bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Searle, Rationality, and Social Reality
Authors: Viskovatoff Alex
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT.This paper makes a critical assessment of some contributions of John Searle of direct relevance to social science—his theory of rationality and his theory of institutions. The former is criticized for being able to account for how people can act for “external reasons,” as opposed to their desires, only in cases where an obligation derives from a promise; a rival account is much more general. The latter is criticized on three grounds: (1) his theory of institutions can only account for a narrow range of social reality, that deriving from some kind of “enactment”; (2) his notion of “collective intentionality” is unnecessary to explain institutions and is introduced only so that Searle can stay within an individualistic, Cartesian theory of the mind, something of no interest to social scientists; (3) his account implies that if an institution exists, “we collectively accept it,” whereas it may in fact not be accepted, but merely tolerated or submitted to.
Can Collective Intentionality Be Individualized?
Authors: Meijers Anthoniew. M.
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT . Searle's philosophical construction of social reality has three basic “building blocks”: collective intentionality, constitutive rules, and the imposition of functions. This article will focus on the first of these, collective intentionality, which is taken to be the central span on the bridge from physics to society. Searle analyzes this notion in terms of his own internalist theory of intentionality. In his view, we could have all the collective intentionality we have even if we were a brain in a vat, i.e., even if we were radically mistaken about the outside world. It will be argued that such an internalist view of collective intentionality cannot capture normative aspects of social phenomena. Social reality requires a radical relational approach.
What if Everyone Voted? Simulating the Impact of Increased Turnout in Senate Elections
Authors: Citrin Jack , Schickler Eric , Sides John
Published: March 2003

The conventional wisdom among journalists and politicians is that higher turnout would benefit Democrats, although extant scholarly research suggests otherwise. We adopt a new approach to assessing the partisan impact of higher turnout. We use state‐level exit polls and Census data to estimate the partisan preferences of nonvoters in Senate elections and then simulate the outcome of these elections under universal turnout. While nonvoters are generally more Democratic than voters, the dearth of close races means that very few election outcomes would have changed had everyone voted. Other scenarios—full turnout among registered voters, equal turnout rates for whites and African‐Americans, and equal turnout rates across income groups—generate similar results: although Democrats fare better in each scenario, few outcomes would have changed. However, the gap between voters and nonvoters' partisan preference varies considerably across states and across years, suggesting that this “partisan differential” warrants further examination.
Import price elasticities: reconsidering the evidence
Authors: Erkel‐Rousse Hélène , Mirza Daniel
Published: March 2003

Recent economic geography and trade empirical studies based on monopolistic competition suggest high levels of trade price elasticities (between 3 and 11). However, price elasticity estimations in trade equations using unit values as price proxies usually lead to lower values of around unity. We show that those inconclusive results may be due to some misspecification in these equations as well as measurement errors in prices. When suitable instrumental variables are used, within a panel of industrialized countries, we obtain high price elasticities, the majority ranging from 1 to 13. The highest estimates correspond to industries producing homogeneous goods. JEL classification: C2, C3 and F1.

Les élasticités prix des importations : un nouveau coup d’oeil aux résultats. Plusieurs études empiriques récentes fondées sur des modèles de concurrence monopolistique exhibent des élasticités prix estimées des échanges élevées (entre 3 et 11). Or, la plupart des élasticités prix estimées dans la littérature approchant les prix par des valeur unitaires sont plus faibles, de l’ordre de 1. Nous montrons que ces résultats non concluants pourraient provenir d’une mauvaise spécification des équations d’échanges ou d’erreurs de mesure sur les prix. Quand ceux‐ci sont correctement instrumentés, sur un panel de pays industrialisés, nous obtenons des élasticités prix élevées (de 1 à 13). Les plus fortes correspondent aux secteurs produisant des biens homogènes.
Joint tax evasion
Authors: Boadway Robin , Marceau Nicolas , Mongrain Steeve
Published: March 2003

Tax evasion analysis typically assumes that evasion involves individual taxpayers responding to some given policies. However, evading taxes could require the collaboration of at least two taxpayers. Detection depends on the costly avoidance activities of both transacting partners. An increase in sanctions leads to a direct increase in the expected cost of a transaction in the illegal sector, but it may also increase the incentive for the partners to cooperate in avoiding detection. The total cost of transacting in the illegal sector can fall, and tax evasion may increase. The policy implications of this phenomenon are considered. JEL Classification: H26

L’évasion fiscale collective. Dans les analyses de l’évasion fiscale, on suppose habituellement que le payeur de taxe fait face à un ensemble donné de politiques auxquelles il réagit. Pourtant, dans le cas des transactions marchandes, l’évasion fiscale n’est possible que si plusieurs agents coopèrent ensemble. La probabilité que l’évasion soit détectée dépend alors des efforts que chacun fait pour la cacher. Dans un tel contexte, de plus lourdes sanctions accroissent le coût espéré des transactions illégales, mais peuvent aussi, indirectement, accroître l’incitation pour les partenaires à coopérer pour cacher leur activité illégale. Il en résulte que le coût total des transactions illégales peut diminuer et l’évasion fiscale augmenter. Nous étudions les implications de ce phénomène.
A welfare analysis of Canadian chartered bank mergers
Authors: McIntosh James
Published: March 2003

An econometric model of Canada’s five largest banks is estimated using time series data from 1976 to 1996. The principal findings are that chartered bank technology is characterized by increasing returns to scale. Scale efficiency is sufficiently large to offset the consequences of reduced competition that might have arisen from a merger between Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Toronto Dominion Bank, or both. The estimated model predicts that all the mergers proposed in 1998 would have led to slightly lower prices and, consequently, to an increase in consumer welfare.

Une analyse de bien–être des fusions des banques à charte canadiennes. L’auteur calibre un modèle économétrique des cinq plus grandes banques à charte au Canada à l’aide de séries chronologiques de 1976 à 1996. Les principaux résultats montrent que la technologie des banques à charte a des rendements croissants à l’échelle. Ces rendements à l’échelle sont suffisamment importants pour compenser les effets de réduction de la concurrence qui auraient pu se produire en conséquence de la fusion de la Banque de Montréal et la Banque Royale, de la Banque Impériale de Commerce et de la Banque Toronto–Dominion, ou des deux. Le modèle suggère que toutes les fusions proposées en 1998 auraient entraîné des prix légèrement plus bas, et en conséquence un accroissement dans le niveau de bien–être des consommateurs.
Complementarity, growth, and trade
Authors: Honkapohja Seppo , Turunen–Red Arja
Published: March 2003

We consider an endogenous growth model with international trade in complementary capital goods. The model possesses several distinct, balanced growth solutions, which we classify using stability under adaptive learning. Some of the equilibria can involve growth rates much higher than others. We show that, in addition to a small (usually positive) effect on a given equilibrium, an expansion in trade may sometimes yield a much larger, sudden jump in growth. The small effect on the initial equilibrium may reduce growth if the opportunity cost of capital rises very fast as growth accelerates. JEL Classification: F12, F15, O41

Complémentarité, croissance, et commerce international. Les auteurs utilisent un modèle de croissance endogène en présence de commerce international de biens capitaux complémentaires. Le modèle possède plusieurs solutions de croissance équilibrée distinctes que les auteurs classifient en utilisant des mesures de stabilité avec apprentissage adaptatif. Certains de ces équilibres peuvent impliquer des taux de croissance plus élevés que d’autres. Il appert qu’une expansion du commerce international, en plus d’avoir un petit effet (habituellement positif) sur un équilibre donné, peut parfois engendrer une augmentation plus forte et soudaine de la croissance. Le petit effet sur l’équilibre initial peut réduire la croissance si le coût d’opportunité du capital augmente rapidement à proportion que la croissance accélère.
Comparing Consumption–Based Asset–Pricing models
Authors: Gordon Stephen , Samson Lucie
Published: March 2003

We make use of a recently developed method to estimate the intertemporal marginal rate of substitution consistent with the fluctuations of asset return data from the Toronto Stock Exchange. These estimates are then used to evaluate various parametric specifications for preferences often used in empirical studies of consumption and asset returns. In contrast to existing studies, we are able to perform a formal statistical comparison of these models. We consider six extensions of the usual power utility model, and we find that none can be said to be a demonstrable improvement on the standard model.

Comparaison de modèles de prix des actifs fondés sur la consommation. Les auteurs utilisent une méthodologie développée récemment pour calibrer le taux marginal de substitution inter–temporel compatible avec les fluctuations des rendements sur les actifs enregistrées au Toronto Stock Exchange. Ces estimations sont utilisées pour évaluer diverses spécifications paramétriques souvent utilisées dans les études empiriques de la consommation et des rendements sur les actifs. Contrairement à ce qui est présenté dans les études existantes, les auteurs font une comparaison statistique formelle de ces modèles. Ils considèrent six extensions du modèle d’utilité et trouvent qu’aucune ne constitue une amélioration significative du modèle standard.
Skill differentiation and wage disparity in a decentralized matching model of North–South trade
Authors: Abdel–Rahman Hesham M. , Norman George , Wang Ping
Published: March 2003

In this paper we develop a North–South trade model in which the South produces food and the North produces both food and a high–tech good. Food production is undertaken by unskilled workers, while the high–tech product is made only by horizontally differentiated skilled workers. Owing to the possibility of a peer–group effect, we allow the unskilled workers in the North to be equally or more productive than in the South. Horizontal matching of skilled workers is generally imperfect and the skilled wages are determined by a symmetric Nash bargain. We characterize two different types of equilibrium: a closed–economy equilibrium without trade and a free trade equilibrium without labour mobility. We then extend the benchmark framework to consider the presence of transport costs. In all cases with trade, the equilibrium properties of goods pricing, the volume of trade as well as between–group and within–group wage inequality are examined. JEL Classification: F10, D51, D63, J31

Différentiation d’habiletés et disparité de salaires dans un modèle décentralisé de commerce nord–sud dans lequel les habiletés sont arrimées. Ce mémoire développe un modèle de commerce international nord–sud dans lequel le Sud produit de la nourriture et le Nord produit à la fois de la nourriture et un bien de haute technologie. La production de la nourriture nécessite seulement une main d’œuvre non–spécialisée, alors que la production du bien de haute technologie réclame seulement une main d’œuvre spécialisée et différentiée horizontalement. On assume que les travailleurs non–spécialisés dans le Nord sont aussi productifs ou plus productifs que ceux dans le Sud. Pour ce qui est des travailleurs spécialisés, l’arrimage horizontal est généralement imparfait et les salaires sont déterminés par une négociation symétrique à la Nash. On définit deux types d’équilibres : un équilibre en économie fermée sans commerce international, et un équilibre de libre échange sans mobilité des travailleurs. On étend alors le cadre de référence pour prendre en compte les coûts de transport. Dans tous les cas où il y a commerce international, on examine les propriétés en équilibre des prix des biens, du volume de commerce ainsi que de l’inégalité de salaires tant entre les groupes qu’à l’intérieur des groupes.
Conflict of Interest in Commercial Bank Equity Underwriting
Authors: Hebb Gregory M.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the pricing characteristics of initial public offerings underwritten by commercial banks. Assuming IPO underpricing is directly related to ex ante uncertainty, if the market rationally perceives these commercial banks to have a conflict of interest, these securities should have more underpricing than non‐commercial bank underwritten initial public offerings (all else being equal). On the other hand, if the market believes that commercial bank involvement signals firm quality, less underpricing should be observed. This topic has recently gained in importance with the passage of the Financial Services Reform Act in November 1999. We find that the underpricing of commercial bank underwritten initial public offerings in which the firm had a previous banking relationship with the underwriter is significantly less than those underwritten by investment banks.
Contrarian Investing in a Small Capitalization Market: Evidence from New Zealand
Authors: Chin Jim Y. F. , Prevost Andrew K. , Gottesman Aron A.
Published: March 2003

This paper investigates the performance of accounting–based contrarian investment strategies in the New Zealand market. The return patterns of these strategies are then related to risk–based and behavioral–based explanations of the contrarian anomaly. Based on our analysis of the risk–return characteristics of the various strategies, we attribute the first year underperformance and second year outperformance of the value portfolios to expectational errors caused by noise trading in the relatively illiquid New Zealand market. The longer two–year correction process is in contrast to the much larger and more developed U.S. and Japanese markets, where value stock price corrections have been found to occur more rapidly. This provides support for the conjecture that longer horizons are required for value strategies to pay off in imperfectly competitive markets than in competitive markets.
An Intraday Examination of the Components of the Bid–Ask Spread
Authors: McInish Thomas H. , Van Ness Bonnie F.
Published: March 2003

Using transactions data for a sample of NYSE stocks, we decompose the bid–ask spread (BAS) into order–processing (OP) and asymmetric information (AI) components using the techniques of George, Kaul, and Nimalendran (1991) and Madhavan, Richardson, and Roomans (1997). McInish and Wood (1992) demonstrate that the intraday behavior of BASs can be explained by variables measuring activity, competition, risk, and information. We investigate whether these variables explain the behavior of the OP and AI components of the spread over the trading day. We conclude that, on balance, the variables that determine the aggregate BAS also determine its intraday components.
Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value
Authors: Carter David A. , Simkins Betty J. , Simpson W. Gary
Published: March 2003

This study examines the relationship between board diversity and firm value for Fortune 1000 firms. Board diversity is defined as the percentage of women, African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics on the board of directors. This research is important because it presents the first empirical evidence examining whether board diversity is associated with improved financial value. After controlling for size, industry, and other corporate governance measures, we find significant positive relationships between the fraction of women or minorities on the board and firm value. We also find that the proportion of women and minorities on boards increases with firm size and board size, but decreases as the number of insiders increases.
Discerning the Spirits, Practicing the Faiths: Why Be Lutheran?
Authors: Stortz Martha
Published: March 2003

Some spiritual wanderers today are “unstuck” in their faith, therefore, they have many faiths; while others are securely “stuck” in their tradition. Getting stuck is desirable, and the path is through spiritual practice. One’s inner life and even perception of reality become transformed through daily habits such as prayer, worship, and discipline. The Lutheran insight that a practicing Christian is simultaneously saint and sinner offers comfort and honest self–understanding.
HERBERTA. SIMON: Political Scientist
Authors: Bendor Jonathan
Published: March 2003

▪ Abstract  Although Herbert Simon's work is often cited by political scientists, it has not generated a large research program in the discipline. This is a waste of a major intellectual resource. The main challenge to the rational choice research program—now the most important research program in political science—can be developed by building on Simon's ideas on bounded rationality. The essay defends this assertion by examining how the work of both the early Simon (primarily satisficing-and-search models) and the later Simon (on problem solving) can shed light on important topics in our discipline such as budgeting, turnout, and party competition.
Fluorescence measurements of the labile iron pool of sickle erythrocytes
Authors: Darbari Deepika , Loyevsky Mark , Gordeuk Victor , Kark John A. , Castro Oswaldo , Rana Sohail , Apprey Victor , Kurantsin-Mills Joseph
Published: March 2003

Sickle erythrocytes have increased ferritin and increased molecular iron on the inner membrane leaflet, and we postulated that cytosolic labile iron is also elevated. We used the fluorescent metal-losensor, calcein, and a permeant Fe2+ chelator to estimate labile cytoslic Fe2+, and calcein plus an Fe3+ chelator to estimate total cytosolic labile iron (Fe2+ + Fe3+). We measured membrane nonheme iron by its reactivity with ferrozine. As estimated by calcein and Fe2+ chelator, the mean ± SD labile Fe2+ concentration was significantly lower in hemoglobin (Hb) SS (n = 29) than hemoglobin AA (n = 17) erythrocytes (0.56 ± 0.35 μM versus 1.25 ± 0.65 μM; P < .001). In contrast, as estimated by calcein and Fe3+ chelator, total erythrocyte labile iron was similar in hemoglobin SS (n = 12) and hemoglobin AA (n = 10) participants (1.75 ± 0.41 μM versus 2.14 ± 0.93 μM; P = .2). Mean membrane nonheme iron levels were higher in hemoglobin SS cells than hemoglobin AA cells (0.0016 × 10-4 versus 0.0004 × 10-4 fmol/cell; P = .01), but much lower than the mean amounts of total labile iron (1.6-1.8 × 10-4 fmol/cell) or hemoglobin iron (18 000-19 000 × 10-4 fmol/cell). Both membrane iron and total labile iron were much less than the mean amount of iron potentially present in erythrocyte ferritin as calculated from results of other investigators (15 × 10-4 versus 34 × 10-4 fmol/cell in HbAA versus HbSS erythrocytes). We conclude that cytosolic labile iron is not elevated in hemoglobin SS erythrocytes and that elemental membrane iron is present in only trace amounts. (Blood. 2003;102:357-364)
Gene expression profiling of multiple myeloma reveals molecular portraits in relation to the pathogenesis of the disease
Authors: Magrangeas Florence , Nasser Valéry , Avet-Loiseau Hervé , Loriod Béatrice , Decaux Olivier , Granjeaud Samuel , Bertucci François , Birnbaum Daniel , Nguyen Catherine , Harousseau Jean-Luc , Bataille Régis , Houlgatte Rémi , Minvielle Stéphane
Published: March 2003

Although multiple myeloma (MM) is a unique entity, a marked heterogeneity is actually observed among the patients, which has been first related to immunoglobulin (Ig) types and light chain subtypes and more recently to chromosomal abnormalities. To further investigate this genetic heterogeneity, we analyzed gene expression profiles of 92 primary tumors according to their Ig types and light chain subtypes with DNA microarrays. Several clusters of genes involved in various biologic functions such as immune response, cell cycle control, signaling, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and structure significantly discriminated IgA- from IgG-MM. Genes associated with inhibition of differentiation and apoptosis induction were up-regulated while genes associated with immune response, cell cycle control, and apoptosis were down-regulated in IgA-MM. According to the expression of the 61 most discriminating genes, BJ-MM represented a separate subgroup that did not express either the genes characteristic of IgG-MM or those of IgA-MM at a high level. This suggests that transcriptional programs associated to the switch could be maintained up to plasma cell differentiation. Several genes whose products are known to stimulate bone remodeling discriminate between κ- and λ-MM. One of these genes, Mip-1α, was overexpressed in the κ subgroup. In addition, we established a strong association (P = .0001) between κ subgroup expressing high levels of Mip-1α and active myeloma bone disease. This study shows that DNA microarrays enable us to perform a molecular dissection of the bioclinical diversity of MM and provide new molecular tools to investigate the pathogenesis of malignant plasma cells.
Leptin Stimulates the Activity of the System A Amino Acid Transporter in Human Placental Villous Fragments
Authors: Jansson N. , Greenwood S. L. , Johansson B. R. , Powell T. L. , Jansson T.
Published: March 2003

The activity and expression of placental nutrient transporters are primary determinants for the supply of nutrients to the fetus, and these nutrients in turn regulate fetal growth. We developed an experimental system to assess amino acid uptake in single primary villous fragments to study hormonal regulation of the amino acid transporter system A in term human placenta. Validation of the method, using electron microscopy and studies of hormone production, indicated that fragments maintained ultrastructural and functional integrity for at least 3 h. The activity of system A was measured as the Na+-dependent uptake of methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB), and the effect of 1 h incubation in various hormones was investigated. Uptake of MeAIB into villous fragments in the presence of Na+ was linear up to at least 30 min. Insulin (300 ng/ml, n = 14) increased system A activity by 56% (P < 0.05). This effect was also present at insulin concentrations in the physiological range (+47% at 0.6 ng/ml, n = 10, P < 0.05). Leptin (500 ng/ml, n = 14) increased Na+-dependent MeAIB uptake by 37% (P < 0.05). System A activity increased in a concentration-dependent fashion in response to leptin (n = 10). However, neither epidermal GF (600 ng/ml), cortisol (340 ng/ml), nor GH (500 ng/ml) altered system A activity significantly (n = 14). We conclude that primary single isolated villous fragments can be used in studies of hormonal regulation of nutrient uptake into the syncytiotrophoblast. These data suggest that leptin regulates system A, a key amino acid transporter.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types I, III, and IV: Effect of Pamidronate Therapy on Bone and Mineral Metabolism
Authors: Rauch Frank , Plotkin Horacio , Travers Rose , Zeitlin Leonid , Glorieux Francis H.
Published: March 2003

Cyclical iv therapy with pamidronate improves the clinical course in children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In this study we evaluated the effect of this therapy on bone and mineral metabolism in 165 patients with OI types I, III, and IV (age, 2 wk to 17.9 yr; 86 girls and 79 boys). All patients received iv pamidronate infusions on 3 successive days, administered at age-dependent intervals of 2–4 months. During the 3 d of the first infusion cycle, serum concentrations of ionized calcium dropped by 0.14 ± 0.008 mmol (mean ± se; P < 0.001), and serum PTH levels transiently almost doubled (P < 0.001). At the same time, urinary excretion of the bone resorption marker type I collagen N-telopeptide related to creatinine (uNTX/uCr) decreased by 61–73% (P < 0.001). Two to 4 months later, ionized calcium had returned to pretreatment levels, and uNTX/uCr remained 30–35% lower than at baseline (P < 0.001). During 4 yr of pamidronate therapy (n = 40 patients), ionized calcium levels remained stable, but PTH levels increased by about 30% (P < 0.01). uNTX/uCr, expressed as a percentage of the age- and sex-specific mean value in healthy children, decreased from 132 ± 13% (mean ± se) at baseline to 49 ± 3% after 4 yr of therapy (P < 0.001). In conclusion, serum calcium levels can decrease considerably during and after pamidronate infusions, requiring close monitoring especially at the first infusion cycle. In long-term therapy, bone turnover is suppressed to levels lower than those in healthy children. The consequences of chronically low bone turnover in children with OI are unknown at present.
Normal Insulin-Stimulated Endothelial Function and Impaired Insulin-Stimulated Muscle Glucose Uptake in Young Adults with Low Birth Weight
Authors: Hermann T. S. , Rask-Madsen C. , Ihlemann N. , Domínguez H. , Jensen C. B. , Storgaard H. , Vaag A. A. , Kober L. , Torp-Pedersen C.
Published: March 2003

Low birth weight has been linked to insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that insulin sensitivity of both muscle and vascular tissues were impaired in young men with low birth weight. Blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during dose-response studies of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in the forearm of fourteen 21-yr-old men with low birth weight and 16 controls of normal birth weight. Glucose uptake was measured during intraarterial insulin infusion. Dose-response studies were repeated during insulin infusion. The maximal blood flow during acetylcholine infusion was 14.1 ± 2.7 and 14.4 ± 2.1 [ml × (100 ml forearm)−1 × min−1] in low and normal birth weight subjects, respectively. Insulin coinfusion increased acetylcholine-stimulated flow in both groups: 18.0 ± 3.1 vs. 17.9 ± 3.1 [ml × (100 ml forearm)−1 × min−1], NS. Insulin infusion increased glucose uptake significantly in the normal birth weight group, compared with the low birth weight group: 0.40 ± 0.09 to 1.00 ± 0.16 vs. 0.44 ± 0.09 to 0.59 ± 0.1 [μmol glucose × (100 ml forearm)−1 × min−1], P = 0.04. Young men with low birth weight have normal insulin-stimulated endothelial function and impaired insulin-stimulated forearm glucose uptake. Thus, endothelial dysfunction does not necessarily coexist with metabolic alterations in subjects with low birth weight.
Characterization of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Estrogen Receptor (ER) Null Mice Reveals Hypergonadism and Endocrine Sex Reversal in Females Lacking ERα But Not ERβ
Authors: Couse John F. , Yates Mariana M. , Walker Vickie R. , Korach Kenneth S.
Published: March 2003

To determine the role of each estrogen receptor (ER) form (ERα, ERβ) in mediating the estrogen actions necessary to maintain proper function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, we have characterized the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in female ER knockout (ERKO) mice. Evaluation of pituitary function included gene expression assays for Gnrhr, Cga, Lhb, Fshb, and Prl. Evaluation of ovarian steroidogenic capacity included gene expression assays for the components necessary for estradiol synthesis: i.e. Star, Cyp11a, Cyp17, Cyp19, Hsd3b1, and Hsd17b1. These data were corroborated by assessing plasma levels of the respective peptide and steroid hormones. αERKO and αβERKO females exhibited increased pituitary Cga and Lhb expression and increased plasma LH levels, whereas both were normal in βERKO. Pituitary Fshb expression and plasma FSH were normal in all three ERKOs. In the ovary, all three ERKOs exhibited normal expression of Star, Cyp11a, and Hsd3b1. In contrast, Cyp17 and Cyp19 expression were elevated in αERKO but normal in βERKO and αβERKO. Plasma steroid levels in each ERKO mirrored the steroidogenic enzyme expression, with only the αERKO exhibiting elevated androstenedione and estradiol. Elevated plasma testosterone in αERKO and αβERKO females was attributable to aberrant expression of Hsd17b3 in the ovary, representing a form of endocrine sex reversal, as this enzyme is unique to the testes. Enhanced steroidogenic capacity in αERKO ovaries was erased by treatment with a GnRH antagonist, indicating these phenotypes to be the indirect result of excess LH stimulation that follows the loss of ERα in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Overall, these findings indicate that ERα, but not ERβ, is indispensable to the negative-feedback effects of estradiol that maintain proper LH secretion from the pituitary. The subsequent hypergonadism is illustrated as increased Cyp17, Cyp19, Hsd17b1, and ectopic Hsd17b3 expression in the ovary.
Three Epochs of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care
Authors: Howell Michael D. , Corrado Greg S. , DeSalvo Karen B.
Published: January 2024

Importance

Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has reached an all-time high, and health care leaders across the ecosystem are faced with questions about where, when, and how to deploy AI and how to understand its risks, problems, and possibilities.

Observations

While AI as a concept has existed since the 1950s, all AI is not the same. Capabilities and risks of various kinds of AI differ markedly, and on examination 3 epochs of AI emerge. AI 1.0 includes symbolic AI, which attempts to encode human knowledge into computational rules, as well as probabilistic models. The era of AI 2.0 began with deep learning, in which models learn from examples labeled with ground truth. This era brought about many advances both in people’s daily lives and in health care. Deep learning models are task-specific, meaning they do one thing at a time, and they primarily focus on classification and prediction. AI 3.0 is the era of foundation models and generative AI. Models in AI 3.0 have fundamentally new (and potentially transformative) capabilities, as well as new kinds of risks, such as hallucinations. These models can do many different kinds of tasks without being retrained on a new dataset. For example, a simple text instruction will change the model’s behavior. Prompts such as “Write this note for a specialist consultant” and “Write this note for the patient’s mother” will produce markedly different content.

Conclusions and Relevance

Foundation models and generative AI represent a major revolution in AI’s capabilities, ffering tremendous potential to improve care. Health care leaders are making decisions about AI today. While any heuristic omits details and loses nuance, the framework of AI 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 may be helpful to decision-makers because each epoch has fundamentally different capabilities and risks.
British Columbia’s Safer Opioid Supply Policy and Opioid Outcomes
Authors: Nguyen Hai V. , Mital Shweta , Bugden Shawn , McGinty Emma E.
Published: January 2024

Importance

In March 2020, British Columbia, Canada, became the first jurisdiction globally to launch a large-scale provincewide safer supply policy. The policy allowed individuals with opioid use disorder at high risk of overdose or poisoning to receive pharmaceutical-grade opioids prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner, but to date, opioid-related outcomes after policy implementation have not been explored.

Objective

To investigate the association of British Columbia’s Safer Opioid Supply policy with opioid prescribing and opioid-related health outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used quarterly province-level data from quarter 1 of 2016 (January 1, 2016) to quarter 1 of 2022 (March 31, 2022), from British Columbia, where the Safer Opioid Supply policy was implemented, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where the policy was not implemented (comparison provinces).

Exposure

Safer Opioid Supply policy implemented in British Columbia in March 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were rates of prescriptions, claimants, and prescribers of opioids targeted by the Safer Opioid Supply policy (hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl); opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations; and deaths from apparent opioid toxicity. Difference-in-differences analysis was used to compare changes in outcomes before and after policy implementation in British Columbia with those in the comparison provinces.

Results

The Safer Opioid Supply policy was associated with statistically significant increases in rates of opioid prescriptions (2619.6 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, 1322.1-3917.0 per 100 000 population; P < .001) and claimants (176.4 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, 33.5-319.4 per 100 000 population; P = .02). There was no significant change in prescribers (15.7 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, −0.2 to 31.6 per 100 000 population; P = .053). However, the opioid-related poisoning hospitalization rate increased by 3.2 per 100 000 population (95% CI, 0.9-5.6 per 100 000 population; P = .01) after policy implementation. There were no statistically significant changes in deaths from apparent opioid toxicity (1.6 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, −1.3 to 4.5 per 100 000 population; P = .26).

Conclusions and Relevance

Two years after its launch, the Safer Opioid Supply policy in British Columbia was associated with higher rates of safer supply opioid prescribing but also with a significant increase in opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations. These findings will help inform ongoing debates about this policy not only in British Columbia but also in other jurisdictions that are contemplating it.
3D‐Printed Nanostructured Copper Substrate Boosts the Sodiated Capability and Stability of Antimony Anode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Gao Hui , Gao Wanli , Pumera Martin
Published: January 2024

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) represent a viable substitute to lithium‐ion batteries due to their affordability and resource abundance. For SIBs, antimony (Sb) shows potential as anode material but is impeded by the high volumetric variations. Here the challenges of Sb sodium storage by introducing the nanostructured Cu substrate for enhanced Sb adhesion and morphology optimization is addressed, which is realized by fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing of Cu substrate, subsequent high‐temperature sintering, and electrodeposition of Sb. In SIBs, the Sb deposited on three dimensional (3D) printed Cu substrate performs improved cycling stability compared with that of Sb@Cu with commercial Cu foil substrate, which can be attributed to the nanostructure of the 3D‐Cu substrate. Such architecture of 3D‐Cu induces the generation of pine‐leaf‐like Sb clusters to promote stability and kinetics, and it aids the adhesion between the Sb cluster and 3D‐Cu substrate for preventing the Sb detachment and restructuring the Sb cluster to the robust porous ligament‐channel Sb framework. The morphology evolution, (de)sodiation mechanism, and gas evolution are explored by ex situ scanning electron microscope, operando X‐ray diffraction, and operando differential electrochemical mass spectrometry separately. The developed Sb@3D‐Cu anode offers a flexible pathway for constructing 3D‐printed self‐supported electrodes for SIBs.
Origin of Spin‐State Precise Modulation for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Activity: Effect of Secondary Coordination Sphere
Authors: Fang Zhi , Chai Mengna , Lv Yucheng , Zhao Wanting , Hou Xinmei , Hou Yanglong
Published: January 2024

The process of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for energy storage and conversion, and the spin electronic structure of catalyst significantly influences its catalytic activity. Precisely regulating the spin electronic structures of metal active centers with intermediate spin (IS) states is challenging but important. This study presents a general method for achieving spin‐state precise modulation by altering the secondary coordination sphere (SCS) in Fe‐substituted LaCo1‐xFexO3 perovskites, denoted as Co6‐y−[Co]−Fey (y = 0–6). The concentration‐dependent SCSs can precisely regulate the spin state of Co3+ from high‐spin (HS) to IS and low‐spin (LS) state by tuning the Co─O binding energy of primary coordination sphere (PCS) to ≈567 KJ mol−1. The binding energy demonstrates a strong negative correlation with the spin state of Co3+, serving as a quantitative descriptor for precise spin‐state modulation. Furthermore, a universal optimal doping concentration is proposed for generating IS‐state Co3+ with the best OER activity, ranging from 1/(m+1) to 2/(m+1) in M‐doped ACo1‐xMxOy system with the coordination number of m. As a proof‐of‐concept, the LaCo7/9Fe2/9O3 with IS Co3+ exhibits significantly enhanced OER activity, almost six times higher than the control samples (without IS Co3+). These findings provide new insights into spin‐state modulation for effective OER catalysts.
Bridging the Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis by Supramolecular Metal‐Organic Cages with Varied Packing Modes
Authors: Kan Liang , Zhang Lei , Dong Long‐Zhang , Wang Xiao‐Han , Li Run‐Han , Guo Chenxing , Li Xiaopeng , Yan Yong , Li Shun‐Li , Lan Ya‐Qian
Published: January 2024

Integrating the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis has proved to be an optimal strategy for developing catalytic systems with high efficiency, selectivity, and recoverability. Supramolecular metal‐organic cages (MOCs), assembled by the coordination of metal ions with organic linkers into discrete molecules, have performed solvent processability due to their tunable packing modes, endowing them with the potential to act as homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts in different solvent systems. Here, the design and synthesis of a series of stable {Cu3} cluster‐based tetrahedral MOCs with varied packing structures are reported. These MOCs, as homogeneous catalysts, not only show high catalytic activity and selectivity regardless of substrate size during the CO2 cycloaddition reaction, but also can be easily recovered from the reaction media through separating products and co‐catalysts by one‐step work‐up. This is because that these MOCs have varied solubilities in different solvents due to the tunable packing of MOCs in the solid state. Moreover, the entire catalytic reaction system is very clean, and the purity of cyclic carbonates is as high as 97% without further purification. This work provides a unique strategy for developing novel supramolecular catalysts that can be used for homogeneous catalysis and recycled in a heterogeneous manner.
Controlling Film Formation and Host‐Guest Interactions to Enhance the Thermoelectric Properties of Nickel‐Nitrogen‐Based 2D Conjugated Coordination Polymers
Authors: Un Hio‐Ieng , Lu Yang , Li Jiaxuan , Dong Renhao , Feng Xinliang , Sirringhaus Henning
Published: January 2024

2D conjugated coordination polymers (cCPs) based on square‐planar transition metal‐complexes (such as MO4, M(NH)4, and MS4, M = metal) are an emerging class of (semi)conducting materials that are of great interest for applications in supercapacitors, catalysis, and thermoelectrics. Finding synthetic approaches to high‐performance nickel‐nitrogen (Ni‐N) based cCP films is a long‐standing challenge. Here, a general, dynamically controlled on‐surface synthesis that produces highly conductive Ni‐N‐based cCP films is developed and the thermoelectric properties as a function of the molecular structure and their dependence on interactions with ambient atmosphere are studied. Among the four studied cCPs with different ligand sizes hexaminobenzene‐ and hexaaminotriphenylene‐based films exhibit record electrical conductivity (100–200 S cm–1) in this Ni‐N based cCP family, which is one order of magnitude higher than previous reports, and the highest thermoelectric power factors up to 10 µW m–1 K–2 among reported 2D cCPs. The transport physics of these films is studied and it is shown that depending on the host‐guest interaction with oxygen/water the majority carrier type and the value of the Seebeck coefficient can be largely regulated. The high conductivity is likely reflecting good interconnectivity between (small) ordered domains and grain boundaries supporting disordered metallic transport.
Interface‐Driven Spontaneous Differentiation‐Repulsion Behavior in Isochemical Droplet Populations
Authors: Appelman Niels , Chen Chang , Gruppen Ivar , Deshpande Siddharth
Published: January 2024

An important exercise for understanding the emergent behavior in biology is to study it using minimal synthetic systems. Current biomimetic systems involving directed motion and collective migration require at least three components: two immiscible solvents to form an emulsion, and external agent(s), usually surfactants, to give rise to asymmetric interactions and induce transient non‐equilibrium conditions. Here, the most minimal system thinkable, consisting of only two components, is presented, in the form of micron‐sized oil (1‐decanol) droplets dispersed in a finite water reservoir. Spontaneous emergent dynamics within chemically identical droplet populations is reported, in the form of physical differentiation of droplets in a stochastic manner leading to an immediate repulsive behavior amongst their neighbors. Using a microfluidic production platform, fluorescence microscopy experiments, and modelling, it is showed that this cyclic phenomenon of differentiation‐repulsion results from oil droplets entering the air‐water interface leading to Marangoni flows and their coupling with evaporative flux of decanol. The potential of this platform is illustrated by demonstrating control over the event frequency, its use as Marangoni tweezers to trap droplet clusters, and proof‐of‐principle reorganization of multi‐component assemblies. The presented collective behavior with exceptional chemical simplicity makes it amenable for potentially developing self‐assembled biomimetic and bioengineered structures.
Research Progress in Self‐Powered Pressure Sensors for Internet of Healthcare
Authors: Lu Bohan , Xie Lingjie , Lei Hao , Liu Yina , Zhao Chun , Sun Xuhui , Wen Zhen
Published: January 2024

To mitigate the risks posed by noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) to human health, the Internet of Healthcare (IoH) requires sensors with real‐time and long‐term monitoring capabilities. However, traditional pressure sensors, due to their high‐power consumption and non‐rechargeability, are unbale to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of physiological monitoring devices in the IoH. The emergence of self‐powered pressure sensing technology, exemplified by nanogenerators, provides a new strategy for the next generation of wearable health monitoring devices. This review begins by discussing the merits and drawbacks of different pressure‐sensing modes for healthcare monitoring. Then, it introduces the development and working mechanism of self‐powered triboelectric and piezoelectric sensors. Furthermore, it summarizes the optimizations of sensor structure and material selection aimed at improving sensing performance and achieving high accuracy in sensor networks within the IoH. Relevant application based on independent, or hybrid mechanisms are also covered. Finally, the challenges and prospects for achieving large‐scale commercial applications of self‐power sensing system in IoH are discussed.
3D Radial Junctions for Robust and Flexible Optoelectronics
Authors: Zhang Shaobo , Yu Linwei
Published: January 2024

Marrying nanostructures with thin films is a recent trend in flexible optoelectronics to improve light trapping and mechanical stability. Radial junction (RJ) a‐Si:H thin film optoelectronics, directly deposited upon the vapor‐liquid‐solid (VLS) grown silicon nanowires (SiNWs), can pave the way to achieving excellent flexibility and a high power‐to‐weight ratio (PTWR). Thanks to their vertical‐standing geometry, SiNWs framework can enhance the mechanical stability of RJ units, by keeping the working region far away from the stress‐rich substrate surface. Using low‐melting‐point metals as catalysts, the SiNW array can be fabricated at a low temperature down to 350 °C in a PECVD system, making it possible to directly construct robust RJ units on flexible, low‐cost substrates, such as Al foil. In this review, the recent progress of the flexible RJ a‐Si:H thin film solar cells/photodetectors that are directly fabricated on the surface of low‐cost flexible substrates is reviewed. Moreover, these RJ flexible optoelectronics are demonstrated for use in wearable and real‐time health monitoring, and as cardiac pacemakers for heart stimulation. This RJ technology highlights a promising potential to establish high‐performance, low‐cost, mechanically stable flexible optoelectronic for wearable, portable applications.
Controlling the Manifold of Polariton States Through Molecular Disorder
Authors: George Aleesha , Geraghty Trevor , Kelsey Zahra , Mukherjee Soham , Davidova Gloria , Kim Woojae , Musser Andrew J
Published: January 2024

Exciton polaritons, arising from the interaction of electronic transitions with confined electromagnetic fields, have emerged as a powerful tool to manipulate the properties of organic materials. However, standard experimental and theoretical approaches overlook the significant energetic disorder present in most materials now studied. Using the conjugated polymer P3HT as a model platform, the degree of energetic disorder is systematically tuned and a corresponding redistribution of photonic character within the polariton manifold is observed. Based on these subtle spectral features, a more generalized approach is developed to describe strong light‐matter coupling in disordered systems that captures the key spectroscopic observables and provides a description of the rich manifold of states intermediate between bright and dark. Applied to a wide range of organic systems, the method challenges prevailing notions about ultrastrong coupling and whether it can be achieved with broad, disordered absorbers.
Nanoimprinted Quasi‐2D Perovskites toward High‐Performance Polarization‐Sensitive Photodetectors
Authors: Liu Duanzijing , Wei Qi , Zhuang Lyuchao , Liu Ming , Zeng Longhui , Ren Hui , Li Mingjie , Lau Shu Ping
Published: January 2024

The demand for high‐performance polarization‐sensitive perovskite photodetectors (PSPPDs) has driven research to develop new materials that enable efficient light harvesting and polarization detection. Herein, a PSPPD based on nanoimprinted quasi‐2D halide perovskite thin films with vertical gradient phase distribution is reported. The nanoimprinting method is utilized to create nanoscale linear patterns on the surface of the film. It enables polarized light detection and enhances absorption. According to the results of transient absorption analysis, a vertical gradient phase distribution along the longitudinal direction of quasi‐2D perovskite (PEA)2(MA)n‐1PbnI3n+1 (PEA+ = C6H5CH2CH2NH3+, MA+ = CH3NH3+, n = 3) is confirmed, which facilitates efficient carrier transfer and separation, leading to improved device performance. These PSPPDs demonstrate outstanding photo‐response with a large responsivity of ≈90 A W−1 and a high detectivity reaching the order of 1012 Jones. The photoluminescence of the quasi‐2D perovskite film exhibits an anisotropy ratio of 2.05, and the PSPPD reaches a polarization sensitivity of 1.68. These findings offer insight into the feasibility of developing perovskite materials for PSPPDs, which have potential applications in imaging, sensing, and communication technologies.