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The development of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers has resulted in continued improvement in ballistic protection, along with reduced weight in body armors. Prepregs from newly developed fibers are constantly available, although prepregs from older brands still remain on the market. In this work, the physicochemical properties of two successive generations of pre-impregnated materials are characterized to compare the two materials in the as-received condition and also after be consolidated in a ballistic plate. The results showed that fibers from the newer brand have a smaller diameter and greater tensile strength. This is an important result because the tensile strength of fibers is one of the variables that influence the ballistic performance of body armors. The smaller diameter of these fibers was associated with a greater degree of stretching during their manufacture, as revealed by the presence of two melting peaks in the DSC analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study of the seismic behavior of concrete columns reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Seven full-scale square columns were tested under sustained compressive axial loading combined with monotonic or cyclic lateral loading. The test program included two types of reinforcement (GFRP and steel bars) and different axial load levels (0, 20, and 33% of the axial capacity). The experiments showed that GFRP reinforcement could be used in concrete columns subjected to lateral loads, provided that ties are capable of properly confining the concrete core up to failure, thereby contributing to improving their deformation and energy dissipation capacity. Tests also confirmed the influence of the axial load level on the loadbearing capacity, deformation, and energy dissipation capacity of GFRP-reinforced concrete columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The usual approach to classify the ionizing source using optical spectroscopy is based on the use of diagnostic diagrams that compare the relative strength of pairs of collisitional metallic lines (e.g., [O III] and [N II]) to recombination hydrogen lines (e.g., Hβ and Hα). Despite it having been accepted as the standard procedure, it presents known problems, including confusion regimes and/or limitations related to the required signal-to-noise (S/N) of the emission lines involved. These problems not only affect our intrinsic understanding of the interstellar medium and its properties, but also the fundamental galaxy properties, such as the star formation rate and the oxygen abundance. This raises key questions related to the fraction of active galactic nuclei and other essential parameters. Aims. We attempt to minimize the problems introduced by the use of these diagrams, in particular, their implementation when the available information is limited due to either the fact that not all lines are available or they do not have the required S/N value. Methods. We explored the existing alternatives in the literature to minimize the confusion among different ionizing sources. We have proposed a new, simple diagram that uses the equivalent width and the velocity dispersion from one single emission line, Hα, to classify the ionizing sources. Results. We used aperture-limited and spatially resolved spectroscopic data from the nearby Universe (z ∼ 0.01) to demonstrate that the new diagram, which we have named WHaD, segregates the different ionizing sources in a more efficient way than earlier procedures. A new set of regions have been defined in this diagram to select among different ionizing sources. Conclusions. The new proposed diagram is well positioned to assist in determining the ionizing source when only Hα is available or when the S/N of the emission lines is too low to obtain reliable fluxes for the weakest emission lines in classical diagnostic diagrams (e.g., Hβ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object recognition is a complex cognitive process that relies on how the brain organizes object-related information. While spatial principles have been extensively studied, less studied temporal dynamics may also offer valuable insights into this process, particularly when neural processing overlaps for different categories, as it is the case of the categories of hands and tools. Here we focus on the differences and/or similarities between the time-courses of hand and tool processing under electroencephalography (EEG). Using multivariate pattern analysis, we compared, for different time points, classification accuracy for images of hands or tools when compared to images of animals. We show that for particular time intervals (~ 136–156 ms and ~ 252–328 ms), classification accuracy for hands and for tools differs. Furthermore, we show that classifiers trained to differentiate between tools and animals generalize their learning to classification of hand stimuli between ~ 260–320 ms and ~ 376–500 ms after stimulus onset. Classifiers trained to distinguish between hands and animals, on the other hand, were able to extend their learning to the classification of tools at ~ 150 ms. These findings suggest variations in semantic features and domain-specific differences between the two categories, with later-stage similarities potentially related to shared action processing for hands and tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study comprises an investigation of the superconductivity in highly doped diamond, comprising elements from groups III and V acting as acceptor and donor impurities, respectively, within the virtual crystal approximation. Calculations of the electron–phonon coupling were carried out for each case, enlightening the different aspects arising from different doping elements and their consequent impact on the superconducting critical temperature. These calculations indicated that among the hole-doped cases the electron–phonon coupling is strongly related to the optical phonons of the lattice. Regarding the electron-doped systems, it was observed that the coupling had contributions from both optical and acoustic vibrations, leading to high estimates for the critical temperature. Through the comparison between these opposing scenarios, several distinctions between the electron- and hole-doped cases became evident, implying that the mechanisms of superconductivity in doped diamond relate directly to the nature of the impurity added to the system. These results provide further evidence that the electronic and dynamic changes arising from the electron doping of a diamond may lead to superconductivity in high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a methodology for the definition of the matrices involved in stress based finite element approximations in three‐dimensional problems. In order to handle the increased complexity of the 3D case, a rotation of the global reference frame is used, which greatly simplifies the expressions involved. This rotation is also applicable to the 2D case. The main focus of this work concerns the matrices used in the implementation of the hybrid equilibrium approach. However, a similar complementary methodology (displacement based) is also presented, allowing for an efficient definition of the matrices required for dual analysis, wherein bounds of the solution error are obtained from pairs of complementary solutions, one compatible and the other equilibrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an application of unsupervised Machine Learning clustering to the PAU survey of galaxy spectral energy distribution (SED) within the COSMOS field. The clustering algorithm is implemented and optimized to get the relevant groups in the data SEDs. We find 12 groups from a total number of 5234 targets in the survey at 0.01 < z < 0.28. Among the groups, 3545 galaxies (68  per cent) show emission lines in the SEDs. These groups also include 1689 old galaxies with no active star formation. We have fitted the SED to every single galaxy in each group with CIGALE. The mass, age, and specific star formation rates (sSFR) of the galaxies range from 0.15 < age/Gyr <11; 6 < log (M⋆/M⊙) <11.26, and −14.67 < log (sSFR/yr−1) <−8. The groups are well-defined in their properties with galaxies having clear emission lines also having lower mass, are younger and have higher sSFR than those with elliptical like patterns. The characteristic values of galaxies showing clear emission lines are in agreement with the literature for starburst galaxies in COSMOS and GOODS-N fields at low redshift. The star-forming main sequence, sSFR versus stellar mass and UVJ diagram show clearly that different groups fall into different regions with some overlap among groups. Our main result is that the joint of low- resolution (R ∼ 50) photometric spectra provided by the PAU survey together with the unsupervised classification provides an excellent way to classify galaxies. Moreover, it helps to find and extend the analysis of extreme ELGs to lower masses and lower SFRs in the local Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure, lattice dynamics, and electron–phonon coupling of pure, boron and nitrogen-doped diamond carbon were investigated using first-principle calculations within the generalized-gradient and virtual crystal approximations. To examine the influence of the impurity content and pressure on the superconductivity of these systems, the electron–phonon coupling constant (λ) and the critical temperature (T c) were calculated as a function of concentrations from 0 to 15% and pressures from 0 to 90 GPa. Regarding the boron-doped diamond, calculations indicated that its electron–phonon coupling strongly relates to the optical phonon modes, and the estimated critical temperatures matched previous theoretical and experimental results. Regarding the nitrogen-doped case, it was observed that both λ and T c were larger than those obtained for the hole-doped case. The most distinguishing feature of this system was its rising acoustic contribution to the electron–phonon coupling, which led to significant values for λ and T c. The majority of the scenarios investigated here presented a decreasing critical temperature with increasing pressure. In contrast to the other cases, C 0.85 N 0.15 exhibited a positive dependence between T c and pressure leading to a superconducting transition temperature of about 122 K at 20 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To comparatively analyse the levels of culturable bacteria, endotoxins (LPS), tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β) and substance P in teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) and vital normal pulp (VNP) tissues. Methodology: Thirty‐two patients were included (20 teeth with SIP and 12 teeth with VNP tissues) in this cross‐sectional study. Samples were collected from the full length of the root canals (microbial analysis) and periapical tissues (2 mm beyond the apex for immunological analysis), using sterile absorbent paper points. The levels of culturable bacteria (culture method), endotoxins (LAL Pyrogent 5000), TNF‐α, IL‐1β and substance P (ELISA) were assessed. The Mann–Whitney test was used for comparisons between the levels of CFU/mL, LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β and substance P in the SIP and VNP groups. The statistical analysis was performed with the significance level set at 5%. Results: Culturable bacteria were recovered from all teeth with SIP. On the other hand, no positive cultures were observed in the VNP tissues group (p >.05). The levels of LPS were approximately four times higher in teeth with SIP than in teeth with VNP tissues (p <.05). Higher levels of TNF‐α and substance P were detected in teeth with SIP (p <.05). On the other hand, no difference in the levels of IL‐1β was detected between the two groups (p >.05). Conclusion: Teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis present higher levels of culturable bacteria, endotoxins, TNF‐α and substance P than those with vital normal pulp tissues. On the other hand, the levels of IL‐1β were similar in teeth from both groups suggesting reduced implications of this inflammatory mediator in the early stages of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a generalization of the functions used in Fraeijs de Veubeke's quadrilateral (FVQ) element and in Hsieh, Clough and Tocher's (HCT) triangle, allowing for an arbitrary degree of the approximation, d$$ d $$, and for arbitrary order of continuity, r$$ r $$. These functions can be used to define finite elements that lead by direct assembly to Cr$$ {C}^r $$ approximations. Their determination for each element is procedural, generalizing the reasoning used by Zienkiewicz to explain the FVQ element. The completeness of each basis is confirmed by comparing its dimension with that of a broken basis, defined primitive element wise, upon which the continuity constraints are successively imposed. The order of continuity at the vertices that is required to enable the independent definition of the normal derivatives at the sides is confirmed numerically. The corresponding interpolation functions are symbolically derived using Mathematica, and simple matlab codes using the data thus obtained are made available, to illustrate their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When assessing the value of an intervention in bipolar disorder, researchers and clinicians often focus on metrics that quantify improvements to core diagnostic symptoms (e.g., mania). Providers often overlook or misunderstand the impact of treatment on life quality and function. We wanted to better characterize the shared experiences and obstacles of bipolar disorder within the United States from the patient's perspective. Methods: We recruited 24 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and six caretakers supporting someone with the condition. Participants were involved in treatment or support services for bipolar disorder in central Texas. As part of this qualitative study, participants discussed their everyday successes and obstacles related to living with bipolar disorder during personalized, open-ended interviews. Audio files were transcribed, and Nvivo software processed an initial thematic analysis. We then categorized themes into bipolar disorder-related obstacles that limit the patient's capability (i.e., function), comfort (i.e., relief from suffering) and calm (i.e., life disruption) (Liu et al., FebClin Orthop 475:315–317, 2017; Teisberg et al., MayAcad Med 95:682–685, 2020). We then discuss themes and suggest practical strategies that might improve the value of care for patients and their families. Results: Issues regarding capability included the struggle to maintain identity, disruptions to meaningful employment, relationship loss and the unpredictable nature of bipolar disorder. Comfort related themes included the personal perception of diagnosis, social stigma and medication issues. Calm themes included managing dismissive doctors, finding the right psychotherapist and navigating financial burdens. Conclusions: Qualitative data from patients with bipolar disorder helps identify gaps in care or practical limitations to treatment. When we listen to these individuals, it is clear that treatments must also address the unmet psychosocial impacts of the condition to improve patient care, capability and calm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micrometric 2D mapping of distinct elements was performed in distinct soil grain-size fractions of a sample using the micro-X-ray Fluorescence (µ-XRF) technique. The sample was collected in the vicinity of São Domingos, an old mine of massive sulphide minerals located in the Portuguese Iberian Pyrite Belt. As expected, elemental high-grade concentrations of distinct metals and metalloids in the dependence of the existent natural geochemical anomaly were detected. Clustering and k-means statistical analysis were developed considering Red–Green–Blue (RGB) pixel proportions in the produced 2D micrometric image maps, allowing for the identification of elemental spatial distributions at 2D. The results evidence how elemental composition varies significantly at the micrometric scale per grain-size class, and how chemical elements present irregular spatial distributions in the direct dependence of distinct mineral spatial distributions. Due to this fact, elemental composition is more differentiated in coarser grain-size classes, whereas griding-milled fraction does not always represent the average of all partial grain-size fractions. Despite the complexity of the performed analysis, the achieved results evidence the suitability of µ-XRF to characterize natural, heterogeneous, granular soils samples at the micrometric scale, being a very promising investigation technique of high resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), the most common lymphoma in young adults, is a disease of poorly understood heterogeneity. Patients with cHL frequently have significant amounts of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), suggesting an alternative approach for studying this enigmatic tumor. [Extracted from the article]

Some dwarf galaxies are within the Mondian regime at all radii, i.e., the gravitational acceleration provided by the observed baryons is always below the threshold of g †≃ 1.2 Ă— 10âˆ'10 m sâˆ'2. These dwarf galaxies often show cores, in the sense that, assuming Newton’s gravity to explain their rotation curves, the total density profile ρ (r) presents a central plateau or core ( d log ρ / d log r â†' 0 when r â†' 0). Here we show that under modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) gravity, the existence of this core implies a baryon content whose density ρ bar must decrease toward the center of the gravitational potential (ρ bar â†' 0 when r â†' 0). Such a drop of baryons toward the central region is neither observed nor appears in numerical simulations of galaxy formation following MOND gravity. We analyze the problem posed for MOND as well as possible work-arounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at inspiring a change in the traditional approach of sales and operations planning (S&OP) of integrated steel industries that have reached a maturity planning level allowing the use of sophisticated technologies. Therefore, we propose a two-stage stochastic programming model suitable for reproducing the rolling horizon framework of tactical planning. Simulations of one year of operations in an integrated steel industry showed a potential improvement of about 15% on overall supply chain profit in comparison with a plan produced traditionally. Besides, we evaluated two scenarios to analyze the effects of a flexible plan when facing a tax raise and a capacity reduction. As a practical implication, the model provides a consensus view of the S&OP stages at once, supporting top managers to make better decisions. The two-stage modeling approach also reinforces the need for interaction of the sales team with procurement, production, and distribution teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the detection of cosmological gas being accreted onto galaxies in the local universe, we examined the H α emission in the halo of 164 galaxies in the field of view of the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer Wide survey (MUSE-Wide) with observable H α (redshift <0.42). An exhaustive screening of the corresponding H α images led us to select 118 reliable H α emitting gas clouds. The signals are faint, with a surface brightness of 10 âˆ' 17.3 ± 0.3 erg s âˆ' 1 cm âˆ' 2 arcsec âˆ' 2 . Through statistical tests and other arguments, we ruled out that they are created by instrumental artifacts, telluric line residuals, or high-redshift interlopers. Around 38% of the time, the H α line profile shows a double peak with the drop in intensity at the rest frame of the central galaxy, and with a typical peak-to-peak separation of the order of ±200 km sâˆ'1. Most line emission clumps are spatially unresolved. The mass of emitting gas is estimated to be between 1 and 10âˆ'3 times the stellar mass of the central galaxy. The signals are not isotropically distributed; their azimuth tends to be aligned with the major axis of the corresponding galaxy. The distances to the central galaxies are not random either. The counts drop at a distance >50 galaxy radii, which roughly corresponds to the virial radius of the central galaxy. We explore several physical scenarios to explain this H α emission, among which accretion disks around rogue intermediate-mass black holes fit the observations best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here a significant enhancement in side-pumped solar laser collection efficiency and solar-to-laser conversion efficiency by a ring-array primary concentrator. A single and a dual-rod side-pumping configuration were numerically investigated. In the former, a thick laser rod was pumped with the full collection area of the ring-array solar concentrator. In the latter, two thin laser rods were pumped simultaneously. 49.70 W continuous-wave multimode solar laser power, corresponding to 29.06 W/m2 collection efficiency, and 3.06% solar-to-laser power conversion efficiency were numerically attained for the dual-rod side-pumping scheme, being 1.65 and 1.26 times higher than the previous experimental records with Nd:YAG side-pumping configurations. A three-folding-scheme single laser beam technique is presented, enabling a significant improvement of laser beam quality factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF) has been previously shown to accurately distinguish between patients with and without clearly defined left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) by ASE/EACVI criteria, but indeterminate cases were excluded. We sought to determine if LAEF could accurately distinguish between normal, indeterminate and LVDD patients. A retrospective cohort of 125 patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography was studied. Comprehensive echocardiographic study was performed with measurement of validated diastolic parameters. Subjects were assigned LVDF ASE/EACVI categories. ANOVA test was used to compare means between groups and binary logistic regression and ROC curves to assess diagnostic accuracy. Mean LAEF was statistically different between groups (p < 0.001): 56.3% ± 4.5 for normal patients, 50.2% ± 5.5 for indeterminate patients and 44% ± 8.5 for patients with LVDD. LAEF distinguished LVDD from patients without diastolic dysfunction (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.63–0.65, p < 0.001) and ROC curve reveals excellent discriminative power (AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.97, p < 0.001). LAEF also distinguished indeterminate patients from LVDD (OR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.83–0.95, p < 0.001) and ROC curve revealed good discriminative power (AUC 0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.82, p < 0.001). LAEF can accurately differentiate between normal, indeterminate and LVDD patients and could be considered as an additional parameter in the study of diastolic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goals of this paper are to investigate the accuracy of the Tran-Blaha modified Becke Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential to predict the electronic structure of lithium iron phosphate and the related redox reaction energy with the lithium deintercalation process. The computed electronic structures show that the TB-mBJ method is able to partially localize Fe-3d electrons in LiFePO4 and FePO4 which usually is a problem for the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) due to the self interaction error. The energy band gap is also improved by the TB-mBJ calculations in comparison with the GGA results. It turned out, however, that the redox reaction energy evaluated by the TB-mBJ technique is not in good agreement with the measured one. It is speculated that this disagreement in the computed redox energy and the experimental value is due to the lack of a formal expression to evaluate the exchange and correlation energy. Therefore, the TB-mBJ is an efficient method to improve the prediction of the electronic structures coming form the standard GGA functional in LiFePO4 and FePO4. However, it does not appear to have the same efficiency for evaluating the redox reaction energies for the investigated system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study evaluated the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens reared on two litter materials and at two stocking densities. 2. The chicks were allotted in a completely randomised design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two litter materials (wood shavings or rice straw) and two stocking densities (24 or 30 kg/m2), with six replicates per treatment. Broiler performance, carcase yield, prime cuts, blood plasma proteins, the enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, edible viscera, immune organs, intestine weight and length, abdominal fat, breast meat colour, pH, weight loss by defrosting, weight loss by cooking and shear force were evaluated. 3. The density of 24 kg/m2 positively influenced feed consumption and weight gain. The type of litter had a positive influence on feed conversion, with a lower value for birds raised on wood shavings. 4. Breast production was improved in birds reared at a density of 24 kg/m2 when compared to birds reared at a density of 30 kg/m2. The rice straw bedding negatively affected abdominal fat (resulting in higher percentages) when compared to birds reared on wood shavings. 5. The types of litter affected the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase in birds raised on wood shavings, although these values were not increased to the point of influence on the physiological functions of broilers. 6. The colour of the breast meat, pH, temperature, weight loss after thawing or cooking, shear force, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, total proteins, glucose or alanine aminotransferase content were not influenced by the stocking densities or bedding. 7. The use of wood shavings as poultry bedding at a stocking density of 24 kg/m2resulted in the best performance for broiler chickens at 42 days of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the microbial profile and to quantify the levels of endotoxins (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) present in periapical lesions associated with root filled teeth and those that had received root canal retreatment. It also aimed to investigate the association between microorganisms and their virulence factors with clinical and radiographic features. Methodology: Patients with periapical lesions in teeth with post‐treatment endodontic disease following primary root canal treatment (n = 19) and unsuccessful root canal retreatment (n = 13) were treatment planned for endodontic microsurgery, where the periapical lesions were collected. Clinical and radiographic data were also collected. For microbiological analysis, nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect 17 bacterial species. Levels of LPS and LTA were determined using limulus amebocyte lysate and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The Student t‐test or Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney tests were applied to compare the data on LPS and LTA with clinical and radiographic features. The associations between the clinical and radiographic features and the bacterial species were analysed using the Fisher's exact test. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: Bacterial DNA, LPS and LTA were detected in all samples. Parvimonas micra was the most commonly detected species in all groups, followed by Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas endodontalis. The type of endodontic treatment, whether a primary root canal treatment or retreatment, was not associated with the presence of any bacterial species in periapical lesions. The levels of LPS and LTA in periapical lesions of root filled teeth were not significantly different from those that had been retreated. Associations between the levels of LPS and LTA with clinical signs and symptoms were found. No association was found between specific bacteria and clinical features. Conclusion: Periapical lesions associated with teeth after primary root canal treatment and retreatment had similar polymicrobial composition. The levels of LPS and LTA in periapical lesions associated with teeth after primary root canal treatment and retreatment were similar, and both were associated with the same symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D-waveguides containing silver nanoparticles have been fabricated in tungsten lead- pyrophosphate glass by femtosecond laser micromachining. Nucleation and growth of nanoparticles occur in a single step process when high repetition rate laser (MHz) is employed, while an additional annealing is required for the irradiation using kHz laser system. The presence of nanoparticles locally changes the refractive index, and, therefore, the elliptical structures produced by direct laser writing were able to guide light. By increasing the pulse energy applied during the micromachining, the waveguide size increased from 2 to 30 μm, while their propagation loss decrease from 1.4 to 0.5 dB/mm at 632.8 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that the coupling of excitonic and vibrational motion in biological complexes can provide mechanisms to explain the long-lived oscillations that have been obtained in nonlinear spectroscopic signals of different photosynthetic pigment protein complexes and we discuss the contributions of excitonic versus purely vibrational components to these oscillatory features. Considering a dimer model coupled to a structured spectral density we exemplify the fundamental aspects of the electron-phonon dynamics, and by analyzing separately the different contributions to the nonlinear signal, we show that for realistic parameter regimes purely electronic coherence is of the same order as purely vibrational coherence in the electronic ground state. Moreover, we demonstrate how the latter relies upon the excitonic interaction to manifest. These results link recently proposed microscopic, non-equilibrium mechanisms to support long lived coherence at ambient temperatures with actual experimental observations of oscillatory behaviour using 2D photon echo techniques to corroborate the fundamental importance of the interplay of electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom in the dynamics of light harvesting aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When designing a structure or engineering a component, it is crucial to use methods that provide fast and reliable solutions, so that a large number of design options can be assessed. In this context, the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) can be a powerful tool, as it provides solutions to parametric problems, without being affected by the "curse of dimensionality." Assessing the accuracy of the solutions obtained with the PGD is still a relevant challenge, particularly when seeking quantities of interest with guaranteed bounds. In this work, we compute compatible and equilibrated PGD solutions and use them in a dual analysis to obtain quantities of interest and their bounds, which are guaranteed. We also use these complementary solutions to compute an error indicator, which is used to drive a mesh adaptivity process, oriented for a quantity of interest. The corresponding solutions have errors that are much lower than those obtained using a uniform refinement or an indicator based on the global error, as the proposed approach focuses on minimizing the error in the quantity of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data science applications have become widespread as a means to extract knowledge from large datasets. Such applications are often characterized by highly heterogeneous and irregular data access patterns, thus often being referred to as big data applications. Such characteristics make the application execution quite challenging for existing software and hardware infrastructures to meet their resource demands. The cloud computing paradigm, in turn, offers a natural hosting solution to such applications since its on-demand pricing model allows allocating effectively computing resources according to application's needs. However, these properties impose extra challenge to the accurate performance prediction of cloud-based applications, which is a key step to adequate capacity planning and managing of the hosting infrastructure. In this article, we tackle this challenge by exploring three modeling approaches for predicting the performance of big data applications running on the cloud. We evaluate two queuing-based analytical models and dagSim, a fast ad-hoc simulator, in various scenarios based on different applications and infrastructure setups. The considered approaches are compared in terms of prediction accuracy and execution time. Our results indicate that our two best approaches, one analytical model and dagSim, can predict average application execution times with only up to a 7 % relative error, on average. Moreover, a comparison with the widely used event-based simulator available with the Java Modeling Tool (JMT) suite demonstrates that both the analytical model and dagSim run very fast, requiring at least two orders of magnitude lower execution time than JMT while providing slightly better accuracy, being thus practical for online prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast market of ornamental plants and flowers generates a large amount of wastes, from where fibers can be extracted. The mechanical properties of these fibers have not yet been reported. Therefore, the possibility of using them as fiber-reinforcement in polymer matrix composites is an open question. In this work the tensile mechanical properties of fibers obtained from the stem of three types of ornamental plants – Etlingera elatior, Costus comosus and Heliconia bihai – are evaluated and compared to the tensile properties of other lignocellulosic fibers. Besides, the tensile strength of the fibers is discussed in terms of the Weibull statistical distribution. E. elatior showed high values for both Young's modulus and tensile strength, comparable to the properties of fibers with already large use, such as jute. Therefore, fibers extracted from the stem of this ornamental plant are potential candidates to be used as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites. C. comosus and H. bihai on the other hand are low modulus fibers, and their use in composites will be restricted as fillers, reducing cost but not enhancing mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The proper generalized decomposition is a well‐established reduced order method, used to efficiently obtain approximate solutions of multi‐dimensional problems in a procedure that controls the effects of the "curse of dimensionality." The question of assessing the quality of the solutions obtained and adapting the approximations assumed, for example, the finite element meshes used, so that the best result is obtained at minimal cost, remains a relevant challenge. This article deals with finite element solutions for solid mechanics problems, using the error obtained from a dual analysis, the difference between complementary solutions, to bound the error in the solutions and to drive an optimal adaptivity process, which obtains meshes with errors significantly lower than those obtained using a uniform refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we use density functional theory to investigate the influence of semilocal exchange and correlation effects on the electronic properties of III-nitride semiconductors considering zinc-blende and wurtzite crystal structures. We find that the inclusion of such effects through the use of the Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson potential yields an excellent description of the electronic structures of these materials giving energy band gaps which are systematically larger than the ones obtained with standard functionals such as the generalized gradient approximation. The discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical band gaps is then significantly reduced with semilocal exchange and correlation effects. However, the effective masses are overestimated in the zinc-blende nitrides, but no systematic trend is found in the wurtzite compounds. New results for energy band gaps and effective masses of zinc-blende and wurtzite indium nitrides are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact side-pumped solar laser design is proposed to improve the TEM00-mode solar laser output performance substantially. A double-stage secondary concentrator was composed of a rectangular hollow pipe and a 2V-shaped dry pump cavity, which couples and redistributes the concentrated solar radiation from the focal zone of a 2 m diameter parabolic mirror into a grooved Nd:YAG rod. The solar laser performance was numerically optimized by both ZEMAX® and LASCADTM software. Maximum TEM00-mode solar laser power of 32 W was numerically calculated for a 4.5 mm diameter, 34 mm length grooved Nd:YAG rod, corresponding to 10.7 W/m2 collection efficiency. This value is 1.25 times more than the numerical record. Laser beam brightness figure of merit of 31.4 W was numerically attained, which is 1.84 times more than the numerical record. The proposed laser head scheme has a simple and compact design, as compared to previous schemes. Good TEM00-mode solar laser thermal performance was also numerically demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Neurological manifestations have been identified in the context of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Previous case reports highlighted the association between AIH and sensory neuronopathy (SN). Despite that, little is known about the frequency of AIH‐related SN and its clinical/neurophysiological profile. Moreover, it is not clear whether SN is an AIH‐specific manifestation or related to chronic liver damage. Methods: Seventy consecutive AIH patients were enrolled and their characteristics were compared with 52 consecutive patients with chronic active hepatitis B. All subjects underwent clinical and neurophysiological evaluation. Further comparisons were performed between AIH SN and AIH non‐SN patients. Results: Mean ages and male:female proportions in the AIH and chronic active hepatitis B groups were 42.2 ± 16.3/51.7 ± 13.6 years and 14:56/29:23, respectively. The frequencies of carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy and polyneuropathy were similar between groups. In contrast, SN was identified only in AIH patients (5/70 vs. 0/52, P = 0.04); the overall prevalence of AIH‐related SN was 7% with an average profile of a woman in her 40s with asymmetric onset of sensory deficits that chronically evolved to disabling proprioceptive ataxia associated with marked dysautonomia. Neurological disability and hepatocellular damage did not follow in parallel. Anti‐fibroblast growth factor receptor type 3 antibodies were found in 3/5 (60%) of the patients with AIH‐related SN. Clinical or demographic predictors of SN in the context of AIH could not be identified. Conclusion: Sensory neuronopathy, but not other peripheral nervous system diseases, is a specific AIH neurological manifestation. It is often disabling and, in contrast to hepatocellular injury, does not respond to immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Epidemiological studies indicate that individuals with one type of mental disorder have an increased risk of subsequently developing other types of mental disorders. This study aimed to undertake a comprehensive analysis of pair-wise lifetime comorbidity across a range of common mental disorders based on a diverse range of population-based surveys. Methods: The WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys assessed 145 990 adult respondents from 27 countries. Based on retrospectively-reported age-of-onset for 24 DSM-IV mental disorders, associations were examined between all 548 logically possible temporally-ordered disorder pairs. Overall and time-dependent hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Absolute risks were estimated using the product-limit method. Estimates were generated separately for men and women. Results: Each prior lifetime mental disorder was associated with an increased risk of subsequent first onset of each other disorder. The median HR was 12.1 (mean = 14.4; range 5.2–110.8, interquartile range = 6.0–19.4). The HRs were most prominent between closely-related mental disorder types and in the first 1–2 years after the onset of the prior disorder. Although HRs declined with time since prior disorder, significantly elevated risk of subsequent comorbidity persisted for at least 15 years. Appreciable absolute risks of secondary disorders were found over time for many pairs. Conclusions: Survey data from a range of sites confirms that comorbidity between mental disorders is common. Understanding the risks of temporally secondary disorders may help design practical programs for primary prevention of secondary disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is characterised by impulsive anger attacks that vary greatly across individuals in severity and consequence. Understanding IED subtypes has been limited by lack of large, general population datasets including assessment of IED. Using the 17-country World Mental Health surveys dataset, this study examined whether behavioural subtypes of IED are associated with differing patterns of comorbidity, suicidality and functional impairment. Methods: IED was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview in the World Mental Health surveys (n = 45 266). Five behavioural subtypes were created based on type of anger attack. Logistic regression assessed association of these subtypes with lifetime comorbidity, lifetime suicidality and 12-month functional impairment. Results: The lifetime prevalence of IED in all countries was 0.8% (s.e.: 0.0). The two subtypes involving anger attacks that harmed people ('hurt people only' and 'destroy property and hurt people'), collectively comprising 73% of those with IED, were characterised by high rates of externalising comorbid disorders. The remaining three subtypes involving anger attacks that destroyed property only, destroyed property and threatened people, and threatened people only, were characterised by higher rates of internalising than externalising comorbid disorders. Suicidal behaviour did not vary across the five behavioural subtypes but was higher among those with (v. those without) comorbid disorders, and among those who perpetrated more violent assaults. Conclusions: The most common IED behavioural subtypes in these general population samples are associated with high rates of externalising disorders. This contrasts with the findings from clinical studies of IED, which observe a preponderance of internalising disorder comorbidity. This disparity in findings across population and clinical studies, together with the marked heterogeneity that characterises the diagnostic entity of IED, suggests that it is a disorder that requires much greater research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: We study the application to compressible and incompressible three‐dimensional elasticity problems of the technique that we proposed in 2009 for the recovery of equilibrated stresses from compatible finite element solutions. The case of finite elements with linear displacement approximations, for which the partitioned systems of loads are not initially balanced in terms of rotational equilibrium, addressed in 2012, is also considered. The article includes a presentation of the implementation details, a study of the convergence in terms of the energy of the error, and a characterization of the solutions obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scatter in the galaxy size versus stellar mass (M ⋆) relation gets largely reduced when, rather than the half-mass radius R e, the size at a fixed surface density is used. Here, we address why this happens. We show how a reduction is to be expected because any two galaxies with the same M ⋆ have at least one radius with identical surface density, where the galaxies have identical size. However, the reason why the scatter is reduced to the observed level is not trivial, and we pin it down to the galaxy surface density profiles approximately following Sersic profiles with their R e and Sersic index (n) anticorrelated (i.e. given M ⋆, n increases when R e decreases). Our analytical results describe very well the behaviour of the observed galaxies as portrayed in the NASA Sloan Atlas (NSA), which contains more than half a million local objects with 7 < log (M ⋆/ M ⊙) < 11.5. The comparison with NSA galaxies also allows us to find the optimal values for the mass surface density (⁠|$2.4_{-0.9}^{+1.3}\, M_\odot \, {\rm pc}^{-2}$|⁠) and surface brightness (r band |$24.7\pm 0.5\, {\rm mag\, arcsec^{-2}}$|⁠) that minimize the scatter, although the actual values depend somehow on the subset of NSA galaxies used for optimization. The physical reason for the existence of optimal values is unknown but, as Trujillo, Chamba & Knapen (2020) point out, they are close to the gas surface density threshold to form stars and thus may trace the physical end of a galaxy. Our NSA-based size–mass relation agrees with theirs on the slope as well as on the magnitude of the scatter. As a by-product of the narrowness of the size–mass relation (only 0.06 dex), we propose to use the size of a galaxy to measure its stellar mass. In terms of observing time, it is not more demanding than the usual photometric techniques and may present practical advantages in particular cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperate pasture species constitute a source of protein for dairy cattle. On the other hand, from an environmental perspective, their high N content can increase N excretion and nitrogenous gas emissions by livestock. This work explores the effect of energy supplementation on N use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogenous gas emissions from the excreta of dairy cows grazing a pasture of oat and ryegrass. The study was divided into two experiments: an evaluation of NUE in grazing dairy cows, and an evaluation of N-NH3 and N-N2O volatilizations from dairy cow excreta. In the first experiment, 12 lactating Holstein × Jersey F1 cows were allocated to a double 3 × 3 Latin square (three experimental periods of 17 days each) and subjected to three treatments: cows without supplementation (WS), cows supplemented at 4.2 kg DM of corn silage (CS) per day, and cows supplemented at 3.6 kg DM of ground corn (GC) per day. In the second experiment, samples of excreta were collected from the cows distributed among the treatments. Aliquots of dung and urine of each treatment plus one blank (control – no excreta) were allotted to a randomized block design to evaluate N-NH3 and N-N2O volatilization. Measurements were performed until day 25 for N-NH3 and until day 94 for N-N2O. Dietary N content in the supplemented cows was reduced by 20% (P < 0.001) compared with WS cows, regardless of the supplement. Corn silage cows had lower N intake (P < 0.001) than WS and GC cows (366 v. 426 g/day, respectively). Ground corn supplementation allowed cows to partition more N towards milk protein compared with the average milk protein of WS cows or those supplemented with corn silage (117 v. 108 g/day, respectively; P < 0.01). Thus, even though they were in different forms, both supplements were able to increase (P < 0.01) NUE from 27% in WS cows to 32% in supplemented cows. Supplementation was also effective in reducing N excretion (761 v. 694 g/kg of Nintake; P < 0.001), N-NH3 emission (478 v. 374 g/kg of Nmilk; P < 0.01) and N-N2O emission (11 v. 8 g/kg of Nmilk; P < 0.001). Corn silage and ground corn can be strategically used as feed supplements to improve NUE, and they have the potential to mitigate N-NH3 and N-N2O emissions from the excreta of dairy cows grazing high-protein pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate in a clinical trial the efficacy of reciprocating and ultrasonic activation of 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in the microbial composition and reduction in microbial load as well as in levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in teeth with primary endodontic infections. Methodology: Samples were collected from 24 root canals with pulp necrosis and periapical lesions, before and after chemo‐mechanical canal preparation. The teeth were randomly divided according to the activation protocol as follows: control group without activation (WA, n = 8), reciprocating activation group using Easy Clean tip (EC, n = 8) and ultrasonic activation group using Irrisonic insert (US, n = 8). Microbiological specimens were processed using a culture technique and microbiota composition was analysed using the checkerboard technique. The levels of LPS and LTA were quantified using limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The Fisher's exact test, Kruskal–Wallis, Dunn's and Wilcoxon's test with a significance level of P < 0.05 were used for statistical analysis. Results: All initial specimens had growth of viable bacteria in fastidious anaerobe agar (FAA), with an average of 105 CFU mL−1, whereas only one case had such growth after chemo‐mechanical canal preparation. LPS and LTA were recovered in 100% of the cases. Chemo‐mechanical canal preparation significantly decreased the levels of LPS and LTA (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found between the groups (P > 0.05). Through the checkerboard technique, bacteria were found in 100% of the initial specimens with concentrations between <105 and 106. The most frequently identified microorganisms were Prevotella nigrescens and Enterococcus hirae. After chemo‐mechanical canal preparation, many species were not detected in any of the three groups tested. A significant reduction occurred in Group US, followed by Groups EC and WA. Conclusions: Activation of 6% NaOCl reduced the levels of LPS and LTA with no differences between the groups. However, ultrasonic activation was associated with a greater reduction in microbial load within root canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originally motivated by the need for research reproducibility and data reuse, large-scale, open access information repositories have become key resources for training and testing of advanced machine learning applications in biomedical and clinical research. To be of value, such repositories must provide large, high-quality data sets, where quality is defined as minimising variance due to data collection protocols and data misrepresentations. Curation is the key to quality. We have constructed a large public access image repository, The Cancer Imaging Archive, dedicated to the promotion of open science to advance the global effort to diagnose and treat cancer. Drawing on this experience and our experience in applying machine learning techniques to the analysis of radiology and pathology image data, we will review the requirements placed on such information repositories by state-of-the-art machine learning applications and how these requirements can be met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Portugal was one of the European countries most affected by the period of economic recession initiated in 2008. Social inequalities are likely to widen during such periods and disproportionately affect people with mental disorders. The present study aims to compare self-reported changes in indicators of socioeconomic position during the economic recession in Portugal among people with and without mental disorders in the beginning of this period. Three dimensions were assessed, namely employment situation, experiences of financial hardship and subjective social status. Methods: Data from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative Portugal (2008/2009) and from the National Mental Health Survey Follow-up (2015/2016) were used (n = 911). Multinomial and logistic recession models were performed to examine the association between the presence of any 12-month mood or anxiety mental disorder in 2008/2009 and indicators of socioeconomic position in 2015/2016. All analyses were adjusted for gender, age, presence of any physical disorder and education at the baseline. Results: Participants that had any mental disorder in the beginning of the economic recession reported 2.20 (95% CI 1.31–3.71; P < 0.01) higher odds of financial hardship related to daily life in 2015/2016, when compared with those without any mental disorder, after adjusting for age, gender, education and presence of any physical disorder. The results may also suggest a pattern of increased socioeconomic disadvantage among people with prior mental disorder, despite not reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the economic recession may have contributed to wider social inequalities between people with and without mental disorders. Policies to support these individuals, such as access to treatment and alleviation of financial hardship, should be a priority in times of economic downturn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium dioxide has been synthesized by direct combustion process between Cr and O2 in a diamond anvil cell at 14 GPa using laser heating. Addition of nitrogen into the reactants’ environment substantially facilitated the oxidation of Cr and resulted in the formation of an orthorhombic CaCl2-structured phase of CrO2 after laser heating at 37 GPa. High-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements of quenched CrO2 samples at ambient temperature showed a tetragonal (rutile-type structure)-to-orthorhombic (CaCl2-type structure) phase transition at about 17 GPa. The first principle calculations reproduce well the experimentally observed pressure domains of the stability of the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases of CrO2. The calculations show that the orthorhombic CrO2 is also half-metallic and that the ferromagnetic arrangement of spins of d electrons persists in orthorhombic phase of CrO2 up to 56 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to study the cases of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) at the Clinic of Semiology, Department of Bioscience and Oral Diagnosis, Sao Jose dos Campos Dental School, State University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 141 clinical file cards indicating a final diagnosis of IFH, from the archives of the Department of Bioscience and Oral Diagnosis and dated from 1979 to 2001, were included in the study. Of these files, 50 indicated a diagnosis of denture-induced fibrous hyperplasia. Sex, age, race, duration, and clinical features that confirm their classification in the non-neoplastic proliferating process were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Of the 50 analyzed cases of denture-induced lesion, 22% occurred in men and 78% in women. Patients in the age group of 41 to 50 years presented the highest frequency of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia occurs more frequently in women (71.63%), and denture-induced lesions appear mainly in patients over 40 years of age (70% of cases). Patients with denture-induced hyperplasia reported pain associated with the lesion (70%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical properties of Si[sub 1-x]Ge[sub x] have been investigated theoretically using a full-potential linear muffin-tin-orbital method. We present the density-of-states as well as the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. The calculated dielectric function was found to be in good agreement with the spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements by J. Bahng et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 13, 777 (2001), and we obtained a static dielectric constant of ∈[sub 0] = 12.19 + 2.45x in the Si rich regime (x ≤ 0.5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic properties and the optical absorption of lead iodide (PbI[sub 2]) have been investigated experimentally by means of optical absorption and spectroscopic ellipsometry, and theoretically by a full-potential linear muffin-tin-orbital method. PbI[sub 2] has been recognized as a very promising detector material with a large technological applicability. Its band-gap energy as a function of temperature has also been measured by optical absorption. The temperature dependence has been fitted by two different relations, and a discussion of these fittings is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]