cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contaminating Elements in Mineral Supplements and their Potential Toxicity: a Review

Some 14 mineral elements are supplied as dietary supplements to domestic animals in various feeding situations. These are obtained primarily from ores and industrial processes and few are supplied as pure compounds. Some of the contaminating elements that occur with the desired elements may have a positive value. Others may be potentially toxic. Information is limited on the levels of toxic elements present in supplemental mineral sources with most of the available data concerning lead and arsenic. There are limited data on the concentration of elements such as cadmium, aluminum, tin and mercury. Information is presented to assist in the evaluation of potential injury to animals which may ingest arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and vanadium. An estimation of the potential risk involved with secondary consumption of edible animal products is also presented where applicable.
Convergence to a Signaling System Equilibrium

Global convergence to a signaling system equilibrium in the replicator dynamics is proved for a simple signaling game that I discussed in Evolution of the Social Contract. The proof generalizes to a wide class of adaptive dynamics
Bi-specific and tri-specific antibodies- the next big thing in solid tumor therapeutics

Antibody-based therapy has revitalized the world of cancer therapeutics since rituximab was first approved for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Monoclonal antibodies against cancer antigens have been successful strategies for only a handful of cancer types due to many reasons including lack of antibody specificity and complex nature of tumor milieu which interfere with antibody efficacy. Polyspecific antibodies are promising class of anti-cancer agents which can be directed at multiple tumor antigens to eradicate tumor cells more precisely and effectively. They may overcome some of these limitations and have already changed treatment landscape for some malignancies such as B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pre-clinical studies and early phase clinical trials have demonstrated that this approach may be an effective strategy even for solid tumors. This review focuses on the development of bispecific and trispecific antibody therapy for the treatment of solid tumor malignancies and highlights the potential they hold for future therapies to come.
Synthesis, properties, and applications of carbon nanotubes filled with foreign materials: a review

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)—hollow microtubules of graphitic carbon—possess unique physical properties by themselves; meanwhile, their empty cylindrical cores also offer the storage of foreign materials, giving rise to a new set of hybrid nanostructures. Filling CNT cores not only reinforces nanotubes in the radial direction preventing from buckling but also integrates the attributes of both the host CNTs and guest fillers simultaneously. A low dimensionality, higher anisotropy, quantum confinement, and enlarged surface-to-volume ratio owned by these nanohybrids can generate distinctive magnetic, electrochemical, optical, electromagnetic, and other physicochemical properties. Encapsulation of a wide variety of inorganic and organic materials inside CNTs in different structural forms such as nanoparticles, nanorods, and atomically thin nanowires has documented many interesting and useful applications in devices such as lithium-ion batteries, microwave absorbers, biosensors/chemosensors, data storage units, drug delivery systems, nanothermometers, nanofilters, memory devices, etc. Thus, research studies have affirmed that filled CNTs-based devices can lead the world to a new technological level; however, there are some serious barriers perturbing their commercialization. Till date, numerous parameters have been identified to influence the filling process during both in situ and ex situ filling methods, but there is still a lack of complete understanding in the filling mechanism which governs the filling yield, size, and structure of CNTs, as well as those of filling materials. This article presents an overview of recent progress made in the synthesis of filled CNTs and the study of their properties and functional applications. We also outline the existing challenges in the field and communicate their possible resolutions.
Distribution of Late-Onset Neonatal Sepsis Pathogens Differs in Inpatient and Outpatient Settings.

Objective We sought to examine pathogen distribution and clinical presentation of late-onset sepsis (LOS) at an urban tertiary care center. Study Design We performed a retrospective review of all culture-confirmed cases of LOS presenting to our institution from 2013 to 2017. Medical records were evaluated for demographic information, sepsis risk factors, encounter location, and clinical outcome. Results We identified 97 cases of LOS, with a median age at diagnosis of 25 days. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (22.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.5%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (12.4%), and Enterococcus faecalis (12.4%). Infections due to E. coli predominated in the outpatient setting (44%), whereas S. aureus and Gram-negative organisms other than E. coli were more frequently isolated from inpatients (21 and 24%, respectively). Gram-positive organisms were more common in infants delivered through cesarean section (p = 0.002) and were associated with more complications (p = 0.03). Escherichia coli LOS presented at an earlier age than S. aureus (15 vs. 32 days; p = 0.04). Of the 15 cases of meningitis, 40% did not have a positive blood culture. Conclusion Pathogen distribution in our population was different from those previously reported, with a higher prevalence of S. aureus. Encounter location and age at presentation varied significantly by pathogen.
Viewing Research for Social Justice and Equity Through the Lens of Zygmunt Bauman’s Theory of Liquid Modernity

Understanding the power that research holds to advance the need for social justice and equity is a crucial step in making real societal, institutional, and educational change. This chapter seeks to explain Zygmunt Bauman’s theory of liquid modernity and engage the reader with a new understanding regarding how this theory works to frame and explain this current historical moment and how all areas of society have been impacted but specifically the work of the researcher.
Super-Low Dose Lipopolysaccharide Dysregulates Neutrophil Migratory Decision-Making

Neutrophils are the first responders to infection and play a pivotal role in many inflammatory diseases, including sepsis. Recent studies have shown that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a classical pattern recognition molecule, dynamically programs innate immune responses. In this study, we show that pre-treatment with super-low levels of LPS [1 ng/mL] significantly dysregulate neutrophil migratory phenotypes, including spontaneous migration and altering neutrophil decision-making. To quantify neutrophil migratory decision-making with single-cell resolution, we developed a novel microfluidic competitive chemotaxis-chip (μC3) that exposes cells in a central channel to competing chemoattractant gradients. In this reductionist approach, we use two chemoattractants: a pro-resolution (N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, fMLP) and pro-inflammatory (Leukotriene B4, LTB4) chemoattractant to model how a neutrophil makes a decision to move toward an end target chemoattractant (e.g., bacterial infection) vs. an intermediary chemoattractant (e.g., inflammatory signal). We demonstrate that naive neutrophils migrate toward the primary end target signal in higher percentages than toward the secondary intermediary signal. As expected, we found that training with high dose LPS [100 ng/mL] influences a higher percentage of neutrophils to migrate toward the end target signal, while reducing the percentage of neutrophils that migrate toward the intermediary signal. Surprisingly, super-low dose LPS [1 ng/mL] significantly changes the ratios of migrating cells and an increased percentage of cells migrate toward the intermediary signal. Significantly, there was also an increase in the numbers of spontaneously migrating neutrophils after treatment with super-low dose LPS. These results shed light onto the directional migratory decision-making of neutrophils exposed to inflammatory training signals. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to the development of pro-resolution therapies that correct the neutrophil compass and reduce off-target organ damage.
Delivering Quality Care to Patients with Cirrhosis: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

There are increasing regulatory and financial incentives for clinicians to measure and improve the quality of care they deliver. Quality improvement (QI) has been defined by the Institute of Medicine as a set of “systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health-care services and the health status of targeted patient groups.” Patients with cirrhosis represent an ideal population for QI because of their high morbidity and mortality, and documented deficits in care they receive. This chapter discusses how to measure quality of care, and provides a practical step-by-step approach for conducting QI among patients with cirrhosis.
A theoretical study of switching energy efficiency in sub-10-nm spintronic devices

Abstract Spin-transfer torque (STT) magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) in the sub-10-nm size range have shown enhancement in energy efficiency. This improved switching energy efficiency means a longer spin relaxation time, a corresponding stronger spin accumulation, and a resulting lower switching current density. This improvement in switching energy efficiency stems from a reduction in damping as the device size is reduced. This can be seen by a reduction in the damping constant in the Landau-Lifshitz Gilbert (LLG) equation. This term can take a range of values, and this range depends on the different contributions from the surface relative to the bulk. Specifically, at such small sizes the damping constant differs from the bulk damping constant. In this study, a detailed equation defining this surface-to-volume relative contribution was developed. This theory was tested through simulations involving a sub-10-nm cobalt cube utilizing the Object Oriented Micromagnetic Framework (OOMMF). These simulations showed a longer spin relaxation time with a decrease in device size (defined by side length) as well as a reduction in switching current density with a decrease in side length. This reduction in switching current density was approximately logarithmic versus volume, surface area, and side length. Moreover, in the sub-5-nm range, this reduction was nearly linear with respect to side length. These results agree with theoretical predictions and they are aligned with the experimentally demonstrated quantum size effect.
Evaluation of the Allelopathic Potential of Leaf Extracts from Dischidia imbricata (Blume) Steud. on the Seedling Growth of Six Test Plants

Dischidia imbricata (Blume) Steud. is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This plant has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties, however, there has been no report related to its allelopathic properties. Therefore, the aqueous methanol extracts of D. imbricata were examined for possible allelopathic activity against the seedling growth of dicotyledonous plants; lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and monocotyledonous plants; barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and timothy (Phleum pratense L.). D. imbricata extracts exhibited a significant inhibition on the seedling growth of all the test plant species at the concentration ≥ 0.01 g dry weight equivalent extract mL-1. The seedling growth of lettuce showed the highest inhibition with D. imbricata extracts followed by alfalfa and cress, whereas the least inhibition was found on the seedling growth of timothy. Concentrations required for 50% inhibition (I50 values) of all the test plant species were in the range of 0.003 to 0.067 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for shoot growth, and 0.018 to 0.026 g D.W. equivalent extract mL-1 for root growth. In addition considering the I50 values, the root growth of the test plant species was more sensitive to D. imbricata extracts than their shoot growth, except cress seedling. These results indicated that D. imbricata may possess allelopathic activity and may contain allelopathic substances.
Senescent mesenchymal stem cells remodel extracellular matrix driving breast cancer cells to a more-invasive phenotype.

Mesenchymal stem cells accumulated in tissue specific sites are essential for the regenerative process; however, biological aging and environmental stress can induce senescence - an irreversible state of growth arrest - that not only affects the behavior of cells but also disrupts their ability to restore tissue integrity. While abnormal tissue properties including increased extracellular matrix stiffness are linked with the risk of developing breast cancer, the role and contribution of senescent MSCs to the disease progression to malignancy are not well understood. Here, we investigated senescence associated biophysical changes in MSCs and how they influence cancer cell behavior in a 3D matrix interface model. Although senescent MSCs were far less motile than pre-senescent MSCs, they induced an invasive breast cancer phenotype, characterized by increased spheroid growth and cell invasion in collagen gels. Further analysis of collagen gels using second harmonic generation showed increased collagen density when senescent MSCs were present, suggesting that senescent MSCs actively remodel the surrounding matrix. This study provides direct evidence of the pro-malignant effects of senescent MSCs in tumors.
Association between Intimate Partner Violence, Knowledge and Use of Contraception in Africa: Comparative Analysis across Five African Regions.

Background Or Objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is common globally, and is associated with several adverse consequences. This study provides a comparative analysis of potential regional differences in the association between IPV and knowledge and use of contraceptives within Africa. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted using data on women of reproductive age 15-49 years from the Demographic and Health Surveys covering five African regions. Exposure and outcome variables were IPV and reproductive literacy (comprising modern contraception knowledge and contraception usage) respectively. We used survey log-binomial regression models to generate prevalence ratios that estimated the association between IPV versus knowledge and usage of modern contraception. Results: Overall IPV prevalence in Africa was 30.8% with notable regional differences. Demographic, socioeconomic, and reproductive history markers of IPV were more pronounced in younger women, rural residents, women of low socioeconomic status and those with copious knowledge but poor usage of modern contraception. The level of knowledge of contraception was 84% greater among African women who were victims of IPV compared to their counterparts who were not victims of IPV (p < 0.0001). IPV was not associated with actual usage of modern contraception (p = 0.21). Conclusion And Global Health Implications: IPV against women in Africa may incentivize knowledge seeking of modern contraception as protective mechanisms. Regional variations notwithstanding, understanding the existing and new characteristics predictive of IPV may inform policy development, resource allocation and prevention of IPV globally. Copyright © 2020 Yusuf et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.
Rotational Energy Transfer in Highly Excited States of Lithium Dimer: Experiment and Modeling.

We report level-resolved rate coefficients for collision-induced rotational energy transfer in the 7Li2*–Ne system, with 7Li2* in the highly electronically excited E(3)1Σg+(vi = 4, ji = 31) and F(4...
Ensuring equity for people living with disabilities in the age of COVID-19

People with disabilities are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. They may also suffer from lack of accessible emergency preparedness plans, communication and healthcare. Protective meas...
Compassion for Oneself and Others Protects the Mental Health of First Responders

First responders are at elevated risk for psychological distress from frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events. Self-compassion may buffer against the negative impact of these stressors, and the potential emotional challenges of having high levels of compassion for others. However, little is known about the psychological impact of compassion in first responders. We examined how self-compassion, compassionate love for others, and service role interacted to predict mental health in a diverse group of first responders. First responders (N = 171) with both traditional and emotional support roles completed an online survey including measures of self-compassion, compassionate love, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, resilience, compassion satisfaction, and life satisfaction. Greater self-compassion and compassionate love both independently predicted less depersonalization (|β|s ≥ .18, ps < .01). Greater self-compassion predicted less general psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion, as well as greater resilience and life satisfaction (|β|s ≥ .35, ps < .001). Greater compassionate love predicted greater personal accomplishment and compassion satisfaction for all first responders (|β|s ≥ .30, ps < .001); for traditional first responders only, greater self-compassion predicted greater personal accomplishment and compassion satisfaction (role x self-compassion; |β|s ≥ .16, ps < .05). Emotional support first responders reported less emotional exhaustion and greater resilience than traditional first responders (|β|s ≥ .21, ps < .05). Self-compassion and compassionate love each play important roles in promoting mental health among first responders. Programs designed to increase compassion could be beneficial in this population.
Examining resource availability and usefulness in a National Health Service Research Interprofessional Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Postdoctoral fellowships are costly: institutions incur substantial monetary costs, and fellows suffer the opportunity cost of delaying entry into their professional careers. Nevertheless, fellowship training is a beneficial academic investment; the right resources can attract high-quality candidates and maximize return on investment for all parties. This study examined the availability and perceived utility of training resources in a national, multisite interprofessional health services research fellowship program and examined differences in resource perception between alumni and directors as well as M.D. and Ph.D. alumni. One-hundred thirty-one alumni and 15 directors from a multisite interprofessional postdoctoral fellowship completed surveys regarding fellowship resources. Results from the fellowship sample as a whole revealed that mentoring and seminars were the most commonly available resources in fellowships and alumni from the same site often disagreed about resource availability. When we compared alumni and directors’ responses from the same site, we found they often disagreed about resource availability, with directors often being more likely to respond that the resource is available than the alumni. Finally, M.D. alumni reported availability of more resources and found resources to be more useful overall than Ph.D. alumni. Mentoring and seminars are important and commonly provided resources for trainees in fellowship programs; however, M.D.s and Ph.D.s vary in perceived usefulness of other resources, suggesting that one resource does not fit all. Given the gap, postdoctoral fellows may benefit from direct communication of available resources. Moreover, as Ph.D. fellows reported less resource availability and usefulness, attention should be given to meeting their unmet needs. Taken together, this will optimize their fellowship experience, thus better preparing them for their career and, ultimately, their impact on health care.
Targeting prominin2 transcription to overcome ferroptosis resistance in cancer

Understanding how cancer cells resist ferroptosis is a significant problem that impacts ongoing efforts to stimulate ferroptosis as a therapeutic strategy. We reported that prominin2 is induced by ferroptotic stimuli and functions to resist ferroptotic death. Although this finding has significant implications for therapy, specific prominin2 inhibitors are not available. We rationalized that the mechanism by which prominin2 expression is induced by ferroptotic stress could be targeted, expanding the range of options to overcome ferroptosis resistance. Here, we show that that 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), a specific lipid metabolite formed from the products of lipid peroxidation stimulates PROM2 transcription by a mechanism that involves p38 MAP kinase-mediated activation of HSF1 and HSF1-dependent transcription of PROM2. HSF1 inhibitors sensitize a wide variety of resistant cancer cells to drugs that induce ferroptosis. Importantly, the combination of a ferroptosis-inducing drug and an HSF1 inhibitor causes the cytostasis of established tumors in mice, although neither treatment alone is effective. These data reveal a novel approach for the therapeutic induction of ferroptosis in cancer.
Nonelderly Adult Cancer Survivors in High Deductible Health Plan: Healthcare Expenditure, Utilization and Access

Background: To compare healthcare expenditure, utilization and access between nonelderly adult cancer survivors enrolled in a high deductible health plan with a health savings account (“HDHP+HSA”), HDHP without HSA (“HDHP alone”) and low deductible health plan (“LDHP”). Methods: 1735 cancer survivors, aged 18–64 years, with continuous private coverage identified from the 2012–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: HDHP alone (n = 353), HDHP+HSA (n = 242) and LDHP (n = 1140). Healthcare expenditures, utilization and inability/delay obtaining medical care were analyzed using generalized linear regressions with inverse propensity score weighting and doubly robust estimation. Results: HDHP alone group (23,255 USD) had significantly higher total healthcare expenditure compared to HDHP+HSA (15,580 USD, p = 0.012) and LDHP (16,261 USD, p = 0.016). HDHP alone (6089 USD; p = 0.002) and HDHP+HSA (5743 USD; p = 0.012) groups had significantly higher out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure compared to LDHP (4853 USD). HDHP alone (17,128 USD, p = 0.010) and LDHP (12,645 USD, p = 0.045) had significantly higher private insurer payments compared to HDHP+HSA (9216 USD). No differences were found in utilization or inability/delay obtaining medical care across groups. Conclusions: Non-elderly adult cancer survivors with continuous coverage and comparable sociodemographic characteristics enrolled in HDHP with HSA displayed the lowest healthcare costs compared to HDHP without HSA and LDHP. HDHP+HSA had a significantly higher OOP expenditure than LDHP. No significant differences were observed in utilization or access among groups.
Extending the Heat Index to Quantify the Physiological Response to Future Warming: A Modelling Study

Backgrounds: The Heat Index is a widely used measure of apparent temperature that accounts for the effects of humidity using Steadman's model of human thermoregulation. Steadman's model, however, gives unphysical results in sufficiently hot and humid conditions, leading to an undefined Heat Index. In a business-as-usual climate scenario, an undefined Heat Index will become increasingly frequent, eventually occurring across a third of the planet at any given moment. Hence, an extension of the Heat Index to all conditions is needed, and the direct health impacts of an elevated Heat Index should be quantified. Methods: We extend the Heat Index to all conditions by allowing sweat to drip off the skin in very hot and humid conditions and, in severe conditions, allowing the body's core temperature to rise. The index is mapped onto measurable quantities, including the elevated core temperature in severe conditions and, in fatal conditions, the time it takes for the core to exceed a survivable temperature. The Heat Index is then calculated everywhere on Earth in a business-as-usual climate simulation up to the year 2300. Findings: By 2300, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even heat death are frequently the unavoidable consequences of being outdoors, even for healthy adults, over large swaths of Africa, Australia, India, South America, Eastern China, and the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Interpretation:During the preindustrial, all locations and times on Earth were survivable by a healthy adult with sufficient access to clothing, shade, and water. This will cease to be true with a continuation of business-as-usual warming. Funding Statement: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric System Research program through the Office of Science’s Biological and Environmental Research program under Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests.
Integration of Pulse Trains in Humans and Guinea Pigs with Cochlear Implants.

Temporal integration (TI; threshold versus stimulus duration) functions and multipulse integration (MPI; threshold versus pulse rate) functions were measured behaviorally in guinea pigs and humans with cochlear implants. Thresholds decreased with stimulus duration at a fixed pulse rate and with pulse rate at a fixed stimulus duration. The rates of threshold decrease (slopes) of the TI and MPI functions were not statistically different between the guinea pig and human subject groups. A characteristic of the integration functions that the two groups shared was that the slopes of the TI functions were similar in magnitude to slopes of the MPI function only at low pulse rates (< approximately 300 pulses per second). This is consistent with the notion that the TI functions and the MPI functions at the low rates are mediated by a mechanism of long-term integration described in the statistical “multiple looks” model. Histological analysis of the guinea pig cochleae suggested that the slopes of both the MPI and the TI functions were dependent on sensory and neural health near the stimulated regions. The strongest predictor for spiral ganglion cell densities measured near the stimulation sites was the slope of the MPI functions below 1,000 pps. Several mechanisms may be considered to account for the association of shallow integration functions with poor sensory and neural status. These mechanisms are related to abnormal across-fiber synchronization, increased refractoriness and adaptation with impaired neural function, and steep growth of neural excitation with current level associated with neural pathology. The slope of the integration functions can potentially be used as a non-invasive measure for identifying stimulation sites with poor neural health and selecting those sites for removal or rehabilitation, but these applications remain to be tested.
Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas: report of a case requiring completion pancreatectomy

Context Cystic tumors of the pancreas have been diagnosed with increasing frequency. Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm is a rare type of cystic pancreatic tumor. Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm is considered a distinct entity with the potential of developing into invasive carcinoma and it should be differentiated from other cystic tumors of the pancreas, including mucinous cystic neoplasm and other forms of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Histologically, the formation of oncocytic cells and the complex morphology of the papillae distinguish intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm from IPMN. While the number of publications addressing the diagnosis, management and follow-up of patients with IPMN has been increasing, the behavior differences between IPMN and intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm have not been elucidated, secondary to very limited clinical experience. Case report Here, we are presenting a case of a patient with the diagnosis of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas developing into invasive cancer. Conclusion This case stresses the necessity for lifelong surveillance of the remnant pancreas following partial pancreatectomy for intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm, due to the risk of developing multifocal disease. Image: PET CT image shows diffuse uptake of contrast in the head of the pancreas.
Implications of interfacial magnetization for oxide spintronics

Strongly correlated oxides have attracted considerable attention both as a playground for fundamentally new physics and as potential building blocks for advanced devices, because the interplay between their charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom can lead to a wide variety of novel phenomena and functional properties. One example is half metallicity observed in several transition-metal perovskites and double perovskites, which is highly favored for many spintronic applications. However, it is often found that the physical properties are largely altered at oxide interfaces of interest, because the delicate balance among different competing terms can be broken there by several mechanisms, including chemical disorders, strain, broken translational symmetry and charge transfer etc. Interfacial properties, which are in fact crucial for the performance, become extremely difficult to be predicted for oxide spintronics. Thus, detailed characterizations of relevant boundary regions are generally required to uncover the underlying physics that describes the behavior of strongly correlated electrons near oxide interfaces. I will present two examples [1, 2] from our recent studies using interface-sensitive neutron and x-ray techniques to address the structure-property relationships.
Decentralized Welfare Provision: Is there a 'Race to the Bottom'?

This paper develops an Asymmetric Nash Equilibrium model of welfare provision by states when the benefit payment is a local public good and welfare recipients distribute themselves between states with a finite elasticity (through a logistic function). The model thus provides estimates of how the degree of benefit underprovision varies with the recipient migration elasticity. The model also shows how demand differences across states (taxpayer resources, state size, "generosity") should generate positive correlations between benefits and number of recipients, while supply shifters (state poverty rates) should generate negative correlations between benefits and recipients. The model's reduced form predictions are closely matched empirically, when examining the pattern of welfare benefits and recipients across states. These results are strong enought to suggest estimating structural supply and demand elasticities. These turn out to be high enough so that simulated solutions to the model generate considerable welfare underprovision and thus raise concern about a race to the bottom with decentralized control over AFDC.
“Location, Location, Location!” The Price Gradient for Vacant Urban Land: New York, 1835 to 1900

We preview new archival evidence on the price of vacant land in New York City between 1835 and 1900. Before the Civil War, the price of land per square foot fell steeply with distance from New York's City Hall located in the central business district (CBD). After the Civil War, the distance gradient flattened and the fit of a simple regression of the log of land price per square foot on distance from the CBD declined markedly. Our most remarkable finding is that average nominal land prices at the CBD increased at an average annual rate of over 3% per year between 1835 and 1895, growing particularly rapidly around the time of the Civil War before declining as the century came to an end.
Detection of Strabismus by Non-Health Care Professionals in an Ethnically Diverse Set of Images.

Importance Understanding the criteria for when strabismus becomes detectable by non–health care professionals could influence the goals for determining the success of surgical intervention and how patients with such misalignments are counseled. Objective To examine the magnitude at which strabismus is detectable by lay observers in an ethnically diverse set of images. Design, Setting, and Participants Photographs of 12 ethnically diverse models (black, white, and Asian) were simulated to have strabismus from esotropia of 21 prism diopters (∆) to exotropia of 21∆. From July 1, 2007, to October, 1, 2008, images were presented to 120 non–health care professionals aged 21 years or older from the general community in Boston, Massachusetts, who were asked whether strabismus was present. Analysis was conducted from November 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009. Main Outcomes and Measures The threshold angle for detecting strabismus to enable 70% of lay observers to make a positive determination whether strabismus is present. Results In white and black models, the threshold allowing a 70% positive detection rate was higher for esotropia than for exotropia ( P P Conclusions and Relevance Esotropia was easier for lay observers to detect than exotropia in Asian models, and exotropia was easier to detect than esotropia in white and black models. This information should be considered when managing patients who have concerns about the social significance of their strabismus. Future studies should include diverse individuals and make an effort to account for individual factors that may alter the perception of strabismus.
Loss of endothelium-dependent relaxation in mouse cerebral microvessels may be rapidly reversible

Abstract This study demonstrates that a loss of endothelium-dependent relaxation in brain microvessels can be rapidly reversible. This loss was produced by injuring the endothelium in situ with a HeNe laser in the presence of intravascular Evans blue. The noxious stimulus has previously been shown not to damage vascular smooth muscle. The loss of endothelium-dependent relaxation was manifest by loss of dilating responses to both acetylcholine (ACh) and bradykinin (BK). Both agents have been shown by others to produce an endothelium-dependent relaxation in large vessels, caused by endothelial release of one or more endothelium-dependent relaxing factor(s) or EDRF(s). Previous studies have not tested for rapid return of endothelium-dependent relaxation after initial loss. In large vessels this might not be expected if reports concerning the necessary removal of large amounts of endothelium are correct. In cerebral microvessels, however, we have already shown apparent loss of EDRF following only minimal ultrastructural alteration of intact endothelial cells. The question remained whether these morphologic alterations reflected the onset of irreversible changes. The present study suggests that these cells were not irreversibly damaged, at least with respect to apparent modulation of endothelium-dependent responses. Recovery of responses to both ACh and BK occurred within 1 hr of initial injury and initial loss of endothelium-dependent relaxation. Recovery within 1 hr did not occur at the center of laser injury, but at a site of impaired response 55 μm away. Previous studies had suggested less dramatic injury of endothelium here compared with endothelium at the center of laser impact. Our recovery data agree with that concept. The fact that loss of endothelium-dependent dilation can be rapidly reversible in brain microvessels means that there may be more subtle perturbations of dilator control mechanisms than previously imagined.
Reconstructing the neutron-star equation of state with gravitational-wave detectors from a realistic population of inspiralling binary neutron stars

Gravitational-wave observations of inspiralling binary neutron-star systems can be used to measure the neutron-star equation of state (EOS) through the tidally induced shift in the waveform phase that depends on the tidal deformability parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. Previous work has shown that $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, a function of the neutron-star EOS and mass, is measurable by Advanced LIGO for a single event when including tidal information up to the merger frequency. In this work, we describe a method for stacking measurements of $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ from multiple inspiral events to measure the EOS. We use Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the parameters of a four-parameter piecewise-polytrope EOS that matches theoretical EOS models to a few percent. We find that, for ``realistic'' event rates ($\ensuremath{\sim}40$ binary neutron-star inspiral events per year with signal-to-noise ratio $g8$ in a single Advanced LIGO detector), combining a year of gravitational-wave data from a three-detector network with the constraints from causality and recent high-mass neutron-star measurements, the EOS above nuclear density can be measured to better than a factor of 2 in pressure in most cases. We also find that in the mass range $1{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}--2{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$, the neutron-star radius can be measured to better than $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{km}$ and the tidal deformability can be measured to better than $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{36}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{g}\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{2}$ (10%--50% depending on the EOS and mass). The overwhelming majority of this information comes from the loudest $\ensuremath{\sim}5$ events. Current uncertainties in the post-Newtonian waveform model, however, lead to systematic errors in the EOS measurement that are as large as the statistical errors, and more accurate waveform models are needed to minimize this error.
Structure of the collagen-binding domain from a Staphylococcus aureus adhesin

The crystal structure of the recombinant 19,000 Mr binding domain from the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin has been determined at 2 A resolution. The domain fold is a jelly-roll, composed of two antiparallel β-sheets and two short α-helices. Triple-helical collagen model probes were used in a systematic docking search to identify the collagen-binding site. A groove on β-sheet I exhibited the best surface complementarity to the collagen probes. This site partially overlaps with the peptide sequence previously shown to be critical for collagen binding. Recombinant proteins containing single amino acid mutations designed to disrupt the surface of the putative binding site exhibited significantly lower affinities for collagen. Here we present a structural perspective for the mode of collagen binding by a bacterial surface protein.
Superposition of Spanwise Circulation Distributions: Accuracy Assessment and Application in Wing Design

Superposition of spanwise lift distributions is a familiar concept from lifting-line theory. However, even for linear potential flows, superposition is not rigorously applicable for aerodynamic models and wing geometries in which the shape of the wake vortex system changes with angle of attack. Nonetheless, the influence of these wake effects could generally be expected to be small, insofar as downstream vortices have a weaker influence than the vortex system in the near field of the wing. In this paper, the theoretical framework for lift distribution superposition is first examined. Next, empirical studies conducted with a panel code are presented that show that superposition remains a very good approximation for a wide range of wing geometries and operating conditions. A method for correcting the small errors in induced drag predictions that result from the application of superposition is also provided. Finally, an application for wing design in which an additional and a design distribution are superimp...
Molecular basis of action of cytotoxic antibiotics

Abstract We have described ongoing studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of the cytotoxic antibiotics PM and NCS. PM selectively blocks polypeptide chain initiation in eukaryotes by two effects, which may be related: (1) the joining of the 60S ribosomal subunit to the smaller initiation complex is interfered with. This action can be overcome by adding excess of a factor, obtained by DEAE-cellulose chromatography of a crude initiation factor preparation, that is normally required for joining activity; (2) under conditions where joining is not prevented, there is still a block in the formation of peptides beyond the initial dipeptide. These data can be explained by a model of PM action in which PM does not interfere with the ribosomal joining reaction per se , but prevents the release and reuse of the joining factor, and in so doing, blocks a step in elongation after formation of the initial dipeptide and its translocation to the P-site on the ribosome. It is possible that the block in tripeptide formation is at the level of the use of the ribosomal A-site. The selectivity of PM for polypeptide initiation may be determined by the availability of its binding site only at any early stage in initiation. NCS has been found to inhibit thymidine incorporation into DNA in vivo and to place single stranded nicks in DNA both in vivo and in vitro . While it is premature to relate the cutting of DNA by NCS in vitro to these and other effects of the drug in vivo , the test tube reaction is interesting in its own right and has revealed information on the molecular requirements for the cutting reaction. Mercaptoethanol or some other sulfhydryl compound and a pH of 7.5 are required for maximal cutting. DNA strand scission by NCS produces 5′-phosphoryl end groups on all four deoxyribonucleotides, although in preliminary experiments dGMP and TMP appear to be favored. From protection experiments, it appears that thymidylic acid in DNA is required for interaction between DNA and NCS. How these effects of NCS are related, if at all, to the block at G2 of the cell cycle (45) remains to be elucidated.
Testing scenarios: wasp social behavior

— A complex evolutionary model is tested with a cladistic approach. Cladograms constructed for all of the genera of social Vespidae are optimized for characters associated with social behavior. The character state assignments to the interior nodes are compared with the stages envisioned in the “polygynous family” hypothesis for the evolution of wasp social behavior (West-Eberhard, 1978). Several of the transitions proposed in the model are consistent with the results: caste formation preceding long-term monogyny, and long-term polygyny developing from monogyny. Some transitions do not accord with these results: long-term polygyny evidently did not evolve directly from a “rudimentary-caste-containing” stage, and a stage of tasteless nest sharing may not have occurred.
A revised orthogonal rotational solution for Thurstone's original primary mental abilities test battery

By extension of the rotational process, meaningful orthogonally related positions were found for all of the thirteen centroid factors which Thurstone extracted from his original PMA intercorrelations. Most of the original primary ability factors were more sharply delineated and corresponded more closely to the Army Air Force factors that bear similar names (demonstrating greater invariance from analysis to analysis). While such different results obtained by two investigators applying the same methods on the same data may initiate some concern, the results strengthen rather than weaken the idea that more psychological meaningfulness and greater invariance will result if centroid axes are rotated, using the concepts of a simple structure and positive manifold.
Security and composition of cryptographic protocols: a tutorial (part I)

What does it mean for a cryptographic protocol to be "secure"? Capturing the security requirements of cryptographic tasks in a meaningful way is a slippery business: On the one hand, we want security criteria that prevent "all potential attacks" against a protocol; on the other hand, we want our criteria not to be overly restrictive and accept "reasonable protocols". One of the main reasons for flaws is the often unexpected interactions among different protocol instances that run alongside each other in a composite system.This tutorial studies a general methodology for defining security of cryptographic protocols. The methodology, often dubbed the "trusted party paradigm", allows for defining the security requirements of a large variety of cryptographic tasks in a unified and natural way. We first review more basic formulations that capture security in isolation from other protocol instances. Next we address the security problems associated with protocol composition, and review formulations that guarantee security even in composite systems.
The Limits of Ordinary Matter

All ordinary matter consists of protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, which are bound together in atomic nuclei, and electrons. The elementary constituents of protons and neutrons, the quarks, almost always remain confined inside nucleons (or any other particle made up of quarks, called hadrons). The fundamental force that binds quarks together—the strong, or “color” force—cannot be overcome unless extremely high-energy conditions are created, such as through heavy-particle collisions. Theoretical simulations based on quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predict that the transition temperature for the appearance of free quarks should occur at 2.0 × 1012 K (an energy of 175 million eV) ( 1 , 2 ). Since 2000, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory has created the necessary conditions to form quark matter in particle collision, but determining the transition temperature under these conditions is challenging. On page 1525 of this issue, Gupta et al. ( 3 ) show that the relevant temperature and energy scales can be extracted from recent experimental studies and find that the transition temperature is in remarkable agreement with theory.
Pro IQ Testing We're Not the Bad Guys

The controversy surrounding the issue of individualized intelligence testing may be entering the 500th year. Recent litigation has probably widened the gap between opponents in the controversy. This article explores six issues of that controversy: (a) questions related to the validity of the concept of intelligence and its testing (b) ethical issues, (c) legal issues, (d) racial/minority/cultural issues, (e) poor correlation between test results and teaching, and (f) alternatives proposed by various investigators. The author presents a proponent's position on the issue of individualized IQ testing and offers some suggestions to resolve the issues in each of the six areas of the controversy.