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AbstractIn the last few decades, the environmental degradation, global warming, and climate change remained the life-threatening issues across the globe. Specifically, the use of non-renewable fossil fuels is regarded as the most significant reason of such inclined issues. However, the policy-makers and scholars are now more concerned about the recovery of environmental quality, where renewable energy is considered as the primary solution to the existing issue. The developed economies and environment related international organizations rapidly enhances the use and promotion of renewable energy after the taking pledge in the Kyoto Protocol Agreement (1997). Nonetheless, the scholars are participating in analyzing the key drivers of renewable energy. Still, the proper drivers of renewable energy are not properly addressed in the existing literature. To fill this gap, current study analyzed the group of seven (G7) economies over the period 1990-2020. Using various panel data techniques such as slope heterogeneity, cross-section dependence, unit root, and cointegration test, the results indicates that the slopes are heterogeneous, and the cross-section dependence, as well as cointegration exists among the panel economies. Besides, the irregular distribution of data leads to the adoption of novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression accommodating four quantiles, i.e., (Q0.25,Q0.50,Q0.75,and Q0.90). The examined results asserted that economic growth and energy efficiency negatively and significantly affects renewable energy consumption (REC). Whereas, developed environmental related technologies, environmental taxes, and composite risk index are positively affecting RECin the study panel. Besides, improved energy efficiency (energy efficiency squared) also contributed to the promotion of renewable energy consumption. The Granger causality test estimates reveals bidirectional and unidirectional causal association between the variables. Based on the empirical results, policies are provided that could help developed economies in the promotion of renewable energy consumption, improve economic growth, and enhances environmental sustainability.

The aim of the paper is to verify the existence of short- and long-term relationships between the strength of a trend and the volume in bullish and bearish cryptocurrency markets. We applied the vector error correction model to bitcoin daily data from 14.01.2015 to 22.12.2019. Based on the prices and following Wilder’s algorithm, the average directional movement index was calculated, and upward and downward trend periods were determined. No long-term relationship was found to exist between the strength of a trend and the volume in both bearish and bullish markets. Hence, trends do not react to volume changes. However, a long-term relationship exists between volume and trend—but only for the downward trend—with an adjustment speed of 88%. In the short-term, a statistically significant but very weak dependency is revealed; hence, the conclusion that trend strength is insensitive to volume changes can be reached.

The reactions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) with the nitrate radicals (NO3) are major night-time sources of organic nitrates and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in regions influenced by BVOC and anthropogenic emissions. In this study, the formation of gas-phase highly oxygenated organic molecules-organic nitrates (HOM-ON) from NO3-initiated oxidation of a representative monoterpene, β-pinene, was investigated in the SAPHIR chamber (Simulation of Atmosphere PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber). Six monomer (C = 7–10, N = 1–2, O = 6–16) and five accretion product (C = 17–20, N = 2–4, O = 9–22) families were identified and further classified into first- or second-generation products based on their temporal behavior. The time lag observed in the peak concentrations between peroxy radicals containing odd and even number of oxygen atoms, as well as between radicals and their corresponding termination products, provided constraints on the HOM-ON formation mechanism. The HOM-ON formation can be explained by unimolecular or bimolecular reactions of peroxy radicals. A dominant portion of carbonylnitrates in HOM-ON was detected, highlighting the significance of unimolecular termination reactions by intramolecular H-shift for the formation of HOM-ON. A mean molar yield of HOM-ON was estimated to be 4.8% (−2.6%/+5.6%), suggesting significant HOM-ON contributions to the SOA formation.

AbstractAlthough the growing body of literature that recognises a destabilising role of the trust crisis in the macroeconomic stability, the understanding of mediational pathways remains limited. The current paper fills the gap by contributing to the existing literature by examining closely the mediating effect of the trust crisis in the financial sector on the indicators of macroeconomic stability due to the anticipated impact of the financial intermediation development and the monetary policy transmission mechanism, as well as their combinatorial impact. A method of structural equation modelling was used to analyse the input data. It has been empirically confirmed that exacerbation of the trust crisis in the financial sector without the use of regulatory measures is detrimental to macroeconomic stability. The results of the mediation analysis show that transmission channels of the monetary policy mechanism and developed financial sector mitigate the harmful effects of deepening the trust crisis in the financial sector and lead to an increase in macroeconomic stability indicators. From a practical perspective, the findings revealed that interest, credit, and currency channels of the monetary policy transmission mechanism could be used to cope with the erosion of the trust crisis in the financial sector to macroeconomic stability.

Introduction There is conflicting evidence on the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) type, i.e. non-paroxysmal AF or paroxysmal AF, on thromboembolic recurrence. The consensus of risk equivalence is greatly based on historical evidence, focussing on initial stroke risks. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to describe the impact of AF type on the risk of thromboembolic recurrence, mortality and major haemorrhage in patients with previous stroke.Methods We systematically searched four multidisciplinary databases from inception to December 2018. We selected observational studies investigating clinical outcomes in patients with ischaemic stroke and AF, stratified by AF type. We assessed all included studies for risk of bias using the ‘Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies – of Exposures’ tool. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software was used to calculate odds ratios from crude event rates.Results After reviewing 14,127 citations, we selected 108 studies for full-text screening. We extracted data from a total of 26 studies, reporting outcomes on 23,054 patients. Overall, risk of bias was moderate. The annual incidence rates of thromboembolism in patients with non-paroxysmal AF and paroxysmal AF were 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 4.2–11.7) and 5.2% (95% confidence interval: 3.2–8.2), respectively. The odds ratio for thromboembolism in patients with non-paroxysmal AF versus paroxysmal AF was 1.47 (95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.99, p= 0.013). The annual mortality rates in patients with non-paroxysmal AF and paroxysmal AF were 20.0% (95% confidence interval: 13.2–28.0) and 10.1% (95% confidence interval: 5.4–17.3), respectively, and odds ratio was 1.90 (95% confidence interval: 1.43–2.52, p< 0.001). There was no difference in rates of major haemorrhage, odds ratio  = 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.61–1.69, p= 0.966).Conclusion In patients with prior stroke, non-paroxysmal AF is associated with significantly higher risk of thromboembolic recurrence and mortality than paroxysmal AF. Although current guidelines make no distinction between non-paroxysmal AF and paroxysmal AF for secondary stroke prevention, future guidance and risk stratification tools may need to consider this differential risk (PROSPERO ID: CRD42019118531).

Graphene is not intrinsically luminescent due to a lack of band gap, and methods for its creation are tricky for device fabrication. In this study, we create luminescent graphene patterns by a simple direct laser writing method. We analyze the graphene using Raman spectroscopy and find that the laser writing leads to generation of line defects after initial formation of point defects. This Raman data enables us to create a model that explains the luminescence by a formation of small domains due to confinement of graphene by line defects, which is conceptually similar to the mechanism of luminescence in graphene quantum dots.

It is determined that economic, energy and environmental security indicators are characterised by the presence of systemic interconnections. The results of the evaluation show, that environmental and energy security are more closely related than environmental and economic or energy and economic types of security. The integral index of environmental-energy-economic security was constructed and assessed taking into account the linkage of individual indicators. Sample of individual indicators is presented by 27 parameters (nine indictors for each security type, divided into groups), which are normalised. The internal consistence of indicators describing each type of security is evaluated by Cronbach coefficient alpha. Integral index considers interrelationships between individual indicators estimated as level and direction of pair correlation. The values of this index show that during 2000-2016, Slovak Republic demonstrated the highest level of such comprehensive security, while Poland - the lowest one.

AbstractThe goal of this article is to investigate a dependence among sovereign countries’ risk of default. The analysis was based on data for 42 European countries during the period 1994–2013. Three models were used to calculate default probabilities: Li’s based on transition matrix and prudent unconditional and conditional on previous defaults estimation technique for low default portfolios. The relationship was analysed through the use of different types of copulas. The analysis has shown no regularity in a selection of the optimal copula. The results differ based on the model and rating grade combination used.

Secondary organic aerosol contributes to the atmospheric particle burden with implications for air quality and climate. Biogenic volatile organic compounds such as terpenoids emitted from plants are important secondary organic aerosol precursors with isoprene dominating the emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds globally. However, the particle mass from isoprene oxidation is generally modest compared to that of other terpenoids. Here we show that isoprene, carbon monoxide and methane can each suppress the instantaneous mass and the overall mass yield derived from monoterpenes in mixtures of atmospheric vapours. We find that isoprene ‘scavenges’ hydroxyl radicals, preventing their reaction with monoterpenes, and the resulting isoprene peroxy radicals scavenge highly oxygenated monoterpene products. These effects reduce the yield of low-volatility products that would otherwise form secondary organic aerosol. Global model calculations indicate that oxidant and product scavenging can operate effectively in the real atmosphere. Thus highly reactive compounds (such as isoprene) that produce a modest amount of aerosol are not necessarily net producers of secondary organic particle mass and their oxidation in mixtures of atmospheric vapours can suppress both particle number and mass of secondary organic aerosol. We suggest that formation mechanisms of secondary organic aerosol in the atmosphere need to be considered more realistically, accounting for mechanistic interactions between the products of oxidizing precursor molecules (as is recognized to be necessary when modelling ozone production).

Zusammenfassung.Hintergrund:Die Bindungsorganisation ist ein zentrales Merkmal, um die Psychopathologie der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung (BPS) im Kontext affektiver und interpersonaler Probleme zu verstehen. In dieser Pilotstudie wurden anhand verschiedener Methoden bindungsbezogene Merkmale von 26 BPS-Patientinnen und 26 alters- und bildungsgleich gemachten gesunden Kontrollprobandinnen vor, während und nach einer einjährigen ambulanten DBT-Intervention erhoben. Methode:Die Bindungsrepräsentationen wurden mittels Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) erfasst. Mittels parametrischer- und non-parametrischer Tests wurden Veränderungen des Bindungsstils (ASQ) und subjektive Einschätzungen zu Affektivität, autobiografischer Relevanz und emotionaler Valenz personalisierter Sätze aus den eigenen AAP-Interviews vor, während und nach der einjährigen DBT-Intervention erhoben. Ergebnis:Wie erwartet wiesen die BPS-Patientinnen im AAP signifikant häufiger unverarbeitete Traumata (desorganisierte Bindungsrepräsentation), einen höheren Anteil an traumatisch-dysregulierenden Markern in Narrativen zu AAP Bildern, die potentiell Alleinsein und Verlassenwerden induzieren (monadische Bilder), eine stärkere Bindungsangst und -vermeidung (ASQ) sowie mehr BPS-assoziierte Emotionen bei stärkerer autobiografischer Relevanz und emotionaler Valenz in der Konfrontation mit personalisierten Sätzen des eigenen AAP-Interviews auf. Nach einjähriger DBT wurden Bindungsangst und -vermeidung in der BPS-Gruppe signifikant reduziert, Bindungssicherheit wurde signifikant gestärkt (ASQ). Bei erhalten gebliebener autobiografischer Relevanz gaben die Patientinnen nach DBT in der Konfrontation mit personalisierten Sätzen des eigenen AAP-Interviews weniger BPS-assoziierte Emotionen, sowie mehr Akzeptanz und eine reduzierte emotionale Valenz an und glichen sich damit den Kontrollprobanden an. Schlussfolgerung:Es ergaben sich Hinweise, dass Veränderungen in Richtung einer stärkeren Bindungssicherheit und intrapsychischen Integration bindungsbezogener autobiografischer Aspekte im Rahmen der ambulanten DBT für BPS-Patienten zu erzielen sind. Zum Aufbau einer sicheren therapeutischen Allianz mit positiven Bindungserfahrungen ist ein ausreichender, hier einjähriger, Interventionszeitraum vorauszusetzen.

Anthropogenic nitrogen oxides may influence the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of biogenic secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in both daytime photooxidation and nighttime NO3oxidation, which has significant implications for the climatic impact of SOA. We investigated the influence of NOxon the CCN activity of monoterpene‐derived SOA in OH oxidation and in NO3oxidation. In OH oxidation, NOxhad little influence on the hygroscopic parameter κ of organic aerosol (κOrg), which was attributed to the minor fraction of organic nitrates (ON) in SOA (<24%), resulted from the low branching ratio of RO2+ NO to form ON. In contrast, in NO3oxidation κOrgwas much reduced compared to OH/O3oxidation due to a dominant fraction of ON. We report κof MT‐derived ON formed in photo‐oxidation and NO3oxidation (0.029–0.052) for the first time to our knowledge, which may be used to improve model simulations of CCN concentrations. Anthropogenic nitrogen oxides may influence the cloud formation ability of biogenic secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in both daytime and nighttime, which has implications to understand the climatic impact of SOA. However, the influence remains unclear. We found that for monoterpenes, a major class of precursors of biogenic SOA, NOxhad little influence on the cloud formation ability of SOA in the daytime oxidation. In contrast, in the nighttime oxidation of monoterpenes by NO3, an important oxidant formed from NOxat night‐time, SOA had much lower cloud formation ability than that in the photo‐oxidation. The difference was attributed to the different fractions of organic nitrates (ON) in SOA. We also determined the κ of monoterpene‐derived ON for the first time to our knowledge. In daytime OH oxidation NOxhad little influences on the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of MT‐SOAIn nighttime NO3oxidation MT‐SOA had much lower CCN activity compared with those formed via OH or O3oxidationWe report the κof monoterpene‐derived organic nitrates (0.029–0.052) for the first time to our knowledge In daytime OH oxidation NOxhad little influences on the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of MT‐SOA In nighttime NO3oxidation MT‐SOA had much lower CCN activity compared with those formed via OH or O3oxidation We report the κof monoterpene‐derived organic nitrates (0.029–0.052) for the first time to our knowledge

AbstractThe global financial crisis has proven to be one of the worst and most-demanding events ever. According to common understanding, it is highly unlikely for a country to go bankrupt. However, we have seen a number of countries on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as many which have officially gone bankrupt. It is probable that many more will do so in the future. This knowledge has led us to the question: how probable is it that a sovereign might suffer serious solvency problems? The purpose of this study was to apply a multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) as an effective tool for a recognition and differentiation among defaulted and non-defaulted nations. The performed analysis was based on data up to 2012 for 26 emerging and 20 developed European countries. The results indicated a high predictive power for ‘non-liquid’ macroeconomic variables like import, export, investment, population and GDP ratios, underlining MDA as the most suitable model for insolvency prediction, compared to other popular methods like probit and logit model. But unlike in other studies the debt/lending/revenue ratios were characterised by weak predictive power.

To determine the incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in patients with prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) who received levofloxacin through retrospective chart review at a tertiary care teaching hospital in the United States.

The aim of this manuscript was to evaluate results of the questionnaire given to young people before and after the prevention campaign to determine whether the prevention campaign improved HIV/AIDS-related knowledge of young people. A total of 533 students completed the pre-test and 496 students completed the post-test. Questionnaire was used as pre/post testing tool. Construct validity and measurement scale were assessed using the factor analysis. Rasch scaling was used to establish common scale for pre/post test and to transform raw score into the interval scale. A non-parametric Mann–Whitney Utest was used to compare knowledge in pre-test and post-test. Students increased their knowledge of HIV/AIDS (Pearson’s measure of effect size r= 0.74) and the risk of acquiring HIV infection (r= 0.68) statistically significantly (p= 0.001). Girls (risk estimation: r= 0.78, knowledge: r= 0.81) improved much more than boys (risk estimation: r= 0.57, knowledge: r= 0.62). This study suggests that, for the selected sample, the prevention campaign was an effective tool to increase young people’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The authors recommend dividing and tailoring interventions by gender to achieve even more efficient preventive future interventions.

Oxidation of isoprene by nitrate radicals (NO3) or by hydroxyl radicals (OH) under high NOxconditions forms a substantial amount of organonitrates (ONs). ONs impact NOxconcentrations and consequently ozone formation while also contributing to secondary organic aerosol. Here we show that the ONs with the chemical formula C4H7NO5are a significant fraction of isoprene‐derived ONs, based on chamber experiments and ambient measurements from different sites around the globe. From chamber experiments we found that C4H7NO5isomers contribute 5%–17% of all measured ONs formed during nighttime and constitute more than 40% of the measured ONs after further daytime oxidation. In ambient measurements C4H7NO5isomers usually dominate both nighttime and daytime, implying a long residence time compared to C5ONs which are removed more rapidly. We propose potential nighttime sources and secondary formation pathways, and test them using a box model with an updated isoprene oxidation scheme. Isoprene is the most abundant non‐methane trace gas emitted from vegetation in the atmosphere. Isoprene reacts with different oxidants forming numerous multifunctional products that affect both ozone and particulate matter concentrations via secondary organic aerosol formation. Day and nighttime isoprene oxidation under polluted conditions with high levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) produces nitrogen containing species. Here, we used state‐of‐the‐art instrumentation to measure the isoprene‐derived nitrogen‐containing species, both in laboratory experiments and at six field sites around the globe. To support our interpretation, we apply a recently developed model for nighttime isoprene chemistry. We have identified a dominant nitrated product(s) in our experiments and with a significant ambient contribution both during day and nighttime. Key features of this species are its secondary formation from primary products and its relatively long lifetime under ambient conditions, explaining its accumulation in the atmosphere. Thus, it can be an important marker for the influence of NOxon isoprene oxidation. The C4H7NO5isomers are major secondary products of isoprene oxidation during nighttime and daytime in NOx‐influenced regionsThe C4H7NO5isomers are multi‐generational products from several C5compounds that accumulate in the atmosphereC4H7NO5as a dominant isoprene‐derived species, can be important for the formation of ozone The C4H7NO5isomers are major secondary products of isoprene oxidation during nighttime and daytime in NOx‐influenced regions The C4H7NO5isomers are multi‐generational products from several C5compounds that accumulate in the atmosphere C4H7NO5as a dominant isoprene‐derived species, can be important for the formation of ozone

The basis set superposition effect (BSSE) is a simple concept, and its validity is almost universally accepted. So is the counterpoise method to correct for it. The idea is that the basis set is biased toward the dimer because each monomer in the dimer can “use” the basis functions on the other monomer, which it cannot in a simple monomer calculation. This hypothesis can only be tested if basis set free benchmark numbers are available for monomers and dimer. We are testing the hypothesis on a few systems (in this paper Be2) that are small enough that sufficiently accurate benchmark numbers (basis set free, or close to basis set limit; full CI or close to full CI) are available or can be obtained. We find that the answer to the title question is negative: the standard basis sets of quantum chemistry appear to be biased toward the atom in the sense that basis set errors are largerfor the dimer than the monomer. Applying the counterpoise correction increases the imbalance by reducing the already smaller basis set error of the monomer even further. Counterpoise corrected bond energies then deviate more from the basis set limit numbers than uncorrected bond energies. These conclusions hold both at the Hartree–Fock level and (much stronger) at the correlated (CCSD(T), full CI) levels. So the answer to the title question is No.

Despite nearly universal agreement that hearing is critical to the success of military operations, very little quantitative data exists to support this assertion. Unfortunately, hearing-related issues abound across our military services. To design and implement effective measures to mitigate these issues, data is needed to determine the extent to which military effectiveness is impaired when speech communication falls below some specific measurable threshold. In this study, U.S. Navy personnel participated in two experiments to examine the impact of speech intelligibility on operational performance in an Aegis Combat System Command Information Center simulation. Subjects wore headsets with custom-designed software to control speech intelligibility in real time. In the first experiment, speech intelligibility was measured using the modified rhyme test (MRT). In the second experiment, subjects acted as either commanding officer or tactical action officer in a combat scenario divided into time segments, each conducted at a different level of speech intelligibility. Results indicate that mission success, as measured by the percentage of tasks accomplished, decreased dramatically for MRT scores below approximately 65 percent.

Freisetzung in Zellen: Das Signalmolekül PI(3,4,5)P3wurde chemisch in einer Form zugänglich gemacht, die seine zelluläre Aufnahme und anschließende Aktivierung durch Licht ermöglicht (siehe Bild). Die zügige achtstufige Synthesesequenz liefert ein stabiles Derivat des Signalmoleküls mit hoher biologischer Aktivität nach Blitzlichtphotolyse in lebenden Zellen.

Unleashed inside cells: The signaling molecule PI(3,4,5)P3is prepared in a form that allows its cellular uptake and subsequent activation by light (see picture). The rapid eight‐step synthetic sequence yields a stable derivative of the signaling molecule with high biological activity after deprotection (“uncaging”) with a laser flash, in live cells.

No Abstract