cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Child labor participation, human capital accumulation, and economic development

Abstract This paper presents a household theoretical model that explains child labor as a function of household resources, wages, and child work time allocation. The analysis is based on the interplay between household educational investment choices and adult–child wage differentials. The theory dynamics reveal that child labor participation is increasing in wage equality and as the wage gap decreases it reduces the distance by where the households is able to escape the cycle of poverty by investing beyond the dynamically attracting poverty level of inefficient human capital investment. The model dynamics also present the conditions by where poor households use child labor as a development strategy, as a means of accumulating physical assets at the expense of child human capital investment, in the early stages of development. The policy implications of this work are that child labor bans increase the wage differentials between child and adult earners while simultaneously decreasing the household incentive to invest in child education. The impact, of such policies, has a double negative effect on poor households. Furthermore, policies that reduce wage distortions, between adult and child labor, increase adult human capital, and provide universal access to educational will have long-run developmental growth effects. These policies, in the long-run, are shown to produce household substitution away from child labor and toward the acquisition of schooling based education.
Nutrient uptake and yield of sweet pepper as affected by stage of development and N form

Abstract Uptake of NO3 ‐, NH4 +, P, K++, Ca++ and Mg++, as influenced by the stage of plant development and three NO3 ‐: NH4 + ratios (1: 0, 1: 1, and 0: 1), was determined for sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. ‘California Wonder'). Uptake was highest during fruit development and immediately after fruit harvest, indicating that fruit removal promotes nutrient uptake. When NO3 ‐ and NH4 + were supplied in equal concentrations, NO3 ‐ was absorbed more readily. Each increment in NH4 + decreased the uptake of K+, Ca++, and Mg++ by fruit tissue, while no significant effect on the N and P content of the fruit was observed. Ammonium nutrition reduced plant dry weight and fruit yield in comparison to NO3 ‐. Results from this study suggest that NO3 ‐ is the preferred N form, and that fertilizer application should be scheduled according to specific physiological stages to maximize nutrient uptake. Nutrient content of vegetative tissue was not indicative of potential yield.
Dynamics of a disordered flux line lattice.

Flow behavior of a flux line in the layered superconductor 2H-${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{2}$ is studied with a magnetic field parallel to the layers in the vicinity of a pronounced peak effect. A striking crossover in the current-voltage characteristics is observed as the system enters the peak regime. The results yield a nonequilibrium phase diagram where conventional depinning of an elastic medium occurs for a rigid lattice. A defective (plastic) flow instability occurs as the lattice softens, but heals at large drives. This defective flow dominates the dynamics for a very soft lattice.
The Ashland Oil Spill of January 1988 - an EPA Perspective

The Ashland Oil Spill of January, 1988 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was one of the largest inland releases of oil in U.S. history. The response to this release lasted over a month and involved the combined resources of government, industry and the public. This paper discusses the spill incident, the response, and the causes of the release. The inquiry into the regulatory aspects of this incident is continuing and is not a focus of this paper.
Dissociation of epinephrine-induced free fatty acid and glycerol release by adrenergic blocking drugs☆

Abstract Metabolic effects of epinephrine and adrenergic blocking agents were studied in unanesthetized, intact male albino rabbits. Changes in plasma concentration of free fatty acids (FFA), blood glycerol, glucose, lactate and pyruvate were measured. Epinephrine infusion (0.1 μg/kg/min for 40 min) caused the levels of these metabolites to rise and the ratio of plasma FFA/glycerol to decrease. Ergotamine base infusion (0·25 mg/kg and 0·75 mg/kg) inhibited the epinephrine-induced plasma FFA rise 82 per cent at the lower and 91 per cent at the higher dosage level. At the same time, blood glycerol levels were not reduced below those obtained in animals not previously treated with the blocker. β-Adrenergic blockade (propranolol, 3·5 mg/kg) inhibited the epinephrine-induced rise in blood glycerol much more (91 per cent) than the rise in FFA (22 per cent); it blocked the marked lactacidemia (73 per cent) and the rise in pyruvate (86 per cent) and reduced the elevated blood glucose level by 42 per cent. The marked decrease in FFA/glycerol ratio due to epinephrine was also eliminated. It is suggested that the use of adrenergic blocking agents promotes differential lipasc activation in the adipose tissue, mediated through shifts in the adenine nucleotide cycle.
Transformational Leadership and Pastoral Leader Effectiveness

In this study multiple variables as they relate to pastoral leader effectiveness were examined. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), NEO-Five Factor Inventory (FFI), and Spiritual Transcendence Scale (STS) were used to measure the leadership styles, personality, and spirituality of 93 pastors and assess which variable predicted pastoral leadership effectiveness. The results indicated that transformational leadership style showed significant correlations with pastoral leader effectiveness; only one dimension of the MLQ’s transformational leadership scale (individual consideration) was a significant predictor of pastoral leader effectiveness. Other limited findings suggest that personality and spirituality also contributed to pastoral leadership effectiveness.
The cocial construction of mobile telephony: an application of the social influence model to perceptions and uses of mobile phones within personal communication networks

The purpose of this study was to test the argument that perceptions and uses of mobile phones are socially constructed in close personal networks. The study hypothesized that, through collective sense making, perceptions and uses of mobile phones would be more similar within 45 personal communication networks than for the entire sample of 194 individuals. Findings from a self-report survey reveal that several factors were significantly more similar within the networks than for individuals throughout the sample, including perceptions of the handset as a means of display, use for safety and security, attitudes about use in public, microcoordination, hypercoordination, and comfort with technology. Interviews were conducted to explore how perceptions and uses were shaped through relationships and interactions situated in social context. The interview data illuminate how social interaction contributed to perceptions and uses in four key areas: mobile phone adoption, attitudes about products and services, perce...
Reentry Preparedness among Soon-to-be-Released Inmates and the Role of Time Served.

Abstract Purpose While reentry funding is flowing into states, its target efficiency and effectiveness depends on whether it goes to the right people in the right ways. The purpose of this study was to examine whether and how the amount of time incarcerated affects reentry readiness. Materials and Methods A population-based survey was conducted. Approximately 4000 soon-to-be-released male inmates were drawn from a state correctional system. Readiness is described in terms of feeling ready and material, social, and treatment resources available for reentry by time served on current conviction (episode effect) and since age 18 (cumulative effect). Generalized hierarchical linear models were used to estimate the effects of demographic, criminological, and time served variables on reentry readiness outcomes. Results Reentry vulnerability increased with time served since turning 18 (cumulative effect) but not with time served on the current conviction (episode effect). Inmates serving more than 10 years since turning 18 were at greatest reentry risk. Conclusions The findings indicate that inmates who have served more prison time over their lifetime have more pronounced needs and risks suggesting that reentry funding be targeted towards those who have served more time over the course of their lifetime.
InP solar cells for use in space

Abstract The present state of the art in InP solar cell research is reviewed. A Historical introduction is followed by reviews of cell modelling and processing efforts, demonstrated performance, the effects of electron, proton and gamma irradiations, annealing, flight data, and temperature dependencies. This is followed by a discussion of several potentially fruitful areas for future research.
Retinal vasculopathy in a family with autosomal dominant dyskeratosis congenita.

Background: Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare multisystem bone marrow failure genetic disorder characterized by reticular skin hyperpigmentation, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. Clinical ophthalmic features in these patients include retinal hemorrhages, retinal vasculopathy, telangiectasia, and macular exudates.Methods: Complete family medical history, clinical examination, complete blood profile, ophthalmologic examination, fundus color photography and fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.Results: We report a case of a young white adult male with a family history of clinically diagnosed autosomal dominant dyskeratosis congenita, who presented with retinal edema and peripheral retinal ischemia. The sister had milder manifestations and the father had very subtle manifestations.Conclusions: This case is consistent with the previously reported observations of genetic anticipation and variable expressivity in the retinal findings of dyskeratosis congenita.
Low-level laser therapy effectively prevents secondary brain injury induced by immediate early responsive gene X-1 deficiency

A mild insult to the brain can sometimes trigger secondary brain injury, causing severe postconcussion syndrome, but the underlying mechanism is ill understood. We show here that secondary brain injury occurs consistently in mice lacking immediate early responsive gene X-1 (IEX-1), after a gentle impact to the head, which closely simulates mild traumatic brain injury in humans. The pathologic lesion was characterized by extensive cell death, widespread leukocyte infiltrates, and severe tissue loss. On the contrary, a similar insult did not induce any secondary injury in wild-type mice. Strikingly, noninvasive exposure of the injured head to a low-level laser at 4 hours after injury almost completely prevented the secondary brain injury in IEX-1 knockout mice. The low-level laser therapy (LLLT) suppressed proinflammatory cytokine expression like interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 but upregulated TNF-α. Moreover, although lack of IEX-1 compromised ATP synthesis, LLLT elevated its production in injured brain. The protective effect of LLLT may be ascribed to enhanced ATP production and selective modulation of proinflammatory mediators. This new closed head injury model provides an excellent tool to investigate the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury as well as the mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of LLLT.
True Metabolizable Energy of Fats at Low Level Dietary Inclusion

Abstract When assayed at a 2.5% level of inclusion in a corn-soybean meal basal diet with 40 replications per treatment, no significant differences could be demonstrated between the true metabolizable energies (TME) of corn oil and two samples of tallow varying in stearic acid (18:0) content. All values were in excess of the gross energy of fat, suggesting an improvement in the absorption of other dietary constituents. When assayed at a 15% level in a purified basal diet, the TME of corn oil was significantly higher than that of the tallows; all values were below the gross energy of fat. Use of the practical corn-soybean meal basal improved the TME of the fats by 22.4% (corn oil), 34.9% (low 18:0 tallow), and 43.0% (high 18:0 tallow). A portion of the improvement in the TME of the tallows is presumed to be accounted for by an interaction with fatty acids in the practical basal ingredients that may be obscured at higher levels of inclusion. It is concluded that with adequate replication it is feasible to assay the TME of fats at low levels of dietary inclusion. A comparison of fatty acid absorption in Single Comb White Leghorn roosters during a TME study and in 8 to 9 week broilers on a full-feed regimen suggests that the conditions imposed during a TME assay provide a satisfactory model for evaluating the fat absorption of chickens reared under normal conditions.
Technical Writing: What it is and What it isn't

The author of this article directs his remarks primarily to teachers of literature who may be considering the teaching of technical writing. He shows the similarities existing among the forms of cr...
Cytokines and autoimmunity

Cytokines have crucial functions in the development, differentiation and regulation of immune cells. As a result, dysregulation of cytokine production or action is thought to have a central role in the development of autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. Some cytokines, such as interleukin-2, tumour-necrosis factor and interferons--ostensibly, the 'bad guys' in terms of disease pathogenesis--are well known for the promotion of immune and inflammatory responses. However, these cytokines also have crucial immunosuppressive functions and so, paradoxically, can also be 'good guys'. The balance between the pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions of these well-known cytokines and the implications for the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease is the focus of this review.
Differential regulation of substance P by all members of the nerve growth factor family of neurotrophins in avian dorsal root ganglia throughout development

Abstract This study examined the effects of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4/5 on substance P levels in dorsal root ganglia of the quail shortly after ganglia formation (stage 26, embryonic day 4.5), during the middle of development (stage 33, embryonic day 7.5) and during late development (stage 44, embryonic day 14). It has already been shown that nerve growth factor increases levels of substance P during the middle and late stages of development, and that messenger RNA for the neurotrophin receptors, trk A, trk B and trk C is present at all of these stages. Dorsal root ganglia were isolated, rinsed with defined medium to dilute endogenous neurotrophins and exposed to one of the neurotrophins for either 4 or 20 h. Substance P levels were quantitated using enzyme immunoassay. None of the neurotrophins had any effect on substance P levels in dorsal root ganglia obtained at stage 26 after either a 4 or 20 h exposure time. Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4/5 all significantly increased levels of substance P after either a 4 h or 20 h incubation in ganglia obtained at stages 33 and 44. The effects of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3 were specific; increases in substance P were completely blocked by simultaneous exposure to antibodies against either nerve growth factor or neurotrophin-3. The absence of any effect of neurotrophins on substance P expression during early development was unexpected, since dorsal root ganglia exhibit substantial levels of substance P and receptors for the neurotrophins are present and are apparently functional. It was also surprising that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4/5 induced increases in substance P levels during the middle and late stages of development, since substance P was thought to be exclusively localized to small TrkA neurons in dorsal root ganglia. However, immunocytochemical examination of dorsal root ganglia at stages 33 and 44 revealed substance P-like immunoreactivity in larger neurons as well as in small neurons. The results of this study have shown that different cellular responses to neurotrophins, such as effects on survival and/or peptide expression, may be acquired with differing temporal patterns not strictly related to expression of their receptors. Further, the regulation of neuropeptide synthesis in dorsal root ganglia is not due to any one neurotrophic factor, and the factors that regulate expression during early development are still unknown.
Saturation behavior of inhomogeneously broadened EPR lines detected with magnetic field modulation

Abstract The microwave power saturation behavior of an inhomogeneously broadened electron paramagnetic resonance line with detection at the second harmonic of the magnetic field modulation frequency under slow-passage conditions has been derived. The saturation curves for the PO 3 · −2 radical have been measured for the zeroth, first, and second harmonic EPR signals and can be described adequately by the theoretical treatment. Finally, some of the limitations of progressive saturation methods are discussed.
Ash3d: A finite-volume, conservative numerical model for ash transport and tephra deposition

[1] We develop a transient, 3-D Eulerian model (Ash3d) to predict airborne volcanic ash concentration and tephra deposition during volcanic eruptions. This model simulates downwind advection, turbulent diffusion, and settling of ash injected into the atmosphere by a volcanic eruption column. Ash advection is calculated using time-varying pre-existing wind data and a robust, high-order, finite-volume method. Our routine is mass-conservative and uses the coordinate system of the wind data, either a Cartesian system local to the volcano or a global spherical system for the Earth. Volcanic ash is specified with an arbitrary number of grain sizes, which affects the fall velocity, distribution and duration of transport. Above the source volcano, the vertical mass distribution with elevation is calculated using a Suzuki distribution for a given plume height, eruptive volume, and eruption duration. Multiple eruptions separated in time may be included in a single simulation. We test the model using analytical solutions for transport. Comparisons of the predicted and observed ash distributions for the 18 August 1992 eruption of Mt. Spurr in Alaska demonstrate to the efficacy and efficiency of the routine.
Differential regulation of keratinocyte chemokinesis and chemotaxis through distinct nicotinic receptor subtypes

Nicotinergic agents can act as both chemokines and chemoattractants for cell migration. Epidermal keratinocytes both synthesize acetylcholine and use it as a paracrine and autocrine regulator of cell motility. To gain a mechanistic insight into nicotinergic control of keratinocyte motility, we determined types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and signaling pathways regulating keratinocyte chemokinesis and chemotaxis, using respective modifications of the agarose gel keratinocyte outgrowth assay. Random migration of keratinocytes was significantly (P<0.05) inhibited by hemicholinum-3, a metabolic inhibitor of acetylcholine synthesis, as well as by the alpha-conotoxins MII and AuIB, preferentially blocking alpha3-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The use of antisense oligonucleotides specific for nicotinic-acetylcholine-receptor subunits and knockout mice demonstrated pivotal role for the alpha3beta2 channel in mediating acetylcholine-dependent chemokinesis. Signaling pathways downstream of alpha3beta2 included activation of the protein-kinase-C isoform delta and RhoA-dependent events. The nicotinergic chemotaxis of keratinocytes was most pronounced towards the concentration gradient of choline, a potent agonist of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The alpha7-preferring antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin significantly (P<0.05) diminished keratinocyte chemotaxis, further suggesting a central role for the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This hypothesis was confirmed in experiments with anti-alpha7 antisense oligonucleotides and alpha7-knockout mice. The signaling pathway mediating alpha7-dependent keratinocyte chemotaxis included intracellular calcium, activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein-kinase II, conventional isoforms of protein-kinase C, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and engagement of Rac/Cdc42. Redistribution of alpha7 immunoreactivity to the leading edge of keratinocytes upon exposure to a chemoattractant preceded crescent shape formation and directional migration. Application of high-resolution deconvolution microscopy demonstrated that, on the cell membrane of keratinocytes, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits localize with the integrin beta1. The obtained results demonstrate for the first time that alpha3 and alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors regulate keratinocyte chemokinesis and chemotaxis, respectively, and identify signaling pathways mediating these functions, which has clinical implications for wound healing and control of cancer metastases.
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE AS A PROBE OF COLLECTIVE MODES IN ANISOTROPIC EXCHANGE-COUPLED PARAMAGNETS

Electron spin resonance (ESR) in exchanged-coupled paramagnets is a probe of field-dependent collective modes in a strongly coupled many-body system. We utilize a previously developed approach for the analysis of collective modes in such systems to express the experimentally determined g-factors of the ESR modes in an anisotropic magnet in terms of the microscopic (isolated spin) g-factors and the ratios of the static susceptibilities along the principal directions. Applications of the theory to the ferromagnetic insulator CrBr3 and the Kondo lattice systems YbRh2Si2, YbCo2Si2, YbIr2Si2 and CeRuPO are discussed.
On perfectly plastic flow in porous material

Abstract Experimental observations suggest that for perfectly-plastic materials containing pores, the (small) strain at which significant macroscopic yielding occurs is relatively insensitive to porosity, for volume fractions below approximately 15–20% (although the yield stress drops significantly with increasing porosity). Another observation is that, at these porosity levels, the stress–strain curve remains approximately linear almost up to the yield point. Based on these observations, Sevostianov and Kachanov constructed yield surfaces that explicitly reflect the shapes of the pores and their orientation. The underlying microscale mechanism is that local plastic “pockets” near pores blunt the stress concentrations; as a result, they remain limited in size and well contained in the elastic field until they connect and almost the entire matrix plasticizes within a narrow interval of stresses that can be idealized as the yield point. The present paper provides direct insight into the micromechanics of poroplasticity through direct microscale numerical simulation. Besides confirming the basic microscale mechanism, these simulations reveal that the reduction of the macroscopic poroplastic yield stress is approximated quite closely by 1−v2 times the dense nonporous yield stress, where v2 is the volume fraction of the pores.
System level lumped-parameter dynamic modeling of PEM fuel cell

The goal of this study is to develop a system-level dynamic model of a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell that is capable of characterizing the mixed effects of temperature, gas flow, and capacitance, with particular emphasis focused on system transient behavior. The fuel cell system is divided into three control volumes and thus a lumped-parameter model for these sub-systems is established using a combination of intrinsic mechanistic relations and empirical modeling. The dynamic model is simulated using SIMULINK. The analysis illustrates the complicated dynamic interactions between various components and effects within a fuel cell system, and demonstrates the necessity of the proposed approach of separate control volumes. Numerical studies are correlated to a single-cell experimental investigation, and a protocol for parameter identification is explored to refine the model fidelity. The proposed fuel cell model can accurately predict the dynamic behavior and exhibits excellent agreement with experimental results. This model can be readily employed in the optimization and real-time control of PEM fuel cells installed in practical automotive or stationary applications.
An ER-targeted calcium-binding peptide confers salt and drought tolerance mediated by CIPK6 in Arabidopsis

Different plant organelles have high internal stores of Ca2+ compared to the cytoplasm and could play independent roles in stress responses or signal transduction. We used a GFP fusion with the C-domain of calreticulin, which shows low-affinity, high capacity Ca2+ binding in the ER, as a calcium-binding peptide (CBP) to specifically increase stores in the ER and nucleus. Despite the presence of a signal sequence and KDEL retention sequence, our work and previous studies (Brandizzi et al. Plant Journal 34:269–281, 2003) demonstrated both ER and nuclear localization of GFP-CBP. Under normal conditions, GFP-CBP-expressing lines had ~25% more total Ca2+ and higher levels of chlorophyll and seed yield than wild type and GFP controls. CBP-expressing plants also had better survival under intermittent drought or high salt treatments and increased root growth. One member of the CIPK (calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase) gene family, CIPK6, was up-regulated in CBP-expressing plants, even under non-stress conditions. A null mutation in cipk6 abolished the increased stress tolerance of CBP-transgenic plants, as well as the CBP-mediated induction of two stress-associated genes, DREB1A and RD29A, under non-stress conditions. Although this suggested that it was the induction of CIPK6, rather than localized changes in Ca2+, that resulted in increased survival under adverse conditions, CIPK6 induction still required Ca2+. This work demonstrates that ER (or nuclear) Ca2+ can directly participate in signal transduction to alter gene expression. The discovery of a method for increasing Ca2+ levels without deleterious effects on plant growth may have practical applications.
Sexual Therapy For The Post Coronary Patient

Abstract This paper examines the theory and research on the subject of sexual activity post myocardial infarction. An etiological model of sexual dysfunction following MI is presented, treatment implications from the model are discussed, and a treatment program with specific interventions is discussed. Extensions of the conceptual model and treatment outline result in a format for feasible “preventative” therapy implemented immediately following the cardiac event. Emphasis is placed on the systemic etiology and effects of sexual dysfunction.
Biochemical approaches to scrapie research

Abstract Scrapie always has been a difficult disease to study. Many of the standard techniques of virology are inapplicable to scrapie research and much reliance has been placed on the use of biochemical methods. Recent studies have revealed some problems and some new leads.
Teacher Work Sample Methodology: Implementation and Practical Application in Teacher Preparation

Abstract To meet accountability demands of the United States Department of Education and NCATE for the quality of teacher preparation programs, colleges of education require graduates to complete a performance based education program, subject area testing, and a portfolio. Current assessment processes do not measure the impact teacher preparation has on student learning. Oklahoma has formed a three-year partnership through USDE Title II funds called the Oklahoma Teacher Enhancement Program, to develop an assessment tool, Teacher Work Sample Methodology (TWSM) useful to Oklahoma's teacher preparation programs in meeting these national demands. This article focuses on the TWSM components, plan for implementation, the uses of the TWSM in the portfolio for teacher preparation programs, and the challenges of using the TWSM.
Robust optimization analysis for multiple attribute decision making problems with imprecise information

This paper considers ranking decision alternatives under multiple attributes with imprecise information on both attribute weights and alternative ratings. It is demonstrated that regret results from the decision maker’s inadequate knowledge about the true scenario to occur. Potential optimality analysis is a traditional method to evaluate alternatives with imprecise information. The essence of this approach is to identify any alternative that outperforms the others in its best-case scenario. Our analysis shows that potential optimality analysis is optimistic in nature and may lead to a significant loss if an unfavorable scenario occurs. We suggest a robust optimization analysis approach that ranks alternatives in terms of their worst-case absolute or relative regret. A robust optimal alternative performs reasonably well in all scenarios and is shown to be desirable for a risk-concerned decision maker. Linear programming models are developed to check robust optimality.
Multi-hop Geographic Transmission Scheme for the Uplink in Mesh Networks

We consider transmissions in the uplink of a wireless mesh network, in which a group of radios have information to transmit to a set of access points (APs). When the channels from the radios to the APs suffer from fading, conventional approaches, such as direct transmission to the AP or routing through pre-selected relays, may have a high probability of failure. In such channels, geographic transmission techniques may provide improved performance, as the relays are selected from those radios that successfully received the packet and that move it toward the AP. In our previous work, we developed Geographic Transmission with Optimized Relaying (GATOR), which provides an optimal relay selection technique for a system in which time is slotted and the AP can usually be reached in two hops. GATOR is shown to provide significantly better performance than direct transmission, routing, and other geographic transmission schemes. In this work, we generalize GATOR to scenarios in which the radios may be too far to reach the APs in two hops. We call this approach multi-hop GATOR, and show that it offers better performance than direct transmission, routing, or the original GATOR scheme.
Analyst recommendations, brokerage firm revenue and product market power

We link brokerage firm revenue and affiliated analysts' recommendations to the firms' competitive positions in product markets. Our first important finding is that affiliated analysts tend to assign more favourable ratings to the firms with high market power (more competitive firms) during 1993-2006. Our results are robust to controlling for other firm characteristics identified in prior literature associated with more favourable recommendations. Our second important finding is that a portfolio of stocks with above median market power (more competitive firms) underperforms a portfolio of below median market power stocks (less competitive firms) adjusting for market, size, book-to-market and momentum factors. Our results are consistent with the idea that at least part of the favourable recommendations for high market power firms are related to affiliated brokerage firms' revenue from the same firms. Therefore, investors should be cautious following the advice of the analysts related to firms enjoying high market power.
The impact of diabetes on depression treatment outcomes.

Abstract Background Individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are two to four times more likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few controlled studies have examined the impact of DM on the treatment of MDD. Understanding the effect of DM on depressed patients could provide valuable clinical information toward adjusting current treatment modalities to produce a more effective treatment for depressed patients with DM. Methods This study was conducted using an evaluable sample of 2876 outpatient participants enrolled in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and treatment characteristics with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram, as well as remission rates for MDD and time to remission, were compared between participants with DM and participants without DM. Results The odds of remission were lower in participants with DM than in those without DM prior to adjustment [odds ratio (OR)=0.68; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=(0.49, 0.94); P=.0184]. These differences were no longer present after adjustment [OR=0.92; 95% CI=(0.64, 1.32); P=.6399]. Participants with DM reported fewer side effects than participants without DM despite similar dosing. Conclusions Depressed patients with DM and depressed patients without DM appear to have similar rates of MDD remission, indicating that a diagnosis of DM per se has no impact on MDD remission. The findings of fewer side effects and psychiatric serious adverse events in participants with DM imply that depressed patients with DM may be excellent candidates for more aggressive SSRI dosing. This lower prevalence of side effects reported by depressed participants with DM warrants further exploration.
James McNeill Whistler in Chile: Portrait of the Artist as Arms Dealer

The colorful and controversial life of American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler took many twists and turns. One of the most dramatic and least explicable of the turns came in 1866, when he traveled to Valparaiso, Chile. Generations of Whistler biographers have been puzzled by the reasons for this sojourn, but a recently discovered collection of documents provides significant clues for solving the mystery. Whistler, it seems, had become involved in a scheme to provide weapons to the Chilean navy in a war against Spain. The scheme turned into a fiasco, dashing Whistler’s hopes of handsome financial profits, but his weeks in South America significantly shaped his development as an artist.
Order and orientation control of mesoporous silica films on conducting gold substrates formed by dip-coating and self-assembly: a grazing angle of incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and field emission scanning electron microscopy study.

Grazing-angle of incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy have been used to characterize the mesophase symmetry, orientation, and long-range order in PEO20−PPO70−PEO20 (Pluronic P123) templated mesoporous silica thin films on conducting gold substrates as a function of silica-to-ethylene oxide (Si/EO) block ratio and relative humidity (RH). The films are formed by dip-coating followed by evaporation-induced self-assembly under tightly controlled RH. The general evolution of the mesophase follows the trends that are expected based on shape factors due to swelling of the PEO block. However, changes in orientation of the nanostructure relative to the substrate and the degree of long-range order are found to depend on Si/EO ratio. These effects are likely due to the dynamics of evaporation and self-assembly. Generally, at Si/EO ratios lower than 3.29, the films contained regions where the nanostructure was not oriented relative to the plan...
Clonal aspects of plant cell proliferation and their applications to animal cells and bacteria.

. Objectives: Extensive mathematical studies have been made on cell clone development but little has been advanced in the mathematics of small clone formation and virtually no actual data of small clone size has been collected. Materials and methods: Small clone sizes in leaf marginal cells of the aquatic plant Elodea and aleurone spot sizes in the grain of Zea were counted for later statistical analyses of mean, variance and probability distribution frequencies. Results: Simple mathematical models were developed and their calculated results are comparable to data collected on actual plant clones. The parameters in these models were original cell size (s0), growth rate (T), duration of growth (t) and cell division inequality (i). Conclusions: Given T and t, the critical parameter is s0. Plant tissue is ideal material to collect data on clone development because growth rate is uniform across a tissue and cells remain in place, so clone size can be measured, unlike microbes and animal cells that have neither feature. In the light of the results, traditional methods for calculating cell cycle duration and mutation rate are questioned. The applications of these plant features to studies on animal cell populations are discussed.
Nitrosyl transfer from manganese to iron in tropocoronand complexes.

A nitrosyl transfer reaction is described in which the NO ligand from [Mn(NO)(TC-5,5)] quantitatively transfers to [Fe(TC-5,5)] to form [Fe(NO)(TC-5,5)]. The reaction was monitored by in situ IR spectroscopy to reveal data consistent with NO dissociation from Mn prior to interaction with Fe.
Hiccups and gastroesophageal reflux: cause and effect?

Chronic hiccups may be a problem of great significance to the affected patient. A 62-year-old man with severe heartburn and persistent hiccups despite numerous diagnostic tests and therapeutic drug trials presented to our clinic. Esophageal motility and intraluminal pH studies demonstrated decreases in intraesophageal pressure during hiccups and acid exposure during 68% of the measured time. The patient underwent Nissen fundoplication, which improved his heartburn but not his hiccups. The association between gastroesophageal reflux and hiccups is discussed. Our experience suggests that the presence of hiccups and gastroesophageal reflux in the same patient may be concidental rather than having a cause-and-effect relationship.
Quantitative comparison of experimental impurity transport with nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation in an Alcator C-Mod L-mode plasma

Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of impurity transport are compared to experimental impurity transport for the first time. The GYRO code (Candy and Waltz 2003 J. Comput. Phys. 186 545) was used to perform global, nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of impurity transport for a standard Alcator C-Mod, L-mode discharge. The laser blow-off technique was combined with soft x-ray measurements of a single charge state of calcium to provide time-evolving profiles of this non-intrinsic, non-recycling impurity over a radial range of 0.0 ≤ r/a ≤ 0.6. Experimental transport coefficient profiles and their uncertainties were extracted from the measurements using the impurity transport code STRAHL and rigorous Monte Carlo error analysis. To best assess the agreement of gyrokinetic simulations with the experimental profiles, the sensitivity of the GYRO predicted impurity transport to a wide range of turbulence-relevant plasma parameters was investigated. A direct comparison of nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation and experiment is presented with an in depth discussion of error sources and a new data analysis methodology.
Monte Carlo simulation of the Feynman diagram approach to strong acousto-optic interaction

In previous papers it has been shown that acousto-optic interaction of arbitrary light and sound fields is solvable by means of Feynman diagrams and path integrals. In this paper we use a quantum-mechanical interpretation of these path integrals, based on probability-amplitude densities, for Monte Carlo simulations on a computer. This simulation is applied to a rectangular sound field (moving grating). Results agree with the well-known solutions for Raman–Nath, Bragg, and near-Bragg diffraction.
Untangling the relationship between new venture internationalization and performance

To help untangle the inconsistency in prior performance studies for new venture internationalization, the dynamic capabilities perspective is revisited to consider whether the relationship is more complex than previously assumed. While internationalization requires the reconfiguration of routines and resources, survivability is argued to peak at moderate levels of internationalization where the associated resources and risk is balanced between local and foreign markets. In contrast, sales growth is suggested to peak at either low or high levels of internationalization where a singular market focus and set of capabilities is being exploited. The results confirm that the level of new venture internationalization exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with survival, while the opposite U-shaped relationship exists with sales growth.
Integrating level 6 flight training devices into flight training programs at the beginning pilot level: challenges and opportunities

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is scheduled to begin using Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole level 6 flight training devices (FTDs) in flight training courses beginning in September of 2002. The devices are being built by Frasca International, Inc. Each device duplicates the airplane from the pilot's seat forward and will model a Cessna 172 aerodynamic profile. A visual system and a control loading system are included. The visual system presents a computer generated horizontal 220 degree field of view and contains a data base of major features in the area within 50 miles of the Daytona Beach International Airport. A unique aspect of the visual system is that it presents a realistic "out the window" view from each of the pilot seats.
Lipoprotein-bound LPS induces cytokine tolerance in hepatocytes

Bacterial endotoxin (LPS) elicits dramatic responses in the host including elevated plasma lipid levels due to the increased synthesis and secretion of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins by the liver. We postulate that this cytokine-induced hyperlipoproteinemia, clinically termed the 'lipemia of sepsis', represents an innate, non-adaptive host immune response to infection. Data in support of this hypothesis include the capacity of TG-rich lipoproteins (VLDL and chylomicrons, CM) to bind and neutralize LPS. Herein, we present evidence that CM-bound LPS attenuates the hepatocellular response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Primary rodent hepatocytes pretreated with CM-LPS complexes for 2 h demonstrated a near 70% reduction in cytokine-induced NO production as compared to non-pretreated control cells (P > or = 0.04). Whereas hepatocytes were maximally tolerant to cytokine stimulation 6 h after CM-LPS pretreatment, the cells spontaneously regained cytokine responsiveness within 40 h. The induction of cytokine tolerance in hepatocytes follows the internalization of CM-LPS complexes and is a process regulated by the LDL receptor. CM-LPS complexes failed to induce cytokine tolerance in hepatocytes wherein lipoprotein receptor activity was inhibited with high dose receptor associated protein (30 microg/ml). Similarly, CM-bound LPS did not induce tolerance in hepatocytes from ldlr(-/-) mice. Thus, the biochemical or genetic inhibition of LDL receptor activity effectively prevented the CM-mediated induction of the cytokine tolerant phenotype. In conclusion, the lipemia of sepsis likely represents a mechanism by which the host combats sporadic, non-life-threatening episodes of endotoxemia. Also, it may indicate a negative regulatory mechanism for the hepatic response to sepsis, serving to effectively down-regulate the acute phase response. A better understanding of how TG-rich lipoproteins modulate the host response to LPS could yield novel biological insights with important clinical implications, including the development of lipid-based therapies for bacterial infections.
Strategies for Study of Neuroprotection from Cold-preconditioning

Neurological injury is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality from general anesthesia and related surgical procedures that could be alleviated by development of effective, easy to administer and safe preconditioning treatments. We seek to define the neural immune signaling responsible for cold-preconditioning as means to identify novel targets for therapeutics development to protect brain before injury onset. Low-level pro-inflammatory mediator signaling changes over time are essential for cold-preconditioning neuroprotection. This signaling is consistent with the basic tenets of physiological conditioning hormesis, which require that irritative stimuli reach a threshold magnitude with sufficient time for adaptation to the stimuli for protection to become evident. Accordingly, delineation of the immune signaling involved in cold-preconditioning neuroprotection requires that biological systems and experimental manipulations plus technical capacities are highly reproducible and sensitive. Our approach is to use hippocampal slice cultures as an in vitro model that closely reflects their in vivo counterparts with multi-synaptic neural networks influenced by mature and quiescent macroglia/microglia. This glial state is particularly important for microglia since they are the principal source of cytokines, which are operative in the femtomolar range. Also, slice cultures can be maintained in vitro for several weeks, which is sufficient time to evoke activating stimuli and assess adaptive responses. Finally, environmental conditions can be accurately controlled using slice cultures so that cytokine signaling of cold-preconditioning can be measured, mimicked, and modulated to dissect the critical node aspects. Cytokine signaling system analyses require the use of sensitive and reproducible multiplexed techniques. We use quantitative PCR for TNF-α to screen for microglial activation followed by quantitative real-time qPCR array screening to assess tissue-wide cytokine changes. The latter is a most sensitive and reproducible means to measure multiple cytokine system signaling changes simultaneously. Significant changes are confirmed with targeted qPCR and then protein detection. We probe for tissue-based cytokine protein changes using multiplexed microsphere flow cytometric assays using Luminex technology. Cell-specific cytokine production is determined with double-label immunohistochemistry. Taken together, this brain tissue preparation and style of use, coupled to the suggested investigative strategies, may be an optimal approach for identifying potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics that could mimic the advantages of cold-preconditioning.
Resolving Power Consumption of Variable Power Electronic Loads Using Nonintrusive Monitoring

This paper demonstrates a new estimator to resolve the average power consumption of a variable-speed drive (VSD) from other constant power loads using a spectral estimation method and a switching function technique for nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) applications. The estimator uses the rectifier switching function to create adaptive estimating functions for the fundamental power from a finite set of current harmonics generated by the VSD. Experimental results show that the proposed VSD power estimator can significantly improve NILM's ability to resolve the VSD power consumption under small input voltage variation.