bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear substructuring in the modal domain: numerical validation and experimental verification in presence of localized nonlinearities
Authors: Latini Francesco , Brunetti Jacopo , D’Ambrogio Walter , Allen Matthew S. , Fregolent Annalisa
Published: April 2021

In many systems of interest, most of the structure is well approximated as linear but some parts must be treated as nonlinear to get accurate response predictions: significant nonlinear effects are due to the connections between coupled subsystems, such as in automotive or aerospace structures. The present work aims at predicting the nonlinear behavior of coupled systems using a substructuring technique in the modal domain. This study focuses on the effects of nonlinear connections on the dynamics of an assembly in which the coupled subsystems can be considered as linear. Each connection is instead considered as a quasi-linear substructure with stiffness that is function of amplitude or energy. The iterative procedure used here is enhanced with respect to previous works by enforcing a better control of the total energy at each iteration allowing to obtain the solution for a prescribed set of energy levels. Also, the initial guess and the convergence criterion have been modified to speed up the procedure. This technique is applied to a system made of two continuous linear subsystems coupled by nonlinear connections. The numerical results of the coupling are first compared to the ones obtained by using the Harmonic Balance technique on the model of the complete assembly to evaluate its effectiveness and understand the effects of modal truncation. Besides, a nonlinear connecting element, specifically designed in order to have a nearly cubic hardening behavior, is used in an experimental setup. Substructuring results are compared to experimental results measured on the assembled system, in order to evaluate the correlation between mode shapes and the accuracy in the resonance frequency at several excitation levels.
A new model of Hopfield network with fractional-order neurons for parameter estimation
Authors: Fazzino Stefano , Caponetto Riccardo , Patanè Luca
Published: April 2021

In this work, we study an application of fractional-order Hopfield neural networks for optimization problem solving. The proposed network was simulated using a semi-analytical method based on Adomian decomposition,, and it was applied to the on-line estimation of time-varying parameters of nonlinear dynamical systems. Through simulations, it was demonstrated how fractional-order neurons influence the convergence of the Hopfield network, improving the performance of the parameter identification process if compared with integer-order implementations. Two different approaches for computing fractional derivatives were considered and compared as a function of the fractional-order of the derivatives: the Caputo and the Caputo–Fabrizio definitions. Simulation results related to different benchmarks commonly adopted in the literature are reported to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed architecture in the field of on-line parameter estimation.
Resonant modal interactions in micro/nano-mechanical structures
Authors: Shoshani Oriel , Shaw Steven W.
Published: April 2021

This paper considers nonlinear interactions between vibration modes with a focus on recent studies relevant to micro- and nanoscale mechanical resonators. Due to their inherently small damping and high susceptibility to nonlinearity, these devices have brought to light new phenomena and offer the potential for novel applications. Nonlinear interactions between vibration modes are well known to have the potential for generating a “zoo” of complicated bifurcation patterns and a wide variety of dynamic behaviors, including chaos. Here, we focus on more regular, robust, and predictable aspects of their dynamics, since these are most relevant to applications. The investigation is based on relatively simple two-mode models that are able to capture and predict a wide range of transient and sustained dynamical behaviors. The paper emphasizes modeling and analysis that has been done in support of recent experimental investigations and describes in full detail the analysis and attendant insights obtained from the models that are briefly described in the experimental papers. Standard analytical tools are employed, but the questions posed and the conclusions drawn are novel, as motivated by observations from experiments. The paper considers transient dynamics, response to harmonic forcing, and self-excited systems and describes phenomena such as extended coherence time during transient decay, zero dispersion response, and nonlinear frequency veering. The paper closes with some suggested directions for future studies in this area.
The mediating role of values in the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship
Authors: Rietveld Cornelius A. , Hoogendoorn Brigitte
Published: April 2021

An emerging stream of literature argues that values entail a prime channel through which belonging to a religion and entrepreneurship are related. In this study, we introduce Schwartz’s theory of basic human values to theorize on the role of values in the reciprocal relationship between belonging to a religion and entrepreneurship. Based on the motivational goal of each value, we argue that the value priorities of people belonging to a religion are opposite to these of entrepreneurs. We also go beyond earlier studies highlighting values as a prominent channel through which religion and entrepreneurship are connected by providing empirical evidence about the extent to which values mediate this relationship. By drawing on data from eight biennial survey waves (2002–2016) of the European Social Survey (32 countries), we show that individuals who belong to a religion prioritize values related to conservation higher than values related to openness to change, whereas the opposite is true for entrepreneurs. This contrast in value priorities cushions the relationship between belonging to a religion and entrepreneurship. However, both those belonging to a religion and entrepreneurs prioritize values related to self-transcendence over those related to self-enhancement. These relationships are fairly constant across the major religions in Europe, but do depend on how actively people engage in a religion and the type of entrepreneurship.

Plain English Summary New evidence about how values can explain the relationship between belonging to a religion and being an entrepreneur. For many people, religion provides the moral codes by which they live and herewith it shapes individual decision-making including the choice for certain occupations. However, religions do not prescribe occupational choices directly but shape these choices indirectly. A prominent role for values in the relationship between belonging to a religion and entrepreneurship is widely acknowledged theoretically, but hardly tested empirically. In this study, we use Schwartz’ theory of basic human values to test this relationship and show that the value priorities of individuals belonging to a religion are opposite to those of entrepreneurs. Individuals who belong to a religion prioritize values related to conserving the social order higher than values related to openness to change and novelty, whereas the opposite is true for entrepreneurs. This contrast in value priorities weakens the relationship between belonging to a religion and entrepreneurship. Our findings are fairly constant across the major religions in Europe, but do depend on how actively people engage in a religion and the type of entrepreneurship. With a rapidly changing number of individuals adhering to a religion and increasing religious diversity in many European countries, our study is of practical importance by showing how these trends may have an impact on a country’s entrepreneurship rate.
Permeability and the Ergun Equation as a Basis for Permeability Measurements of Metallic Foams and Wire Meshes
Authors: Celebican C. , Tanefo S. , Durst F. , Reichel C.
Published: April 2021

This paper concerns a method and a test set-up to measure the permeability of plates of metal foams and sets of wire meshes used to control flows in fluid filters and other flow systems designed to yield constant velocity distributions over large cross sections of flows. The method is based on permeability considerations using the Ergun equation to describe the pressure losses of packages of mono-dispersed spheres. One correlation is suggested for the permeabilitykover the entire range of mean velocitiesU0. A suitable measuring set-up was designed, built and used to measure the permeability of plates of metallic foams and sets of wire meshes. The specific objective of the present investigation was to provide permeability data for combined sets of wire meshes with flow properties that are mainly characterized by the wire meshes with the smallest mesh size. A method of data presentation is suggested that clearly illustrates the ranges of laminar and turbulent flows through the wire meshes. The results are compared with those for technical porous plates. The suggested presentation of the results indicates that the general features of the flows through porous plates of metal foams and wire meshes are the same.
Explaining the Varieties of Volunteering in Europe: A Capability Approach
Authors: Enjolras Bernard
Published: April 2021

Volunteer rates vary greatly across Europe despite the voluntary sector’s common history and tradition. This contribution advances a theoretical explanation for the variation in volunteering across Europe—the capability approach—and tests this approach by adopting a two-step strategy for modeling contextual effects. This approach, referring to the concept of capability introduced by Sen (Choice, welfare and measurement, Oxford University Press, 1980/1982), is based on the claim that the demand and supply sides of the voluntary sector can be expected to vary according to collective and individual capabilities to engage in volunteering. To empirically test the approach, the study relied on two data sources—the 2015 European Union (EU) Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), including an ad hoc module on volunteering at the individual level, and the Quality of Government Institute and PEW Research Center macro-level data sets—to operationalize economic, human, political, social, and religious contextual factors and assess their effects on individuals’ capability to volunteer. The results support the capability hypothesis at both levels. At the individual level, indicators of human, economic, and social resources have a positive effect on the likelihood of volunteering. At the contextual level, macro-structural indicators of economic, political, social, and religious contexts affect individuals’ ability to transform resources into functioning—that is, volunteering.
Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Future Water Demand using Weather Data
Authors: Fiorillo Diana , Kapelan Zoran , Xenochristou Maria , De Paola Francesco , Giugni Maurizio
Published: April 2021

Assessing the impact of climate change on water demand is a challenging task. This paper proposes a novel methodology that quantifies this impact by establishing a link between water demand and weather based on climate change scenarios, via Coupled General Circulation Models. These models simulate the response of the global climate system to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations by reproducing atmospheric and ocean processes. In order to establish the link between water demand and weather, Random Forest models based on weather variables were used. This methodology was applied to a district metered area in Naples (Italy). Results demonstrate that the total district water demand may increase by 9–10% during the weeks with the highest temperatures. Furthermore, results show that the increase in water demand changes depending on the social characteristics of the users. The water demand of employed users with high education may increase by 13–15% when the highest temperatures occur. These increases can seriously affect the capacity and operation of existing water systems.
Gold and oil prices: abnormal returns, momentum and contrarian effects
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Plastun Alex
Published: April 2021

This paper explores price (momentum and contrarian) effects and their timing parameters on the days characterised by abnormal returns and the following ones in two commodity markets. Specifically, using daily gold and oil price data over the period 01.01.2009–31.03.2020 the following hypotheses are tested: (H1) there is a time gap between the detection of an abnormal return day and the end of that day, (H2) there are price effects on the day after abnormal returns occur; (H3) price effects after 1-day abnormal returns have identifiable timing parameters; (H4) the detected timing parameters can be used to “beat the market”. For these purposes average analysis,ttests, CAR and trading simulation approaches are used. The main results can be summarised as follows. Prices tend to move in the direction of abnormal returns till the end of the day when these occur. The presence of abnormal returns can usually be detected before the end of the day by estimating specific timing parameters, and a momentum effect can be detected. On the following day two different price patterns are detected: a momentum effect for oil prices and a contrarian effect for gold prices, respectively. These effects are limited in time, and the corresponding timing parameters are estimated. Trading simulations show that these effects can be exploited to generate abnormal profits with an appropriate calibration of the timing parameters.
A lattice-theoretic characterization of pure subgroups of Abelian groups
Authors: Ferrara M. , Trombetti M.
Published: April 2021

Let G be an abelian group. The aim of this short paper is to describe a way to identify pure subgroups H of G by looking only at how the subgroup lattice $$\mathcal {L}(H)$$

L
(
H
)

embeds in $$\mathcal {L}(G)$$

L
(
G
)

. It is worth noticing that all results are carried out in a local nilpotent context for a general definition of purity.
Association between different obesity phenotypes and hypothyroidism: a study based on a longitudinal health management cohort
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Lin Haiyan , Li Qihang , Guan Liying , Zhao Meng , Zhong Fang , Liu Jing , Yuan Zhongshang , Guo Honglin , Song Yongfeng , Gao Ling , Zhao Jiajun
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Obese individuals have an increased risk of hypothyroidism. This study investigated the sex-specific association between obesity phenotypes and the development of hypothyroidism.

Methods

The study population was derived from a health management cohort in Shandong Provincial Hospital from 2012 to 2016. In total, 9011 baseline euthyroid adults were included and classified into four groups according to obesity phenotype: metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). The median follow-up time was 1.92 (1.00–2.17) years. Incidence density was evaluated and a generalized estimation equation method was used to investigate the associations between obesity phenotypes and the development of hypothyroidism.

Results

The incidence densities of hypothyroidism in males with a consistent obesity phenotype were 12.19 (8.62–16.76), 15.87 (11.39–21.56), 14.52 (6.74–27.57), and 19.88 (14.06–27.34) per 1000 person-years in the MHNO, MHO, MUNO, and MUO groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the MHNO phenotype, the MHO, MUNO, and MUO phenotypes were independent risk factors for developing hypothyroidism in males. In the subgroup analysis, the MHO and MUO phenotypes were independent risk factors for developing hypothyroidism in males under 55 years, while the MUNO phenotype was an independent risk factor in males over 55 years. The MHO, MUNO, and MUO phenotypes were not independent risk factors for hypothyroidism in females.

Conclusion

Both obesity and metabolic abnormities are associated with a higher risk of hypothyroidism in males. The underlying mechanism of the sex and age differences in this association needs further investigation.
Comparability and Validity of the Online and In-Person Administrations of the Inventory of Problems-29
Authors: Giromini Luciano , Pignolo Claudia , Young Gerald , Drogin Eric Y. , Zennaro Alessandro , Viglione Donald J.
Published: April 2021

While the psychometric equivalence of computerized versus paper-and-pencil administration formats has been documented for some tests, so far very few studies have focused on the comparability and validity of test scores obtained via in-person versus remote administrations, and none of them have researched a symptom validity test (SVT). To contribute to fill this gap in the literature, we investigated the scores of the Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) generated by various administration formats. More specifically, Study 1 evaluated the equivalence of scores from nonclinical individuals administered the IOP-29 remotely (n = 146) versus in-person via computer (n = 140) versus in-person via paper-and-pencil format (n = 140). Study 2 reviewed published IOP-29 studies conducted using remote/online versus in-person, paper-and-pencil test administrations to determine if remote testing could adversely influence the validity of IOP-29 test results. Taken together, our findings suggest that the effectiveness of the IOP-29 is preserved when alternating between face-to-face and online/remote formats.
Hydrogeochemistry characteristics of groundwater and health risk assessment in Yalvaç–Gelendost basin (Turkey)
Authors: Davraz Ayşen , Batur Burcu
Published: April 2021

In this study, hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater chemistry and groundwater quality were investigated. Drinking water is supplied from groundwater (mostly spring and well water) in the study area. The various parameters such as physicochemical parameters, major ions, trace elements and nitrogen derivatives of groundwater samples of were analyzed. These analysis results are compared with drinking water standards for suitability and it does not exceed the permissible limit values, except for the As and F contents of some samples. The results of major ion chemistry of groundwater in the Yalvaç–Gelendost basin suggest that the silicate weathering and ion exchange are the main controlling hydrogeochemical processes in the variation of groundwater quality. The water types are Ca–Mg–HCO3, Mg–Ca–HCO3 and Ca–HCO3 in the basin.

Non-carcinogenic health risk assessment associated with arsenic, nitrate and fluoride was assessed by oral (ingestion) and dermal pathways for adult and child. For child, hazard coefficient and hazard index values are less than 1, and a negative effect on usage as drinking water and dermal (skin contact) absorption not expected. But, potential non-carcinogenic effect with oral intake is likely to occur for some water samples for adults. In addition, carcinogenic risk of As element was evaluated for adults and child related to oral and dermal effect. The carcinogenic risk of As through oral intake may pose health risks for children. For adults, it has been determined that water ingestion with dermal exposure may cause cancer. Arsenic is the main toxic element for human health in the study area. The content of As decreases in seasonal water samples. In this case, the negative effect of arsenic intake with ingestion and dermal pathways on health decreases.
Spectral Gap of the Largest Eigenvalue of the Normalized Graph Laplacian
Authors: Jost Jürgen , Mulas Raffaella , Münch Florentin
Published: April 2021

We offer a new method for proving that the maxima eigenvalue of the normalized graph Laplacian of a graph with n vertices is at least $$\frac{n+1}{n-1}$$

n
+
1

n
-
1

provided the graph is not complete and that equality is attained if and only if the complement graph is a single edge or a complete bipartite graph with both parts of size $$\frac{n-1}{2}$$

n
-
1

2

. With the same method, we also prove a new lower bound to the largest eigenvalue in terms of the minimum vertex degree, provided this is at most $$\frac{n-1}{2}$$

n
-
1

2

.
Multi-objective rain optimization algorithm with WELM model for customer churn prediction in telecommunication sector
Authors: Pustokhina Irina V. , Pustokhin Denis A. , Nguyen Phong Thanh , Elhoseny Mohamed , Shankar K.
Published: April 2021

Customer retention is a major challenge in several business sectors and diverse companies identify the customer churn prediction (CCP) as an important process for retaining the customers. CCP in the telecommunication sector has become an essential need owing to a rise in the number of the telecommunication service providers. Recently, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models have begun to develop effective CCP model. This paper presents a new improved synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) with optimal weighted extreme machine learning (OWELM) called the ISMOTE-OWELM model for CCP. The presented model comprises preprocessing, balancing the unbalanced dataset, and classification. The multi-objective rain optimization algorithm (MOROA) is used for two purposes: determining the optimal sampling rate of SMOTE and parameter tuning of WELM. Initially, the customer data involve data normalization and class labeling. Then, the ISMOTE is employed to handle the imbalanced dataset where the rain optimization algorithm (ROA) is applied to determine the optimal sampling rate. At last, the WELM model is applied to determine the class labels of the applied data. Extensive experimentation is carried out to ensure the ISMOTE-OWELM model against the CCP Telecommunication dataset. The simulation outcome portrayed that the ISMOTE-OWELM model is superior to other models with the accuracy of 0.94, 0.92, 0.909 on the applied dataset I, II, and III, respectively.
On Generalised Reverse Derivations in Semirings
Authors: Ahmed Yaqoub , Dudek Wieslaw Aleksander
Published: April 2021

In this article, we introduce generalized reverse derivations in semirings and present conditions that lead to the commutativity of additively inverse semirings.
US Obesity Mortality Trends and Associated Noncommunicable Diseases Contributing Conditions Among White, Black, and Hispanic Individuals by Age from 1999 to 2017
Authors: de Cosio Federico Gerardo , Diaz-Apodaca Beatriz , Baker Amanda , Cifuentes Miriam Patricia , Ojeda-Casares Hector , Constandce Daniel , Becerra Francisco
Published: April 2021

This study aims to assess the effect of obesity as an underlying cause of death in association with four main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as contributing causes of mortality on the age of death in White, Black, and Hispanic individuals in the USA. To estimate mortality hazard ratios, we ran a Cox regression on the US National Center for Health Statistics mortality integrated datasets from 1999 to 2017, which included almost 48 million cases. The variable in the model was the age of death in years as a proxy for time to death. The cause-of-death variable allowed for the derivation of predictor variables of obesity and the four main NCDs. The overall highest obesity mortality HR when associated with NCD contributing conditions for the year 1999–2017 was diabetes (2.15; 95% CI: 2.11–2.18), while Whites had the highest HR (2.46; 95% CI: 2.41–2.51) when compared with Black (1.32; 95% CI: 1.27–1.38) and Hispanics (1.25; 95% CI: 1.18–1.33). Hispanics had lower mortality HR for CVD (1.21; 95% CI: 1.15–1.27) and diabetes (1.25; 95% CI: 1.18–1.33) of the three studied groups. The obesity death mean was 57.3 years for all groups. People who die from obesity are, on average, 15.4 years younger than those without obesity. Although Hispanics in the USA have a higher prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), they also have the lowest mortality HR for obesity as an underlying cause of death when associated with CVD and cancer. While there is no obvious solution for obesity and its complications, continued efforts to address obesity are needed.
National Population Study of the Effect of Structure and Process on Outcomes of Digit Replantation
Authors: Hsu Chung-Chen , Malay Sunitha , Chen Jung-Sheng , Loh Charles Yuen Yung , Lin Yu-Te , Chung Kevin C.
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND:

Surgeon experience, hospital volume, and teaching hospital status may play a role in the success of digit replantation. This study aims to analyze factors that influence digit replantation success rates.

STUDY DESIGN:

We examined patients with traumatic digit amputations, between 2000 and 2015, from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan, which comprises data of more than 99% of its population. We measured the number of traumatic digit amputations and success rate of replantation. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used for descriptive statistics. Regression models were built to analyze the association among patient, surgeon, and hospital characteristics, and replant success.

RESULTS:

We identified 13,416 digit replantation patients using the eligibility criteria. The overall replantation failure rate was significantly higher in medium- and high-volume hospitals (low-volume: 11%, medium-volume: 17%, and high-volume: 15%, p < 0.001). Teaching hospitals had significantly higher replantation failure rates [(15.5% vs 7.6%), odds ratio (OR) 2.0; confidence interval (CI) 1.1–3.7]. Lower surgeon case volume resulted in a significantly higher failure rate in the thumb replantation (OR 0.89; CI 0.85–0.94).

CONCLUSIONS:

Teaching hospitals had greater odds of replantation failure, owing to being high volume centers and attempting more replantations. However, the effect of residents performing the replantation during their training should be considered. Teaching units are mandatory for resident training; however, a balance should be established to provide training, but with sufficient supervision to achieve optimal replant success. A national protocol to triage digit amputation cases to high volume centers with experienced microsurgeons will help improve the replantation success rate.
Chinese Street Music
Authors: Horlor Samuel
Published: April 2021

Musical community is a notion commonly evoked in situations of intensive collective activity and fervent negotiation of identities. Passion Square shows, the daily singing of Chinese pop classics in parks and on street corners in the city of Wuhan, have an ambivalent relationship with these ideas. They inspire modest outward signs of engagement and are guided by apparently individualistic concerns; singers are primarily motivated by making a living through the relationships they build with patrons, and reflection on group belonging is of lesser concern. How do these orientations help complicate the foundations of typical musical community discourses? This Element addresses community as a quality rather than as an entity to which people belong, exploring its ebbs and flows as associations between people, other bodies and the wider street music environment intersect with its various theoretical implications. A de-idealised picture of musical community better acknowledges the complexities of everyday musical experiences.
Gendered migration responses to drought in Malawi
Authors: Becerra-Valbuena Luis G. , Millock Katrin
Published: April 2021

Migration is a common means of adaptation to weather shocks. Previous research has identified heterogeneous effects according to age, sex, and wealth, but little is still known about how marriage-related institutions affect such migration. Relying on a quasi-experimental identification strategy, we analyze marriage- and work-related migration in Malawi following large droughts, separating the effects for female and male migrants according to different age groups. The analysis based on stated motives of migration reveals marginal decreases in marriage-related migration among girls, but increases in marriage-related migration within districts for women in older age groups. We also find large increases in work-related between-district migration for boys, and to a smaller extent also for girls following severe drought. The results add to the evidence of the potentially adverse effects of migration as a coping mechanism following drought when other means of insurance do not exist.
School-Based Education Programs for Preparing Children for Natural Hazards: A Systematic Review
Authors: Seddighi Hamed , Sajjadi Homeira , Yousefzadeh Sepideh , López López Mónica , Vameghi Meroe , Rafiey Hassan , Khankeh Hamidreza
Published: April 2021

Schools have a significant role in disaster education to children. This study investigates the research works about school-based education programs in order to discover challenges and best practices. We conducted a systematic review of English language papers published in peer-review journals.

The search identified 2577 publications and 61 articles meeting selection criteria and included in the review. Reviewed studies indicated that disaster education in schools is effective but yet insufficient in many countries. Lack of equipment, financial resources, policy gaps, and teachers’ knowledge are common problems in programs. Main outcomes of this systematic review are showing methods used for health emergency preparedness of children of different ages and gender differences in school-based disaster preparedness, as well as the difference in their lifesaving skills in disasters.

This study shows that some disaster education programs reported in the papers reviewed were not high-quality enough, which may lead to insufficient preparedness of children in disasters and consequently may put their health at risk, considering the increasing number of natural hazards.
Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in autism research: literature review
Authors: Kowalewska B. , Drozdz W. , Kowalewski L.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a behaviourally defined condition. Its molecular basis is unknown; however, its prevalence has been increasing significantly. There have been several abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems reported in ASD. In our review, we described studies involving positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that can provide useful and corroborative data.

Method:

We conducted a literature review by comprehensive database searching on EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and PsychINFO looking for articles published since January 2009. Thirty-one studies were carefully selected – 22 PET studies and 9 SPECT studies – and reviewed by 2 independent researchers. References of the articles were also cross-checked.

Results:

Results of the studies, which mainly involve small groups of participants, are frequently inconclusive and often controversial due to the nature of ASD and its wide spectrum. Studies are conducted under different conditions and with poor control for confounding factors which creates difficulties in comparing the data.

Conclusions:

There is ongoing need to improve methodology of the studies involving molecular imaging in ASD. Lack of consistent findings causes difficulties in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.
Caregivers' feeding practices in Ethiopia: association with caregiver and child characteristics
Authors: Gebru Nardos W. , Gebreyesus Seifu H. , Habtemariam Esete , Yirgu Robel , Abebe Dawit S.
Published: April 2021

Feeding is a source of interaction and communication. It affects children's physical and psychological/emotional development. The present study aims to examine the association between caregiver and child characteristics and caregivers' feeding practices among preschools in Addis Ababa. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 542 caregivers of children aged between 3 and 6 years old in selected preschools. We used the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) to measure caregivers' feeding practices. Multiple linear regression was used for analysis. Caregivers who had higher levels of perceived feeding responsibility (β0⋅20,P< 0⋅001), who were more concerned about their child being overweight (β0⋅11,P< 0⋅001) and who had more depressive symptoms (β0⋅23,P0⋅05) were associated with food restriction practice. Caregivers who were less concerned about their child being overweight (β−0⋅10,P< 0⋅001) and who had higher levels of perceived feeding responsibility (β0⋅25,P< 0⋅001) were associated with pressure to eat practice. Caregivers who had higher education (β0⋅29,P< 0⋅05), who had higher levels of perceived feeding responsibility (β0⋅47,P< 0⋅001), who were more concerned about their child being overweight (β0⋅15,P< 0⋅001) and who were less concerned about their child underweight (β−0⋅06,P< 0⋅05) were associated with monitoring feeding practice. In addition, as the children have gotten older (β0⋅08,P< 0⋅05), there is increased use of monitoring feeding practice. This study is one of few studies that show the association between caregiver and child characteristics and feeding practices in developing countries such as Ethiopia. It is essential to include responsive feeding components in national nutritional programmes to improve preschool children's nutritional status in Ethiopia.
Exclusive jurisdiction clauses in international trust deeds
Authors: Arzandeh Ardavan
Published: April 2021

Jurisdiction clauses commonly feature in high-value international contracts. Recently, these clauses are also increasingly utilised in international trust instruments. At common law, a contentious issue vis-à-vis exclusive jurisdiction clauses in trust deeds has been whether they should be upheld in the same way as their contractual equivalents. Inobiterremarks inCrociani v Crociani, in 2014, the Privy Council stated that these clauses should be afforded less weight in trusts than in contracts. However, as this paper seeks to demonstrate, the reasoning underpinning the treatment of exclusive jurisdiction clauses in trust deeds in this manner is questionable. The paper's key contention is that exclusive jurisdiction clauses in trust deeds should be enforced in the same way as those in contracts. Accordingly, an exclusive jurisdiction clause in a trust instrument should be upheld, unless the claimant can establish a strong cause why the matter should be litigated elsewhere.
Distinguishing hypochondriasis and schizophrenia using regional homogeneity: a resting-state fMRI study and support vector machine analysis
Authors: Jin Kangyu , Shen Zhe , Feng Guoxun , Zhao Zhiyong , Lu Jing , Lyu Hailong , Pan Fen , Shang Desheng , Chen Jingkai , Hu Shaohua , Xu Dongrong , Huang Manli
Published: April 2021

Objective:

A few former studies suggested there are partial overlaps in abnormal brain structure and cognitive function between Hypochondriasis (HS) and schizophrenia (SZ). But their differences in brain activity and cognitive function were unclear.

Methods:

21 HS patients, 23 SZ patients, and 24 healthy controls (HC) underwent Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) with the regional homogeneity analysis (ReHo), subsequently exploring the relationship between ReHo value and cognitive functions. The support vector machines (SVM) were used on effectiveness evaluation of ReHo for differentiating HS from SZ.

Results:

Compared with HC, HS showed significantly increased ReHo values in right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) and right fusiform gyrus (FG), while SZ showed increased ReHo in left insula, decreased ReHo values in right paracentral lobule. Additionally, HS showed significantly higher ReHo values in FG, MTG and left paracentral lobule but lower in insula than SZ. The higher ReHo values in insula were associated with worse performance in MCCB in HS group. SVM analysis showed a combination of the ReHo values in insula and FG was able to satisfactorily distinguish the HS and SZ patients.

Conclusion:

our results suggested the altered default mode network (DMN), of which abnormal spontaneous neural activity occurs in multiple brain regions, might play a key role in the pathogenesis of HS, and the resting-state alterations of insula closely related to cognitive dysfunction in HS. Furthermore, the combination of the ReHo in FG and insula was a relatively ideal indicator to distinguish HS from SZ.
From dust till drowned: the Holocene landscape development at Norderney, East Frisian Islands
Authors: Schlütz Frank , Enters Dirk , Bittmann Felix
Published: April 2021

Within the multidisciplinary WASA project, 160 cores up to 5 m long have been obtained from the back-barrier area and off the coast of the East Frisian island of Norderney. Thirty-seven contained basal peats on top of Pleistocene sands of the formerGeestand 10 of them also had intercalated peats. Based on 100 acclerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C dates and analyses of botanical as well as zoological remains from the peats, lagoonal sediments and the underlying sands, a variety of distinct habitats have been reconstructed. On the relatively steep slopes north of the present island, a swampy vegetation fringe several kilometres wide with carrs of alder (Alnus glutinosa) moved in front of the rising sea upwards of theGeestas it existed then until roughly 6 ka, when the sea level reached the current back-barrier region of Norderney at around −6 m NHN (German ordnance datum). From then on for nearly 4000 years a changing landscape with a mosaic of freshwater lakes and fens existed within this area. It was characterised by various stands ofCladium mariscus(fen sedge), alternating with brackish reed beds withPhragmites australis(common reed) and salt meadows withAster tripolium(sea aster),Triglochin maritima(sea arrowgrass),Juncus gerardii(saltmarsh rush) as well as mudflats withSalicornia europaea(common glasswort). As far as shown by our cores, this highly diverse, and for humans potentially attractive landscape was at least some 4 km wide and followed the coast for about 10 km. Before the rising sea caused diversification of habitats, wet heath as well as dry and dusty sand areas existed. In the course of time, parts of the wet heath turned into raisedSphagnumbogs under an oceanic precipitation regime before this diverse landscape was drowned by the rising sea and finally covered by marine sediments, while the earlier sediments and peats were partly eroded and redeposited.
The relationship between famine exposure during early life and ascending aorta dilatation in adults
Authors: Huang Yu-Qing , Liu Lin , Lo Kenneth Ka Ho , Yu Yu-Ling , Chen Chao-Lei , Huang Jia-Yi , Zhang Bin , Feng Ying-qing
Published: April 2021

The relationship between exposure to famine in early life and the risk of ascending aorta dilatation (AAD) in adulthood is still unclear; therefore, we aimed to examine the association in the Chinese population. We investigated the data of 2598 adults who were born between 1952 and 1964 in Guangdong, China. All enrolled subjects were categorised into five groups: not exposed to famine, exposed during fetal period, and exposed during early, mid or late childhood. AAD was assessed by cardiac ultrasound. Multivariate logistic regression and interaction tests were performed to estimate the OR and CI on the association between famine exposure and AAD. There were 2598 (943 male, mean age 58·3 ± 3·68 years) participants were enrolled, and 270 (10·4 %) subjects with AAD. We found that famine exposure (OR = 2·266, 95 % CI 1·477, 3·477, P = 0·013) was associated with elevated AAD after adjusting for multiple confounders. In addition, compared with the non-exposed group, the adjusted OR for famine exposure during fetal period, early, mid or late childhood were 1·374 (95 % CI 0·794, 2·364, P = 0·251), 1·976 (95 % CI 1·243, 3·181, P = 0·004), 1·929 (95 % CI 1·237, 3·058, P = 0·004) and 2·227 (95 % CI 1·433, 3·524, P < 0·001), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of famine exposure on the association with AAD was more pronounced in female, current smokers, people with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and hypertensive patients. We observed that exposure to famine during early life was linked to AAD in adulthood.
Exogenous salicylic acid improves resistance of aphid-susceptible wheat to the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)
Authors: Feng Jian-Lu , Zhang Jie , Yang Jun , Zou Ling-Ping , Fang Ting-Ting , Xu Huan-Li , Cai Qing-Nian
Published: April 2021

Salicylic acid (SA), a phytohormone, has been considered to be a key regulator mediating plant defence against pathogens. It is still vague how SA activates plant defence against herbivores such as chewing and sucking pests. Here, we used an aphid-susceptible wheat variety to investigate Sitobion avenae response to SA-induced wheat plants, and the effects of exogenous SA on some defence enzymes and phenolics in the plant immune system. In SA-treated wheat seedlings, intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), fecundity and apterous rate of S. avenae were 0.25, 31.4 nymphs/female and 64.4%, respectively, and significantly lower than that in the controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, the increased activities of phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase in the SA-induced seedlings obviously depended on the sampling time, whereas activities of catalase and 4-coumarate:CoA ligase were suppressed significantly at 24, 48 and 72 h in comparison with the control. Dynamic levels of p-coumaric acid at 96 h, caffeic acid at 24 and 72 h and chlorogenic acid at 24, 48 and 96 h in wheat plants were significantly upregulated by exogenous SA application. Nevertheless, only caffeic acid content was positively correlated with PPO activity in SA-treated wheat seedlings (P = 0.031). These findings indicate that exogenous SA significantly enhanced the defence of aphid-susceptible wheat variety against aphids by regulating the plant immune system, and may prove a potential application of SA in aphid control.
Tourmaline growth and evolution in S-type granites and pegmatites: constraints from textural, chemical and B-isotopic study from the Gangpur Schist Belt granitoids, eastern India
Authors: Chakraborty Tuhin
Published: April 2021

An extensive dataset of major- and trace-element and B-isotope composition related to the compositional variation of the tourmalines from the S-type granite and pegmatite from the Upper Bonai and Gangpur Group granitoids, eastern India, is provided. The Gangpur Schist Belt, consisting of the Upper Bonai and Gangpur Group, lies at the eastern end of the Proterozoic Central Indian Tectonic Zone. An attempt to constrain the source of the boron isotope and describe the magmatic–hydrothermal evolution of the granite–pegmatite system is made. The tourmalines record generally low trace-element concentrations, with the exception of some elements such as Zn, Li, Ga, Mn and Ti. The Zn and Li concentration increases from the tourmalines in the granites to the tourmalines in the pegmatite. Trace-element compositions also vary slightly from the core tourmaline to the rim tourmaline. Tourmalines in granites/pegmatites are mostly Fe-rich schorl, and have S-type B-isotopic signature (δ11B = −10‰ to −12‰). Their chemistries reflect changing salinities of the granitic melts as well as vapour exsolution during progressive crystallization. This study indicates that the tourmalines in the pegmatites crystallized from evolved flux-element-rich (F, B, Li) melt, probably after the crystallization of granite-forming melt.
Threats at Home and Abroad: Interstate War, Civil War, and Alliance Formation
Authors: Edry Jessica , Johnson Jesse C. , Leeds Brett Ashley
Published: April 2021

In the current era, many of the military threats that state leaders face come from domestic and transnational nonstate actors. Military alliances are recognized as an important policy strategy to counter military threats, but existing research has primarily been focused on threats from other states and has difficulty uncovering a consistent relationship between external threat and alliance formation. We argue that this discrepancy arises from the failure to recognize that many threats are not external to the state. We contend that alliance formation is motivated both by external threats from other states and by internal threats that make civil conflict more likely. Moreover, we argue that leaders design alliance obligations differently when faced with internal threats. An empirical analysis of alliance formation from 1946 to 2009 shows that while external threats motivate the formation of defense pacts, internal threats encourage the formation of consultation pacts. Internal threats with the greatest potential for internationalization also encourage the formation of neutrality/nonaggression pacts. This research deepens our understanding of how states design security policies to deal with the threats posed by nonstate actors, a salient concern of leaders in the twenty-first century, and helps us to understand the variety of alliance obligations that we observe.
Denying the Right of Return as a Crime Against Humanity
Authors: Levinger Tomer
Published: April 2021

This article argues that there are firm grounds upon which to regard the act of denying a person's right of return to their country as a crime against humanity. To make its case, the article builds upon two justifications for the right of return: its grounding based on the human need to belong, and its purpose as a means of preventing rightlessness. The human interests underlying these justifications, the article contends, are similarly those reflected by the image of humanness ingrained within the law of crimes against humanity. Therefore, when the right of return is denied, it is also an assault against humanness as such – a crime against humanity. Recently, proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC), with regard to the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar, have made this question highly relevant. Both the Court's Pre-Trial Chamber and Prosecutor have raised arguments in support of regarding the denial of the right of the Rohingya peoples to return to Myanmar a crime against humanity of other inhumane acts. Consequently, this article attempts to offer support for what might turn out to be an important doctrinal development in ICC jurisprudence.
Small Farms, Large Transaction Costs: Haiti’s Missing Sugar
Authors: Palsson Craig
Published: April 2021

In the eighteenth century, Haiti was the world’s leading sugar producer, but when cane surged in the Caribbean in the early twentieth century, Haiti produced none. Instead, the land sat idle while workers emigrated to work on sugar plantations. I examine the hypothesis that historical property rights institutions created high transaction costs for converting land to cane production. I collect new data on land-use from 1928–1950 and a proxy for transaction costs. The evidence suggests transaction costs impeded the land market from responding to the sugar boom.
Gradient-based optimization of 3D MHD equilibria
Authors: Paul Elizabeth J. , Landreman Matt , Antonsen Thomas
Published: April 2021

Using recently developed adjoint methods for computing the shape derivatives of functions that depend on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibria (Antonsenet al.,J. Plasma Phys., vol. 85, issue 2, 2019; Paulet al.,J. Plasma Phys., vol. 86, issue 1, 2020), we present the first example of analytic gradient-based optimization of fixed-boundary stellarator equilibria. We take advantage of gradient information to optimize figures of merit of relevance for stellarator design, including the rotational transform, magnetic well and quasi-symmetry near the axis. With the application of the adjoint method, we reduce the number of equilibrium evaluations by the dimension of the optimization space (${\sim }50\text {--}500$) in comparison with a finite-difference gradient-based method. We discuss regularization objectives of relevance for fixed-boundary optimization, including a novel method that prevents self-intersection of the plasma boundary. We present several optimized equilibria, including a vacuum field with very low magnetic shear throughout the volume.