bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aggregation-based minimization of finite state automata
Authors: Björklund Johanna , Cleophas Loek 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe present a minimization algorithm for non-deterministic finite state automata that finds and merges bisimulation-equivalent states. The bisimulation relation is computed through partition aggregation, in contrast to existing algorithms that use partition refinement. The algorithm simultaneously generalises and simplifies an earlier one by Watson and Daciuk for deterministic devices. We show the algorithm to be correct and run in time $$ O \left( n^2 r^2 \left| \varSigma \right| \right) $$

O

n
2

r
2

Σ

, where n is the number of states of the input automaton $$M$$
M
, r is the maximal out-degree in the transition graph for any combination of state and input symbol, and $$\left| \varSigma \right| $$

Σ

is the size of the input alphabet. The algorithm has a higher time complexity than derivatives of Hopcroft’s partition-refinement algorithm, but represents a promising new solution approach that preserves language equivalence throughout the computation process. Furthermore, since the algorithm essentially computes the maximal model of a logical formula derived from $$M$$
M
, optimisation techniques from the field of model checking become applicable.
Scanning stereo-PLIF method for free surface measurements in large 3D domains
Authors: van Meerkerk Mike , Poelma C. , Westerweel J. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this work, we extend a planar laser-induced fluorescence method for free surface measurements to a three-dimensional domain using a stereo-camera system, a scanning light sheet, and a modified self-calibration procedure. The stereo-camera set-up enables a versatile measurement domain with self-calibration, improved accuracy, and redundancy (e.g., possibility to overcome occlusions). Fluid properties are not significantly altered by the fluorescent dye, which results in a non-intrusive measurement technique. The technique is validated by determining the free surface of a hydraulic flow over an obstacle and circular waves generated after droplet impact. Free surface waves can be accurately determined over a height of $$L=100$$L=100 mm in a large two-dimensional domain ($$y(x,z) = 120\times 62$$y(x,z)=120×62 mm$$^2$$2), with sufficient accuracy to determine small amplitude variations ($$\eta \approx 0.2$$η≈0.2 mm). The temporal resolution ($${\varDelta }t = 19$$Δt=19 ms) is only limited by the available scanning equipment ($$f = 1$$f=1 kHz rate). For other applications, this domain can be scaled as needed.
Graphic abstract
A platinum black-modified microelectrode for in situ olanzapine detection in microliter volumes of undiluted serum
Authors: Shukla Rajendra P. , Belmaker Robert H. , Bersudsky Yuly , Ben-Yoav Hadar 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOlanzapine is a thienobenzodiazepine compound. It is one of the newer types of antipsychotic drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Several methods have been reported for analyzing olanzapine in its pure form or combined with other drugs and in biological fluids. These methods include high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Although many of the reported methods are accurate and sensitive, they require the use of sophisticated equipment, lack in situ analysis, and require expensive reagents. Moreover, several of these methods are cumbersome, require prolonged sample pretreatment, strict control of pH, and long reaction times. Here we present the development of a miniaturized electrochemical sensor that will enable minimally invasive, real-time, and in situ monitoring of olanzapine levels in microliter volumes of serum samples. For this purpose, we modified a microfabricated microelectrode with a platinum black film to increase the electrocatalytic activity of the microelectrode towards olanzapine oxidation; this improved the overall selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor. We observed in recorded voltammograms the anodic current dose response characteristics in microliter volumes of olanzapine-spiked serum samples that resulted in a limit of detection of 28.6 ± 1.3 nM and a sensitivity of 0.14 ± 0.02 µA/cm2 nM. Importantly, the platinum black-modified microelectrode exhibited a limit of detection that is below the clinical threshold (65–130 nM). Further miniaturizing and integrating such sensors into point-of-care devices provide real-time monitoring of olanzapine blood levels; this will enable treatment teams to receive feedback and administer adjustable olanzapine therapy.
Towards effective discovery of natural communities in complex networks and implications in e-commerce
Authors: Chattopadhyay Swarup , Basu Tanmay , Das Asit K. , Ghosh Kuntal , Murthy Late C. A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAutomated community detection is an important problem in the study of complex networks. The idea of community detection is closely related to the concept of data clustering in pattern recognition. Data clustering refers to the task of grouping similar objects and segregating dissimilar objects. The community detection problem can be thought of as finding groups of densely interconnected nodes with few connections to nodes outside the group. A node similarity measure is proposed here that finds the similarity between two nodes by considering both neighbors and non-neighbors of these two nodes. Subsequently, a method is introduced for identifying communities in complex networks using this node similarity measure and the notion of data clustering. The significant characteristic of the proposed method is that it does not need any prior knowledge about the actual communities of a network. Extensive experiments on several real world and artificial networks with known ground-truth communities are reported. The proposed method is compared with various state of the art community detection algorithms by using several criteria, viz. normalized mutual information, f-measure etc. Moreover, it has been successfully applied in improving the effectiveness of a recommender system which is rapidly becoming a crucial tool in e-commerce applications. The empirical results suggest that the proposed technique has the potential to improve the performance of a recommender system and hence it may be useful for other e-commerce applications.
Pollution potential and causative hydrogeochemical processes in unconfined aquifer systems in a typical urban setting: emphasis on recharge and discharge areas
Authors: Asiwaju-Bello Y. A. , Olabode O. F. , Ogunsuyi M. T. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe inhabitants of Akure Metropolis, south-western Nigeria, depend solely on groundwater for their domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. There is a need to delineate recharge and discharge areas for assessment and management of groundwater in these areas. One hundred and ninety (190) dug wells were selected for this assessment. Elevation and water table data aided accurate delineation of recharge, discharge and groundwater divide areas. Thirty-six wells representative of recharge and discharge areas were subjected to pollution assessment [DRASTIC, water quality index (WQI) and runoff potential]. The results revealed that the recharge areas have higher pollution potential and runoff amount than the discharge areas. This implied that groundwater sourced from recharge areas was more pollution prone than that sourced from discharge areas. WQI results revealed that the waters from recharge and discharge areas fall within excellent, good, poor, and unsuitable quality categories. Hydrogeochemical results revealed that concentrations of cations and anions are in order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ > Na+ and HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− with a predominant Ca–HCO3 facies typifying water from a basement complex environment. Gibbs plot and chloro-alkaline index affirmed the rock dominance and existence of imprints of ion-exchange processes influencing the groundwater quality. Intense weathering activities aided with long resident time spent by the water in the voids of the aquifer media are characteristic in this terrain. Recharge of precipitating water through infiltration into the weathered basement aquifers is a pointer to the greater yield of water in the wells. The possibility that precipitation-weathering process has led to the increase in concentrations of all ionic species and possible pollution of the groundwaters from the recharge and discharge areas cannot be ruled out at all.
Optimal capital injections and dividends with tax in a risk model in discrete time
Authors: Bata Katharina , Schmidli Hanspeter 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe consider a risk model in discrete time with dividends and capital injections. The goal is to maximise the value of a dividend strategy. We show that the optimal strategy is of barrier type. That is, all capital above a certain threshold is paid as dividend. A second problem adds tax to the dividends but an injection leads to an exemption from tax. We show that the value function fulfils a Bellman equation. As a special case, we consider the case of premia of size one. In this case we show that the optimal strategy is a two barrier strategy. That is, there is a barrier if a next dividend of size one can be paid without tax and a barrier if the next dividend of size one will be taxed. In both models, we illustrate the findings by de Finetti’s example.
Concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis of softwood with t-butyl alcohol
Authors: Shiraki Yuya , Goto Tomohiro , Nonaka Hiroshi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTo date, concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis is the most effective process to recover the maximum yield of monomeric sugars from woody biomass because concentrated sulfuric acid can completely swell and hydrolyze cellulose. During this process, sulfuric acid lignin is quantitatively produced as a by-product, which is difficult to use because of self-condensation between the lignin molecules under acidic conditions. In this study, to achieve a high yield of both sugars and lignin, we aimed to valorize the lignin with a unique additive, t-butyl alcohol, in the concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis of softwood. When t-butyl alcohol was added, sugar yields were unchanged and were nearly equal to the amount of compositional sugars. Thermoplastic lignin with good solubility in acetone was successfully recovered in a yield higher than 40%. The economic efficiency of the concentrated acid hydrolysis was significantly improved by upgrading the lignin. Thus, this unique process could be a new candidate in the realization of sugar platform biorefineries.
Cost-Effectiveness of First Trimester Screening for Preterm Pre-eclampsia in Lebanon
Authors: Karaki H. , Khazaal J. , Chahine R. , Kharoubi M. , Cuckle H. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTo estimate, for Lebanon, the financial benefit of screening for preterm pre-eclampsia (PE) at 11–13 weeks gestation combining risk factors with mean arterial pressure and maternal serum placental growth factor. Preterm PE cases delivered during 2010–2018 at Rafik Hariri University Hospital were identified from electronic records. Manual nursing notes were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis using international criteria. For each case, adverse maternal and infant events were noted and billing information extracted. A series of 1000 non-PE pregnancies were identified and billing information recorded. Published screening detection rates for a 10% false-positive rate and the proportion prevented by aspirin prophylaxis were applied to estimate the reduced cost following screening. There were a total of 17,131 deliveries including 486 (2.84%) PE and 223 (1.30%) preterm PE cases. The caesarean section rate was substantially higher for preterm PE (74%) than non-PE deliveries (36%) and 76% of infants were admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, where the average stay was 32, 21 and 8 days for deliveries before 32, 32–33 and 34–36 weeks respectively. The total cost of maternal and infant care for preterm PE was $881,206 and the average cost of an unaffected delivery $599. It was estimated that following screening the saving in treatment costs including aspirin would have been $431,665, which is $24 per woman delivering at the hospital over the nine year period. The financial savings are more than sufficient to pay for the screening test in those who are screen-positive.
The GDPR as Global Data Protection Regulation?
Authors: Ryngaert Cedric , Taylor Mistale 
Published: January 2020

The deterritorialization of the Internet and international communications technology has given rise to acute jurisdictional questions regarding who may regulate online activities. In the absence of a global regulator, states act unilaterally, applying their own laws to transborder activities. The EU's “extraterritorial” application of its data protection legislation—initially the Data Protection Directive (DPD) and, since 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—is a case in point. The GDPR applies to “the processing of personal data of data subjects who are in the Union by a controller or processor not established in the Union, where the processing activities are related to: (a) the offering of goods or services . . . to such data subjects in the Union; or (b) the monitoring of their behaviour . . . within the Union.” It also conditions data transfers outside the EU on third states having adequate (meaning essentially equivalent) data protection standards. This essay outlines forms of extraterritoriality evident in EU data protection law, which could be legitimized by certain fundamental rights obligations. It then looks at how the EU balances data protection with third states’ countervailing interests. This approach can involve burdens not only for third states or corporations, but also for the EU political branches themselves. EU law viewed through the lens of public international law shows how local regulation is going global, despite its goal of protecting only EU data subjects.
Sludge Audits
Authors: SUNSTEIN CASS R. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractConsumers, employees, students and others are often subjected to ‘sludge’: excessive or unjustified frictions, such as paperwork burdens, that cost time or money; that may make life difficult to navigate; that may be frustrating, stigmatizing or humiliating; and that might end up depriving people of access to important goods, opportunities and services. Because of behavioral biases and cognitive scarcity, sludge can have much more harmful effects than private and public institutions anticipate. To protect consumers, investors, employees and others, firms and private and public institutions should regularly conduct Sludge Audits to catalogue the costs of sludge and to decide when and how to reduce it. Sludge often has costs far in excess of benefits, and it can hurt the most vulnerable members of society.
Exploding Individuals: Engaging Indigenous Logic and Decolonizing Science
Authors: Sinclair Rebekah 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDespite emerging attention to Indigenous philosophies both within and outside of feminism, Indigenous logics remain relatively underexplored and underappreciated. By amplifying the voices of recent Indigenous philosophies and literatures, I seek to demonstrate that Indigenous logic is a crucial aspect of Indigenous resurgence as well as political and ethical resistance. Indigenous philosophies provide alternatives to the colonial, masculinist tendencies of classical logic in the form of paraconsistent—many-valued—logics. Specifically, when Indigenous logics embrace the possibility of true contradictions, they highlight aspects of the world rejected and ignored by classical logic and inspire a relational, decolonial imaginary. To demonstrate this, I look to biology, from which Indigenous logics are often explicitly excluded, and consider one problem that would benefit from an Indigenous, paraconsistent analysis: that of the biological individual. This article is an effort to expand the arenas in which allied feminists can responsibly take up and deploy these decolonial logics.
Gene–environment interactions between HPA-axis genes and childhood maltreatment in depression: a systematic review
Authors: Normann Caroline , Buttenschøn Henriette N. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjective:Gene–environment (GxE) interactions may comprise an important part of the aetiology of depression, and childhood maltreatment (CM), a significant stressor, has consistently been linked to depression. Hence, in this systematic review, we aimed to investigate the interaction between hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA-axis) genes and CM in depression.Methods:We conducted a literature search using the Pubmed, Embase, and PsychINFO databases in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We included studies investigating GxE interactions between HPA-axis genes [Angiotensin Converting Enzyme(ACE),Arginine Vasopressin(AVP),Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone(CRH),Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone Receptor 1(CRHR1),Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone Receptor 2(CRHR2),FK506 binding protein(FKBP5),Nuclear Receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1(NR3C1),Nuclear Receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2(NR3C2)] and CM in depression.Results:The literature search identified 159 potentially relevant studies. Following screening, 138 of these were excluded. Thus, 21 studies, investigating a total of 51 single nucleotide polymorphisms, were included in the final study. The most prevalent genes in the current study wereCRHR1andFKBP5. Significant GxE interactions were reported in seven of eight studies forCRHR1:rs110402 and CM, and in five of eight studies forFKBP5:rs1360780 and CM. In summary, our results suggest possible GxE interactions betweenCRHR1, FKBP5, NR3C1, andNR3C2and CM, respectively. For the remaining genes, no relevant literature emerged.Conclusions:We find that genetic variation in four HPA-axis genes may influence the effects of CM in depression.
Body composition in very preterm infants before discharge is associated with macronutrient intake
Authors: Lingwood Barbara E. , Al-Theyab Nada , Eiby Yvonne A. , Colditz Paul B. , Donovan Tim J. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractVery preterm infants experience poor postnatal growth relative to intra-uterine growth rates but have increased percentage body fat (%fat). The aim of the present study was to identify nutritional and other clinical predictors of infant %fat, fat mass (FM) (g) and lean mass (LM) (g) in very preterm infants during their hospital stay. Daily intakes of protein, carbohydrate, lipids and energy were recorded from birth to 34 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) in fifty infants born <32 weeks. Clinical illness variables and anthropometric data were also collected. Body composition was assessed at 34–37 weeks PMA using the PEA POD Infant Body Composition System. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of body composition (%fat, FM or LM). Birth weight, birth weight z-score and PMA were strong positive predictors of infant LM. After adjustment for these factors, the strongest nutrient predictors of LM were protein:carbohydrate ratios (102–318 g LM/0·1 increase in ratio, P = 0·006–0·015). Postnatal age (PNA) and PMA were the strongest predictors of infant FM or %fat. When PNA and PMA were accounted for a higher intake of energy (–1·41 to –1·61 g FM/kJ per kg per d, P = 0·001–0·012), protein (–75·5 to –81·0 g FM/g per kg per d, P = 0·019–0·038) and carbohydrate (–27·2 to –30·0 g FM/g per kg per d, P = 0·012–0·019) were associated with a lower FM at 34–37 weeks PMA. Higher intakes of energy, protein and carbohydrate may reduce fat accumulation in very preterm infants until at least 34–37 weeks PMA.
Changes in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and adiposity among pre-school children in Kraków, Poland, from 2008 to 2018
Authors: Żegleń Magdalena , Kryst Łukasz , Kowal Małgorzata , Woronkowicz Agnieszka , Sobiecki Jan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSocioeconomic changes occurring over time influence the lifestyle choices of a population, and these can significantly affect children’s body weight and composition. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in prevalence of overweight, obesity and adiposity in pre-school children in Poland between 2008 and 2018. Body height, body weight and subscapular and triceps skinfolds were measured in 2167 children aged 3–7 years from Kraków. Body mass index and adiposity (percentage body fat, %BF) were calculated for the children, who were then categorized as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese according to Cole’s cut-off points. Adiposity was categorized according to thez-scores for %BF as low (<−1), normal (−1 to 1) or high (>1). Differences between cohorts were analysed using the chi-squared test. Only the decrease in the prevalence of obesity in 5-year-old girls was found to be statistically significant. However, some overall tendencies were noted. Decreases in the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity were observed for both sexes, as well as in the incidence of high adiposity in boys and low adiposity in girls. Increases in the prevalence of high adiposity in girls and low adiposity in boys were also noted. There was no significant change in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among pre-school children over the study decade, and the visible tendencies included decreases in the prevalence of excess body weight and adiposity as well as underweight and low body fat. Also, the visible trends in adiposity were mostly negative. Further studies should, however, also consider the levels of physical fitness and activity of children, as these have a crucial influence on the measured characteristics.
Birth weight associated with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-determined muscle–bone unit in young healthy women from the Nutritionists’ Health Study
Authors: Valente Angélica Marques Martins , de Almeida-Pititto Bianca , Archanjo Ferraro Alexandre , Dias Folchetti Luciana G. , Tande Silva Isis , Ferreira Sandra Roberta G. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractMuscle and bone have been considered a functional unit that grows together early in life, deteriorates with aging, and can cause osteosarcopenia. Due to its importance in public health, detecting risk factors in early life is desirable. This study examined whether birth weight (BW) was associated with muscle–bone unit using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) parameters in young women from the Nutritionists’ Health Study (NutriHS), a cohort study of undergraduates and Nutrition graduates. This cross-sectional analysis included 170 young healthy women who answered early life events-questionnaire, and had anthropometric, muscle tests and DXA-determined body composition and bone densitometry (iDXA-Lunar®). A blood sample was obtained for a subsample of 148 participants. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was calculated. BW was categorized in quartiles (BWq) and variables of interest compared by ANOVA. Associations of BWq with calf circumference (CC), handgrip, muscle performance tests, ASMI, bone mineral density and content (BMD and BMC), and plasma glucose, lipids, insulin, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were performed using multiple linear regression and directed acyclic graph-recommended adjustments. Mean values of age, body mass index, and BW were 23.0 years (20.0–28.0), 22.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2, and 3199 ± 424 g, respectively. Comparing variables across BWq, significant differences in CC, handgrip, ASMI, and total body BMC were detected. Regression models adjusted for confounders showed associations of BWq with CC (β = 0.72, p = 0.005), handgrip (β = 1.53, p = 0.001), ASMI (β = 0.16, p = 0.022), total body BMC (β = 64.8, p = 0.005), total femur BMC (β = 0.70, p = 0.041), total body BMD (β = 0.02, p = 0.043), and lumbar spine BMD (β = 0.03, p = 0.028). We conclude that BW is associated with muscle–bone unit using DXA-parameters in Brazilian young healthy women from the NutriHS, suggesting a role for intrauterine environment for musculoskeletal health.