bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On agricultural commodities’ extreme price risk
Authors: van Oordt Maarten R. C. , Stork Philip A. , de Vries Casper G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe show how fat tails in agricultural commodity returns arise endogenously from productivity shocks in a standard macroeconomic model. Using nearly ninety years of data, we show that the eight agricultural commodities in our sample exhibit fat-tailed return distributions. Statistical tests confirm the heavy-tailedness of price spikes for agricultural commodities. We apply extreme value theory to estimate the size and likelihood of price spikes in agricultural commodities. Back-testing verifies the validity of our risk assessment methodology.
Investigating Gaze Behaviour of Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Classroom Setting
Authors: McParland Aideen , Gallagher Stephen , Keenan Mickey 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA defining feature of ASD is atypical gaze behaviour, however, eye-tracking studies in ‘real-world’ settings are limited, and the possibility of improving gaze behaviour for ASD children is largely unexplored. This study investigated gaze behaviour of ASD and typically developing (TD) children in their classroom setting. Eye-tracking technology was used to develop and pilot an operant training tool to positively reinforce typical gaze behaviour towards faces. Visual and statistical analyses of eye-tracking data revealed different gaze behaviour patterns during live interactions for ASD and TD children depending on the interaction type. All children responded to operant training with longer looking times observed on face stimuli post training. The promising application of operant gaze training in ecologically valid settings is discussed.
Recruitment into Organized Crime: An Agent-Based Approach Testing the Impact of Different Policies
Authors: Calderoni Francesco , Campedelli Gian Maria , Szekely Aron , Paolucci Mario , Andrighetto Giulia 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesWe test the effects of four policy scenarios on recruitment into organized crime. The policy scenarios target (i) organized crime leaders and (ii) facilitators for imprisonment, (iii) provide educational and welfare support to children and their mothers while separating them from organized-crime fathers, and (iv) increase educational and social support to at-risk schoolchildren.MethodsWe developed a novel agent-based model drawing on theories of peer effects (differential association, social learning), social embeddedness of organized crime, and the general theory of crime. Agents are simultaneously embedded in multiple social networks (household, kinship, school, work, friends, and co-offending) and possess heterogeneous individual attributes. Relational and individual attributes determine the probability of offending. Co-offending with organized crime members determines recruitment into the criminal group. All the main parameters are calibrated on data from Palermo or Sicily (Italy). We test the effect of the four policy scenarios against a baseline no-intervention scenario on the number of newly recruited and total organized crime members using Generalized Estimating Equations models.ResultsThe simulations generate realistic outcomes, with relatively stable organized crime membership and crime rates. All simulated policy interventions reduce the total number of members, whereas all but primary socialization reduce newly recruited members. The intensity of the effects, however, varies across dependent variables and models.ConclusionsAgent-based models effectively enable to develop theoretically driven and empirically calibrated simulations of organized crime. The simulations can fill the gaps in evaluation research in the field of organized crime and allow us to test different policies in different environmental contexts.
The thermal decomposition of studtite: analysis of the amorphous phase
Authors: Thompson Nathan B. A. , Frankland Victoria L. , Bright Joshua W. G. , Read David , Gilbert Matthew R. , Stennett Martin C. , Hyatt Neil C. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStudtite is known to exist at the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle as an intermediate phase formed in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. In the thermal decomposition of studtite, an amorphous phase is obtained at calcination temperatures between 200 and 500 °C. This amorphous compound, referred to elsewhere in the literature as U2O7, has been characterised by analytical spectroscopic methods. The local structure of the amorphous compound has been found to contain uranyl bonding by X-ray absorption near edge (XANES), Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Changes in bond distances in the uranyl group are discussed with respect to studtite calcination temperature. The reaction of the amorphous compound with water to form metaschoepite is also discussed and compared with the structure of schoepite and metaschoepite by X-ray diffraction. A novel schematic reaction mechanism for the thermal decomposition of studtite is proposed.
Ring-opening polymerization and plasticization of poly(L-lactic)acid by adding of glycerol-dioleate
Authors: Horváth Tibor , Marossy Kálmán , Szabó Tamás J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPoly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) has been produced by ring-opening polymerization method. During the polymerization processes different temperatures and process times have been applied to reach an optimum setup that was used to produce sample. The sample was measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods to identify the structure, molar mass and define the glass transition temperatures of product and obtain general information about the physical and chemical properties of material. Based on the results of measures, the material’s crystallinity was also investigated. The plasticization of PLLA has been also investigated. During the experiments, previously produced material (PLLA synthesized by polycondensation) was plasticised by adding of glycerol-dioleate. The plasticized material was also measured by FTIR, GPC and DSC methods to check the basic physical and chemical parameters of the material. According to the results of the measurements that were found, by this approach, the glass transition temperature of PLLA was reduced by 7 °C that indicated the glycerol-dioleate might act as a plasticizer for PLLA material without any deviation in the chemical structure of material.
Toxic milk mice models of Wilson’s disease
Authors: Hadrian Krzysztof , Przybyłkowski Adam 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWilson’s disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The signs and symptoms of this disease are related to dysfunctional ATP7B protein which leads to copper accumulation and cellular damage. The organs that are most commonly affected by WD are the liver and brain. The dysfunctional ATP7B homolog has previously been identified in many different species, including two naturally occurring murine models called toxic milk mice. The aim of this paper was to compare the toxic milk mouse described by Rauch (tx) to that from Jackson Laboratory (txJ) through a review of studies on these two groups of mice. The two mice strains differ in the type of carried mutation and the phenotype of the disease. The data of the studies showed that the tx mice developed mild chronic hepatitis but suffered severe organ destruction with faster progression to full-liver cirrhosis. No changes were noted in the neurological and behavioral status of this strain despite the described toxic accumulation of copper and neuronal destruction in their brain. On the other hand, though the Jackson toxic milk mice (txJ) also presented chronic hepatitis, the condition was a bit milder with slower progression to end-stage disease. Moreover, hepatocyte suitable to perform neurobehavioral research as their phenotype characterized by tremors and locomotor disabilities better corresponds with the cliniconeurological picture of the humans.
Molecular Basis of Coupled Transport and Anion Conduction in Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters
Authors: Alleva Claudia , Machtens Jan-Philipp , Kortzak Daniel , Weyand Ingo , Fahlke Christoph 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGlutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. After its release from presynaptic nerve terminals, glutamate is quickly removed from the synaptic cleft by excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) 1–5, a subfamily of glutamate transporters. The five proteins utilize a complex transport stoichiometry that couples glutamate transport to the symport of three Na+ ions and one H+ in exchange with one K+ to accumulate glutamate against up to 106-fold concentration gradients. They are also anion-selective channels that open and close during transitions along the glutamate transport cycle. EAATs belong to a larger family of secondary-active transporters, the SLC1 family, which also includes purely Na+- or H+-coupled prokaryotic transporters and Na+-dependent neutral amino acid exchangers. In recent years, molecular cloning, heterologous expression, cellular electrophysiology, fluorescence spectroscopy, structural approaches, and molecular simulations have uncovered the molecular mechanisms of coupled transport, substrate selectivity, and anion conduction in EAAT glutamate transporters. Here we review recent findings on EAAT transport mechanisms, with special emphasis on the highly conserved hairpin 2 gate, which has emerged as the central processing unit in many of these functions.
Is there a demand for autocracies in Europe? Comparing the attitudes of Hungarian and Italian university students toward liberal democratic values inspired by János Kornai
Authors: Rosta Miklós , Tóth László 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the European Union right-wing and left-wing populist parties are increasingly becoming stronger. Meanwhile in Central and Eastern Europe autocracies are emerging and becoming stabilized. Italy and Hungary are two notable examples of these processes. Italy is the only country in Western Europe where a coalition of purely populist parties won an election, while Hungary has the most mature autocracy in the European Union. By using survey methodology, we examined the preferences of Hungarian and Italian students regarding the values of liberal democracy. We seek answers to the questions whether there are any significant differences between the proportion of Hungarian students and Italian students who identify themselves with the values of liberal democracy and which of these values of liberal democracy they consider to be protected values. Based on our results, we claim that students from both countries are more likely to support liberal democratic values than to support either right-wing or left-wing populist values, even if the distributions of the two groups differ significantly. We found that Italian students adhere more strongly to liberal democratic values, while Hungarians are more open to left-wing and right-wing populism. Our results confirm that in Hungary, because of the values that many people hold, conditions are conducive for establishing a sustainable autocracy, while in Italy, the demand for such a system is much weaker.
Willingness to pay for a quality-adjusted life year for depressive disorders compared to heart disease based on population preferences
Authors: Ulbrich Laura , Kröger Christoph 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
According to estimations of the World Health Organization, depressive disorders, and cardiovascular disease will be the leading causes for global burden of disease in 2030. The aim of the present study was to estimate the value a representative sample of the German population places on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for depressive disorders compared to heart disease.

Methods
A representative sample of N = 967 of the German general public was randomly presented with one of two hypothetical health-loss scenarios: One version of the questionnaire presented respondents with health loss due to depression, while the other version dealt with health loss due to experiencing a heart disease. Respondents were asked to indicate their willingness to pay (WTP) for four hypothetical health-gain scenarios with different treatment options.

Results
In the depression questionnaire median WTP values ranged from 1000 to 1500 EUR; in the heart disease questionnaire from 1000 to 2000 EUR. Results of the Mann–Whitney U-Test and Median Test indicate higher WTP values for heart disease compared to depressive disorders when QALY gains were minor and stretched over a long period of time, and when treatment with bypass operation (rather than treatment with ECT) was offered. Zero WTP was significantly higher in all scenarios of the depression questionnaire in comparison to the hearth disease questionnaire.

Conclusion
Results indicate that respondents valued the necessity of paying for treatment higher when presented with heart disease compared to depression.
The asymptotic number of weighted partitions with a given number of parts
Authors: Stark Dudley 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFor a given sequence $$b_k$$

b
k

of non-negative real numbers, the number of weighted partitions of a positive integer n having m parts $$c_{n,m}$$

c

n
,
m

has bivariate generating function equal to $$\prod _{k=1}^\infty (1-yz^k)^{-b_k}$$

∏

k
=
1

∞

(
1
-
y

z
k

)

-

b
k

. Under the assumption that $$b_k\sim Ck^{r-1}$$

b
k

∼
C

k

r
-
1

, $$r>0$$

r
>
0

, and related conditions on the Dirichlet generating function of the weights $$b_k$$

b
k

, we find asymptotics for $$c_{n,m}$$

c

n
,
m

when $$m=m(n)$$

m
=
m
(
n
)

satisfies $$m=o\left( n^\frac{r}{r+1}\right) $$

m
=
o

n

r

r
+
1

and $$\lim _{n\rightarrow \infty }m/\log ^{3+\epsilon }n=\infty $$

lim

n
→
∞

m
/

log

3
+
ϵ

n
=
∞

, $$\epsilon >0$$

ϵ
>
0

.
Spontaneous autopolyploidy in the Acipenseriformes, with recommendations for management
Authors: Schreier Andrea D. , Van Eenennaam Joel P. , Anders Paul , Young Shawn , Crossman Jamie 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSturgeon and paddlefishes (Acipenseriformes) are cultured worldwide for commercial and conservation purposes. Over the past decade, we have learned many sturgeon culture programs experience spontaneous autopolyploidy, or the generation of triploidy without management intervention. Spontaneous autopolyploidy has been shown to negatively impact the physiology, reproductive development and fertility of sturgeon. Given these concerns, it is necessary to understand how it arises, how it affects production, and how it can be managed. The goal of this review is to describe the incidence of spontaneous autopolyploidy in sturgeon relative to other fishes, explain how spontaneous autopolyploids are formed, and report what is known about how triploidy and intermediate ploidy effect sturgeon reproductive development and physiology. We then describe four common methods for detecting spontaneous autopolyploids and their intermediate ploidy progeny and end with recommendations for reducing the incidence of spontaneous autopolyploidy based on the results of recent research. Although spontaneous autopolyploidy may never be completely eliminated from sturgeon culture, following these recommendations may significantly decrease its incidence.
Lumpy skin disease in Kazakhstan
Authors: Orynbayev Mukhit B. , Nissanova Raikhan K. , Khairullin Berik M. , Issimov Arman , Zakarya Kunsulu D. , Sultankulova Kulyaisan T. , Kutumbetov Lespek B. , Tulendibayev Ali B. , Myrzakhmetova Balzhan Sh. , Burashev Erbol D. , Nurabayev Sergazy S. , Chervyakova Olga V. , Nakhanov Aziz K. , Kock Richard A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study describes the registration of the first cases of lumpy skin disease in July 2016 in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the rural district of Makash, Kurmangazinsky district of Atyrau region, 459 cattle fell ill and 34 died (morbidity 12.9% and mortality 0.96%). To determine the cause of the disease, samples were taken from sick and dead animals, as well as from insects and ticks. LSDV DNA was detected by PCR in all samples from dead animals and ticks (Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma asiaticum), in 14.29% of samples from horseflies (Tabanus bromius), and in one of the samples from two Stomoxys calcitrans flies. The reproductive LSD virus was isolated from organs of dead cattle and insects in the culture of LT and MDBK cells. The virus accumulated in cell cultures of LT and MDBK at the level of the third passage with titers in the range of 5.5–5.75 log 10 TCID50/cm3. Sequencing of the GPCR gene allowed us to identify this virus as a lumpy skin disease virus.
Estimates of energy partitioning, evapotranspiration, and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 for an urban lawn and a tallgrass prairie in the Denver metropolitan area under contrasting conditions
Authors: Thienelt Thomas S. , Anderson Dean E. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLawns as a landcover change substantially alter evapotranspiration, CO2, and energy exchanges and are of rising importance considering their spatial extent. We contrast eddy covariance (EC) flux measurements collected in the Denver, Colorado, USA metropolitan area in 2011 and 2012 over a lawn and a xeric tallgrass prairie. Close linkages between seasonal vegetation development, energy fluxes, and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 were found. Irrigation of the lawn modified energy and CO2 fluxes and greatly contributed to differences observed between sites. Due to greater water inputs (precipitation + irrigation) at the lawn in this semi-arid climate, energy partitioning at the lawn was dominated by latent heat (LE) flux. As a result, evapotranspiration (ET) of the lawn was more than double that of tallgrass prairie (2011: 639(±17) mm vs. 302(±9) mm; 2012: 584(±15) mm vs. 265(±7) mm). NEE for the lawn was characterized by a longer growing season, higher daily net uptake of CO2, and growing season NEE that was also more than twice that of the prairie (2011: −173(±23) g C m−2 vs. -81(±10) g C m−2; 2012: −73(±22) g C m−2 vs. -21(±8) g C m−2). During the drought year (2012), temperature and water stress greatly influenced the direction and magnitude of CO2 flux at both sites. The results suggest that lawns in Denver can function as carbon sinks and conditionally contribute to the mitigation of carbon emissions - directly by CO2 uptake and indirectly through effects of evaporative cooling on microclimate and energy use.
Adsorption Capacity of Smectite Clay and Its Thermal and Chemical Modification for Two Anionic Dyes: Comparative Study
Authors: Pajak Magdalena 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe present research evaluates the influence of modification of smectite clay (BC) on its adsorption capacity of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions. Thermal (BC 250), acidic (BC H2SO4), and alkaline (BC NaOH) modification of clay was carried out. The clays were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Adsorption of dyes was investigated by batch experiments at room temperature (23 ± 2 °C), a wide range of initial dye concentrations (1–1000 mg/dm3), and an adsorbent dose of 50 g. All modifications increased the clay’s adsorption capacity for Reactive Red 198, in the order BC H2SO4> BC NaOH > BC 250 > BC; it was 10.32, 5.06, 3.32, and 2.92 mg/g, respectively. Acid and thermal modification of the clay increased its adsorption capacity for Acid Red 18, in the series BC H2SO4> BC 250 > BC > BC NaOH; it was 3.07, 2.66, 2.16, and 1.28 mg/g, respectively. The experimental data were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Sips isotherms, using nonlinear regression. The experimental data best fitted the Sips isotherm. Taking into account the structure of the adsorbent and adsorbates and the results obtained, it can be concluded that the dyes were probably bound through chemisorption, by forming hydrogen bonds between Si–OH and Al–OH groups in the clay and –NH, –NH2, and –OH groups in the dyes. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that smectite clay is a promising material for dye adsorption.
VideoOR: A Quality Oriented Replication Scheme for Video Opportunistic Transmission
Authors: Ma Huahong , Wu Honghai , Xing Ling , Xie Ping , Wang Dan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWith the development of various mobile social applications, video data has already occupied a dominant proportion of mobile Internet traffic, and is still growing rapidly, which not only brings economic pressure to users, but also causes traffic explosion on Internet. Data delivery through mobile opportunistic networks is regarded as an efficient way to deal with this problem. But, due to the characteristics of video data and the mode of multi-copy routing, video opportunistic delivery will consume large amount of network resources, resulting in excessive transmission overhead and lower delivery quality. Fortunately, the strong aggregation of human activity gives us some inspiration, which can provide more space of deep optimization on video opportunistic transmission. Thus, in this paper, taking fully advantage of the connectivity of cluster formed by the gathering crowds, we propose a Video Opportunistic Replication scheme based on multi-player cooperative games, named VideoOR, which can achieve the double optimizations of transmission overhead and video delivery quality by scheduling the replication and forwarding of video packets under the guidance of Nash Equilibrium solution. Extensive simulations have been done based on the synthetic and real mobility traces, and the results show that our scheme can maximize the quality of reconstructed video and minimize the average replication times of each video packet.
Pharmacological interventions for drug-using offenders: an update to a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Glanville J. M. , Perry A. E. , James M. Martyn-St , Hewitt C. , Swami S. , Wright K. , Burns L. , Pearson C. , Aboaja A. , Thakkar P. , Kumar K. M. S. , Bunney M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis updated systematic review assesses the effects of pharmacological interventions for drug-using offenders.MethodsSystematic review protocols and conventions of the Cochrane Collaboration were followed to identify eligible studies. Studies were pooled in a meta-analysis to assess the impact of pharmacological interventions on drug use and criminal activity. An economic appraisal was conducted.ResultsThe search strategies identified 22 studies containing 4372 participants. Meta-analyses revealed a small statistically significant mean difference favouring pharmacological interventions relative to psychological interventions in reducing drug use and criminal activity. When comparing the drugs to one another there were no significant differences between those included (methadone versus buprenorphine, naltrexone and cyclazocine).ConclusionOverall, the findings of this review suggest that methadone and naltrexone may have some impact on reducing drug use and reincarceration. Individual pharmacological drugs had differing (generally non-significant) effects. One study identified serious adverse events. Three studies reported cost and consequences information sufficient to conduct a full economic analysis but this was not comprehensive enough to be able to make judgements across all treatment options. Full economic analyses should be encouraged. The study findings were limited mainly to male adult offenders.