cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ESG Investing: Theory, Evidence, and Fiduciary Principles

Trustees and other investment fiduciaries of pensions, charities, and personal trusts, and those who advise them, face increasing pressure to rely on ESG factors in the investment management of tens of trillions of dollars of other people’s money. At the same time, however, confusion abounds about the intersection of fiduciary principles and ESG investing. This article cuts through that confusion to provide guidance about when and how ESG investing by trustees and investment fiduciaries is permissible. We make four interrelated points: (1) we provide a clarifying taxonomy on the meaning of ESG investing, differentiating between risk-return ESG (i.e., using ESG factors to improve risk-adjusted returns) and collateral benefits ESG (i.e., using ESG factors for third-party effects); (2) we discuss the subjectivity inherent to identifying and applying ESG factors, which complicates assessment of ESG investing strategies; (3) we summarize the current theory and evidence on whether ESG investing can improve risk-adjusted returns, finding the results to be mixed and contextual; and (4) we show that American trust fiduciary law generally prohibits collateral benefits ESG, but risk-return ESG can be permissible if supported by a reasoned and documented analysis that is updated periodically.
Transcriptomics reveals the mycoparasitic strategy of the mushroom Entoloma abortivum on species of the mushroom Armillaria

ABSTRACT During mycoparasitism, a fungus—the host—is parasitized by another fungus—the mycoparasite. The genetic underpinnings of these relationships have been best characterized in ascomycete fungi. However, within basidiomycete fungi, there are rare instances of mushroom-forming species parasitizing the reproductive structures, or sporocarps, of other mushroom-forming species, which have been rarely investigated on a genetic level. One of the most enigmatic of these occurs between Entoloma abortivum and species of Armillaria, where hyphae of E. abortivum are hypothesized to disrupt the development of Armillaria sporocarps, resulting in the formation of carpophoroids. However, it remains unknown whether carpophoroids are the direct result of a mycoparasitic relationship. To address the nature of this unique interaction, we analyzed gene expression of field-collected Armillaria and E. abortivum sporocarps and carpophoroids. Transcripts in the carpophoroids are primarily from E. abortivum, supporting the hypothesis that this species is parasitizing Armillaria. Most notably, we identified differentially upregulated E. abortivum β-trefoil-type lectins in the carpophoroid, which we hypothesize bind to Armillaria cell wall galactomannoproteins, thereby mediating recognition between the mycoparasite and the host. The most differentially upregulated E. abortivum transcripts in the carpophoroid code for oxalate decarboxylases—enzymes that degrade oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is a virulence factor in many plant pathogens, including Armillaria species, however, E. abortivum has evolved a sophisticated strategy to overcome this defense mechanism. The number of gene models and genes that code for carbohydrate-active enzymes in the E. abortivum transcriptome were reduced compared to other closely related species, perhaps as a result of the specialized nature of this interaction. IMPORTANCE By studying fungi that parasitize other fungi, we can understand the basic biology of these unique interactions. Studies focused on the genetic mechanisms regulating mycoparasitism between host and parasite have thus far concentrated on a single fungal lineage within the Ascomycota. The work presented here expands our understanding of mycoparasitic relationships to the Basidiomycota and represents the first transcriptomic study to our knowledge that examines fungal-fungal relationships in their natural setting. The results presented here suggest that even distantly related mycoparasites utilize similar mechanisms to parasitize their host. Given that species of the mushroom-forming pathogen Armillaria cause plant root-rot diseases in many agroecosystems, an enhanced understanding of this interaction may contribute to better control of these diseases through biocontrol applications.
Punctuated Equilibria: Three ‘Leaps’ in the Evolution of the German Vocational Training System

Germany’s vocational training system evolved into its modern form in the four decades between 1897 and 1937. This evolution did not occur smoothly, but in three bursts of activity, each under a different political regime. After the 1897 Handwerk Law established a partial model for overcoming incentives problems associated with training skilled workers, between 1907 and 1912 the German state organized a ‘coalition of the willing’ among German engineering and machine-tool firms in order to extend the same model to parts of industry. In the mid-1920s, the major Ger- man industrial groups took the initiative to standardize vocational profiles and training schemes. Finally, in the mid-1930s German industry and key national ministries cooperated to give standardized certifications for industrial vocations legal standing on par with those in handicrafts. As a result, hundreds of thousands of young Germans began entering apprenticeships for skilled work.
Childhood maltreatment, sleep disturbances, and anxiety and depression: A prospective longitudinal investigation

Abstract This research sought to determine whether inadequate sleep conditions in childhood and sleep problems in young adulthood in part explain the relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and anxiety and depression later in life. Children with documented histories of abuse and neglect and matched controls were followed up and assessed in young and middle adulthood. Abused and neglected children were more likely to report experiencing inadequate sleep conditions in childhood, sleep problems in young adulthood, and higher levels of depression and anxiety later in middle adulthood. Results revealed significant indirect paths from childhood maltreatment to anxiety and depression in middle adulthood through inadequate sleep conditions in childhood and sleep problems in young adulthood. This longitudinal follow-up of children with documented cases of maltreatment reveals the important role of sleep disturbances in the lives of maltreated children and adults and sleep disturbances in the development of subsequent anxiety and depression.
Electrophilic Olefins Containing Anionic Leaving Groups as New Cationic Initiators

Five tri-and tetra-substituted electron-poor olefins \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {1} - \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {5} \) containing β-anionic leaving groups initiated cationic polymerization of p-methoxystyrene with widely varying rates. Compounds \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {1} \) and \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {2} \) were highly active organic initiators. The yields and molecular weights of the polymers decreased with decreasing electron deficiency of the initiator through the series. The same was true when the excellent leaving group trifluoromethanesulfonate was replaced by the poorer leaving group chloride. Substituted butadienes were isolated along with homopolymer from the reaction of p-methoxy-styrene with compounds \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {3} \) and \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {4} \). In ring opening polymerization, compound \( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}\to {1} \) polymerized THF and trioxane with reactivity comparable to that of methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. The mechanism of pol3nnerization was suggested to go through the formation of charge transfer complexes and 1, 4-tetramethylenes (1, 4-zwitterions) which propagate p-methoxystyrene cationic polymerization with the leaving group anion as gegen ion.
23 – Syphilis in Women

Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection for women and their offspring, given the high morbidity and premature deaths associated with congenital syphilis. It is easily transmitted to sexual partners and the fetus during the early infectious stages. Anecdotal cases of syphilis spread by household contact (for example, drinking from shared vessels) are sometimes cited, but confirmation of such modes of transmission is lacking. A person's infectiousness is strongly modified by the stage of the disease and peaks when the level of treponemes is highest. This feature also has implications for the infectiousness of persons with early latent infection, in whom the 4-year period after acquisition confers the highest risk of transmission to sex partners. The clinical diagnosis of syphilis can be difficult because of the highly variable manifestations of secondary syphilis and the lack of symptoms or clinical findings during the latent stage. Serologic screening for syphilis is a critical component in identifying infected women and preventing congenital transmission through treatment of seropositive mothers. Treatment of syphilis with penicillin is highly effective, even in the setting of HIV infection.
Abstract P048: The Association Between Apparent Treatment Resistant Hypertension and Low Mental and Physical Functioning, Depressive Symptoms, and Stress.

Apparent treatment resistant hypertension (aTRH) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. There are few data on the association between aTRH, health-related quality of life and psychological well-being. In the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study (n=30,239), we evaluated the association between aTRH and low health-related quality of life, high stress, and depressive symptoms. Also, among those with aTRH we assessed the association of these psychological factors with all-cause mortality. Low mental and physical functioning were defined by SF-12 scores in the lowest quintile for the mental and physical component scores, respectively. High stress was defined as having a Cohen’s Perceived Stress score ≥ 7. Depressive symptoms were defined as having a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression score ≥ 4. aTRH was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg despite the use of 3 classes of antihypertensive medicatio...
The Computational Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning and Memory: Principles and Models

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces learning and memory as viewed from the perspective of neural computation. The computational agenda in cognitive neuroscience focuses on two important tasks, each relevant to the study of learning and memory: to identify and understand how neural computations are carried out in the brain and to use computational simulations to better understand how these neural computations give rise to cognitive function. Computational cognitive neuroscientists often divide learning into three broad classes: supervised, reinforcement, and unsupervised learning. The three classes share the common objective of forming stored representations to be later recalled and used to guide behavior; they differ in the specific mechanisms by which stored representations are derived from experience. The chapter discusses these three types of learning at a behavioral level using a concrete example: the task faced by a young child learning the name of an object visually experienced in the environment. It aims (1) to present a set of core principles of neural computation that have been derived from empirical work in neuroscience and (2) to demonstrate how these principles can serve as building blocks for computational models that have been used to explain many aspects of learning and memory.
The Power of Second-Order Decision Tables.

The success of data mining techniques can be measured by the usefulness of models they produce. Often these models must be explainable as well as accurate. While decision tables are easy to interpret and explain to virtually all users, there has been little study of whether such simple models are powerful enough to use for data mining. This paper presents SORCER, a learning system that induces second-order decision tables from a given data set. Second-order tables are database relations in which rows have sets of atomic values as components. Using sets of values interpreted as disjunctions, secondorder tables provide simple and compact representations that both enhance comprehensibility and facilitate efficient management. Unlike many other learning systems, to further promote comprehensibility, SORCER attempts to generate a minimum number of rows. SORCER’s induction algorithm can be viewed as a table compression technique in which a traditional table, representing training data, is transformed into a second-order table with fewer rows by merging rows in ways that preserve consistency with the training data. We compare SORCER to three classification systems: C4.5, CBA and a Naive Bayesian classifier. Experimental results on 26 data sets show that the average error rate obtained from SORCER, using a simple compression method, is lower than those of the Naive Bayesian classifier and C4.5 and is competitive with CBA’s average error rate. Using a slightly more sophisticated compression, SORCER’s average error rate is the lowest of all.
Some security topics with possible applications for pairing-based cryptography

Over the last decade, pairing-based cryptography has found a wide range of interesting applications, both in cryptography and in computer/network security. It often yields the most elegant (if not always the most efficient) techniques. This talk overviews several topics to which pairing-based methods either have not been applied, or where they have not reached their potential. The first topic is "privacy-preserving set operations", such as private set intersection (PSI) protocols. Despite lots of prior work, state-of-the-art (in terms of efficiency) PSI is grounded in more mundane non-pairing-based number theoretic settings. This is puzzling, since the same does not hold with closely related secret handshakes and affiliation-hiding key exchange (AH-AKE) techniques. The second topic is more applied: "security in unattended wireless sensor networks" (UWSNs). We discuss certain unique security issues occurring in UWSNs, overview some protection measures, and consider whether pairing-based cryptography has some applications in this context. The third topic is "privacy in mobile ad hoc networks" (MANETs). The central goal is to achieve privacy-preserving (i.e., tracking-resistant) mobility in the presence of malicious insiders, while maintaining security. Since security is based on authentication, which is, in turn, usually based on identities, routing and packet forwarding are very challenging. Pairingbased cryptography might offer some useful techniques for reconciling security and privacy in this context. Finally, we consider the topic of "secure code attestation for embedded devices" where the main challenge is: how an untrusted (and possibly compromised) device can convince a trusted verifier that it runs appropriate code. After discussing current approaches, once again, consider whether pairing techniques can be of use.
Neopentylallithium : IV. Reactions in ether solvents

Abstract Protolysis and ketone addition reactions are reported for neophentylallyllithium in THF solvent. The yield of the trans -C 8 H 16 olefin essentially constant for protolysis with the following active hydrogen compounds: water, tert-butanol, 1-hexyne, cyclopentadiene, fluorene, and triphenylmethane. The relative yields of the cis - and α-neopentallyl isomers apparently depend on the steric bulk as well as the strength of the acid. The degree of allylic rearrangement observed from a series of ketones also is a function of the size of the ketone.
Alteration in γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase Activity and Messenger RNA of Human Prostate Carcinoma Cells by Androgen

Concentrations of the synthetic androgen R1881 that correspond to physiologically relevant concentrations of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone are capable of altering the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in human prostate carcinoma cells. GGT activity of the androgen-responsive prostate cancer cell line LNCaP increases >50% above that of the control after a 72-h exposure to 1 nM R1881. This elevation in GGT activity occurs as early as 48 h after treatment and is maintained for at least 96 h. Loss of glutathione (GSH) from media and accumulation of intracellular GSH of cells pretreated with 1 nM R1881 occur at a higher rate than in control cells, suggesting that a greater rate of GSH salvage is associated with the increased GGT activity. Immunohistochemical staining detects an increase in GGT-positive staining in cells treated with 1 nM R1881 for 72 h. Steady-state mRNA levels for GGT are elevated above those of the control 24-72 h after treatment. R1881 has no effect on the GGT activity of the androgen-independent prostate cell line DU145. Growth of LNCaP but not DU145 cells is inhibited by 1 nM R1881 compared to that of the control. Inhibitors of GGT activity, acivicin and serine-borate, are capable of dampening or blocking the effect of R1881 on growth. Growth of LNCaP cells treated with 1 nM R1881 plus 100 mM glycylglycine, a stimulator of GGT activity, is inhibited to a greater extent than the growth of LNCaP cells treated with R1881 alone. These data demonstrate that androgens can elevate GGT activity and increase GGT mRNA and protein levels in human prostate carcinoma cells. In addition, compounds able to alter GGT activity are capable of altering androgen-related growth effects.
Holographic data storage or reliability; a status report

Holographic data storage has the potential for high density data storage with fast optical access and very high data transfer rates. Recent progress in consumer electronics provides liquid crystal TVs as spatial light modulators (SLM) and CCDs from video camcorders with excellent performance at an interesting price point. This progress in the component area and recent development of improved recording materials has encouraged the renewal of interest in holographic data storage. This presentation attempts an up-to-date review of the status of holographic data storage and highlights the open technical issues. For holographic data storage to be of technical interest it has to compete with established storage techniques on the basis of cost per megabyte and performance. Key performance parameters are data rate, access time and storage density. For a large capacity holographic storage device, high density of the stored data at low media cost would of course translate into low cost per megabyte. All of this has to be provided reliably, i.e. at a bit-error-rate that compares favorably with conventional storage techniques on media with archival quality. Holographic storage demonstrations have shown the potential for the error free read out of a data page of one thousand by one thousand pixels in one millisecond for a data rate of one Gigabit per second.
Relevance of changes in blood fibrinolytic and coagulation parameters during thrombolytic therapy.

Abstract Laboratory tests of blood coagulation and fibrinolytic processes could potentially be used with thrombolytic therapy to detect and monitor the presence of a plasma proteolytic state; to predict bleeding complications, reperfusion, and reocclusion; and to control the patient's clinical course following thrombolysis. However, laboratory measures of the "lytic state" do not correlate well with either thrombolytic efficacy or bleeding complications. The development of fibrin-specific agents and the technique of regional perfusion of thrombolytic drugs represent efforts to reduce systemic fibrinolytic effects and hence decrease bleeding complications. Fibrin-specific agents are not safer with regard to hemorrhagic problems, however, and data as to their increased thrombolytic efficacy are equivocal. Regional perfusion still produces some systemic effects. The probable reason for the lack of predictability of laboratory data for clinical outcome is that both pathologic thrombi and hemostatic plugs have a wide range of susceptibility to fibrinolytic agents. Clot features that influence sensitivity to thrombolysis include age of the thrombus, molecular structure of the clot and the contribution of platelets, and location of the clot within the vascular system. Although the concept of controlling short-term thrombolysis or bleeding complications by laboratory monitoring and regulation of blood coagulation is inconsistent with clinical experience gained to date, the laboratory is useful to prove a "lytic" state in prolonged infusions, to monitor heparin administration, and to evaluate patients for possible surgical intervention.
Pulmonary hemorrhage: A novel complication after extracorporeal life support

Abstract Pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) occurs infrequently as a complication in neonates with respiratory failure. Major PH has been observed at the authors' institution in several neonates after "successful" completion of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) therapy. The authors sought to determine the incidence of PH and the risk factors associated with this unique and newly described morbidity after ECLS. The hospital records of all patients who had PH after ECLS were reviewed. The control patients were the first three infants who underwent ECLS just before each PH case. PH was defined as the occurrence of bloody tracheal secretions associated with a deterioration in pulmonary status. Demographics, ventilator/ECLS parameters, fluid management, coagulation, and laboratory studies were evaluated in the pre-ECLS, during ECLS, and in the post-ECLS period. From 1985 to 1993, 13 (6%) of 214 neonates suffered major PH, at a mean time of 43.2 ± 9.2 hours after the ECLS course. The overall mortality rate for children with PH was 38%, compared with 5% among the control patients. In the pre-ECLS phase, patients with PH required more fluid (153.6 ± 20.2 mL/kg/d v 106.8 ± 10.2 mL/kg/d) and were acidemic for a longer period (2.3 ± 1.2 hours v 0.6 ± 0.2 hours; pH 2 or oxygenation index criteria. During ECLS, inotropes were required more often (23% v 0%; P v 33%; P v 83.4 ± 16.7 hours) and supplemental oxygen (24.3 ± 3.0 days v 17.2 ± 1.9 days). No coagulation abnormalities were identified at the time of PH. Higher SGPT (185.4 ± 146.4 U/L v 22.6 ± 3.5 U/L; P v 47.2 ± 5.9 mg/dL; P
Hardware autonomy and space systems

Autonomous capability in space systems is rapidly becoming a necessity for continued research and exploration. While these systems have traditionally behaved as passive observers, their remoteness and unique access to unexplored environments will likely result in future systems that behave more like active agents employed on our behalf. We may still determine the larger mission goals and priorities, but the systems themselves will be better able to direct their own movement, schedule, and operation.
Total Synthesis of (±)-12-noralliacolide, (±)-alliacol A and (±)-alliacolide

Abstract The title compounds were prepared via a “one-pot” γ-lactone annulation sequence in which dilithium acetate functions as a bis -nucleophile, first at carbonyl and then at hindered allylic sulfonate centers (SN′ orientation).
Highly absorbing nano-scale metal films for terahertz applications

Our work aims to identify nano-scale metal films with enhanced absorption in the terahertz (THz) spectral range (1 to 10 THz) that can be incorporated in thermal imagers that operate in this spectral band. Absorption measurements of chromium and nickel films with different thicknesses (2.5 to 50 nm) revealed that absorption as high as 47% can be achieved by controlling the thickness of the film. The measured absorption agrees well with the predicted maximum absorption of 50% using thin metal films. The results indicate that nanometer scale metal films can provide high THz absorption for applications in thermal sensing.
Dynamic response of dolos armor units to drop test impact loads

Abstract Dolos concrete units have been used extensively throughout the world for the protection of shorelines and rubble structures. A three-dimensional finite element model is used to determine the states of dynamic stress in dolosse with varying dimensions and concrete properties. An analytical procedure is developed which accurately predicts the tensile stress in the shank and horizontal fluke of dolosse subject to drop test loading conditions Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the application of prediction and iso-stress equations.
Bronchial sleeve resection for posttransplant stricture

Nonanastomotic bronchial stenosis is a rare complication of lung transplantation. We report a case of a bilateral lung transplant recipient who experienced recalcitrant stenosis of the bronchus intermedius. All attempts at conservative management failed, and the stricture was successfully treated by a parenchymal-sparing segmental sleeve resection. Although rare, this is an important technique in the management of this difficult problem.
High resolution intravascular imaging via ultrasonic catheters: proof of concept

The potential image quality and resolution of medical ultrasonic imaging catheters (UIC) for use in minimally invasive determinations of vascular disease was examined with the aid of a prototype, small-aperture, high-resolution imaging system. The value of high-resolution ultrasonic imaging derives from the potential ability to quantitate intimal roughening, 'see' beyond the intimal lining of the vessel, and compute tissue attenuation to help identify tissue histology. High-resolution images of an in vitro human arterial samples were obtained using the prototype UIC. Excellent correlations between the ultrasonic images, high-resolution, magnetic resonance images, and pathology specimens are demonstrated. It is concluded that high-quality images for small, clinically useful UICs are definitely feasible using current technology. >
On A Reductionist Analysis of William James's Philosophy of Religion

William James undertook to steer his way between a rationalistic system that was not empirical enough and an empirical system so materialistic that it could not account for the value commitments on which it rested. In arguing against both the absolutists (gnostics) and the empiricists (agnostics), he defined a position of pluralistic moralism that seemed equally distant from both, leaving himself vulnerable to the criticism that he had rescued morality from scientism only by reducing religion to morals. Such criticism, however, ignores distinctions James made between religion and theology and between monistic theology and dualistic theology. When these distinctions are taken into account, it becomes evident that James can be criticized for reducing religion to morality only from the point of view of either absolute monism or religious humanism and that radical empiricism not only embraces a significant number of nonmoral religious experiences but also leaves open the possibility of belief in the particular historical God of traditional Christianity. I CONTEND IN THIS ARTICLE THAT A REDUCTIONIST ANALYSIS of William James's philosophy of religion fails to capture the richness of the relationship between religion and morality that can be found in James's religious philosophy. According to a reductionist view, the conception of religion is exhausted by the notion of ethics, making religion a mere epiphenomenon of morality; according to such a view, religion can be fully explained by a robust conception of the moral life. If religion is identical to morality or ethics (the terms "morality" and "ethics" are used interchangeably in this article) or if it is at least reducible to ethics without remainder, then a reductionist analysis of religion is the correct view of the matter. However, the actual identification of religion with ethics is a strong thesis that is rarely embraced by anyone, not even by those who sometimes explicitly affirm that religion is morality or vice Sincere thanks to William D. Stine and three anonymous referees of this journal for their generous help, which made this article better than I ever could have made it on my own.
Dot.Con: The Dangers of Cyber Crime and a Call for Proactive Solutions

Books reviewed in this article: Howard R. Davia, Fraud 101: Techniques and Strategies for Detection William Hutchinson and Matthew Warren, Information Warfare: Corporate Attack and Defense in a Digital World Peter Lilley, Dirty Dealing: The Untold Truth About Global Money Laundering Abraham D. Sofaer and Seymour E. Goodman, eds., The Transnational Dimension of Cyber Crime and Terrorism Guy Stessens, Money Laundering: A New International Law Enforcement Model
Correcting errors associated with soil heat flux measurements and estimating soil thermal properties from soil temperature and heat flux plate data

Abstract This paper deals with some of the problems associated with measuring the soil heat flux at a semiarid and sparsely vegetated site on the Colorado short-grass steppe. A linear model of soil temperature and heat flux is used to show that errors in the measurements of soil heat flux by the combination method can occur whenever the mean time rate of temperature change of a soil slab is estimated from a set of discrete temperature measurements. A synthesis of model and data is used to demonstrate how these errors can be avoided. The same technique is extended to estimate the soil diurnal damping depth, thermal conductivity, and volumetric specific heat capacity from the soil temperature and heat flux measurements. The present techniques close the surface energy balance to within ± 150 W m −2 (at worst) on a half-hourly basis. To keep remaining errors in the energy balance in perspective, long-duration comparisons are made between two types of net radiometers and between estimates of the evapotranspiration as determined by eddy correlation and a weighing lysimeter.
Sketching facial expressions

We present an innovative sketch-based interface for driving facial expressions. Unlike existing solutions [Chang and Jenkins 2006] our approach relies on recognition and constructs a semantically relevant representation of a sketched face. This representation is parameterized and used to drive a facial model. The main appeal of our method is that the interface is completely decoupled from the underlying facial model that is used. Therefore one single interface is capable of driving a variety of different models both 2D and 3D. The connection between our tool and the face model is defined by a library of template strokes that can be generated with ease.
Surface magnetic survey of the Souss Basin, southwestern Morocco: Evaluation of the tectonic role postulated for the Agadir and Tarfaya fault zones and the South Atlas flexure

Abstract The results of a surface magnetic survey over the Souss Basin, the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas margins, combined with the gravity data of Van den Bosch (1971) and a review of the regional geology permits us to trace structures from the High Atlas into the Souss Basin. The South Atlas flexure is an east—west trending structure imposed during the Cenozoic upon an area with a northeast—southwest, Anti-Atlas structural grain. The major structure is the Tarfaya fault zone, whose location, projected by Choubert and Faure-Muret (1970), lies within a corridor of low residual magnetic anomalies. The continuation of this structure in the High Atlas is the Tizi n'Test fault zone. The Hercynian activity of the Tizi n' Test fault zone (Mattauer et al., 1972) was just one period of reactivation of an older, Precambrian, structure for we believe the Tarfaya fault zone was also active in post-late Triassic time. The Agadir earthquake occurred along a minor fault parallel to the Tarfaya-Tizi n' Test zone and is not related to the South Atlas flexure. Neither does it represent the entry into the African continent of a major ocean linked structure. The Tarfaya-Tizi n' Test fault zone is a much more likely candidate, for its offshore trend appears to match that of the Canary Fracture Zone.
Predicting pathologic stage, nomograms, and clinical judgment: don't miss the forest for the trees!

Sixteen years ago, I derived the so-called ‘‘Roach formulas’’ on small fragments of napkins (while stuck in the cramped quarters of a coach-class airline seat) in route from Detroit to San Francisco. I derived these formulas using data from a nomogram provided in an abstract by Dr. Partin (1). My goals were modest: I just wanted to create a set of simple quantitative guidelines for deciding what to irradiate. I was not trying to estimate the true risk of a given pathologic stage for an individual patient. Instead, I was simply trying to set criteria for determining when a prostate cancer patient had reached a certain risk threshold such that irradiating the seminal vesicles and lymph nodes could be justified. I believed then (as I do now), there is likely to be a lot of ‘‘pathologic noise,’’ when it comes to using pretreatment features to precisely predict final pathologic findings. ‘‘Pathologic noise’’ as I mean it is a type of certainty or variability that is due to differences in patient selection, surgical technique, interobserver variability, genetic variability, chance, and a host of other factors not captured by prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, or clinical stage. As a result of this ‘‘noise,’’ I figured that knowing the precise risk of a certain pathologic event occurring was likely to be much more difficult and less important than being able to decide whether it was a ‘‘go or no-go’’ decision with respect to delivering prophylactic radiation to the seminal vesicles or lymph nodes. Although retrospective and prospective studies can be found that seem to support the utility of this approach, some critics have questioned the relevance of these formulas to contemporary patients (2–4). In this issue of the Journal, Bhojani et al. describe their attempts to perform an ‘‘.external validation of the updated Partin tables in a cohort of French and Italian men.’’ Do their findings support the questions raised by my critics? Are their findings relevant to the radiotherapy community? Should radiation oncologist adopt the Partin nomograms to decide what to irradiate? My answers are: no, yes, and no!
Statistical modeling of collision-induced dissociation thresholds

Analysis of the energy dependence of the cross sections for collision-induced dissociation reactions has permitted the determination of quantitative thermodynamic information for a variety of ionic clusters. As such clusters become larger, the rate at which the decomposition occurs becomes comparable to the instrumental time available for observing the reaction. A method for incorporating statistical theories for energy-dependent unimolecular decomposition in this threshold analysis is reviewed and updated. The revision relies on the fact that for most ionic clusters, the transition state is a loose association of the products that can be located at the centrifugal barrier. This permits a straightforward estimation of the molecular parameters needed in statistical theories for the transition state. Further, we also discuss several treatments of the adiabatic rotations of the dissociating cluster. The various models developed here and previously are compared and used to analyze a series of data for Li+(ROH...
Molecular Interactions of the Gβ Binding Domain of the Ste20p/PAK Family of Protein Kinases: AN ISOLATED BUT FULLY FUNCTIONAL Gβ BINDING DOMAIN FROM Ste20p IS ONLY PARTIALLY FOLDED AS SHOWN BY HETERONUCLEAR NMR SPECTROSCOPY

The transmission of the mating signal of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires Ste20p, a member of the serine/threonine protein kinases of the Ste20p/PAK family, to link the Gβ subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein to the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. The binding site of Ste20p to the Gβ subunit was mapped to a consensus sequence of SSLφPLI/VXφφβ (X for any residue; φ for A, I, L, S or T; β for basic residues), which was shown to be a novel Gβ binding (GBB) motif present only in the noncatalytic C-terminal domains of the Ste20p/PAK family of protein kinases (Leeuw, T., Wu, C., Schrag, J. D., Whiteway, M., Thomas, D. Y., and Leberer, E. (1998) Nature 391, 191–195; Leberer, E., Dignard, D., Thomas, D. Y., and Leeuw, T. (2000)Biol. Chem. 381, 427–431). Here, we report the results of an NMR study on two GBB motif peptides and the entire C-terminal domain derived from Ste20p. The NMR data show that the two peptide fragments are not uniquely structured in aqueous solution, but in the presence of 40% trifluoroethanol, the longer 37-residue peptide exhibited two well defined, but flexibly linked helical structure elements. Heteronuclear NMR data indicate that the fully functional 86-residue C-terminal domain of Ste20p is again unfolded in aqueous solution but has helical secondary structure preferences similar to those of the two peptide fragments. The NMR results on the two GBB peptides and the entire GBB domain all indicate that the two important binding residues, Ser879 and Ser880, are located at the junction between two helical segments. These experimental observations with the prototype GBB domain of a novel family of Gβ-controlled effectors may have important implications in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the signal transduction from the heterotrimeric G protein to the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.
Body Composition Modifications in Patients Under Low Protein Diets

Objective To review the effect of low protein diets on body composition in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods A selected literature review of body composition methods applicable to clinical practice, and a chronological appraisal of relevant studies using low and very low protein diets chosen for their major emphasis on nutritional status and body composition were used for the present study. Results Body composition methods were categorized by compartments, techniques, ease of use, clinical applicability, advantages, and disadvantages. One publication of body composition in chronic undernutrition was evaluated because of the absence of kidney disease as a confounder. The remaining studies covered chronic kidney disease stages III-V treated with low and very low protein diets. Conclusions Very low protein diets are capable of sustaining mean lean and body cell mass for an extended period in patients with chronic kidney disease stages late III-V. However, intercurrent illness and periods of spontaneous reduction in caloric and protein intake markedly increase the risk for malnutrition. Use of these diets requires regular clinical monitoring by nephrologists and renal dietitians, with particular attention to nutritional surveillance, dietary protein and energy intake, and body composition changes.
Optimal trade liberalization and the welfare costs of imperfect credibility

Abstract In this paper I show that the optimal tariff cut is usually on the order of 50–80% even when liberalization is completely lacking in credibility and policy makers subscribe to the very conservative maximin criterion.
Genetic Reporter System for Positioning of Proteins at the Bacterial Pole

ABSTRACT Spatial organization within bacteria is fundamental to many cellular processes, although the basic mechanisms underlying localization of proteins to specific sites within bacteria are poorly understood. The study of protein positioning has been limited by a paucity of methods that allow rapid large-scale screening for mutants in which protein positioning is altered. We developed a genetic reporter system for protein localization to the pole within the bacterial cytoplasm that allows saturation screening for mutants in Escherichia coli in which protein localization is altered. Utilizing this system, we identify proteins required for proper positioning of the Shigella autotransporter IcsA. Autotransporters, widely distributed bacterial virulence proteins, are secreted at the bacterial pole. We show that the conserved cell division protein FtsQ is required for localization of IcsA and other autotransporters to the pole. We demonstrate further that this system can be applied to the study of proteins other than autotransporters that display polar positioning within bacterial cells. IMPORTANCE Many proteins localize to specific sites within bacterial cells, and localization to these sites is frequently critical to proper protein function. The mechanisms that underlie protein localization are incompletely understood, in part because of the paucity of methods that allow saturation screening for mutants in which protein localization is altered. We developed a genetic reporter assay that enables screening of bacterial populations for changes in localization of proteins to the bacterial pole, and we demonstrate the utility of the system in identifying factors required for proper localization of the polar Shigella autotransporter protein IcsA. Using this method, we identify the conserved cell division protein FtsQ as being required for positioning of IcsA to the bacterial pole. We demonstrate further that the requirement for FtsQ for polar positioning applies to other autotransporters and that the method can be applied to polar proteins other than autotransporters.
Radial reactor for trichloroethylene steam reforming

A ceramic foam radial reactor was used to convert trichloroethylene by steam reforming, using 0.5 wt. % Pt as a catalyst. With a quartz enclosure heated externally by infrared lamps, the inlet temperature to the catalyst bed was low enough to suppress pyrolysis, but high conversions (0.99999 +) were achieved at the exit. Stable operation up to 600 h with a space velocity of 5.6 x 10{sup 4}h{sup {minus}1} was achieved, but reactant break-through then occurred, and the catalyst quickly deactivated. Although the deactivated catalyst was regenerated with carbon burning, activity decline was more rapid due to platinum sintering and washcoat degradation. Measured temperature profiles and model calculations indicated a large gradient in the bed and suggested that stable operation could be extended at lower space velocities. Axial temperature profiles were not uniform, since preferential flow occurred in the middle and lower regions of the radial bed. Potential improvements for future designs are suggested.
Preoperative pulmonary hemodynamics and early mortality after orthotopic cardiac transplantation: The Pittsburgh experience

The influence of preoperative transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) on early post-transplant mortality was evaluated in 425 orthotopic transplant recipients. The overall 30-day post-transplant mortality rate was 12.5%; the majority of the deaths (52.8%) were due to primary allograft failure. The 0- to 2-day mortality rate was threefold higher in patients with severe preoperative pulmonary hypertension (TPG ≥ 15 mm Hg or PVR ≥ 5 Wood units), whereas the 3- to 7-day and 8- to 30-day mortality rates were similar. Early post-transplant mortality (0 to 2 days and 8 to 30 days) was also significantly higher (15.9% vs 3.9% and 9.9% vs 2.8%, respectively; p < 0.05) in women compared with men. Women with severe preoperative pulmonary hypertension had higher (p < 0.05) 0- to 2-day post-transplant mortality than comparable men. According to univariate analysis, recipients with preoperative TPG ≥ 15 mm Hg had a significantly higher 30-day postoperative mortality rate, irrespective of their level of PVR. Furthermore, patients with severe preoperative pulmonary hypertension who underwent transplantation between 1980 and 1987 had a higher 0- to 2-day post-transplant mortality rate compared with patients operated on after that time. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified female recipient sex and preoperative TPG but not preoperative PVR, era of transplantation, or recipient age as significant (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) independent predictors of early post-transplant mortality.
Retrieval testing with hypergeometric document models

If one could identify the source subject areas of documents and could compute the probability that any given document came from a given source, one could apply Baye's theorem to compute the probability that a query document and any other document came from the same subject area (i.e., were related). Even correct prior probabilities could be assigned under this hypothesis by examining the whole database to obtain the probabilities with which different sources occur. While we do not know how to carry out this scheme in such a way as to account for all the information contained in documents, we show here how it may be realized in a limited way. A method of modeling the sources of documents is described which accounts for the information in global term weights. The methodology is bases on the hypergeometric probability distribution
Examining gender, racial, and age differences in weight concern among third, fifth, eighth, and eleventh graders.

Weight management and concern, body weight beliefs, and perceptions of friend's and family's weight concerns were examined in this study by race, grade, and gender. A stratified random sample was used to select schools within nine districts in South Carolina and an anonymous self-report paper–pencil questionnaire was completed by the students. The final sample included 3151 African American (42.3%) and White (57.7%) children (51.7% female) in the third (n=599), fifth (n=686), eighth (n=1168), and eleventh (n=698) grades. White girls were more likely to report being overweight (P=.0042), having higher personal weight concerns (P<.0001), and perceiving higher friend (P<.0001) and family weight concerns (P<.0001) than the African American girls. Using multiple regression, 29.8% of the variance in the children's personal weight concern scores was explained by perceptions of family's weight concerns (R2=.1659), gender (R2=.0762), perceptions of friend's weight concerns (R2=.0392), grade (R2=.0094), a Race×Gender interaction (R2=.0042), and race (R2=.003). Most of the children, particularly the white girls, have personal weight concerns and dieting practices which place them at risk for possible health problems. These results support the need for nutrition interventions and education in early childhood. Programs to prevent obesity and eating disorders should be tailored for differences by gender, grade, and race.
Morphological alterations of small intestinal epithelium of calves caused by feeding soybean protein.

Abstract Sixteen male Holstein calves were fed milk replacer (14% solids) containing 23% crude protein from: a) 100% milk protein; or b) 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein as the only nutrients at 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, and 12% body weight from 1 to 7 wk of age, respectively. Eight calves were sensitized to soybean by feeding 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein for 21 d and eight were not sensitized by feeding 100% milk protein. Afterward, each calf received one of the diets for 10 d followed by the other diet for an additional 10 d. During the 2nd wk of the initial period each calf was surgically fitted with a duodenal cannula for biopsy of intestinal mucosa. Biopsies were taken at surgery and on the last day of each period. Feeding 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein resulted in lower body weight gain, decreased feed efficiency, higher rectal temperatures, increased diarrhea, and villus atrophy. Diminished villi size supports other studies reporting allergic reaction to soybean protein and was associated with the poor performance observed in calves fed soybean protein.