bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new discrete multiplicative random cascade model for downscaling intermittent rainfall fields
Authors: Schleiss Marc 
Published: July 2020

Abstract. Spatial downscaling of rainfall fields is a challenging mathematical problem for which many different types of methods have been proposed. One
popular solution consists of redistributing rainfall amounts over smaller and smaller scales by means of a discrete multiplicative random cascade
(DMRCs). This works well for slowly varying homogeneous rainfall fields but often fails in the presence of intermittency (i.e., large amounts of
zero rainfall values). The most common workaround in this case is to use two separate cascade models, namely one for the occurrence and another for the
intensity. In this paper, a new and simpler approach based on the notion of equal-volume areas (EVAs) is proposed. Unlike classical cascades where
rainfall amounts are redistributed over grid cells of equal size, the EVA cascade splits grid cells into areas of different sizes, with each of them
containing exactly half of the original amount of water. The relative areas of the subgrid cells are determined by drawing random values from
a logit-normal cascade generator model with scale and intensity-dependent standard deviation (SD). The process ends when the amount of water in each
subgrid cell is smaller than a fixed-bucket capacity, at which point the output of the cascade can be resampled over a regular Cartesian mesh. The
present paper describes the implementation of the EVA cascade model and gives some first results for 100 selected events in the
Netherlands. Performance is assessed by comparing the outputs of the EVA model to bilinear interpolation and to a classical DMRC model based on
fixed grid cell sizes. Results show that, on average, the EVA cascade outperforms the classical method, producing fields with more realistic
distributions, small-scale extremes and spatial structures. Improvements are mostly credited to the higher robustness of the EVA model in the
presence of intermittency and to the lower variance of its generator. However, both approaches have their advantages and weaknesses. For example,
while the classical cascade tends to overestimate small-scale variability and extremes, the EVA model tends to produce fields that are slightly too
smooth and block shaped compared to the observations. The complementary nature of the two approaches, and the fact that they produce errors of opposite
signs, opens up new possibilities for quality control and bias corrections of downscaled fields.
Climate-dependent propagation of precipitation uncertainty into the water cycle
Authors: Fallah Ali , O Sungmin , Orth Rene 
Published: July 2020

Abstract. Precipitation is a crucial variable for hydro-meteorological
applications. Unfortunately, rain gauge measurements are sparse and unevenly
distributed, which substantially hampers the use of in situ precipitation
data in many regions of the world. The increasing availability of
high-resolution gridded precipitation products presents a valuable
alternative, especially over poorly gauged regions. This study examines the
usefulness of current state-of-the-art precipitation data sets in
hydrological modeling. For this purpose, we force a conceptual hydrological
model with multiple precipitation data sets in >200 European
catchments to obtain runoff and evapotranspiration. We consider a wide range
of precipitation products, which are generated via (1) the interpolation of
gauge measurements (E-OBS and Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) V.2018), (2) data assimilation into
reanalysis models (ERA-Interim, ERA5, and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis – CFSR), and (3) a combination of
multiple sources (Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation; MSWEP V2). Evaluation is done at the daily and monthly
timescales during the period of 1984–2007. We find that simulated runoff
values are highly dependent on the accuracy of precipitation inputs; in
contrast, simulated evapotranspiration is generally much less influenced in
our comparatively wet study region. We also find that the impact of
precipitation uncertainty on simulated runoff increases towards wetter
regions, while the opposite is observed in the case of evapotranspiration.
Finally, we perform an indirect performance evaluation of the precipitation
data sets by comparing the runoff simulations with streamflow observations.
Thereby, E-OBS yields the particularly strong agreement, while ERA5, GPCC V.2018, and MSWEP V2 show good performances. We further reveal
climate-dependent performance variations of the considered data sets, which
can be used to guide their future development. The overall best agreement is
achieved when using an ensemble mean generated from all the individual
products. In summary, our findings highlight a climate-dependent propagation
of precipitation uncertainty through the water cycle; while runoff is
strongly impacted in comparatively wet regions, such as central Europe, there
are increasing implications for evapotranspiration in drier regions.
Book review of: Strategic Management and the Circular Economy by Marcello Tonelli and Nicolo Cristoni
Authors: Petrović Nataša 
Published: July 2020

Book review of: Strategic Management and the Circular Economy by Marcello Tonelli and Nicolo Cristoni. NewYork: Routledge, 2019. - Series: Routledge research in strategic management. 235pp ISBN 9781138103634(hardback), ISBN 9781315102641 (e-book)
Lean Tools for Improving the Teaching Process in Serbia - Empirical Research
Authors: Kirin Snežana , Vučetić Ivana , Vasojević Nena A , Kirin Sandra Ž 
Published: July 2020

Research Question: This article identifies the most prominent lean wastes in the education process in primary schools in Serbia and the most efficient lean tools for their reduction. Objective: Lean management has been recognized as a valuable strategy suitable for application in various fields. Its implementation in the field of education has shown a rather slow progress, and the Serbian education system is not an exception. Idea: The idea of the research was to investigate the possible outcomes of the lean management implementation in primary schools in Serbia, and its possible benefits. Data: For this purpose, a specialized questionnaire concerning lean wastes and lean tools was designed intended for class and subject teachers. Tools: Statistical data analyses were used to determine the relationships between variables, and the Weighted Scoring method was applied to identify the most represented lean wastes in the education process, as well as the prioritization of lean tools. Findings: According to the results, the factor of the lean tools impact in regard to the lean wastes reduction was evaluated as “higher than 3” (on a scale of 1-5), which confirmed the efficiency of the considered lean tools in the lean wastes reduction. Also, the significant differences between the public and the private education sectors in terms of the lean application are shown, especially regarding the type of curriculum present (national or international). Contribution: The research has shown that lean management could be successfully applied in primary schools, in order to improve school organization and the teaching process flow, which highly contributes to the school's overall competitiveness. The guidelines for the lean management implementation are given as well as the recommendations to the creators of education policies. Certain limitations should be taken into account, regarding the restricted number of schools involved and specific sample group.
ACLIMATAÇÃO DE LODO PROVENIENTE DE REATOR UASB COM EFLUENTE DOMÉSTICO EM SISTEMA BATELADA
Authors: Silva Angela Maria Morais , Frutuoso Francisca Kamila Amâncio , Faustino Francisco Wedson , Dos Santos Suélho Pereira , Simões Francisca Adriana Fernandes , Dos Santos Vagner Sales , Santos Yannice Tatiane Da Costa 
Published: July 2020

<p>O presente estudo objetiva avaliar o comportamento dos parâmetros de estabilização de um lodo anaeróbio em sistema de bancada, durante seu processo de aclimatação com novo efluente. A aclimatação do lodo-inóculo foi realizada no reator de aclimatação de bancada em PVC com alimentação ascendente, sendo monitorados os parâmetros pH, alcalinidade total, ácidos graxos voláteis, DQO, frações totais e suspensas, fixas e voláteis de sólidos dos efluentes bruto e tratado e do lodo. A aclimatação do lodo com o novo esgoto, realizada em 70 dias de avaliação, não atingiu o nível de estabilização desejado, com baixa remoção de DQO e diminuto crescimento de biomassa, contudo, verificou-se, ainda, uma estabilidade para outros parâmetros, como o pH e a relação AGV/AT, e valores de sólidos suspensos voláteis aumentados em relação ao início. A acidez controlada pressupõe haver condições de aceitação da biomassa ao novo esgoto, mesmo que de forma lenta, permitindo a aplicação do lodo testado em partida de reatores anaeróbios em escala real.</p><p> </p><h1 align="left">ACLIMATATION OF SLUDGE FROM UASB REACTOR WITH DOMESTIC EFFLUENT IN BATTLE SYSTEM</h1><p>ABSTRACT</p><p>The present study aims to evaluate the behavior of the stabilization parameters of an anaerobic sludge in a bench system during acclimatization process with a new effluent. Acclimatization of sludge-inoculum was carried out in an upward feeding PVC bench acclimatization reactor, with monitoring of parameters pH, total alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, COD, total and suspended, fixed and volatile fractions of effluents and sludge. The acclimatization of the sludge with the new sewage, carried out in 70 days of evaluation, did not reach the desired stabilization level, with low COD removal and diminished biomass growth, however, there was verified stability for other parameters such as pH, AGV / AT ratio, and volatile suspended solids values increased from the beginning. Controlled acidity presumes there are conditions for biomass acceptance of biomass for the new effluent, even if slowly, allowing the application of the tested sludge start anaerobic reactors in full scale.</p>
CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA MORFODINÂMICA DE PRAIAS SOB INFLUÊNCIA DE CILINDROS GEOSSINTÉTICOS: CASO DE ESTUDO DA PRAIA DE OFIR, PORTUGAL
Authors: Gomes Ana Carolina , Pinho José Luis da Silva , Granja Helena P. 
Published: July 2020

<p>O fenómeno da erosão costeira afeta profundamente a costa portuguesa. O sistema praia-oceano não se pode considerar em situação de equilíbrio morfodinâmico, porque as praias são sistemas abertos, sendo os seus sedimentos constantemente transportados. Os ventos, marés e agitação marinha são os principais agentes erosivos, mas existem outras causas de origem antrópica que influenciam os processos erosivos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar as alterações morfológicas de muito curto termo em diferentes estados de agitação e tipologia de maré, na praia de Ofir, situada na costa NO Portuguesa. Esta praia foi intervencionada com cilindros geossintéticos como medida de defesa costeira. O trabalho é baseado num programa de monitorização, recorrendo a levantamentos topográficos de alta precisão com auxílio de equipamento DGPS. A aplicação de cilindros geossintéticos nesta praia revelou-se eficiente no período analisado e nas condições de agitação e maré verificadas, embora tenham sofrido erosão ficando expostos.</p><p> </p><p><br />CHARACTERIZATION OF BEACH MORPHODYNAMICS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GEOSYNTHETIC CYLINDERS: OFIRBEACH, PORTUGAL, CASE STUDY</p><p>ABSTRACT </p><p>The phenomenon of coastal erosion deeply affects the Portuguese coast. The beach-ocean system cannot be considered in a situation of morphodynamic balance because the beaches are open systems, and their sediments are being constantly transported. Winds, tides and waves are the main erosive actions, but there are other causes of anthropogenic origin that influence erosional processes. This work aims to evaluate the morphological changes of short time scale, considering different waves and tide conditions at Ofir beach, located at the NW Portuguese coast. This beach was intervened with geosynthetic cylinders as a coastal defense measure. The work is based on a monitoring program, using high-precision topographic surveys with DGPS equipment. The application of geosynthetic cylinders on this beach proved to be efficient in the analyzed period and in the verified conditions of waves and tides, although they have suffered erosion and have been exposed.</p>
Schizophrenic patients' retrospective attitudes regarding involuntary psychopharmacological treatment and restraint
Authors: Naber D , Kircher T , Hessel K 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThe considerable debate about the justification of coercive measures in psychiatry includes medical, ethical, legal and political arguments, patients' subjective experience of involuntary injections or restraint is barely investigated. A semi-structured interview was used to evaluate retrospective attitudes in 40 (32 schizophrenic) patients, treated involuntarily with injection of neuroleptic drugs or restrained. Of these patients, 48% rated these measures as necessary or positive, 23% as negative, and 30% were indifferent. Only patients with good insight into their disease were able to accept the involuntary treatment retrospectively as positive. Reasons for treatment refusal were inadequacy of the measures (58%), negative previous experience with neuroleptic drugs (47%), eg, akathisia, and reservations against the medical system itself (28%). ‘Fear’ and ‘powerlessness’ were the predominant feelings which patients experienced when confronted with coercive measures. Restraint was more disliked than injections. The results support the notion that disease concept and the ability to acknowledge mental illness are major factors influencing a schizophrenic patient's decision to accept of refuse treatment.
Assisted reproduction developments in the Islamic world
Authors: Serour G.I , Dickens B.M 
Published: July 2002

AbstractA November 2000 workshop organized by the International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research, Al‐Azhar University, Cairo, considered use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) in the Islamic world. The workshop reinforced a 1997 recommendation that a Standing Committee for Shari'a Medical Ethics be constituted to monitor and assess developments in ART practice. Among issues the workshop addressed were equitable access to services for infertile couples of modest means, and regulation of standards of equipment and personnel that ART centers should satisfy to gain approval to offer services. Acceptable uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis were proposed, and follicular maturation research in animals, including in vitro maturation and in vitro growth of oocytes, was encouraged, leading to human applications. Embryo implantation following a husband's death, induced postmenopausal pregnancy, uterine transplantation and gene therapy were addressed and human reproductive cloning condemned, but cloning human embryos for stem cell research was considered acceptable.
A morphometric study of maternal smoking on apoptosis in the syncytiotrophoblast
Authors: Marana H.R.C. , Andrade J.M. , Martins G.A. , Silva J.S. , Sala M.A. , Cunha S.P. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractObjectives: To study syncytiotrophoblast apoptosis in the placenta of smoking and non‐smoking pregnant women. Methods: Twelve neonates, pregnancies and placentas were available for study. Eight mothers smoked during pregnancy and the remaining four were non‐smokers used as control subjects. The main outcome measure was the apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index for each group. Apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry using the TUNEL method and quantitatively measured using a Merz grid. The apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index was calculated as the ratio of mean apoptotic labeling to percent terminal villus area using high‐power field microscopy. Results: Significant differences in apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index were observed between the control group (15.06 ± 3.72) and the smoker group (1.66 ± 1.74) (P < 0.0001, Mann‐Whitney test), but no differences were detected in clinical or morphometric data between groups. Conclusions: The human placental syncytiotrophoblast undergoes apoptosis and this process is associated with inhibition of apoptosis by the smoking habit. The same way as the presence of trophoblast apoptosis is associated with modifications of the maternal‐fetal exchange, the inhibitory effect of the smoking habit on syncytiotrophoblast could be responsible for the poor prognosis of pregnancy in the presence of maternal smoking.
Detection of human papillomavirus types in cervical adenocarcinoma by the polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Lee M.F. , Chang M.C. , Wu C.H. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractTo determine the human papillomavirus (HPV) types in cervical adenocarcinoma of patients from Taiwan. Methods: DNA was extracted from fixed tissues and polymerase chain reaction was performed in conjunction with a unique probe, pRSA I, allowing simultaneous detection of HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 from amplified HPV DNAs after endonuclease, RsaI, digestion. Results: Of 69 tissues examined, 31.9% (22/69) were found to contain HPV DNA. Among 22 HPV‐positive specimens, no HPV types 6, 11, 31 and 33 were detected. On the other hand, HPV 16 and HPV 18 were found in 11 (15.9%) and 10 (14.5%) of HPV‐positive specimens, respectively. One specimen (1.5%) was found to contain both HPV 16 and 18 DNAs. Conclusions: Our findings support that HPV 18, along with HPV 16, may play a certain role in the adenocarcinoma pathogenesis of the uterine cervix.
Consistent improvement with eculizumab across muscle groups in myasthenia gravis
Authors: Mantegazza Renato , O'Brien Fanny L. , Yountz Marcus , Howard James F. ,   for the REGAIN study group
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess whether eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, improves patient‐ and physician‐reported outcomes (evaluated using the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale, respectively) in patients with refractory anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive generalized myasthenia gravis across four domains, representing ocular, bulbar, respiratory, and limb/gross motor muscle groups.MethodsPatients with refractory anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive generalized myasthenia gravis were randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo or eculizumab during the REGAIN study (NCT01997229). Patients who completed REGAIN were eligible to continue into the open‐label extension trial (NCT02301624) for up to 4 years. The four domain scores of each of the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale recorded throughout REGAIN and through 130 weeks of the open‐label extension were analyzed.ResultsOf the 125 patients who participated in REGAIN, 117 enrolled in the open‐label extension; 61 had received placebo and 56 had received eculizumab during REGAIN. Patients experienced rapid improvements in total scores and all four domain scores of both the myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile and the quantitative myasthenia gravis scale with eculizumab treatment. These improvements were sustained through 130 weeks of the open‐label extension.InterpretationEculizumab treatment elicits rapid and sustained improvements in muscle strength across ocular, bulbar, respiratory, and limb/gross motor muscle groups and in associated daily activities in patients with refractory anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive generalized myasthenia gravis.
Depressive Symptoms and the Arthritis–Employment Interface: A Population‐Level Study
Authors: Jetha Arif , Theis Kristina A. , Boring Michael A. , Murphy Louise B. , Guglielmo Dana 
Published: July 2020

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, arthritis, and employment, and to determine whether this relationship differs across young, middle‐age, and older working‐age adults with arthritis.MethodsData from the US National Health Interview Survey from 2013–2017 were analyzed. Analyses were restricted to adults with doctor‐diagnosed arthritis of working age (ages 18–64 years) with complete data on depressive symptoms (n = 11,380). Covariates were sociodemographic information, health, and health system utilization variables. Employment prevalence was compared by self‐reported depressive symptoms. We estimated percentages, as well as univariable and multivariable logistic regression models, to examine the relationship between depression and employment among young adults (ages 18–34 years), middle‐age adults (ages 35–54 years), and older adults (ages 55–64 years).ResultsAmong all working‐age US adults with arthritis, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13%. Those reporting depressive symptoms had a higher prevalence of fair/worse health (60%) and arthritis‐attributable activity limitations (70%) compared to those not reporting depression (23% and 39%, respectively). Respondents with depressive symptoms reported significantly lower employment prevalence (30%) when compared to those not reporting depressive symptoms (66%) and lower multivariable‐adjusted association with employment (prevalence ratio 0.88 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.83–0.93]). Middle‐age adults reporting depression were significantly less likely to be employed compared to their counterparts without depression (prevalence ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.77–0.90]); similar but borderline statistically significant relationships were observed for both young adults (prevalence ratio 0.86 [95% CI 0.74–0.99]) and older adults (prevalence ratio 0.94 [95% CI 0.86–1.03]).ConclusionFor adults with arthritis, depressive symptoms are associated with not participating in employment. Strategies to reduce arthritis‐related work disability may be more effective if they simultaneously address mental health.
Get a Grip on Factors Related to Grip Strength in Persons With Hand Osteoarthritis: Results From an Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Haugen Ida K. , Aaserud Janni , Kvien Tore K. 
Published: July 2020

ObjectiveTo compare levels of grip strength in individuals with hand osteoarthritis (OA) with normative values, and to examine how hand OA severity and other biopsychosocial factors are associated with grip strength.MethodsLevels of grip strength across age groups were compared with normative values from the general population in sex‐stratified analyses using 2‐sample t‐tests. Associations between radiographic hand OA severity (Kellgren/Lawrence sum score) in different joint groups and grip strength of the same hand were examined in 300 individuals from the Nor‐Hand study using linear regression. Analyses were repeated using markers of pain, demographic factors, comorbidities, and psychological and social factors as independent variables. We adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index.ResultsIndividuals with hand OA had lower grip strength than the general population, especially in individuals age <60 years. In thumb base joints, increasing radiographic severity (range 0–8) and the presence of pain were associated with lower grip strength (β = –0.83 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) –1.12, –0.53] and β = –2.15 [95% CI –3.15, –1.16], respectively). Negative associations with grip strength were also found for women, low education, higher comorbidity index, and higher resting heart rate.ConclusionIndividuals with hand OA have lower grip strength than the general population. Our results support the idea that studies on thumb base OA should include grip strength as an outcome measure. However, other biopsychosocial factors should also be considered when the grip strength is being interpreted, because other factors such as sex, socioeconomic factors, physical fitness, and comorbidities are negatively associated with grip strength.