Leading-order hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from N_f=2+1+1 twisted mass fermions

We present results for the leading order QCD correction to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon including the first two generations of quarks as dynamical degrees of freedom. Several light quark masses are examined in order to yield a controlled extrapolation to the physical pion mass. We analyse ensembles for three different lattice spacings and several volumes in order to investigate lattice artefacts and finite-size effects, respectively. We also provide preliminary results for this quantity for two flavours of mass-degenerate quarks at the physical value of the pion mass.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, German

Four-Flavour Leading-Order Hadronic Contribution To The Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment

We present a four-flavour lattice calculation of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarisation contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_\mathrm{\mu}^{\rm hvp}$, arising from quark-connected Feynman graphs. It is based on ensembles featuring $N_f=2+1+1$ dynamical twisted mass fermions generated by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration (ETMC). Several light quark masses are used in order to yield a controlled extrapolation to the physical pion mass. We employ three lattice spacings to examine lattice artefacts and several different volumes to check for finite-size effects. Incorporating the complete first two generations of quarks allows for a direct comparison with phenomenological determinations of $a_\mathrm{\mu}^{\rm hvp}$. Our final result including an estimate of the systematic uncertainty $$a_{\mathrm{\mu}}^{\rm hvp} = 6.74(21)(18) \cdot 10^{-8}$$ shows a good overall agreement with these computations.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in JHE

Discrete-Time Dynamic Principal-Agent Models:Contraction Mapping Theorem and Computational Treatment

We consider discrete-time dynamic principal--agent problems with continuous choice sets and potentially multiple agents. We prove the existence of a unique solution for the principal's value function only assuming continuity of the functions and compactness of the choice sets. We do this by a contraction mapping theorem and so we also obtain a convergence result for the value function iteration. To numerically compute a solution for the problem, we have to solve a collection of static principal--agent problems at each iteration. As a result, in the discrete-time setting solving the static problem is the difficult step. If the agent's expected utility is a rational function of his action, then we can transform the bi-level optimization problem into a standard nonlinear program. The final results of our solution method are numerical approximations of the policy and value functions for the dynamic principal--agent model. We illustrate our solution method by solving variations of two prominent social planning models from the economics literature

Oxidative stress and free radicals in COPD – implications and relevance for treatment

Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals and other reactive species overwhelm the availability of antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species, and their counterpart antioxidant agents are essential for physiological signaling and host defense, as well as for the evolution and persistence of inflammation. When their normal steady state is disturbed, imbalances between oxidants and antioxidants may provoke pathological reactions causing a range of nonrespiratory and respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the respiratory system, ROS may be either exogenous from more or less inhalative gaseous or particulate agents such as air pollutants, cigarette smoke, ambient high-altitude hypoxia, and some occupational dusts, or endogenously generated in the context of defense mechanisms against such infectious pathogens as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. ROS may also damage body tissues depending on the amount and duration of exposure and may further act as triggers for enzymatically generated ROS released from respiratory, immune, and inflammatory cells. This paper focuses on the general relevance of free radicals for the development and progression of both COPD and pulmonary emphysema as well as novel perspectives on therapeutic options. Unfortunately, current treatment options do not suffice to prevent chronic airway inflammation and are not yet able to substantially alter the course of COPD. Effective therapeutic antioxidant measures are urgently needed to control and mitigate local as well as systemic oxygen bursts in COPD and other respiratory diseases. In addition to current therapeutic prospects and aspects of genomic medicine, trending research topics in COPD are presented

Individual and Organizational Factors in Coping With COVID-19 in Soldier Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant burden across different industrial sectors. Generally, an increase in psychological stress experiences has been reported, while the stress and coping responses of specific, potentially burdened populations have received less attention thus far. Thus, the present study investigated relations between individual (i.e., extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness) and organizational (i.e., organizational commitment and study satisfaction) factors, indicators of psychological health (i.e., loneliness, life satisfaction, COVID-19-related stress), and possible mediating effects of four broad coping dimensions (active coping, avoidant coping, social support, positive cognitive restructuring) in a specific sample of soldier students who engage in a double-role being military affiliates and students of non-military subjects. To this end, we assessed data of soldier students at two measurement points (N = 106 at t1 and N = 63 at t2) shortly after the second national lockdown in Germany (20. May 2021 to 11. July 2021) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personality traits showed expected associations with indicators of psychological health, i.e., positive relations between neuroticism and social loneliness, between extraversion and COVID-19 stress, and negative relations between neuroticism and life satisfaction. Remarkably, organizational variables showed effects above and beyond personality traits on loneliness and life satisfaction. Neither individual, nor organizational factors could predict change in psychological health over time. We found evidence for mediation effects through active coping, avoidant coping, and the use of social support, but not through positive cognitive restructuring. Findings highlight the relative importance of organizational factors besides personality traits for psychological health in a military student sample, holding important implications for designing efficient support systems in the military

Assessment of the histrionic self-presentation style: initial validation of the Polish version of the As-If-Scale

Background The main research objective was to translate and evaluate the Polish version of the As-If-Scale (AIS) as well as to test the measurement invariance of the Polish and the original (German) versions of the tool, and to analyze the differences in histrionic self-presentation style among Poles and Germans. The AIS consists of 8 items for the subjective assessment of the histrionic self-presentation style which involves behaviors such as playing roles, imitating people or even engaging others in performing small role-plays, and is seen as an individual difference phenomenon. Participants and procedure The psychometric properties of the Polish version were tested in two samples with a total of 762 participants. Results The article presents the factor structure and reliability of the scale. In addition, the AIS was correlated with measures of the Big Five personality traits, pragmatism and gelotophobia to provide initial validation. Measurement invariance was tested using data collected in this study (Polish sample) and existing and previously published data (German sample). Conclusions Overall, the results provide support for the reliability of the scale as its properties are similar to those of the German version. The findings also allow one to make broader cross-cultural comparisons of the histrionic self-presentation style, which includes various types of behavior and is often associated with humor.Background The main research objective was to translate and evaluate the Polish version of the As-If-Scale (AIS) as well as to test the measurement invariance of the Polish and the original (German) versions of the tool, and to analyze the differences in histrionic self-presentation style among Poles and Germans. The AIS consists of 8 items for the subjective assessment of the histrionic self-presentation style which involves behaviors such as playing roles, imitating people or even engaging others in performing small role-plays, and is seen as an individual difference phenomenon. Participants and procedure The psychometric properties of the Polish version were tested in two samples with a total of 762 participants. Results The article presents the factor structure and reliability of the scale. In addition, the AIS was correlated with measures of the Big Five personality traits, pragmatism and gelotophobia to provide initial validation. Measurement invariance was tested using data collected in this study (Polish sample) and existing and previously published data (German sample). Conclusions Overall, the results provide support for the reliability of the scale as its properties are similar to those of the German version. The findings also allow one to make broader cross-cultural comparisons of the histrionic self-presentation style, which includes various types of behavior and is often associated with humor

Translation - The Short Version of the Hagen Matrices Test (HMT-S): A 6-Item Induction Intelligence Test

The short version of the Hagen Matrices Test (HMT-S) is a free of charge online intelligence test measuring induction in reference to the CHC model of intelligence (Schneider & McGrew, 2012). The 6-item HMT-S is based on the 20-item Hagen Matrices Test (HMT; Heydasch, 2014). The internal consistency of the HMT-S in our studies was .62. The correlations with the original scale were r = .79 in a first study and r = .78 in a second one. Additionally, convergent validity was shown by correlations with the Intelligence-Structure-Test 2000 R (Liepmann, Beauducel, Brocke, & Amthauer, 2007). Associations with academic performance indicated criterion related validity. To sum it up, the HMT-S is a reliable, valid, economic, and efficient intelligence test. Free applications can be requested from the author via email

Journalistische Wirklichkeitserzählungen und fotografische Bilder

Photos are, like texts, a core means of representation in print as well as in online-journalism. Photos can already indicate a narration. Because of this fact they can be combined with texts to develop complex narrative structures. However, problems arise when there are no photos available of the event itself. In these cases metonymic and metaphoric relations between text and photo are established and used. Looking at the story (histoire), the following essay argues that in the first case narrative structures are established bottom-up and in the second case top-down. Considering the level of discourse, metonymic text-photo relations show an affinity to the communicative act of reporting, whereas meta¬phoric relations lean towards the communicative act of storytelling

Journalismus aus erzähltheoretischer Perspektive

The essay demonstrates how the narratological theories developed in the field of literary studies can accomplish a better comprehension of journalistic narratives. As they have to accommodate the principles of journalism, these narratives have to be true, topical and impartial. From this point of view storytelling and the inverted-pyramid principle prove themselves as two complementary approaches of journalistic narration, whose stories are all constructed on the basis of real world occurrences and the ideologies of the diverse societies. Storytelling is enabling the communication of individual experience and the inverted-pyramid principle is supporting the narrative construction of future-open macro stories. Der Aufsatz zeigt am Beispiel der Zeitungsberichterstattung über die Guttenberg-Affäre 2011, wie die literaturwissenschaftliche Erzähltheorie zum besseren Verständnis des journalistischen Erzählens beitragen kann. Da dieses Erzählen den Anforderungen des Journalismus Rechnung tragen muss, müssen journalistische Erzählungen wahr, aktuell und unparteiisch sein. In diesem Zusammenhang erweisen sich Storytelling und Leadprinzip als zwei komplementäre Verfahren des journalistischen Erzählens, dessen Geschichten ausgehend von den Geschehnissen der realen Welt und den Weltbildern der jeweiligen Gesellschaften konstruiert werden. Dabei unterstützen das Storytelling die Vermittlung individueller Erfahrungen und das Leadprinzip die Erzählung zukunftsoffener Makrogeschichten