bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using Micro-Scale and Solid Material Data for Modelling Heat Transfer in Stone Wool Composites Under Heat Exposures
Authors: Andres B. , Livkiss K. , Bhargava A. , van Hees P. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractModelling capabilities have drastically improved in the last decade. However, in most of the cases the fire response of building elements is predicted by fitting input material properties to the models in order to match test data. This paper presents models developed to predict the unexposed side temperature of stone wool layered composites with stainless steel or gypsum claddings exposed to severe heat conditions. The suitability of material thermal properties from literature and reaction kinetic parameters obtained at bench scale (e.g. thermogravimetric analysis, bomb calorimeter, slug test) to model composites at different heat exposures is studied. Modelling efforts include: (1) the combustion of the organic content of the wool, (2) diffusion term to account for the passage of hot air through the wool, (3) calcination reactions in the gypsum plasterboard, (4) energy released by burning of the paper lining of gypsum plasterboard. The models are compared against experimental data. Results show that material thermal properties of gypsum plasterboard and stone wool retrieved from the literature and obtained at a bench scale provide accurate model predictions under different heat exposures. Furthermore, reactions schemes for the dehydration of gypsum plasterboard and organic content combustion in the wool also provide good modelling results. Further analysis is necessary to understand the environmental conditions inside the layered composites in fire exposures in order to achieve better modelling predictions.
The Devil Burns Gold There: The Heritage of Nazi Germany Crimes in Death Valley, Chojnice, Poland
Authors: Kobiałka Dawid 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper is about Death Valley – a site of mass killings orchestrated by Nazi Germany that took place on the outskirts of Chojnice during the Second World War. I begin by referring to some examples of conflict archaeology that persuasively demonstrate how what has so far been the domain of history is transforming into archaeology. I then present historical information concerning Death Valley. Following this, the paper presents the results of archaeological investigations into material traces of mass killings in Death Valley. Finally, I present an ethnography of Death Valley, scrutinizing the contemporary role of the site among local communities.
Eberlein decomposition for PV inflation systems
Authors: Baake Michael , Strungaru Nicolae 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Dirac combs of primitive Pisot–Vijayaraghavan (PV) inflations on the real line or, more generally, in$${\mathbb {R}}^d$$Rdare analysed. We construct a mean-orthogonal splitting for such Dirac combs that leads to the classic Eberlein decomposition on the level of the pair correlation measures, and thus to the separation of pure point versus continuous spectral components in the corresponding diffraction measures. This is illustrated with two guiding examples, and an extension to more general systems with randomness is outlined.
Dairy farming systems driven by the market and low-cost intensification in West Africa: the case of Burkina Faso
Authors: Vall Eric , Sib Ollo , Vidal Arielle , Delma Jethro Barkwende 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe increase in demand for dairy products in Burkina Faso is encouraging livestock producers to develop milk production. Three types of dairy systems (pastoralists, agropastoralists and market-oriented dairy farms) have been characterised based on a sample of 60 producers operating in the West and centre of the country. Pastoralists’ dairy operations consist mainly of zebus, rely on pasture for feed, store little fodder, and recover little manure. Milk yields are low (1.4 l/tropical livestock unit (TLU)/day) and milk sales are limited, but mostly benefit women. Agropastoralists’ dairy operations consist mainly of zebus, store more fodder for feed, use more concentrate and recover manure better. Milk yields are higher (3.1 l/TLU/day) and milk sales are threefold those of pastoralists, but less of the money generated by milk sales goes to women. Market-oriented dairy farmers’ operations are mainly made up of crossbreds, reared indoors and fed on fodder and feeds, store much more fodder and recover manure even better. They generate the highest milk yields (7.3 l/TLU/day), and milk sales are 2.5-fold those of agropastoralists. However, money earned from milk sales mainly benefits men. The study shows that the improvement in dairy systems’ technical and economic performance, which mostly rests on genetics and cow feed, but also on better recycling of agricultural by-products, is driven by a low-cost intensification and market opportunity (raising processors demand).
Channel Selection Algorithm Optimized for Improved Performance in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Tlouyamma Joseph , Velempini Mthulisi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA major concern in the recent past was the traditional static spectrum allocation which gave rise to spectrum underutilization and scarcity in wireless networks. In an attempt to solve this challenge, cognitive radios technology was proposed. It allows a spectrum to be accessed dynamically by Cognitive radio users or secondary users (SU). Dynamic access can efficiently be achieved by making necessary adjustment to some Medium access control (MAC) layer functionalities such as sensing and channel allocation. MAC protocols play a central role in scheduling sensing periods and channel allocation which ensure that the interference is reduced to a tolerable level. In order to improve the accuracy of sensing algorithm, necessary adjustments should be made at MAC layer. Sensing delays and errors are major challenges in the design of a more accurate spectrum sensing algorithm. This study focuses on designing a channel selection algorithm to efficiently utilize the spectrum. Channels are ordered and grouped to allow faster discovery of channel access opportunities. The ordering is based on descending order of channel’s idling probabilities. Grouping of channels ensured that channels are sensed simultaneously. These two techniques greatly reduce delays and maximized throughput of SU. Hence, Extended Generalized Predictive Channel Selection Algorithm, a proposed scheme has significantly performed better than its counterpart (Generalized Predictive Channel Selection Algorithm). Matlab simulation tool was used to simulate and plot the results of the proposed channel selection algorithm.
The digital leader: what one needs to master today’s organisational challenges
Authors: Klus Milan Frederik , Müller Julia 
Published: April 2021

AbstractExecutives are increasingly facing various challenges associated with digitalisation, especially the simultaneous handling of many topics, loads of information flushing in via digital channels, rapid changes, and finding the right balance between the old and the new. Building on a growing body of research suggesting and systematising leadership skills, we conduct an online-survey with executives to investigate the connection between selected skills and the ability to cope with specific challenges. We find that a strong ability to think and act entrepreneurially, (self-)organisation and IT skills, a profound ability to motivate others, and a high degree of flexibility, commitment, and creativity are positively linked to the ability to cope with several digitalisation-related challenges. Surprisingly, being a strong team player does not seem to be necessarily advantageous. Moreover, many executives desire more calmness, which suggests that being able to decelerate is important in the digital age.
The Effect of Financial Incentives on Quality Measures in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Meier Rahel , Chmiel Corinne , Valeri Fabio , Muheim Leander , Senn Oliver , Rosemann Thomas 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Financial incentives are often used to improve quality of care in chronic care patients. However, the evidence concerning the effect of financial incentives is still inconclusive.

Objective
To test the effect of financial incentives on quality measures (QMs) in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus in primary care. We incentivized a clinical QM and a process QM to test the effect of financial incentives on different types of QMs and to investigate the spill-over effect on non-incentivized QMs.

Design/Participants
Parallel cluster randomized controlled trial based on electronic medical records database involving Swiss general practitioners (GPs). Practices were randomly allocated.

Intervention
All participants received a bimonthly feedback report. The intervention group additionally received potential financial incentives on GP level depending on their performance.

Main Measures
Between-group differences in proportions of patients fulfilling incentivized QM (process QM of annual HbA1c measurement and clinical QM of blood pressure level below 140/95 mmHg) after 12 months.

Key Results
Seventy-one GPs (median age 52 years, 72% male) from 43 different practices and subsequently 3838 patients with diabetes mellitus (median age 70 years, 57% male) were included. Proportions of patients with annual HbA1c measurements remained unchanged (intervention group decreased from 79.0 to 78.3%, control group from 81.5 to 81.0%, OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.90–1.32, p = 0.39). Proportions of patients with blood pressure below 140/95 improved from 49.9 to 52.5% in the intervention group and decreased from 51.2 to 49.0% in the control group (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.99–1.36, p = 0.06). Proportions of non-incentivized process QMs increased significantly in the intervention group.

Conclusion
GP level financial incentives did not result in more frequent HbA1c measurements or in improved blood pressure control. Interestingly, we could confirm a spill-over effect on non-incentivized process QMs. Yet, the mechanism of spill-over effects of financial incentives is largely unclear.

Trial Registration
ISRCTN13305645
Novel Method for Surface Tension Measurement: the Drop-Bounce Method
Authors: Sun Yifan , Muta Hiroaki , Ohishi Yuji 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe surface tension of liquids at high temperatures is generally measured with the well-established oscillating drop method in a contactless environment. However, technical difficulties in surface tension measurements make it hard to apply the oscillating drop method to the aerodynamic levitation (ADL) system, the most reliable levitation technique for liquids with low electrical conductivity. In this study, we developed a novel drop–bounce method that can be used within an ADL system to measure the surface tension of liquids. A levitated molten sample was first dropped onto an inert substrate through a splittable nozzle. The rebounded sample’s oscillatory motion behaved as it would under microgravity conditions during its free-fall, and oscillations were obtained only in the l=2, m=0 mode. Fourier transformation of the oscillation pattern provided resonant frequency of the l=2, m=0 mode and enabled the calculation of the surface tension of the sample under knowledge of its mass. Furthermore, a short experimental duration of less than 50 ms significantly reduced the possibility of surface evaporation in the sample. Our measured surface tension data from 1354 K to 1827 K for gold exhibited a standard deviation of 13.4 mJ/m2 and were consistent with the data published by Egry et al. under microgravity conditions, with a maximum deviation of 1.5% between the two fitted linear equations.
Pure rotational Raman spectroscopy applied to N2/O2 analysis of air bubbles in polar firn
Authors: Ohno Hiroshi , Iizuka Yoshinori , Fujita Shuji 
Published: April 2021

AbstractEarlier gas measurements of firn air (atmosphere in open pore channels) at polar sites have revealed the occurrence of gas fractionation phenomena during bubble close-off, in addition to well-known thermal and gravitational gas separation. Nevertheless, because of difficulties posed by measurement, little is known about the distribution of air constituents in already closed pores (bubbles) in firn. Herein, we describe the application of high-sensitivity pure rotational Raman spectroscopy, combined with sample immersion in the fluorocarbon-based inert fluid for removing the optical disturbance by diffused reflection. That application efficiently elicits information about nitrogen and oxygen composition ratios (N2/O2 or O2/N2) for each air bubble in firn. The developed methodology presents important implications for elucidating how gas records are formed and modified in the course of pore close-off in polar firn.
Zircon U–Pb ages and petrogenesis of late Miocene adakitic rocks from the Sari Gunay gold deposit, NW Iran
Authors: Shahbazi Hossein , Taheri Maghami Yasaman , Azizi Hossein , Asahara Yoshihiro , Siebel Wolfgang , Maanijou Mohammad , Rezai Ali 
Published: April 2021

AbstractLate Miocene volcanic rocks host the Sari Gunay epithermal gold deposit in NW Iran. These rocks are located within the Hamedan–Tabriz volcanic belt and occupy the northwestern part of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone (SaSZ). The volcanic rocks span in composition from latite to dacite and rhyolite. Plagioclase, hornblende, biotite and quartz are the main phenocrysts in a fine-grained and glassy matrix. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon U–Pb dating yielded crystallization ages of 10.10 ± 0.01 Ma and 11.18 ± 0.14 Ma for rhyolite and dacite, respectively. High ratios of Sr/Y (> 20) and La/Yb (> 20), high contents of Sr (≥ 400 ppm), low contents of MgO (≤ 6 wt%), Y ≤ 18 ppm (c. 16.5 ppm), Yb ≤ 1.9 ppm (c. 1.53 ppm) and weak negative Eu anomalies (Eu*/Eu c. 0.81) are compatible with a high-silica adakitic signature of the rocks. Regarding the location of the study area nearly 100 km from the Zagros suture zone, we argue that delamination of lithospheric mantle beneath the SaSZ has played a key role in the development of the adakitic rocks in a post-collision tectonic regime. The adakitic melts are suggested to have formed by partial melting of delaminated continental lithosphere and/or lower crustal amphibolite following the collision of the Arabian and Iranian plates.
Willpower needs tactical skill
Authors: Bermúdez Juan Pablo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAinslie advances our understanding of self-control by theoretically unifying multiple forms of willpower. But one crucial question remains unanswered: How do agents pick the right forms of willpower in each situation? I argue that willpower requirestactical skill, which detects willpower-demanding contexts, selects context-appropriate tactics, and monitors their implementation. Research on tactical skill will significantly advance our understanding of willpower.
Reply to commentaries to willpower with and without effort
Authors: Ainslie George 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTwenty-six commentators from several disciplines have written on the assumption that choice is determined by comparative valuation in a common denominator of reward, the “competitive marketplace.” There was no apparent disagreement that prospective rewards are discounted hyperbolically, although some found that the resulting predictions could come just as well from other models, including the interpretation of delay as risk and analysis in terms of hot versus cold valuation systems. Several novel ideas emerged.
Integration of ethical considerations into HTA reports: an analysis of integration levels using a systematic review
Authors: Legault Georges-Auguste , Gagnon Hubert , Parent Monelle , Bellemare Christian A. , Béland Jean-Pierre , Kocsis-Bédard Suzanne , Bernier Louise , Dagenais Pierre , Daniel Charles-Étienne , Patenaude Johane 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Objective
To describe the type and level of ethical integration in published health technology assessment (HTA) reports and systematically identify the ethical approaches utilized.

Methods
A literature search was conducted with the Google™ search engine using the keyword “ethic” between 1 January 2015 and 20 August 2019. Only HTA assessment reports with a section on ethics were retained and classified according to their level of ethical integration: no ethical analysis, ethical issues highlighted, assessments according to legal or social norms, and assessments from a moral or axiological perspective—using a qualitative methodology to distinguish such integration.

Results
This review yielded 188 reports with a section identified as being on ethics, produced by seventeen HTA agencies in eleven countries. One hundred and thirty-six reports did not develop an ethical analysis, thirty-one highlighted ethical issues, seventeen conducted a norm-based ethical assessment using a descriptive approach grounded in social norms, and four developed an assessment grounded in a moral or axiological perspective. The bioethical “four-principles” framework was used, but mainly for presenting ethical issues and not as a moral framework.

Conclusions
The majority of reports featuring a section on ethics mention ethical considerations without ethical analysis. Ethical issues are grouped with legal, social, and organizational issues and treated as contextual considerations that decision makers should be aware of. When reports present systematic norm-based ethical assessments from a descriptive perspective or ethical assessment based on a moral or axiological perspective, there is a tendency to ground these analyses in frameworks created for the purpose and reliant on a concept of ethics supporting them.
A prediction model of vessel trajectory based on generative adversarial network
Authors: Wang Senjie , He Zhengwei 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTrajectory prediction is an important support for analysing the vessel motion behaviour, judging the vessel traffic risk and collision avoidance route planning of intelligent ships. To improve the accuracy of trajectory prediction in complex situations, a Generative Adversarial Network with Attention Module and Interaction Module (GAN-AI) is proposed to predict the trajectories of multiple vessels. Firstly, GAN-AI can infer all vessels’ future trajectories simultaneously when in the same local area. Secondly, GAN-AI is based on adversarial architecture and trained by competition for better convergence. Thirdly, an interactive module is designed to extract the group motion features of the multiple vessels, to achieve better performance at the ship encounter situations. GAN-AI has been tested on the historical trajectory data of Zhoushan port in China; the experimental results show that the GAN-AI model improves the prediction accuracy by 20%, 24% and 72% compared with sequence to sequence (seq2seq), plain GAN, and the Kalman model. It is of great significance to improve the safety management level of the vessel traffic service system and judge the degree of ship traffic risk.
Assessing Bias in Cognitive Testing for Older Adults with Sensory Impairment: An Analysis of Differential Item Functioning in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS)
Authors: Nichols E. , Deal J.A. , Swenor B.K. , Abraham A.G. , Armstrong N.M. , Carlson M.C. , Griswold M. , Lin F.R. , Mosley T.H. , Ramulu P.Y. , Reed N.S. , Resnick S.M. , Sharrett A.R. , Gross A.L. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectives:Vision and hearing impairments affect 55% of people aged 60+ years and are associated with lower cognitive test performance; however, tests rely on vision, hearing, or both. We hypothesized that scores on tests that depend on vision or hearing are different among those with vision or hearing impairments, respectively, controlling for underlying cognition.Methods:Leveraging cross-sectional data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), we used item response theory to test for differential item functioning (DIF) by vision impairment (better eye presenting visual acuity worse than 20/40) and hearing impairment (better ear .5–4 kHz pure-tone average > 25 decibels).Results:We identified DIF by vision impairment for tests whose administrations do not rely on vision [e.g., Delayed Word Recall both in ARIC-NCS: .50 logit difference between impaired and unimpaired (p = .04) and in BLSA: .62 logits (p = .02)] and DIF by hearing impairment for tests whose administrations do not rely on hearing [Digit Symbol Substitution test in BLSA: 1.25 logits (p = .001) and Incidental Learning test in ARIC-NCS: .35 logits (p = .001)]. However, no individuals had differences between unadjusted and DIF-adjusted measures of greater than the standard error of measurement.Conclusions:DIF by sensory impairment in cognitive tests was independent of administration characteristics, which could indicate that elevated cognitive load among persons with sensory impairment plays a larger role in test performance than previously acknowledged. While these results were unexpected, neither of these samples are nationally representative and each has unique selection factors; thus, replication is critical.
Adverse childhood experiences and obesity over time
Authors: Schiff Miriam , Helton Jess , Fu John 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjective:The effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on children and adolescents’ health status such as obesity are understudied. The current study addressed the effect of ACE on obesity status during childhood utilising multiple waves of national panel data.Design:Longitudinal survey.Setting:Data were drawn from three waves of the second cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II). NSCAW II study sampled cases from Child Protective Services investigations that were closed between February 2008 and April 2009 nationwide. We measured ACE cumulatively and as separate events and stratified by gender.Participants:Totally, 3170 youth births to 14 years of age at baseline.Results:A count measure of ACE is indeed associated with greater odds of obesity during childhood. Differential effects for different types of ACE were also found, most notably neglect. For girls, physical and psychological neglect increased odds of obesity.Conclusions:Findings support evidence for the importance of using both a count measure of ACE as well as separating out single events by gender.
Blatant electoral fraud and the value of a vote
Authors: Higashijima Masaaki 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper explores the relationship between malapportionment and blatant electoral fraud. Although blatant electoral fraud enables incumbents to win elections, it may undermine legitimacy and provoke protests. Malapportionment also helps the incumbent succeed by assigning larger portions of seats to party strongholds, yet its key features differ from electoral fraud. Because malapportionment neither involves coercion nor overt fraud, it is less likely to be followed by reactionary protests. But, it is an inflexible electioneering strategy, because reapportionment leads to difficult coordination problems among ruling legislators. Cross-national statistical analyses of 98 countries (1993–2012) show that, although malapportionment does not affect whether leaders use election violence and electoral cheating, political leaders become less dependent upon the simultaneous use of these fraudulent strategies when high levels of malapportionment are already endowed. The results suggest that although governments might continue to use specific types of blatant electoral fraud even when the levels of malapportionment are high, malapportionment allows governments to be more selective with combining different methods of blatant electoral fraud.