pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Do ‘big losses’ in judgmental adjustments to statistical forecasts affect experts’ behaviour?

AbstractThe behaviour of poker players and sports gamblers has been shown to change after winning or losing a significant amount of money on a single hand. In this paper, we explore whether there are changes in experts’ behaviour when performing judgmental adjustments to statistical forecasts and, in particular, examine the impact of ‘big losses’. We define a big loss as a judgmental adjustment that significantly decreases the forecasting accuracy compared to the baseline statistical forecast. In essence, big losses are directly linked with wrong direction or highly overshooting judgmental overrides. Using relevant behavioural theories, we empirically examine the effect of such big losses on subsequent judgmental adjustments exploiting a large multinational data set containing statistical forecasts of demand for pharmaceutical products, expert adjustments and actual sales. We then discuss the implications of our findings for the effective design of forecasting support systems, focusing on the aspects of guidance and restrictiveness
Oxidative stress–induced mitochondrial dysfunction drives inflammation and airway smooth muscle remodeling in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundInflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mitochondrial oxidative stress might be involved in driving the oxidative stress–induced pathology.ObjectiveWe sought to determine the effects of oxidative stress on mitochondrial function in the pathophysiology of airway inflammation in ozone-exposed mice and human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells.MethodsMice were exposed to ozone, and lung inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and mitochondrial function were determined. Human ASM cells were isolated from bronchial biopsy specimens from healthy subjects, smokers, and patients with COPD. Inflammation and mitochondrial function in mice and human ASM cells were measured with and without the presence of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ.ResultsMice exposed to ozone, a source of oxidative stress, had lung inflammation and AHR associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and reflected by decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, and reduced mitochondrial complex I, III, and V expression. Reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction by the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ reduced inflammation and AHR. ASM cells from patients with COPD have reduced ΔΨm, adenosine triphosphate content, complex expression, basal and maximum respiration levels, and respiratory reserve capacity compared with those from healthy control subjects, whereas mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were increased. Healthy smokers were intermediate between healthy nonsmokers and patients with COPD. Hydrogen peroxide induced mitochondrial dysfunction in ASM cells from healthy subjects. MitoQ and Tiron inhibited TGF-β–induced ASM cell proliferation and CXCL8 release.ConclusionsMitochondrial dysfunction in patients with COPD is associated with excessive mitochondrial ROS levels, which contribute to enhanced inflammation and cell hyperproliferation. Targeting mitochondrial ROS represents a promising therapeutic approach in patients with COPD
A history of Proterozoic terranes in southern South America: From Rodinia to Gondwana

AbstractThe role played by Paleoproterozoic cratons in southern South America from the Mesoproterozoic to the Early Cambrian is reconsidered here. This period involved protracted continental amalgamation that led to formation of the supercontinent Rodinia, followed by Neoproterozoic continental break-up, with the consequent opening of Clymene and Iapetus oceans, and finally continental re-assembly as Gondwana through complex oblique collisions in the Late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian. The evidence for this is based mainly on a combination of precise U-Pb SHRMP dating and radiogenic isotope data for igneous and metamorphic rocks from a large area extending from the Rio de la Plata craton in the east to the Argentine Precordillera in the west and as far north as Arequipa in Peru. Our interpretation of the paleogeographical and geodynamic evolution invokes a hypothetical Paleoproterozoic block (MARA) embracing basement ultimately older than 1.7Ga in the Western Sierras Pampeanas (Argentina), the Arequipa block (Peru), the Rio Apa block (Brazil), and probably also the Paraguaia block (Bolivia)
Type-III two Higgs doublet model plus a pseudoscalar confronted with h→μτ, muon g−2 and dark matter

AbstractIn this work, we introduce an extra singlet pseudoscalar into the Type-III two Higgs doublet model (2HDM) which is supposed to solve a series of problems in the modern particle-cosmology. With existence of a light pseudoscalar, the h→μτ excess measured at CMS and as well as the (g−2)μ anomaly could be simultaneously explained within certain parameter spaces that can also tolerate the data on the flavor-violating processes τ→μγ and Higgs decay gained at LHC. Within the same parameter spaces, the DM relic abundance is well accounted. Moreover, the recently observed Galactic Center gamma ray excess (GCE) is proposed to realize through dark matter (DM) pair annihilations, and in this work, the scenario of the annihilation being mediated by the pseudoscalar is also addressed
Hadroproduction of t–anti-t pair with two isolated photons with PowHel

AbstractWe simulate the hadroproduction of a tt¯ pair in association with two isolated hard photons at 13 TeV LHC using the PowHel package. We use the generated events, stored according to the Les-Houches event format, to make predictions for differential distributions formally at the next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy. We present predictions at the hadron level employing the cone-type isolation of the photons used by experiments. We also compare the kinematic distributions to the same distributions obtained in the tt¯H final state when the Higgs-boson decays into a photon pair, to which the process discussed here is an irreducible background
Enhanced J/ψ-pair production from double-parton scatterings in nucleus–nucleus collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

AbstractA generic expression of double-parton scattering cross sections in high-energy nucleus–nucleus (A–A) collisions is derived as a function of the corresponding single-parton hard cross sections and of the A–A event centrality. We consider the case of prompt-J/ψ production in lead–lead (Pb–Pb) at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and find that about 20% (35%) of the J/ψ events in minimum-bias (most central) collisions contain a second J/ψ from double-parton interactions. In Pb–Pb at 5.5 TeV, in the absence of final-state effects, about 240 double-J/ψ events are expected per unit midrapidity and per inverse-nanobarn in the dilepton decay modes. The implications of double-J/ψ production on the interpretation of the observed J/ψ suppression in A–A collisions are discussed
The value of information in conservation planning: Selecting retention trees for lichen conservation

AbstractConservation planning studies at small scales such as forest stands and below are uncommon. However, for retention forestry, developed during the last two decades and with current wide and increasing application in boreal and temperate regions, the need for cost-effective selection of individual trees is evident. In retention forestry certain trees are left at final harvest to promote flora and fauna. There is also a scarcity of studies on information costs and how these relate to the cost-effectiveness of conservation. We addressed both of these issues by studying whether decisions about the retention of aspen Populus tremula L. trees can be made more cost-effectively by including information about tree characteristics. We analyzed data from 12 recently harvested stands in middle Sweden containing 131 epiphytic lichen species (a biodiversity proxy) on 360 aspen trees. We related the presence of lichen species to bark and stem attributes and used those relationships to prioritize trees for retention. We estimated the value of using different sets of survey information (lichens, tree characteristics) to select retention trees to achieve various conservation goals. Depending on species or species groups of interest, and the type of tree information being collected, the value of collecting the information is up to 20% of the total value of all potential retention trees, which, given current labor costs, allows up to four hours for planning and selecting the right trees on an average-sized clearcut. The current practice of almost randomly selecting aspen trees to retain at final harvest can be improved by adding easily collected information on tree characteristics, such as black-colored bark, slow tree growth, inclining stems and speckled bark. This can lead to attainment of a given level of a conservation goal (like maximizing the number of lichen species of conservation concern) with fewer retention trees. Inventory of tree information often can be performed quickly, and if part of the gains from using such information to guide tree selection would be spent on additional conservation efforts, this would benefit biodiversity. Studies on more organism groups and tree species are needed to increase the applicability of results
Analysis of the small-x behavior of gluon distribution and a search for gluon recombination

AbstractThe behavior of gluon distributions in the small-x region are semi-numerically predicted by using the nonlinear Gribov–Levin–Ryskin and Mueller–Qiu (GLR–MQ) evolution equation with the nonlinear shadowing term incorporated. It is interesting to observe that gluon recombination at the twist-4 level lowers the rapid growth of gluon densities with decreasing x compared to the linear DGLAP evolution. The nonlinear gluon density functions are calculated and compared with different parameterizations as well as models. Results show that our predictions for the gluon density function are comparable with different parameterizations. We make a deliberate attempt to explore the effect of nonlinear or shadowing corrections and we observe that nonlinear effects play a vital role in the kinematic region of small-x (x≤10−3) and Q2 (2≤Q2≤20 GeV2)
The covariant, time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm effect

AbstractWe discuss two possible covariant generalizations of the Aharonov–Bohm effect – one expression in terms of the space–time line integral of the four-vector potential and the other expression in terms of the space–time “area” integral of the electric and magnetic fields written in terms of the Faraday 2-form. These expressions allow one to calculate the Aharonov–Bohm effect for time-dependent situations. In particular, we use these expressions to study the case of an infinite solenoid with a time varying flux and find that the phase shift is zero due to a cancellation of the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift with a phase shift coming from the Lorentz force associated with the electric field, E=−∂tA, outside the solenoid. This result may already have been confirmed experimentally
Speech Facilitation by Left Inferior Frontal Cortex Stimulation

SummaryElectrophysiological studies in humans and animals suggest that noninvasive neurostimulation methods such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can elicit long-lasting [1], polarity-dependent [2] changes in neocortical excitability. Application of tDCS can have significant and selective behavioral consequences that are associated with the cortical location of the stimulation electrodes and the task engaged during stimulation [3–8]. However, the mechanism by which tDCS affects human behavior is unclear. Recently, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to determine the spatial topography of tDCS effects [9–13], but no behavioral data were collected during stimulation. The present study is unique in this regard, in that both neural and behavioral responses were recorded using a novel combination of left frontal anodal tDCS during an overt picture-naming fMRI study. We found that tDCS had significant behavioral and regionally specific neural facilitation effects. Furthermore, faster naming responses correlated with decreased blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in Broca's area. Our data support the importance of Broca's area within the normal naming network and as such indicate that Broca's area may be a suitable candidate site for tDCS in neurorehabilitation of anomic patients, whose brain damage spares this region
Psychological Stress Activates a Dorsomedial Hypothalamus-Medullary Raphe Circuit Driving Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis and Hyperthermia

SummaryPsychological stress-induced hyperthermia (PSH) is a fundamental autonomic stress response observed in many mammalian species. Here we show a hypothalamomedullary, glutamatergic neural pathway for psychological stress signaling that drives the sympathetic thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) that contributes to PSH. Using in vivo drug nanoinjections into rat brain and thermotelemetry, we demonstrate that the rostral medullary raphe region (rMR) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) mediate a psychosocial stress-induced thermogenesis in BAT and PSH. Functional neuroanatomy indicates that the DMH functions as a hub for stress signaling, with monosynaptic projections to the rMR for sympathetic outputs and to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus for neuroendocrine outputs. Optogenetic experiments showed that the DMH–rMR monosynaptic pathway drives BAT thermogenesis and cardiovascular responses. These findings make an important contribution to our understanding of the central autonomic circuitries linking stress coping with energy homeostasis—potentially underlying the etiology of psychogenic fever, a major psychosomatic symptom
Gauged B−xiL origin of R parity and its implications

AbstractGauged B−L is a popular candidate for the origin of the conservation of R parity, i.e. R=(−)3B+L+2j, in supersymmetry, but it fails to forbid the effective dimension-five terms arising from the superfield combinations QQQL, ucucdcec, and ucdcdcNc, which allow the proton to decay. Changing it to B−xiL, where xe+xμ+xτ=3 (with xi≠1) for the three families, would forbid these terms while still serving as a gauge origin of R parity. We show how this is achieved in two minimal models with realistic neutrino mass matrices, and discuss their phenomenological implications
Design of nucleotide-mimetic and non-nucleotide inhibitors of the translation initiation factor eIF4E: Synthesis, structural and functional characterisation

AbstractEukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is considered as the corner stone in the cap-dependent translation initiation machinery. Its role is to recruit mRNA to the ribosome through recognition of the 5′-terminal mRNA cap structure (m7GpppN, where G is guanosine, N is any nucleotide). eIF4E is implicated in cell transformation, tumourigenesis, and angiogenesis by facilitating translation of oncogenic mRNAs; it is thus regarded as an attractive anticancer drug target. We have used two approaches to design cap-binding inhibitors of eIF4E by modifying the N7-substituent of m7GMP and replacing the phosphate group with isosteres such as squaramides, sulfonamides, and tetrazoles, as well as by structure-based virtual screening aimed at identifying non-nucleotide cap-binding antagonists. Phosphomimetic nucleotide derivatives and highly ranking virtual hits were evaluated in a series of in vitro and cell-based assays to identify the first non-nucleotide eIF4E cap-binding inhibitor with activities in cell-based assays, N-[(5,6-dihydro-6-oxo-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-g]quinolin-7-yl)methyl]-N′-(2-methyl-propyl)-N-(phenyl-methyl)thiourea (14), including down-regulation of oncogenic proteins and suppression of RNA incorporation into polysomes. Although we did not observe cellular activity with any of our modified m7GMP phosphate isostere compounds, we obtained X-ray crystallography structures of three such compounds in complex with eIF4E, 5′-deoxy-5′-(1,2-dioxo-3-hydroxycyclobut-3-en-4-yl)amino-N7-methyl-guanosine (4a), N7-3-chlorobenzyl-5′-deoxy-5′-(1,2-dioxo-3-hydroxy-cyclobut-3-en-4-yl)amino-guanosine (4f), and N7-benzyl-5′-deoxy-5′-(trifluoromethyl-sulfamoyl)guanosine (7a). Collectively, the data we present on structure-based design of eIF4E cap-binding inhibitors should facilitate the optimisation of such compounds as potential anticancer agents
Evaluation of centralised and autonomous routing strategies in major incident response

AbstractFast and efficient routing of emergency responders during the response to mass casualty incidents is a critical element of success. However, the predictability of the associated travel times can also have a significant effect on performance during the response operation. This is particularly the case when a decision support model is employed to assist in the allocation of resources and scheduling of operations, as such models typically rely on an ability to make accurate forecasts when evaluating candidate solutions. In this paper we explore how both routing efficiency and uncertainty in travel time prediction are affected by the routing strategy employed. A simulation study is presented, with results indicating that a routing strategy which allows responders to select routes autonomously, as opposed to being instructed via a central decision support program, leads to improvement in overall performance despite the associated increase in uncertainty in travel time prediction
Search for two-neutrino double electron capture on 124Xe with the XMASS-I detector

AbstractDouble electron capture is a rare nuclear decay process in which two orbital electrons are captured simultaneously in the same nucleus. Measurement of its two-neutrino mode would provide a new reference for the calculation of nuclear matrix elements whereas observation of its neutrinoless mode would demonstrate lepton number violation. A search for two-neutrino double electron capture on 124Xe is performed using 165.9 days of data collected with the XMASS-I liquid xenon detector. No significant excess above background was observed and we set a lower limit on the half-life as 4.7×1021 years at 90% confidence level. The obtained limit has ruled out parts of some theoretical expectations. We obtain a lower limit on the 126Xe two-neutrino double electron capture half-life of 4.3×1021 years at 90% confidence level as well
Impact of Childhood Stress on Psychopathology

AbstractObjective: Advances in our knowledge of mental disorder (MD) genetics have contributed to a better understanding of their pathophysiology. Nonetheless, several questions and doubts persist. Recent studies have focused on environmental influences in the development of MDs, and the advent of neuroscientific methodologies has provided new perspectives. Early life events, such as childhood stress, may affect neurodevelopment through mechanisms such as gene-environment interactions and epigenetic regulation, thus leading to diseases in adulthood. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence regarding the role of the environment, particularly childhood stress, in the pathophysiology of MD. Methodology: We reviewed articles that evaluated environmental influences, with a particular focus on childhood trauma, brain morphology, cognitive functions, and the development of psychopathology and MD. Results and Conclusion: MRI studies have shown that exposure to trauma at an early age can result in several neurostructural changes, such as the reduction of the hippocampus and corpus callosum. Cognitive performance and functioning are also altered in this population. Finally, childhood stress is related to an increased risk of developing MD such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance abuse. We conclude that there is robust evidence of the role of the environment, specifically adverse childhood experiences, in various aspects of MD
Cohen–Macaulayness and computation of Newton graded toric rings

AbstractLet H⊆Zd be a positive semigroup generated by A⊆H, and let K[H] be the associated semigroup ring over a field K. We investigate heredity of the Cohen–Macaulay property from K[H] to both its A-Newton graded ring and to its face rings. We show by example that neither one inherits in general the Cohen–Macaulay property. On the positive side, we show that for every H there exist generating sets A for which the Newton graduation preserves Cohen–Macaulayness. This gives an elementary proof for an important vanishing result on A-hypergeometric Euler–Koszul homology. As a tool for our investigations we develop an algorithm to compute algorithmically the Newton filtration on a toric ring
Metabolic gene expression changes in astrocytes in Multiple Sclerosis cerebral cortex are indicative of immune-mediated signaling

AbstractEmerging as an important correlate of neurological dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), extended focal and diffuse gray matter abnormalities have been found and linked to clinical manifestations such as seizures, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. To investigate possible underlying mechanisms we analyzed the molecular alterations in histopathological normal appearing cortical gray matter (NAGM) in MS. By performing a differential gene expression analysis of NAGM of control and MS cases we identified reduced transcription of astrocyte specific genes involved in the astrocyte–neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) and the glutamate–glutamine cycle (GGC). Additional quantitative immunohistochemical analysis demonstrating a CX43 loss in MS NAGM confirmed a crucial involvement of astrocytes and emphasizes their importance in MS pathogenesis. Concurrently, a Toll-like/IL-1β signaling expression signature was detected in MS NAGM, indicating that immune-related signaling might be responsible for the downregulation of ANLS and GGC gene expression in MS NAGM. Indeed, challenging astrocytes with immune stimuli such as IL-1β and LPS reduced their ANLS and GGC gene expression in vitro. The detected upregulation of IL1B in MS NAGM suggests inflammasome priming. For this reason, astrocyte cultures were treated with ATP and ATP/LPS as for inflammasome activation. This treatment led to a reduction of ANLS and GGC gene expression in a comparable manner. To investigate potential sources for ANLS and GGC downregulation in MS NAGM, we first performed an adjuvant-driven stimulation of the peripheral immune system in C57Bl/6 mice in vivo. This led to similar gene expression changes in spinal cord demonstrating that peripheral immune signals might be one source for astrocytic gene expression changes in the brain. IL1B upregulation in MS NAGM itself points to a possible endogenous signaling process leading to ANLS and GGC downregulation. This is supported by our findings that, among others, MS NAGM astrocytes express inflammasome components and that astrocytes are capable to release Il-1β in-vitro. Altogether, our data suggests that immune signaling of immune- and/or central nervous system origin drives alterations in astrocytic ANLS and GGC gene regulation in the MS NAGM. Such a mechanism might underlie cortical brain dysfunctions frequently encountered in MS patients