic regression models. Prevalence (weighted to the Yemen population aged 15–69 years) of hypertension, diabetes and proteinuria were 7.5, 3.7 and 5.1% in urban, and 7.8, 2.6 and 7.3% in rural locations, respectively. Proteinuria and hypertension were more prevalent among rural dwellers (adjusted ORs 1.56; 95% confidence limit (Cl) 1.31–1.86, and 1.23; 1.08–1.41, respectively), diabetes being less prevalent in rural areas (0.70; 0.58–0.85). Differently from hypertension and diabetes, proteinuria was inversely related with age. Most importantly, 4.6 and 6.1% of urban and rural dwellers, respectively, had proteinuria in the absence of hypertension and diabetes. The approach of considering kidney damage as a consequence of hypertension and diabetes might limit the effectiveness of prevention strategies in low-income countries