bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear-cytoplasmic compartmentalization promotes robust timing of mitotic events by cyclin B1-Cdk1
Authors: Maryu Gembu , Yang Qiong
Published: July 2021

Studies applying well-mixed cytosolic extracts found the mitotic network centered on cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk1) performs robust relaxation oscillations with tunable frequency [1–6]. However, recent work also highlighted the importance of cyclin B1-Cdk1 nuclear translocation in mitotic timing [7, 8]. How nuclear compartmentalization affects the oscillator properties and the accurate ordering of mitotic events, especially in embryos lacking checkpoints, remains elusive. Here we developed a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor for analyzing Cdk1 spatiotemporal dynamics in synthetic cells containing nuclei compared to those without. We found cellular compartmentalization significantly impacts clock behaviors. While the amplitude-frequency dependency measured in the homogeneous cytoplasm showed highly tunable frequency for a fixed amplitude, confirming predictions by non-spatial models [4], the frequency remains constant against cyclin variations when nuclei are present, suggesting a possible buffering mechanism of nuclear compartments to ensure robust timing. We also found all cyclin degrades within similar mitotic durations despite variable interphase cyclin expression. This scalable degradation of cyclin may further promote the precise mitotic duration. Simultaneous measurements revealed Cdk1 and cyclin B1 cycle rigorously out of phase, producing a wide orbit on their phase plane, essential for robust oscillations. We further mapped mitotic events on the phase-plane orbits. Unlike cytoplasmic-only cells showing delayed Cdk1 activation, nucleus-containing cells exhibit steady cyclin B1-Cdk1 nuclear accumulation until nuclear envelope breakdown (NEB) followed by an abrupt cyclin-independent activation to trigger anaphase. Thus, both biphasic activation and subcellular localization of Cdk1 ensure accurate ordering of substrates.
Estimation of the income and price elasticity of pharmaceutical import demand in Iran
Authors: Otobideh Seyed Alireza , Moeeni Shahram , Mohammadzadeh Yousef , Rahimi Bahlol , Shabaninejad Hosein , Yusefzadeh Hasan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Investigating the import of pharmaceutical products, as one of the essential goods of the country to improve health and medical conditions, is important in accelerating the economic growth and enhancing the welfare of the community. This paper aims to estimate the income and price elasticity of pharmaceutical import demand in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the function of Iran's pharmaceutical import demand was estimated and calculated using the co-integration method and error correction techniques with the seasonal data of 2005–2016 to identify factors related to import, as well as relevant price, and income elasticity.

Findings

The research results showed that the price elasticity of Iran's long-term pharmaceutical import demand was 0.04; that is, the rate of pharmaceutical import demanded by Iran was not sensitive to change in relative price. Additionally, the long-term income elasticity of Iran's pharmaceutical demand was 0.69, meaning that an increase in Iran's income did not have a highly positive impact on the volume of Iran's pharmaceutical import.

Originality/value

Estimating the function of the demand for pharmaceutical import may pave the way to adopt appropriate economic policies. Furthermore, estimating this function and calculating income and price elasticity is a step toward minimizing government expenditures and can be a great contribution in designing trade policies.
An empirical analysis of self-service technologies: mediating role ofcustomer powerlessness
Authors: Cao Zhongpeng , Xiao Qian , Zhuang Weiling , Wang Lina
Published: July 2021

Purpose

As self-service technologies (SSTs) become more prevalent, service providers are actively encouraging customers’ involvement with these technologies, sometimes even forcing their customers to use SSTs. This paper aims to examine the influence of the SST-only (vs full-service) mode on customers’ negative attitude toward SST providers through the mediating mechanism of powerlessness and explores how SST familiarity and SST anthropomorphism moderate the impacts of the SST-only mode on powerlessness.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments were performed, study 1 tested the main and mediating effect and studies 2 and 3 verified the moderating effects.

Findings

The results suggest that customer perceived powerlessness mediates the relationship between SST-only (vs full-service) mode and negative attitude toward SST providers. When the levels of SST familiarity and SST anthropomorphism are high, the impacts of SST-only on powerlessness are attenuated. Alternative mediating mechanism of powerlessness is examined and ruled out.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should investigate other moderators that may reduce the impacts of SST on customer powerlessness. These moderators could be service-operating procedures, SST interface design, types of service situations and customer characteristics. In addition, other consequences of powerlessness, other than the negative attitude toward SST providers and intention to switch investigated here, should be investigated as well.

Practical implications

This research provides guidelines helping service providers to improve their customers’ SST usage experience by showing both SST familiarity and SST anthropomorphism may alleviate the negative effects of SST-only mode on customer perceived powerlessness more effectively.

Originality/value

This research examines the role of customers’ psychological reactions toward the SST-only mode, particularly from the perspective of power and control.
Bringing social marketing closer to the disability field
Authors: Gil Guzman Jose Manuel , Hernandez-Fernandez Asuncion , Canales-Ronda Pedro
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to show the advantages that social marketing training programs for disability professionals can play in improving the approach to the problems faced by people with disabilities, offering a necessary mutual understanding between both sectors. So, describing what are the training needs in social marketing expressed by disability professionals and providing an initial shared theoretical framework of both fields that could contribute to implementing social marketing strategies in the field of disability as an inducer of quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed-method approach combining: a quantitative analysis with a web-based self-administered questionnaire completed in six European countries and a qualitative analysis: interviews to experts pre and post questionnaire.

Findings

Quantitative data has identified that: front-line professionals working directly with people with disabilities have high social marketing training needs; these needs are mostly related to the assessment and modification of clients’ behavior and the development of interventions according to the concept of value co-creation. Qualitative data has shown that: both fields share some similar theoretical frameworks. Therefore, it is stated that social marketing has the potential to be better implemented in the disability field.

Research limitations/implications

Considering public policy; stigma and discrimination; regulations; other models and improving the sampling method.

Originality/value

Sharing theoretical framework of both fields, social marketing strategies into the disability field as an inductor for quality of life. No research has analyzed the needs of disability professionals when they have to face a problem and find a solution that social marketing strategies could offer into the disability field.
Non‐tariff measures and productivity of Ukrainian food‐processing firms
Authors: Shepotylo Oleksandr , Vakhitov Volodymyr , Movchan Veronika , Panga Mariia
Published: July 2021

Using detailed data on veterinary, ecological, sanitary, phytosanitary and mandatory certification measures, this paper studies the effect of non‐tariff measures (NTMs) on firm productivity in the food‐processing industry through forward and backward linkages. Using quantity and value of output at product level, we calculate and compare quantity‐ and revenue‐based measures of total factor productivity (TFP). Exploiting the episode of NTM liberalisation in Ukraine in 2008–2012, we find that NTMs on intermediate inputs have a negative effect on quantity‐based TFP. Other trade policy variables, including input tariffs and output NTMs also negatively influence productivity. The effect on the revenue‐based TFP is weaker due to price and quality adjustments. Interacting changes in input NTMs with import intensity prior to trade liberalisation, we find that firms that used imported inputs more intensively tend to have lower long‐run TFP growth.
Large‐scale reanalysis of refrigerated antemortem blood samples for ethanol content at random intervals
Authors: Kosecki Patrick Allan , Abbott Lori Ann , Raines Melinda Evonne
Published: July 2021

Ethanol stability in antemortem blood stored under various conditions has been widely studied. Most such studies have somewhat limited sample size (<50) and limited variation in the length of time between the blood draw and the first analysis and between the first analysis and the reanalysis. In the work presented here, the antemortem blood drawn for forensic purposes and stored refrigerated (~4°C) in 371 cases was analyzed for ethanol concentration using headspace gas chromatography at various times after the blood draw based on routine case flow and then also analyzed at various times within approximately 1 year after the first analysis. This methodology is intended to provide insight into the range of differences expected when cases are analyzed in the normal flow of casework and then reanalyzed at random times afterwards as occurs when reanalysis is performed by the defense or by the laboratory if the original analyst is unavailable to testify. In 22 cases, the same blood tube from the case was reanalyzed. The previously unopened blood tube from the case was analyzed in 349 cases. The 25 cases in which the blood was ethanol‐negative based on the first analysis remained ethanol‐negative when reanalyzed. The average difference in ethanol concentration between tests for the ethanol‐positive cases was −0.004 g/dL. This decrease was statistically significant at the 0.05 level of significance. The range of differences was −0.0197 to 0.0103 g/dL. The difference measured in 85% of the ethanol‐positive cases was in in the range of −0.008 to −0.001 g/dL.
Probability Puzzle: Higher or Lower?
Authors: Fletcher Michael
Published: July 2021

Once upon a time, Play Your Cards Right was a popular Australian and British TV game show. For this issue of Significance we're revisiting the game.
Early Probability and John Law
Authors: Stigler Stephen
Published: July 2021

John Law (1671–1729) was a duellist, banker and gambler – founder of France's Banque Générale, and the unwitting architect of the Mississippi Bubble. Yet his place in the history of probability has long been overlooked, as Stephen Stigler explains
Questions Answered: Katie Buchhorn
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: July 2021

Author of Wondrous Worlds, a children's book for budding mathematicians. Interview by Brian Tarran
What's the Big Idea? The EM Algorithm
Authors: Horton Nicholas J.
Published: July 2021

Nicholas J. Horton describes some further applications of the expectation-maximisation (EM) algorithm, demonstrating its flexibility and popularity as a statistical tool
Recombinant human thymosin beta‐4 (rhTβ4) improved scalp condition and microbiome homeostasis in seborrheic dermatitis
Authors: Yu Rui , Lin Qingbin , Zhai Yanfang , Mao Yunyun , Li Kai , Gao Yuemei , Liu Yanhong , Fu Ling , Fang Ting , Zhao Mengsu , Guan Lei , Hou Lihua , Xu Junjie , Chen Wei
Published: July 2021

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a recurrent common inflammatory skin disease that affects all ethnic groups in all regions worldwide. However, no specific treatment or preventive measure is yet available. Identifying effective treatments with acceptable safety and tolerability is desirable. In this study, scalp microbiota alterations were measured in SD, showing significantly greater abundance of Malassezia and Staphylococcus and diminished fungal and bacterial diversity compared with healthy controls. We investigated the benefit of a 4‐week treatment with 0.5 mg ml‐1 recombinant human thymosin β4 (rhTβ4) gel or 2% ketoconazole lotion on the scalp condition of 71 patients with SD compared with 21 healthy individuals. Clinical assessment (Adherent Scalp Flaking Score, and the Maximum Erythema Area) and physiological conditions (transepidermal water loss, hydration, and sebum secretion) were evaluated. The rhTβ4 treatment provided significantly greater efficacy than ketoconazole and a sustained effect in the treatment of scalp SD. More importantly, rhTβ4 dramatically improved the microbiome homeostasis and prompted a shift of scalp microflora towards healthy composition, helping symptoms and ameliorating physiological conditions more effectively and durably than ketoconazole. Our research demonstrated the scalp microbe dysbiosis of SD and highlighted rhTβ4 as a promising therapeutic strategy in the prevention and treatment of SD.
Clinical wear and quality assessment of monolithic and lithium disilicate layered zirconia restorations
Authors: Çömlekoğlu ME , Tekeroğlu F , Dündar Çömlekoğlu M , Özcan M , Türkün LŞ , Paken G
Published: July 2021

Background

Wear and quality assessments of translucent monolithic zirconia and CAD‐on® restorations were performed.

Methods

Forty 3‐unit posterior fixed partial denture (FPD) in 18 patients (age:18–50 years) were made from translucent monolithic zirconia (tm) (Zenostar T) and zirconia‐frameworked, lithium disilicate layered (c) (CAD‐on), materials in a split‐mouth design. Restorations were digitally fabricated and their internal and marginal adaptations were measured before cementation followed by luting (Multilink Speed). Clinical evaluations were made by modified United States Public Health Service criteria at baseline, 6, 12, and 24‐months. Wear of the restorations and the antagonists were digitally evaluated after optical scanning of stone casts at 1st week and 24 m through a software (Cerec 4.4). Statistical analysis was made (analysis of variance, Shapiro‐Wilk, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (SPSS 20)) at α = 0.05 significance level.

Results

At 24 m, all restorations were clinically acceptable. Insignificant differences were found between tm and c restorations (P > 0.05). Mean internal and marginal adaptation of c restorations were significantly better (145 µm (premolar)‐174 µm (molar)) than tm (190 µm (premolar)‐207 µm (molar)) (P < 0.05). C restorations significantly caused more wear (0.3 ± 0.1 mm) than tm (0.1 ± 0.07 mm) on the antagonistic dentition (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Translucent monolithic zirconia restorations caused less wear and antagonist wear than CAD‐on restorations. CAD‐on restorations exhibited higher internal and marginal adaptation.
Survival of immature Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on some C4 and C3 plants
Authors: Bawa Samuel A , Gregg Peter C , Del Socorro Alice P , Miller Cara , Andrew Nigel R
Published: July 2021

Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) larvae have been recorded on native non‐crop hosts in the inland regions of Australia. However, there are few records of their survival on these non‐crop hosts, especially on plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway. We investigated larval survival on four C4 plant species (Atriplex numularia Lindl. Atriplex vesicaria Heward ex Benth., Portulaca oleraceae L. and Tribulus terrestris L.) and two C3 plant species (Medicago polymorpha L. and Cullen cinereum (Lindl.)) under glasshouse conditions. Larvae fed on all C4 plants, although performance varied among these plants being higher (32.2 ± 6.9 and 31.7 ± 6.9% survival) on the Atriplex plant species and lowest (15.9 ± 7.9% survival) on P. oleraceae. Larval survival was similar between the two Atriplex species. A direct comparison of larval performance between the C4 plant A. nummularia and the known H. punctigera C3 host plants C. cinereum or M. polymorpha suggested that this C4 plant might be a suitable food source in the field, particularly in situations where it is growing nearby to C3 plants as is common in inland Australia.
Assessment of qualitative and quantitative parameters of healthy thyroid gland in adult horses by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Viana Gustavo Fernandes , Midon Monica , Fonseca Mariana Werneck , Hataka Alessandre , Carandina Luciana , Bueno Laís Melício Cintra , Puoli Filho José Nicolau Próspero , Machado Vânia Maria de Vasconcelos
Published: July 2021

In humans and pets, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides important adjunctive anatomic information about the thyroid and its adjacent structures. To the best of our knowledge, however, no studies have been reported regarding the use of MRI for thyroid evaluation in horses. The aim of this study was to obtain qualitative and quantitative parameters of healthy thyroid gland in adult horses by MRI. Eleven horses were submitted to thyroid MRI evaluation. The healthy thyroid of these animals was ensured by normal examinations performed before (free thyroxine and ultrasound) and after (cytology) to MRI. It was concluded that the dorsal spin‐echo T1‐weighted, fast spin‐echo T2‐weighted, sagittal STIR and a three‐dimensional T1‐weighted gradient echo were the sequences that best characterized the thyroid lobes. Qualitatively, there was a significant variation in the elliptical format of some lobes considering the sagittal plane, which oscillated between rounded and flattened conformation. Excellent reproducibility of the quantitative thyroid parameters obtained was verified. The thyroid gland total volume mean of observers was 14.31 cm3 (±0.69). In relation with comparisons between quantitative parameters of left and right lobes, only differences regarding their respective lengths were observed. Thus, we can infer that the difference in some thyroid lobes format can be explained by the significant variation identified between left and right lobes lengths.
The effects of cisplatin, an emetic agent, on behavior and plasma cortisol levels in goats
Authors: Aoyama Masato , Shioya Minami , Tsukamoto Yume , Hasegawa Hitomi , Sugita Shoei
Published: July 2021

Ruminants are not considered to experience nausea because they do not possess the emetic reflex. This study examined the effects of administration of cisplatin (cis‐diamminedichloro platinum (II): CDDP), a common emetic agent, on the behavior of goats. In Experiment 1, adult Shiba goats received intravenous (IV) administration of CDDP. CDDP‐administered goats spent a shorter time feeding (P < 0.01), lied down earlier (P < 0.01), and spent a longer period lying down (P < 0.01) than the saline‐administered control goats, and sometimes, they directed their face downward and close their eyes. These behavioral responses were followed by a significant (P < 0.01) increase in plasma cortisol (Cor) levels, which indicated that goats experienced stress. The dose dependency was found in the extent of the CDDP effects. In Experiment 2, the effects of pretreatment of ondansetron (Ond), an antiemetic agent, were examined. Pretreatment of Ond extended the latency of lying (P < 0.01), shortened the time spent lying (P < 0.05), and reduced the extent of the increase in plasma Cor levels (P < 0.01). These results suggested that CDDP administration generated some state of stress in goats via the similar physiological mechanisms as emesis‐caused stress in emetic species.
Systematic review of research focused on pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV: A relational ethics perspective
Authors: Weber Alison Z. , Harrison Abigail , Pellowski Jennifer A.
Published: July 2021

Historically, maternal HIV research has focused on prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission and child outcomes, with little focus on the health outcomes of mothers. Over the course of the HIV epidemic, the approach to including pregnant women in research has shifted. The current landscape lends itself to reviewing the public health ethics of this research. This systematic review aims to identify ethical barriers and considerations for including pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in treatment adherence and retention research. We completed a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines with analysis using a relational ethics perspective. The included studies (n = 7) identified ethical barriers related to (a) women research participants as individuals, (b) partner and family dynamics, (c) community perspectives on research design and conduct, and (d) policy and regulatory implications. These broader contextual factors will yield research responsive to, and respectful of, the needs of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV. While current regulatory and policy environments may be slow to change, actions can be taken now to foster enabling environments for research. We suggest that a relational approach to public health ethics can best support the needs of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV; acknowledging this population as systematically disadvantaged and inseparable from their communities will best support the health of this population.
Stratigraphic response to fragmentation of the Miocene Andean foreland basin, NW Argentina
Authors: del Papa Cecilia , Payrola Patricio , Pingel Heiko , Hongn Fernando , Do Campo Margarita , Sobel Edward R. , Lapiana Ayelen , Cottle John , Glodny Johannes , Strecker Manfred R.
Published: July 2021

Foreland basins are sensitive recorders of spatiotemporal variations in tectonic and climatic forcing associated with an approaching orogenic front. Thus, analysis of foreland deposits and their associated deformation patterns and provenance signals allows assessment of tectonic and sedimentary processes during orogeny, providing clues to past environmental conditions. The Calchaquí region in the southern part of the northwest Argentinian Eastern Cordillera (ca. 25–26°S lat) structurally evolved from a contiguous Paleogene foreland of the Andes into a broken foreland and finally an intermontane basin landscape. This history is recorded in the sedimentary sequences of the Mio‐Pliocene Angastaco and Palo Pintado Formations. We combine sedimentological methods, U‐Pb zircon and K‐Ar glass geochronology, clay mineralogy, and geochemical weathering indices with apatite fission track and (U‐Th‐Sm)/He thermochronology, structural data, and fault modelling to document the stratigraphic response to the fluvial and tectonic processes that followed the formation of the broken foreland. Our observations suggest that fluvial systems in the Calchaquí region repeatedly changed their location and geometry. These fluvial systems were associated with pro‐ and retrograding gravel wedges that most likely formed in response to the structural growth of the Aguas de Castilla and Altos de Viñaco ranges that bound the basin to the east. A compartmentalisation of the foreland with restricted fluvial networks must have occurred by ca. 9 Ma. Our results demonstrate that the reconstruction of stratigraphic architectures constitutes a powerful means to better understand intrabasin tectonics and surface uplift in foreland basins.
Impact of livestock guardian dogs on livestock predation in rural Mongolia
Authors: Lieb Zoë , Tumurbaatar Batbaatar , Elfström Bruce , Bull Joe
Published: July 2021

Much like subsistence farmers the world over, Mongolian herders depend directly on their herds for food, materials, and income. Consequently, any loss of livestock through predation from wild carnivores (including wolves, foxes, snow leopards, and birds of prey) is a major challenge. With a lack of non‐lethal mitigation methods currently available to them, herders in Mongolia frequently manage conflict with predators with retaliatory hunting, negatively impacting populations of wild predators. Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are an increasingly popular non‐lethal means worldwide for discouraging livestock predation. However, empirical evaluations of the efficacy of using LGDs in contemporary landscapes are rare throughout Asia. Evaluating these human–wildlife conflict prevention strategies are especially important in areas used to produce globally traded commodities, such as cashmere in the case of Mongolia. We implemented longitudinal structured interview‐based surveys to evaluate the use and effectiveness of LGDs as a conflict mitigation strategy for semi‐nomadic herders in three locations across Mongolia. Sixteen herders in Nomgon, Ömnögovi, Undur‐Ulaan, Arkhangai, Khustain Nuruu National Park area, and Gorkhi Terelj National Park area were surveyed between 2015 and 2019, throughout the process of receiving and training LGDs. Our analysis suggested herders experienced a significant reduction in the annual losses of livestock to predation after receiving LGDs (Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, Z = −3.329, p = .001, n = 16), including when accounting for background predation rates. Consequently, we consider LGDs likely to be a viable method for livestock protection alongside the conservation of predators in Mongolia, and potentially elsewhere in Asia. We finish by exploring important considerations should this approach be used more intensively throughout the country and beyond.
Cytology of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy revisited: A case report with special reference to JC polyomavirus‐infected oligodendrocytes and astrocytes
Authors: Doi Mieko , Ishizawa Keisuke , Ikeda Kei , Nakamichi Kazuo , Nakazato Yoshihiko , Yamamoto Toshimasa , Sasaki Atsushi
Published: July 2021

This article reports a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an immunocompromised female patient. The usefulness of cytology, as well as histology, is described, with special reference to JC polyomavirus‐infected oligodendrocytes and JC polyomavirus‐infected astrocytes.
Localisation in the balance: Syrian medical‐humanitarian NGOs' strategic engagement with the local and international
Authors: Roborgh Sophie
Published: July 2021

Contributions on localisation often focus on interactions between local organisations and the international community, with limited attention paid to dynamics within the locally‐led part of the response. The humanitarian operation in non‐government‐held areas of Syria is considered a key example of localisation, in which the health sector has assumed a leading role. Drawing on fieldwork among Syrian medical‐humanitarian organisations conducted in southern Turkey in 2017, this paper offers a view from below on the localisation debate. It provides a nuanced perspective on ‘the local’, showcasing how localisation is interpreted and expressed among Syrian non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) themselves, and in their interaction with each other. The paper shows how most organisations have moved to a hybrid model that emphasises their local and international character, resisting simplistic classifications. However, despite the sometimes strategic nature of its invocation, localisation does not lose its relevance as a lived experience, especially for local field staff.
Marriage Market Counterfactuals Using Matching Models
Authors: Dupuy Arnaud , Weber Simon
Published: July 2021

We use a simple structural matching model with unobserved heterogeneity to produce counterfactual marriage patterns, and thus quantify the contribution of changes in marital patterns in rising income inequality. We propose an algorithm that allows us to fix the degree of assortative mating without changing the level of marital gains and hence isolate the intensive and extensive margins (i.e. isolate changes in assortative mating from changes in marriage rates). We apply this approach to US data from 1962 to 2017, and show that marital patterns can explain about a quarter of the rise in income inequality, the intensive margin contributing 7%, the extensive margin the remaining 93%. Our algorithm also allows us to show that the extensive margin is itself driven for three‐fifths by a change in the total number of singles and for two‐fifths by a change in the distribution of types among singles (in particular low‐educated women).
Educational attainment polygenic score predicts inhibitory control and academic skills in early and middle childhood
Authors: Rea‐Sandin Gianna , Oro Veronica , Strouse Emma , Clifford Sierra , Wilson Melvin N. , Shaw Daniel S. , Lemery‐Chalfant Kathryn
Published: July 2021

Inhibitory control skills are important for academic outcomes across childhood, but it is unknown whether inhibitory control is implicated in the association between genetic variation and academic performance. This study examined the relationship between a GWAS‐based (EduYears) polygenic score indexing educational attainment (EA PGS) and inhibitory control in early (Mage = 3.80 years) and middle childhood (Mage = 9.18 years), and whether inhibitory control in early childhood mediated the relation between EA PGS and academic skills. The sample comprised 731 low‐income and racially/ethnically diverse children and their families from the longitudinal early steps multisite study. EA PGS predicted middle childhood inhibitory control (estimate = 0.09, SE = 0.05, p < 0.05) and academic skills (estimate = 0.18, SE = 0.05, p < 0.01) but did not predict early childhood inhibitory control (estimate = 0.08, SE = 0.05, p = 0.11); thus, mediation was not tested. Sensitivity analyses showed that effect sizes were similar across European and African American groups. This study suggests that inhibitory control could serve as a potential mechanism linking genetic differences to educational outcomes.
Will you confess to what I did? Close relationships and in‐group membership facilitate voluntary blame‐taking
Authors: Schell‐Leugers Jennifer Maria , Schneider Teresa , Gyenis Réka , Leuker Christina , Sauerland Melanie
Published: July 2021

To learn more about why people falsely confess without external pressure, we examined voluntary blame‐taking in three experiments. Drawing from theories of prosocial behavior and social identity, we investigated whether participants' blame‐taking is influenced by (a) their relationship with the guilty person (Experiment 1) and (b) the group membership of the person asking to take the blame (Experiments 2a and 2b). In Experiment 1, participants (N = 130) considered whether they would take the blame for a small traffic violation for their best friend and a stranger in a vignette‐scenario. As expected, intended blame‐taking rates were higher for their best friend (60.8%) than for a stranger (8.5%). Reported reasons for taking the blame included reciprocity and empathy. In Experiments 2a and 2b (Ns = 60; 89), we tested actual blame‐taking behavior in two field experiments, using a new experimental paradigm. An experimenter approached participants and asked them to commit insurance fraud for a broken camera. Participants who shared the same group as the person in need were more willing to take the blame (47%‐48%) than participants who were from a different group (21%‐23%). The most frequently listed reason for taking the blame was empathy. Implications for the occurrence of voluntary blame‐taking behavior to protect someone else are discussed.
Nature, Politics, and the Traumas of Europe
Authors: Livi‐Bacci Massimo
Published: July 2021

Nature has been the major source of demographic shocks until the nineteenth century, after which Politics has gradually become the main factor of catastrophic traumas. During the first part of the past century, war, violence, forced migration, man‐made famines, and the epidemics unchained by them were responsible for tens of millions of deaths. They left deep scars in the survivors, distorted the age structure, altered the equilibrium between the sexes and between generations, and affected in multiple ways the continental European demographic system, including the geographical distribution of the population.  A quantitative assessment of the victims of these Politics‐driven traumas is here attempted, as is a first exploration of the political conviction that drove them: that populations and their number, structure, and geographical location, could be manipulated by the state. The collapse of multinational multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual empires, however illiberal, led to the identification of the state with the nation, and of the nation with an ethnic group, and bred an intolerant hyperethnicism, culminating in ferocious episodes of ethnic cleansing and genocide whose consequences resonate to this day in Europe and beyond.
SOME SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE HUMANITIES
Authors: Drakeman Donald L.
Published: July 2021

Willem Drees’ excellentWhat Are the Humanities For? triggered a series of second thoughts about the role of the humanities in modern society. These include several topics on which he and I agree but where we may be out of step with current trends, such as a dedication to “value‐free” scholarship and the continuing importance of the academic study of religion. It also provided an opportunity to question why religion has been excluded from policy debates involving the principal interface between science and religion in the twenty‐first century: the creation of new medicines and their delivery to the billions of religious people around the world. Finally, I question the assumption that studying the humanities necessarily promotes critical thinking and argue that achieving that goal is more important now than ever before.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Evelyn Angelia
Published: July 2021

Applied Finance and Accounting [AFA] would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether AFA publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 2Adina Criste, “Victor Slavescu” Centre for Financial and Monetary Research, Romanian Academy, RomaniaAnastasia Kopaneli, University of Patras, GreeceDapeng Zhu, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, ChinaFabio Rizzato, University of Turin, ItalyHaitham Nobanee, Abu Dhabi University, UAEHajar Jahangard, Central Bank of Iran(CBI), IranHassan Rkein, Al Maaref University , LebanonJayendra S. Gokhale, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USAMawih Kareem Alani, Dhofar University, OmanVolodymyr Vysochansky, Uzhhorod National University, UkraineZi-Yi Guo, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., USA Angelia EvelynEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Applied Finance and AccountingRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://afa.redfame.com
A Robust Procedure to Implement Dynamic Stall Models Into Actuator Line Methods for the Simulation of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines
Authors: Melani Pier Francesco , Balduzzi Francesco , Bianchini Alessandro
Published: July 2021

The actuator line method (ALM), combining a lumped-parameter representation of the rotating blades with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) resolution of the turbine flow field, stands out among the modern simulation methods for wind turbines as probably the most interesting compromise between accuracy and computational cost. Being however a method relying on tabulated coefficients for modeling the blade-flow interaction, the correct implementation of the submodels to account for higher-order aerodynamic effects is pivotal. Inter alia, the introduction of a dynamic stall model is extremely challenging: first, it is important to extrapolate a correct value of the angle of attack (AoA) from the solved flow field; second, the AoA history needed to calculate the rate of dynamic variation of the angle itself is characterized by a low signal-to-noise ratio, leading to severe numerical oscillations of the solution. The study introduces a robust procedure to improve the quality of the AoA signal extracted from an ALM simulation. It combines a novel method for sampling the inflow velocity from the numerical flow field with a low-pass filtering of the corresponding AoA signal based on cubic spline smoothing (CSS). Such procedure has been implemented in the actuator line module developed by the authors for the commercial ansysfluent solver. To verify the reliability of the methodology, two-dimensional (2D) unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations of a test two-blade Darrieus H-rotor, for which high-fidelity experimental and numerical blade loading data were available, have been performed for a selected unstable operation point.
Heat Based Power Augmentation for Modular Pumped Hydro Storage in Smart Buildings Operation
Authors: Chen Yang , Abu-Heiba Ahmad , Kassaee Saiid , Liu Chenang , Liu Guodong , Starke Michael , Smith Brennan T. , Momen Ayyoub M.
Published: July 2021

In the U.S., building sector is responsible for around 40% of total energy consumption and contributes about 40% of carbon emissions since 2012. Within the past several years, various optimization models and control strategies have been studied to improve buildings energy efficiency and reduce operational expenses under the constraints of satisfying occupants’ comfort requirements. However, the majority of these studies consider building electricity demand and thermal load being satisfied by unidirectional electricity flow from the power grid or on-site renewable energy generation to electrical and thermal home appliances. Opportunities for leveraging low grade heat for electricity have largely been overlooked due to impracticality at small scale. In 2016, a modular pumped hydro storage technology was invented in Oak Ridge National Laboratory, named Ground Level Integrated Diverse Energy Storage (GLIDES). In GLIDES, employing high efficiency hydraulic machinery instead of gas compressor/turbine, liquid is pumped to compress gas inside high-pressure vessel creating head on ground-level. This unique design eliminates the geographical limitation associated with existing state of the art energy storage technologies. It is easy to be scaled for building level, community level and grid level applications. Using this novel hydro-pneumatic storage technology, opportunities for leveraging low-grade heat in building can be economical. In this research, the potential of utilizing low-grade thermal energy to augment electricity generation of GLIDES is investigated. Since GLIDES relies on gas expansion in the discharge process and the gas temperature drops during this non-isothermal process, available thermal energy, e.g. from thermal storage, Combined Cooling, Heat and Power system (CCHP), can be utilized by GLIDES to counter the cooling effect of the expansion process and elevate the gas temperature and pressure and boost the roundtrip efficiency. Several groups of comparison experiments have been conducted and the experimental results show that a maximum 12.9% cost saving could be achieved with unlimited heat source for GLIDES, and a moderate 3.8% cost improvement can be expected when operated coordinately with CCHP and thermal energy storage in a smart building.
Comparison of the Performance of a Solar Thermal Absorption Chiller and a Novel Sub-Wet Bulb Evaporative Chiller for Cooling Processes in Food Manufacturing
Authors: Fricke Emily , Narayanan Vinod
Published: July 2021

The food processing industry exists at the nexus between food, energy, and water systems. Improving the sustainability of this industry is critical to reduction of carbon emissions and enhanced utilization of vital resources such as water. The overarching aim of the present research is to create a process-based modeling platform for food processing systems that would allow the most appropriate combination of water-sustainable, energy-efficient, and renewable energy (WERE) technologies to be determined for a system. This paper focuses on one specific process in a thermal processing line: the cooling step after sterilization and prior to packaging. A typical process might use groundwater in a once-through loop. To reduce water use, two sustainable alternatives are considered and compared: (a) solar thermal coupled with an absorption chiller and (b) evaporative cooling of chilled water using a sub-wet bulb evaporative chiller (SWEC). The former uses a parabolic trough solar field with thermal storage that is connected to a single-effect water/lithium bromide (LiBr) chiller. The field and thermal storage are modeled using NREL’s System Advisor Model software and coupled to in-house Python code for the chiller and process heat exchanger. For the latter option, a novel SWEC is used as a chiller. The energy and water use, and capital cost of the two alternative technologies are presented.
Feasibility Analysis of Refuelling Infrastructure for Compressed Renewable Natural Gas Long-Haul Heavy-Duty Trucks in Canada
Authors: Yaïci Wahiba , Longo Michela
Published: July 2021

With environmental concerns and limited natural resources, there is a need for cleaner sources of energy in the transportation sector. Renewable natural gas (RNG) is being considered as a potential fuel for heavy-duty applications due to its comparable usage to diesel and gasoline in vehicles. The idea of compressed RNG vehicles is being proposed especially because it will potentially significantly reduce harmful emissions into the environment. This initiative is taken in order to decrease vehicle emissions and support Canada’s commitments to the climate plans reinforcing active transportation infrastructure, in concert with new transit infrastructure, and zero emission vehicles.

This study examines the feasibility of implementing a nationwide network of compressed RNG refuelling infrastructure in order to accommodate a conversion of Canada’s long-haul, heavy-duty truck fleet from diesel fuel to RNG. Two methods, Constant Traffic and Variable Traffic, along with data about compressed RNG infrastructure and vehicles, were developed and used to predict fuelling requirements for Canada’s long-haul, heavy-duty truck fleet. Then, a detailed economic analysis was conducted on various test cases to estimate how different variables impact the final selling price of RNG. This provided insight with the understanding of what factors go into pricing RNG and if it can compete against diesel in the trucking market.

Results disclosed that the cost to purchase RNG is the greatest factor in the final selling price of compressed RNG. Due to the variability in RNG production however, there is no precise cost, which makes predictions difficult. However, results revealed that it is possible for compressed RNG to be competitive with diesel, with the mean compressed RNG price being 16.5% cheaper than diesel, before being taxed.

Future studies should focus on the feasibility of the production of RNG and the associated costs, with emphasis on the Canadian landscape. An in-depth analysis on operational and maintenance costs for compressed RNG refuelling stations may also provide predictions that are more accurate.
A Study of Cost-Saving Potential of Load Flexibility Measures in Grid-Interactive Multifamily Buildings
Authors: CaraDonna Chrisopher , Woldekidan Korbaga , Xiong Jie
Published: July 2021

With recent advances in smart technologies, more and more smart devices are penetrating the residential and commercial buildings market. The introduction of these smart devices is also helping IoT companies emerge with load aggregator roles in the sector. With more utility companies on the track of supporting OpenADR protocols, the aggregators could play a significant role in providing load flexibilities by automatically responding to demand response (DR) events and coordinating load flexibility measures between customers. This would benefit utility companies by reducing stress on the grid during critical peak demand hours as well as customers by allowing them to utilize utility rate structures advantageous to those able to reduce electric usage during high-demand hours.

This study evaluates cost and energy savings from adopting multiple load flexibility measures in multifamily buildings. Combinations of different load flexibility measures, including space temperature floating, light dimming, automatic window shading, and water heater temperature floating, are considered. The simulations are performed using OpenStudio®, an open-source U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) simulation platform. For the case study, we used a midrise apartment building with weather conditions from Denver, Colorado. To compare climate zone differences, simulations were also performed for Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

Initial results indicate that the application of automated load flexibility measures without careful consideration of dispatching strategies and DR program enrollments could significantly affect the savings. To get meaningful cost savings, aggregators need to encourage tenant awareness to curtail energy usage through occupant behavior in addition to dispatching automatic load flexibility measures. The outcomes from this study are believed to help load aggregators understand the risks and benefits of load flexibility opportunities.
Enhancement the Solar Still Performance Using Chimney Exhaust Gases
Authors: Hassan Hamdy
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a theoretical study is presented on enhancement of the solar still performance by using the exhaust gases passing inside a chimney under the still basin. The impact of the exhaust gases temperature on the solar still temperature, productivity, and efficiency are considered. The performance of solar still with chimney is compared with that of conventional solar still. The study is carried out under the hot and climate conditions of Upper Egypt. A complete transient mathematical model of the physical model including the solar still regions temperatures, productivity, and heat transfer between the solar still and the exhaust gases are constructed. The mathematical model is solved numerically by using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method and is programmed by using MATLAB. The mathematical model is validated using an experimental work. The results show that the solar still saline water temperature increases and productivity with using and rising the exhaust gases. Furthermore, the impact of using exhaust gases on the still performance in winter is greater than in summer. using chimney exhaust gases at 75 °C and 125 °C enhances the daily freshwater yield of the conventional still by more than three times and about six times in winter, respectively, and about two and half times and more than three times in summer, respectively.