cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stromal Tumor Microenvironment in CLL: Regulation of Leukemic Progression

Abstract 1781 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent adult B-cell malignancy in western countries, is a highly heterogeneous with a very variable clinical outcome. Emerging evidence indicates that the stromal tumor microenvironment (STME) play important roles in the pathogenesis of CLL. However, the precise mechanism and molecules of STME involved in this process remain unknown. In an attempt to explore the role of STME in this process, we examined the expression levels of stromal associated genes using gene expression profiling (GEP) of CLL cells from 53 patientsâ€™ lymph node (LN) (n=15), bone marrow (BM) (n =18), and peripheral blood (PB) (n=20). Using significant analyses of microarray (SAM), gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA), and ingenuity pathway analyses (IPA), among the major pathways associated with the differentially expressed genes, a cytoskeleton genes associated with stromal signatures are the focus of this report. Of these molecules, a significant number of molecules including: LUM, MMP9, MYLK, ITGA9, CAV1, CAV2, FBN1, PARVA, CALD1, ITGB5 and EHD2 were overexpressed and ITGB2, DLC1 and ITGA6 are under expressed in LN-CLL compared to BM-CLL and PB-CLL indicating a role of LN-mediated TME in CLL cell survival/progression. Among these genes, expression of myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), caveolin 1 (CAV1) and caveolin 2 (CAV2) correlated with clinical outcome (see adjacent Figure) as determined by time to treatment. We recently reported the role of a CAV1 in LN microenvironment-induced immune tolerance in CLL and possibility of their involvement in CLL cytoskeleton (Gilling et al, 2012). In the present study we report aberrant expression of other cytoskeleton genes such as MYLK and CAV2 are involved in the regulation of CLL cell survival in the stromal microenvironment affecting other members of the cytoskeletal signature via actin cytoskeleton signaling, integrin signaling and Pak signaling. In addition, MYLK and CAV2 are also involved in regulation of CLL proliferation. Together our studies show that members of the stromal signature particularly in the CLL cells from lymph nodes regulate the CLL cell survival and proliferation and thus leukemic progression. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Place Matters in Prosecution

In this essay, we argue that scholarship about prosecution often overlooks the importance of place as a variable affecting how prosecution works. Our citation ranking of the empirical scholarship about prosecutors, published over the last half century, demonstrates that scholars have focused disproportionately on the largest urban offices and have drawn conclusions about prosecution based on those sites. We believe that those large urban offices are not typical of the working environment for most state prosecutors. Compared to smaller and less urban offices, the largest offices produce persistently different case outcomes, experience relatively high turnover rates, and tend to be only weakly influenced by courtroom workgroups. Researchers and readers should therefore tread cautiously before they generalize about American prosecutor behavior based on studies of single large offices. Instead, we should think about prosecution offices as a collection of types, where each group is characterized by a set of default presumptions based on a recurring set of features, with some features common to all groups, others that are more group-specific, and still other features that are site-specific. The reference list of empirical scholarship about American prosecutors that we generated is included as an appendix to the essay.
Wind and Current Effects on Extreme Wave Formation and Breaking

AbstractWind and current effects on the evolution of a two-dimensional dispersive focusing wave group are investigated using a two-phase flow model. A Navier–Stokes solver is combined with the Smagorinsky subgrid-scale stress model and volume of fluid (VOF) air–water interface capturing scheme. Model predictions compare well with the experimental data with and without wind. It was found that the following and opposing winds shift the focus point downstream and upstream, respectively. The shift of focus point is mainly due to the action of wind-driven current instead of direct wind forcing. Under strong following/opposing wind forcing, there appears a slight increase/decrease of the extreme wave height at the focus point and an asymmetric/symmetric behavior in the wave focusing and defocusing processes. Under a weak following wind, however, the extreme wave height decreases with increasing wind speed because of the dominant effect of the wind-driven current over direct wind forcing. The vertical shear of t...
Toward More Reflexive, Empowering and Ethical Metaphorical Organizational Research

This study aims to take forward Gareth Morgan’s call for more reflexivity and self-deconstruction in metaphorical organizational research by developing a novel framework for the production and use of metaphors. Drawing on psychoanalytic theorizing, this framework seeks to move the field toward an approach to metaphors in which metaphors can be explored as symptoms of our struggles with unconscious desire. This, in turn, offers opportunities for engaging in more reflexive, empowering, and ethical metaphorical research.
MicroRNAs in the miR-17 and miR-15 families are downregulated in chronic kidney disease with hypertension.

BACKGROUND In older adults (aged 70-74 years), African-Americans have 4-fold higher risk of developing hypertension-attributed end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than European-Americans. A hypothesized mechanism linking hypertension and progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the innate immune response and inflammation. Persons with CKD are also more susceptible to infection. Gene expression in peripheral blood can provide a view of the innate immune activation profile. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes, microRNAs, and pathways in peripheral blood between cases with CKD and high blood pressure under hypertension treatment versus controls without CKD and with controlled blood pressure in African Americans. METHODS Case and control pairs (N = 15x2) were selected from those without diabetes and were matched for age, sex, body mass index, APOL1 risk allele count, and hypertension medication use. High blood pressure under hypertension treatment was defined as hypertension medication use and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 145 mmHg. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73m2. Cases were selected from those with CKD and high blood pressure under hypertension treatment, and controls were selected from those without CKD (eGFR: 75-120 mL/min/1.73m2 and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio < 30mg/g) and with blood pressure controlled by hypertension medication use (SBP < 135 mmHg and D(diastolic)BP < 90 mm Hg). We perform RNA sequencing of mRNA and microRNA and conducted differential expression and co-expression network analysis. RESULTS Of 347 miRNAs included in the analysis, 14 were significantly associated with case status (Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted p-value [BH p] < 0.05). Of these, ten were downregulated in cases: three of each belong to the miR-17 and miR-15 families. In co-expression network analysis of miRNA, one module, which included 13 of the 14 significant miRNAs, had significant association with case status. Of the 14,488 genes and 41,739 transcripts included in the analysis, none had significant association with case status. Gene co-expression network analyses did not yield any significant associations for mRNA. CONCLUSION We have identified 14 differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral blood of CKD cases with high blood pressure under hypertension treatment as compared to appropriate controls. Most of the significant miRNAs were downregulated and have critical roles in immune cell functions. Future studies are needed to replicate our findings and determine whether the downregulation of these miRNAs in immune cells may influence CKD progression or complications.
Validation of a Smartphone App for the Assessment of Sedentary and Active Behaviors.

Background: Although current technological advancements have allowed for objective measurements of sedentary behavior via accelerometers, these devices do not provide the contextual information needed to identify targets for behavioral interventions and generate public health guidelines to reduce sedentary behavior. Thus, self-reports still remain an important method of measurement for physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Objective: This study evaluated the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of a smartphone app in assessing sitting, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: Adults (N=28; 49.0 years old, standard deviation [SD] 8.9; 85% men; 73% Caucasian; body mass index=35.0, SD 8.3 kg/m2) reported their sitting, LPA, and MVPA over an 11-week behavioral intervention. During three separate 7-day periods, participants wore the activPAL3c accelerometer/inclinometer as a criterion measure. Intraclass correlation (ICC; 95% CI) and bias estimates (mean difference [δ] and root of mean square error [RMSE]) were used to compare app-based reported behaviors to measured sitting time (lying/seated position), LPA (standing or stepping at 100 steps/minute). Results: Test-retest results suggested moderate agreement with the criterion for sedentary time, LPA, and MVPA (ICC=0.65 [0.43-0.82], 0.67 [0.44-0.83] and 0.69 [0.48-0.84], respectively). The agreement between the two measures was poor (ICC=0.05-0.40). The app underestimated sedentary time (δ=-45.9 [-67.6, -24.2] minutes/day, RMSE=201.6) and overestimated LPA and MVPA (δ=18.8 [-1.30 to 38.9] minutes/day, RMSE=183; and δ=29.3 [25.3 to 33.2] minutes/day, RMSE=71.6, respectively). The app underestimated change in time spent during LPA and MVPA but overestimated change in sedentary time. Both measures showed similar directions in changed scores on sedentary time and LPA. Conclusions: Despite its inaccuracy, the app may be useful as a self-monitoring tool in the context of a behavioral intervention. Future research may help to clarify reasons for under- or over-reporting of behaviors. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(8):e119]
Teacher–child relationships, classroom climate, and children’s social-emotional and academic development.

Previous research has demonstrated that teacher–child relationship quality and classroom emotional climate are each related to children’s social-emotional and academic development, yet work examining interactional quality at both child and classroom levels simultaneously is limited. The current study examines whether teacher–child relationship quality as perceived by both teachers and children is associated with child social-emotional and academic outcomes over one school year and whether these associations are moderated by the quality of classroom emotional climate. Participants included 526 Grade 3–5 students and their 35 teachers from six urban public elementary schools. Higher child-reported relationship quality with teachers predicted lower child-reported depressive symptoms in spring, controlling for fall levels. Higher teacher-reported conflict was related to higher child-reported and teacher-reported aggression and lower ELA achievement. A significant cross-level interaction between classroom-level emotional support and teacher-reported conflict in predicting teacher-reported aggression indicated that higher quality classroom emotional climate may mitigate risk of aggression for children with poor-quality teacher relationships. Yet an overall lack of significant interaction effects indicates that classroom-level emotional support did not compensate for low-quality dyadic relationships, suggesting that teachers in upper elementary school should be trained and supported in developing and maintaining positive relationships with each of their students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Carbon dioxide-in-oil emulsions stabilized with silicone-alkyl surfactants for waterless hydraulic fracturing.

Abstract The design of surfactants for CO2/oil emulsions has been elusive given the low CO2-oil interfacial tension, and consequently, low driving force for surfactant adsorption. Our hypothesis is that waterless, high pressure CO2/oil emulsions can be stabilized by hydrophobic comb polymer surfactants that adsorb at the interface and sterically stabilize the CO2 droplets. The emulsions were formed by mixing with an impeller or by co-injecting CO2 and oil through a beadpack (CO2 volume fractions (ϕ) of 0.50–0.90). Emulsions were generated with comb polymer surfactants with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone and pendant linear alkyl chains. The C30 alkyl chains are CO2-insoluble but oil soluble (oleophilic), whereas PDMS with more than 50 repeat units is CO2-philic but only partially oleophilic. The adsorbed surfactants sterically stabilized CO2 droplets against Ostwald ripening and coalescence. The optimum surfactant adsorption was obtained with a PDMS degree of polymerization of ∼88 and seven C30 side chains. The emulsion apparent viscosity reached 18 cP at a ϕ of 0.70, several orders of magnitude higher than the viscosity of pure CO2, with CO2 droplets in the 10–150 µm range. These environmentally benign waterless emulsions are of interest for hydraulic fracturing, especially in water-sensitive formations.
Regulation of Activation Induced Deaminase via Phosphorylation

Immunoglobulin gene diversification by somatic hypermutation (SHM), class switch recombination (CSR), and gene conversion is dependent upon activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). AID is a single-stranded DNA specific cytidine deaminase that is expressed primarily in activated mature B lymphocytes. AID appears to catalyze DNA cytidine deamination of immunoglobulin heavy (IgH) and light chain (IgL) variable region (V) exons and IgH switch (S) region sequences to initiate, respectively, IgH and IgL somatic hypermutation (SHM) and IgH class switch recombination (CSR). Here, we will discuss the implications of recent studies that demonstrate the role of AID phosphorylation in augmenting AID activity with respect to these two processes.
Some Application Issues of Monotone Boolean Functions

The property of monotonicity has many applications. Its attractive mathematical advantages in inferring a model of the system of interest with high accuracy make the search for this property in data and its consecutive algorithmic exploitation, to be of high potential in data mining and knowledge discovery applications. The following developments are based on the work described in [ Kovalerchuk, Vityaev, and Triantaphyllou, 1996] and [ Kovalerchuk, Triantaphyllou, and Vityaev, 1995].
Heavy-Ion Reactions in Nuclear Astrophysics

Because of the enormous ranges of temperature and density that exist in various places throughout the Universe, it is not hard to imagine situations where the kinetic energies should be high enough for heavy ions to react with one another. There are many dramatic photographs from astronomical observatories around the world showing galaxies undergoing titanic explosions which must involve temperatures high enough for Coulomb barrier penetration by heavy ions. On a smaller scale, but still with enormous energy releases, supernovas occur at a rate in the neighborhood of one per galaxy per 50 years. Very high temperatures are reached in their cores during the explosions. Supernovas are now presumed to leave neutron stars or black holes as remnants, at least part of the time; in the enormous gravitational fields around such remnants, very high temperatures must also exist.
A Kinetic Pressure Effect on Calcite Dissolution in Seawater

This study provides laboratory data of calcite dissolution rate as a function of seawater undersaturation state (1-Ω) under variable pressure. ^(13)C-labeled calcite was dissolved in unlabeled seawater and the evolving δ^(13)C composition of the fluid was monitored over time to evaluate the dissolution rate. Results show that dissolution rates are enhanced by a factor of 2-4 at 700 dbar compared to dissolution at the same Ω under ambient pressure (10 dbar). This dissolution rate enhancement under pressure applies over an Ω range of 0.65 to 1 between 10 dbar and 700 dbar. Above 700 dbar (up to 2500 dbar), dissolution rates become independent of pressure. The observed enhancement is well beyond the uncertainty associated with the thermodynamic properties of calcite under pressure (partial molar volume ΔV), and thus should be interpreted as a kinetic pressure effect on calcite dissolution. Dissolution at ambient pressure and higher pressures yield non-linear dissolution kinetics, the pressure effect does not significantly change the reaction order n in Rate = k(1-Ω^)n, which is shown to vary from 3.1±0.3 to 3.8±0.5 from 10 dbar to 700 dbar over Ω = 0.65 to 0.9. Furthermore, two different dissolution mechanisms are indicated by a discontinuity in the rate-undersaturation relationship, and seen at both ambient and higher pressures. The discontinuity, Ω_(critical) = 0.87±0.05 and 0.90±0.03 at 10 dbar and 1050 dbar respectively, are similar within error. The reaction order, n, at Ω > 0.9 is 0.47±0.27 and 0.46±0.15 at 10 dbar and 700 dbar respectively. This Ω_(critical) is considered to be the threshold between step retreat dissolution and defect-assisted dissolution. The kinetic enhancement of dissolution rate at higher pressures is related to a decrease in the interfacial energy barrier at dissolution sites. The impact of pressure on the calcite dissolution kinetics implies that sinking particles would dissolve at shallower depth than previously thought.
Pulmonary hypertension: the state of the art

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a hemodynamic and pathophysiological condition defined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 25 mmHg or more at rest assessed by right heart catheterisation. It is a progressive disease characterized by high mortality and morbidity. Current PH guidelines suggest that patients with PH should be cared for in dedicated specialist centres, with expertise and resources available to provide high quality care to this fragile population. In this review, we focus on the clinical manifestations, diagnostic algorithm, risk assessment and therapeutic strategies for PH. We also provide an overview of the organisation of PH services in United Kingdom, including designation of expert centres, national audit and steps to ensure the quality and financial viability of PH care.
South Korea: Women’s Political Representation

Lee offers an overview of women’s numerical and substantive political representation in South Korea. Since women’s suffrage in 1948 and electing the first female legislator the following year, the share of women in the National Assembly has grown steadily and slowly. This chapter briefly examines how women gained suffrage before outlining the trend in numerical representation of women at the national level. After discussing the reasons for the adoption and effects of the gender quota and comparing the political and biographical background of the elected legislators, the chapter assesses the impact of women’s presence in the national legislature by examining all the women-friendly bill sponsorship activities between 2000 and 2016.
Fast Robot Motion Planning with Collision Avoidance and Temporal Optimization

Considering the growing demand of real-time motion planning in robot applications, this paper proposes a fast robot motion planner (FRMP) to plan collision-free and time-optimal trajectories, which applies the convex feasible set algorithm (CFS) to solve both the trajectory planning problem and the temporal optimization problem. The performance of CFS in trajectory planning is compared to the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) in simulation, which shows a significant decrease in iteration numbers and computation time to converge a solution. The effectiveness of temporal optimization is shown on the operational time reduction in the experiment on FANUC LR Mate 200iD/7L.
Composite photonic platform based on 2D semiconductor monolayers

We demonstrate phase modulation in the near IR by electrostatically doping 2D semiconductor monolayers integrated on SiN waveguides. We show a $\mathrm{V}_{\pi}\mathrm{L}$ of 1.4 V cm and 0.8 Vcm for MoS 2 and WS 2 , respectively. © 2019 The Author(s)
Molecular mechanism of C-phycocyanin induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells

The usefulness of Marine-derived products as the source of anticancer agents has been explored for many decades. The objective of our study was to investigate the molecular mechanism by which C-PC induces apoptosis in monotherapy as well as in combination treatment with a known chemotherapeutic drug named Topotecan (TPT) using prostate cancer cells (LNCaP). To determine the intracellular mechanism of action, we analyzed the gene expression profile of C-PC treated cells using human apoptosis RT2 profiler PCR array, which indicated that C-PC was able to regulate both anti- and pro-apoptotic genes significantly. Detailed analysis revealed increases in the levels of Bax, Apaf-1 (pro-apoptotic proteins) along with the activation of the key apoptotic proteases such as caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3. Similarly, analysis of anti-apoptotic proteins demonstrated a decrease in the expression of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and survivin. Results from the whole-cell incubation studies indicated that C-PC was only binding to the plasma membrane-associated receptor proteins. LNCaP cells treated with C-PC alone and in combination with TPT showed increased expression of the death receptor FAS (also known as FAS or CD95) along with cleaved PARP, confirming its importance. Our study is significant since it is providing greater insight into the apoptotic mechanisms triggered by C-PC as well as emphasizing the involvement of FAS in mediating its effects. Furthermore, our results with combination treatments suggest that-PC could improve the anticancer effects of drugs such as TPT that are currently used for cancer treatments. In addition, use of C-PC in combination can also diminish the side effects resulting from conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as TPT.
Effects of Variability in Ship Traffic and Whale Distributions on the Risk of Ships Striking Whales

Assessments of ship-strike risk for large whales typically use a single year of ship traffic data and averaged predictions of species distributions. Consequently, they do not account for variability in ship traffic or species distributions. Variability could reduce the effectiveness of static management measures designed to mitigate ship-strike risk. We explore the consequences of interannual variability on ship-strike risk using multiple years of both ship traffic data and predicted fin, humpback, and blue whale distributions off California. Specifically, risk was estimated in four regions that are important for ship-strike risk management. We estimated risk by multiplying the predicted number of whales by the cumulative distance travelled by ships. To overcome the temporal mismatch between the ship traffic and whale data available off California, we classified the time series of ship traffic data into nearshore and offshore traffic scenarios using the percentage of ship traffic travelling more than 24nmi from the mainland coast, which was the boundary of a clean fuel rule implemented in 2009 that altered ship traffic patterns. We found that risk for fin and humpback whale populations off California increased as these species recovered from whaling. We also found that broad-scale, northward shifts in blue whale distributions throughout the North Pacific, likely in response to changes in oceanographic conditions, were associated with increased ship-strike risk off northern California. The magnitude of ship-strike risk for fin, humpback, and blue whales was influenced by the ship traffic scenarios. Interannual variability in predicted whale distributions also influenced the magnitude of ship-strike risk, but generally did not change whether the nearshore or offshore traffic scenario had higher risk. The consistency in the highest risk from the traffic scenarios likely occurred because areas containing the highest predicted number of whales were generally the same across years. The consistency in risk from the traffic scenarios suggests that static spatial management measures (e.g., changing shipping lanes or creating areas to be avoided) can provide an effective means of mitigating risk resulting from ship traffic variability off California.
Electron conducting Ag2Te nanowire/polymer thermoelectric thin films

Herein, we report the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficients of air-stable, thin films of poly([N,N′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)) embedded with β-Ag2Te nanowires. Three different length nanowires (∼2600, ∼800, and ∼300 nm) were synthesized and combined with the polymer to yield composite thin films. The room temperature electrical conductivity values of thin films made from the longest nanowires were 5 orders of magnitude larger than the shorter nanowires. The electrical conductivity data were modeled to a series and parallel-connected composite network. The films with the longest nanowires best fit a series-connected model, while the shorted nanowires best fit a parallel connected model. Specifically, the electrical conductivity of the thin films containing the longest Ag2Te nanowires increased from 0.16 to 0.61 S/cm when the weight percent Ag2Te increased from 45 to 85%. The magnitude of the Seebeck coefficient remained relatively unchanged (about −130 μV/K) as the amount of Ag2Te in the films increased. A power factor of ∼1 μW/mK2 was determined for the 85 wt. % Ag2Te films at room temperature. These results reveal the important role of the nanowire length in the thermoelectric performance of composite thin films.
Preservation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca 2+ stores by deletion of inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor type 1 promotes ER retrotranslocation, proteostasis, and protein outer segment localization in cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel‐deficient cone photoreceptors

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ homeostasis relies on an appropriate balance between efflux- and influx-channel activity responding to dynamic changes of intracellular Ca2+ levels. Dysregulation of this complex signaling network has been shown to contribute to neuronal and photoreceptor death in neuro- and retinal degenerative diseases, respectively. In mice with cone cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel deficiency, a model of achromatopsia/cone dystrophy, cones display early-onset ER stress-associated apoptosis and protein mislocalization. Cones in these mice also show reduced cytosolic Ca2+ level and subsequent elevation in the ER Ca2+ -efflux-channel activity, specifically the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3 R1), and deletion of IP3 R1 results in preservation of cones. This work investigated how preservation of ER Ca2+ stores leads to cone protection. We examined the effects of cone specific deletion of IP3 R1 on ER stress responses/cone death, protein localization, and ER proteostasis/ER-associated degradation. We demonstrated that deletion of IP3 R1 improves trafficking of cone-specific proteins M-/S-opsin and phosphodiesterase 6C to cone outer segments and reduces localization to cone inner segments. Consistent with the improved protein localization, deletion of IP3 R1 results in increased ER retrotranslocation protein expression, reduced proteasome subunit expression, reduced ER stress/cone death, and reduced retinal remodeling. We also observed the enhanced ER retrotranslocation in mice that have been treated with a chemical chaperone, supporting the connection between improved ER retrotranslocation/proteostasis and alleviation of ER stress. Findings from this work demonstrate the importance of ER Ca2+ stores in ER proteostasis and protein trafficking/localization in photoreceptors, strengthen the link between dysregulation of ER Ca2+ homeostasis and ER stress/cone degeneration, and support an involvement of improved ER proteostasis in ER Ca2+ preservation-induced cone protection; thereby identifying IP3 R1 as a critical mediator of ER stress and protein mislocalization and as a potential target to preserve cones in CNG channel deficiency.
Status of the amphipod Diporeia spp. in Lake Superior, 2006–2016

Abstract The amphipod Diporeia spp. has historically been an important component of the benthic food web of the Laurentian Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement included its population density as an indicator of ecological condition for Lake Superior, with target values of 220–320 m−2 in nearshore areas (≤100 m depth) and 30–160 m−2 in offshore areas (>100 m). To assess the status of Diporeia in Lake Superior, we used a probability-based lake-wide survey design to obtain estimates of Diporeia density and biomass in 2006, 2011 and 2016. A PONAR grab sampler was used to collect Diporeia at 50–53 sites each year, with approximately half in the nearshore (
The Evolution of Public Companies' Corporate Social Responsibility

We examine the evolutionary path of companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) since their debuts as public companies. We find that firms' average CSR score is rising over the time they are listed in the public capital market. Neither the CSR score change over the age of the firm nor the general trend of CSR over time can explain this pattern. The phenomenon is more likely driven by the number of years the firms have been in the public market. We further find supporting evidence that this pattern of rising CSR since the public listing is more pronounced when the firm is more profitable, holds more cash, has a higher payout ratio, or has more free cash flows. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that improving CSR performance may not be the priority of most firms new to the public market, but the "public camera effect" is an effective mechanism to assure the growth of CSR assuming the firms remain in the public market.
How do I implement pathogen-reduced platelets?

Background Several risk mitigation steps have improved the safety of platelets in regard to bacterial contamination, but this continues to be a concern today. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance issued in December 2018 aims to further limit this risk. The guidance offers multiple pathways for compliance, and hospital blood banks will have to collaborate with blood donor centers to assess various factors before deciding which method is most appropriate for them. Methods and materials Our institution considered several factors before moving forward with pathogen reduction technology. This included an assessment of platelet shelf-life, bacterial testing requirements, the efficacy of low-yield platelets, and managing a mixed platelet inventory. The decision to transition to pathogen-reduced platelets was associated with complex collection and processing limitations that resulted in either an increase in platelets that were over-concentrated or products with a low platelet yield. Results Through trials of various collection settings with unique target volumes and target platelet yields, our blood donor center was able to optimize the production. At the hospital end, this transition required a thorough review of low-yield platelet products and their clinical efficacy. Additionally, this implementation necessitated collaboration with clinical colleagues, comprehensive education, and training. Conclusions Pathogen-reduced platelets would be the most efficient way for our institution to be compliant. This summary may serve as a roadmap for other institutions that are considering which FDA prescribed method to use and provide support for those that have decided on pathogen reduction technology but need to optimize their collections to best utilize low-yield products.
Periphyton Metabolism: A Chamber Approach

In lotic ecosystems, the metabolism of periphyton is influenced strongly by natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as floods. Using recirculating metabolism chambers, we measured the metabolic activity of the Cladophora glomerata-dominated periphyton community in the Glen Canyon Dam tailwater, in relation to the 1996 controlled flood. Because scouring removes senescent plant material and detritus from periphyton, we hypothesized that productivity rates and the gross productivity/respiration (P/R) ratio of the periphyton community would be greater after the flood. Gross and net primary production (as chlorophyll-a) increased significantly after the flood and an approximately 2-fold increase was observed in net daily metabolism. Mean P/R ratio increased significantly from 1.3 in the pre-flood community to 2.6 in the post-flood community. Following the flood, periphyton on the rocks exhibited increased photosynthetic efficiency relative to measurements made before the flood. Given the importance of primary producers in desert rivers, such changes have implications for ecologically sound management of the Colorado and other rivers.
Simulation of micropopulations in epidemiology: Tutorial 3. Simulation model evaluation methods: A series of tutorials illustrated by coronary heart disease models

This is the third in a series of tutorials concerning the simulation of micropopulation models to support epidemiological research. The series emphasizes techniques used in studies at the National Micropopulation Simulation Resource at the University of Minnesota. For pedagogic purposes, applications to coronary heart disease (CHD) models are used to illustrate the principles and methodologies employed. All of the models presented are implemented using available software. A variety of tests and techniques are used to evaluate these models. This tutorial presents some of those methods stressing the advantages and limitations of the tests rather than the formal definitions. To make the evaluation methods more understandable, some of the risk factors for CHD models are introduced. The interpretation of the evaluation depends critically on the goals of the modeling effort. The subset of evaluation methods presented includes investigations of the epidemiological, mathematical and statistical aspects of the models.
Gender dimorphism and lack of day/night variation or effects of energy deprivation on undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels in humans.

Objective Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is a bone marker with potent metabolic effects. Leptin regulates Esp gene expression and osteocalcin carboxylation in animal models. We aim to elucidate day/night patterns of ucOC levels, whether short-term and/or chronic energy deprivation alters ucOC levels, and whether leptin may mediate these changes in humans. Design and Methods Twelve healthy males and females were studied for 72 h in the fed state to study day/night pattern of ucOC. The six female subjects were also studied in a crossover interventional study in the fasting state for 72 h with administration of either placebo or metreleptin in physiological doses. Blood samples were obtained hourly from 0800 a.m. on day 3 until 0800 a.m. on day 4. In a separate study, eleven obese subjects who underwent bariatric surgery were followed for 24 weeks to examine the effects of postsurgery weight loss on ucOC levels. Results Males have higher ucOC levels compared to females. There is no day/night variation pattern of circulating ucOC in humans. Short-term and chronic energy deprivation or leptin administrations do not alter ucOC levels. Conclusions The hypothesis that ucOC plays a role in energy homeostasis or of leptin in regulating ucOC in humans is not supported.
No evidence of relation between working memory and perception of interrupted speech in young adults

Understanding interrupted speech requires top-down linguistic and cognitive restoration mechanisms. To investigate the relation between working memory (WM) and perception of interrupted speech, 20 young adults were asked to recognize sentences interrupted at 2 Hz, 8 Hz, and a combination of 2 and 8 Hz. WM was measured using automated reading and operation span tasks. Interestingly, the results presented here revealed no statistical relation between any of the interrupted speech recognition scores and WM scores. This finding is in agreement with previous findings that suggest greater reliance on linguistic factors relative to cognitive factors during perception of interrupted speech.
Ventilation‐Perfusion Relationships

The sections in this article are: 1 Gas Exchange in a Single Alveolus 1.1 Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide 1.2 Nitrogen 1.3 Inert Gases 1.4 Review of Assumptions 1.5 Conclusions 2 Gas Exchange in the Whole Lung 2.1 Direct Measurement of Lobar Differences in Gas Exchange 2.2 Regional Differences in Gas Exchange in the Vertical Lung 2.3 Gas Exchange 3 Determination of Distribution 3.1 Three-Compartment Model 3.2 Two-Compartment Model 3.3 Nitrogen Difference 3.4 Triple Gradient 3.5 Nitrogen-Carbon Dioxide Relationship 3.6 Inert-Gas Elimination 3.7 Gas Solubility, Dead Space, and Shunt 4 Alveolar-Arterial Differences 5 Factors Affecting Distribution 5.1 Posture 5.2 Gravity 5.3 Exercise 5.4 Altitude 5.5 Liquid Breathing 5.6 Compensatory Mechanisms 6 Ventilation, Perfusion, and Tissue Homeostasis
Defining Death: Why All Fifty States Should Adopt the Uniform Definition of Death Act with a Religious Exception

This article addresses the tension between the secular, American definition of death and the Jewish law definition of death. While the definition of death has been debated separately in both Jewish and American legal scholarship, the secular and Jewish law definitions of death have not been thoroughly analyzed in relation to one another. The secular definition of death - irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain - conflicts with the Jewish law definition of death - irreversible cessation of respiration. The conflict presents a First Amendment Free Exercise Clause challenge because state laws with strict secular definitions of death preclude Orthodox Jews from practicing Judaism in their final stages of life. This article argues that each state should adopt a definition of death statute that acknowledges the competing goals at issue in the legal definition of death - the recognition of the personal and private nature of death versus the accomplishment of secular and state objectives. New York State offers such a law by including a religious exception to the secular definition of death. Not only does the religious exception provide comfort to families in sad and serious times, but the exception is required by the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause and the right to privacy, and the exception does not significantly interfere with state interests.
One Cinderblock at a Time: Historiography of Canadian-Latin American and Canadian-Colombian Relations

Este articulo es una revision historiografica del tema Canada y America Latina, asi como del tema Canada y Colombia, con el proposito de demostrar que el papel de Canada en el estudio de la historia de America Latina ha sido en gran parte ignorado por los circulos academicos. Sostengo que aunque existe una larga historia de la presencia de Canada en la region, los historiadores han optado por centrar su analisis hemisferico en las relaciones entre Inglaterra y America Latina, y Estado Unidos y America Latina. Argumento que esta aproximacion deja grandes vacios en el analisis moderno de la historia hemisferica, teniendo en cuenta que otros poderes medios como Canada, Alemania, Francia, Italia, Holanda, Espana, Suiza, Irlanda, Israel, Rusia y Japon tambien tuvieron gran influencia en la transformacion de las sociedades, economias, paisajes y mercados de la region. La ausencia de una significativa historiografia de las relaciones entre Canada y Colombia demuestran el hecho de que existe una considerable carencia gran vacio que debe ser cubierto por aquellos que estudian el hemisferio occidental. Un estudio mas robusto sobre el papel de los poderes medios en America Latina brindara claridad y generara un mayor entendimiento sobre los procesos de modernizacion, desarrollo economico y la adaptacion al capitalismo experimentada por la region
Photofragmentation of nitro-based explosives with chemiluminescence detection

A simple, fast, reliable, sensitive and potentially portable explosive detection device was developed employing laser photofragmentation (PF) followed by heterogeneous chemiluminescence (CL) detection. The PF process involves the release of NOx(x = 1,2) moieties from explosive compounds such as TNT, RDX, and PETN through a stepwise excitation–dissociation process using a 193 nm ArF laser. The NOx(x = 1,2) produced upon PF is subsequently detected by its CL reaction with basic luminol solution. The intensity of the CL signal was detected by a thermoelectrically cooled photomultiplier tube with high quantum efficiency and negligible dark current counts. The system was able to detect trace amounts of explosives in various forms in real time under ambient conditions. Detection limits of 3 ppbv for PETN, 2 ppbv for RDX, and 34 ppbv for TNT were obtained. It was also demonstrated that the presence of PETN residue within the range of 61 to 186 ng/cm2 can be detected at a given signal-to-background ratio of 10 using a few microjoules of laser energy. The technique also demonstrated its potential for the direct analysis of trace explosive in soil. An LOD range of 0.5–4.3 ppm for PETN was established, which is comparable to currently available techniques.
Ein Beitrag zur Härtemessung an Wachsen

Es wird ein Harteprufverfahren beschrieben, mit dem sich Wachse reproduzierbar differenzieren lassen. Hierbei wird der Druck eines Stempels auf einen Prufling kontinuierlich bis zur Zerstorung gesteigert. Dieser Vorgang last sich registrierend verfolgen. Das Verfahren hat sich schon lange zur Qualitatsbeschreibung bewahrt. Beim Vergleich der Fliesharte mit anderen Harteprufmethoden mus man beachten, das die Harte keine eindeutig definierte physikalische Grose ist, sondern eine recht komplexe Eigenschaft, zu der verschiedene Parameter Beitrage liefern. Daher hangt die Harte stark vom benutzten Mesverfahren ab, das sich seinerseits am jeweiligen Anwendungsfall orientiert. Contribution for Hardness Measurement of Waxes A hardness test procedure is described by which a reproducible differentiation between waxes is possible. During this procedure the pressure of a hob on a specimen is continuously increased up to its destruction. This process can be described by a recorder. The procedure has proved to be a suitable quality description. Comparing flow hardness with other hardness test methods, it has to be considered that hardness is not a clearly defined physical dimension, but a very complex property to which various parameters give their contribution. Therefore hardness depends very strongly on the applied measuring method which itself is orientated on the corresponding application.
Unusual case of small cell gastric carcinoma: case report and literature review.

Background Small cell carcinomas are among the most aggressive, poorly differentiated, and highly malignant of the neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Of which, small cell gastric carcinoma is a rare small cell neuroendocrine tumor. The purpose of our study was to present this case and perform a comprehensive literature review.
Are there important unitarity corrections to the isobar model

Abstract Recently developed formalism is used to calculate rescattering effects in the isobar model. We evaluate these corrections for the reaction Nπ → Nππ up to 1.5 GeV to assess their influence on existing phenomenology. Our results also include the identification of distinct kinds of subenergy variation, each physically interpretable. Interesting features in the total energy dependence are also observed.
Current outcomes of surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect

More data are needed regarding costs of operation versus transcatheter closure of ASD before comparisons can be made. The length of stay for patients undergoing transcatheter closure is reported to be 2 to 3 days.1–5,9 In our study, the most recent average length of stay was 6.1 days, but since this study has ended, the length of stay for ASD operation is <4 days. Recent reports on transcatheter closure devices do not discuss costs, including those of the device itself, which cannot be ignored in today's medical system. As the number of transcatheter closure attempts increases, careful comparison of transcatheter ASD closure complication rates, lengths of stay, costs, risks for bacterial endocarditis, and long-term outcome with the same factors related to operation will be required.
Saving Democracy: A Plan for Real Representation in America

Saving Democracy: A Plan for Real Representation in America. By Kevin O'Leary. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006. 394p. $50.00 cloth, $19.95 paper. It is difficult to solve a problem to everyone's satisfaction when so few agree about the nature of the problem, let alone whether one exists. Such is the daunting task Kevin O'Leary faces in Saving Democracy, a book written to save us from a peril few onlookers see the same way, if they see it at all.
Trajectory and Characteristics of Buoyancy and Momentum Dominated Horizontal Jet Flames From Circular and Elliptic Burners

Relative effects of buoyancy and momentum on the characteristics of horizontally oriented circular (Circ) and elliptic (E) burner flames in a quiescent environment over a wide range of jet exit velocities are presented. The major axis of the elliptic burner was oriented horizontally and vertically (referred to as Emaj and Emin flames, respectively). Propane was used as fuel and a small amount of hydrogen was piloted to attach flames to the burner. Global flame characteristics such as flame dimensions, centerline trajectory, emission indices (EI) and radiative fraction, and in-flame transverse concentration and temperature profiles were measured. At a jet exit Reynolds number (Rej) of 2000, based on the area-equivalent diameter of the burner, the flame characteristics were affected by the burner geometry and its orientation. Also, the vertical dimension of the burner exit dictated buoyancy effects. At Rej=12,500, the influence of burner geometry or its orientation was negligible. Elliptic burner flames exhibited lower liftoff and blowout velocities than circular burner flames. Furthermore, the flame stability and nitric oxide emissions were not much affected by the orientation of elliptic burner. Although the elliptic burners produced higher EINO at lower jet exit velocities, the variation in EINO among three burners (Circ, Emaj, and Emin) was insignificant at higher velocities. Some effects of buoyancy on EICO were observed at lower jet exit velocities and the EICO was the lowest for the burners with largest buoyancy flux. Elliptic burner flames produced greater peak flame temperature than the corresponding circular burner flames under most conditions.