bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Anticompetitive Effect of Minority Share Acquisitions: Evidence from the Introduction of National Leniency Programs
Authors: Heim Sven , Hüschelrath Kai , Laitenberger Ulrich , Spiegel Yossi
Published: February 2022

We address the growing concern that minority shareholding (MS) in rival firms may lessen competition, using the introduction of national leniency programs (LPs) as a shock that destabilizes collusive agreements. Based on data from 63 countries, we find a large and significant immediate increase in domestic horizontal MS acquisitions once an LP is introduced but only in countries where the LP is deemed to be effective. There is no effect on non-horizontal or cross-border MS acquisitions. Our findings suggest that firms may use MS acquisitions to either stabilize collusive agreements or soften competition in the event that collusion breaks down. (JEL G34, K21, L12, L41)
Paths to the Frontier
Authors: Acharya Avidit , Ortner Juan
Published: February 2022

We construct a model of collective search in which players gradually approach the Pareto frontier. The players have imperfect control over which improvements to the status quo will be considered. Inefficiency takes place due to the difficulty in finding improvements acceptable to both parties. The process is path dependent, with early agreements determining long-run outcomes. It may also be cyclical, as players alternate between being more and less accommodating. (JEL C73, C78, D83)
Which Findings Should Be Published?
Authors: Frankel Alexander , Kasy Maximilian
Published: February 2022

Given a scarcity of journal space, what is the optimal rule for whether an empirical finding should be published? Suppose publications inform the public about a policy-relevant state. Then journals should publish extreme results, meaning ones that move beliefs sufficiently. This optimal rule may take the form of a one- or two-sided test comparing a point estimate to the prior mean, with critical values determined by a cost-benefit analysis. Consideration of future studies may additionally justify the publication of precise null results. If one insists that standard inference remain valid, however, publication must not select on the study’s findings. (JEL D61, D82, D83, L82)
Learning in Relational Contracts
Authors: Kostadinov Rumen , Kuvalekar Aditya
Published: February 2022

We study relational contracts between a firm and a worker with mutual uncertainty about match quality. The worker’s actions are publicly observed and generate both output and information about the match quality. We show that the relational contracts may be inefficient. We characterize the inefficiency through a holdup problem on the contemporaneous output. In the frequent action limit, these inefficiencies persist if and only if information degrades at least at the same rate at which impatience vanishes. We characterize optimal relational contracts and show that they involve actions that yield both a lower payoff and less information than another action. (JEL D83, D86, J22, J31, J41, J63)
Agendas e conflitos no contexto da pandemia da Covid-19: Um olhar a partir da realidade do Rio Grande do Norte
Authors: Da Costa Silveira Raquel Maria , Cristopher dos Santos Anderson , de Souza Bento Almeida Lindijane , Medeiros Ferreira Ana Mônica , Pereira dos Santos Edson Lucas , De Carvalho Cardoso Raquel
Published: February 2022

O presente artigo objetivou compreender como o modelo federativo contribuiu para a judicialização da crise e influenciou as respostas ao combate da pandemia da Covid-19, bem como o papel do Poder Judiciário no contexto de crise. Para tanto, foram analisados 931 processos judiciais protocolados na Justiça federal e estadual. Os resultados demonstram problemas de coordenação e cooperação entre entes federados e a necessidade de atuação constante do Poder Judiciário no enfrentamento à pandemia e como ator fundamental em conflitos que envolveram atores públicos e privados. Ao final, verificou-se uma tendência de crescimento da atuação judicial relativa à Covid-19, com o prolongamento de medidas restritivas, evidenciando-se múltiplas crises a partir de uma diversidade de agendas recorrentemente levadas ao Judiciário. Conclui-se que, em que pese a identificação de um papel relevante do Judiciário potiguar com respostas rápidas, as crises sanitária e federativa não podem ser analisadas em separado.
Modélisation du CND par courants de Foucault des pièces axisymmetriques avec des discontinuités suivant l'axe à l'aide d'une formulation d'équation intégrale
Authors: Πιπής Κωνσταντίνος
Published: February 2022

Ο Μη Καταστροφικός Έλεγχος σε βιομηχανικές εφαρμογές, και κυρίως στην πυρηνική τεχνολογία και την αεροναυπηγική έχει οδηγήσει στην ανάγκη ταχέων και ακριβών μοντέλων. Τέτοιο μοντέλα είναι χρήσιμα για την ανάπτυξη μεθόδων επιθεώρησης, τη βελτιστοποίηση των ανιχνευτικών διατάξεων, την αξιολόγηση των καμπυλών Πιθανότητας Ανίχνευσης (POD) ή για τον χαρακτηρισμό των ρωγμών. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει στον Μη Καταστροφικό Έλεγχο με τη μέθοδο των δινορρευμάτων διαστρωματωμένων κυλινδρικών δοκιμίων με ασυνέχειες στον άξονα z, τα οποία φέρουν μία στενή ρωγμή. Αναπτύσσεται ένα μοντέλο επιθεώρησης τέτοιων δοκιμίων, ούτως ώστε να εφαρμοστεί για την επιθεώρηση των ήλων προσαρμογής που απαντώνται στην αεροναυπηγική και στους σωλήνες των ατμογεννητριών στον τομέα της πυρηνικής τεχνολογίας. Το μοντέλο είναι βασισμένο στην μέθοδο ολοκληρωτικής εξισώσεως. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, για τον υπολογισμό της μεταβολής της σύνθετης αντίστασης, απαιτείται η επίλυση μίας ολοκληρωτικής εξίσωσης επί της επιφάνειας της ρωγμής, η οποία μοντελοποιείται από μία επιφανειακή κατανομή ηλεκτρικών διπόλων. Αυτή η μέθοδος είναι γνωστή σαν Μέθοδος Επιφανειακής Ολοκλήρωσης (Surface Integral Method - SIM). Η μέθοδος αυτή απαιτεί αφ'ενός τον υπολογισμό του ηλεκτρικού πεδίου απουσία της ρωγμής, το λεγόμενο πρωτογενές πεδίο, και, αφ'ετέρου, την έκφραση της συνάρτησης Green που αντιστοιχεί στη γεωμετρία του δοκιμίου χωρίς της ρωγμή. Και τα δύο ηλεκτρομαγνητικά προβλήματα επιλύονται με τη μέθοδο Truncation Region Eigenfunction Expansion (TREE). Η μέθοδος TREE είναι ένα ισχυρό εργαλείο για την επίλυση ηλεκτρομαγνητικών προβλημάτων, η οποία εκμεταλλεύεται την ταχεία απόσβεση του πεδίου, ούτως ώστε να αποκόψει την περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος σε μία απόσταση, όπου το πεδίο είναι αμελητέο. Το μοντέλο επικυρώνεται συγκρίνοντας τα αποτελέσματα της μεταβολής της σύνθετης αντίστασης του πηνίου με αυτά που προκύπτουν από μία προσέγγιση που συνδυάζει τη μέθοδο ολοκλήρωσης όγκου (Volume Integral Method - VIM) με τη SIM, γνωστή ως μέθοδος VIM-SIM, η οποία έχει υλοποιηθεί στο εμπορικό λογισμικό CIVA και με αυτά που προκύπτουν από τη μέθοδο πεπερασμένων στοιχείων (FEM), όπως αυτή έχει υλοποιηθεί στο εμπορικό λογισμικό COMSOL. Τρεις διατάξεις έχουν μελετηθεί. Η πιο γενική γεωμετρία ενός αγώγιμου ημιεπιπέδου με μία οπή, μία αγώγιμη πλάκα με οπή και μία ρωγμή και ένας αγώγιμος ημι-άπειρος σωλήνας με μία ρωγμή στο χείλος του σωλήνα. Τα αποτελέσματα των τριών μοντέλων εμφανίζουν συμφωνία μεταξύ τους. Ο υπολογιστικός χρόνος με το μοντέλο SIM είναι σημαντικά χαμηλότερος εν συγκρίσει με προηγούμενα μοντέλα. Ένα επιπλέον πλεονέκτημα του μοντέλου SIM είναι ότι παρέχει τη δυνατότητα σάρωσης του πηνίου μέσα στην οπή.
Η επίδραση της Ν-ακέτυλο-κυστείνης στις επιπλοκές από την τοποθέτηση ενδοπεριτοναϊκού πλέγματος σε σηπτικό περιβάλλον
Authors: Παρπούδη Στυλιανή
Published: February 2022

Εισαγωγή: Η χρήση προσθετικών πλεγμάτων για την αποκατάσταση κηλών αποτελεί ευρέως αποδεκτή τεχνική. Παρ’όλα αυτά η χρήση τους σε σηπτικό περιβάλλον αποτελεί πεδίο αμφισβήτησης καθώς κάθε φλεγμονώδης διεργασία μπορεί να επάγει την αύξηση μετεγχειρητικών επιπλοκών, όπως οι συμφύσεις. Σε αυτήν την πειραματική μελέτη, σκοπός μας ήταν να διερευνήσουμε την αντιφλεγμονώδη και ινωδολυτική δράση της N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) με βιοχημικούς και ιστολογικούς δείκτες σε καθαρό, δυνητικά σηπτικό και σηπτικό περιβάλλον όπου τέθηκε πλέγμα. Μέθοδος και υλικό: Εκατό επίμυες στελέχους Wistar τυχαιοποιήθηκαν ισότιμα σε 5 ομάδες: Α, Β, Γ, Δ, Ε. Όλοι υποβλήθηκαν σε λαπαροτομία, τοποθέτηση πλέγματος καθώς τους χορηγήθηκε και σιπροφλοξασίνη. Στις ομάδες Β και Δ έγινε ενοφθαλμισμός με καλλιέργειες Esherichia Coli, ενώ στις ομάδες Γ και Ε πραγματοποιήθηκε εντερεκτομή. NAC δόθηκε ενδοπεριτοναϊκά στις ομάδες Δ και Ε. Στις 21 ημέρες τα πρότυπα θυσιάστηκαν, καταγράφηκε ο σχηματισμός συμφύσεων και αξιολογήθηκε ιστολογικά ο βαθμός ίνωσης, φλεγμονώδους διήθησης και νεοαγγειογένεσης. Ταυτόχρονα, ένα τμήμα πλέγματος πάρθηκε για καλλιέργεια. Οι βιοχημικοί δείκτες IL-1a, IL-6 και TNF-a μετρήθηκαν σε 3 διαδοχικές στιγμές στις 7 (Τ7), 14 (Τ14) και 21(Τ21) ημέρες.Αποτελέσματα: Στις ομάδες όπου χορηγήθηκε NAC σημειώθηκαν σημαντικά λιγότερες συμφύσεις και μικρότερου βαθμού ιστολογικές αλλοιώσεις σε σχέση με τις ομάδες Β και Γ όπου δόθηκε μόνο σιπροφλοξασίνη (p<0.001). Επίσης, οι ομάδες Δ και Ε παρουσίασαν παρόμοια ιστολογικά αποτελέσματα με την ομάδα ελέγχου. Σχετικά με τις μετρήσεις των IL-1a, IL-6 και TNF-a στις τρεις χρονικές στιγμές, βρέθηκε σημαντική επίδραση της ομάδας στην κάθε μεταβλητή (p<0.001) χωρίς όμως επίδραση του χρόνου. Δεν παρατηρήθηκαν θάνατοι πριν την ολοκλήρωση της μελέτης. Συμπεράσματα: Η χρήση NAC ήταν αποτελεσματική στον περιορισμό της φλεγμονής τόσο σε δυνητικά σηπτικό όσο και σε σηπτικό περιβάλλον όπως εκδηλώνεται με την μειωμένη ανάπτυξη συμφύσεων, τα καλύτερα ιστολογικά αποτελέσματα και τη μειωμένη κινητοποίηση κυτταροκινών.
The Effect of Curcumin on the Antioxidant System in Diabetic Rats
Authors: SALGINTAŞ HH , DÖNMEZ N , ÖZSAN M
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral administration of curcumin, also known as a highly effective antioxidant, which has been used as a spice in experimental diabetic rats with streptozotocin (STZ) on antioxidant system. In this research, 30 healthy adult male Wistar albino rats, were used. The animals were divided into four groups as control group (K), diabetes group (D), curcumin group (C), and diabetes + curcumin group (DC). In order to create diabetes, D and DC groups were administered 60 mg/kg STZ as a single dose by intraperitoneal injection. Curcumin (50 mg/kg live weight/day) was given orally to the C and DC groups. At the end of the experiment, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxidedismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase, and glucose levels were determined. The MDA level was significantly higher in the D group compared to the other groups. MDA level determined in DC group was found to be significantly lower from group D (p <0.05) while getting closer to groups K and C. It was also found that the levels of antioxidants SOD, GSH and catalase which are known to be effective against oxidative stress, were significantly apparently lower in group D compared to control groups (K and C). Again from the perspective of these parameters, when the data in group DC were evaluated, it was observed that the obtained data were getting closer to K and C or becoming similar. The blood glucose level obtained from the D group was significantly higher than the other groups. As a result, the data obtained from the research shows that curcumin, which is used in experimental diabetes-induced rats for its antioxidative and antidiabetic effects, is very helpful thanks to the positive effect in terms of the parameters followed.
Methicillin and vancomycin resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis recovered from bovine mastitis
Authors: KALATEH RAHMANI H , AMIRI P , EMANEINI M , RAD M , KHORAMIAN B
Published: February 2022

Mastitis is the most costly disease in the dairy industry. Selecting the proper antibiotic treatment is beneficial for economic and avoids the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of methicillin and vancomycin resistant isolates of mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis as a probable source of transferable vancomycin resistance to staphylococci. A total of sixty-one Staphylococcus aureus and eight Enterococcusfaecalis isolates were investigated for genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance.Presence of the mecA, vanA and vanBgenes were surveyed by PCR. The MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) of vancomycin was determined bybroth microdilution test for all the isolates.Moreover, the antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates to the most common classes of antibiotics used in dairy cattle such as β-lactam, macrolides and tetracyclines were determinedusing the disk diffusion method. Among Staphylococcus aureus isolates, one MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) isolate was detected while 47.5% of isolates were detected as multidrug-resistant. Furthermore, no phenotypic and genotypicvancomycin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus was found. Most of the Enterococcus faecalis isolates (6/8) showed high MIC for vancomycin (in the range of 128- 1024 μg/ml) and one vanA-type Enterococcus faecalis was observed. This study indicates thatsince the source of transferable resistance to vancomycin exists in dairy farms, there is a potential for emerging and spreading VRSA (vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in dairy cattle which is a risk to animal and human health.
Determination of microbiological quality and histamine levels in rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: AKSOY A , SEZER Ç , ATASEVER M , ÇETINKAYA A , GÜLBAZ G
Published: February 2022

This study aims to determine the microbiological quality and histamine levels of fresh-marketed rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), total psychrophilic aerobic bacteria (TPAB), coliform, fecal coliform, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus and mold-yeast numbers were detected as 4.24, 4.00, 1.10, 0.17, 1.50, 3.05, 0.28 and 3.82 log10 cfu/g, respectively. Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Vibrio spp bacteria were found in 18 (37.5%), 14 (29.1%), 8 (16.6%) and 14 (29.1%) respectively. Twenty-eight out of 51 Listeria isolates (54.9%) were verified through PCR analysis as L. monocytogenes. It was determined that the histamine level in the samples was above the detectable level (>2.5 mg/kg) in 8 of the samples (16.6%)determined using an ELISA method. It was concluded that the detection of foodborne pathogens in fresh-marketed fish samples potentially constitutes a public health hazard.
Isolation and antimicrobial resistance of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) on beef and chicken meat, and workers hands from slaughterhouses and retail shops in Turkey
Authors: TELLI N , TELLI AE , BIÇER Y , TURKAL G , UÇAR G
Published: February 2022

The objectives of this study were to determine the presence and antimicrobial resistance of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on beef and chicken carcasses and meat, and workers hands’ at processing time from a cattle and a poultry slaughterhouse, and beef and chicken meat at retail level. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the Enterococcus spp. and S. aureus isolates. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were determined for vancomycin and oxacillin resistance. Finally, conventional PCR was performed to determine the presence of the mecA and vanA resistance genes in isolates classified resistant to oxacillin and vancomycin according to MIC values. S. aureus and Enterococcus faecium isolated from 17 (17%) and eight (8%) samples, respectively. E. faecalis was not detected in any sample. The highest resistance rates were to ampicillin (3/5, 60 %) and penicillin G (5/5, 100 %) in MRSA and tetracycline (4/5, 80 %) in VRE isolates. While the mecA gene was detected in all MRSA isolates, vanA gene was not detected in any of the phenotypically vancomycin resistant E. faecium isolates. The present study provides data for multiple antimicrobial resistance and presence of VRE and MRSA isolated from an ongoing surveillance in humans, livestock and poultry in Turkey.
Environmental factors affecting milk composition in Holstein cattle breed
Authors: ČOBANOVIĆ K , PAJIĆ M , RADINOVIĆ M , SIMONOVIĆ M , CSORBA CS , KUČEVIĆ D , BECSKEI ZS
Published: February 2022

The incidence of mastitis in dairy herds is one of the main difficulties faced by dairy farmers, with a negative effect on the productivity of the herd and the welfare of the animals. Somatic cell count in milk is an indicator of udder health and frequency of clinical and subclinical mastitis incidence in dairy herds, and it is also often used to determine quality payments to dairy producers. Milk urea can be an indicator of the nutritional status of the dairy cows. The interpretation of these parameters assists in making important management decisions with regards to the health status and nutrition of dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate environmental factors (farm, season, parity and stage of lactation) which affect the milk production and composition of Holstein breed, using field data. The presented research included 25,460 individual milk samples which were analysed as part of the Dairy Herd Improvement program, from 11 Holstein dairy farms in the region of Vojvodina, Northern Serbia. Analyses of raw milk samples were carried out on the FOSS instruments - CombiFossTMFT+, a combination instrument consisting of the MilcoScanTMFT+ and the FossomaticTMFC. Statistical data processing was carried out by applying General Linear Model procedure, Statistics 13. Farm, season of milk control, parity and stage of lactation were included in the models as fixed effects. Significant differences in milk urea concentrations and somatic cell count were observed between farms (P<0.01), seasons (P<0.01), parity (P<0.01) and stage of lactation (P<0.01). Results showed that there were a highly significant (P<0.01) positive relationships between milk urea (MU) concentration and milk yield, MU and milk fat content, and between MU and solids non-fat (SNF), also between somatic cell count (SCC) and milk fat content, between SCC and protein content, as well as in between SCC and SNF. Highly significant negative relationships were found between milk urea and protein content and SCC, and between SCC and daily milk yield and lactose content. Proper analyses and interpretation of obtained results of milk samples obtained within the Dairy Herd Improvement program could contribute to better health management on the farms and it could have a positive impact on composition and nutritional value of milk, as well as on milk safety. It would be important to carry out further research in order to facilitate the detection of subclinical mastitis with MU as a potential indicator.
Epidemiology, burden and seasonal variation of fasciolosis determined through faecal examination and excretory/secretory antigens based ELISA
Authors: RIZWAN HM , SAJID MS , ABBAS H , KHAN MN , AKRAM Q , SHAMIM A
Published: February 2022

The study was conducted to evaluate predominance and the related risk factors of sheep fasciolosis in Faisalabad district, Punjab, Pakistan. In addition, comparison of the coprological examinationand excretory/secretory antigens (ES Ag)-based ELISA was also performed to determine the variation in the prevalence of fasciolosis. Ofthe1200 faecal and blood samples,128 (10.67%) and 241 (20.08%) samples were found positive for Fasciola infection and anti-Fasciola antibodies respectively.The prevalence of fasciolosis was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in female and adultanimals. Most of the animals showed moderate (55.47%) infection which was significantly higher than mild (28.91%) and severe (15.63%) infections. The highest prevalence of fasciolosis was determined in December (26.00% through faecal examination; 42.00% through ELISA) with a mean EPG of 842.3 while lowest in May (02.00% through faecal examination; 07.00% through ELISA) with a mean EPG of 650. The frequency distribution of fasciolosis was significantly (P < 0.05) highest in the winter (faecal examination 20.67%; ELISA 34.67%) followed in order by the monsoon (faecal examination 09.00%; ELISA 18.67%), spring (faecal examination 08.33%; ELISA 17.33%) and summer (faecal examination 04.67%; ELISA 09.67%). The highest mean EPG of fasciolosis was determined in the spring (894) followed in order by the winter (851.67), summer (654.67) and monsoon (616.33). Although the faecal examination is the gold standard and the “best method” in the diagnosis of sheep fasciolosis; however, the serological tests should not be excluded especially the home-made ES Ag-based ELISA which might be preferred and more affordable risk assessment tool in the field epidemiology.
General Issues of Designing and Managing a Portfolio of Financial Instruments
Authors: Sinchukov Aleksandr
Published: February 2022

Within the framework of this article, general issues of designing and managing a portfolio of financial instruments are considered, as well as several strategies for forming portfolios of financial instruments are described. Particular attention is paid to the use of quantitative characteristics of individual financial instruments and portfolio to make optimal decisions in the financial sector. Five problems are identified, the solution of which is aimed at improving the quality of portfolio analysis. In particular, the problem of choosing the method of forming a portfolio of financial instruments and matching the results obtained, the problem of the optimal combination of active and passive management of a portfolio of financial instruments" and the problem of quantifying the effectiveness of managing a portfolio of financial instruments using active and passive strategies. The basic mathematical models allowing to construct an optimal portfolio of financial instruments are presented and characterized. Among such models, the Markowitz model and the Black model should be noted, which have been widely spread and developed in the practice of financial decision-making. The connection of the issues of designing and managing a portfolio of financial instruments with the methodological aspects of teaching mathematical disciplines at the Higher School of Economics is established. Taking into account the presented methodological features of portfolio analysis as an element of the content of mathematical training of a future manager and economist contributes to the implementation of the principle of variability of higher education.
Rational Aspects of the System of Productive Management, National Interests and Economic Globalization
Authors: Babanov V.
Published: February 2022

The economic processes currently taking place at the macro and micro levels, the alleged trends of their development, draw the attention of researchers to the need to reassess existing views on the essence of what is happening and to search for new approaches to understanding and managing these processes in the future. This article is devoted to the consideration of some aspects of the rationalization of the system of productive management, national interests and the globalization of the economy.
Aspects of Enhancing the Labor Potential of the Region Through Additional Economic Education
Authors: Savina Irina , Bykova M. , Shishkin Andrey
Published: February 2022

The article analyzes the main factors that can affect the socio-economic development of the region, from the point of view of training labor resources in the field of economic education. The influence of the state's investment policy on the development of regions on the basis of advanced training of personnel of organizations and enterprises is considered. The necessity of forming a client-oriented approach in the system of additional economic education, taking into account the peculiarities and potential of the region, is substantiated. Possible prospects for the development of the region based on the elements of the potential of additional economic education are presented.
Autoimmune pituitary inflammation
Authors: Krzewski Szymon , Baranowski Mateusz , Wzorek Katarzyna
Published: February 2022

Autoimmune Hypophysitis (AH) is often refereed in the literature as lymphocytic pituitary inflammation. It is the most common form of rare, chronic inflammation states affecting this gland. In most cases it has autoimmune character. Symptoms of pituitary inflammation are mostly headaches, dysfunction of anterior and/or posterior pituitary lobe and visual disturbances. Diagnostics is extremely difficult and inflammation itself is probably diagnosed too rare. Autoimmune Hypophysitis coexist with other autoimmune endocrinopathies. The golden standard in Autoimmune Hypophysitis diagnosis is biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used. In relation to rare occurrence of the Autoimmune Hypophysitis, varied clinical picture and lack of standardized research on large group of patients there are no described standards of conduct with those patients.
Do Sunk Costs Affect Prices in the Housing Market?
Authors: Ratnadiwakara Dimuthu , Yerramilli Vijay
Published: February 2022

We use a unique feature of California’s property tax system to empirically identify the causal effect of selling homeowners’ past property tax payments on their choice of listing price. Although past property taxes are sunk costs, we find that they have a significant positive effect on the sellers’ choice of listing price, which is inconsistent with rational models of decision making. This effect is stronger when sellers expect to sell at a loss relative to their purchase price and for properties whose value is harder to assess. The effect of property taxes on listing price is mostly transmitted to the selling price, which is consistent with the idea that buyers use listing prices as anchors to assess property values. Overall, our results suggest that sunk costs affect prices in the housing market.

This paper was accepted by Tomasz Piskorski, finance.

Supplemental Material: Data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4285 .
Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA) Secondary to Yersinia enterocolitica Septicemia: The Second Case Reported in the Literature
Authors: Gonçalves Fernandes Rui , Barreto Francisco , Henriques Ana Carolina , Correia Maria Inês
Published: February 2022

Yersinia enterocolitica infection is an uncommon but potentially fatal zoonosis, especially when it culminates with septicaemia. Post-infectious complications like reactive arthritis and erythema nodosum are well described in the literature. On the other hand, the association between yersinosis and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) has only been established in one clinical case. We present a case of an 87-year-old man admitted for AIHA, whose was successfully treated only after the identification and treatment of yersinosis.
Melancholic communities: trauma, neoliberalism and the rise of Chat magazine
Authors: Stroud Lucinda Rose
Published: February 2022

Weekly real-life magazines (RLMs) for women form a genre that has experienced sustained popularity for more than three decades and are constructed from claims to represent their readerships’ lives. Strikingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic where other magazines have witnessed a decline in sales and many closures, real-life titles have experienced continuous success. This article reads RLMs through a psychosocial lens as a symptom of an emerging social melancholia that began to form from the late 1970s in the United Kingdom. Through an analysis of Chat magazine, the article illustrates how the genre was constructed and argues that it resonates with a form of melancholia that has led to the creation of communities bonded through shared collective experiences that have found the semblance of resolution within this genre’s creation.
Tapered-open-cavity-based in-line Mach–Zehnder interferometer for highly sensitive axial-strain measurement
Authors: Liu Chuanxu , Zhang Meng , Zhang Hui , Yang Jiuru , Shang Qinghai , Yang Xiaotong , Wang Shuai , Ran Lingling
Published: February 2022

An in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a multimode-fiber-assisted tapered open-cavity (TOC) is proposed. Light field distributions of the TOC were investigated using beam propagation method with different offsets and diameters of the taper waist. Bias and uniform taper (BT and UT)-based structures were fabricated and compared using one- and two-step arc-discharge methods, and comprehensive tests were then conducted considering axial-strain. The experimental results show that the UT structure has more than −45 pm/µɛ linear wavelength shift with the applied axial-strain. Owing to its compact size and low cost, the proposed sensor is promising for axial-strain-related high-precision engineering applications.
Millijoule 265 fs Tm:YAP regenerative amplifier for driving ultrabroad band collinear mid-infrared optical parametric amplifiers
Authors: Rezvani Seyed Ali , Fuji Takao
Published: February 2022

Generation of 265-fs millijoule pulses at 1940 nm from a solid-state regenerative amplifier has been demonstrated. The amplification chain consists of a thulium-doped fluoride (Tm:ZBLAN) fiber oscillator, a two stage Tm:ZBLAN fiber preamplifier, and a regenerative amplifier with a thermoelectrically cooled thulium-doped yttrium aluminium perovskite crystal. The newly developed light source is used for pumping an ultra broadband mid-infrared optical parametric amplifier based on a gallium selenide crystal. The 2.5–4 µm range of a multioctave supercontinuum, generated in a polarization-maintaining ZBALN fiber, is used as the MIR seed. The amplified signal in combination with the corresponding idler pulses spread from 2.5 to 10 µm in a collinear geometry.
Dual-angle rotation two-dimensional wavelet transform profilometry
Authors: Han Mengqi , Chen Wenjing
Published: February 2022

The two-dimensional continuous wavelet transform (2D CWT) has been widely used in single-shot fringe projection profilometry (FPP) because of its multi-resolution characteristics and anti-noise ability. This Letter aims to develop a novel 2D wavelet transform model in FPP. Dual-angle rotation operation on a 2D wavelet is performed to improve the directional selectivity and frequency localization of the wavelet. The proposed method improves the accuracy of the phase calculation of wavelet transform profilometry (WTP) for higher accuracy reconstruction from the single-shot fringe. We present mathematical expressions, theoretical analysis, and the comparison to traditional 2D WTP. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
High-sensitivity transparent photoconductors in voltage-controlled silicon waveguides
Authors: Perino Alessandro , Zanetto Francesco , Petrini Matteo , Toso Fabio , Morichetti Francesco , Melloni Andrea , Ferrari Giorgio , Sampietro Marco
Published: February 2022

On-chip optical power monitors are essential elements to calibrate, stabilize, and reconfigure photonic integrated circuits. Many applications require in-line waveguide detectors, where a trade-off has to be found between large sensitivity and high transparency to the guided light. In this work, we demonstrate a transparent photoconductor integrated on standard low-doped silicon-on-insulator waveguides that reaches a photoconductive gain of more than 106 and an in-line sensitivity as high as −60 dBm. This performance is achieved by compensating the effect of electric charges in the cladding oxide through a bias voltage applied to the chip substrate or locally through a gate electrode on top of the waveguide, allowing one to tune on demand the conductivity of the core to the optimum level.
All-solid antiresonant fiber design for high-efficiency three-level lasing in ytterbium-doped fiber lasers
Authors: Goel Charu , Yoo Seongwoo
Published: February 2022

We propose and investigate an all-solid ytterbium-doped antiresonant fiber (YbARF) design to inherently suppress four-level lasing with >20 dB/m of selective loss and achieve high-efficiency three-level lasing while maintaining near-diffraction-limited operation with an ultra-large mode area of approximately 3630 µm2. The YbARF is designed such that the high-gain wavelengths corresponding to four-level lasing lie in the resonance band characterized by high confinement loss. This enables three-level lasing with high efficiency in a short (0.8-m-long) YbARF, making it a potential candidate for high-peak-power ultrafast lasers at 976 nm. We discuss fiber design considerations and detailed simulation results for three-level lasing performance in the YbARF, which promises >85% lasing efficiency in a single-pass pump configuration. These design concepts can be easily extended to suppress high-gain wavelengths in other rare-earth-doped (e.g., with thulium, erbium, and neodymium) fiber amplifiers or lasers.
Too many yet too few caesarean section deliveries in Bangladesh: Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys data
Authors: Khan Md Nuruzzaman , Kabir Md Awal , Shariff Asma Ahmad , Rahman Md Mostafizur
Published: February 2022

Caesarean section (CS) use is rising rapidly in Bangladesh, though lack of CS use remains common among disadvantage women. This increases risks of long-term obstetric complications as well as maternal and child deaths among disadvantage women. We aimed to determine the interaction effects of women’s disadvantage characteristics on CS use in Bangladesh. For this we have analysed a total of 27,093 women’s data extracted from five rounds of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted during 2004 and 2017/18. The outcome variable was CS use, coded as use (1) and non-use (0). The major exposure variables were individual level, household level, and community level characteristics. Multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine association of CS use with socio-demographic characteristics and the interactions of three variables: working status, wealth quintile, and place of residence. We found a 751% increase of CS use over the last 13 years—from 3.88% in 2004 to 33% in 2017/18. Nearly, 80% of the total CS operation occurred in the private health facilities followed by the government health facilities (15%). Women living in rural areas with no engagement in formal income generating activities showed a 11% (OR, 0.89, 95% CI, 0.71–0.99) lower use of CS in 2004. This association was further strengthened over time, and a 51% (OR, 0.49, 0.03–0.65) lower in CS use was reported in 2017/18. Similarly, around 12%-83% lower likelihoods of CS use were found among rural poor and poorer women. These indicate Bangladesh is facing a double burden of CS use, that is a group of women with improved socio-economic condition are using this life saving procedure without medical necessity while their counterpart of disadvantage characteristics could not access the service. Improved monitoring from the government along with support to use CS services for the disadvantage groups on necessity are important.
Differences and agreement between two portable hand-held spirometers across diverse community-based populations in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study
Authors: Duong MyLinh , Rangarajan Sumathy , Zaman Michele , Nasir Nafiza Mat , Seron Pamela , Yeates Karen , Yusufali Afzalhussein M. , Khatib Rasha , Tse Lap Ah , Wang Chuangshi , Wielgosz Andreas , Teo Koon , Kumar Rajesh , Avezum Alvaro , Ismail Rosnah , çalık Burcu Tumerdem , Gopakumar Soumya , Rahman Omar , Zatońska Katarzyna , Rosengren Annika , Otero Johanna , Kelishadi Roya , Diaz Rafael , Puoane Thandi , Yusuf Salim
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Portable spirometers are commonly used in longitudinal epidemiological studies to measure and track the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). During the course of the study, it may be necessary to replace spirometers with a different model. This raise questions regarding the comparability of measurements from different devices. We examined the correlation, mean differences and agreement between two different spirometers, across diverse populations and different participant characteristics.

Methods

From June 2015 to Jan 2018, a total of 4,603 adults were enrolled from 628 communities in 18 countries and 7 regions of the world. Each participant performed concurrent measurements from the MicroGP and EasyOne spirometer. Measurements were compared by the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman method.

Results

Approximately 65% of the participants achieved clinically acceptable quality measurements. Overall correlations between paired FEV1 (ICC 0.88 [95% CI 0.87, 0.88]) and FVC (ICC 0.84 [0.83, 0.85]) were high. Mean differences between paired FEV1 (-0.038 L [-0.053, -0.023]) and FVC (0.033 L [0.012, 0.054]) were small. The 95% limits of agreement were wide but unbiased (FEV1 984, -1060; FVC 1460, -1394). Similar findings were observed across regions. The source of variation between spirometers was mainly at the participant level. Older age, higher body mass index, tobacco smoking and known COPD/asthma did not adversely impact on the inter-device variability. Furthermore, there were small and acceptable mean differences between paired FEV1 and FVC z-scores using the Global Lung Initiative normative values, suggesting minimal impact on lung function interpretation.

Conclusions

In this multicenter, diverse community-based cohort study, measurements from two portable spirometers provided good correlation, small and unbiased differences between measurements. These data support their interchangeable use across diverse populations to provide accurate trends in serial lung function measurements in epidemiological studies.
Compounding inequalities: Adolescent psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among refugee and host communities in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jones Nicola , Baird Sarah , Abu Hamad Bassam , Bhutta Zulfiqar A. , Oakley Erin , Shah Manisha , Sajdi Jude , Yount Kathryn M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated risk-mitigation strategies have altered the social contexts in which adolescents in low- and middle-income countries live. Little is known, however, about the impacts of the pandemic on displaced populations, and how those impacts differ by gender and life stage. We investigate the extent to which the pandemic has compounded pre-existing social inequalities among adolescents in Jordan, and the role support structures play in promoting resilience.

Methods

Our analysis leverages longitudinal quantitative survey data and in-depth qualitative interviews, collected before and after the onset of COVID-19, with over 3,000 Syrian refugees, stateless Palestinians and vulnerable Jordanians, living in camps, host communities and informal tented settlements. We utilize mixed-methods analysis combining multivariate regression with deductive qualitative tools to evaluate pandemic impacts and associated policy responses on adolescent wellbeing and mental health, at three and nine months after the pandemic onset. We also explore the role of support systems at individual, household, community, and policy levels.

Findings

We find the pandemic has resulted in severe economic and service disruptions with far-reaching and heterogenous effects on adolescent wellbeing. Nine months into the pandemic, 19.3% of adolescents in the sample presented with symptoms of moderate-to severe depression, with small signs of improvement (3.2 percentage points [pp], p<0.001). Two thirds of adolescents reported household stress had increased during the pandemic, especially for Syrian adolescents in host communities (10.7pp higher than any other group, p<0.001). Social connectedness was particularly low for girls, who were 13.4 percentage points (p<0.001) more likely than boys to have had no interaction with friends in the past 7 days. Adolescent programming shows signs of being protective, particularly for girls, who were 8.8 percentage points (p<0.01) more likely to have a trusted friend than their peers who were not participating in programming.

Conclusions

Pre-existing social inequalities among refugee adolescents affected by forced displacement have been compounded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with related disruptions to services and social networks. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets to support healthy and empowered development in adolescence and early adulthood requires interventions that target the urgent needs of the most vulnerable adolescents while addressing population-level root causes and determinants of psychosocial wellbeing and resilience for all adolescent girls and boys.
Evaluation of small mammal pet supplies offered in German retail under animal welfare aspects
Authors: Bläske Alexandra , Schwarzer Angela , Ebner Magdalena V. , Gerbig Hendrikje , Reese Sven , Erhard Michael , Wöhr Anna-Caroline
Published: February 2022

German retailers offer a large variety of accessories for pets. However, not all products are suitable for pet husbandry. Several articles can negatively influence the wellbeing of pets or cause injuries, but empirical studies that evaluate accessories for small pets under animal welfare aspects are rare. In the present study, we assessed articles manufactured or sold in Germany in the product categories pet cages, hay racks, running wheels, exercise balls, harnesses and leashes, tube systems, and hamster bedding. To do so, we searched 28 German websites, visited 50 pet shops and 13 home improvement and garden centers on site and afterwards examined the animal welfare compliance of the products according to various evaluation criteria. Most of the examined products were rated not suitable for pet husbandry and were animal-welfare-adverse. This result applies to 86.1% (n= 87) of the 101 assessed running wheel models, 82.7% (n= 172) of the 208 assessed pet cage models and 55.6% (n= 40) of the 72 assessed hay rack models. The articles in the product categories exercise balls, harnesses and leashes, tube systems, and hamster bedding were also found unsuitable due to animal welfare concerns. Furthermore, we found clear shortcomings regarding article declarations. In some cases, relevant product information (e.g., dimensions) were missing, or the presented information was too general (e.g., rodent cage). Improperly declared pet accessories make it difficult for pet owners to decide whether a product is suitable or unsuitable for the species they keep. A declaration duty for manufacturers of pet products could ensure that German retailers only offer properly declared pet accessories and facilitate the decision for pet owners to purchase products appropriate for the pets they keep. Furthermore, a voluntary product certification for manufacturers would allow retailers to check the animal welfare compliance of articles before including them in their assortment. If a product is unsuitable for pet husbandry because it does not meet the set requirements, it must be considered animal-welfare-adverse and removed from the assortment. As done for the Austrian “animal welfare label,” an independent, qualified third party could do the certification.
Examining the role of COVID-19 testing availability on intention to isolate: A Randomized hypothetical scenario
Authors: Zhang Justin C. , Christensen Katherine L. , Leuchter Richard K. , Vangala Sitaram , Han Maria , Croymans Daniel M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Little information exists on how COVID-19 testing influences intentions to engage in risky behavior. Understanding the behavioral effects of diagnostic testing may highlight the role of adequate testing on controlling viral transmission. In order to evaluate these effects, simulated scenarios were conducted evaluating participant intentions to self-isolate based on COVID-19 diagnostic testing availability and results.

Methods

Participants from the United States were recruited through an online survey platform (Amazon Mechanical Turk) and randomized to one of three hypothetical scenarios. Each scenario asked participants to imagine having symptoms consistent with COVID-19 along with a clinical diagnosis from their physician. However, scenarios differed in either testing availability (testing available v. unavailable) or testing result (positive v. negative test). The primary outcome was intention to engage in high-risk COVID-19 behaviors, measured using an 11-item mean score (range 1–7) that was pre-registered prior to data collection. Multi-variable linear regression was used to compare the mean composite scores between conditions. The randomized survey was conducted between July 23rd to July 29th, 2020.

Results

A total of 1400 participants were recruited through a national, online, opt-in survey. Out of 1194 respondents (41.6% male, 58.4% female) with a median age of 38.5 years, participants who had no testing available in their clinical scenario showed significantly greater intentions to engage in behavior facilitating COVID-19 transmission compared to those who received a positive confirmatory test result scenario (mean absolute difference (SE): 0.14 (0.06), P = 0.016), equating to an 11.1% increase in mean score risky behavior intentions. Intention to engage in behaviors that can spread COVID-19 were also positively associated with male gender, poor health status, and Republican party affiliation.

Conclusion

Testing availability appears to play an independent role in influencing behaviors facilitating COVID-19 transmission. Such findings shed light on the possible negative externalities of testing unavailability.

Trial registration

Effect of Availability of COVID-19 Testing on Choice to Isolate and Socially Distance, NCT04459520, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04459520.
Sensitivity and robustness of sky-polarimetric Viking navigation: Sailing success is most sensitive to night sailing, navigation periodicity and sailing date, but robust against weather conditions
Authors: Takács Péter , Száz Dénes , Pereszlényi Ádám , Horváth Gábor
Published: February 2022

Although Viking sailors did not have a magnetic compass, they could successfully navigate with a sun-compass under a sunny sky. Under cloudy/foggy conditions, they might have applied the sky-polarimetric Viking navigation (SPVN), the high success of which has been demonstrated with computer simulations using the following input data: sky polarization patterns measured with full-sky imaging polarimetry, and error functions of the navigation steps measured in psychophysical laboratory and planetarium experiments. As a continuation of the earlier studies, in this work we investigate the sensitivity of the success of SPVN to the following relevant sailing, meteorological and navigational parameters: sunstone type, sailing date, navigation periodicity, night sailing, dominance of strongly, medium or weakly cloudy skies, and changeability of cloudiness. Randomly varying these parameters in the simulation of Viking voyages along the latitude 60° 21’ 55’’ N from Norway to Greenland, we determined those parameters which had strong and weak influences on the success of SPVN. The following intrinsic parameters of the simulation were also randomly changed: sailing speed, visibility distance of Greenland’s southeast coastline and start time of diurnal sailing. Our results show that the sailing success is sensitive to the night sailing, navigation periodicity and sailing date, while it is robust against the sunstone type, dominance of strongly, medium or weakly cloudy skies, and changing cloudiness.