cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in mice induced by active immunization with conformationally-stabilized holoreceptors

Autoimmunity to membrane proteins in the central nervous system has been increasingly recognized as a cause of neuropsychiatric disease. A key recent development was the discovery of antibodies to NMDA receptors in limbic encephalitis, characterized by cognitive changes, memory loss, seizures and sometimes long-term morbidity or mortality. Treatment approaches and experimental studies have largely focused on the pathogenic role of these autoantibodies. Passive antibody transfer to mice has provided useful insights, but does not produce the full spectrum of the human disease. Here we describe a de novo autoimmune mouse model of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Active immunization of immune competent mice with conformationally-stabilized, native-like NMDA receptors induced a fulminant encephalitis that was strikingly similar to the behavioral and pathologic characteristics of human cases. Our results provide evidence of neuroinflammation and immune cell infiltration as early and robust features of the autoimmune response. Use of transgenic mice indicated that mature T cells as well as antibody-producing cells were required for disease induction. Our results provide new insights into disease pathogenesis as well as a platform for testing mechanisms of disease initiation and therapeutic approaches.
A Multi-Source Energy Harvesting System to Power Microcontrollers for Cryptography

This paper presents a multi-source energy harvesting system for vibration, thermal, and solar energy from automobiles, which aims to power a micro controller (MCU) for cryptography. Each building block adopts a maximum power extraction scheme to match the unique characteristic of the energy source. Resistive impedance matching with a buck-boost converter is adopted for vibration and thermal energy harvesting, and maximum power point tracking for solar energy harvesting. The proposed system provides two regulated voltages, 3.3 V and 5 V, to power an MCU. An energy level indicator indicates the current energy level stored in the storage device. The MCU processes a cryptography algorithm accordingly based on the current energy level. The system is able to cold start, i.e., even if the storage device is drained completely, it can start.
Early Childhood Interventions and Outcomes (Summarised in Casereport 5

Recent advances in brain research have provided new evidence that early experience matters and have greatly increased interest in the effects of early childhood interventions on outcomes for children. This paper reviews what is now known about the potential benefits and potential ill effects of early childhood interventions, with particular attention to evidence from the Rand study of early interventions, recent studies of the Head Start programme, and the NICHD study of early child care. The evidence shows that early childhood interventions can make a difference in improving outcomes for children. However, there are two important knowledge gaps. Not enough is known about the types of child young children in Britain are currently using, and not enough is known about what types of early childhood interventions would achieve the best outcomes for disadvantaged children in Britain.
Cardiovascular Care in Women Veterans

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States. Of the 1.3 million active duty service members, 16.3% are currently women, and the number of women veterans is expected to increase. Women veterans have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than civilian women and present a unique population. We focus on 5 key areas regarding cardiovascular disease care for women veterans: (1) the rapidly changing demographic; (2) prevalence of traditional risk factors; (3) prevalence of less traditional risk factors (eg, homelessness, military sexual trauma, and mental health disorders); (4) treatment and outcomes of cardiovascular disease; and (5) the current state and future directions of research in this area. This review is a call to action for continued improvements in the cardiovascular care and research for this rapidly growing, at-risk, and under-represented population. Visual Overview: A visual overview is available for this article.
Current patient perspectives of vulvovaginal candidiasis: incidence, symptoms, management and post-treatment outcomes

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infection affecting women worldwide. Reports of patterns/risk factors/trends for episodic/recurrent VVC (RVVC) are largely outdated. The purpose of this study was to obtain current patient perspectives of several aspects of VVC/RVVC. Business cards containing on-line survey information were distributed to healthy volunteers and patients seeking standard, elective, or referral gynecologic care in university-affiliated Obstetrics/Gynecology clinics. The internet-based questionnaire was completed by 284 non-pregnant women (78% Caucasian, 14% African American, 8% Asian). The majority of the participants (78%) indicated a history of VVC with 34% defined as having RVVC. The most common signs/symptoms experienced were itching, burning and redness with similar ranking of symptoms among VVC and RVVC patients. Among risk factors, antibiotic use ranked highest followed by intercourse, humid weather and use of feminine hygiene products. A high number of respondents noted ‘no known cause’ (idiopathic episodes) that was surprisingly similar among women with a history of either VVC or RVVC. VVC/RVVC episodes reported were primarily physician-diagnosed (73%) with the remainder mostly reporting self-diagnosis and treating with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Most physician-diagnosed attacks utilized a combination of pelvic examination and laboratory tests followed by prescribed antifungals. Physician-treated cases achieved a higher level of symptom relief (84%) compared to those who self-medicated (57%). The majority of women with RVVC (71%) required continual or long-term antifungal medication as maintenance therapy to control symptoms. Current patient perspectives closely reflect historically documented estimates of VVC/RVVC prevalence and trends regarding symptomatology, disease management and post-treatment outcomes.
Editorial Commentary: Perfect Tunnel Position in Tommy John Surgery Is Critical for Success

The number of primary ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions (UCLRs) has been increasing at an alarming rate, and so has the number of revision UCLRs. Malpositioned tunnels are a technical surgical factor that causes graft failure and need for revision. Malpositioned tunnels result in a nonisometric graft. A common malposition error is to place the inferior humeral tunnel too far posterior, which causes the graft to be tight in flexion; therefore, elbow flexion will be restricted or, if flexion is forcibly obtained, the graft will be loose and nonfunctional. Revision UCLR is technically challenging, especially in the setting of malpositioned tunnels that require correction.
Imagination and the Future

The chapter abruptly changes direction from quantitative analysis, focusing on the role of imagination in seeing—and creating—our futures. Introducing the idea of socially constructed reality, the chapter returns to the role of myth, showing how our deep-seated myths influence our choices of what technologies to develop. It outlines how companies use “techno-management imagination” today.
Muscarinic and Nicotinic Modulation of Memory but not Verbal Problem-solving

Aspects of cognitive flexibility are modulated by the noradrenergic system, which is important in arousal and attention. Acetylcholine also modulates arousal and attention, as well as working memory. Effects of muscarinic and nicotinic antagonism on memory are well established. Our purpose was to test whether muscarinic and nicotinic antagonism affect aspects of cognitive flexibility, specifically verbal problem-solving, as well as memory, given acetylcholine's role in attention and arousal. Eighteen participants attended three testing sessions. Two hours before testing, participants received either 0.6 mg scopolamine, 10 mg mecamylamine, or placebo. Then, participants were tested on three memory tasks (Buschke Selective Reminding Test [BSRT], California Verbal Learning Test [CVLT], Rey Complex Figure Test), two verbal problem-solving/cognitive flexibility tasks (Compound Remote Associates Test, a timed anagram test), and a spatial inductive reasoning task (Raven's Progressive Matrices). Task order and drug order were counterbalanced. Memory impairment was seen on one BSRT measure and multiple CVLT measures with scopolamine, and with one BSRT measure with mecamylamine. There were no effects of either drug on any of the tasks involving cognitive flexibility, including verbal problem-solving. Specific memory impairments were detected using muscarinic, and to a marginal extent, nicotinic antagonists, as expected, but no effect was seen on cognitive flexibility. Therefore, although both the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems play important roles in arousal and cortical signal-to-noise processing, the cholinergic system does not appear to have the same effect as the noradrenergic system on cognitive flexibility, including verbal problem-solving.
Analysis of compassion in accounting and business students, overall and by gender

Abstract Helping students to gain an understanding of accounting issues and to master technical skills are critical to their success in the accounting and business fields. At the same time, educators can assist students by helping them develop character and personal values such as compassion. Being compassionate has a positive impact on a person’s life as well as on others with whom he or she interacts, such as colleagues, customers, investors, people in the supply chain, and others. One of the most well-known stories about compassion was told by Jesus of Nazareth, in his parable of the Good Samaritan. The well-known story offers a practical example of what it means to love other people, notably by a person of one race toward a person of another race. Research shows that compassion contributes to higher life satisfaction, better job performance, and improved organizational success. This exploratory study examines the levels of compassion in accounting and business students, provides a gender analysis, and considers the importance of compassion to students pursuing careers in accounting and business. Findings show that there is a significant difference in levels of compassion between female and male students, and that compassion is important to student perceptions of their careers in accounting and business. Educators would do well to discuss compassion with their students, making them aware of its benefit to them personally and to the organizations in which they will work.
Scad-Penalized Complex Gaussian Graphical Model Selection

We consider the problem of estimating the conditional independence graph (CIG) of a sparse, high-dimensional proper complex-valued Gaussian graphical model (CGGM). For CGGMs, the problem reduces to estimation of the inverse covariance matrix with more unknowns than the sample size. We consider a smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) penalty instead of the £1-penalty to regularize the problem, and analyze a SCAD-penalized log-likelihood based objective function to establish consistency and sparsistency of a local estimator of inverse covariance in a neighborhood of the true value. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the advantage of SCAD-penalty over the usual £1-penalty.
Comparison of an Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Patient Decision Aid vs Educational Material on Decision Quality, Shared Decision-Making, Patient Experience, and Functional Outcomes in Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Decision aids can help inform appropriate selection of total knee replacement (TKR) for advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, few decision aids combine patient education, preference assessment, and artificial intelligence (AI) using patient-reported outcome measurement data to generate personalized estimations of outcomes to augment shared decision-making (SDM). Objective To assess the effect of an AI-enabled patient decision aid that includes education, preference assessment, and personalized outcome estimations (using patient-reported outcome measurements) on decision quality, patient experience, functional outcomes, and process-level outcomes among individuals with advanced knee OA considering TKR in comparison with education only. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial at a single US academic orthopedic practice included 129 new adult patients presenting for OA-related knee pain from March 2019 to January 2020. Data were analyzed from April to May 2020. Intervention Patients were randomized into a group that received a decision aid including patient education, preference assessment, and personalized outcome estimations (intervention group) or a group receiving educational material only (control group) alongside usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was decision quality, measured using the Knee OA Decision Quality Instrument (K-DQI). Secondary outcomes were collaborative decision-making (assessed using the CollaboRATE survey), patient satisfaction with consultation (using a numerical rating scale), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement (KOOS JR) score, consultation time, TKR rate, and treatment concordance. Results A total of 69 patients in the intervention group (46 [67%] women) and 60 patients in the control group (37 [62%] women) were included in the analysis. The intervention group showed better decisional quality (K-DQI mean difference, 20.0%; SE, 3.02; 95% CI, 14.2%-26.1%;P Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, an AI-enabled decision aid significantly improved decision quality, level of SDM, satisfaction, and physical limitations without significantly impacting consultation times, TKR rates, or treatment concordance in patients with knee OA considering TKR. Decision aids using a personalized, data-driven approach can enhance SDM in the management of knee OA. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03956004
Assessing Adverse Drug Reactions Reported for New Respiratory Medications in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Database

BACKGROUND: Between 2012 and 2017, 25 new medications or combination products were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treatment of chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRDs). With limited data on post-marketing patient exposure to these drugs, their safety profiles remain unknown. This study aims to provide post-marketing surveillance of these medications. METHODS: A list of new CLRD medications approved between 2012 and 2017 was generated through searches on Drugs.com (https://www.drugs.com), FDA.gov (https://www.fda.gov), and IBM Micromedex (https://www.micromedexsolutions.com/home/dispatch/ssl/true). Data describing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were collected from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System for analysis. Of the 25 identified medications, we selected 4 medications indicated for asthma or COPD with at least 500 reports. Only ADRs catalogued with these medications as the primary suspect were analyzed. Reporting odds ratios were calculated for the top 10 ADRs of each CLRD medication. RESULTS: A total of 61,682 ADR reports were collected for newly approved CLRD medications (n = 27,190 older adults; n = 30,502 male). Reports of COPD medications (umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol) indicate that umeclidinium/vilanterol yielded a higher reporting odds ratio than umeclidinium alone for reports of pain. Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol had higher reporting odds ratios for cough, pain, and dizziness than budesonide/formoterol and fluticasone propionate/salmeterol. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the incidence of different adverse events experienced by patients in post-marketing reports resembles the incidence reported in pre-marketing clinical trials for COPD medications, except for fluticasone furoate/vilanterol, which has several differences.
Recent advances in heterogeneous catalysis for the nonoxidative conversion of methane.

The direct conversion of methane to high-value chemicals is an attractive process that efficiently uses abundant natural/shale gas to provide an energy supply. The direct conversion of methane to high-value chemicals is an attractive process that efficiently uses abundant natural/shale gas to provide an energy supply. Among all the routes used for methane transformation, nonoxidative conversion of methane is noteworthy owing to its highly economic selectivity to bulk chemicals such as aromatics and olefins. Innovations in catalysts for selective C–H activation and controllable C–C coupling thus play a key role in this process and have been intensively investigated in recent years. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent advances in conventional metal/zeolite catalysts in the nonoxidative coupling of methane to aromatics, as well as the newly emerging single-atom based catalysts for the conversion of methane to olefins. The emphasis is primarily the experimental findings and the theoretical understanding of the active sites and reaction mechanisms. We also present our perspectives on the design of catalysts for C–H activation and C–C coupling of methane, to shed some light on improving the potential industrial applications of the nonoxidative conversion of methane into chemicals.
Ethyl 4‐hydroxycrotonate

Ethyl 4-hydroxycrotonate product: ethyl 4-hydroxycrotonate Keywords: reduction, CO2H CH2OH; tetrahydrofuran
Insider Ownership and Shareholder Value: Evidence from New Project Announcements

How does insider ownership affect shareholder value? We answer this question by examining how the marginal valuation of new investment projects announced by Indian firms varies with the level of insider holding in the firm, and other firm and project characteristics. We find that among projects announced by firms affiliated with business groups, announcement returns are significantly lower, and usually negative, for projects announced by firms with low insider holding. This effect is mainly driven by projects that result in either the firm or the business group diversifying into a new industry. On average, diversification projects announced by firms with low insider holding have negative announcement returns. The negative effect of low insider holding is larger in firms with high level of free cash flows. Overall, our results are consistent with insiders expropriating outside shareholders by selectively housing more (less) valuable projects in firms with high (low) insider holding.
Chapter 7: The Iga Antibody System

Publisher Summary This chapter presents evidence that a local antibody system exists, that IgA is the immunoglobulin involved, and that there is biological advantage to such a system. By uniting the fragments of evidence into a general concept, the chapter suggests areas for additional studies. Viewing this system in functional and developmental perspectives, it is considered as a model for analysis of genetic control of development, transport of protein molecules, and the question of intimate relationship between man and his microbial flora in health and disease. Evidence has been presented that the IgA system is the last to develop both phylogenetically and ontogenetically, perhaps reflecting an adaptation of the immune system to terrestrial life. The evidence that particular antibodies are produced locally, that IgA is produced locally, and that these two may be one and the same response to a local stimulus, has been examined. Examination of the clinical course of persons lacking capacity to produce IgA has shown that many of these persons reveal a biological handicap. In combination with the demonstration of a specific transport mechanism for IgA, and of independence of IgA from the complement system, these pieces of evidence suggest that IgA is the immunoglobulin involved in a local antibody system.
Ethicality in Negotiations

Abstract Similarities and differences in perceptions of the ethicality of negotiation behaviors were examined for 271 current and future business professionals from Brazil and the United States. Five categories of behaviors were considered: traditional competitive bargaining, misrepresentation of information, bluffing, information collection, and influencing an opponent’s professional network. The results suggest similarities among respondents regarding behaviors that involve third parties to a negotiation (information collection, influencing an opponent’s professional network) but significant differences regarding behaviors involving immediate opponents (misrepresenting information, bluffing). In addition, gender and age were found to be significant moderating factors. The implications of these findings for cross-cultural negotiations are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.
Multiple channel scheduling in UWB based IEEE 802.15.3 networks

Recent approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has led to considerable interest in exploiting ultra wideband (UWB) access on an unlicensed basis in the 3.1-10.6 GHz band. Currently, the IEEE TG802.15.3a standards group is in the process of developing an alternative high-speed link layer design conformable with the IEEE 802.15.3 wireless personal area network (WPAN) multiple access (MAC) protocol. One of the proposals, based on the concept of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), divides the spectrum into multiple bands and achieves channelization through the use of different time-frequency codes. These multiple channels can help satisfy the increasing demand for higher bandwidth in order to support high data rate multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a multi-channel scheduling algorithm that simultaneously utilizes the various channels available in the UWB network.
A hybrid algorithm for LTL games

In the game theoretic approach to the synthesis of reactive systems, specifications are often given in linear time logic (LTL). Computing a winning strategy to an infinite game whose winning condition is the set of LTL properties is the main step in obtaining an implementation. We present a practical hybrid algorithm--a combination of symbolic and explicit algorithm--for the computation of winning strategies for unrestricted LTL games that we have successfully applied to synthesize reactive systems with up to 1011 states.
Field operational R&M warranty

Reference is made to the need for some warranty to be provided by the contractor on equipment supplied to the government which has received considerable attention in defense system's acquisitions. Experience in the evolvement of the formulation and application of a simple field operational reliability and maintainability (R&M) warranty for airborne communication equipment is reviewed, particularly as it concerns the R&M activities prior to field deployment, subsequent implementation in the field, and improvement of the system operational readiness. >
High performance two-stage bootstrapped GaAs comparator with gain enhancement

A high performance GaAs pHEMT comparator using a double cascode self-bootstrapping configuration with gain enhancement is proposed and investigated in this paper. An improved active load using D-mode HEMT devices is discussed so that the differential-mode input can be further reduced. Fully differential input pair can be realized by either E or D mode FETs. The comparator operates with a single power supply and generates a single output with a buffer stage for driving a large load or subsequent stages. With newly designed comparator, not only small propagation delay of 339 psec, but also high output voltage swing 1.5 V have been demonstrated. Analysis of the adapted comparator circuit and optimization of all transistor sizes for its best performance is also presented in detail. The overall performance is on par with prior attempts.
Case report: Dystonia in a fragile X carrier.

The Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that can affect both male and female carriers of a premutation expansion (55-200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. It is presumed to be caused by elevated FMR1-mRNA leading to toxicity. Clinical features of FXTAS include progressive cerebellar ataxia and intention tremor [1]. Associated symptoms are peripheral neuropathy, cognitive impairment and dementia [2]. MRI findings of brain atrophy and white matter disease are present in almost all cases but involvement of the middle cerebellar peduncles occurs in 59% of males and 13% of females affected by FXTAS [3]. Oromandibular dystonia (OMD), on the other hand, is a variant of focal dystonia that affects women more often then men with the age of onset between 31-58 years [4]. In this report, we present a patient with the premutation, symptoms of early FXTAS and severe OMD.
Beyond the Barricade: A Holistic View of Veteran Students at an Urban University

As veteran students return to campus following their service, colleges and universities are establishing various resources in an attempt to assist them. For this study, a group veteran and military participants at an urban university were interviewed to determine the extent to which current campus conditions foster a sense of belonging for veteran students. The study found that veteran students at this university identify with their older peers because of their maturity and life experiences. Their veteran identity is viewed as secondary, if considered influential at all. These findings suggest that universities should focus on providing services for the larger nontraditional student population in order to meet the needs of veteran students.
Temporal Logic Case Study

This report is a case study applying temporal logic to specify the operation of a bank of identical elevators servicing a number of floors in a building. The goal of the study was to understand the application of temporal logic in a problem domain that is appropriate for the method, and to determine some of the strengths and weaknesses of temporal logic in this domain. The case study uses a finite state machine language to build a model of the system specification, and verifies that the temporal logic specifications are consistent using this model. The specification aspires to be complete, consistent, and unambiguous.
18 Industrial–Organizational Psychology

This chapter takes a contextual approach to the history of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology in the United States, focusing on factors within and outside of psychology. Following an examination of the evolution of content in I-O psychology through a review of selected textbooks and other material, we discuss the influence of scientific psychology, focusing on late-19th- and early-20th-century factors such as functionalism and scientific pragmatism. Advances in statistics and measurement, particularly the measurement of individual differences, follow. The impact on I-O psychology of socioeconomic forces such as the state of the economy, unionization, and societal views about work and organizations are reviewed. Our discussion of the effect of changes in business and technology includes coverage of consulting firms and the Hawthorne studies; while the impact of the military demonstrates the importance of World Wars I and II on the history of the field. Discussion of the impact of the legal system concentrates on the post-1950s era of civil rights legislation and court decisions. We conclude by examining the history of professional and educational issues in I-O psychology, including employment trends, professional organizations, and the quest for a separate professional identity. Keywords: history of industrial-organizational psychology; industrial psychology; organizational psychology; industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology
Gravity-Induced Folding off a Gneiss Dome Complex, Rincon Mountains, Arizona

Detached isoclinal folds, overturned asymmetric folds, and unbroken cascades of recumbent folds pervade sheets of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks of Paleozoic and Mesozoic age that occur around the base of the Rincon Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. The sheets of folded rocks rest subconcordantly on the gently dipping surface of the granitic gneiss that composes much of the range. This surface, known as the Catalina fault, parallels the attitude of the foliation in the gneiss and is folded about two macroscopic upright antiforms and an intervening synform. The low-angle tectonic displacement reflected in the folds was brought about by local gravitational tectonics. The slip-line directions inferred from the geometry of the fold arrays define a radial pattern centered on the Rincon Mountains. The forms of the folds are consistent with the characteristics of gravity-induced folds. Most of the gravity-induced folding is interpreted to have accompanied the 28- to 24-m.y. uplift that ended the Tertiary metamorphism of gneiss in the Rincon Mountain complex. The Catalina fault is interpreted to be a decollement, above which the sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks folded independently of their substratum.
Evaluation of computer-aided instruction in the medical gross anatomy curriculum.

A two-year study was conducted to provide summative evaluations of web-based computer-aided instruction (CAI) specifically designed to supplement the laboratory dissections in the medical human anatomy course. Utilization of CAI was analyzed using server statistics, student surveys and network login tables. There was a significant increase in server requests for CAI over the period of the course in both years of the study. In general, student surveys corresponded with the login data for individual students, although several discrepancies showed limitations of the respective methodologies. When course examination scores were compared to the number of CAI logins for individual students, there were statistically significant direct correlations between exam grades and frequency of CAI use. Our findings illustrate the value of combining server statistics with user surveys for evaluations of CAI as an effective supplement for student learning in the anatomy curriculum. Clin. Anat. 17:73–78, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cosmology and Broken Scale Invariance

The cosmological consequences of a simple scalar field model for the generation of Newton's constant through the spontaneous breaking of scale invariance in a curved space are presented and discussed.
Region‐specific role of water in collagen unwinding and assembly

Conformational stability of the collagen triple helix affects its turnover and determines tissue homeostasis. Although it is known that the presence of imino acids (prolines or hydroxyprolines) confer stability to the molecule, little is known regarding the stability of the imino-poor region lacking imino acids, which plays a key role in collagen cleavage. In particular, there have been continuing debates about the role of water in collagen stability. We addressed these issues using molecular dynamics simulations on 30-residue long collagen triple helices, including a structure that has a biologically relevant 9-residue imino-poor region from type III collagen (PDB ID: 1BKV). A torsional map approach was used to characterize the conformational motion of the molecule that differ between imino-rich and imino-poor regions. At temperatures 300 K and above, unwinding initiates at a common cleavage site, the glycine-isoleucine bond in the imino-poor region. This provides a linkage between previous observations that unwinding of the imino-poor region is a requirement for collagenase cleavage, and that isolated collagen molecules are unstable at body temperature. We found that unwinding of the imino-poor region is controlled by dynamic water bridges between backbone atoms with average lifetimes on the order of a few picoseconds, as the degree of unwinding strongly correlated with the loss of water bridges, and unwinding could be either prevented or enhanced, respectively by enforcing or forbidding water bridge formation. While individual water bridges were short-lived in the imino-poor region, the hydration shell surrounding the entire molecule was stable even at 330 K. The diameter of the hydrated collagen including the first hydration shell was about 14 A, in good agreement with the experimentally measured inter-collagen distances. These results elucidate the general role of water in collagen turnover: water not only affects collagen cleavage by controlling its torsional motion, but it also forms a larger-scale lubrication layer mediating collagen self-assembly.
The Calculus of Concession: Media Coverage and the Dynamics of Winnowing in Presidential Nominations

In this research we outline and evaluate a theory of the “calculus of concession”: when and why presidential primary candidates exit the race. Our explanation builds on prior studies of candidate a...
Agency Costs in Dynamic Economic Models

We consider an overlapping generations economy where capital is produced from bank loans under stochastic constant returns to scale, and subject to idiosyncratic shocks whose realisations are costly to verify. Our formulation differs from earlier work in permitting investment projects to be infinitely divisible and private agency costs to be convex. If there are external economies to financial intermediation, then deviations from steady-state output are negatively correlated with the spread between loan and deposit rates. Moreover, the capital stock correspondence is set-valued, a result consistent with poverty traps, growth cycles, and humpshaped impulse response functions. This paper investigates how nonconvexities in financial intermediation, particularly in the cost of collecting private information about borrowers, enrich the operating characteristics of a simple, and relatively tractable, onesector growth model. The enriched set of equilibria is consistent with a number of phenomena that are hard to reconcile with convex models of economic growth: poverty traps, rank reversals, growth cycles and humpshaped impulse response functions are all possible outcomes of nonconvex information costs. Bankers and economists alike have long regarded the credit market as key to understanding economic development and to transmitting cyclical shocks through modern industrial economies. The growth branch of this literature starts with Gurley and Shaw (1967) who note that economic growth is almost universally accompanied by financial deepening, that is, by more intensive use of external finance in investment and by a gradual lifting of distortions in the credit market. The cyclical fluctuations branch of the literature focuses on the connection between credit market conditions and business cycles; a key concern here is how the credit market propagates and amplifies external shocks through the entire economy. The general idea dates back at least to Keynes, Fisher, and Friedman and Schwartz who argued that adverse conditions in financial markets may have exacerbated the effects of prewar recessions, including the Great Depression. Greenwood and Smith (1995) survey work on development. Among recent contributions, we note Bencivenga and Smith (1991) who study the growth effects of financial intermediation in an overlapping generations model with uncertain liquidity needs. Intermediation enhances growth because banks are efficient providers of liquidity which frees individuals from the need to maintain low yielding liquid assets. Similar results are obtained in Greenwood and Jovanovic (1990), where intermediary institutions are shown to arise
The ENSO effect on peanut yield as influenced by planting date and soil type

Abstract Information regarding climate variability might help peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) growers optimize their management strategies under different climate scenarios and maximize their production. This study examined the impact of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on peanut yield for southeastern USA as influenced by soil type and planting date for two spatial levels – region and sub-region. Rainfed yields were simulated for 32 peanut growing counties in this region using the CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model and the historical weather data of 50 years. The simulations were carried out for several scenarios comprising nine planting dates and seven soil types. Yields were separated by ENSO phase, and tests were performed for each planting date and soil type to examine if pod yields were different across the ENSO phases. Results showed that both planting date and soil type could significantly influence the effect of ENSO on peanut yield. The yield differences among ENSO phases were minimal for the peanuts planted during the middle part of the planting window (May 8 through May 22). The differences, however, were substantial for the planting dates in the initial and terminal parts of the window (April 16 through May 1 and May 29 through June 12). The influence of soil type on the ENSO effect was significant only for soils with the water holding capacity of less than 0.1 and for crops planted during the initial and terminal parts of the planting window. The ENSO effect was weaker and spatially less consistent at sub-regional level, but strong at the regional level.
Case report: CT findings in lumbosacral agenesis

This case describes a newborn paraplegic male with lumbosacral agenesis and related congenital anomalies, including bilateral hip dislocations, arthrogryposis, talipes equinovarus, as well as neurogenic bladder with urine incontinence. An extra-dural tumor, surgically excised and diagnosed as a lipoma, was identified on computed transaxial scans to be adjacent to an abruptly terminating dural sac. Caudal to the sac the scans demonstrated partial fatty replacement of muscle bundles and direct articulation of the iliac wings. A follow-up myelogram delineated the subarachnoid space, but could not distinguish the tumor from a deformed sac secondary to lumbar defects. Computed tomography is thus recommended as part of the general radiologic protocol for fully evaluating the spatial orientation and anomalies of this spinal defect.
Carcinogenicity results for 114 laboratory animal studies used to assess the predictivity of four in vitro genetic toxicity assays for rodent carcinogenicity

Carcinogenicity results are presented for 114 long-term rodent studies carried out by the National Toxicology Program. Tumor rates are given for each positive or equivocal effect observed in 67 studies judged to show carcinogenic effects and in the 17 studies that show equivocal effects. The liver was found to be the most common site of carcinogenicity for both mice and rats; other frequent target sites included the lung, kidney, hematopoietic system, forestomach, thyroid gland, and mammary gland. The evaluative approach used in reaching decisions regarding the carcinogenicity of chemicals is discussed. No rigid statistical decision rules were employed, and biological as well as statistical factors were considered in the overall evaluation of the data. These long-term studies were utilized in a comprehensive evaluation of the ability of four in vitro genetic toxicity tests to predict rodent carcinogenicity. Details concerning these procedures and the results of this investigation are given elsewhere [Zeiger E, Haseman JK, Shelby MD, Margolin BH, Tennant RW 1990: Environ Mol Mutagen 16 (Supp. 18):1-14]. Interestingly, those chemicals evaluated at relatively low doses in the rodent experiments (because of the underlying toxicity of the chemicals) were far more likely to be positive in each of the four genetic toxicity assays than were "less toxic" chemicals evaluated in higher doses in the rodent studies.
An explanation of intra-industry trade in identical commodities

Abstract A model of international trade under conditions of spatial price discrimination is developed in order to demonstrate that intra-industry trade is identical commodities can occur between two countries over a wide range of market structures. The geographic extent of intra-industry trade is shown to be inversely related to the degree of competition affecting imports in each country in the sale of the homogeneous commodity. Furthermore, the degree of intra-industry trade is directly related to the incidence of spatial price discrimination in favor of distant customers.
Gender, HipHop and Pop-Islam: the urban identities of Muslim youth in Germany

While many opponents construe the growing presence of Muslim headscarves in Germany as evidence of creeping Islamicization, religious activism can also be interpreted as an attempt on the part of migrant offspring to forge positive ‘hyphenated identities’, rooted in urban culture, material consumption, and specific mosque communities. Islam has become ‘young, chic and cool’ among ethnic minorities, often denied citizenship and opportunity in their country of birth owing to jus sanguinis and/or other complex naturalization requirements. Religiosity, in turn, is slowly giving rise to new types of civic engagement, leading more ethnic youth to pursue German citizenship. Drawing on representative surveys, inter alia, this essay argues that while not problem free, an emerging Pop-Islam movement has provided Muslimas especially with an important platform for breaking with traditional gender roles, building social capital and acquiring the participatory skills necessary to bring ‘civil society’ into their own co...
Stimulus aspects of aversive controls: long-term effects of suppression procedures

Five years ago, pigeons trained to peck a key for food were periodically presented with a 1000 cps tone which ended with electrical shock. They were then tested for the stimulus generalization of conditioned suppression. After an interruption of 2.5 yr, another series of generalization tests showed no loss of suppression. The present study was conducted 1.5 yr later to retest the effect of an extended interruption on retention of suppression. It was found, again, that suppression did not decline over time. The present paper, which summarizes the earlier data and reports the most recent findings, provides an overview of the extended behavioral consequences of the original aversive procedures administered five years ago.
Negatively Skewed Distributions of Silica and Potassium in Igneous Rocks

THE distributions of several elements, including some which are abundant, have been found to be positively skewed in specific igneous rocks1–6. Many such distributions are either lognormal or approximate lognormality; some may be described as double or multiple lognormal distributions7. The most notable exceptions to positive skewness are silica, the most abundant of all constituents, and potassium, each of which has been found to exhibit decided negative skewness6. No specific statistical type has yet been assigned to these negatively skewed distributions, a problem which we now consider. We will use the example of silica only, as the distribution of potassium may show closely similar characteristics and can be handled in the same way.
Cycloaddition functionalizations to preserve or control the conductance of carbon nanotubes

We identify a class of covalent functionalizations that preserve or control the conductance of single-walled metallic carbon nanotubes. [2+1] cycloadditions can induce bond cleaving between adjacent sidewall carbons, recovering in the process the sp;{2} hybridization and the ideal conductance of the pristine tubes. This is radically at variance with the damage permanently induced by other common ligands, where a single covalent bond is formed with a sidewall carbon. Chirality, curvature, and chemistry determine bond cleaving, and in turn the electrical transport properties of a functionalized tube. A well-defined range of diameters can be found for which certain addends exhibit a bistable state, where the opening or closing of the sidewall bond, accompanied by a switch in the conductance, could be directed with chemical, optical, or thermal means.
The mechanisms involved in the activation of human natural killer cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Abstract The induction of enhanced natural cytotoxicity from human peripheral mononuclear cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was examined. The activated killer cytotoxicity (AKC) was maximum at 16 hr with 1 mg/ml SEB. The precursor and effector cells of AKC were determined to be primarily CD5 negative, CD8 negative, CD16 positive cells. Monocytes and interleukin-1 played no role in the generation of AKC. However, a major role for interleukin-2 (IL-2) in AKC was shown by the inhibition of AKC when anti-IL-2 antibody or cyclosporin was added to the induction cultures. SEB rapidly induced the production of IL-2 from glass nonadherent cells by 6 hr and reached peak levels by 24 hr (162 U/ml). IL-2 induced by SEB in these induction cultures was preferentially produced by CD16 positive cells. Even though interferon γ (IFN-γ) production was induced in these cultures, no role for IFN could be shown in SEB-induced AKC.
Identification of prognostic factors in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract Objective. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) has demonstrated that age, tumor grade, and size and number of residual lesions after primary cytoreductive surgery are significant prognostic factors in advanced ovarian carcinoma. Recent studies have reported numerous other clinical features as having prognostic value. We sought to identify the independent prognostic factors for survival in a cohort of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma who received their primary treatment at our institution between 1987 and 1994. Results. A total of 295 patients were identified, 282 of whom were evaluable. Of these 282 patients, 214 (76%) have died of disease or other causes. The median follow-up is 32 months (range: 1–139). Eighteen factors were evaluated for prognostic significance. Significant factors in univariate analysis included patient age, gravidity (0 vs > 0), parity (0 vs > 0), preoperative albumin level, preoperative total protein level, ascites (presence vs absence), disease stage (IIIA/IIIB vs IIIC vs IV), number of residual lesions (≤20 vs >20), and diameter of largest residual tumor nodule (≤ 1 cm vs 1–2 cm vs > 2 cm). However, on multivariate analysis, only patient age ( P P = 0.001), and size of residual disease ( P = 0.005) retained prognostic significance. Substage of disease was of borderline significance ( P = 0.086). Conclusion. Although numerous clinical variables have recently been reported to have prognostic value in advanced ovarian carcinoma, only patient age, presence or absence of ascites, and diameter of the largest residual tumor nodule proved to be of statistical significance in our analysis.