Learning to Hoard: The Effects of Preexisting and Surprise Price-Gouging Regulation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Theory suggests anticipation of shortages stemming from price regulation can motivate households to stock up more and thereby aggravate the regulation-induced shortage. We test this theory on online shopping searches for two typically store-bought staples: hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Combining (i) interstate variation in type of price-gouging regulation-preexisting versus surprise versus none, (ii) their temporally staggered implementation, and (iii) the demand surges for hand sanitizer and toilet paper during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitates identifying the impacts of different price-gouging regulation on consumer searches. Our results are consistent with price-gouging regulation-driven anticipatory hoarding. Difference-in-differences estimates reveal that states with preexisting-regulation experience the largest increases in post-implementation search proportions for both products. Accounting for potential endogeneity of implementation using a nearest-neighbor matching strategy reveals states that make surprise announcements of new regulation during the pandemic also experience larger increases in post-activation hand sanitizer search proportions than states without any such policy, but smaller increases than what preexisting-law states experience. These results corroborate the theoretical predictions about consequences of regulation-induced anticipation of shortages and inform the current policy debate surrounding impacts of price-gouging laws. Fundamentally, our results indicate behavioural responses to policy evolve as experience reveals the effects of the policy, and this evolution might influence the welfare consequences of the policy. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10603-021-09493-1.

Genetic diversity and differentiation among populations of the Indian eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini, revealed by ISSR markers.

Samia cynthia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), the Indian eri silkworm, contributes significantly to the production of commercial silk and is widely distributed in the Brahmaputra river valley in North-Eastern India. Due to over exploitation coupled with rapid deforestation, most of the natural populations of S. cynthia ricini are dwindling rapidly and its preservation has become an important goal. Assessment of the genetic structure of each population is a prerequisite for a sustainable conservation program. DNA fingerprinting to detect genetic variation has been used in different insect species not only between populations, but also between individuals within a population. Since, information on the genetic basis of phenotypic variability and genetic diversity within the S. cynthia ricini populations is scanty, inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) system was used to assess genetic diversity and differentiation among six commercially exploited S. cynthia ricini populations. Twenty ISSR primers produced 87% of inter population variability among the six populations. Genetic distance was lowest between the populations Khanapara (E5) and Mendipathar (E6) (0.0654) and highest between Dhanubhanga (E4) and Titabar (E3) (0.3811). Within population, heterozygosity was higher in Borduar (E2) (0.1093) and lowest in Titabar (E3) (0.0510). Highest gene flow (0.9035) was between E5 and E6 and the lowest (0.2172) was between E3 and E5. Regression analysis showed positive correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance among the populations. The high G(ST) value (0.657) among the populations combined with low gene flow contributes significantly to the genetic differentiation among the S. cynthia ricini populations. Based on genetic diversity, these populations can be considered as different ecotypes and in situ conservation of them is recommended.

Psychosomatic illnesses in patients attending the medical outpatient department in a government hospital.

The incidence of psychosomatic illness among Indian patients has been found to be high. Owing to the stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses, most patients remain reluctant to visit a psychiatrist. The result is an overcrowding in the medicine and other specialist departments. A psychiatry department with consultation-liaison psychiatric service in each government hospital is the need of the day.

Bronchopulmonary absorption of aerosolised insulin.

Seven non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients aged 48 to 78 years, inhaled approximately 10 to 20 units of aerosolised insulin (human actrapid) by nebuliser. In 5 cases, approximately 10 units of insulin aerosol inhalation was given 4 hours after breakfast. Blood glucose level started falling after 15 minutes with a maximum fall at 45 minutes to 1 hour. In 2 cases insulin aerosol inhalation was given 2 hours after lunch. The first dose of 10 units of insulin did not show any significant change in blood glucose level at 30 minutes. A second dose of 10 units of insulin aerosol was inhaled after 30 minutes and blood glucose level started falling in a pattern similar to the first group of patients. The first dose appears to withhold the rise of blood glucose in the postprandial phase and the second dose lowers the blood glucose level. The result is compared with placebo inhalation and there is a significant fall of blood glucose level with insulin aerosol inhalation. It admits of little doubt that insulin is absorbed from the bronchopulmonary mucosa.

Synthesis and evaluation of 6,7-dihydroxy-2,3,4,8,9,13b-hexahydro-1H- benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2,3-ef][3]benzazepine, 6,7-dihydroxy- 1,2,3,4,8,12b-hexahydroanthr[10,4a,4-cd]azepine, and 10-(aminomethyl)-9,10- dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyanthracene as conformationally restricted analogs of beta-phenyldopamine.

The present study was designed to define the geometry of the hydrophobic accessory region for binding of dopamine D1 receptor ligands and to assess the relative importance of ethylamine side chain conformation for receptor affinity. Three compounds, 6,7-dihydroxy-2,3,4,8,9,13b-hexahydro-1H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2, 3-ef][3]benzazepine, 4, 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4,8,12b-hexahydroanthr[10,4a,4-cd]aze pin e, 5, and 10-(aminomethyl)-9,10-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyanthracene, 6, were synthesized as conformationally restricted analogs of beta-phenyldopamine. Molecular modeling studies were performed to compare these three compounds with the high-affinity D1 agonists dihydrexidine (DHX), 2, and SKF 38393, 3. The beta-phenyl moieties in the target compounds are constrained by means of either an ethyl (4) or methylene (5 and 6) bridge. The compounds adopt minimum-energy conformations in which the beta-phenyl group is approximately -22 degrees (4), -12 degrees (5), and -30 degrees (6) from coplanarity with the catechol ring. These compounds also embody either a freely rotating (6) or a rigidified gauche (4 and 5) rotameric conformation of the dopamine ethylamine side chain, the latter nearly perfectly superimposible on the benzazepine portion of SKF 38393. Radioligand competition experiments showed that compounds 4, 5, and 6 have only micromolar affinity for both the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes. The low affinity of 4-6, relative to 2 and 3, may be due to improper orientation of the beta-phenyl moiety and provides important information about the three-dimensional orientation of the hydrophobic accessory binding domain of the dopamine D1 receptor. In addition, the negligible affinity of 6, as compared to 2 and 3, indicates that the rotameric positioning of the ethylamine side chain may not be a primary determinant of receptor affinity.

Effect of instant preparation of betel nut (pan masala) on the oral mucosa of albino rats.

Paste made out of an instant betel nut preparation was painted into the oral cavity of 21 albino rats on alternate days for a period of six months. Biopsies were taken from the oral mucosa at the beginning of the study and every two months there after and compared histopathologically with those obtained from a control group of 14 albino rats. Mild to moderate loss of nuclear polarity and increase in keratoses, parakeratoses, inflammatory cell infiltration and vascularity were noted when compared to the control group. The increase in mitotic figures was statistically insignificant and no definite changes in pigmentation or atypical cells were seen. These findings suggest the possibility of mild leukoplakia. Submucosal collagen increased steeply and steadily throughout the study period and at the end of six months, 88.23 per cent of biopsies showed thickened and condensed sub-mucosal collagen, indicating submucous fibrosis.

Use of adult male bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) for testing the biological activity of gonadotropin releasing hormone and its analogues.

The effect of injecting agonistic and antagonistic analogues of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues on serum testosterone levels was checked in adult and immature male bonnet monkeys. Of the agonistic analogues Buserelin, Ovurelin and D-Phe6 Gln8 GnRH were found to be most potent in increasing serum testosterone levels in the adult male bonnet monkeys. While 27-month-old monkeys responded well to des Gly10 GnRH, only marginal response was observed in the case of 15-month-old monkeys. Studies carried out with Ovurelin indicated that it was not effective in causing desensitization in adult monkeys. The antagonistic analogue was effective in blocking nocturnal surge of serum testosterone. Based on these studies it is suggested the adult male bonnet monkeys can be effectively used for testing the activity of GnRH analogues.

Effect of constant infusion of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist buserelin and antagonist CDB 2085 A using osmotic minipumps on testicular function in adult male bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata).

The effect of chronic infusion of gonadotropic hormone agonist Buserelin or antagonist CDB 2085 A for 15 weeks via alzet minipumps in adult male bonnet monkeys was studied. Infusion of Buserelin resulted in a decrease in the difference between serum testosterone values at 22.00 hours and 10.00 hours, decrease in responsiveness to injected Buserelin as judged by change in serum testosterone values from pre-injection values and decrease in sperm counts. Infusion of antagonist resulted in a decrease in the difference between serum testosterone values at 22.00 hours and 10.00 hours.

Studies on non-specific interference due to serum in the avidin-biotin microELISA for monkey chorionic gonadotropin and a method for its elimination.

A study has been carried out on the non-specific interference due to serum in the avidin biotin microELISA for monkey chorionic gonadotropin. Results suggest that it is not due to any proteolytic activity in the serum, but immunoglobulin or associated factors interfering at the level of antigen-antibody interaction. This interference was eliminated by heating samples at 60 degrees C for 30 min.

Effect of LHRH agonists and antagonists in male and female bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

A few analogues of LHRH have been tested in the adult bonnet monkeys using change in serum testosterone following LHRH injection as a parameter of response to LHRH. Of the four analogues tested in male monkeys, Buserelin was found to be the most potent one in increasing serum testosterone levels. Injection of the LHRH antagonist at 1600 h resulted in the abolition of the characteristic nocturnal surge of testosterone observed in adult bonnet monkeys maintained under regulated light conditions. Following administration of LHRH a/s during early pregnancy, serum chorionic gonadotropin levels decreased though the course of pregnancy was not affected. These results suggest that bonnet monkey can be successfully employed to test LHRH analogues.