bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy logic model in landslide hazard zonation based on expert judgment
Authors:   Department of Geology, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Sharifi R.
Published: March 2019

In this research landslide, hazard zonation provided based on fuzzy logic method and investigating of this model is efficiency. In the first provided the geology of slope and aspect maps by using aerial photos topography maps and field operations in watershed management of Karaj. Then, these maps classes of priority and coming next determine based on existing landslides area in the geology, slope and aspect of maps in GIS software. In the geology map of Karaj formation (contain shale, tuff, marl, sandstone and conglomerate) and Tizkuh formation (contain limestone) and in the slope map of percent 25≤ S< 45 and 0≤ S <15 classes and in the aspect map south and east classes sequential have most and least landslide area. Then, in final drawer to dimension centimeters 2 in region watershed of map and we counted from 0 until 153 based on geology, slope and aspect. Then (y) units settled sequential, numbers 0 to 27 in very low sensitivity class (one class), numbers 28 to 66 in low sensitivity class (two class), numbers 67 to 89 in middle sensitivity class (three class), numbers 90 to 126 in high sensitivity class (four class) and numbers 127 to 153 in very high sensitivity class (class five). Based on these classes, provided the landslide hazard zonation founded on fuzzy logic method. Comparison fuzzy map and surface distribution landslide showed about percent 2.19 ( 140.53 hectare), percent 5.08 (325.98 hectare), percent 18.79 (1205.75 hectare), percent 43.38 (2783.70 hectare) and percent 30.56 (1961.04 hectare) sequential settled in one, two, three, four and five classes which are acceptable results to recommend it to prevention of the probable risks and damages is suggested, innovation and spreading of road construction in area is on basic of limitations of the landslide risk breadth plan.
Analysing Data Sources' Suitability to Support Forest Policy Decision-Making in the Czech Republic
Authors: Synek M. , Hrib M.
Published: March 2019

Growing stock, increment, realised felling and potential wood supply are important indicators for strategic policy decision-making in woodbased industry sectors. The aim of the article is to analyse two different data sources, the Forest Management Plans and Guidelines (FMPG) and the
National Forest Inventory (NFI), used for the evaluation and prediction of these indicators in the Czech Republic. The differences between the two sources were analysed in terms of their credibility and suitability to support policy decision-making at the state, regional and local levels.
Although the FMPG play an important role in policy decision-making, they are not able to determine indicators such as damage inflicted by game, forest regeneration or changes in soil conditions. The NFI, on the other hand, should provide up-to-date results every five years. Unlike the FMPG,
where the collected information is reduced, the NFI is a flexible tool for the incorporation of new requirements in measurements.
Simulation and analysis of optical imaging systems including real freeform components
Authors: Stock Johannes , Beier Matthias , Hartung Johannes , Merx Sebastian , Gross Herbert
Published: March 2019

In recent years, the precision of the manufacturing process for optical surfaces has improved tremendously. As a result, freefrom surfaces have become more attractive options for imaging applications with increased accuracy requirements. However, with regards the integration into an optical system, performance is often limited due to surface imperfections, such as mid-spatial frequency errors and alignment errors. This demonstrates the need for a more holistic description of systems, including multiple freeform components, which enable performance predictions based on the system as a whole. In this work, a solution for such a simulation is presented and verified by a comparison with the experimental data. This procedure not only predicts system performance but also supports tolerancing and easier alignment.
100 Jahre Seminar für Nahoststudien in Basel
Authors: Reinkowski Maurus , Würsch Renate
Published: March 2019

In 2019, the Basel Institute for Middle Eastern Studies will celebrate its centennial, but the preoccupation of some Basel (and Swiss) scholars with topics of Islamic and Oriental studies dates back to the 16th century. This paper first looks at specialists with a Basel background before the institute was founded in 1919 (Hieronymus Harder, Johann Ludwig Frey, Albert Socin, Adam Mez, Wilhelm Sarasin-His). It then presents an outline of the last hundred years of institutional Middle Eastern studies in Basel, and finishes with some reflections on the recent developments of a discipline which has undergone major changes since the 1980s in the wake of the debate on “Orientalism”.
Entropy-based feature extraction technique in conjunction with wavelet packet transform for multi-mental task classification
Authors: Uyulan Caglar , Ergüzel Türker Tekin , Tarhan Nevzat
Published: March 2019

Event-related mental task information collected from electroencephalography (EEG) signals, which are functionally related to different brain areas, possesses complex and non-stationary signal features. It is essential to be able to classify mental task information through the use in brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. This paper proposes a wavelet packet transform (WPT) technique merged with a specific entropy biomarker as a feature extraction tool to classify six mental tasks. First, the data were collected from a healthy control group and the multi-signal information comprised six mental tasks which were decomposed into a number of subspaces spread over a wide frequency spectrum by projecting six different wavelet basis functions. Later, the decomposed subspaces were subjected to three entropy-type statistical measure functions to extract the feature vectors for each mental task to be fed into a backpropagation time-recurrent neural network (BPTT-RNN) model. Cross-validated classification results demonstrated that the model could classify with 85% accuracy through a discrete Meyer basis function coupled with a Renyi entropy biomarker. The classifier model was finally tested in the Simulink platform to demonstrate the Fourier series representation of periodic signals by tracking the harmonic pattern. In order to boost the model performance, ant colony optimization (ACO)-based feature selection method was employed. The overall accuracy increased to 88.98%. The results underlined that the WPT combined with an entropy uncertainty measure methodology is both effective and versatile to discriminate the features of the signal localized in a time-frequency domain.
Inefficiency of levothyroxine suspension in a neonate with congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Chan Jacqueline T. , D’Ambrosio Fabiola , Minutti Carla Z.
Published: March 2019

Background

Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the major causes of preventable mental retardation. Diagnosis, hormonal replacement and normalization of thyroid function tests should happen before 2–3 weeks of life. Levothyroxine is the treatment of choice for congenital hypothyroidism.

Case presentation

A patient born at 32 weeks for gestational age with a birthweight of 1.73 kg. The pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated. The physical exam was unremarkable. The initial newborn screen noted a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of 70.5 mIU/mL (n < 20 mIU/mL). Serum thyroid function test revealed a TSH of 215 mIU/mL and free thyroxine (FT4) of 0.08 ng/dL. The patient was started on levothyroxine 25 μg tablet daily at day of life (DOL) 7. Repeat TSH and FT4 after 1 week of treatment, revealed a TSH of 0.686 and FT4 of 4.12 ng/dL, levothyroxine was discontinued. Repeat tests after 1 week, showed a TSH of 47.5 mIU/mL and a FT4 of 0.84 ng/dL. Levothyroxine in a liquid form at 25 μg a day was started on DOL 21. On DOL 38, TSH was repeated and was noted to be 120 mIU/mL. Levothyroxine was switched to a tablet formulation and was increased to 37.5 μg daily. Repeat tests at DOL 50, showed a TSH that was trending down to 9.241 mIU/mL.

Conclusion

Levothyroxine (T4) is a synthetic hormone considered to be the standard of care for the treatment of congenital hypothyroidism. Treatment is most effective if given orally in tablet form. To date, there are no liquid formulations and no compounding recipes that produce a stable concentration of levothyroxine in the USA. Efforts to create suspensions, especially for neonates, should be carefully considered as this is a critical time for brain development. The case presented shows how treatment of congenital hypothyroidism can be ineffective if using a liquid formulation of levothyroxine.
A workshop to train medicine faculty to teach clinical reasoning
Authors: Schaye Verity , Janjigian Michael , Hauck Kevin , Shapiro Neil , Becker Daniel , Lusk Penelope , Hardowar Khemraj , Zabar Sondra , Dembitzer Anne
Published: March 2019

Background

Clinical reasoning (CR) is a core competency in medical education. Few studies have examined efforts to train faculty to teach CR and lead CR curricula in medical schools and residencies. In this report, we describe the development and preliminary evaluation of a faculty development workshop to teach CR grounded in CR theory.

Methods

Twenty-six medicine faculty (nine hospitalists and 17 subspecialists) participated in a workshop that introduced a framework to teach CR using an interactive, case-based didactic followed by role-play exercises. Faculty participated in pre- and post-Group Observed Structured Teaching Exercises (GOSTE), completed retrospective pre-post assessments (RPPs), and made commitment to change statements (CTCs).

Results

In the post-GOSTE, participants significantly improved in their use of problem representation and illness scripts to teach CR. RPPs revealed that faculty were more confident in their ability and more likely to teach CR using educational strategies grounded in CR educational theory. At 2-month follow-up, 81% of participants reported partially implementing these teaching techniques.

Conclusions

After participating in this 3-h workshop, faculty demonstrated increased ability to use these teaching techniques and expressed greater confidence and an increased likelihood to teach CR. The majority of faculty reported implementing these newly learned educational strategies into practice.
Use of clinical reasoning tasks by medical students
Authors: McBee Elexis , Blum Christina , Ratcliffe Temple , Schuwirth Lambert , Polston Elizabeth , Artino Anthony R. , Durning Steven J.
Published: March 2019

Background

A framework of clinical reasoning tasks used by physicians during clinical encounters was previously developed proposing that clinical reasoning is a complex process composed of 26 possible tasks. The aim of this paper was to analyze the verbalized clinical reasoning processes of medical students utilizing commonly encountered internal medicine cases.

Methods

In this mixed-methods study, participants viewed three video recorded clinical encounters. After each encounter, participants completed a think-aloud protocol. The qualitative data from the transcribed think-aloud transcripts were analyzed by two investigators using a constant comparative approach. The type, frequency, and pattern of codes used were analyzed.

Results

Seventeen third and fourth year medical students participated. They used 15 reasoning tasks across all cases. The average number of tasks used in cases 1, 2, and 3 was (respectively) 5.6 (range 3–8), 5.9 (range 4–8), and 5.3 (range 3–10). The order in which medical students verbalized reasoning tasks varied and appeared purposeful but non-sequential.

Conclusions

Consistent with prior research in residents, participants progressed through the encounter in a purposeful but non-sequential fashion. Reasoning tasks related to framing the encounter and diagnosis were not used in succession but interchangeably. This suggests that teaching successful clinical reasoning may involve encouraging or demonstrating multiple pathways through a problem. Further research exploring the association between use of clinical reasoning tasks and clinical reasoning accuracy could enhance the medical community’s understanding of variance in clinical reasoning.
Identification of geodetic risk factors occurring at the construction project preparation stage
Authors: Kowacka Magdalena , Skorupka Dariusz , Duchaczek Artur , Zagrodnik Paweł
Published: March 2019

The work contains information on the implementation of surveying works in the road construction process. The aim of the research was to identify geodetic risk factors occurring at the stage of preparation of a construction project, the presence of which can greatly disrupt the undertaking such as the road construction. The research was carried out on the basis of expert knowledge, documentation obtained from various road construction projects and the analysis of disturbances at the initial stage of works.
Multicriteria comparative analysis of pillars strengthening of the historic building
Authors: Kafel Katarzyna , Leśniak Agnieszka , Zima Krzysztof
Published: March 2019

Over time, historic buildings are exposed to various destructive mechanisms brought about by a wide range of damaging factors. Costs and methods of reinforcing their individual components are, among others, an important issue. The term "reinforcement" is linked with the concept of conservation, which stands for the actions taken with the aim of preserving a building. It provides a well-articulated system consisting of activities that lead to the reinforcement of the structure, usability enhancement or to the improvement of its carrying capacity. This article analyses the selection of an appropriate brick pillar reinforcement method, taking into account accepted evaluation criteria.
Exploring conditions and usefulness of UAVs in the BRAIN Massive Inspections Protocol
Authors: Serrat Carles , Cellmer Anna , Banaszek Anna , Gibert Vicenç
Published: March 2019

In this paper authors conduct a case study analysis by implementing the use of UAVs in the data collection within the BRAIN framework for the failures diagnosis of facades. The main goal is to assess the conditions and usefulness of UAVs in the BRAIN protocol by analyzing the goodness of fit to the fundamental requirements that support this inspection methodology. This preliminary qualitative approach allows the authors to investigate the benefits and potential of this high performance technology as a complement or alternative tool to the initial method, which is based on visual inspections supported, as maximum, by high resolution digital camera images. For the study a sample of facades has been selected in Poland. A full equipped UAV has been collecting the images. Finally, full procedure, collected data and positive and negative issues has been assessed under the perspective of the requirements involved in a multiscale BRAIN inspection. Overall scoring conditions has been determined and, as a conclusion, it can be stated that the use of UAVs for technical inspections in a population based predictive approach is, and even more it will be in the future, an interesting complementary tool for the data collection.
A hybrid approach for solving multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem in construction
Authors: Rosłon Jerzy Hubert , Kulejewski Janusz Edward
Published: March 2019

Practical problems in construction can be easily qualified as NP-hard (non-deterministic, polynomial-time hard) problems. The time needed for solving these problems grows exponentially with the increase of the problem’s size – this is why mathematical and heuristic methods do not enable finding solutions to complicated construction problems within an acceptable period of time. In the view of many authors, metaheuristic algorithms seem to be the most appropriate measures for scheduling and task sequencing. However even metaheuristic approach does not guarantee finding the optimal solution and algorithms tend to get stuck around local optima of objective functions. This is why authors considered improving the metaheuristic approach by the use of neural networks. In the article, authors analyse possible benefits of using a hybrid approach with the use of metaheuristics and neural networks for solving the multi-mode, resource-constrained, project-scheduling problem (MRCPSP). The suggested approach is described and tested on a model construction project schedule. The results are promising for construction practitioners, the hybrid approach improved results in 87% of tests. Based on the research outcomes, authors suggest future research ideas.
Management of Innovation Ecosystems Based on Six Sigma Business Scorecard
Authors: Calado João M. F. , Requeijo José Gomes , Abreu António , Dias Ana
Published: March 2019

In the present context, companies to be competitive must develop high-performance innovation capabilities that enable them to respond quickly to market needs. However, the lack of tools and methodologies to assess the performance of innovation projects in an integrated way remains an obstacle.

The paper begins by discussing the principles of Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard for performance evaluation. Next, the advantages of the Six Sigma Business Scorecard are discussed as a tool to support the evaluation of performance in innovation projects. Finally, the advantages of their application in the context of a collaborative ecosystem are discussed.

It is illustrated that the BSC ensures that top management pays attention at any time to the specific elements of the Six Sigma implementation that are not working as planned, providing a link between strategy and quality initiatives assuring customers satisfaction in innovation projects.
Virological aspects of non-human primates or swine-to human xenotransplantation
Authors: Mazurkiewicz Natalia , Nowak Agnieszka , Hryhorowicz Magdalena , Zeyland Joanna , Lipiński Daniel , Słomski Ryszard
Published: March 2019

There are a number of human diseases, which can lead to organ failure. The consequence is often the need for a transplant. The number of performed operations is very low due to the shortage of organs for transplantation. As a consequence, the number of people waiting for transplant is still growing. The solution to this situation may be xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation word comes from the Greek xenos meaning stranger, the other. It is defined as any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or infusion of tissues or zoonotic organs into a human recipient, but also human body fluids, cells, tissues, organs (or fragments) that have ex vivo contact with zoonotic cells, tissues or organs. One of the obstacles of the xenograft transplantation is the risk of animal pathogens transmission to the humans. Viruses that pose risk in the non-human primates-to-human xenotransplantation includes: the human immunodeficiency virus - HIV and the Marburg virus described in this paper. In addition viruses, which is a problem in pig-to-human xenotransplantation have also been described, including: porcine endogenous retrovirus - PERV, porcine cytomegalovirus - PCMV, porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus - PLHV and hepatitis E virus - E - HEV. This review of literature is the latest knowledge of the microbiological safety of xenotransplantation.
Genetic and Phenotypic Diversity of the Sunflower Collection of the Pustovoit All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK)
Authors: Goryunova S.V. , Goryunov D.V. , Chernova A.I. , Martynova E.U. , Dmitriev A.E. , Boldyrev S.V. , Ayupova A.F. , Mazin P.V. , Gurchenko E.A. , Pavlova A.S. , Petrova D.A. , Chebanova Y.V. , Gorlova L.A. , Garkusha S.V. , Mukhina Z.M. , Savenko E.G. , Demurin Y.N.
Published: March 2019

Publicly supported collections of cultivated germplasm are one of the key sources of new genes for crop improvement. VNIIMK is the leading organization in oil and essential oil crop breeding and seed growing in the Russian Federation with more than a century-long history. Sunflower varieties created by V.S. Pustovoit at VNIIMK became the basis for the development of the modern sunflower varieties worldwide. In the present study, 186 sunflower lines from the VNIIMK collection were characterized based on their genotype and general morphological and phenological economically-important traits. Additionally, for 99 sunflower lines fatty acid content, seed oil content, seed husk content, 100-seed weight, and seed number in the head were determined. Sequencing of RAD-libraries and the subsequent analysis have identified 65,553 variants including SNPs and indels. LD analysis revealed substantial variability across the genome. The longest LD blocks (>5,000 Kb) were found in the linkage groups 1, 5, and 17. The analysis revealed significant genetic and phenotypic diversity of the VNIIMK sunflower collection. Novel significant associations with linolenic acid content in the seeds were found on LGs 8, 9, and 17.
Thermally modified (TM) beech wood: compression properties, fracture toughness and cohesive law in mode II obtained from the three-point end-notched flexure (3ENF) test
Authors: Sebera Václav , Redón-Santafé Miguel , Brabec Martin , Děcký David , Čermák Petr , Tippner Jan , Milch Jaromír
Published: March 2019

The fracture properties of thermally modified beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood (TMW) at 180° and 200°C were evaluated in mode II using the three-point end-notched flexure (3ENF) scheme assisted by three-dimensional (3D) stereovision equipment for obtaining displacements and strains. The compliance-based beam method (CBBM) provided the strain energy release rates (G
II) of TMW and cohesive laws for both native wood (W) and TMW. Based on the CBBM and equivalent crack length approach (ECLA), G
II was obtained directly from the force-deflection data. The thermal modification (TM) process reduced the compressive strength by 4.4% and increased the compressive elastic modulus by 38.3%, whereas G

II
was reduced substantially by 40.8% and 67.9% at TM180°C and TM200°C, respectively. TM also increased wood brittleness that was visible on the displacement slip reduction. The resulting mean cohesive models can be used for numerical analyses. The fracture properties of TMW have to be taken into consideration for constructional wood application, when cyclic loading may lead to microcracking and material fatigue.
Early menarche is independently associated with subclinical hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kotopouli Marianna , Stratigou Theodora , Antonakos Georgios , Christodoulatos Gerasimos Socrates , Karampela Irene , Dalamaga Maria
Published: March 2019

Background

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is more frequent in females than males, with a female to male ratio ranging from 1.5 to 5 in the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the association of reproductive factors, particularly age at menarche, with SH risk.

Materials and methods

In a cross-sectional study, reproductive factors such as age at menarche, at menopause and at first birth, lactation, parity, full-term pregnancies, reproductive years, use of oral contraceptives and hormonal replacement therapy, somatometric data and insulin resistance parameters were recorded in 72 consecutive female patients with SH and 72 healthy female controls matched on age (±5 years) and date of diagnosis (±1 month).

Results

SH cases exhibited significantly younger age at menarche than controls (12.6 ± 1.2 vs. 13.3 ± 0.8 years, respectively, p < 0.001). Cases presented later age at first pregnancy with a lower number of full-term pregnancies (p = 0.04). Early age at menarche was independently associated with SH risk, above and beyond thyroid autoimmunity, body mass index (BMI), hip circumference (HC), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and alcohol consumption [odds ratio (OR): 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11–0.44; p < 0.001].

Conclusions

It is possible that an interplay of early exposure to estrogens, as expressed by early menarche, and induction of thyroid autoimmunity may be associated with SH risk. More prospective studies shedding light on the role of estrogens in SH are required to confirm these findings.
Broad donor consent for human biobanks in Germany and Europe: a strategy to facilitate cross-border sharing and exchange of human biological materials and related data
Authors: Jahns Roland , Geiger Jörg , Schlünder Irene , Strech Daniel , Brumhard Matthias , von Kielmansegg Sebastian Graf
Published: March 2019

Background

Human biobanks are generally recognized as essential resources for effective biomedical research. All over the world biosamples and data from human subjects are collected in large biobanks. The biological material is stored long term for current and future (undetermined) research issues, which often require cross-border exchange of biosamples and related data.

Content

Commonly, the informed consent for research on human biospecimen is intended to cover only defined, specific research objectives. In June 2016, the biobank Task-Force of the Working Party of the German Medical Ethics Committees (WP-GMEC) updated its template for the broad use of human biological samples and related data. It complies with the current Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Medical Association (WMA) recommendations and furnishes a framework that permits long-term storage and multi-purpose research use of human biological material and related data, including cross-border research.

However, both (i) human biobanks storing and (ii) research projects requesting “broad consent” biological samples generally require an ethical approval; in addition, “broad consent” conditions should be reciprocated by making biobank processes transparent and by fostering both donor and public involvement.

Outlook

The broad consent template of the WP-GMEC clearly states that biological samples and data donated for medical research serve to address current and future research questions. It appears perfectly suited as a template for a Europe-wide harmonized broad consent facilitating biobank-based cross-border research.
Diet of two invasive rodent species in two Mayan communities in Mexico
Authors: Panti-May Jesús Alonso , Gurubel-González Yessica Margely , Tzuc-Dzul Cesar , Palomo-Arjona Eduardo Emir , Salazar Carmen , Baak-Baak Carlos , García-Rejón Julian E. , Machain-Williams Carlos , Hernández-Betancourt Silvia F.
Published: March 2019

The gastrointestinal content analysis of 344 invasive rodents (120 black rats and 224 house mice) in two Mayan communities revealed that rats consumed a high percentage of plants (93.3%) and arthropods (95.5%). In contrast, arthropods were less frequent (55.8%) than plants (94.6%) in mouse’s diet. In both rodent species, fragments of Sapotaceae and Hymenoptera were common plant and arthropod foods, respectively. Our results suggest that the food availability present in the Mayan communities is similar to the one described in natural habitats.
Exposure and Black Migrancy in Teju Cole
Authors: Gamso Nicholas
Published: March 2019

Through a reading of Teju Cole’s novel Open City (2011), this article argues that the exposure of black migrants constitutes the principal organizing conceit of global literary culture and knowledge production. The novel’s protagonist, a Nigerian emigre named Julius, is faced with ceaseless scrutiny as he traverses urban spaces in the US, Europe, and West Africa, meeting other migrants. In staging Julius’ encounters with others, the novel allegorizes a structure of racialized subjection continuous with the modern history of western epistemology and glaringly present in the contemporary. Yet it also provides grounds for a recursive ethic of opacity, which Julius eagerly endorses. The article surveys critical studies of race, migration, infrastructure, and world literature, in addition to Cole’s writings on photography. The aim is not only to uncover the logics of racialization at play in the enactment of culture, but also to conceive of culture itself as a historical infrastructure of privation and control.
Hydromagnetic Flow of Heat and Mass Transfer in a Nano Williamson Fluid Past a Vertical Plate With Thermal and Momentum Slip Effects: Numerical Study
Authors: Nagendra N. , Amanulla CH. , Reddy M. Sudhakar , Prasad V. Ramachandra
Published: March 2019

In this article, the study of heat, momentum and mass (species) transfer in an electro-conductive polymer on the external surface of a vertical plate. The effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis are incorporated in the model in the presence of both heat and nanoparticle mass transfer convective conditions. The Williamson viscoelastic model is employed which is representative of certain industrial polymers. The non-dimensional, transformed boundary layer equations for momentum and energy are solved with the second order accurate implicit Keller box finite difference method under appropriate boundary conditions. The influence of Weissenberg number, magnetic body force parameter, thermal slip parameter, hydrodynamic slip parameter, stream wise variable and Prandtl number on thermo fluid characteristics are presented graphically and discussed. A weak elevation in temperature accompanies increasing Weissenberg number whereas a significant acceleration in the flow is computed near the plate surface. Rate of heat transfer is reduced with increases the Weissenberg number. The study is relevant to enrobing processes for electric-conductive nano-materials, of potential use in aerospace, smart coating transport phenomena and other industries.
Validating and Improving Voting Advice Applications: Estimating Party Positions Using Candidate Surveys
Authors: Andreadis Ioannis , Giebler Heiko
Published: March 2019

Locating political parties correctly regarding different policy issues is not just crucial for research on parties, party competition, and many similar fields but also for the electorate. For the latter, it has become more and more important as the relevance of voting advice applications (VAA) has increased and as their main usage is to compare citizens’ policy preferences to the offer of political parties. However, if party positions are not adequately assigned, citizens are provided with suboptimal information which decreases the citizens’ capacities to make rational electoral decision. VAA designers follow different approaches to determining party positions. In this paper, we look beyond most common sources like electoral manifestos and expert judgments by using surveys of electoral candidates to validate and improve VAAs. We argue that by using positions derived from candidate surveys we get the information by the source itself, but at the same time we overcome most of the disadvantages of the other methods. Using data for the 2014 European Parliament election both in Greece and Germany, we show that while positions taken from the VAAs and from the candidate surveys do match more often than not, we also find substantive differences and even opposing positions. Moreover, these occasional differences have already rather severe consequences looking at calculated overlaps between citizens and parties as well as representations of the political competition space and party system polarization. These differences seem to be more pronounced in Greece. We conclude that candidate surveys are indeed a valid additional source to validate and improve VAAs.
Excitation of Peregrine-Type Waveforms from Vanishing Initial Conditions in the Presence of Periodic Forcing
Authors: Karachalios Nikos I. , Kyriazopoulos Paris , Vetas Konstantinos
Published: March 2019

We show by direct numerical simulations that spatiotemporally localised waveforms, strongly reminiscent of the Peregrine rogue wave, can be excited by vanishing initial conditions for the periodically driven nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The emergence of the Peregrine-type waveforms can be potentially justified, in terms of the existence and modulational instability of spatially homogeneous solutions of the model and the continuous dependence of the localised initial data for small time intervals. We also comment on the persistence of the above dynamics, under the presence of small damping effects, and justify that this behaviour should be considered as far from approximations of the corresponding integrable limit.
Photometrical Determination of the State-of-Charge in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries Part II: In Combination with Open-Circuit-Voltage
Authors: Geiser Jan , Natter Harald , Hempelmann Rolf , Morgenstern Bernd , Hegetschweiler Kaspar
Published: March 2019

By means of in-situ UV/Vis/NIR spectrometry, separately both in the anolyte as well as in the catholyte of a vanadium redox flow battery (single cell) partial state-of-charge values are determined online. The UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopic experimental set-up is calibrated using the state-of-charge value determined from measurements of the open-circuit-voltage (OCV) in the pristine state of the battery which is related to Nernst’s equation taking into account also H+ formation/consumption during the V4+/V5+ redox process. The comparison of both partial state-of-charge values indicates a possible imbalance of the battery, which can occur after long-term operation.
«Vorzeigeunternehmen» in der Wirtschaftspolitik
Authors: Pahlow Louis
Published: March 2019

The «Carl-Zeiss-Foundation» had a significant influence on the development of the law of business foundations in the Federal Republic of Germany after 1945. Founded by Ernst Abbe in 1889, the Foundation was created to manage two firms driven by a statute in a self-regulated governance exclusively. After World War II such kind of business foundations became part of the German corporated landscape, especially after the 1960s. Critizised by a leading group of ordoliberal lawyers and also in the focus of the legislator, the «Carl-Zeiss-Foundation» was seen as a successful «model-firm», which immunized the law of business foundations against further regulations. The article describes the significant influences of this «model-firm» in the making of policies and the non-making of legal rules.
Structural Study and Electrical Properties of Bi1.5–xCaxSb1.5CuO7 Pyrochlore-Type Solid Solution Series
Authors: Dra Rafik El Arslene , Bekka Ahmed , Dinnebier Robert E. , Boukerma Bounekref
Published: March 2019

Pyrochlore solid solution Bi1.5−xCaxSb1.5CuO7 has been prepared by conventional ceramic solid state reaction with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. The pyrochlore single phase formation was confirmed for all of the x-fractions. The variation of the electrical resistivity versus x of all samples measured by means of a four-probe device at room temperature indicates that these still remain insulators. High-temperature electrical conductivity measurements at various frequencies using a device with two electrodes allow us to note the maximum electrical conductivity of 4.7 × 10−3 S.cm−1, which has been reached at x = 0.2, generating an activation energy of 0.14 eV. For this fraction, Rietveld refinement of the corresponding XRPD pattern confirmed the typical cubic Fd-3m space group with a cell parameter of a = 10.4089(1) Å.
Axonal Degeneration Is Mediated by Necroptosis Activation
Authors: Arrázola Macarena S. , Saquel Cristian , Catalán Romina J. , Barrientos Sebastián A. , Hernandez Diego E. , Martínez Nicolás W. , Catenaccio Alejandra , Court Felipe A.
Published: March 2019

Axonal degeneration, which contributes to functional impairment in several disorders of the nervous system, is an important target for neuroprotection. Several individual factors and subcellular events have been implicated in axonal degeneration, but researchers have so far been unable to identify an integrative signaling pathway activating this self-destructive process. Through pharmacological and genetic approaches, we tested whether necroptosis, a regulated cell-death mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, is involved in axonal degeneration. Pharmacological inhibition of the necroptotic kinase RIPK1 using necrostatin-1 strongly delayed axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system and CNS of wild-type mice of either sex and protectedin vitrosensory axons from degeneration after mechanical and toxic insults. These effects were also observed after genetic knock-down ofRIPK3, a second key regulator of necroptosis, and the downstream effectorMLKL(Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like). RIPK1 inhibition prevented mitochondrial fragmentationin vitroandin vivo, a typical feature of necrotic death, and inhibition of mitochondrial fission by Mdivi also resulted in reduced axonal loss in damaged nerves. Furthermore, electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that inhibition of necroptosis delays not only the morphological degeneration of axons, but also the loss of their electrophysiological function after nerve injury. Activation of the necroptotic pathway early during injury-induced axonal degeneration was made evident by increased phosphorylation of the downstream effector MLKL. Our results demonstrate that axonal degeneration proceeds by necroptosis, thus defining a novel mechanistic framework in the axonal degenerative cascade for therapeutic interventions in a wide variety of conditions that lead to neuronal loss and functional impairment.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWe show that axonal degeneration triggered by diverse stimuli is mediated by the activation of the necroptotic programmed cell-death program by a cell-autonomous mechanism. This work represents a critical advance for the field since it identifies a defined degenerative pathway involved in axonal degeneration in both the peripheral nervous system and the CNS, a process that has been proposed as an early event in several neurodegenerative conditions and a major contributor to neuronal death. The identification of necroptosis as a key mechanism for axonal degeneration is an important step toward the development of novel therapeutic strategies for nervous-system disorders, particularly those related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies or CNS diseases in which axonal degeneration is a common factor.
Rapid Visuomotor Responses Reflect Value-Based Decisions
Authors: Carroll Timothy J. , McNamee Daniel , Ingram James N. , Wolpert Daniel M.
Published: March 2019

Cognitive decision-making is known to be sensitive to the values of potential options, which are the probability and size of rewards associated with different choices. Here, we examine whether rapid motor responses to perturbations of visual feedback about movement, which mediate low-level and involuntary feedback control loops, reflect computations associated with high-level value-based decision-making. In three experiments involving human participants, we varied the value associated with different potential targets for reaching movements by controlling the distributions of rewards across the targets (Experiment 1), the probability with which each target could be specified (Experiment 2), or both (Experiment 3). We found that the size of rapid and involuntary feedback responses to movement perturbations was strongly influenced by the relative value between targets. A statistical model of relative value that includes a term for risk sensitivity provided the best fit to the visuomotor response data, illustrating that feedback control policies are biased to favor more frequent task success at the expense of the overall extrinsic reward accumulated through movement. Importantly however, the regulation of rapid feedback responses was associated with successful pursuit of high-value task outcomes. This implies that when we move, the brain specifies a set of feedback control gains that enable low-level motor areas not only to generate efficient and accurate movement, but also to rapidly and adaptively respond to evolving sensory information in a manner consistent with value-based decision-making.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCurrent theories of sensorimotor control suggest that, rather than selecting and planning the details of movements in advance, the role of the brain is to set time-varying feedback gains that continuously transform sensory information into motor commands by feedback control. Here, we examine whether the fastest motor responses to perturbations of movement, which mediate low-level and involuntary feedback control loops (i.e., reflexes), reflect computations associated with high-level, value-based decision-making. We find that rapid feedback responses during reaching reflect the relative probabilities and rewards associated with target options. This suggests that low-order components of the sensorimotor control hierarchy, which generate rapid and automatic responses, can continuously evaluate evolving sensory evidence and initiate responses according to the prospect of reward.
Prediction of Choice from Competing Mechanosensory and Choice-Memory Cues during Active Tactile Decision Making
Authors: Campagner Dario , Evans Mathew H. , Chlebikova Katarina , Colins-Rodriguez Andrea , Loft Michaela S.E. , Fox Sarah , Pettifer David , Humphries Mark D. , Svoboda Karel , Petersen Rasmus S.
Published: March 2019

Perceptual decision making is an active process where animals move their sense organs to extract task-relevant information. To investigate how the brain translates sensory input into decisions during active sensation, we developed a mouse active touch task where the mechanosensory input can be precisely measured and that challenges animals to use multiple mechanosensory cues. Male mice were trained to localize a pole using a single whisker and to report their decision by selecting one of three choices. Using high-speed imaging and machine vision, we estimated whisker–object mechanical forces at millisecond resolution. Mice solved the task by a sensory-motor strategy where both the strength and direction of whisker bending were informative cues to pole location. We found competing influences of immediate sensory input and choice memory on mouse choice. On correct trials, choice could be predicted from the direction and strength of whisker bending, but not from previous choice. In contrast, on error trials, choice could be predicted from previous choice but not from whisker bending. This study shows that animal choices during active tactile decision making can be predicted from mechanosensory and choice-memory signals, and provides a new task well suited for the future study of the neural basis of active perceptual decisions.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDue to the difficulty of measuring the sensory input to moving sense organs, active perceptual decision making remains poorly understood. The whisker system provides a way forward since it is now possible to measure the mechanical forces due to whisker–object contact during behavior. Here we train mice in a novel behavioral task that challenges them to use rich mechanosensory cues but can be performed using one whisker and enables task-relevant mechanical forces to be precisely estimated. This approach enables rigorous study of how sensory cues translate into action during active, perceptual decision making. Our findings provide new insight into active touch and how sensory/internal signals interact to determine behavioral choices.
The Subjective Value of Cognitive Effort is Encoded by a Domain-General Valuation Network
Authors: Westbrook Andrew , Lamichhane Bidhan , Braver Todd
Published: March 2019

Cognitive control is necessary for goal-directed behavior, yet people treat cognitive control demand as a cost, which discounts the value of rewards in a similar manner as other costs, such as delay or risk. It is unclear, however, whether the subjective value (SV) of cognitive effort is encoded in the same putatively domain-general brain valuation network implicated in other cost domains, or instead engages a distinct frontoparietal network, as implied by recent studies. Here, we provide rigorous evidence that the valuation network, with core foci in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum, also encodes SV during cognitive effort-based decision-making in healthy, male and female adult humans. We doubly dissociate this network from frontoparietal regions that are instead recruited as a function of decision difficulty. We show that the domain-general valuation network jointly and independently encodes both reward benefits and cognitive effort costs. We also demonstrate that cognitive effort SV signals predict choice and are influenced by state and trait motivation, including sensitivity to reward and anticipated task performance. These findings unify cognitive effort with other cost domains, and suggest candidate neural mechanisms underlying state and trait variation in willingness to expend cognitive effort.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSubjective effort costs are increasingly understood to diminish cognitive control over task performance and can thus undermine functioning across health and disease. Yet, we are only beginning to understand how decisions about cognitive effort are made. A key question is how subjective values are computed. Recent work suggests that the value of cognitive effort might be computed by networks that are distinct from those involved in other domains like intertemporal and risky decision-making, implying distinct mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that the domain-general network also encodes effort-discounted value, linking cognitive effort closely with other domains. Our results thus elucidate key mechanisms supporting decisions about cognitive effort, and point to candidate neural targets for intervention in disorders involving impaired cognitive motivation.
Stavovi nastavnika o inkluzivnom odgoju i obrazovanju
Authors: Karamatić-Brčić Matilda , Viljac Tea
Published: March 2019

Koncept inkluzivnog obrazovanja sve odgojno-obrazovne ustanove stavlja pred nove zadaće u kojima se uloga učitelja i nastavnika mijenja u skladu sa zahtjevima obrazovnih politika. Stavovi uvjetuju ponašanje ljudi, a formiraju se na temelju različitih čimbenika. U kontekstu inkluzivnog odgoja i obrazovanja pozitivni stavovi učitelja i nastavnika prema implementaciji i provođenju inkluzije ključna je pretpostavka za uspješan proces inkluzije na razini školske prakse. Cilj ovoga rada je prikazati stavove nastavnika prema provođenju procesa inkluzije u osnovnim školama. Dobiveni rezultati istaknuli su značaj i ulogu nastavnika na razini predmetne nastave u procesu inkluzije. Identificirana su i područja u okvir kojih nastavnici mogu pridonijeti podizanju kvalitete procesa inkluzije u svim njenim dimenzijama. U okviru odgojno-obrazovnog sustava i pedagoškom smislu riječi, smanjenje razlika u svakodnevnoj praksi znači prihvaćanje razlika među učenicima kao poticaja u aktivnostima stjecanja potrebnih znanja za školovanje, život i rad, a ne kao prepreke.
Stavovi roditelja o zlouporabi droga i potrebi predškolske prevencije ovisnosti
Authors: Nenadić-Bilan Diana
Published: March 2019

Nacionalna strategije suzbijanja zlouporabe droga prepoznala je važnost organiziranja predškolskih preventivnih aktivnosti, kao i potrebu uključivanja roditelja u aktivnosti. S obzirom na navedeno, provedeno je istraživanje stavova roditelja o zlouporabi droga te o potrebi organiziranja predškolske prevencije ovisnosti na uzorku od 350 roditelja djece predškolske dobi. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da većina roditelja izražava nepermisivne stavove o pojavi ovisnosti o drogama, pozitivne stavove o potrebi prevenciji pojave ovisnosti te negativne stavove o poduzetim aktivnostima službenih institucija zaduženih za smanjenje štete i potražnje droga. Međutim, rezultati ukazuju i na skupinu roditelja koji imaju permisivne stavove o konzumaciji droga, negativne stavove o potrebi predškolske prevencije ovisnosti o drogama te permisivne stavove u svezi legalizacije marihuane.