On the SARS-CoV-2 “Variolation Hypothesis”: No Association Between Viral Load of Index Cases and COVID-19 Severity of Secondary Cases

Background: Emerging evidence supports the “variolation hypothesis” in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the derivative idea that the viral load of index cases may predict disease severity in secondary cases could be unsubstantiated. We assessed whether the prevalence of symptomatic infections, hospitalization, and deaths in household contacts of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases differed according to the SARS-CoV-2 PCR cycle threshold (Ct) from nasal-pharyngeal swab at diagnosis of linked index cases.Methods: Cross-sectional study on household contacts of COVID-19 cases randomly sampled from all the infections diagnosed in March at our Microbiology Laboratory (Amedeo di Savoia, Turin). Data were retrospectively collected by phone interviews and from the Piedmont regional platform for COVID-19 emergency. Index cases were classified as high (HVl) and low viral load (LVl) according to two exploratory cut-offs of RdRp gene Ct value. Secondary cases were defined as swab confirmed or symptom based likely when not tested but presenting compatible clinical picture.Results: One hundred thirty-two index cases of whom 87.9% symptomatic and 289 household contacts were included. The latter were male and Caucasian in 44.3 and 95.8% of cases, with a median age of 34 years (19–57). Seventy-four were swab confirmed and other 28 were symptom based likely secondary cases. Considering both, the contacts of HVl and LVl did not differ in the prevalence of symptomatic infections nor COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. No difference in median Ct of index cases between symptomatic and asymptomatic, hospitalized and not hospitalized, or deceased and survived secondary cases was found. Negative findings were confirmed after adjusting for differences in time between COVID-19 onset and swab collection of index cases (median 5 days) and after removing pediatric secondary cases.Conclusions: The amount of SARS-CoV-2 of the source at diagnosis does not predict clinical outcomes of linked secondary cases. Considering the impelling release of assays for SARS-CoV-2 RNA exact quantification, these negative findings should inform clinical and public health strategies on how to interpret and use the data.

Tendon Actuated Continuous Structures in Planar Parallel Robots: A Kinematic Analysis

The use of continuous and flexible structures instead of rigid links and discrete joints is a growing field of robotics research. Recent work focuses on the inclusion of continuous segments in parallel robots to benefit from their structural advantages, such as a high dexterity and compliance. While some applications and designs of these novel parallel continuum robots have been presented, the field remains largely unexplored. Furthermore, an exact quantification of the kinematic advantages and disadvantages when using continuous structures in parallel robots is yet to be performed. In this paper, planar parallel robot designs using tendon actuated continuum robots instead of rigid links and discrete joints are proposed. Using the well-known 3-RRR manipulator as a reference design, two parallel continuum robots are derived. Inverse and differential kinematics of these designs are modeled using constant curvature assumptions, which can be adapted for other actuation mechanisms than tendons. Their kinematic performances are compared to the conventional parallel robot counterpart. On the basis of this comparison, the advantages and disadvantages of using continuous structures in parallel robots are quantified and analyzed. Results show that parallel continuum robots can be kinematic equivalent and exhibit similar kinematic performances in comparison to conventional parallel robots depending on the chosen design.

Identification of base erosion and profit shifting using tax evasion rate

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) use different methods and structures for base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) to optimize the tax liability of the group. It is of great interest to the relevant countries to be able to identify such practices and react with appropriate measures. The objective of this paper is to verify whether selected MNEs engaged in the digital economy tend to shift profits from the Czech Republic to jurisdictions with lower taxation using the tax evasion rate (TER) indicator and the transactional net margin method (TNNM). Since the TER method has not been tested yet, this paper also aims to demonstrate its application on real world data and to evaluate its usability. On a sample of five MNEs, the analysis showed a potential tendency to shift profits within Europe for four MNEs (Amazon, Apple, Google and Uber) and a potential tendency to shift profits specifically from the Czech Republic for one MNE (Amazon). The analysis shows that TER is suitable as a preliminary indication of possible risks, rather than their exact quantification.

Effect of Api-Bioxal® and ApiHerb® Treatments against Nosema ceranae Infection in Apis mellifera Investigated by Two qPCR Methods

Nosema ceranae is a worldwide distributed midgut parasite of western honey bees, leading to dwindling colonies and their collapse. As a treatment, only fumagillin is available, causing issues like resistance and hampered bee physiology. This study aimed to evaluate ApiHerb® and Api-Bioxal® as treatments against N. ceranae. The efficacy was tested using two qPCR methods based on the 16S rRNA and Hsp70 genes. In addition, these methods were compared for their aptitude for the quantification of the infection. For this, 19 colonies were selected based on the presence of N. ceranae infections. The colonies were divided into three groups: treated with ApiHerb, Api-Bioxal with previous queen caging and an untreated control. All colonies were sampled pre- and post-treatment. The bees were analyzed individually and in duplicate with both qPCR methods. All bees in the pre-treatment tested positive for N. ceranae. Both treatments reduced the abundance of N. ceranae, but ApiHerb also decreased the prevalence of infected bees. Analysis with the 16S rRNA method resulted in several orders of magnitude more copies than analysis with the Hsp70 method. We conclude that both products are suitable candidates for N. ceranae treatment. From our analysis, the qPCR method based on the Hsp70 gene results as more apt for the exact quantification of N. ceranae as is needed for the development of veterinary medicinal products.

From historical backgrounds towards the functional classification of river phytoplankton sensu Colin S. Reynolds: what future merits the approach may hold?

River phytoplankton has been studied to understand its occurrence and composition since the end of the nineteenth century. Later, pioneers addressed mechanisms that affected river phytoplankton by “origin of plankton”, “turbulent mixing”, “flow heterogeneity”, “paradox of potamoplankton maintenance” and “dead zones” as keywords along the twentieth century. A major shift came with the recognition that characteristic units in phytoplankton compositions could be linked to specific set of environmental conditions, known as the “Phytoplankton Functional Group concept” sensu Reynolds. The FG concept could successfully be applied to river phytoplankton due to its close resemblance to shallow lakes phytoplankton. The FG approach enables one to separate the effects of “natural constraints” and “human impacts” on river phytoplankton and to evaluate the ecological status of rivers. The FG classification has mainly been advocated in the context of how the environment shaped the functional composition of phytoplankton. It may be further developed in the future by a trait-based mechanistic classification of taxa into FGs, and by the exact quantification of FGs on ecosystem functioning. These improvements will help quantify how global warming and human impacts affect river phytoplankton and corresponding alterations in ecosystem functioning.

Economic Instruments for WEEE Recycling in Romania

The management of waste electrical and electronic equipment – WEEE, or e-waste represents one of the areas with significant potential for the implementation of economic instruments and it is higly regulated at EU level. Due to their physical characteristics, WEEE is suitable for development of recovery, repair and recycling policies, extension of their life cycle for as long as possible being an objective pursued by the specific mechanisms of circular economy. In this paper, we will look at how Romania manages economic instruments for e-waste recycling, their implementation and potential benefits. We chose for detail the economic instrument known as "The Green Stamp". This fee is assumed by all manufacturers and retailers of EEE. The amounts thus collected are administered by the Romanian Association for Recycling (RoRec) which deals with the collection, dismantling and recycling of WEEE. The ratio between the amounts collected through the green stamp duty and the amounts invested in e-waste reduction activities is a sensitive topic at national level. The exact quantification of WEEE is very difficult: the quantities of electronic products sold at national level (POM- put on market) are very different from the quantity of WEEE registered. The WEEE collection target set at European level is 4 kg / inhabitant and Romania, with only 2.19 kg / inhabitant at the level of 2016 (Eurostat), is far from reaching it.

Fatigue of NPP Components Simulated by Non-Uniformly Strained Stainless Steel Specimens

Comprehensive experimental research on fatigue performance of niobium stabilized (type 347) steel has revealed beneficial effects of hot holds aimed to simulate normal operation of NPP between the fatigue relevant transients. Reduction of plastic strain, extension of life and increase of endurance limit has been demonstrated in strain controlled HCF tests. Our latest results indicate moderate, but still measurable ‘hold effects’ even without any stop of straining and loading, when blocks of low rate cycles are applied between normal frequency straining at constant 325°C. A new lab testing approach was developed to simulate the ‘component behavior’ in moderate strain concentrations within the NPP primary circuit. Strain concentrations in range of 1.5 ≤ Kε ≤ 2 are simulated through displacement controlled straining of standard and modified geometry LCF specimens. New results confirm the earlier results and introduce another consequence of holds. Cyclic softening promotes localization of strain, but hold hardening reverses this trend. The holds retard strain localization not only within the material microstructure, but also in geometric strain concentrations. We conclude that the geometric delocalization of strain can amplify beneficial hold effects for components. The local strains may reduce below the endurance limit resulting to run-out tests beyond millions of cycles, even though notable values of fatigue usage (CUF) had been accumulated during earlier phases of the tests. Applicability of the transferability factor introduced in 2013 to the German KTA standard No. 3201.2 is supported. Exact quantification of the factor is not easy, but in all considered cases Fhold ≤ 1. This means that the fatigue usages are overestimated without this factor.