pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Competition in the political arena and local government performance.

Competition reduces rent extraction in private-sector firms. In this article, we empirically assess whether it similarly disciplines politicians by evaluating local-level governments’ performance in Flanders. The results indicate that electoral competition – measured via the number of parties competing in elections – significantly positively affects the productive efficiency of municipal policy. Intertemporal competition – measured as the volatility of election outcomes over time – has a similar, but weaker, positive effect. These beneficial effects are mitigated by the fact that competition may lead to more fragmented governments, which is shown to work against their productive efficiency. Overall, though, the beneficial effects outweigh the unfavourable ones in our sample
Improving the scalability of psychological treatments in developing countries:an evaluation of lay therapist led therapy quality in Goa, India

Psychological treatments delivered by lay therapists, with little or no previous mental health training, have been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health problems. In low resource settings, the dearth of available experts to assess therapy quality potentially leads to a bottleneck in scaling up lay therapist delivered psychological treatments. Peer-led supervision and the assessment of therapy quality may be one solution to address this barrier. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to assess lay therapist quality ratings compared to expert supervisors in a multisite study where lay therapists delivered two locally developed, psychological treatments for harmful and dependent drinking and severe depression; 2) assess the acceptability and feasibility of peer-led supervision compared to expert led supervision. We developed two scales, one for each treatment, to compare lay therapist and expert ratings on audio-taped treatment sessions (n ¼ 189). Our findings confirmed our primary hypothesis of increased levels of agreement between peer and expert ratings over three consecutive time periods as demonstrated by a decrease in the differences in mean therapy quality rating scores. This study highlights that lay therapists can be trained to effectively assess each other's therapy sessions as well as experts, and that peer-led supervision is acceptable for lay therapists, thus, enhancing the scalability of psychological treatments in low-resource settings
Governing sustainability transitions through business model innovation : towards a systems understanding

This paper examines the role of innovative business models in the transformation of socio-technical systems. Focusing on decentralised energy technologies, we explore business model innovation in the context of a transition towards a more sustainable energy system. We conduct an empirical study of two Energy Services Company (ESCo) models for the deployment of combined heat and power with district heating (CHP/DH) infrastructure in the UK. Based on these case studies we illustrate the different ways in which Local Authorities develop business models to create and capture value from more efficient resource use and to deploy sustainable technologies. Drawing from systems theories in the business model and socio-technical literatures, we analyse the interfaces between business models, energy infrastructure and institutions. We propose that a systems based approach to the analysis of business models as embedded in their socio-technical contexts can offer new insights into the dynamics and governance of sustainability transitions
The topological susceptibility in the large-N limit of SU(N) Yang-Mills
  theory

We compute the topological susceptibility of the SU(N) Yang-Mills theory in
the large-N limit with a percent level accuracy. This is achieved by measuring
the gradient-flow definition of the susceptibility at three values of the
lattice spacing for N=3,4,5,6. Thanks to this coverage of parameter space, we
can extrapolate the results to the large-N and continuum limits with
confidence. Open boundary conditions are instrumental to make simulations
feasible on the finer lattices at the larger N.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur
‘Future aircraft cabins and design thinking: Optimisation vs. win-win scenarios’

This research was based on findings from two academic-commercial collaborations between the Innovation Design Engineering programme at the RCA/Imperial College London and Airbus Operations GMBH. The project was developed and managed by Hall, who led a number of interdisciplinary Masters’ teams exploring new concepts for aircraft cabin interiors for the year 2030. The initial broad design research was developed into a second, more focused project around a single design solution that was 3D computer-modelled and finite-element analysed (FEA), and a rapid prototype of a fuselage section was made.\ud
During the research a combination of the project findings and a number of significant conversations led to new thinking about how the aircraft industry deals with innovation. Hall’s paper makes a fundamental challenge to the existing engineering optimisation approach and instead proposes abductive reasoning through a win-win consumer-driven design method, and presents this in a new model that privileges customer-driven innovation over parameter optimisation. The research team travelled to the Airbus headquarters in Hamburg to present the final design in an immersive virtual reality environment. Innovative design solutions were achieved by using FEA analysis in conjunction with Voronoi algorithms to generate a biomorphic structure.\ud
The research contributed to the new Airbus concept cabin animation, publicly launched in 2011 and constructed as a full-size model. It also established the strategic challenges facing lock-out industries from the penetration of digital communication platforms. The research was published as a journal article for Propulsion and Power Engineering (2013) and presented at the 4th International Symposium on Jet Propulsion (2012). A limited description of project activity is included owing to commercial non-disclosure agreements currently in place. Hall also ran two commercial projects with Airbus to design a new aircraft fuselage for the year 2030
Overview of 15-year severe combined immunodeficiency in the Netherlands: towards newborn blood spot screening

Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is a fatal primary immunodeficiency usually presenting in the first months of life with (opportunistic) infections, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy (GT) are curative treatment options. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity, mortality, and diagnostic and therapeutic delay in children with SCID in the Netherlands in the last 15 years. These data may help to judge whether SCID should be considered to be included in our national neonatal screening program. In the period 1998–2013, 43 SCID patients were diagnosed in the Netherlands, 11 of whom were atypical SCID (presentation beyond the first year). The median interval between the first symptom and diagnosis was 2 months (range 0–1173 months). The total mortality was 42 %. In total, 32 patients were treated with HSCT of whom 8 were deceased. Nine patients died due to severe infectious complications before curative treatment could be initiated. Conclusion: Because of a high mortality of patients with SCID before HSCT could be initiated, only a national newborn screening program and pre-emptive HSCT or GT will be able to improve survival of these patients
Absence of Hepatitis Delta Infection in a Large Rural HIV Cohort in Tanzania

OBJECTIVES\ud
\ud
The epidemiological and clinical determinants of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in sub-Saharan Africa are ill-defined. We determined the prevalence of HDV infection in HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV)-co-infected individuals in rural Tanzania.\ud
\ud
DESIGN AND METHODS\ud
\ud
We screened all hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected adults under active follow-up in the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO) for anti-HDV antibodies. In positive samples, we performed a second serological test and nucleic acid amplification. Demographic and clinical characteristics at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) were compared between anti-HDV-negative and positive patients.\ud
\ud
RESULTS\ud
\ud
Among 222 HIV/HBV-coinfected patients on ART, 219 (98.6%) had a stored serum sample available and were included. Median age was 37 years, 55% were female, 46% had WHO stage III/IV HIV disease and median CD4 count was 179 cells/μL. The prevalence of anti-HDV positivity was 5.0% (95% confidence interval 2.8%-8.9%). There was no significant predictor of anti-HDV positivity. HDV could not be amplified in any of the anti-HDV-positive patients and the second serological test was negative in all of them.\ud
\ud
CONCLUSIONS\ud
\ud
We found no confirmed case of HDV infection among over 200 HIV/HBV-co-infected patients in Tanzania. As false-positive serology results are common, screening results should be confirmed with a second test
Search for high-mass states with one lepton plus missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS detector is used to search for high-mass states, such as heavy charged gauge bosons (W'. W*), decaying to a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino. Results are presented based on the analysis of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb(-1). No excess beyond standard model expectations is observed. A W' with sequential standard model couplings is excluded at 95% confidence level for masses below 1.49 TeV, and a W* (charged chiral boson) for masses below 1.35 TeV
Abu al-Wafa' Latinus? A Study of Method

International audienceThis article studies the legacy in the West of Abu al-Wafa's Book on those Geometric Constructions which are Necessary for Craftsmen. Although two-thirds of the geometric constructions in the text also appear in Renaissance works, a joint analysis of original solutions, diagram lettering and probability leads to a robust finding of independent discovery. The analysis shows that there is little chance that the similarities between the contents of Abu al-Wafa's Book and the works of Tartaglia, Marolois and Schwenter owe anything to historical transmission. The commentary written by Kamal al-Din Ibn Yunus seems to have had no Latin legacy either.Cet article étudie la descendance européenne du Livre sur les constructions géométriques nécessaires aux artisans d'Abu al-Wafa'. Bien que deux-tiers des constructions géométriques exposées dans ce livre apparaissent dans des oeuvres de la Renaissance, l'analyse des solutions originales, du lettrage des figures et des probabilités montre qu'il y a peu de chance que les similitudes observées entre le livre d'Abu al-Wafa' et les oeuvres de Tartaglia, Marolois et Schwenter résultent d'une transmission historique. Le commentaire rédigé par Kamal al-Din Ibn Yunus ne semble pas avoir eu davantage de descendance latine
A fast vector penalty-projection method for incompressible non-homogeneous or multiphase Navier-Stokes problems

8 pagesInternational audienceWe present a new {\em fast vector penalty-projection method (VPP$_{\eps}$)} to efficiently compute the solution of unsteady Navier-Stokes problems governing incompressible multiphase viscous flows with variable density and/or viscosity. The key idea of the method is to compute at each time step an accurate and curl-free approximation of the pressure gradient increment in time. This method performs a {\em two-step approximate divergence-free vector projection} yielding a velocity divergence vanishing as $\cO(\eps\,\dt)$, $\dt$ being the time step, with a penalty parameter $\eps$ as small as desired until the machine precision, {\em e.g.} $\eps=10^{-14}$, whereas the solution algorithm can be extremely fast and cheap. Indeed, the proposed {\em vector correction step} typically requires only a few iterations of a suitable preconditioned Krylov solver whatever the spatial mesh step. The method is numerically validated on three benchmark problems for non-homogeneous or multiphase flows where we compare it to the Uzawa augmented Lagrangian (UAL) and scalar incremental projection (SIP) methods. Moreover, a new test case for fluid-structure interaction problems is also investigated. That results in a very robust method running faster than usual methods and being able to efficiently and accurately compute sharp test cases whatever the density, viscosity or anisotropic permeability jumps, whereas other methods crash
Release-dependent variations in synaptic latency: a putative code for short- and long-term synaptic dynamics.
 : 
Release-dependent latency variation at cortical synapses

International audienceIn the cortex, synaptic latencies display small variations ( approximately 1-2 ms) that are generally considered to be negligible. We show here that the synaptic latency at monosynaptically connected pairs of L5 and CA3 pyramidal neurons is determined by the presynaptic release probability (Pr): synaptic latency being inversely correlated with the amplitude of the postsynaptic current and sensitive to manipulations of Pr. Changes in synaptic latency were also observed when Pr was physiologically regulated in short- and long-term synaptic plasticity. Paired-pulse depression and facilitation were respectively associated with increased and decreased synaptic latencies. Similarly, latencies were prolonged following induction of presynaptic LTD and reduced after LTP induction. We show using the dynamic-clamp technique that the observed covariation in latency and synaptic strength is a synergistic combination that significantly affects postsynaptic spiking. In conclusion, amplitude-related variation in latency represents a putative code for short- and long-term synaptic dynamics in cortical networks
Kernel functions and B\"acklund transformations for relativistic
  Calogero-Moser and Toda systems

We obtain kernel functions associated with the quantum relativistic Toda
systems, both for the periodic version and for the nonperiodic version with its
dual. This involves taking limits of previously known results concerning kernel
functions for the elliptic and hyperbolic relativistic Calogero-Moser systems.
We show that the special kernel functions at issue admit a limit that yields
generating functions of B\"acklund transformations for the classical
relativistic Calogero-Moser and Toda systems. We also obtain the
nonrelativistic counterparts of our results, which tie in with previous results
in the literature.Comment: 76 page
The continuum limit of a (2) N −1 spin chains

International audienceBuilding on our previous work for a (2) 2 and a (2) 3 we explore systematically the continuum limit of gapless a (2) N −1 vertex models and spin chains. We find the existence of three possible regimes. Regimes I and II for a (2) 2n−1 are related with a (2) 2n−1 Toda, and described by n compact bosons. Regime I for a (2) 2n is related with a (2) 2n Toda and involves n compact bosons, while regime II is related instead with B (1) (0, n) super Toda, and involves in addition a single Majorana fermion. The most interesting is regime III, where non-compact degrees of freedom appear, generalising the emergence of the Euclidean black hole CFT in the a (2) 2 case. For a (2) 2n we find a continuum limit made of n compact and n non-compact bosons, while for a (2) 2n−1 we find n compact and n − 1 non-compact bosons. We also find deep relations between a (2) N−1 in regime III and the gauged WZW models SO(N)/SO(N − 1)
Structural Transitions at Ionic Liquid Interfaces

International audienceRecent advances in experimental and computational techniques have allowed for an accurate description of the adsorption of ionic liquids on metallic electrodes. It is now well-established that they adopt a multilayered structure and that the composition of the layers changes with the potential of the electrode. In some cases, potential-driven ordering transitions in the first adsorbed layer have been observed in experiments probing the interface on the molecular scale or by molecular simulations. This perspective gives an overview of the current understanding of such transitions and of their potential impact on the physical and (electro)chemical processes at the interface. In particular, peaks in the differential capacitance, slow dynamics at the interface, and changes in the reactivity have been reported in electrochemical studies. Interfaces between ionic liquids and metallic electrodes are also highly relevant for their friction properties, the voltage-dependence of which opens the way to exciting applications
Multifragmentation of very heavy nuclear systems (III): fragment velocity correlations and event topology at freeze-out.

20 pages; 9 figures; To be published in Nuclear Physics A. - Matière Nucléaire NIMInternational audienceKinetic energy spectra and fragment velocity correlations, simulated by means of stochastic mean-field calculations, are successfully confronted with experimental data for single multifragmenting sources prepared at the same excitation energy per nucleon in 32 AMeV 129Xe+natSn and 36 AMeV 155Gd+natU central collisions. Relying thus on simulations, average freeze-out times of 200-240 fm/c are estimated The corresponding spatial distributions of fragments are more compact for the lighter system (~3-4V_0 vs ~8V_0)
A new construction of Calabi–Yau manifolds: Generalized CICYs

We present a generalization of the complete intersection in products of projective space (CICY) construction of Calabi–Yau manifolds. CICY three-folds and four-folds have been studied extensively in the physics literature. Their utility stems from the fact that they can be simply described in terms of a ‘configuration matrix’, a matrix of integers from which many of the details of the geometries can be easily extracted. The generalization we present is to allow negative integers in the configuration matrices which were previously taken to have positive semi-definite entries. This broadening of the complete intersection construction leads to a larger class of Calabi–Yau manifolds than that considered in previous work, which nevertheless enjoys much of the same degree of calculational control. These new Calabi–Yau manifolds are complete intersections in (not necessarily Fano) ambient spaces with an effective anticanonical class. We find examples with topology distinct from any that has appeared in the literature to date. The new manifolds thus obtained have many interesting features. For example, they can have smaller Hodge numbers than ordinary CICYs and lead to many examples with elliptic and K3-fibration structures relevant to F-theory and string dualities
Kaon Mixing Beyond the SM from Nf=2 tmQCD and model independent constraints from the UTA

We present the first unquenched, continuum limit, lattice QCD results for the\ud
matrix elements of the operators describing neutral kaon oscillations in extensions of the\ud
Standard Model. Owing to the accuracy of our calculation on ∆S = 2 weak Hamiltonian\ud
matrix elements, we are able to provide a refined Unitarity Triangle analysis improving\ud
the bounds coming from model independent constraints on New Physics. In our non-\ud
perturbative computation we use a combination of Nf = 2 maximally twisted sea quarks\ud
and Osterwalder-Seiler valence quarks in order to achieve both O(a)-improvement and\ud
continuum-like renormalization properties for the relevant four-fermion operators. The\ud
calculation of the renormalization constants has been performed non-perturbatively in the\ud
RI-MOM scheme. Based on simulations at four values of the lattice spacing and a number\ud
of quark masses we have extrapolated/interpolated our results to the continuum limit and\ud
physical light/strange quark masses
Bacterial zoonoses transmitted by household pets : state-of-the-art and future perspectives for targeted research and policy actions

The close contact between household pets and people offers favourable conditions for bacterial transmission. In this article, the aetiology, prevalence, transmission, impact on human health and preventative measures are summarized for selected bacterial zoonoses transmissible by household pets. Six zoonoses representing distinct transmission routes were selected arbitrarily based on the available information on incidence and severity of pet-associated disease caused by zoonotic bacteria: bite infections and cat scratch disease (physical injuries), psittacosis (inhalation), leptospirosis (contact with urine), and campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis (faecal-oral ingestion). Antimicrobial resistance was also included due to the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria of zoonotic potential in dogs and cats. There is a general lack of data on pathogen prevalence in the relevant pet population and on the incidence of human infections attributable to pets. In order to address these gaps in knowledge, and to minimize the risk of human infection, actions at several levels are recommended, including: (1) coordinated surveillance of zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in household pets, (2) studies to estimate the burden of human disease attributable to pets and to identify risk behaviours facilitating transmission, and (3) education of those in charge of pets, animal caretakers, veterinarians and human medical healthcare practitioners on the potential zoonotic risks associated with exposure to pets. Disease-specific recommendations include incentives to undertake research aimed at the development of new diagnostic tests, veterinary-specific antimicrobial products and vaccines, as well as initiatives to promote best practices in veterinary diagnostic laboratories and prudent antimicrobial usage