An Integrated Method for Determination of the Oswald Factor in a Multi-Fidelity Design Environment

Aircraft conceptual design often focuses on unconventional configurations like for example forward swept wings. Assessing the characteristics of these configurations usually requires the use of physic based analysis modules. This is due to the fact that for unconventional configurations no sucient database for historic based analysis modules is available. Nevertheless, physic based models require a lot of input data and their computational cost can be high. Generating input values in a trade study manually is work-intensive and error-prone. Conceptual design modules can be used to generate sucient input data for physic based models and their results can be re-integrated into the conceptual design phase. In this study a direct link between a conceptual design module and an aerodynamic design module is presented. Geometric information is generated by the conceptual design module and the physic based results, in form of the Oswald factor, are then fed back. Apart from the direct link, an equation for determination of the Oswald factor is derived via a Symbolic Regression Approach

Root system architecture phenotyping of durum wheat reveals differential selection for a major QTL in contrasting environments

This study reports the characterization of 183 elite durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum Desf.) for RSA and shoot developmental traits. Plants were grown in controlled conditions up to the 7th leaf appearance (late tillering) using the phenotyping platform GROWSCREEN-Rhizo at the Institut f\ufcr Bio und Geowissenschaften Pflanzenwissenschaften

Metabolically (un)healthy obesity and risk of obesity-related cancers: a pooled study

Background Studies of obesity with or without metabolic aberrations, commonly termed metabolically unhealthy or healthy obesity, in relation to cancer risk are scarce. Methods We investigated body mass index (normal weight, overweight, obesity) jointly and in interaction with metabolic health status in relation to obesity-related cancer risk (n = 23 630) among 797 193 European individuals. A metabolic score comprising mid-blood pressure, plasma glucose, and triglycerides was used to define metabolically healthy and unhealthy status. Hazard ratios (HRs) and multiplicative interactions were assessed using Cox regression, and additive interactions were assessed using the relative excess risk for interaction. All statistical tests were 2-sided. Results Metabolically unhealthy obesity, with a baseline prevalence of 7%, was, compared with metabolically healthy normal weight, associated with an increased relative risk of any obesity-related cancer and of colon, rectal, pancreas, endometrial, liver, gallbladder, and renal cell cancer (P < .05), with the highest risk estimates for endometrial, liver, and renal cell cancer (HR = 2.55-3.00). Metabolically healthy obesity showed a higher relative risk for any obesity-related cancer and colon (in men), endometrial, renal cell, liver, and gallbladder cancer, though the risk relationships were weaker. There were no multiplicative interactions, but there were additive, positive interactions between body mass index and metabolic health status on obesity-related and rectal cancer among men and on endometrial cancer (P < .05). Conclusions This study highlights that the type of metabolic obesity phenotype is important when assessing obesity-related cancer risk. In general, metabolic aberrations further increased the obesity-induced cancer risk, suggesting that obesity and metabolic aberrations are useful targets for prevention.publishedVersio

ANÁLISE DA GESTÃO DAS DIMENSÕES DE UM EMPREENDIMENTO SOLIDÁRIO: O CASO DO PROJETO ESPERANÇA/COOESPERANÇA

This research was developed with the intention to evaluate the existence of specific characteristics in the framework of management applied in an enterprise of supportive economy. All organization implies the existence of a formal or informal set of practical, principles, norms and tools of management that support operations and processes management, that they are understood as administration model. This paper is identified through the case study methodology, by a qualitative research, an exploratory study. The interviewed ones to this paper had been all integrant of the commission collegial that manages the organization and, to become deeper the model studied, the number of interviewed were extended for other collaborators, partners and associates of the Project, totalizing 17 declarations. The database files varied through half-structuralized interviews, direct comment and documentary examination. The database had been analyzed as a content analysis. In regard to the results evaluation, it must be recognized that still it is lacked of evaluation pointers and that is much more difficult if measuring and controlling performance and results in the institutions without lucrative ends than in the companies. In any case, this work obtained and permitted to identify to the principles and the practical ones adopted in the enterprise administration, as the theoretical substantiation utilized for the case study and identify the seven particularities of the present model of worthy management of highlight: theoretical and practical base of the constitution of the Project, with adjusted adaptations to the local peculiarities; practical formations that guide the way to associates access the organization; has detached the direct commercialization of the production for the own producers, without intermediate; administration organized from practical of management constructed by producers; project’s administration by Commissions; participatory administration of the commerce points for the producers and, contribution and importance of the partnerships for the good development of the enterprise.Esta investigación fue desarrollada con el propósito de evaluar la existencia de peculiaridades específicas en el modelo de gestión aplicado en un emprendimiento solidario. El trabajo fue desarrollado a través del método estudio de caso, mediante una investigación cualitativa de carácter exploratorio. Los entrevistados fueron los representantes del emprendimiento, los colaboradores, compañeros y asociados del Proyecto, totalizando 17 declaraciones. La recogida de datos se dio a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, observación directa y examen [documental]. El trabajo permitió identificar los principios y las prácticas adoptadas en la administración del emprendimiento e identificar las peculiaridades del actual modelo de gestión merecedoras de destaque: fundamentación teórica y práctica de la constitución del Proyecto, con las adecuadas adaptaciones a las peculiaridades locales; prácticas de formación que orientan el camino de entrada de los asociados en la organización; énfasis en la comercialización directa de la producción por los propios productores, sin intermediarios; administración colegiada a partir de prácticas de gestión construidas por los propios productores; administración del proyecto mediante Comisiones; administración participativa de los puntos de comercio por los propios productores y contribución e importancia de las sociedades para el buen desarrollo del emprendimiento.Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida com o propósito de avaliar a existência de peculiaridades específicas no modelo de gestão aplicado em um empreendimento solidário. O trabalho foi desenvolvido através do método estudo de caso, por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório. Os entrevistados foram os representantes do empreendimento, os colaboradores, parceiros e associados do Projeto, totalizando 17 depoimentos. A coleta de dados deu-se através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, observação direta e exame documental. O trabalho permitiu identificar os princípios e as práticas adotadas na administração do empreendimento e identificar as peculiaridades do atual modelo de gestão merecedoras de destaque: embasamento teórico e prático da constituição do Projeto, com as adequadas adaptações às peculiaridades locais; práticas de formação que orientam o caminho de ingresso dos associados na organização; ênfase na comercialização direta da produção pelos próprios produtores, sem intermediários; administração colegiada a partir de práticas de gestão construídas pelos próprios produtores; administração do projeto por meio de Comissões; administração participativa dos pontos de comércio pelos próprios produtores e contribuição e importância das parcerias para o bom desenvolvimento do empreendimento

Anomalous Transport in Conical Granular Piles

Experiments on 2+1-dimensional piles of elongated particles are performed. Comparison with previous experiments in 1+1 dimensions shows that the addition of one extra dimension to the dynamics changes completely the avalanche properties, appearing a characteristic avalanche size. Nevertheless, the time single grains need to cross the whole pile varies smoothly between several orders of magnitude, from a few seconds to more than 100 hours. This behavior is described by a power-law distribution, signaling the existence of scale invariance in the transport process.Comment: Accepted in PR

Cognitive Impairment, Sexual Activity and Physical Tenderness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Exploration

Background: The ability to engage in sexual activity and better cognitive functioning are both associated with better health. However, the association between cognitive functioning and sexual activity is understudied. Objective: To examine the association between cognitive functioning with sexual activity and physical tenderness among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: From the Rotterdam Study, cognitive impairment and sexual activity were assessed in 4,201 community-dwelling, 60+ year olds between 2008 and 2014 in the Netherlands. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was based upon subjective complaints related to age and education-adjusted test scores. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) impairment was defined by a score of < 26. Sexual activity and physical tenderness (e.g., fondling or kissing) in the last 6 months were assessed at an interview. Analyses were stratified by gender and partner status, with prevalence rates for the "no impairment" categories weighted based on age from the cognitive impairment categories. Inter-rater reliability was examined utilising 74 cohabiting couples of opposite gender. Results: It was found that 14% were categorised as having cognitive impairment, and < 1% as dementia (excluded from subsequent analyses). There was strong evidence that the odds of engaging in physical tenderness (observed through MMSE < 26, OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.32-3.48, p = 0.002) and sexual activity (MCI, OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.35-4.12, p = 0.003) among partnered females with no impairment was twice that observed among cognitively impaired partnered females. There was weak evidence that the odds of engaging in physical tenderness (MMSE < 26, OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04-2.42, p = 0.03) and sexual activity (MMSE < 26, OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.24, p = 0.04) among partnered males with no impairment was 50% greater than observed among cognitively impaired partnered males. The associations between cognitive functioning and physical tenderness continued to remain after adjustment for physical function, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. There was no clear evidence of a difference between amnestic and non-amnestic MCI for sexual behaviour. There was moderate to substantial agreement among the coupled adults who had 1 partner categorised with MCI. Conclusion: Having no cognitive impairment was associated with more engagement in sexual activity and physical tenderness among community-dwelling older adults. Sexuality is an important aspect of active aging and our findings illustrate a potential barrier to maintaining or instigating intimate relationships as we age. Longitudinal analyses are required to explore the direction of effect

Genomic information and a person's right not to know: A closer look at variations in hypothetical informational preferences in a German sample

In clinical practice and in research, there is an ongoing debate on how to return incidental and secondary findings of genetic tests to patients and research participants. Previous investigations have found that most of the people most of the time are in favor of full disclosure of results. Yet, the option to reject disclosure, based on the so-called right not to know, can be valuable especially for some vulnerable subgroups of recipients. In the present study we investigated variations in informational preferences in the context of genetic testing in a large and diverse German sample. This survey examined health care professionals, patients, participants of genetic counseling sessions and members of the general population (N = 518). Survey participants were assessed regarding their openness to learning about findings under various hypothetical scenarios, as well as their attitudes about the doctor-patient-relationship in a disclosure situation and about informational transfer to third parties. While the majority of participants wanted to learn about their findings, the extent of support of disclosure varied with features of the hypothetical diagnostic scenarios (e.g., controllability of disease;abstract vs. concrete scenario description) and demographic characteristics of the subjects. For example, subjects with higher levels of education were more selective with regards to the kind of information they want to receive than those with lower levels of education. We discuss implications of these findings for the debate about the right not to know and for the clinical practice of informed consent procedures

Interplay Between Risk Perception, Behavior, and COVID-19 Spread

Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been crucial for controlling COVID-19. They are complemented by voluntary health-protective behavior, building a complex interplay between risk perception, behavior, and disease spread. We studied how voluntary health-protective behavior and vaccination willingness impact the long-term dynamics. We analyzed how different levels of mandatory NPIs determine how individuals use their leeway for voluntary actions. If mandatory NPIs are too weak, COVID-19 incidence will surge, implying high morbidity and mortality before individuals react; if they are too strong, one expects a rebound wave once restrictions are lifted, challenging the transition to endemicity. Conversely, moderate mandatory NPIs give individuals time and room to adapt their level of caution, mitigating disease spread effectively. When complemented with high vaccination rates, this also offers a robust way to limit the impacts of the Omicron variant of concern. Altogether, our work highlights the importance of appropriate mandatory NPIs to maximise the impact of individual voluntary actions in pandemic control.BMBF, 01KX2021, Nationales Forschungsnetzwerk der Universitätsmedizin zu Covid-19EC/H2020/101003480/EU/COVID-19-Outbreak Response combining E-health, Serolomics, Modelling, Artificial Intelligence and Implementation Research/CORESM