bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting successional changes in tropical forest structure using GatorEye drone‐borne lidar
Authors: de Almeida Danilo Roberti Alves , Almeyda Zambrano Angelica Maria , Broadbent Eben North , Wendt Amanda L. , Foster Paul , Wilkinson Benjamin E. , Salk Carl , Papa Daniel de Almeida , Stark Scott Christopher , Valbuena Ruben , Gorgens Eric Bastos , Silva Carlos Alberto , Brancalion Pedro Henrique Santin , Fagan Matthew , Meli Paula , Chazdon Robin
Published: July 2020

Drone‐based remote sensing is a promising new technology that combines the benefits of ground‐based and satellite‐derived forest monitoring by collecting fine‐scale data over relatively large areas in a cost‐effective manner. Here, we explore the potential of the GatorEye drone‐lidar system to monitor tropical forest succession by canopy structural attributes including canopy height, spatial heterogeneity, gap fraction, leaf area density (LAD) vertical distribution, canopy Shannon index (an index of LAD), leaf area index (LAI), and understory LAI. We focus on these variables’ relationship to aboveground biomass (AGB) stocks and species diversity. In the Caribbean lowlands of northeastern Costa Rica, we analyze nine tropical forests stands (seven second‐growth and two old‐growth). Stands were relatively homogenous in terms of canopy height and spatial heterogeneity, but not in their gap fraction. Neither species density nor tree community Shannon diversity index was significantly correlated with the canopy Shannon index. Canopy height, LAI, and AGB did not show a clear pattern as a function of forest age. However, gap fraction and spatial heterogeneity increased with forest age, whereas understory LAI decreased with forest age. Canopy height was strongly correlated with AGB. The heterogeneous mosaic created by successional forest patches across human‐managed tropical landscapes can now be better characterized. Drone‐lidar systems offer the opportunity to improve assessment of forest recovery and develop general mechanistic carbon sequestration models that can be rapidly deployed to specific sites, an essential step for monitoring progress within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Savannas after afforestation: Assessment of herbaceous community responses to wildfire versus native tree planting
Authors: M. Haddad Thaís , A. G. Viani Ricardo , G. B. Cava Mário , Durigan Giselda , W. Veldman Joseph
Published: July 2020

Afforestation and fire exclusion are pervasive threats to tropical savannas. In Brazil, laws limiting prescribed burning hinder the study of fire in the restoration of Cerrado plant communities. We took advantage of a 2017 wildfire to evaluate the potential for tree cutting and fire to promote the passive restoration of savanna herbaceous plant communities after destruction by exotic tree plantations. We sampled a burned pine plantation (Burned Plantation); a former plantation that was harvested and burned (Harvested & Burned); an unburned former plantation that was harvested, planted with native trees, and treated with herbicide to control invasive grasses (Native Tree Planting); and two old‐growth savannas which served as reference communities. Our results confirm that herbaceous plant communities on post‐afforestation sites are very different from old‐growth savannas. Among post‐afforestation sites, Harvested & Burned herbaceous communities were modestly more similar in composition to old‐growth savannas, had slightly higher richness of savanna plants (3.8 species per 50‐m2), and supported the greatest cover of native herbaceous plants (56%). These positive trends in herbaceous community recovery would be missed in assessments of tree cover: whereas canopy cover in the Harvested & Burned site was 6% (less than typical of savannas of the Cerrado), the Burned Plantation and Native Tree Planting supported 34% and 19% cover, respectively. By focusing on savanna herbaceous plants, these results highlight that tree cutting and fire, not simply tree planting and fire exclusion, should receive greater attention in efforts to restore savannas of the Cerrado.
Chaos and creativity in dynamic idea evaluation: Theorizing the organization of problem‐based portfolios
Authors: Ulrich Frank , Nielsen Peter Axel
Published: July 2020

Facilitating creativity effectively requires attendance to the complex nature of idea development and the later maturation of the produced ideas. In this theoretical piece, we add something entirely new to the creativity management literature by exploring how the knowledge generated during idea evaluation can facilitate the creation of problem‐based portfolios. We build upon the latest advances in utilizing knowledge from the idea evaluation process to facilitate divergent and convergent production—coined as dynamic idea evaluation (DIE). Using DIE as the theoretical platform, we use chaos theory to explore the complex duality between creative production and the creative negotiation processes in idea evaluation to outline the systemic properties of problem‐based portfolios. We theorize that balancing creative‐sensitive dependency towards convergent and divergent production is vital to understand how people use negotiations to dynamically transform the knowledge they generate during idea evaluation into the improvement of existing ideas and the creation of novel ideas and problem definitions. We also posit that problem definitions will cluster ideas and knowledge about those ideas into dynamic portfolios.
The Developmental Peacebuilding Model (DPM) of Children’s Prosocial Behaviors in Settings of Intergroup Conflict
Authors: Taylor Laura K.
Published: July 2020

The persistence of intergroup conflicts around the world creates urgency for research on child development in such settings. Complementing what we know about internalizing and externalizing developmental outcomes, in this article, I shift the focus to children’s prosocial behaviors and more specifically, the Developmental Peacebuilding Model (DPM). The DPM makes three main contributions: It (a) integrates a developmental intergroup framework and socioecological perspective with a peace‐building paradigm to examine the target and type of children’s prosocial behavior in settings of intergroup conflict; (b) outlines how children’s outgroup prosocial behaviors, which promote constructive change at different levels of social ecology, can be understood as peace building and fostering social cohesion; and (c) has implications for research and global policy.
Orientation Effects in the Development of Linear Object Tracking in Early Infancy
Authors: Tham Diana S.Y. , Rees Alison , Bremner J. Gavin , Slater Alan , Johnson Scott P.
Published: July 2020

Infants' oculomotor tracking develops rapidly but is poorer when there are horizontal and vertical movement components. Additionally, persistence of objects moving through occlusion emerges at 4 months but initially is absent for objects moving obliquely. In two experiments, we recorded eye movements of thirty‐two 4‐month‐old and thirty‐two 6‐month‐old infants (mainly Caucasian‐White) tracking horizontal, vertical, and oblique trajectories. Infants tracked oblique trajectories less accurately, but 6‐month olds tracked more accurately such that they tracked oblique trajectories as accurately as 4‐month olds tracked horizontal and vertical trajectories. Similar results emerged when the object was temporarily occluded. Thus, 4‐month olds’ tracking of oblique trajectories may be insufficient to support object persistence, whereas 6‐month olds may track sufficiently accurately to perceive object persistence for all trajectory orientations.
Bumblebee diversity and pollination networks along the elevation gradient of Mount Olympus, Greece
Authors: Minachilis Konstantinos , Kantsa Aphrodite , Devalez Jelle , Trigas Panayiotis , Tscheulin Thomas , Petanidou Theodora
Published: July 2020

Aim

We studied bumblebee diversity and bumblebee pollination networks along the altitudinal gradient of Mt. Olympus, a legendary mountain in Central Greece, also known for its exceptional flora.

Location

Mt. Olympus, Central Greece.

Taxon

Bombus (Latreille, 1802).

Methods

We explored 10 study sites located on the north‐eastern slope of the mountain, from 327 to 2,596 m a. s. l. Bumblebee surveys were carried out on a monthly basis using pan traps (years 2013 and 2014) and random transect observations assisted by hand netting (years 2013, 2014, and 2016); visited flowering plants and their diversity were recorded during the transect observations.

Results

With a total of 22 recorded bumblebee species and one species complex, Mt. Olympus is one of the richest mountains in Mediterranean Europe regarding bumblebee diversity. Bombus quadricolor was recorded as a new species for Greece, whereas four species were recorded at their southernmost distribution limit, therefore possibly vulnerable to climate change. Species richness of both bumblebees and plants in flower followed a unimodal pattern along the altitudinal gradient, the former peaking at high altitudes (1,900–2,200 m a.s.l.), the latter at lower to intermediate altitudes (500–1,500 m a.s.l.). Bumblebee–plant visitation networks were larger, more diverse and more generalized in the between intermediate altitudes (1,500–1,800 m a.s.l.), while nestedness peaked at low and high altitudes.

Main conclusions

Our results disclose the differential significance of the altitudinal zones of Mt. Olympus for the conservation of the diversity of bumblebees and their host plants, as well as of the interactions among them. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of this mountain, because of its South‐European location, regarding climate change impacts on the bumblebee fauna of Europe. All in all, they point towards more reinforced conservation measures to be taken including the expansion of the protection status to the entire mountain.
Temperature‐dependent fatigue modelling of a novel Ni, Bi and Sb containing Sn‐3.8Ag‐0.7Cu lead‐free solder alloy
Authors: Tao Q.B. , Benabou L. , Le Van Nhat , Nguyen Ngoc Anh Thi , Nguyen‐Xuan Hung
Published: July 2020

Low‐cycle fatigue testing of a lead‐free solder (InnoLot) based on Sn‐3.8Ag‐0.7Cu (SAC387) with three simultaneous additions of bismuth, nickel and antimony was conducted using miniature‐sized fatigue specimens at different temperatures and strain amplitudes. The experiments show a decline of the load capacity of the solder alloy with the number of loading cycles. The fatigue life of the solder is also decreased by the level of imposed temperature. The temperature‐modified Coffin‐Manson and Morrow models were used to analyse the behaviour under fatigue and predict lifetime. The parameters in the two fatigue models were determined by considering experiments at different temperatures and total strain amplitudes. In comparison with other reference lead‐free solders, the InnoLot solder shows much better fatigue strength. The better fatigue strength is found to result from the effect of BiNiSb elements. Also, lifetime predictions were made with both models for the solder alloy under different conditions.
Shifting states, shifting services: Linking regime shifts to changes in ecosystem services of shallow lakes
Authors: Janssen Annette B. G. , Hilt Sabine , Kosten Sarian , de Klein Jeroen J. M. , Paerl Hans W. , Van de Waal Dedmer B.
Published: July 2020

Shallow lakes can shift between stable states as a result of anthropogenic or natural drivers. Four common stable states differ in dominant groups of primary producers: submerged, floating, or emergent macrophytes or phytoplankton. Shifts in primary producer dominance affect key supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services supplied by lakes. However, links between states and services are often neglected or unknown in lake management, resulting in conflicts and additional costs.

Here, we identify major shallow lake ecosystem services and their links to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), compare service provisioning among the four ecosystem states and discuss potential trade‐offs.

We identified 39 ecosystem services potentially provided by shallow lakes. Submerged macrophytes facilitate most of the supporting (86%) and cultural (63%) services, emergent macrophytes facilitate most regulating services (60%), and both emergent and floating macrophytes facilitate most provisioning services (63%). Phytoplankton dominance supports fewer ecosystem services, and contributes most to provisioning services (42%).

The shallow lake ecosystem services we identified could be linked to 10 different SDGs, notably zero hunger (SDG 2), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG13).

We highlighted several trade‐offs (1) among ecosystem services, (2) within ecosystem services, and (3) between ecosystem services across ecosystems. These trade‐offs can have significant ecological and economic consequences that may be prevented by early identification in water quality management.

In conclusion, common stable states in shallow lakes provide a different and diverse set of ecosystem services with numerous links to the majority of SDGs. Conserving and restoring ecosystem states should account for potential trade‐offs between ecosystem services and preserving the natural value of shallow lakes.
Respiratory viruses in pediatric emergency department patients and their family members
Authors: Matienzo Nelsa , Youssef Mariam M. , Comito Devon , Lane Benjamin , Ligon Chanel , Morita Haruka , Winchester Arianna , Decker Mary E. , Dayan Peter , Shopsin Bo , Shaman Jeffrey
Published: July 2020

Background

Respiratory viral infections account for a substantial fraction of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits. We examined the epidemiological patterns of seven common respiratory viruses in children presenting to EDs with influenza‐like illness (ILI). Additionally, we examined the co‐occurrence of viral infections in the accompanying adults and risk factors associated with the acquisition of these viruses.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal swab were collected from children seeking medical care for ILI and their accompanying adults (Total N = 1315). Study sites included New York Presbyterian, Bellevue, and Tisch hospitals in New York City. PCR using a respiratory viral panel was conducted, and data on symptoms and medical history were collected.

Results

Respiratory viruses were detected in 399 children (62.25%) and 118 (17.5%) accompanying adults. The most frequent pathogen detected was human rhinovirus (HRV) (28.81%). Co‐infection rates were 14.79% in children and 8.47% in adults. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza infections occurred more often in younger children. Influenza and HRV occurred more often in older children. Influenza and coronavirus were mostly isolated in winter and spring, RSV in fall and winter and HRV in fall and spring. Children with HRV were more likely to have history of asthma. Adults with the same virus as their child often accompanied ≤ 2‐year‐old‐positive children and were more likely to be symptomatic compared to adults with different viruses.

Conclusions

Respiratory viruses, while presenting the same suite of symptoms, possess distinct seasonal cycles and affect individuals differently based on a number of identifiable factors, including age and history of asthma.
Procedural fairness enacted by societal actors increases social trust and social acceptance among ethnic minority members through the promotion of sense of societal belonging
Authors: Valcke Barbara , Van Hiel Alain , Onraet Emma , Dierckx Kim
Published: July 2020

Although procedural fairness has been studied frequently during the past decades, little work has focused explicitly on how procedural fairness affects members of ethnic minorities in the context of multicultural decision‐making processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate how perceptions of procedurally fair treatment of fellow minority members by societal actors impact the individual’s sense of societal belongingness, which we define as the feeling that he/she is a valued member of society at large, and how this in turn is related to social trust and social well‐being. Three samples of African American and Hispanic American respondents from the United States were collected (total N = 570). Two experimental studies and one questionnaire study were conducted. Experimental manipulation of procedural fairness climate was shown to impact sense of societal belongingness among minority members (Study 1), whereas manipulating sense of societal belongingness itself led to an increase in social trust and social acceptance (Study 2). Study 3 (A self‐report survey), finally, affirmed the entire hypothesized mediation model. The present research provides further evidence for the importance of procedural fairness for ethnic minorities. Our research showed that when societal actors enact procedural fairness they may strengthen minority members’ societal belongingness, which in turn may influence their social trust and feelings of being socially accepted.
Prospective audit of the safety of endoscopist‐directed nurse‐administered propofol sedation in an Australian referral hospital
Authors: Gururatsakul Montri , Lee Richard , Ponnuswamy Sureshkumar Kallippatti , Gilhotra Rajit , McGowan Cathal , Whittaker Debra , Ombiga John , Boyd Peter
Published: July 2020

Background and Aim

Endoscopist directed nurse administered propofol sedation (EDNAPS) is widely considered to be safe and efficient, but there are limited data from the Australian health‐care setting, and Australian sedation guidelines do not support the practice. Thus, we report data from a prospective audit of EDNAPS over a 6.5‐year period in an Australian referral hospital.

Methods

Consecutive endoscopic procedures performed between January 2013 and June 2019. Sedation protocol was an initial dose of midazolam 1–3 mg intravenously (i.v.) and propofol 10–50 mg i.v.. Further aliquots of propofol 10–30 mg i.v. were given as required. ProvationMD® endoscopic reporting system was used to prospectively record patient demographics, medication and dose, American Society of Anesthesiologist's (ASA) class, and sedation‐related complications.

Results

During the 78‐month period, 28 051 eligible procedures were performed; 3093 procedures performed with anesthetic support or without EDNAPS were excluded. In total, 24 958 procedures with EDNAPS were analyzed including 7563 gastroscopies, 12 941 colonoscopies, 2932 gastroscopy and colonoscopy, 1440 flexible sigmoidoscopies, and 82 combined gastroscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Of these, 9539 were ASA 1 (38.2%), 13 680 were ASA 2 (54.8%), 1733 were ASA 3 (6.9%), and 4 were ASA 4 (0.02%). Sedation‐related complications occurred in 66 patients (0.26%), predominantly transient hypoxic episodes. No patient required intubation for an airway emergency, and there was no sedation‐related mortality. Sedation‐related complications increased with ASA class and were significantly more common with gastroscopy.

Conclusions

Endoscopist directed nurse administered propofol sedation is a safe way of performing endoscopic sedation in low‐risk patients in the hospital setting.
Modulation of NADPH oxidase and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway by vanillin in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats
Authors: Younis Nahla N , Elsherbiny Nehal M , Shaheen Mohamed A , Elseweidy Mohamed M
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To investigate the protective effect of vanillin in cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and elucidate the role of nrf-2 and its downstream antioxidant molecules.

Methods

Rats received vanillin (100 mg/kg orally) for 10 constitutive days and CP (7.5 mg/kg, once, ip) on day 6 of vanillin administration.

Key findings

Cisplatin suppressed body weight gain, increased serum urea and creatinine and renal malondialdehyde and nitric oxide while decreased renal total antioxidant capacity. Up-regulation of NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX-4) was marked in renal tissue of CP-treated rats along with down-regulation of the antioxidant genes (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 (NRF2) and haem oxygenase-1(HO-1)). Increased tumour necrosis factor-α and decreased interleukin-10 with increased myeloperoxidase activity were apparent in renal tissue of CP-treated rats along with marked tubular injury, neutrophil infiltration and increased apoptosis (caspase-3) and some degree of interstitial fibrosis. Vanillin prophylactic administration prevented the deterioration of kidney function, oxidative and nitrosative stress. It also suppressed NOX-4 and up-regulated NRF2 and HO-1 expression in renal tissue. Inflammation, apoptosis and tubular injury were also inhibited by vanillin.

Conclusions

The antioxidant mechanism by which vanillin protected against CP-induced nephrotoxicity involved the inhibition of NOX-4 along with the stimulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway. These in turn inhibited inflammation and apoptosis.
The rice (Oryza sativa) Rc gene improves resistance to preharvest sprouting and retains seed and milled rice quality
Authors: Wu Min , Xu Shan , Fei Yuexin , Cao Yujie , Wu Hongkai
Published: July 2020

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) remains a severe agricultural problem in rice and other crops. This study investigated the exact effect of Rc gene on PHS resistance along with seed and milled rice quality using two sets of near‐isogenic line‐derived populations, and showed the advantages of the Rc gene over other dormancy‐associated genes in protecting against PHS. Rc gene has a significant effect on PHS resistance, and Rc‐controlled dormancy does not negatively affect next agricultural production cycle. Importantly, Rc has a completely dominant maternal effect on PHS resistance, which confers an advantage to hybrid rice over inbred rice, and the effect fails to be counteracted by GA application in hybrid seed production. Moreover, Rc gene retains the same milled rice qualities of brown‐pericarp rice as that of white‐pericarp rice, and the brown‐pericarp rice possesses a higher antioxidative capacity than the white‐pericarp rice. Thus, wide application of the Rc gene would not only protect against PHS, but would also enhance the production of naturally occurring antioxidants that could make a significant contribution to human health.
Humeanism about laws of nature
Authors: Bhogal Harjit
Published: July 2020

Humeanism about laws of nature is, roughly, the view that the laws of nature are just patterns, or ways of describing patterns, in the mosaic of events. In this paper, I survey some of the (many!) objections that have been raised to Humeanism, considering how the Humean might respond. And I consider how we might make a positive case for Humeanism. The common thread running through all this is that the viability of the Humean view relies on the Humean having an importantly different conception of explanation to the anti‐Humean.
Lifestyle and Early Achievement in Families (LEAF) study: Design of an ambidirectional cohort study of prenatal marijuana exposure and child development and behaviour
Authors: Klebanoff Mark A. , Fried Peter , Yeates Keith O. , Rausch Joseph , Wilkins Diana G. , Blei Holly , Sullivan Jacqueline A. , Phillips Whitney , Wiese Anna , Jude Abigail , Boone Kelly M. , Murnan Aaron , Keim Sarah A.
Published: August 2020

Background

Marijuana is the most‐used illicit substance during pregnancy in the USA, but only two cohort studies, begun over 30 years ago, were specifically established to assess the association of pregnancy use with childhood outcomes. They found use to be associated with specific deficits in executive function at 8+ years, but did not focus on these outcomes earlier in life when intervention may be more successful. Two general purpose cohorts found increased aggression in exposed female toddlers and increased behavioural problems and tic disorders in exposed school‐age children.

Objectives

The Lifestyle and Early Achievement in Families (LEAF) study assesses the association of in utero marijuana exposure, documented prospectively by biomarker, self‐report, and medical records, with executive function and aggression at age 3½‐7 years.

Methods

This ambidirectional cohort (historical cohort with continued follow‐up) includes women enrolled in the Perinatal Research Repository during prenatal care at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and their children, recontacted 3½‐7 years post‐birth. Children complete 1‐2 study visits including cognitive testing, behavioural observation, and maternal and teacher report of behaviour. Family and social environmental factors are assessed.

Results

Child follow‐up began in September 2016; visits continue through August 2020. There are 362 eligible children; 32% had mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy, 10% of mothers completed college, and 23% did not complete high school. Mean maternal age at study registration in pregnancy was 26.4 years, and 63% of mothers were African American. To date, 268 children have completed at least 1 study visit.

Conclusions

The LEAF Study will document the association of prenatal marijuana exposure with development and behaviour in the current era when marijuana is more potent than when previous cohorts were studied. The results may inform policy and interventions to counsel reproductive‐aged women about the risks of use during pregnancy and guide prevention and treatment of adverse effects among children.
Discrepancies in the bilateral intradermal test and serum tests in atopic horses
Authors: van Damme Catharina M. M. , van den Broek Jan , Sloet van Oldruitenborgh‐Oosterbaan Marianne M.
Published: August 2020

Background

In equine atopic patients intradermal testing (IDT) and immunoglobulin (Ig)E serology are used frequently. There is little evidence regarding the reproducibility of the IDT and IgE serology in horses.

Objectives

To compare the results of a simultaneously performed IDT on the left and right side of the neck in atopic horses, and to compare these results with allergen‐specific IgE serology.

Animals

Ten equine patients from a university hospital population with chronic urticaria and/or pruritus.

Methods and materials

The IDT was performed using 16 allergens and the results were evaluated after 30 min, 1, 4 and 24 h. Thirteen allergens also were analysed in duplicate with two monoclonal allergen‐specific IgE enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Results

Good agreement (Kappa > 0.6) between left and right IDT was found only for Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, birch pollen mixture and perennial rye at 30 min, birch pollen mixture at 1 h, and Acarus siro and nettle and common mugwort mixture at 4 h. The bilateral comparison of the other allergens and even the same allergens at other time points showed little or no concordance between left and right IDT. The interlaboratory comparison between both ELISAs, and the comparison between the ELISAs and IDT, showed a good agreement for two of 13 allergens: D. farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Based on these preliminary data, IDT and IgE serological test results should be interpreted with great care and further studies are needed to indicate the clinical relevance of these findings.
THE THEOLOGICAL DEBATE OVER HUMAN ENHANCEMENT: AN EMPIRICAL CASE STUDY OF A MEDIATING ORGANIZATION
Authors: Evans John H.
Published: July 2020

For most theologians, theology should ultimately be used by the laity and/or the public. However, the religion and science debate has not focused on the divide between theologians and the laity. In this case study I examine the debate among theologians about human enhancement. I focus on the extent to which the structure of the debate in a “mediating organization” between the theologians and the public coincides with the structure of the debate among the theologians. I conduct a survey of participants in the organization, and find that the basic divides among the theologians are largely replicated. These results, when combined with studies of the theologians themselves and the laity, provide a more holistic understanding of the future debate about human enhancement.
An Experimental Study on the Innovative CDIO Method in English Language Teaching
Authors: Yusuf Ahmet , Tilfarlioğlu Filiz Yalçin
Published: July 2020

This experimental study is an attempt to bring a new perspective and a new teaching method CDIO (Conceiving, Designing, Implementing, and Operating) to the ELT field. The CDIO method was applied in the 11th grade in a private high school in Diyarbakir, Turkey. The students were subjected to a pretest before the treatment process and to a posttest after the process. The treatment procedures and materials were prepared according to the CDIO curriculum and standards. The treatment process lasted for fifteen weeks for the experimental group while the control group continued learning English without being exposed to the CDIO teaching method. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed with the assistance of IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 to see whether the CDIO methodology has effective results on the students’ performance or not. After the data was collected and analyzed, the results showed that the students performed better after learning English using CDIO in the rate of 14.45%, where the mean score of the pretest was 71.66 while the mean score of the posttest was 86.23. Moreover, the results exhibit that the participants’ fulfillment developed in grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Accordingly, there is a great improvement in the students’ performance of the experimental group. Also, the outcomes show that the CDIO has played a big role in developing the students’ level and has shown a positive effect on learning English. Finally, it is expected from this research to open the door for schools and faculties of teaching English to adopt the CDIO approach and apply it in their programs.
Definition of Substitute Family Care and Issues of the School Environment
Authors: Stárek Lukáš
Published: August 2020

As part of the transformation of the care system for children at risk in the Czech Republic, alternative family care has a fundamental priority over the placement of children in institutional care. Nowadays, teachers increasingly encounter a child living in a foster family at school. The educational program reflects various situations in the life of children who preceded their placement in foster care. These specific life experiences prevent children from establishing successful relationships, respecting boundaries and successfully participating in their educational process.
A multimedia speech corpus for audio visual research in virtual reality (L)
Authors: Kishline Lindsey R. , Colburn Scott W. , Robinson Philip W.
Published: August 2020

Virtual reality environments offer new possibilities in perceptual research, such as presentation of physically impossible but ecologically valid stimuli in contrived scenarios. To facilitate perceptual research in such environments, this study presents a publicly available database of anechoic audio speech samples with matching stereoscopic and 360° video. These materials and accompanying software tool allow researchers to create simulations with up to five talkers positioned at arbitrary azimuthal locations, at multiple depth planes, in any 360° or stereoscopic environment. This study describes recording conditions and techniques, contents of the corpus, and how to use the materials within a virtual reality environment.
Can we predict solar flares?
Authors: Veronig Astrid M.
Published: July 2020

A physics-based model may help improve space weather forecasts
Formula Diet Alters the Ileal Metagenome and Transcriptome at Weaning and during the Postweaning Period in a Porcine Model
Authors: Elolimy Ahmed A. , Washam Charity , Byrum Stephanie , Chen Celine , Dawson Harry , Bowlin Anne K. , Randolph Christopher E. , Saraf Manish K. , Yeruva Laxmi
Published: August 2020

Exclusive human milk (HM) breastfeeding for the first 6 months of age in infants is recommended to improve health outcomes during early life and beyond. When women are unable to provide sufficient HM, milk formula (MF) is often recommended as a complementary or alternative source of nutrition. Previous studies in piglets demonstrated that MF alters the gut microbiome and induces inflammatory cytokine production. The links between MF feeding, gut microbiome, and inflammation status are unclear due to challenges associated with the collection of intestinal samples from human infants. The current report provides the first insight into MF-microbiome-inflammation connections in the small intestine compared with HM feeding using a porcine model. The present results showed that, compared with HM, MF might impact immune function through the induction of ileal inflammation, apoptosis, and tight junction disruptions and likely compromised immune defense against pathogen detection in the small intestine relative to piglets that were fed HM.
Magnitude of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its correlation with academic performance among female medical and health science students at University of Gondar, Ethiopia, 2019: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Minichil Woredaw , Eskindir Eleni , Demilew Demeke , Mirkena Yohannes
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess the magnitude of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and associated factors among female students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, 2019.

Design

Institution-based cross-sectional study design.

Setting

College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Participants

386 participants were recruited for self-administered interview using the stratified followed by simple random sampling technique.

Measurement

Data were collected by self-administered interview. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) was used to measure PMDD. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Oslo-3 social support are used to assess the factors. The data were checked, cleaned and entered into EpiData V.3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) V.21.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regressions were used. OR with 95% CI was employed to see the strength of associations between dependent and independent variables. Variables with a p value <0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were declared as significantly associated.

Result

386 participants were involved in the study, with a response rate of 84.6%. The overall magnitude of PMDD in this study was 34.7% (30.3 to 39.1). Severe menstrual pain (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.82, 95% CI: 1.83 to 4.23), perception of an impact on academic performance due to menstrual pain (AOR=2.31, 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.32), and high perceived stress (AOR=3.52, 95% CI: 2.58 to 5.60) were significantly associated with PMDD disorder among female medical and health sciences students.

Conclusion

PMDD is high among female medical and health sciences students. Thus, it needs early screening and intervention especially for those who have severe menstrual pain, perceived to have an impact on academic performance and high perceived stress.
Implementation of integrated operating rooms: how much time is saved and how do medical staff experience the upgrading? A mixed methods study in Denmark
Authors: Carstensen Kathrine , Jensen Emma Kejser , Madsen Mads Lænsø , Thomsen Anne Marie Ladehoff , Løvschall Claus , Tayyari Dehbarez Nasrin , Risør Bettina Wulff
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To evaluate staff experiences of the implementation and use of integrated operating rooms (IORs) in comparison to conventional operating rooms (CORs) in Denmark.

Design

This study used a mixed methods approach by combining quantitative (registry-based analysis of surgical time) and qualitative (interviews with experienced surgical staff) perspectives.

Setting

Hospitals in Denmark.

Methods

The quantitative component compared the time consumption of patients between the integrated and CORs in two hospital departments at Aarhus University Hospital. Data were extracted from the administrative system in the hospital. Independent t-tests were used to estimate the statistical differences in the mean time spent on patients between the two operating rooms (ORs), and linear regression was applied to adjust for the potential influence of the surgeon. The explorative qualitative research component involved interviews with 20 informants from 10 hospital departments across seven Danish hospitals, all of whom participated between February and April 2019. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The quantitative analyses showed that preparation time for lobectomy was significantly lower and completion time for cholecystectomy significantly higher in the integrated compared with CORs. No other statistically significant differences were found. The qualitative analysis showed that some nurses experienced better cooperation with the surgeon and that non-sterile nurses experienced an improved working environment in the integrated compared with CORs. Surgical staff experienced that the IORs led to improved workflow during surgery.

Conclusions

This study identified no disadvantages regarding the use of IORs compared with CORs. The quantitative component of the research did not identify convincing statistically significant differences in the time consumption per patient between the ORs and according to the qualitative analyses IORs were not experienced by study participants to lead to major improvements among staff.
How patient-specific do internal carotid artery inflow rates need to be for computational fluid dynamics of cerebral aneurysms?
Authors: Najafi Mehdi , Cancelliere Nicole M , Brina Olivier , Bouillot Pierre , Vargas Maria I , Delattre Benedicte MA , Pereira Vitor M , Steinman David A
Published: July 2020

Background

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a popular tool for studying ‘patient-specific’ blood flow dynamics in cerebral aneurysms; however, rarely are the inflow boundary conditions patient-specific. We aimed to test the impact of widespread reliance on generalized inflow rates.

Methods

Internal carotid artery (ICA) flow rates were measured via 2D cine phase-contrast MRI for 24 patients scheduled for endovascular therapy of an ICA aneurysm. CFD models were constructed from 3D rotational angiography, and pulsatile inflow rates imposed as measured by MRI or estimated using an average older-adult ICA flow waveform shape scaled by a cycle-average flow rate (Qavg) derived from the patient’s ICA cross-sectional area via an assumed inlet velocity.

Results

There was good overall qualitative agreement in the magnitudes and spatial distributions of time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), and spectral power index (SPI) using generalized versus patient-specific inflows. Sac-averaged quantities showed moderate to good correlations: R2=0.54 (TAWSS), 0.80 (OSI), and 0.68 (SPI). Using patient-specific Qavgto scale the generalized waveform shape resulted in near-perfect agreement for TAWSS, and reduced bias, but not scatter, for SPI. Patient-specific waveform had an impact only on OSI correlations, which improved to R2=0.93.

Conclusions

Aneurysm CFD demonstrates the ability to stratify cases by nominal hemodynamic ‘risk’ factors when employing an age- and vascular-territory-specific recipe for generalized inflow rates. Qavghas a greater influence than waveform shape, suggesting some improvement could be achieved by including measurement of patient-specific Qavginto aneurysm imaging protocols.
Molecular dynamics simulation of carbon nanotubes and silicon nanowire composites
Authors: Li Min , Xie Quan , Luo Xiangyan , Tian Zean
Published: July 2020

The deformation behavior of the nanocomposite structure under tension was studied by molecular dynamics (MDs) simulation. This nanocomposite structure is called as SiNW@CNT, which is a silicon nanowire (SiNW) embedded in carbon nanotube (CNT). The simulation results show that the insertion of the SiNW into CNT increases the tensile strength of zigzag CNT and the maximum tensile strain of the armchair CNT. However, it can greatly reduce the maximum tensile strain of the zigzag CNT and the maximum tensile strength of the armchair CNT. In addition, the maximum tensile strain of the SiNW@CNT has little to do with the diameter of the CNT, but is mainly related to the chirality of the CNT. For both hollow CNT and SiNW@CNT, the tensile strength is related to the diameter and chirality, and smaller diameter but greater tensile strength. This findings suggest that the physical properties of the SiNW@CNT can be tailored to specific applications by controlling the CNT diameter and chirality.
Relaxation by nonlinear diffusion enhancement in a two-dimensional cross-diffusion model for urban crime propagation
Authors: Rodríguez Nancy , Winkler Michael
Published: July 2020

We consider a class of macroscopic models for the spatio-temporal evolution of urban crime, as originally going back to Ref. 29 [M. B. Short, M. R. D’Orsogna, V. B. Pasour, G. E. Tita, P. J. Brantingham, A. L. Bertozzi and L. B. Chayes, A statistical model of criminal behavior, Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci. 18 (2008) 1249–1267]. The focus here is on the question of how far a certain porous medium enhancement in the random diffusion of criminal agents may exert visible relaxation effects. It is shown that sufficient regularity of the non-negative source terms in the system and a sufficiently strong nonlinear enhancement ensure that a corresponding Neumann-type initial–boundary value problem, posed in a smoothly bounded planar convex domain, admits locally bounded solutions for a wide class of arbitrary initial data. Furthermore, this solution is globally bounded under mild additional conditions on the source terms. These results are supplemented by numerical evidence which illustrates smoothing effects in solutions with sharply structured initial data in the presence of such porous medium-type diffusion and support the existence of singular structures in the linear diffusion case, which is the type of diffusion proposed in Ref. 29.
Social climbing and Amoroso distribution
Authors: Dimarco Giacomo , Toscani Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

We introduce a class of one-dimensional linear kinetic equations of Boltzmann and Fokker–Planck type, describing the dynamics of individuals of a multi-agent society questing for high status in the social hierarchy. At the Boltzmann level, the microscopic variation of the status of agents around a universal desired target, is built up introducing as main criterion for the change of status a suitable value function in the spirit of the prospect theory of Kahneman and Twersky. In the asymptotics of grazing interactions, the solution density of the Boltzmann-type kinetic equation is shown to converge towards the solution of a Fokker–Planck type equation with variable coefficients of diffusion and drift, characterized by the mathematical properties of the value function. The steady states of the statistical distribution of the social status predicted by the Fokker–Planck equations belong to the class of Amoroso distributions with Pareto tails, which correspond to the emergence of a social elite. The details of the microscopic kinetic interaction allow to clarify the meaning of the various parameters characterizing the resulting equilibrium. Numerical results then show that the steady state of the underlying kinetic equation is close to Amoroso distribution even in an intermediate regime in which interactions are not grazing.
Convergence of a first-order consensus-based global optimization algorithm
Authors: Ha Seung-Yeal , Jin Shi , Kim Doheon
Published: August 2020

Global optimization of a non-convex objective function often appears in large-scale machine learning and artificial intelligence applications. Recently, consensus-based optimization (CBO) methods have been introduced as one of the gradient-free optimization methods. In this paper, we provide a convergence analysis for the first-order CBO method in [J. A. Carrillo, S. Jin, L. Li and Y. Zhu, A consensus-based global optimization method for high dimensional machine learning problems, https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.09249v1 ]. Prior to this work, the convergence study was carried out for CBO methods on corresponding mean-field limit, a Fokker–Planck equation, which does not imply the convergence of the CBO method per se. Based on the consensus estimate directly on the first-order CBO model, we provide a convergence analysis of the first-order CBO method [J. A. Carrillo, S. Jin, L. Li and Y. Zhu, A consensus-based global optimization method for high dimensional machine learning problems, https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.09249v1 ] without resorting to the corresponding mean-field model. Our convergence analysis consists of two steps. In the first step, we show that the CBO model exhibits a global consensus time asymptotically for any initial data, and in the second step, we provide a sufficient condition on system parameters — which is dimension independent — and initial data which guarantee that the converged consensus state lies in a small neighborhood of the global minimum almost surely.
Analytical Solution for Buckling Behavior of FGM Plate Considering Surface Effect Based on General Third-Order Plate Theory and Non-local Theory
Authors: Zhong J. R.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the buckling characteristic of FGM plate considering the surface effect is studied based on general third-order plate theory and non-local theory. The surface effect of FGM plate is captured by the surface elasticity theory. The Kirchhoff hypothesis is released by employing parabolic variation of transverse shear strains. By using Navier solution technique, analytical solutions of buckling loads of FGM plate with surface effect are given, and detailed parametric studies are presented to show the relationship between surface effects and the plate thickness, power-law index, surface residual stress, surface moduli and non-local parameter. Furthermore, the surface effect on the buckling characteristic of FGM plate is also discussed.
Steady-State Responses of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Structures by the Coupled Thermal-Electrical-Mechanical Inhomogeneous Cell-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method (CICS-FEM)
Authors: Chen Han , Wang Liheng , Li Dongqi , Zhou Liming , Liu Peng
Published: July 2020

To accurately simulate the steady-state responses of a functionally graded piezoelectric structure (FGPS) and cure the “overly-stiff” of finite element method (FEM), the coupled thermal-electrical-mechanical inhomogeneous cell-based smoothed finite element method (CICS-FEM) is proposed. The gradient smoothing technique is introduced into FEM and a “close-to-exact” stiffness is obtained. Based on the basic theory of FGPS, the thermal field is introduced into the electrical-mechanical coupling field and the multi-physics coupling equations are given in conjunction with the cell-based smoothed finite element method. CICS-FEM is verified with several examples, and there is a satisfactory agreement between the current solution and the reference solution. Therefore, the developed method to solve the steady-state response of FGPS can provide a reference for the design and manufacture of smart devices.
Fuzzy Regular Languages Based on Residuated Lattice
Authors: Singh Anupam K. , Tiwari S. P.
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this work is to introduce the concept of fuzzy regular languages (FRL) accepted by fuzzy finite automata, and try to introduce the categorical look of fuzzy languages where the codomain of membership functions are taken as a complete residuated lattice, instead of [Formula: see text]. Also, we have introduced pumping lemma for FRL, which is used to establish a necessary and sufficient condition for a given fuzzy languages to be non-constant.