bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biopsy-based optimization and calibration of a signal-intensity-ratio-based MRI method (1.5 Tesla) in a dextran-iron loaded mini-pig model, enabling estimation of very high liver iron concentrations
Authors: Jensen Peter D. , Nielsen Asbjørn H. , Simonsen Carsten W. , Jensen Kenneth K. , Bøgsted Martin , Jensen Anne B. H. , Kjaergaard Benedict 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Objective
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques for non-invasive assessing liver iron concentration (LIC) in patients with iron overload have a limited upper measuring range around 35 mg/g dry weight, caused by signal loss from accelerated T1-, T2-, T2* shortening with increasing LIC. Expansion of this range is necessary to allow evaluation of patients with very high LIC.

Aim
To assess measuring range of a gradient-echo R2* method and a T1-weighted spin-echo (SE), signal intensity ratio (SIR)-based method (TE = 25 ms, TR = 560 ms), and to extend the upper measuring range of the SIR method by optimizing echo time (TE) and repetition time (TR) in iron-loaded minipigs.

Methods
Thirteen mini pigs were followed up during dextran-iron loading with repeated percutaneous liver biopsies for chemical LIC measurement and MRIs for parallel non-invasive estimation of LIC (81 examinations) using different TEs and TRs.

Results
SIR and R2* method had similar upper measuring range around 34 mg/g and similar method agreement. Using TE = 12 ms and TR = 1200 ms extended the upper measuring range to 115 mg/g and yielded good method of agreement.

Discussion
The wider measuring range is likely caused by lesser sensitivity of the SE sequence to iron, due to shorter TE, leading to later signal loss at high LIC, allowing evaluation of most severe hepatic iron overload. Validation in iron-loaded patients is necessary.
Understanding the pathways to women’s empowerment in Northern Ghana and the relationship with small-scale irrigation
Authors: Bryan Elizabeth , Garner Elisabeth 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWomen’s empowerment is often an important goal of development interventions. This paper explores local perceptions of empowerment in the Upper East Region of Ghana and the pathways through which small-scale irrigation intervention targeted to men and women farmers contributes to women’s empowerment. Using qualitative data collected with 144 farmers and traders through 28 individual interviews and 16 focus group discussions, this paper innovates a framework to integrate the linkages between small-scale irrigation and three dimensions of women’s empowerment: resources, agency, and achievements. The relationship between the components of empowerment and small-scale irrigation are placed within a larger context of social change underlying these relationships. This shows that many women face serious constraints to participating in and benefitting from small-scale irrigation, including difficulties accessing land and water and gender norms that limit women’s ability to control farm assets. Despite these constraints, many women do benefit from participating in irrigated farming activities leading to an increase in their agency and well-being achievements. For some women, these benefits are indirect—these women allocate their time to more preferred activities when the household gains access to modern irrigation technology. The result is a new approach to understanding women’s empowerment in relation to irrigation technology.
A Trend Analysis of Condom use in Spanish Young People over the Two Past Decades, 1999–2020
Authors: Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Giménez-García Cristina , Ruiz-Palomino Estefanía , Castro-Calvo Jesús , Gil-Llario María Dolores 
Published: January 2022

AbstractHIV exposure is one of the greatest sexual risks in young people, and condom use is the best protective measure. Despite the preventive efforts, trend in condom use is still unclear. This study examines the trend of condom use by gender in Spanish young people, in different sexual practices (vaginal, oral and anal), relationships (regular and casual) and having sex after drugs consumption during the two past decades (from 1999 to 2020). For this, 14,472 people who ranged from 17 to 40 years old (63.5% women) filled the AIDS Prevention Questionnaire in each year. In general, low condom use remains stable and even gets worse regardless of the type of sexual practice, relationship and the substance consumption. Regarding gender, this trend is worse in women who have been less likely to report condom use than men have. Moreover, older people have reported a minor frequency of condom use than the youngest people have done, except for anal sex. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze why, despite preventive efforts, condom use seems to decrease over time.
Dispersal patterns of oribatid mites across habitats and seasons
Authors: Cordes Peter Hans , Maraun Mark , Schaefer Ina 
Published: January 2022

AbstractOribatid mites are tiny arthropods that are common in all soils of the world; however, they also occur in microhabitats above the soil such as lichens, mosses, on the bark of trees and in suspended soils. For understanding oribatid mite community structure, it is important to know whether they are dispersal limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of oribatid mite dispersal using Malaise traps to exclude sole passive wind-dispersal. Oribatid mite communities were collected over a 3-year period from five habitat types (coniferous forests, deciduous forests, mixed forests, meadows, bog/heathlands sites) and three seasons (spring, summer, autumn) in Sweden. Mites entered traps either by walking or by phoresy, i.e., by being attached to flying insects. We hypothesized (1) that oribatid mite communities in the traps differ between habitats, indicating habitat-limited dispersal, and (2) that oribatid mite communities differ among seasons suggesting that dispersal varies due to changing environmental conditions such as moisture or resource availability. The majority of the collected species were not typically soil-living species but rather from habitats such as trees, lichens and mosses (e.g., Carabodes labyrinthicus, Cymbaeremaeus cymba, Diapterobates humeralis and Phauloppia lucorum) indicating that walking into the traps or entering them via phoresy are of greater importance for aboveground than for soil-living species. Overall, oribatid mite communities collected in the traps likely originated from the surrounding local habitat suggesting that long distance dispersal of oribatid mites is scarce. Significant differences among seasons indicate higher dispersal during warm and dry periods of the year. Notably, 16 species of oribatid mites collected in our study were sampled for the first time in Sweden. This study also demonstrates that Malaise traps are a meaningful tool to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of oribatid mite communities.
Increase in Depression and Anxiety Among Australian Gay and Bisexual Men During COVID-19 Restrictions: Findings from a Prospective Online Cohort Study
Authors: Bavinton Benjamin R. , Chan Curtis , Hammoud Mohamed A. , Maher Lisa , Haire Bridget , Degenhardt Louisa , Holt Martin , Lea Toby , Bath Nicky , Storer Daniel , Jin Fenyi , Grulich Andrew E. , Bourne Adam , Saxton Peter , Prestage Garrett P. ,   On behalf of the Flux Research Group, Murphy Dean , Mackie Brent , Batrouney Colin , Ellard Jeanne , Grierson Jeffrey , Pastorelli Marcus 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe examined depression and anxiety prior to and during COVID-19 restrictions in Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM). In an online cohort, a COVID-19-focused survey was conducted in April 2020. During 2019 and in April 2020, 664 GBM completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, measuring depression) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7, measuring anxiety). Increased depression and anxiety were defined as a ≥ 5 point increase on the respective scales. Mean PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores increased between 2019 and 2020 (PHQ-9: from 5.11 in 2019 to 6.55 in 2020; GAD-7: from 3.80 in 2019 to 4.95 in 2020). The proportion of participants with moderate-severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) increased from 18.8% (n = 125) to 25.5% (n = 169), while the proportion of participants with moderate-severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) increased from 12.7% (n = 84) to 17.3% (n = 115). Almost one-quarter of participants (n = 158, 23.8%) had increased depression; in these men, mean PHQ-9 increased from 2.49 in 2019 to 11.65 in 2020 (p < 0.001). One-in-five (20.6%) participants (n = 137) had increased anxiety; among these men, mean GAD-7 increased from 2.05 in 2019 to 10.22 in 2020 (p < 0.001). Increases were associated with concerns about job security, reduction in social and sexual connections and opportunities, and being personally concerned about COVID-19 itself. COVID-19 appeared to have a sudden and pronounced impact on depression and anxiety in Australian GBM, with a significant minority showing sharp increases. Ongoing monitoring is required to determine longer-term impacts and GBM need access to appropriate and sensitive supports both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
User intent estimation during robot learning using physical human robot interaction primitives
Authors: Lai Yujun , Paul Gavin , Cui Yunduan , Matsubara Takamitsu 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAs robotic systems transition from traditional setups to collaborative work spaces, the prevalence of physical Human Robot Interaction has risen in both industrial and domestic environments. A popular representation for robot behavior is movement primitives which learn, imitate, and generalize from expert demonstrations. While there are existing works in context-aware movement primitives, they are usually limited to contact-free human robot interactions. This paper presents physical Human Robot Interaction Primitives (pHRIP), which utilize only the interaction forces between the human user and robot to estimate user intent and generate the appropriate robot response during physical human robot interactions. The efficacy of pHRIP is evaluated through multiple experiments based on target-directed reaching and obstacle avoidance tasks using a real seven degree of freedom robot arm. The results are validated against Interaction Primitives which use observations of robotic trajectories, with discussions of future pHRI applications utilizing pHRIP.
In-plane capacity of existing post-WWII beam-and-clay block floor systems
Authors: Marini Alessandra , Belleri Andrea , Passoni Chiara , Feroldi Francesca , Giuriani Ezio 
Published: January 2022

AbstractA growing attention has been paid to the deep renovation of RC buildings, particularly focusing on their structural vulnerability and on the development of retrofit strategies; however, the issue of the in-plane diaphragm action and the capacity of existing floors has rarely been addressed. Although floor capacity does not seem critical for the seismic capacity of existing structures, commonly affected by greater vulnerabilities, it may become critical when an additional lateral force resisting system is introduced. This paper investigates the in-plane capacity of beam and hollow-clay-block floor system, typical of the European post-WWII RC buildings. Considering the diaphragm action as associated with an in-plane tied-arch mechanism developing within the floor thickness, the main failure mechanisms are discussed, and some simplified equations are provided to preliminary estimate the maximum capacity of floors. Experimental and numerical analyses are than carried out to validate the simplified analytical model. The relevant influence of possible staircase openings on the in-plane load paths and on diaphragm flexibility and capacity are also considered. Finally, the influence of the floor capacity on the seismic vulnerability assessment and in the conceptual design of a seismic retrofit intervention is discussed. This preliminary study shows that only some of the beam-and-block floor systems have a reliable in-plane capacity, while other typologies cannot serve as floor diaphragms. When the diaphragm action can be relied upon, the diaphragms often exhibit a fairly stiff behaviour up to a brittle failure, which is commonly associated with the ultimate capacity at the tied-arch supports.
Density functional theory, chemical reactivity, and the Fukui functions
Authors: Pucci R. , Angilella G. G. N. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe review the early works which were precursors of the Conceptual Density Functional Theory. Starting from Thomas–Fermi approximation and from the exact formulation of Density Functional Theory by Hohenberg and Kohn’s theorem, we will introduce electronegativity and the theory of hard and soft acids and bases. We will also present a general introduction to the Fukui functions, and their relation with nucleophilicity and electrophilicity, with an emphasis towards the importance of these concepts for chemical reactivity.
Mode II fracture characterization of toughened epoxy resin composites
Authors: Barcikowski Michał , Rybkowska Katarzyna 
Published: January 2022

AbstractEpoxy resin used commonly as a matrix for polymer composite materials has good handling properties, but is too brittle. That is why various modifiers are used to increase the flexibility of products based on epoxy resin. This leads to two issues: how to efficiently increase the toughness of the resin without impacting significantly other properties, as well as how to measure the toughness in composite materials. The work aimed to show how the addition of a reactive rubber modifier will affect the fracture toughness of the obtained laminates during the longitudinal shear test (Mode II fracture). In total, three epoxy-glass laminates with different matrices were made and subjected to the End-Notched Flexure test according to ASTM D7905/D7905M standard: (1) the basic matrix of Epidian 6 resin, (2) Epidian 6 modified with the addition of 10% of Albipox 1000 reactive liquid rubber and (3) Epidian 6 modified with the addition of 10% of Hypro 1300X16 ATBN reactive liquid rubber. Based on the obtained results, it can be seen that the modulus of elasticity for the modified laminates was decreased compared to the laminate of pure epoxy resin (by ~ 25%). However, the addition of reactive rubbers increased the fracture toughness of the modified epoxy-glass laminates in the Mode II longitudinal shear test (GIIc) by ~ 40–60%. Thus the benefits of modification outweigh the drawbacks if fracture toughness is an important designing consideration in a given application. The applicability of ENF method is successfully tested, but potential drawbacks are indicated—careful control of specimen thickness is necessary.
Prism adaptation test before strabismus surgery in patients with decompensated esophoria and decompensated microesotropia
Authors: Gietzelt Caroline , Fricke Julia , Neugebauer Antje , Hedergott Andrea 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the effect of Prism adaptation test (PAT) on the angle of squint in decompensated esophoria (decEPH) and decompensated microesotropia (decMET).MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study we reviewed the medical records of patients with the diagnosis of decEPH or decMET, aged at least 12 years, who were treated by strabismus surgery for the first time. The maximum Angle of squint (AOS) for far (F) and near (N) fixation and PAT results before surgery, as well as AOS (F) and AOS (N) after surgery and results of binocular function tests were considered. PAT included wearing a prism based on the largest angle for over 60 min.Results100 patients (mean age 37 ± 17 years) were included in the decEPH group, 82 patients (mean age 30 ± 13 years) in the decMET group. For decEPH, before surgery AOS was 25.5 ± 8.8 pdpt (F) and 23.5 ± 9.8 pdpt (N). During PAT the AOS increased significantly by 2.7 ± 4.3 to 28.2 ± 8.6 pdpt (F) and by 4.9 ± 4.5 to 28.3 ± 9.5 pdpt (N). Altogether, in 82% of decEPH patients AOS (F) and/ or AOS (N) in- or decreased by at least 3 pdpt. For decMET, before surgery AOS was 28.6 ± 10.8 pdpt for far (F) and 30.9 ± 11.8 pdpt for near fixation (N). During PAT the AOS increased significantly by 4.2 ± 5.8 to 32.5 ± 9.5 pdpt (F) and by 3.7 ± 6.1 to 34.4 ± 9.5 pdpt (N). Altogether, in 51% of decMET patients, AOS (F) and/ or AOS (N) increased by at least 10 pdpt, therefore more than 5° which would have been maximally expected from mictrotropia, or decreased by at least 3 pdpt.ConclusionsThe Prism adaptation test (PAT) showed remarkable changes in AOS in both decEPH and decMET. In patients with decEPH, the preoperative assessment of the “true AOS” under PAT reflects a pivotal requirement for successful strabismus surgery, as 82% had dose relevant angle changes ≥ 3 pdpt. For patients with decMET the preoperative prism adaptation test is especially of diagnostic value, but also 51% of decMET patients had changes in AOS beyond the expected microtropic angle (≥ 10 pdpt) or even a dose relevant angle decrease (≥ 3pdpt).
Global characteristics of ambient seismic noise
Authors: Li Xiaomeng , Xu Yan , Xie Chaodi , Sun Shanshan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAmbient seismic noise becomes more and more important and helpful on assisting velocity model inversion, earthquake detection, and ground motion prediction. Based on the analysis of continuous seismic data and ocean wave height, we find that the ocean wave height and winter storms have a controlling factor on the DF microseismic energy level and its frequency extent in time scale. It shows that high and low DF microseismic energy accompanied with wide and narrow frequency range consistent with the high wave height period (when the ocean is stormier) and low wave height period, respectively. Since DF microseism is dominated by Rayleigh waves, its energy attenuates very quickly when it travels through shoreline to the continent crust. Our observations give a quality factor Q of about 83 for DF energy traveling from the middle of the Atlantic to the central of Europe. We observe a lower energy level of SPDF (short period DF) than that of LPDF (long period DF) for the continent stations, however a reversed situation for the island stations. It suggests that short period DF energy decays faster than the long period one. High-frequency ambient noise is called microtremor. The microtremor for the island station with low elevation has a semidiurnal modulation in phase with ocean tide. The microtremor for the station at other locations are from the anthropogenic activities which have diurnal, weekly, and annually variations.
Characterisation of Honest Times and Optional Semimartingales of Class-$$(\Sigma )$$
Authors: Li Libo 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGiven a finite honest time, we first show that the associated Azéma optional supermartingale can be expressed as the drawdown and the relative drawdown of some local optional supermartingales with continuous running supremum. The relative drawdown representation then allows us to provide a characterisation of finite honest times using a family of non-negative local optional supermartingales with continuous running supremum which converges to zero at infinity. Then we extend the notion of semimartingales of class-$$(\Sigma )$$

(
Σ
)

by allowing for jumps in its finite variation part of the semimartingale decomposition. This enables one to establish the Madan–Roynette–Yor option pricing formula for a larger class of processes, and finally, we apply the extended formula to the construction of finite honest times.
Accidentally Killing on Purpose: Transferred Malice and Missing Victims
Authors: Tomlin Patrick 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTransferred malice, or transferred intent, is the criminal doctrine that states that if D tries to kill A, and accidentally kills B, the intent to kill transfers from A to B, and so D is guilty of murdering B. This is widely viewed as a useful legal fiction. One of the finest essays on this topic was written by our honorand, Douglas N. Husak. Husak views both the potential usefulness of, and his preferred alternative to, transferred malice through the lens of sentencing – how much hard treatment the offender will receive. In this essay, I take a step back and ask in what ways transferred malice might be useful. I find its potential usefulness is not restricted to sentencing, but thinking about other ways in which it might be useful actually brings other potential drawbacks into focus – in particular, I argue, transferred malice mislabels the crimes the offender committed, and does so in a way that erases one of the victims from the moral description of the crime.
Local Ranking of Geological Conceptual Models in Non-stationary Settings Using Multi-point Geostatistics
Authors: Selia Sangga Rima Roman , Tolosana-Delgado Raimon , Boogaart K. Gerald van den 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn geomodeling, it is commonly accepted that the distribution of physical properties is controlled by the architecture of geological objects. However, insufficient data and the complexity of earth processes create an ill-posed problem where many architectures are plausible. Consequently, several geologists will produce different geological models for the same location. This contribution proposes a way to objectivize the ranking of those conceptual models by comparing them with hard data, both globally for the whole study region and locally for certain of its sectors. The idea is to extend the multi-point geostatistics direct sampling algorithm to be able to extract data events from different training images, representing several competing geological models, and to record the training image origin of values pasted on simulation grid cells. By tracking the frequency with which every training image is visited, we can rank the likelihood of each geological model. Histograms of the frequency of usage of each training image will provide a global ranking of the several conceptual models, while maps of these frequencies can be used to produce the local rankings. We demonstrate this method in two synthetic fluvial depositional environments where three distinct geological concepts are being proposed, with different abundances of hard data. Results indicate that the proposed method could be a useful tool in defining which geological concept dominates at a particular region and which is the frequency ranking for each training image on that region.
La fantasma de Valencia y las comedias de Fiestas del jardín de Alonso de Castillo Solórzano: hipótesis de datación y circunstancias de representación
Authors: Monzó Ribes Clara , Blanco Campos Félix 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAlonso de Castillo Solórzano, prolific cultivator of the novelistic genre, gathered and published his work in miscellaneous volumes or colectáneas all along the XVII century. In these volumes, mainly formed by novels assembled in a narrative framework, dramatic pieces appear from time to time. This is the case of Fiestas del Jardín (1634), which alternates four plays written in prose and three comedies. We know about the last ones that they were brought to the stage by renowned authors of the time. However, the date of their composition remains unknown as well as the circumstances in which they were staged. It is our goal to shed light on these questions following the study of La fantasma de Valencia, one of the three aforementioned comedies.