bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The financialisation of housing production: exploring capital flows and value extraction among major housebuilders in the UK
Authors: Archer Tom , Cole Ian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis paper examines trends in the operation and financial performance of major UK housebuilders shortly before, during and after the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008. It outlines two contrasting explanations of what has happened in the sector over this period. The first is described as an ‘institutional recovery’ perspective, in which a period of initial retrenchment after the crash was followed by steady reinvestment, and then a cautious move back to growth by the major housebuilding companies. This is set against what we describe as a ‘financialised recovery’ perspective. This explanation stems from our own analysis of the annual accounts of major UK housebuilders since 2005. It reveals the impact of the intensive financialisation of a sector initially weakened by the GFC, but where the strategic primacy of maximising shareholder value has been asserted more strongly than before. Our analysis of dividend payments post-GFC reveals this in the starkest of terms. We suggest that the sector has been in more robust financial health than implied by the ‘institutional recovery’ narrative, but that significant value is being extracted out of these companies, and indeed the sector overall, by institutional investors. The analysis provides unique insights into the financialisation of housing production, an issue which to date has received only limited attention. We reflect on the implications of identified trends for housing supply in the UK. We also sketch future research possibilities to examine the ongoing impact of intensive financialisation and the capital flows into, and out of, major housebuilders.
Compact Deep Color Features for Remote Sensing Scene Classification
Authors: Anwer Rao Muhammad , Khan Fahad Shahbaz , Laaksonen Jorma 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAerial scene classification is a challenging problem in understanding high-resolution remote sensing images. Most recent aerial scene classification approaches are based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). These CNN models are trained on a large amount of labeled data and the de facto practice is to use RGB patches as input to the networks. However, the importance of color within the deep learning framework is yet to be investigated for aerial scene classification. In this work, we investigate the fusion of several deep color models, trained using color representations, for aerial scene classification. We show that combining several deep color models significantly improves the recognition performance compared to using the RGB network alone. This improvement in classification performance is, however, achieved at the cost of a high-dimensional final image representation. We propose to use an information theoretic compression approach to counter this issue, leading to a compact deep color feature set without any significant loss in accuracy. Comprehensive experiments are performed on five remote sensing scene classification benchmarks: UC-Merced with 21 scene classes, WHU-RS19 with 19 scene types, RSSCN7 with 7 categories, AID with 30 aerial scene classes, and NWPU-RESISC45 with 45 categories. Our results clearly demonstrate that the fusion of deep color features always improves the overall classification performance compared to the standard RGB deep features. On the large-scale NWPU-RESISC45 dataset, our deep color features provide a significant absolute gain of 4.3% over the standard RGB deep features.
Interrogating the Effects of Hydrogen on the Behavior of Planar Deformation Bands in Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Sabisch J. E. C. , Sugar J. D. , Ronevich J. , San Marchi C. , Medlin D. L. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe effects of internal hydrogen on the deformation microstructures of 304L austenitic stainless steel have been characterized using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM), and nanoprobe diffraction. Samples, both thermally precharged with hydrogen and without thermal precharging, were subjected to tensile deformation of 5 and 20 pct true strain followed by multiple microscopic interrogations. Internal hydrogen produced widespread stacking faults within the as-forged initially unstrained material. While planar deformation bands developed with tensile strain in both the hydrogen-precharged and non-precharged material, the character of these bands changed with the presence of internal hydrogen. As shown by nanobeam diffraction and HRSTEM observations, in the absence of internal hydrogen, the bands were predominantly composed of twins, whereas for samples deformed in the presence of internal hydrogen,ε-martensite became more pronounced and the density of deformation bands increased. For the 20 pct strain condition,α′-martensite was observed at the intersection ofε-martensite bands in hydrogen-precharged samples, whereas in non-precharged samplesα′-martensite was only observed along grain boundaries. We hypothesize that the increased prevalence ofα′-martensite is a secondary effect of increasedε-martensite and deformation band density due to internal hydrogen and is not a signature of internal hydrogen itself.
Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery Utilisation in Patients With and Without Diabetes: Data from the IFSO Global Registry 2015–2018
Authors: Welbourn Richard , Hollyman Marianne , Kinsman Robin , Dixon John , Cohen Ricardo , Morton John , Ghaferi Amir , Higa Kelvin , Ottosson Johan , Pattou Francois , Al-Sabah Salman , Anvari Merhan , Himpens Jacques , Liem Ronald , Våge Villy , Walton Peter , Brown Wendy , Kow Lilian 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Comparative international practice of patients undergoing bariatric-metabolic surgery for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unknown. We aimed to ascertain baseline age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and types of operations performed for patients with T2DM submitted to the IFSO Global Registry.

Materials and Methods
Cross-sectional analysis of patients having primary surgery in 2015–2018 for countries with ≥90% T2DM data completion and ≥ 1000 submitted records.

Results
Fifteen countries including 11 national registries met the inclusion criteria. The rate of T2DM was 24.2% (99,537 of 411,581 patients, country range 12.0–55.1%) and 77.1% of all patients were women. In every country, patients with T2DM were older than those without T2DM (overall mean age 49.2 [SD 11.4] years vs 41.8 [11.9] years, all p < 0.001). Men were more likely to have T2DM than women, odds ratio (OR) 1.68 (95% CI 1.65–1.71), p < 0.001. Men showed higher rates of T2DM for BMI <35 kg/m2 compared to BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2, OR 2.76 (2.52–3.03), p < 0.001. This was not seen in women, OR 0.78 (0.73–0.83), p < 0.001. Sleeve gastrectomy was the commonest operation overall, but less frequent for patients with T2DM, patients with T2DM 54.9% vs without T2DM 65.8%, OR 0.63 (0.63–0.64), p < 0.001. Twelve out of 15 countries had higher proportions of gastric bypass compared to non-bypass operations for T2DM, OR 1.70 (1.67–1.72), p < 0.001.

Conclusion
Patients with T2DM had different characteristics to those without T2DM. Older men were more likely to have T2DM, with higher rates of BMI <35 kg/m2 and increased likelihood of food rerouting operations.
Thyroid cancer and COVID-19: experience at one single thyroid disease referral center
Authors: Prete Alessandro , Falcone Marco , Bottici Valeria , Giani Carlotta , Tiseo Giusy , Agate Laura , Matrone Antonio , Cappagli Virginia , Valerio Laura , Lorusso Loredana , Minaldi Elisa , Molinaro Eleonora , Elisei Rossella 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposeSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is challenging health systems all over the world. Cancer patients have a higher risk of being infected by SARS-Cov-2 and higher coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. Up to date, there were no data about COVID-19 in patients with thyroid cancer (TCs). The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of COVID-19 in a well-characterized series of TC patients evaluated for the persistence of the neoplastic disease from March to September 2020; as secondary objective, we looked for the COVID-19 disease severity in a subgroup of multimetastatic TC patients.MethodsWe evaluated 1464 patients affected by persistent TC: 67 patients who were taking multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) and 1397 under active surveillance for a persistent but stable disease. During the clinical evaluation, all patients were specifically investigated about a positive history of Sars-Cov-2 infection.ResultsSARS-Cov-2 infection was identified in 4/1464 (0.3%) cases of patients affected by TC. We identified three cases among patients under active surveillance (0.2%), and one case among patients treated with MKI systemic therapy (1/67, 1.5%). This patient was taking vandetanib for metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), when he came to our attention referring severe fatigue, dyspnea for light physical activities. He presented a mild COVID-19 and he received exclusively supportive care. After a multidisciplinary consultation, we decided against the discontinuation of vandetanib. After 2 months from the infection, he did not present any signs of active infection, and the MTC metastatic disease was stable.ConclusionsWe showed that COVID-19 is not more frequent in TC patients than in general population, although a relatively higher prevalence in the group of TC patients treated with MKIs. A single patient with advanced TC and SARS-Cov-2 infection during MKIs treatment had a mild COVID-19 and did not require the discontinuation of MKI therapy. In cases of more severe COVID-19, an accurate evaluation from a multidisciplinary team would consider risks and benefits in taking the decision to continue or stop MKI treatment.
Molecular Pathology of Well-Differentiated Pulmonary and Thymic Neuroendocrine Tumors: What Do Pathologists Need to Know?
Authors: Volante Marco , Mete Ozgur , Pelosi Giuseppe , Roden Anja C. , Speel Ernst Jan M. , Uccella Silvia 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThoracic (pulmonary and thymic) neuroendocrine tumors are well-differentiated epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms that are classified into typical and atypical carcinoid tumors based on mitotic index cut offs and presence or absence of necrosis. This classification scheme is of great prognostic value but designed for surgical specimens, only. Deep molecular characterization of thoracic neuroendocrine tumors highlighted their difference with neuroendocrine carcinomas. Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung are characterized by a low mutational burden, and a high prevalence of mutations in chromatin remodeling and histone modification-related genes, whereas mutations in genes frequently altered in neuroendocrine carcinomas are rare. Molecular profiling divided thymic neuroendocrine tumors into three clusters with distinct clinical outcomes and characterized by a different average of copy number instability. Moreover, integrated histopathological, molecular and clinical evidence supports the existence of a grey zone category between neuroendocrine tumors (carcinoid tumors) and neuroendocrine carcinomas. Indeed, cases with well differentiated morphology but mitotic/Ki-67 indexes close to neuroendocrine carcinomas have been increasingly recognized. These are characterized by specific molecular profiles and have an aggressive clinical behavior. Finally, thoracic neuroendocrine tumors may arise in the background of genetic susceptibility, being MEN1 syndrome the well-defined familial form. However, pathologists should be aware of rarer germline variants that are associated with the concurrence of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung or their precursors (such as DIPNECH) with other neoplasms, including but not limited to breast carcinomas. Therefore, genetic counseling for all young patients with thoracic neuroendocrine neoplasia and/or any patient with pathological evidence of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia-to-neoplasia progression sequence or multifocal disease should be considered.
The importance of social financial support in reducing food insecurity among elderly people
Authors: Gajda Robert , Jeżewska-Zychowicz Marzena 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe growing number of elderly people who are at increased risk of food insecurity for a variety of reasons, including financial ones, requires the current situation to be monitored. The purpose of this research was therefore to determine: (1) how older people perceive their situation in terms of food security; (2) whether older people use any form of external financial support; and (3) the relationship between people’s perception of their food security and the use of financial support from social services and their family. The survey was conducted on a group of 1150 people aged 65 years and above at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. In total, 762 questionnaires were analysed for the study. The study was conducted in the Świętokrzyskie and Śląskie voivodeships (provinces). Multivariate correspondence analysis (MCA) and the chi-square test were used to compare qualitative variables describing food security, financial assistance and socio-demographic features. Over two thirds of the respondents declared that they had no need of financial assistance from the social services or their family. Two categories of variables were selected using the MCA method: people who declared that their household had food security and that they had no need for financial assistance from social services or their family, and people who said they did not have food security and simultaneously used financial assistance or did not use such assistance but had financial problems. Place of residence and household composition were features that significantly distinguished the opinions about the lack of food security. Financial social programmes and the social education of families should be improved to minimize the risk of food insecurity in households of elderly people, especially those not benefiting from financial social support.
Intuition-Driven Navigation of the Hard Problem of Consciousness
Authors: Sękowski Krzysztof , Rorot Wiktor 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe discussion of the nature of consciousness seems to have stalled, with the “hard problem of consciousness” in its center, well-defined camps of realists and eliminativists at two opposing poles, and little to none room for agreement between. Recent attempts to move this debate forward by shifting them to a meta-level have heavily relied on the notion of “intuition”, understood in a rather liberal way. Against this backdrop, the goal of this paper is twofold. First, we want to highlight how the ontological and epistemological status of intuitions restricts the arguments in the debate on consciousness that rely on them. Second, we want to demonstrate how the deadlock in those debates could be resolved through a study of a particular, “positive” kind of intuitions. We call this approach “The Canberrish Plan for Consciousness” as it adopts elements of the methodological “Canberra Plan”.
Effect of pyrolytic carbon interphase on mechanical properties of mini T800-C/SiC composites
Authors: Zhao Donglin , Guo Tong , Fan Xiaomeng , Chen Chao , Ma Yue 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe effect of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) thickness on the tensile property of mini T800 carbon fiber reinforced SiC matrix composites (C/SiC) was studied. PyC interphase was prepared by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process using C3H6–Ar as gas source, the PyC thickness was adjusted from 0 to 400 nm, and then the SiC matrix was prepared by CVI process using methyltrichlorosilane (MTS)–H2–Ar as precursor and gas source. The results showed that the tensile strength of mini T800-C/SiC increased first and then decreased with the increase of the PyC thickness. When the thickness of PyC was 100 nm, the average strength reached the maximum value of 393 ± 70 MPa. The Weibull modulus increased from 2.0 to 8.06 with the increase of PyC thickness, and the larger the Weibull modulus, the smaller the dispersion, which indicated that the regulation of PyC thickness was conducive to improve tensile properties.
Novel three-body nano-abrasive wear mechanism
Authors: Chen Ruling , Li Shaoxian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCurrent three-body abrasive wear theories are based on a macroscale abrasive indentation process, and these theories claim that material wear cannot be achieved without damaging the hard mating surface. In this study, the process of three-body nano-abrasive wear of a system including a single crystalline silicon substrate, an amorphous silica cluster, and a polyurethane pad, based on a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. The cluster slid in a suspended state in smooth regions and underwent rolling impact in the asperity regions of the silicon surface, realizing non-damaging monoatomic material removal. This proves that indentation-plowing is not necessary when performing CMP material removal. Therefore, a non-indentation rolling-sliding adhesion theory for three-body nano-abrasive wear between ultrasoft/hard mating surfaces is proposed. This wear theory not only unifies current mainstream CMP material removal theories, but also clarifies that monoatomic material wear without damage can be realized when the indentation depth is less than zero, thereby perfecting the relationship between material wear and surface damage. These results provide new understanding regarding the CMP microscopic material removal mechanism as well as new research avenues for three-body abrasive wear theory at the monoatomic scale.
Tree Vitality and Forest Health: Can Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Be Used as Indicators?
Authors: Cherubini Paolo , Battipaglia Giovanna , Innes John L. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose of Review
Society is concerned about the long-term condition of the forests. Although a clear definition of forest health is still missing, to evaluate forest health, monitoring efforts in the past 40 years have concentrated on the assessment of tree vitality, trying to estimate tree photosynthesis rates and productivity. Used in monitoring forest decline in Central Europe since the 1980s, crown foliage transparency has been commonly believed to be the best indicator of tree condition in relation to air pollution, although annual variations appear more closely related to water stress. Although crown transparency is not a good indicator of tree photosynthesis rates, defoliation is still one of the most used indicators of tree vitality. Tree rings have been often used as indicators of past productivity. However, long-term tree growth trends are difficult to interpret because of sampling bias, and ring width patterns do not provide any information about tree physiological processes.

Recent Findings
In the past two decades, tree-ring stable isotopes have been used not only to reconstruct the impact of past climatic events, such as drought, but also in the study of forest decline induced by air pollution episodes, and other natural disturbances and environmental stress, such as pest outbreaks and wildfires. They have proven to be useful tools for understanding physiological processes and tree response to such stress factors.

Summary
Tree-ring stable isotopes integrate crown transpiration rates and photosynthesis rates and may enhance our understanding of tree vitality. They are promising indicators of tree vitality. We call for the use of tree-ring stable isotopes in future monitoring programmes.
Sex Differences in the Motivation for Viewing Sexually Arousing Images
Authors: Kobayashi Maiko , Nakamura Koyo , Watanabe Katsumi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSexual motivation strongly influences mate choice and dating behavior and can be triggered by merely viewing sexually arousing visual images, such as erotic pictures and movies. Previous studies suggested that men, more than women, tend to search for sexual cues that signal promiscuity in short-term mates. However, it remains to be tested whether sex differences in the motivation to view sexual cues can be observed by using robust and well-controlled behavioral measures. To this end, we employed a pay-per-view key-pressing task. Japanese self-identified heterosexual male and female participants viewed images of men, women, or couples with two levels of sexual arousal (sexual vs. less sexual). Participants could alter the viewing time of a presented image according to their willingness to keep viewing it. Male participants were the most eager to view sexually arousing images of the opposite sex, whereas female participants were more strongly motivated to view less sexual images of couples. Such sex differences may reflect differentiated reproductive strategies between men and women in terms of men’s motivation toward promiscuity and women’s motivation toward long-term relationships.
Real-time per-pixel focusing method for light field rendering
Authors: Chlubna T. , Milet T. , Zemčík P. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLight field rendering is an image-based rendering method that does not use 3D models but only images of the scene as input to render new views. Light field approximation, represented as a set of images, suffers from so-called refocusing artifacts due to different depth values of the pixels in the scene. Without information about depths in the scene, proper focusing of the light field scene is limited to a single focusing distance. The correct focusing method is addressed in this work and a real-time solution is proposed for focusing of light field scenes, based on statistical analysis of the pixel values contributing to the final image. Unlike existing techniques, this method does not need precomputed or acquired depth information. Memory requirements and streaming bandwidth are reduced and real-time rendering is possible even for high resolution light field data, yielding visually satisfactory results. Experimental evaluation of the proposed method, implemented on a GPU, is presented in this paper.
Prime gradient noise
Authors: Taylor Sheldon , Sharpe Owen , Peethambaran Jiju 
Published: February 2021

AbstractProcedural noise functions are fundamental tools in computer graphics used for synthesizing virtual geometry and texture patterns. Ideally, a procedural noise function should be compact, aperiodic, parameterized, and randomly accessible. Traditional lattice noise functions such as Perlin noise, however, exhibit periodicity due to the axial correlation induced while hashing the lattice vertices to the gradients. In this paper, we introduce a parameterized lattice noise called prime gradient noise (PGN) that minimizes discernible periodicity in the noise while enhancing the algorithmic efficiency. PGN utilizes prime gradients, a set of random unit vectors constructed from subsets of prime numbers plotted in polar coordinate system. To map axial indices of lattice vertices to prime gradients, PGN employs Szudzik pairing, a bijection F : ℕ2 → ℕ. Compositions of Szudzik pairing functions are used in higher dimensions. At the core of PGN is the ability to parameterize noise generation though prime sequence offsetting which facilitates the creation of fractal noise with varying levels of heterogeneity ranging from homogeneous to hybrid multifractals. A comparative spectral analysis of the proposed noise with other noises including lattice noises show that PGN significantly reduces axial correlation and hence, periodicity in the noise texture. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed noise function with several examples in procedural modeling, parameterized pattern synthesis, and solid texturing.