bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of differentiating costs of capital by country and technology on the European energy transition
Authors: Polzin Friedemann , Sanders Mark , Steffen Bjarne , Egli Florian , Schmidt Tobias S. , Karkatsoulis Panagiotis , Fragkos Panagiotis , Paroussos Leonidas
Published: July 2021

Cost of capital is an important driver of investment decisions, including the large investments needed to execute the low-carbon energy transition. Most models, however, abstract from country or technology differences in cost of capital and use uniform assumptions. These might lead to biased results regarding the transition of certain countries towards renewables in the power mix and potentially to a sub-optimal use of public resources. In this paper, we differentiate the cost of capital per country and technology for European Union (EU) countries to more accurately reflect real-world market conditions. Using empirical data from the EU, we find significant differences in the cost of capital across countries and energy technologies. Implementing these differentiated costs of capital in an energy model, we show large implications for the technology mix, deployment, carbon emissions and electricity system costs. Cost-reducing effects stemming from financing experience are observed in all EU countries and their impact is larger in the presence of high carbon prices. In sum, we contribute to the development of energy system models with a method to differentiate the cost of capital for incumbent fossil fuel technologies as well as novel renewable technologies. The increasingly accurate projections of such models can help policymakers engineer a more effective and efficient energy transition.
Using Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal Training to Manipulate Appraisals about the Self and the World in Analog Trauma
Authors: Würtz Felix , Krans Julie , Blackwell Simon E. , Cwik Jan C. , Margraf Jürgen , Woud Marcella L.
Published: July 2021

Background

Dysfunctional appraisals are a key mechanism in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Experimental manipulations of appraisals via Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal (CBM-App) training targeting cognitions related to the ‘self’ has shown to affect analog trauma symptoms. The present study aimed to conceptually replicate and extend previous findings by comparing a newly developed ‘world’ to the original ‘self’ training, and investigate the moderating role of locus of control (LOC) on intrusions.

Methods

Healthy participants (N = 173) were exposed to distressing films as an analog trauma induction. Next, participants received positive or negative CBM-App, targeting either self- or world-relevant appraisals. Dysfunctional appraisals and LOC were assessed pre- and post-training. During the week after the laboratory session, participants recorded their intrusions and associated distress in a diary. One week later, trauma-relevant symptomatology was assessed.

Results

Positive compared to negative CBM-App induced training-congruent appraisals, independent of the trained cognition (self vs. world). However, there was no effect on analog trauma symptoms and LOC did not moderate the training’s effect.

Conclusions

Our results underline the validity of CBM-App as a method to experimentally manipulate appraisals. However, since we did not fully replicate previous findings further research on mechanisms associated with transfer effects is warranted.
Portfolio Correlations in the Bank-Firm Credit Market of Japan
Authors: Luu Duc Thi
Published: July 2021

The recent global financial crisis has shown portfolio correlations between agents as one of the major channels of risk contagion and amplification. In this work, we analyse the structure and dynamics of the cross-correlation matrix of banks’ loan portfolios in the yearly bank-firm credit network of Japan during the period from 1980 to 2012. Using the methods of Random Matrix Theory (RMT), Principal Component Analysis and complex networks, we aim to detect non-random patterns in the empirical cross-correlations as well as to identify different states of such correlations over time. Our findings suggest that although a majority of portfolio correlations between banks in lending relations to firms are contributed by noise, the top largest eigenvalues always deviate from the random bulk explained by RMT, indicating the presence of non-random patterns governing the correlation dynamics. In particular, we show that this dynamics is mainly driven by a global common factor and a couple of “groups” factors. Furthermore, different states in the credit market can be identified based on the evolution of eigenvalues and associated eigenvectors. For example, during the asset price bubble period in Japan from 1986 to 1991, we find that banks’ loan portfolios tend to be more correlated, showing a significant increase in the level of systemic risk in the credit market. In addition, building Planar Maximally Filtered Graphs from the correlations of different eigenmodes, notably, we observe that the local interaction structure between banks changes in different periods. Typically, when the dominance of a group of banks in one period gradually vanishes, the credit market starts to build-up a different structure in the next period in which another group of banks will become the main actors in the backbone of the cross-correlations.
Behaviour equivalent max-plus automata for timed petri nets under open-loop race-policy semantics
Authors: Triska Lukas , Moor Thomas
Published: July 2021

Timed Petri nets and max-plus automata are well known modelling frameworks for timed discrete-event systems. In this paper we present an iterative procedure that constructs a max-plus automaton from a timed Petri net while retaining the timed behaviour. Regarding the Petri net, we essentially impose three assumptions: (a) the Petri net must be bounded, i.e, the reachability graph must be finite; (b) we interpret the Petri net with single server semantics; and (c) the Petri net operates according to the race policy, i.e., the earliest possible transition will fire and thereby possibly consume tokens required by other competing transitions. Under these assumptions we show that the proposed procedure terminates with a finite deterministic max-plus automaton that realises the same timed behaviour as the Petri net. As a variation of the plain race policy, we also consider that a subsequently designed supervisor may temporarily disable distinguished transitions. Again, we present a terminating procedure that constructs a behaviour equivalent deterministic max-plus automaton. We demonstrate by example how the latter automaton can be utilised as an open-loop model in the context of supervisor control.
Moral Appraisal for Everyone: Neurodiversity, Epistemic Limitations, and Responding to the Right Reasons
Authors: Field Claire
Published: July 2021

De Re Significance accounts of moral appraisal consider an agent’s responsiveness to a particular kind of reason, normative moral reasonsde re, to be of central significance for moral appraisal. Here, I argue that such accounts find it difficult to accommodate some neuroatypical agents. I offer an alternative account of how an agent’s responsiveness to normative moral reasons affects moral appraisal – the Reasonable Expectations Account. According to this account, what is significant for appraisal is not the content of the reasons an agent is responsive to (de reorde dicto), but rather whether she is responsive to the reasons it is reasonable to expect her to be responsive to, irrespective of their content. I argue that this account does a better job of dealing with neuroatypical agents, while agreeing with the De Re Significance accounts on more ordinary cases.
Chronos - take the pulse of our galactic neighbourhood
Authors: Michel Eric , Haywood Misha , Famaey Benoit , Mosser Benoit , Samadi Reza , Monteiro Mario J.P.F.G. , Kjeldsen Hans , Belkacem Kevin , Miglio Andréa , Garcia Rafael , Katz David , Suarez Juan Carlos , Deheuvels Sébastien , Campante Tiago , Cunha Margarida , Aguirre Victor Silva , Ballot Jerôme , Moya Andy
Published: July 2021

Understanding our Galaxy’s structure, formation, and evolution will, over the next decades, continue to benefit from the wonderful large survey byGaia, for astrometric, kinematic, and spectroscopic characterization, and by large spectroscopic surveys for chemical characterization. The weak link for full exploitation of these data is age characterization, and stellar age estimation relies predominantly on mass estimates. The ideas presented in this White Paper shows that a seismology survey is the way out of this situation and a natural complement to existing and planned surveys. These ideas are strongly rooted in the past decade’s experience of the so-called Seismology revolution, initiated with CoRoT andKepler. The case of red giant stars is used here as the best current illustration of what we can expect from seismology for large samples, but premises for similar developments exist in various other classes of stars covering other ranges of age or mass. Whatever the star considered, the first information provided by stellar pulsations is always related to the mean density and thus to the mass (and age). In order to satisfy the need for long-duration and all-sky coverage, we rely on a new instrumental concept which decouples integration time and sampling time. We thus propose a long (~1 year) all-sky survey which would perfectly fit between TESS, PLATO, and the Rubin Observatory (previously known as LSST) surveys to offer a time domain complement to the current and planned astrometric and spectroscopic surveys. The fine characterization of host stars is also a key aspect for the interpretation and exploitation of the various projects -- anticipated in the framework of the Voyage 2050 programme -- searching for atmospheric characterization of terrestrial planets or, more specifically, looking for a signature of life, in distant planets.
A journey of exploration to the polar regions of a star: probing the solar poles and the heliosphere from high helio-latitude
Authors: Harra Louise , Andretta Vincenzo , Appourchaux Thierry , Baudin Frédéric , Bellot-Rubio Luis , Birch Aaron C. , Boumier Patrick , Cameron Robert H. , Carlsson Matts , Corbard Thierry , Davies Jackie , Fazakerley Andrew , Fineschi Silvano , Finsterle Wolfgang , Gizon Laurent , Harrison Richard , Hassler Donald M. , Leibacher John , Liewer Paulett , Macdonald Malcolm , Maksimovic Milan , Murphy Neil , Naletto Giampiero , Nigro Giuseppina , Owen Christopher , Martínez-Pillet Valentín , Rochus Pierre , Romoli Marco , Sekii Takashi , Spadaro Daniele , Veronig Astrid , Schmutz W.
Published: July 2021

A mission to view the solar poles from high helio-latitudes (above 60°) will build on the experience of Solar Orbiter as well as a long heritage of successful solar missions and instrumentation (e.g. SOHO Domingo et al. (Solar Phys. 162(1-2), 1–37 1995), STEREO Howard et al. (Space Sci. Rev. 136(1-4), 67–115 2008), Hinode Kosugi et al. (Solar Phys. 243(1), 3–17 2007), Pesnell et al. Solar Phys. 275(1–2), 3–15 2012), but will focus for the first time on the solar poles, enabling scientific investigations that cannot be done by any other mission. One of the major mysteries of the Sun is the solar cycle. The activity cycle of the Sun drives the structure and behaviour of the heliosphere and of course, the driver of space weather. In addition, solar activity and variability provides fluctuating input into the Earth climate models, and these same physical processes are applicable to stellar systems hosting exoplanets. One of the main obstructions to understanding the solar cycle, and hence all solar activity, is our current lack of understanding of the polar regions. In this White Paper, submitted to the European Space Agency in response to the Voyage 2050 call, we describe a mission concept that aims to address this fundamental issue. In parallel, we recognise that viewing the Sun from above the polar regions enables further scientific advantages, beyond those related to the solar cycle, such as unique and powerful studies of coronal mass ejection processes, from a global perspective, and studies of coronal structure and activity in polar regions. Not only will these provide important scientific advances for fundamental stellar physics research, they will feed into our understanding of impacts on the Earth and other planets’ space environment.
Relational Quantum Mechanics and the PBR Theorem: A Peaceful Coexistence
Authors: Oldofredi Andrea , Calosi Caludio
Published: July 2021

According to Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) the wave function $$\psi$$
ψ
is considered neither a concrete physical item evolving in spacetime, nor an object representing the absolute state of a certain quantum system. In this interpretative framework, $$\psi$$
ψ
is defined as a computational device encoding observers’ information; hence, RQM offers a somewhat epistemic view of the wave function. This perspective seems to be at odds with the PBR theorem, a formal result excluding that wave functions represent knowledge of an underlying reality described by some ontic state. In this paper we argue that RQM is not affected by the conclusions of PBR’s argument; consequently, the alleged inconsistency can be dissolved. To do that, we will thoroughly discuss the very foundations of the PBR theorem, i.e. Harrigan and Spekkens’ categorization of ontological models, showing that their implicit assumptions about the nature of the ontic state are incompatible with the main tenets of RQM. Then, we will ask whether it is possible to derive a relational PBR-type result, answering in the negative. This conclusion shows some limitations of this theorem not yet discussed in the literature.
Brief Report: Specificity of Interpersonal Synchrony Deficits to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Potential for Digitally Assisted Diagnostics
Authors: Koehler Jana Christina , Georgescu Alexandra Livia , Weiske Johanna , Spangemacher Moritz , Burghof Lana , Falkai Peter , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , Tschacher Wolfgang , Vogeley Kai , Falter-Wagner Christine M.
Published: July 2021

Reliably diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in adulthood poses a challenge to clinicians due to the absence of specific diagnostic markers. This study investigated the potential of interpersonal synchrony (IPS), which has been found to be reduced in ASD, to augment the diagnostic process. IPS was objectively assessed in videos of diagnostic interviews in a representative referral population from two specialized autism outpatient clinics. In contrast to the current screening tools that could not reliably differentiate, we found a significant reduction of IPS in interactions with individuals later diagnosed with ASD (n = 16) as opposed to those not receiving a diagnosis (n = 23). While these findings need to be validated in larger samples, they nevertheless underline the potential of digitally-enhanced diagnostic processes for ASD.
Post-process optimization of 3D printed poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) dental implant scaffold for enhanced structure and mechanical properties: effects of sonication duration and power
Authors: Virinthorn R. N. V. C. , Chandrasekaran M. , Wang K. , Goh K. L.
Published: July 2021

We described a technique of a post-process stage to partially remove the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) binder in Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) dental scaffolds. The scaffolds were exposed to ultrasonic waves while immersed in an ethanol/acetone solvent mixture that possessed both polar and nonpolar properties. A factorial experiment was conducted in which the scaffolds were treated to three levels of sonication power (pW): 0, 20% (22 W) and 40% (44 W), and soaking duration (t): 5, 15, and 30 min. The treated scaffolds were characterized by FT-IR, optical microscopy, and mechanical (compressive) testing. FT-IR revealed that the amount of PVA decreased with increasing pW and t. Two-way ANOVA revealed that increasing pW and t, respectively, resulted in increasing scaffold surface area to volume (SVR). Sonication and solvent caused structural damage (i.e., unevenness) on the scaffold surface, but the damage was minimal at 20% pW and 30 min. The optimal values of pW and t resulting in enhanced fracture strength, strain and toughness were 20% and 30 min, respectively, which corroborated the findings of minimal structural damage. However, sonication had no significant effects on the scaffold stiffness. Mechanistic analysis of the effects of sonication predicted that the ultrasonic energy absorbed by the scaffold was sufficient to disrupt the van Der Waals bonds between the PVA and PLGA but not high enough to disrupt the covalent bonds within the PLGA. This technique is promising as it can partially remove the PVA from the scaffold, and mitigate problematic issues down the line, such as thermal degradation during sterilization, and undue delay/variability in biodegradation.
High-Throughput Feeding Bioassay for Lepidoptera Larvae
Authors: Sanané Inoussa , Legrand Judith , Dillmann Christine , Marion-Poll Frédéric
Published: July 2021

Finding plant cultivars that are resistant or tolerant against lepidopteran pests, takes time, effort and is costly. We present here a high throughput leaf-disk consumption assay system, to screen plants for resistance or chemicals for their deterrence. A webcam capturing images at regular intervals can follow the feeding activities of 150 larvae placed into individual cages. We developed a computer program running under an open source image analysis program to analyze and measure the surface of each leaf disk over time. We further developed new statistical procedures to analyze the time course of the feeding activities of the larvae and to compare them between treatments. As a test case, we compared how European corn borer larvae respond to a commercial antifeedant containing azadirachtin, and to quinine, which is a bitter alkaloid for many organisms. As expected, increasing doses of azadirachtin reduced and delayed feeding. However, quinine was poorly effective at the range of concentrations tested (10–5 M to 10–2 M). The model cage, the camera holder, the plugins, and the R scripts are freely available, and can be modified according to the users’ needs.
The measurement of health inequalities: does status matter?
Authors: Costa-Font Joan , Cowell Frank A.
Published: July 2021

Approaches to measuring health inequalities are often problematic because they use methods that are inappropriate for categorical data. In this paper we focus on “pure” or univariate health inequality (rather than income-related or bivariate health inequality) and use a concept of individual status that allows a consistent treatment of such data. We take alternative versions of the status concept and apply methods for treating categorical data to examine self-assessed health inequality for the countries included in the World Health Survey. We also use regression analysis on the apparent determinants of these health inequality estimates. We show that the status concept that is used will affect health-inequality rankings across countries and the way health inequality is related to countries’ median health, income, demographics and governance.
Intergenerational transmission of lockdown consequences: prognosis of the longer-run persistence of COVID-19 in Latin America
Authors: Neidhöfer Guido , Lustig Nora , Tommasi Mariano
Published: July 2021

The shock on human capital caused by COVID-19 is likely to have long lasting consequences, especially for children of low-educated families. Applying a counterfactual exercise we project the effects of school closures and other lockdown policies on the intergenerational persistence of education in 17 Latin American countries. First, we retrieve detailed information on school lockdowns and on the policies enacted to support education from home in each country. Then, we use these information to estimate the potential impact of the pandemic on schooling, high school completion, and intergenerational associations. In addition, we account for educational disruptions related to household income shocks. Our findings show that, despite that mitigation policies were able to partly reduce instructional losses in some countries, the educational attainment of the most vulnerable could be seriously affected. In particular, the likelihood of children from low educated families to attain a secondary schooling degree could fall substantially.
Locating Defects in Conductive Materials Using the Eddy Current Model of the Filamentary Coil
Authors: Tytko Grzegorz
Published: July 2021

This article presents an innovative technique for detecting flaws in conductive materials by using an ideal filamentary coil. To characterize such a coil accurately and explicitly, it is sufficient to be in possession of merely two parameters: the radius of the circle within which all the turns are located and the distance of the coil from the tested surface. The mathematical model derived using the truncated region eigenfunction expansion method enables the calculation of the changes in the components of the filamentary coil impedance that are the result of positioning the coil close to the conductive material with a hole. Because of this, the air-cored coil model can be replaced with a much simpler filamentary coil model. This solution makes it is possible to detect various types of holes (internal, surface, subsurface or through) occurring in both multilayer magnetic and non-magnetic materials. The derived results were verified by means of measurements and numerical calculations based on the finite element method. Very good agreement was observed in both cases. The paper contains the source code implemented in Matlab, which is used to for calculations.
Religion and Spirituality in Oncology: An Exploratory Study of the Communication Experiences of Clinicians in Poland
Authors: Kowalczyk Oliwia , Roszkowski Krzysztof , Pawliszak Wojciech , Rypel Agnieszka , Roszkowski Szymon , Kowalska Jolanta , Tylkowski Bartosz , Bajek Anna
Published: July 2021

Communication with patients regarding oncology-related aspects is a challenging experience and requires a high level of skill from the interlocutors. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of religion/spirituality in oncological settings from the health professionals’ perspectives in Poland. It assessed the role of religion/spirituality in patient-clinician communication, death or stress self-management, empathy, and breaking bad news skills. Data collection was carried out through a standardized self-administered questionnaire with varying scales. The study cohort consisted of 60 medical practitioners specializing in oncological radiotherapy treatments. It was observed that strategies used for coping with patients’ death, stress reduction, empathy, communication with patients and/or their relatives, or breaking bad news skills, may be gender-specific or may depend on the length of time employed, as well as experience in a cancer-related work environment. This study shows that spirituality and religiousness can support clinicians in managing challenging or negative emotions related to their work in cancer settings. Religiousness and spirituality can also serve as a potential therapeutic strategies for those exposed to patient suffering and death.
Innovative entrepreneurship in emerging and developing economies: the effects of entrepreneurial competencies and institutional voids
Authors: Amini Sedeh Amirmahmood , Pezeshkan Amir , Caiazza Rosa
Published: July 2021

Innovative entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers of economic development particularly for less developed economies where the economic growth is at the forefront of policymakers’ agenda. Yet, the research on how various factors at different levels interact and bring about innovative entrepreneurship in emerging and developing countries remains relatively scarce. We address this issue by developing a multilevel framework that explains how entrepreneurial competencies attenuate the negative impact of innovation barriers. Our analysis on a sample of individuals from 24 economies, 17 developing and 7 emerging countries, reveals that entrepreneurial competencies become more instrumental for innovative entrepreneurship when general, supply-side, and demand-side innovation barriers are higher. The findings offer unique insights to policymakers particularly in developing countries interested in promoting innovative entrepreneurship and to entrepreneurs and investors seeking to establish and support innovative ventures.
Bullying Perpetration, Moral Disengagement and Need for Popularity: Examining Reciprocal Associations in Adolescence
Authors: Romera Eva M. , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario , Runions Kevin , Camacho Antonio
Published: July 2021

Precursors and consequences of bullying have been widely explored, but much remains unclear about the association of moral and motivational factors. This study examined longitudinal associations between need for popularity, moral disengagement, and bullying perpetration. A total of 3017 participants, aged 11 to 16 years in wave 1 (49% girls; Mage = 13.15, SD = 1.09), were surveyed across four waves with six-month intervals. At the between-person level, cross-lagged modeling revealed a positive bidirectional association between moral disengagement and need for popularity; bullying perpetration was predicted by both need for popularity and moral disengagement. From the within-person level, random intercept cross-lagged analyses revealed that need for popularity predicted both moral disengagement and bullying perpetration. The results highlight the interplay between motivational and moral mechanisms that underlies bullying behavior.
Comment on “Two-dimensional third-and fifth-order nonlinear evolution equations for shallow water waves with surface tension” [Nonlinear Dyn, doi:10.1007/s11071-017-3938-7]
Authors: Rozmej Piotr , Karczewska Anna
Published: July 2021

The authors of the paper “Two-dimensional third-and fifth-order nonlinear evolution equations for shallow water waves with surface tension” Fokou et al. (Nonlinear Dyn 91:1177–1189, 2018) claim that they derived the equation which generalizes the KdV equation to two space dimensions both in first and second order in small parameters. Moreover, they claim to obtain soliton solution to the derived first-order (2+1)-dimensional equation. The equation has been obtained by applying the perturbation method Burde (J Phys A: Math Theor 46:075501, 2013) for small parameters of the same order. The results, if correct, would be significant. In this comment, it is shown that the derivation presented in Fokou et al. (Nonlinear Dyn 91:1177–1189, 2018) is inconsistent because it violates fundamental properties of the velocity potential. Therefore, the results, particularly the new evolution equation and the dynamics that it describes, bear no relation to the problem under consideration.
Drivers of pattern formation in a predator–prey model with defense in fearful prey
Authors: Mishra Purnedu , Tiwari Barkha
Published: July 2021

Existence of predator is routinely used to induce fear and anxiety in prey which is well known for shaping entire ecosystem. Fear of predation restricts the development of prey and promotes inducible defense in prey communities for the survival. Motivated by this fact, we investigate the dynamics of a Leslie–Gower predator prey model with group defense in a fearful prey. We obtain conditions under which system possess unique global-in-time solutions and determine all the biological feasible states of the system. Local stability is analyzed by linearization technique and Lyapunov direct method has been applied for global stability analysis of steady states. We show the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation and its direction at the vicinity of coexisting equilibrium point for temporal model. We consider random movement in species and establish conditions for the stability of the system in the presence of diffusion. We derive conditions for existence of non-constant steady states and Turing instability at coexisting population state of diffusive system. Incorporating indirect prey taxis with the assumption that the predator moves toward the smell of prey rather than random movement gives rise to taxis-driven inhomogeneous Hopf bifurcation in predator–prey model. Numerical simulations are intended to demonstrate the role of biological as well as physical drivers on pattern formation that go beyond analytical conclusions.
Optimization of air pollution measurements with unmanned aerial vehicle low-cost sensor based on an inductive knowledge management method
Authors: Pochwała Sławomir , Anweiler Stanisław , Deptuła Adam , Gardecki Arkadiusz , Lewandowski Piotr , Przysiężniuk Dawid
Published: July 2021

The article presents the study of Particulate Matter air pollution with PM1, PM2,5 and PM10 by means of a low-cost sensors mounted on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The article is divided into two parts. In first part pollution measurement system is described. In second part expert system for optimization of flight parameters is described. The research was conducted over a municipal cemetery area in Poland. The obtained results were analyzed through an inductive knowledge management system (decision tree method) for classification analysis of air pollution. The decision tree mechanism would be used to optimize flight parameters taking into account the air pollution parameters. The analysis was made from the influence of PM concentration point of view, depending on the altitude. The decision tree method was used, which allowed to determine, among other aspects, which PM indicator should be measured and which altitude plays a greater role in the optimization of air pollution measurements by means of cheap sensors mounted on drones. As a result of the analysis, the optimum flight altitude of the measurement drone in the specified area was determined.
The Welfare State as Safety Net in Migration Preferences: Empirical Evidence from an Experiment Among Dutch Master Students
Authors: de Jong Petra W. , Caarls Kim , de Valk Helga A. G.
Published: July 2021

The welfare state can be perceived as a safety net which helps individuals adjust to situations of risk or transition. Starting from this idea of the welfare state as safety net, this study addresses whether and how welfare generosity may influence people’s willingness to migrate. In doing so, we distinguish between two potential mechanisms, innovatively focusing on welfare provisions in both the country of origin and destination. First, a generous welfare system in the country of origin may have a retaining impact, as individuals may be unwilling to migrate to countries offering less social protection. Second, generous welfare provisions in the country of destination may enable migration for individuals who are more intolerant of uncertainty and who otherwise would prefer to remain immobile. We test both mechanisms using stated preference data collected with a unique experimental design among over 300 Dutch Master students. Confirming the first mechanism, we indeed find that respondents report a lower willingness to migrate when evaluating hypothetical scenarios where the level of social protection was higher in the country of origin as compared with the country of destination. Furthermore, and in line with the second mechanism, individuals who are more intolerant of uncertainty generally report a lower willingness to migrate, yet their willingness to migrate increases for scenarios with higher levels of unemployment benefits. Our findings, thus, indeed suggest that welfare arrangements are mainly serving a safety net function and need to be understood in relative terms between the country of origin and destination.
The flip side of power
Authors: Bolle Friedel , Otto Philipp E.
Published: July 2021

In random voting, the committee chair, whose vote decides in the case of a draw, is more often decisive than ordinary voters. Therefore, in the power indices literature, the committee chair is said to be more powerful. Players with a veto right are even more powerful still. Similarly, the production of threshold public goods may involve “tie-breaking players” (with more effective contributions) and “veto players” (specialists or larger players) whose contributions are necessary. We pose the question of whether power is beneficial for an individual. Except in the equilibrium where no player contributes, veto players are disadvantaged while tie-breaking players can be advantaged. In experiments with otherwise symmetric players, about 80% of the veto players contribute, but tie-breaking players also contribute almost as frequently as veto players, and significantly more frequently than ordinary players. Even with three times the costs of ordinary players, veto players stick to their behavior, while tie-breaking players reduce their contributions below those of ordinary players. Overall, powerful players always are worse off than ordinary players; thus, power seems not to pay off herein.
Predicting the development of early reading in Chinese–Dutch bilinguals
Authors: Yuan Han , Segers Eliane , Verhoeven Ludo
Published: July 2021

The relationships between phonological awareness, rapid naming, short term verbal memory, letter knowledge, visual skills and word reading in kindergarten, and the predictive patterns from kindergarten to first grade were examined in 41 Chinese-Dutch bilingual children living in the Netherlands in both their first language (Chinese) and second language (Dutch). In kindergarten, Chinese word reading was predicted by Chinese phonological awareness, and Dutch word reading was predicted by Dutch phonological awareness and letter knowledge. There was a robust autoregressive effect of word reading from kindergarten to first grade in both Chinese and Dutch. Follow-up mediation analyses further showed that both phonological awareness in Chinese and phonological awareness combined with letter knowledge in Dutch in kindergarten had an indirect effect on Grade 1 word reading via kindergarten word reading. Although cross-language correlation was found in word reading for bilingual children in kindergarten, Dutch word reading did not add to the prediction of Chinese word reading when Chinese precursor measures were taken into account.
Prince: An improved method for measuring incentivized preferences
Authors: Johnson Cathleen , Baillon Aurélien , Bleichrodt Han , Li Zhihua , van Dolder Dennie , Wakker Peter P.
Published: July 2021

This paper introduces the Prince incentive system for measuring preferences. Prince combines the tractability of direct matching, allowing for the precise and direct elicitation of indifference values, with the clarity and validity of choice lists. It makes incentive compatibility completely transparent to subjects, avoiding the opaqueness of the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism. It can be used for adaptive experiments while avoiding any possibility of strategic behavior by subjects. To illustrate Prince’s wide applicability, we investigate preference reversals, the discrepancy between willingness to pay and willingness to accept, and the major components of decision making under uncertainty: utilities, subjective beliefs, and ambiguity attitudes. Prince allows for measuring utility under risk and ambiguity in a tractable and incentive-compatible manner even if expected utility is violated. Our empirical findings support modern behavioral views, e.g., confirming the endowment effect and showing that utility is closer to linear than classically thought. In a comparative study, Prince gives better results than a classical implementation of the random incentive system.
Contextual variation and objectivity in olfactory perception
Authors: Martina Giulia
Published: July 2021

According to Smell Objectivism, the smells we perceive in olfactory experience are objective and independent of perceivers, their experiences, and their perceptual systems. Variations in how things smell to different perceivers or in different contexts raise a challenge to this view. In this paper, I offer an objectivist account of non-illusory contextual variation: cases where the same thing smells different in different contexts of perception and there is no good reason to appeal to misperception. My central example is that of dihydromyrcenol, a substance that can smell both woody and citrusy depending on what other odourants one has recently been exposed to. I first argue that the subjects’ apparently conflicting reports about the way dihydromyrcenol smells are best understood as comparative characterisations of a smell. Given this understanding, different reports can be correctly made in response to perceiving the very same smell. I then argue that the phenomenal difference between the experiences subjects have across contexts can be explained compatibly with Smell Objectivism. On the account proposed, subjects perceive the very same smell but different qualities, notes, or aspects of it are salient to them, depending on the context of perception. I then consider how the proposed defence of Smell Objectivism can be adapted to other cases where the same thing is reported as smelling different in different contexts.
Influence of parental nitrogen : phosphorus stoichiometry on seed characteristics and performance of Holcus lanatus L. and Parnassia palustris L.
Authors: Wang Shuqiong , van Dijk Jerry , Wassen Martin J.
Published: July 2021

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability affect plant sexual reproduction performance. Seed as the main product of sexual reproduction is expected to be affected by N and P availability in parent plant. We experimentally test how parental N:P stoichiometry affected seed characteristics and performance of two grassland species. Seeds of a common species (Holcus lanatus) and an endangered species (Parnassia palustris) were collected from parent plants under two different N:P ratio growth conditions in a grassland reserve in the Netherlands. We measured the following traits of the two species from the two parental N:P ratio growth conditions: seed N concentration and content, seed P concentration and content, seed length, seed area, seed weight, seed germination, and offspring survival. No significant inter-location difference was found in seed weight of the collected seeds for either of the two species. However, the stronger P-limited conditions at the locations of the parent plants affected seed length and seed area negatively in H. lanatus and positively in P. palustris. Stronger P-limited conditions also decreased seed P concentration and content and increased seed N:P ratio of H. lanatus, but no inter-location nutrient difference was found in seeds of P. palustris. Surprisingly, contrary to what could be expected from seed P concentration and content there was no inter-location difference in seed germination for H. lanatus. For P. palustris, stronger P-limited conditions in the parental environment significantly enhanced seed germination, whereas stronger P-limited conditions in the offspring environment decreased offspring survival, suggesting that P limitation may negatively affect P. palustris rejuvenation. Our results suggest the possibility of different influences of parental N:P ratio and especially of P limitation on seed characteristics and performance of a common and an endangered species.
Impact of aquaculture on distribution of dissolved organic matter in coastal Jeju Island, Korea, based on absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Kim Jeonghyun , Kim Yeseul , Park Sung Eun , Kim Tae-Hoon , Kim Bong-Guk , Kang Dong-Jin , Rho TaeKeun
Published: July 2021

In Jeju Island, multiple land-based aquafarms were fully operational along most coastal region. However, the effect of effluent on distribution and behaviours of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the coastal water are still unknown. To decipher characteristics of organic pollution, we compared physicochemical parameters with spectral optical properties near the coastal aquafarms in Jeju Island. Absorption spectra were measured to calculate the absorption coefficient, spectral slope coefficient, and specific UV absorbance. Fluorescent DOM was analysed using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were measured using high-temperature catalytic oxidation. The DOC concentration near the discharge outlet was twice higher than that in natural groundwater, and the TDN concentration exponentially increased close to the outlet. These distribution patterns indicate that aquafarms are a significant source of DOM. Herein, principal component analysis was applied to categorise the DOM origins. There were two distinct groups, namely, aquaculture activity for TDN with humic-like and high molecular weights DOM (PC1: 48.1%) and natural biological activity in the coastal water for DOC enrichment and protein-like DOM (PC2: 18.8%). We conclude that the aquafarms significantly discharge organic nitrogen pollutants and provoke in situ production of organic carbon. Furthermore, these findings indicate the potential of optical techniques for the efficient monitoring of anthropogenic organic pollutants from aquafarms worldwide.
Advancing intraoperative magnetic tracing using 3D freehand magnetic particle imaging
Authors: Azargoshasb Samaneh , Molenaar Lennert , Rosiello Giuseppe , Buckle Tessa , van Willigen Danny M. , van de Loosdrecht Melissa M. , Welling Mick M. , Alic Lejla , van Leeuwen Fijs W. B. , Winter Alexander , van Oosterom Matthias N.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a routine procedure for nodal staging in penile cancer. Most commonly, this procedure is guided by radioactive tracers, providing various forms of preoperative and intraoperative guidance. This is further extended with fluorescence imaging using hybrid radioactive–fluorescence tracers. Alternatively, a magnetic-based approach has become available using superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). This study investigates a novel freehand magnetic particle imaging and navigation modality (fhMPI) for intraoperative localization, along with a hybrid approach, combining magnetic and fluorescence guidance.

Materials and methods

The fhMPI set-up was built with a surgical navigation device, optical tracking system and magnetometer probe. A dedicated reconstruction software based on a look-up-table method was used to reconstruct a superficial 3D volume of the SPION distribution in tissue. For fluorescence guidance, indocyanine green (ICG) was added to the SPIONs. The fhMPI modality was characterized in phantoms, ex vivo human skin and in vivo porcine surgery.

Results

Phantom and human skin explants illustrated that the current fhMPI modality had a sensitivity of 2.2 × 10–2 mg/mL SPIONs, a resolving power of at least 7 mm and a depth penetration up to 1.5 cm. Evaluation during porcine surgery showed that fhMPI allowed for an augmented reality image overlay of the tracer distribution in tissue, as well as 3D virtual navigation. Besides, using the hybrid approach, fluorescence imaging provided a visual confirmation of localized nodes.

Conclusion

fhMPI is feasible in vivo, providing 3D imaging and navigation for magnetic nanoparticles in the operating room, expanding the guidance possibilities during magnetic sentinel lymph node procedures. Furthermore, the integration of ICG provides the ability to visually refine and confirm correct localization. Further clinical evaluation should verify these findings in human patients as well.
God will reward you: Muslim practices of caring for precarious migrants in the context of secular suspicion
Authors: Jacobsen Christine M.
Published: July 2021

In recent years, Muslims have become more visibly invested in humanitarian work in France. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Marseille, this article examines local initiatives to care for precarious others whose lives are neither materially supported nor socially recognized within the current French political regime. Engaging with critical French scholarship on humanitarianism as care for others associated with emergency, suffering and the politics of compassion, I show how food-distribution (maraudes) by Muslim-run humanitarian associations also draw from Islamic ethics of care. While social dynamics related to gender, class, race and generation structure the maraudes, the foregrounding of shared precarity, and of religious duty and piety over pity, challenges the ‘hierarchies of deservingness’ established by humanitarian border regimes. In caring for precarious others, Muslims must navigate both the secular suspicion directed towards Islam and the securitization of migration. Carrying out the religious duty of helping those in need, they are ‘laying claim to public space’ for both Muslims and precarious migrants.
Effect of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Oxidative Stress Markers in Healing Dynamics of Diabetic Neuropathic Wounds in Wistar Rats
Authors: Karkada Gagana , Maiya G. Arun , Arany Praveen , Rao Mohandas , Adiga Shalini , Kamath Shobha Ullas
Published: July 2021

Background

Prolonged and overlapping phases of wound healing in diabetes are mainly due to the redox imbalance resulting in the chronicity of the wound. Photobiomodulation therapy works on the principle of absorption of photon energy and its transduction into a biological response in the living tissue. It alleviates the cellular responses, thereby improving the mechanism of wound healing in diabetes.

Objective

To find out the effect of photobiomodulation therapy of dosage 4 J/cm2in the healing dynamics of diabetic neuropathic wounds in Wistar rats and its relation with oxidative stress markers.

Methodology

Diabetes was induced using Streptozotocin of 60 mg/kg of body weight to eighteen female Wistar rats. Neuropathy was induced by the sciatic nerve crush injury followed by an excisional wound of 2 cm2on the back of the animal. Experimental group animals were treated with dosage 4 J/cm2of wavelength 655 and 808 nm, and control group animals were kept unirradiated. The biomechanical, histopathological, and biochemical changes were analysed in both groups.

Results

There was a reduction in mean wound healing time and an increased rate of wound contraction in the experimental group animals compared to its control group. The experimental group showed improved redox status, and histopathological findings revealed better proliferative cells, keratinisation, and epithelialization than un-irradiated controls.

Conclusions

Photobiomodulation therapy of dosage 4 J/cm2enhanced the overall wound healing dynamics of the diabetes-induced neuropathic wound and optimised the oxidative status of the wound, thereby facilitating a faster healing process.