bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interconnected Infrastructure for Improving Reading Instruction
Authors: Woulfin Sarah , Gabriel Rachael E.
Published: September 2020

Drawing on the literature on infrastructure for implementing instructional improvement, the authors explain the role of three infrastructural pillars for reading instruction. They discuss how curriculum, professional development, and leadership are mutually supportive, thus illuminating the pillars for reading reform at the classroom, school, and system levels. The authors argue that it is crucial to attend to the alignment among the pillars (e.g., professional development on curriculum, leadership linked to coaching), as well as their feasibility and transparency.
Inference without randomization or ignorability: A stability‐controlled quasi‐experiment on the prevention of tuberculosis
Authors: Hazlett Chad , Maokola Werner , Wulf David Ami
Published: September 2020

The stability‐controlled quasi‐experiment (SCQE) is an approach to study the effects of nonrandomized, newly adopted treatments. While covariate adjustment techniques rely on a “no unobserved confounding” assumption, SCQE imposes an assumption on the change in the average nontreatment outcome between successive cohorts (the “baseline trend”). We provide inferential tools for SCQE and its first application, examining whether isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) reduced tuberculosis (TB) incidence among 26 715 HIV patients in Tanzania. After IPT became available, 16% of untreated patients developed TB within a year, compared with only 0.5% of patients under treatment. Thus, a simple difference in means suggests a 15.5 percentage point (pp) lower risk (p ≪ .001). Adjusting for covariates using numerous techniques leaves this effectively unchanged. Yet, due to confounding biases, such estimates can be misleading regardless of their statistical strength. By contrast, SCQE reveals valid causal effect estimates for any chosen assumption on the baseline trend. For example, assuming a baseline trend near 0 (no change in TB incidence over time, absent this treatment) implies a small and insignificant effect. To argue IPT was beneficial requires arguing that the nontreatment incidence would have risen by at least 0.7 pp per year, which is plausible but far from certain. SCQE may produce narrow estimates when the plausible range of baseline trends can be sufficiently constrained, while in every case it tells us what baseline trends must be believed in order to sustain a given conclusion, protecting against inferences that rely upon infeasible assumptions.
Conceptual design of externally posttensioned curved structures for live loads
Authors: Cañada Pérez‐Sala Javier , Todisco Leonardo
Published: September 2020

Bending moments due to permanent loads can be strongly reduced in a generally shaped structure by introducing a set of additional forces through an external posttensioning system. The response of these structures under live loads has not been studied yet; therefore, this work investigates the behavior of these structural systems under load distributions that differ from the permanent ones. First, a definition of a moment‐based efficiency is proposed. Next, a parametric analysis is carried out to evaluate the performance of these structural systems by varying the two main design variables and other relevant parameters (strut connection and orientation, discretization, efficiency definition, etc.). Finally, the methodology is applied to a case of study where several posttensioned alternatives are compared to the standard one (i.e., without posttensioning) to prove the benefits of adopting external posttensioning in terms of material‐saving.
Influence of mixing approaches on strength and durability properties of treated recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Verma Abhishek , Sarath Babu Velaga , Arunachalam Srinivasan
Published: September 2020

Recycled aggregate (RA) acknowledge with its inferior quality due to high water absorption and lower strength which is mainly due to presence of attached adherent mortar. Concrete made with RA have lower strength and durability properties when compared with natural aggregate concrete (NAC), recorded by many previous researches in past. In order to overcome these difficulties, two‐stage mixing approach (TSMA) is a good tool to improve the properties of recycled aggregate concrete when compared with normal mixing approach (NMA). The main objective of present research work is to study the influence of mixing approaches on concrete made with treated recycled aggregate (TRA). Basically the workability, mechanical and durability properties of concrete have been studied at fresh and hardened state. In this work, four different types of mixing approaches (viz. NMA, TSMA, TSMA1, and TSMA2) were used. In all types of mixing approaches, the natural aggregate was replaced with TRA at different replacement levels viz.: 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% in a control mix of M40 grade. Based on the experimental results the workability, strength, and durability properties of concrete made with TRA were improved in TSMA2 when compared with all other mixing approaches.
Linnaeus's folly – phylogeny, evolution and classification of Sedum (Crassulaceae) and Crassulaceae subfamily Sempervivoideae
Authors: Messerschmid Thibaud F.E. , Klein Johannes T. , Kadereit Gudrun , Kadereit Joachim W.
Published: September 2020

Sedum, containing approximately 470 species, is by far the largest genus of Crassulaceae. Three decades of molecular phylogenetic work have provided evidence for the non‐monophyly of Sedum and many more of the 30 genera of Crassulaceae subfam. Sempervivoideae. In this study, we present a broadly sampled and dated molecular phylogeny of Sempervivoideae including 80% of all infrageneric taxa described in Sedum as well as most other genera of the subfamily. We used sequences of one nuclear (ITS) and three plastid markers (matK, rps16, trnL‐trnF). The five major lineages of Sempervivoideae (i.e., Telephium clade, Petrosedum clade, Sempervivum/Jovibarba, Aeonium clade, Leucosedum plus Acre clades) were resolved as successive sister to each other in the phylogenetic analysis of the plastid markers, while in the ITS phylogeny the Petrosedum clade is the closest relative of the Aeonium clade. Our dating analysis of ITS suggests that Sempervivoideae diversified rapidly throughout the Paleocene and Eocene, possibly in the area of the former Tethys and Paratethys archipelago. A biogeographic pattern emerges in which migration out of this ancestral area is linked to pronounced morphological evolution resulting in several distinct lineages recognized as segregate genera thought to be derived from Sedum. These segregate genera, however, have been defined on the basis of strongly homoplasious characters such as degree of petal fusion, petal colouration or flower merism. Moreover, all character states currently used for the delimitation of segregate genera seem to be homoplasious, and each of them can be found in at least one species of Sedum. Extensive literature work led to the conclusion that only few of the monophyletic clades found by us can be defined unambiguously by morphological characters. Mainly for these two reasons, we believe that combination of all 14 genera currently recognized in tribe Sedeae (= clades Leucosedum plus Acre) into Sedum might be the most stable solution of the “Sedum problem”. This new Sedum s.l. would then comprise approximately 755 species.
Aging Estimation of MOS FETs Using Aging‐Tolerant/Aged Ring Oscillators
Authors: Miura Yukiya , Ikeda Tatsunori
Published: September 2020

Transistor aging occurs in nanoscale LSIs and is a factor that degrades large scale integration (LSI) performance. Because aging decreases the switching speed of transistors, LSIs ultimately malfunction due to the increase in the propagation delay. This paper proposes a procedure starting from the estimation of the aging amount at the metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOS FET) level to that at the gate level. The aging effect at the MOS FET level is extracted from changes in the periods of two special ring oscillators. The aging amount at the MOS FET is estimated by using a calculation model based on an RC circuit. The estimated aging amount is used to estimate the increase in propagation delay due to aging at the gate level. Results of circuit simulations showed that the proposed procedure produced estimations with an error rate of less than 4.6% for the increase in switching delay, and less than 0.6% for the increase in threshold voltage. For estimation of path delay, the range of the error rate was from –22.7 to +11.4%. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Genetic variations in S gene of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus from 2018 in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Li Fei , Zeng Yubing , Zhang Rubo , Peng Kenan , Jiang Chaoyuan , Xu Zhiwen , Zhu Ling
Published: September 2020

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) belongs to the family Coronavirus, a genus of coronavirus, a highly contact‐infectious intestinal disease pathogen. In this study, we downloaded 62 PEDV S gene sequences uploaded to GenBank, including 10 uploaded by our laboratory from 2018, and constructed a PEDV S gene evolution tree using MEGA V7.0 software. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the genogroup of PEDV in Sichuan Province was divided into three coexisting genogroups (GII‐a, GII‐b and GI‐a), of them, GII‐a has become the main genogroup in the province due to its prevalence and range of spread. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that there were amino acid insertions and deletions in the S protein encoded by the amplified S gene, and there were amino acid mutations in the COE and SS6 of the epitope in the amplified S protein. These results provide a basic research theory for understanding the prevalence of PEDV variation and controlling PED in Sichuan.
Perception of Vibratory Direction on the Back
Authors: Kappers Astrid M. L. , Bay Jill , Plaisier Myrthe A.
Published: September 2020

In this study, we investigated the accuracy and precision by which vibrotactile directions on the back can be perceived. All direction stimuli consisted of two successive vibrations, the first one always on a centre point on the spine, the second in one of 12 directions equally distributed over a circle. Twelve participants were presented with 144 vibrotactile directions. They were required to match the perceived direction with an arrow they could see and feel on a frontoparallel plane. The results show a clear oblique effect: performance in terms of both precision and accuracy was better with the cardinal directions than with the oblique ones. The results partly reproduce an anisotropy in perceived vertical and horizontal distances observed in other studies.
Noncontact Thermal and Vibrotactile Display Using Focused Airborne Ultrasound
Authors: Kamigaki Takaaki , Suzuki Shun , Shinoda Hiroyuki
Published: September 2020

In a typical mid-air haptics system, focused airborne ultrasound provides vibrotactile sensations to localized areas on bare skin. Herein, a method for displaying heat sensations to hands where gloves are worn is proposed. The gloves employed in this study are commercially available gloves with sound absorption characteristics, such as cotton work gloves without any additional devices such as Peltier elements. The method proposed in this study can also provide vibrotactile sensations by changing the ultrasonic irradiation pattern. In this paper, we report basic experimental investigations on the proposed method. By performing thermal measurements, we evaluate the local heat generation on the surfaces of both the glove and the skin by focused airborne ultrasound irradiation. In addition, we performed perceptual experiments, thereby confirming that the proposed method produced both heat and vibrotactile sensations. Furthermore, these sensations were selectively provided to a certain extent by changing the ultrasonic irradiation pattern. These results validate the effectiveness of our method and its feasibility in mid-air haptics applications.
Stiffness Discrimination by Two Fingers with Stochastic Resonance
Authors: Chamnongthai Komi , Endo Takahiro , Ikemura Shohei , Matsuno Fumitoshi
Published: September 2020

This paper focuses on Stochastic Resonance (SR) for stiffness discrimination by two fingers. In particular, we show that the sub-threshold vibrotactile noise applied on a remote position can improve tactile sensations of both index finger and thumb for a task requiring multiple fingers. We evaluate the user performances in a virtual environment (VE) by Weber fraction for stiffness perception under one of three different vibration source positions: on the index finger, on the thumb, and between the index finger and thumb. The results show that the stiffness discrimination ability increase under all three vibration source positions with the best performance obtained for the source location between index finger and thumb. The finding indicates the potential of using a single vibration source to enhance sensation of multiple fingers by the effect of SR.
Two-Point Haptic Pattern Recognition with the Inverse Filter Method
Authors: Pantera Lucie , Hudin Charles , Panëels Sabrina
Published: September 2020

Touchscreens are widely used nowadays, yet still crucially lack haptic feedback for a rich interaction. Haptic feedback presents several benefits for touch interactions but can be difficult to achieve on a surface, due to issues of vibration propagation. The Inverse Filter Method enables to achieve localised multitouch haptic feedback on a glass surface by controlling the vibrations field over the entire surface. This recent method could enable a wide range of novel interactions. Yet, it has not been tested with users. This paper presents an initial study evaluating 2-point based pattern recognition using IFM with two fingers from each hand and with different timing difference in presentation, varying from 0 ms to 300 ms. The results are promising as participants could discriminate rather well the different patterns with averaged rates of 83% for simultaneous stimuli and up to 92% for stimuli separated by 300 ms.
Discriminating Between Intensities and Velocities of Mid-Air Haptic Patterns
Authors: Rutten Isa , Frier William , Geerts David
Published: September 2020

This study investigates people’s ability in discriminating between different intensities and velocities of mid-air haptic (MAH) sensations. Apart from estimating the just noticeable differences (JND), we also investigated the impact of age on discrimination performance, and the relationship between someone’s confidence in his/her performance and the actual discrimination performance. In an experimental set-up, involving 50 participants, we obtained a JND of 12.12% for intensities and 0.51 rev/s for velocities. Surprisingly, the impact of age on discrimination performance was only small and almost negligible. Furthermore, participants’ subjective perception of their discrimination performance aligned well with their actual discrimination performance. These results are encouraging for the use of intensities and velocities as dimensions in the design of MAH patterns to convey information to the user.
J/ψ meson production in SIDIS: matching high and low transverse momentum
Authors: Boer Daniël , D’Alesio Umberto , Murgia Francesco , Pisano Cristian , Taels Pieter
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We consider the transverse momentum spectrum and the cos 2ϕ azimuthal distribution of J/ψ mesons produced in semi-inclusive, deep-inelastic electron-proton scattering, where the electron and the proton are unpolarized. At low transverse momentum, we propose factorized expressions in terms of transverse momentum dependent gluon distributions and shape functions. We show that our formulae, at the order αs, correctly match with the collinear factorization results at high transverse momentum. The latter are computed at the order $$ {\alpha}_s^2 $$

α
s
2

in the framework of nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD), with the inclusion of the intermediate $$ {}^3{S}_1^{\left[1\right]} $$

3

S
1

1

color-singlet Fock state, as well as the subleading color-octet ones that are relatively suppressed by a factor v4 in the NRQCD velocity parameter v. We show that the $$ {}^1{S}_0^{\left[8\right]} $$

1

S
0

8

and $$ {}^3{P}_J^{\left[8\right]} $$

3

P
J

8

(J = 0, 1, 2) contributions diverge in the small transverse momentum region and allow us to determine the perturbative tails of the shape functions, which carry the same quantum numbers. These turn out to be identical, except for the overall magnitude given by the appropriate NRQCD long distance matrix element.
In-Flow and Out-Flow Problem for the Stokes System
Authors: Nowakowski Bernard , Ströhmer Gerhard
Published: September 2020

We investigate the existence and regularity of solutions to the stationary Stokes system and non-stationary Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensional bounded domains with in- and out-lets. We assume that on the in- and out-flow parts of the boundary the pressure is prescribed and the tangential component of the velocity field is zero, whereas on the lateral part of the boundary the fluid is at rest.
“Why not ask the doctor?” Barriers in help-seeking for sexual problems among older adults in Poland
Authors: Gore-Gorszewska Gabriela
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Existing data show that older adults rarely seek medical or psychological help for their sexual problems. The current study explores the barriers in help-seeking faced by older adults from a conservative Central European country.

Methods

Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted among Polish residents (16 women, 14 men) aged 65–82. The data were analysed thematically, with coding validity and analytical rigour ensured throughout the process.

Results

Three main barriers in seeking help were identified: not recognising sexual problems; fear for the doctors’ disapproval; lack of knowledge how to access appropriate services. The data reveal that the participants’ main concern is that health providers would dismiss their problems as trivial. Older adults from Poland suffer from the lack of fundamental knowledge about their sexual functioning.

Conclusions

Employing qualitative methodology to understand why older adults from conservative cultures do not seek help for their sexual problems might contribute to existing literature by providing evidence from different cultural settings, and help to develop and implement appropriate interventions. Implications related to health providers’ attitude towards older patients’ concerns are further discussed.
Biodynamic timber sheet pile walls: vegetation retaining structure
Authors: Kamath Abhijith , Gard Wolfgang , Van de Kuilen Jan-Willem
Published: September 2020

Timber sheet pile walls are widely used for the protection of stream banks in different parts of the world. However, there is a tendency to create more sustainable types of stream banks not only because exploitable wood is more difficult to obtain, but also because of disturbance to the natural habitat of plants and animals due to hard embankments. In the Netherlands alone, about 2500 km of engineered timber sheet pile wall embankments exist, primarily made with tropical hardwood, besides an even much larger amount of ‘non-engineered’ small-size timber-based embankments. As an alternative, the authors propose to use a mixed timber sheet pile-vegetation system, where locally available timber can be applied in combination with natural vegetation. Unlike the usual bioengineering scheme, vegetation is not seen as an element, which could replace the timber sheet piles. Instead, a new perspective is tested, where the vegetation is included as a ‘structural’ element which can even counteract the consequences of time-dependent biological degradation of the timber sheet pile. By doing so, both long-term durability as well as reliability of the stream bank is improved. A comprehensive design strategy was developed based on well-established sub-models from the literature on plant growth, root reinforcement as well as timber damage accumulation. The timber sheet pile wall-vegetation system is illustrated in an example case study. Preliminary analysis including only the mechanical reinforcement of vegetation shows that there is a decrease in moment and shear acting on the timber sheet pile with growth of the vegetation. Consequently, the damage accumulation due to load duration effects on the timber decreases and the service life of the system increases. Thus, using vegetation in combination with highly degradable timber could possibly negate the need for using hardwood timber, or more generally, save resources that are currently used for these structures.
Dissociable dopaminergic and pavlovian influences in goal-trackers and sign-trackers on a model of compulsive checking in OCD
Authors: Eagle D. M. , Schepisi C. , Chugh S. , Desai S. , Han S. Y. S. , Huang T. , Lee J. J. , Sobala C. , Ye W. , Milton A. L. , Robbins T. W.
Published: September 2020

Rationale

Checking is a functional behaviour that provides information to guide behaviour. However, in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), checking may escalate to dysfunctional levels. The processes underpinning the transition from functional to dysfunctional checking are unclear but may be associated with individual differences that support the development of maladaptive behaviour. We examined one such predisposition, sign-tracking to a pavlovian conditioned stimulus, which we previously found associated with dysfunctional checking. How sign-tracking interacts with another treatment with emerging translational validity for OCD-like checking, chronic administration of the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole, is unknown.

Objectives

We tested how functional and dysfunctional checking in the rat observing response task (ORT) was affected by chronic quinpirole administration in non-autoshaped controls and autoshaped animals classified as sign-trackers or goal-trackers.

Methods

Sign-trackers or goal-trackers were trained on the ORT before the effects of chronic quinpirole administration on checking were assessed. Subsequently, the effects on checking of different behavioural challenges, including reward omission and the use of unpredictable reinforcement schedules, were tested.

Results

Prior autoshaping increased checking. Sign-trackers and goal-trackers responded differently to quinpirole sensitization, reward omission and reinforcement uncertainty. Sign-trackers showed greater elevations in dysfunctional checking, particularly during uncertainty. By contrast, goal-trackers predominantly increased functional checking responses, possibly in response to reduced discrimination accuracy in the absence of cues signalling which lever was currently active.

Conclusions

The results are discussed in terms of how pavlovian associations influence behaviour that becomes compulsive in OCD and how this may be dependent on striatal dopamine D2 receptors.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling to assess metabolic drug–drug interaction risks and inform the drug label for fedratinib
Authors: Wu Fan , Krishna Gopal , Surapaneni Sekhar
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Fedratinib (INREBIC®), a Janus kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved in the United States to treat patients with myelofibrosis. Fedratinib is not only a substrate of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, but also exhibits complex auto-inhibition, time-dependent inhibition, or mixed inhibition/induction of CYP enzymes including CYP3A. Therefore, a mechanistic modeling approach was used to characterize pharmacokinetic (PK) properties and assess drug–drug interaction (DDI) potentials for fedratinib under clinical scenarios.

Methods

The physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of fedratinib was constructed in Simcyp® (V17R1) by integrating available in vitro and in vivo information and was further parameterized and validated by using clinical PK data.

Results

The validated PBPK model was applied to predict DDIs between fedratinib and CYP modulators or substrates. The model simulations indicated that the fedratinib-as-victim DDI extent in terms of geometric mean area under curve (AUC) at steady state is about twofold or 1.2-fold when strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, respectively, are co-administered with repeated doses of fedratinib. In addition, the PBPK model successfully captured the perpetrator DDI effect of fedratinib on a sensitive CY3A4 substrate midazolam and predicted minor effects of fedratinib on CYP2C8/9 substrates.

Conclusions

The PBPK-DDI model of fedratinib facilitated drug development by identifying DDI potential, optimizing clinical study designs, supporting waivers for clinical studies, and informing drug label claims. Fedratinib dose should be reduced to 200 mg QD when a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is co-administered and then re-escalated to 400 mg in a stepwise manner as tolerated after the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is discontinued.
Phase-field modeling of fracture in heterogeneous materials: jump conditions, convergence and crack propagation
Authors: Hansen-Dörr Arne Claus , Brummund Jörg , Kästner Markus
Published: September 2020

In this contribution, a variational diffuse modeling framework for cracks in heterogeneous media is presented. A static order parameter smoothly bridges the discontinuity at material interfaces, while an evolving phase-field captures the regularized crack. The key novelty is the combination of a strain energy split with a partial rank-I relaxation in the vicinity of the diffuse interface. The former is necessary to account for physically meaningful crack kinematics like crack closure, the latter ensures the mechanical jump conditions throughout the diffuse region. The model is verified by a convergence study, where a circular bi-material disc with and without a crack is subjected to radial loads. For the uncracked case, analytical solutions are taken as reference. In a second step, the model is applied to crack propagation, where a meaningful influence on crack branching is observed, that underlines the necessity of a reasonable homogenization scheme. The presented model is particularly relevant for the combination of any variational strain energy split in the fracture phase-field model with a diffuse modeling approach for material heterogeneities.
CADbots: Algorithmic Aspects of Manipulating Programmable Matter with Finite Automata
Authors: Fekete Sándor P. , Gmyr Robert , Hugo Sabrina , Keldenich Phillip , Scheffer Christian , Schmidt Arne
Published: September 2020

We contribute results for a set of fundamental problems in the context of programmable matter by presenting algorithmic methods for evaluating and manipulating a collective of particles by a finite automaton that can neither store significant amounts of data, nor perform complex computations, and is limited to a handful of possible physical operations. We provide a toolbox for carrying out fundamental tasks on a given arrangement of particles, using the arrangement itself as a storage device, similar to a higher-dimensional Turing machine with geometric properties. Specific results include time- and space-efficient procedures for bounding, counting, copying, reflecting, rotating or scaling a complex given shape.
Comparison of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Brazilian Children with Prenatal Exposure to Zika Virus, With and Without Microcephaly
Authors: Oliveira Danielle Maria da Silva , Miranda-Filho Demócrito de Barros , Ximenes Ricardo Arraes de Alencar , Montarroyos Ulisses Ramos , Martelli Celina Maria Turchi , Brickley Elizabeth B. , Gouveia Mariana de Carvalho Leal , Ramos Regina Coeli , Rocha Maria Ângela Wanderley , Araujo Thalia Velho Barreto de , Eickmann Sophie Helena , Rodrigues Laura Cunha , Bernardes Jeyse Polliane de Oliveira Soares , Pinto Maria Helena Teixeira , Soares Karina Polo Norte Danda , Araújo Claudia Marina Tavares de , Militão-Albuquerque Maria de Fátima Pessoa , Santos Ana Célia Oliveira dos
Published: September 2020

Severe brain damage associated with Zika-related microcephaly (ZRM) have been reported to result in oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD); however, it is unknown if OPD presents in children with prenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure but only mild or undetectable abnormalities. The aims of this study were: to compare the frequency and characteristics of OPD in children with ZRM and in children without microcephaly born to mothers who tested polymerase chain reaction positive (PCR+) for ZIKV during pregnancy; and to investigate the concordance of caregiver reports of OPD with the diagnosis from the clinical swallowing assessment (CSA). Between Mar/2017 and May/2018, we evaluated 116 children (n = 58 with microcephaly, n = 58 children without microcephaly born to ZIKV PCR + mothers) participating in the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group (MERG) cohort of children born during the 2015–2016 ZIKV epidemic in Pernambuco, Brazil. To assess OPD we used: a CSA; a clinical assessment of the stomatognathic system; and a questionnaire administered to caregivers. The frequency of OPD was markedly higher in children with ZRM (79.3%) than in the exposed but normocephalic group (8.6%). The children with microcephaly also presented more frequently with anatomic and functional abnormalities in the stomatognathic system. There was a high degree of agreement between the caregiver reports of OPD and the CSA (κ = 0.92). In conclusion, our findings confirm that OPD is a feature of Congenital Zika Syndrome that primarily occurs in children with microcephaly and provide support for policies in which children are referred for rehabilitation with an OPD diagnosis based on caregiver report.
A note on Padé approximants of tensor logarithm with application to Hencky-type hyperelasticity
Authors: Rezaee-Hajidehi M. , Tůma K. , Stupkiewicz S.
Published: September 2020

We show that the logarithmic (Hencky) strain and its derivatives can be approximated, in a straightforward manner and with a high accuracy, using Padé approximants of the tensor (matrix) logarithm. Accuracy and computational efficiency of the Padé approximants are favourably compared to an alternative approximation method employing the truncated Taylor series. As an application, Hencky-type hyperelasticity models are considered, in which the elastic strain energy is expressed in terms of the Hencky strain, and of our particular interest is the anisotropic energy quadratic in the Hencky strain. Finite-element computations are carried out to examine performance of the Padé approximants of tensor logarithm in Hencky-type hyperelasticity problems. A discussion is also provided on computation of the stress tensor conjugate to the Hencky strain in a general anisotropic case.
Simulation of seismic ground motion fields via object-oriented spatial statistics with an application in Northern Italy
Authors: Menafoglio Alessandra , Sgobba Sara , Lanzano Giovanni , Pacor Francesca
Published: September 2020

This work offers a novel methodological framework to address the problem of generating data-driven earthquake shaking fields at different vibration periods, which are key to support decision making and civil protection planning. We propose to analyse the entire profiles of spectral accelerations and project their information content to unsampled locations in the system, based on the theory of Object Oriented Spatial Statistics. The proposed methodology combines a non-ergodic ground motion model with a fully functional model for the residual term, the latter consisting of (i) the spatially-varying systematic effects due to source, site and path, and (ii) the remaining aleatory error. The proposed methodology allows to generate multiple shaking scenarios conditioned on the data, jointly and consistently for all the vibration periods, overcoming the intrinsic limitations of existing multivariate approaches to the problem. The approach is tested on a vast dataset of ground motion records collected in the study-area of the Po Plain (Northern Italy), for which a region-specific fully non-ergodic GMM was previously calibrated. Our validation tests demonstrate the potentiality of the approach, which is capable to effectively simulate spectral acceleration profiles, while keeping the ability to capture the main physical features of ground motion patterns in the region.
An epidemiological modelling approach for COVID-19 via data assimilation
Authors: Nadler Philip , Wang Shuo , Arcucci Rossella , Yang Xian , Guo Yike
Published: September 2020

The global pandemic of the 2019-nCov requires the evaluation of policy interventions to mitigate future social and economic costs of quarantine measures worldwide. We propose an epidemiological model for forecasting and policy evaluation which incorporates new data in real-time through variational data assimilation. We analyze and discuss infection rates in the UK, US and Italy. We furthermore develop a custom compartmental SIR model fit to variables related to the available data of the pandemic, named SITR model, which allows for more granular inference on infection numbers. We compare and discuss model results which conducts updates as new observations become available. A hybrid data assimilation approach is applied to make results robust to initial conditions and measurement errors in the data. We use the model to conduct inference on infection numbers as well as parameters such as the disease transmissibility rate or the rate of recovery. The parameterisation of the model is parsimonious and extendable, allowing for the incorporation of additional data and parameters of interest. This allows for scalability and the extension of the model to other locations or the adaption of novel data sources.
Public expenditure spillovers: an explanation for heterogeneous tax reaction functions
Authors: Levaggi Rosella , Panteghini Paolo M.
Published: September 2020

In this article, we show that spillovers may provide an alternative explanation for the heterogeneity of tax reaction functions under tax competition. In particular, we assume the existence of$$n\ge 2$$n≥2jurisdictions, which compete to attract mobile capital in a context where public expenditure produces spillovers. We show that the latter can lead to asymmetric responses. For instance, jurisdictionimay react positively to a change in the tax rate of jurisdictionjand negatively to the change in jurisdictionz. From a policy point of view, these findings are helpful to understand the mixed results found by the empirical literature, and to analyse the tax reaction functions of city centres and suburban jurisdictions.
A decision-theoretic approach for model interpretability in Bayesian framework
Authors: Afrabandpey Homayun , Peltola Tomi , Piironen Juho , Vehtari Aki , Kaski Samuel
Published: September 2020

A salient approach to interpretable machine learning is to restrict modeling to simple models. In the Bayesian framework, this can be pursued by restricting the model structure and prior to favor interpretable models. Fundamentally, however, interpretability is about users’ preferences, not the data generation mechanism; it is more natural to formulate interpretability as a utility function. In this work, we propose an interpretability utility, which explicates the trade-off between explanation fidelity and interpretability in the Bayesian framework. The method consists of two steps. First, a reference model, possibly a black-box Bayesian predictive model which does not compromise accuracy, is fitted to the training data. Second, a proxy model from an interpretable model family that best mimics the predictive behaviour of the reference model is found by optimizing the interpretability utility function. The approach is model agnostic—neither the interpretable model nor the reference model are restricted to a certain class of models—and the optimization problem can be solved using standard tools. Through experiments on real-word data sets, using decision trees as interpretable models and Bayesian additive regression models as reference models, we show that for the same level of interpretability, our approach generates more accurate models than the alternative of restricting the prior. We also propose a systematic way to measure stability of interpretabile models constructed by different interpretability approaches and show that our proposed approach generates more stable models.
Comparative study of life satisfaction among patients with psoriasis versus healthy comparison group: the explanatory role of body image and resource profiles
Authors: Rzeszutek Marcin , Podkowa Katarzyna , Pięta Małgorzata , Pankowski Daniel , Cyran-Stemplewska Sylwia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The aim of the study was first to examine the heterogeneity of body image and resources, as described by the conservation of resources theory (COR), in a sample of psoriatic patients and explore whether heterogeneity within these variables explains the possible differences in levels of life satisfaction among the participants. Second, we aimed to investigate if life satisfaction level among the observed profiles of psoriatic patients, extracted on the basis of their body image and resources, differed from that of the healthy comparison group.

Methods

The sample consisted of 735 participants, including 355 adults with a medical diagnosis of psoriasis and 380 healthy adults recruited from a non-clinical general population. Participants filled the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire and the COR evaluation questionnaire.

Results

Latent profile analysis revealed four classes of psoriatic patients with different levels of resources and body image. The group with the highest level of resources and the most positive body image did not differ from the healthy comparison group regarding satisfaction with life. The group with the lowest level of resources and the most negative body image was characterized by the lowest satisfaction with life.

Conclusions

The results of our study may change the simplifying trend that highlights the traditionally very poor well-being of psoriatic patients. Moreover, the discovery of specific profiles of these patients, which differ with regard to psychological variables, can lead to rethinking contemporary forms of psychological counselling in psoriatic patients.
Substituent effects of nitro group in cyclic compounds
Authors: Jezuita Anna , Ejsmont Krzysztof , Szatylowicz Halina
Published: September 2020

Numerous studies on nitro group properties are associated with its high electron-withdrawing ability, by means of both resonance and inductive effect. The substituent effect of the nitro group may be well described using either traditional substituent constants or characteristics based on quantum chemistry, i.e., cSAR, SESE, and pEDA/sEDA models. Interestingly, the cSAR descriptor allows to describe the electron-attracting properties of the nitro group regardless of the position and the type of system. Analysis of classical and reverse substituent effects of the nitro group in various systems indicates strongpi-electron interactions with electron-donating substituents due to the resonance effect. This significantly affects thepi-electron delocalization of the aromatic ring decreasing the aromatic character, evidenced clearly by HOMA values. Use of the pEDA/sEDA model allows to measure the population of electrons transferred from the ring to the nitro group.
A Dual-Permeability Approach to Study Anomalous Moisture Transport Properties of Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Zhang Zhidong , Angst Ueli
Published: September 2020

Anomalous moisture transport in cement-based materials is often reported in the literature, but the conventional single-porosity moisture transport models generally fail to provide accurate simulation results. Previous studies suggested that the anomalous moisture transport could be caused by different moisture transport velocity in large and small pores. Based on this concept, the present study proposes a continuous dual-permeability model for cement-based material. The proposed model includes the transport contribution of both liquid water and water vapor, which are governed by liquid advection and vapor diffusion, respectively. We explicitly consider that moisture transport in the large pore region is faster than the small pore region. The volumetric fraction of each region is determined when fitting the measured sorption isotherms by using a bimodal equation. The validation with experimental data shows that the dual-permeability model can well simulate both the “normal” and the anomalous moisture transport. The applicability of the proposed model implies that the “dual-porosity property” could be one of reasons that cause anomalous moisture transport in cementitious materials. In addition, results show that vapor diffusion can be neglected for moisture transport in both porosities at high relative humidity (RH), while at low RH, vapor diffusion must be considered.
Environmental analysis along the supply chain of dark, milk and white chocolate: a life cycle comparison
Authors: Bianchi F. R. , Moreschi L. , Gallo M. , Vesce E. , Del Borghi A.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Environmental impact evaluation in the food sector is a key topic, due to both stricter legislations and higher consumer awareness towards sustainable choices. The case of chocolate is a remarkable example, owing to the increasing demand and the complex production process from cocoa beans to final bars. The present study aims at assessing the environmental impacts related to three chocolate types (dark, milk and white) through life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.

Methods

Consistent with food Product Category Rules (PCRs) and previous LCA literature, the study follows a cradle to grave approach. Among different raw material productions, it focuses above all on cocoa farming assuming three possible producer countries (i.e. Ghana, Ecuador and Indonesia), so that the influence of specific weather conditions and soil properties is underlined. Since the manufacturing step is supposed in the North Italian factory, different transport distances are also taken into account. Moreover, the work focuses on the possible use of several packaging materials and following disposal issues. In view of the open discussion about the most suitable functional unit in food sector, mass and energy amount approaches are compared.

Results and discussion

Along chocolate supply chain, different phases are evaluated according to LCA methodology. Among analyzed producer countries: Indonesia monoculture case results to be the most impacting situation, due to an intensive use of agrochemicals; pesticides give a wide contribution in Ecuador, whereas Ghana is penalized by the highest water consumption. The transport of beans to manufacturing plant influences mostly the GWP, owing to long travelled distances. Considering the whole production process, cocoa derivatives and milk powder are the main contributors to every impact category. From packaging point of view, the best solution is the use of a single polypropylene layer. A sensitivity analysis is performed to check the validity of different allocation procedures: both mass and energy content allocations lead to similar results.

Conclusions

Through LCA methodology, the life cycle of dark, milk and white chocolate is compared. The study assesses different potential environmental impacts, assuming mass and energy content as possible functional units and references for allocation procedures. For all combinations of functional units and allocation rules, dark chocolate globally presents the best environmental performance, whereas the other two types have similar environmental impacts.
Hydrocracking diversity in n-dodecane isomerization on Pt/ZSM-22 and Pt/ZSM-23 catalysts and their catalytic performance for hydrodewaxing of lube base oil
Authors: Gao Shan-Bin , Zhao Zhen , Lu Xue-Feng , Chi Ke-Bin , Duan Ai-Jun , Liu Yan-Feng , Meng Xiang-Bin , Tan Ming-Wei , Yu Hong-Yue , Shen Yu-Ge , Li Meng-Chen
Published: September 2020

Nobel metallic Pt/ZSM-22 and Pt/ZSM-23 catalysts were prepared for hydroisomerization of normal dodecane and hydrodewaxing of heavy waxy lube base oil. The hydroisomerization performance of n-dodecane indicated that the Pt/ZSM-23 catalyst preferred to crack the C–C bond near the middle of n-dodecane chain, while the Pt/ZSM-22 catalyst was favorable for breaking the carbon chain near the end of n-dodecane. As a result, more than 2% of light products (gas plus naphtha) and 3% more of heavy lube base oil with low-pour point and high viscosity index were produced on Pt/ZSM-22 than those on Pt/ZSM-23 while using the heavy waxy vacuum distillate oil as feedstock.
Multimodality imaging in takotsubo syndrome: a joint consensus document of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the Japanese Society of Echocardiography (JSE)
Authors: Citro Rodolfo , Okura Hiroyuki , Ghadri Jelena R , Izumi Chisato , Meimoun Patrick , Izumo Masaki , Dawson Dana , Kaji Shuichiro , Eitel Ingo , Kagiyama Nobuyuki , Kobayashi Yukari , Templin Christian , Delgado Victoria , Nakatani Satoshi , Popescu Bogdan A
Published: September 2020

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a complex and still poorly recognized heart disease with a wide spectrum of possible clinical presentations. Despite its reversibility, it is associated with serious adverse in-hospital events and high complication rates during follow-up. Multimodality imaging is helpful for establishing the diagnosis, guiding therapy, and stratifying prognosis of TTS patients in both the acute and post-acute phase. Echocardiography plays a key role, particularly in the acute care setting, allowing for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function and the identification of the typical apical-midventricular ballooning pattern, as well as the circumferential pattern of wall motion abnormalities. It is also useful in the early detection of complications (i.e. LV outflow tract obstruction, mitral regurgitation, right ventricular involvement, LV thrombi, and pericardial effusion) and monitoring of systolic function recovery. Left ventriculography allows the evaluation of LV function and morphology, identifying the typical TTS patterns when echocardiography is not available or wall motion abnormalities cannot be properly assessed with ultrasound. Cardiac magnetic resonance provides a more comprehensive depiction of cardiac morphology and function and tissue characterization and offers additional value to other imaging modalities for differential diagnosis (myocardial infarction and myocarditis). Coronary computed tomography angiography has a substantial role in the diagnostic workup of patients with acute chest pain and a doubtful TTS diagnosis to rule out other medical conditions. It can be considered as a non-invasive appropriate alternative to coronary angiography in several clinical scenarios. Although the role of nuclear imaging in TTS has not yet been well established, the combination of perfusion and metabolic imaging may provide useful information on myocardial function in both the acute and post-acute
phase.