scholarly journals Complementary mapping techniques to characterize the wood finish of musical instruments

2021 ◽  
Vol 136 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Albano ◽  
Marta Ghirardello ◽  
Giacomo Fiocco ◽  
Cristian Manzoni ◽  
Marco Malagodi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Musical Instruments ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Coating System ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Layered Coating ◽  
Analytical Protocol ◽  
Mapping Techniques ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing ◽  
Made In

AbstractThe wood finish of historical bowed string musical instruments made in Cremona (Italy) during the seventeenth and eighteenth century is a complex multi-layered coating system, where varnishes and other organic binders are variously mixed with inorganic fillers and pigments. It consists of several layers with reduced thickness (tens of microns or less), hard to be distinguished due to the similarity of the constituent materials. Nevertheless, the identification of chemical and morphological features (layering and boundaries) is strictly necessary to disclose the traditional manufacturing procedures. In this paper, we propose an innovative protocol to fully characterize such a multi-layered coating system by combining hyperspectral photoluminescence (PL) micro-imaging with μFTIR-ATR mapping and SEM-EDX analysis. The protocol has been employed to study three cross-sectional samples from violins made by Lorenzo Storioni (second half of eighteenth century), whereas a properly reproduced laboratory mock-up was used to set the analytical protocol. The obtained results demonstrate that the combination of these complementary spectroscopy mapping techniques in a high-resolution strategy allows one to clearly identify the morphology of a few microns thin layers, to assess the penetration depth of sizing treatments into the wood and to detect restoration areas.

A history of botanical collections in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-291
Author(s):  
P.S.M. PHIRI ◽  
D.M. MOORE
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Peak Activity ◽  
Historical Account ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Made In

Central Africa remained botanically unknown to the outside world up to the end of the eighteenth century. This paper provides a historical account of plant explorations in the Luangwa Valley. The first plant specimens were collected in 1897 and the last serious botanical explorations were made in 1993. During this period there have been 58 plant collectors in the Luangwa Valley with peak activity recorded in the 1960s. In 1989 1,348 species of vascular plants were described in the Luangwa Valley. More botanical collecting is needed with a view to finding new plant taxa, and also to provide a satisfactory basis for applied disciplines such as ecology, phytogeography, conservation and environmental impact assessment.

scholarly journals Downregulation of exosomal let-7d and miR-16 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donato Lacedonia ◽  
Giulia Scioscia ◽  
Piera Soccio ◽  
Massimo Conese ◽  
Lucia Catucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Therapy Response ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exosomal Mirnas ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Made In

Abstract Background Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a degenerative interstitial lung disease with both a poor prognosis and quality of life once the diagnosis is made. In the last decade many features of the disease have been investigated to better understand the pathological steps that lead to the onset of the disease and, moreover, different types of biomarkers have been tested to find valid diagnostic, prognostic and therapy response predictive ones. In the complexity of IPF, microRNA (miRNAs) biomarker investigation seems to be promising. Methods We analysed the expression of five exosomal miRNAs supposed to have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease from serum of a group of IPF patients (n = 61) and we compared it with the expression of the same miRNAs in a group of healthy controls (n = 15). Results In the current study what emerged is let-7d down-regulation and, unexpectedly, miR-16 significant down-regulation. Moreover, through a cross-sectional analysis, a clustering of the expression of miR-16, miR-21 and miR-26a was found. Conclusions These findings could help the individuation of previously unknown key players in the pathophysiology of IPF and, most interestingly, more specific targets for the development of effective medications.

Needs and care of migrants considered as severely mentally ill – cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of a Swedish sample

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Arvidsson ◽  
S. Hultsjö
Keyword(s):  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Migrant Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Severely Mentally Ill ◽  
Swedish Sample ◽  
Made In

AbstractPurposeHigher incidence of mental illnesses and less access to care is previously reported concerning migrants but few studies focus on the needs and care of migrant groups in psychiatry. The aim of this study was to compare differences in needs and care between migrant and nonmigrant groups of severely and persistently mentally ill (SMI) after the 1995 Swedish mental health care reform.MethodsIn a Swedish area, inventories were made in 2001 and 2006 of persons considered as SMI. These persons were interviewed and their needs were assessed. In a cross-sectional study in 2006, needs and care were compared between migrants and nonmigrants. In a longitudinal study, migrants and nonmigrants interviewed in both 2001 and 2006 were compared concerning the development of needs and care.ResultsThe needs of the migrant group were less taken care of. In 2006, there were more unmet needs in this group concerning accommodation, physical health, psychological distress, basic education and economy.ConclusionThe improvement of groups considered as SMI concerning functional disability and efforts of care found in the actual area did not seem to include the migrant group, at least not to the same degree.

Dziedzictwo dawnej Rzeczypospolitej w języku pierwszego polskiego przekładu poematu „Metai” Kristijonasa Donelaitisa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-400
Author(s):  
Jolanta Mędelska
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Political Journalism ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Polish Language ◽  
Influence Of Substrate ◽  
The One ◽  
Made In

The author analysed the language of the first Polish translation of the eighteenth-century poem “Metai” [The Seasons] by Kristijonas Donelaitis, a Lithuanian Lutheran pastor. The translation was made in 1933 by a socialist activist and close associate of Józef Piłsudski, Kazimierz Pietkiewicz. The analysis showed that the language of the translation is peculiar. On the one hand, this peculiarity consists in refraining from archaizing the translation and the use of elements that are close to the translator’s style of social-political journalism (e.g., dorobkiewicz [vulgarian], feministka [feminist]), on the other hand, the presence at all levels of language of peculiarities characteristic for Kresy Polish language in both its territorial variations. These are generally old features of common Polish, the retention of which in the eastern areas of the Polish Rzeczpospolita was supported by the influence of substrate languages, later also Russian, or by borrowing. This layer was natural in the language of the translator, born in Ukraine, who spent part of his life in Vilnius, some in exile in Russia. This is the colourful linguistic heritage of the former Republic of Poland.

Naval Service Cohort Study of Occupational Stress: Background to the research and a review of the latest findings

2008 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
R S Bridger
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Prevalence Rate ◽  
Pathological Process ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
Made In ◽  
Naval Service

AbstractThe Naval Service has been actively involved in research on occupational stress for almost 10 years. Three cross-sectional studies have been completed during this time period. It has been shown that the prevalence rate of psychological strain amongst personnel is relatively constant at 31-34%. Several smaller studies, of personnel at sea and of the availability of support services have also been completed. In general, the research has shown that the prevalence rate of strain is higher in the NS than in the general population and is comparable to that found in similar uniformed service organisations, such as the Police.Recognising the limitations of crosssectional research methods, the decision was made, in 2006, to follow a cohort of personnel over a 6-year period in order to gain better understanding of the processes by which work demands impact on psychological health and to determine whether psychological ill-health has an adverse impact on factors such as premature voluntary retirement and medical downgrading.The paper presents the history of the research and some of the work in progress.‘Disease is a pathological process that, at least in theory, is amenable to objective, external verification. Illness, on the other hand, is by definition, a subjective state’. D. Coggan 2006(1).

scholarly journals Reconsidering the ‘Decline’ of Dental Student Empathy within the Course in Latin America

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Patricio Díaz-Narváez ◽  
Ana María Erazo Coronado ◽  
Jorge Luis Bilbao ◽  
Farith González ◽  
Mariela Padilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Dental Student ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Physician Empathy ◽  
Dental Schools ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Made In

Introduction: The controversy over the presence of empathic decline within the course in students of medicine, dentistry and health sciences in general, has not fully been studied. This controversy could be partially solved if massive studies of empathy levels are made in similar cultural, social and economic contexts.Material and Methods: Empathy levels within the course were studied in eighteen dental schools from six countries in Latin America (2013). The mean of the empathy levels were used to study the behavior between first and fifth academic years. The values of empathy levels within the course were observed by applying the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, the Spanish version. All these studies were cross-sectional. The value of means observed, were subjected to regression studies and further adjustment curves were obtained and the coefficient of determination were calculated.Results: Six different models of behavior were observed, which found that five of them suffer empathic decline within the course, but with different final results: in some the decline persists until the fifth academic year and in others, this decline ‘recovers’ persistently until the fifth academic year. The sixth model is characterized by a constant and persistent increase of levels of empathy within the course until the last academic year.Discussion: There are six different models for the behavior of means of levels of empathy within the course evaluated by a common methodology in eighteen dental schools from six countries of Latin America. These findings support the existence of variability of empathic response and a comprehensive approach is needed to find the causes that give rise to this variability.Conclusion: In dental students of Latin America, there is variability in the behavior of the distribution in means between the academic years of the dentistry schools examined in this study.

scholarly journals Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Brankston ◽  
Eric Merkley ◽  
David N. Fisman ◽  
Ashleigh R. Tuite ◽  
Zvonimir Poljak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Region Of Residence ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Made In

Abstract Background A variety of public health measures have been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada to reduce contact between individuals. The objective of this study was to provide empirical contact pattern data to evaluate the impact of public health measures, the degree to which social contacts rebounded to normal levels, as well as direct public health efforts toward age- and location-specific settings. Methods Four population-based cross-sectional surveys were administered to members of a paid panel representative of Canadian adults by age, gender, official language, and region of residence during May (Survey 1), July (Survey 2), September (Survey 3), and December (Survey 4) 2020. A total of 4981 (Survey 1), 2493 (Survey 2), 2495 (Survey 3), and 2491 (Survey 4) respondents provided information about the age and setting for each direct contact made in a 24-h period. Contact matrices were constructed and contacts for those under the age of 18 years imputed. The next generation matrix approach was used to estimate the reproduction number (Rt) for each survey. Respondents with children under 18 years estimated the number of contacts their children made in school and extracurricular settings. Results Estimated Rt values were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.29–0.69) for May, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.29–0.68) for July, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.63–1.52) for September, and 0.81 (0.47–1.17) for December. The highest proportion of reported contacts occurred within the home (51.3% in May), in ‘other’ locations (49.2% in July) and at work (66.3 and 65.4% in September and December). Respondents with children reported an average of 22.7 (95% CI: 21.1–24.3) (September) and 19.0 (95% CI 17.7–20.4) (December) contacts at school per day per child in attendance. Conclusion The skewed distribution of reported contacts toward workplace settings in September and December combined with the number of reported school-related contacts suggest that these settings represent important opportunities for transmission emphasizing the need to support and ensure infection control procedures in both workplaces and schools.

scholarly journals Effect of Ceramic Interposition and Post-activation Times on Knoop Hardness of Different Shades of Resin Cement

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Barrêto Pereira Moreno ◽  
Ana Rosa Costa ◽  
Frederick Allen Rueggeberg ◽  
Américo Bortolazzo Correr ◽  
Mário Alexandre Coelho Sinhoreti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Exposure ◽  
Knoop Hardness ◽  
Resin Cement ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Commercial Resin ◽  
Cure Time ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Activation Times ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Made In

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate Knoop hardness of different shades of a resin cement light-cured directly or through ceramic discs, measured 15 min or 24 h after light exposure, and at different depths. Specimens of a commercial resin cement (Variolink Veneer) in seven shades, were fabricated in an elastomeric mold, covered with a mylar strip, a 0.7 mm thick ceramic disc (IPS e.max Press) was placed and the cement was light-activated for 20 s using a blue LED (Radii-Cal). The cured resin cement specimens were transversely wet-flattened to their middle portion and microhardness (Knoop) values were recorded at 15 min after light exposure and after deionized water storage at 37 ºC for 24 h. Five indentations were made in the cross-sectional area at 100 and 700 μm depths from the top surface. Ten specimens were made for each test conditions. Data were submitted to ANOVA split-plot design (shade, post-cure time, mode of activation and depth), followed by Tukey post hoc test (α=0.05). Significant differences for shade (p<0.0001), mode of activation (p<0.001), post-cure time (p<0.0001) and depth (p<0.0001) were detected. No significant interactions (p>0.05) were found, except for shade x post-cure time (p<0.0045) and mode of activation x post-cure time (p<0.0003). Resin cement shade has a significant effect on Knoop hardness. Indirect activation through a ceramic material reduced significantly Knoop hardness. Hardness Knoop significantly increased after 24 h in all cements shades compared to values obtained after 15 min. Resin cement depth significantly reduced Knoop hardness.

The Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Malawi

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Harries ◽  
Nicola J Hargreaves ◽  
John H Kwanjana ◽  
Felix M Salaniponi
Keyword(s):  
Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smear Microscopy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Diagnostic Practices ◽  
Hospital Resources ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Made In

There is little information on a country-wide basis in sub-Saharan Africa about how the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is made. A country-wide cross-sectional study was carried out in 40 non-private hospitals in Malawi which register and treat (TB) patients in order to assess diagnostic practices in adults registered with EPTB. All patients aged 15 years and above in hospital on treatment for EPTB were reviewed using TB registers, case note files and clinical assessment. There were 244 patients, 132 men and 112 women whose mean age was 36 years. In 138 (57%) patients, all appropriate procedures and investigations, commensurate with hospital resources, had been carried out. Of 171 EPTB patients with cough for 3 weeks or longer, 138 (81%) submitted sputum specimens for smear microscopy of acid-fast bacilli (AFB). A confirmed diagnosis of TB was made in 15 (6%) patients based on finding AFB or caseating granulomas in specimens. In 157 (64%) patients, the diagnosis of EPTB was considered to be correct. In 46 (19%) patients the diagnosis was considered to be TB, although different from the type of EPTB with which the patient was registered. In 39 (16%) patients an alternative non-TB diagnosis was made and in two (1%) patients it was not possible to make a decision. Diagnostic practices need to be improved, and ways of doing this are discussed.

Design for Desired Mode Shapes: Preliminary Results

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K. Lai ◽  
G. K. Ananthasuresh
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Mode Shape ◽  
Longitudinal Axis ◽  
Mode Shapes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structural Members ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Made In

Abstract This paper is concerned with the shape optimization of structures to attain prescribed normal mode shapes. Optimizing structural members in order to have desired mode shapes, besides the desired natural frequencies, is of interest in some applications at both macro and micro scales. After reviewing the relevant past work on the “inverse mode shape” problem, a feasibility study using the lumped spring-mass models and finite element models of an axially vibrating bar is presented. Based on the observations made in the feasibility study with bars, a meaningful optimization problem is formulated and solved. Using finite element analysis and numerical optimization, a method for designing beam-like structures for prescribed mode shapes is developed. The method is demonstrated with an example of designing the cross-sectional area profile of a beam along its longitudinal axis to get a desired fundamental mode shape. The nonuniqueness of the solution is noted and avenues for future research are identified.

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