cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
title: Towards a theory of sharing economy-based service triad
Creators: name: Li, Dun
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2024

description: The sharing economy is a fast-growing phenomenon that has significantly disrupted traditional businesses. Sharing-economy businesses are involved in many sectors, such as the transportation, accommodation, labour, financial and food sectors. Thus, these companies have been considered important by both industrial and academic areas. Sharing-economy platform companies in different sharing-economy industries seek to constantly improve their “sharing” business to provide better services to users. Fundamentally, the nature of the sharing economy consists of three actors, the platform, service supplier and customer, forming a triadic structure within one specific sharing economy context. Among the main streams of service operations management research, it is surprising that, with a few exceptions, the role of platform service operations management in the sharing economy context has been ignored by researchers. Little is known about how sharing-economy platforms carry out their daily operations management in different sectors. To address this gap in the literature, four papers have been developed, including one literature review paper (conceptual paper) and three empirical papers. Seven unicorn level sharing-economy platform companies from three sharing-economy industries were selected for investigation in this research. They are DiDi and Uber China (ride- sharing industry), OfO, Mobike and Hellobike (bike-sharing industry) and Huochebang and Yunmanman (logistics-sharing industry). By adopting different theories, such as balance theory, social capital theory, contingency theory, social exchange theory, information processing theory and the knowledge-based view, this study investigates different aspects of operations management under the sharing-economy context accordingly, such as the role of different platform strategies in sustainability, the influence of contingent factors on platform stickiness, bike-sharing platforms’ operations management and information management of the sharing-economy platform, and thus makes a significant theoretical contribution to the service operations management literature, providing insightful practical implications for sharing-economy platforms.
Theoretical and Numerical Analysis of an Optimal Execution Problem with Uncertain Market Impact
Creators: name: Ishitani, Kensuke
name: Kato, Takashi
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Trading and Market Microstructure (q-fin.TR)
subject: Optimization and Control (math.OC)
subject: FOS: Economics and business
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Primary 91G80, Secondary 93E20, 49L20

description: This paper is a continuation of Ishitani and Kato (2015), in which we derived a continuous-time value function corresponding to an optimal execution problem with uncertain market impact as the limit of a discrete-time value function. Here, we investigate some properties of the derived value function. In particular, we show that the function is continuous and has the semigroup property, which is strongly related to the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman quasi-variational inequality. Moreover, we show that noise in market impact causes risk-neutral assessment to underestimate the impact cost. We also study typical examples under a log-linear/quadratic market impact function with Gamma-distributed noise.
description: 24 pages, 14 figures. Continuation of the paper arXiv:1301.6485
Soil Samples from the Cederberg, research site #12, site 3219AC
Creators: name: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center
Publisher: name: South African Environmental Observation Network
Year: 2022
Subjects: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre
Soil Samples
Cederberg

description: This is a scanned copy of a document on soil samples from the Cederberg, research site #12, site 3219AC. The Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center (part of the former South African Forestry Research Institute) was established in 1935 at Jonkershoek, near Stellenbosch, under the directorship of Dr C. L. Wicht. The initial aim was to determine how forestry activities in state plantations would affect climate, water conservation and erosion, and was later expanded to include studies of fynbos ecology, fire and alien species. Studies from the 1930s to the early 1990s saw the accumulation of a large amount of data dealing with fire experiments, detailed vegetation plot surveys, rare plant surveys and ecological studies, hydrological studies and the development of management plans for catchments around the Western Cape. SAEON now houses the archive of data collected by the Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center, which was originally held by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The Sodium Content of Processed Foods in South Africa during the Introduction of Mandatory Sodium Limits
Creators: name: Webster, Jacqui
name: Peters, Sanne A. E.
name: Ware, Lisa J.
name: Swanepoel, Bianca
name: Woodward, Mark
name: Charlton, Karen E.
name: Neal, Bruce
name: van Zyl, Tertia
name: Harris, Teresa
name: Walker, Adele
name: Wicks, Mariaan
name: Dunford, Elizabeth
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2017

description: Background: In June 2016, the Republic of South Africa introduced legislation for mandatory limits for the upper sodium content permitted in a wide range of processed foods. We assessed the sodium levels of packaged foods in South Africa during the one-year period leading up to the mandatory implementation date of the legislation. Methods: Data on the nutritional composition of packaged foods was obtained from nutrition information panels on food labels through both in-store surveys and crowdsourcing by users of the HealthyFood Switch mobile phone app between June 2015 and August 2016. Summary sodium levels were calculated for 15 food categories, including the 13 categories covered by the sodium legislation. The percentage of foods that met the government’s 2016 sodium limits was also calculated. Results: 11,065 processed food items were included in the analyses; 1851 of these were subject to the sodium legislation. Overall, 67% of targeted foods had a sodium level at or below the legislated limit. Categories with the lowest percentage of foods that met legislated limits were bread (27%), potato crisps (41%), salt and vinegar flavoured snacks (42%), and raw processed sausages (45%). About half (49%) of targeted foods not meeting the legislated limits were less than 25% above the maximum sodium level. Conclusion: Sodium levels in two-thirds of foods covered by the South African sodium legislation were at or below the permitted upper levels at the mandatory implementation date of the legislation and many more were close to the limit. The South African food industry has an excellent opportunity to rapidly meet the legislated requirements.
Anatomy of Green Specialisation: Evidence from EU Production Data, 1995-2015
Creators: name: Bontadini, Filippo
name: Vona, Francesco
name: Bontadini, Filippo
name: Vona, Francesco
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Production Economics
subject: Resource /Energy Economics and Policy
subject: green goods
subject: green specialisation
subject: environmental policies
subject: complementarity
subject: path dependency

description: We study green specialisation across EU countries and detailed 4-digit industrial sectors over the period of 1995-2015 by harmonizing product-level data (PRODCOM). We propose a new list of green goods that refines lists proposed by international organizations by excluding goods with double usage. Our analysis reveals important structural characteristics of green specialisation in the manufacturing sector. First, green production is highly concentrated, with 13 out of 119 4-digit industries, which are high-tech and account for nearly 95% of the total. Second, green and polluting productions do not occur in the same sectors, and countries specialise in either green or brown sectors. Third, our econometric analysis identifies three key drivers of green specialisation: (i) first-mover advantage and high persistence of green specialisation, (ii) complementarity with non-green capabilities and (iii) the degree of diversification of green capabilities. Importantly, once we control for these drivers, environmental policies are not anymore positively associated with green specialisation.
Datasheet on the stem sample and density count of Leucadendron pubescens, Leucadendron salignum and Paranomus at site 3219AC/12
Creators: name: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center
Publisher: name: South African Environmental Observation Network
Year: 2022
Subjects: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre
datasheet
stem sample
density counts
Leucadendron pubescens
Leucadendron salignum
Paranomus

description: This is a scanned copy of a datasheet noting the stem sample and density count of Leucadendron pubescens, Leucadendron salignum and Paranomus at site 3219AC/12. The Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center (part of the former South African Forestry Research Institute) was established in 1935 at Jonkershoek, near Stellenbosch, under the directorship of Dr C. L. Wicht. The initial aim was to determine how forestry activities in state plantations would affect climate, water conservation and erosion, and was later expanded to include studies of fynbos ecology, fire and alien species.    Studies from the 1930s to the early 1990s saw the accumulation of a large amount of data dealing with fire experiments, detailed vegetation plot surveys, rare plant surveys and ecological studies, hydrological studies and the development of management plans for catchments around the Western Cape.   SAEON now houses the archive of data collected by the Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center, which was originally held by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The association of excessive growth with development of general and central obesity at 7 years of age in every period after birth in Chilean children
Creators: name: Corvalán, Camila
name: Uauy, Ricardo
name: Kain, Juliana
name: Martínez, Mario
name: Close, Michael
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether overweight or obesity between 0 and 6 y increases the probability of developing general/central obesity at 7 y.MethodsWeight, height, and waist circumference were assessed between 0 and 6 y in 628 Chilean children. Body mass index, incidence of overweight (IOW), incidence of obesity (IOB), and prevalence at birth and 0 to 6, 6 to 24, 24 to 48, and 48 to 72 mo and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for developing obesity/central obesity at 84 mo were calculated by sex.ResultsIOW was highest at 6 to 24 mo (20.3% and 21.1% for girls and boys, respectively); IOB was highest at 6 to 24 and 24 to 48 mo (11% and 10%, respectively). OR for developing obesity at 7 y was significant if overweight was present 24 to 48 mo in girls and 6 to 24 mo in boys OR 2.47 [95% CI, 1.5–4] and OR 2.26 [95% CI, 1.30–3.92], respectively, and much higher for children who were obese, OR 6.1 (95% CI, 3.03–12.21) for girls 6 to 24 mo and OR 6.57 (95% CI, 2.55–16.86) for boys 0 to 6 mo. IOW or IOB was not associated with obesity at 84 mo, except for the previous period. Overweight also increased the risk of central obesity very early on, after 6 mo in girls and after birth in boys OR 3.8 [95% CI, 2.3–6.2] and OR 2.5 [95% CI, 2.04–3] at 6 to 24 and 0 to 6 mo, respectively, whereas obesity in all periods was associated with a significantly higher OR of presenting central obesity at 7 y.ConclusionThere is tracking not only of obesity but also of overweight after birth for developing general or central obesity at 7 y. Prevention should begin very early on.
Eficiencia del tejido vegetal de Armatocereus rauhii subsp. balsasensis (F. Ritter) Ostolaza y Espostoa mirabilis F. Ritter (Cactaceae) en la remoción de sólidos suspendidos totales en el agua para consumo humano del distrito de Balzas – Amazonas
Creators: name: Escobal Perez, Lisbeth
name: Chávez Horna, Giovana
name: Roncal-Rabanal, Manuel
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: Ecological applications not elsewhere classified

description: Se estudió la eficiencia de Armatocereus rauhii subsp. Balsasensis R. y Espostoa mirabilis R en la remoción de sólidos suspendidos totales (SST) en el agua para consumo humano del distrito de Balzas – Amazonas, utilizando el tejido vegetal de las especies Armatocereus rauhii subsp. Balsasensis R. y Espostoa mirabilis R., en relación masa – volumen de 25 g/L, 50 g/L y 75 g/L para los tratamientos y una adecuación de la metodología de prueba de jarras. El estudio se realizó directamente en el agua almacenada que abastece a la comunidad de Balzas para su consumo, presentando una turbiedad de 40.08 UNT que la hace no apta para consumo humano. Una vez efectuados los tratamientos, la turbiedad y sólidos suspendidos totales disminuye a un 39,47 % y a un 34,10 % con la especie de Armatocereus rauhii subsp. Balsasensis R. y usando Espostoa mirabilis R. disminuye a 27,45 % y 25,24 % respectivamente, la conductividad eléctrica se incrementa significativamente para ambas especies; en los análisis el pH disminuye de 8,33 a un intervalo de 7,34 a 6,72. Sin embargo, no todas las relaciones masa – volumen (g/L) de ambas especies de cactus lograron ser eficientes determinando así, que la relación masa – volumen de 25 g/L de tejido vegetal es el más óptimo
Quasars Probing Quasars VIII. The Physical Properties of the Cool Circumgalactic Medium Surrounding z ~ 2-3 Massive Galaxies Hosting Quasars
Creators: name: Lau, Marie Wingyee
name: Prochaska, J. Xavier
name: Hennawi, Joseph F.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We characterize the physical properties of the cool T ~10^4 K circumgalactic medium surrounding z ~2-3 quasar host galaxies, which are predicted to evolve into present day massive ellipticals. Using a statistical sample of 14 quasar pairs with projected separation < 300 kpc and high dispersion, high S/N spectra, we find extreme kinematics with low metal ion lines typically spanning ~ 500 km/s, exceeding any previously studied galactic population. The CGM is significantly enriched, even beyond the virial radius, with a median metallicity [M/H] ~ -0.6. The alpha/Fe abundance ratio is enhanced, suggesting that halo gas is primarily enriched by core-collapse supernovae. The projected cool gas mass within the virial radius is estimated to be 1.9*10^11 M_sun (R_\perp/160 kpc)^2, accounting for ~ 1/3 of the galaxy halo baryonic budget. The ionization state of CGM gas increases with projected distance from the foreground quasars, contrary to expectation if the quasar dominates the ionizing radiation flux. However, we also found peculiarities not exhibited in the CGM of other galaxy populations. In one absorption system, we may be detecting unresolved fluorescent Ly-alpha emission, and another system shows strong NV lines. Taken together these anomalies suggest that transverse sightlines are at least in some cases possibly illuminated. We also discovered a peculiar case where detection of the CII* fine structure line implies an electron density > 100 cm^-3 and subparsec scale gas clumps.
description: 62 pages, 32 figures; accepted to ApJ
title: Statistical Genetic Discoveries Using Restricted Maximum Likelihood Method
Creators: name: Wu, Erika
Publisher: name: Old Dominion University Libraries
Year: 2022

description: In statistical genetics, genetic association and genomic prediction become more successful with a highly heritable trait. Identifying highly heritable components of a complex disease can thus advance scientific understanding of the disease and potentially lead to effective prevention and treatments. Using Matlab and existing large-scale genome datasets, we evaluate a restricted maximum likelihood approach to identify highly heritable components of a complex disease as a function of multiple clinical variables.
Scaling hypothesis for the Euclidean bipartite matching problem II. Correlation functions
Creators: name: Caracciolo, Sergio
name: Sicuro, Gabriele
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Disordered Systems and Neural Networks (cond-mat.dis-nn)
subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We analyze the random Euclidean bipartite matching problem on the hypertorus in $d$ dimensions with quadratic cost and we derive the two--point correlation function for the optimal matching, using a proper ansatz introduced by Caracciolo et al. to evaluate the average optimal matching cost. We consider both the grid--Poisson matching problem and the Poisson--Poisson matching problem. We also show that the correlation function is strictly related to the Green's function of the Laplace operator on the hypertorus.
Access Without Borders: A Scoping Review Protocol to Identify Solutions to Creating Portable Health, Education, and Identity Records for Migrant Children
Creators: name: Ungar, Michael
name: Seymour, Adam
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: Social work not elsewhere classified

description: This scoping review will map studies, reports and other relevant sources from the peer-reviewed and grey literature that reports on refugee children’s access and barriers to health, education, and identity records at different stages of the migration process.We follow Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework for methodological synthesis of research, with recent adaptations suggested by Levac et al. (2010). The search strategy results will be synthesized and reported through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) extended reporting guidelines for scoping reviews (Tricco et al., 2018). Bibliographic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus), grey literature databases (Open Grey, Grey Literature Report and Google Scholar, Web of Science Conference Proceedings, NGOs and UN agency websites) will be searched for relevant studies.
Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity is Inversely Associated with Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness in a Population-Based Study
Creators: name: Steck, Susan E.
name: Fontham, Elizabeth T. H.
name: Mohler, James L.
name: Wang, Ying
name: Bensen, Jeannette T.
name: Chen, Ming-Hui
name: Su, L. Joseph
name: Vance, Terrence M.
name: Chun, Ock K.
name: Arab, Lenore
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) from diet and supplements and prostate cancer aggressiveness among 855 African Americans (AA) and 945 European Americans (EA) in the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). Cases were classified as either high aggressive, low aggressive, or intermediate aggressive. TAC was calculated from the vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity of 42 antioxidants measured via food frequency questionnaire. EA reported greater dietary TAC from diet and supplements combined (P < 0.0001). In both minimally and fully adjusted logistic regression models, TAC from diet and supplements combined was associated with a reduced odds of high aggressive prostate cancer in all men, AA and EA: ORs for highest vs. lowest level (> 1500 vs. < 500 mg VCE/d): 0.31 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.67; P-trend < 0.01), 0.28 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.96; P-trend < 0.001), and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.86; P-trend = 0.58), respectively. These associations did not appear to differ between AA and EA. These data suggest that greater intake of antioxidants is associated with less aggressive prostate cancer. Additional research is needed to confirm these results and determine the underlying mechanisms.
title: The impact of continuous glucose monitoring on the management of people with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
Creators: name: Toner, Aileen
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2021

description: Background Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is the most common comorbidity found in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). CFRD is associated with increased adverse outcomes and burden of treatment in pwCF as well as reduced quality of life. People with CFRD (pwCFRD) must measure their blood glucose levels several times per day to monitor their diabetes and so that treatment can be tailored to individuals. Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) are a relatively new technology that have been shown to be useful in diagnosing CFRD, but the impact of CGM on the monitoring and subsequent management of CFRD remains undetermined. This application of CGM has previously been approved in people with other forms of diabetes. Method For this work, engagement with stakeholders was undertaken to devise outcomes of interest that would make a meaningful impact on the lives and wellbeing of pwCFRD and those involved with their care. A protocol for an original Cochrane systematic review on the impact of CGM on pwCFRD was then created and the review itself was conducted. This included performing a comprehensive search of five major databases and assessing the eligibility of the results for inclusion in the study. A suggested framework for future research in this area was then created. Results Out of a total of 1768 studies, once duplicates were eliminated, there were found to be no completed RCT studies that appropriately fitted the protocol’s criteria for inclusion in the review. The only study that did meet the criteria was a single RCT protocol registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03939065) which had not yet been undertaken, and thus, presented no data to be analysed for the review at this time. However, once this trial is completed, it may be eligible for inclusion in an update of this review. Discussion There is currently no evidence to support the costly implementation of CGM to manage CFRD, although there are indications that CGMS are already being used in this context. CFRD is becoming more prevalent because of a range of factors including the improved life expectancy of pwCF. The impact of CFRD on peoples’ lives is of ever-growing importance and so it is now more pressing than ever to conduct research into ways to help alleviate both the treatment and disease burden for pwCFRD. Ensuring new technologies are properly evaluated will contribute to the provision of a growing and robust body of evidence which in turn will support the decision-making of policy makers, clinicians, and patients alike. As discussed, there is currently no data available on the impact of CGM on the management of pwCFRD. However, it is noted that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of effect. It is hoped that publication of this review will raise the profile of the question at hand and generate sufficient research to provide a route map to find the answers.
Essays in finance: time-frequency decompositions and the impact of surprise
Creators: name: Paraskevopoulos, Timotheos
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Wavelets
subject: NLP
subject: LDA
subject: Contagion
subject: Comovement
subject: 330
subject: Wavelet-Analyse
subject: Wavelet-Transformation
subject: Automatische Sprachanalyse

description: In the first part of this thesis, we study the informative value of time-frequency decompositions based on wavelets. In chapter 2 we address the challenge of forecasting major stock indices. For the binary classification task, we identify three wavelet filters out of fifteen, namely $D4$, $D6$ and $CF6$, which outperform the naive approach. We exemplify the performance of the forecasting algorithm by simulating a trading application in which the wavelet-based approach outperforms the naive strategy by a factor of about two in terms of Sharpe ratio. In chapter 3 we study the transmission processes between the European stock markets and the nominal European exchange rate. To effectively distinguish between contagion and interdependence we estimate the spectral characteristics of the time series as a function of time and frequency using a continuous wavelet transform. This approach allows to reveal linkages and co-movement patterns, including lead-lag relationships, between periodic components. The empirical results support both cyclical and anti-cyclical relationships between the time-series while existing casual and reverse casual relation vary across scale and time. We strongly emphasize the limitations of a bivariate approach and encourage the conduction of a multivariate analysis to revisit our findings. In the second part of the thesis, namely chapter 4, we aim to quantify the level of surprise in events published on Twitter. The proposed methodology maps the informational content of every Twitter account belonging to at least one S\&P500 constituent into a network. This approach allows to observe the formation of events and to quantify its propagation on an aggregate level. In a regression analysis, we investigate whether the proposed surprise metric has any explanatory power for the SP500 logarithmic returns and volatility. We find that an increase in the surprise index has an inverse effect on daily returns and a positive impact on the daily volatility. Moreover, the results support the hypothesis of a pre-report effect for both the return and volatility models. Future work might also explore the limits of a multivariate approach to analyze directional interdependence and contagion patterns at different time scales. Considering deep neural network embeddings to reduce the dimensionality of frequency decompositions is one of the next steps in this research.
High variation in manufacturer-declared serving size of packaged discretionary foods in Australia
Creators: name: Gill, Timothy
name: Wu, Jason H.Y.
name: Thomas, Beth
name: Flood, Victoria
name: Rangan, Anna
name: Neal, Bruce
name: Cleanthous, Xenia
name: Zheng, Jazzmin Miaobing
name: Dunford, Elizabeth
name: Haskelberg, Hila
name: Louie, Jimmy Chun Yu
name: Trevena, Helen
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: Abstract Despite the potential of declared serving size to encourage appropriate portion size consumption, most countries including Australia have not developed clear reference guidelines for serving size. The present study evaluated variability in manufacturer-declared serving size of discretionary food and beverage products in Australia, and how declared serving size compared with the 2013 Australian Dietary Guideline (ADG) standard serve (600 kJ). Serving sizes were obtained from the Nutrition Information Panel for 4466 packaged, discretionary products in 2013 at four large supermarkets in Sydney, Australia, and categorised into fifteen categories in line with the 2013 ADG. For unique products that were sold in multiple package sizes, the percentage difference between the minimum and the maximum serving size across different package sizes was calculated. A high variation in serving size was found within the majority of food and beverage categories – for example, among 347 non-alcoholic beverages (e.g. soft drinks), the median for serving size was 250 (interquartile range (IQR) 250, 355) ml (range 100–750 ml). Declared serving size for unique products that are available in multiple package sizes also showed high variation, particularly for chocolate-based confectionery, with median percentage difference between minimum and maximum serving size of 183 (IQR 150) %. Categories with a high proportion of products that exceeded the 600 kJ ADG standard serve included cakes and muffins, pastries and desserts (≥74 % for each). High variability in declared serving size may confound interpretation and understanding of consumers interested in standardising and controlling their portion selection. Future research is needed to assess if and how standardising declared serving size might affect consumer behaviour.
Characteristic density contrasts in the evolution of superclusters. The case of A2142 supercluster
Creators: name: Gramann, Mirt
name: Einasto, Maret
name: Heinämäki, Pekka
name: Teerikorpi, Pekka
name: Saar, Enn
name: Nurmi, Pasi
name: Einasto, Jaan
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The formation and evolution of the cosmic web in which galaxy superclusters are the largest relatively isolated objects is governed by a gravitational attraction of dark matter and antigravity of dark energy (cosmological constant). We study the characteristic density contrasts in the spherical collapse model for several epochs in the supercluster evolution and their dynamical state. We analysed the density contrasts for the turnaround, future collapse and zero gravity in different LCDM models and applied them to study the dynamical state of the supercluster A2142 with an almost spherical main body. The analysis of the supercluster A2142 shows that its high-density core has already started to collapse. The zero-gravity line outlines the outer region of the main body of the supercluster. In the course of future evolution the supercluster may split into several collapsing systems. The various density contrasts presented in our study and applied to the supercluster A2142 offer a promising way to characterise the dynamical state and expected future evolution of galaxy superclusters.
description: 6 pages, 2 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press
Interdependent Security Games on Networks under Behavioral Probability Weighting
Creators: name: Hota, Ashish R.
name: Sundaram, Shreyas
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Computer Science and Game Theory (cs.GT)
subject: Systems and Control (eess.SY)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: We consider a class of interdependent security games on networks where each node chooses a personal level of security investment. The attack probability experienced by a node is a function of her own investment and the investment by her neighbors in the network. Most of the existing work in these settings considers players who are risk-neutral. In contrast, studies in behavioral decision theory have shown that individuals often deviate from risk-neutral behavior while making decisions under uncertainty. In particular, the true probabilities associated with uncertain outcomes are often transformed into perceived probabilities in a highly nonlinear fashion by the users, which then influence their decisions. In this paper, we investigate the effects of such behavioral probability weightings by the nodes on their optimal investment strategies and the resulting security risk profiles that arise at the Nash equilibria of interdependent network security games. We characterize graph topologies that achieve the largest and smallest worst case average attack probabilities at Nash equilibria in Total Effort games, and equilibrium investments in Weakest Link and Best Shot games.
description: Accepted for Publication in IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems, 2016
Oxidative stress in relation to diet and physical activity among premenopausal women
Creators: name: Milne, Ginger L.
name: Nichols, Hazel B.
name: Sandler, Dale P.
name: Anderson, Chelsea
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: Abstract Higher levels of oxidative stress, as measured by F 2 -isoprostanes, have been associated with chronic diseases such as CVD and some cancers. Improvements in diet and physical activity may help reduce oxidative stress; however, previous studies regarding associations between lifestyle factors and F 2 -isoprostane concentrations have been inconsistent. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether physical activity and intakes of fruits/vegetables, antioxidant nutrients, dietary fat subgroups and alcohol are associated with concentrations of F 2 -isoprostane and the major F 2 -isoprostane metabolite. Urinary F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite were measured in urine samples collected at enrolment from 912 premenopausal women (aged 35–54 years) participating in the Sister Study. Physical activity, alcohol consumption and dietary intakes were self-reported via questionnaires. With adjustment for potential confounders, the geometric means of F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite were calculated according to quartiles of dietary intakes, alcohol consumption and physical activity, and linear regression models were used to evaluate trends. Significant inverse associations were found between F 2 -isoprostane and/or its metabolite and physical activity, vegetables, fruits, vitamin C, α -carotene, vitamin E, β -carotene, vitamin A, Se, lutein+zeaxanthin and long-chain n -3 fatty acids. Although trans fats were positively associated with both F 2 -isoprostane and its metabolite, other dietary fat subgroups including SFA, n -6 fatty acids, n -3 fatty acids, MUFA, PUFA, short-chain n -3 fatty acids, long-chain n -3 fatty acids and total fat were not associated with either F 2 -isoprostane or its metabolite. Our findings suggest that lower intake of antioxidant nutrients and higher intake of trans fats may be associated with greater oxidative stress among premenopausal women.
Line intercept in Koue Bokkeveld, Rosendal, site 3319AA/11/1
Creators: name: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center
Publisher: name: South African Environmental Observation Network
Year: 2022
Subjects: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre
Koue Bokkeveld
line intercept

description: This is a scanned copy of a document of a line intercept in monitoring site 3319AA/11/1 in the Koue Bokkeveld. The Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center (part of the former South African Forestry Research Institute) was established in 1935 at Jonkershoek, near Stellenbosch, under the directorship of Dr C. L. Wicht. The initial aim was to determine how forestry activities in state plantations would affect climate, water conservation and erosion, and was later expanded to include studies of fynbos ecology, fire and alien species. Studies from the 1930s to the early 1990s saw the accumulation of a large amount of data dealing with fire experiments, detailed vegetation plot surveys, rare plant surveys and ecological studies, hydrological studies and the development of management plans for catchments around the Western Cape.  SAEON now houses the archive of data collected by the Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center, which was originally held by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
title: Towards Model Robustness and Generalization Against Adversarial Examples for Deep Neural Networks
Creators: name: Zhang, Shufei
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2021

description: Recent years have witnessed the remarkable success of deep neural network (DNN) models spanning a wide range of applications including image classification, image generation, object detection and natural language processing. Despite the impressive performance boosting over various learning tasks, DNNs are demonstrated to be strikingly vulnerable to certain well-crafted adversarial perturbations. While such perturbations are imperceptible to human, they can easily mislead the prediction of DNNs with high confidence. Along with the increasing deployment of DNN models in safety-critical scenarios, it becomes extremely crucial to ensure model robustness against potential adversarial attacks. One of the most popular methods to defend adversarial attacks is adversarial training method. In this thesis, we aim to provide new understanding on adversarial example and analyze the current adversarial training methods from perspectives of latent representation/distribution, smoothness, optimization and robustness generalization. Moreover, we also analyze the relationship between robustness and generalization. For latent representation adversarial examples, we focus on considering how to learn the robust representations and the latent distribution which retains the more structure information of clean data distribution. For smoothness, we describe two methods to promote the latent and output smoothness of deep neural networks and analyze the relationship between smoothness and robust generalization. For optimization of adversarial training, we analyze the drawback of adversarial training and introduce a better optimization method for adversarial training. For robustness generalization, we analyze why robustness generalization is hard to achieve and introduce a simple but effective method to improve the robustness generalization of adversarial training. Finally, we analyze the relationship between robustness and generalization theoretically and empirically.
Evaluation of diet pattern and weight gain in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study
Creators: name: Ford, Christopher
name: Fenton, Jenifer I.
name: Urrutia, Rachel
name: Stefanick, Marcia
name: Snetselaar, Linda
name: Vitolins, Mara Z.
name: Frazier-Wood, Alexis C.
name: Howard, Barbara V.
name: Chang, Shine
name: Chen, Bertha
name: Rhee, Jinnie J.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2017

description: Abstract It is unclear which of four popular contemporary diet patterns is best for weight maintenance among postmenopausal women. Four dietary patterns were characterised among postmenopausal women aged 49–81 years (mean 63·6 ( sd 7·4) years) from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study: (1) a low-fat diet; (2) a reduced-carbohydrate diet; (3) a Mediterranean-style (Med) diet; and (4) a diet consistent with the US Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Discrete-time hazards models were used to compare the risk of weight gain (≥10 %) among high adherers of each diet pattern. In adjusted models, the reduced-carbohydrate diet was inversely related to weight gain (OR 0·71; 95 % CI 0·66, 0·76), whereas the low-fat (OR 1·43; 95 % CI 1·33, 1·54) and DGA (OR 1·24; 95 % CI 1·15, 1·33) diets were associated with increased risk of weight gain. By baseline weight status, the reduced-carbohydrate diet was inversely related to weight gain among women who were normal weight (OR 0·72; 95 % CI 0·63, 0·81), overweight (OR 0·67; 95 % CI 0·59, 0·76) or obese class I (OR 0·63; 95 % CI 0·53, 0·76) at baseline. The low-fat diet was associated with increased risk of weight gain in women who were normal weight (OR 1·28; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·46), overweight (OR 1·60; 95 % CI 1·40, 1·83), obese class I (OR 1·73; 95 % CI 1·43, 2·09) or obese class II (OR 1·44; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·92) at baseline. These findings suggest that a low-fat diet may promote weight gain, whereas a reduced-carbohydrate diet may decrease risk of postmenopausal weight gain.
Contractible edges in 3-connected graphs that preserve a minor
Creators: name: Costalonga, João Paulo
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Combinatorics (math.CO)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: Let $G$ be a $3$-connected graph with a $3$-connected (or sufficiently small) simple minor $H$. We establish that $G$ has a forest $F$ with at least $\left\lceil(|G|-|H|+1)/2\right\rceil$ edges such that $G/e$ is $3$-connected with an $H$-minor for each $e\in E(F)$. Moreover, we may pick $F$ with $|G|-|H|$ edges provided $G$ is triangle-free. These results are sharp. Our result generalizes a previous one by Ando et. al., which establishes that a $3$-connected graph $G$ has at least $\left\lceil|G|/2\right\rceil$ contractible edges. As another consequence, each triangle-free $3$-connected graph has an spanning tree of contractible edges. Our results follow from a more general theorem on graph minors, a splitter theorem, which is also established here.
title: Enjoyment in VR games: Factors, Challenges, and Simulator Sickness Mitigation Techniques
Creators: name: Vilela Monteiro, Diego
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2023

description: Although Virtual Reality (VR) has been developed for a while, the last decade has seen a surge in its popularity with the advent of commercial VR Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), making the technology more accessible. One field that significantly benefits from VR is the entertainment industry, for example, games. Games can be challenging to design as they involve several components that are found in other types of applications as well, such as presentation, navigation, interaction with virtual agents, and in-game measurements. Despite recent advances, the optimal configurations for game applications in VR are still widely unexplored. In this thesis, we propose to fill this gap by a series of studies that analyse different components involved in making VR applications more enjoyable. We propose studying three characteristics that are heavily influential in game enjoyment (1) the aesthetical realism and emotions of virtual agents; (2) viewing perspective (First-Person Perspective and Third-Person Perspective), its influence on subjective feelings and how to measure those feelings; and (3) how to reduce or eliminate VR Sickness without affecting the experience (or affecting it positively). Our results showed that Virtual Agents' facial expressions are one of the most important aspects to be considered. On the second topic, we have observed that viewing perspective is influential on VR Sickness; however, other subjective feelings were challenging to measure in this context. On the last topic, we analysed existing tendencies in Simulator Sickness mitigation techniques that do not affect in-game mechanics and present a novel solution that has a good trade-off between mitigating VR Sickness and maintaining or enhancing immersion and performance. Finally, we propose some guidelines based on our results.
Serruria rosea, Erica plukenetii and Protea laurifolia in Zachariashoek, site 3319CC/1/170
Creators: name: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center
Publisher: name: South African Environmental Observation Network
Year: 2022
Subjects: Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre
map
Serruria rosea
Erica plukenetii
Protea laurifolia
Zachariashoek

description: This is a scanned copy of a document, with a diagram and map, on Serruria rosea, Erica plukenetii and Protea laurifolia in Zachariashoek, site 3319CC/1/170. The Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center (part of the former South African Forestry Research Institute) was established in 1935 at Jonkershoek, near Stellenbosch, under the directorship of Dr C. L. Wicht. The initial aim was to determine how forestry activities in state plantations would affect climate, water conservation and erosion, and was later expanded to include studies of fynbos ecology, fire and alien species. Studies from the 1930s to the early 1990s saw the accumulation of a large amount of data dealing with fire experiments, detailed vegetation plot surveys, rare plant surveys and ecological studies, hydrological studies and the development of management plans for catchments around the Western Cape. SAEON now houses the archive of data collected by the Jonkershoek Forestry Research Center, which was originally held by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Fundamental constructs in food parenting practices: a content map to guide future research
Creators: name: Musher-Eizenman, Dara R.
name: Vaughn, Amber E.
name: Faith, Myles S.
name: Ward, Dianne S.
name: Hughes, Sheryl O.
name: Patrick, Heather
name: Fisher, Jennifer O.
name: Power, Thomas G.
name: O'Connor, Teresia M.
name: Kremers, Stef P.J.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: Although research shows that “food parenting practices” can impact children’s diet and eating habits, current understanding of the impact of specific practices has been limited by inconsistencies in terminology and definitions. This article represents a critical appraisal of food parenting practices, including clear terminology and definitions, by a working group of content experts. The result of this effort was the development of a content map for future research that presents 3 overarching, higher-order food parenting constructs – coercive control, structure, and autonomy support – as well as specific practice subconstructs. Coercive control includes restriction, pressure to eat, threats and bribes, and using food to control negative emotions. Structure includes rules and limits, limited/guided choices, monitoring, meal- and snacktime routines, modeling, food availability and accessibility, food preparation, and unstructured practices. Autonomy support includes nutrition education, child involvement, encouragement, praise, reasoning, and negotiation. Literature on each construct is reviewed, and directions for future research are offered. Clear terminology and definitions should facilitate cross-study comparisons and minimize conflicting findings resulting from previous discrepancies in construct operationalization.
Global growth of “big box” stores and the potential impact on human health and nutrition
Creators: name: Taillie, Lindsey Smith
name: Popkin, Barry M.
name: Ng, Shu Wen
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2016

description: Despite a large body of literature on the food environment, little is known about the role of supercenters in human nutrition and health. The objectives of this review are to examine what is currently known about the association between supercenters, nutrition, and obesity, to identify how supercenters may affect disparities in food access and nutritional quality of food purchases, and to document the rapid rise of supercenters as a source of food purchases in the United States. A case study of Wal-Mart, the largest food retailer in the United States, is presented that demonstrates the major and increasing role of supercenters as a source of packaged food purchases in the United States, particularly among low-income households, as well as the role of supercenters in supplying key nutrients. Taken together, this review and case study highlight the dominant role of supercenters in the US diet and the need to better understand how supercenters can be leveraged to improve the nutritional quality of what consumers buy and eat.
Workplace Interactions and their Impact on Job Attitudes
Creators: name: Freedman, Gili
name: Taylor, Caroline
Publisher: name: Open Science Framework
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Social Psychology
subject: Industrial and Organizational Psychology
subject: Social and Behavioral Sciences
subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology

description: In this study, we are exploring the impact that transformational and transactional leaders have on employees' work effort and well-being after experiencing co-worker ostracism.
Ultrashort pulses in an inhomogeneously broadened two-level medium: soliton formation and inelastic collisions
Creators: name: Novitsky, Denis
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Using numerical simulations, we study propagation of ultrashort light pulses in an inhomogeneously broadened two-level medium. There are two main issues in our study. The first one concerns the transient process of self-induced transparency soliton formation, in particular, the compression of the pulse which seems to be more effective in the case of homogeneous broadening. The second question deals with the collisions of counter-propagating solitons. It is shown that the level of inhomogeneous broadening has a substantial effect on the elasticity of such collisions.
description: 12 pages, 7 figures