Generalized Linear Models for Geometrical Current predictors. An application to predict garment fit

The aim of this paper is to model an ordinal response variable in terms of vector-valued functional data included on a vector-valued RKHS. In particular, we focus on the vector-valued RKHS obtained when a geometrical object (body) is characterized by a current and on the ordinal regression model. A common way to solve this problem in functional data analysis is to express the data in the orthonormal basis given by decomposition of the covariance operator. But our data present very important differences with respect to the usual functional data setting. On the one hand, they are vector-valued functions, and on the other, they are functions in an RKHS with a previously defined norm. We propose to use three different bases: the orthonormal basis given by the kernel that defines the RKHS, a basis obtained from decomposition of the integral operator defined using the covariance function, and a third basis that combines the previous two. The three approaches are compared and applied to an interesting problem: building a model to predict the fit of children’s garment sizes, based on a 3D database of the Spanish child population. Our proposal has been compared with alternative methods that explore the performance of other classifiers (Suppport Vector Machine and k-NN), and with the result of applying the classification method proposed in this work, from different characterizations of the objects (landmarks and multivariate anthropometric measurements instead of currents), obtaining in all these cases worst results

Who receives treatment for alcohol use disorders in the European Union? A cross-sectional representative study in primary and specialized health care

Background Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in Europe, but only a minority of those affected receive treatment. It is therefore important to identify factors that predict treatment in order to reframe strategies aimed at improving treatment rates. Methods Representative cross-sectional study with patients aged 18\u201364 from primary health care (PC, six European countries, n = 8476, data collection 01/13\u201301/14) and from specialized health care (SC, eight European countries, n = 1762, data collection 01/13\u201303/14). For descriptive purposes, six groups were distinguished, based on type of DSM-IV AUD and treatment setting. Treatment status (yes/no) for any treatment (model 1), and for SC treatment (model 2) were main outcome measures in logistic regression models. Results AUDs were prevalent in PC (12-month prevalence: 11.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.2\u201312.5%), with 17.6% receiving current treatment (95%CI: 15.3\u201319.9%). There were clear differences between the six groups regarding key variables from all five predictor domains. Prediction of any treatment (model 1) or SC treatment (model 2) was successful with high overall accuracy (both models: 95%), sufficient sensitivity (model 1: 79%/model 2: 76%) and high specificity (both models: 98%). The most predictive single variables were daily drinking level, anxiety, severity of mental distress, and number of inpatient nights during the last 6 months. Conclusions Variables from four domains were highly predictive in identifying treatment for AUD, with SC treatment groups showing very high levels of social disintegration, drinking, comorbidity and functional losses. Earlier intervention and formal treatment for AUD in PC should be implemented to reduce these high levels of adverse outcomes

Treatment of alcohol use disorders in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is one of the leading causes of disease and disability in almost all European countries. Among the alcohol-related diseases, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common. At present, alcohol is the most frequent cause of liver cirrhosis in the Western world. The cornerstone of treatment for ALD is achieving total alcohol abstinence and preventing relapse; medical and surgical treatments for ALD are limited when drinking continues. This narrative review summarizes current treatments for AUDs with a particular emphasis to the treatment of AUDs in patients with ALD. Medical management, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions are analyzed, underlying limits and options in AUD patients. Finally, this review discusses the most appropriate setting for the management of AUD patients with advanced liver disease as well as the indications for liver transplantation in AUD patients

The imitation game: Proca stars that can mimic the Schwarzschild shadow

Can a dynamically robust bosonic star (BS) produce an (effective) shadow that mimics that of a black hole (BH)? The BH shadow is linked to the existence of light rings (LRs). For free bosonic fields, yielding mini-BSs, it is known that these stars can become ultra-compact - i.e., possess LRs - but only for perturbatively unstable solutions. We show this remains the case even when different self-interactions are considered. However, an effective shadow can arise in a different way: if BSs reproduce the existence of an innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) for timelike geodesics (located at $r_{\rm ISCO}=6M$ for a Schwarzschild BH of mass M), the accretion flow morphology around BHs is mimicked and an effective shadow arises in an astrophysical environment. Even though spherical BSs may accommodate stable timelike circular orbits all the way down to their centre, we show the angular velocity along such orbits may have a maximum away from the origin, at $R_{\Omega}$; this scale was recently observed to mimic the BH's ISCO in some scenarios of accretion flow. Then: (i) for free scalar fields or with quartic self-interactions, $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ only for perturbatively unstable BSs; (ii) for higher scalar self-interactions, e.g. axionic, $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ is possible for perturbatively stable BSs, but no solution with $R_{\Omega}=6M$ was found in the parameter space explored; (iii) but for free vector fields, yielding Proca stars (PSs), perturbatively stable solutions with $R_{\Omega}\neq 0$ exist, and indeed $R_{\Omega}=6M$ for a particular solution. Thus, dynamically robust spherical PSs can mimic the shadow of a (near-)equilibrium Schwarzschild BH with the same M, in an astrophysical environment, despite the absence of a LR, at least under some observation conditions, as we confirm by comparing the lensing of such PSs and Schwarzschild BHs.Comment: Abstract abridged due to arXiv length limit; 22 pages, 9 figure

Catalytically active membrane-like devices: ionic liquid-hybrid organosilicas decorated with palladium nanoparticles

Ionic liquid (IL)-hybrid organosilicas based on 1-n-butyl-3-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-imidazolium cations associated with hydrophilic and hydrophobic anions decorated with well dispersed and similar sized (1.8–2.1 nm) Pd nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) are amongst the most active and selective catalysts for the partial hydrogenation of conjugated dienes to monoenes. The location of the sputter-imprinted Pd-NPs on different supports, as determined by RBS and HS-LEIS analysis, is modulated by the strength of the contact ion pair formed between the imidazolium cation and the anion, rather than the IL-hybrid organosilica pore size and surface area. In contrast, the pore diameter and surface area of the hybrid supports display a direct correlation with the anion hydrophobicity. XPS analysis showed that the Pd(0) surface component decreases with increasing ionic bond strength between the imidazolium cation and the anions (contact ion pair). The finding is corroborated by changes in the coordination number associated with the Pd-Pd scattering in EXAFS measurements. Hence, the interaction of the IL with the metal surface is found to occur via IL contact pairs (or aggregates). The observed selectivities of ≥99% to monoenes at full diene conversion indicate that the selectivity is intrinsic to the electron deficient Pd-metallic surfaces in this “restricted” ionic environment. This suggests that IL-hybrid organosilica/Pd-NPs under multiphase conditions (“dynamic asymmetric mixture”) operate akin to catalytically active membranes, i.e. far from the thermodynamic equilibrium. Detailed kinetic investigations show that the reaction rate is zero-order with respect to hydrogen and dependent on the fraction of catalyst surfaces covered by either the substrate and/or the product. The reaction proceeds via rapid inclusion and sorption of the diene to the IL/Pd metal surface saturated with H species. This is followed by reversible hydride migration to generate a π-allyl intermediate. The reductive elimination of this intermediate, the formal rate-determining step (RDS), generates the alkene that is rapidly expelled from the IL phase to the organic phase

The Macroeconomic Consequences of Microeconomic Phenomena in the Housing and Labor Markets

This dissertation consists of three independent chapters, each of which use microeconomic data and methods to inform an analysis of macroeconomic models and questions. The first two chapters study the short-run dynamics of housing markets, while the last chapter studies fluctuations in labor markets.Economic

Defining Substance Use Disorders: Do We Really Need More Than Heavy Use?

Aims: The aim of the study was to explore whether the concept of heavy substance use over time can be used as definition of substance use disorder. Methods: Narrative review. Results: Heavy use over time clearly underlies the neurobiological changes associated with current thinking of substance use disorders. In addition, there is evidence that heavy use over time can explain the majority of social problems and of burden of disease (morbidity and mortality). A definition of substance use disorders via heavy use over time would avoid some of the problems of current conceptualizations, for instance the cultural specificity of concepts such as loss of control. Finally, stressing the continuum of use may avoid the high level of stigmatization currently associated with substance use disorders. Conclusion: ‘Heavy substance use over time' seems to be a definition of substance use disorders in line with results of basic research and epidemiology. Additionally, it reduces stigmatization. This approach should thus be further explore