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Software systems are of great importance, whose quality will influence every walk of our life. However, with increase in their scale and complexity, we are unable to control their quality since only little is known about their actual internal structure. "We cannot control what we cannot measure." Thus, to control these complex software systems, the first task that we should do is to measure their internal structure. In recent years, people applied the theories and techniques in the field of complex networks to systematically investigate the structure of software systems by representing software systems as networks (i.e., software networks), and many interesting and useful results have been revealed. In this work, we aim to briefly review some recent research advances in the interdisciplinary research between complex networks and software engineering, including modeling, analysis, and applications. Specifically, we first describe some novel techniques to model the structural details of a specific software system. Then, based on these modeling techniques, we introduce some research work on characterizing the static and dynamic structural properties of software systems. Third, we describe some promising applications of software networks in real-world scenarios. Finally, we suggest some future research topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We study the decades old complexity of computing the Fourier transform. • We consider a new notion of matrix condition number and explain why it is useful for this problem. • We give a new lower bound in a model defined by this notion. The Fourier Transform is one of the most important linear transformations used in science and engineering. Cooley and Tukey's Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) from 1964 is a method for computing this transformation in time O (n log ⁡ n). From a lower bound perspective, relatively little is known. Ailon shows in 2013 an Ω (n log ⁡ n) bound for computing the normalized Fourier Transform assuming only unitary operations on two coordinates are allowed at each step, and no extra memory is allowed. In 2014, Ailon then improved the result to show that, in a κ -well conditioned computation, Fourier computation can be sped up by no more than O (κ). The main conjecture is that Ailon's result can be exponentially improved, in the sense that κ -well condition cannot admit ω (log ⁡ κ) speedup. The main result here is that 'algebraic' κ -well condition cannot admit ω (κ) speedup. One equivalent definition of algebraic condition number is related to the degree of polynomials naturally arising as the computation evolves. Using the maximum modulus theorem from complex analysis, we show that algebraic condition number upper bounds standard condition number, and equals it in certain cases. Algebraic condition number is an interesting measure of numerical computation stability in its own right, and provides a novel computational lens. Moreover, based on evidence from other recent related work, we believe that the approach of algebraic condition number has a good chance of establishing an algebraic version of the main conjecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report the synthesis of undoped ZnO and In-doped ZnO nanoparticles by sol–gel method from 0 to 5 wt% of In amount. The effect of indium incorporation on structural and electrical properties of these samples was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of undoped ZnO and In-doped ZnO nanopowders with a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure and the average crystallite size varies between 31 and 55 nm. The morphological study shows that the shape of the crystallites is hexagonal and it changes into cylindrical prismatic after doping. Further, the study of electrical response was carried out by impedance spectroscopy. The electrical properties of these samples are dependent on temperature and frequency. We find that the conductivity increases with increasing In dopant. It has been found that the highest conductivity corresponds to the concentration 3% of indium content. Concerning the complex impedance analysis, the equivalent circuit of grain consists of resistance and constant phase element in parallel. These results contribute to various technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic offset of Gaia parallaxes has been widely reported with Gaia 's second data release, and it is expected to persist in future Gaia data. In order to use Gaia parallaxes to infer distances to high precision, we develop a hierarchical probabilistic model to determine the Gaia parallax zero-point offset along with the calibration of an empirical model for luminosity of red clump stars by combining astrometric and photometric measurements. Using a cross-matched sample of red clump stars from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment and Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2), we report the parallax zero-point offset in DR2 to be |$\varpi _0 = -48 \pm 1\,\mu \text{as}$|⁠. We infer the red clump absolute magnitude to be −1.622 ± 0.004 in Ks , 0.435 ± 0.004 in G , −1.019 ± 0.004 in J , and −1.516 ± 0.004 in H. The intrinsic scatter of the red clump is ∼0.09 mag in J, H , and Ks , or ∼ 0.12 mag in G. We tailor our models to accommodate more complex analyses such as investigating the variations of the parallax zero-point with each source's observed magnitude, observed colour, and sky position. In particular, we find fluctuations of the zero-point across the sky to be of order or less than a few 10s of |$\mu \text{as}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a two-unit complex system, in which one of the components has priority with preemptive repeat repair disciplines, described by partial differential equations with integral boundary conditions. First, we prove that the system has a unique nonnegative time-dependent solution by using the strong continuous semigroup theory of linear operators. Then, we obtain the exponential convergence of the time-dependent solution to its steady-state solution by means of the spectral properties of the corresponding operator. We also provide the asymptotic behavior of some time-dependent reliability indices, a numerical illustration showing the effects of various parameters on the system, and the validity of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an open extremal problem in geometric function theory of complex variables on the maximum of the functional [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High resolution imaging using chaos-based frequency modulation (CBFM) in a bistatic radar system is evaluated in terms of the cross-ambiguity function. A 3-D Lorenz system is used to generate and transmit a wideband CBFM waveform. The bistatic radar's receiver is synchronized with its transmitter utilizing a direct synchronization scheme. The cross-correlation between the reconstructed and transmitted waveforms is of high quality and, consequently, down-range resolution is achievable. However, cross-range resolution is more elusive as the shape of the cross-ambiguityg function between the reconstructed waveform and scattered echo depends on the geometric configuration of the bistatic radar. For the cosite region and nonnegative look angles of the receiver-centered region, the ambiguity function has a near thumbtack shape. For negative look angles of the receiver-centered region, cross-range resolution is gradually lost. To assess high-resolution capability, the signature analysis of a complex point target is modeled. Results demonstrate that the synchronized chaotic FM bistatic radar provides a high range and cross range resolution with negligible sidelobes. Using an entropy analysis, it is determined that when only the echo is corrupted with additive noise, high resolution imaging is feasible for low SNR. In contrast, if both the target echo and the waveform received from the transmitter are corrupted with noise, imaging is adversely affected for relatively high noise levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a rich literature on the analysis of longitudinal data with missing values. However, the analysis becomes complex for semi-continuous (zero-inflated) longitudinal response with missingness. In this article, we propose a partially varying coefficients regression model for analysing such data. We use a two-part model, where in the first part we propose a latent dynamic model for accounting a 'zero' or a 'non-zero' response, and in the second part we use another dynamic model for estimating the mean trajectories of non-zero responses. Two dynamic models are linked through subject-specific random effects. The missing covariates are imputed repeatedly based on their respective posterior predictive distributions and the missing responses are imputed using the working model under different identifying restrictions. We analyse data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) for aged individuals and develop a dynamic model for predicting out-of-pocket medical expenditures (OOPME) containing excess zeros. The operating characteristics of the proposed model are investigated through extensive simulation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note aims to highlight an interesting connection among the theory of wavelets, special functions, complex analysis, and operator theory in order to evaluate certain sums involving binomial coefficients. Our approach is based on a relationship between spectral functions corresponding to Toeplitz operators acting on weighted Bergman spaces and Toeplitz operators acting on true-poly-analytic Bergman spaces over the upper half-plane. Choosing various generating symbols of Toeplitz operators we may prove many interesting identities for sums of binomial coefficients. Some concrete examples are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landing gear plays a very important role during landing by absorbing the high impact energy of the aircraft. The main landing gear absorbs the bulk of the load to reduce the load experienced by both the aircraft fuselage and the nose landing gear. In this paper, a mathematical approach is used to extract the dynamic characteristics of the system. A two-degree of freedom mathematical model of the main landing gear is developed. This model is used to derive the dynamic equations of the landing gear system and to study the behaviour of main landing gear during main gear and nose gear touchdown conditions. The non-linear stiffness and damping co-efficient in an Oleo-Pneumatic shock absorber are integrated into the system to achieve a more accurate response of the system. The response of this system is established by adopting a complex modal analysis approach to account for the non-classical damping exhibited by the system. The obtained spring force, damping force and responses are reported. This work provides an alternative approach using complex modal analysis to obtain results for complex systems exhibiting non-linear characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research policy (RP) arena has been transforming in recent years, turning into a policy mix encompassing the diversity of policy instruments embedded in, and following different policy rationales and aims. Its complexity defies attempts for complex comparative analysis and eventually, a better understanding of what kind of (mixes of) funding instruments work better than others and in which situations. In this article, we address this gap by developing a conceptual framework that allows us to build the policy mix idea into the analysis of research funding instruments (RFIs), by relying on four dimensions: policy rationales, implementation modalities, policy actors, and the funding instruments interactions. We base our work on a careful literature review, especially drawing on the work of researchers who have developed similar frameworks in other policy areas, bringing it together with that of RP scholars, capturing the issues that are key to analyzing and understanding RFIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software systems are usually designed in a modular and hierarchical fashion, where functional responsibility of a system is decomposed into multiple functional software elements optimally such as subsystems, modules, packages, classes, methods, and functions. These elements are coupled with each other with some kind of dependency relationships to some degree, and their interactions naturally form a graph or network structure. In this study, we generated the static function-call graphs of several open-source software systems, where functions were the most basic type of interacting elements calling each other. Then, we analyzed the call graphs both visually and topologically using the techniques of complex network analysis. We found the call graphs to reveal scale-free and small-world network properties similar to the findings of the previous studies. In addition, we identified the most central and important functions in each call-graph using several centrality measures. We also performed community analysis and found that the call graphs exhibited a tendency to form communities. Finally, we showed that analysis of static function-call graphs of software systems through complex network analysis has the potential to reveal useful information about them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed growing interests in vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) topology. Existing works assume that the networks generated at each time are independent. In these works, the VANET topologies are formed based on simple traffic and communication models such as unit disk graph model. Interestingly, some works find that VANETs are scale-free ones characterized by strong connectivity and survivability, while some argue that they are not. This study analyzes VANETs in more realistic settings, trying to find the answer to the paradox. Specifically, in this paper we propose a Dynamically Evolving Networking (DEN) model and take as input realistic vehicular traces to make the research and results more practical. We consider the effect of node addition, node deletion and link loss due to node mobility and keep the network evolving by including preferential attachment and link compensation mechanisms. We find that the evolved VANET exhibits a scale-invariant feature under certain conditions. We also find that the emergence of such phenomenon has no relation to communication range if the range is large. Furthermore, we apply complex network theory to capture the dynamics of the VANET. Theoretically for the first time we show that VANET would evolve into the scale-free topology when the probability of node addition is relatively large or the probability of link compensation is properly set, the presence of which would help establish a strongly connected VANET topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This extended study presents a hybridization of particle swarm optimization (PSO) with complex network construction and analysis. A partial population restart is performed in certain moments of the run of the algorithm based on the information obtained from a complex network analysis. The complex network structure represents the communication in the population. We present experimental results of the method alongside with statistical evaluation and discuss future possibilities of this approach. The main goal of the work is not to propose a new highly competitive PSO variant but to present the possibility of using the unconventional tool as an alternative to conventional diversity measures. The main benefit of the network analysis is that it has same-time requirements regardless of the dimension of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Chongqing University of Posts & Telecommunications (Natural Science Edition) is the property of Chongqing University of Posts & Telecommunications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Featured Application: The systematic and generic method proposed in this study for the kinematic design and dynamic modelling for a class of complex hybrid robots is useful and applicable for the development of new hybrid robot products. Based on the proposed method, the mechanism of a new hybrid robot can be synthesized and analysed effectively; the dynamicmodel and control law of a complex robot can be formulated and simulated in a simplified and effective manner. Recently, more and more hybrid robots have been designed to meet the increasing demand for a wide spectrum of applications. However, development of a general and systematic method for kinematic design and dynamic analysis for hybrid robots is rare. Most publications deal with the kinematic and dynamic issues for individual hybrid robots rather than any generalization. Hence, in this paper, we present a novel method for kinematic and dynamic modelling for a class of hybrid robots. First, a generic scheme for the kinematic design of a general hybrid robot mechanism is proposed. In this manner, the kinematic equation and the constraint equations for the robot class are derived in a generalized case. Second, in order to simplify the dynamic modelling and analysis of the complex hybrid robots, a Lemma about the analytical relationship among the generalized velocities of a hybrid robot system is proven in a generalized case as well. Last, examples of the kinematic and dynamic modelling of a newly designed hybrid robot are presented to demonstrate and validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The out-of-plane bending problems of functionally graded thin plates with a circular hole are studied for two-dimensional deformations. The thin plates have arbitrary variations of elastic properties along the radial direction. The general solutions of the stresses and moments are presented for the plates subjected to remote bending moments based on the theory of complex variable functions. Two different cases—a whole functionally graded plate with a circular hole and a functionally graded ring reinforced in a homogeneous perforated plate—are considered by numerical examples. The influence of parameters like Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, function types of these elastic properties, and width of the reinforcing ring on the moments around the hole is presented. It is shown that the moment concentration, caused by the geometric discontinuity of the hole in the traditional homogeneous plate, can be well relieved or even eliminated by careful selection of the above parameters. The results for some special cases are compared with previous literatures and are found in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the finiteness problem of meromorphic funtions on an annulus sharing four values regardless of multiplicity. We prove that if three admissible meromorphic functions f1, f2, f3 on an annulus A(R0) share four distinct values regardless of multiplicity and have the complete identity set of positive counting function, then f1 = f2 or f2 = f3 or f3 = f1. This result deduces that there are at most two admissible meromorphic functions on an annulus sharing a value with multiplicity truncated to level 2 and sharing other three values regardless of multiplicity. This result also implies that there are at most three admissible meromorphic functions on an annulus sharing four values regard- less of multiplicities. These results are a generalization and improvement of the previous results on finiteness problem of meromorphic functions on C sharing four values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the complex analysis of the contribution of the merchants of Mykolayiv in the development of the religious life of the city. The author considers it expedient to reveal the main aspects of such activity of the merchant state at the end of XVIII - the beginning of XX century. The methods of systematic, quantitative and qualitative analysis and historical – typological methods are used in the study. The merchants of Mykolayiv belonged mainly to the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran directions of Christianity and Judaism. Some merchants took care of the construction and took part in the maintenance of the cult buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesise the empirical literature on the determinants and consequences of financial distress, critique the findings and offer suggestions for future research. We categorise these indicators into (i) firm‐level fundamental determinants, (ii) macroeconomic determinants and (iii) firm‐level corporate governance determinants. We categorise the consequences into (i) financial reporting and auditing consequences, (ii) firm‐level operational consequences, (iii) capital market consequences and (iv) corporate governance consequences. We suggest that future research can make a more meaningful contribution, by developing more comprehensive models of predicting financial distress which will entail a departure from the current partial analysis to a more holistic complex analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first detailed and holistic description of the European production network (EPN) and provides different rankings of the most "systemically important" industries involved in Brexit. Employing techniques of complex networks analysis and input–output traditional tools, the study identifies those industries that are key in the complex structure of the UK‐EU trade relationships. The method developed would help policymakers to better understand which tariff would have a more distortive impact, which export sector should be pushed, which imports should be safeguarded. Such information may have foremost importance in the negotiations between the UK and EU. Our findings suggest that Brexit would be not just a problem for the UK, as it is often portrayed, but any form of Brexit could propagate affecting the global production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to discover potential opportunity information in cross-organisation business processes (COBPs) is to identify the primary roles and actors, i.e. how to obtain their associations according to the interactive behaviours within the complex social networks. The information of roles in COBPs is commonly considered important and explicitly related with activities contained in COBPs. In this paper, we define a role as a configurable resource model integrating the capabilities and knowledge required to the qualified actors. Furthermore, we introduce two networks named as role-based interactive behaviour network and handover of work social network to investigate the information on roles. How to build the complex social network mapped on roles from COBPs is also discussed, and an approach to obtain the potential opportunity information is proposed by combining with the significance of roles and actors. The simulation result shows that the primary roles may not completely correspond to the central position in networks, but they are closely associated with more reliable actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that El Niño events can induce worldwide impacts. However, the fact that strong El Niño events do not necessarily induce strong impacts raises a new research question: how to estimate the impacts of El Niño events in advance? To address this question, we studied the El Niño impacts from the perspective of complex network. By comparing the results from five El Niño events with distinct impacts, we found that the phase transition of the surface air temperature network over tropical Pacific is closely related to the El Niño impacts. This phenomenon was used to explain the less‐than‐expected impacts of the strong 2015/2016 El Niño, which is suggested more like a Central Pacific‐Eastern Pacific mixed El Niño. To monitor the impacts objectively, we further proposed an index, which can be used in real‐time operations. Plain Language Summary: It is well known that El Niño event has substantial impacts on climate, which can induce extreme events or even natural disasters. There are a variety of indices (e.g., Niño3.4 index) to measure the strength of the El Niño, but the fact that strong El Niño does not necessarily mean strong impacts calls for appropriate approaches to quantify the El Niño impacts. Here we proved a close relation between the El Niño impacts and the state of the surface air temperature field over the tropical Pacific. That is, if an El Niño event is not strong enough to significantly alter the state of the upper surface air temperature field, then its influences will not be able to be remarkably transported to remote regions via atmospheric bridges. Using complex network analysis, we quantified the state changes of the surface air temperature field and proposed a new index to measure the El Niño impacts. The new index well distinguished the Eastern Pacific and the Central Pacific El Niño and explained the less‐than‐expected impacts of the 2015/2016 El Niño. Since the calculations are based on past observations, the approach proposed here can be used in operations for objective estimation of the El Niño impacts. Key Points: The El Niño impacts are linked with network phase transition analysisThe less‐than‐expected impacts of the El Niño in 2015/2016 are explainedEastern Pacific and Central Pacific El Niño events are well distinguished [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity in our genome is crucial to understanding the demographic history of worldwide populations. However, we have yet to know whether subtle genetic differences within a population can be disentangled, or whether they have an impact on complex traits. Here we apply dimensionality reduction methods (PCA, t-SNE, PCA-t-SNE, UMAP, and PCA-UMAP) to biobank-derived genomic data of a Japanese population (n = 169,719). Dimensionality reduction reveals fine-scale population structure, conspicuously differentiating adjacent insular subpopulations. We further enluciate the demographic landscape of these Japanese subpopulations using population genetics analyses. Finally, we perform phenome-wide polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses on 67 complex traits. Differences in PRS between the deconvoluted subpopulations are not always concordant with those in the observed phenotypes, suggesting that the PRS differences might reflect biases from the uncorrected structure, in a trait-dependent manner. This study suggests that such an uncorrected structure can be a potential pitfall in the clinical application of PRS. Population structure, even subtle differences within seemingly homogenous populations, can have an impact on the accuracy of polygenic prediction. Here, Sakaue et al. use dimensionality reduction methods to reveal fine-scale structure in the Biobank Japan cohort and explore the performance of polygenic risk scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative importance of host-specific selection or environmental factors in determining the composition of the intestinal microbiome in wild vertebrates remains poorly understood. Here, we used metagenomic shotgun sequencing of individual specimens to compare the levels of intra- and interspecific variation of intestinal microbiome communities in two ecotypes (NEAC and NCC) of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) that have distinct behavior and habitats and three Gadidae species that occupy a range of ecological niches. Interestingly, we found significantly diverged microbiomes among the two Atlantic cod ecotypes. Interspecific patterns of variation are more variable, with significantly diverged communities for most species' comparisons, apart from the comparison between coastal cod (NCC) and Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii), whose community compositions are not significantly diverged. The absence of consistent species-specific microbiomes suggests that external environmental factors, such as temperature, diet, or a combination thereof, comprise major drivers of the intestinal community composition of codfishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community detection has been designed as an axial field in Complex Network Analysis (CNA), since it allows to reveal cohesive and meaningful sub-graphs, recognize the features, functions, structure and dynamic of such complex networks. In this sense, various methods and approaches have been developed over the years to provide appropriate solutions to complex network paradigms, especially to community detection problems. Meanwhile, identifying communities in a given complex network is a big challenge for scientists, which needs a significant amount of literature and survey. In this paper, we detail literatures on community detection for complex networks, because of the need for researchers to perform reviews on the main papers related to identification of communities in complex networks, and in order to point out their principal strengths and limitations. We believe that this literature contribution can be a valuable source of information in particular for practitioners in the field of community detection, and do not include all existing contributions. Therefore, we have been interested in the value of the contribution of the selected approaches more than the chronological order of the publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the bending problem for a cantilever beam with a straight through-thickness crack, perpendicular to its axis under bending by concentrated force. Depending on the crack location in relation to the axis, crack faces may be in three states: perfect contact, particular contact, or noncontact. Using the theory of functions of complex variable and complex potentials, the considered problem was reduced to a linear conjunction one. An analytical solution of the problem was obtained. In the case of particular contact, the length of the contact area and stress intensity factors were determined. The ultimate force that causes beam destruction was determined. Numerical analyses of the problem were also performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide exposure to fine atmospheric particles can exasperate the risk of a wide range of heart and respiratory diseases, due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstreams. Epidemiological studies in Europe and elsewhere have established the evidence base pointing to the important role of PM2.5 (fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less) in causing over 4 million deaths per year. Traditional approaches to model atmospheric transportation of particles suffer from high dimensionality from both transport and chemical reaction processes, making multi-sale causal inference challenging. We apply alternative model reduction methods - a data-driven directed graph representation to infer spatial embeddedness and causal directionality. Using PM2.5 concentrations in 14 UK cities over a 12-month period, we construct an undirected correlation and a directed Granger causality network. We show for both reduced-order cases, the UK is divided into two northern and southern connected city communities, with greater spatial embedding in spring and summer. We go on to infer stability to disturbances via the network trophic coherence parameter, whereby we found that winter had the greatest vulnerability. As a result of our novel graph-based reduced modeling, we are able to represent high-dimensional knowledge into a causal inference and stability framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Trigonometric Box-Cox ARMA Trend Seasonal (TBATS) model has been designed to estimate complex cyclical patterns (e.g., weeks within years) in time series data. This paper seeks to evaluate its applicability to educational data, daily school attendance in particular. Attendance rates in four high schools are analyzed over a ten year period using TBATS to illustrate the presence of both weekly and annual patterns in three of the schools and only weekly patterns in the fourth. The model features are explicated and it is shown how the estimation of weekly and annual cycles enhances the description of the data and improves our understanding of how the assessment of endogenous variability contributes to our understanding of daily high school attendance behavior. R script is provided in an appendix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work demonstrates how a light structure can be easily designed through Topology Optimization even including complex analysis and sizing criteria such as hyperelastic Neo-Hookean materials for nonlinear analysis and aggregated stress constraints. The SIMP approach was adopted and two different strategies were analysed using an in house versatile MATLAB code. MMA was used as reference optimizer (in structural optimization) whereas a unified aggregation and relaxation method was adopted to deal with stress constraints. Feasibility was analyzed from the viewpoint of allowable stress verification. Two test cases are then studied: a morphing airfoil (for aeronautical applications) and a geometric inverter (for mechanics and bio-medical applications). For both, a hyperelastic Neo-Hookean material was chosen. Finally a complementary study on the effects of constraints and the input force intensity is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudo-values provide a method to perform regression analysis for complex quantities with right-censored data. A further complication, interval-censored data, appears when events such as dementia are studied in an epidemiological cohort. We propose an extension of the pseudo-value approach for interval-censored data based on a semi-parametric estimator computed using penalised likelihood and splines. This estimator takes interval-censoring and competing risks into account in an illness-death model. We apply the pseudo-value approach to three mean value parameters of interest in studies of dementia: the probability of staying alive and non-demented, the restricted mean survival time without dementia and the absolute risk of dementia. Simulation studies are conducted to examine properties of pseudo-values based on this semi-parametric estimator. The method is applied to the French cohort PAQUID, which included more than 3,000 non-demented subjects, followed for dementia for more than 25 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of neutron resonance transmission analysis to characterise samples with a complex geometry is discussed. Analytical expressions for such samples have been derived and implemented in the resonance shape analysis code REFIT. They were validated by experiments at the time-of-flight facility GELINA using a set of metallic natural copper samples and pellets made of silver mixed with uranium-oxide powder. The expressions were used to derive sample characteristics by a least squares adjustment to experimental transmission data. In addition, the resonance parameters of 63Cu and 65Cu for energies below 6.5 keV, which are reported in the literature and recommended in evaluated data libraries, were verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodological approach has been proposed for studying the effect of solvent nature on the adhesive properties of films of binary copolymers with different chain microstructures. The approach is based on a complex analysis of the thermodynamic work of adhesion in polymer–liquid model systems and the results of mechanical tests in combination with quantum-chemical calculations. The approach has been used for the first time for copolymers of styrene and n-butyl acrylate having gradient and random distributions of comonomer units over the chains, with the copolymers being synthesized by radical polymerization with reversible chain transfer. The results obtained have shown that the adhesive properties of the binary copolymer films may be regulated by varying the chemical nature of solvents from which they are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veins in pork thigh carcass are directly related to the quality of dry-cured ham, and consequently to its market value. Some veining defects over the surface of raw ham are easily detected by humans and precisely assessed by a specialist. However, the automatic evaluation of raw ham quality by image analysis poses some challenges to the traditional Computer Vision Systems (CVS), many of them grounded on the complex image pattern related to each defect level. To improve the CVS classification performance without overburdening feature extraction, as well as the common machine learning modelling, we propose Dual Stage Image Analysis (DSIA). DSIA is an additional step in a CVS, that was built in two stages based on the "divide and conquer" strategy. The first stage consists of splitting the region of interest into sub-regions to predict the presence of veining. In the second stage, the algorithm computes the number of veining sub-regions to assess the final defect level classification. A total of 194 raw ham samples were used to evaluate the DSIA performance in the experiments. Support Vector Machine and Random Forest algorithms were compared for inducing the classification model using 92 image features. Random Forest model was the best, capable of predicting defect level with 88.10% accuracy using DSIA. Without DSIA, the CVS with RF achieved an accuracy of 63.10%. • The proposed method improved the image pattern recognition of complex patterns. • The classification accuracy was improved by more than 20%. • A real dataset was explored with two different machine learning algorithms. • It is a straightforward method to perform embedded in the traditional CVS pipeline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategically placed Doppler lidars (DLs) offer insights into flow processes that are not observable with meteorological towers. For this study we use intersecting range height indicator (RHI) scans of scanning DLs to create four virtual towers. The measurements were performed during the Perdigão experiment, which set out to study atmospheric flows in complex terrain and to collect a high-quality dataset for the validation of meso- and microscale models. Here we focus on a period of 6 weeks from 1 May 2017 through 15 June 2017. During this Intensive Observation Period (IOP) data of six intersecting RHI scans are used to calculate wind speeds at four virtual towers located along the valley at Perdigão with a temporal resolution of 15 min. While meteorological towers were only up to 100 m tall, the virtual towers cover heights from 50 to 600 m above the valley floor. Thus, they give additional insights into the complex interactions between the flow inside the valley and higher up across the ridges. Along with the wind speed and direction, uncertainties of the virtual-tower retrieval were analyzed. A case study of a nighttime stable boundary layer flow with wave features in the valley is presented to illustrate the usefulness of the virtual towers in analyzing the spatially complex flow over the ridges during the Perdigão campaign. This study shows that, despite having uncoordinated scans, the retrieved virtual towers add value in observing flow in and above the valley. Additionally, the results show the virtual towers can more accurately capture the flow in areas where the assumptions for more traditional DL scan strategies break down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the collapse of complex systems can have severe consequences, vulnerability is often seen as the core problem of complex systems. Multilayer networks are powerful tools to analyze complex systems, but complex networks may not be the best choice to mimic subsystems. In this work, a cellular graph (CG) model is proposed within the framework of multilayer networks to analyze the vulnerability of complex systems. Specifically, cellular automata are considered the vertices of a dynamic graph-based model at the microlevel, and their links are modeled by graph edges governed by a stochastic model at the macrolevel. A Markov chain is introduced to illustrate the evolution of the graph-based model and to obtain the details of the vulnerability evolution with low-cost inferences. This CG model is proven to describe complex systems precisely. The CG model is implemented with two actual organizational systems, which are used on behalf of the typical flat structure and the typical pyramid structure, respectively. The computational results show that the pyramid structure is initially more robust, while the flat structure eventually outperforms it when being exposed to multiple-rounds strike. Finally, the sensitivity analysis results verify and strengthen the reliability of the conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Distributed slack bus (DSB) models for the resolution of power flow problems are a more realistic approach than the classical single slack bus concept. DSB models have been widely implemented in iterative approaches such as in Newton‐Raphson power flow methods. However, iterative algorithms may lead to incorrect solutions or may fail to reach convergence under inappropriate initial estimations. The holomorphic embedding load‐flow method (HELM) deals with the solution of the nonlinear power flow equations by means of complex analysis techniques, resulting in a deterministic and noniterative method, which is independent of initial estimations. As such, this paper proposes, from two different methodologies, a novel formulation and implementation of the DSB model for the HELM, which overcomes in that way the disadvantages of iterative methods and also incorporates the inherent advantages of DSB models. Moreover, this paper performs convergence and speed capability tests of the two proposed methodologies using two real‐size benchmark systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gas and crashed rock burst in 2009 in the Rudna Copper Mine was the motivation to re-investigate the dolomite succession of the first Permian cyclothem (Werra), which covers the ceiling section of the excavations. Gas traps were recognized by previous research; however, the stability of gas traps during mining operations has not been studied yet. Mitigation of future gas bursts requires a complex analysis of these gas traps, involving petrological, petrophysical and mechanical analysis of the reservoir dolomite facies. The results indicate the significant influence of dolomite texture, porosity and extent of late diagenetic dolomite cement on the reservoir and geomechanical properties, and the induced failure pattern of the dolomite facies. The mechanism of dolomite failure allowed for interpreting the degree of dolomite degassing during and after mining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many proteins in living organisms are glycosylated. As their glycan patterns exhibit protein‐, cell‐, and tissue‐specific heterogeneity, changes in the glycosylation levels could serve as useful indicators of various pathological and physiological states. Thus, the identification of glycoprotein biomarkers from specific changes in the glycan profiles of glycoproteins is a trending field. Lectin microarrays provide a new glycan analysis platform, which enables rapid and sensitive analysis of complex glycans without requiring the release of glycans from the protein. Recent developments in lectin microarray technology enable high‐throughput analysis of glycans in complex biological samples. In this review, we will discuss the basic concepts and recent progress in lectin microarray technology, the application of lectin microarrays in biomarker discovery, and the challenges and future development of this technology. Given the tremendous technical advancements that have been made, lectin microarrays will become an indispensable tool for the discovery of glycoprotein biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents an analytical solution for determining the dynamic characteristics of axially loaded piles embedded in elastic‐poroelastic layered soil of finite thickness. The interface between the elastic and poroelastic soil coincides with the groundwater table level, which is explicitly taken into account in the solution. The pile is modelled as elastic one‐dimensional rod to account for the effect of its dynamic characteristics on the response of the soil‐pile system. The solution is based on Biot's poroelastodynamic theory and the classical elastodynamic theory, which we use to establish the governing equations of the soil and pile. Accordingly, the pile base resistance, shaft reaction, and the complex impedance of soil‐pile system are obtained using the method of Hankel integral transformation. Following the validation of the derived solution, we identify the main parameters affecting the vertical dynamic impedance of the pile via a parametric study. The presented method poses as an efficient alternative for quickly estimating the dynamic characteristics of axially loaded piles, without having to resort to complex numerical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas, Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas is the property of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Universitas, Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas is the property of Universidad Politecnica Salesiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: In dementia care, the complexity of psychosocial needs and contextual variables often demands nonpharmacological interventions of a complex nature. The purpose of this scoping review was to investigate (1) how manuals published in refereed journals explaining procedures of complex interventions in dementia care are structured and their content disseminated and (2) to provide recommendations for future manuals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using four databases (Embase, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Scopus) following PRISMA-ScR and PICo method. The results were analysed using template analysis aiming to describe the possibility of tailoring the intervention, degree of flexibility of the manual and dissemination elements used in the manual. Results: A total of  882 records were identified, and 86 full-text articles were assessed. Nine articles containing manuals met the inclusion criteria. All of the included manuals allowed the user to tailor actions in the intervention to specific situations. Two-thirds of the manuals showed a medium degree of flexibility. The types of dissemination elements varied. All used written text, and some used various graphical organisers such as headlines and lists. None used illustrations or audio/video material. Conclusion: Currently, only few manuals for complex interventions in the field of dementia are published in refereed journals, all disseminated as written text. For future manuals, we suggest considering the inclusion of illustrations and/or audio/video material to describe actions, to allow for tailoring of the intervention, and to maintain a medium or low degree of flexibility by structuring the content hierarchically in phases while providing the user with detailed description of what to do, and how to decide what to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to examine eco-hotel business as a component of the hospitality industry and factor of activization of entrepreneurial activity in Ukraine. Research methods. Theoretical and methodological foundations of the research are scientific studies of the Ukrainian and foreign scholars who are engaged in exploring the hospitality industry. The main method of the research is systemic analysis for complex examination of prospects for the eco-hotels development in Ukraine and its southern region. The method of theoretical generalization and abstract-logical method are used to substantiate the necessity to expand the network of eco-hotels and improve the functioning of analogous means of lodging in the regions of Ukraine. Research results. The development of ecological hotels is a promising trend in the area of hospitality of Ukraine. The paper looks at the features of the functioning of eco-hotels as a factor of activization of entrepreneurial activity and also the main criteria for such means of lodging. It proves that the development of the network of eco-hotels contributes to attracting additional tourists and finance to the regional budgets. The study determines main directions of the development of eco-tourism in the southern region. Scientific novelty. It's identified characteristics of the functioning of eco-hotel businesses in the system of strategic development of Ukraine's regions. Practical significance of the obtained results consists in the possibility of using the proposals for efficient development of the eco-hotel industry in choosing the strategy for the development of Ukraine's regions. Tabl.: 1. Figs.:1. Refs.: 22. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the work was the assessment of the possibility of using Cadmould 3D-F® software based on numerical analysis to design complex injection moulding cavities with plasticised polymer feed channels on the example of an element requiring special dimensional accuracy. The overarching goal of the design process was to create the most advantageous geometry of the injection moulding cavity model and the dedicated material supply channels, which will minimize the effect of problems occurring during injection moulding process, such as processing shrinkage, surface collapse, warpage and mouldings deformation. As an additional criterion, the smallest possible degree of complexity of the designed system was adopted for economical reasons and elimination of subsequent production problems resulting from the complex geometry of the designed mould. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of international institutions means that states can be subject to multiple, overlapping and potentially incoherent international obligations. The regime complexity literature draws attention to this problem but says little about its character and causes. This article investigates whether and why two key components of the international economic surveillance regime – the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU) – impose conflicting obligations on the same states. Based on a comparative sentiment analysis of more than 400 surveillance documents and using differences in tone as a proxy for incoherence, our results show that the IMF was more pessimistic about member states' economic policies before the global financial crisis but less so thereafter. Our results suggest that differences in discretionary authority rather than the distribution of power drove such incoherence, with the EU's fiscal rules encouraging less pessimism before the global financial crisis and more pessimism thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study consensus and anti-consensus on the 3-sphere as the global optimization problems. The corresponding gradient descent algorithm is a dynamical systems on S 3 , that is known in Physics as non-Abelian Kuramoto model. This observation opens a slightly different insight into some previous results and also enables us to prove some novel results concerning consensus and balancing over the complete graph. In this way we fill some gaps in the existing theory. In particular, we prove that the anti-consensus algorithm over the complete graph on S 3 converges towards a balanced configuration if a certain mild condition on initial positions of agents is satisfied. The form of this condition indicates an unexpected relation with some important constructions from Complex Analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Legionella pneumophila effector MavC induces ubiquitination of the E2 ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme UBE2N by transglutamination, thereby abolishing its function in the synthesis of K63‐type polyubiquitin chains. The inhibition of UBE2N activity creates a conundrum because this E2 enzyme is important in multiple signaling pathways, including some that are important for intracellular L. pneumophila replication. Here, we show that prolonged inhibition of UBE2N activity by MavC restricts intracellular bacterial replication and that the activity of UBE2N is restored by MvcA, an ortholog of MavC (50% identity) with ubiquitin deamidase activity. MvcA functions to deubiquitinate UBE2N‐Ub using the same catalytic triad required for its deamidase activity. Structural analysis of the MvcA‐UBE2N‐Ub complex reveals a crucial role of the insertion domain in MvcA in substrate recognition. Our study establishes a deubiquitination mechanism catalyzed by a deamidase, which, together with MavC, imposes temporal regulation of the activity of UBE2N during L. pneumophila infection. Synopsis: Transglutaminase MavC of the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila catalyzes atypical ubiquitination of the host cell E2 ubiquitin conjugation enzyme UBE2N. Here, the L. pneumophila ubiquitin deamidase MvcA is found to reverse MavC‐induced UBE2N ubiquitination and to restore its activity to promote host cell survival at later stages of L. pneumophila infection. Expression of MvcA reduces MavC‐induced UBE2N ubiquitination.MvcA promotes synthesis of K63‐type polyubiquitin chains by UBE2N during L. pneumophila infection.MvcA is a UBE2N‐specific deubiquitinase that cleaves the isopeptide bond between Gln40 of ubiquitin and Lys92 of UBE2N.Structure of the MvcA‐UBE2N‐Ub complex reveals involvement of the MvcA "insertion domain" in substrate recognition.MvcA counteracts MavC activity at the late stage of infection to promote intracellular replication of L. pneumophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]