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Using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings from seven different data providers for a sample of firms in the S&P 500 Index between 2010 and 2017, we studied the relationship between ESG rating disagreement and stock returns. We found that stock returns are positively related to ESG rating disagreement, suggesting a risk premium for firms with higher ESG rating disagreement. The relationship is primarily driven by disagreement about the environmental dimension. We discuss the practical implications of our findings for firms’ equity cost of capital as well as for investment managers and asset owners who use ESG investment strategies.

The estimated 20–30% of women who develop perimenopausal depression (PMD) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The therapeutic benefits of estradiol (E2) and symptom-provoking effects of E2-withdrawal (E2-WD) suggest that a greater sensitivity to changes in E2 at the cellular level contribute to PMD. We developed an in vitro model of PMD with lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from participants of a prior E2-WD clinical study. LCLs from women with past PMD (n= 8) or control women (n= 9) were cultured in three experimental conditions: at vehicle baseline, during E2 treatment, and following E2-WD. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant differences in transcript expression in PMD in all experimental conditions, and significant overlap in genes that were changed in PMD regardless of experimental condition. Of these, chemokine CXCL10, previously linked to cardiovascular disease, was upregulated in women with PMD, but most so after E2-WD (p< 1.55 × 10−5). CYP7B1, an enzyme intrinsic to DHEA metabolism, was upregulated in PMD across experimental conditions (F(1,45)= 19.93, p< 0.0001). These transcripts were further validated via qRT-PCR. Gene networks dysregulated in PMD included inflammatory response, early/late E2-response, and cholesterol homeostasis. Our results provide evidence that differential behavioral responsivity to E2-WD in PMD reflects intrinsic differences in cellular gene expression. Genes such as CXCL10, CYP7B1, and corresponding proinflammatory and steroid biosynthetic gene networks, may represent biomarkers and molecular targets for intervention in PMD. Finally, this in vitro model allows for future investigations into the mechanisms of genes and gene networks involved in the vulnerability to, and consequences of, PMD.

In certain disputes, it may be important to acquire evidence from the other party, but it is difficult to do so because the international arbitration process envisions only a limited form of discovery from the opposing party in the form of document production. There is, however, the potential of an unexplored option in US law to help fill this void. 28 U.S.C. § 1783, also known as the ‘Walsh Act’, enables a United States court, under certain circumstances, to subpoena a national or resident of the United States who is in a foreign country to personally appear as a witness before the court, or before someone designated by the court, or to produce specific testimony or documents. Considering the ubiquity of American parties in international disputes, section 1783 has the potential to become an important tool in the arsenal of a disputes lawyer. Indeed, considering how section 1782 has been increasingly applied in international arbitration, it is possible that section 1783 might evolve as an important component in considering strategies for international arbitration. Like section 1782, however, due to its lack of use to date and vague statutory language, its applicability to various forms of international arbitrations remains an unfortunately open question. But it still has the potential to change international arbitration as we know it

Methylcellulose (MC) is a commercially important, water-soluble polysaccharide. Many food applications exploit the thermoreversible gelation behavior of MC in aqueous media. The mechanism of MC gelation upon heating has been debated for decades; however, recent work has demonstrated that gelation is concurrent with the formation of ca. 15 nm diameter fibrils, which percolate into a network. The fibrillar network dictates the properties and mechanical behavior of the resulting hydrogel. The addition of salt to MC gels has also been an area of academic and commercial interest. It has been reported that MC solutions containing salts exhibit an increase or decrease in the gelation temperature, which generally follows the Hofmeister series. To build upon these investigations, we study the effect of salt on the MC fibril structure. We demonstrate the effect of salt (NaCl, NaI, NaBr, NaNO3, KCl, NH4Cl, LiCl, and CaCl2) on the gelation and dissolution temperatures using rheology and cloud point measurements. From small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and high contrast cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) we show that salty MC gels are also composed of fibrils. Fitting the SAXS curves to a semiflexible cylinder model, we demonstrate that the fibril diameter decreases monotonically with increasing salt molarity, largely independent of the salt anion or cation type.

ObjectiveSessile serrated lesions without dysplasia (SSL-ND) are epitomised by dilated crypts with epithelial serrations and architectural distortions portraying boot-shapes, L-shapes or inverted-T shapes. Recently, crypts in asymmetric fission were detected in SSL-ND. The purpose was to assess the frequency of crypts in asymmetric fission in a cohort of SSL-ND.MethodsThe frequency of crypts in fission was assessed in 60 SSL-ND, the distribution of cell proliferation in 48 SSL-ND and the expression of maspin, a tumour-suppressor protein, in 29 SSL-ND.ResultsOut of the 60 SSL-ND, 40 (66.7%) showed crypts in fission: 39 (65%) SSL-ND had crypts in asymmetric fission and one SSL-ND (1.7%), in symmetric fission (p<0.05). Of 1495 crypts recorded in the 60 SSL-ND, 73 (4.9%) were in asymmetric fission but only one (0.06%), in symmetric fission (p<0.05). Out of the 48 Ki67-immunostained SSL-ND,15 (31%) showed randomly distributed proliferating cell-domains. All 29 SSL-ND revealed maspin-upregulation (including crypts in asymmetric and symmetric fission). In contrast, the normal colon mucosa showed occasional single crypts in symmetric fission, proliferating cell-domains limited to the lower thirds of the crypts, absence of crypts in asymmetric fission and remained maspin negative.ConclusionsSSL-ND thrive with crypts in asymmetric fission displaying randomly distributed proliferating cell-domains and maspin-upregulation. These histo-biological aberrations disclose pathological cryptogenesis and suggest possibly unfolding somatic mutations in SSL-ND. The present findings may open new vistas on the parameters pertinent to the susceptibility of SSL-ND to develop dysplasia and carcinoma.

AimsWe previously found colonic crypts with asymmetric fission bordering regenerating ulcers in ulcerative colitis (UC). The present objective was to assess the frequency of asymmetric crypt-fission in colectomy specimens from patients with long-lasting UC.MethodsH&E-stained sections from seven colectomies from patients with UC without dysplasia or carcinoma were investigated. Symmetric fission was characterised by branched colon crypts showing ≥2 identical crypts, whereas asymmetric fission exhibited branched colon crypt portraying ≥2 dissimilar crypts, differing in diameter, length and/or shape.ResultsThe number of crypts in fission in the 89 sections was 3586; of those, 2930 (81.7%) were asymmetric and the remaining 656 (18.3%), symmetric. Out of 927 vertically-cut crypts (in well-oriented sections), 912 (98.4%) were asymmetric, and the remaining 14 (1.6%), symmetric, and out 2660, cross-cut (transected) crypts in fission, 2018 (75.9%) were asymmetric and the remaining 642 (24.1%), symmetric.ConclusionCrypt fission is rarely found in the normal colon in adults. Symmetric crypt fission found in UC is possibly triggered by a compensatory homeostatic mechanism of crypt production in mucosal areas replaced by chronic inflammation. But asymmetric crypt fission is a pathological aberration that affects crypts in patients with a particular predisposition to develop mucosal dysplasia. It is suggested that this previously unattended histological parameter be included in the pathological descriptions of colectomy specimens from patients with UC.

Background: Both nationally and internationally, there is a lack of data on the caries experience of schoolchildren with disability, especially for children aged 6 to 10 years. Aim: To compare the caries experience of 6- to 10-year-old schoolchildren with disability attending special needs schools (SpS) with children without disability attending primary schools (PS) in two study periods five years apart. Materials and Methods: The caries prevalence and severity in schoolchildren aged 6 to 10 years attending PS or SpS was determined according to WHO standards for the school years 2010/2011 and 2015/2016, and the results were compared. Results: Data for 6805 schoolchildren were available. In both examination periods the caries prevalence in the deciduous teeth of 6- to 10-year-old children attending SpS was significantly higher than in children attending PS. The mean dmft values for children attending SpS were also significantly higher (2.11 in both years) than for those attending PS (1.48 and 1.77, respectively). Conclusions: The dental health of schoolchildren with disability was worse than that of schoolchildren without disability. To improve this situation, caries prevention efforts in day care centers and schools should be intensified for children with disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of concurrent osteoarthritis on mobility and mortality in individuals with Parkinson’s disease is unknown. We sought to understand to what extent osteoarthritis severity influenced mobility across time and how osteoarthritis severity could affect mortality in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. In a retrospective observational longitudinal study, data from the Parkinson’s Foundation Quality Improvement Initiative was analyzed. We included 2,274 persons with Parkinson’s disease. The main outcomes were the effects of osteoarthritis severity on functional mobility and mortality. The Timed Up and Go test measured functional mobility performance. Mortality was measured as the osteoarthritis group effect on survival time in years. More individuals with symptomatic osteoarthritis reported at least monthly falls compared to the other groups (14.5% vs. 7.2% without reported osteoarthritis and 8.4% asymptomatic/minimal osteoarthritis, p = 0.0004). The symptomatic group contained significantly more individuals with low functional mobility (TUG≥12 seconds) at baseline (51.5% vs. 29.0% and 36.1%, p < 0.0001). The odds of having low functional mobility for individuals with symptomatic osteoarthritis was 1.63 times compared to those without reported osteoarthritis (p < 0.0004); and was 1.57 times compared to those with asymptomatic/minimal osteoarthritis (p = 0.0026) after controlling pre-specified covariates. Similar results hold at the time of follow-up while changes in functional mobility were not significant across groups, suggesting that osteoarthritis likely does not accelerate the changes in functional mobility across time. Coexisting symptomatic osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease seem to additively increase the risk of mortality (p = 0.007). Our results highlight the impact and potential additive effects of symptomatic osteoarthritis in persons with Parkinson’s disease.

The overall concept of the OECD’s Global Anti-Base Erosion Proposal is to develop a coordinated set of rules to address ongoing risks from profit shifting and to curb international tax competition. Two important components of the proposal are the income inclusion rule and the switch-over rule and, in this article, these components are examined in consideration of EU primary law. Depending on the final design of the rules, it is concluded that the proposed income inclusion rule – however, probably not the switch-over rule – may end up restricting the fundamental freedoms by treating comparable situations differently. Against that background, a number of policy options for designing the income inclusion rule in accordance with primary EU law requirements are presented, and pros and cons of these design options are discussed.

The nitridoberylloaluminate Sr2[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+was obtained through reaction of the binary nitrides in a hot isostatic press (HIP) under a pressure of 50 MPa N2and a temperature of 1400 °C. The crystal structure was solved and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (P1̅ (no. 2), Z= 2, a= 6.061(2), b= 6.982(3), c= 7.872(4) Å, α = 102.22(3), β = 112.62(2), and γ = 104.02(2)°). The crystal structure of Sr2[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+is made up out of a network of vertex- and edge-sharing AlN4tetrahedra and trigonal-planar BeN3units. The negative charge is compensated by Sr2+ions occupying three crystallographic sites. Sr2+ions are coordinated by seven and eight N atoms, respectively. After irradiation of Eu2+doped samples with blue light (440–450 nm), strong red luminescence (emission maximum at ≈612 nm; full width at half-maximum (fwhm) 65–73 nm (1715–1966 cm–1) is observed. Until now, Sr2[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+is the only member of a compound class containing only beryllium and aluminum as network building atoms in a nitride, contributing to the range of red-emitting phosphors such as Sr[LiAl3N4]:Eu2+(SLA), Sr[Li2Al2O2N2]:Eu2+(SALON), Sr4[LiAl11N14]:Eu2+, or Sr[Mg3SiN4]:Eu2+(SMS).

Hebrew kōlmeans “every,” “the whole,” “all.” However, a literal translation does not always make sense. I investigated cases where kōldoes not express totality in the sense of “one hundred percent.” I present a collection of examples that show that kōlcan also be used (1) to express variety, (2) as hyperbole, (3) in a way defined by the context, and (4) for stylistic reasons. I argue that kōlsometimes needs to be translated with expressions such as “all kinds of,” “all other,” “in unity,” or in other context-sensitive ways; where it is perceived as redundant or misleading, it may remain untranslated.

A novel mechanism for extending the circulatory half-life of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) has been established and evaluated preclinically. The FVIII binding domain of von Willebrand factor (D′D3) fused to human albumin (rD′D3-FP) dose dependently improved pharmacokinetics parameters of coadministered FVIII in all animal species tested, from mouse to cynomolgus monkey, after IV injection. At higher doses, the half-life of recombinant FVIII (rVIII-SingleChain) was calculated to be increased 2.6-fold to fivefold compared with rVIII-SingleChain administered alone in rats, rabbits, and cynomolgus monkeys, and it was increased 3.1-fold to 9.1-fold in mice. Sustained pharmacodynamics effects were observed (ie, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin generation measured ex vivo). No increased risk of thrombosis was observed with coadministration of rVIII-SingleChain and rD′D3-FP compared with rVIII-SingleChain alone. At concentrations beyond the anticipated therapeutic range, rD′D3-FP reduced the hemostatic efficacy of coadministered rVIII-SingleChain. This finding might be due to scavenging of activated FVIII by the excessive amount of rD′D3-FP which, in turn, might result in a reduced probability of the formation of the tenase complex. This observation underlines the importance of a fine-tuned balance between FVIII and its binding partner, von Willebrand factor, for hemostasis in general.

The phrase bêt ’ābîkā“your father’s house” in Num 18.1 is often translated as referring to the Levites or the Kohathites. I suggest the reference is, rather, to Aaron’s own family and descendants. That is, the whole of v. 1 refers to the priests only. The possessive suffix -kā“your” does not refer to ’āb“father,” but to the compound noun bêt ’āb“father’s house,” an expression that means “family.” The two lines in v. 1 should be read as synonymous lines, not as contrasting ones. In both lines Aaron’s family stands in contrast to the whole tribe of Levi, which is not mentioned until v. 2. This understanding is confirmed by a chiastic structure that underlies the passage. Translating the phrase with “your family” (i.e., Aaron’s own family, not his family of origin) is recommended. Further translation issues in the passage are addressed.

The article presents an interview with Peter Schmidt, the head of the sound and video studio at Salzburg Mozarteum. Topics discussed include mediator between art and technology, his focus on the management of the "Digital Media Department," the possibility for students to use an audio CD to do artistic master thesis, and mandatory units in the Bachelor.

The thermoresponsive behavior of a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) sample in aqueous solutions has been studied by a powerful combination of characterization tools, including rheology, turbidimetry, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM), light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Consistent with prior literature, solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3 wt % exhibit a sharp drop in the dynamic viscoelastic moduli G′ and G″ upon heating near 57 °C. The drop in moduli is accompanied by an abrupt increase in turbidity. All the evidence is consistent with this corresponding to liquid–liquid phase separation, leading to polymer-rich droplets in a polymer-depleted matrix. Upon further heating, the moduli increase, and G′ exceeds G″, corresponding to gelation. CryoTEM in dilute solutions reveals that HPMC forms fibrils at the same temperature range where the moduli increase. SANS and SAXS confirm the appearance of fibrils over a range of concentration, and that their average diameter is ca. 18 nm; thus gelation is attributable to formation of a sample-spanning network of fibrils. These results are compared in detail with the closely related and well-studied methylcellulose (MC). The HPMC fibrils are generally shorter, more flexible, and contain more water than with MC, and the resulting gel at high temperatures has a much lower modulus. In addition to the differences in fibril structure, the key distinction between HPMC and MC is that the former undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation prior to forming fibrils and associated gelation, whereas the latter forms fibrils first. These results and their interpretation are compared with the prior literature, in light of the relatively recent discovery of the propensity of MC and HPMC to self-assemble into fibrils on heating.

The oxonitridosilicate oxides RE26Ba6[Si22O19N36]O16:Eu2+(RE= Y, Tb) were synthesized by high-temperature reaction in a radiofrequency furnace starting from REF3, RE2O3(RE= Y, Tb), BaH2, Si(NH)2, and EuF3. The structure elucidation is based on single-crystal X-ray data. The isotypic materials crystallize in the monoclinic space group Pm(no. 6) [Z= 3, a= 16.4285(8), b= 20.8423(9), c= 16.9257(8) Å, β = 119.006(3)° for RE= Y and a= 16.5465(7), b= 20.9328(9), c= 17.0038(7) Å, β = 119.103(2)° for RE= Tb]. The unique silicate layers are made up from Q1-, Q2-, and Q3-type Si(O/N)4- as well as Q4-type SiN4-tetrahedra, forming three slightly differing types of cages. The corresponding 3-fold superstructure as well as pronounced hexagonal pseudosymmetry complicated the structure elucidation. Rietveld refinement on powder X-ray diffraction data, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy support the findings from single-crystal X-ray data. When excited with UV to blue light, Y26Ba6[Si22O19N36]O16:Eu2+shows broad orange-red luminescence (λem= 628 nm, fwhm ≈ 125 nm/3130 cm–1). An optical band gap of 4.2 eV was determined for the doped compound by means of UV/vis spectroscopy.