The Likely Impact of COVID-19 on US Employment in the Medium Term

COVID-19 caused an abrupt increase in unemployment rates for people across various fields of work. This paper compares the COVID-19 crisis with the Great Recession and the Spanish Influenza. After careful data collection and analysis, it is clear that COVID-19 caused a steep, immediate decline in the economy although it did not last long. By comparison, the Global Financial Crisis was a persistent recession though less severe. Comparison of the health effects for COVID-19 and the Spanish flu reveals that the influenza was much more contagious as it infected 29.3% of the US population in three years. In contrast, this percent is 2.4% for COVID-19 as of August, 2021. The flu outbreak also coincided with WWI which caused further spread of the virus, and an effective vaccine was never developed. Therefore, the current economic decline should not be worse than that of the influenza. Moreover, the government is more actively participating in the economy now than it was during the flu pandemic. The Spanish flu had a V-shaped economic trend despite having minimal government involvement. Because the flu and coronavirus are both pandemic-induced crises, we would expect COVID-19 to be V-shaped as well, which is seen through the graphs below. U.S. data from the Federal Reserve is analyzed graphically in this paper, and it shows that the COVID-19 crisis exhibits a distinct V-shape pattern. This suggests that economic recovery will be faster than the less severe Global Financial Crisis, and that countercyclical government policies may not be as necessary.

Shaping in the Third Direction; Synthesis of Patterned Colloidal Crystals by Polyester Fabric-Guided Self-Assembly

A polyester fabric with rectangular openings was used as a sacrificial template for the guiding of a sub-micron sphere (polystyrene (PS) and silica) aqueous colloid self-assembly process during evaporation as a patterned colloidal crystal (PCC). This simple process is also a robust one, being less sensitive to external parameters (ambient pressure, temperature, humidity, vibrations). The most interesting feature of the concave-shape-pattern unit cell (350 μm × 400 μm × 3 μm) of this crystal is the presence of triangular prisms at its border, each prism having a one-dimensional sphere array at its top edge. The high-quality ordered single layer found inside of each unit cell presents the super-prism effect and left-handed behavior. Wider yet elongated deposits with ordered walls and disordered top surfaces were formed under the fabric knots. Rectangular patterning was obtained even for 20 μm PS spheres. Polyester fabrics with other opening geometries and sizes (~300–1000 μm) or with higher fiber elasticity also allowed the formation of similar PCCs, some having curved prismatic walls. A higher colloid concentration (10–20%) induces the formation of thicker walls with fiber-negative replica morphology. Additionally, thick-wall PCCs (~100 μm) with semi-cylindrical morphology were obtained using SiO2 sub-microspheres and a wavy fabric. The colloidal pattern was used as a lithographic mask for natural lithography and as a template for the synthesis of triangular-prism-shaped inverted opals.

Expansion potential of skin grafts with novel I-shaped auxetic incisions

Severe burn injures lead to millions of fatalities every year due to lack of skin replacements. While skin is a very limited and expensive entity, split thickness skin grafting, which involves the projection of a parallel incision pattern on a small section of healthy excised skin, is typically employed to increase the expansion and cover a larger burn site. To date, the real expansion capacity of such grafts are low (<3 times) and insufficient for treatment of severe burn injuries. In this study, novel I-shaped auxetic incision patterns, which are known to exhibit high negative Poisson’s ratios, have been tested on the skin to investigate their expansion potential. Fourteen two-layer skin graft models with varying incision pattern parameters (i.e., length, spacing, and orientation) were developed using finite element modelling and tested under uniaxial and biaxial tensile loads. The Poisson’s ratio, meshing ratios, and induced stresses were quantified across all models. Graft models tested uniaxially along the orthogonal directions indicated opposite trends in generated Poisson’s ratios, as the length of the I-shape incisions were increased. Biaxially, with a symmetric and closely spaced I-shape pattern, graft meshing ratios up to 15.65 were achieved without overstressing the skin. Overall, the findings from the study indicated that expansion potentials much higher than that of traditional skin grafts can be achieved with novel I-shaped auxetic skin grafts, which would be indispensable for covering large wounds in severe burn injuries.

On The Assessment of the V-Inverted Shape Pattern for Romanian Government Bond Yields Around Treasury Auctions

In this paper, we intend to provide some theoretical and practical insights on the interdependence between treasury auctions and market yields around auction time. Based on previous research, we investigated the presence of the auction cycle and the corresponding V-inversed pattern of yields in the case of the Romanian sovereign bond market.

Self-Perceived Loneliness and Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Two-Wave Replication Study

COVID-19 studies to date have documented some of the initial health consequences of lockdown restrictions adopted by many countries. Combining a data-driven machine learning paradigm and a statistical analysis approach, our previous paper documented a U-shape pattern in levels of self-perceived loneliness in both the UK and Greek populations during the first lockdown (17 April to 17 July 2020). The current paper aimed to test the robustness of these results. Specifically, we tested a) for the dependence of the chosen model by adopting a new one - namely, support vector regressor (SVR). Furthermore, b) whether the patterns of self-perceived loneliness found in data from the first UK national lockdown could be generalizable to the second wave of the UK lockdown (17 October 2020 to 31 January 2021). The first part of the study involved training an SVR model on the 75% of the UK dataset from wave 1 (n total = 435). This SVR model was then tested on the remaining 25% of data (MSE training = 2.04; MSE test = 2.29), which resulted in depressive symptoms to be the most important variable - followed by self-perceived loneliness. Statistical analysis of depressive symptoms by week of lockdown resulted in a significant U-shape pattern between week 3 to 7 of lockdown. In the second part of the study, data from wave 2 of the UK lockdown (n = 263) was used to conduct a graphical and statistical inspection of the week-by-week distribution of scores regarding self-perceived loneliness. Despite a graphical U-shaped pattern between week 3 and 9 of lockdown, levels of loneliness were not between weeks of lockdown. Consistent with past studies, study findings suggest that self-perceived loneliness and depressive symptoms may be two of the most relevant symptoms to address when imposing lockdown restrictions.

PERBANDINGAN POLA BENTUK SIDIK BIBIR ANTARA SUKU ASLI MENTAWAI DAN SUKU CAMPURAN MENTAWAI

One of studies that plays a role in human identification in disaster and crime is forensic odontology. There are several methods of identification in forensic odontology, one of the alternative methods is cheiloscopy which is used to identify lip print pattern. Lip print pattern is identical in each person, lip print can identify gender and human race. Mentawai ethnic is a part of Proto-Melayu race which dominates Mentawai island district area. Familial relationship in Mentawai ethnic is patrilineal the tribe is derived from father’s tribe. This study aimed to compare the shape of lip print pattern between Mentawai original ethnic and Mentawai mixed ethnic. This study is a descriptive study with cross-sectional approach. The samples in this study were 16 pairs of Mentawai ethnic and 16 pairs of mixed Mentawai ethnic, the sample were selected using purposive sampling method. Lip print in study models were marked using colour pen, and the shape pattern of lip prints were observed and measured according to Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification. Results of this study showed that there are differences in the pattern of lip prints between Mentawai ethnic and mixed Mentawai ethnic. Mentawai ethnic has dominan type of lip prints is type I, type II, and type IV while mixed Mentawai ethnic has dominan type of lip prints is type IV, type I, dan type III. The conclusion is there is a difference pattern of lip prints due to racial factors.

Development of L2 listening metacognitive awareness via online metacognitive listening practice

Metacognitive intervention of listening has prevailed in L2 (Second Language) listening research in the past decade. However, rare research has linked metacognitive intervention with online listening. This study examines L2 learners’ development of metacognitive awareness of listening through online metacognitive listening practice. A set of online metacognitive listening exercises were constructed, based on a metacognitive cycle that regularly guides learners through metacognitive processes of listening. Thirty-nine low-proficiency Chinese university EFL listeners from one intact class participated in the study and did online listening practice as individual outside-class homework for 14 weeks. The development of metacognitive awareness was measured by MALQ and enriched by the learners' reflective notes. Results reveal an inverted U-shape pattern in the development of metacognitive awareness and that the factors of metacognitive awareness develop asynchronously. Some factors appear more susceptible to listening task difficulty and more unstable in the development process.

Rainfall-Runoff Simulation Using HEC-HMS Model in the Benanain Watershed, Timor Island

Floods in a watershed area are caused by reduced water recharge due to changes in land use, increasing their discharge volume. Benanain watershed is an extensive area with many tributaries. Watershed morphometrics provides initial information about the hydrological behavior and the hydrograph shape of flooding in these areas. Furthermore, rainfall-runoff modeling uses as a unit to approach the hydrological values of the flooding process. This study determines the physical characteristics of the Benanain watershed based on curve number (CN) values, land cover, peak discharge, and peak time. It was conducted on the Benanain watershed with 29 sub-watersheds covering 3,181.521 km2. Data were collected on the rainfall experienced for 13 years from 1996 to 2008 and analyzed using the Log Pearson Type III method, while the HEC HMS model was used for flood discharge analysis. HEC-HMS model must calibrate by adjusting the model parameter values until the model results match historical data such as initial abstraction, lag time, recession, baseflow values, and curve number. The results show that the curve number values range from 56.55 - 73.90, comprising secondary dryland forest and shrubs. Moreover, the rock lithology in the Benanain watershed is dominated by scaly clay and other rock blocks. This means the area has low to very low permeability, which affects the volume of runoff. The return period of a 1000-year flood discharge obtained a peak of 5,794.50 m3/s, with a peak time of ± 14 hours. Morphometry of the Temef watershed with large catchment, radial shape pattern, an average of steep slope river, and meandering affects the peak of flood discharge hydrograph and the peak time of the flood.

High Prevalence of Early Parkinson's Disease in Patients With Subtle Parkinsonian Signs

Background: Little is known about how frequently patients with a Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III) score of 3 or 4, including postural and action tremor, could be classified into early Parkinson's disease (PD).Objective: To examine the prevalence of early PD in patients with subtle parkinsonian signs (rest tremor, postural tremor, and rigidity) without bradykinesia, having a UPDRS-III score of 3 or 4.Methods: Parkinsonism was assessed using UPDRS-III based on both the United Kingdom PD Society Brain Bank criteria and the Movement Disorder Society PD criteria. Ninety patients with a UPDRS-III score of 3 or 4, including postural tremor, were evaluated by 123I-FP-CIT SPECT (DaTscan), brain MRI, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and smell test. Some patients were additionally examined by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy or 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine SPECT.Results: Seventy-five [mean age (standard deviation): 76.9 (8.1)] out of 90 patients (83.3%) showed abnormal findings on DaTscan imaging: 57 out of 75 (76.0%) showed a reduced specific binding ratio (SBR) accompanied by an egg shape pattern (n = 37, 49.3%) or a mixed type pattern (n = 14, 18.7%), both reduced SBR and increased asymmetry index (AI) with a normal shape (n = 4, 5.3%), and reduced SBR only (n = 2, 2.7%); 18 (24.0%) showed an egg shape pattern or a mixed type pattern without reduced SBR. In other words, 69 out of 75 patients (92.0%) showed either an egg shape or a mixed type pattern with or without reduced SBR. All patients were free of dementia, and their olfactory function was significantly impaired compared with controls (n = 141) on the odor-stick identification test for Japanese (p &lt; 0.0001).Conclusions: The prevalence of patients with subtle parkinsonian signs having a UPDRS-III score of 3 or 4, including postural tremor, is unexpectedly high in daily clinical practice, and most of these patients could be categorized into mild early-stage PD.

Raptor wing morphing with flight speed

In gliding flight, birds morph their wings and tails to control their flight trajectory and speed. Using high-resolution videogrammetry, we reconstructed accurate and detailed three-dimensional geometries of gliding flights for three raptors (barn owl, Tyto alba ; tawny owl, Strix aluco , and goshawk, Accipiter gentilis ). Wing shapes were highly repeatable and shoulder actuation was a key component of reconfiguring the overall planform and controlling angle of attack. The three birds shared common spanwise patterns of wing twist, an inverse relationship between twist and peak camber, and held their wings depressed below their shoulder in an anhedral configuration. With increased speed, all three birds tended to reduce camber throughout the wing, and their wings bent in a saddle-shape pattern. A number of morphing features suggest that the coordinated movements of the wing and tail support efficient flight, and that the tail may act to modulate wing camber through indirect aeroelastic control.