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Analytical expressions are presented for the wave number, the characteristic wave impedance, and the refractive index of homogeneous longitudinal plane waves propagating in an acoustic metamaterial with dissipative losses. The metamaterial is characterized by the effective scalar material parameters: the complex density and the compressibility. To distinguish between the forward and backward waves, the wave type identifier is introduced.

We use the three-phase sphere model or the generalized self-consistent scheme (GSCS) to study the mechanical damping of a particulate composite with concurrent interface slip and diffusion under a time-harmonic deviatoric far-field load. In particular, we determine the specific damping capacity characterizing the effective damping behavior in the particulate composite. Our results indicate that both interface slip and interface diffusion contribute to the specific damping capacity and effective storage shear modulus. Two peaks of the specific damping capacity can appear. The co-existence of interface slip and diffusion will enhance the maximum value of the specific damping capacity.

The aim of this contribution is both to demonstrate and to explore the general assessment pertaining to the effects of atmospheric factors on human health and general wellbeing. While humans are aware of such effects, particularly individually, their concrete and synergetic effects with the human physiological system are, comparatively, not well comprehended. In human biometeorological studies and approaches, the aforementioned effects are analyzed in terms of their effect pathways, and the development of single or complex approaches. Recurrently in the existing literature, such approaches are mostly defined and, respectively, targeted as indexes. The evaluation and assessment of similar factors and parameters that present related effects were subsequently put together and quantified. This approach is described as ‘effective complexes’ or components. The most well-known examples are the thermal complex, air pollution complex (which can be divided into the biological (pollen) and anthropogenic (air pollutants) factors), actinic complex, and finally, the recent or rapid weather changes complex. Most of the approaches focus on the negative effects consequential to the established criteria ranging from empirical outputs, to epidemiological studies. As a result, the presented approach does not only include the negative effects or implications on humans. Instead, it also highlights the neutral and positive effects which were acknowledged by the research. The approach deals furthermore with the combined effects of different complexes or components and incorporates different weightings of the factors based on the disclosed effects. In addition, seasonal and exposure factors are deliberated upon to differentiate annual variability factors. Finally, the presented approach builds upon a way in which to cogitate how the complex interactions associated to weather and climate can be quantified in a more appropriate way in the context of human health. The approach aims to be applied for a specific weather forecast enabling the communication and balance between human health factors, and also more encompassing climatic analysis.

The development of micromechanical models to predict the effective properties of multiphase composites is important for the design and optimization of new materials, as well as to improve our understanding about the structure–properties relationship. In this work, the two-scale asymptotic homogenization method (AHM) is implemented to calculate the out-of-plane effective complex-value properties of periodic three-phase elastic fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) with parallelogram unit cells. Matrix and inclusions materials have complex-valued properties. Closed analytical expressions for the local problems and the out-of-plane shear effective coefficients are given. The solution of the homogenized local problems is found using potential theory. Numerical results are reported and comparisons with data reported in the literature are shown. Good agreements are obtained. In addition, the effects of fiber volume fractions and spatial fiber distribution on the complex effective elastic properties are analyzed. An analysis of the shear effective properties enhancement is also studied for three-phase FRCs.

The complex wavelet transform modulus maximum of the PD signal increases with scale, while the complex wavelet transform modulus maximum of white noise decreases with scale. According to the characteristics, a study on white noise suppression using the effective complex wavelet coefficient (ECWC) threshold method is launched in this paper and a comparison is conducted with the wavelet threshold denoising method of threshold selection of Stein unbiased risk estimate theory and threshold selection of minimax theory. The PD signal denoising results show that ECWC threshold method is more effective and the distortion of the extract PD signal is lower compared with the other method.

The most important parameter affecting ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements is the complex effective relative permittivity ɛ r,eff * because it controls the propagation velocity and the reflection of GPR pulses. Knowing ɛ r,eff * of soils passed through by electromagnetic waves increases accuracy in soil thickness and interface identification. Complex effective relative permittivity ɛ r,eff * =ɛ r,eff ′ − j ɛ r,eff * of 25 soil samples with textures ranging from loamy sand to silty clay was measured using the two-electrode parallelplate method. The measurements were conducted at defined water contents for frequencies from 1 MHz to 3 GHz. The results confirm the frequency dependence of ɛ r,eff * and show that the dielectric behavior of soil-water mixtures is a function of water content. Applying the experimental data of this study with predictions based on the empirical model by Topp et al. (1980), we find that Topp et al.’s curve tends to underestimate the real part of ɛ r,eff * measured. Along with frequency and water content, soil texture and organic matter affect soil permittivity. Moreover, the real part of ɛ r,eff * increases at higher dry bulk densities. Output from our calibration model enables us to predict ɛ r,eff * for the soil samples which were tested under the actual in situ soil water content. This results in high accuracy of soil thickness prediction.

Background: PTSD symptoms are frequent in child victims of sexual abuse. Yet, authors have argued that early trauma could lead to alterations in development that go far beyond the primary symptoms of PTSD and have proposed Complex PTSD as an alternative diagnosis encompassing difficulties in affect regulation, relationships and self-concept. Objective: To delineate profiles in child victims of sexual abuse and explore whether profiles are associated with treatment response to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Method: Latent class analysis was used to identify symptom profiles at baseline assessment of 384 children ages 6 to 14, recruited in a Child Advocacy Centre following disclosure of sexual abuse. Dimensions of Complex PTSD diagnosis as proposed by the ICD-11 were derived from self-report questionnaires. Results: Latent class analysis identified a best fitting model of three classes: Classic PTSD regrouping 51% of children, Complex PTSD describing 23% of children, and Resilient describing 25% of children. Trauma-focused therapy was associated with a significant reduction of dissociation, internalizing, and externalizing problems for children of all three classes. Trauma-focused therapy was also linked to a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms with larger effect size (d = .90; 95%CI: 0.63-1.16) for children classified in the Complex PTSD class. Conclusion: These findings highlight the utility of a person-oriented approach to enhance our understanding of the diversity of profiles in child victims. The results offer empirical support for the ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD distinction in a clinical sample of sexually abused children and the relevance of this distinction in foreseeing treatment outcomes.

The hybrid project management life cycle (PMLC) model applies primarily to the projects that fall in the complex project quadrants. Testimonial worldwide data suggests that over 80 percent of all projects fall in the three quadrants of the complex project landscape. This chapter presents a robust and high‐level depiction of the hybrid PMLC Framework. There are two types of hybrid project manager (HPMgr): occasional project manager; and career project manager. The chapter explains the expectations of a HPMgr. The effective complex project management (ECPM) consists of three dependent phases: project ideation, project set‐up, and project execution. The chapter explains the various steps of the ECPM framework. There are two separate roles in every HPM project that must be represented in the HPM project team. The best way to provide this representation is through a co‐manager model. One manager is the HPMgr; the other is the customer, client, business analyst, or subject matter expert.

The recent introduction of infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, has greatly modified the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Data from the literature show encouraging results after intravenous infusion both for closure of intestinal or perianal fistulas and for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with moderate to severe intestinal disease unresponsive to other treatments. However, some contraindications such as fibrostenosing CD and sepsis have been identified. In addition, the data on long-term outcomes and safety is still limited. Our initial experience showed that in selected cases local injection of infliximab is effective in the treatment of complex perianal disease offering the possibility of using such treatment even in small bowel obstructing disease with minimal systemic effects. This paper analyzes the state of the use of both intravenous and local injection of infliximab in patients with CD.

We consider a possibility of providing the equality of the maximum simple cycle work without energy losses caused by irreversibility of compression and expansion processes and the work of a complex cycle obtained from the simple cycle by introducing the intermediate heating under condition of the equality of effective efficiencies of the simple and complex cycles and an increase of the efficiency of the compression and expansion processes in prospect.