pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Physically-based Dirac’s delta functions in the static analysis of multi-cracked Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams

AbstractDirac’s delta functions enable simple and effective representations of point loads and singularities in a variety of structural problems, leading very often to elegant and otherwise unworkable closed-form solutions. This is the case of cracked beams under static loads, whose theoretical and practical significance has attracted in recent years the interest of many researchers. Nevertheless, analytical formulations currently available for this problem are not completely satisfactory, either in terms of computational efficiency, when the continuity conditions must be enforced with auxiliary equations, or in terms of physical consistency, when the singularities in the beam’s flexural rigidity are represented with Dirac’s delta functions having a questionable negative sign. These considerations motivate the present study, which offers a novel and physically-based modelling of slender Euler–Bernoulli beams and short Timoshenko beams with any number and severity of cracks, conducing in both cases to exact closed-form solutions. For validation purposes, a standard finite element code is used, along with two nascent deltas (uniform and Gaussian density functions) to describe a smeared increase in the bending flexibility around the abscissa of the crack
On the different “worlds” of intra-organizational knowledge management: Understanding idiosyncratic variation in MNC cross-site knowledge-sharing practices

AbstractThis qualitative field study investigated cross-site knowledge sharing in a small sample of multinational corporations in three different MNC business contexts (global, multidomestic, transnational). The results disclose heterogeneous “worlds” of MNC knowledge sharing, ultimately raising the question as to whether the whole concept of MNC knowledge sharing covers a sufficiently unitary phenomenon to be meaningful. We derive a non-exhaustive typology of MNC knowledge-sharing practices: self-organizing knowledge sharing, technocratic knowledge sharing, and best practice knowledge sharing. Despite its limitations, this typology helps to elucidate a number of issues, including the latent conflict between two disparate theories of MNC knowledge sharing, namely “sender–receiver” and “social learning” theories (Noorderhaven & Harzing, 2009). More generally, we develop the term “knowledge contextualization” to highlight the way that firm-specific organizational features pre-define which knowledge is considered to be of special relevance for intra-organizational sharing
Adolescents with a history of specific language impairment (SLI): Strengths and difficulties in social, emotional and behavioral functioning

AbstractAdolescents with specific language impairment (SLI) are at a greater risk of emotional and behavioral problems compared to their typically developing (TD) peers, but little is known about their self-perceived strengths and difficulties. In this study, the self-reported social, emotional and behavioral functioning of 139 adolescents with a history of SLI and 124 TD individuals at age 16 was examined. The self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess their prosocial behavior and levels of peer, emotional and behavioral difficulties. Associations of these areas of functioning with gender, verbal and non-verbal skills were also investigated. Adolescents with a history of SLI were more likely than their TD peers to report higher levels of peer problems, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity and conduct problems. The majority of adolescents in both groups (87% SLI and 96% TD), however, reported prosocial behavior within the typical range. Difficulty with peer relations was the strongest differentiator between the groups, with the odds of reporting borderline or abnormally high levels of peer problems being 12 times higher for individuals with a history of SLI. Adolescents with poorer receptive language skills were also more likely to report higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties. The findings of this study identify likely traits that may lead to referral to services
Assessing dengue vaccination impact: Model challenges and future directions

AbstractIn response to the sharp rise in the global burden caused by dengue virus (DENV) over the last few decades, the WHO has set out three specific key objectives in its disease control strategy: (i) to estimate the true burden of dengue by 2015; (ii) a reduction in dengue mortality by at least 50% by 2020 (used as a baseline); and (iii) a reduction in dengue morbidity by at least 25% by 2020. Although various elements will all play crucial parts in achieving this goal, from diagnosis and case management to integrated surveillance and outbreak response, sustainable vector control, vaccine implementation and finally operational and implementation research, it seems clear that new tools (e.g. a safe and effective vaccine and/or effective vector control) are key to success. The first dengue vaccine was licensed in December 2015, Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) developed by Sanofi Pasteur. The WHO has provided guidance on the use of CYD-TDV in endemic countries, for which there are a variety of considerations beyond the risk–benefit evaluation done by regulatory authorities, including public health impact and cost-effectiveness. Population-level vaccine impact and economic and financial aspects are two issues that can potentially be considered by means of mathematical modelling, especially for new products for which empirical data are still lacking. In December 2014 a meeting was convened by the WHO in order to revisit the current status of dengue transmission models and their utility for public health decision-making. Here, we report on the main points of discussion and the conclusions of this meeting, as well as next steps for maximising the use of mathematical models for vaccine decision-making
Indoor Propagation Investigation From a 2.4GHz Waist Mounted Beacon

AbstractIndoor positioning techniques are being considered for use within team sports where players are tracked and recorded providing coaching assistance. While Global Positioning System (GPS) is the de facto standard employed to estimate the location of players, this is unsuitable for accurate indoor positioning due to roof and wall signal obstruction. Over a dozen techniques have been suggested for wireless indoor positioning of static and/or moving objects with improved methods for limiting the position estimation errors. For those indoor techniques that rely on radio frequency (RF) signal propagation, propagation statistics are useful in determining path loss and signal degradation. This static indoor propagation knowledge is critical in the design of wireless indoor positioning systems and ultimately the accuracy of the position estimation. Signal path propagation losses and variations produced from shadowing, multipath, fading, scattering or diffraction from objects can hinder the designer's efforts to provide a reliable and accurate positioning system. However, sporting indoor environments generally have an open floor area where play is conducted free from objects apart from the players themselves. At the elite sporting level these indoor play areas are designed and constructed under international specifications. Consequently, static wireless RF signal propagation knowledge obtained from one of these commonly built play areas is applicable to hundreds of other venues around the world. Many of these indoor sporting areas are used for a variety of sports, for example, basketball, volleyball, indoor cricket, indoor soccer, netball and handball. A player positioning installation could potentially be used for all of these sports. This paper reports the wireless RF signal propagation of a 2.4GHz waist mounted beacon for an indoor sporting venue ‘play area’, which has been designed to international standards. A basketball court constructed of highly polished wood was chosen as the sample ‘play area’. Propagation models are discussed and comparisons between predicted and measured results demonstrate the validity of the technique
What Team Members Perceive as Important to Achieve High Performance: An Exploratory Case Study

AbstractIn today's demanding business environment companies must perform more efficiently. One of the most important ways to tackle this challenge is to enhance the human resources potential, through effective team management. High-performing teams have been studied for some years, with literature discussing their features from several perspectives as, for instance: leadership; teams as a whole; and team members. But, little has been written on managing these teams in the construction business. Based on a project involving 44 professionals and six teams, our exploratory case study presents preliminary results on perceived important features for managing teams into high performance. Surprisingly, in opposition to their team members, managers did not perceive as most important some of the common features identified in the literature. Plus, some differences exist between teams’ perceptions. The reported differences may be correlated with the characteristics (e.g., social and demographic) of the professionals
Identification of non-ordinary mesons from the dispersive connection between their poles and their Regge trajectories: The f0(500) resonance

AbstractWe show how the Regge trajectory of a resonance can be obtained from its pole in a scattering process and analytic constraints in the complex angular momentum plane. The method is suited for resonances that dominate an elastic scattering amplitude. In particular, from the ρ(770) resonance pole in ππ scattering, we obtain its linear Regge trajectory, characteristic of ordinary quark–antiquark states. In contrast, the f0(500) pole—the sigma meson—which dominates scalar isoscalar ππ scattering, yields a nonlinear trajectory with a much smaller slope at the f0(500) mass. Conversely, imposing a linear Regge trajectory for the f0(500), with a slope of typical size, yields an elastic amplitude at odds with the data. This provides strong support for the non-ordinary nature of the sigma meson
Close binary and other variable stars in the solar-age galactic open cluster M67

We present multi-colour time-series CCD photometry of the solar-age galactic open cluster M67 (NGC 2682). About 3600 frames spread over 28 nights were obtained with the 1.5 m Russian-Turkish and 1.2 m Mercator telescopes. High-precision observations of the close binary stars AH Cnc, EV Cnc, ES Cnc, the δ Scuti type systems EX Cnc and EW Cnc, and some long-period variables belonging to M67 are presented. Three full multi-colour light curves of the overcontact binary AH Cnc were obtained during three observing seasons. Likewise we gathered three light curves of EV Cnc, an EB-type binary, and two light curves of ES Cnc, a blue straggler binary. Parts of the light change of long-term variables S1024, S1040, S1045, S1063, S1242, and S1264 are obtained. Period variation analysis of AH Cnc, EV Cnc, and ES Cnc were done using all times of mid-eclipse available in the literature and those obtained in this study. In addition, we analyzed multi-colour light curves of the close binaries and also determined new frequencies for the δ Scuti systems. The physical parameters of the close binary stars were determined with simultaneous solutions of multicolour light and radial velocity curves. Finally we determined the distance of M67 as 857(33) pc via binary star parameters, which is consistent with an independent method from earlier studies.TÜBİTAK; FP6 European Coordination Action HELAS, Research Council of the University of Leuven grant number: GOA/2003/0
Internal disruptions and sawtooth like activity in LHD

LHD inward-shifted configurations are unstable to resistive MHD
pressure-gradient-driven modes. These modes drive sawtooth like events during
LHD operation. In this work, we simulate sawtooth like activity and internal
disruptions in order to improve the understanding of these relaxation events
and their effect over the device efficiency to confine the plasma, with the aim
to improve the LHD present and future operation scenarios minimizing or
avoiding the disadvantageous MHD soft and hard limits. By solving a set of
reduced non-linear resistive MHD equations, we have studied the evolution of
perturbations to equilibria obtained before and after a sawtooth like event in
LHD. The equilibrium $\beta$ value is gradually increased during the simulation
until it reaches the experimental value. Sawtooth like events and internal
disruption events take place in the simulation for $\beta_{0}$ values between
$1\%$ and $1.48\%$. The main driver of the sawtooth like events is the resonant
and non-resonant effect of the $(n=1, m=3)$ mode. The instability is stronger
for resonant events, and they only appear when $\beta_{0} = 1.48 \%$. Internal
disruptions are mainly driven by the $(n=1, m=2)$ mode, and they extend
throughout the whole plasma core. Internal disruption events do not show up
when resonant sawtooth like events are triggered
Evidence for azimuthal variations of the oxygen-abundance gradient tracing the spiral structure of the galaxy HCG 91c

Context. The distribution of elements in galaxies forms an important diagnostic tool to characterize these systems' formation and evolution. This tool is, however, complex to use in practice, as galaxies are subject to a range of simultaneous physical processes active from pc to kpc scales. This renders observations of the full optical extent of galaxies down to sub-kpc scales essential. Aims. Using the WiFeS integral field spectrograph, we previously detected abrupt and localized variations in the gas-phase oxygen abundance of the spiral galaxy HCG 91c. Here, we follow-up on these observations to map HCG 91c's disk out to ~2 Re at a resolution of 600 pc, and characterize the non-radial variations of the gas-phase oxygen abundance in the system. Methods. We obtained deep MUSE observations of the target under ~0.6 arcsec seeing conditions. We perform both a spaxel-based and aperture-based analysis of the data to map the spatial variations of 12 +log (O/H) across the disk of the galaxy. Results. We confirm the presence of rapid variations of the oxygen abundance across the entire extent of the galaxy previously detected with WiFeS, for all azimuths and radii. The variations can be separated in two categories: a) localized and associated with individual H ii regions; and b) extended over kpc scales, and occurring at the boundaries of the spiral structures in the galaxy. Conclusions. Our MUSE observations suggest that the enrichment of the interstellar medium in HGC 91c has proceeded preferentially along spiral structures, and less efficiently across them. Our dataset highlights the importance of distinguishing individual star-forming regions down to scales of a few 100 pc when using integral field spectrographs to spatially resolve the distribution of oxygen abundances in a given system, and accurately characterize azimuthal variations and intrinsic scatter. © ESO, 2017.This work was co-funded under the Marie Curie Actions of the European Commission (FP7-COFUND). E.P. acknowledges support from the Spanish MINECO through project AYA2014-57490-P. L.V.M. acknowledges support from AYA2015-65973-C3-1-R and AYA2014-52013-C2-1-R grants (MINECO Spain/FEDER, UE).Peer reviewe
Search for heavy resonances decaying to a $W$ or $Z$ boson and a Higgs
  boson in the $q\bar{q}^{(\prime)}b\bar{b}$ final state in $pp$ collisions at
  $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for heavy resonances decaying to a $W$ or $Z$ boson and a Higgs
boson in the $q\bar{q}^{(\prime)}b\bar{b}$ final state is described. The search
uses 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV
collected by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2015 and
2016. The data are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations, with the
largest excess found at a resonance mass of 3.0 TeV with a local (global)
significance of 3.3 (2.1) $\sigma$. The results are presented in terms of
constraints on a simplified model with a heavy vector triplet. Upper limits are
set on the production cross-section times branching ratio for resonances
decaying to a $W$ ($Z$) boson and a Higgs boson, itself decaying to $b\bar{b}$,
in the mass range between 1.1 and 3.8 TeV; the limits range between 83 and 1.6
fb (77 and 1.1 fb) at 95% confidence level.Comment: Comments: 18 pages plus author list + cover pages (36 pages total), 5
  figures, 4 tables, submitted to PLB, All figures including auxiliary figures
  are available at
  https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/EXOT-2016-12
Search for dark matter in association with a Higgs boson decaying to b-quarks in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for dark matter pair production in association with a Higgs boson decaying to a pair of bottom quarks is presented, using 3.2 fb−1of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The decay of the Higgs boson is reconstructed as a high-momentum bb¯ system with either a pair of small-radius jets, or a single large-radius jet with substructure. The observed data are found to be consistent with the expected backgrounds. Results are interpreted using a simplified model with a Z′gauge boson mediating the interaction between dark matter and the Standard Model as well as a two-Higgs-doublet model containing an additional Z′boson which decays to a Standard Model Higgs boson and a new pseudoscalar Higgs boson, the latter decaying into a pair of dark matter particlesWe acknowledge the support of ANPCyT, Argentina; YerPhI, Ar-menia; ARC, Australia; BMWFW and FWF, Austria; ANAS, Azerbai-jan; SSTC, Belarus; CNPq and FAPESP, Brazil; NSERC, NRC and CFI, Canada; CERN; CONICYT, Chile; CAS, MOST and NSFC, China; COLCIENCIAS, Colombia; MSMT CR, MPO CR and VSC CR, Czech Re-public; DNRF and DNSRC, Denmark; IN2P3-CNRS, CEA-DSM/IRFU, France; GNSF, Georgia; BMBF, HGF, and MPG, Germany; GSRT, Greece; RGC, Hong Kong SAR, China; ISF, I-CORE and Benoziyo Center, Israel; INFN, Italy; MEXT and JSPS, Japan; CNRST, Morocco; FOM and NWO, Netherlands; RCN, Norway; MNiSW and NCN, Poland; FCT, Portugal; MNE/IFA, Romania; MES of Russia and NRC KI, Russian Federation; JINR; MESTD, Serbia; MSSR, Slovakia; ARRS and MIZŠ, Slovenia; DST/NRF, South Africa; MINECO, Spain; SRC and Wallenberg Foundation, Sweden; SERI, SNSF and Cantons of Bern and Geneva, Switzerland; MOST, Taiwan; TAEK, Turkey; STFC, United Kingdom; DOE and NSF, United States of America. In addition, individual groups and members have received support from BCKDF, the Canada Council, CANARIE, CRC, Compute Canada, FQRNT, and the Ontario Innovation Trust, Canada; EPLANET, ERC, FP7, Horizon 2020 and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions,  opean Union; Investissements d’Avenir Labex and Idex, ANR, Région Au-vergne and Fondation Partager le Savoir, France; DFG and AvH Foundation, Germany; Herakleitos, Thales and Aristeia programmes co-financed by EU-ESF and the Greek NSRF; BSF, GIF and Minerva, Israel; BRF, Norway; Generalitat de Catalunya, Generalitat Valen-ciana, Spain; the Royal Society and Leverhulme Trust, United Kingdo
Measurement of the inclusive cross-sections of single top-quark and top-antiquark t-channel production in pp collisions at s√=13

A measurement of the t-channel single-top-quark and single-top-antiquark production cross-sections in the lepton+jets channel is presented, using 3.2 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2015. Events are selected by requiring one charged lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse momentum, and two jets with high transverse momentum, exactly one of which is required to be b-tagged. Using a binned maximum-likelihood fit to the discriminant distribution of a neural network, the cross-sections are determined to be σ(tq) = 156 ± 5 (stat.) ± 27 (syst.) ± 3 (lumi.) pb for single top-quark production and σ(t¯q)=91±4 (stat.) ± 18 (syst.) ± 2 (lumi.) pb for single top-antiquark production, assuming a top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV. The cross-section ratio is measured to be Rt=σ(tq)/σ(t¯q)=1.72±0.09 (stat.) ± 0.18 (syst.). All results are in agreement with Standard Model predictions
Customer experience quality : an exploration in business and consumer contexts using repertory grid technique

This study proposes a conceptual model for customer experience quality and its impact on customer relationship outcomes. Customer experience is conceptualised as the customer’s subjective response to the holistic direct and indirect encounter with the firm, and customer experience quality as its perceived excellence or superiority. Using the repertory grid technique in 40 interviews in B2B and B2C contexts, the authors find that customer experience quality is judged with respect to its contribution to value-in-use, and hence propose that value-in-use mediates between experience quality and relationship outcomes. Experience quality includes evaluations not just of the firm’s products and services but also of peer-to-peer and complementary supplier encounters. In assessing experience quality in B2B contexts, customers place a greater emphasis on firm practices that focus on understanding and delivering value-in-use than is generally the case in B2C contexts. Implications for practitioners’ customer insight processes and future research directions are suggested
A novel haptic model and environment for maxillofacial surgical operation planning and manipulation

This paper presents a practical method and a new haptic model to support manipulations of bones and their segments during the planning of a surgical operation in a virtual environment using a haptic interface. To perform an effective dental surgery it is important to have all the operation related information of the patient available beforehand in order to plan the operation and avoid any complications. A haptic interface with a virtual and accurate patient model to support the planning of bone cuts is therefore critical, useful and necessary for the surgeons. The system proposed uses DICOM images taken from a digital tomography scanner and creates a mesh model of the filtered skull, from which the jaw bone can be isolated for further use. A novel solution for cutting the bones has been developed and it uses the haptic tool to determine and define the bone-cutting plane in the bone, and this new approach creates three new meshes of the original model. Using this approach the computational power is optimized and a real time feedback can be achieved during all bone manipulations. During the movement of the mesh cutting, a novel friction profile is predefined in the haptical system to simulate the force feedback feel of different densities in the bone
Modeling and forecasting daily electricity load curves: a hybrid approach

We propose a hybrid approach for the modeling and the short-term forecasting of electricity loads. Two building blocks of our approach are (1) modeling the overall trend and seasonality by fitting a generalized additive model to the weekly averages of the load and (2) modeling the dependence structure across consecutive daily loads via curve linear regression. For the latter, a new methodology is proposed for linear regression with both curve response and curve regressors. The key idea behind the proposed methodology is dimension reduction based on a singular value decomposition in a Hilbert space, which reduces the curve regression problem to several ordinary (i.e., scalar) linear regression problems. We illustrate the hybrid method using French electricity loads between 1996 and 2009, on which we also compare our method with other available models including the Électricité de France operational model. Supplementary materials for this article are available online