bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing and analyzing clinical trials for personalized medicine via Bayesian models
Authors: Zhang Chuanwu , Mayo Matthew S. , Wick Jo A. , Gajewski Byron J.
Published: January 2021

Patients with different characteristics (e.g., biomarkers, risk factors) may have different responses to the same medicine. Personalized medicine clinical studies that are designed to identify patient subgroup treatment efficacies can benefit patients and save medical resources. However, subgroup treatment effect identification complicates the study design in consideration of desired operating characteristics. We investigate three Bayesian adaptive models for subgroup treatment effect identification: pairwise independent, hierarchical, and cluster hierarchical achieved via Dirichlet Process (DP). The impact of interim analysis and longitudinal data modeling on the personalized medicine study design is also explored. Interim analysis is considered since they can accelerate personalized medicine studies in cases where early stopping rules for success or futility are met. We apply integrated two‐component prediction method (ITP) for longitudinal data simulation, and simple linear regression for longitudinal data imputation to optimize the study design. The designs' performance in terms of power for the subgroup treatment effects and overall treatment effect, sample size, and study duration are investigated via simulation. We found the hierarchical model is an optimal approach to identifying subgroup treatment effects, and the cluster hierarchical model is an excellent alternative approach in cases where sufficient information is not available for specifying the priors. The interim analysis introduction to the study design lead to the trade‐off between power and expected sample size via the adjustment of the early stopping criteria. The introduction of the longitudinal modeling slightly improves the power. These findings can be applied to future personalized medicine studies with discrete or time‐to‐event endpoints.
Creativity in science: A dilemma for informal and formal education
Authors: Martins Gomes Diogo , McCauley Veronica
Published: January 2021

Inquiry learning pedagogies have not only been proposed as a successful teaching methodology to draw students into science, they are also rich with possibilities for creativity. The particular focus on investigations and problem‐solving provides opportunity for educators to embrace this. The primary curriculum explicitly values creativity in this regard, linking with inquiry, and problem‐solving. In recent years, science outreach carried out by universities in the Republic of Ireland has played a significant role in the formal classroom as a support to primary science (KS1). This article explores the perceptions of these two educators in the primary classroom, teachers (N = 31), and science outreach practitioners (N = 30), with respect to their theoretical stance on the construct of creativity and secondly their application of creativity in practice. The interview method used engaged research participants in a dialectical analysis of conceptual and pedagogical dilemmas. This unique, primarily qualitative methodology, provides evidence to differentiate perspectives of these two groups. Results indicate that participants generate new understandings by engaging in dialectical reflection and critical analysis of the two binaries. They also reveal that although outreach practitioners and teachers align in their perception of the theoretical model, that outreach practitioners are more favourable towards promoting a more creative environment for science in practice.
Core functions of Sustainable Human Resource Management. A hybrid literature review with the use of H‐Classics methodology
Authors: Piwowar‐Sulej Katarzyna
Published: January 2021

The key to a successful implementation of the idea of sustainable development in organizations is competent, motivated employees. Therefore, Human Resource Management (HRM) is of particular interest to practitioners and researchers. New HRM concepts that address emerging problems – such as sustainable HRM – arise and develop. The aim of this article is to answer the following research questions: What kind of issues are presented in the most cited articles in the field of sustainable HRM, taking into account the following division of HRM functions: recruitment and selection, performance appraisal, compensation, training and development, and HR flow? Which HRM functions require further research in the context of sustainable HRM? This study applies H‐Classics methodology and presents a hybrid literature review linking bibliometric characterization of the articles on sustainable HRM (including green HRM, socially responsible HRM, triple bottom line HRM, and common good HRM) with a manual review of those publications that made up the H‐Core of this research field. The most discussed HRM function was HR training, while the least discussed was HR flow. Moreover, HRM is mainly presented in relation to the environmental bottom line. Most of the cited papers present general guidance on how to shape individual functions of sustainable HRM and indicators for measuring the extent to which organizational practices are green. Research directions in H‐Core papers have been formulated toward all HRM functions, treated as a system and separately. The article also presents directions for additional research that were identified in the course of this study.
A comparison of parametric propensityscore‐basedmethods for causal inference with multiple treatments and a binary outcome
Authors: Yu Youfei , Zhang Min , Shi Xu , Caram Megan E. V. , Little Roderick J. A. , Mukherjee Bhramar
Published: January 2021

We consider comparative effectiveness research (CER) from observational data with two or more treatments. In observational studies, the estimation of causal effects is prone to bias due to confounders related to both treatment and outcome. Methods based on propensity scores are routinely used to correct for such confounding biases. A large fraction of propensity score methods in the current literature consider the case of either two treatments or continuous outcome. There has been extensive literature with multiple treatment and binary outcome, but interest often lies in the intersection, for which the literature is still evolving. The contribution of this article is to focus on this intersection and compare across methods, some of which are fairly recent. We describe propensity‐based methods when more than two treatments are being compared, and the outcome is binary. We assess the relative performance of these methods through a set of simulation studies. The methods are applied to assess the effect of four common therapies for castration‐resistant advanced‐stage prostate cancer. The data consist of medical and pharmacy claims from a large national private health insurance network, with the adverse outcome being admission to the emergency room within a short time window of treatment initiation.
A powerful test for the maximum treatment effect in thorough QT/QTc studies
Authors: Deng Yuhao , Chen Fangyi , Li Yang , Qian Kaihuan , Wang Rui , Zhou Xiao‐Hua
Published: January 2021

Parallel‐group thorough QT/QTc studies focus on the change of QT/QTc values at several time‐matched points from a pretreatment day (baseline) to a posttreatment day for different groups of treatment. The International Council for Harmonisation E14 stresses that QTc prolongation beyond a threshold represents high cardiac risk and calls for a test on the largest time‐matched treatment effect (QTc prolongation). QT/QTc analysis usually assumes a jointly multivariate normal (MVN) distribution of pretreatment and posttreatment QT/QTc values, with a blocked compound symmetry covariance matrix. Existing methods use an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model including day‐averaged baseline as a covariate to deal with the MVN model. However, the ANCOVA model tends to underestimate the variation of the estimator for treatment effects, resulting in the inflation of empirical type I error rate when testing whether the largest QTc prolongation is beyond a threshold. In this article, we propose two new methods to estimate the time‐matched treatment effects under the MVN model, including maximum likelihood estimation and ordinary‐least‐square‐based two‐stage estimation. These two methods take advantage of the covariance structure and are asymptotically efficient. Based on these estimators, powerful tests for QT/QTc prolongation are constructed. Simulation shows that the proposed estimators have smaller mean square error, and the tests can control the type I error rate with high power. The proposed methods are applied on testing the carryover effect of diltiazem to inhibit dofetilide in a randomized phase 1 trial.
The Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS‐A): A newly adapted psychosocial stressor
Authors: McKay Stacey L. , Fouladirad Saman , Cameron Catherine Ann
Published: January 2021

The role of stress on adolescents and its impact on development and mental health is of significant psychological concern. Previous research has investigated physiological changes, stressor characteristics and individual differences in stress responding. Experimental procedures that closely simulate naturally occurring psychosocial stressors have primarily been achievement‐related (e.g., test taking, competitive tasks and psychomotor performance) and anxiety‐provoking tasks (e.g., public speaking, improvisation and invasive medical‐procedures) but few seek to elicit frustration. To address this gap, a new experimental procedure was developed and validated against the Trier Social Stress Test for Teens, with a Low Stress condition as a control. Conflict‐related stressors, such as parent‐ and peer‐related debates, have been found to be effective in provoking frustration in adolescents. The Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS‐A), a moderate frustration‐provoking stressor involves a peer debate on a ‘hot’ topic, followed by a serial subtraction task with still‐faced judges. The FSS‐A procedure effectively elicited reliable and valid physiological (cortisol, heart rate) stress responses and was an effective stressor for both sexes. This new, stress protocol mirrors frustrating‐ and anxiety‐provoking stressful situations that adolescents commonly encounter and affords a more detailed study of differential stress response patterns, increased understanding of adolescent stress, and potential for psychoeducational programming, such as directions for education and therapeutic intervention.
Considerations for the Bioengineering of Advanced Cardiac In Vitro Models of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sharma Poonam , Wang Xiaowei , Ming Clara Liu Chung , Vettori Laura , Figtree Gemma , Boyle Andrew , Gentile Carmine
Published: January 2021

Despite the latest advances in cardiovascular biology and medicine, myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the major causes of deaths worldwide. While reperfusion of the myocardium is critical to limit the ischemic damage typical of a MI event, it causes detrimental morphological and functional changes known as “reperfusion injury.” This complex scenario is poorly represented in currently available models of ischemia/reperfusion injury, leading to a poor translation of findings from the bench to the bedside. However, more recent bioengineered in vitro models of the human heart represent more clinically relevant tools to prevent and treat MI in patients. These include 3D cultures of cardiac cells, the use of patient‐derived stem cells, and 3D bioprinting technology. This review aims at highlighting the major features typical of a heart attack while comparing current in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models. This information has the potential to further guide in developing novel advanced in vitro cardiac models of ischemia/reperfusion injury. It may pave the way for the generation of advanced pathophysiological cardiac models with the potential to develop personalized therapies.
Transsib am Bodensee
Authors: Kuisle Anita
Published: January 2021

Im Jahr 2019 musste die Eisenbahnbrücke bei Langenargen nach 120 Jahren Nutzung einem Neubau weichen. Diese Brücke über die Argen war im Wesentlichen im bauzeitlichen Zustand erhalten und bildete mit der benachbarten Straßenbrücke, der Kabelhängebrücke von 1898, ein unvergleichliches Ensemble. Die Konstruktionsweise der Langenargener Eisenbahnbrücke war für die Transsibirische Eisenbahn entwickelt worden.
Determining the optimum outrigger locations for steel tall buildings by using time history analyses
Authors: İnam İlhan Emre , Çeribaşı Seyit , Karapınar Işıl Sanrı
Published: January 2021

The outrigger system is an effective tall building system used at one or multiple locations of high‐rise buildings. It is designed to control and minimize lateral displacement and to increase bending stiffness of the buildings by changing the load transfer mechanism of the structural systems. This paper presents a framework for estimation of the optimum location of the outriggers with structural engineering design approach. Three different sample high‐rise buildings, 35‐story 140‐m, 40‐story 160‐m, and 45‐m 180‐m, were investigated. A time‐history analysis method was used to examine the effects of earthquakes. In the first stage, the buildings were assumed to have one outrigger. The outrigger was put on each floor, and ETABS analysis models were created. For each different sample buildings, 35, 40, and 45 different analytical models were utilized for that stage, respectively. In the second stage, in case of outrigger in two positions, all combinations in which outriggers can be located in different positions were taken into consideration for only 40‐story sample building. Considering all of the possible cases, where the steel high‐rise building has 40 floors and the outriggers can be in two different locations, 780 different analysis models were used.
Translanguaging, Emotionality, and English as a Second Language Immigrants: Mongolian Background Women in Australia
Authors: Dovchin Sender
Published: January 2021

Drawing on the translanguaging practices of Mongolian background English as a Second Language (ESL) immigrant women in Australia, this paper points out two main theoretical points: (1) when translanguaging moves beyond the classroom, it may provide ESL immigrants with an emotionally and linguistically safe space where they feel comfortable in managing their negative emotions through employing multiple entangled layers of linguistic and paralinguistic resources; (2) translanguaging data further presents that these ESL immigrants are deeply emotional and are prone to depression, putting their mental well‐being in jeopardy. As a result of their depression, their academic concentration is inhibited, as is their ability to learn English well or easily. We, as TESOL educators, therefore, need to consider two critical educational implications: (1) how ESL immigrant students use different linguistic repertoires outside the classroom, what they talk about, and which emotions they prefer to express in which forms of their linguistic repertoire; and their multiple emotions, traumas and psychological issues embedded within their multiple ways of learning, being, and speaking; (2) consolidate appropriate interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms that have the potential to negatively impact academic performance existing in L2 sociocultural contexts.
Clients' perception of referral and veterinary specialists in a U.K. small animal referral hospital
Authors: Baud Koral U. , Treharne David R. , Soares Diana Gander , Burton Neil J.
Published: January 2021

Background: A 2011 RCVS report published following review of veterinary referral and specialisation suggested that the general public may have a lack of understanding of what constitutes specialisation. Our questionnaire study evaluated client understanding of the term ‘Specialist’ and the information obtained prior to referral.

Methods: Questionnaires were completed prior to consultation. Client age, medical knowledge, how referral was initiated, options discussed by the primary care practice for treatment, expectations of the referral appointment, understanding of the term Specialist and what constitutes specialist training were assessed.

Results: A total of 241 questionnaires were completed: 6.2% (15/241) of clients were working in the veterinary/medical industry; 52% (104/200) of clients assumed they were seeing a Specialist for consultation but only 49% (51/104) saw a Specialist; 0.4% (1/232) of owners correctly identified a Specialist as a clinician with a diploma, and incorrect definitions included having experience with a procedure or a postgraduate certificate; 13.6% (31/228) of clients identified that an internship and residency constituted Specialist training; and 66.8% (155/232) of clients had not researched the referral process.

Conclusions: From the population sampled, a minority of clients understand the term Specialist and the postgraduate training this entails. Clients may erroneously assume they are receiving Specialist consultation.
Functional nanoassemblies for the diagnosis and therapy of Alzheimer's diseases
Authors: Zhang Lingxiao , Sun Heng , Chen Ying , Wei Min , Lee Jiyoung , Li Fangyuan , Ling Daishun
Published: January 2021

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects populations around the world. Many therapeutics have been investigated for AD diagnosis and/or therapy, but the efficacy is largely limited by the poor bioavailability of drugs and by the presence of the blood–brain barrier. Recently, the development of nanomedicines enables efficient drug delivery to the brain, but the complex pathological mechanism of AD prevents them from successful treatment. As a type of advanced nanomedicine, multifunctional nanoassemblies self‐assembled from nanoscale imaging or therapeutic agents can simultaneously target multiple pathological factors, showing great potential in the diagnosis and therapy of AD. To help readers better understand this emerging field, in this review, we first introduce the pathological mechanisms and the potential drug candidates of AD, as well as the design strategies of nanoassemblies for improving AD targeting efficiency. Moreover, the progress of dynamic nanoassemblies that can diagnose and/or treat AD in response to the endogenous or exogenous stimuli will be described. Finally, we conclude with our perspectives on the future development in this field. The objective of this review is to outline the latest progress of using nanoassemblies to overcome the complex pathological environment of AD for improved diagnosis and therapy, in hopes of accelerating the future development of intelligent AD nanomedicines.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease

Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Decision-Making Heuristics for Managing Climate-Related Risks: Introducing Equity to the FREE Framework
Authors: Audia Camilla , Visman Emma , Fox Gino , Mwangi Emmah , Kilavi Mary , Arango Mark , Ayeb-Karlsson Sonja , Kniveton Dominic
Published: January 2021

Managing climate-related risks is clouded in differing levels of uncertainty that are magnified when trying to understand their potential impacts on socio-ecological systems. The ‘cascade of uncertainty’ is particularly apparent in Africa where socio-ecological data are sparse, and the development and validation of impact models are at varying stages. In this context, using heuristics may serve as an effective way for policy makers to incorporate climate change knowledge into decision-making. Previous scholarship has identified the principles of Flexibility, Robustness and Economic low/no regrets in decision-making under uncertainty. In this chapter, we first make the case for adding Equity to these heuristics, where equity involves ensuring that reducing the climate change risk for one cohort of society does not result in its increase for another. Second, we describe how these principles have been applied under two DFID/NERC funded projects: ForPAc and AMMA-2050 through the use of Participatory Impact Pathways Analysis tools.
Symplectic realization of two interacting spin-two fields in three dimensions
Authors: Rodríguez-Tzompantzi Omar
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We constructed a symplectic realization of the dynamic structure of two interacting spin-two fields in three dimensions. A significant simplification refers to the treatment of constraints: instead of performing a Hamiltonian analysis à la Dirac, we worked out a method that only uses properties of the pre-symplectic two-form matrix and its corresponding zero-modes to investigate the nature of constraints and the gauge structure of the theory. For instance, we demonstrate that the contraction of the zero-modes with the potential gradient, yields explicit expressions for the whole set of constraints on the dynamics of the theory, including the symmetrization condition and an explicit relationship between the coupling and cosmological constants. This way, we further identify the necessary conditions for the existence of a unique non-linear candidate for a partially massless theory, using only the expression for the interaction parameters of the model. In the case of gauge structure, the transformation laws for the entire set of dynamical variables are more straightforwardly derived from the structure of the remaining zero-modes; in this sense, the zero-modes must be viewed as the generators of the corresponding gauge transformations. Thereafter, we use an appropriate gauge-fixing procedure, the time gauge, to compute both the quantization brackets and the functional measure on the path integral associated with our model. Finally, we confirm that three-dimensional bi-gravity has two physical degrees of freedom per space point. With the above, we provide a new perspective for a better understanding of the dynamical structure of theories of interacting spin-two fields, which does not require the constraints to be catalogued as first- and second-class ones as in the case of Dirac’s standard method.
Purification complexity without purifications
Authors: Ruan Shan-Ming
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We generalize the Fubini-Study method for pure-state complexity to generic quantum states by taking Bures metric or quantum Fisher information metric (QFIM) on the space of density matrices as the complexity measure. Due to Uhlmann’s theorem, we show that the mixed-state complexity exactly equals the purification complexity measured by the Fubini-Study metric for purified states but without explicitly applying any purification. We also find the purification complexity is non-increasing under any trace-preserving quantum operations. We also study the mixed Gaussian states as an example to explicitly illustrate our conclusions for purification complexity.
New sensitivity curves for gravitational-wave signals from cosmological phase transitions
Authors: Schmitz Kai
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Gravitational waves (GWs) from strong first-order phase transitions (SFOPTs) in the early Universe are a prime target for upcoming GW experiments. In this paper, I construct novel peak-integrated sensitivity curves (PISCs) for these experiments, which faithfully represent their projected sensitivities to the GW signal from a cosmological SFOPT by explicitly taking into account the expected shape of the signal. Designed to be a handy tool for phenomenologists and model builders, PISCs allow for a quick and systematic comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental sensitivities, as I illustrate by a large range of examples. PISCs also offer several advantages over the conventional power-law-integrated sensitivity curves (PLISCs); in particular, they directly encode information on the expected signal-to-noise ratio for the GW signal from a SFOPT. I provide semianalytical fit functions for the exact numerical PISCs of LISA, DECIGO, and BBO. In an appendix, I moreover present a detailed review of the strain noise power spectra of a large number of GW experiments. The numerical results for all PISCs, PLISCs, and strain noise power spectra presented in this paper can be downloaded from the Zenodo online repository [1]. In a companion paper [2], the concept of PISCs is used to perform an in-depth study of the GW signal from the cosmological phase transition in the real-scalar-singlet extension of the standard model. The PISCs presented in this paper will need to be updated whenever new theoretical results on the expected shape of the signal become available. The PISC approach is therefore suited to be used as a bookkeeping tool to keep track of the theoretical progress in the field.
Regulation of diurnal energy balance by mitokines
Authors: Klaus Susanne , Igual Gil Carla , Ost Mario
Published: January 2021

The mammalian system of energy balance regulation is intrinsically rhythmic with diurnal oscillations of behavioral and metabolic traits according to the 24 h day/night cycle, driven by cellular circadian clocks and synchronized by environmental or internal cues such as metabolites and hormones associated with feeding rhythms. Mitochondria are crucial organelles for cellular energy generation and their biology is largely under the control of the circadian system. Whether mitochondrial status might also feed-back on the circadian system, possibly via mitokines that are induced by mitochondrial stress as endocrine-acting molecules, remains poorly understood. Here, we describe our current understanding of the diurnal regulation of systemic energy balance, with focus on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), two well-known endocrine-acting metabolic mediators. FGF21 shows a diurnal oscillation and directly affects the output of the brain master clock. Moreover, recent data demonstrated that mitochondrial stress-induced GDF15 promotes a day-time restricted anorexia and systemic metabolic remodeling as shown in UCP1-transgenic mice, where both FGF21 and GDF15 are induced as myomitokines. In this mouse model of slightly uncoupled skeletal muscle mitochondria GDF15 proved responsible for an increased metabolic flexibility and a number of beneficial metabolic adaptations. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying energy balance regulation by mitokines are just starting to emerge, and more data on diurnal patterns in mouse and man are required. This will open new perspectives into the diurnal nature of mitokines and action both in health and disease.
Horizontal interactions in local personal income taxes
Authors: Lundberg Johan
Published: January 2021

Theories of inter-jurisdictional tax and yardstick competition assume that the tax decisions of one jurisdiction will influence the tax decisions of other jurisdictions. This paper empirically addresses the issue of horizontal dependence in local personal income tax rates across jurisdictions. Based on a large data set covering Swedish municipalities over a period of 14 years, we test for interactions across municipalities that share a common border, across municipalities within a distance of 100 km of each other, and across municipalities with similar political representation in the local council. We also test the hypothesis that the tax rate of relatively larger municipalities has a greater influence on their neighbors' tax rate compared to the influence of their smaller neighbors. Our results suggest that when lagged tax rates are controlled for, the horizontal correlation across municipalities that share a common border or are within a distance of 100 km from each other becomes insignificant. This result is of importance as it suggests that lagged tax rates should be included or at least tested for when testing for horizontal interactions or mimicking in local tax rates. However, our results support the hypothesis of horizontal interactions across municipalities that share a common border when the influence of neighboring municipalities is also weighted by their relative population size, i.e. relatively larger neighbors tend to have a greater impact on their neighbor's tax rates than their relatively smaller neighbors. This is of importance as it suggests that distance or proximity matters, although only in combination with the relative population size. We also find some evidence of horizontal dependence across municipalities with similar political preferences.
Induced network-based transfer learning in injection molding for process modelling and optimization with artificial neural networks
Authors: Lockner Yannik , Hopmann Christian
Published: January 2021

The necessity of an abundance of training data commonly hinders the broad use of machine learning in the plastics processing industry. Induced network-based transfer learning is used to reduce the necessary amount of injection molding process data for the training of an artificial neural network in order to conduct a data-driven machine parameter optimization for injection molding processes. As base learners, source models for the injection molding process of 59 different parts are fitted to process data. A different process for another part is chosen as the target process on which transfer learning is applied. The models learn the relationship between 6 machine setting parameters and the part weight as quality parameter. The considered machine parameters are the injection flow rate, holding pressure time, holding pressure, cooling time, melt temperature, and cavity wall temperature. For the right source domain, only 4 sample points of the new process need to be generated to train a model of the injection molding process with a degree of determinationR2of 0.9 or and higher. Significant differences in the transferability of the source models can be seen between different part geometries: The source models of injection molding processes for similar parts to the part of the target process achieve the best results. The transfer learning technique has the potential to raise the relevance of AI methods for process optimization in the plastics processing industry significantly.
Special Ulrich bundles on regular surfaces with non–negative Kodaira dimension
Authors: Casnati Gianfranco
Published: January 2021

LetSbe a regular surface endowed with a very ample line bundle$$\mathcal O_S(h_S)$$OS(hS). Taking inspiration from a very recent result by D. Faenzi onK3 surfaces, we prove that if$${\mathcal O}_S(h_S)$$OS(hS)satisfies a short list of technical conditions, then such a polarized surface supports special Ulrich bundles of rank 2. As applications, we deal with general embeddings of regular surfaces, pluricanonically embedded regular surfaces and some properly elliptic surfaces of low degree in$$\mathbb {P}^{N}$$PN. Finally, we also discuss about the size of the families of Ulrich bundles onSand we inspect the existence of special Ulrich bundles on surfaces of low degree.
Breakdown of the ideal free distribution under conditions of severe and low competition
Authors: Sirovnik Janja , Voelkl Bernhard , Keeling Linda Jane , Würbel Hanno , Toscano Michael Jeffrey
Published: January 2021

Under the ideal free distribution (IFD), the number of organisms competing for a resource at different sites is proportional to the resource distribution among sites. The ideal free distribution of competitors in a heterogeneous environment often predicts habitat matching, where the relative number of individuals using any two patches matches the relative availability of resources in those same two patches. If a resource is scarce, access might be restricted to individuals with high resource holding potential, resulting in deviation from the IFD. The distribution of animals may also deviate from the IFD in the case of resource abundance, when social attraction or preference for specific locations rather than competition may determine distribution. While it was originally developed to explain habitat choice, we apply the habitat matching rule to microscale foraging decisions. We show that chickens feeding from two nondepleting feeders distribute proportionally to feeder space under intermediate levels of competition. However, chicken distribution between the feeders deviates from the IFD when feeder space is limited and competition high. Further, despite decreasing aggression with increasing feeder space, deviation from IFD is also observed under an excess supply of feeder space, indicating different mechanisms responsible for deviations from the IFD. Besides demonstrating IFD sensitivity to competition, these findings highlight IFD’s potential as a biological basis for determining minimal resource requirements in animal housing.

Significance statement

The ideal free distribution (IFD) predicts how animals ought to distribute themselves within a habitat in order to maximize their payoff. Recent studies, however, have questioned the validity of the IFD concept following anomalous results. We studied the IFD in chickens by systematically varying the amount and distribution of space at two feed troughs. We show that when tested over a sufficiently large range, the distribution of birds depends on the overall resource availability. Furthermore, behavioral data suggest that distinctly different mechanisms account for deviations from the IFD at shortage and excess supply of feeder space, respectively.
Bruguierivorax albus gen. nov. sp. nov. Isolated from Mangrove Sediment and Proposal of Bruguierivoracaceae fam. nov
Authors: Li Mi , Liu Kai , Liu Yonghong , Gao Chenghai , Yi Xiangxi
Published: January 2021

A novel Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rod-shaped bacterium designated BGMRC 2031T was isolated from mangrove sediment collected from Guangxi Province, China. Optimal growth occurred at 28 °C and pH 7.0–8.0 in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Alignment based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain BGMRC 2031T is most closely related to Sodalis praecaptivus HS1T (95.6%, sequence similarity), followed by Biostraticola tofi DSM 19580T (95.5%), Sodalis glossinidius DSM 16929T (95.4%), and Brenneria goodwinii FRB141T (94.9%) sequence similarity. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BGMRC 2031T formed a distinct branch in a robust cluster and revealed that strain BGMRC 2031T, genera Biostraticola and Sodalis, formed a novel family-level clade in the order Enterobacterales. The novel strain showed an average nucleotide similarity of 74.7%, 74.2%, and 73.1% for S. praecaptivus HS1T, S. glossinidius DSM 16929T, and B. tofi DSM 19580T, respectively. The genomes of the BGMRC 2031T shared the presence of a riboflavin synthesis gene cluster. The menaquinones of strain BGMRC 2031T were MK-8 and Q-8, which were similar to those of genus Biostraticola. The major fatty acids (> 10%) were C16:0 (19.9%), summed feature 2 (iso-C16:1 and/or C14:0 3-OH, 18.10%), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c, 15.3%), C12:0 (13.9%), C17:0 cyclo (11.4%), and C14:0 (10.4%). The main polar lipids were phosphatidyl methylethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl inositol, one unidentified phospholipid, and one unknown polar lipid. The G+C content of strain BGMRC 2031T was 55.4%. Strain BGMRC 2031T could extend the mean lifespan and maximum lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by 4.5% and 12.5%, respectively. Overall, the results of this study indicate that BGMRC 2031T is a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Bruguierivorax albus gen. nov. sp. nov. is proposed, and the type of strain is designated as BGMRC 2031T (= NBRC 111907T = KCTC 52119T). In addition, a novel family, Bruguierivoracaceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate the genera Bruguierivorax, Biostraticola, and Sodalis.
Combination of µCT and light microscopy for generation-specific stereological analysis of pulmonary arterial branches: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Grothausmann Roman , Labode Jonas , Hernandez-Cerdan Pablo , Haberthür David , Hlushchuk Ruslan , Lobachev Oleg , Brandenberger Christina , Gie Andre George , Salaets Thomas , Toelen Jaan , Wagner Willi L. , Mühlfeld Christian
Published: January 2021

Various lung diseases, including pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia, are associated with structural and architectural alterations of the pulmonary vasculature. The light microscopic (LM) analysis of the blood vessels is limited by the fact that it is impossible to identify which generation of the arterial tree an arterial profile within a LM microscopic section belongs to. Therefore, we established a workflow that allows for the generation-specific quantitative (stereological) analysis of pulmonary blood vessels. A whole left rabbit lung was fixed by vascular perfusion, embedded in glycol methacrylate and imaged by micro-computed tomography (µCT). The lung was then exhaustively sectioned and 20 consecutive sections were collected every 100 µm to obtain a systematic uniform random sample of the whole lung. The digital processing involved segmentation of the arterial tree, generation analysis, registration of LM sections with the µCT data as well as registration of the segmentation and the LM images. The present study demonstrates that it is feasible to identify arterial profiles according to their generation based on a generation-specific color code. Stereological analysis for the first three arterial generations of the monopodial branching of the vasculature included volume fraction, total volume, lumen-to-wall ratio and wall thickness for each arterial generation. In conclusion, the correlative image analysis of µCT and LM-based datasets is an innovative method to assess the pulmonary vasculature quantitatively.
Home phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates—an unblinded multicentre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pettersson M. , Eriksson M. , Albinsson E. , Ohlin A.
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study was to assess whether home phototherapy was feasible and safe in a cohort of otherwise healthy term-born neonates who fulfilled the criteria for in-hospital phototherapy. This was a randomized controlled trial in which term newborns with a total serum bilirubin of 18–24 mg/dL (300–400 μmol) were randomized to either home phototherapy or conventional in-hospital phototherapy. The primary outcome measurements were safety and efficacy, length of stay and the number of failed treatments. The secondary outcomes were the number of blood samples and weight gain during treatment. One hundred forty-seven patients were recruited, 69 patients randomized to conventional phototherapy and 78 to home phototherapy. The results showed that no patients needed blood exchange and only 4% of the patients allocated to home phototherapy were admitted to the hospital. The duration of phototherapy, length of stay, amount of blood tests and weight change showed no statically significant differences.

Conclusion: Home phototherapy could be a safe alternative to inpatient phototherapy for otherwise healthy newborns with hyperbilirubinemia if daily checkups and 24/7 telephone support can be provided. The parents should be informed to contact the hospital immediately if they fail to perform the treatment at home.

Trial registration:Clinicaltrials.govNCT03536078What is Known:• Phototherapy in the hospital is a safe and effective treatment without major side effects.• Fibre optic equipment has made the choice of home phototherapy possible.What is New:• This is the first randomized controlled trial comparing home phototherapy with hospital phototherapy.• Results indicate that home phototherapy could be considered as a safe and feasible alternative when performed according to instructions given, to hospital treatment for otherwise healthy term newborns.
Understanding usage style transformation during long-term smartwatch use
Authors: Visuri Aku , van Berkel Niels , Goncalves Jorge , Rawassizadeh Reza , Ferreira Denzil , Kostakos Vassilis
Published: January 2021

Despite large investments in smartwatch development, the market growth remains smaller than forecasted. The purpose of smartwatch use remains unclear, indicated by the lack of large-scale adoption. Thus, we aim to better understand the early adoption and everyday smartwatch use. We investigate a diverse usage data of smartwatches logged over a period of up to 14 months from 79 individuals between December 2015 and March 2017, one of the largest wearable datasets collected. First, we identify both explorative and accepted behaviours that users exhibit and further investigate how the individual usage traits and features differ between the two categories. Our analysis offers an insightful perspective on how smartwatch use evolves organically. Our results improve our shared understanding of smartwatch use and users adapting their use of smartwatch over time to match the capabilities of the technology by validating numerous findings from previous literature.
H4-Solutions for the Olver–Benney equation
Authors: Coclite Giuseppe Maria , Ruvo Lorenzo di
Published: January 2021

The Olver–Benney equation is a nonlinear fifth-order equation, which describes the interaction effects between short and long waves. In this paper, we prove the global existence of solutions of the Cauchy problem associated with this equation.
Potenzial grüner Wasserstoff: langer Weg der Entwicklung, kurze Zeit bis zur Umsetzung
Authors: Kruse Mirko , Wedemeier Jan
Published: January 2021

Das Thema Wasserstoff wird seit längerem diskutiert, doch jüngst hat es im Zuge des Corona-Konjunkturpakets des Bundes einen spürbaren Bedeutungszuwachs erfahren. Eine Wasserstoffwirtschaft verspricht die notwendige nachhaltige Transformation der Wirtschaft bei gleichzeitigem Erhalt der Industriestruktur, zusätzliche Arbeitsplätze und Wachstumspotenziale in einer resilienteren Ökonomie.
Kleinbetriebliche Wirtschaftsstruktur — ein regionaler Resilienzfaktor in der Corona-Krise?
Authors: Runst Petrik , Thomä Jörg , Haverkamp Katarzyna , Proeger Till
Published: January 2021

Regionalspezifische Wirtschaftsstrukturen haben einen Einfluss auf die Resilienz von Regionen in konjunkturellen Krisenzeiten. Noch unklar ist in diesem Zusammenhang die relative Bedeutung kleinerer Unternehmen. Haben sie hinsichtlich der Arbeitslosigkeitsentwicklung in der Corona-Pandemie als Stabilisator oder als Krisenverstärker gewirkt? Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ländliche und durch die Handwerkswirtschaft geprägte Regionen konjunkturell weniger von den negativen Arbeitsmarktfolgen der Krise betroffen waren. Als zentraler Befund zeigt sich, dass Kreise mit kleinbetrieblicheren Wirtschaftsstrukturen eine höhere Resilienz als Kreise mit großbetrieblicherer Struktur aufweisen.
Flexibles Inflationsziel für die Geldpolitik: nur neuer Wein in alten Schläuchen?
Authors: Sell Friedrich L.
Published: January 2021

Mit altgedienten Sprachbildern sollte man sparsam umgehen. Und doch: Die von Jerome Powell, dem Chef der Federal Reserve (Fed), unlängst vorgeschlagene zukünftige Zielzone für Inflationsraten, möglicherweise verbunden mit einer Anhebung der durchschnittlichen, von der Fed angestrebten Preissteigerungsrate, erinnert stark an ein von der Deutschen Bundesbank in den 1990er Jahren durchaus erfolgreich praktiziertes Modell. Damals stand allerdings nicht die Inflationsrate selbst, sondern die Wachstumsrate der Geldmenge im Fokus.
Risk attribution and interconnectedness in the EU via CDS data
Authors: Giacometti R. , Torri G. , Farina G. , De Giuli M. E.
Published: January 2021

The global financial crisis in 2008, and the European sovereign debt crisis in 2010, highlighted how credit risk in banking sectors cannot be analysed from a uniquely micro-prudential perspective, focused on individual institutions, but it has instead to be studied and regulated from a macro-prudential perspective, considering the banking sector as a complex system. Traditional risk management tools often fail to account for the complexity of the interactions in a financial system, and rely on simplistic distributional assumptions. In recent years machine learning techniques have been increasingly used, incorporating tools such as text mining, sentiment analysis, and network models in the risk management processes of financial institutions and supervisors. Network theory applications in particular are increasingly popular, as they allow to better model the intertwined nature of financial systems. In this work we set up an analytical framework that allows to decompose the credit risk of banks and sovereign countries in the European Union according to systematic (system-wide and regional) components. Then, the non-systematic components of risk are studied using a network approach, and a simple stress-test framework is set up to identify the potential transmission channels of distress and risk spillovers. Results highlight a relevant component of credit risk that is not explained by common factors, but can still be a potential vehicle for the transmission of shocks. We also show that due to the properties of the network structure, the transmission of shocks applied to different institutions is quite diversified, both in terms of breadth and speed. Our work is useful to both regulators and financial institutions, thanks to its flexibility and its requirement of data that can be easily available.
Removing day-boundary discontinuities on GNSS clock estimates: methodology and results
Authors: Rovira-Garcia Adrià , Juan José Miguel , Sanz Jaume , González-Casado Guillermo , Ventura-Traveset Javier , Cacciapuoti Luigi , Schoenemann Erik
Published: January 2021

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites are equipped with very stable atomic clocks that can be used for assessing the models and strategies involved in the estimation processes, where the clock estimates should present high stability. For instance, GNSS products (including satellite and receiver clocks) are computed on daily basis, i.e., with the data of each day being processed independently from other days. This choice produces the well-known day-boundary discontinuities (DBDs) on clock estimates that stem from the estimation process, rather than to the nature of the atomic clock itself. The aim of the present contribution is to propose a strategy to estimate the satellite and receiver clock offsets that is capable to reduce the DBDs observed in the products of different analysis centers (ACs) within the International GNSS Service (IGS), ultimately improving the accuracy of clock estimates. Our approach relies on the use of unambiguous, undifferenced and uncombined carrier phase measurements collected by a network of permanent receivers on ground. The strategy considers the carrier phase hardware delays and assumes their possible variations along time. Our daily data processing aims to maintaining the natural continuity over days of the carrier phase measurements after integer ambiguity resolution (IAR), even if IAR is performed on daily batches. We compare our clock estimations with those computed by different IGS ACs, evaluating the linear behavior of the satellite atomic clocks on the day change. The results show the removal of DBD on clock estimates computed with the continuous and unambiguous carrier phase measurements. This DBD improvement may benefit the statistical characterization of long-term phenomena correlated with the on-board clocks.