Abstract The propaganda videos of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) became a widespread issue throughout the Western world between 2014 and 2017. The problem was not that the videos went viral on social media but that people learned about them and their content through the news. Each ISIL video posted on social media provoked some kind of media reaction that generated public attention. Given that a common framing effect leads people to think through the frames offered to them, journalists and media outlets can pick up frames and send them via their reporting. Based on a qualitative content analysis of news articles in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, this article shows that media outlets often sent ISIL’s frames and discussed related problems using the frames set by ISIL. Therefore, the media played a crucial role in the logic of this terrorist organization and its communication strategy by sending specific strategic communicator frames to the public. However, this analysis reveals that media framing changed over time: reporting became more balanced and, in some cases, even contested ISIL’s frames.

Using a survey of tax auditors, we investigate which factors determine tax auditors' choice of negotiation strategies during tax audits and analyze the effect of their chosen strategy on audit outcomes. The results show that, compared to a cooperative auditor negotiation strategy, a competitive auditor negotiation strategy is associated with significantly higher additional assessed taxes. However, the competitive strategy is associated with a lower probability that the negotiation partners will reach an agreement. These findings indicate an advantage of combining competitive and cooperative tactics (i.e., using a “mixed strategy”). We find that although this mixed strategy does not lead to significantly fewer additional taxes, it results in a higher agreement probability. Moreover, we show that the probability of using a mixed strategy increases with audit expertise and time pressure, whereas the use of a competitive (cooperative) strategy increases with the availability of higher authority (the quality of the taxpayer's financial accounting system) and a perceived competitive (cooperative or mixed) negotiation strategy of the tax advisor. In sum, our study provides new insights into how firms' tax burden is affected by negotiations between tax auditors and firms' tax advisors. The way these negotiations affect firms' tax burden is relevant for both tax policy and firms.

Abstract Background: Ca2+ as a universal second messenger regulates basic biological functions including cell cycle, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell death. Lack of the protein mitochondrial calcium uptake1 (MICU1) which has been regarded as a gatekeeper of Ca ions, leads to the abnormal mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased cell death. Mutations in MICU1 gene (NM_006077.3) causes a very rare neuromuscular disease, Myopathy with extrapyramidal signs (MPXPS), due to primary alterations in mitochondrial calcium signaling which demonstrates the key role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. To date 6 variants have been reported in MICU1 gene in approximately 21 pedigrees.Case presentation: here we report a 44-year-old Iranian patient presented with learning disability, muscle weakness, easy fatigability, reduced tendon reflexes, ataxia, elevated hepatic transaminase, elevated serum creatine phosphokinase and gait disturbance. We Identified a novel nonsense variant c.385C>T; p.(R129*) in MICU1 gene by whole exome sequencing and segregation analysis.Conclusions: Our finding along with previous studies provides more evidence on the clinical presentation of the disease caused by pathogenic mutations in MICU1. Finding more variants and expanding the spectrum of the disease increases the diagnostic rate of molecular testing in screening of this kind of diseases and in turn improves the quality of counseling for at risk couples and helps them to minimize the risks of having affected children.

Platinum-group elements (PGE) are relevant for many high technology applications, prompting the search for potential alternative resources and environmentally friendly processing technologies. The largest deposit of PGE worldwide is the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. The pristine sulfide-bearing ore is mined using conventional metallurgical methods, while the near-surface oxidized PGE ore is currently stockpiled. Economic extraction of PGE from these stockpiles using conventional technologies is not feasible to date. Hence, biohydrometallurgical approaches to recover valuable transition metals and liberate platinum-group minerals for subsequent chemical PGE extraction have been considered. The four stockpile samples taken from a heap of oxidized PGE ores from the Platreef formation showed a similar mineralogical composition with >90 wt% silicates and minor amounts of Fe-(oxy)/hydroxides, both associated with Ni, Mn and Cu. Platinum-group minerals were present as sperrylite (PtAs2), cooperite (PtS low Pd), native platinum and Pd‑bismuthotellurides and mostly associated with silicates. Stirred tank bioleaching under various conditions was proven to be most feasible for an oxidative process at moderately-high temperatures using a consortium of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidophiles dominated by Acidithiobacillus caldus and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Bioleaching achieved up to 86% total metal recovery (including Co, Cu, Mn and Ni) and led to a liberation of platinum-group minerals. The bioleach residues were subsequently chemically leached by a HNO3/NaCl and a cyanide leach, allowing for the enhanced extraction of up to 89% Pt and 96% Pd after bioleaching. Chemical and mineralogical analysis validated the potential of oxidative bioleaching as a promising processing option for a pre-treatment of oxidized PGE ore, allowing separate and efficient recovery of valuable base metals and enhancing the subsequent chemical PGE extraction.

E-scooters are controversially discussed as a new mobility alternative for cities. The rapid growth of the shared use e-scooter market has raised questions about environmental sustainability and public benefits in many cities worldwide. The high dynamics of the market and insufficient public data available about the concrete business processes of shared e- scooters are making clear statements about the ecological effects difficult. The paper aims to conduct a life cycle assessment using Berlin as an example for shared e- scooters. Based on different operating scenarios, the ecological potentials of e-scooters should be assessed in a more differentiated way. The results show how product lifetimes, swappable batteries, alternative collection logistics and charging concepts influence the greenhouse balance compared to alternative means of transport.

The Bi2WO6/Ag3PO4–Ag Z-scheme heterojunction, as a novel plasmonic visible-light-driven photocatalyst, was prepared by ultrasound assisted in situ precipitation and the hydrothermal method and was further characterized using multiple techniques.

AbstractThe aims of German energy and climate policy are ambitious: by 2050, emissions of greenhouse gases should be reduced by at least 80 %, ideally by 95 % compared to 1990. In addition, there are the decisions of the Paris Climate Accord, which intends to limit global warming to considerably less than 2°, better to 1.5°. The building sector as is known plays an important role in the energy transition. The transformation of the building industry and its thermal consumption is of decisive importance for the energy transition as a whole. A study recently commissioned by the alliance for building energy efficiency (geea), the German energy agency (dena) and further industry associations with the title ”Scenarios for a market‐based climate and resources policy 2050 in the building sector“ [1] shows clearly that the ”business as usual“ strategy will not suffice in order to even near the climate protection aims in the building sector. The scientific processing was undertaken by the ewi Energy Research & Scenarios, the institute for building services Dresden (ITG Dresden) and the research institute for thermal insulation (FIW Munich). The scope of this article only deals with the share of residential buildings.

AbstractFor a stable power grid operation, the appropriateness of several technical parameters is required like voltage bands, transformer and cable loading, losses during operation, and back‐feeding of power into higher voltage level grids. Biogas plants can operate in a flexible mode and in this way influence the above‐mentioned parameters. By using real grid data, different scenarios of flexible biogas plants and their effects on grid related technical parameters are analyzed. Results show that the flexible operation of biogas plants can achieve improvements on such parameters compared to their operation solely orientated at an optimum at the European Power Exchange (EPEX Spot SE). In this way, flexibly operated biogas plants can reduce the need for grid expansion.