bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
$$ t\overline{t}t\overline{t} $$ signatures through the lens of color-octet scalars
Authors: Carpenter Linda M. , Murphy Taylor , Smylie Matthew J.
Published: January 2022

Abstract

We reinterpret two recent LHC searches for events containing four top quarks $$ \left(t\overline{t}t\overline{t}\right) $$

t

t
¯

t

t
¯

in the context of supersymmetric models with Dirac gauginos and color-octet scalars (sgluons). We explore whether sgluon contributions to the four-top production cross section $$ \sigma \left( pp\to t\overline{t}t\overline{t}\right) $$
σ

pp
→
t

t
¯

t

t
¯

can accommodate an excess of four-top events recently reported by the ATLAS collaboration. We also study constraints on these models from an ATLAS search for new phenomena with high jet multiplicity and significant missing transverse energy $$ \left({E}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}\right) $$

E
T
miss

sensitive to signals with four top quarks. We find that these two analyses provide complementary constraints, with the jets + $$ {E}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}} $$

E
T
miss

search exceeding the four-top cross section measurement in sensitivity for sgluons heavier than about 800 GeV. We ultimately find that either a scalar or a pseudoscalar sgluon can currently fit the ATLAS excess in a range of reasonable benchmark scenarios, though a pseudoscalar in minimal Dirac gaugino models is ruled out. We finally offer sensitivity projections for these analyses at the HL-LHC, mapping the 5σ discovery potential in sgluon parameter space and computing exclusion limits at 95% CL in scenarios where no excess is found.
Worldline master formulas for the dressed electron propagator. Part 2. On-shell amplitudes
Authors: Ahmadiniaz N. , Guzmán V. M. Banda , Bastianelli F. , Corradini O. , Edwards J. P. , Schubert C.
Published: January 2022

Abstract

In the first part of this series, we employed the second-order formalism and the “symbol” map to construct a particle path-integral representation of the electron propagator in a background electromagnetic field, suitable for open fermion-line calculations. Its main advantages are the avoidance of long products of Dirac matrices, and its ability to unify whole sets of Feynman diagrams related by permutation of photon legs along the fermion lines. We obtained a Bern-Kosower type master formula for the fermion propagator, dressed with N photons, in terms of the “N-photon kernel,” where this kernel appears also in “subleading” terms involving only N − 1 of the N photons.

In this sequel, we focus on the application of the formalism to the calculation of on-shell amplitudes and cross sections. Universal formulas are obtained for the fully polarised matrix elements of the fermion propagator dressed with an arbitrary number of photons, as well as for the corresponding spin-averaged cross sections. A major simplification of the on-shell case is that the subleading terms drop out, but we also pinpoint other, less obvious simplifications.

We use integration by parts to achieve manifest transversality of these amplitudes at the integrand level and exploit this property using the spinor helicity technique. We give a simple proof of the vanishing of the matrix element for “all +” photon helicities in the massless case, and find a novel relation between the scalar and spinor spin-averaged cross sections in the massive case. Testing the formalism on the standard linear Compton scattering process, we find that it reproduces the known results with remarkable efficiency. Further applications and generalisations are pointed out.
Sparse domination implies vector-valued sparse domination
Authors: Lorist Emiel , Nieraeth Zoe
Published: January 2022

We prove that scalar-valued sparse domination of a multilinear operator implies vector-valued sparse domination for tuples of quasi-Banach function spaces, for which we introduce a multilinear analogue of the $${{\,\mathrm{UMD}\,}}$$

UMD

condition. This condition is characterized by the boundedness of the multisublinear Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator and goes beyond examples in which a $${{\,\mathrm{UMD}\,}}$$

UMD

condition is assumed on each individual space and includes e.g. iterated Lebesgue, Lorentz, and Orlicz spaces. Our method allows us to obtain sharp vector-valued weighted bounds directly from scalar-valued sparse domination, without the use of a Rubio de Francia type extrapolation result. We apply our result to obtain new vector-valued bounds for multilinear Calderón-Zygmund operators as well as recover the old ones with a new sharp weighted bound. Moreover, in the Banach function space setting we improve upon recent vector-valued bounds for the bilinear Hilbert transform.
Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Predicts Myocardial Infarction and Mortality After Vascular Surgery–A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Caldeira de Albuquerque Francisca Vieira da Silva , Dias‐Neto Marina Felicidade , Rocha‐Neves João Manuel Palmeira da , Videira Reis Pedro José Vinhais Domingues
Published: January 2022

Background

This study aims to investigate the association between preoperative Red blood cell Distribution Width (RDW) and postoperative outcomes, including myocardial infarction (MI), and mortality.

Methods

A prospective cohort including all patients submitted to elective vascular arterial surgery at a university hospital. The primary and secondary outcomes were 30‐day mortality and 30‐day MI, respectively.

Results

Atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and dependent functional status were more prevalent in deceased patients. After multivariable analysis, age (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% Confidence Interval [1.01–1.15], p = 0.027) and RDW‐standard deviation (RDW‐SD) (1.08 [1.01–1.16], p = 0.032) remained independent predictors of mortality. Patients with MI had higher rates of diabetes, CKD, dependent functional status, ASA physical status IV, and insulin medication. After multivariable analysis, dependent functional status (4.8 [1.6–15.0], p = 0.007), insulin medication (4.4 [1.5–12.6], p = 0.007) and RDW‐SD (1.10 [1.02–1.19], p = 0.020) were independent predictors of MI.

Conclusion

RDW‐SD independently predicted postoperative MI and mortality, and may provide valuable information for prevention and early management of adverse outcomes.
Broadband 75–85 MHz radiofrequency fields disrupt magnetic compass orientation in night-migratory songbirds consistent with a flavin-based radical pair magnetoreceptor
Authors: Leberecht Bo , Kobylkov Dmitry , Karwinkel Thiemo , Döge Sara , Burnus Lars , Wong Siu Ying , Apte Shambhavi , Haase Katrin , Musielak Isabelle , Chetverikova Raisa , Dautaj Glen , Bassetto Marco , Winklhofer Michael , Hore P. J. , Mouritsen Henrik
Published: January 2022

The light-dependent magnetic compass sense of night-migratory songbirds can be disrupted by weak radiofrequency fields. This finding supports a quantum mechanical, radical-pair-based mechanism of magnetoreception as observed for isolated cryptochrome 4, a protein found in birds’ retinas. The exact identity of the magnetically sensitive radicals in cryptochrome is uncertain in vivo, but their formation seems to require a bound flavin adenine dinucleotide chromophore and a chain of four tryptophan residues within the protein. Resulting from the hyperfine interactions of nuclear spins with the unpaired electrons, the sensitivity of the radicals to radiofrequency magnetic fields depends strongly on the number of magnetic nuclei (hydrogen and nitrogen atoms) they contain. Quantum-chemical calculations suggested that electromagnetic noise in the frequency range 75–85 MHz could give information about the identity of the radicals involved. Here, we show that broadband 75–85 MHz radiofrequency fields prevent a night-migratory songbird from using its magnetic compass in behavioural experiments. These results indicate that at least one of the components of the radical pair involved in the sensory process of avian magnetoreception must contain a substantial number of strong hyperfine interactions as would be the case if a flavin–tryptophan radical pair were the magnetic sensor.
A prediction model for recurrence after translabyrinthine surgery for vestibular schwannoma: toward personalized postoperative surveillance
Authors: de Boer Nick P. , Böhringer Stefan , Koot Radboud W. , Malessy Martijn J. A. , van der Mey Andel G. L. , Jansen Jeroen C. , Hensen Erik F.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to compute and validate a statistical predictive model for the risk of recurrence, defined as regrowth of tumor necessitating salvage treatment, after translabyrinthine removal of vestibular schwannomas to individualize postoperative surveillance.

Methods

The multivariable predictive model for risk of recurrence was based on retrospectively collected patient data between 1995 and 2017 at a tertiary referral center. To assess for internal validity of the prediction model tenfold cross-validation was performed. A ‘low’ calculated risk of recurrence in this study was set at < 1%, based on clinical criteria and expert opinion.

Results

A total of 596 patients with 33 recurrences (5.5%) were included for analysis. The final prediction model consisted of the predictors ‘age at time of surgery’, ‘preoperative tumor growth’ and ‘first postoperative MRI outcome’. The area under the receiver operating curve of the prediction model was 89%, with a C-index of 0.686 (95% CI 0.614–0.796) after cross-validation. The predicted probability for risk of recurrence was low (< 1%) in 373 patients (63%). The earliest recurrence in these low-risk patients was detected at 46 months after surgery.

Conclusion

This study presents a well-performing prediction model for the risk of recurrence after translabyrinthine surgery for vestibular schwannoma. The prediction model can be used to tailor the postoperative surveillance to the estimated risk of recurrence of individual patients. It seems that especially in patients with an estimated low risk of recurrence, the interval between the first and second postoperative MRI can be safely prolonged.
The impact of different forms of exercise on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in cardiovascular and metabolic disease
Authors: Ferentinos Panagiotis , Tsakirides Costas , Swainson Michelle , Davison Adam , Martyn-St James Marrissa , Ispoglou Theocharis
Published: January 2022

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to vascular repair and their monitoring could have prognostic clinical value. Exercise is often prescribed for the management of cardiometabolic diseases, however, it is not fully understood how it regulates EPCs. Objectives: to systematically examine the acute and chronic effects of different exercise modalities on circulating EPCs in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed. Results: six electronic databases and reference lists of eligible studies were searched to April 2021. Thirty-six trials met the inclusion criteria including 1731 participants. Acute trials: in chronic heart failure (CHF), EPC mobilisation was acutely increased after high intensity interval or moderate intensity continuous exercise training, while findings were inconclusive after a cardiopulmonary cycling exercise test. Maximal exercise tests acutely increased EPCs in ischaemic or revascularized coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. In peripheral arterial disease (PAD), EPC levels increased up to 24 h post-exercise. In patients with compromised metabolic health, EPC mobilisation was blunted after a single exercise session. Chronic trials: in CHF and acute coronary syndrome, moderate intensity continuous protocols, with or without resistance exercise or calisthenics, increased EPCs irrespective of EPC identification phenotype. Findings were equivocal in CAD regardless of exercise mode, while in severe PAD disease EPCs increased. High intensity interval training increased EPCs in hypertensive metabolic syndrome and heart failure reduced ejection fraction. Conclusion: the clinical condition and exercise modality influence the degree of EPC mobilisation and magnitude of EPC increases in the long term.

Graphical abstract
Ogilvie’s syndrome—is there a cutoff diameter to proceed with upfront surgery?
Authors: Joechle Katharina , Guenzle Jessica , Utzolino Stefan , Fichtner-Feigl Stefan , Kousoulas Lampros
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Although Ogilvie’s syndrome was first described about 70 years ago, its etiology and pathogenesis are still not fully understood. But more importantly, it is also not clear when to approach which therapeutic strategy.

Methods

Patients who were diagnosed with Ogilvie’s syndrome at our institution in a 17-year time period (2002–2019) were included and retrospectively evaluated regarding different therapeutical strategies: conservative, endoscopic, or surgical.

Results

The study included 71 patients with 21 patients undergoing conservative therapy, 25 patients undergoing endoscopic therapy, and 25 patients undergoing surgery. However, 38% of patients (n = 8) who were primarily addressed for conservative management failed and had to undergo endoscopy or even surgery. Similarly, 8 patients (32%) with primarily endoscopic treatment had to proceed for surgery. In logistic regression analysis, only a colon diameter ≥ 11 cm (p = 0.01) could predict a lack of therapeutic success by endoscopic treatment. Ninety-day mortality and overall survival were comparable between the groups.

Conclusion

As conservative and endoscopic management fail in about one-third of patients, a cutoff diameter ≥ 11 cm may be an adequate parameter to evaluate surgical therapy.
Minimally invasive adrenalectomy: a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis of phase II/III randomized clinical controlled trials
Authors: Alberici Laura , Ingaldi Carlo , Ricci Claudio , Selva Saverio , Di Dalmazi Guido , Vicennati Valentina , Pagotto Uberto , Casadei Riccardo , Minni Francesco
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The best approach for minimally invasive adrenalectomy is still under debate.

Methods

A systematic search of randomized clinical trials was carried out. A frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis was made reporting the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA). The primary endpoint regarded both in-hospital mortality and morbidity. The secondary endpoints were operative time (OP), blood loss (BL), length of stay (LOS), conversion, incisional hernia, and disease recurrence rate.

Results

Eight studies were included, involving 359 patients clustered as follows: 175 (48.7%) in the TPLA arm; 55 (15.3%) in the RPLA arm; 10 (2.8%) in the Ro-TPLA arm; 25 (7%) in the TPAA arm; 20 (5.6%) in the SILS-LA arm; and 74 (20.6%) in the RPA arm. The RPLA had the highest probability of being the safest approach (SUCRA 69.6%), followed by RPA (SUCRA 63.0%). TPAA, Ro-TPLA, SILS-LA, and TPLA have similar probability of being safe (SUCRA values 45.2%, 43.4%, 43.0%, and 38.5%, respectively). Analysis of the secondary endpoints confirmed the superiority of RPA regarding OP, BL, LOS, and incisional hernia rate.

Conclusions

The best choice for patients with adrenal masses candidate for minimally invasive surgery seems to be RPA. An alternative could be RPLA. The remaining approaches could have some specific advantages but do not represent the first minimally invasive choice.
The effect of strategy game types on inhibition
Authors: Leong Aaron Yew Cheong , Yong Min Hooi , Lin Mei-Hua
Published: January 2022

Past studies have shown evidence of transfer of learning in action video games, less so in other types, e.g. strategy games. Further, the transfer of learning from games to inhibitory control has yet to be examined from the perspectives of time constraint and logic contradiction. We examined the effect of strategy games (puzzle, turn-based strategy ‘TBS’, and real-time strategy ‘RTS’) on inhibition (response inhibition and distractor inhibition) and cerebral hemispheric activation over 4 weeks. We predicted that compared to RTS, puzzle and TBS games would (1) improve response and distractor inhibition, and (2) increase cerebral hemispheric activation demonstrating increased inhibitory control. A total of 67 non-habitual video game players (Mage = 21.63 years old, SD = 2.12) played one of three games: puzzle (n = 19), TBS (n = 24) or RTS (n = 24) for 4 weeks on their smartphones. Participants completed three inhibition tasks, working memory (WM), and had their tympanic membrane temperature (TMT) taken from each ear before and after playing the games. Results showed that only the puzzle game group showed an improved response inhibition while controlling for WM. There were no significant changes in the distractor inhibition tasks. We also found that there was an increase in left TMT while playing RTS, suggesting the presence of increased impulsivity in RTS. Our findings suggest that puzzle games involving logical contradiction could improve response inhibition, showing potential as a tool for inhibition training.
Spaces of Geodesic Triangulations of Surfaces
Authors: Luo Yanwen
Published: January 2022

We give a short proof of the contractibility of the space of geodesic triangulations with fixed combinatorial type of a convex polygon in the Euclidean plane. Moreover, for any $$n>0$$

n
>
0

, we show that there exists a space of geodesic triangulations of a polygon with a triangulation, whose n-th homotopy group is not trivial.
Human engagement providing evaluative and informative advice for interactive reinforcement learning
Authors: Bignold Adam , Cruz Francisco , Dazeley Richard , Vamplew Peter , Foale Cameron
Published: January 2022

Interactive reinforcement learning proposes the use of externally sourced information in order to speed up the learning process. When interacting with a learner agent, humans may provide either evaluative or informative advice. Prior research has focused on the effect of human-sourced advice by including real-time feedback on the interactive reinforcement learning process, specifically aiming to improve the learning speed of the agent, while minimising the time demands on the human. This work focuses on answering which of two approaches, evaluative or informative, is the preferred instructional approach for humans. Moreover, this work presents an experimental setup for a human trial designed to compare the methods people use to deliver advice in terms of human engagement. The results obtained show that users giving informative advice to the learner agents provide more accurate advice, are willing to assist the learner agent for a longer time, and provide more advice per episode. Additionally, self-evaluation from participants using the informative approach has indicated that the agent’s ability to follow the advice is higher, and therefore, they feel their own advice to be of higher accuracy when compared to people providing evaluative advice.
Validation of somatic cell score-associated SNPs from Holstein cattle in Sudanese Butana and Butana × Holstein crossbred cattle
Authors: Elzaki Salma , Korkuc Paula , Arends Danny , Reissmann Monika , Rahmatalla Siham A. , Brockmann Gudrun A.
Published: January 2022

The Bos indicus zebu cattle Butana is the most commonly used indigenous dairy cattle breed in Sudan. In the last years, high-yielding Holstein dairy cattle were introgressed into Butana cattle to improve their milk yield and simultaneously keep their good adaption to extreme environmental conditions. With the focus on the improvement of milk production, other problems arose such as an increased susceptibility to mastitis. Thus, genetic selection for mastitis resistance should be considered to maintain healthy and productive cows. In this study, we tested 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which had been associated with somatic cell score (SCS) in Holstein cattle for association with SCS in 37 purebred Butana and 203 Butana × Holstein crossbred cattle from Sudan. Animals were genotyped by competitive allele-specific PCR assays and association analysis was performed using a linear mixed model. All 10 SNPs were segregating in the crossbred Butana × Holstein populations, but only 8 SNPs in Sudanese purebred Butana cattle. The SNP on chromosome 13 was suggestively associated with SCS in the Butana × Holstein crossbred population (rs109441194, 13:79,365,467, PBF = 0.054) and the SNP on chromosome 19 was significantly associated with SCS in both populations (rs41257403, 19:50,027,458, Butana: PBF = 0.003, Butana × Holstein: PBF = 6.2 × 10−16). The minor allele of both SNPs showed an increase in SCS. Therefore, selection against the disadvantageous minor allele could be used for genetic improvement of mastitis resistance in the studied populations. However, investigations in a bigger population and across the whole genome are needed to identify additional genomic loci.
Efficacy of Yigu® versus Aclasta® in Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a multicenter prospective study
Authors: Li Mei , Cheng Qun , Huo Ya-nan , Chao Ai-jun , He Liang , Xue Qing-yun , Xu Jin , Yan Shi-gui , Jin Hui , Zhang Zhen-lin , Lin Jian-hua , Jin Xiao-lan , Xu You-jia , Liu Feng , Xia Wei-bo
Published: January 2022

Summary

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is a therapy inhibiting bone resorption. In this study, generic ZOL (Yigu®) showed its clinical efficacy consistency with original ZOL (Aclasta®) in Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. This study provides a practical basis for the application of Yigu® in Chinese population.

Introduction

Yigu® has been approved its bioequivalence to Aclasta®. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of Yigu® have not been evaluated yet. Here, we compared the effectiveness and safety between Yigu® and Aclasta® in Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and assessed the efficacy of intravenous infusion of ZOL.

Methods

This was a randomized open-label, active-controlled study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis of 14 clinical centers in China. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were recruited and randomized to receive a single infusion of 5 mg Yigu® or Aclasta®. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine after 12 months of treatment and was assessed for equivalence. The secondary endpoint was the percentage change in BMD at proximal femur after 12 months. Additional secondary endpoints were percentage changes in BMD at the above sites after 6 months of treatment and changes in bone turnover biomarkers during ZOL treatment. Safety was also evaluated and compared between two groups.

Results

A total of 458 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were enrolled (n = 227, Yigu®; n = 231, Aclasta®). The mean percentage change in the BMD had no statistical difference at the lumbar spine (5.32% vs 5.18%), total hip (2.72% vs 2.83%), and femoral neck (2.37% vs 2.81%) between Yigu® and Aclasta® groups after 12 months of treatment. The mean difference of BMD change at the lumbar spine after 12 months between two groups was 0.15% (95% CI: − 0.71 to 1.00, equivalence margin: − 1.5%, 1.5%), demonstrating the treatments were equivalent. Meanwhile, the decreases in the P1NP and β-CTX showed no difference between two groups after 14 days and 6 and 12 months of treatment. As regards the whole sample, BMD significantly increased after 12 months of treatment. Also, serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β-CTX) and procollagen 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP) significantly decreased at each visit period. The overall adverse events were comparable and quite well between two groups.

Conclusion

Intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid achieved the potent anti-resorptive effects which led to significant increase in BMD of Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Yigu® was equivalent to Aclasta® with respect to efficacy and safety.
Is Adherence to Follow-Up After Bariatric Surgery Necessary? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Reiber Beata M. M. , Barendregt Rosalie , de Vries Ralph , Bruin Sjoerd C. , van der Peet Donald L.
Published: January 2022

The association of adherence to follow-up (FU) after laparoscopic gastric bypass — and gastric sleeve with weight loss (WL) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate this association. Fourteen full text articles were included in the systematic review. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis concerning FU up to 3 years postoperatively and 3 for the FU between 3 and 10 years postoperatively. Results showed a significant association between adherence to FU 0.5 to 3 years postoperatively and percentage excess WL (%EWL) but did not demonstrate a significant association between FU > 3 years postoperatively and total WL (%TWL). In conclusion, adherence to FU may not be associated with WL and therefore stringent lifelong FU in its current form should be evaluated.
Trans*-Jugendliche als Zielgruppe der Schulsozialarbeit
Authors: Kohl Wiebke , Mantey Dominik
Published: January 2022

Der Beitrag thematisiert die Situation von Trans*-Jugendlichen in der Schule. Ergebnisse einer empirischen Forschungsarbeit von Wiebke Kohl im Rahmen ihrer Bachelorthesis werden zusammengefasst und Handlungsempfehlungen entwickelt. Schulsozialarbeit hat demnach hier einen Handlungsauftrag und kann für Betroffene wichtige Unterstützung in Form von Information oder Beratung bereitstellen. Das gesamte System Schule bedarf darüber hinaus der Veränderung, um Diskriminierungen bzw. Gewalt zu verhindern und das Thema Trans* nicht länger zu tabuisieren.
Morse Index Bound for Minimal Two Spheres
Authors: Sun Yuchin
Published: January 2022

Given a closed manifold of dimension at least three, with non-trivial homotopy group $$\pi _3(M)$$

π
3

(
M
)

and a generic metric, we prove that there is a finite collection of harmonic spheres with Morse index bounded by one, with sum of their energies realizing a geometric invariant width.
Stitching Data: Recovering a Manifold’s Geometry from Geodesic Intersections
Authors: Meyerson Reed
Published: January 2022

Let (M, g) be a Riemannian manifold with boundary. We show that knowledge of the length of each geodesic, and where pairwise intersections occur along the corresponding geodesics allows for recovery of the geometry of (M, g) (assuming (M, g) admits a Riemannian collar of a uniform radius). We call this knowledge the ‘stitching data’. We then pose a boundary measurement problem called the ‘delayed collision data problem’ and apply our result about the stitching data to recover the geometry from the collision data (with some reasonable geometric restrictions on the manifold).
A Conterminous USA-Scale Map of Relative Tidal Marsh Elevation
Authors: Holmquist James R. , Windham-Myers Lisamarie
Published: January 2022

Tidal wetlands provide myriad ecosystem services across local to global scales. With their uncertain vulnerability or resilience to rising sea levels, there is a need for mapping flooding drivers and vulnerability proxies for these ecosystems at a national scale. However, tidal wetlands in the conterminous USA are diverse with differing elevation gradients, and tidal amplitudes, making broad geographic comparisons difficult. To address this, a national-scale map of relative tidal elevation (Z*MHW), a physical metric that normalizes elevation to tidal amplitude at mean high water (MHW), was constructed for the first time at 30 × 30-m resolution spanning the conterminous USA. Contrary to two study hypotheses, watershed-level median Z*MHW and its variability generally increased from north to south as a function of tidal amplitude and relative sea-level rise. These trends were also observed in a reanalysis of ground elevation data from the Pacific Coast by Janousek et al. (Estuaries and Coasts 42 (1): 85–98, 2019). Supporting a third hypothesis, propagated uncertainty in Z*MHW increased from north to south as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) errors had an outsized effect under narrowing tidal amplitudes. The drivers of Z*MHW and its variability are difficult to determine because several potential causal variables are correlated with latitude, but future studies could investigate highest astronomical tide and diurnal high tide inequality as drivers of median Z*MHW and Z*MHW variability, respectively. Watersheds of the Gulf Coast often had propagated Z*MHW uncertainty greater than the tidal amplitude itself emphasizing the diminished practicality of applying Z*MHW as a flooding proxy to microtidal wetlands. Future studies could focus on validating and improving these physical map products and using them for synoptic modeling of tidal wetland carbon dynamics and sea-level rise vulnerability analyses.
Novel transparent MgGa2O4 and Ni2+-doped MgGa2O4 ceramics
Authors: Zhang Guangran , Goldstein Adrian , Wu Yiquan
Published: January 2022

In this study we fabricated, for the first time, magnesium gallate (MgGa2O4, a partially inverted spinel) transparent ceramics, both undoped and doped with 1 at% Ni. The specimens were derived from in-house prepared powder, with a crystallite size of ∼10 nm (by wet chemistry) and densified by pulsed electric current sintering (PECS; peak temperature 950 °C for 90 min). Densification levels of 99.84% and 99.52% of theoretical density were attained for doped and undoped materials, respectively. Doping with Ni was seen to marginally improve the densification level. Quite transparent specimens were produced: the best showing transmission of ∼89% of the theoretical level (thickness t = 0.85 mm). The absorption spectra revealed that the dopant was accumulated as Ni2+ in the octahedral sites of the lattice, as occurs in single-crystal specimens. After excitation at 980 nm, the doped disks exhibited a wide fluorescence band centered at 1264 nm.
Misurazione della spesa energetica mediante la camera metabolica nello studio dei fenotipi dell’obesità
Authors: Basolo Alessio , Fierabracci Paola , Santini Ferruccio
Published: January 2022

Sommario

La capacità di modulare l’introito calorico in risposta ai cambiamenti della richiesta energetica è essenziale per la sopravvivenza dell’individuo. L’apparente spontaneità con cui decidiamo di alimentarci dipende da una complessa interazione tra percezioni visive olfattive e cognitive e il sistema nervoso centrale che integra a livello ipotalamico i segnali periferici relativi allo stato nutrizionale. La conservazione dell’equilibrio energetico può essere considerata un processo dinamico e, sotto controllo fisiologico ideale, le variazioni di un componente (spesa energetica) provocano cambiamenti compensatori biologici e/o comportamentali nell’altra parte del sistema (introito calorico) e viceversa. Nella vita di tutti i giorni un abbinamento così perfetto tra apporto energetico e dispendio energetico è difficilmente raggiungibile e il tessuto adiposo funge da deposito dinamico, proteggendo dalle inevitabili deviazioni dell’equazione di equilibrio. Recenti studi hanno dimostrato che la risposta adattativa della spesa energetica a differenti interventi dietetici (alimentazione eccessiva o restrizione calorica) identifica la presenza di due differenti fenotipi metabolici (“dissipatore” e “risparmiatore”). In questa rassegna verranno discussi i principi fondamentali dell’equazione del bilancio energetico e il loro metodo di misurazione mediante camera metabolica. Verranno inoltre descritti i due diversi fenotipi metabolici che possono indicare la propensione di un individuo a essere più o meno incline allo sviluppo dell’obesità.
Kinderperspektiven auf institutionalisierte Elterngespräche in Kindertageseinrichtungen
Authors: Menzel Britta
Published: January 2022

In Deutschland ist der institutionalisierte Austausch zwischen Eltern und Fachkräften in der pädagogischen Praxis als ‚Elterngespräch‘ mittlerweile fest verankert. Während in Elterngesprächen über Kinder gesprochen wird, ist bislang nicht bekannt, welche Perspektiven Kinder auf diese haben. Im vorliegenden Beitrag bilden Aussagen von Kindern zu Elterngesprächen den Analysegegenstand. Grundlage hierfür sind qualitative (Gruppen‑)Interviews (n = 32) mit Kindern zwischen 3–6 Jahren, die 2017–2018 in einer Kindertageseinrichtung geführt wurden. Die Ergebnisse legen offen, was Kinder über Elterngespräche wissen und wie sie das Sprechen der erwachsenen Beteiligten über sie einschätzen. Auch zeigt sich, dass die Kinder unterschiedlich ausgeprägte Wünsche über Informiertheit und Involviertheit zu Elterngesprächen haben. Insgesamt lässt sich konstatieren, dass die Kinder ihre Perspektiven auf Elterngespräche in den Kontext generationaler Ordnung stellen.
A Suitable Paradigm: the Indian Founding and the world
Authors: Fowkes James
Published: January 2022

What is the relevance of the Indian case for South Africa? And what should South Africans, and the rest of the world, make of the claim in Madhav Khosla’s India’s Founding Moment that we should recognize India as ‘the’ paradigm case for modern constitutional democracy? The constitutional projects of India and South Africa are naturally connected, but Khosla’s book helps to bring out what is perhaps the most important of the connections. Both are founded on an insistently democratic constitutionalism, in places where most inhabitants had long been told they were not suited or ready for democracy. Both display the conviction that boldly giving the vote to all, in these circumstances, is a powerful way to construct a democracy. This idea is crucial for understanding many aspects of both constitutions. This makes India a natural paradigm case for South Africa and many others. The stronger claim, that it is ‘the’ paradigm case and should succeed the United States to this status, can become more complicated once one tests it out globally (like the US claim). Finland and Ireland are especially strong and earlier examples of what Khosla sees as ground-breaking in India. Latin America’s somewhat different post-colonial trajectory makes India a more imperfect paradigm there. But that said, treating India and its founding as paradigmatic may well be the single best step to take for a more balanced view of the constitutional world, and this book’s elegant erudition makes it a real scholarly pleasure to do so.
The Public Economics of Changing Longevity
Authors: Pestieau Pierre
Published: January 2022

Our societies are witnessing a steady increase in longevity. This demographic evolution is accompanied by some convergence across countries, but at the same time substantial longevity inequalities persist within nations across income classes. This Element aims to survey some crucial implications of changing longevity on the design of optimal public policy. For that purpose, it first focuses on some difficulties raised by risky and varying lifetime for the representation of individual and social preferences. Then, it explore some central implications of changing longevity for optimal policy making, regarding prevention against premature death, pension policies, education, health care and long-term care. The author distinguishes between the case when longevity is partially the responsibility of individuals and the case when longevity is plainly exogenous.
Les récits de la migration dans la Hongrie médiévale
Authors: Berend Nora
Published: January 2022

Les récits de la migration dans la Hongrie médiévale

Si la Hongrie médiévale a été qualifiée de « terre d’accueil » en raison de la multiplicité des peuples immigrés qui y vivaient, les expériences réelles des immigrants et les constructions narratives autour de l’immigration n’ont cependant pas toujours été en phase. Cet article explore les récits médiévaux de différents types de migration vers le royaume de Hongrie : tout d’abord, la migration mythique de l’ensemble du peuple (gens) d’une supposée patrie d’origine vers un nouveau territoire ; ensuite, les histoires des immigrants nobles ; enfin, les représentations de l’immigration de masse dans le royaume chrétien. Afin de comprendre comment les auteurs médiévaux ont élaboré ces récits, il est nécessaire d’identifier les modèles dont ils se sont servis et l’objectif qu’ils poursuivaient en les écrivant. Ainsi, les sources bibliques et littéraires ont inspiré l’invention de l’histoire des « Hongrois » tandis que l’élévation du prestige des familles nobles a motivé la quête des ancêtres ayant immigré à l’époque de la formation du royaume. Il est impossible d’utiliser les récits médiévaux comme des sources historiques sans s’engager pleinement dans l’étude de leur genèse. Les réflexions médiévales explicites sur l’immigration de divers groupes dans le royaume de Hongrie révèlent également pourquoi celle-ci pouvait être perçue de manière tantôt positive, tantôt négative. Reposant sur ces fondements médiévaux, les récits de la migration ont persisté jusqu’à nos jours, mais une distinction plus nette s’est aussi installée entre les migrations anciennes, valorisées, et les migrations plus récentes, diabolisées et instrumentalisées de manière aussi brutale qu’excluante.
Les impensées de la migration: Mobilités féminines en Méditerranée (note critique)
Authors: Diaz Delphine
Published: January 2022

Mobilités féminines en Méditerranée (note critique)

Dans Les damnées de la mer, Camille Schmoll explore la géographie des migrations en Méditerranée en centrant son regard sur les mobilités de femmes parties d’Afrique de l’Ouest pour rejoindre les rives de l’Europe méridionale. Une telle géographie incarnée des traversées de la Méditerranée, qui associe à cette « histoire d’eau » (Nancy L. Green) une interrogation sur les étapes africaines d’itinéraires au long cours, rencontre l’histoire du temps présent. En retraçant les évolutions des politiques migratoires sud-européennes au cours des deux dernières décennies, l’autrice explique les origines et les modalités de ces mobilités sous contrainte. C’est grâce à une enquête menée dans les espaces de la contention et de l’attente, grâce au recueil d’un riche matériau de témoignages oraux et de bribes d’enregistrements audio et vidéo réalisés par les migrantes elles-mêmes que l’autrice parvient à restituer l’expérience de la traversée de la Méditerranée au féminin. Ce faisant, elle inscrit ses pas dans le sillage d’une historiographie des femmes et du genre de plus en plus attentive, depuis maintenant près de quatre décennies, à la question des mobilités et des circulations, et explore les espaces interstitiels de l’intimité en migration.
On the use of heated needle probes for measuring snow thermal conductivity
Authors: Fourteau Kévin , Hagenmuller Pascal , Roulle Jacques , Domine Florent
Published: January 2022

Heated needle probes provide the most convenient method to measure snow thermal conductivity. Recent studies have suggested that this method underestimates snow thermal conductivity; however the reasons for this discrepancy have not been elucidated. We show that it originates from the fact that, while the theory behind the method assumes that the measurements reach a logarithmic regime, this regime is not reached within the standard measurement procedure. Using the needle probe without this logarithmic regime leads to thermal conductivity underestimations of tens of percents. Moreover, we show that the poor thermal contact between the probe and the snow due to insertion damages results in a further underestimation. Thus, we encourage the use of fixed needle probes, set up before the snow season and buried under snowfalls, rather than hand-inserted probes. Finally, we propose a method to correct the measurements performed with such fixed needle probes buried in snow. This correction is based on a lookup table, derived specifically for the Hukseflux TP02 needle probe model, frequently used in snow studies. Comparison between corrected measurements and independent estimations of snow thermal conductivity obtained with numerical simulations shows an overall improvement of the needle probe values after application of the correction.
Solving Paradox by Increasing Technological Capacity: A Critique of the Concept of Business Model Innovation at TikTok
Authors: Li Xin
Published: January 2022

This paper comments on Yulun Ma and Yue Hu's (2021) recent article ‘Business Model Innovation and Experimentation in Transforming Economies: ByteDance and TikTok’. It argues that TikTok's international success is not due to so-called business model innovation; instead, it is because ByteDance has overcome three major hurdles facing emerging market firms pursuing internationalization. It also posits that the case of TikTok offers inspiration for theorizing paradox, namely, individuals and organizations can solve paradoxical tensions by increasing capacity through the use of advanced technologies.
On Accuracy and Coherence with Infinite Opinion Sets
Authors: Kelley Mikayla
Published: January 2022

There is a well-known equivalence between avoiding accuracy dominance and having probabilistically coherent credences (see, e.g., de Finetti 1974; Joyce 2009; Predd et al. 2009; Pettigrew 2016). However, this equivalence has been established only when the set of propositions on which credence functions are defined is finite. In this article, I establish connections between accuracy dominance and coherence when credence functions are defined on an infinite set of propositions. In particular, I establish the necessary results to extend the classic accuracy argument for probabilism to certain classes of infinite sets of propositions, including countably infinite partitions.
On the Best Accuracy Arguments for Probabilism
Authors: Nielsen Michael
Published: January 2022

In a recent paper, Pettigrew (2022) reports a generalization of the celebrated accuracy-dominance theorem due to Predd et al. (2009), but Pettigrew’s proof is incorrect. I will explain the mistakes and provide a correct proof.
Enron and the California Energy Crisis: The Role of Networks in Enabling Organizational Corruption
Authors: Nix Adam , Decker Stephanie , Wolf Carola
Published: January 2022

We provide an analytically structured history of Enron's involvement in the California energy crisis, exploring its emergence as a corrupt organization and its use of an interorganizational network to manipulate California's energy supply markets. We use this history to introduce the concept of network-enabled corruption, showing how corruption, even if primarily enacted by a single dominant organization, is often highly dependent on the support of other organizations. Specifically, we show how Enron combined resources from partner firms with its own capabilities, manipulating the energy market and capitalizing on the crisis. From a methodological point of view, our study emphasizes the growing importance of digital sources for historical research, drawing particularly on telephone and email records from the period to develop a rich, fly-on-the-wall understanding of a phenomenon that is otherwise hard to observe.
Reactions to China-linked Fake News: Experimental Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Bauer Fin , Wilson Kimberly L.
Published: January 2022

China is accused of conducting disinformation campaigns on Taiwan's social media. Existing studies on foreign interventions in democratic societies predict that such disinformation campaigns should lead to increasing partisan polarization within Taiwan. We argue that a backlash effect, making Taiwan's citizens more united against China, is equally plausible. We conduct a survey experiment exposing participants to a real-life rumour and rebuttal to test these competing hypotheses. We find, at best, mixed evidence for polarization. Although neither rumour nor rebuttal mention China, there is consistent evidence of backlash against China. Most notably, participants across the political spectrum are more inclined to support Taiwanese independence after viewing the rumour rebuttal. These findings indicate that citizens may put aside partisanship when confronted with false news that is plausibly linked to an external actor. We conclude by discussing the broader applicability of our theory and implications for cross-Strait relations.
Allowing for shocks in portfolio mortality models
Authors: Richards Stephen J.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic creates a challenge for actuaries analysing experience data that include mortality shocks. Without sufficient local flexibility in the time dimension, any analysis based on the most recent data will be biased by the temporarily higher mortality. Also, depending on where the shocks sit in the exposure period, any attempt to identify mortality trends will be distorted. We present a methodology for analysing portfolio mortality data that offer local flexibility in the time dimension. The approach permits the identification of seasonal variation, mortality shocks and occurred-but-not reported deaths (OBNR). The methodology also allows actuaries to measure portfolio-specific mortality improvements. Finally, the method assists actuaries in determining a representative mortality level for long-term applications like reserving and pricing, even in the presence of mortality shocks. Results are given for a mature annuity portfolio in the UK, which suggest that the Bayesian information criterion is better for actuarial model selection in this application than Akaike’s information criterion.
Critical issues in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with gender and sexual minorities (GSMs)
Authors: Carvalho Sérgio A. , Castilho Paula , Seabra Daniel , Salvador Céu , Rijo Daniel , Carona Carlos
Published: January 2022

In a cisheteronormative culture, gender and sexual minorities (GSMs) may experience additional challenges that get in the way of a meaningful life. It is crucial that clinicians are mindful of these challenges and cognizant about the specificities of clinical work with GSMs. This article points out how societal structure interferes with mental health, and clarifies what clinicians must take into account when using affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions. Knowledge of up-to-date terminology and use of affirmative language are the first steps that contribute to clients’ experience of respect, which is paramount for the development of a good therapeutic relationship. Considering a conceptual framework of minority stress to understand vulnerability in GSM, specificities in formulation and key psychological processes are discussed. Moreover, guidelines and practical tools for intervention are presented within a CBT approach. Some reflections on therapists’ own personal biases are encouraged, in order to increase the efficacy of interventions.

Key learning aims

After reading this article you will be able to:

(1)

Recognize the uniqueness of gender and sexual minorities (GSM) stressors in broad and specific contexts, and their impact on mental health.

(2)

Identify the underlying key processes and specificities in therapeutic work with GSMs, from a CBT perspective.

(3)

Recognize the importance of a culturally sensitive approach in affirmative CBT interventions.