bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of waveform-derived corneal stiffness and stress-strain extensometry-derived corneal stiffness using different cross-linking irradiances: an experimental study with air-puff applanation of ex vivo porcine eyes
Authors: Herber Robert , Francis Mathew , Spoerl Eberhard , Pillunat Lutz E. , Raiskup Frederik , Sinha Roy Abhijit
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To assess corneal stiffening of standard (S-CXL) and accelerated (A-CXL) cross-linking protocols by dynamic corneal response parameters and corneal bending stiffness (Kc[mean/linear]) derived from Corvis (CVS) Scheimpflug-based tonometry. These investigations were validated by corneal tensile stiffness (K[ts]), derived from stress-strain extensometry in ex vivo porcine eyes.

Methods

Seventy-two fresh-enucleated and de-epithelized porcine eyes were soaked in 0.1% riboflavin solution including 10% dextran for 10 min. The eyes were separated into four groups: controls (n = 18), S-CXL (intensity in mW/cm2*time in min; 3*30) (n = 18), A-CXL (9*10) (n = 18), and A-CXL (18*5) (n = 18), respectively. CXL was performed using CCL Vario. CVS measurements were performed on all eyes. Subsequently, corneal strips were extracted by a double-bladed scalpel and used for stress-strain measurements. K[ts] was calculated from a force-displacement curve. Mean corneal stiffness (Kc[mean]) and constant corneal stiffness (Kc[linear]) were calculated from raw CVS data.

Results

In CVS, biomechanical effects of cross-linking were shown to have a significantly decreased deflection amplitude as well as integrated radius, an increased IOP, and SP A1 (P < 0.05). Kc[mean]/Kc[linear] were significantly increased after CXL (P < 0.05). In the range from 2 to 6% strain, K[ts] was significantly higher in S-CXL (3*30) compared to A-CXL (9*10), A-CXL (18*5), and controls (P < 0.05). At 8% to 10% strain, all protocols induced a higher stiffness than controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Several CVS parameters and Kc[mean] as well as Kc[linear] verify corneal stiffening effect after CXL on porcine eyes. S-CXL seems to have a higher tendency of stiffening than A-CXL protocols have, which was demonstrated by Scheimpflug-based tonometry and stress-strain extensometry.
p16 in highly malignant esophageal carcinomas: the correlation with clinicopathological factors and human papillomavirus infection
Authors: Ishida Hirotaka , Kasajima Atsuko , Fujishima Fumiyoshi , Akaishi Ryujiro , Ueki Shunsuke , Yamazaki Yuto , Onodera Yoshiaki , Gao Xin , Okamoto Hiroshi , Taniyama Yusuke , Kamei Takashi , Sasano Hironobu
Published: June 2020

p16 is generally considered to be a surrogate maker of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and also a predictive marker of favorable clinical outcome of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. p16 overexpression is also known to be induced by deregulation ofRB1in neuroendocrine carcinomas. In highly malignant esophageal neoplasms, however, the status of p16 has remained largely unknown. We immunolocalized p16 and Rb1 in 82 surgically resected esophageal high-grade squamous cell carcinomas (46 poorly differentiated and 36 basaloid squamous cell carcinomas) and 15 esophageal small-cell carcinomas in order to clarify the clinical and biological significance of p16. p16 immunoreactivity was detected in 7/82 (9%) high-grade squamous cell carcinomas and 15 (100%) small-cell carcinomas. p16 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with Rb1 protein loss in both groups (P < 0.001). HPV was detected in none of the p16-positive cases examined. Clinical outcome of the p16-positive high-grade squamous cell carcinomas was not different from that of the p16-negative counterparts (P = 0.687) but significantly better than those with the small-cell carcinomas (P = 0.023). p16 was therefore considered to be induced through an inactivation of the RB1 signaling pathway and not through HPV infection in highly malignant esophageal neoplasms. Nevertheless, patients’ clinical outcome of these neoplasms significantly differs; therefore, small-cell carcinomas have to be carefully differentiated from other neoplasms. In addition, p16 overexpression is not predictive of favorable clinical outcome in high-grade squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus.
Paediatric femur fractures—the value of contextual information on judgement in possible child abuse cases: are we bias?
Authors: Loos Marie-Louise H. J. , Allema Wies M. , Bakx Roel , Stoel Reinoud D. , van Rijn Rick R. , Karst Wouter A.
Published: June 2020

The majority of paediatric femur fractures result from accidental trauma; however, it is important to consider non-accidental trauma, especially in pre-ambulatory children. We study whether irrelevant contextual information subconsciously influences conclusions of healthcare professionals with respect to whether observations provide evidence for non-accidental trauma. A survey with nine radiographs of femur shaft fractures was designed. Two different clinical histories (vignettes) with contextual information were designed, non-abuse versus abuse context. One of both vignettes was randomly assigned to the radiograph shown to the participant, followed by a question with a 5-point answer scale, which represents a verbal expression of the likelihood ratio of the fracture regarding a non-accidental versus accidental cause. Participants were medical residents and staff members of different specialties from several Dutch hospitals. A total of 172 participants responded. The reported evidential strength of the vignettes with a non-abuse context was 0.19 (n = 784; 95%CI 0.10–0.28) and for the abuse context 0.94 (n = 764; 95%CI 0.86–1.02; p < 0.001). Women reported a stronger evidential strength than men, but both were influenced by context. Emergency department and paediatric doctors were more likely to decide that non-accidental trauma was the cause; paediatric radiologists were the least likely. Experience in years of practice and current function did not prevent participants from being bias.

Conclusion: This study shows that the interpretation of medical results by healthcare professionals can be influenced by contextual information, such as low income and marital status, which are irrelevant to the decision as to whether abuse might have occurred. Given the same information about an injury, women, emergency department and paediatric doctors were more likely to decide that non-accidental trauma was the cause, while paediatric radiologists were least likely to decide this outcome. It is important to prevent contextual influence as much as possible, by recognizing it and implementing a management contextual information procedure.

What is Known:• Contextual information is of possible influence on healthcare professionals in identifying non-accidental trauma.• Increased working experience is thought to be protective against this influence.

What is New:• Contextual information influenced the interpretation of medical results by healthcare professionals regardless of work experience.• The interpretation of medical results by healthcare professionals is influenced by both affirmative and negative contextual information.
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factors (GFLs) and small molecules targeting RET receptor for the treatment of pain and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Mahato Arun Kumar , Sidorova Yulia A.
Published: June 2020

Rearranged during transfection (RET), in complex with glial cell line-derived (GDNF) family receptor alpha (GFRα), is the canonical signaling receptor for GDNF family ligands (GFLs) expressed in both central and peripheral parts of the nervous system and also in non-neuronal tissues. RET-dependent signaling elicited by GFLs has an important role in the development, maintenance and survival of dopamine and sensory neurons. Both Parkinson’s disease and neuropathic pain are devastating disorders without an available cure, and at the moment are only treated symptomatically. GFLs have been studied extensively in animal models of Parkinson’s disease and neuropathic pain with remarkable outcomes. However, clinical trials with recombinant or viral vector-encoded GFL proteins have produced inconclusive results. GFL proteins are not drug-like; they have poor pharmacokinetic properties and activate multiple receptors. Targeting RET and/or GFRα with small molecules may resolve the problems associated with using GFLs as drugs and can result in the development of therapeutics for disease-modifying treatments against Parkinson’s disease and neuropathic pain.
An improved bat optimization algorithm to solve the tasks scheduling problem in open shop
Authors: Shareh Morteza Babazadeh , Bargh Shirin Hatami , Hosseinabadi Ali Asghar Rahmani , Slowik Adam
Published: June 2020

The open shop scheduling problem involves a set of activities that should be run on a limited set of machines. The purpose of scheduling open shops problem is to provide a timetable for implementation of the entire operation so that the total execution time is reduced. The tasks scheduling problem in open shops is important in many applications due to the arbitrariness of the processing sequence of each job and lack of a prioritization of its operations. This is an NP-hard problem and obtaining an optimal solution to this problem requires a high time complexity. Therefore, heuristic techniques are used to solve these problems. In this paper, we investigate the tasks scheduling problem in open shops using the Bat Algorithm (BA) based on ColReuse and substitution meta-heuristic functions. The heuristic functions are designed to increase the rate of convergence to the optimal solution. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, standard open shop benchmarks were used. The results obtained in each benchmark are compared with those of the previous methods. Finally, after analyzing the results, it was found that the proposed BA had a better performance and was able to generate the best solution in all cases.
Applying artificial neural networks for modelling ship speed and fuel consumption
Authors: Tarelko Wieslaw , Rudzki Krzysztof
Published: June 2020

This paper deals with modelling ship speed and fuel consumption using artificial neural network (ANN) techniques. These tools allowed us to develop ANN models that can be used for predicting both the fuel consumption and the travel time to the destination for commanded outputs (the ship driveline shaft speed and the propeller pitch) selected by the ship operator. In these cases, due to variable environmental conditions, making decisions regarding setting the proper commanded outputs to is extraordinarily difficult. To support such decisions, we have developed a decision support system. Its main elements are the ANN models enabling ship fuel consumption and speed prediction. To collect data needed for building ANN models, sea trials were conducted. In this paper, the decision support system concept, input and variables of the ship driveline system models, and data acquisition methods are presented. Based on them, we developed appropriate ANN models. Subsequently, we performed a quality assessment of the collected data set, data normalization and division of the data set, selection of an ANN model architecture and assessment of their quality.
Multiplicity and concentration of solutions to the nonlinear magnetic Schrödinger equation
Authors: Ji Chao , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D.
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we study the following nonlinear magnetic Schrödinger equation$$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{aligned}&\Big (\frac{\varepsilon }{i}\nabla -A(x)\Big )^{2}u+V(x)u=f(|u|^{2})u \quad \hbox {in }{\mathbb {R}}^N\ (N\ge 2),\\&u\in H^{1}({\mathbb {R}}^{N}, {\mathbb {C}}), \end{aligned} \right. \end{aligned}$$(εi∇-A(x))2u+V(x)u=f(|u|2)uinRN(N≥2),u∈H1(RN,C),where$$\epsilon $$ϵis a positive parameter, and$$V:{\mathbb {R}}^{N}\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}$$V:RN→R,$$A: {\mathbb {R}}^{N}\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}^{N}$$A:RN→RNare continuous potentials. Under a local assumption on the potentialV, by combining variational methods, penalization techniques, and the Ljusternik–Schnirelmann theory, we prove multiplicity and concentration properties of solutions for$$\varepsilon >0$$ε>0small. In our problem, the functionfis only continuous, which allows to consider larger classes of nonlinearities in the reaction.
Incidence and predictors of kyphotic deformity following resection of cervical intradural tumors in adults: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Tatter Charles , Fletcher-Sandersjöö Alexander , Persson Oscar , Burström Gustav , Grane Per , Edström Erik , Elmi-Terander Adrian
Published: June 2020

Background

The first line of treatment for most cervical intradural tumors is surgical resection through laminotomy or laminectomy. This may cause a loss of posterior pulling force leading to kyphosis, which is associated with decreased functional outcome. However, the incidence and predictors of kyphosis in these patients are poorly understood.

Object

To assess the incidence of posterior fixation (PF), as well as predictors of radiological kyphosis, following resection of cervical intradural tumors in adults.

Methods

A population-based cohort study was conducted on adult patients who underwent intradural tumor resection via cervical laminectomy with or without laminoplasty between 2005 and 2017. Primary outcome was kyphosis requiring PF. Secondary outcome was radiological kyphotic increase, measured by the change in the C2–C7 Cobb angle between pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance images.

Results

Eighty-four patients were included. Twenty-four percent of the tumors were intramedullary, and the most common diagnosis was meningioma. The mean laminectomy range was 2.4 levels, and laminoplasty was performed in 40% of cases. No prophylactic PF was performed. During a mean follow-up of 4.4 years, two patients (2.4%) required delayed PF. The mean radiological kyphotic increase after surgery was 3.0°, which was significantly associated with laminectomy of C2 and C3. Of these, C3 laminectomy demonstrated independent risk association.

Conclusions

There was a low incidence of delayed PF following cervical intradural tumor resection, supporting the practice of not performing prophylactic PF. Kyphotic increase was associated with C2 and C3 laminectomy, which could help identify at-risk patients were targeted follow-up is indicated.
A wind-driven model of the ocean surface layer with wave radiation physics
Authors: Olbers Dirk , Jurgenowski Philipp , Eden Carsten
Published: June 2020

Surface windstress transfers energy to the surface mixed layer of the ocean, and this energy partly radiates as internal gravity waves with near-inertial frequencies into the stratified ocean below the mixed layer where it is available for mixing. Numerical and analytical models provide estimates of the energy transfer into the mixed layer and the fraction radiated into the interior, but with large uncertainties, which we aim to reduce in the present study. An analytical slab model of the mixed layer used before in several studies is extended by consistent physics of wave radiation into the interior. Rayleigh damping, controlling the physics of the original slab model, is absent in the extended model and the wave-induced pressure gradient is resolved. The extended model predicts the energy transfer rates, both in physical and wavenumber-frequency space, associated with the wind forcing, dissipation in the mixed layer, and wave radiation at the base as function of a few parameters: mixed layer depth, Coriolis frequency and Brunt-Väisälä frequency below the mixed layer, and parameters of the applied windstress spectrum. The results of the model are satisfactorily validated with a realistic numerical model of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Toxicity of essential oils to slug parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes
Authors: Barua Archita , McDonald-Howard Kerry-Lyn , Mc Donnell Rory J. , Rae Robbie , Williams Christopher D.
Published: June 2020

Essential oils are being increasingly utilised as a biorational element in integrated pest management regimes. Whereas there has been much research on the effects of these oils on mortality and behaviour of pestiferous molluscs, insects and nematodes, there has (to the present authors’ knowledge) been no research into their effects on the mortality and behaviour of beneficial nematodes. We address this lacuna by conducting laboratory assays on the behaviour (thrashing assays) and mortality of 13 essential oils plus controls of Tween and water on the malacophagous nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita and two species of entomopathogenic nematodes, namely: Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Mortality results showed an “all or nothing” response with only three oils—pine oil, peppermint and lemongrass—displaying intermediate mortalities. Also, toxicity of essential oils was conserved across phylogenetically quite distinct beneficial nematode species with oil toxicity largely being repeated across the three beneficial nematodes. Thrashing assays confirmed the toxic effects of certain oils. We recommend that the effects of essential oils be tested on beneficial organisms in ecosystems before choices are made over which oils should be used. The present paper highlights some oils which are not toxic to beneficial nematodes but may affect their behaviour. Research should focus on these oils as part of a biorational control programme for pestiferous molluscs and insects.
Scalar Gradient and Strain Rate Statistics in Oblique Premixed Flame–Wall Interaction Within Turbulent Channel Flows
Authors: Ahmed Umair , Chakraborty Nilanjan , Klein Markus
Published: June 2020

Three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of V-flames interacting with chemically inert walls in a fully developed turbulent channel flow have been performed under adiabatic and isothermal wall boundary conditions using single-step chemistry. These simulations are representative of stoichiometric methane-air mixture at unity Lewis number under atmospheric conditions. The turbulence in the non-reacting channel is representative of the friction velocity based Reynolds number$$Re_{\tau }=110$$Reτ=110. Differences in the statistical behaviours of the mean values of progress variable, temperature, and density have been reported for different wall boundary conditions. It is found that the mean location of the oblique flame interacting with the wall is affected by the choice of the wall boundary condition used. The influence of these differences on the flame dynamics is investigated by analysing the statistical behaviours of the surface density function (SDF) and the strain rates, which govern the evolution of the SDF. The mean variation of the SDF and the flame displacement speed are strongly affected by the wall boundary condition within the viscous sub-layer region of the boundary layer. The behaviours of the normal and tangential strain rates are found to be influenced by not only the differences in the wall boundary conditions, but also by the distance from the wall. The differences in the displacement speed statistics for different wall boundary conditions and wall distance affect the behaviours of the normal strain rate arising due to flame propagation and curvature stretch. The changes in the SDF behaviour in the near wall region have been explained in terms of the statistics of effective normal strain rate experienced by the progress variable iso-surfaces under different wall boundary conditions and wall normal distances.
Moral Challenges When Suspecting Abuse and Neglect in School Children: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Forsner M. , Elvhage G. , Ewalds-Kvist B. M. , Lützén K.
Published: June 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO), concludes that child maltreatment is a global concern calling for a multi sectoral interdisciplinary approach. School professionals, such as social workers, teachers, and health care professionals are in positions to discover and report maltreatment enabling social workers to intervene. However, a variety of reports reveal an evident gap between incidences and frequency of number of cases reported. A review of relevant research indicates that the problem of “not reporting” suggests that moral conflicts are activated in the process of decision-making. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of school professionals’ experiences of reporting suspected neglect and abuse to the Social Welfare Board. In a mixed method approach 32 school professionals, such as teachers, social workers, nurses and psychologists participated in interviews and responded to questionnaires. Findings from the qualitative content analysis were compared to the quantitative analysis in a meta-analysis. Moral conflicts occur when faced with making decisions about how to best deal with a child’s situation. Thoughts about the child’s best interest and relationship with his/her parents as well as the informants´ own safety, were central. The comparative meta- analysis of both data sets revealed these conflicts commence with a moral sensitivity of possible negative consequences for the child. Moral sensitivity can be viewed as a “good” personal attribute, it paradoxically might lead to moral stress despite an open ethical climate. Based on the results of this study, further research on the interpersonal aspects of dealing with moral conflicts involved in reporting suspected child abuse is indicated.
Comparison of novelty detection methods for multispectral images in rover-based planetary exploration missions
Authors: Kerner Hannah R. , Wagstaff Kiri L. , Bue Brian D. , Wellington Danika F. , Jacob Samantha , Horton Paul , Bell James F. , Kwan Chiman , Ben Amor Heni
Published: June 2020

Science teams for rover-based planetary exploration missions like the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover have limited time for analyzing new data before making decisions about follow-up observations. There is a need for systems that can rapidly and intelligently extract information from planetary instrument datasets and focus attention on the most promising or novel observations. Several novelty detection methods have been explored in prior work for three-channel color images and non-image datasets, but few have considered multispectral or hyperspectral image datasets for the purpose of scientific discovery. We compared the performance of four novelty detection methods—Reed Xiaoli (RX) detectors, principal component analysis (PCA), autoencoders, and generative adversarial networks (GANs)—and the ability of each method to provide explanatory visualizations to help scientists understand and trust predictions made by the system. We show that pixel-wise RX and autoencoders trained with structural similarity (SSIM) loss can detect morphological novelties that are not detected by PCA, GANs, and mean squared error autoencoders, but that the latter methods are better suited for detecting spectral novelties—i.e., the best method for a given setting depends on the type of novelties that are sought. Additionally, we find that autoencoders provide the most useful explanatory visualizations for enabling users to understand and trust model detections, and that existing GAN approaches to novelty detection may be limited in this respect.
Estimating the UK Index Flood: an Improved Spatial Flooding Analysis
Authors: Muhammad Marinah , Lu Zudi
Published: June 2020

Flooding is one of the major natural hazards in the UK. Accurate flood estimation at ungauged catchment is an important component to understand and mitigate flood hazards, but still a difficult issue. This study therefore attempts to explore and improve an index flood estimation model, known as the FEH-QMED model, popular in the UK. It was developed under the assumption that the index flood of QMED, i.e., the median of the set of annual maximum (AMAX) flood data, standing for a flooding level of 2-year return period, can be explained by catchment descriptors. In this study, two fundamentals are empirically explored, including assessing reliability of the nonlinear functional impacts of the catchment descriptors on the logarithmic transformation of QMED, specified by the FEH-QMED model, and the potential to improve the model for more accurate index flood estimation, based on the flooding data of 586 gauged stations across the UK. Through a spatial additive regression analysis, we empirically find that the nonlinear impacts of the catchment descriptors in an updated FEH-QMED model appear reliable. However, spatial correlation tests including Moran’s I and Lagrange multiplier tests show that strong spatial dependence exists in the residuals of, but was not fully taken into account by, the QMED type models. We have therefore empirically established new spatial index flood estimation models by proposing spatial autoregressive models to model the impacts of the neighboring sites. Cross-validation assessments demonstrate that the suggested spatial error-based index flood model outperforms the updated FEH-QMED model with a significant improvement, which is robust in the sense of different error measures, say by a reduction of 13.8% of the mean squared error of prediction, for the UK index flood estimation.
An extensive analysis of the presence of altmetric data for Web of Science publications across subject fields and research topics
Authors: Fang Zhichao , Costas Rodrigo , Tian Wencan , Wang Xianwen , Wouters Paul
Published: June 2020

Sufficient data presence is one of the key preconditions for applying metrics in practice. Based on both Altmetric.com data and Mendeley data collected up to 2019, this paper presents a state-of-the-art analysis of the presence of 12 kinds of altmetric events for nearly 12.3 million Web of Science publications published between 2012 and 2018. Results show that even though an upward trend of data presence can be observed over time, except for Mendeley readers and Twitter mentions, the overall presence of most altmetric data is still low. The majority of altmetric events go to publications in the fields of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Life and Earth Sciences. As to research topics, the level of attention received by research topics varies across altmetric data, and specific altmetric data show different preferences for research topics, on the basis of which a framework for identifying hot research topics is proposed and applied to detect research topics with higher levels of attention garnered on certain altmetric data source. Twitter mentions and policy document citations were selected as two examples to identify hot research topics of interest of Twitter users and policy-makers, respectively, shedding light on the potential of altmetric data in monitoring research trends of specific social attention.
Simultaneous structuring and scheduling of multiple projects with flexible project structures
Authors: Hoffmann Luise-Sophie , Kellenbrink Carolin , Helber Stefan
Published: June 2020

We study the problem to simultaneously decide on the structures and the schedules for an entire portfolio of flexible projects. The projects are flexible as alternative technologies and procedures can be used to achieve the respective project task. The choice between different technologies and procedures affects the activities to be implemented and thus the precedence relations, i.e., the structure of the project. The different projects have given due dates with specific delay payments and compete for scarce resources. In this situation, project structure decisions and scheduling decisions are highly intertwined and have to be made simultaneously in order to achieve the assumed objective of minimizing the delay payments for the entire project portfolio. The problem is formally stated and solved via novel and problem-specific genetic algorithms. The performance of the new algorithms is evaluated with respect to speed and accuracy in a systematic and comprehensive numerical study.
A Logic Based Approach to Finding Real Singularities of Implicit Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Seiler Werner M. , Seiß Matthias , Sturm Thomas
Published: June 2020

We discuss the effective computation of geometric singularities of implicit ordinary differential equations over the real numbers using methods from logic. Via the Vessiot theory of differential equations, geometric singularities can be characterised as points where the behaviour of a certain linear system of equations changes. These points can be discovered using a specifically adapted parametric generalisation of Gaussian elimination combined with heuristic simplification techniques and real quantifier elimination methods. We demonstrate the relevance and applicability of our approach with computational experiments using a prototypical implementation in Reduce.
Decision to forgive scale and emotional forgiveness scale in a polish sample
Authors: Mróz Justyna , Kaleta Kinga , Sołtys Ewa
Published: June 2020

The paper presents the concept of emotional and decisional forgiveness proposed by Worthington et al. (Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30, 291–302, 2007) and employing the Polish versions of the Decision to Forgive Scale and Emotional Forgiveness Scale developed in line with this theory. Both scales are tools measuring episodic forgiveness is forgiveness for a specific transgression that is made once. Decisional forgiveness is a declaration to forgive, whereas emotional forgiveness is a “change of heart”. The results of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the structure of the Polish scales is exactly the same as of the original tools, i.e., in case of the DTFS, a one-factor solution (CFI = .998, GFI = .990, RMSEA = .042), and in case of the EFS, a two-factor solution (CFI = .987; GFI = .984; RMSEA = .051). The Polish versions of the DTFS and EFS were significantly correlated with other tools of forgiveness (TRIM-18 – episodic forgiveness and HFS– dispositional forgiveness).
How to Win Arguments
Authors: Weber Klaus , Rach Niklas , Minker Wolfgang , André Elisabeth
Published: June 2020

People make decisions every day or form an opinion based on persuasion processes, whether through advertising, planning leisure activities with friends or public speeches. Most of the time, however, subliminal persuasion processes triggered by behavioral cues (rather than the content of the message) play a far more important role than most people are aware of. To raise awareness of the different aspects of persuasion (how and what), we present a multimodal dialog system consisting of two virtual agents that use synthetic speech in a discussion setting to present pros and cons to a user on a controversial topic. The agents are able to adapt their emotions based on explicit feedback of the users to increase their perceived persuasiveness during interaction using Reinforcement Learning.
Residual Stress Estimates from Multi-cut Opening Angles of the Left Ventricle
Authors: Zhuan Xin , Luo Xiaoyu
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Residual stress tensor has an essential influence on the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues and can be particularly useful in evaluating growth and remodelling of the heart and arteries. It is currently unclear if one single radial cut using the opening angle method can accurately estimate the residual stress. In many previous models, it has been assumed that a single radial cut can release the residual stress in a ring of the artery or left ventricle. However, experiments by Omens et al. (Biomech Model Mechanobiol 1:267–277, 2003) on mouse hearts, have shown that this is not the case. The aim of this paper is to answer this question using a multiple-cut mathematical model.

Methods

In this work, we have developed models of multiple cuts to estimate the residual stress in the left ventricle and compared with the one-cut model. Both two and four-cut models are considered. Given that the collagen fibres are normally coiled in the absence of loading, we use the isotropic part of the Holzapfel-Ogden strain energy function to model the unloaded myocardium.

Results

The estimated residual hoop stress from our multiple-cut model is around 8 to 9 times greater than that of a single-cut model. Although in principle infinite cuts are required to release the residual stress, we find four cuts seem to be sufficient as the model agrees well with experimental measurements of the myocardial thickness. Indeed, even the two-cut model already gives a reasonable estimate of the maximum residual hoop stress. We show that the results are not significantly different using homogeneous or heterogeneous material models. Finally, we explain that the multiple cuts approach also applies to arteries.

Conclusion

We conclude that both radial and circumferential cuts are required to release the residual stress in the left ventricle; using multiple radial cuts alone is not sufficient. A multiple-cut model gives a marked increase of residual stress in a left ventricle ring compared to that of the commonly used single-cut model.
Verarbeitung von Hinweisreizen beim Beurteilen von mündlichen Sprachproben von Schülerinnen und Schülern durch Hochschullehrende im Fach Französisch
Authors: Witzigmann Stéfanie , Sachse Steffi
Published: June 2020

Mündliche Sprachproduktionen stellen eine wichtige Zielsetzung des Fremdsprachenunterrichts dar. Demnach bilden adäquate Beurteilungen mündlicher Sprachproduktionen die entscheidenden Prämissen eines unterstützenden Fremdsprachunterrichts und gehören zu den diagnostischen Kompetenzen von Fremdsprachenlehrkräften. Mündliche Produktionen lassen sich auf inhaltlicher und sprachlicher Ebene (z. B. hinsichtlich Aussprache, Wortschatz, aber auch pragmatischer Elemente) beschreiben. Diese sprachlichen Merkmale können in unterschiedlichem Maße in die Beurteilung mündlicher Sprachproben einfließen. Um diesen Einfluss auf die Genese von diagnostischen Urteilen zu überprüfen, wurden authentische Videovignetten von einer Expertengruppe (Hochschulprofessor*innen bzw. Hochschuldozent*innen der Fachdidaktik Französisch) beurteilt. Es erfolgte ein erstes holistisches Gesamturteil, im Anschluss erhielten die Proband*innen ein analytisches Bewertungsraster und wurden danach erneut um ein holistisches Gesamturteil gebeten. Dabei wurde untersucht, zu welchem Anteil Einzelmerkmale der Sprachproduktionen von den Beurteilenden zu einem Gesamturteil integriert wurden. Zusätzlich wurde exploriert, inwiefern der berufliche Hintergrund die Urteile beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse lassen hohe Spannweiten zwischen den Beurteilenden bei denselben Videovignetten erkennen. Die Beurteilerübereinstimmungen sind jedoch sehr hoch und belegen, dass die einzelnen sprachlichen Merkmale zuverlässig bewertet werden. Die Ergebnisse der Dominanzanalysen zeigen, dass die sprachlichen Merkmale unterschiedlich stark in die Urteilsbildung einfließen, bei der Expertengruppe aber ähnliche Varianzaufklärungen in beiden holistischen Urteilen belegt werden konnten und sich beide Urteilsmodi nur gering unterscheiden. Der berufliche Hintergrund der Expertengruppe scheint mit einer unterschiedlichen Gewichtung der Einzelmerkmale im Gesamturteil einherzugehen. Diese Ergebnisse können als Grundlage für weitere Modellierungen in anderen Gruppen (z. B. erfahrene Lehrkräfte, Lehramtsstudierende) dienen.
Genome Assembly and Pathway Analysis of Edible Mushroom Agrocybe Cylindracea
Authors: Liang Yuan , Lu Dengxue , Wang Sen , Zhao Yuhui , Gao Shenghan , Han Rongbing , Yu Jun , Zheng Weili , Geng Jianing , Hu Songnian
Published: June 2020

Agrocybe cylindracea, an edible mushroom, is widely cultivated for its abundance of nutrients and flavor, and many of its metabolites are reported to have beneficial roles, such as medicinal effects on tumors and chronical illnesses. However, the lack of genomic information has hindered further molecular studies on this fungus. Here, we present a genome assembly of A. cylindracea together with comparative genomics and pathway analyses of Agaricales species. The draft, generated from both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing platforms to overcome high genetic heterozygosity, is composed of a 56.5 Mb sequence and 15,384 predicted genes. This mushroom possesses a complex reproductive system, including tetrapolar heterothallic and secondary homothallic mechanisms, and harbors several hydrolases and peptidases for gradual and effective degradation of various carbon sources. Our pathway analysis reveals complex processes involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and other active substances, including B vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and N-acetylglucosamine. RNA-seq data show that A. cylindracea stipes tend to synthesize carbohydrate for carbon sequestration and energy storage, whereas pilei are more active in carbon utilization and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. These results reflect diverse functions of the two anatomical structures of the fruiting body. Our comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic data, as well as preliminary comparative analyses, provide insights into the molecular details of the medicinal effects in terms of active compounds and nutrient components.
An International Due Process Standard for Competition Adjudication? A Critical Approach
Authors: NAM Soojin
Published: June 2020

With the global proliferation of antitrust law enforcement, multinational businesses, scholars, and practitioners have clamoured for stronger due process protection in competition adjudication. Often, the argument assumes the existence of a due process standard applicable internationally to all competition jurisdictions. The standard comprises certain features typical of adversarial adjudication, including a neutral decision-maker, a live in-person hearing before such decision-maker, and the right to present and cross-examine evidence and witnesses. This paper challenges this alleged due process standard on two different levels by comparing the competition adjudication procedures of the United States Federal Trade Commission, the European Commission, and the Korea Fair Trade Commission. First, the paper shows that such a standard, which advances certain features of Anglo-American adversarial adjudication, is at odds with the local due process laws of the European Union and South Korea. Second, the paper shows that implementing such adversarial features would pose significant practical problems in jurisdictions where existing administrative procedures are largely inquisitorial or ‘continental.’ While the supporters of the due process argument identify a number of procedural problems that should be addressed, framing these problems as a due process issue would only be counterproductive.
The invisible enemy: a historian's short tale of Covid-19 in Italy
Authors: Arisi Rota Arianna
Published: June 2020

When on 8 March 2020 lockdown was declared in Lombardy, I had a national flag in a drawer waiting for 17 March – the birthday of unified Italy – to be hung down from my balcony just for one single day. Suddenly it seemed to me very natural to begin the ritual early, fixing it carefully and looking at it while it was moving softly in the mild evening breeze, amidst the surreal silence of the neighbourhood riven only by so many, too many ambulance sirens: a suspended time, a time of fear and resistance that I was sharing physically with my fellow citizens, and virtually, with my relatives, friends and colleagues living far away.
THE DATE AT 2 MACCABEES 11.21
Authors: Rigsby Kent J.
Published: June 2020

In the course of describing the events of the 160s b.c.e., 2 Maccabees presents the texts of four letters: the Seleucid general Lysias to the Jews granting some concessions and referring their other demands to the king (11.16–21); two letters of Antiochus, to Lysias (11.22–6) and to the Jews (11.27–33), granting various concessions; and Roman envoys to the Jews (11.34–8) endorsing Lysias’ concessions. The third and fourth letters have at their ends (suspiciously) the same date, 15 Xanthikos of Seleucid year 148, c. March 164 b.c.e. The second has no date. The first, Lysias’ letter, is dated ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ τεσσαρακοστοῦ ὀγδόου, διοσκορινθίου τετράδι καὶ εἰκάδι: year 148 on the 24th of a month; but the month name, standardly printed as Διὸς Κορινθίου, is impossible.
A local study near the Wolff point on the ball
Authors: Li Fengbai , Rong Feng
Published: June 2020

Let f be a holomorphic self-map of the unit ball in dimension 2, which does not have an interior fixed point. Suppose that f has a Wolff point p with the boundary dilatation coefficient equal to 1 and the non-tangential differential dfp = id. The local behaviours of f near p are quite diverse, and we give a detailed study in many typical cases. As a byproduct, we give a dynamical interpretation of the Burns–Krantz rigidity theorem. Note also that similar results hold on two-dimensional contractible smoothly bounded strongly pseudoconvex domains.
The Evolution of Territorial Conquest After 1945 and the Limits of the Territorial Integrity Norm
Authors: Altman Dan
Published: June 2020

Past studies conclude that a territorial integrity norm caused territorial conquest to decline sharply after 1945, virtually subsiding after 1975. However, using new and more comprehensive data on territorial conquest attempts, this study presents a revised history of conquest after 1945. Unlike attempts to conquer entire states, attempts to conquer parts of states remained far more common than previously recognized. More than conquest declined in frequency, its relationship with war evolved. Challengers attempting conquest before 1945 often initiated a war, then sought to occupy large territories. Today, challengers more often seize small regions, then attempt to avoid war. Adopting this strategy, the fait accompli, challengers increasingly came to target territories with characteristics that reduce the risk of provoking war—such as a low population and the absence of a defending military garrison—but challengers nonetheless take a calculated gamble. In part because seizures of smaller territories with such characteristics have not declined, the operative constraint appears to be against war-prone aggression, not territorial revision. The evolution of conquest is a symptom of war's decline, not its cause. Most of the evidence that the territorial integrity norm suppressed conquest or war withers under investigation with new data. Attempts to get away with seizing small pieces of territory are likely to be a defining element of the twenty-first-century international security landscape.
A survey of ENT undergraduate teaching in the UK
Authors: Mayer A W , Smith K A , Carrie S ,   Collaborative Authors
Published: June 2020

Background

ENT presentations are prevalent in clinical practice but feature little in undergraduate curricula. Consequently, most medical graduates are not confident managing common ENT conditions. In 2014, the first evidence-based ENT undergraduate curriculum was published to guide medical schools.

Objective

To assess the extent that current UK medical school learning outcomes correlate with the syllabus of the ENT undergraduate curriculum.

Method

Two students from each participating medical school independently reviewed all ENT-related curriculum documents to determine whether learning outcomes from the suggested curriculum were met.

Results

Sixteen of 34 curricula were reviewed. Only a minority of medical schools delivered teaching on laryngectomy or tracheostomy, nasal packing or cautery, and ENT medications or surgical procedures.

Conclusion

There is wide variability in ENT undergraduate education in UK medical schools. Careful consideration of which topics are prioritised, and the teaching modalities utilised, is essential. In addition, ENT learning opportunities for undergraduates outside of the medical school curriculum should be augmented.
Living in the Present
Authors: Wallage Martijn
Published: June 2020

This essay examines two conceptions of the ancient ideal of ‘living in the present’, one that may be called ‘Platonic’, suggested by a remark of Ludwig Wittgenstein, and one that may be called ‘Stoic’, developed by Pierre Hadot. On both conceptions, a life lived and considered in the right way is complete in the present, so that nothing is wanting. I introduce a problem concerning the coherence of this concept: Life involves movement, and movement is aimed at some completion in the future. How, then, can a life be complete in the present and yet not be static? I consider and reject an answer by Hadot, based on psychological concentration on the present. I then propose an alternative answer, based on Aristotle's concept of complete activity, and discuss its significance for both the Platonic and the Stoic conception of the ideal. Throughout, my focus is on this metaphysical and conceptual problem, thus preparing the way for the ethical question whether ‘living in the present’ would be a good way to live.
Design patterns for modeling first-order expressive Bayesian networks
Authors: Locher Mark , Laskey Kathryn B. , Costa Paulo C. G.
Published: June 2020

First-order expressive capabilities allow Bayesian networks (BNs) to model problem domains where the number of entities, their attributes, and their relationships can vary significantly between model instantiations. First-order BNs are well-suited for capturing knowledge representation dependencies, but literature on design patterns specific to first-order BNs is few and scattered. To identify useful patterns, we investigated the range of dependency models between combinations of random variables (RVs) that represent unary attributes, functional relationships, and binary predicate relationships. We found eight major patterns, grouped into three categories, that cover a significant number of first-order BN situations. Selection behavior occurs in six patterns, where a relationship/attribute identifies which entities in a second relationship/attribute are applicable. In other cases, certain kinds of embedded dependencies based on semantic meaning are exploited. A significant contribution of our patterns is that they describe various behaviors used to establish the RV’s local probability distribution. Taken together, the patterns form a modeling framework that provides significant insight into first-order expressive BNs and can reduce efforts in developing such models. To the best of our knowledge, there are no comprehensive published accounts of such patterns.
Leibniz equality is isomorphic to Martin-Löf identity, parametrically
Authors: ABEL ANDREAS , COCKX JESPER , DEVRIESE DOMINIQUE , TIMANY AMIN , WADLER PHILIP
Published: June 2020

Consider two widely used definitions of equality. That of Leibniz: one value equals another if any predicate that holds of the first holds of the second. And that of Martin-Löf: the type identifying one value with another is occupied if the two values are identical. The former dates back several centuries, while the latter is widely used in proof systems such as Agda and Coq. Here we show that the two definitions are isomorphic: we can convert any proof of Leibniz equality to one of Martin-Löf identity and vice versa, and each conversion followed by the other is the identity. One direction of the isomorphism depends crucially on values of the type corresponding to Leibniz equality satisfying functional extensionality and Reynolds’ notion of parametricity. The existence of the conversions is widely known (meaning that if one can prove one equality then one can prove the other), but that the two conversions form an isomorphism (internally) in the presence of parametricity and functional extensionality is, we believe, new. Our result is a special case of a more general relation that holds between inductive families and their Church encodings. Our proofs are given inside type theory, rather than meta-theoretically. Our paper is a literate Agda script.