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The Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves are a way to visualize and represent extreme hydrometeorological rainfall events. In this article, an analysis of convective rainfall events recorded at the La Piedra Meteorological Station, Villa Clara, Cuba, was conducted. To develop IDF curves, the 2006- 2019 time series was analyzed. A partial duration series was generated, including intervals from 20 minutes to 4320 minutes, subjected to an outlier detection process. The series was divided into two categories: one for durations ≤ 720 minutes and another for durations > 720 minutes. The resulting series underwent nonparametric tests to assess their independence, randomness, homogeneity, and seasonality. Subsequently, they were fitted to the Generalized Pareto probability distribution and to a parametric equation of the Montana model, and then the curves were plotted for return periods of 10, 50 and 100. The Montana model led to obtaining correlation coefficients greater than 0.90 compared to the other methods used, significantly improving the quality of the fit in both categories. This research provides information to understand and plan the management of intense climatic phenomena and adequate risk management in an area where such studies are lacking, facilitating access to crucial data essential in the design and execution of hydraulic engineering projects in the region., Las curvas de Intensidad-Duración-Frecuencia (IDF) son una manera de visualizar y representar los eventos hidrometeorológicos extremos de lluvia. En este artículo se llevó a cabo un análisis de eventos de lluvias convectivas registrados en la Estación Meteorológica La Piedra, Villa Clara, Cuba. Para desarrollar curvas IDF se analizó la serie temporal 2006-2019. Se generó una serie de duración parcial que incluyó intervalos de 20 minutos hasta 4320 minutos, sometiéndola a un proceso de detección de datos anómalos. La serie se dividió en dos categorías: una para duraciones ≤ 720 minutos y otra para duraciones > 720 minutos. Las series resultantes se sometieron a pruebas no paramétricas para evaluar su independencia, aleatoriedad, homogeneidad y estacionalidad. Posteriormente, se procedió a ajustarlas a la distribución probabilística Generalizada de Pareto y a una ecuación paramétrica del modelo de Montana. Luego se grafica la representación de las curvas para períodos de retorno de 10, 50 y 100 años. El modelo de Montana condujo a la obtención de coeficientes de correlación superiores a 0.90 y a los demás métodos utilizados, mejorando significativamente la calidad del ajuste en ambas categorías. Esta investigación aporta información para comprender y planificar la gestión de fenómenos climáticos intensos, así como para una adecuada gestión de riesgos en una zona donde no se cuenta con este tipo de estudios. Asimismo, facilita el acceso a datos cruciales que resultan fundamentales en el diseño y ejecución de proyectos de ingeniería hidráulica en la zona.

The Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves are a way to visualize and represent extreme hydrometeorological rainfall events. In this article, an analysis of convective rainfall events recorded at the La Piedra Meteorological Station, Villa Clara, Cuba, was conducted. To develop IDF curves, the 2006- 2019 time series was analyzed. A partial duration series was generated, including intervals from 20 minutes to 4320 minutes, subjected to an outlier detection process. The series was divided into two categories: one for durations ≤ 720 minutes and another for durations > 720 minutes. The resulting series underwent nonparametric tests to assess their independence, randomness, homogeneity, and seasonality. Subsequently, they were fitted to the Generalized Pareto probability distribution and to a parametric equation of the Montana model, and then the curves were plotted for return periods of 10, 50 and 100. The Montana model led to obtaining correlation coefficients greater than 0.90 compared to the other methods used, significantly improving the quality of the fit in both categories. This research provides information to understand and plan the management of intense climatic phenomena and adequate risk management in an area where such studies are lacking, facilitating access to crucial data essential in the design and execution of hydraulic engineering projects in the region., Las curvas de Intensidad-Duración-Frecuencia (IDF) son una manera de visualizar y representar los eventos hidrometeorológicos extremos de lluvia. En este artículo se llevó a cabo un análisis de eventos de lluvias convectivas registrados en la Estación Meteorológica La Piedra, Villa Clara, Cuba. Para desarrollar curvas IDF se analizó la serie temporal 2006-2019. Se generó una serie de duración parcial que incluyó intervalos de 20 minutos hasta 4320 minutos, sometiéndola a un proceso de detección de datos anómalos. La serie se dividió en dos categorías: una para duraciones ≤ 720 minutos y otra para duraciones > 720 minutos. Las series resultantes se sometieron a pruebas no paramétricas para evaluar su independencia, aleatoriedad, homogeneidad y estacionalidad. Posteriormente, se procedió a ajustarlas a la distribución probabilística Generalizada de Pareto y a una ecuación paramétrica del modelo de Montana. Luego se grafica la representación de las curvas para períodos de retorno de 10, 50 y 100 años. El modelo de Montana condujo a la obtención de coeficientes de correlación superiores a 0.90 y a los demás métodos utilizados, mejorando significativamente la calidad del ajuste en ambas categorías. Esta investigación aporta información para comprender y planificar la gestión de fenómenos climáticos intensos, así como para una adecuada gestión de riesgos en una zona donde no se cuenta con este tipo de estudios. Asimismo, facilita el acceso a datos cruciales que resultan fundamentales en el diseño y ejecución de proyectos de ingeniería hidráulica en la zona.

In this paper, we study the order of the largest connected component of a random graph having two sources of randomness: first, the graph is chosen randomly from all graphs with a given degree sequence, and then bond percolation is applied. Far from being able to classify all such degree sequences, we exhibit several new threshold phenomena for the order of the largest component in terms of both sources of randomness. We also provide an example of a degree sequence for which the order of the largest component undergoes an unbounded number of jumps in terms of the percolation parameter, giving rise to a behavior that cannot be observed without percolation., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

In search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), it is important to isolate the true NCCs from their prerequisites, consequences, and co-occurring processes. To date, little is known about how attention affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of auditory awareness and there is contradictory evidence on whether one of them, the late positivity (LP), is affected by response requirements. By implementing a GO-NOGO design with target and nontarget stimuli, we controlled for feature-based attention and response requirements in the same experiment, while participants rated their awareness using a perceptual awareness scale. The results showed a prolonged auditory awareness negativity (AAN) for aware trials, which was influenced neither by attention nor by response requirement. The LP was affected by both attention and response requirements. Consistent with the levels of processing hypothesis, the LP was related to consciousness as a correlate of the processing of higher-level stimulus features, likely requiring access to a "global workspace." Our findings further suggest that AAN is a proper ERP correlate of auditory consciousness and thus a true NCC in the auditory modality., CC BY-NC 4.0Corresponding author. Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland.E-mail dmitri.d.flimonov@utu.fiThis research has received a grant from Signe and Ane Gyllenbergs Foundation

In search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), it is important to isolate the true NCCs from their prerequisites, consequences, and co-occurring processes. To date, little is known about how attention affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of auditory awareness and there is contradictory evidence on whether one of them, the late positivity (LP), is affected by response requirements. By implementing a GO-NOGO design with target and nontarget stimuli, we controlled for feature-based attention and response requirements in the same experiment, while participants rated their awareness using a perceptual awareness scale. The results showed a prolonged auditory awareness negativity (AAN) for aware trials, which was influenced neither by attention nor by response requirement. The LP was affected by both attention and response requirements. Consistent with the levels of processing hypothesis, the LP was related to consciousness as a correlate of the processing of higher-level stimulus features, likely requiring access to a "global workspace." Our findings further suggest that AAN is a proper ERP correlate of auditory consciousness and thus a true NCC in the auditory modality., CC BY-NC 4.0Corresponding author. Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland.E-mail dmitri.d.flimonov@utu.fiThis research has received a grant from Signe and Ane Gyllenbergs Foundation

In search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), it is important to isolate the true NCCs from their prerequisites, consequences, and co-occurring processes. To date, little is known about how attention affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of auditory awareness and there is contradictory evidence on whether one of them, the late positivity (LP), is affected by response requirements. By implementing a GO-NOGO design with target and nontarget stimuli, we controlled for feature-based attention and response requirements in the same experiment, while participants rated their awareness using a perceptual awareness scale. The results showed a prolonged auditory awareness negativity (AAN) for aware trials, which was influenced neither by attention nor by response requirement. The LP was affected by both attention and response requirements. Consistent with the levels of processing hypothesis, the LP was related to consciousness as a correlate of the processing of higher-level stimulus features, likely requiring access to a "global workspace." Our findings further suggest that AAN is a proper ERP correlate of auditory consciousness and thus a true NCC in the auditory modality., CC BY-NC 4.0Corresponding author. Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland.E-mail dmitri.d.flimonov@utu.fiThis research has received a grant from Signe and Ane Gyllenbergs Foundation

In search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), it is important to isolate the true NCCs from their prerequisites, consequences, and co-occurring processes. To date, little is known about how attention affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of auditory awareness and there is contradictory evidence on whether one of them, the late positivity (LP), is affected by response requirements. By implementing a GO-NOGO design with target and nontarget stimuli, we controlled for feature-based attention and response requirements in the same experiment, while participants rated their awareness using a perceptual awareness scale. The results showed a prolonged auditory awareness negativity (AAN) for aware trials, which was influenced neither by attention nor by response requirement. The LP was affected by both attention and response requirements. Consistent with the levels of processing hypothesis, the LP was related to consciousness as a correlate of the processing of higher-level stimulus features, likely requiring access to a "global workspace." Our findings further suggest that AAN is a proper ERP correlate of auditory consciousness and thus a true NCC in the auditory modality., CC BY-NC 4.0Corresponding author. Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland.E-mail dmitri.d.flimonov@utu.fiThis research has received a grant from Signe and Ane Gyllenbergs Foundation

Landslides are one of the most widespread, yet difficult to predict, geohazards in the world. Theyrepresent a major threat to society, which is why it is so important to understand and study them.Landslide detection is one of the approaches that help scientists to gain a better knowledge of landslides,how they form and the characteristics they hold. In this work, a new landslide detection technique istested in the Klarälven Region, Sweden. The method involves using multi-temporal DEMs generatedfrom LiDAR point clouds from 2010 and 2020. Once two respective DEMs are generated from theoriginal point cloud data sets, a DEM of Difference (DoD) is obtained by subtracting the 2010 DEMfrom the 2020 DEM. The DoD highlights areas of vertical change over the ten-year period. In order todetect potential landslides, a Level of detection (LoD) threshold is applied, as well as a second upperthreshold filtering out elevation difference resulting from anthropogenic activities. Lastly, a spatialthreshold is applied to eliminate any remaining potential errors clusters that are too small to belandslides. Once this stage is completed, the study area is surveyed, focusing on certain areacharacterised by particular slope angles and soil types most likely to exhibit mass movement. Thishelped in the analysis and interpretation of the data. In order to discuss the results as fully as possible,four types of region were studied in more detail using four representative examples. Since a few doubtfulcases were found, potential sources of error are also being explored. Despite minor inaccuracies, themethod appears to be a relevant technique for detecting differences in altitude, even if it also considersunnatural mass movements.

In search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs), it is important to isolate the true NCCs from their prerequisites, consequences, and co-occurring processes. To date, little is known about how attention affects the event-related potential (ERP) correlates of auditory awareness and there is contradictory evidence on whether one of them, the late positivity (LP), is affected by response requirements. By implementing a GO-NOGO design with target and nontarget stimuli, we controlled for feature-based attention and response requirements in the same experiment, while participants rated their awareness using a perceptual awareness scale. The results showed a prolonged auditory awareness negativity (AAN) for aware trials, which was influenced neither by attention nor by response requirement. The LP was affected by both attention and response requirements. Consistent with the levels of processing hypothesis, the LP was related to consciousness as a correlate of the processing of higher-level stimulus features, likely requiring access to a "global workspace." Our findings further suggest that AAN is a proper ERP correlate of auditory consciousness and thus a true NCC in the auditory modality., CC BY-NC 4.0Corresponding author. Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland.E-mail dmitri.d.flimonov@utu.fiThis research has received a grant from Signe and Ane Gyllenbergs Foundation

Firm-level bribery and regulation are two of the many determinants of firm performance. However, most of the existing studies examine the direct and linear effects of bribery and regulation and overlook their indirect effects. Using firm-level data, covering 20,343 firms in 78 developing countries, and employing a threshold model, the effects of firm performance’s standard determinants vary based on the bribery and regulation levels. Our findings reveal that the impact of bribery and regulation on firm performance varies significantly depending on corruption and regulation levels. Access to external finance improves firm performance if and only if the firms are exposed to bribes and firm-level regulation is below a given threshold. Furthermore, exports boost the performance of the firms that are exposed to more bribery and spend more time with regulation than those that face lower levels of regulation and bribery. While bribery harms firm performance, our findings reveal that spending time with regulation could improve firm performance if firms are exposed to low levels of bribery. Our findings confirm the ‘sand the wheels’ hypothesis and limiting firm-level bribery improves firm performance.

Nutrients serve physiological functions in a dose-dependent manner and that needs to be recognized in risk assessment. An example of the consequences of not properly considering this can be seen in a recent assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA concluded in 2022 that the intake of added and free sugars should be “as low as possible in the context of a nutritionally adequate diet”. That conclusion of EFSA is based on the effects on two surrogate endpoints for an adverse effect found in randomized controlled trials with high sugars intake levels: fasting glucose and fasting triglycerides. The lowest intake levels in these trials were around 10 energy% and at this intake level there were no adverse effects on the two outcomes. This indicates that the adverse effects of sugars have an observable threshold value for these two endpoints. The most appropriate interpretation from the vast amount of data is that currently no definitive conclusion can be drawn on the tolerable upper intake level for dietary sugars. Therefore, EFSA's own guidance would lead to the conclusion that the available data do not allow the setting of an upper limit for added sugars and hence, that more robust data are required to identify the threshold value for intake of sugars.

The global movement for ecosystem restoration has gained momentum in response to the Bonn Challenge (2010) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UNDER, 2021–2030). While several science-based guidelines exist to aid in achieving successful restoration outcomes, significant variation remains in the outcomes of restoration projects. Some of this disparity can be attributed to unexpected responses of ecosystem components to planned interventions. Given the complex nature of ecosystems, we propose that concepts from Complex Systems Science (CSS) that are linked to non-linearity, such as regime shifts, ecological resilience and ecological feedbacks, should be employed to help explain this variation in restoration outcomes from an ecological perspective. Our framework, Explore Before You Restore, illustrates how these concepts impact restoration outcomes by influencing degradation and recovery trajectories. Additionally, we propose incorporating CSS concepts into the typical restoration project cycle through a CSS assessment phase and suggest that the need for such assessment is explicitly included in the guidelines to improve restoration outcomes. To facilitate this inclusion and make it workable by practitioners, we describe indicators and methods available for restoration teams to answer key questions that should make up such CSS assessment. In doing so, we identify key outstanding science and policy tasks that are needed to further operationalize CSS assessment in restoration. Synthesis and applications. By illustrating how key Complex Systems Science (CSS) concepts linked to non-linear threshold behaviour can impact restoration outcomes through influencing recovery trajectories, our framework Explore Before You Restore demonstrates the need to incorporate Complex Systems thinking in ecosystem restoration. We argue that inclusion of CSS assessment into restoration project cycles, and more broadly, into international restoration guidelines, may significantly impr

Purpose Intensive care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) aims, among other tasks, at avoiding high intracranial pressure (ICP), which is perceived to worsen motor and cognitive deficits and increase mortality. International recommendations for threshold values for ICP were increased from 20 to 22 mmHg in 2016 following the findings in a study by Sorrentino et al., which were based on an observational study of patients with TBI of averaged ICP values. We aimed to reproduce their approach and validate the findings in a separate cohort. Methods Three hundred thirty-one patients with TBI were included and categorised according to survival/death and favourable/unfavourable outcome at 6 months (based on Glasgow Outcome Score—Extended of 6–8 and 1—5, respectively). Repeated chi-square tests of survival and death (or favourable and unfavourable outcome) vs. high and low ICP were conducted with discrimination between high and low ICP sets at increasing values (integers) between 10 and 35 mmHg, using the average ICP for the entire monitoring period. The ICP limit returning the highest chi-square score was assumed to be the threshold with best discriminative ability. This approach was repeated after stratification by sex, age, and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). Results An ICP limit of 18 mmHg was found for both mortality and unfavourable outcome for the entire cohort. The female and the low GCS subgroups both had threshold values of 18 mmHg; for all other subgroups, the threshold varied between 16 and 30 mmHg. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, initial GCS, and average ICP are independently associated with mortality and outcome. Conclusions Using identical methods and closely comparable cohorts, the critical thresholds for ICP found in the study by Sorrentino et al. could not be reproduced., PURPOSE: Intensive care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) aims, among other tasks, at avoiding high intracranial pressure (ICP), which is perceived to worsen motor and cognitive deficits and increase mortality. International recommendations for threshold values for ICP were increased from 20 to 22 mmHg in 2016 following the findings in a study by Sorrentino et al., which were based on an observational study of patients with TBI of averaged ICP values. We aimed to reproduce their approach and validate the findings in a separate cohort. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-one patients with TBI were included and categorised according to survival/death and favourable/unfavourable outcome at 6 months (based on Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended of 6-8 and 1-5, respectively). Repeated chi-square tests of survival and death (or favourable and unfavourable outcome) vs. high and low ICP were conducted with discrimination between high and low ICP sets at increasing values (integers) between 10 and 35 mmHg, using the average ICP for the entire monitoring period. The ICP limit returning the highest chi-square score was assumed to be the threshold with best discriminative ability. This approach was repeated after stratification by sex, age, and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). RESULTS: An ICP limit of 18 mmHg was found for both mortality and unfavourable outcome for the entire cohort. The female and the low GCS subgroups both had threshold values of 18 mmHg; for all other subgroups, the threshold varied between 16 and 30 mmHg. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, initial GCS, and average ICP are independently associated with mortality and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Using identical methods and closely comparable cohorts, the critical thresholds for ICP found in the study by Sorrentino et al. could not be reproduced.

Purpose Intensive care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) aims, among other tasks, at avoiding high intracranial pressure (ICP), which is perceived to worsen motor and cognitive deficits and increase mortality. International recommendations for threshold values for ICP were increased from 20 to 22 mmHg in 2016 following the findings in a study by Sorrentino et al., which were based on an observational study of patients with TBI of averaged ICP values. We aimed to reproduce their approach and validate the findings in a separate cohort. Methods Three hundred thirty-one patients with TBI were included and categorised according to survival/death and favourable/unfavourable outcome at 6 months (based on Glasgow Outcome Score—Extended of 6–8 and 1—5, respectively). Repeated chi-square tests of survival and death (or favourable and unfavourable outcome) vs. high and low ICP were conducted with discrimination between high and low ICP sets at increasing values (integers) between 10 and 35 mmHg, using the average ICP for the entire monitoring period. The ICP limit returning the highest chi-square score was assumed to be the threshold with best discriminative ability. This approach was repeated after stratification by sex, age, and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). Results An ICP limit of 18 mmHg was found for both mortality and unfavourable outcome for the entire cohort. The female and the low GCS subgroups both had threshold values of 18 mmHg; for all other subgroups, the threshold varied between 16 and 30 mmHg. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, initial GCS, and average ICP are independently associated with mortality and outcome. Conclusions Using identical methods and closely comparable cohorts, the critical thresholds for ICP found in the study by Sorrentino et al. could not be reproduced., PURPOSE: Intensive care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) aims, among other tasks, at avoiding high intracranial pressure (ICP), which is perceived to worsen motor and cognitive deficits and increase mortality. International recommendations for threshold values for ICP were increased from 20 to 22 mmHg in 2016 following the findings in a study by Sorrentino et al., which were based on an observational study of patients with TBI of averaged ICP values. We aimed to reproduce their approach and validate the findings in a separate cohort. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-one patients with TBI were included and categorised according to survival/death and favourable/unfavourable outcome at 6 months (based on Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended of 6-8 and 1-5, respectively). Repeated chi-square tests of survival and death (or favourable and unfavourable outcome) vs. high and low ICP were conducted with discrimination between high and low ICP sets at increasing values (integers) between 10 and 35 mmHg, using the average ICP for the entire monitoring period. The ICP limit returning the highest chi-square score was assumed to be the threshold with best discriminative ability. This approach was repeated after stratification by sex, age, and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). RESULTS: An ICP limit of 18 mmHg was found for both mortality and unfavourable outcome for the entire cohort. The female and the low GCS subgroups both had threshold values of 18 mmHg; for all other subgroups, the threshold varied between 16 and 30 mmHg. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, initial GCS, and average ICP are independently associated with mortality and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Using identical methods and closely comparable cohorts, the critical thresholds for ICP found in the study by Sorrentino et al. could not be reproduced.

In a society where food poverty is affecting more and more people. The presence of social food initiatives, such as community kitchens, is of growing importance. This paper investigates London’s high streets in search of tools to achieve the acknowledgement of social food provision in the everyday life of society. Something which is still not widely accepted but necessary. The high street is the chosen vibrant multicultural context that can assist and make use of this necessary transition. To provide transition is to consider transition and there the transitional moments of the high street social experience are investigated. After setting out the different meanings and scales of transition and thresholds, a socio-spatial urban and microanalysis of several London high streets is performed. The changing daily activities and rhythms of the high street experience point out that it is important to consider the high street as a social space which holds a great variety of social transitional factors but could benefit from a broader reservoir of possibilities. I further conclude that the material and sensory experience influences the degree of intimacy of the lived experience. The possibility to choose from different intimacies grants people the opportunity to control their degree of anonymity and inclusivity. After years of underinvestment, the high streets could consider a reciprocating program such as a community kitchen among other possibilities. A place which gives to society and the society that gives back to the high street., Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Architectural Design Crossovers

This project investigates a specific concept within architecture: the portal. Divided into eight independent chapters, all possible to read as stand-alone parts, the thesis – a hybrid essay consisting of text, images, drawings and models – uses the portal as a springboard, or tool, for approaching existing theories on the invisible forces that shape the world and our built environment. The chapter Nature approaches the portal and architecture as separator from "nature", the chapter Ritual as a ritual device for transition, the chapter Myth as a mythological archetype, the chapter Liminal as interstitial space and recursion, the chapter Depth as an enhancer of depth, the chapter Speed as a technological machine, and finally, the epilogue concludes that architectural practice in large can be interpreted as the creation of different types of portals. Architecture, both as a subject and as a practice, has the potential to manifest and mediate between various supplementary relationships, such as interior and exterior, nature and culture, sacred and profane, heaven and earth, past and future, between sign and signified, us and them, between order and chaos, between subject and object, thought and action, private and public, rationality and imagination, flat and three-dimensional, flesh and matter (the list can go on forever). The portal works both as an analogy for this and as an actual tool; partly by changing the character of adjacent spaces by such basic things as placing a door in a wall or placing a building in a landscape, but partly by finding new ways to bridge between extremities, without necessarily dissolving them completely.

This project investigates a specific concept within architecture: the portal. Divided into eight independent chapters, all possible to read as stand-alone parts, the thesis – a hybrid essay consisting of text, images, drawings and models – uses the portal as a springboard, or tool, for approaching existing theories on the invisible forces that shape the world and our built environment. The chapter Nature approaches the portal and architecture as separator from "nature", the chapter Ritual as a ritual device for transition, the chapter Myth as a mythological archetype, the chapter Liminal as interstitial space and recursion, the chapter Depth as an enhancer of depth, the chapter Speed as a technological machine, and finally, the epilogue concludes that architectural practice in large can be interpreted as the creation of different types of portals. Architecture, both as a subject and as a practice, has the potential to manifest and mediate between various supplementary relationships, such as interior and exterior, nature and culture, sacred and profane, heaven and earth, past and future, between sign and signified, us and them, between order and chaos, between subject and object, thought and action, private and public, rationality and imagination, flat and three-dimensional, flesh and matter (the list can go on forever). The portal works both as an analogy for this and as an actual tool; partly by changing the character of adjacent spaces by such basic things as placing a door in a wall or placing a building in a landscape, but partly by finding new ways to bridge between extremities, without necessarily dissolving them completely.

Sevilla, joya del sur de España, abrazada por el sol y bañada por el río Guadalquivir. Sus calles rebosantes de historia son testigos de un pasado glorioso y de una vida vibrante en la actualidad. Calles y plazas son protagonistas de encuentros y celebraciones, donde la magia y la belleza se encuentran para dejar una huella eterna. Con el propósito de desarrollar una adecuada valoración de los corrales de vecinos que nos rodean, elaboraremos una interpretación única de la historia de la ciudad, una nueva narrativa sobre la vida oculta que se encuentra detrás de esta tipología edificatoria. Buscaremos conectar con lo que allí ha ocurrido, con las actividades desarrolladas, pero también con las personas que allí habitaron, para resaltar el valor de cada uno de los elementos que conforman, en definitiva, la vida en comunidad. El valor material de la arquitectura se entremezcla con el valor inmaterial de las relaciones personales que se establecen. Se extraerán conceptos básicos dentro de esta tipología y será aplicados a las viviendas sociales contemporáneas, que representan una reinterpretación moderna de estos. Un estudio revelador que pretende concienciar de la importancia de esta tipología, volviendo a nuestros orígenes, y haciendo que construyamos un futuro común., Seville, jewel of southern Spain, embraced by the sun and bathed by the Guadalquivir River. Its streets brimming with history are witnesses of a glorious past and a vibrant life today. Streets and squares are the protagonists of encounters and celebrations, where magic and beauty meet to leave an eternal footprint. With the purpose of developing a proper appreciation of the “Corrales de Vecinos” that surround us, we will elaborate a unique interpretation of the history of the city, a new narrative about the hidden life that lies behind this building typology. We will seek to connect with what has happened there, with the activities developed, but also with the people who lived there, to highlight the value of each of the elements that constitute, ultimately, community life. The material value of the architecture is intermingled with the immaterial value of the personal relationships that are established. Basic concepts within this typology will be extracted and applied to contemporary social housing, which represents a modern reinterpretation of these. A revealing study that aims to raise awareness of the importance of this typology, returning to our origins, and making us build a common future.

Relentless overexploitation of natural resources has led to resource scarcity, environmentaldegradation and rising inequalities, straining social-ecological systems to breaking point.Ecosystems providing shared resources often respond non-linearly to resource pressuresbeyond critical thresholds, so-called regime shifts, jeopardizing the stable and just provisionof natural resources. Avoiding these critical thresholds is imperative, as not everyone canadapt to drastic changes in resource availability and distribution. In an unequal world wherecapacities to adapt to crossing critical thresholds vary substantially across individuals, groupsand countries, our understanding of behavioural responses remains limited. This thesisexplores whether and how inequality in adaptive capacities within groups sharing a naturalresource influence both the likelihood of groups crossing a critical threshold and groupdynamics. 160 students from the University of Exeter participated in an online Common-PoolResource (CPR) laboratory experiment comparing inequality and baseline treatments. Whileunequal adaptive capacities did not affect group’s likelihood of crossing the threshold, theynegatively impacted social dynamics and perceptions. Participants with low adaptive capacity(LAC) responded to the threat of the threshold by reducing their harvest significantly whencompared to participants with high adaptive capacity (HAC). Therefore, latent inequalities inthe choice context created real inequalities in resource allocation. Furthermore, HACparticipants lacked identification with the disadvantaged group as evidenced by lowerperceived group efficacy and no reduction in harvest. When the harvest was shared unequally,inequalities were more pronounced in the inequality treatment compared to the baseline.Investigating emotions revealed unexpected findings: Participants did not strongly experienceguilt despite its relevance in prior research, instead, positive emotions, particularlycompassion, wer, Inequality and the Biosphere: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in an Unequal World

Ozone (O3)-induced health effects vary in terms of severity, from deterioration of lung function and hospitalization to death. Several studies have reported a linear increase in health risks after O3 exposure. However, current evidence suggests a non-linear U- and J-shaped concentration-response (C-R) function. The potential increasing risks with decreasing O3 concentrations may seem counterintuitive from the traditional standpoint that decreasing exposure should lead to decreasing health risks. Tus, the question of whether the increasing risks with decreasing concentrations are truly O3-induced or might be from other C-R mechanisms. If these potential risks were not accounted for, this may have contributed to the risks observed at the low ozone concentration range. In this study, we examined the short-term effects of photochemical oxidant (Ox, parts per billiion) on outpatient cardiorespiratory visits in 21 Japanese cities after adjusting for other air pollutant-specific C-R functions. Daily cardiorespiratory visits from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 were obtained from the Japanese Medical Data Center Co. Ltd. Similar period of meteorological and air pollution variables were obtained from relevant data sources. We utilized a time-stratified case crossover design coupled with the generalized additive mixed model (TSCC-GAMM) to estimate the association between Ox and cardiorespiratory outpatient visits, after adjusting for several covariates. A total of 2,588,930 visits were recorded across the study period, with a mean of 111.87 and a standard deviation of 138.75. The results revealed that crude Ox-cardiorespiratory visits exhibited a U-shaped pattern. However, adjustment of the oxides of nitrogen, particularly nitrogen monoxide (NO), attenuated the lower risk curve and subsequently altered the shape of the C-R function, with a substantial reduction observed during winter. NO- and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-adjusted Ox-cardiorespiratory associations increased nea

BackgroundAs perception of penile curvature varies widely, we sought to understand how adults perceive curvature and how these opinions compare with those of patients with curvature, specifically Peyronie's disease (PD).AimTo investigate the perspectives of curvature correction from adults with and without PD, as well as differences within demographics.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to adult patients and nonpatient companions in general urology clinics at 3 institutions across the United States. Men, women, and nonbinary participants were recruited. Patients were grouped as having PD vs andrology conditions without PD vs general urology conditions plus companions. The survey consisted of unlabeled 2-dimensional images of penis models with varying degrees of curvature. Participants selected images that they would want surgically corrected for themselves and their children. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify demographic variables associated with willingness to correct.OutcomesOur main outcome was to detect differences in threshold to correct curvature between those with and without PD.ResultsParticipants were grouped as follows: PD (n = 141), andrology (n = 132), and general (n = 302) . Respectively, 12.8%, 18.9%, and 19.9% chose not to surgically correct any degree of curvature (P = .17). For those who chose surgical correction, the mean threshold for correction was 49.7°, 51.0°, and 51.0° (P = .48); for their children, the decision not to correct any degree of curvature was 21.3%, 25.4%, and 29.3% (P = .34), which was significantly higher than correction for themselves (P < .001). The mean threshold for their children's correction was 47.7°, 53.3°, and 49.4° for the PD, andrology, and general groups (P = .53), with thresholds no different vs themselves (P = .93). On multivariable analysis, no differences were seen in demographics within the PD and andrology groups. In the general group, participants aged 45 to 54 y

"Where the power of the wall is to deny, the power of the door is to permit, and allow entry. 1" Borders are represented on maps as thick, predetermined lines that delineate, separate, and segregate one area from another. A whole is divided into two or more parts. Borders become boundaries and, in reality, are abstract and intangible, often responsible for creating both geographic and political havoc. In between a border are thresholds that signal a transition between layers, spaces, times, and countries. This project engages within this Liminal space, an in-between of the threshold. Prompted by humanitarian and political crises, thousands of people are fleeing their homes in search of safety and protection from danger, including persecution for protected reasons such as race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. Many, like unaccompanied minors, travel dangerous paths to seek asylum at one of these borders, which promise safety and security from the violent conditions in their countries. In the USA and elsewhere, seeking asylum is a human right. Simultaneously, thousands of people whose claims for asylum are unsuccessful are detained, deported, or repatriated. In 1873, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, the 27th President of Mexico (1872 to 1876) declared, "Let there be a desert between strength and weakness." The United States of America and the United Mexican States share a historically-contested 1,954-mile border. Any wall separating two countries belongs to both countries. This thesis considers borders as more than places that close or delimit one place from another, but also as opportunities to expand into living and organic spaces. Borders both delimit and negotiate between two sides of neither a single state nor a single place but as thresholds which hundreds of thousands of separate lives navigate every single day along the border regions. This thesis explores how architecture focused on empowering at-risk asylum seekers can shape the border space. In partic

Freshwater salinization syndrome is a rising threat globally which results in increased ion concentrations in inland freshwaters. This syndrome threatens healthy aquatic ecosystems and can alter the perception of the potability of finished drinking water. The Occoquan Reservoir, located in Northern Virginia, is a freshwater system that is facing rising salinization. Stakeholders for the reservoir have been convened to address these rising salinization concerns. Among these stakeholders, there are a variety of viewpoints on the significance of the salinization, which is preventing a high level of convergence around this threat. To assist in contextualizing this system, empirical cumulative distribution functions were generated from data gathered from various governmental sources and compared the reservoir's watershed and finished drinking water ion concentrations. These analyses show that the watershed and finished drinking water have some of the highest concentrations of sodium and chloride statewide. Additional investigations determined the trend of sodium increases in finished drinking water since the 1980s. Monte Carlo simulations were ran to determined whether there would be risks to human from ingesting this water should this trend continued. Results from these analyses greatly varied due to the wide range in drinking water ingestion rates. The purpose of these analyses is to assist with stakeholder convergence around the level of threat salinization poses to the reservoir and to initiate discussions of what an acceptable threshold for management could be.

Offentlig upphandling ska ske med alla företag i åtanke, och regelverket ska gynna en sund konkurrens. Tidigare studier har dock visat att mindre företag upplever hinder i samband med offentlig upphandling, regelverket som reglerar denna och dess praktiska implementering.Studien syftar till att undersöka om mindre företag, så kallade SME, i Sverige upplever hinder med offentlig upphandling och om dessa går att koppla till företagets storlek.En enkätundersökning på ämnet har genomförts och skickats ut till SME inom byggbranschen. Undersökningen har visat att SME upplever vissa problem med offentlig upphandling och att företagets storlek gör skillnad i hur den upplevs. Gemensamt för alla företagsstorlekar i undersökningen är upplevelsen att det vore gynnsamt med större fokus på kvalitet i offentlig upphandling., Public procurement should be undertaken with all businesses in mind, and the regulatory framework should promote fair competition. However, previous studies have shown that smaller companies experience barriers related to public procurement, the regulatory framework governing it and its practical implementation. The study aims to investigate whether smaller companies, so-called SMEs, in Sweden experience obstacles with public procurement and whether these can be linked to the size of the company. A survey on the subject has been conducted and was sent to SMEs in the construction industry. The survey has shown that SMEs experience certain problems with public procurement and that the size of the company makes a difference in how it is perceived. Common to all company sizes in this study is the perception that it would be beneficial to have a greater focus on quality in public procurement., 2023-06-27

Firm-level bribery and regulation are two of the many determinants of firm performance. However, most of the existing studies examine the direct and linear effects of bribery and regulation and overlook their indirect effects. Using firm-level data, covering 20,343 firms in 78 developing countries, and employing a threshold model, the effects of firm performance’s standard determinants vary based on the bribery and regulation levels. Our findings reveal that the impact of bribery and regulation on firm performance varies significantly depending on corruption and regulation levels. Access to external finance improves firm performance if and only if the firms are exposed to bribes and firm-level regulation is below a given threshold. Furthermore, exports boost the performance of the firms that are exposed to more bribery and spend more time with regulation than those that face lower levels of regulation and bribery. While bribery harms firm performance, our findings reveal that spending time with regulation could improve firm performance if firms are exposed to low levels of bribery. Our findings confirm the ‘sand the wheels’ hypothesis and limiting firm-level bribery improves firm performance.

© 1993The American Physical Society. This work has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain) (CICYT AEN 90-0034), We apply the one-loop results of the SU(3)L X SU(3)R chiral perturbation theory supplemented with the inverse-amplitude method to fit the available experimental data on pipi and piK scattering. With essentially only three parameters we describe accurately data corresponding to six different channels: namely, (I,J) = (0,0), (2,0), (1,1), (1/2, 0), (3/2, 0), and (1/2, 1). In addition we reproduce the first resonances of the (1, 1) and (1/2, 1) channel with the right mass corresponding to the rho and the K* (892) particles., Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain), CICYT, Depto. de Física Teórica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

© 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. We thank J. A. Rodrigo and T. Alieva for valuable discussions and advice. We thank the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competividad under Projects TEC 2011-23629, CTQ2008-02578/BQU, and CTQ2012-37404-C02-01 and Consolider program SAUUL CSD2007-00013 and from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento. The facilities provided by the Center of Ultrashort Lasers at Madrid Complutense University are gratefully acknowledged., A procedure to characterize the induced damage and the incubation effects in volume transmission gratings under femtosecond laser pulse train illumination is presented. It was also developed a formalism that explains the damage processes. Our proposal was employed on glass gratings to show the effectiveness of the method and its potential to design transmission gratings with enhanced laser induced damage threshold. This procedure is able to be extended to any transmission grating composed by chemically non-uniform material, opening up new perspectives to femtosecond laser pulse shaping., Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competividad, Consolider program SAUUL, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento, Depto. de Óptica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

Ozone (O3)-induced health effects vary in terms of severity, from deterioration of lung function and hospitalization to death. Several studies have reported a linear increase in health risks after O3 exposure. However, current evidence suggests a non-linear U- and J-shaped concentration-response (C-R) function. The potential increasing risks with decreasing O3 concentrations may seem counterintuitive from the traditional standpoint that decreasing exposure should lead to decreasing health risks. Tus, the question of whether the increasing risks with decreasing concentrations are truly O3-induced or might be from other C-R mechanisms. If these potential risks were not accounted for, this may have contributed to the risks observed at the low ozone concentration range. In this study, we examined the short-term effects of photochemical oxidant (Ox, parts per billiion) on outpatient cardiorespiratory visits in 21 Japanese cities after adjusting for other air pollutant-specific C-R functions. Daily cardiorespiratory visits from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 were obtained from the Japanese Medical Data Center Co. Ltd. Similar period of meteorological and air pollution variables were obtained from relevant data sources. We utilized a time-stratified case crossover design coupled with the generalized additive mixed model (TSCC-GAMM) to estimate the association between Ox and cardiorespiratory outpatient visits, after adjusting for several covariates. A total of 2,588,930 visits were recorded across the study period, with a mean of 111.87 and a standard deviation of 138.75. The results revealed that crude Ox-cardiorespiratory visits exhibited a U-shaped pattern. However, adjustment of the oxides of nitrogen, particularly nitrogen monoxide (NO), attenuated the lower risk curve and subsequently altered the shape of the C-R function, with a substantial reduction observed during winter. NO- and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-adjusted Ox-cardiorespiratory associations increased nea

We consider a SIR-type compartmental model divided into two age classes to explain the seasonal exacerbations of bacterial meningitis, especially among children outside of the meningitis belt. We describe the seasonal forcing through time-dependent transmission parameters that may represent the outbreak of the meningitis cases after the annual pilgrimage period (Hajj) or uncontrolled inflows of irregular immigrants. We present and analyse a mathematical model with time-dependent transmission. We consider not only periodic functions in the analysis but also general non-periodic transmission processes. We show that the long-time average values of transmission functions can be used as a stability marker of the equilibrium. Furthermore, we interpret the basic reproduction number in case of time-dependent transmission functions. Numerical simulations support and help visualize the theoretical results., Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) - 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Project [119F162], This research is supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) within the scope of the 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Project (119F162).

We consider a SIR-type compartmental model divided into two age classes to explain the seasonal exacerbations of bacterial meningitis, especially among children outside of the meningitis belt. We describe the seasonal forcing through time-dependent transmission parameters that may represent the outbreak of the meningitis cases after the annual pilgrimage period (Hajj) or uncontrolled inflows of irregular immigrants. We present and analyse a mathematical model with time-dependent transmission. We consider not only periodic functions in the analysis but also general non-periodic transmission processes. We show that the long-time average values of transmission functions can be used as a stability marker of the equilibrium. Furthermore, we interpret the basic reproduction number in case of time-dependent transmission functions. Numerical simulations support and help visualize the theoretical results., Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) - 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Project [119F162], This research is supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) within the scope of the 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Project (119F162).

[Resumen] Los umbrales son lugares en los cuales dos conceptos opuestos como interior/exterior llegan a equilibrarse logrando un espacio con sensación de intermedio. Dotarlos de características que participen de ambos mundos, adquiriendo carácter propio, sin desvincularse del edificio ni del entorno, implica un cuidado minucioso a la hora de proyectar y materializar su conexión con el terreno. Un umbral paradigmático para su estudio es el del Banco Bilbao de Castellana 81. En él, Oíza logra, mediante una implantación singular a modo de cráter, una gradación desde la calle al edificio por la cual nos hace fluir desdibujando el punto en el que dejamos de estar en uno, para acceder al otro. Con el análisis eminentemente gráfico y de experimentación directa, se percibe cómo una manipulación intencionada de la luz, el sonido o el espacio, contribuyen a crear equilibrio entre espacios aparentemente opuestos. Mediante el descuelgue de la fachada y el acercamiento del terreno a ella, se consigue definir un espacio contenido en equilibrio interior/exterior., [Resumo] Os limiares son lugares nos cales dous conceptos opostos como interior/exterior chegan a equilibrarse logrando un espazo con sensación de intermedio. Dotalos de características que participen de ambos os mundos, adquirindo carácter propio, sen desvincularse do edificio nin da contorna, implica un coidado minucioso á hora de proxectar e materializar a súa conexión co terreo. Un limiar paradigmático para o seu estudo é o do Banco Bilbao de Castellana 81. Nel, Oíza logra mediante unha implantación singular a modo de cráter, unha gradación desde a rúa ao edificio pola cal nos fai fluír desdibujando o punto no que deixamos de estar nun para acceder ao outro. Coa análise eminentemente gráfica e de experimentación directa, percíbese como unha manipulación intencionada da luz, o son ou o espazo, contribúen a crear equilibrio entre espazos aparentemente opostos. Mediante o descolgue da fachada e o achegamento do terreo a ela, conséguese definir un espazo contido en equilibrio interior/exterior., [Abstract] Thresholds are places where two opposing concepts such as interior/exterior come to balance each other, achieving a space with a sense of in-betweenness. Providing them with characteristics that participate in both worlds, acquiring their own character, without disassociating themselves from the building or the surroundings, implies meticulous care when designing and materialising their connection with the land. A paradigmatic threshold for his study is that of the Banco Bilbao in Castellana 81. In it, Oíza achieves, by means of a singular crater-like implantation, a gradation from the street to the building through which he makes us flow, blurring the point at which we cease to be in one to access the other. With the eminently graphic analysis and direct experimentation, it is perceived how an intentional manipulation of light, sound or space contributes to creating balance between apparently opposing spaces. By hanging down the façade and bringing the ground closer to it, it is possible to define a contained space in interior/exterior balance.

Public spaces are essential elements of urban life, as they provide opportunities for social interaction, cultural expression, and civic participation. However, in many cities, public spaces are often fragmented, segregated, and underutilized, especially in industrial areas that are dominated by functional and utilitarian activities. This project aims to offer a solution to a persistent problem in Sharjah, UAE. That is a lack of public spaces that are contextually and culturally sensitive, motivating the people to create their own, to fulfill a need. However, this project (focused on the district of Industrial Area 2, one of the first districts developed in the city) aims to design public spaces that act as thresholds that facilitates communal connections, one culturally essential to the people of the Emirates. Traditionally, thresholds have been perceived as transient areas, corridors, or doorways connecting disparate rooms, designed primarily for utilitarian traversal rather than lingering. However, the present endeavor seeks to transcend convention by reimagining thresholds as deliberate public spaces that create a new texture in the urban fabric of the industrial area. Furthermore, these threshold spaces, conceived as dynamic entities and a texture within the urban fabric, offer a canvas upon which the community can etch its own narrative. Rather than being static in their purpose, they are presented as flexible building blocks, open to customization by users. Additionally, due to the connective nature of the concept, it emphasizes the point of transforming the industrial district of Sharjah from an isolated area into a vibrant and inclusive part of the city.

Background and aims: Hyperaccumulation is generally defined as plants exhibiting concentrations of metal(loid)s in their shoots at least an order of magnitude higher than that found in ‘normal’ plants, but this notional threshold appears to have limited statistical underpinning. The advent of massive (handheld) X-ray fluorescence datasets of herbarium specimens makes it increasingly important to accurately define threshold criteria for recognising hyperaccumulation of metal(loid)s such as manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, arsenic, selenium, and rare earth elements. Methods: We use an extensive dataset of X-ray fluorescence elemental data of ~ 27,000 herbarium specimens together with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) elemental data of 1710 specimens to corroborate threshold values for hyperaccumulator plants. The distribution of elemental data was treated as a Gaussian mixture model due to subpopulations within the dataset and sub-populations were clustered in ‘normal’ and ‘hyperaccumulator’ classes. The historical hyperaccumulator thresholds were compared to the concentrations corresponding to the value for which the cumulative distribution function of the Gaussian model of the hyperaccumulator class reaches a probability of 99%. Results: Our analysis of X-ray fluorescence data indicates that the historical thresholds for manganese (10,000 µg g−1), cobalt (300 µg g−1), nickel (1000 µg g−1), zinc (3000 µg g−1), arsenic (1000 µg g−1), and selenium (100 µg g−1) are substantially higher than then the concentrations required to have a 99% probability of falling in the hyperaccumulator class at 1210 µg g−1 for manganese, 32 µg g−1 for cobalt, 280 µg g−1 for nickel, 181 µg g−1 for zinc, 8 µg g−1 for arsenic, and 10 µg g−1 for selenium. All of the historical hyperaccumulation thresholds exceed the mean concentration of the hyperaccumulator populations and fall in the far-right tail of the models. Conclusions: The historical thresholds for mang

One of the aims of environmental management is to achieve good ecosystem state. Assessing the state needs to be informed by thresholds above which state is defined as “good” for both the quality that defines good state, and the extent of the habitat that needs to be in such a quality. Operationalizing such thresholds has been carried out using a wide variety of approaches, with, often, haphazard and subjective outcomes. Here, we review approaches for setting “good-state” thresholds and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses for application to marine seabed ecosystems. Only two approaches defined a current ecologically meaningful good state and estimated thresholds quantitatively from data, while two other approaches (“avoid collapse” and “allow recovery”) would result in a state that could recover to good in the future. Other methods were subjective in the choice of threshold or based on statistically detectable thresholds rather than thresholds between good and not good or degraded state. We argue that the most objective method for setting a good-state threshold is based on maintaining the state within the range of natural variation in undisturbed systems. Preliminary time-series analyses of marine seabed community biomass suggest this threshold is located between 54 and 79% of the undisturbed state.

Ozone (O3)-induced health effects vary in terms of severity, from deterioration of lung function and hospitalization to death. Several studies have reported a linear increase in health risks after O3 exposure. However, current evidence suggests a non-linear U- and J-shaped concentration-response (C-R) function. The potential increasing risks with decreasing O3 concentrations may seem counterintuitive from the traditional standpoint that decreasing exposure should lead to decreasing health risks. Tus, the question of whether the increasing risks with decreasing concentrations are truly O3-induced or might be from other C-R mechanisms. If these potential risks were not accounted for, this may have contributed to the risks observed at the low ozone concentration range. In this study, we examined the short-term effects of photochemical oxidant (Ox, parts per billiion) on outpatient cardiorespiratory visits in 21 Japanese cities after adjusting for other air pollutant-specific C-R functions. Daily cardiorespiratory visits from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 were obtained from the Japanese Medical Data Center Co. Ltd. Similar period of meteorological and air pollution variables were obtained from relevant data sources. We utilized a time-stratified case crossover design coupled with the generalized additive mixed model (TSCC-GAMM) to estimate the association between Ox and cardiorespiratory outpatient visits, after adjusting for several covariates. A total of 2,588,930 visits were recorded across the study period, with a mean of 111.87 and a standard deviation of 138.75. The results revealed that crude Ox-cardiorespiratory visits exhibited a U-shaped pattern. However, adjustment of the oxides of nitrogen, particularly nitrogen monoxide (NO), attenuated the lower risk curve and subsequently altered the shape of the C-R function, with a substantial reduction observed during winter. NO- and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-adjusted Ox-cardiorespiratory associations increased nea

In dynamic probing tests, penetration is closely related to the potential energy of the hammer (nominal energy). This energy stems from the mass and free fall of the hammer after being released from a certain height. Penetration depends on energy, although only on a portion of that nominal energy that is effectively transferred to the rods (ENTHRU) and, more precisely, the energy that reaches the cone (ENTHRUcone). ENTHRU can be measured by monitoring the upper part of the drive rods. To calculate ENTHRUcone, ENTHRU needs to be corrected in three ways. Firstly, the energy loss in the energy transmission through the rods has to be subtracted, as well as the energy loss due to the skin friction of the rods along the soil around them. It is also necessary to add the energy due to the rod weight penetrating the soil. The main hypothesis assumed and later experimentally proved in this paper is based on the fact that ENTHRUcone has to be greater than a certain value or minimum energy (energy threshold: Th) in order to be able to cause penetration. After analyzing more than one hundred blows with different hammer mass and drop height, a small but consistent Th and a linear relationship between energy and penetration beyond it were found. The energy that really produces penetration (ENPEN) will be ENTHRUcone, minus Th. This allows for improved energy corrections and correlations between results from various kinds of penetration tests., The writers would like to express their gratitude to the University of Burgos, the University of Cantabria, and Sondeos del Norte, S.A. and especially to José Manuel Sánchez Alciturri, the mastermind of this research.

Image analysis and image segmentation methods are a current field of computer vision and are applied in many fields. This text deals with image segmentation and defining the leading edge of a color sample. For the experiment, a sample of material printed with process inks and their overprint was used. The printed material is a glossy white paper with primary print process colors Magenta and Yellow. The paper presents the methodology and procedure of image segmentation using the separation of colors into halftone values. From that values, this basic threshold is created and defined. A convulsion mask was used, the maximum target threshold of the given color was obtained from this basic halftone threshold, and its values were defined. Methods of image analysis of color originals offer the potential for use in the field of protection against forgery of works of art, especially in the area of graphic art techniques and their specific areas.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether coexistent self-reported neck pain influences cephalic and extracephalic pain sensitivity in individuals with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in relation to diagnosis and headache frequency.Methods: A population of 496 individuals completed a headache interview based on ICHD criteria, providing data collected by self-administered questionnaires, assessments of pericranial total tenderness score (TTS) and pressure pain thresholds (PPT). Stimulus-response (SR) functions for pressure vs. pain were recorded. Presence of neck pain in the past year was assessed by the self-administered questionnaire. We categorized participants by primary headache type. We also categorized participants into 3 groups by headache frequency: chronic (>= 15) or episodic (Results: Individuals with chronic followed by episodic headache had higher TTS than controls (overall 130.001). The difference between chronic and episodic headache subgroups was significant in the group with neck pain (130.001) but not in the group without neck pain. In individuals with neck pain, mean TTS was higher in coexistent headache (migraine and TTH), 23.2 +/- 10.7, and pure TTH, 17.8 +/- 10.3, compared to pure migraine, 15.9 +/- 10.9 and no headache 11.0 +/- 8.3 (overall pConclusions: Coexistent neck pain is associated with greater pericranial tenderness in individuals with chronic headache and to a lesser degree in those with episodic headache. Sensitization maybe a substrate or consequence of neck pain and primary headache, but a longitudinal study would be needed for further clarification.

This paper studies the supremum-type score test for the single-index model against a threshold single-index model. It is shown that the test weakly converges a maxima of a Gaussian process under the null hypothesis. The bootstrap method is used to tackle the bias problem and provide the p-values of our test statistic. Simulations are carried out to assess the performance of our procedure and real data examples are given for its illustration. © 2022. Statistics and its Interface. All Rights Reserved.

Relentless overexploitation of natural resources has led to resource scarcity, environmentaldegradation and rising inequalities, straining social-ecological systems to breaking point.Ecosystems providing shared resources often respond non-linearly to resource pressuresbeyond critical thresholds, so-called regime shifts, jeopardizing the stable and just provisionof natural resources. Avoiding these critical thresholds is imperative, as not everyone canadapt to drastic changes in resource availability and distribution. In an unequal world wherecapacities to adapt to crossing critical thresholds vary substantially across individuals, groupsand countries, our understanding of behavioural responses remains limited. This thesisexplores whether and how inequality in adaptive capacities within groups sharing a naturalresource influence both the likelihood of groups crossing a critical threshold and groupdynamics. 160 students from the University of Exeter participated in an online Common-PoolResource (CPR) laboratory experiment comparing inequality and baseline treatments. Whileunequal adaptive capacities did not affect group’s likelihood of crossing the threshold, theynegatively impacted social dynamics and perceptions. Participants with low adaptive capacity(LAC) responded to the threat of the threshold by reducing their harvest significantly whencompared to participants with high adaptive capacity (HAC). Therefore, latent inequalities inthe choice context created real inequalities in resource allocation. Furthermore, HACparticipants lacked identification with the disadvantaged group as evidenced by lowerperceived group efficacy and no reduction in harvest. When the harvest was shared unequally,inequalities were more pronounced in the inequality treatment compared to the baseline.Investigating emotions revealed unexpected findings: Participants did not strongly experienceguilt despite its relevance in prior research, instead, positive emotions, particularlycompassion, wer, Inequality and the Biosphere: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in an Unequal World

Marine coastal waters of Bahrain are under pressure due to human activities and climate change. We used marine monitoring data (2005-2020) from 27 sites to establish baseline conditions and develop standards for assessments of water quality. Five hydrodynamic regions were identified: Oyster Beds, North, West, East, East (Coastal). Data from Oyster Beds sites, likely to be less impacted by human activities, were used to determine baseline conditions. For most parameters, candidate thresholds were based on 50 % and 100 % variation from baseline and 95th percentiles. Comparisons of data against different thresholds showed different outcomes. Overall, results indicate good water quality, with potential concerns in East (Coastal). Trend analyses showed some significant trends in all regions: downward (favourable) for some parameters (e.g. turbidity: North) and upward for others (e.g. nitrate: Oyster Beds, East and East (Coastal)). Future work requires greater understanding around optimum guidelines that protect and mitigate any adverse ecological impacts.

Aims The aim of this study was to assess medium-term improvements following total hip arthro-plasty (THA), and to evaluate what effect different preoperative Oxford Hip Score (OHS) thresholds for treatment may have on patients’ access to THA and outcomes. Methods Patients undergoing primary THA at our institution with an OHS both preoperatively and at least four years postoperatively were included. Rationing thresholds were explored to identify possible deprivation of OHS improvement. Results Overall, 2,341 patients were included. Mean OHS was 19.7 (SD 8.2) preoperatively and 39.7 (SD 9.8) at latest follow-up. An improvement of at least eight-points, the minimally impor-tant change (MIC), was seen in 2,072 patients (88.5%). The mean improvement was 20.0 points (SD 10.5). If a rationing threshold of OHS of 20 points had been enforced, 90.8% of those treated would have achieved the MIC, but only 54.3% of our cohort would have had access to surgery; increasing this threshold to 32 would have enabled 89.5% of those treated to achieve the MIC while only depriving 6.5% of our cohort. The ‘rationed’ group of OHS > 20 had significantly better OHS at latest follow-up (42.6 vs 37.3; p < 0.001), while extending the rationing threshold above 32 showed postoperative scores were more significantly af-fected by the ceiling effect of the OHS. Conclusion The OHS was not designed as a tool to ration healthcare, but if it had been used at our institution for this cohort, applying an OHS threshold of 20 to routine THA access would have excluded nearly half of patients from having a THA; a group in which over 85% had a significant improvement in OHS. Where its use for rationing is deemed necessary, use of a higher threshold may be more appropriate to ensure a better balance between patient access to treatment and chances of achieving good to excellent outcomes.

In the middle of the picturesque quarter of Kosančićev Venac in Belgrade, a small empty crater is to be found. Once, the National Library of Belgrade stood here, but it got bombed during the second world war. Now it seems there is nothing more but some ruins of the original building. In multiple cases in Belgrade, the questions of how to deal with these scars in the urban fabric remains unsolved. This graduation project investigates the site of the former National Libray of Serbia and how to deal with the historical continuity of its narrative. For the design of the intervention, the concept of layering will be used as a formative method. To strengthen the memorial function of the site, the intervention will serve as a place that allows for the experience of an abstraction of daily life. To achieve this, research into religious architecture is conducted., Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Methods and Analysis | Positions in Practice

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal quality indices (SQIs) are essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and reliability of ECG analysis systems. In various practical applications, the ECG signals are corrupted by different types of noise. These corrupted ECG signals often provide insufficient and incorrect information regarding a patient's health. To solve this problem, signal quality measurements should be made before an ECG signal is used for decision-making. This paper investigates the robustness of existing popular statistical signal quality indices (SSQIs): relative power of QRS complex (SQIp), skewness (SQIskew), signal-to-noise ratio (SQIsnr), higher order statistics SQI (SQIhos) and peakedness of kurtosis (SQIkur). We analysed the robustness of these SSQIs against different window sizes across diverse datasets. Results showed that the performance of SSQIs considerably fluctuates against varying datasets, whereas the impact of varying window sizes was minimal. This fluctuation occurred due to the use of a static threshold value for classifying noise-free ECG signals from the raw ECG signals. Another drawback of these SSQIs is the bias towards noise-free ECG signals, that limits their usefulness in clinical settings. In summary, the fixed threshold-based SSQIs cannot be used as a robust noise detection system. In order to solve this fixed threshold problem, other techniques can be developed using adaptive thresholds and machine-learning mechanisms.

Synanthropic Habitats originates from the interdisciplinary quest on ‘how will we live together’ and the personal fascination to critically question the deeply-rooted anthropocentric binary of human (us) and nature (them). The thesis aims to establish an innovative domestic environment that deals with the heterogeneity of people of different backgrounds while reflecting upon the global urgency of the Anthropocene by interacting with nature in a blended game of cohabitation. The project forms its wider problématique from an amalgam of constituent problems deriving from Rotterdam and specifically Blijdorp as the site under investigation. The high traffic lane that dichotomizes the site, the noise and pollution of the nearby railway station, the large undefined spaces in tandem with the prevailing social degradation, and the need for affordable housing provision are a few of the identified issues of the project’s location. As a response, the Synanthropic Habitats attempts to develop a new paradigm for Dutch housing design, based on the triptych of hofjes as a type, thresholds as interfaces, and cooperatives as nomos. The project draws from the long tradition of Dutch hofjes as an archetypical sustainable domestic milieu, the epistemologies and multiscalarity of threshold as a key tool to create zones of encounter, and the non-speculative forward-thinking model of cooperatives to shape a framework within which a multi-storey building with integrated nature, a variety of households and common spaces will flourish. Towards that direction, literature research on the topics, typo-morphological analyses of relevant precedents as well as in-situ observations are employed as methodological tools to conclude in spatial and theoretical aspects contributing to an ecology of inclusion in the design. Utilizing and revisiting the pre-existing type of the hofje, inflected with the threshold character of commons creation and the pragmatic scenario of devisin, Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Advanced Housing Design

Conservation of rare species is widely valued and important for ecosystems. Unfortunately, many of the approaches to conserve rare species have been developed with common species (e.g., harvested species) which have larger populations and targeted objectives. Conservation of rare species is difficult in part because of problems created by scarcity and low information. With low information, learning leads to new questions and the utility of information in decisions can quickly become obsolete. Therefore, monitoring strategies that can adapt as well as provide information tailored to relevant decisions are needed. To address rare species monitoring, I developed a long-term monitoring approach for rare species called goal efficient monitoring (GEM). GEM allows monitoring questions to evolve as we obtain information. GEM includes sampling rules connected to a Bayesian integrated population model (IPM), which allows for changing questions and data collection while maintaining long-term inference. For example, GEM sampling rules work when populations are small (less than 10 individuals) and provide guidance to adjust monitoring observations if the population gets large (over 100 individuals), all while maintaining the same long-term inference because of the IPM structure. I outline the GEM approach using Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), which is Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. To test GEM, I simulated 100 small populations with constant demographic rates for 11 years, applied GEM sampling rules to simulate observations, and predicted population values with the GEM model. On average, the predicted range of values from the GEM model contained the true values 97.1% of the time. These and other results contained within demonstrate how a GEM approach can provide long-term inference for rare species while addressing changing information needs. To address the problem of rare species information that is tailored to decisions made with rare species information, I propos

An architect draws from a deep repository of past memories made durable in the act of architecture. This thesis is a study of the analogous relationship between a childhood memory of a garden and a set of architectural acts giving form to this memory. The ideas of threshold, meander, focus, and framing are the basic conditions of the project. Perspectives and montages are the primary methods of study. The project is a garden placed within the context of an imagined city setting up the interplay of silence amidst the cacophony of the city. It centers around a singular tree, informed by a specific childhood memory. The single tree in concert with the architectural conditions allows one to resist the inexorable rush of urban time.

This thesis investigates how architecture engages with the natural landscape through iterative designs of exhibition space. Proposals of architecture adjacent to Smith Mountain Lake as well as along the Cascade Falls Trail in Virginia were considered. The design proposals led to a resolution that particular considerations are critical in relating architecture and nature, specifically a building's spatial organization and orientation, its materiality and tectonic assembly, and the bounding thresholds differentiating between inside and outside.

The research had as its object of study the "Learnings in the professional initiation of graduates of the FCEQyN-UNaM - At Secondary Schools". The objectives were: To know and understand the significances that graduates have about their workplace as a field of professional learning. To describe the resources, modalities and processes that enable the learning processes at the moment of initiation into professional life in secondary schools; to detect and analyze the place of graduates learning in school and the meaning they give to their own action; and to provide theoretical underpinnings and referential elements to broaden the conception of professional teacher training. The methodology was framed within the qualitative logic, from an interpretative-critical approach. The actors' perspective was considered, taking into account what they expect, how they are received, what they feel and what they believe they learn. We sought to deepen what is behind these situations and learning. The research had to look at the current institutional context where the graduates work. As research techniques, workshops with the graduates and in-depth interviews with registration were favored., La investigación tuvo como objeto el estudio de “Los aprendizajes en la iniciación profesional de los graduados de los Profesorados de la FCEQyN-UNaM- en las escuelas secundarias”. Los objetivos fueron: Conocer y comprender las significaciones que tienen los graduados acerca de su lugar de trabajo como campo de aprendizaje profesional. Describir los recursos, las modalidades y procesos que permiten el desarrollo de aprendizajes en el momento de iniciación en la vida profesional en las escuelas secundarias; Detectar y analizar el lugar que tienen los egresados aprendiendo en la escuela y el sentido que otorgan a su propia acción; y proporcionar aportes teóricos y elementos referenciales para ampliar la concepción de formación profesional docente. La metodología se enmarcó en la lógica cualitativa, desde un enfoque interpretativo-crítico. Se consideró la perspectiva de los actores, teniendo en cuenta qué esperan, cómo son recibidos, qué sienten y qué creen que aprenden. Se buscó profundizar qué hay detrás de esas situaciones y aprendizajes. La investigación tuvo que mirar el contexto institucional actual donde se desempeñan los graduados. Como técnicas, se privilegiaron los talleres con los graduados y entrevistas en profundidad con registro.