bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping brain structure and function in professional fencers: A model to study training effects on central nervous system plasticity
Authors: Cordani Claudio , Preziosa Paolo , Gatti Roberto , Castellani Carlotta , Filippi Massimo , Rocca Maria Assunta
Published: April 2022

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown different patterns of structural and functional reorganization in high‐level athletes compared with controls, but little is known about their relationship with interlimb coordination mechanisms. To this aim, we investigated brain structural and functional differences in high‐level fencers compared with nonathlete controls and the MRI substrates of interlimb coordination in elite athletes. Fourteen right‐handed male fencers (median age = 22.3 years) and 15 right‐handed age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects (median age = 22.4 years) underwent structural and functional MRI acquisition during the execution of cyclic bimanual‐movements as well as during in‐phase and antiphase hand/foot‐movements of the dominant‐right limbs. No between‐group differences were found in gray matter volumes and white matter architecture. Active‐fMRI showed that controls versus fencers had higher activations in parietal and temporal areas during bimanual‐task; whereas fencers versus controls had higher activations in the basal ganglia. During in‐phase task, controls versus fencers showed higher activation of right cerebellum, whereas fencers had higher activity mainly in frontal areas. The functional‐connectivity (FC) analysis showed that fencers versus controls had an increased FC between left motor cortex and fronto‐temporal areas as well as bilateral thalami during the different tasks. Intensive and prolonged fencing activity is associated with brain functional changes mainly involving frontal regions related to high‐level motor control and planning of complex tasks. These modifications are likely to reflect an optimization of brain networks involved in motor activities, including interlimb coordination tasks, occurring after intensive training.
Cross‐sectional study on the etiological diagnosis of the patients with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms by application of the urine‐prostate‐semen test
Authors: Wang Danni , Wang He
Published: April 2022

Background and Aims

The prostatic secretion was considered to be the most important and even only specimen in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of chronic prostatitis like symptoms, but little attention has been paid to other genital organ infections. A urine‐prostate‐semen test (U‐EPS‐S test) was used to investigate the microbial flora of internal genital organs in patients with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms and their influence on the diagnosis and treatment of the patients.

Materials and Methods

We randomly selected the patients with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms for this study and used a U‐EPS‐S test to collect urine, prostatic secretion, and semen specimens. The specimens were inoculated respectively into a suitable culture medium for bacteriological/fungal detection, and the number and distribution of colonies in each isolation culture were observed before and after the therapy.

Results

All of the specimens from the internal genital organs of these patients were shown as microbe‐positive isolation and the infection rate was 100%. Of these, prostatic secretion with microbe‐positive isolation was obtained in 66 cases (33%), semen with microbe‐positive isolation was obtained in 34 cases (17%), and both prostatic secretion and semen with microbe‐positive isolation were obtained in 100 cases (50%). In the isolates, Gram‐positive microbes were shown as the most common pathogens, accounting for 91.1%. In 200 patients, 95 patients were infected with one microbial species infection, of them 36 were prostatic secretion positive‐isolation (18%), 20 were semen sample positive‐isolation (10%), and 39 were positive‐isolation both prostatic secretion and semen samples (19.5%); 104 patients were infected with two microbial species, of them 30 were prostatic secretion positive‐isolation (15%), 14 were semen sample positive‐isolation (7%), and 60 were positive‐isolation both prostatic secretion and semen samples (30%); one patient was infected with three microbial species and them were isolated from the semen sample (0.5%). In the patients with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms, the multiple microbial infection (MMI) was accounted for 53.5%, and the multiorgan infection (MOI) was accounted for 67%.

Conclusions

The U‐EPS‐S test is not only helpful to accurately identify the pathogens and contaminants in the culture isolates, but also the diagnosis and differential diagnosis and also evaluation of the treatment efficacy of the infection in different genital organs. In the patients with chronic prostatitis symptoms, Gram‐positive microbes were the most common causative agents, and MMI and MOI caused by resistant strains of different microbial species have a high incidence.
Greenly synthesized porous carbon nanoparticle (bio‐waste‐based)‐doped nematic liquid crystal composite with optimized electric and electro‐optical properties for devices
Authors: Tripathi Shivangi , Singh Bhupendra Pratap , Hegde Gurumurthy , Srivastava Atul , Kumar Pandey Kamal , Manohar Rajiv
Published: April 2022

The present investigation on the impact of porous carbon nanoparticles (PCNPs) on a room temperature nematic liquid crystalline compound (TP‐188‐01) reports extensive electro‐optical analysis of composite followed by dielectric and luminescence study as well. The pure nematic compound has been doped with 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% of PCNPs (spherical), which have been synthesized by green synthesis technique without use of any activating agents. Low‐frequency dielectric analysis (50 Hz to 1 kHz) has been done to confirm ion generation with increase in PCNS concentration. The dielectric data also indicate preferential orientation of molecules from homogeneous to homeotropic alignment, which can be used in performance optimization of electro‐optical devices. The analysis of dielectric data also illustrates the application of PCNS‐doped systems in circuits operating at high voltages. Diffusion coefficient, mobility, and DC conductivity have been further examined to support the above observations. A significant decrease (of about 47%) in the response time of porous carbon nanoparticle liquid crystal (NP‐LC) composites has also been observed. The photoluminescence spectrum of NP‐LC composites as a function of carbon nanosphere (CNS) concentration has shown Quenching (following the Stern–Volmer quenching mechanism) in the luminescence intensity with increasing CNS concentration. The highly improved response time and quenching in the luminescence intensity further make the PCNS‐doped LC composites as ideal materials to be used in devices, encouraging LC‐aided green nanotechnology.
Microsolvation effect on chlorination reaction of simple alcohols
Authors: Nogueira Diogo , Oliveira Ricardo R. , Rocha Alexandre B.
Published: April 2022

The microsolvation effect was investigated on bimolecular nucleophilic substitution () mechanism for chlorination of methanol, ethanol, and propanol using water as explicit solvent. Based on theoretical calculations, within Density Functional Theory (DFT) combined with polarizable continuum model (PCM) and explicit solvent molecules, it was possible to compare the effect of hydration on the nucleophile and on the leaving group, for the main extremal points of potential surfaces, that is, pre‐complex, transition state (TS), and post‐complex. The possible disposition of water molecules was also investigated raging from one to four explicit molecules. This study was carefully and systematically done for methanol and the main conclusions were used to guide the corresponding study for ethanol and propanol. The results point out to an increase of activation energy with the number of explicit water molecules, showing the importance of hydrogen bond on the stabilization of structures, effect not captured by PCM alone.
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Invasion by Thyroid Cancer: Laryngeal Function and Survival Outcomes
Authors: Brooks Jennifer A. , Abdelhamid Ahmed Amr H. , Al‐Qurayshi Zaid , Kamani Dipti , Kyriazidis Natalia , Hammon Rebecca Jean , Ma Hongzhi , Sritharan Niranjan , Wasserman Isaac , Trinh Lily N. , Iwata Ayaka J. , Saito Yoshiyuki , Soylu Selen , Randolph Gregory W. ,   R Score Research Group
Published: April 2022

Background

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion by thyroid carcinoma represents an advanced disease status with potentially significant co‐morbidity.

Methods

In a retrospective single‐center study, we included patients with invaded RLNs operated on while using nerve monitoring techniques. We studied pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative parameters associated with postoperative vocal cord paralysis (VCP); 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS); and 5‐year overall survival (OS) in addition to two subgroup analyses of postoperative VCP in patients without preoperative VCP and based on source of RLN invasion.

Results

Of 65 patients with 66 nerves‐at‐risk, 39.3% reported preoperative voice complaints. Preoperative VCP was documented in 43.5%. The RLN was invaded by primary tumor in 59.3% and nodal metastasis in 30.5%. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common pathologic subtype (80%). After 6 months, 81.8% had VCP. Complete tumor resection of the RLN was not associated with 5‐year RFS (p = 0.24) or 5‐year OS (p = 0.9). Resecting the RLN did not offer statistically significant benefit on 5‐year RFS (p = 0.5) or 5‐year OS (p = 0.38). Radioactive Iodine (RAI) administration was associated with improvement in 5‐year RFS (p = 0.006) and 5‐year OS (p = 0.004). Patients without preoperative VCP had higher IONM amplitude compared with patients with VCP. After a mean follow‐up of 65.8 months, 35.9% of patients had distant metastases, whereas 36.4% had recurrence.

Conclusion

Preoperative VCP accompanies less than half of patients with RLN invasion. Invaded RLNs may have existent electrophysiologic stimulability. Complete tumor resection and RLN resection were not associated with better 5‐year RFS or OS, but postoperative RAI was.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 132:2285–2292, 2022
Algebraic spaces that become schematic after ground field extension
Authors: Schröer Stefan
Published: April 2022

We construct examples of non‐schematic algebraic spaces that become schemes after finite ground field extensions.
Analysis of laccase‐like enzymes secreted by fungi isolated from a cave in northern Spain
Authors: Fernández‐Remacha Daniel , González‐Riancho Candela , Lastra Osua Miranda , González Arce Aránzazu , Montánchez Itxaso , García‐Lobo Juan María , Estrada‐Tejedor Roger , Kaberdin Vladimir R.
Published: April 2022

Laccases belong to a family of multicopper enzymes able to oxidize a broad spectrum of organic compounds. Despite the well‐known property of laccases to carry out bleaching and degradation of industrial dyes and polyphenolic compounds, their industrial use is often limited by the high cost, low efficiency, or instability of these enzymes. To look for new microorganisms which produce laccases that are potentially suitable for industrial applications, we have isolated several fungal strains from a cave in northern Spain. Their phenotypic analysis on agar plates supplemented with ABTS (2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)) disclosed two laccase‐positive strains. Further genotyping revealed that they belonged to the Gliomastix murorum and Conidiobolus thromboides species. The secretion of G. murorum and C. thromboides laccase‐like enzymes was then confirmed by zymography. Further identification of these polypeptides by mass‐spectroscopy revealed the nature of the laccases and made it possible to predict their functional domains and other features. In addition, plate assays revealed that the laccases secreted by both G. murorum and C. thromboides were capable of degrading industrial dyes (Congo Red, Indigo, and Eriochrome Black T). Homology modeling and substrate docking predicted the putative structure of the currently uncrystallized G. murorum enzyme as well as its amino acid residues potentially involved in interactions with these dyes. In summary, new biochemical and structural insights into decolorization mediated by G. murorum laccase as well as identification of laccase‐like oxidase in C. thromboides point to a promising future for these enzymes in biotechnology.
Palliative care in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Goals of care discussions and beyond
Authors: Veerapandiyan Aravindhan , Rao Vamshi K.
Published: April 2022

See article on pages 646–651 in this issue
Informing Management of Henrys Lake, Idaho, using an Integrated Catch-at-Age Model
Authors: McCormick Joshua L. , Vincent Jennifer , High Brett , McCarrick Darcy K. , Quist Michael C.
Published: April 2022

Henrys Lake, Idaho, supports a popular fishery for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout × Rainbow Trout O. mykiss hybrids. A majority of the adult population of fish in Henrys Lake are of hatchery origin that were stocked as fingerlings. The fishery is closed to angling during the late winter and spring months, but fisheries managers are considering opening the fishery year-round with catch-and-release-only regulations or with a two-fish bag limit during the extended season. However, there is concern that the proposed management actions may negatively affect the current fishery. Therefore, we developed an integrated catch-at-age model to estimate population parameters for trout in Henrys Lake and used a simulation model to evaluate alternative management actions. Results of this study suggest that catch and release of both Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and hybrids would increase and that abundance of trout in the spring (i.e., the start of the traditional season) would decrease under both proposed bag limits. Losses in abundance can be mitigated by stocking additional fish as long as no more than approximately 1,520,000 Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout are stocked annually. If catch-and-release-only regulations are implemented during the newly proposed season, total harvest is expected to decrease compared to the current fishery due to additional catch-and-release mortality. Ultimately, managers will need to prioritize harvest or catch-and-release opportunity, both of which provide additional utility to anglers, when choosing how to proceed with bag limit regulations.
Artificial Biphasic Synapses Based on Nonvolatile Phase‐Change Photonic Memory Cells
Authors: Zhou Wen , Farmakidis Nikolaos , Li Xuan , Tan James , Aggarwal Samarth , Feldmann Johannes , Brückerhoff-Plückelmann Frank , David Wright C. , Pernice Wolfram H. P. , Bhaskaran Harish
Published: April 2022

Nonvolatile photonic memory cells are basic building blocks for neuromorphic hardware enabling the realization of all‐optical synapses and artificial neurons. These devices commonly exploit chalcogenide phase‐change materials, which are evanescently coupled to photonic waveguides, and provide fast write/erase speeds and large storage capacity. Here, we report for the first time the programming of a nonvolatile photonic memory cell based on Ag3In4Sb76Te17 (AIST) which is capable of mimicking biphasic synapses. We evaluate the underlying mechanism of biphasic behavior of AIST cells based on numerical simulations and correlate to experimental findings. Switching dynamics demonstrate enhanced performance with a post‐excitation dead time as short as 12.8 ns. Based on AIST double cells, we demonstrate reversible multilevel switching between 45 unique synaptic weights for long‐term depression (LTD) and long‐term potentiation (LTP). The observed biphasic programming and excellent switching performance render AIST‐based photonic memory cells promising for artificial neural networks and neuromorphic photonic computing hardware.
Method of micro‐sampling human dentine collagen for stable isotope analysis
Authors: Curtis Mandi J. , Beaumont Julia , Elamin Fadil , Wilson Andrew S. , Koon Hannah E. C.
Published: April 2022

Rationale

Sampling of dentine for stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios in the direction of tooth growth allows the study of temporal changes to the diet and physiological stress of an individual during tooth formation. Current methods of sampling permanent teeth using 1 mm increments provide temporal resolution of 6–9 months at best depending on the tooth chosen. Although this gives sufficient sample sizes for reliable analysis by mass spectrometry, sectioning the dentine across the incremental structures results in a rolling average of the isotope ratios. A novel method of incremental dentine collagen sampling has been developed to decrease the collagen increment size to 0.35 mm along the incremental structures, thus reducing averaging and improving the temporal resolution of short‐term changes within the δ13C and δ15N values.

Methods

This study presents data for a MicroMill‐assisted sampling method that allows for sampling at 0.35 mm width × 1 mm depth increments following the incremental growth pattern of dentine. A NewWave MicroMill was used to sample the demineralised dentine section of modern donated human third molars from Sudan and compared to data from the same teeth using the 1 mm incremental sectioning method 2 established by Beaumont et al.

Results

The δ13C and δ15N isotopic data showed an increased temporal resolution, with each increment providing data for 2–4 months of dentine formation.

Conclusions

The data show the potential of this method for studying dietary reconstruction, nutritional stress, and physiological change with greater temporal resolution potentially to seasonal level and with less attenuation of the δ13C and δ15N values than was previously possible from human dentine.
Simple models to quickly estimate the probable range of data‐limited riverine fishes
Authors: Aldridge Caleb A. , Boone Evan C.
Published: April 2022

Species distribution models provide biologists with insight into species ranges, ecological niches, and spatial predictions of suitable habitat, but require significant training, data, and time for biologists to obtain reliable results. Alternatively, ad hoc inferences from sparse occurrence records leave biologists to face conservation decisions with high uncertainty. Simple predictive models can fill the gap between these two alternatives. One method to predict the probable range of riverine fishes is to add the average distance between occurrences to the most distal occurrence (parametric estimator). However, there are drawbacks to this method when the distances between occurrences deviate from a non‐uniform distribution. Herein, estimators that are robust to non‐uniformity, a non‐parametric and an optimal linear estimator, were adapted and compared to the parametric estimator using simulations. The non‐parametric estimator showed the least bias and variance in bias for the probable range endpoint. The optimal linear estimator best balanced type I and type II errors in the maximum probable range estimate (i.e., upper CI). Application of the robust estimators were made to demonstrate how sampling can be planned based on available effort (Gulf Coast walleye, Sander vitreus) and where early detection sampling may be focused (silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). This study provides biologists with a suite of simple options (R code provided as supplementary material) to bridge the gap between ad hoc inference and complex modeling over a range of scenarios. Future studies should focus on accounting for false‐positives, variable effort, and develop online apps for accessibility.
Targeted Molecular Design of Functionalized Fullerenes for High‐Performance and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Xing Zhou , Li Shu-Hui , Yang Shihe
Published: April 2022

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) is a potential next‐generation photovoltaic technology alternative to the conventional competitors including polycrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells. Particularly, functionalized fullerenes play crucial roles as charge transport layers, interfacial layers, and additives in perovskite photovoltaics, dramatically contributing to the promotion of power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. As the field advances rapidly, the importance to rationally design fullerenes against a particular category of those functions has been increasingly recognized. Herein, recent progress in the application of functionalized fullerenes toward high‐performance and stable perovskite solar cells is reviewed, placing special emphasis on the importance of the targeted molecular design of fullerene structures for different application scenarios to meet diverse functional requirements in specific device structures.
Needles in a haystack. An algorithmic approach to the classification of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs
Authors: Kaidi Justin , Martone Mario , Rastelli Leonardo , Weaver Mitch
Published: April 2022

Abstract

There is a well-known map from 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) to 2d vertex operator algebras (VOAs). The 4d Schur index corresponds to the VOA vacuum character, and must be a solution with integral coefficients of a modular differential equation. This suggests a classification program for 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs that starts with modular differential equations and proceeds by imposing all known constraints that follow from the 4d → 2d map. This program becomes fully algorithmic once one specifies the order of the modular differential equation and the rank (complex dimension of the Coulomb branch) of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 theory. As a proof of concept, we apply the algorithm to the study of rank-two $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs whose Schur indices satisfy a fourth-order untwisted modular differential equation. Scanning over a large number of putative cases, only 15 satisfy all of the constraints imposed by our algorithm, six of which correspond to known 4d SCFTs. More sophisticated constraints can be used to argue against the existence of the remaining nine cases. Altogether, this indicates that our knowledge of such rank-two SCFTs is surprisingly complete.
Krylov localization and suppression of complexity
Authors: Rabinovici E. , Sánchez-Garrido A. , Shir R. , Sonner J.
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Quantum complexity, suitably defined, has been suggested as an important probe of late-time dynamics of black holes, particularly in the context of AdS/CFT. A notion of quantum complexity can be effectively captured by quantifying the spread of an operator in Krylov space as a consequence of time evolution. Complexity is expected to behave differently in chaotic many-body systems, as compared to integrable ones. In this paper we investigate Krylov complexity for the case of interacting integrable models at finite size and find that complexity saturation is suppressed as compared to chaotic systems. We associate this behavior with a novel localization phenomenon on the Krylov chain by mapping the theory of complexity growth and spread to an Anderson localization hopping model with off-diagonal disorder, and find that localization is enhanced in the integrable case due to a stronger disorder in the hopping amplitudes, inducing an effective suppression of Krylov complexity. We demonstrate this behavior for an interacting integrable model, the XXZ spin chain, and show that the same behavior results from a phenomenological model that we define: this model captures the essential features of our analysis and is able to reproduce the behaviors we observe for chaotic and integrable systems via an adjustable disorder parameter.
Comments on the negative specific heat of the $$ T\overline{T} $$ deformed symmetric product CFT
Authors: Chakraborty Soumangsu , Hashimoto Akikazu
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We show that the $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

deformation of conformal field theories whose entropy grows as S(E) ∼ Eγ for γ > 1/2 exhibits negative specific heat in its microcanonical thermodynamic function S(ℇ). We analyze the large N symmetric product CFT as a concrete example of a CFT with this property and compute the thermodynamic functions such as S(ℇ) and ℇ(T). The negative specific heat in the microcanonical data is interpreted as signaling the first order phase transition when the system is coupled to a heat bath.
Graviton particle statistics and coherent states from classical scattering amplitudes
Authors: Britto Ruth , Gonzo Riccardo , Jehu Guy R.
Published: April 2022

Abstract

In the two-body scattering problem in general relativity, we study the final graviton particle distribution using a perturbative approach. We compute the mean, the variance and the factorial moments of the distribution from the expectation value of the graviton number operator in the KMOC formalism. For minimally coupled scalar particles, the leading deviation from the Poissonian distribution is given by the unitarity cut involving the six-point tree amplitude with the emission of two gravitons. We compute this amplitude in two independent ways. First, we use an extension of the Cheung-Remmen parametrization that includes minimally coupled scalars. We then repeat the calculation using on-shell BCFW-like techniques, finding complete agreement. In the classical limit, this amplitude gives a purely quantum contribution, proving that we can describe the final semiclassical radiation state as a coherent state at least up to order $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(G4) for classical radiative observables. Finally, we give general arguments about why we expect this to hold also at higher orders in perturbation theory.
“The role of case management in HIV treatment adherence: HPTN 078”
Authors: Tolley Elizabeth E. , Hamilton Erica L. , Eley Natalie , Maragh-Bass Allysha C. , Okumu Eunice , Balán Iván C. , Gamble Theresa , Beyrer Chris , Remien Robert
Published: April 2022

Adherence to care and antiretroviral therapy is challenging, especially for people living with HIV (PLWH) with additional co-occurring risk factors. Case management interventions, including motivational interviewing (MI), show promise to improve HIV treatment adherence, but few studies have examined how such interventions are delivered to or experienced by PLWH who have been reengaged in care. We conducted qualitative interviews with six case managers and 110 PLWH exiting from a randomized study (HPTN 078) who received a MI-based case management intervention in addition to standard patient-navigation services, or standard services only. Our study provided greater insight into the main findings from HPTN 078, including an in-depth description of the multiple barriers to adherence faced by this largely “out-of-care” population, as well as a more nuanced understanding of the benefits and challenges of implementing MI. A blend of MI plus more intensive interventions may be needed for PLWH facing multiple structural barriers.
Predictors of HIV Among 1 Million Clients in High-Risk Male Populations in Tanzania
Authors: Mbita Gaspar , Komba Albert N. , Casalini Caterina , Bazant Eva , Curran Kelly , Christensen Alice , Nyato Daniel , Kim Young-Mi , Reed Jason , Makyao Neema , Kategile Upendo , Conserve Donaldson F. , Faini Diana , van Roosmalen Jos , van den Akker Thomas
Published: April 2022

The World Health Organization identified men as an essential group to target with HIV testing and treatment strategies;: men who have sex with men (MSM) and male clients of female sex workers (CFSW) account for 35% of new HIV infections globally. Using a cross-sectional design from a community-based HIV prevention project in Tanzania (October 2015–September 2018) and multivariable logistic regression, we identified predictors of HIV seropositivity among men. Of 1,041,343 men on their initial visit to the project, 36,905 (3.5%) were MSM; 567,005 (54.5%) were CFSW; and 437,343 (42.0%) were other men living near hotspots (OMHA). Three predictors of HIV seropositivity emerged across all three groups: being uncircumcised, having sexually transmitted infection symptoms, and harmful drinking of alcohol before sex. Any reported form of gender-based violence among MSM and OMHA and inconsistent condom use among CFSW were associated with HIV seropositivity. These findings may inform community HIV strategies like self-testing, delivery of pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy, and behavioral change communication targeting men at higher risk of infection.
On the dynamic optimality of yardstick regulation
Authors: Bisceglia Michele , Cellini Roberto , Grilli Luca
Published: April 2022

This paper proposes a generalization of Shleifer’s (RAND J Econ 16:319–327, 1985) model of yardstick competition to a dynamic framework. In a differential game setting, we show that the yardstick mechanism effectively replicates the first-best solution if players adopt open-loop behaviour rules and are symmetric at the initial time; in the absence of initial symmetry, the social efficiency is reached only in the asymptotic steady state. On the contrary, if players adopt Markovian behaviour rules, then the yardstick pricing rule cannot achieve the first-best solution along the equilibrium path of any Markov Perfect Nash Equilibrium.
Sexual Self-Concept in Women with Disorders/Differences of Sex Development
Authors: de Neve-Enthoven Nita G. M. , Callens Nina , van Kuyk Maaike , Verhaak Chris M. , van der Ende Jan , Drop Stenvert L. S. , Cohen-Kettenis Peggy T. , Dessens Arianne B. ,   on behalf of the Dutch Study Group on DSD
Published: April 2022

Many women born with disorders or differences of sex development (DSD) report sexual problems, in particular women who have undergone extensive genital reconstruction. Examining cognitions and emotions that hinder or promote sexuality may facilitate understanding these sexual problems and may contribute to the development of specific interventions. In this study, sexual self-concept, body image, and sexual functioning were investigated in relation to genital surgery. To conduct the study, the women’s Sexual Self-Concept Scale was translated to Dutch. Evaluation of psychometric properties was conducted in a sample of healthy Belgian and Dutch women participating in an anonymous web-based survey (N = 589, Mdn age, 23 years). The resulting three-factor structure corresponded largely to that of the original version. Compared to control women, women born with a DSD who were included in the Dutch DSD study (N = 99, Mdn age, 26 years) described themselves as being less interested in sex and less sexually active. These women also harbored more negative emotions and cognitions regarding their sexuality and were less satisfied with their external genitalia. In women with a DSD, sexual self-concept was associated with compromised outcomes on sexual functioning and distress. Women who were in a steady relationship, and/or had been sexually active in the past 4 weeks had a more positive sexual self-concept, took a more active role in their sexual relationship, experienced more sexual desire and arousal and less sexual distress than women who were not involved in a partner relationship. Findings in this study indicate that cognitions and emotions related to sexual self-concept play a role in sexual functioning of women with a DSD. A cognitive behavioral counseling approach with focus on coping and exploration of their own sexual needs could prove useful in this group.
Meaningful crime prevention or just an ‘Act’:Discourse Analysis of the criminalisation of contract cheating services in Australia
Authors: Groves Andrew , Nagy Victoria
Published: April 2022

Contract cheating remains a significant problem for universities and higher education (HE) generally, both within Australia and internationally. In 2020, the Australian Federal Government passed legislation establishing a new criminal offence, criminalising the provision or advertisement of academic cheating services by individuals and businesses. This legislation represents the Australian Government’s formal commitment to a criminal justice response to address the problem of contract cheating behaviour, which seeks to prevent and minimise the use and/or promotion of such cheating services within the higher education sector. This paper provides a political discourse analysis (PDA) and interpretive policy analysis (IPA) of Australian Parliamentary Hansard documents regarding debate of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Bill 2019. Our findings suggest a discord between the putative purpose of this legislation and the way the contract cheating problem has been represented in Australian Parliament. We argue that debates regarding the solution to, or at least how to address contract cheating first need to understand and agree on the problem if they are to meaningfully prevent crime. Our analysis exposes the politicisation of the higher education sector and associated discourse, where concern about contract cheating, in this case, was used as a vehicle to further rationalise ongoing Government paternalism and interference in tertiary institutions, underscoring the need for critical evaluation of criminological interventions.
Equity and Cost-Effectiveness in Valuation and Action Planning to Preserve Biodiversity
Authors: Ando Amy W.
Published: April 2022

Economic research and frameworks, comprehensively synthesized in “The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review” (Dasgupta 2021), can do much to help stem global biodiversity loss. However, ingrained features of economics as a discipline often produce explanations and solutions for environmental problems that advantage wealthy and powerful entities in our global society rather than those who are poor or otherwise marginalized. This paper highlights two dimensions of economic research related to biodiversity where disciplinary bias can lead to ineffective and inequitable work: biodiversity valuation, and targeting causes of biodiversity loss to be changed. First, it shows how valuation approaches can best be used to inform actions that capture both use and non-use values and include the perspectives and needs of people who are typically marginalized in governance processes. Second, it discusses how global action to preserve biodiversity will be cost-ineffective and inequitable unless we take at least some steps to identify and correct actions taken by wealthy countries and large-scale producers that contribute much to the biodiversity crisis, rather than focusing policy primarily on the behavior of low-income individuals and households.
Reflecting geometrical shapes: approaches of primary students to reflection tasks and relations to typical error patterns
Authors: Götz Daniela , Gasteiger Hedwig
Published: April 2022

Students’ issues dealing with reflection tasks, especially with inclined mirror lines, are widely known. Previous research conducted with primary school students mainly focussed on task difficulty and students’ outcomes, especially their errors of reflection. Little is known about which not obviously sustainable understanding of reflection leads to what kind of errors. To address this issue, the purpose of this study is to explore which approaches students use in their solution finding processes when dealing with reflection tasks. We also investigated whether there was a relationship between the students’ approaches and correct or incorrect solution products. This article discusses a task-based interview study focussing on approaches used in the students’ solution process of four reflection tasks. To gather data, 42 interviews with students at the end of primary school in Germany were conducted. For the analysis, a category system with the categories “properties of reflection,” “holistic approaches,” “gestures and actions illustrating the process of reflection,” and “mental images illustrating the process of reflection,” was developed and validated. We observed that there is a relation between the approaches used by the students during their process of solving reflection tasks and their solution products. The observed relationship between the approaches applied during the solution processes and the solutions themselves leads to the assumption that the approaches the students used reveal varying degrees of mathematical understanding of reflection. As emphasized in the discussion of the results, it is important to take a differentiated look on the students’ solution products and the importance of adequate instruction methods.
Attachment Representation Moderates the Effectiveness of Behavioral Parent Training Techniques for Children with ADHD: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Microtrial
Authors: Hornstra Rianne , Dekkers Tycho J. , Bosmans Guy , van den Hoofdakker Barbara , van der Oord Saskia
Published: April 2022

Behavioral parent training is an evidence-based intervention for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but knowledge on the differential effects of behavioral techniques for specific subgroups of children is very limited. Attachment representations of children with ADHD may affect how receptive children are to changes in parenting. In this study, we investigated whether specific behavioral techniques were more or less effective for children with ADHD in relation to their attachment representations. We included parents of 74 children with ADHD (4–11 years, M = 8.15) who took part in a larger randomized controlled microtrial in which they were randomized to a two session training in antecedent-based techniques (i.e., stimulus control techniques: rules, instructions; n = 26), a two session training in consequent-based techniques (i.e., contingency management techniques: praise, rewards, ignoring; n = 25) or a waitlist control condition (n = 23). We examined whether attachment representation moderated the effectiveness of a) training versus waitlist, and b) antecedent- versus consequent-based techniques. Attachment representations were measured with a story stem task, the intervention outcome was daily parent-rated problem behaviors of the children. Attachment representation did not moderate the effects of the training compared to the waitlist. However, compared to antecedent-based techniques, consequent-based techniques were less effective for more securely and less disorganized attached children, and particularly effective for more disorganized attached children. This was the first study examining attachment as a moderator of behavioral techniques for ADHD. If replicated, the findings of this study can be used for treatment development and tailoring.
Risk and Protective Factors in Child-to-Parent Violence: A Study of the YLS/CMI in a Spanish Juvenile Court
Authors: Cuervo Keren , Palanques Natalia
Published: April 2022

Child to Parent Violence (CPV) is one of the crimes with the highest rates of increase in Spain in recent years, and has had a significant media and social impact. This phenomenon has been analyzed with different methodologies and samples, but very few studies have used a standardized instrument such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). This study examined the heterogeneous profile of youths in a judicial context. The aims of the study were: 1) to evaluate whether there were any differences in sociodemographic and criminogenic factors in a group of youths who committed CPV in comparison to a group who committed other type of crimes. 2) to analyze which risk factors in the YLS/CMI Inventory are the best predictors of CPV. The participants were 341 youths aged between 14 and 17 years old with a record in the Juvenile Court of a Spanish province. The sample covered crimes committed during a follow-up period from 2011 to 2017. The results showed that the CPV group had a higher risk profile than the comparison group. The Family circumstances, Substance abuse and Personality behavior subscales of the YLS/CMI were able to predict CPV among these youths.
Estimating initial conditions for dynamical systems with incomplete information
Authors: Kolic Blas , Sabuco Juan , Farmer J. Doyne
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we study the problem of inferring the latent initial conditions of a dynamical system under incomplete information, i.e., we assume we observe aggregate statistics of the system rather than its state variables directly. Studying several model systems, we infer the microstates that best reproduce an observed time series when the observations are sparse, noisy, and aggregated under a (possibly) nonlinear observation operator. This is done by minimizing the least-squares distance between the observed time series and a model-simulated time series using gradient-based methods. We validate this method for the Lorenz and Mackey–Glass systems by making out-of-sample predictions. Finally, we analyze the predicting power of our method as a function of the number of observations available. We find a critical transition for the Mackey–Glass system, beyond which it can be initialized with arbitrary precision.
Rescue Missions in the Mediterranean and the Legitimacy of the EU’s Border Regime
Authors: Sandven Hallvard , Scherz Antoinette
Published: April 2022

In the last seven years, over twenty thousand people have died trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Rescue missions by private actors and NGOs have increased because both national measures and measures by the EU’s border control agency, Frontex, are often deemed insufficient. However, such independent rescue missions face increasing persecution from national governments, Italy being one example. This raises the question of how potential migrants and dissenting citizens should act towards the EU border regime. In contrast to the literature, which mainly addresses migration on the basis of justice requirements, this article focuses on the legitimate authority of the EU’s border regime. Focusing on the legitimacy criteria for states’ claims to regulate migration opens a fruitful normative perspective, given the pervasive disagreement over the content of justice in migration. What reasons for compliance and non-interference does legitimacy supply for potential immigrants and dissenting citizens? And what legitimacy standard may be appropriate for the power that individual states claim over potential immigrants? We argue that, even assuming a minimal legitimacy standard for the state-migrant relationship, the structure of the EU’s border regime exhibits unique features, which cause it to stand in tension with such a standard. By coordinating its Member States’ border regimes, especially through Frontex, the EU claims and exercises power over potential immigrants. However, the asymmetrical delegation of state powers to the EU means that the power involved in regulating European borders is, in core respects, unaccountable. This unaccountability, we argue, is significant for the legitimacy of the EU’s border regime. This article sheds new light on the morality of unauthorised rescue missions by assessing the permissibility of resistance to the EU’s border regime.
Deliberating Inequality: A Blueprint for Studying the Social Formation of Beliefs about Economic Inequality
Authors: Summers Kate , Accominotti Fabien , Burchardt Tania , Hecht Katharina , Mann Elizabeth , Mijs Jonathan
Published: April 2022

In most contemporary societies, people underestimate the extent of economic inequality, resulting in lower support for taxation and redistribution than might be expressed by better informed citizens. We still know little, however, about how understandings of inequality arise, and therefore about where perceptions and misperceptions of it might come from. This methodological article takes one step toward filling this gap by developing a research design—a blueprint—to study how people’s understandings of wealth and income inequality develop through social interaction. Our approach combines insights from recent scholarship highlighting the socially situated character of inequality beliefs with those of survey experimental work testing how information about inequality changes people’s understandings of it. Specifically, we propose to use deliberative focus groups to approximate the interactional contexts in which individuals process information and form beliefs in social life. Leveraging an experimental methodology, our design then varies the social makeup of deliberative groups, as well as the information about inequality we share with participants, to explore how different types of social environments and information shape people’s understandings of economic inequality. This should let us test, in particular, whether the low socioeconomic diversity of people’s discussion and interaction networks relates to their tendency to underestimate inequality, and whether beliefs about opportunity explain people’s lack of appetite for redistributive policies. In this exploratory article we motivate our methodological apparatus and describe its key features, before reflecting on the findings from a proof-of-concept study conducted in London in the fall of 2019.
Response—A Critical Response to “Discourse Communities and the Discourse of Experience”
Authors: Macneill Paul
Published: April 2022

In their article Little, Jordens, and Sayers developed the notion of “discourse communities”—as groups of people who share an ideology and common “language”—with the support of seminal ideas from M.M. Bakhtin. Such communities provide benefits although they may also impose constraints. An ethical community would open to others’ discourse and be committed to critique. Those commitments may counter the limitations of discourse communities. Since their paper was published in 2003, the notion of “discourse communities” has been widely adopted and applied in healthcare and beyond. Their ideas were influential in the founding of an ethics centre in Sydney and contributed to articulating the values which underpin this journal. This commentary notes that an ethical community is fragile in responding to current onslaughts on truth and meaning—potencies inherent in discourse communities. The essay takes Bakhtin’s ideas further to explore intrinsic forces at play in dialogue, language, and art. This leads to discussing the centrality of ethics in Bakhtin’s thought. For him, the essence of discourse is a dialogic exchange which comprises both art and ethics. It is art in that self and other are created in the exchange. It is ethical in that “I” am answerable to the other, as a phenomenological reality, in the moment of intersubjectivity.
Testing conditional multivariate rank correlations: the effect of institutional quality on factors influencing competitiveness
Authors: Ascorbebeitia Jone , Ferreira Eva , Orbe Susan
Published: April 2022

Joint distribution between two or more variables could be influenced by the outcome of a conditioning variable. In this paper, we propose a flexible Wald-type statistic to test for such influence. The test is based on a conditioned multivariate Kendall’s tau nonparametric estimator. The asymptotic properties of the test statistic are established under different null hypotheses to be tested for, such as conditional independence or testing for constant conditional dependence. Two simulation studies are presented: The first shows that the estimator proposed and the bandwidth selection procedure perform well. The second presents different bivariate and multivariate models to check the size and power of the test and runs comparisons with previous proposals when appropriate. The results support the contention that the test is accurate even in complex situations and that its computational cost is low. As an empirical application, we study the dependence between some pillars of European Regional Competitiveness when conditioned on the quality of regional institutions. We find interesting results, such as weaker links between innovation and higher education in regions with lower institutional quality.