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Background: Because nurses often work in medical environments characterized by high workloads and high levels of stress and pressure, they are particularly vulnerable to workplace burnout and their well-being may suffer. Related studies on burnout, resilience, and well-being have focused primarily on teachers, social workers, and students, with few studies addressing the situation faced by nursing staff. It is important to understand the factors affecting the well-being of nursing staff. Purpose: This study explores the status quo and correlations among nursing-staff demographic characteristics, workplace burnout, well-being-related resilience, and the predictive factors of well-being in nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational research design and purposive sampling were used in this study. Nursing staff who had worked for more than 6 months at a medical center in central Taiwan were recruited as participants, with data from 289 participants collected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, workplace burnout, resilience, and well-being. Results: The average scores for workplace burnout, resilience, and well-being were 40.40/(0- to 100-point scale), 26.79/(10- to 50-point scale), and 43.25/(24- to 96-point scale), respectively. The result of the regression analysis explained about 51.6% of the variance in well-being. Furthermore, resilience (28.4%), self-perceived health (14.3%), workplace burnout (4.5%), exercise frequency (1.8%), job title (1.2%), interpersonal pressure relief resilience (0.9%), and marital status (0.5%)were other important predictive factors of well-being in the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a self-similarity-analysis-based inundation process in which the water depth at the inlet increases as a power function of time. Numerical analyses of the inundation process are conducted to evaluate the feasibility and stability of two types of regimes: inertia-pressure regime and pressure-friction regime. Numerical simulations using the shallow water equations are conducted to investigate the influence of the increments in scaling coefficient and power which determine the temporal variation of the inlet water depth on the inundation process. Both regimes were realized in the numerical simulations, without considering the friction or inertia terms. Based on the linear stability analysis, it was proved that these processes are stable regardless of the increment in the scaling coefficient of the inlet water depth. The early phase of the inundation process is dominated by the scaling coefficient; whereas, eventually the inundation process depended on power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comparatively explores the reception of Sergiu Nicolaescu's film Zile fierbinți (Hot Days, 1975) in socialist and postsocialist Romania and China. Received as a propagandistic film in one postsocialist context, the film is understood as a gesture toward social change in another. While the film began to be considered a paragon of propagandistic indoctrination in Romania after the fall of communism, in China Nicolaescu's work was and continues to be interpreted as a celebration of the individual under socialism and, at the time of its screening, resonated with the restructuring of the communist system during the Deng Xiaoping reform era. Drawing on 1970s Romanian film criticism, the author shows that the postsocialist-era reading of the film's protagonist as an authoritarian symbol of Romania's political dictatorship misses that socialist realism and the film de actualitate genres played an important role in negotiating a working-class response to the one-party state, while also gesturing toward certain reforms of Romanian state socialism. The author also reinterprets the figure of the film's protagonist, the socialist leader, as an invitation for more active political engagement and as a symbol of the potential restructuring of the Romanian economy along the more progressive lines of Yugoslavia's "worker self-management" and Hungary's "Gulash Communism." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a measurement of the B-mode polarization power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) using data taken from 2014 July to 2016 December with the Polarbear experiment. The CMB power spectra are measured using observations at 150 GHz with an instantaneous array sensitivity of on a 670 square degree patch of sky centered at (R.A., decl.) = (+0h12m0s, −59°18′). A continuously rotating half-wave plate is used to modulate polarization and to suppress low-frequency noise. We achieve 32 μK arcmin effective polarization map noise with a knee in sensitivity of ℓ = 90, where the inflationary gravitational-wave signal is expected to peak. The measured B-mode power spectrum is consistent with a ΛCDM lensing and single dust component foreground model over a range of multipoles 50 ≤ ℓ ≤ 600. The data disfavor zero at 2.2σ using this ℓ range of Polarbear data alone. We cross-correlate our data with Planck full mission 143, 217, and 353 GHz frequency maps and find the low-ℓ B-mode power in the combined data set to be consistent with thermal dust emission. We place an upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r < 0.90 at the 95% confidence level after marginalizing over foregrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron star mergers (NSMs) are rapid neutron-capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis sites that expel matter at high velocities, from 0.1c to as high as 0.6c. Nuclei ejected at these speeds are sufficiently energetic to initiate spallation nuclear reactions with interstellar medium (ISM) particles. We adopt a thick-target model for the propagation of high-speed heavy nuclei in the ISM, similar to the transport of cosmic rays. We find that spallation may create observable perturbations to NSM isotopic abundances, particularly around the low-mass edges of the r-process peaks where neighboring nuclei have very different abundances. The extent to which spallation modifies the final NSM isotopic yields depends on: (1) the ejected abundances, which are determined by the NSM astrophysical conditions and the properties of nuclei far from stability, (2) the ejecta velocity distribution and propagation in interstellar matter, and (3) the spallation cross sections. Observed solar and stellar r-process yields could thus constrain the velocity distribution of ejected neutron star matter, assuming NSMs are the dominant r-process source. We suggest avenues for future work, including measurement of relevant cross sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The violent crises between Fulani herdsmen and sedentary farmers in Nigeria do not constitute an alien phenomenon in Nigeria; it is a phenomenon that has been in existence for decades which have resulted in the extensive loss of lives and property. The constant crises have threatened the security of the State, reduced its economic productivity, and deepened food crisis in Nigeria. While there have been several clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and the farming communities for more than two decades, the escalation reached another level in 2014 with the Fulani herdsmen killing 1,229 people in comparison with 63 deaths in 2013. With more than 500 deaths by July 2016 and January 2018 more than 73 persons were given mass burial in Benue State alone. The crises have been commonly credited to Fulani herdsmen expanding from the traditional grazing routes into the agricultural land which in turn always results into crises over access to pasture. The escalation of the crisis has made many Nigerians and international observers including the United States to consider Fulani herdsmen as the second most dangerous group in Nigeria after Boko-Haram group. Therefore, there is a need for the critical assessment of the underlying factors responsible for the escalation of crises between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers to untangle the various important but crises narratives that have been used in explaining the reason behind the recent escalation of the crises. The paper seeks to explore ways of resolving crises through information dissemination by librarians. The paper finaly recommended that government should adopt the modern way of cattle rearing which is ranching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Digital dermoscopy monitoring (DDM) is an effective strategy for melanoma detection. Two methods are currently employed. Short-term follow-up (STFU) for the evaluation of single, atypical lesions to detect subtle changes over a short period of time (3-6 months). Long-term follow-up (LTFU) is recommended for patients with multiple nevi. Although a study demonstrated that STFU improves the patients' compliance for DDM, little remains known about the impact and reliability of STFU in this setting. Objectives The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to evaluate the impact and reliability of a schedule combining STFU and LTFU in patients with multiple atypical nevi. Methods We searched our database for all cases of patients with multiple atypical nevi occurring between 2006 and 2014. Results A total of 3823 lesions in 541 patients were dermoscopically monitored (mean number = 7 lesions per patient; median = 6 lesions; range, 2-51). In all, 264 (6.9%) lesions in 184 (34.4%) patients were excised (mean of 0.5 lesions per patient). In total, 197 (74.6%) lesions were excised at follow-up, with melanomas representing 30.5% of lesions excised after follow-up. A total of 30 (33.3%) melanomas were excised at baseline, 23 (25.6%) after STFU and 37 (41.1%) after LTFU. There was no difference in the number of in situ melanomas detected at baseline with those detected after follow-up. The mean Breslow thickness of melanomas detected at baseline was higher than those detected after STFU ( P = 0.038) and LTFU ( P = 0.055). Conclusions Our study confirm that digital dermoscopy follow-up is a valid management strategy for patients with multiple atypical nevi, with short-term monitoring playing an effective role also in this setting of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a mathematical model for the injection of Bingham fluid as common grout material into a horizontal slot formed between parallel plates. The proposed model consisted of a grout reservoir model, a slot model, and an intermediate model that bridged the former two models. The authors showed that it is necessary to include a grout reservoir model in the injection model to avoid singularity of velocity when the grout penetration length is zero. This approach also allowed investigation of the initial stage flow condition during the injection process, especially at the inlet of the slot. Based on the proposedmodel, the approximate solution for the grout penetration length at the initial stage of injection was also derived. The performance of the proposed model was compared against a well-established model under laminar flow condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urolithiasis is a nutritional disease that affects domestic carnivores. Past and recent literature on urolithiasis was reviewed for information on anatomical occurrence, physiology of urine formation, prevalence, mineral composition, clinical signs, laboratory findings, dissolution therapy, surgery and prevention of urolithiasis. The acquired knowledge of complexed and multifaceted urolithiasis is a tremendous achievement towards the treatment and control of the disease. However, eradication of the disease is the most challenging as it requires total overhaul of all the factors that are responsible for the formation of uroliths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a fast-evolving single-stranded DNA virus that causes severe and fatal gastrointestinal disease in dogs. Lately, several mutations affecting viral protein (VP) capsid resulting in highly pathogenic variants with distinctive immunological and clinicopathological characteristics abound. This study involved screening stools of 44 randomly selected clinical cases of canine gastroenteritis from 4 cities (Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, and Zaria) in Nigeria for CPV antigen using an on-the-spot immunoassay test kit, as well as, molecular detection of viral nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, nucleic acid sequencing of 1195-bp amplicons encompassing the VP2 encoding region was done. The resultant 40 high-quality amino acid sequences obtained were analysed for the identification and grouping of the viruses into their discrete variants - CPV-2a, CPV-2b, or CPV-2c, using key amino acids substitutions - Asn, Asp, or Glu respectively at position 426 of the VP2 gene. One-third (11/40; 27.5%) of the analysed sequences were identified as CPV-2a and two-third (29/40; 72.5%) as CPV-2c. The original CPV and CPV-2b were not detected. Also, the "new CPV-2a variant" with mutation S297A identified had two additional mutations (Y324I and T440A) associated with selective pressure and vaccination failure in their sequences. Similarly, unique CPV-2c mutants carrying genetic markers (S297A, Y324I, and Q370R) that are highly related to CPVs of Asian origin were observed. These findings revealed a high level of divergence of existing CPVs in circulation; suggesting that CPV is rapidly evolving in Nigeria lately. • More CPV-2c than CPV-2a was detected in the clinical samples analysed. • The New CPV-2a variant containing mutation S297A identified had two additional mutations responsible for vaccination failure. • The analysed CPVs exhibit a high level of genetic divergence from previous ones. • The Nigerian CPV-2c mutants carry genetic markers that are highly related to CPVs of Asian origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous efforts have been made to estimate the tsunami wave loads on structures, particularly box-shaped buildings (flat-roofed). As buildings have different types of roofs, insights into their respective wave flow mechanisms are important especially for the overtopping case. This study, therefore, focuses on the effect of roof types on tsunami-like waves impinging on a building. Through a series of wave flume experiments and numerical simulations, wave loads exerted on the front and back faces of a typical gabled-roof building were measured and compared with that of a box-shaped building. Results showed that the roof eaves caused the wave reflection and increased the upstream water depth, leading to an increment in maximum front face force up to 11% relative to the case of flat roof. Howbeit, less wave overtopping effect was demonstrated, thereby inducing a lower wave impact at the back of the building with a gabled roof. A ratio comprising the maximum flow depth and the story height of a building was then proposed, where the effect of gabled roof on the resulting maximum horizontal force was found to be insignificant to a ratio below 0.6. Finally, empirical equations to predict the maximum wave pressure on a building's front and back faces were formulated, which provide practical information for the design of a tsunami-resilient coastal building. • Hybrid experimental-numerical modeling on tsunami-like waves impinging a building. • Insights into wave flow mechanisms considering gabled and flat roofs. • A ratio comprising the maximum flow depth and the building's story height is proposed. • Formulation of maximum pressure distributions on building's front and back faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Improved accuracy of tsunami wave pressure estimation with 3D numerical model. • Temporary moment method adopted to reduce numerical diffusion in VSIAM3 framework for the application in tsunami hydrodynamics problem. • Conservative CIP-CSL3 advection scheme and smear-less interface capturing with THINC. This study presents the development, refinement, and application of a 3-D multiphase flow model for the simulation of tsunami propagation on land and its hydrodynamic force on a coastal building. The model is based on the Volume/Surface Integrated Average-based Multi-Moment Method (VSIAM3) with improved accuracy by adopting the temporary moment (TM) method to update the non-normal flow variables. A third-order gradient approximation is chosen for the reconstruction of an interpolation profile in the CIP-CLS3 advection solver to further reduce numerical diffusion and suppress numerical oscillation. The moving interface between air–water is captured by using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The Tangent of Hyperbola for Interface Capturing (THINC) scheme is used to reproduce a sharp and smear-less air–water interface. The model performance improved by as much as 16% in the estimation of impact force on the downstream wall in the dam-break flow benchmarking problem by refining the original VSIAM3 model. The robustness of the model is further demonstrated by the accurate reproduction of tsunami wave propagation speed and its hydrodynamic pressures on a single box-shaped obstacle. The wave-induced pressures on the front face of the obstacle are accurately reproduced, with a maximum of 10% difference compared with the hydraulic experimental results. Thus, the study shows that the overall robustness and hydrodynamic performance of the model can be improved by refining the original model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*)—the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in the center of our galaxy—has been observed in most of the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to X-rays. Diffuse γ-ray emission has been observed around Sgr A* and a γ-ray point source has been detected coinciding with the SMBH's position, although there is no definitive association between the two. In this work, we have used ∼11 yr of Fermi Large Area Telescope observations of the point source 4FGL J1745.6–2859 and performed a detailed imaging analysis across four energy bands. Our goal is to elucidate the nature of the γ-ray emission at the Galactic Center (GC) and whether it is associated with the SMBH. We find that the centroid of the emission approaches Sgr A*'s location as the energy increases. Assuming that the γ-ray point source is located at the GC, we estimate a luminosity of 2.61 × 1036 erg s−1 in the 100 MeV to 500 GeV energy range. This is consistent with Sgr A*'s bolometric luminosity. Based on the point source properties, we ruled out several potential candidates for its nature and favor a cosmic-ray origin either from protons, electrons, or both, accelerated by—or in the vicinity of—the SMBH. Our results indicate that the point source at the GC is indeed the γ-ray counterpart of Sgr A* in the GeV range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proposal is described for complementing the intense, high energy proton and ion beams of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with a novel electron energy recovery linac (ERL) to provide a next generation electron-hadron collider facility of more than 1 TeV center-of-mass energy. This Large Hadron Electron Collider (LHeC) will substantially extend the kinematic range covered by the first ep collider, HERA, and surpass its luminosity by a factor of several hundreds. This configuration will be a microscope for the substructure of matter with unprecedentedly clean resolution and a facility for new physics in the Higgs, strong interaction and electroweak sector with a strong discovery potential. The paper also describes the accelerator design and its main characteristics. As such it had been submitted to the deliberations on the future of European particle physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new construct of integrated temporal positivity—defined as the positive, adaptive, and dynamic use of the past, the present, and the future—is posited to promote optimal functioning. Based on the dualistic model of passion, the present research sought to test the hypothesis that harmonious passion, more than obsessive passion, triggers a higher use of integrated temporal positivity that, in turn, leads to one crucial type of sport performance, namely last-second performance. The results of 3 studies conducted with team-sport athletes (Study 1, n = 625; Study 2, n = 285; and Study 3, n = 263) provided clear support for the hypothesis. The results pave the way for future research focusing on the role of adaptive temporal processes in support of sport performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Municipalities can issue local ordinances which regulate gambling opportunities in the area. Since 2011, the number of these ordinances has been increasing. METHODS: A 51-item online questionnaire survey asking about gambling and local regulation was carried out in 2015. All the municipalities in the Czech Republic were contacted. Responses were provided by about 6% of them, with their population representing 22% of the Czech population. RESULTS: 50% of the municipalities had at least one venue with EGMs. 27% had issued local ordinances regarding gambling. 90% of these were issued after 2011. Almost half of them imposed a total prohibition of EGMs, one third regulated the number of premises, and one quarter regulated the time and/or place of gambling opportunities. Illegal gambling venues appeared in 9% of the municipalities and "kvízomaty" (EGMs incorporating quiz questions) appeared in 4% of them. They were found in 30% of the municipalities with local ordinances, but only in 1% of those with no ordinances in place. Civil or political initiatives against gambling appeared in 18% of the municipalities in 2014. For 16% of the municipalities the gambling issue was a topic that featured in local elections. 12% of the municipalities had recorded political or economic pressure from the gambling operators, much more often where there were local ordinances in place (39% vs. 2%). Monetary contributions from gambling only accounted for 1.6% of municipal budgets on average. Revenues from gambling are not important for almost 80% of the municipalities. According to municipal representatives, the number of opportunities to gamble (especially EGMs) should be reduced centrally and the powers to regulate should be increased on both the local and national levels. CONCLUSION: The majority of the municipalities called for greater regulation of gambling and more powers on the part of the municipalities in this respect. Stronger local regulation is reflected in an increase in illegal gambling. There is a discrepancy between permitting gambling on the national level and its regulation on the municipal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Gambling and problem gambling correlate with the social situation at both the individual and community levels. This association is often manifested as negative social, economic, and demographic phenomena. METHODS: This article presents a non-systematic review of accessible data on the consequences and impacts of gambling on the regional, local, and individual levels in the Czech Republic. RESULTS: Higher accessibility of gambling opportunities correlates with negative phenomena such as unemployment, indebtedness, crimes of violence and against property, a decrease in the population, the consumption of alcohol and illegal substances, and the abuse of social welfare benefits. These phenomena are even more prevalent in socially excluded localities. Some municipalities issue local ordinances to control the accessibility of gambling opportunities. Individually, problem gambling leads to financial struggles, debts, and, in extreme cases, to illegal ways of obtaining the financial wherewithal to fund a gambling addiction, including crimes, mainly crimes against property such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Social and family ties become disrupted as gamblers' relationships with their relatives and other people who are close to them are negatively affected by their behaviour. Problems at work very often lead to unemployment. Employment opportunities created by the gambling industry and tax revenues feeding the public budgets are among the positive social impacts of gambling that are cited most frequently. CONCLUSION: Gambling involves a complex social and economic context and works as a regressive tax for low-income groups. Both quantitative and qualitative studies show that gambling is primarily associated with indebtedness, which is a serious consequence of pathological gambling and a cause for or correlate of the social and economic decline of gamblers, their social environment, and entire communities. The latent and stigmatising character of indebtedness and the related social impacts are barriers to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The power performance of Savonius turbines augmented with various deflector configurations was compared in water channel and wind tunnel experiments. • The type of fluid has no significant effect on the power performance of the turbine model with deflectors for the same Reynolds number. • The wind tunnel experimental results can be used to evaluate the power performance of a Savonius turbine for hydrokinetic applications if the flow dynamics between water and wind are similar. Savonius turbines for wind and hydrokinetic applications both operate on the same principle in terms of power generation. However, the effects of their power performance when augmented with various deflector configurations in wind and water have not been comprehensively investigated, and the comparative analysis in the literature still lacks due to the different fluid mediums. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate and compare the power performance of a conventional Savonius turbine augmented with various deflector longitudinal positions, heights, and angles using a water channel and a wind tunnel with identical flow dynamics. The same turbine model and deflector configurations were tested at equivalent flow rates with the same Reynolds number of 1.48 × 105, corresponding to a typical flow condition in hydrokinetic applications. The turbine power performance, when operated in the wind tunnel, was found to match relatively well with the corrected results of the turbine power performance operated in the water channel, despite being tested in different fluid mediums. In addition, the trends for maximum coefficients of power for both tests are similar in terms of the variations of the deflector angles and the longitudinal positions, resulting in the same deflector parameters that contributed to the best power performance. The maximum coefficient of power, its corresponding coefficient of torque, and tip speed ratio obtained in the wind tunnel differ from the water channel results by 3.98%, 4.44%, and - 1.08%, respectively. As a result, this study validates wind tunnel measurements of the power performance of Savonius turbines for hydrokinetic applications, augmented with flow deflectors. Therefore, results obtained in wind tunnel experiments can be used to evaluate the turbine power performance for hydrokinetic applications provided that the principle of flow similarity between the two mediums, wind and water, is satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simulate possible stellar coronal mass ejection (CME) scenarios over the magnetic cycle of ϵ Eridani (18 Eridani; HD 22049). We use three separate epochs from 2008, 2011, and 2013, and estimate the radio emission frequencies associated with these events. These stellar eruptions have proven to be elusive, although a promising approach to detect and characterize these phenomena are low-frequency radio observations of potential type II bursts as CME-induced shocks propagate through the stellar corona. Stellar type II radio bursts are expected to emit below 450 MHz, similarly to their solar counterparts. We show that the length of time these events remain above the ionospheric cutoff is not necessarily dependent on the stellar magnetic cycle, but more on the eruption location relative to the stellar magnetic field. We find that these type II bursts would remain within the frequency range of LOFAR for a maximum of 20–30 minutes post-eruption for the polar CMEs (50 minutes for second harmonics). We find evidence of slower equatorial CMEs, which result in slightly longer observable windows for the 2008 and 2013 simulations. Stellar magnetic geometry and strength have a significant effect on the detectability of these events. We place the CMEs in the context of the stellar mass-loss rate (27–48× solar mass-loss rate), showing that they can amount to 3%–50% of the stellar wind mass-loss rate for ϵ Eridani. Continuous monitoring of likely stellar CME candidates with low-frequency radio telescopes will be required to detect these transient events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently discovered Indus stellar stream exhibits a diverse chemical signature compared to what is found for most other streams due to the abundances of two outlier stars, Indus_0 and Indus_13. Indus_13 exhibits an extreme enhancement in rapid neutron-capture (r-)process elements with [Eu/Fe] = + 1.81. It thus provides direct evidence of the accreted nature of r-process-enhanced stars. In this paper we present a detailed chemical analysis of the neutron-capture elements in Indus_13, revealing the star to be slightly actinide poor. The other outlier, Indus_0, displays a globular cluster-like signature with high N, Na, and Al abundances, while the rest of the Indus stars show abundances compatible with a dwarf galaxy origin. Hence, Indus_0 provides the first chemical evidence of a fully disrupted dwarf containing a globular cluster. We use the chemical signature of the Indus stars to discuss the nature of the stream progenitor which was likely a chemically evolved system, with a mass somewhere in the range from Ursa Minor to Fornax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron radiation from hot gas near a black hole results in a polarized image. The image polarization is determined by effects including the orientation of the magnetic field in the emitting region, relativistic motion of the gas, strong gravitational lensing by the black hole, and parallel transport in the curved spacetime. We explore these effects using a simple model of an axisymmetric, equatorial accretion disk around a Schwarzschild black hole. By using an approximate expression for the null geodesics derived by Beloborodov and conservation of the Walker–Penrose constant, we provide analytic estimates for the image polarization. We test this model using currently favored general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of M87*, using ring parameters given by the simulations. For a subset of these with modest Faraday effects, we show that the ring model broadly reproduces the polarimetric image morphology. Our model also predicts the polarization evolution for compact flaring regions, such as those observed from Sgr A* with GRAVITY. With suitably chosen parameters, our simple model can reproduce the EVPA pattern and relative polarized intensity in Event Horizon Telescope images of M87*. Under the physically motivated assumption that the magnetic field trails the fluid velocity, this comparison is consistent with the clockwise rotation inferred from total intensity images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the use of approximate Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) in modeling hundreds of time delay gravitational lenses for Hubble constant (H0) determination. Our BNN was trained on synthetic Hubble Space Telescope quality images of strongly lensed active galactic nuclei with lens galaxy light included. The BNN can accurately characterize the posterior probability density functions (PDFs) of model parameters governing the elliptical power-law mass profile in an external shear field. We then propagate the BNN-inferred posterior PDFs into an ensemble H0 inference, using simulated time delay measurements from a plausible dedicated monitoring campaign. Assuming well-measured time delays and a reasonable set of priors on the environment of the lens, we achieve a median precision of 9.3% per lens in the inferred H0. A simple combination of a set of 200 test lenses results in a precision of 0.5 km s−1 Mpc−1 (0.7%), with no detectable bias in this H0 recovery test. The computation time for the entire pipeline—including the generation of the training set, BNN training and H0 inference—translates to 9 minutes per lens on average for 200 lenses and converges to 6 minutes per lens as the sample size is increased. Being fully automated and efficient, our pipeline is a promising tool for exploring ensemble-level systematics in lens modeling for H0 inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present GHOST , a database of 16,175 spectroscopically classified supernovae (SNe) and the properties of their host galaxies. We have constructed GHOST using a novel host galaxy association method that employs deep postage stamps of the field surrounding a transient. Our gradient ascent method achieves fewer misassociations for low-z hosts and higher completeness for high-z hosts than previous methods. Using dimensionality reduction, we identify the host galaxy properties that distinguish SN classes. Our results suggest that the host galaxies of superluminous SNe, Type Ia SNe, and core-collapse SNe can be separated by brightness and derived extendedness measures. Next, we train a random forest model to predict SN class using only host galaxy information and the radial offset of the SN. We can distinguish Type Ia SNe and core-collapse SNe with ∼70% accuracy without any photometric or spectroscopic data from the event itself. Vera C. Rubin Observatory will usher in a new era of transient population studies, demanding improved photometric tools for rapid identification and classification of transient events. By identifying the host features with high discriminatory power, we will maintain SN sample purities and continue to identify scientifically relevant events as data volumes increase. The GHOST database and our corresponding software for associating transients with host galaxies are both publicly available through the astro _ ghost package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies demonstrated an introduction of building opening could decrease the tsunami loads on the external wall. However, tsunami waves flowing through the building opening could induce loads on the interior part. This study presented an experimental investigation of tsunami flow through a real building with opening. Three nominal wave conditions with wave overtopping and non-overtopping cases were tested to study its effects in combination with each configuration with opening sizes ranging from 15% to 35%. The tsunami-like wave pressures on an internal wall with varying locations were measured in the experiment. Finally, methodologies for estimating tsunami force on an internal wall were proposed. Results showed that the front opening size and the location of an internal wall significantly influenced the induced loads on the internal wall's front face. A new measure of the wake clearance angle was developed to best quantify each configuration. The maximum front face force on an internal wall manifested a linear trend with an increasing wake clearance angle up to a maximum force of approximately 4.8 times the hydrostatic force. Conversely, a dimensionless factor of front to back opening ratio was proposed, considering the effect of both front and back openings to determine the force on an internal wall's back face, where an increase in the front to back ratio tended to increase the maximum back face force in a non-linear trend. • Effect of opening and wall configurations on tsunami force acting on internal wall. • A new measure of wake clearance angle for best quantifying each configuration. • A dimensionless factor of front to back opening ratio is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on orbital modulation of the 100–600 MeV gamma-ray emission of the PB = 4.6 hr millisecond pulsar binary PSR J2339−0533 using 11 yr of Fermi Large Area Telescope data. The modulation has high significance (chance probability p ≈ 10−7), is approximately sinusoidal, peaks near pulsar superior conjunction, and is detected only in the low-energy 100–600 MeV band. The modulation is confined to the on-pulse interval, suggesting that the variation is in the 2.9 ms pulsed signal itself. This contrasts with the few other known systems exhibiting GeV orbital modulations, as these are unpulsed and generally associated with beamed emission from an intrabinary shock. The origin of the modulated pulsed signal is not yet clear, although we describe several scenarios, including Compton upscattering of photons from the heated companion. This would require high coherence in the striped pulsar wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the discovery of WISEA J083011.95+283716.0, the first Y-dwarf candidate identified through the "Backyard Worlds: Planet 9" citizen science project. We identified this object as a red, fast-moving source with a faint W2 detection in multiepoch AllWISE and unWISE images. We have characterized this object with Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescope's (HST) follow-up imaging. With mid-infrared detections in Spitzer's ch1 and ch2 bands and flux upper limits in HST F105W and F125W filters, we find that this object is both very faint and has extremely red colors (ch1 − ch2 = 3.25 ± 0.23 mag, F125W − ch2 ≥ 9.36 mag), consistent with a Teff ∼ 300 K source, as estimated from the known Y-dwarf population. A preliminary parallax provides a distance of pc, leading to a slightly warmer temperature of ∼350 K. The extreme faintness and red HST and Spitzer colors of this object suggest that it may be a link between the broader Y-dwarf population and the coldest known brown dwarf WISE J0855−0714, and may highlight our limited knowledge of the true spread of Y-dwarf colors. We also present four additional "Backyard Worlds: Planet 9" late-T brown dwarf discoveries within 30 pc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV‐2) emerged suddenly in the late 1970s as pathogen of dogs, causing a severe and often fatal gastroenteric disease. The original CPV‐2 was replaced by three antigenic variants, CPV‐2a, CPV‐2b and CPV‐2c, which to date have gained a worldwide distribution with different relative proportions. All previous studies conducted in Africa were based on partial VP2 gene sequences. The aim of this study was to provide a genome analysis to characterize the CPV strains collected in Nigeria, Africa. Rectal swab samples (n = 320) were collected in 2018 and tested by means of an immunochromatographic assay. Among the 144 positive samples, 59 were selected for further analyses using different molecular assays. The results revealed a high prevalence of CPV‐2c (91.5%) compared to the CPV‐2a variant (8.5%). The VP2 gene sequences showed a divergence from the strains analysed in 2010 in Nigeria and a closer connection with CPV strains of Asian origin. The non‐structural gene analysis evidenced amino acid changes never previously reported. The molecular analysis based on genomic sequences evidenced a geographical pattern of distribution of the analysed strains, suggesting a potential common evolutionary origin with CPV of Asian origin. This study represents the first CPV molecular characterization including all the encoding gene sequences conducted in the African continent and contributes to define the current geographical spread of the CPV variants worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the Télescope ŕ Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires network of telescopes to search for the electromagnetic counterparts of GW150914, GW170104, and GW170814, which were reported to originate from binary black hole merger events by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and Virgo collaborations. Our goal is to constrain the emission from a binary black hole coalescence at visible wavelengths. We developed a simple and effective algorithm to detect new sources by matching the image data with the Gaia catalog Data Release 1. Machine learning was used and an algorithm was designed to locate unknown sources in a large field of view image. The angular distance between objects in the image and in the catalog was used to find new sources; we then process the candidates to validate them as possible new unknown celestial objects. Though several possible candidates were detected in the three gravitational-wave source error boxes studied, none of them were confirmed as a viable counterpart. The algorithm was effective for the identification of unknown candidates in a very large field and provided candidates for GW150914, GW170104, and GW170814. The entire 90% GW170814 error box was surveyed extensively within 0.6 days after the gravitational-wave emission resulting in an absolute limiting R magnitude of −23.8. This strong limit excludes to a great extent a possible emission of a gamma-ray burst with an optical counterpart associated with GW170814. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new analysis of the isospin splittings within the decuplet baryon spectrum. Our numerical results are based upon five ensembles of dynamical QCD + QED lattices. The analysis is carried out within a flavour-breaking expansion which encodes the effects of breaking the quark masses and electromagnetic charges away from an approximate SU(3) symmetric point. The results display total isospin splittings within the approximate SU(2) multiplets that are compatible with phenomenological estimates. Further, new insight is gained into these splittings by separating the contributions arising from strong and electromagnetic effects. We also present an update of earlier results on the octet baryon spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compiled a sample of 73 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with reverberation mapping (RM) observations from RM campaigns, including our ongoing campaign of monitoring super-Eddington accreting massive black holes (BHs). This sample covers a large range of BH mass , dimensionless accretion rates , and 5100 Å luminosity , allowing us to systematically study the AGN variability and their relations with BH mass, accretion rates, and optical luminosity. We employed the damped random walk (DRW) model to delineate the optical variability of continuum at 5100 Å and obtained damped variability timescale () and amplitude () using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. We also estimated the traditional variability amplitudes (), which provide a model-independent measure and therefore are used to test the DRW results. We found that AGN variability characteristics are generally correlated with. These correlations are smooth from sub-Eddington to super-Eddington accretion AGNs, probably implying that the AGN variability may be caused by the same physical mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Gambling can lead to a gambling disorder which requires specific treatment interventions. Help to problem and pathological gamblers is mostly provided through a network of addiction treatment services, i.e. services for people addicted to drugs. AIMS: This paper aims at mapping the forms and accessibility of specialised counselling and treatment services targeted at problem gamblers in the Czech Republic.METHODS: Facility surveys among addiction treatment programmes conducted in 2012 and 2014 which have the character of a census and data from the final reports of the governmental subsidy proceedings in 2013 and 2014. SAMPLE: There were 254 programmes participating in the facility survey in 2012 and 271 in 2014. The sample based on the governmental subsidy proceedings consisted of 144 programmes both in 2013 and 2014. RESULTS: There are currently 250-300 specialised addiction treatment programmes in the Czech Republic. Of the 254 facilities that participated in the survey in 2012, 133 declared that pathological gamblers were one of the target groups of the service, and 18 programmes offered specialised help. In 2014, there were 138 programmes that considered pathological gamblers as one of their target groups, of which 10-20 programmes were specialised. Substance use counselling services, psychiatric outpatient counselling or treatment programmes, and psychiatric hospitals account for the majority of these specialised programmes. Apart from specialised services, self-help programmes have appeared recently, and pathological gamblers are clients of other treatment and counselling services, including social and legal assistance. Debt counselling is an indispensable intervention in its own right.CONCLUSION: The accessibility of specialised services for problem gamblers in the Czech Republic is low; there are about 10-20 programmes. There is no dense network of counselling and treatment services focusing on pathological gambling, and self-help programmes are yet to be developed. In addition, telephonebased and online counselling options are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Problem gambling is associated with a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and suicidality, which substantially contributes to the mortality of problem gamblers. AIMS: To explore the mortality rate of problem gamblers and contribution of suicides to its structure. METHODS: A database-linkage retrospective cohort mortality study of persons hospitalised in psychiatric facilities with diagnosis of pathological gambling (dg. F63.0 according to ICD-10) in the CR in 1994-2011 was performed. The National Register of Hospitalisations and the Death Information System were data sources. The Indirect standardisation was performed and the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) was computed. The mortality structure in the sample was compared with that of the general population in the 1994-2011 after adjusting for gender and age. RESULTS: There were 7,704 individuals in the cohort, of whom 7,215 (93.7%) were males and 489 (6.3%) females, with the mean age of 33.2 years, (males 32.7, females 40.5). The total person- time of observation was 64,370 person-years. In total, 547 persons died (516 males, 31 females). The mean annual crude mortality rate was 8.50/1,000 persons (8.44 in the males, 9.63 in the females). The central estimate of SMR was approximately 2 over the years, slightly higher in females. External causes of death predominated in the crude mortality structure of the hospitalised gamblers (44.6%), most of whom were suicides (26.7% of all the deaths). The adjusted (for gender and age) proportion of suicides was 3.4 times higher than in the general population. CONCLUSION: Suicidality represents a considerable part of clinical picture of gambling disorder and significantly determines mortality of disordered gamblers. Attention should be paid to the risk of suicides in disordered gamblers in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Some individuals' gambling develops into problem gambling, including serious health, social, and economic impacts. AIMS: To describe the characteristics of problem gamblers, their gambling careers, and the social, economic, and health correlations and consequences of pathological gambling in the Czech Republic. METHOD: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey on a sample of diagnosed pathological gamblers (F63.0 in ICD-10). SAMPLE: 229 respondents were interviewed in 27 treatment facilities. They were mostly men (93.4%) and aged 34 on average. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents in the sample reported playing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) as their primary problem gambling activity. On average, their total debt was CZK 894 thousand (33 thousand). About 7.6% of the money for gambling came from illegal activities. 53.6% of the respondents found that their financial problems caused them the greatest difficulty. Relationship and mental health problems were identified as major difficulties by 22.4% and 18.2% of the respondents respectively. Nervousness and irritability (67.7%), anxiety and insomnia (both 59.8%), suicidal thoughts (41.0%), and cardiovascular problems (28.4%) were reported as the most common health problems. The majority of the respondents (83.8%) had perceived gambling as a problem during their gambling careers. About 80% had tried to stop. Help was sought three or more years after the problems had occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological gambling is a chronic relapsing condition accompanied by frequent health and social functioning disorders. Financial problems and the disruption of relationships are perceived as the most serious consequences which lead to seeking help. While in 2013 the majority of the problems were caused by EGMs, an increase in problem gambling associated with online gambling is expected in the future. Early diagnosis and intervention is key to preventing problem gambling and reducing the harm it entails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Excessive gambling can lead to the development of gambling disorder (problem gambling). AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and describe patterns of problem gambling in the Czech Republic. METHODS: (1) National Survey 2012, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on the general population aged 15-64 (N=2,134), which included the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), (2) omnibus questionnaire survey on population aged 15+ sampled using quotas in 2013 and 2014 (N=1,797 and 1,810 respectively), which included the Lie/Bet test, and (3) omnibus questionnaire survey on general practitioners and paediatricians in 2012 and 2014, which included question on the prevalence of problem (pathological) gamblers (N=551 and 550 respectively). RESULTS: According to PGSI, the prevalence of problem gambling in the adult population in 2012 was estimated as 5.1% (7.4% of males and 2.8% of females), about 2.3% were in moderate and high risk, of which 0.6% were in high risk (1.2% of males and 0.0% of females). The results of the Lie/Bet test (score of at least one point) in 2014 showed that 4.9% of the adult population were at risk (7.4% of males and 2.6% of females). According to PGSI, 6.2% of young adults aged 15-34 in 2012, and 5.3% according to the Lie/Bet in 2014 were at risk. The survey among GPs estimated 80-90 thousand problem (pathological) gamblers (0.9-1.0% of the adult population) in 2012 and 90-110 thousand (1.0-1.2%) in 2014. The youngest age group 15-24, had the highest proportion of persons at risk, but those aged 35-44 had the highest proportion of the high-risk category. Playing on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) represents the highest risk of gambling disorder - at least 1/3 of gamblers on EGMs were at risk of problem gambling; for fixed odds betting and on-line gambling it was at least 1/4 of the gamblers. CONCLUSION: About 5% of adult Czech population are in risk of a gambling disorder. Of those, 1.5-2.3% are problem gamblers, among those 0.6-1.2% are pathological gamblers. Problem gambling is mostly associated with EGMs, an increase in problem gambling related to fixed odds, live betting and on-line gambling can be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Since its emergence in Nigeria, CPV-2 has posed serious problems to dog breeding. • Assessment of risk factors associated with CPV infection in Nigeria was carried out. • Age, breed, location, clinical status of the dog influence the prevalence of CPV. • Vaccination compliance and management system were also observed as risk factors. • Virus isolates of CPV strains circulating in Nigeria were obtained for future studies. Since its emergence in Nigeria, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) infection has posed problems to dog breeding and requires constant awareness and monitoring. In this study, the status, the assessment of extrinsic risk factors of parvoviral infection in dog kennels in North Central Nigeria, and isolation of the CPV-2 were carried out. Potential risk factors were considered during sampling: age, breed, sex, location, vaccination and health status, using well-structured questionnaires on dog owners with experience of CPV-2 infection. There was high prevalence which depended on age, breed, location, clinical status of the dog while vaccination status of the dogs did not influence the prevalence. CPV-2 vaccination compliance by the breeders and management system of the kennels were also observed as risk factors. Isolation of CPV-2a and -2c strains from Nigeria for further study has been reported. The spread of CPV-2 in Nigeria is increasing, hence needs for continual epidemiological monitoring and review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]