bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving the robustness of machine reading comprehension via contrastive learning
Authors: Feng Jianzhou , Sun Jiawei , Shao Di , Cui Jinman 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPre-trained language models achieve high performance on machine reading comprehension task, but these models lack robustness and are vulnerable to adversarial samples. Most of the current methods for improving model robustness are based on data enrichment. However, these methods do not solve the problem of poor context representation of the machine reading comprehension model. We find that context representation plays a key role in the robustness of the machine reading comprehension model, dense context representation space results in poor model robustness. To deal with this, we propose a Multi-task machine Reading Comprehension learning framework via Contrastive Learning. Its main idea is to improve the context representation space encoded by the machine reading comprehension models through contrastive learning. This special contrastive learning we proposed called Contrastive Learning in Context Representation Space(CLCRS). CLCRS samples sentences containing context information from the context as positive and negative samples, expanding the distance between the answer sentence and other sentences in the context. Therefore, the context representation space of the machine reading comprehension model has been expanded. The model can better distinguish between sentence containing correct answers and misleading sentence. Thus, the robustness of the model is improved. Experiment results on adversarial datasets show that our method exceeds the comparison models and achieves state-of-the-art performance.
Self-sealing MEMS spray-nozzles to prevent bacterial contamination of portable inhalers for aqueous drug delivery
Authors: Last Torben S. , Winkler Thomas E. , Stemme Göran , Roxhed Niclas 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPulmonary drug delivery by portable inhalers is the gold standard in lung disease therapy. An increasing focus on environmentally friendly inhalation currently spurs the development of propellant-free devices. However, the absence of propellants in the drug creates a need for suitable sealing systems that can ensure the pathogenic safety of devices. Traditionally, liquid drug inhalers incorporate a spray nozzle and a separate check valve. Here we show a fully integrated MEMS-based spray system for aqueous drug solutions and demonstrate its bacterial safety. The device comprises a thin silicon membrane with spray orifices, which self-seal against a compliant parylene valve seat underneath. This sealing system prevents bacterial ingrowth in its default closed state, while actuation lifts the membrane from the valve seat upon pressurization and sprays an inhalable aerosol from the nozzles. To seal against bacterial contamination effectively, we found that a contact force between the valve seat and the membrane (featuring the spray nozzles) is needed. In our testing, both self-sealing and an otherwise identical unvalved version of the spray chip can be bacterially safe in continued use when thoroughly cleaned of excess fluids and subjected to low bacterial loads for brief periods. However, when directly exposed to $$10^{7}$$

10
7

CFU/ml of our test organism Citrobacter rodentium for 24 h, unvalved systems become contaminated in nearly 90% of cases. In contrast, self-sealing spray chips reduced contamination probability by 70%. This development may enable preservative-free drug formulations in portable inhalers that use propellant-free aqueous drug solutions.
Evaluating the sustainability of scenarios for port city development with Boussole21 method
Authors: Ghennaï Amira , Madani Said , Hein Carola 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis research aims to evaluate the sustainability of urban strategies in Skikda, a prehistoric, ancient, and Mediterranean port city of northeastern Algeria, known as by the Punic name Russicade. The port city of Skikda shows a diverse landscape of heritage sites and the industrial reality of a city, rich by its under-exploited cultural and tourist capacities. Nevertheless, the industrial port activities of the petrochemical refinery impose a state of urban vulnerability for the inhabitants and built, landscape, and natural heritage. The use of the open software Boussole21 of the "Smart" trend as a qualitative method allows assessment of decisions by the actors. The sustainability assessment (findings) shows that smart thinking contributes to the development of port performance and competitiveness in the international context.
Structural determination of the lipid A from the deep-sea bacterium Zunongwangia profunda SM-A87: a small-scale approach
Authors: Pither Molly Dorothy , Sun Mei-Ling , Speciale Immacolata , Silipo Alba , Zhang Yu-Zhong , Molinaro Antonio , Di Lorenzo Flaviana 
Published: August 2022

AbstractZunongwangia profundaSM-A87 is a deep-sea sedimentary bacterium from the phylum Bacteroidetes, representing a new genus ofFlavobacteriaceae. It was previously investigated for its capability of yielding high quantities of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) with interesting rheological properties, including high viscosity and tolerance to high salinities and temperatures. However, as a Gram-negative,Z. profundaSM-A87 also expresses lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as the main components of the external leaflet of its outer membrane. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the glycolipid part of this LPS, i.e. the lipid A, which was achieved by-passing the extraction procedure of the full LPS and by working on the ethanol precipitation product, which contained both the CPS fraction and bacterial cells. To this aim a dual approach was adopted and all analyses confirmed the isolation ofZ. profundaSM-A87 lipid A that turned out to be a blend of species with high levels of heterogeneity both in the acylation and phosphorylation pattern, as well as in the hydrophilic backbone composition.Mono-phosphorylated tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A species were identified and characterized by a high content of branched, odd-numbered, and unsaturated fatty acid chains as well as, for some species, by the presence of a hybrid disaccharide backbone.
A Reevaluation of the Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire (SWBQ)
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Watson Shaun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe 20-item Gomez and Fisher (Personal Individ Differ 35:1975–1991, 2003) Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire (SWBQ) is a widely used measure of spiritual well-being. Its theoretical model is a higher-order model with primary factors for personal, communal, environmental, and transcendental well-being, and a secondary global spiritual well-being factor. The current study, conducted in Australia, reevaluated the factor structure of the SWBQ. Unlike previous studies, the current study also used exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to examine the factor structure of the SWBQ and selected the preferred model using not only global model fit values, but also the clarity, reliabilities, and validities of the factors in the models. A total of 227 adults (males = 63; females = 164; M age = 26.1 years; SD = 5.2 years) completed the SWBQ. Based on the model selection criteria applied in the study, the ESEM model with four group factors was selected as the preferred model. However, there was also adequate support for the proposed theoretical higher-order model and the first-order oblique model with the four well-being factors. Concerning our preferred model, its factors showed reasonable clarity for factor loadings and (omega) reliabilities. However, only the communal domain scale was supported empirically for external validity. The implications of the findings for the theoretical model, the use of the SWBQ, and future studies are discussed. In this respect, there are three potential models (theorized higher-order model, 4-factor first-order oblique model, and the ESEM model proposed in this study) that warrant further detailed investigation with a larger, more representative population and additional validation measures.
A review on the nonlinear dynamics of hyperelastic structures
Authors: Khaniki Hossein B. , Ghayesh Mergen H. , Chin Rey , Amabili Marco 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper presents a critical review of the nonlinear dynamics of hyperelastic structures. Hyperelastic structures often undergo large strains when subjected to external time-dependent forces. Hyperelasticity requires specific constitutive laws to describe the mechanical properties of different materials, which are characterised by a nonlinear relationship between stress and strain. Due to recent recognition of the high potential of hyperelastic structures in soft robots and other applications, and the capability of hyperelasticity to model soft biological tissues, the number of studies on hyperelastic structures and materials has grown significantly. Thus, a comprehensive explanation of hyperelastic constitutive laws is presented, and different techniques of continuum mechanics, which are suitable to model these materials, are discussed in this literature review. Furthermore, the sensitivity of each hyperelastic strain energy density function to coefficient variation is shown for some well-known hyperelastic models. Alongside this, the application of hyperelasticity to model the nonlinear dynamics of polymeric structures (e.g., beams, plates, shells, membranes and balloons) is discussed in detail with the assistance of previous studies in this field. The advantages and disadvantages of hyperelastic models are discussed in detail. This present review can stimulate the development of more accurate and reliable models.
Sudden Stops, Productivity and the Optimal Level of International Reserves for Small Open Economies
Authors: Mihailov Alexander , Nasir Harun 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper contributes to the theory of optimal international reserves by extending the Jeanne-Rancière (Econ J 121:905-930, 2011) endowment small open economy (SOE) model to a SOE with production that accounts for the main sources of economic growth. We, first, derive a richer analytical version of the optimal reserves formula in our set-up, essentially driven by labour-augmenting productivity and the saving rate. Then, under a plausible calibration based on 1975-2020 data averages for typical emerging market countries facing the risk of sudden stops in capital inflows, we find that the optimal reserves-to-output ratio is 7.5%, i.e., the mid-point in the range between that in Jeanne and Rancière (Econ J 121:905-930, 2011), of 9.1%, calibrated to the same sample of 34 middle-income countries, and that in Bianchi et al. (Am Econ Rev 108(9):2629-2670, 2018), of 6.0%, obtained in a different, sovereign debt model without capital and production. We explain the lower optimal reserves-to-output ratio relative to the endowment SOE by the role of capital accumulation as precautionary saving: the accumulated capital stock can potentially be used as a pledge to external creditors in obtaining borrowing, thereby insuring better a SOE against sudden stops. As the countries in our sample appear quite heterogeneous, we also compute the optimal reserves-to-output ratio by region. It turns out that our extended to production insurance SOE model matches well the average reserves-to-output ratio in the data for Latin America, represented by nearly half of our sample, 16 countries, at just above 10%. Yet, for Asia, Africa and Europe our regional model-based ratios understate considerably the respective data averages, suggesting the need to explore alternative modelling approaches.
Utilizing multi-temporal thermal data to assess environmental land degradation impacts: example from Suez Canal region, Egypt
Authors: Arnous Mohamed O. , Mansour Basma M. H. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Land surface temperature (LST) analysis of satellite data is critical for studying the environmental land degradation impacts. However, challenges arise to correlate the LST and field data due to the constant development in land use and land cover (LULC). This study aims to monitor, analyze, assess, and map the environmental land degradation impacts utilizing image processing and GIS tools of satellite data and fieldwork. Two thermal and optical sets of Landsat TM + 5 and TIRS + 8 data dated 1984 and 2018 were used to map the thermal and LULC changes in the Suez Canal region (SCR). The LULC classification was categorized into water bodies, urban areas, vegetation, baren areas, wetland, clay, and salt. LULC and LST change detection results revealed that vegetation and urban areas increased in their areas in 34 years. Moreover, 97% of the SCR witnessed LST rise during this period with an average rise rate of 0.352 °C per year. The most effective LULC class changes on LST were the conversions from or to baren areas, where baren areas were converted to 630.5 km2 vegetation and 104 km2 urban areas rising the LST to 43.57 °C and 45 °C, respectively. The spectral reflectance (LSR), LST profiles, and statistical analyses examined the association between LST and LULC deriving factors. In combination with field observations, five hotspots were chosen to detect and monitor natural and human land degradation impacts on LST of the SCR environment. Land degradations detected include water pollution, groundwater rising, salinity increase, sand dune migration, and seismic activity.
Why the Spectral Radius? An intuition-building introduction to the basic reproduction number
Authors: Brouwer Andrew F. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe basic reproduction number $${\mathscr {R}}_0$$

R
0

is a fundamental concept in mathematical epidemiology and infectious disease modeling. Loosely speaking, it describes the number of people that an infectious person is expected to infect. The basic reproduction number has profound implications for epidemic trajectories and disease control strategies. It is well known that the basic reproduction number can be calculated as the spectral radius of the next generation matrix, but why this is the case may not be intuitively obvious. Here, we walk through how the discrete, next generation process connects to the ordinary differential equation disease system of interest, linearized at the disease-free equilibrium. Then, we use linear algebra to develop a geometric explanation of why the spectral radius of the next generation matrix is an epidemic threshold. Finally, we work through a series of examples that help to build familiarity with the kinds of patterns that arise in parameter combinations produced by the next generation method. This article is intended to help new infectious disease modelers develop intuition for the form and interpretation of the basic reproduction number in their disease systems of interest.
Hospitals That Serve Many Black Patients Have Lower Revenues and Profits: Structural Racism in Hospital Financing
Authors: Himmelstein Gracie , Ceasar Joniqua N , Himmelstein Kathryn EW 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background
Care for Black patients is concentrated at a relatively small proportion of all US hospitals. Some previous studies have documented quality deficits at Black-serving hospitals, which may be due to inequities in financial resources for care.

Objective
To assess disparities in funding between hospitals associated with the proportion of Black patients that they serve.

Participants
All Medicare-participating hospitals, 2016–2018.

Main Measures
Patient care revenues and profits per patient day at Black-serving hospitals (the top 10% of hospitals ranked by the share of Black patients among all Medicare inpatients) and at other hospitals, unadjusted and adjusted for differences in case mix and hospital characteristics.

Key Results
Among the 574 Black-serving hospitals, an average of 43.7% of Medicare inpatients were Black, vs. 5.2% at the 5,166 other hospitals. Black-serving hospitals were slightly larger, and were more often urban, teaching, and for-profit or government (vs. non-profit) owned. Patient care revenues and profits averaged $1,736 and $−17 per patient day respectively at Black-serving hospitals vs. $2,213 and $126 per patient day at other hospitals (p<.001 for both comparisons). Adjusted for patient case mix and hospital characteristics, mean revenues were $283 lower/patient day (p<.001) and mean profits were $111/patient day lower (p<.001) at Black-serving hospitals. Equalizing reimbursement levels would have required $14 billion in additional payments to Black-serving hospitals in 2018, a mean of approximately $26 million per Black-serving hospital.

Conclusions
US hospital financing effectively assigns a lower dollar value to the care of Black patients. To reduce disparities in care, health financing reforms should eliminate the underpayment of hospitals serving a large share of Black patients.
Participatie, systeemdenken en nog een crisis
Authors: Crutzen Rik 
Published: August 2022

SamenvattingUitdaging en ontwikkelingen in het veld van gezondheidsbevordering worden in dit artikel beschreven aan de hand van drie perspectieven die ten grondslag liggen aan Intervention Mapping: 1) participatie incorporeren in werkprocessen; 2) systeemdenken een plaats geven binnen de mantra van evidence-based werken; en 3) definities van constructen en hun operationalisaties expliciet maken om theorie en bewijskracht te verbeteren.
Sensitivity and specificity of high frequency ultrasound score (DCEC) in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Huang Hailun , Tang Chao , Li Mi , Huang Jing , Li Yan , Wu Shan 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Objectives
To summarize the ultrasonic characteristics of peripheral nerve damage in type 2 diabetes and to verify the diagnostic value of DCEC score for DPN.

Methods
A total of 289 patients with type 2 diabetes evaluated peripheral neuropathy with neuroultrasound and nerve conduction at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from June 2016 to June 2020. According to the diagnostic criteria from 2017 guidelines of China, 289 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into three groups: DPN group: 203 cases; subclinical group: 48 cases; and non-DPN group: 38 cases. Kruskal Wallis test was used to identify the differences and characteristics of ultrasound scores between the all groups. The best cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of DCEC score were obtained by receiver operator characteristic curve. Taking the diagnostic standard of diabetes peripheral neuropathy as the “gold standard”, the best diagnostic threshold, sensitivity and specificity were obtained by drawing the ROC curve of DCEC score, and then the diagnostic value of DCEC score for DPN was verified

Results
Compared with non-DPN group, DCEC score in DPN group was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Otherwise,according to the ROC curve, the best cut-off value of DCEC score for DPN diagnosis was 12.5 (sensitivity 69.7%, specificity 71.1%).

Conclusions
The DCEC score system can effectively diagnose DPN with length-dependence,mainly including the increase of definition score.
Loop space decompositions of $$(2n-2)$$-connected $$(4n-1)$$-dimensional Poincaré Duality complexes
Authors: Huang Ruizhi , Theriault Stephen 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBeben and Wu showed that ifMis a$$(2n-2)$$(2n-2)-connected$$(4n-1)$$(4n-1)-dimensional Poincaré Duality complex such that$$n\ge 3$$n≥3and$$H^{2n}(M;{{\mathbb {Z}}})$$H2n(M;Z)consists only of odd torsion, then$$\Omega M$$ΩMcan be decomposed up to homotopy as a product of simpler, well-studied spaces. We use a result from Beben and Theriault (Doc Math 27:183-211, 2022) to greatly simplify and enhance Beben and Wu’s work and to extend it in various directions.
GRAN: graph recurrent attention network for pedestrian orientation classification
Authors: Li Xiao , Ma Shexiang , Shan Liqing , Liu Sheng , Chai Song , Li Xiao 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn complex traffic scenes, accurate identification of pedestrian orientations can help drivers determine pedestrian trajectories and help reduce traffic accidents. However, there are still many challenges in pedestrian orientation recognition. First, due to the irregular appearance of pedestrians, it is difficult for general Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to extract discriminative features. In addition, more features of body parts help to judge the orientation of pedestrians. For example, head, arms and legs. However, they are usually small and not conducive to feature extraction. Therefore, in this work, we use several discrete values to define the orientation of pedestrians, and propose a Gated Graph Neural Network (GGNN)-based Graph Recurrent Attention Network (GRAN) to classify the orientation of pedestrians. The contributions are as follows: (1) We construct a body parts graph consisting of head, arms and legs on the feature maps output by the CNN backbone. (2) Mining the dependencies between body parts on the graph via the proposed GRAN, and utilizing the encoder–decoder to propagate features among graph nodes. (3) In this process, we propose an adjacency matrix with attention edge weights to dynamically represent graph node relationships, and the edge weights are learned during network training. To evaluate the proposed method, we conduct experiments on three different benchmarks (PDC, PDRD, and Cityscapes) with 8, 3, and 4 orientations, respectively. Note that the orientation labels for PDRD and Cityscapes are annotated by our hand. The proposed method achieves 97%, 91% and 90% classification accuracy on the three data sets, respectively. The results are all higher than current state-of-the-art methods, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Frontoparietal connectivity, Sensory Features, and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Sarmukadam Kimaya , Bitsika Vicki , Sharpley Christopher F. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Objectives
Because atypical global neural connectivity has been documented in autistic youth, but only limited data are available regarding the association between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), sensory features (SF), and neural connectivity between frontal and parietal brain regions, these links were investigated in a sample of male autistic children and adolescents.

Methods
Forty-one autistic males aged between 6 and 18 years and their mothers were recruited as volunteer participants from Queensland, Australia. Participants underwent 3 min of eyes-closed and 3 min of eyes-opened electroencephalography (EEG) under resting conditions. EEG connectivity was investigated using Granger causality between frontal and parietal regions in alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) bands.

Results
There was a significant (p < .01) positive correlation between SF and GAD. GAD was associated with some characteristics of SF in the sample population. Additionally, there was a significant (p < .01) inverse correlation between directional frontoparietal connectivity and SF during the eyes-closed condition, specifically in relation to avoiding stimuli and sensitivity to the environment.

Conclusions
Reduced frontoparietal connectivity in association with higher anxiety and SF may demonstrate reduced relaxation due to greater sensitivity to sensory input.