Sparse and random sampling techniques for high-resolution, full-field, bss-based structural dynamics identification from video

Video-based techniques for identification of structural dynamics have the advantage that they are very inexpensive to deploy compared to conventional accelerometer or strain gauge techniques. When structural dynamics from video is accomplished using full-field, high-resolution analysis techniques utilizing algorithms on the pixel time series such as principal components analysis and solutions to blind source separation the added benefit of high-resolution, full-field modal identification is achieved. An important property of video of vibrating structures is that it is particularly sparse. Typically video of vibrating structures has a dimensionality consisting of many thousands or even millions of pixels and hundreds to thousands of frames. However the motion of the vibrating structure can be described using only a few mode shapes and their associated time series. As a result, emerging techniques for sparse and random sampling such as compressive sensing should be applicable to performing modal identification on video. This work presents how full-field, high-resolution, structural dynamics identification frameworks can be coupled with compressive sampling. The techniques described in this work are demonstrated to be able to recover mode shapes from experimental video of vibrating structures when 70% to 90% of the frames from a video captured in the conventional manner are removed

PRECIFICAÇÃO DA ÁGUA EM PROJETOS DE IRRIGAÇÃO: UMA APLICAÇÃO DO MÉTODO PARAMÉTRICO DE ESTIMAÇÃO DE UMA FUNÇÃO INSUMO-DISTÂNCIA

O aumento da pressão sobre os recursos hídricos tem levado muitos países a reconsiderarem os mecanismos utilizados na indução do uso eficiente da água. Isso é especialmente verdade para a agricultura irrigada, uma das principais consumidoras de água. Estabelecer o preço correto da água é um dos mecanismos de tornar mais eficiente a alocação da água. Contudo, precificar a água ainda é uma tarefa polêmica. Assim, o presente estudo aplica o método paramétrico de estimação de uma função insumo-distância na obtenção do preço-sombra ou disposição da firma a pagar por uma unidade adicional de água. São utilizados dados sobre a produção, área irrigada, utilização de insumos diversos, mão-de-obra, capital e volume de água obtidos de 41 unidades produtivas localizadas nos projetos de irrigação pública localizados no Submédio São Francisco. Apresenta-se as estimativas dos preços-sombra e argumenta-se que o preço-sombra da água serviria como um proxy do preço a ser cobrado por metro cúbico de água em caso de expansão da oferta de água. Os resultados obtidos se mostraram coerentes quando comparados aos preços de mercado, o que sugere o potencial em se utilizar o método no processo de precificação da água para irrigação.--------------------------------------------------------Countrie s have reconsidered various mechanisms to improve water use efficiency as a consequence of increasing economic pressures on water resources. This is especially true for irrigated agriculture that is a major consumer of water worldwide. Getting prices right is one way to allocate water, but how to accomplish this is still a polemic issue. Assuming producers implicitly face a water constraint, we estimate a Translog input-distance function to obtain water shadow-prices. The water shadow-price is viewed as the value a producer would be willing to pay so to obtain an additional unit of water. We use data regarding total production value, irrigated area, labor, capital, water and other inputs taken from 41 producers located in the sub medium São Francisco River, Brazil. We present water shadow-price estimates and argue that these values can be used as a proxy for the price by which each individual producer might be charged in case of an expansion in the water supply. In general, we found input shadow-price estimates coherent with their market prices. Therefore, it seems that the estimation of input shadow prices via a Translog input-distance function approach has potential to be used as an additional tool to support water pricing.Disposição a pagar pela água, precificação da água, programação linear, Willingness to pay for water, water pricing, linear programming, Crop Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

2007-2008 Dean\u27s Showcase No. 1

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_deansshowcase/1078/thumbnail.jp

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

PRECIFICAÇÃO DA ÁGUA EM PROJETOS DE IRRIGAÇÃO: UMA APLICAÇÃO DO MÉTODO PARAMÉTRICO DE ESTIMAÇÃO DE UMA FUNÇÃO INSUMO-DISTÂNCIA

O aumento da pressão sobre os recursos hídricos tem levado muitos países a reconsiderarem os mecanismos utilizados na indução do uso eficiente da água. Isso é especialmente verdade para a agricultura irrigada, uma das principais consumidoras de água. Estabelecer o preço correto da água é um dos mecanismos de tornar mais eficiente a alocação da água. Contudo, precificar a água ainda é uma tarefa polêmica. Assim, o presente estudo aplica o método paramétrico de estimação de uma função insumo-distância na obtenção do preço-sombra ou disposição da firma a pagar por uma unidade adicional de água. São utilizados dados sobre a produção, área irrigada, utilização de insumos diversos, mão-de-obra, capital e volume de água obtidos de 41 unidades produtivas localizadas nos projetos de irrigação pública localizados no Submédio São Francisco. Apresenta-se as estimativas dos preços-sombra e argumenta-se que o preço-sombra da água serviria como um proxy do preço a ser cobrado por metro cúbico de água em caso de expansão da oferta de água. Os resultados obtidos se mostraram coerentes quando comparados aos preços de mercado, o que sugere o potencial em se utilizar o método no processo de precificação da água para irrigação.--------------------------------------------------------Countries have reconsidered various mechanisms to improve water use efficiency as a consequence of increasing economic pressures on water resources. This is especially true for irrigated agriculture that is a major consumer of water worldwide. Getting prices right is one way to allocate water, but how to accomplish this is still a polemic issue. Assuming producers implicitly face a water constraint, we estimate a Translog input-distance function to obtain water shadow-prices. The water shadow-price is viewed as the value a producer would be willing to pay so to obtain an additional unit of water. We use data regarding total production value, irrigated area, labor, capital, water and other inputs taken from 41 producers located in the sub medium São Francisco River, Brazil. We present water shadow-price estimates and argue that these values can be used as a proxy for the price by which each individual producer might be charged in case of an expansion in the water supply. In general, we found input shadow-price estimates coherent with their market prices. Therefore, it seems that the estimation of input shadow prices via a Translog input-distance function approach has potential to be used as an additional tool to support water pricing