bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Canopy Position Has a Stronger Effect than Tree Species Identity on Phyllosphere Bacterial Diversity in a Floodplain Hardwood Forest
Authors: Herrmann Martina , Geesink Patricia , Richter Ronny , Küsel Kirsten
Published: August 2020

The phyllosphere is a challenging microbial habitat in which microorganisms can flourish on organic carbon released by plant leaves but are also exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Here, we assessed the relative importance of canopy position—top, mid, and bottom at a height between 31 and 20 m—and tree species identity for shaping the phyllosphere microbiome in a floodplain hardwood forest. Leaf material was sampled from three tree species—maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), oak (Quercus robur L.), and linden (Tilia cordata MILL.)—at the Leipzig canopy crane facility (Germany). Estimated bacterial species richness (Chao1) and bacterial abundances approximated by quantitative PCR of 16S rRNA genes exhibited clear vertical trends with a strong increase from the top to the mid and bottom position of the canopy. Thirty operational taxonomic units (OTUs) formed the core microbiome, which accounted for 77% of all sequence reads. These core OTUs showed contrasting trends in their vertical distribution within the canopy, pointing to different ecological preferences and tolerance to presumably more extreme conditions at the top position of the canopy. Co-occurrence analysis revealed distinct tree species-specific OTU networks, and 55–57% of the OTUs were unique to each tree species. Overall, the phyllosphere microbiome harbored surprisingly high fractions of Actinobacteria of up to 66%. Our results clearly demonstrate strong effects of the position in the canopy on phyllosphere bacterial communities in a floodplain hardwood forest and—in contrast to other temperate or tropical forests—a strong predominance of Actinobacteria.
Using singular perturbation theory to determine kinetic parameters in a non-standard coupled enzyme assay
Authors: Dalwadi Mohit P. , Orol Diego , Walter Frederik , Minton Nigel P. , King John R. , Kovács Katalin
Published: August 2020

We investigate how to characterize the kinetic parameters of an aminotransaminase using a non-standard coupled (or auxiliary) enzyme assay, where the peculiarity arises for two reasons. First, one of the products of the auxiliary enzyme is a substrate for the primary enzyme and, second, we explicitly account for the reversibility of the auxiliary enzyme reaction. Using singular perturbation theory, we characterize the two distinguished asymptotic limits in terms of the strength of the reverse reaction, which allows us to determine how to deduce the kinetic parameters of the primary enzyme for a characterized auxiliary enzyme. This establishes a parameter-estimation algorithm that is applicable more generally to similar reaction networks. We demonstrate the applicability of our theory by performing enzyme assays to characterize a novel putative aminotransaminase enzyme, CnAptA (UniProtKB Q0KEZ8) from Cupriavidus necator H16, for two different omega-amino acid substrates.
Gluten intake and metabolic health: conflicting findings from the UK Biobank
Authors: Behrendt Inken , Fasshauer Mathias , Eichner Gerrit
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The impact of gluten intake on metabolic health in subjects without celiac disease is unclear. The present study aimed to assess the association between gluten intake and body fat percentage (primary objective), as well as a broad set of metabolic health markers.

Methods

Gluten intake was estimated in 39,927 participants of the UK Biobank who completed a dietary questionnaire for assessment of previous 24-h dietary intakes. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed between gluten intake and markers of metabolic health with Holm adjustment for multiple comparisons.

Results

Median gluten intake was 9.7 g/day (male: 11.7 g/day; female: 8.2 g/day;p < 0.0001). In multiple linear regression analysis, association between gluten intake and percentage body fat was negative in males (β = − 0.028,p = 0.0020) and positive in females (β = 0.025,p = 0.0028). Furthermore, gluten intake was a negative predictor of total cholesterol (male:β = − 0.031,p = 0.0154; female:β = − 0.050,p < 0.0001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (male:β = − 0.052,p < 0.0001; female:β = − 0.068,p < 0.0001), and glomerular filtration rate (sexes combined:β = − 0.031,p < 0.0001) in both sexes. In females only, gluten intake was positively associated with waist circumference (β = 0.041,p < 0.0001), waist-to-height ratio (β = 0.040,p < 0.0001), as well as body mass index (β = 0.043,p < 0.0001), and negatively related to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = − 0.035,p = 0.0011). A positive association between gluten intake and triglycerides was observed in males only (β = 0.043,p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

This study indicates that gluten intake is associated with markers of metabolic health. However, all associations are weak and not clinically meaningful. Limiting gluten intake is unlikely to provide metabolic health benefits for a population in total.
Differences between Scheimpflug and optical coherence tomography in determining safety distances in eyes with an iris-fixating phakic intraocular lens
Authors: Gaurisankar Zoraida S. , van Rijn Gwyneth A. , Luyten Gregorius P. M. , Beenakker Jan-Willem M.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To investigate the agreement and reliability of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and Scheimpflug imaging in measuring the distance from the anterior edge of an iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (IF-pIOL) to the corneal endothelium.

Methods

Anterior segment configuration was assessed in a total of 62 eyes of which 25 hyperopic and 37 myopic eyes, all corrected with an IF-pIOL. Measurements were performed by two independent observers using AS-OCT (Visante, Model 1000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.) and Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgerate). The distance from the anterior edge of the pIOL to the endothelium was measured in five different positions using both modalities with their corresponding pIOL software. The measurements as well as the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the two imaging modalities were then compared.

Results

Distance measurements for all positions performed by AS-OCT were found to be significantly larger than those performed by Scheimpflug imaging, with mean differences ranging from 0.11 to 0.22 mm. Both instruments exhibited good inter- and intra-observer reliability.

Conclusion

Anterior pIOL edge to endothelium distance measurements by AS-OCT and Scheimpflug imaging have good intra- and inter-observer reliability. However, as AS-OCT provides larger measurements, these two modalities cannot be used interchangeably. Correction of this difference might be essential for proper decision-making during pre-operative screening for pIOL implantation and post-operative safety monitoring.
On the use of the Infinity Computer architecture to set up a dynamic precision floating-point arithmetic
Authors: Amodio Pierluigi , Brugnano Luigi , Iavernaro Felice , Mazzia Francesca
Published: August 2020

We devise a variable precision floating-point arithmetic by exploiting the framework provided by the Infinity Computer. This is a computational platform implementing the Infinity Arithmetic system, a positional numeral system which can handle both infinite and infinitesimal quantities expressed using the positive and negative finite or infinite powers of the radix $${\textcircled {1}}$$

1

. The computational features offered by the Infinity Computer allow us to dynamically change the accuracy of representation and floating-point operations during the flow of a computation. When suitably implemented, this possibility turns out to be particularly advantageous when solving ill-conditioned problems. In fact, compared with a standard multi-precision arithmetic, here the accuracy is improved only when needed, thus not affecting that much the overall computational effort. An illustrative example about the solution of a nonlinear equation is also presented.
Wage Inequality, Labor Market Polarization and Skill-Biased Technological Change: An Evolutionary (Agent-Based) Approach
Authors: Mellacher Patrick , Scheuer Timon
Published: August 2020

We replicate the core model of the well-tested Keynes + Schumpeter agent-based model family, which features an endogenous innovation process in the evolutionary tradition based on invention and imitation. We introduce heterogeneous labor in the form of three different types of workers, representing different skill levels. In addition to a number of other stylized facts, which are reproduced by any Keynes + Schumpeter model, our version also generates wage inequality and labor market polarization due to skill-biased technological change. We introduce various labor market institutions and policies to our artificial economy in order to test, whether and how they affect inequality and polarization. Those policies, which alter relative wages induce an evolution of the technological development towards a lower demand for the relatively expensive type of worker. Policies and institutions that only aim at increasing the relative wages of low- and medium skilled workers therefore prove to be unable to combat inequality in the long run on their own. In order to be effective, those policies must be combined with educative measures that allow the workers to adapt to the changes in labor demand. Our findings have important implications on the design of real-world policies against inequality and polarization, since they shed light on potential unintended consequences of some of these policies.
Upland rice yield enhanced by early nitrogen fertilization on previous palisade grass
Authors: Momesso Letusa , Crusciol Carlos A. C. , Soratto Rogério P. , Tanaka Katiuça S. , Costa Claudio H. M. , Cantarella Heitor , Kuramae Eiko E.
Published: August 2020

High grain yields of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) can be achieved in no-tillage systems. However, managing nitrogen (N) fertilization for rice in succession to forage grasses is a challenge because forage residues change N cycling and increase microbial immobilization of N, thereby reducing N availability to the subsequent cash crop. In the present study, two field experiments were conducted to determine if applying all or part of the N fertilizer on preceding palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) and ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis) or their desiccated residues immediately before rice seeding can supply N to the subsequent rice crop. Forage biomass yield (8–16 Mg ha− 1), N accumulation, and N supply to the subsequent upland rice were highest when all of the N fertilizer was applied on forage grasses at 50, 40 or 35 days before rice seeding (DBS), as opposed to the conventional split application at rice seeding and at tillering. On average, the grain yield of upland rice was 54% higher in succession to palisade grass compared with ruzigrass. The grain yield of rice was higher when N was applied to palisade grass at 35 DBS and ruzigrass at 50 DBS, reaching 5.0 Mg ha− 1 and 3.7 Mg ha− 1, respectively. However, applying N to ruzigrass was less effective for increasing upland rice yields since the yields did not differ from the treatments with the conventional split application. Adjusting the time of N application to forage grasses to increase the grain yields of subsequent upland rice is a sustainable alternative that can promote the economic viability of upland rice production.
Double burden of malnutrition in persons with obesity
Authors: Barazzoni Rocco , Gortan Cappellari Gianluca
Published: August 2020

A paradoxical double challenge has emerged in the last decades with respect to nutrition and nutrition-related clinical conditions. Hunger-related undernutrition continues to represent an unacceptable burden, although its prevalence has been encouragingly reduced worldwide. On the other hand, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, defined as fat excess accumulation with negative impact on individual health, has dramatically increased due to increasingly pervasive obesogenic lifestyle changes. Undernutrition and obesity may coexist in world regions, Countries and even smaller communities and households, being referred to as double burden of malnutrition. It is however important to point out that fat accumulation and obesity may also induce additional nutritional derangements in affected individuals, both directly through metabolic and body composition changes and indirectly through acute and chronic diseases with negative impact on nutritional status. In the current narrative review, associations between fat accumulation in obesity and malnutrition features as well as their known causes will be reviewed and summarized. These include risk of loss of skeletal muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) that may allow for malnutrition diagnosis also in overweight and obese individuals, thereby introducing a new clinically relevant perspective to the obesity-related double burden of malnutrition concept.
Dynamics of Chinese Shidu Parents’ Vulnerability in Old Age –A Qualitative Study
Authors: Fang Chao
Published: August 2020

Shidu is a Chinese word, referring to a group of bereaved parents who were subject to the One-Child Policy and whose only child has died. Living in a society where care for older people largely relies on adult children, Shidu parents can be highly vulnerable due to losing an only child who may be their primary resource for old age security. Despite the noticeable rise of Shidu families in China, these vulnerable parents have often been overlooked in society and neglected by government policies. This article adopts a qualitative approach to analyse interviews with 15 older Shidu parents and four support professionals, capturing dynamic experiences of these parents’ vulnerability in grief, elderly care and end-of-life care. Through a sociological lens, these Shidu parents are found to have adapted, revised and even rejected the status quo to cope with significant gaps in support and to negotiate for more meaningful support for their old age. This dynamic but distressing picture has also revealed a lack of ongoing structures that can effectively address these older Shidu parents’ multifaceted and changing needs. Based on the findings, recommendations are made aiming to inform future practice and policymaking for older Shidu parents.
Animal bones in old graves: a zooarchaeological and contextual study on faunal remains and new dated evidence for the ritual re-use of old cemetery sites in Southern and Western Finland
Authors: Bläuer Auli
Published: August 2020

Animal remains from twelve Iron Age (ca. 500 BC–1200/1300AD) sites from Southern and Western Finland, showing a mixture of finds and features typical of both settlement sites and cemeteries, were investigated using a zooarchaeological, taphonomic and contextual approach. Rarefaction analysis of the species richness and anatomical distribution indicates that the samples included both general domestic waste type and species and element-selective deposits of cattle and horse skulls, mandibles and limb bones. According to radiocarbon dating results, there seems to be a gap between the dates of burials and those of other ritual activities, indicating that the context of such deposits is a disused cemetery. The faunal deposits could represent remembrance rituals or relate to votive offerings intended to ensure healthy or productive livestock, a practice described in later ethnographic sources. These deposits seem to be in use within a large geographical area over a long period, and some aspects of this belief system may even have survived into the Christianisation of society in the historical period.
Modelling spatial covariances for terrestrial water storage variations verified with synthetic GRACE-FO data
Authors: Boergens Eva , Dobslaw Henryk , Dill Robert , Thomas Maik , Dahle Christoph , Murböck Michael , Flechtner Frank
Published: August 2020

Gridded terrestrial water storage (TWS) variations observed by GRACE or GRACE-FO typically show a spatial correlation structure that is both anisotropic (direction-dependent) and non-homogeneous (latitude-dependent). We introduce a new correlation model to represent this structure. This correlation model allows GRACE and GRACE-FO data users to get realistic correlations of the TWS grids without the need to derive them from the formal spherical harmonic uncertainties. Further, we found that the modelled correlations fit the spatial structure of uncertainties to a greater extent in a simulation environment. The model is based on a direction-dependent Bessel function of the first kind which allows to model the longer correlation lengths in the longitudinal direction via a shape parameter, and also to account for residual GRACE striping errors that might remain after spatial filtering. The global scale and shape parameters vary with latitude by means of even Legendre polynomials. The correlation between two points transformed to covariance by scaling with the standard deviations of each point. The covariance model is valid on the sphere which is empirically verified with a Monte-Carlo approach. The covariance model is subsequently applied to 5 years of simulated GRACE-FO data which allow for immediate validation with true uncertainties from the differences between the input mass signal and the recovered gravity fields. Four different realisations of the point standard deviations were tested: two based on the formal errors provided with the simulated Stokes coefficients, and two based on empirical standard deviations, where the first is spatially variant and temporally invariant, and the second spatially invariant and temporally variant. These four different covariance models are applied to compute TWS time series uncertainties for both the fifty largest discharge basins and regular grid cells over the continents. These four models are compared with the true uncertainties available in the simulations. The two empirically-based covariance models provide more realistic TWS uncertainties than the ones based on the formal errors. Especially, the empirically-based covariance models are better in reflecting the spatial pattern of the uncertainties of the simulated GRACE-FO data including their latitude dependence. However, these modelled uncertainties are in general too large. But with only one global scaling factor, a statistical test confirms the equivalence between the empirically-based covariance model with temporally variable point standard deviations and the true uncertainties. Thus at the end, this covariance model represents the closest fit in the simulation environment. The simulated GRACE-FO data are assumed to be very realistic which is why we recommend the new covariance model to be further investigated for the characterisation of real GRACE and GRACE-FO terrestrial water storage data.
“The behavior of some terpolymers as lubricating oil additives”
Authors: El-shazly Reham I. , Kamal Rasha S. , Nassar Amal M. , Ahmed Nehal S. , Sayed Galal H.
Published: August 2020

In this work, we prepared different alkyl acrylates by esterifying acrylic acid with different alcohols (decanol, dodecanol, hexadecanol and octadecanol). Anilimide was then produced by the reaction of aniline with maleic anhydride. Different teropolymers were prepared by polymerization reaction of anilimide, different alkyl acrylate esters and olefins in different ratios. The thermal stability of the prepared terpolymers was measured by thermal gravimetric analysis which demonstrated a high thermal stability. The polymers were degraded above 500 °C. The rheology behavior shows shear-thinning, it approaches the ideal Newtonian behavior in case of polymer (C). The prepared terpolymers succeeded in raising the viscosity index of oil to 118 in case of polymer (C) and decreasing the pour point of oil to -12 in case of polymer (E).
Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for High Temperature (1000 °C) Sensing Based on a Few-Mode Fiber
Authors: Liu Juan , Luo Chaowei , Yang Hua , Yi Zhen , Liu Bin , He Xingdao , Wu Qiang
Published: August 2020

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for high temperature (1000 °C) sensing based on few mode fiber (FMF) was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor was fabricated by fusing a section of FMF between two single-mode fibers (SMFs). The structure was proven to be an excellent high temperature sensor with good stability, repeatability, and high temperature sensitivity (48.2 pm/C) after annealing process at a high temperature lasting some hours, and a wide working temperature range (from room temperature to 1000 C). In addition, the simple fabrication process and the low cost offered a great potential for sensing in high temperature environments.
The Whiteness of AI
Authors: Cave Stephen , Dihal Kanta
Published: August 2020

This paper focuses on the fact that AI is predominantly portrayed as white—in colour, ethnicity, or both. We first illustrate the prevalent Whiteness of real and imagined intelligent machines in four categories: humanoid robots, chatbots and virtual assistants, stock images of AI, and portrayals of AI in film and television. We then offer three interpretations of the Whiteness of AI, drawing on critical race theory, particularly the idea of the White racial frame. First, we examine the extent to which this Whiteness might simply reflect the predominantly White milieus from which these artefacts arise. Second, we argue that to imagine machines that are intelligent, professional, or powerful is to imagine White machines because the White racial frame ascribes these attributes predominantly to White people. Third, we argue that AI racialised as White allows for a full erasure of people of colour from the White utopian imaginary. Finally, we examine potential consequences of the racialisation of AI, arguing it could exacerbate bias and misdirect concern.
Unification of the wave and guidance equations for spin $$\frac{\mathbf {1}}{\mathbf {2}}$$
Authors: Holland Peter
Published: August 2020

We generalize our previous unification of the Schrödinger and guidance equations in a single inhomogeneous Schrödinger equation to a Riemannian manifold with an external vector potential. A special case yields the unified theory for a spin $$\frac{1}{2}$$

1
2

rigid rotator. The theory is proved to be symmetrical under the Galileo group, the unified field that integrates the particle and guiding wave being a 2-spinor.
Multi-scale simulation of three-dimensional thin-film lubrication
Authors: Wu Zuobing
Published: August 2020

For three-dimensional (3D) mono-layer molecular thin-film lubrication, the elasticity of the substrate affects the tribological behaviors of a thin fluid film confined by two solid substrates. To account for the elastic effects, this study establishes a multi-scale method that combines an atomistic description of the near region with a coarse-grained description of the far region of the solid substrate to simulate the thin-film lubrication. It is demonstrated that for a given temperature range and film-substrate coupling strength, the multi-scale method is in excellent agreement with the fully atomistic simulation. This study reveals that the elastic response of the substrate can be effectively rendered in the hybrid scheme. In the application of the multi-scale method to investigate the tribological properties of the multi-layer molecular thin-film lubrication, it is determined that the systematic static friction coefficient monotonously decreases as the molecular layer thickness in the fluid film increases. In comparison to the mono-layer molecular thin-film lubrication, the multi-layer molecular thin-film lubrication plays a role in reducing the friction and wear of the system.
Stressoren, Stresserleben und Stressfolgen von Pflegekräften im ambulanten und stationären Setting in Deutschland
Authors: Rohwer Elisabeth , Mojtahedzadeh Natascha , Harth Volker , Mache Stefanie
Published: August 2020

Dieser Beitrag liefert einen Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand zu arbeitsbedingtem Stress in der ambulanten und stationären Pflege. Dabei wird auf Stressoren (z. B. Zeitdruck) und das Stresserleben, ebenso wie auf kurz- und langfristige Folgen von Stress (z. B. emotionale Erschöpfung und Burnout) in der Pflegebranche eingegangen. Des Weiteren werden Möglichkeiten zum Umgang mit Stress und zur Gesundheitsförderung von Pflegekräften beleuchtet. Im Ausland wurden bisher mehr Studien zu arbeitsbedingtem Stress unter Pflegekräften, insbesondere zu Burnout als Folge von Stress, durchgeführt als in Deutschland. Vor dem Hintergrund aktueller struktureller Herausforderungen für die Pflegebranche zeigt sich ein dringender Forschungsbedarf bezüglich der Arbeits- und Gesundheitssituation von ambulant und stationär tätigen Pflegekräften in Deutschland.
R-OO-KASE: Revocable Online/Offline Key Aggregate Searchable Encryption
Authors: Padhya Mukti , Jinwala Devesh C.
Published: August 2020

The existing Key Aggregate Searchable Encryption (KASE) schemes allow searches on the encrypted dataset using a single query trapdoor, with a feature to delegate the search rights of multiple files using a constant size key. However, the operations required to generate the ciphertext and decrypt it in these schemes incur higher computational costs, due to the computationally expensive pairing operations in encryption/decryption. This makes the use of such schemes in resource-constrained devices, such as Radio Frequency Identification Devices, Wireless Sensor Network nodes, Internet of Things nodes, infeasible. Motivated with the goal to reduce the computational cost, in this paper, we propose a Revocable Online/Offline KASE (R-OO-KASE) scheme, based on the idea of splitting the encryption/decryption operations into two distinct phases: online and offline. The offline phase computes the majority of costly operations when the device is on an electrical power source. The online phase generates final output with the minimal computational cost when the message (or ciphertext) and keywords become known. In addition, the proposed scheme R-OO-KASE also offers multi-keyword search capability and allows the data owners to revoke the delegated rights at any point in time, the two features are not supported in the existing schemes. The security analysis and empirical evaluations show that the proposed scheme is efficient to use in resource-constrained devices and provably secure as compared to the existing KASE schemes.
A Blockchain-based Decentralized Electronic Marketplace for Computing Resources
Authors: Nardini Matteo , Helmer Sven , El Ioini Nabil , Pahl Claus
Published: August 2020

We propose a framework for building a decentralized electronic marketplace for computing resources. The idea is that anyone with spare capacities can offer them on this marketplace, opening up the cloud computing market to smaller players, thus creating a more competitive environment compared to today’s market consisting of a few large providers. Trust is a crucial component in making an anonymized decentralized marketplace a reality. We develop protocols that enable participants to interact with each other in a fair way and show how these protocols can be implemented using smart contracts and blockchains. We discuss and evaluate our framework not only from a technical point of view, but also look at the wider context in terms of fair interactions and legal implications.
Social media use predicts later sleep timing and greater sleep variability: An ecological momentary assessment study of youth at high and low familial risk for depression
Authors: Hamilton Jessica L. , Chand Shannon , Reinhardt Lauren , Ladouceur Cecile D. , Silk Jennifer S. , Moreno Megan , Franzen Peter L. , Bylsma Lauren M.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Social media (SM) use has been increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to poor sleep. Few studies have examined SM use and sleep using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), compared different types of media use (SM, television, gaming), or examined whether youth at high and low familial risk for depression are differentially affected by SM use.

Methods

The current study included 76 youth (46% female; Mean age = 11.28 years) who were recruited based on parental history of recurrent depression (N = 35 high risk; N = 41 low risk) in the United States. Youth completed a 9‐day EMA protocol, which included current activity at time of prompt and daily sleep onset and offset times. Regression and multilevel models were conducted to examine the effects of media use on sleep.

Results

Results indicated that youth who used more SM (mean and number of days) went to sleep later, but did not have shorter sleep duration. Youth with more SM use also had higher levels of variability of both sleep timing and sleep duration across the 9‐day period. There were no effects of gaming or TV on sleep, and youth at high risk for depression did not have differences in SM use or its effects on sleep compared to low‐risk youth.

Conclusions

These findings indicate a unique impact of SM use on sleep timing and variability for youth (regardless of risk status), which may suggest a unique and modifiable pathway through which SM use contributes to poor health.
Vulvodynia Viewed From a Disease Prevention Framework: Insights From Patient Perspectives
Authors: Webber Valerie , Miller Michelle E. , Gustafson Diana L. , Bajzak Krisztina
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Persons with vulvodynia (a chronic vulvar pain condition) suffer many barriers to diagnosis and treatment, several of which may be exacerbated by the sociocultural and geographical context in which they live.

Aim

We drew on the experiences of patients with vulvodynia who were living in small urban and rural communities to learn what they perceived as the major barriers to diagnosis and treatment as well as to probe for possible solutions.

Methods

For this qualitative case study, we conducted 3 focus groups with a total of 10 participants, drawn from patients seen at our academic tertiary referral center, with a goal of understanding their lived experience with vulvodynia.

Main Outcome Measures

The patient dialogue was coded into themes and temporally grouped to illustrate struggles and victories in diagnosis and treatment.

Results

Participants confirmed that healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes as well as system challenges (specialist and allied healthcare provider availability) are major barriers to timely diagnosis. Of novel interest are other factors that exacerbate distress and delay diagnosis such as patients’ inadequate knowledge of sexual functioning and sociocultural messages regarding “normal” sexual activity. Our work suggests that a disease prevention framework that includes comprehensive sexual education before or at the onset of sexual activity may be of benefit in reducing the burden of vulvodynia when added to strategies to increase healthcare provider knowledge and improve access to effective treatments.

Conclusion

While healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes are often at the forefront of barriers to diagnosis, our study suggests that to minimize patient distress and expedite diagnosis, resources must also be directed to promoting comprehensive sexual health education.
Prevalence of Low Sexual Desire with Associated Distress Across the Adult Life Span: An Australian Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zheng Jia , Islam Rakibul M. , Bell Robin J. , Skiba Marina A. , Davis Susan R.
Published: August 2020

Background

Although hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction (HSDD; low sexual desire with personal distress) negatively impacts well-being, contemporary life-course prevalence data for HSDD are lacking.

Aim

To document, in an epidemiologic study, the prevalence of low sexual desire with associated distress (epidemiological HSDD [eHSDD]), and associated psychosocial factors in Australian women.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 10,554 women, aged 18–79 years, recruited from the community was performed.

Main Outcome Measures

Low desire was determined by corresponding questions in the Profile of Female Sexual Function and Female Sexual Function Index. HSDD was defined as having a low desire and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised score of ≥11.

Clinical Translation

Clinicians need to be aware that young women often experience sexually related distress whereas low desire with associated distress is most common in women at midlife.

Results

The majority of the participants were partnered (66.5%) and 38.9% were recently sexually inactive. Low desire prevalence increased from age 18–24 years to 75–79 years (27.4%, 95% CI 25.5–29.3 vs 91.6%, 95% CI 88.3–94.1, P < .001). Just over half of all participants aged 25–39 years had sexually related personal distress, after which the prevalence declined with age (P < .001). 10,259 participants provided sufficient information for eHSDD classification. eHSDD increased from age 18–24 years (12.2%, 95% CI 10.8–13.7) to 40–44 years (33.4%, 95% CI 28.5–38.8), remained constant until 60–64 years (33.1%, 95% CI 28.3–38.4), and progressively declined to 7.3% (95% CI 4.8–10.9) by 75–79 years. HSDD was significantly, positively associated with being partnered (P < .001), sexually inactive (P < .001), more educated (P = .001), and psychotropic medication use (P < .001), and negatively with Asian ethnicity (P < .001).

Strengths & Limitations

This study involved the assessment of desire using a single question derived from the Profile of Female Sexual Function or the Female Sexual Function Index.

Conclusion

eHSDD is most prevalent at midlife. Furthermore, the likelihood of eHSDD is greater for women who are partnered, sexually inactive, more educated, or taking psychotropic medications. Taken together these findings should aid health professionals in identifying women most at risk of eHSDD.
Attentional Selection
Authors: Theeuwes Jan , Failing Michel
Published: August 2020

In this Element, a framework is proposed in which it is assumed that visual selection is the result of the interaction between top-down, bottom-up and selection-history factors. The Element discusses top-down attentional engagement and suppression, bottom-up selection by abrupt onsets and static singletons as well as lingering biases due to selection-history entailing priming, reward and statistical learning. We present an integrated framework in which biased competition among these three factors drives attention in a winner-take-all-fashion. We speculate which brain areas are likely to be involved and how signals representing these three factors feed into the priority map which ultimately determines selection.
Numerical Prediction of Residual Deformation and Failure for Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Metal Parts
Authors: Lyu D.D. , Hu W. , Ren B. , Pan X.F. , Wu C. T.
Published: August 2020

Residual deformation and failure are two critical issues in powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) of metal products. Residual deformation caused by the non-uniform residual stress distribution dramatically affects the quality of AM product and can result in catastrophic failure in operation. Therefore, the development of an effective numerical approach to predict residual deformation and failure characteristics of AM product is always a major concern in industrial applications.

In this paper, a numerical approach in predicting residual distortion, stress and failure in AM products is presented. The conventional inherent strain method used in welding process is modified to consider the specific characteristic of AM process, such as the influences of reheating and scanning pattern. This approach consists of three simulation steps including a detailed process simulation in small-scale, a onetime static mechanical finite element analysis in part-scale, and a material failure analysis. First, the inherent strains are calculated from a thermo-mechanical process simulation in small-scale, which considers AM process parameters, such as laser power, scanning speed and path. The physical state in deposited materials including powder, liquid and solid states are taken into account in the simulation by specifying the solidus and liquidus temperature and corresponding material properties. Then the inherent strains are applied layer by layer to the part-scale simulation, where the residual distortion and stress can be predicted efficiently. Finally, a Lagrange particle method is utilized to study the failure characteristics of AM products. Numerical examples are studied to investigate the effectiveness and applicability of present approach.
Spraying Small Water Droplets Acts as a Bacteriocide
Authors: Dulay Maria T. , Lee Jae Kyoo , Mody Alison C. , Narasimhan Ramya , Monack Denise M. , Zare Richard N.
Published: August 2020

Disinfectants are important for arresting the spread of pathogens in the environment. Frequently used disinfectants are often incompatible with certain surfaces, expensive and can produce hazardous by-products. We report that micron-sized water droplets can act as an effective disinfectant, which were formed by spraying pure bulk water with coaxial nebulizing airflow. Spraying for 20 min onto Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium on stainless-steel discs caused inactivation of over 98% of the bacteria. Control experiments resulted in less than 10% inactivation (water stream only and gas only) and 55% inactivation with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Experiments have shown that cell death results from cell wall destruction. We suggest that the combined action of reactive oxygen species present in water droplets (but not in bulk water) along with the droplet surface charge is responsible for the observed bactericidal activity.
The GreatestAporiain theParmenides(133b-134e) and the Reciprocity ofProsRelations
Authors: Abaci Uygar
Published: August 2020

The extant attempts in the literature to refute the greatest difficulty argument in theParmenideshave focused on denying the parallelism between theprosrelations among Forms and those among particulars. However, these attempts are unsatisfactory, for the argument can reach its conclusion that we cannot know any Forms without relying on this parallelism. I argue that a more effective strategy is to deny the more essential premise that the knowledge-object relation is aprosrelation. This premise is false becauseprosrelations require definitional and ontological codependence between the relata, and the knowledge-object relation does not satisfy this reciprocity condition.
Community grid management is an important measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)
Authors: Ling Chen , Wen Xianjie
Published: August 2020

The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), declared as a ‘global pandemic’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The outbreak in multiple locations shows a trend of accelerating spread around the world. China has taken a series of powerful measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to actively finding effective treatment drugs and developing vaccines, it is more important to identify the source of infection at the community level as soon as possible to block the transmission path of the virus to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The implementation of grid management in the community and the adoption of precise management and control measures to reduce unnecessary personnel movement can effectively reduce the risk of pandemic spread. This paper mainly describes that the grid management mode can promote the refinement and comprehensiveness of community management. As a management system with potential to improve the governance ability of community affairs, it may be helpful to strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic in the community.
A focused solution to the avoidance problem
Authors: CRARY KARL
Published: August 2020

In ML-style module type theory, sealing often leads to situations in which type variables must leave scope, and this creates a need for signatures that avoid such variables. Unfortunately, in general, there is no best signature that avoids a variable, so modules do not always enjoy principal signatures. This observation is called theavoidance problem.In the past, the problem has been circumvented using a variety of devices for moving variables so they can remain in scope. These devices work, but have heretofore lacked a logical foundation. They have also lacked a presentation in which the dynamic semantics is given on the same phrases as the static semantics, which limits their applications. We can provide a best supersignature avoiding a variable by fiat, by adding an existential signature that is the least upper bound of its instances. This idea is old, but a workable metatheory has not previously been worked out. This work resolves the metatheoretic issues using ideas borrowed from focused logic. We show that the new theory results in a type discipline very similar to the aforementioned devices used in prior work. In passing, this gives a type-theoretic justification for the generative stamps used in the early days of the static semantics of ML modules. All the proofs are formalized in Coq.
Timelines in Spectral Composition: A cognitive approach to musical creativity
Authors: Besada José L. , Pagán Cánovas Cristóbal
Published: August 2020

What takes place in the minds of composers when they struggle to incorporate a given temporal concept into a musical work? Spectral composers have produced detailed theoretical proposals about time in music, but how exactly those ideas influenced their musical practices remains an extremely challenging question. Graphical representations in their sketches provide invaluable clues. Through the analyses of Gérard Grisey’s and Kaija Saariaho’s manuscripts, we show how the theoretical frameworks for the basic cognitive operations of blending and anchoring, which underlie the construction of complex meanings, can shed light on the intricate musical uses of timelines by spectral composers. We combine the universal claims of this cognitive analysis with the diachronic perspective of a musicological study, teasing out the mental paths that these composers may have followed to create novel aesthetic proposals from their experience with graphic representations of sound, mainly spectrograms, and from techniques of electroacoustic studios. Thus we pave the way towards a common language for understanding time representation across electroacoustics and music in general, based on this mixed methodology. Through such shared tenets, the cognitive study of music can reciprocally contribute to burgeoning fields such as time representation, meaning construction and creativity.
Memory, Expectation and the Temporal Flux of Acousmatic Music
Authors: Gatt Michael
Published: August 2020

This article concerns the temporal experience of acousmatic music, how the music can impact a listener’s sense of time passing and the implications of memory and expectations of auditory events and their perceived connections to one another. It will outline how memory and schemas lead to predictions in the immediate future and larger expectations of a work’s form. An overview of the temporal listening framework for acousmatic music will be provided to show the interrelationship between memory and expectations and how they influence one’s listening focus in the present. Trevor Wishart’s Imago will be used to illustrate how one might compose an acousmatic work to promote active listening using compositional techniques that engage personal schemas and those built through the course of experiencing the piece.
Experiences of Time and Timelessness in Electroacoustic Music
Authors: Noble Jason , Bonin Tanor , McAdams Stephen
Published: August 2020

Electroacoustic music and its historical antecedents open up new ways of thinking about musical time. Whereas music performed by humans is necessarily constrained by certain temporal limits that define human information processing and embodiment, machines are capable of producing sound with scales and structures of time that reach potentially very far outside of these human limitations. But even musics produced with superhuman means are still subject to human constraints in music perception and cognition. Focusing on five principles of auditory perception – segmentation, grouping, pulse, metre and repetition – we hypothesise that musics that exceed or subvert the thresholds that define ‘human time’ are likely to be recognised by listeners as expressing timelessness. To support this hypothesis, we report an experiment in which a listening panel reviewed excerpts of electroacoustic music selected for their temporally subversive or excessive properties, and rated them (1) for the pace of time they express (normative, speeding up, or slowing down), and (2) for whether or not the music expresses ‘timelessness’. We find that while the specific musical parameters associated with temporal phenomenology vary from one musical context to the next, a general trend obtains across musical contexts through the excess or subversion of a particular perceptual constraint by a given musical parameter on the one hand, and the subjective experiences of time and timelessness on the other.
ENDOGENOUS PARTICIPATION, RISK, AND LEARNING IN THE STOCK MARKET
Authors: Shin Michael
Published: August 2020

A simple asset pricing model with both endogenous stock market participation and subjective risk can explain the negative cross-country correlation between participation rates and the volatility of excess returns, along with the time-varying participation rates in the data. Belief-driven learning dynamics can explain the interplay between participation rates, subjective risk, and stock price volatility. When agents adaptively learn about the risk and return, my model generates 25% of the excess volatility observed in US stock prices, while also matching key moments. With learning about risk, excess volatility of stock prices is driven by fluctuations in the participation rate that arise because agents’ risk estimates vary with prices. I find that learning about risk is quantitatively more important than learning about returns.
Preserving social equity in marketized primary care: strategies in Sweden
Authors: Winblad Ulrika , Isaksson David , Blomqvist Paula
Published: August 2020

A primary care choice reform launched in Sweden in 2010 led to a rapid growth of private providers. Critics feared that the reform would lead to an increased tendency among new, profit-driven, providers, to select patients with lower health risks. Even if open risk selection is prohibited, providers can select patients in more subtle ways, such as establishing their practices in areas with higher health status. This paper investigates to what extent strategies were employed by local governments to avoid risk selection and whether there were any differences between left- and right-wing governments in this regard. Three main strategies were used: risk adjustment of the financial reimbursements on the basis of health and/or socio-economic status of listed patients; design of patient listing systems; and regulatory requirements regarding the scope and content of the services that had to be offered by all providers. Additionally, left-wing local governments were more prone than right-wing governments to adopt risk adjustment strategies at the onset of the reform but these differences diminished over time. The findings of the paper contribute to our understanding of how social inequalities may be avoided in tax-based health care systems when market-like steering models such as patient choice are introduced.