bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of plasma tau and neurofilament light chain biomarkers in a 12-year clinical cohort of human prion diseases
Authors: Thompson Andrew G. B. , Anastasiadis Prodromos , Druyeh Ronald , Whitworth Ines , Nayak Annapurna , Nihat Akin , Mok Tze How , Rudge Peter , Wadsworth Jonathan D. F. , Rohrer Jonathan , Schott Jonathan M. , Heslegrave Amanda , Zetterberg Henrik , Collinge John , Jackson Graham S. , Mead Simon
Published: March 2021

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative conditions with highly accurate CSF and imaging diagnostic tests, but major unmet needs for blood biomarkers. Using ultrasensitive immuno-assays, we measured tau and neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein concentrations in 709 plasma samples taken from 377 individuals with prion disease during a 12 year prospective clinical study, alongside healthy and neurological control groups. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate their potential as biomarkers. Plasma tau and NfL were increased across all prion disease types. For distinguishing sCJD from control groups including clinically-relevant “CJD mimics”, both show considerable diagnostic value. In sCJD, NfL was substantially elevated in every sample tested, including during early disease with minimal functional impairment and in all follow-up samples. Plasma tau was independently associated with rate of clinical progression in sCJD, while plasma NfL showed independent association with severity of functional impairment. In asymptomatic PRNP mutation carriers, plasma NfL was higher on average in samples taken within 2 years of symptom onset than in samples taken earlier. We present biomarker trajectories for nine mutation carriers healthy at enrolment who developed symptoms during follow-up. NfL started to rise as early as 2 years before onset in those with mutations typically associated with more slowly progressive clinical disease. This shows potential for plasma NfL as a “proximity marker”, but further work is needed to establish predictive value on an individual basis, and how this varies across different PRNP mutations. We conclude that plasma tau and NfL have potential to fill key unmet needs for biomarkers in prion disease: as a secondary outcome for clinical trials (NfL and tau); for predicting onset in at-risk individuals (NfL); and as an accessible test for earlier identification of patients that may have CJD and require more definitive tests (NfL). Further studies should evaluate their performance directly in these specific roles.
Palliative radiation therapy for symptomatic advance breast cancer
Authors: Jacobson Galia , Kaidar-Person Orit , Haisraely Ory , Galper Shira , Rabin Tatiana , Dromi Shahadi Ilanit , Lawrence Yaacov Richard , Symon Zvi , Akiva Ben-David Merav
Published: March 2021

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of palliative breast radiation therapy (RT), with single fraction RT compared with fractionated RT. Our study showed that both RT fractionation schemas provide palliation. Single fraction RT allowed for treatment with minimal interference with systemic therapy, whereas fractionated RT provided a more durable palliative response. Due to equivalent palliative response, at our institution we have increasingly been providing single fraction RT palliation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Publisher Correction: The duality between particle methods and artificial neural networks
Authors: Alexiadis A. , Simmons M. J. H. , Stamatopoulos K. , Batchelor H. K. , Moulitsas I.
Published: March 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
A two-step method for the synthesis of magnetic immobilized cellulase with outstanding thermal stability and reusability
Authors: Zhu Yan , Han Juan , Wu Jiacong , Li Yuanyuan , Wang Lei , Mao Yanli , Wang Yun
Published: March 2021

The cellulase electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of Fe3O4@C magnetic nanoparticles was embedded with silica to form the immobilized cellulase. The stability and reusability were greatly improved, while the synthesis process was simple.
The synthesis of biologically active indolocarbazole natural products
Authors: Chambers George E. , Sayan A. Emre , Brown Richard C. D.
Published: March 2021

Syntheses of indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole natural products are discussed, including staurosporine aglycone, arcyriaflavins, and glycosylated derivatives including staurosporine, rebeccamycin and K252A.
A multimer-based SERS aptasensor for highly sensitive and homogeneous assay of carcinoembryonic antigens
Authors: Lu Tian , Wang Liping , Xia Yuhong , Jin Yang , Zhang Liying , Du Shuhu
Published: March 2021

A portable multimer-based aptasensor is fabricated to detect CEA by means of SERS. The analytical method with low cost, simple synthesis and short detection time (less than 20 min) holds great potential in point-of-care diagnosis.
Interconversion between Möbius chiroptical states sustained by hexaphyrin dynamic coordination
Authors: Boitrel Bernard , Le Gac Stéphane
Published: March 2021

Unprecedented Möbius-type chiroptical switches result from interplaying a dynamic π-system, labile metal complexes and tunable transfers of chirality.
Characterization of two photon excited fragment spectroscopy (TPEFS) for HNO3detection in gas-phase kinetic experiments
Authors: Amedro Damien , Bunkan Arne J. C. , Dillon Terry J. , Crowley John N.
Published: March 2021

We have characterised two-photon excited fragment spectroscopy (TPEFS) for detecting HNO3and demonstrated its application in real-time kinetic studies by monitoring HNO3formation in the reaction of OH + NO2and deriving the rate coefficient.
A fast-response electrochromic device based on a composite gel film comprising triphenylamine derivatives and WO3
Authors: Zhang Xuejian , Zeng Jinming , Xu Zipeng , Zhu Mimi , Liu Ping
Published: March 2021

The WO3/TPB-PSSO-based composite device containing TPB-PSSO and WO3 exhibits fast-response, rich color changes, and good cycling stability.
Bi2O2CO3/TiO2 hybrid with 0D/1D nanostructure: design, synthesis and photocatalytic performance
Authors: Wang Yanwei , Li Jiayi , Wang Bowei , Sun Mingming , Yan Xilong , Chen Ligong , Bai Guoyi , Li Yang
Published: March 2021

A 0D/1D hybrid structure endows the catalyst with faster migration of photo-generated carriers and less recombination of electron/hole pairs.
Type-2 diabetes, a co-morbidity in Covid-19: does insulin signaling matter?
Authors: Mishra Devanshi , Dey Chinmoy Sankar
Published: March 2021

Type-2 Diabetes is associated with one of the co-morbidities due to SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov2) infection. Clinical studies show out of control glucose levels in SARS-Cov2 infected patients with type-2 diabetes. There is no experimental evidence suggesting aberrant molecular pathway(s) that explains why SARS-Cov2 infected patients with type-2 diabetes have uncontrolled glucose homeostasis and are co-morbid. In this article, we have highlighted major proteins involved in SARS-Cov2 infection, like, ACE 2, proteases like, TMPRSS2, Furin and their connectivity to insulin signaling molecules like, PI3K, Akt, AMPK, MAPK, mTOR, those regulate glucose homeostasis and the possible outcome of that cross-talk. We also raised concerns about the effect of anti-SARS-Cov2 drugs on patients with type-2 diabetes with reference to insulin signaling and the outcome of their possible cross-talk. There are no studies to decipher the possibilities of these obvious cross-talks. The major objective of this article is to urge the scientific community to explore the possibility of determining whether derangement of insulin signaling could be one of the possible causes of the patients with type-2 diabetes being co-morbid due to SARS-Cov2 infection.
Development of a weighted sum estimate of the total radiated power from large helical device plasma
Authors: van de Giessen P. L. , Kawamura G. , Borling S. , Mukai K. , Peterson B. J.
Published: March 2021

Diagnosing the amount of radiated power is an important research goal for fusion devices. This research aims at better understanding and diagnosing the radiated power from the Large Helical Device (LHD). The current radiated power estimate in the LHD is based on one wide-angle resistive bolometer. Because the estimate stems from one bolometer location toroidally and has a wide-angle poloidal view, this estimate does not take into account toroidal and poloidal radiation asymmetries that are observed in the LHD in discharges with gas puffing. This research develops a method based on the EMC3-Eirene model to calculate the set of coefficients for a weighted-sum method of estimating the radiated power. This study calculates these coefficients by using a least-squares method to solve for a coefficient set, using a variety of simulated cases generated by the EMC3-Eirene model, combined with corresponding geometric radiated power density considerations. If this set of coefficients is multiplied by the detector signal of each bolometer and summed up, this gives a total radiated power estimate. This new estimate takes into account toroidal and poloidal asymmetries by using the bolometer channels viewing different toroidal and poloidal locations, thereby reducing the estimation error and providing information about toroidal asymmetries.
Infinitely many solutions of fractional Schrödinger–Maxwell equations
Authors: Kim Jae-Myoung , Bae Jung-Hyun
Published: March 2021

In this article, we investigate the existence of infinitely many solutions to the 3D fractional Schrödinger–Maxwell equations (−Δ)su + V(x)u + ϕu = λf(x, u), (−Δ)sϕ = u2, where 0 < s < 1, λ is a real parameter, and (−Δ)s is the fractional Laplacian via the variational methods and abstract critical point theory. In particular, we do not use the classical Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition.
Doping of graphene with polyethylenimine and its effects on graphene-based supercapacitors
Authors: An Jin Yong , Lee Han Sung , Kim Jihye , Ryu Sang-Wan , Park Byong Chon , Kahng Yung Ho
Published: March 2021

Interactions between polymers and graphene can have synergistic effects such as doping, thereby improving the performance of graphene-based devices. In this study, the effects of doping graphene with the n-type dopant polyethylenimine were investigated. The doping-induced changes in the optical contrast of the graphene films were investigated through simulations and experiment. It was experimentally observed that the doping induced a maximum decrease of 63% in the sheet resistance of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films. The effects of the doping on RGO-based supercapacitor electrodes were examined; the specific capacitance was improved by approximately 3%–11%, with a maximum value of 205 ± 22 F/g (or 260 ± 50 F/cm2). These results can facilitate future research on combining polymers and graphene-based materials for various applications.
Direct coherent switching with decay of mixing for intersystem crossing dynamics of thioformaldehyde: The effect of decoherence
Authors: Zhang Linyao , Shu Yinan , Sun Shaozeng , Truhlar Donald G.
Published: March 2021

We evaluate the effect of electronic decoherence on intersystem crossing in the photodynamics of thioformaldehyde. First, we show that the state-averaged complete-active-space self-consistent field electronic structure calculations with a properly chosen active space of 12 active electrons in 10 active orbitals can predict the potential energy surfaces and the singlet–triplet spin–orbit couplings quite well for CH2S, and we use this method for direct dynamics by coherent switching with decay of mixing (CSDM). We obtain similar dynamical results with CSDM or by adding energy-based decoherence to trajectory surface hopping, with the population of triplet states tending to a small steady-state value over 500 fs. Without decoherence, the state populations calculated by the conventional trajectory surface hopping method or the semiclassical Ehrenfest method gradually increase. This difference shows that decoherence changes the nature of the results not just quantitatively but qualitatively.
Extension of the Stoney formula for the incremental stress of thin films
Authors: Qiang Jun , Jiang Bingyan , Dong Yanzhuo , Roth Benedikt , Jiang Fengze
Published: March 2021

The curvature-based technique is widely used to monitor stresses in thin film-substrate structures. The fundamental theory is based on the Stoney formula and its extensions, which mostly represents the average stress in thin films. However, the characterization of incremental stresses has not been clearly described, which leads to significant limitations in its application scope. Here, a formula for the incremental stress of thin films is proposed by discretizing the film growth layer for use in arbitrary modulus and thickness ratios. In specific cases, this formula can be manifested as Stoney's and Freund's formulas. The stress of electrodeposited Ni with different current densities was measured in situ for substrates at different elastic moduli and thicknesses. The formula was proven to be a more accurate expression of the incremental stress compared with averaging using Freund's formula or from the slope method. Furthermore, the proposed formula can be applied to arbitrary modulus and thickness ratios. This method provides valuable insight to monitor stresses in thin films and paves the way for further understanding the mechanisms of stress generation.
A non-empirical intermolecular force-field for trinitrobenzene and its application in crystal structure prediction
Authors: Aina Alex A. , Misquitta Alston J. , Price Sarah L.
Published: March 2021

An anisotropic atom–atom distributed intermolecular force-field (DIFF) for rigid trinitrobenzene (TNB) is developed using distributed multipole moments, dipolar polarizabilities, and dispersion coefficients derived from the charge density of the isolated molecule. The short-range parameters of the force-field are fitted to first- and second-order symmetry-adapted perturbation theory dimer interaction energy calculations using the distributed density-overlap model to guide the parameterization of the short-range anisotropy. The second-order calculations are used for fitting the damping coefficients of the long-range dispersion and polarization and also for relaxing the isotropic short-range coefficients in the final model, DIFF-srL2(rel). We assess the accuracy of the unrelaxed model, DIFF-srL2(norel), and its equivalent without short-range anisotropy, DIFF-srL0(norel), as these models are easier to derive. The model potentials are contrasted with empirical models for the repulsion–dispersion fitted to organic crystal structures with multipoles of iterated stockholder atoms (ISAs), FIT(ISA,L4), and with Gaussian Distributed Analysis (GDMA) multipoles, FIT(GDMA,L4), commonly used in modeling organic crystals. The potentials are tested for their ability to model the solid state of TNB. The non-empirical models provide more reasonable relative lattice energies of the three polymorphs of TNB and propose more sensible hypothetical structures than the empirical force-field (FIT). The DIFF-srL2(rel) model successfully has the most stable structure as one of the many structures that match the coordination sphere of form III. The neglect of the conformational flexibility of the nitro-groups is a significant approximation. This methodology provides a step toward force-fields capable of representing all phases of a molecule in molecular dynamics simulations.
Defect-related photoluminescence from ammono GaN
Authors: Reshchikov M. A. , Vorobiov M. , Grabianska K. , Zajac M. , Iwinska M. , Bockowski M.
Published: March 2021

Photoluminescence (PL) from GaN substrates fabricated by the ammonothermal growth method was studied in a wide range of temperatures and excitation intensities, both with steady-state and time-resolved PL techniques. Three defect-related PL bands were detected: the ultraviolet luminescence band with the zero-phonon line at 3.27 eV, the Zn-related BL1 band with a maximum at 2.9 eV, and the yellow luminescence band (labeled YL2) with a maximum at 2.3 eV. The YL2 band belongs to an unknown defect and is different from the CN-related YL1 band. Its maximum blueshifts by 0.06 eV with increasing excitation intensity and redshifts by more than 0.1 eV with a time delay after a laser pulse. The YL2 band is preliminarily attributed to a defect complex containing the gallium vacancy.
Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) gene families in
Authors: Deng Zhaochao , Liu Hui , He Caoke , Shou Chenyan , Han Zhiqiang
Published: March 2021

Genome-wide characterisation and correlation analysis between gene families and environmental stresses are important for understanding the adaptive evolution of marine animals to various environments. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) are two important gene families that are associated with abiotic stresses and immune responses. In this study, the evolutionary history and function of Hsp70 and Hsf family genes were investigated in Cynoglossus semilaevis through an exhaustive search of all genomic resources. In addition, their regulatory mechanisms and cooperative relationship in marine fishes were investigated in response to various degrees of salinity stress. Gene structure, motif analysis and phylogenetic trees among various organisms provide references for biological and evolutionary studies of these genes. Most Hsp70 genes were upregulated under low salinity stress, especially heat shock protein family A member 5 (hspa5), whereas hsf1 and hsf2 were downregulated. The expression profile of Hsp70 genes under low salinity stress decreased the activity of hsf1 and hsf2, suggesting that transcriptional repression of Hsf occurs when a certain level of Hsp70 is reached. These findings may improve our understanding the regulatory mechanisms between Hsp70 and Hsf gene families in response to environmental stress and provide useful resources for future studies on these gene families.
Addressing unmet health needs among Chinese transgender individuals
Authors: Tang Weiming , Dong Willa , Huang Xi
Published: March 2021

Chinese transgender individuals encounter significant barriers to accessing health care. In this letter we summarise the main health issues among Chinese transgender individuals and propose several recommendations to address these challenges. These recommendations include, but are not limited to, improving access to HIV prevention services, mental health services, and access to sex reassignment surgery and gender-affirming hormone therapy services. We anticipate that these measures will promote physical and mental health for transgender individuals in China.
Computational studies of anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutations reveal common mechanisms of oncogenic activation
Authors: Patil Keshav , Jordan Earl Joseph , Park Jin H. , Suresh Krishna , Smith Courtney M. , Lemmon Abigail A. , Mossé Yaël P. , Lemmon Mark A. , Radhakrishnan Ravi
Published: March 2021

Significance

High-risk tumors are genomically heterogeneous, harboring gene amplifications and mutations. The activation status of mutated proteins in cancer can profoundly impact disease progression, patient response, and drug sensitivity. Yet, outside of a few hotspot mutations, functional studies of clinically observed mutations are not commonly pursued. We report a combined experimental profiling and computational analysis of the effects of clinically observed and “test” mutations in the kinase domain of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a known oncogenic driver in pediatric neuroblastoma. We find that the activation status of the mutated protein is a good indicator of the transforming ability in NIH 3T3 cells. We also report biophysical as well as data-driven models with predictive power to profile these mutant kinases in silico.
Reduced insulin/IGF1 signaling prevents immune aging via ZIP-10/bZIP–mediated feedforward loop
Authors: Lee Yujin , Jung Yoonji , Jeong Dae-Eun , Hwang Wooseon , Ham Seokjin , Park Hae-Eun H. , Kwon Sujeong , Ashraf Jasmine M. , Murphy Coleen T. , Lee Seung-Jae V.
Published: March 2021

A hallmark of aging is immunosenescence, a decline in immune functions, which appeared to be inevitable in living organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we show that genetic inhibition of the DAF-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor drastically enhances immunocompetence in old age in C. elegans. We demonstrate that longevity-promoting DAF-16/FOXO and heat-shock transcription factor 1 (HSF-1) increase immunocompetence in old daf-2(−) animals. In contrast, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (PMK-1), a key determinant of immunity, is only partially required for this rejuvenated immunity. The up-regulation of DAF-16/FOXO and HSF-1 decreases the expression of the zip-10/bZIP transcription factor, which in turn down-regulates INS-7, an agonistic insulin-like peptide, resulting in further reduction of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). Thus, reduced IIS prevents immune aging via the up-regulation of anti-aging transcription factors that modulate an endocrine insulin-like peptide through a feedforward mechanism. Because many functions of IIS are conserved across phyla, our study may lead to the development of strategies against immune aging in humans.
Transfer learning for mobile real-time face mask detection and localization
Authors: Mercaldo Francesco , Santone Antonella
Published: March 2021

Objective

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our daily habits have suddenly changed. Gatherings are forbidden and, even when it is possible to leave the home for health or work reasons, it is necessary to wear a face mask to reduce the possibility of contagion. In this context, it is crucial to detect violations by people who do not wear a face mask.

Materials and Methods

For these reasons, in this article, we introduce a method aimed to automatically detect whether people are wearing a face mask. We design a transfer learning approach by exploiting the MobileNetV2 model to identify face mask violations in images/video streams. Moreover, the proposed approach is able to localize the area related to the face mask detection with relative probability.

Results

To asses the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we evaluate a dataset composed of 4095 images related to people wearing and not wearing face masks, obtaining an accuracy of 0.98 in face mask detection.

Discussion and Conclusion

The experimental analysis shows that the proposed method can be successfully exploited for face mask violation detection. Moreover, we highlight that it is working also on device with limited computational capability and it is able to process in real time images and video streams, making our proposal applicable in the real world.
Sex-specifically responsive strategies to phosphorus availability combined with different soil nitrogen forms in dioecious Populus cathayana
Authors: Liu Xiucheng , Wang Yuting , Liu Shuangri , Liu Miao
Published: March 2021

Aims

Phosphorus (P) availability and efficiency are especially important for plant growth and productivity. However, the sex-specific P acquisition and utilization strategies of dioecious plant species under different N forms are not clear.

Methods

This study investigated the responsive mechanisms of dioecious Populus cathayana females and males based on P uptake and allocation to soil P supply under N deficiency, nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) supply.

Important Findings

Females had a greater biomass, root length density (RLD), specific root length (SRL) and shoot P concentration than males under normal P availability with two N supplies. NH4+ supply led to higher total root length, RLD and SRL but lower root tip number than NO3− supply under normal P supply. Under P deficiency, males showed a smaller root system but greater photosynthetic P availability and higher leaf P remobilization, exhibiting a better capacity to adaptation to P deficiency than females. Under P deficiency, NO3− supply increased leaf photosynthesis and P use efficiency (PUE) but reduced RLD and SRL in females while males had higher leaf P redistribution and photosynthetic PUE than NH4+ supply. Females had a better potentiality to cope with P deficiency under NO3− supply than NH4+ supply; the contrary was true for males. These results suggest that females may devote to increase in P uptake and shoot P allocation under normal P availability, especially under NO3− supply, while males adopt more efficient resource use and P remobilization to maximum their tolerance to P deficiency.
Introduction
Authors: Wijckmans Frank , Tuytschaever Filip
Published: March 2021

This chapter explains the term ‘vertical agreements’ and what it covers. It addresses a number of general issues that are relevant to the EU competition law treatment of vertical agreements in general. It describes the implementation and the (public and private) enforcement of Article 101 TFEU before and after the entry into force of Regulation 1/2003. The chapter provides the historical background of both Regulation 330/2010 and Regulation 461/2010. In particular, it devotes specific attention to the nature and legal and practical consequences of soft EU competition law (in the form of notices, guidelines, etc) as opposed to hard EU competition law (provisions of primary and secondary EU law).
Article 2(2)–(5): Limits to the Scope of Application of Regulation 330/2010
Authors: Wijckmans Frank , Tuytschaever Filip
Published: March 2021

This chapter addresses certain specific limitations to the scope of application of Regulation 330/2010. In order to determine whether any of these limitations applies and therefore excludes the vertical agreement from the scope of application of Regulation 330/2010, the following additional steps must be addressed: (i) fifth step: Article 2(2) limits the scope of application to only certain agreements between associations of undertakings and their members of suppliers; (ii) sixth step: Article 2(3) addresses the (limited) application of Regulation 330/2010 to vertical agreements containing provisions on IPR; (iii) seventh step: Article 2(4) deals with the application to certain agreements between competitors; and (iv) eighth step: Article 2(5) limits the scope of application to vertical agreements which are not within the scope of application of any other block exemption regulation. The chapter takes the reader systematically through each of these steps and offers concrete and practical guidance.
Article 5: Excluded Restrictions
Authors: Wijckmans Frank , Tuytschaever Filip
Published: March 2021

This chapter addresses the co-called excluded restrictions which are listed in Article 5 of Regulation 330/2010. The twelfth step of the road map of Chapter 2 is to check whether a given vertical agreement contains restrictions which are excluded from the scope of application of Regulation 330/2010. The excluded restrictions cover three categories of non-compete obligations, respectively applying: (i) during the term of the vertical agreement; (ii) after its termination; and (iii) in a system of selective distribution.The inclusion of an excluded restriction does not render the block exemption inapplicable to the vertical agreement as a whole. The block exemption will only not apply to the excluded restriction itself. The other restrictions of competition continue to benefit from the block exemption, to the extent that they are covered by it.
Article 6 (Non-Application) and Article 29 Regulation 1/2003 (Withdrawal)
Authors: Wijckmans Frank , Tuytschaever Filip
Published: March 2021

This chapter addresses the withdrawal or disapplication of Regulation 330/2010. It describes the relevant procedures and the powers of both the European Commission and the national competition authorities in this respect. Non-application occurs by Commission regulation in cases where parallel networks of similar vertical restraints cover more than 50 per cent of the relevant market. Withdrawal occurs by the Commission or an NCA when vertical agreements satisfying the conditions for a BER but nonetheless produce effects on competition that are incompatible with Article 101 TFEU.
The Law and Economics of Anticompetitive Coordination
Authors: Geradin Damien , Layne-Farrar Anne , Petit Nicolas
Published: March 2021

This chapter examines Article 101 TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). All modern competition law regimes outlaw the coordination of independent undertakings where it leads to a restriction of competition. In the European Union, a prohibition system is enshrined in Article 101 TFEU, which holds that ‘agreements between undertakings’ which restrict competition are ‘incompatible’ with the Treaty. Article 101 TFEU is a three-pronged provision. First, Article 101(1) TFEU establishes a prohibition rule, which provides that agreements between undertakings which may affect trade between Member States and which restrict competition are incompatible with the internal market. Second, Article 101(2) TFEU declares that agreements deemed incompatible pursuant to Article 101(1) TFEU are null and void. Third, Article 101(3) TFEU embodies an exception rule which defuses the application of Article 101(1) to agreements that bring a positive net contribution to consumer welfare.
Merger Control
Authors: Geradin Damien , Layne-Farrar Anne , Petit Nicolas
Published: March 2021

This concluding chapter discusses the EU merger control regime. Merger-specific law is relatively new to the EU body of law. It was not until 1974 that specific merger regulation was even proposed, and not until over a decade after that that any merger regulation was actually adopted. Regulation 4064/89 (the ‘European Merger Control Regulation’ or ‘EMCR’) sets out an ex ante notification procedure for concentration with an EU dimension. Two reasons seem to have driven the adoption of a merger control regime by the EU. The first is economic. The second reason is of a legal nature. Between 1989 and 2010, more than 4,500 operations were notified to the Commission. This number does not comprise the very many mergers notified to the national competition authorities (NCAs).
Part II Legal Challenges, 7 European Antitrust Criminalization and the Challenge of Legal Certainty
Authors: Peter Whelan
Published: March 2021

This chapter explores the substantive aspect of the human rights-related legal challenge to European antitrust criminalization, focusing on the impact in this context of the principle of legal certainty. Comprehensibility is advisable with any project of antitrust criminalization. When criminal antitrust sanctions are at issue, such comprehensibility is not merely advisable for theoretical or practical reasons, but is in fact a strict legal requirement: comprehensibility—as one element of the wider principle of legal certainty—is mandated by European human rights law. The examination of the challenge of legal certainty for antitrust criminalization is undertaken from three perspectives, namely: (i) legal certainty and the concept of a criminal antitrust offence; (ii) legal certainty and the substance of a criminal antitrust offence; and (iii) legal certainty and the existence of a criminal antitrust offence.
Part III Practical Challenges, 8 European Antitrust Criminalization and the First Challenge of Design: Defining the Criminal Cartel Offence
Authors: Peter Whelan
Published: March 2021

This chapter analyses the first challenge of design for European antitrust criminalization: defining the criminal cartel offence itself. There are two problematic issues concerning the definition of a criminal cartel offence, both of which must be understood—if not resolved—by legislatures that are serious about the effective enforcement of their criminal cartel laws. First, the impact of Regulation 1/2003 on the design and operation of a national cartel offence needs to be articulated. This is an issue which is unique to the EU Member States. Second, the legislature which is responsible for drafting a given national criminal cartel law is required to make a decision about how to deal with ‘acceptable’ cartel activity. The challenge for the drafters of a criminal cartel offence is how to ensure that 'acceptable' cartel activity is carved out of the criminal offence without making the offence unworkable in practice.
The effect of systematic redshift biases in BAO cosmology
Authors: Glanville Aaron , Howlett Cullan , Davis Tamara M
Published: March 2021

With the remarkable increase in scale and precision provided by upcoming galaxy redshift surveys, systematic errors that were previously negligible may become significant. In this paper, we explore the potential impact of low-magnitude systematic redshift offsets on measurements of the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) feature, and the cosmological constraints recovered from such measurements. Using 500 mock galaxy redshift surveys as our baseline sample, we inject a series of systematic redshift biases (ranging from $\pm 0.2{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ to $\pm 2{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), and measure the resulting shift in the recovered isotropic BAO scale. When BAO measurements are combined with CMB constraints across a range of cosmological models, plausible systematics introduce a negligible offset on combined fits of H0 and Ωm, and systematics must be an order of magnitude greater than this plausible baseline to introduce a 1σ shift on such combined fits. We conclude that systematic redshift biases are very unlikely to bias constraints on parameters such as H0 provided by BAO cosmology, either now or in the near future. We also detail a theoretical model that predicts the impact of uniform redshift systematics on α, and show this model is in close alignment with the results of our mock survey analysis.
Gravitational-wave signals from 3D supernova simulations with different neutrino-transport methods
Authors: Andresen H , Glas R , Janka H-Th
Published: March 2021

We compare gravitational-wave (GW) signals from eight 3D simulations of core-collapse supernovae, using two different progenitors with zero-age main-sequence masses of 9 and 20 solar masses (M⊙). The collapse of each progenitor was simulated four times, at two different grid resolutions and with two different neutrino transport methods, using the aenus-alcar code. The main goal of this study is to assess the validity of recent concerns that the so-called ‘Ray-by-Ray+’ (RbR+) approximation is problematic in core-collapse simulations and can adversely affect theoretical GW predictions. Therefore, signals from simulations using RbR+ are compared to signals from corresponding simulations using a fully multidimensional (FMD) transport scheme. The 9 M⊙ progenitor successfully explodes, whereas the 20 M⊙ model does not. Both the standing accretion shock instability and hot-bubble convection develop in the post-shock layer of the non-exploding models. In the exploding models, neutrino-driven convection in the post-shock flow is established around 100 ms after core bounce and lasts until the onset of shock revival. We can, therefore, judge the impact of the numerical resolution and neutrino transport under all conditions typically seen in non-rotating core-collapse simulations. We find excellent qualitative agreement in all GW features. We find minor quantitative differences between simulations, but find no systematic differences between simulations using different transport schemes. Resolution-dependent differences in the hydrodynamic behaviour of low-resolution and high-resolution models have a greater impact on the GW signals than consequences of the different transport methods. Furthermore, increasing the resolution decreases the discrepancies between models with different neutrino transport.
A comparison of catalogues of Forbush decreases identified from individual and a network of neutron monitors: a critical perspective
Authors: Okike O , Alhassan J A , Iyida E U , Chukwude A E
Published: March 2021

Short-term rapid depressions in Galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux, historically referred to as Forbush decreases (FDs), have long been recognized as important events in the observation of cosmic ray (CR) activity. Although theories and empirical results on the causes, characteristics, and varieties of FDs have been well established, detection of FDs, from either isolated detectors' or arrays of neutron monitor data, remains a subject of interest. Efforts to create large catalogues of FDs began in the 1990s and have continued to the present. In an attempt to test some of the proposed CR theories, several analyses have been conducted based on the available lists. Nevertheless, the results obtained depend on the FD catalogues used. This suggests a need for an examination of consistency between FD catalogues. This is the aim of the present study. Some existing lists of FDs, as well as FD catalogues developed in the current work, were compared, with an emphasis on the FD catalogues selected by the global survey method (GSM). The Forbush effects and interplanetary disturbances database (FEID), created by the Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation Russian Academy of Sciences (IZMIRAN), is the only available comprehensive and up to date FD catalogue. While there are significant disparities between the IZMIRAN FD and other event lists, there is a beautiful agreement between FDs identified in the current work and those in the FEID. This may be a pointer to the efficiency of the GSM and the automated approach to FD event detection presented here.
Point spread functions for mapping artificial night sky luminance over large territories
Authors: Simoneau Alexandre , Aubé Martin , Leblanc Jérôme , Boucher Rémi , Roby Johanne , Lacharité Florence
Published: March 2021

Knowledge of the night sky radiance over a large region may be valuable information for identifying sites suitable for astronomical observations or for assessing the impact of artificial light at night on ecosystems. Measuring the sky radiance can be a complex endeavour, depending on the desired temporal and spatial resolution. Likewise, the modelling of artificial night sky radiance for multiple points of a region can represent a significant amount of computing time depending on the complexity of the model used. The use of the convolution of a point spread function with the geographical distribution of light sources has been suggested in order to model the sky radiance over large territories of hundreds of kilometres in size. We determined how the point spread function is sensitive to the main driving parameters of the artificial night sky radiance, such as the wavelength, the ground reflectance, the obstacle properties, the upward light output ratio, and the aerosol optical depth using the Illumina v2 model. The obtained functions were then used to model the artificial night sky brightness of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve for winter and summer conditions. The results were compared with the New World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness, the Illumina v2 model, and in situ Sky Quality Camera measurements. We found that the New World Atlas overestimates the artificial sky brightness by 55 per cent, whereas the Illumina model underestimates it by 48 per cent. This may be due to varying atmospheric conditions and the fact that the model accounts only for public light sources.
Localization of the gauged linear sigma model for KK5-branes
Authors: Hiraga Yuki , Sato Yuki
Published: March 2021

We study quantum aspects of the target space of the non-linear sigma model, which is a low-energy effective theory of the gauged linear sigma model (GLSM). As such, we especially compute the exact sphere partition function of the GLSM for KK$5$-branes whose background geometry is a Taub–NUT space, using the supersymmetric localization technique on the Coulomb branch. From the sphere partition function, we distill the world-sheet instanton effects. In particular, we show that, concerning the single-centered Taub–NUT space, instanton contributions exist only if the asymptotic radius of the $S^1$ fiber in the Taub–NUT space is zero.
Fermionic rational conformal field theories and modular linear differential equations
Authors: Bae Jin-Beom , Duan Zhihao , Lee Kimyeong , Lee Sungjay , Sarkis Matthieu
Published: March 2021

We define modular linear differential equations (MLDE) for the level-two congruence subgroups $\Gamma_\theta$, $\Gamma^0(2)$ and $\Gamma_0(2)$ of $\text{SL}_2(\mathbb Z)$. Each subgroup corresponds to one of the spin structures on the torus. The pole structures of the fermionic MLDEs are investigated by exploiting the valence formula for the level-two congruence subgroups. We focus on the first- and second-order holomorphic MLDEs without poles and use them to find a large class of “fermionic rational conformal field theories” (fermionic RCFTs), which have non-negative integer coefficients in the $q$-series expansion of their characters. We study the detailed properties of these fermionic RCFTs, some of which are supersymmetric. This work also provides a starting point for the classification of the fermionic modular tensor category.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the International Pain Outcome questionnaire in surgery
Authors: Polanco-García Mauricio , Granero Roser , Gallart Lluís , García-Lopez Jaume , Montes Antonio
Published: March 2021

Background:

Choosing perioperative suitable treatments requires reliable and valid outcome measurements. The International Pain Outcome (IPO) questionnaire has been widely used for quality improvement and research purposes within the PAIN-OUT network that has collected more than 550,000 data sets of postoperative patients in 200 hospitals worldwide. Our aim is to confirm psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the IPO questionnaire and its invariance by pain predictors.

Method:

Sample included 4014 participants within a large age range, who underwent different surgical procedures. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed internal structure, considering invariance by sex, age, procedure, smoking, obesity, affective disorder, and chronic pain. Incremental predictive validity of factor scores on question would have liked more pain treatment and opioid requirement was also estimated with logistic binary regression.

Results:

Confirmatory factor analysis verified original structure in 3 factors measuring pain intensity and interference (F1), adverse effects (F2), and perceptions of care (F3), with good internal consistency. Multigroup CFA analysis confirmed invariance by assessed pain predictors. Good incremental predictive capacity to identify would have liked more pain treatment was achieved.

Conclusion:

Our study confirms the factor structure, supports reliability, and adds some evidence of convergent validity of the Spanish adaptation of the IPO questionnaire. The sum of scores in its main factors serves a global outcome analysis tool. Low scores in F1 and F2 with high scores in F3 would indicate optimal quality of care.
Providing a safe, in-person, residential college experience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Travis Scott A. , Best Aaron A. , Bochniak Kristyn S. , Dunteman Nicole D. , Fellinger Jennifer , Folkert Peter D. , Koberna Timothy , Kopek Benjamin G. , Krueger Brent P. , Pestun Jeff , Pikaart Michael J. , Sabo Cindy , Schuitema Alex J.
Published: March 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions were forced to make difficult decisions regarding the 2020-2021 academic year. Many institutions decided to have courses in an online remote format, others decided to attempt an in-person experience, while still others took a hybrid approach. Hope College (Holland, MI) decided that an in-person semester would be safer and more equitable for students. To achieve this at a residential college required broad collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Here, we share lessons learned and detail Hope College’s model, including wastewater surveillance, comprehensive testing, contact tracing and isolation procedures, that allowed us to deliver on our commitment of an in-person, residential college experience.
Competition or reciprocity? A study on the symbiosis of effective knowledge management between MNCs and non-MNCs
Authors: Hu Yelin , Zhang Qiwang , Yang Zhen , Huang Sujian
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between effective knowledge management and corporate performance, to explore the dynamic symbiosis phenomenon of effective knowledge management based on organizational ecology with multinational companies (MNCs) and non-multinational companies (non-MNCs) and to explore the symbiosis strategy of knowledge management between multinational and non-multinational companies (non-MNCs) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure effective knowledge management, this paper first uses structural equation model to measure knowledge management, based on the evolution dynamics equation in organizational ecology to measure the effectiveness of knowledge management, and studies the symbiosis of effective knowledge management between MNCs and non-MNCs based on ecological perspective.

Findings

Effective knowledge management can promote the financial performance of enterprises, but different degrees of effectiveness have different effects. In addition, the coupling and collaboration between knowledge management and corporate performance can reflect the value of effective knowledge management. The results show that effective knowledge management plays a positive moderating effect between knowledge management and corporate performance. Finally, the effective knowledge management system of MNCs (non-MNCs) has negative effect on non-MNCs (MNCs), showing the exclusive relationship between MNCs and non-MNCs in China.

Research limitations/implications

The effectiveness of knowledge management is only based on the measurement of financial performance coupling. For other types of performance, it needs to be tested. The samples may not cover symbiosis relationship of effective knowledge management in other countries.

Practical implications

This paper provides practical and theoretical reference for confirming the symbiotic interaction and identifying the opportunities and challenges of knowledge management among different types of corporation groups.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the pioneering studies to explore the pattern of symbiotic evolution of effective knowledge management between MNCs and non-MNCs. From completely new perspectives, this study advances the research of knowledge management to a new and promising area.
What is your desire? Retail investor preferences in structured products
Authors: Baule Rainer , Muenchhalfen Patrick
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The authors evaluate the preferences of retail investors with regard to the investment in structured financial products. The purpose of the paper is an analysis of the relative importance of key product attributes namely the issuing bank, the product structure, the associated costs and the disclosed risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a choice-based conjoint analysis, based on an online experiment. Participants judge their preferences for products which are presented by shortened key information documents according to the requirements of EU regulation.

Findings

Investors consider the costs and the product structure to be most important, whereas the issuer and information on risk are of less interest. Their preferences depend on their (self-evaluated) expertise: while inexperienced retail investors concentrate on costs, experienced investors pay more attention to the product structure.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to a subsegment of the market, the discount certificates. For these products, issuing banks gain insight into the attractiveness of their products. Furthermore, the study carries implications for regulators: since investors emphasize the costs in their decisions, an unbiased disclosure of costs should be enforced.

Originality/value

While the recent literature has studied preferences for the investment in mutual funds, this is the first paper which directly analyzes the drivers of an investment in structured retail products.