Discovery of 40.5 ks Hard X-Ray Pulse-phase Modulations from SGR 1900+14

X-ray timing properties of the magnetar SGR 1900+14 were studied, using the data taken with Suzaku in 2009 and NuSTAR in 2016, for a time lapse of 114 and 242 ks, respectively. On both occasions, the object exhibited the characteristic two-component spectrum. The soft component, dominant in energies below ∼5 keV, showed a regular pulsation, with a period of P = 5.21006 s as determined with the Suzaku XIS, and P = 5.22669 with NuSTAR. However, in ≳ 6 keV where the hard component dominates, the pulsation became detectable with the Suzaku HXD and NuSTAR only after the data were corrected for periodic pulse-phase modulation, with a period of T = 40 − 44 ks and an amplitude of ≈1 s. Further correcting the two data sets for complex energy dependences in the phase modulation parameters, the hard X-ray pulsation became fully detectable, in 12–50 keV with the HXD and 6–60 keV with NuSTAR, using a common value of T = 40.5 ± 0.8 ks. Thus, SGR 1900+14 becomes a third example, after 4U 0142+61 and 1E 1547−5408, to show the hard X-ray pulse-phase modulation, and a second case of energy dependences in the modulation parameters. The neutron star in this system is inferred to perform free precession, as it is axially deformed by ≈ P/T = 1.3 × 10−4, presumably due to ∼ 1016 G toroidal magnetic fields. As a counterexample, the Suzaku data of the binary pulsar 4U 1626−67 were analyzed, but no similar effect was found. These results altogether argue against the accretion scenario for magnetars.

Niche level investment challenges for European Green Deal financing in Europe: lessons from and for the agri-food climate transition

Green New Deal (GND) policies are proposed to tackle the climate emergency. These policies focus on driving climate innovation through unprecedented financial policy levers. However, while the macro-level financing dynamics are clear, the influence of niche level dynamics of sustainable innovation financing remain unexplored within these policy settings. Through the context of the European Green Deal and a focus on the agri-tech start-up sector in the Netherlands, we identify factors likely to reduce the efficacy of these policies from an innovation management perspective—such as project matching issues, socio-ethical factors or the characteristics of agri-food climate innovations. We go on to conceptualise that these challenges represent a range of asymmetries—from classic information asymmetries to less common value and objective asymmetries—between climate innovators and private investors and financers. Many remedies for asymmetries involve costs, likely to further inhibit the efficacy of the European Green Deal and similar policies. A partnering approach is proposed, where the non-financial resources of incumbent actors are harnessed and leveraged to enhance climate innovation performance.

Piezoreflectance and Electronic Structure of Alloys of Copper with Polyvalent Solutes

<p>Piezoreflectance and other optical measurements have been made on other optical measurements have been made on a phase alloys of Cu with Zn Ga, Al, In and Ge. The samples were evaporated films deposited on the face of a resonant oscillator assembly. The application of this type of strain transducer to piezoref-reflectance alleviates systematic errors and allows the response to pure shear strains to be distinguished, even in amorphous materials, using the polarisation dependence of the results. The energies of the d band -> Fermi level threshold, the interconduction band threshold, and the L2' -> L1 critical point transition were determined for the alloys. Previous optical studies using more conventional methods either have not been able to resolve these features or have not located them with accuracy comparable with piezoreflectance. With increasing alloy concentration the d band threshold is found to shift slowly to higher energies, the inter-conduction band transitions more rapidly to lower energies. Zn impurities produced much smaller shifts than the others, indicating the importance of interactions between impurity d states and the d and conduction states of the host. Significant differences were found between the isovalent solutes Ga and A1. In concentrated alloys with Zn, Ga and Al the interconduction band threshold tended to a common value of about 2.5 eV. This lack of simple dependence on e/a, the electron per atom density in the alloy, is relevant to the understanding of the electronic structure of the Hume-Rothery alloys and the regularity of the [alpha] phase boundary.</p>

Piezoreflectance and Electronic Structure of Alloys of Copper with Polyvalent Solutes

<p>Piezoreflectance and other optical measurements have been made on other optical measurements have been made on a phase alloys of Cu with Zn Ga, Al, In and Ge. The samples were evaporated films deposited on the face of a resonant oscillator assembly. The application of this type of strain transducer to piezoref-reflectance alleviates systematic errors and allows the response to pure shear strains to be distinguished, even in amorphous materials, using the polarisation dependence of the results. The energies of the d band -> Fermi level threshold, the interconduction band threshold, and the L2' -> L1 critical point transition were determined for the alloys. Previous optical studies using more conventional methods either have not been able to resolve these features or have not located them with accuracy comparable with piezoreflectance. With increasing alloy concentration the d band threshold is found to shift slowly to higher energies, the inter-conduction band transitions more rapidly to lower energies. Zn impurities produced much smaller shifts than the others, indicating the importance of interactions between impurity d states and the d and conduction states of the host. Significant differences were found between the isovalent solutes Ga and A1. In concentrated alloys with Zn, Ga and Al the interconduction band threshold tended to a common value of about 2.5 eV. This lack of simple dependence on e/a, the electron per atom density in the alloy, is relevant to the understanding of the electronic structure of the Hume-Rothery alloys and the regularity of the [alpha] phase boundary.</p>

The Times They Are A-Changing: Experimenting with Dynamic Adverse Selection

We examine a common value dynamic matching environment where adverse selection accrues slowly over time. Theoretical best responses are therefore time varying, and the prior experimental literature suggests that sequential environments might lead to greater understanding of adverse selection in this dynamic setting. However, while a sophisticated minority in our experiment do condition on time and are close to a best response, the majority use a stationary response, even after extended experience. In an environment with persistent uncertainty, our results indicate that sequentiality is insufficient for the large majority of participants to recognize the effects of adverse selection. (JEL C78, C92, D82, D91)

A Socially-Based Redesign of Sustainable Food Practices: Community Supported Agriculture in Italy

Several grassroots initiatives in the last two decades have shown the need for different food practices that should be locally based and founded on ethical goals of social and environmental justice. Among the many “alternative food networks”, the Community Supported Agriculture model is particularly significant and interesting. By redefining meanings and social norms around food practices, this model actualizes significant processes of food re-socialization and re-territorialization. Focusing on Italy, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the potential of this model. It does so through two investigations carried out in 2019 and 2020, aimed at analyzing, respectively, structural and organizational aspects of CSAs and the features of resilience shown by these initiatives during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. On the whole, the two surveys give us the image of a radically innovative experience, potentially capable of deeply redefining production and consumption practices, being rooted in socially-shared knowledge, motivations, willingness, commitment and sense of community. In addition to being characterized by a determination to pursue sustainability and equity goals, the model shows a remarkable character of resilience thanks to the original arrangements that the common value basis and the strong sense of interdependence and solidarity of its members can provide.

Predictive P-score for treatment ranking in Bayesian network meta-analysis

Background Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a widely used tool to compare multiple treatments by synthesizing different sources of evidence. Measures such as the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) and the P-score are increasingly used to quantify treatment ranking. They provide summary scores of treatments among the existing studies in an NMA. Clinicians are frequently interested in applying such evidence from the NMA to decision-making in the future. This prediction process needs to account for the heterogeneity between the existing studies in the NMA and a future study. Methods This article introduces the predictive P-score for informing treatment ranking in a future study via Bayesian models. Two NMAs were used to illustrate the proposed measure; the first assessed 4 treatment strategies for smoking cessation, and the second assessed treatments for all-grade treatment-related adverse events. For all treatments in both NMAs, we obtained their conventional frequentist P-scores, Bayesian P-scores, and predictive P-scores. Results In the two examples, the Bayesian P-scores were nearly identical to the corresponding frequentist P-scores for most treatments, while noticeable differences existed for some treatments, likely owing to the different assumptions made by the frequentist and Bayesian NMA models. Compared with the P-scores, the predictive P-scores generally had a trend to converge toward a common value of 0.5 due to the heterogeneity. The predictive P-scores’ numerical estimates and the associated plots of posterior distributions provided an intuitive way for clinicians to appraise treatments for new patients in a future study. Conclusions The proposed approach adapts the existing frequentist P-score to the Bayesian framework. The predictive P-score can help inform medical decision-making in future studies.

Projection of Private Values in Auctions

We explore how taste projection—the tendency to overestimate how similar others’ tastes are to one’s own—affects bidding in auctions. In first-price auctions with private values, taste projection leads bidders to exaggerate the intensity of competition and, consequently, to overbid—irrespective of whether values are independent, affiliated, or (a)symmetric. Moreover, the optimal reserve price is lower than the rational benchmark, and decreasing in the extent of projection and the number of bidders. With an uncertain common-value component, projecting bidders draw distorted inferences about others’ information. This misinference is stronger in second-price and English auctions, reducing their allocative efficiency compared to first-price auctions. (JEL D11, D44, D82, D83)

Level of Hypertension Treatment Adherence During COVID-19 Pandemic

Background:Arterial hypertension is prevalent and remains one of the most significant causes of mortality worldwide. Over 1.7 million Bulgarians (24%) have a blood pressure (BP) value equal to or higher than 140/90 mmHg and therefore are at increased risk of complications. Adherence to antihypertensive medications is the cornerstone for achieving hypertension control. Methods:The aim of this study was to assess whether the patients of both sexes with hypertension exhibit equal adherence to medication during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore how the pandemic has affected the adherence of patients with high BP to prescribed antihypertensive drugs. This multicentre observational study utilized self-completed questionnaires among patients visiting several healthcare centres, including the cardiology outpatient clinic of a university hospital, a private cardiology practice, general practice offices, and a pharmacy between June and November 2020. Results:Overall, 442 patients were included in the study. The likelihood of adherence was assessed using the 5‐item version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5©Professor Rob Horne). The average MARS score of the sample was 16.81, the median was 4.162, and the most common value was 3 (24.5% of respondents).Conclusions:Overall, 18.1% had a high degree of adherence to the prescribed therapy, and almost 1/3 of the respondents (30.7%) had a low degree of adherence to the prescribed therapy. In the present study, approximately one-third of the participants complied with pharmacological treatment. The study suggests that several sociodemographic factors but not the COVID pandemic play a role in treatment adherence.