In order to research the dynamics of the German model of corporate governance, data pertaining to major holdings of voting rights in listed companies between 1997 and 2001 were examined. The change ...that took place in this short period of time is striking, with a falling level of ownership concentration, dissolving cross-holdings, and financial sector institutions losing their position as blockholders. The concentration of voting rights is lowest in companies included in the DAX30 stock-market index. Factors affecting the types of holders of voting rights in a company include the company size, age, economic sector, and location. The analysis shows that Germany made a quick step towards some aspects of the Anglo-American system of corporate governance. However, there are also areas of strong persistence of the German model. In addition, I show that the German model is far from uniform, with different types of companies and different regions demonstrating a variety of corporate governance arrangements as well as distinctive development trajectories.
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The gastric mucosa plays an important role in the physiological function of the stomach. This mucosa acts as gastric barrier, which protects deeper located cells against the detrimental action of the ...gastric secretory components, such as acid and pepsin. Integrity of the gastric mucosa depends upon a variety of factors, such as maintenance of microcirculation, mucus-alkaline secretion and activity of the antioxidizing factors. The pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage includes reactive oxygen species (ROS), because of their high chemical reactivity, due to the presence of uncoupled electron within their molecules. Therefore they cause tissue damage, mainly due to enhanced lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxides are metabolized to malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). The local increase of MDA and 4-HNE concentration indicates ROS-dependent tissue damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the main enzyme, which neutralizes ROS into less noxious hydrogen peroxide. A decrease of SOD activity is an indicator of impairment of the protective mechanisms and significantly contributes to cell damage. Hydrogen peroxide is further metabolized to water in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH). GSH can also work synergetically with SOD to neutralize ROS. The reactions between GSH and ROS yields glutathione free radical (GS(•)), which further reacts with GSH leading to free radical of glutathione disulphide (GSSG(•)). This free radical of GSSG can then donate an electron to the oxygen molecule, producing O2 (•-) Subsequently, O2 (•-) is eliminated by SOD. Adecrease of the GSH level has detrimental consequences for antioxidative defense cellular properties. Gastric mucosa, exposed to stress conditions, exhibits an enhancement of lipid peroxidation (increase of MDA and 4-HNE), as well as a decrease of SOD activity and GSH concentration. This chain reaction of ROS formation triggered by stress, appears to be an essential mechanism for understanding the pathogenesis of stress - induced functional disturbances in the gastric mucosa leading to ulcerogenesis.
Coe N. M., Lai K. P. Y. and Wójcik D. Integrating finance into global production networks, Regional Studies. While successful in its aim of 'globalizing' regional development, the global production ...network (GPN) approach has thus far paid less attention to the role of finance in the dynamics of the global economy and regional development. This lacuna is significant as finance is arguably even more globalized and networked than production. To address this gap the paper distils the concept of the global financial network (GFN) from financial geography and related scholarship, with advanced business services, world cities and offshore jurisdictions at the core. Interactions between the GPN and the GFN are discussed, focusing on the financing and financializing of GPNs and the co-evolution of globalization and financialization. Integrating finance into GPN research entails more than a simple extension of the approach; it would also enrich it conceptually, and enable it methodologically and empirically.
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BFBNIB, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
To ensure the stability and reliability of the power network operation, a number of Grid Codes have been used to specify the technical boundary requirements for different countries and areas. With ...the fast propagation of the usage of Electrical Energy Storage (EES), it is quite important to study how the EES technology with its development can help the Grid Code realization. The paper provides a comprehensive study of Great Britain (GB) Grid Code mainly on its voltage and frequency relevant specifications, with a comparison of other countries’ grid operation regulations. The different types of EES technologies with their technical characteristics in relation to meeting Grid Codes have been analysed. From the study, apart from direct grid-connection to provide grid services on meeting Grid Codes, EES devices with different technologies can be used as auxiliary units in fossil-fuelled power plants and renewable generation to support the whole systems’ operation. The paper also evaluates the potentials of different types of EES technologies for implementing the relevant applications based on the Grid Codes. Some recommendations are given at the end, for the EES technology development to help the Grid Code realization and to support the relevant applications.
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The problem of determination of the cold low diameter wire (diameter less than 0.1mm) drawing process parameters for hardly deformable biocompatible magnesium alloys by using the mathematical ...mesoscale model is described in the paper. The originality of the considered alloys (MgCa0.8, A×30) is the intergranular fracture mechanism associated with small strains (0.07-0.09). In previous authors works it was proven that the material state directly before appearance of the microcracks is in the optimal state from the point of view of the recovery of the plasticity by annealing. The forecasting of this material state in drawing process requires the development of the model of intergranular fracture initiation and using this model in two cases: - modeling of the in-situ tests, what allows calibrating and validating of the model; - modeling of the drawing process, what allows optimizing of the drawing parameters. A new model of the microcracks initiation in mesoscale using the boundary element method is proposed. The in-situ tests, which allowed observing the microstructure evolution during deformation, are used for the calibration and validation purpose. The model was implemented into self-developed FE software Drawing2d, which is dedicated to the drawing process. The results of mesoscale simulation were verified by the experimental drawing process of 0.07 mm diameter wires according to developed technology. It was shown by analysis of microstructure that the model allows forecasting the microcracks initiation during the wire drawing process.
W artykule rozpatrzono problem wyznaczenia parametrów ciągnienia na zimno cienkich drutów (o średnicach mniejszych 0.1 mm) z nisko plastycznych stopów magnezu za pomocą matematycznego modelu w skali mezo. Osobliwością utraty spójności rozpatrywanych stopów (MgCa0.8, A×30) jest dominujący mechanizm pękania po granicach ziaren oraz powstawanie mikropęknięć przy małych odkształceniach (rzędu 0.07-0.09). W poprzednich pracach Autorów 1 udowodniono, że stan materiału bezpośrednio przed powstaniem mikropęknięć jest optymalny z punktu widzenia odnawiania plastyczności w procesie wyżarzania. Prognozowanie takiego stanu materiału w procesie ciągnienia wymaga opracowania modelu powstawania mikropęknięć po granicach ziaren i wykorzystania tego modelu w dwóch trybach: - modelowanie testów in-situ, co pozwala na kalibrację i walidację modelu; - modelowanie procesu ciągnienia, co pozwala na optymalizację jego parametrów. Zaproponowano nowy model powstawania mikropęknięć w skali mezo, oparty o metodę elementów brzegowych. Do kalibracji i walidacji modelu wykorzystano badan in-situ, pozwalające na bezpośrednią obserwację mikrostruktury podczas odkształcenia. Opracowany model zaimplementowano do Autorskiego programu MES Drawing2d dedykowanemu procesowi ciągnienia. Wyniki symulacji w skali mezo zweryfikowano na podstawie eksperymentalnego ciągnienia drutów o małych średnicach (do 0.07 mm) zgodnego z opracowaną technologią. Na podstawie analizy mikrostruktury wykazano, że opracowany model pozwala przewidywać powstawanie mikropęknięć w procesie ciągnienia.
University attendance represents a transition period for students that often coincides with the emergence of mental health and substance use challenges. Digital interventions have been identified as ...a promising means of supporting students due to their scalability, adaptability, and acceptability. Minder is a mental health and substance use mobile app that was codeveloped with university students.
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Minder mobile app in improving mental health and substance use outcomes in a general population of university students.
A 2-arm, parallel-assignment, single-blinded, 30-day randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate Minder using intention-to-treat analysis. In total, 1489 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=743, 49.9%) or waitlist control (n=746, 50.1%) condition. The Minder app delivers evidence-based content through an automated chatbot and connects participants with services and university social groups. Participants are also assigned a trained peer coach to support them. The primary outcomes were measured through in-app self-assessments and included changes in general anxiety symptomology, depressive symptomology, and alcohol consumption risk measured using the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Scale, respectively, from baseline to 30-day follow-up. Secondary outcomes included measures related to changes in the frequency of substance use (cannabis, alcohol, opioids, and nonmedical stimulants) and mental well-being. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to examine each outcome.
In total, 79.3% (589/743) of participants in the intervention group and 83% (619/746) of participants in the control group completed the follow-up survey. The intervention group had significantly greater average reductions in anxiety symptoms measured using the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale (adjusted group mean difference=-0.85, 95% CI -1.27 to -0.42; P<.001; Cohen d=-0.17) and depressive symptoms measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (adjusted group mean difference=-0.63, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.17; P=.007; Cohen d=-0.11). A reduction in the US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Scale score among intervention participants was also observed, but it was not significant (P=.23). Statistically significant differences in favor of the intervention group were found for mental well-being and reductions in the frequency of cannabis use and typical number of drinks consumed. A total of 77.1% (573/743) of participants in the intervention group accessed at least 1 app component during the study period.
In a general population sample of university students, the Minder app was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, with provisional support for increasing mental well-being and reducing the frequency of cannabis and alcohol use. These findings highlight the potential ability of e-tools focused on prevention and early intervention to be integrated into existing university systems to support students' needs.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05606601; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05606601.
RR2-10.2196/49364.
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This study adapted the Demand Resource Evaluation Scores (DRES) as a metacognitive indicator in assessing pilot students’ perceptions during simulated training of a novel maneuver. Typically, ...positive DRES are associated with perceiving a demanding situation as a challenge and with improved performance, while negative DRES are linked to a perception of the situation as a threat, and to poorer performance. The novelty here was to assess DRES before and after the task and across three missions. Overall, students were found to change their perceptions from threat to challenge over time. Also, increased DRES were positively correlated with performance progressing from mission to mission, indicating that the students reflect on their performance as they advance in their training. These findings show that individual metacognitive evaluations of a stressful aviation maneuver might be important for the progress in performance. The results are discussed in terms of flight safety and pilot training.
•Very few studies have looked at metacognition in pilots in training.•Metacognition in pilot students in a novel and demanding situation was explored.•We used Demand and Resource Evaluation Score (DRES) as a metacognitive judgement.•Students perceptions of the situation change from threat to challenge with time.•Metacognitive processes were at work as students advanced in their training.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The problem of determination of the cold low diameter wire (diameter less than 0.1 mm) drawing process parameters for hardly deformable biocompatible magnesium alloys by using the mathematical ...mesoscale model is described in the paper. The originality of the considered alloys (MgCa0.8, Ax30) is the intergranular fracture mechanism associated with small strains (0.07-0.09). In previous authors works it was proven that the material state directly before appearance of the microcracks is in the optimal state from the point of view of the recovery of the plasticity by annealing. The forecasting of this material state in drawing process requires the development of the model of intergranular fracture initiation and using this model in two cases: - modeling of the in-situ tests, what allows calibrating and validating of the model; - modeling of the drawing process, what allows optimizing of the drawing parameters. A new model of the microcracks initiation in mesoscale using the boundary element method is proposed. The in-situ tests, which allowed observing the microstructure evolution during deformation, are used for the calibration and validation purpose. The model was implemented into self-developed FE software Drawing2d, which is dedicated to the drawing process. The results of mesoscale simulation were verified by the experimental drawing process of 0.07 mm diameter wires according to developed technology. It was shown by analysis of microstructure that the model allows forecasting the microcracks initiation during the wire drawing process.Original Abstract: W artykule rozpatrzono problem wyznaczenia parametrow ciagnienia na zimno cienkich drutow (o srednicach mniejszych 0.1 mm) z nisko plastycznych stopow magnezu za pomoca matematycznego modelu w skali mezo. Osobliwoscia utraty spojnosci rozpatrywanych stopow (MgCa0.8, Ax30) jest dominujacy mechanizm pekania po granicach ziaren oraz powstawanie mikropekniec przy malych odksztalceniach (rzedu 0.07-0.09). W poprzednich pracach Autorow 1 udowodniono, ze stan materialu bezposrednio przed powstaniem mikropekniec jest optymalny z punktu widzenia odnawiania plastycznosci w procesie wyzarzania. Prognozowanie takiego stanu materialu w procesie ciagnienia wymaga opracowania modelu powstawania mikropekniec po granicach ziaren i wykorzystania tego modelu w dwoch trybach: - modelowanie testow in-situ, co pozwala na kalibracje i walidacje modelu; - modelowanie procesu ciagnienia, co pozwala na optymalizacje jego parametrow. Zaproponowano nowy model powstawania mikropekniec w skali mezo, oparty o metode elementow brzegowych. Do kalibracji i walidacji modelu wykorzystano badan in-situ, pozwalajace na bezposrednia obserwacje mikrostruktury podczas odksztalcenia. Opracowany model zaimplementowano do Autorskiego programu MES Drawing2d dedykowanemu procesowi ciagnienia. Wyniki symulacji w skali mezo zweryfikowano na podstawie eksperymentalnego ciagnienia drutow o malych srednicach (do 0.07 mm) zgodnego z opracowana technologia. Na podstawie analizy mikrostruktury wykazano, ze opracowany model pozwala przewidywac powstawanie mikropekniec w procesie ciagnienia.
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