496 research outputs found
Cell-based maximum entropy approximants for three-dimensional domains: Application in large strain elastodynamics using the meshless total Lagrangian explicit dynamics method
We present the cell-based maximum entropy (CME) approximants in E3 space by constructing the smooth approximation distance function to polyhedral surfaces. CME is a meshfree approximation method combining the properties of the maximum entropy approximants and the compact support of element-based interpolants. The method is evaluated in problems of large strain elastodynamics for three-dimensional (3D) continua using the well-established meshless total Lagrangian explicit dynamics method. The accuracy and efficiency of the method is assessed in several numerical examples in terms of computational time, accuracy in boundary conditions imposition, and strain energy density error. Due to the smoothness of CME basis functions, the numerical stability in explicit time integration is preserved for large time step. The challenging task of essential boundary condition (EBC) imposition in noninterpolating meshless methods (eg, moving least squares) is eliminated in CME due to the weak Kronecker-delta property. The EBCs are imposed directly, similar to the finite element method. CME is proven a valuable alternative to other meshless and element-based methods for large-scale elastodynamics in 3D. A naive implementation of the CME approximants in E3 is available to download at https://www.mountris.org/software/mlab/cme.Fil: Mountris, Konstantinos A.. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Bourantas, George C.. University of Western Australia; AustraliaFil: MillĂĄn, RaĂșl Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Aplicadas a la Industria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Joldes, Grand R.. University of Western Australia; AustraliaFil: Miller, Karol. Cardiff University; Reino Unido. University of Western Australia; AustraliaFil: Pueyo, Esther. Centro de Investigacion Biomedica En Red.; España. Universidad de Zaragoza; EspañaFil: Wittek, Adam. University of Western Australia; Australi
Intergroup helping in response to separatism
Despite its prevalence and widespread media coverage, separatism as a phenomenon is barely covered in psychological investigations, and the majority's response to separatism has been completely ignored. We present two studies in which we investigated the notion that separatist movements threaten the continuation of the national identity, as well as the nation's economic position. Moreover, we hypothesized and found that members of the majority group respond to continuation threat by supporting government measures to help the separatist group. Javanese students who were induced to believe that existing separatist movements in West Papua (Study 1, N = 322) or Aceh (Study 2, N = 180) were currently increasing their efforts to gain independence were more willing to support these groups than participants who believed these movements were dormant. Moreover, this effect was mediated by continuation threat but not economic threat. These results demonstrate the possibility of a peaceful response to separatism threat. © 2013 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc
Individual and nonâadditive effects of exotic sapâfeeders on root functional and mycorrhizal traits of a shared conifer host
Forest pests drive tree mortality through disruption of functional traits linked to nutrient acquisition, growth and reproduction. The impacts of attack by individual or multiple aboveâground herbivores on root functional traits critical to tree health have received little attention. This is especially true for exotic herbivores, organisms often found in disturbed forests. We excavated wholeâroot systems from eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) individuals experimentally infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA: Adelges tsugae) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS: Fiorina externa) individually, or in combination, for periods of 2 and 4 years. Belowâground root biomass, functional traits and storage nutrients were measured to assess impacts of herbivory. We also quantified ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) colonisation of fine roots and used cultureâindependent methods to examine EMF diversity. Trees infested with HWA had a greater root mass fraction (root to total biomass ratio), although feeding had no observable effects on root functional traits (e.g. specific root length) or on resource allocation to roots. HWA feeding did significantly reduce EMF colonisation of hemlock fine roots, though surprisingly, EMF diversity and that of other fungal associates were unaffected. In contrast to HWA, EHS (alone or in conjunction with HWA) feeding had no observable effect on belowâground traits or EMF colonisation alone; however, its presence mediated HWA effects when trees were coâinfested. Simultaneous infestation within the same year yielded significant reductions in EMF colonisation, whereas prior EHS attack weakened HWA effects. Our results collectively suggest that prior EHS attack dampens the impact of HWA on belowâground functional traits. This highlights how the timing and sequence of herbivore arrival can alter plantâmediated interactions between herbivores and their effects on aboveâbelowâground linkages and associated tree health
Exploring the Philippine Economic Landscape and Structural Change Using the Input-Output Framework
Enteral supplementation with probiotics in preterm infants: A retrospective cohort study and 6-year follow-up
The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the impact of an enteral probiotics supplementation protocol on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants born <33 weeks gestational age (GA) or birth weight (BW) <1,500 g. In addition, a 6-year follow-up is presented after instigation of probiotic use. In October 2014, our NICU introduced an enteral probiotics supplementation protocol for infants born <33 weeks GA or BW <1,500 g. Infants received 0.5 g of Bifidobacterium breve HA-129, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HA-111, Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis HA-116, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum HA-135 (FloraBABYâ) daily until discharge or transfer from hospital. The incidence of NEC was compared among infants for 2 years pre- and post implementation of the protocol then 6-years following continuous implementation of the probiotic use. In total, 370 infants not treated with probiotics between 2012 and 2014 were included with an incidence of NEC at 4.9%. In comparison, the 367 infants who received had a 67% reduction (4.9â1.6%, p = 0.01) in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The results remained significant (aOR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.72; p < 0.01) after adjusting for GA, small for gestational age, and antenatal corticosteroid use. Data from the Canadian Neonatal Network not only showed a consistently high rate of NEC in October 2014, but also identified exceedingly high rates (8.7â15.6%) in some hospitals up to 2021, while our rates have been consistently low with using the probiotic as standard therapy for low BW premature babies, with no serious side effects reported. In conclusion, the introduction of a five-strain probiotic natural health product has coincided with a reduced incidence and complications of NEC in our NICU setting
Perceptual learning of time-compressed and natural fast speech
Speakers vary their speech rate considerably during a conversation, and listeners are able to quickly adapt to these variations in speech rate. Adaptation to fast speech rates is usually measured using artificially time-compressed speech. This study examined adaptation to two types of fast speech: artificially time-compressed speech and natural fast speech. Listeners performed a speeded sentence verification task on three series of sentences: normal-speed sentences, time-compressed sentences, and natural fast sentences. Listeners were divided into two groups to evaluate the possibility of transfer of learning between the time-compressed and natural fast conditions. The first group verified the natural fast before the time-compressed sentences, while the second verified the time-compressed before the natural fast sentences. The results showed transfer of learning when the time-compressed sentences preceded the natural fast sentences, but not when natural fast sentences preceded the time-compressed sentences. The results are discussed in the framework of theories on perceptual learning. Second, listeners show adaptation to the natural fast sentences, but performance for this type of fast speech does not improve to the level of time-compressed sentences
The Extended Emission-Line Region of 4C 37.43
We have explored the nature of the extended emission-line region around the
z=0.37 quasar 4C 37.43, using extensive ground-based and HST imaging and
spectroscopy. The velocity field of the ionized gas shows gradual gradients
within components but large jumps between components, with no obvious global
organization. The HST [O III] image shows radial linear features on the east
side of the QSO that appear to mark the edges of an ionization cone.
Concentrating on the bright emission peaks ~4\arcsec$ east of the quasar, we
find through modeling that we require at least two density regimes contributing
significantly to the observed emission-line spectrum: one with a density of ~2
cm^-3, having essentially unity filling factor, and one with a density of ~500
cm^-3, having a very small (~10^-5) filling factor. Because the temperatures of
these two components are similar, they cannot be in pressure equilibrium, and
there is no obvious source of confinement for the dense regions. We estimate
that the dense regions will dissipate on timescales <~10^4 years and therefore
need to be continuously regenerated, most likely by shocks. Because we know
that some QSOs, at least, begin their lives in conjunction with merger-driven
massive starbursts in their host galaxies, an attractive interpretation is that
the extended emission region comprises gas that has been expelled as a result
of tidal forces during the merger and is now being shocked by the galactic
superwind from the starburst. This picture is supported by the observed
distribution of the ionized gas, the presence of velocities ranging up to ~700
km s^{-1}, and the existence of at least two QSOs having similarly luminous and
complex extended emission regions that are known to have ultra-luminous IR
galaxy hosts with current or recent starbursts.Comment: 22 pages, incl. 7 figures; to be published in The Astrophysical
Journal, 572 (June 20, 2002 issue
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Breast cancer family history and allele-specific DNA methylation in the Legacy Girls Study
Family history, a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, can have both genetic and environmental contributions. Shared environment in families as well as epigenetic changes that also may be influenced by shared genetics and environment may also explain familial clustering of cancers. Epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, can change the activity of a DNA segment without a change in the sequence; environmental exposures experienced across the life course can induce such changes. However, genetic-epigenetic interactions, detected as methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs; a.k.a. meQTLs) and haplotype-dependent allele-specific methylation (hap-ASM), can also contribute to inter-individual differences in DNA methylation patterns. To identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with breast cancer susceptibility, we examined differences in white blood cell DNA methylation in 29 candidate genes in 426 girls (ages 6-13 years) from the LEGACY Girls Study, 239 with and 187 without a breast cancer family history (BCFH). We measured methylation by targeted massively parallel bisulfite sequencing (bis-seq) and observed BCFH DMRs in two genes: ESR1 (Î4.9%, P = 0.003) and SEC16B (Î3.6%, P = 0.026), each of which has been previously implicated in breast cancer susceptibility and pubertal development. These DMRs showed high inter-individual variability in methylation, suggesting the presence of mQTLs/hap-ASM. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms data in the bis-seq amplicon, we found strong hap-ASM in SEC16B (with allele specific-differences ranging from 42% to 74%). These findings suggest that differential methylation in genes relevant to breast cancer susceptibility may be present early in life, and that inherited genetic factors underlie some of these epigenetic differences
Brexit and the work-family conflict:a Scottish perspective
This paper examines the Scottish Governmentâs desire to maintain ties with EU law post-Brexit in the context of employment and equality law, particularly those laws which impact on work-family conflict. The paper critically examines whether there is, or could be, a distinctly Scottish perspective in the context of work-family rights post-Brexit. The paper frames the analysis by considering the potentially gendered implications of Brexit in this context. In doing so, it examines this issue from the perspective of traditional heterosexual dual-partnered working family models. It is argued that rights for working fathers will be most vulnerable post-Brexit, with related consequences for working mothers. Consequently, the implications of Brexit in this context are primarily viewed through the lens of working fathers. The paper then critically examines the Scottish Governmentâs position on EU employment and equality law in the post-Brexit context
Rand Patents and Exclusion Orders: Submission of 19 Economics and Law Professors to the International Trade Commission
In this comment to ITC Investigation 337-TA-745 (Certain Wireless Communication Devices, Motorola v. Apple) we, as teachers and scholars of economics, antitrust and intellectual property, remedies, administrative, and international intellectual property law, former Department of Justice lawyers and chief economists, a former executive official at the Patent and Trademark Office, a former counsel at the ITC Office of the General Counsel, and a former Member of the Presidentâs Council of Economic Adviser take the position that ITC exclusion orders generally should not be granted under § 1337(d)(1) on the basis of patents subject to obligations to license on âreasonable and non-discriminatoryâ (RAND) terms. Doing so would undermine the significant pro-competitive and pro-consumer benefits that RAND promises produce and the investments they enable. A possible exception may arise if district court jurisdiction is lacking, the patent is valid and infringed, and the public interest favors issuing an exclusion order. We explain our position in the comment
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