bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated temperatures accelerate the formation of toxic amyloid fibrils of hen egg‐white lysozyme
Authors: Feng Zili , Li Ying , Bai Yu
Published: May 2021

The formation of amyloid fibrils is critical for neurodegenerative diseases. Some physiochemical conditions can promote the conversion of proteins from soluble globular shapes into insoluble well‐organized amyloid fibrils. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperatures on amyloid fibrils formation in vitro using the protein model of hen egg‐white lysozyme (HEWL). The HEWL fibrils were prepared at temperatures of 37, 45, 50 and 57°C in glycine solution of pH 2.2. Under transmission electron microscopy, we found the well‐organized HEWL amyloid fibrils at temperatures of 45, 50 and 57°C after 10 days of incubation. Thioflavin T and Congo red florescence assays confirmed that the formation and growth of HEWL fibrils displayed a temperature‐dependent increase, and 57°C produced the most amounts. Meanwhile, the surface hydrophobicity of aggregates was greatly increased by ANS binding assay, and β‐sheet contents by circular dichroism analysis were increased by 17.8%, 22.0% and 34.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the HEWL fibrils formed at 57°C caused significant cytotoxicity in SH‐SY5Y cells after 48 hr exposure, and the cell viability determined by MTT assay was decreased, with 81.35 ± 0.29% for 1 μM, 61.45 ± 2.62% for 2 μM, and 11.58 ± 0.39% (p < .01) for 3 μM. Nuclear staining results also confirmed the apoptosis features. These results suggest that the elevated temperatures could accelerate protein unfolding of the native structure and formation of toxic amyloid fibrils, which can improve understanding the mechanisms of the unfolding and misfolding process of prion protein.
Decolorization mechanism, identification of an FMN‐dependent NADH‐azoreductase from a moderately halotolerant Staphylococcus sp. MEH038S, and toxicity assessment of biotransformed metabolites
Authors: Fazeliyan Ebrahim , Sadeghi Mehraban , Forouzandeh Solieman , Doosti Abbas , Mohammadi Moghadam Fazel , Sedehi Morteza , Emadi Zahra , Sadeghi Ramin
Published: May 2021

The application of halotolerant microorganisms capable of decolorizing is attractive. Decolorization mechanism, the effect of different parameters on the decolorization percentage, and toxicity analysis of Reactive Black 5 before and after decolorization were investigated in the present study. The decolorization percentage for live cells of Staphylococcus sp. strain MEH038S was more than dead cells, which demonstrated that Reactive Black 5 was decolorized through the degradation process. The results confirmed that an FMN‐dependent NADH‐azoreductase gene was responsible for the decolorization and then was identified as Staphylococcus sp. EFS01 azoreductase from a moderately halotolerant Staphylococcus strain for the first time. The maximal decolorization of 98.15% was observed at pH 6.5 and 35 °C for 50 mg/L of Reactive Black 5. In addition, more than 90% decolorization was achieved with 5–40 g/L of NaCl. The results of Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that Reactive Black 5 was broken to the lower molecular weight compounds without any chromophoric azo groups. Phytotoxicity and fish toxicity proved that the biotransformed metabolites of Reactive Black 5 degradation were more toxic than the original dye. The moderate halotolerant strain exhibited a remarkable decolorization capability and can be applied for textile wastewater treatment.

Practitioner Points

An azoreductase gene from a moderately halotolerant Staphylococcus was identified.

More than 90% decolorization efficiency was observed under high‐salt conditions.

Biotransformed metabolites of RB5 degradation were identified.

Toxicity analysis of biotransformed metabolites was investigated.
Building a New Thursday Circle. Carnap and Frank in Prague
Authors: Tuboly Adam Tamas
Published: May 2021

In 1949, Philipp Frank claimed that he and Rudolf Carnap built up a new center for the scientific world conception in Prague between 1931 and 1935. The aim of this paper is to provide historical evidence and further materials to approach this claim of Frank. Definite answers, however, require more space and contextualization, so I will just sketch some partial but hopefully promising narratives and rudimentary answers. I claim that though Carnap and Frank indeed tried to build a new center, they were unsuccessful, and possibly there were many reasons for this. This is the general claim; regarding Carnap, I will also show his way to the German University of Prague and his philosophical, scholarly, and cultural life in Prague.
Carnap’s Opposition to Logic of the Geisteswissenschaften
Authors: Dewulf Fons
Published: May 2021

In this paper I argue that Carnap in the Aufbau and in his later writings consistently conceives the humanities and the social sciences as domains of knowledge that are epistemically equal to the natural sciences. I show that Carnap was skeptical about the philosophical theories of Dilthey, Rickert and Windelband which aimed to distinguish the natural sciences from the humanities through a logical criterion. Although Carnap in the Aufbau integrated some terminology from Dilthey, Windelband and Rickert, he never accepted their philosophical questions about the humanities as legitimate. In his later writings, following Otto Neurath, he openly distanced himself from terminology that could be associated with such questions, and he never again spoke in a programmatic fashion about cultural concepts, like he had done in the Aufbau.
Integrability vs. RG flow in G × G and G × G/H sigma models
Authors: Levine Nat , Tseytlin Arkady A.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We consider a class of 2d σ-models on products of group spaces that provide new examples of a close connection between integrability and stability under the RG flow. We first study the integrable G × G model derived from the affine Gaudin construction (for which the 1-loop β-functions were found in arXiv:2010.07879) and show that its condition of integrability is preserved also by the 2-loop RG flow. We then investigate the RG flow in the gauged G × G/H model, in particular the integrable T1,1 model found in arXiv:2010.05573. We also construct a new class of integrable G × G/H models in the case when the subgroup H is abelian. In the simplest case of G = SU2, H = U1 this leads to an integrable σ-model on the T1,q space (with a particular B-field). This model is also shown to be stable under the 2-loop RG flow, and we relate this property to its invariance under T-duality in an isometric U1 direction. This T1,q model may be interpreted as an integrable deformation of the GMM model (of two coupled WZW theories with generic levels) away from the conformal point.
Color-octet scalars in Dirac gaugino models with broken R symmetry
Authors: Carpenter Linda M. , Murphy Taylor
Published: May 2021

Abstract

In this work we study the collider phenomenology of color-octet scalars (sgluons) in supersymmetric models with Dirac gaugino masses that feature an explicitly broken R symmetry (R-broken models). We construct such models by augmenting minimal R-symmetric models with a fairly general set of supersymmetric and softly supersymmetry-breaking operators that explicitly break R symmetry. We then compute the rates of all significant two-body decays and highlight new features that appear as a result of R symmetry breaking, including enhancements to extant decay rates, novel tree- and loop-level decays, and improved cross sections of single sgluon production. We demonstrate in some detail how the familiar results from minimal R-symmetric models can be obtained by restoring R symmetry. In parallel to this discussion, we explore constraints on these models from the Large Hadron Collider. We find that, in general, R symmetry breaking quantitatively affects existing limits on color-octet scalars, perhaps closing loopholes for light CP-odd (pseudoscalar) sgluons while opening one for a light CP-even (scalar) particle. Qualitatively, however, we find that — much as for minimal R-symmetric models, despite stark differences in phenomenology — scenarios with broken R symmetry and two sgluons below the TeV scale can be accommodated by existing searches.
Exact properties of an integrated correlator in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SU(N) SYM
Authors: Dorigoni Daniele , Green Michael B. , Wen Congkao
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We present a novel expression for an integrated correlation function of four superconformal primaries in SU(N) $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills ($$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM) theory. This integrated correlator, which is based on supersymmetric localisation, has been the subject of several recent developments. In this paper the correlator is re-expressed as a sum over a two dimensional lattice that is valid for all N and all values of the complex Yang-Mills coupling $$ \tau =\theta /2\pi +4\pi i/{g}_{\mathrm{YM}}^2 $$
τ
=
θ
/
2
π
+
4
πi
/

g
YM
2

. In this form it is manifestly invariant under SL(2, ℤ) Montonen-Olive duality. Furthermore, it satisfies a remarkable Laplace-difference equation that relates the SU(N) correlator to the SU(N + 1) and SU(N − 1) correlators. For any fixed value of N the correlator can be expressed as an infinite series of non-holomorphic Eisenstein series, $$ E\left(s;\tau, \overline{\tau}\right) $$
E

s
τ

τ
¯

with s ∈ ℤ, and rational coefficients that depend on the values of N and s. The perturbative expansion of the integrated correlator is an asymptotic but Borel summable series, in which the n-loop coefficient of order (gYM/π)2n is a rational multiple of ζ(2n + 1). The n = 1 and n = 2 terms agree precisely with results determined directly by integrating the expressions in one-loop and two-loop perturbative $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM field theory. Likewise, the charge-k instanton contributions (|k| = 1, 2, . . .) have an asymptotic, but Borel summable, series of perturbative corrections. The large-N expansion of the correlator with fixed τ is a series in powers of $$ {N}^{\frac{1}{2}-\mathrm{\ell}} $$

N

1
2

−
ℓ

(ℓ ∈ ℤ) with coefficients that are rational sums of $$ E\left(s;\tau, \overline{\tau}\right) $$
E

s
τ

τ
¯

with s ∈ ℤ + 1/2. This gives an all orders derivation of the form of the recently conjectured expansion. We further consider the ’t Hooft topological expansion of large-N Yang-Mills theory in which $$ \lambda ={g}_{\mathrm{YM}}^2N $$
λ
=

g
YM
2

N
is fixed. The coefficient of each order in the 1/N expansion can be expanded as a series of powers of λ that converges for |λ| < π2. For large λ this becomes an asymptotic series when expanded in powers of $$ 1/\sqrt{\lambda } $$
1
/

λ

with coefficients that are again rational multiples of odd zeta values, in agreement with earlier results and providing new ones. We demonstrate that the large-λ series is not Borel summable, and determine its resurgent non-perturbative completion, which is $$ O\left(\exp \left(-2\sqrt{\lambda}\right)\right) $$
O

exp

−
2

λ

.
Differentiating between hydrothermal and diagenetic carbonate using rare earth element and yttrium (REE+Y) geochemistry: a case study from the Paleoproterozoic George Fisher massive sulfide Zn deposit, Mount Isa, Australia
Authors: Rieger Philip , Magnall Joseph M. , Gleeson Sarah A. , Oelze Marcus , Wilke Franziska D. H. , Lilly Richard
Published: May 2021

Carbonate minerals are ubiquitous in most sediment-hosted mineral deposits. These deposits can contain a variety of carbonate types with complex paragenetic relationships. When normalized to chondritic values (CN), rare-earth elements and yttrium (REE+YCN) can be used to constrain fluid chemistry and fluid-rock interaction processes in both low- and high-temperature settings. Unlike other phases (e.g., pyrite), the application of in situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) data to the differentiation of pre-ore and hydrothermal carbonates remains relatively untested. To assess the potential applicability of carbonate in situ REE+Y data, we combined transmitted light and cathodoluminescence (CL) petrography with LA-ICP-MS analysis of carbonate mineral phases from (1) the Proterozoic George Fisher clastic dominated (CD-type) massive sulfide deposit and from (2) correlative, barren host rock lithologies (Urquhart Shale Formation). The REE+YCNcomposition of pre-ore calcite suggests it formed during diagenesis from diagenetic pore fluids derived from ferruginous, anoxic seawater. Hydrothermal and hydrothermally altered calcite and dolomite from George Fisher is generally more LREE depleted than the pre-ore calcite, whole-rock REE concentrations, and shale reference values. We suggest this is the result of hydrothermal alteration by saline Cl--rich mineralizing fluids. Furthermore, the presence of both positive and negative Eu/Eu*values in calcite and dolomite indicates that the mineralizing fluids were relatively hot (>250°C) and cooled below 200–250°C during ore formation. This study confirms the hypothesis that in situ REE+Y data can be used to differentiate between pre-ore and hydrothermal carbonate and provide important constraints on the conditions of ore formation.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance predicts all-cause mortality in pulmonary hypertension associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Garg Pankaj , Lewis Robert A. , Johns Christopher S. , Swift Andrew J. , Capener David , Rajaram Smitha , Thompson A. A. Roger , Condliffe Robin , Elliot Charlie A. , Charalampopoulos Athanasios , Hameed Abdul G. , Rothman Alexander , Wild Jim M. , Kiely David G.
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and associated pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary hypertension-HFpEF). Patients with pulmonary hypertension-HFpEF were recruited from the ASPIRE registry and underwent right heart catheterisation (RHC) and CMR. On RHC, the inclusion criteria was a mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) ≥ 25 mmHg and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure > 15 mmHg and, on CMR, a left atrial volume > 41 ml/m2 with left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%. Cox regression was performed to evaluate CMR against all-cause mortality. In this study, 116 patients with pulmonary hypertension-HFpEF were identified. Over a mean follow-up period of 3 ± 2 years, 61 patients with pulmonary hypertension-HFpEF died (53%). In univariate regression, 11 variables demonstrated association to mortality: indexed right ventricular (RV) volumes and stroke volume, right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), indexed RV mass, septal angle, pulmonary artery systolic/diastolic area and its relative area change. In multivariate regression, only three variables were independently associated with mortality: RVEF (HR 0.64, P < 0.001), indexed RV mass (HR 1.46, P < 0.001) and IV septal angle (HR 1.48, P < 0.001). Our CMR model had 0.76 area under the curve (P < 0.001) to predict mortality. This study confirms that pulmonary hypertension in patients with HFpEF is associated with a poor prognosis and we observe that CMR can risk stratify these patients and predict all-cause mortality. When patients with HFpEF develop pulmonary hypertension, CMR measures that reflect right ventricular afterload and function predict all-cause mortality.
Extremal clustering in non-stationary random sequences
Authors: Auld Graeme , Papastathopoulos Ioannis
Published: May 2021

It is well known that the distribution of extreme values of strictly stationary sequences differ from those of independent and identically distributed sequences in that extremal clustering may occur. Here we consider non-stationary but identically distributed sequences of random variables subject to suitable long range dependence restrictions. We find that the limiting distribution of appropriately normalized sample maxima depends on a parameter that measures the average extremal clustering of the sequence. Based on this new representation we derive the asymptotic distribution for the time between consecutive extreme observations and construct moment and likelihood based estimators for measures of extremal clustering. We specialize our results to random sequences with periodic dependence structure.
Matrix Equation Techniques for Certain Evolutionary Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Palitta Davide
Published: May 2021

We show that the discrete operator stemming from time-space discretization of evolutionary partial differential equations can be represented in terms of a single Sylvester matrix equation. A novel solution strategy that combines projection techniques with the full exploitation of the entry-wise structure of the involved coefficient matrices is proposed. The resulting scheme is able to efficiently solve problems with a tremendous number of degrees of freedom while maintaining a low storage demand as illustrated in several numerical examples.
The Role of the Employer in Supporting Work Participation of Workers with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Jansen J. , van Ooijen R. , Koning P. W. C. , Boot C. R. L. , Brouwer S.
Published: May 2021

Purpose There is growing awareness that the employer plays an important role in preventing early labor market exit of workers with poor health. This systematic review aims to explore the employer characteristics associated with work participation of workers with disabilities. An interdisciplinary approach was used to capture relevant characteristics at all organizational levels. Methods To identify relevant longitudinal observational studies, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and EconLit. Three key concepts were central to the search: (a) employer characteristics, (b) work participation, including continued employment, return to work and long-term work disability, and (c) chronic diseases. Results The search strategy resulted in 4456 articles. In total 50 articles met the inclusion criteria. We found 14 determinants clustered in four domains: work accommodations, social support, organizational culture and company characteristics. On supervisor level, strong evidence was found for an association between work accommodations and continued employment and return to work. Moderate evidence was found for an association between social support and return to work. On higher organizational level, weak evidence was found for an association between organizational culture and return to work. Inconsistent evidence was found for an association between company characteristics and the three work outcomes. Conclusions Our review indicates the importance of different employer efforts for work participation of workers with disabilities. Workplace programs aimed at facilitating work accommodations and supervisor support can contribute to the prevention of early labor market exit of workers with poor health. Further research is needed on the influence of organizational culture and company characteristics on work participation.
Investors’ expectations around quantitative easing: does liquidity injection affect European banks equally?
Authors: Longo Sara , Parbonetti Antonio , Pugliese Amedeo
Published: May 2021

The role of liquidity in the banking industry is increasingly under the spotlight since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2007. Prior evidence offers contrasting findings on the role played by liquidity in banks: whilst it ensures systemic financial stability, at the same time it raises agency costs. Notwithstanding this, European banks benefited from a generous liquidity injection following the launch of the Quantitative Easing (QE) programme by the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2015–2016. We leverage on the release of the QE and investigate whether investors’ reactions to the announcements of new liquidity injections vary according to bank-level characteristics of the European banks: namely, their financial soundness, asset portfolio quality and the level of transparency. Our findings document an overall negative market reaction to the QE announcements; at a more fine-grained level of analysis we highlight that banks falling short of the regulatory requirements are not expected to benefit from additional liquidity. This study contributes to the literature on the role of liquidity in banks by showing important boundary conditions to the beneficial role of liquidity in banks, that is—because of the regulatory capital requirements—liquidity is only valuable to investors if it can be reinvested once constraints are overcome.
Surgically treated acromegaly patients have a similar quality of life whether controlled by surgery or requiring additional medical therapy (QuaLAT Study)
Authors: Arshad Muhammad Fahad , Ogunleye Oluwafunto , Ross Richard , Debono Miguel
Published: May 2021

Purpose

There is no consensus on quality of life (QOL) in patients with acromegaly requiring medical treatment after surgery compared with those achieving remission by surgery alone.

Methods

QuaLAT is a cross-sectional study comparing QOL in surgery-only treated acromegaly patients versus those requiring medical treatment post-surgery. Patients attending clinics were identified and divided into—Group 1: patients who had surgery only and were in biochemical remission, Group 2: all patients on medical treatment post-surgery, Group 3: patients from Group 2 with biochemical control. Participants were asked to fill three questionnaires; Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACROQOL), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF36), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).

Results

There were 32 patients in Group 1 and 25 in Group 2. There was no difference in QOL scores between groups 1 and 2, as measured by ACROQOL (mean difference [MD] = − 2.5, 95% CI − 16.6 to 11.6; p = 0.72), SF36v2 [Physical component score (PCS) MD = − 4.9, 95% CI − 10.9 to 1.2; p = 0.12; mental component score MD = − 3.0, 95% CI − 10.5 to 4.4; p = 0.44], or FSS (MD = − 0.004, 95% CI − 1.14 to 1.33; p = 0.1). Comparison between groups 1 and 3 however showed that PCS (and 3 subdomains) was significantly better in group 3 (MD = − 8.3, 95% CI − 14.8 to -1.8; p = 0.01). All three QOL scores were lower when compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions

Medical treatment not only achieves a QOL comparable to surgery, it may also be associated with better QOL in physical subdomains. When compared with healthy controls, QOL remains worse in treated acromegaly patients compared to controls.
SPHARMA approximations for stationary functional time series on the sphere
Authors: Caponera Alessia
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we focus on isotropic and stationary sphere-cross-time random fields. We first introduce the class of spherical functional autoregressive-moving average processes (SPHARMA), which extend in a natural way the spherical functional autoregressions (SPHAR) recently studied in Caponera and Marinucci (Ann Stat 49(1):346–369, 2021) and Caponera et al. (Stoch Process Appl 137:167–199, 2021); more importantly, we then show that SPHAR and SPHARMA processes of sufficiently large order can be exploited to approximate every isotropic and stationary sphere-cross-time random field, thus generalizing to this infinite-dimensional framework some classical results on real-valued stationary processes. Further characterizations in terms of functional spectral representation theorems and Wold-like decompositions are also established.
Reichenbach: scientific realist and logical empricist?
Authors: Neuber Matthias
Published: May 2021

Hans Reichenbach’s position in the debate over scientific realism is remarkable. On the one hand, he endorsed the programmatic premises of logical empiricism; on the other, he explicitly employed a realist approach to conceptions such as reference, causality, and inference to the best explanation. How could that work out? It will be shown in the present paper that in Reichenbach’s view scientific realism is not, as frequently assumed, opposed to logical empiricism but rather to logical positivism. A distinction without a difference? Not at all, at least for Reichenbach. As is well known, his particular—probabilistic—variant of logical empiricism was intended to circumvent what he considered the shortcomings of the Vienna Circle’s verificationist (reductionist) approach to the language of science. In Experience and Prediction (1938), Reichenbach became most explicit in this regard. However, I shall argue that his position remained notoriously unstable in the end. It oscillated between a full-fledged scientific realist reading and an eminently pragmatist reading. Nevertheless, Reichenbach’s contribution proved instrumental in preparing subsequent efforts at reconciling logical empiricism and scientific realism.
The Influence of Steel Composition on the Formation and Effectiveness of Anti-wear Films in Tribological Contacts
Authors: Pagkalis Konstantinos , Spikes Hugh , Jelita Rydel Jakub , Ingram Marc , Kadiric Amir
Published: May 2021

The effectiveness of antiwear additives in laboratory tests is commonly evaluated using specimens made of AISI 52100 through-hardened bearing steel. However, many lubricated machine components are made of steels with significantly different material compositions, which raises an important practical question of whether the performance of antiwear additives with these other steel types is different from that established with AISI 52100. To help answer this question, this paper investigates the influence of steel composition on the formation and effectiveness of antiwear films. Four steels that are commonly used in tribological applications, namely AISI 52100 through-hardened bearing steel, 16MnCr5 case-carburised gear steel, M2 high speed steel and 440C stainless steel are tested in rolling-sliding, ball-on-disc contacts lubricated with three custom-made oils, one containing ZDDP and two containing different types of ashless antiwear additives. The relative effectiveness of their boundary films was assessed by measuring their thickness and associated wear and friction over 12 h of rubbing at two specimen roughness levels. For ZDDP it was found that the formation of antiwear film was not significantly influenced by steel composition or specimen surface roughness. A similar tribofilm thickness, final tribofilm roughness and friction was observed with all four steels. No measurable wear was observed. By contrast, for the ashless antiwear additives the thickness and effectiveness of their tribofilms was strongly influenced by steel composition, particularly at higher roughness levels. The exact trends in film thickness vs steel relationship depended on the specific chemistry of the ashless additive (ester-based or acid-based) but in general, relative to AISI 52100 steel, M2 steel promoted ashless tribofilm formation whilst 440C retarded ashless tribofilm formation. This behaviour is attributed to the presence of different alloying elements and the ability of the additives to extract metal cations from the rubbing surfaces to support the growth of a tribofilm. In all cases ZDDP films were thicker and rougher, and produced higher friction than those formed by the ashless additives. However, unlike ZDDP, ashless blends generally produced significant wear, particularly with 16MnCr5 and M2 steels. The results indicate that to ensure reliable performance of a given machine component, the chemistry of an ashless antiwear additive should be matched with the types of steel present in the lubricated machine.
Intraday imbalance optimization: incentives and impact of strategic intraday bidding behavior
Authors: Koch Christopher
Published: May 2021

Intraday markets are crucial to balance supply and demand in the very short-term, up to delivery. They are often designed as continuous auctions with a pay-as-bid pricing mechanism. While several studies assess trading strategies to balance different types of portfolios, they normally do not consider the incentives of the imbalance prices for portfolio management. This paper analyzes a strategy of taking positions in the German intraday market based on expected imbalance prices and examines its impact on system stability. Using a logistic regression model, it is possible to accurately predict the direction of the overall system balance and to apply a profitable trading strategy. For a period from 01/07/2017 to 30/06/2019, the strategy outperforms a simple approach by EUR 47 000 per MW. However, this behavior would predominantly not have been system supportive due to biased imbalance price incentives. These are asymmetric price spreads and insufficiently low imbalance prices compared to intraday prices. An efficient intraday price constraint would partly solve the problem. The overall share of system supportive imbalance positions would raise by ten percentage points. In situations with high system wide imbalances, up to three-quarters of the positions would stabilize the system. These findings are important for regulation in Germany and other countries with a single imbalance pricing as they provide an indication for crucial points of the imbalance pricing rules to incite appropriate market behavior.
Framing Effects and Fuzzy Traces: ‘Some’ Observations
Authors: Fisher Sarah A.
Published: May 2021

Framing effects occur when people respond differently to the same information, just because it is conveyed in different words. For example, in the classic ‘Disease Problem’ introduced by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, people’s choices between alternative interventions depend on whether these are described positively, in terms of the number of people who will be saved, or negatively in terms of the corresponding number who will die. In this paper, I discuss an account of framing effects based on ‘fuzzy-trace theory’. The central claim of this account is that people represent the numbers in framing problems in a ‘gist-like’ way, as ‘some’; and that this creates a categorical contrast between ‘some’ people being saved (or dying) and ‘no’ people being saved (or dying). I argue that fuzzy-trace theory’s gist-like representation, ‘some’, must have the semantics of ‘some and possibly all’, not ‘some but not all’. I show how this commits fuzzy-trace theory to a modest version of a rival ‘lower bounding hypothesis’, according to which lower-bounded interpretations of quantities contribute to framing effects by rendering the alternative descriptions extensionally inequivalent. As a result, fuzzy-trace theory is incoherent as it stands. Making sense of it requires dropping, or refining, the claim that decision-makers perceive alternatively framed options as extensionally equivalent; and the related claim that framing effects are irrational. I end by suggesting that, whereas the modest lower bounding hypothesis is well supported, there is currently less evidence for the core element of the fuzzy trace account.
“The Wall Now Between Us”: Teaching Math to Students with Disabilities During the COVID Spring of 2020
Authors: Lambert Rachel , Schuck Rachel
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a case study of the experiences of a special educator named Ms. Montes (pseudonym) teaching standards-based mathematics during Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) during spring 2020. Ms. Montes was interviewed twice during this period; data were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Pre-COVID, Ms. Montes provided her students daily opportunities to tackle challenging mathematical problems and taught self-regulation strategies for students to better understand themselves as learners. After the shift to ERT, Ms. Montes described “the wall between us” as various barriers that made teaching mathematics online far more challenging. Challenges included supporting students with productive struggle when not physically present with them and supporting student self-regulation during mathematical problem-solving. Supporting students with disabilities to learn mathematics during ERT and distance learning will require considering emotional and affective dimensions of learning. Coaching students and families in self-regulation strategies could support student engagement in mathematical problem-solving in online learning.
Prämature ovarielle Insuffizienz – Diagnostik, Folgeerkrankungen und Therapie
Authors: Lerchbaum Elisabeth
Published: May 2021

Die prämature ovarielle Insuffizienz ist ein klinisches Syndrom und wird definiert als Verlust der ovariellen Funktion im Alter von < 40 Jahren und betrifft ca. 2 % aller Frauen. Die Diagnose wird anhand von klinischen Symptomen eines Östrogendefizits, einer Oligo- oder Amenorrhö von zumindest vier Monaten sowie erhöhten FSH-Spiegeln (> 25 IU/l) bei zwei verschiedenen Messungen im Abstand von > 4 Wochen gestellt. Die prämature ovarielle Insuffizienz kann genetische, autoimmunologische oder iatrogene Ursachen haben, in den meisten Fällen kann jedoch keine Ursache gefunden werden und es liegt eine idiopathische Form vor. Betroffene Frauen leiden unter den Symptomen des Östrogendefizits wie Hitzewallungen und Schlafproblemen, darüber hinaus kann es zu reproduktiven und kognitiven Problemen sowie Depressionen kommen. Unbehandelt ist die POI mit einem erhöhten Risiko für eine Osteoporose sowie für kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen verbunden, was mit einer erhöhten Mortalität assoziiert ist. Therapeutisch steht die Hormonersatztherapie mit einem vorzugsweise transdermalen Estradiolpräparat (bei intaktem Uterus in Kombination mit einem Gestagen) im Vordergrund, einerseits zur Behandlung der Symptome des Östrogendefizits und andererseits zur Prävention einer Osteoporose und von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen. Diese Hormonersatztherapie sollte bis zum Erreichen des natürlichen Menopausenalters mit ca. 50 Jahren durchgeführt werden. Begleitende Lebensstilmaßnahmen mit Fokus auf ausgewogene Ernährung, Bewegung und Nikotinkarenz zur Prävention einer Osteoporose und von kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen sind ebenfalls von großer Bedeutung.
Scale production of conductive cotton yarns by sizing process and its conductive mechanism
Authors: Liu Yixin , Li Zhen , Feng Yutong , Yao Juming
Published: May 2021

Conductive yarn is an important component and connector of electronic and intelligent textiles, and with the development of high-performance and low-cost conductive yarns, it has attracted more attention. Herein, a simple, scalable sizing process was introduced to prepare the graphene-coated conductive cotton yarns. The electron conductive mechanism of fibers and yarns were studied by the percolation and binomial distribution theory, respectively. The conductive paths are formed due to the conductive fibers' contact with each other, and the results revealed that the connection probability of the fibers in the yarn (p) is proportional to the square of the fibers filling coefficient (φ) as p ∝ φ2. The calculation formula of the staple spun yarn resistance can be derived from this conclusion and verified by experiments, which further proves the feasibility of produce conductive cotton yarns by sizing process.
Experimental and simulation testing of an EGLC controller for an IAG-EGLC system for electrifying off-grid rural sites
Authors: Boora Shakuntla , Agarwal S. K. , Sandhu K. S.
Published: May 2021

The voltage support at consumer terminals is required in remote areas. This voltage support should be provided economically. In the manuscript, the study carried out emphasis on the designing methodology and hardware implementation of an electronic generator load controller (EGLC) for an isolated asynchronous generator (IAG) feeding single-phase loads. The EGLC is build using the uncontrolled rectifier bridge, an IGBT based chopper switch with series connected dump load. The driving signals for the IGBT based chopper switch is generated using Pule Width Modulation PWM IC. The generator is providing power to the two loads connected in shunt across each other. The objective of the controller is to maintain constant load on the generator during the entire operation of the generator. The expected simulated outcomes are verified using a hardware model of the EGLC prototype developed for an IAG in the laboratory. The closeness of both the simulated and experimental results justified its application for the electrification of various off grid remote sites available in hilly areas.

Article Highlights

An EGLC Controller is designed, fabricated and tested in the laboratory for an IAG for voltage and frequency support.

The proposed controller maintains constant load on the generator irrespective of nature of varying load.

The prototype developed for an IAG-EGLC proves to be cost effective and can be proposed for electrification of off grid sites.
Povidone-iodine irrigation combined with Vancomycin powder lowers infection rates in pediatric deformity surgery
Authors: Roberto Rolando Figueroa , Rowan Flynn Andrew , Nallur Deepak , Durbin-Johnson Blythe , Javidan Yashar , Klineberg Eric Otto
Published: May 2021

Background

Surgical site infection is a morbid, devastating complication after spinal procedures. Studies have investigated the effect of wound lavage with 3.5% Povidone-iodine solution or the use of intrawound Vancomycin powder. We examined the effect of Povidone-iodine irrigation, intrawound Vancomycin powder, or a combination of both agents in a tertiary care Pediatric Hospital.

Methods

We queried our health system database for patients undergoing spinal surgery over an eight-year span between January 2008 and June 2016 and identified patient cohorts who received no intervention, intrawound Vancomycin alone, Povidone-iodine irrigation alone, or a combination of both agents. Infection rates were determined. The effect of treatment on outcome was analyzed using a logistic regression model.

Results

475 patients were identified who met study inclusion criteria. 88 non-neuromuscular patients received no intra-operative agent. The surgical site infection (SSI) rate in this group of patients was 10%. For the 194 non-neuromuscular scoliosis patients who received Povidone-iodine and Vancomycin powder, the infection rate was reduced to 0.7%. The SSI rate in the 180 non-neuromuscular patients who were treated with Vancomycin powder alone was 1.4%. 13 patients were treated with Povidone-iodine lavage only, with a small sample size precluding statistical comparison. Infection rate in the 132 neuromuscular disease patients decreased from 14 to 7% overall during this time span: while the odds ratio of infection was reduced in all neuromuscular treatment groups receiving intra-operative measures, statistical significance was not reached in any neuromuscular group studied.

Conclusions

A protocol using combined 3.5% weight/volume Povidone-iodine and Vancomycin powder was associated with the lowest infection rate in our non-neuromuscular patient population and should be considered as a low cost intervention in pediatric patients undergoing spinal deformity procedures.

Level of evidence

Level II.
Buying a New Product with Inconsistent Product Reviews from Multiple Sources: The Role of Information Diagnosticity and Advertising
Authors: (Kay) Byun Kyung-ah , Ma Minghui , Kim Kevin , Kang Taeghyun
Published: May 2021

Product reviews are critical high-scope non-marketing cues for consumers to obtain useful product information from various perspectives. However, the effects of inconsistent reviews among multiple sources on new product sales are underexplored. Based on the cue-diagnosticity framework, this research investigates how multi-source review inconsistency (MSRI) affects purchase intention and new product sales in the context of the U.S. automobile industry when firms signal product quality through advertising as a low-scope cue. Using multi-methods of an experiment and secondary data analysis, the results show the negative effects of MSRI on purchase intention and new product sales and explain the mechanisms through information diagnosticity. Further, the findings show how advertising as a low-scope cue can mitigate the effect of multi-source inconsistency on new product sales.
The Role of ProBNP on Prognosis in Scorpion Stings
Authors: Güllü Ufuk Utku , İpek Sevcan , Dalkıran Tahir , Dinçer Serpil , Yurttutan Sadık , Aynacı Eser
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Scorpion stings are a major health problem with potentially fatal consequences. Children under the age of 10 y especially face a great risk. Predicting the prognosis is important in reducing mortality and morbidity because it enables the use of early treatment options. In this study, we examine the relationship between proBNP and prognosis in scorpion stings.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of patients aged ≤18 y who were admitted to the child emergency service with a scorpion sting. We examined the demographical data, clinical findings, laboratory records, treatments, and results of the patients. We classified stage 1 and stage 2 scorpion envenomation as group 1 (mild-moderate) and stage 3 and 4 as group 2 (severe). A t test was used for normally distributed data, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for nonnormally distributed data. The correlation analysis was done using the Spearman test.

Results

There were 32 (74%) patients in the mild-moderate group and 11 (26%) in the severe group. ProBNP 1 was significantly higher in the severe group at admission ( P=0.016). There was no difference between the troponin I values ( P=0.051). ProBNP 2 (12th hour) and proBNP 3 (24th hour) were higher in the severe group ( P=0.001 and P=0.032, respectively). There was a negative correlation between proBNP and echocardiographic findings involving ejection fraction and shortening fraction (r=–0.703, P=0.002).

Conclusions

In our study, the first proBNP values were significantly higher in the severe group. This suggests that proBNP may be beneficial in predicting prognosis.
Waiting for Swaraj
Authors: Vaidik Aparna
Published: May 2021

Set in British India of the 1920s, Waiting for Swaraj follows the cadence and tempo of the lives of the intrepid revolutionaries of the Hindustan Republican Association and the Hindustan Republican Socialist Association who challenged the British Raj. It seeks to comprehend the revolutionaries' self-conception - what did it mean to be a revolutionary? How did a revolutionary live out the vision of revolution, what was their everyday like, did life in revolution transform an individual, what was their truth and how was it different from that of the others? The book locates the essence of being a revolutionary not just in the spectacular moments when the revolutionaries threw a bomb or carried out a political assassination, but in the everyday conversations, banter, anecdotes, and in the stray fragments of the life in underground. It demonstrates how 'waiting' was the crucible that forged a revolutionary.
NEIGHBOURING PREDICTION FOR MORTALITY
Authors: Wang Chou-Wen , Zhang Jinggong , Zhu Wenjun
Published: May 2021

We propose a new neighbouring prediction model for mortality forecasting. For each mortality rate at age x in year t, mx,t, we construct an image of neighbourhood mortality data around mx,t, that is, Ꜫmx,t (x1, x2, s), which includes mortality information for ages in [x-x1, x+x2], lagging k years (1 ≤ k ≤ s). Combined with the deep learning model – convolutional neural network, this framework is able to capture the intricate nonlinear structure in the mortality data: the neighbourhood effect, which can go beyond the directions of period, age, and cohort as in classic mortality models. By performing an extensive empirical analysis on all the 41 countries and regions in the Human Mortality Database, we find that the proposed models achieve superior forecasting performance. This framework can be further enhanced to capture the patterns and interactions between multiple populations.
Mastoid cavity obliteration using bone pâté versus bioactive glass granules in the management of chronic otitis media (squamous disease): a prospective comparative study
Authors: Mishra A K , Mallick A , Galagali J R , Gupta A , Sethi A , Ghotra A
Published: May 2021

Objective

To compare the efficacy of bone pâté versus bioactive glass in mastoid obliteration.

Method

This randomised parallel groups study was conducted at a tertiary care centre between September 2017 and August 2019. Sixty-eight patients, 33 males and 35 females, aged 12–56 years, randomly underwent single-stage canal wall down mastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration using either bone pâté (n= 35) or bioactive glass (n= 33), and were evaluated 12 months after the operation.

Results

A dry epithelised cavity (Merchant's grade 0 or 1) was achieved in 65 patients (95.59 per cent). Three patients (4.41 per cent) showed recidivism. The mean air–bone gap decreased to 16.80 ± 4.23 dB from 35.10 ± 5.21 dB pre-operatively. The mean Glasgow Benefit Inventory score was 30.02 ± 8.23. There was no significant difference between the two groups in these outcomes. However, the duration of surgery was shorter in the bioactive glass group (156.87 ± 7.83vs162.28 ± 8.74 minutes;p= 0.01).

Conclusion

The efficacy of both materials was comparable.
Talk like an Egyptian? Epistemological problems with the synthesis of a vocal sound from the mummified remains of Nesyamun and racial designations in mummy studies
Authors: Matić Uroš
Published: May 2021

The paper examines epistemological problems behind a recent study claiming to provide a synthesis of a vocal sound from the mummified remains of a man named Nesyamun and behind racial designations in Egyptian mummy studies more generally. So far, responses in the media and academia concentrated on the ethical problems of these studies, whereas their theoretical and methodological backgrounds have been rarely addressed or mentioned only in passing. It seems that the media reaction has targeted the synthesis of a sound rather than other, equally problematic, assumptions found in Egyptian mummy studies. By focusing on the epistemological problems, it will be demonstrated that the issues of greatest concern are endemic to a general state of a considerable part of the discipline of Egyptology and its unreflective engagement with the material remains of the past, especially human remains.
Possible Non‐Mare Lithologies in the Regolith at the Chang’E‐5 Landing Site: Evidence From Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Fu Xiaohui , Hou Xuting , Zhang Jiang , Li Bo , Ling Zongcheng , Jolliff Bradley L. , Xu Lin , Zou Yongliao
Published: May 2021

The Chang’E‐5 (CE‐5) mission returned a total of 1,731 g of lunar regolith from the northern Oceanus Procellarum (NOP). Despite that the CE‐5 landing site is covered by Eratosthenian‐aged mare basalts, non‐mare lithologies might also have been collected owing to the lateral mixing introduced by nearby craters. Here we employed FeO and thorium abundance data obtained by the Lunar Prospector Gamma Ray Spectrometer to investigate the chemical composition of the NOP region. Four major compositional groups (feldspathic highland materials, Imbrium basin ejecta, Aristarchus ejecta, and mare basalts) and several subgroups have been identified. Their corresponding geographical locations were constrained using an interactive scatter‐plot tool in ENVI® software. We also determined the first‐order mixing trends occurring within the NOP region as well as the CE‐5 landing site. Aristarchus crater may have contributed highly evolved materials to the CE‐5 site. Rock fragments derived from Aristarchus ejecta are important for the interpretation of magmatic differentiation and non‐mare volcanism on the Moon. We proposed that thorium enrichments of CE‐5 landing site are due to the geochemical nature of local mare basalts rather than impact mixing. Highland ejecta, along with mare basalts, would expand Apollo and Luna sample collection diversity.