cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Credibility of Financial Reporting: A Reputation-Based Approach

ABSTRACT This paper studies the reliability of financial reporting when the credibility of the manager, represented by his misreporting propensity, is unknown. We show that credibility concerns affect the time-series of reported earnings, book values, and stock prices in ways that seem consistent with empirical evidence. When investors are uncertain about the credibility of the reporting process, earnings response coefficients, as well as market-to-book values (MTB), are random and time-varying; relatively low MTB reflect poor credibility of financial reporting; stock prices are s-shaped in earnings surprises and relatively insensitive to bad news. Finally, when the manager is more likely to have reporting discretion, discretionary accruals tend to be larger and more volatile. We estimate the model using U.S. earnings announcement data during 2002–2012 and find that the probability of misreporting is 7 percent. A counterfactual analysis reveals that ignoring the possibility of misreporting leads to overes...
Scientific Inquiry — Conceiving and Testing Hypotheses:

Scientists seek to understand how the world works by the creative act of generating a possible explanation for some phenomenon and then by testing that possible explanation to determine whether it ...
What Do the People Think?: E-Petitioning and Policy Decision Making

E-petitioning is a ubiquitous form of online political action that has emerged as a contemporary and potentially effective way for citizens to communicate with their governments about policy issues and that makes public participation in policy discussions more easily accessible. We argue that e-petitioning platforms generate novel types of data and that governments can benefit from the information acquired through various types of analyses. We begin by presenting e-petitioning as a new form of political participation in the context of several different types of national democracies. We suggest that e-petitioning has provided political activists with a new mechanism for collective action. From there we consider four popular national e-petitioning platforms in the countries of Scotland, Great Britain, Germany, and the USA. We discuss the design features and submission processes of the different platforms and how they generate different streams of data that governments can use to better understand e-petitioning behavior. We then suggest and illustrate different analytic tools that can be used to explore the characteristics and dynamics of e-petitioning. We conclude by suggesting that government should actively seek ways to interpret and understand this new form of participation and policy discourse.
Timing of susceptibility of highbush blueberry cultivars in northwestern Washington to Monilinia vaccinii‐corymbosi, the cause of mummy berry

Mummy berry, caused by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, causes significant yield losses in blueberry fields in the coastal region of the Pacific Northwest, including northwestern Washington (NW WA). Development of effective disease control strategies are hindered by lack of knowledge of disease epidemiology in this region. We compared floral and vegetative bud development of four blueberry cultivars, Duke, Bluecrop, Liberty and Draper by evaluating the timing and number of susceptible buds on plants during the ascospore release period in two counties in NW WA in 2015 and 2016. Ascospores were detected from early March until early April in both years. All four cultivars presented susceptible vegetative and floral buds during this period but susceptible floral buds were consistently more numerous and observed earlier than vegetative buds. The timing of peak numbers of susceptible floral buds was earlier in cultivars Bluecrop and Duke compared to Draper and Liberty and peak numbers of susceptible vegetative buds of Bluecrop were observed earlier compared to the other three cultivars. Differences in susceptibility of these cultivars in the field may therefore depend on the timing of ascopore release relative to host development rather than differences in innate susceptibility. We also examined the frequency and spatial distribution of primary infections and found seasonal variation in the incidence between bud types and no significant association between canopy heights. The outcomes of this research will be used to develop targeted and effective methods to prevent primary mummy berry infections in WA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
TMT: Technology Matching Tool for SCADA Network Security

With the increasing connectedness of traditionally isolated devices, such as those found in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks, comes the increasingly complex challenge of providing appropriate cybersecurity controls. SCADA networks present a number of challenges in their differences from more traditional IT systems as they tend to prioritize availability over other concerns such as confidentiality or integrity. Identifying appropriate technologies to provide the necessary level of protection on Internet-facing SCADA networks is difficult not only because of these differences, but also the wide variety of products available. The Technology Matching Tool (TMT) was developed to assist users in determining appropriate, best-fit technologies for securing SCADA networks by empowering the user to define priorities for specific product feature sets as dictated by the specific environment to be protected. TMT has been developed into a web-based tool, giving the user a great deal of flexibility in defining cybersecurity priorities, as well as insight into suitable products or technology categories.
Embedded eigenstates and virtual absorption using metamaterials (Conference Presentation)

We discuss the possibility of confining electromagnetic energy and enhancing the interactions of light and matter in nanostructures, based on the concept of embedded eigenstates within the radiation continuum. We discuss how metasurfaces and metamaterials may be able to trap light in plain sight, and how lossless structures may be able to store energy in the transient by engaging complex zeros in the scattering response of the system. We also shed light on the role that reciprocity plays in the response of these systems, and how these functionalities may play a pivotal role in low-energy nanophotonic opto-electronic and bio-sensing devices.
Do Conflicting Signals Work Together in Early Stage Financing? Evidence from Hybrid Entrepreneurship

Acquiring initial external funding is a major milestone for new ventures. Using signaling theory, this study examines how nascent entrepreneurs can use two types of credible signals: commitment sig...
Modern technology and its use as storytelling communication strategy in public health

Communication is the best tool to successfully achieve an objective of any intervention focused on solving public health issues In public health there exist many communication strategies but the most effective is the storytelling communication strategy Story telling is a way in which message is conveyed to people in the form of narrating stories The mode of story telling can be electronic verbal or printed form In past decade mode of communication has evolved Hence the recent development in technology has come up with potential storytelling modes of communication used in public health intervention Digital storytelling Virtual games Photo voice as well as social media applications have provided a platform to both the community and the health practitioners to share health information Several modes of communication bridge the gap between the practitioner as well as patients and modern technology is one of it The paper describes some of the modern storytelling communication strategies used in public health interventions so far The Internet is the major source of the platform the modern technology used in storytelling has inherited flaws in it The mode of storytelling though being effective is not user friendly to all age groups Future studies in this field are required to discuss the potential options regarding storytelling interventions The need of developing optimized communication material in a form which is user friendly to all age group should be addressed in future research studies nbsp
The Effects of Glaucoma Drainage Devices on Oxygen Tension, Glycolytic Metabolites, and Metabolomics Profile of Aqueous Humor in the Rabbit.

Purpose Glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation can lead to corneal decompensation. We evaluated changes over time in oxygen tension and in the metabolic environment of the aqueous humor after GDD implantation in the rabbit eye. Methods Ahmed Glaucoma Valves were implanted in the left eyes of eight male New Zealand white rabbits. Right eyes were used as a control. Oxygen tension was measured immediately before surgery and at 1 and 2 months postoperation. Aqueous humor was collected from the surgical and control eyes at 1, 2, and 5 months postoperation. Aqueous humor samples collected at 1 and 5 months postoperation were selected for broad-spectrum metabolomics analysis using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC TOF-MS). Multivariate analysis methods were used to identify metabolite profiles that separated the surgical and control eye at 1 and 5 months. Results There was a significant decrease in oxygen tension in aqueous humor of the surgical eyes (9 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -14.7 to -3.5). Differences in the metabolic profiles between the surgical and control eye at 1 and 5 months were observed, as were differences for the surgical eye at 1 and 5 months. In addition, a metabolite profile was identified that differentiated the surgical eyes at 1 and 5 months. Conclusion Changes in the oxygen tension and metabolic intermediates occur within the aqueous humor as early as 1 month after GDD implantation. Translational relevance Corneal decompensation following GDD implantation could be secondary to disruption of the normal aqueous circulation, resulting in hypoxia and an altered metabolic profile. Alterations to the GDD design might minimize aqueous disruption and prevent corneal decompensation.
TRPCing around the hypothalamus

All of the canonical transient receptor potential channels (TRPC) with the exception of TRPC 2 are expressed in hypothalamic neurons and are involved in multiple homeostatic functions. Although the metabotropic glutamate receptors have been shown to be coupled to TRPC channel activation in cortical and sub-cortical brain regions, in the hypothalamus multiple amine and peptidergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and growth factor/cytokine receptors are linked to activation of TRPC channels that are vital for reproduction, temperature regulation, arousal and energy homeostasis. In addition to the neurotransmitters, circulating hormones like insulin and leptin through their cognate receptors activate TRPC channels in POMC neurons. Many of the post-synaptic effects of the neurotransmitters and hormones are regulated in different physiological states by expression of TRPC channels in the post-synaptic neurons. Therefore, TRPC channels are key targets not only for neurotransmitters but circulating hormones in their vital role to control multiple hypothalamic functions, which is the focus of this review.
Walter Karplus — Friend

Walter was a family friend, a hiking partner of more than thirty years, and a colleague, albeit from a different specialty and a different university. We had a kind of intellectual sparring relationship, testing our ideals and ideas as well as our values and biases, while laboring on trails from the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains to the high Sierras and his favorite haunts in Zermatt, Switzerland. Underlying our often humorous discussions, at home and in nature, was a foundation of mutual respect and comradeship.
Statistical analysis of close pairs of QSOs

The observation of close pairs of QSOs with very different redshifts has been suggested by some as evidence in support of the noncosmological redshift hypothesis. A method is described for determining the statistical significance of such pairs. As an example, it is shown that the statistical significance of the pair 1548+115a,b is not well defined and ranges from approximately 99% confidence to about 60%. If statistical methods are to be used in such cases, they must not be argued a posteriori.
How to be Pessimistic: Choquet Risk and Portfolio Optimization

We review some recent developments in the theory of risk assessment. A pessimistic decision theory emerges that replaces the subjective probability assessments of the Savage expected utility criterion with a Choquet expectation that accentuates the likelihood of the least favorable outcomes. We show that pessimistic portfolio optimization may be formulated as an exercise in quantile regression.
The GAAP in Teslaâ€™s Earnings Announcements: A Case Study on the Proliferation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The reporting of non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Measures (non-GAAP) by U.S. publically traded companies is not new but it has recently come under increased scrutiny by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This case presents a specific example of this scrutiny in the form of Tesla, Inc.â€™s quarterly earnings announcements and Teslaâ€™s subsequent correspondence with the SEC. This case requires students to answer relevant questions about GAAP vs Non GAAP reporting, generally in the form of a research memo, with references to applicable SEC regulations and guidance on the use and reporting of non-GAAP measures.
methods during the silvopastoral-system establishment in midwestern USA: Cattle performance and tree damage

Silvopastoral systems offer an alternative to the conventional cow-calf segment of the beef industry in the Midwestern region of the United States. Little information exists for transitioning from a conventional pasture-based beef operation to a silvopastoral system utilizing multiple deciduous tree species. Nine pastures approximately 1 ha in size were established with a mixture of cool-season grasses and legumes to investigate tree protection methods and cattle performance. Four tree species (Juglans nigra, Gleditsia triacanthos, Quercus rubra, & Carya illinoensis) were planted within six of these pastures. Three methods of protection were tested, and included a no protection control (Con), foliar application of 0.20% denatonium benzoate (TreeGuard™), or a single strand of electrified poly-wire (EF) in each of the two grazing years. Cattle damage to young trees was prominent during the two years for Con and TreeGuard™. EF offered acceptable protection. Red oak trees suffered the highest degree of damage from livestock. Establishing trees within grazed pastures did not hinder performance of beef cattle. Transitioning from conventional pastures to silvopastures can be accelerated utilizing an electrified fencing system to prevent cattle damage.
Money supply determination and a lagged reserve accounting system

Money supply determination under a system of lagged reserve accounting is analyzed. In Model I, unborrowed reserves, and in Model III, the Federal funds rate are utilized as policy variables. Liability management, for the banks' portfolio adjustment, is used in Models II and III. The values of the decision variables investments, CD's, and EURO's are optimized by the individual bank's profit maximizing procedure. Time deposits and the nonbank-public demand for commercial loans are assumed to be exogenous. The optimum values of the decision variables are aggregated for optimization in the entire banking system. A deposit supply equation is formulated under each model. Ordinary Least Squares and Two Stage Least Squares procedures are used to estimate the equations. Deseasonalized, weekly, time series data for the period of January, 1970, to July, 1976, are used for the estimates. The variation of the change in the deposit supply is significantly explained by the lagged values of the variables and by the change in the nonbank-public demand for commercial loans. The explanatory power for the three month Treasury bill rate, FRB's discount rate, and the Federal funds rate is not significant in the models. These support the hypothesis that under LRA, the past activities of the banks play a dominant role in their current and future decision making processes.
The Consumer Protection Ecosystem: Law, Norms, and Technology

In recent years, the tools consumers use to buy and borrow have changed radically. New technologies for advertising, contracting, and transacting have proliferated, and so have fierce policy debates on issues such as identity theft and online privacy; arbitration clauses and class action lawsuits; and Americans’ accumulation of debt and the unsavory practices sometimes used by collectors of it. Facing these realities, scholars, policymakers, and advocates have devoted increasing energy to this area of law. Despite its prominence, confusion persists regarding what consumer protection really is or does. Though much discussed, it remains undertheorized. In particular, analysis of consumer law and policy has not sufficiently taken account of the implications of social and technological change. This Article constructs a new model of the consumer protection ecosystem by contextualizing purely legal constraints amid the other realities of commercial relationships. Drawing on scholarship in the areas of technology, social change, and law, the model lays out three basic types of constraints on the activities of participants in consumer commercial transactions: legal, technical, and social. This model provides a basis for exploring how those constraints interact and shape behavior. The model has significant ramifications for scholars, policymakers, and advocates. It underscores why the area of consumer commerce defies one-size-fits-all solutions: good policies require not only consideration of consumers, merchants, and the commercial relationships they pursue, but of the dynamic social and technological contexts of those relationships. For instance, when technology opens unexpected new areas of feasible conduct, both law and social norms may lag behind in their ability to constrain its socially undesirable aspects. Focused, public deliberation and increased regulatory attention may be merited at least until social norms have developed to define the acceptable contours of such conduct. This Article provides a more refined and inclusive framework for future research and debate.
A-site Excessive (La0.8Sr0.2)1+xMnO3 Perovskite Oxides for Bifunctional Oxygen Catalyst in Alkaline Media

Nominal A-site excessive (La0.8Sr0.2)1+xMnO3 (x = 0, 0.05, and 0.1) (denoted as LSM, LS1.05M, and LS1.1M) perovskite oxides have been synthesized by the polymer-assisted chemical solution (PACS) me...
IVUS and OCT: Current State-of-the-Art in Intravascular Coronary Imaging

To summarize the current state-of-the-art of intracoronary imaging with a focus on clinical outcomes, novel approaches, and anticipated future developments. Multiple randomized trials have demonstrated that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) significantly reduces major cardiac adverse events (MACE), and in particular, rates of target lesion failure or clinical restenosis. High-definition IVUS enhances the ability to visualize stent struts and plaque components. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a greater resolution and can image many plaque morphology and stent characteristics that are not visualized with IVUS. Image guidance should be considered strongly in complex PCI lesions and potentially in all-comers. Multimodality imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy or fluorescence, combined with IVUS or OCT, is an exciting new approache to image plaque lipid, intraplaque hemorrhage, inflammation, and fibrin deposition. Intravascular imaging guidance of PCI utilizing IVUS or OCT definitively improves outcomes in many patient subsets but remains heavily underutilized. Emerging intravascular imaging modalities, such as near-infrared spectroscopy and near-infrared fluorescence imaging, will allow for improved plaque and stent characterization. As cath lab integration, automated image segmentation, and x-ray co-registration evolve further, we envision that intravascular imaging will become a routine for the vast majority of PCI patients, with resultant benefits in clinical outcomes.
Structural insight into TRPV5 channel function and modulation

TRPV5 (transient receptor potential vanilloid) is a unique calcium-selective TRP channel that is essential for calcium homeostasis. TRPV5 and its close homologue TRPV6 do not exhibit thermosensitivity or ligand-dependent activation, unlike other TRPV channels, but are constitutively opened at physiological membrane potentials. Here, we report high resolution electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of truncated and full length TRPV5 in lipid nanodisc, as well as a TRPV5 W583A mutant structure and a complex structure of TRPV5 with calmodulin (CaM). These structures highlight and explain functional differences between the thermosensitive and calcium-selective TRPV channels. An extended S1-S2 linker folds on top of the channel that might shield it from modulation by extracellular factors. Resident lipid densities in the homologous vanilloid pocket are different from those previously found in TRPV1, supporting a comparatively more rigid architecture of TRPV5. A ring of tryptophan residues (W583) at the bottom of the pore coordinates a density and mutation of W583 resultes in opening of the lower gate. Moreover, we provide structural insight into the calcium-dependent channel inactivation and propose a flexible stoichiometry for TRPV5 and CaM binding.
3D Printed Polymer Composites for CO2 Capture

We have developed polymer composite inks that may be three-dimensionally (3D) printed to produce new reactor designs for CO2 capture. These inks are composed of solid sodium carbonate particles dispersed within an uncured silicone and are printed using direct ink writing (DIW). After printing, the silicone is cured, and the structures are hydrated to form aqueous sodium carbonate domains dispersed throughout the silicone. These domains enable high CO2 absorption rates by creating domains with high surface area of solvent per unit volume in the printed structures. These results demonstrate an order-of-magnitude improvement in CO2 absorption rates relative to a liquid pool of sodium carbonate. The results from this class of composite inks demonstrate the potential for the use of 3D printing to shape new and advanced CO2 capture reactors.
A democratic theory of punishment: The Trop principle

In 1958, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Trop v Dulles that the Eighth Amendment guarantees that citizens cannot be stripped of their democratic citizenship as punishment for a crim...
Aschizomys niigatae (upper karyotype) / Aschizomys imaizumi (lower karyotype)

The autosomes of these species are indistinguishable and are similar to those of Clethrionomys (Folios 119, 171, 172) and Eothenomys (Folio 371).
Individualized fluid management in extremely preterm neonates to ensure adequate diuresis without increasing complications

Decrease the incidence of inadequate diuresis (ID, loss of <6% of birth weight) in extremely preterm neonates (EPT, <28 weeks of gestation at birth) during the first week of life by 50% in 1 year. Quality improvement project in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit. A fluid management protocol was implemented, including the use of a fluid guide sheet and closer monitoring of hydration parameters. Seventy-nine baseline EPT neonates were compared to 83 post intervention. The incidence of ID was tracked monthly, along with prespecified morbidities and complications. Statistical data analyses also compared the pre- and post-intervention periods. Fluid volumes in the first week were decreased (p < 0.001). ID decreased from 43 to 29% (p = 0.061). Tracked morbidities and complications were not statistically different. Intentional and individualized adjustment of fluids led to decreased ID without increased hypernatremia and dehydration, or a change in tracked morbidities.
A very complicated structure of resonances in a nonlinear system with cyclic symmetry: Nonlinear forced localization

The fundamental and subharmonic resonances of a nonlinear cyclic assembly are examined using the asymptotic method of multiple-scales. The system consists of a number of identical cantilever beams coupled by means of weak linear stiffnesses. Assuming beam inextensionality, geometric nonlinearities arise due to longitudinal inertia and the nonlinear relation between beam curvature and transverse displacement. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are discretized by a Galerkin procedure and the resulting set of coupled ordinary differential equations is solved using an asymptotic analysis. The unforced assembly is known to possess localized nonlinear normal modes, which give rise to a very complicated topological structure of fundamental and subharmonic response curves. In contrast to the linear system which exhibits as many forced resonances as its number of degrees of freedom, the nonlinear system is found to possess a number of additional resonance branches which have no counterparts in linear theory. Some of the additional resonances are spatially localized, corresponding to motions of only a small subset of periodic elements. The analytical results are verified by numerical Poincare maps, and the forced localization features of the nonlinear assembly are demonstrated by considering its response to impulsive excitations.
The Success for All Model of School Reform: Interim Findings from the Investing in Innovation (i3) Scale-Up

First implemented in 1987, Success for All (SFA) is a whole-school reform initiative whose goal is to help all elementary school students become competent readers. Its key elements include: (1) reading instruction marked by an emphasis on phonics and on comprehension, a highly structured curriculum, use of cooperative learning strategies, across-grade ability grouping, frequent assessments, and tutoring for students who need extra help; (2) components that address students’ noninstructional issues; and (3) strategies to secure teacher buy-in, provide teachers and leaders with initial and ongoing training, and foster shared leadership.SFA was selected to receive a five-year scale-up grant under the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) competition. This, the second of three major reports from MDRC’s independent evaluation of the scale-up effort, discusses the program’s implementation and impacts in 2012-2013, the second year of operations at the study sites. The impact evaluation uses a cluster random assignment design involving 37 schools serving students in kindergarten through grades 5 or 6 (K-5 or K-6) and located in five school districts; 19 schools were randomly selected to receive the SFA program, while the remaining 18 “control group” schools did not receive the intervention. The report considers the experiences of school staff members and compares the reading performance in first grade of a cohort of kindergarten students who remained either in the SFA schools or in the control group schools for two years (and therefore received the maximum program “dosage”).Key Findings: During the second year, schools strengthened their implementation of SFA. New program practices were implemented, and the proportion of classrooms within a school where SFA-prescribed practices were in evidence increased. Teachers also reported feeling more comfortable with the program.By the end of the second year, 16 of the 19 program group schools were judged to meet the Success for All Foundation’s standards for adequate implementation fidelity.SFA reading classes continued to be distinguished from reading classes in the control group schools by greater use of cooperative learning, more extensive ability grouping of students, and close adherence to the curriculum. Tutoring, although a key program element, was not implemented more widely in SFA schools than in control group schools.First-graders who had been enrolled in SFA schools since kindergarten significantly outperformed their counterparts who had been continuously enrolled in control group schools on two measures of phonetic and decoding skills, although not on measures of fluency and comprehension, which are higher-order reading skills. Impact findings for subgroups of students defined by various demographic characteristics are, for the most part, consistent with the main findings.
The Silent Witness Project as Rhetorical Hybrid: Toward a Theory of Collective Mourning:

Public, visual displays, that aid in the mourning process and summon viewers into action, constitute a rhetorical hybrid that combines epideictic and deliberative rhetoric. This essay suggests a th...
Shooting for the stars: the case of an elite chef

With the meteoric rise of the celebrity chef and the lure of the coveted Michelin star, it takes an individual with an elite skill set coupled with verve, vigor, and dedication to the craft to reac...
Informing University COVID-19 Decisions Using Simple Compartmental Models

Tracking the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for policy makers. Although, several efforts are ongoing for accurate forecasting of cases, deaths, and hospitalization at various resolutions, few have been attempted for college campuses despite their potential to become COVID-19 hot-spots. In this paper, we present a real-time effort towards weekly forecasting of campus-level cases during the fall semester for four universities in Virginia, United States. We discuss the challenges related to data curation. A causal model is employed for forecasting with one free time-varying parameter, calibrated against case data. The model is then run forward in time to obtain multiple forecasts. We retrospectively evaluate the performance and, while forecast quality suffers during the campus reopening phase, the model makes reasonable forecasts as the fall semester progresses. We provide sensitivity analysis for the several model parameters. In addition, the forecasts are provided weekly to various state and local agencies.
Validity of claims-based algorithms to identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

PURPOSE To validate healthcare claim-based algorithms for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in children using medical records as the reference. METHODS Using a clinical data warehouse of patients receiving outpatient or inpatient care at two hospitals in Boston, we identified children (≤14 years between 2010 and 2014) with at least one of the following NDDs according to claims-based algorithms: autism spectrum disorder/pervasive developmental disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorder/other hyperkinetic syndromes of childhood (ADHD), learning disability, speech/language disorder, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), intellectual disability, and behavioral disorder. Fifty cases per outcome were randomly sampled and their medical records were independently reviewed by two physicians to adjudicate the outcome presence. Positive predictive values (PPVs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS PPVs were 94% (95% CI, 83%-99%) for ASD, 88% (76%-95%) for ADHD, 98% (89%-100%) for learning disability, 98% (89%-100%) for speech/language disorder, 82% (69%-91%) for intellectual disability, and 92% (81%-98%) for behavioral disorder. A total of 19 of the 50 algorithm-based cases of DCD were confirmed as severe coordination disorders with functional impairment, with a PPV of 38% (25%-53%). Among the 31 false-positive cases of DCD were 7 children with coordination deficits that did not persist throughout childhood, 7 with visual-motor integration deficits, 12 with coordination issues due to an underlying medical condition and 5 with ADHD and at least one other severe NDD. CONCLUSIONS PPVs were generally high (range: 82%-98%), suggesting that claims-based algorithms can be used to study NDDs. For DCD, additional criteria are needed to improve the classification of true cases.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE U.S. AIRLINE POLICY REGARDING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

This study examined the policy of the U.S. commercial air carriers regarding the use of infant restraint systems on aircraft. The study determined whether airline management and airline personnel understand that policy and whether that policy is effectively communicated to the traveling public. This study investigated the effectiveness of communication between airline management and airline personnel regarding airline policy for the carriage of infants in commercial airplanes. The results of this survey were analyzed in order to determine if any recommendations could be made to the airlines regarding child restraint systems on commercial aircraft.
High CDM resistant low-cap SCR for 0.9V advanced CMOS technology

A novel SCR is proposed using a scrambling structure with a Schottky junction. It has ultra low capacitance, high holding voltage and superb CDM performance compared to the prior arts. Additionally, a detailed and explicit analysis regarding the turn-on mechanism has been disclosed for the first time.
Rapid assay for detection of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 from human sera

A noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that enables the quantitation of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) to as little as 30 pg/ml and the detection of TSST-1 to 10 pg/ml in phosphate-buffered saline including 33% human serum or plasma was developed. It takes only 3 h to complete this assay after plate preparation. In this study, 64 human serum samples obtained from 30 patients with toxic shock syndrome or toxic shock syndrome-like symptoms were subjected to testing for the detection of TSST-1. With a cutoff level for TSST-1 of less than 100 pg/ml, 28 samples obtained from 12 patients were positive for TSST-1. The mean and maximum concentrations for these TSST-1-positive samples were 440 and 5,450 pg/ml, respectively. Of these 12 patients, 8 were Staphylococcus aureus culture positive, 3 were negative upon bacterial culturing, and 1 had no cultures done.
MENGOVIRUS REPLICATION. I. CONSERVATION OF VIRUS RNA.

Suspension cultures of L cells were grown in medium containing actinomycin and were infected with Mengovirus whose RNA was labeled with tritium. The complexes were labeled with P32O4 at intervals throughout infection, and their RNA was extracted and fractionated on sucrose density gradients. The Mengovirus genome was conserved throughout infection, as evidenced by the preservation both of the biological and of the physical integrity of the input virus RNA. No ribonuclease-resistant structures indicative of double-stranded RNA replicative intermediates were observed under conditions in which naturally occurring RNA duplexes were highly stable.
Thomson Scattering in Magnetic Fields

The equation of transfer in Thomson scattering atmospheres with magnetic fields is solved using Monte Carlo methods. Two cases, a plane parallel atmosphere with a magnetic field perpendicular to the atmosphere, and a dipole star, are investigated. The wavelength dependence of polarization from a plane-parallel atmosphere is qualitatively similar to that observed in the magnetic white dwarf Grw+70°8247, and the field strength determined by the calculation, 3.2 × 108 G, is quantitatively similar to that determined from the line spectrum. The dipole model does not resemble the data as well as the single plane-parallel atmosphere.
Thermal Conductivity Measurement of Biomaterials

This chapter reviews the theory and practice of measuring the thermal conductivity of biomaterials. Particular attention is given to the special considerations that accompany measurements of soft tissues in situ. Many of these techniques are somewhat invasive in their use of small implanted thermistor probes. Others use heat sources and temperature sensors that can operate with only surface contact or with no contact whatsoever. The relative merits of the various techniques are reviewed. The relationship of the intrinsic thermal conductivity to apparent enhancements to the conductivity that develop because of blood perfusion is also presented. Keywords: heat transfer; thermal conductivity; thermal diffusivity; blood perfusion; effective conductivity; biomaterials; anisotropy
eskimo: EXPERIMENTING WITH SKELETONS IN THE SHARED ADDRESS MODEL

We discuss the lack of expressivity in some skeleton-based parallel programming frameworks. The problem is further exacerbated when approaching irregular problems and dealing with dynamic data structures. Shared memory programming has been argued to have substantial ease of programming advantages for this class of problems. We present the eskimo library which represents an attempt to merge the two programming models by introducing skeletons in a shared memory framework.
Recombinant Toluene-4-monooxygenase: Catalytic and Mössbauer Studies of the Purified Diiron and Rieske Components of a Four-Protein Complex†

Expression of the tmoA-F gene cluster from Pseudomonas mendocina KRI in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) produces a catalytically active form of the toluene-4-monooxygenase (T4MO) complex. Here we report the purification and characterization of four soluble proteins required for the in vitro reconstitution of T4MO catalytic activity. These proteins are a diiron hydroxylase (T4MOH), a Riesketype ferredoxin (T4MOC), an effector protein (T4MOD), and an NADH oxidoreductase (T4MOF). The T4MOH component is composed of the tmoA, tmoB, and tmoE gene products [quaternary structure (alpha beta epsilon)2, Mr approximately 220 kDa]. The T4MOA polypeptide contains two copies of the amino acid sequence motif (D/E)X(28-37)DEXRH; the same motif provides all of the protein-derived ligands to the diiron centers of ribonucleotide reductase, the soluble methane monooxygenase, and the stearoyl-ACP delta 9 desaturase. Mossbauer, optical, and EPR measurements show that the T4MOH contains diiron centers and suggest that the diiron center contains hydroxo bridge(s) in the diferric state, as observed for methane monooxygenase. Mossbauer and EPR measurements also show that the T4MOC contains a Rieske-type iron-sulfur center. This assignment is in accord with the presence of the amino acid sequence motif CPHX(15-17)CX2H, which has also been found in the bacterial, chloroplastic, and mitochondrial Rieske proteins as well as the bacterial NADH-dependent cis-dihydrodiol-forming aromatic dioxygenases. While single-turnover catalytic studies confirm the function of the T4MOH as the hydroxylase, the NADH-dependent multiple-turnover hydroxylation activity is increased by more than 100-fold in the presence of the T4MOC, which mediates highly specific electron transfer between the T4MOF and the T4MOH. The T4MOD can be purified as an 11.6 kDa monomeric protein devoid of cofactors or redox-active metal ions; this component is also detected as a substoichiometric consitutent of the purified T4MOH. The rate of the hydroxylation reaction can be mildly stimulated by the further addition of separately purified T4MOD to the T4MOH, implying the formation of a high affinity, catalytically competent complex between these two components. These characterizations define a novel, four-component oxygenase combining elements from the soluble methane oxidation complex of the methanotrophic bacteria and the aromatic hydroxylation complexes of the soil pseudomonads.
The use and application of freshwater midges (Chironomidae: Insecta: Diptera) in geographical research

The potential of applying the analysis of freshwater midges (Chironomidae) for current questions in geographical research is examined. Chironomids are cosmopolitan in distribution and frequently th...
Low-lying 0 + states of bismuth hydride

Abstract Test calculations for BiH 0+ ground and excited states using a CI configuration selection procedure, including the effective spin-orbit operator in the selection process (intermediate coupling CI), are compared with previous work in which the spin-orbit operator was included only in a final CI over λ−s selected configurations. While the lowest states are well described by the latter procedure, our results show an error in previous work in an upper state due to the failure to detect a charge transfer avoided crossing in their final intermediate coupling CI.
Dynamical simulation of dislocation motion in Ll2 alloys

Abstract A dynamical simulation for the motion of an isolated superdislocation (SD) under an applied stress has been developed. The simulation incorporats slip from {111} planes to {010} planes can locally pin the SD. This mechanism is believed to be responsible for the remarkable increase in the yield strength with increasing temperature exhibited by several intermetallic compounds with the Ll 2 crystal structure (e.g. Ni 3 Al). Individual pinning events occur randomly with the probability of pinning depending on the local line orientation. The resulting spatial distribution of pinning points is non-random consisting of highly pinned segments oriented near screw character linked by unpinned segments of mixed character (superkinks), similar to the configurations typically observed in post-deformation substructures. The motion of the screw portions of the SD proceeds by the lateral motion of these superkinks. The glide velocity of the SD is found to be a significant fraction of the free-flight velocity. However, fluctuations in the population of superkinks along a given SD can lead to exhaustion of motion. It is concluded that the principal effect of cross-slip-pinning is not the reduction in the SD velocity, but rather the exhaustion of the density of mobile SDs. The implications of these results with respect to the modeling of both monotonic and transient deformation in these alloys are discussed.
Blood pressure and chronic kidney disease progression in a multi-racial cohort: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) and kidney function among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains controversial. This study evaluated the association between BP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline among adults with nondiabetic stage 3 CKD. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants with an eGFR 30–59 ml min−1 per 1.73 m2 at baseline without diabetes were included. Participants were followed over a 5-year period. Kidney function change was determined by annualizing the change in eGFR using cystatin C, creatinine and a combined equation. Risk factors for progression of CKD (defined as a decrease in annualized eGFR>2.5 ml min−1 per 1.73 m2) were identified using univariate analyses and sequential logistic regression models. There were 220 participants with stage 3 CKD at baseline using cystatin C, 483 participants using creatinine and 381 participants using the combined equation. The median (interquartile range) age of the sample was 74 (68–79) years. The incidence of progression of CKD was 16.8% using cystatin C and 8.9% using creatinine (P=0.002). Systolic BP>140 mm Hg or diastolic BP>90 mm Hg was significantly associated with progression using a cystatin C-based (odds ratio (OR), 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12–5.52) or the combined equation (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.16–3.69), but not when using creatinine after adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, with the inclusion of cystatin C in the eGFR assessment hypertension was an important predictor of CKD progression in a multi-ethnic cohort with stage 3 CKD.
Regulation of α2(I) collagen expression in stellate cells by retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors through interactions with their cofactors

Abstract Retinoic acid (RA) suppresses α 2 (I) collagen expression in hepatic stellate cells through the binding of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) and retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) to RA response elements (RAREs) in the α 2 (I) collagen promoter. This study determined the influence of coactivators and corepressors to RARβ and RXRα on the regulation of the α 2 (I) collagen promoter. The coactivators, steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) and growth hormone receptor interacting protein-1 (GRIP-1), enhanced, while the nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR) abolished the inhibitory effect of RARβ and RXRα on the promoter activity. In the presence of RA, the coactivators SRC-1 and GRIP-1 formed complexes with RARβ and RXRα which are bound to an oligonucleotide specifying a RARE site in the promoter. In conclusion, this study shows that in the presence of retinoic acid, the coactivators SRC-1 and GRIP-1 augment, while the corepressor N-CoR abolishes, the suppressive effects of RARβ and RXRα on α 2 (I) collagen promoter activity.
Protein Kinase C Involvement in Deoxycholate-Induced Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cells

Bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid (DC), are known to mediate some of their actions by differentially activating various protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. This study confirms that DC induces apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells through PARP and caspase cascade activation, and examined the role of PKC in DC-induced apoptosis. We found increased activation of PKC in membrane fractions in response to DC that was concentration and time related. The PKC (βI) isoform expression increased with translocation into the cell membrane fraction after DC (300 μ M) stimulation. In contrast, PKCe expression markedly decreased in response to DC treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In addition, this process was regulated by caspases, since the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and caspase-3-, -6-, and -9–specific inhibitors prevented PKC (βI) and (e ɛ processing induced by DC. Treatment with the caspase-8–specific inhibitor, however, did not affect expression of either PKC isoform. No significant differences in the apoptotic response were observed when PKC (ɛ) overexpressed cells were exposed to DC in the presence of calcium-dependent conventional PKC inhibitors (Go 6850 or Go 6976). Our findings demonstrate that PKC is activated in gastric epithelial cells treated with DC with the PKC (βI) and PKC (ɛ) isoforms being particularly involved in this process. The processing of PKC (βI and e) was shown to be closely regulated by caspases; however, modulations in PKC isoform concentrations by themselves have no effect on the apoptotic death of gastric mucosal cells induced by DC.
Structural elucidation of type III group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharide using molecular dynamics simulations: the role of sialic acid

The conformational properties of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) from group B Streptococcus serotype III (GBS III) are derived from 50 ns explicitly solvated molecular dynamics simulations of a 25-residue fragment of the CPS. The results from the simulations are shown to be consistent with experimental NMR homo- and heteronuclear J-coupling and NOE data for both the sialylated native CPS and for the chemically desialylated polysaccharide. A helical structure is predicted with a diameter of 29.3 A and a pitch 89.5 A, in which the sialylated side chains are arrayed on the exterior surface of the helix. The results provide an explanation for the observation that CPS antigenicity varies with carbohydrate chain length up to approximately 4 pentasaccharide repeat units. The conformation of the immunodominant region is established and shown to be independent of the presence of sialic acid. The data provide an explanation for the observation that the specificity of the determinant, associated with the major population of antibodies raised upon immunization of rabbits with GBS III, is dependent on the presence of sialic acid. In the sialylated native CPS, the antibody response is largely directed against the immunodominant core of the helix. From simulations of the desialylated CPS, a model emerges which suggests that the minor population of antibodies, whose determinant is not sialic acid dependent, recognizes the same immunodominant region, but that in the disordered CPS this region is not presented in a regular repeating motif.