Analysts' Forecast Accuracy in Germany: The Effect of Different Accounting Principles and Changes of Accounting Principles

This paper assesses the influence of an adoption of IAS/IFRS or US GAAP on the financial analysts forecast accuracy in a homogenous institutional framework. Our findings suggest that the forecast accuracy is higher for estimates based on IFRS or US GAAP data than for forecasts based on German GAAP data. Moreover, in the year of switching from German GAAP to US GAAP the forecast accuracy is lower than in other years. The paper contributes to prior research by providing evidence about the usefulness of international accounting data and about the adoption effects of a change to such accounting principles

A Method for the Optimized Placement of Bus Stops Based on Voronoi Diagrams

In this paper a new method for placing bus stops is presented. The method is suitable for permanently installed new bus stops and temporarily chosen collection points for call busses as well. Moreover, our implementation of the Voronoi algorithm chooses new locations for bus stops in such a way that more bus stops are set in densely populated areas and less in less populated areas. To achieve this goal, a corresponding weighting is applied to each possible placement point, based on the number of inhabitants around this point and the points of interest, such as medical centers and department stores around this point. Using the area of Roding, a small town in Bavaria, for a case study, we show that our method is especially suitable for for rural areas, where there are few multi-family houses or apartment blocks and the area is not densely populated

A Method for the Optimized Placement of Bus Stops Based on Voronoi Diagrams

In this paper a new method for placing bus stops is presented. The method is suitable for permanently installed new bus stops and temporarily chosen collection points for call busses as well. Moreover, our implementation of the Voronoi algorithm chooses new locations for bus stops in such a way that more bus stops are set in densely populated areas and less in less populated areas. To achieve this goal, a corresponding weighting is applied to each possible placement point, based on the number of inhabitants around this point and the points of interest, such as medical centers and department stores around this point. Using the area of Roding, a small town in Bavaria, for a case study, we show that our method is especially suitable for for rural areas, where there are few multi-family houses or apartment blocks and the area is not densely populated

Numerical Simulation Approach for a Dynamically Operated Sorption-Enhanced Water-Gas Shift Reactor

A dynamically operated sorption-enhanced water–gas shift reactor is modelled to leverage its performance by means of model-based process design. This reactor shall provide CO₂-free synthesis gas for e-fuel production from pure CO. The nonlinear model equations describing simultaneous adsorption and reaction are solved with three numerical approaches in MATLAB: a built-in solver for partial differential equations, a semi-discretization method in combination with an ordinary differential equation solver, and an advanced graphic implementation of the latter method in Simulink. The novel implementation in Simulink offers various advantages for dynamic simulations and is expanded to a process model with six reaction chambers. The continuous conditions in the reaction chambers and the discrete states of the valves, which enable switching between reactive adsorption and regeneration, lead to a hybrid system. Controlling the discrete states in a finite-state machine in Stateflow enables automated switching between reactive adsorption and regeneration depending on predefined conditions, such as a time span or a concentration threshold in the product gas. The established chemical reactor simulation approach features unique possibilities in terms of simulation-driven development of operating procedures for intensified reactor operation. In a base case simulation, the sorbent usage for serial operation with adjusted switching times is increased by almost 15%

Using the modified frailty index as a predictor of complications in adults undergoing transforaminal interbody lumbar fusion

Objective: To correlate the operative characteristics and complications of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) to patient frailty status for the first time in a multicenter study. Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database, all patients who underwent TLIF in 2015-2020 were filtered for their demographics, operative characteristics, and 30-day complication outcomes. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts, low and high frailty, based on their modified frailty index 5 score. Univariate analysis was performed between the 2 cohorts for each collected variable, and multivariable analysis was performed to observe adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: The frail cohort experienced more unplanned readmission (4.3 vs 6.6 %, p Conclusions: mFI-5 serves as an effective predictor of surgical outcomes following TLIF and independently predicts unplanned readmission, discharge to home, and major complications. Noninfectious outcomes were more likely to be significantly different between the high- and low frailty groups, while all infectious outcomes apart from superficial surgical site infection and pneumonia were not significantly different between the cohorts.</p

The DEAH-box RNA helicase RHAU binds an intramolecular RNA G‐quadruplex in TERC and associates with telomerase holoenzyme

Guanine-quadruplexes (G4) consist of non-canonical four-stranded helical arrangements of guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences. The bulky and thermodynamically stable features of G4 structures have been shown in many respects to affect normal nucleic acid metabolism. In vivo conversion of G4 structures to single-stranded nucleic acid requires specialized proteins with G4 destabilizing/unwinding activity. RHAU is a human DEAH-box RNA helicase that exhibits G4-RNA binding and resolving activity. In this study, we employed RIP-chip analysis to identify en masse RNAs associated with RHAU in vivo. Approximately 100 RNAs were found to be associated with RHAU and bioinformatics analysis revealed that the majority contained potential G4-forming sequences. Among the most abundant RNAs selectively enriched with RHAU, we identified the human telomerase RNA template TERC as a true target of RHAU. Remarkably, binding of RHAU to TERC depended on the presence of a stable G4 structure in the 5′-region of TERC, both in vivo and in vitro. RHAU was further found to associate with the telomerase holoenzyme via the 5′-region of TERC. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence that intramolecular G4-RNAs serve as physiologically relevant targets for RHAU. Furthermore, our results suggest the existence of alternatively folded forms of TERC in the fully assembled telomerase holoenyzm

Momentum in language change:A model of self-actuating s-shaped curves

Like other socially transmitted traits, human languages undergo cultural evolution. While humans can replicate linguistic conventions to a high degree of fidelity, sometimes established conventions get replaced by new variants, with the gradual replacement following the trajectory of an s-shaped curve. Although previous modelling work suggests that only a bias favoring the replication of new linguistic variants can reliably reproduce the dynamics observed in language change, the source of this bias is still debated. In this paper we compare previous accounts with a momentum-based selection account of language change, a replicator-neutral model where the popularity of a variant is modulated by its momentum, i.e. its change in frequency of use in the recent past. We present results from a multi-agent model that are characteristic of language change, in particular by exhibiting spontaneously generated s-shaped transitions that do not require externally triggered actuation. We discuss several empirical questions raised by our model, pertaining to both momentum-based selection as well as other biases and pressures which have been suggested to influence language change.</jats:p

Co-Expression of Wild-Type P2X7R with Gln460Arg Variant Alters Receptor Function

The P2X7 receptor is a member of the P2X family of ligand-gated ion channels. A single-nucleotide polymorphism leading to a glutamine (Gln) by arginine (Arg) substitution at codon 460 of the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) has been associated with mood disorders. No change in function (loss or gain) has been described for this SNP so far. Here we show that although the P2X7R-Gln460Arg variant per se is not compromised in its function, co-expression of wild-type P2X7R with P2X7R-Gln460Arg impairs receptor function with respect to calcium influx, channel currents and intracellular signaling in vitro. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation and FRET studies show that the P2X7R-Gln460Arg variant physically interacts with P2X7R-WT. Specific silencing of either the normal or polymorphic variant rescues the heterozygous loss of function phenotype and restores normal function. The described loss of function due to co-expression, unique for mutations in the P2RX7 gene so far, explains the mechanism by which the P2X7R-Gln460Arg variant affects the normal function of the channel and may represent a mechanism of action for other mutations.Fil: Aprile García, Fernando. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Metzger, Michael W.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Paez Pereda, Marcelo. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Stadler, Herbert. Affectis Pharmaceuticals; AlemaniaFil: Acuña, Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Liberman, Ana Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Senin, Sergio Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Gerez, Juan Atilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Hoijman, Esteban. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Microscopías Avanzadas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Refojo, Damian. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mitkovski, Mišo. Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine; AlemaniaFil: Panhuysen, Markus. Affectis Pharmaceuticals; AlemaniaFil: Stühmer, Walter. Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine; AlemaniaFil: Holsboer, Florian. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Alemania. HMNC Brain Health; AlemaniaFil: Deussing, Jan M.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Arzt, Eduardo Simon. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentin