Search results for " Structural"
showing 10 items of 1751 documents
On the structural connectivity of large-scale models of brain networks at cellular level
2021
AbstractThe brain’s structural connectivity plays a fundamental role in determining how neuron networks generate, process, and transfer information within and between brain regions. The underlying mechanisms are extremely difficult to study experimentally and, in many cases, large-scale model networks are of great help. However, the implementation of these models relies on experimental findings that are often sparse and limited. Their predicting power ultimately depends on how closely a model’s connectivity represents the real system. Here we argue that the data-driven probabilistic rules, widely used to build neuronal network models, may not be appropriate to represent the dynamics of the …
Innovative Strategies to Develop Chemical Categories Using a Combination of Structural and Toxicological Properties.
2016
Interest is increasing in the development of non-animal methods for toxicological evaluations. These methods are however, particularly challenging for complex toxicological endpoints such as repeated dose toxicity. European Legislation, e.g., the European Union's Cosmetic Directive and REACH, demands the use of alternative methods. Frameworks, such as the Read-across Assessment Framework or the Adverse Outcome Pathway Knowledge Base, support the development of these methods. The aim of the project presented in this publication was to develop substance categories for a read-across with complex endpoints of toxicity based on existing databases. The basic conceptual approach was to combine str…
Recombinant mussel protein Pvfp-5β: A potential tissue bioadhesive
2019
During their lifecycle, many marine organisms rely on natural adhesives to attach to wet surfaces for movement and self-defence in aqueous tidal environments. Adhesive proteins from mussels are biocompatible and elicit only minimal immune responses in humans. Therefore these proteins have received increased attention for their potential applications in medicine, biomaterials and biotechnology. The Asian green mussel Perna viridis secretes several byssal plaque proteins, molecules that help anchor the mussel to surfaces. Among these proteins, protein-5β (Pvfp-5β) initiates interactions with the substrate, displacing interfacial water molecules before binding to the surface. Here, we establis…
The best way to assess visually induced motion sickness in a fixed-base driving simulator
2017
Abstract Objective Driving simulator usage is becoming more widespread, yet many users still experience substantial motion sickness-like symptoms induced by optical flow, called visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). The Fast Motion sickness Scale (FMS) allows for continuous on-line assessment of VIMS. Using mixed models for ordinal data, this study investigated how to optimally analyze FMS data, and then used the resulting models to examine the development of symptoms over time in detail. Additionally, the study explored the impact of specific VIMS-inducing road elements. Methods Twenty-eight healthy young adults without prior simulator experience completed six courses on two days in a f…
The Italian Version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32): Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure in Clinical and Non-clinical Gr…
2018
All versions of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) are broadly used to measure people's interpersonal functioning. The aims of the current study are: (a) to examine the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Italian version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-short version (IIP-32); and (b) to evaluate its associations with core symptoms of different eating disorders. One thousand two hundred and twenty three participants (n = 623 non-clinical and n = 600 clinical participants with eating disorders and obesity) filled out the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-short version (IIP-32) along with measures of self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, RSES), psych…
A Framework to Measure Intellectual Capital
2016
New technologies have changed the structure of companies shifting the focus of creating value from material resources to intangibles. The competitive advantage is increasingly reliant on the presence of specific intangibles such as knowledge, experience, communication skills that are the main source of competitive advantage. Among the intangibles based on knowledge, intellectual capital certainly occupies a prominent place. In recent years the increasing complexity that characterized the business management influenced companies to adopt new models of reporting and accounting, taking into account issues and intangible factors not considered so far with the right attention. The objective of t…
Variable Fixing for Two-Arc Sequences in Branch-Price-and-Cut Algorithms on Path-Based Models
2020
Variable fixing by reduced costs is a popular technique for accelerating the solution process of mixed-integer linear programs. For vehicle-routing problems solved by branch-price-and-cut algorithms, it is possible to fix to zero the variables associated with all routes containing at least one arc from a subset of arcs determined according to the dual solution of a linear relaxation. This is equivalent to removing these arcs from the network used to generate the routes. In this paper, we extend this technique to routes containing sequences of two arcs. Such sequences or their arcs cannot be removed directly from the network because routes traversing only one arc of a sequence might still b…
The facility location problem with capacity transfers
2020
Abstract This paper explores the concept of capacity transfer in the context of capacitated facility location problems. This is accomplished by assuming that facilities with surplus capacity/production can cooperate with those facing shortage by transferring part of that capacity/production. Such a transfer incurs a cost that nonetheless may be compensated by savings both in the installation costs and in the distribution costs. Mixed-integer mathematical programming models are proposed for the problem. A distinction is made between the case in which the triangle inequality holds for the transfer costs and the case in which it does not. We present compact models, which are enhanced with vali…
From bus to tramway: Is there an economic impact of substituting a rapid mass transit system? An empirical investigation accounting for anticipation …
2018
Abstract Hedonic pricing models and price equations have been extensively used to retrieve the implicit prices of urban externalities through real estate markets. Many applications have been devoted to investigating the impact of new mass transit systems, such as rail infrastructures. However, the implementation of such infrastructures usually takes some time and markets can react with an anticipation effect that can vary according to the different development phases. Moreover, the impact may be different if it acts as a substitute to existing rapid transit services. This paper focuses on the impact of substituting bus rapid transit (BRT) for light rail transit (LRT) services, taking into a…
Effectiveness and user acceptance of infotainment-lockouts: A driving simulator study
2019
Abstract Lockout is a system-initiated distraction mitigation strategy that renders certain features of in-vehicle information systems (IVISs) non operable while the vehicle is in motion. The aim of this driving simulator study was to examine the influence of lockouts on driving performance and user acceptance. Overall, 52 participants performed six tasks with fully unlocked, partially locked, and completely locked IVIS. Within a repeated-measures design, we assessed user acceptance. As participants were free to decide where to conduct a secondary task, we could only analyse driving performance of 26 drivers. After each driving section, the participants rated the respective system with resp…