cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fetal responses to acute maternal cocaine injection in sheep

Maternal cocaine abuse has been associated with neonatal neurological and neurobehavioral problems of unknown pathogenesis. We administered a single intravenous dose of cocaine (2 mg/kg) to 12 unanesthetized pregnant sheep; their fetuses had been catheterized in utero 2 days before the study. We measured fetal cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of O2 (CMRO2), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and blood gases before and 2, 5, 15, and 30 min after maternal cocaine injection. Fetal CBF increased by 37 +/- 33% (mean +/- SD) at 5 min and returned to baseline by 15 min. Regional brain blood flow changes paralleled CBF changes with the greatest increases occurring in cerebellum (54 +/- 43%) and brain stem (54 +/- 52%). Cerebral vascular resistance was decreased for cerebellum (22%) and brain stem (19%) but was unchanged for cerebral hemispheres and caudate. Increased CBF at 5 min was associated with a 20 +/- 9% increase in fetal MAP and a 38 +/- 13% decrease in fetal arterial O2 content. Fetal CMRO2 was unchanged. There was a decrease in fetal intestinal blood flow at 2 min, an increase in myocardial, adrenal, and renal blood flow at 5 min, and no change in placental blood flow. Maternal cocaine injection causes fetal hypoxemia, hypertension, and increased CBF. Possible mechanisms for cerebral vasodilation (in some areas) include hypoxemia, impaired autoregulatory response to increased blood pressure, and/or direct or indirect vascular effects of cocaine or its metabolites.
The Impact of Annual Earnings Announcements on Convergence of Beliefs

SYNOPSIS AND INTRODUCTION: One indication of information usefulness is its ability to increase the precision of individuals' estimates of events of interest (FASB 1980; Ijiri and Jaedicke 1966). In this context, earnings reports are useful if they increase the precision of investors' forecasts of future earnings when the latter proxy for the event of interest, future cash flows. The cross-sectional variance of analysts' earnings expectations often is used as a proxy for the unobservable precision of their earnings estimates (Ajinkya and Gift 1985; Brown et al. 1987; Imhoff and Lobo 1992). We show that, when combined with the time-series properties of accounting earnings and prior research in analyst forecasts, Bayesian revisions suggest that year t earnings reports should, on average, increase the convergence of analysts' year t+ 1 earnings forecasts. Operationally, we examine whether the information contained in year t earnings decreases the crosssectional variance of analysts' year t+ 1 forecasts. Morse et al. (1991) use l/B/E/S Summary data, and conclude that the information contained in year t earnings announcements increases the cross-sectional variance of analyst forecasts of year t+ 1. This is a surprising result. One feature of the l/B/E/S Summary data is that they do not contain dates of the analysts' earnings forecasts. Thus, researchers who use these data do not know the set of information upon which the analyst's earnings forecast is based. In contrast to the l/B/E/S Summary data, the l/B/E/S Detail data are precise regarding the date that the individual analyst's earnings forecast entered the I/B/E/S system. We use l/B/E/S Detail data to reexamine the relation between annual earnings announcements and convergence of beliefs.
Exploring Differences in Preference Heterogeneity Representation and Their Influence in Product Family Design

When using conjoint studies for market-based design, two model types can be fit to represent the heterogeneity present in a target market, discrete or continuous. In this paper, data from a choice-based conjoint study with 2275 respondents is analyzed for a 19-attribute combinatorial design problem with over 1 billion possible product configurations. Customer preferences are inferred from the choice task data using both representations of heterogeneity. The hierarchical Bayes mixed logit model exemplifies the continuous representation of heterogeneity, while the latent class multinomial logit model corresponds to the discrete representation. Product line solutions are generated by each of these model forms and are then explored to determine why differences are observed in both product solutions and market share estimates. These results reveal some potential limitations of the Latent Class model in the masking of preference heterogeneity. Finally, the ramifications of these results on the market-based design process are discussed.© 2011 ASME
Through-bond interactions and the localization of excited-state dynamics.

The influence of through-bond interactions on nonadiabatic excited-state dynamics is investigated by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) and ab initio computation. We compare the dynamics of cyclohexa-1,4-diene, which exhibits a through-bond interaction known as homoconjugation (the electronic correlation between nonconjugated double bonds), with the nonconjugated cyclohexene. Each molecule was initially excited to a 3s Rydberg state using a 200 nm femtosecond pump pulse. The TRPES spectra of these molecules display similar structure and time constants on a subpicosecond time scale. Our ab initio calculations show that similar sets of conical intersections (a [1,2]- and [1,3]-hydrogen shift, as well as carbon–carbon bond cleavage) are energetically accessible to both molecules and that the geometry and orbital composition at the minimum energy crossing points to the ground state are directly analogous. These experimental and computational results suggest that the excited-state dynamics of cyc...
Not-for-Profit Operations Management

The emergence and growth of the nonprofit sector in the last few decades have made it an important part of modern economy. This chapter summarizes the existing research development in not-for-profit operations as well as providing directions for further contributions that can be made by operations management researchers. It discusses not-for-profit operations and several key aspects of not-for-profit operations management. The chapter focuses on unique features when compared with for-profit operations management. It develops the methodologies and theories for for-profit operations to provide helpful guidance to managing the not-for-profit operations. The chapter generates interest among the operations community, and good research work with potential practical impact would follow. With the increasing influence of not-for-profit operations on our economy and society, the need for understanding such operations and formulating appropriate strategies and policies opens up many opportunities for operations researchers.
Security of Broadband Access Networks

The broadband access security is receiving increasing attention as the broadband access network technology is growing briskly and broadband-enabled applications become more extensive. In an open access scenario,users,access equipments and networks are confronted with all kinds of threats and challenges,especially those from users' ends. Preventive measures and solutions can be taken to unlock such challenges,which include port positioning,anti-spoofing of Media Access Control (MAC) address and monitoring of illegal services
Modeling truncated pixel values of faint reflections in MicroED images

The weak pixel counts surrounding the Bragg spots in a diffraction image are important for establishing a model of the background underneath the peak and estimating the reliability of the integrated intensities. Under certain circumstances, particularly with equipment not optimized for low-intensity measurements, these pixel values may be corrupted by corrections applied to the raw image. This can lead to truncation of low pixel counts, resulting in anomalies in the integrated Bragg intensities, such as systematically higher signal-to-noise ratios. A correction for this effect can be approximated by a three-parameter lognormal distribution fitted to the weakly positive-valued pixels at similar scattering angles. The procedure is validated by the improved refinement of an atomic model against structure factor amplitudes derived from corrected micro-electron diffraction (MicroED) images.
Measuring spatial dependence for infectious disease epidemiology

Global spatial clustering is the tendency of points, here cases of infectious disease, to occur closer together than expected by chance. The extent of global clustering can provide a window into the spatial scale of disease transmission, thereby providing insights into the mechanism of spread, and informing optimal surveillance and control. Here the authors present an interpretable measure of spatial clustering, τ, which can be understood as a measure of relative risk. When biological or temporal information can be used to identify sets of potentially linked and likely unlinked cases, this measure can be estimated without knowledge of the underlying population distribution. The greater our ability to distinguish closely related (i.e., separated by few generations of transmission) from more distantly related cases, the more closely τ will track the true scale of transmission. The authors illustrate this approach using examples from the analyses of HIV, dengue and measles, and provide an R package implementing the methods described. The statistic presented, and measures of global clustering in general, can be powerful tools for analysis of spatially resolved data on infectious diseases.
Dermatophytosis in Vietnam.

A clinical variant of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, recurrent lumbosacral HSV, occurs in bedridden hospitalized patients. We want to call attention to an uncommon pattern of HSV infection in the hospitalized bedridden patient seen by the dermatology consultation service in a large university hospital. HSV is characterized by a mixture of recurrent groups of herpetic vesicles in all stages of development, with multiple, persistent hyperpigmented patches bilaterally distributed over the lumbosacral (buttocks) area.
Neuropharmacological imaging in epilepsy with PET and SPECT

Functional neuroimaging with positron and single photon emitter-labeling has added considerably to the understanding of epileptic seizure activity and of the postictal and interictal cerebral dysfunctions that accompany many epilepsies. Some of these functional alterations cannot be studied in humans by any other technique, and in other instances the information is complementary to that provided by other techniques, some of which are invasive or even require tissue destruction. Available radiotracer imaging techniques have yet to be fully applied to several important epileptic syndromes (including the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other secondary generalized epilepsies), to physiological aspects of the natural history of temporal lobe epilepsy or any other commonly occurring epilepsy, and to the assessment of mechanisms of action and adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs and other epilepsy therapies. New radiotracers should be developed to permit study of specific excitatory amino acid receptors and other receptor sites that are known to be relevant to the development of epilepsy, to the onset of individual seizures, and to interictal dysfunctions.
Effect of cement mineralogy on the effectiveness of chloride-based accelerator

Abstract Chloride-based accelerators are widely used for non-reinforced concrete; however, their effectiveness varies when used with different cement types. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of cement mineralogy on the accelerating efficiency of pure CaCl2 and commercial chloride-based accelerator. The accelerating efficiency was measured on three commercial cements (with similar C3S content but variable mineralogy) in terms of heat flow and compressive strength development. Chlorides were determined to be less effective with high-C3A/high-alkali cement. One of the cements with normal acceleration by chlorides was selected for doping with C3A, sulfates and alkalis in order to reproduce the reduction in chloride performance. Alkalis, specifically K2SO4, were determined to have a significant effect on chloride-based accelerator performance, whether pure CaCl2 or commercial admixture. Increasing C3A or gypsum content alone did not appear to significantly affect acceleration, but in combination with high alkali content these phases can potentially reduce accelerator effectiveness.
Understanding Supplier Switching Behavior: The Role of Psychological Contracts in a Competitive Setting

Today's globally competitive environment presents ample opportunity for buyers to dissolve relationships by switching suppliers. While previous studies have described supplier switching behavior based on supplier attributes and switching costs, our study leverages attribution theory to evaluate the impact of psychological contracts on supplier switching behavior. We report the results of a controlled experiment involving 265 subjects in which we manipulate three characteristics of a psychological contract breach: attribution (whether the breach was due to reneging by the supplier or a disruption), severity (whether the breach was major or minor), and timing (whether the breach was early or late in the life cycle of the exchange history). Our analysis indicates that in the context of supplier switching, buyers are affected by the attribution and severity of a breach but not by the timing. In contrast to previous experimental research in noncompetitive settings, we find that psychological contract violation mediates the relationship between breach and behavior. We further complement our primary findings with a vignette-based experiment and interview data collected from experienced managers. Our research makes an important contribution to the relationship dissolution and industrial buyer behavior literatures by providing a behavioral explanation for supplier switching and reveals the complex role of psychological contracts in supply chain exchanges.
Complex traits on the map

The lod score method for localizing mendelian disease genes in human genetics is reviewed. Current ways of applying this technique to hypothesized genes underlying complex traits are discussed. In contrast to these parametric methods, allele-sharing methods using affected sib pairs are reviewed. Based on such allele-sharing data, a particular type of analysis is outlined which can identify sets of disease loci. This method makes use of pattern-recognition techniques as implemented in artificial neural networks (ANNs).
A low-power baseband receiver IC for frequency-hopped spread spectrum applications

A baseband receiver IC which will be incorporated into a monolithic CMOS 900 MHz frequency-hopped spread spectrum (FH/SS) transceiver is described. The chip performs noncoherent binary/quaternary frequency shift keying (FSK) demodulation, equal-gain diversity combining of dual antenna branches, and symbol and frequency synchronization. The chip also accommodates variable data rates from 2-160 kbps, programmable hop rates, and tunable bandwidth of loop filters. The die area of this 1-/spl mu/m CMOS chip is 5.4 mm /spl times/5.4 mm with a power consumption of less than 6 mW from a 3-V supply.
Mortality trends and the impact of lymphadenectomy on survival for renal cell carcinoma patients with distant metastasis.

Introduction: Current treatment paradigms for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) invoke a combination of surgical and systemic therapies. We sought to quantify trends in mortality and performance of lymphadenectomy, as well as impact on survival for patients with mRCC. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry (SEER) (1988‒2011) identified patients with mRCC. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models with competing risks regression were employed to assess survival. Results: 15 060 patients with mRCC were identified, with 6316 (41.9%) undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy. Mean number of lymph nodes removed was 6.2, with mean 3.3 positive nodes among 1018 (43.9%) patients with positive nodes. Median overall survival (OS) increased from seven to 11 months (1999‒2010), and finding a positive node decreased median cancer survival from 22 to nine months. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) showed significant decreases in mortality after 2005 (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71 [0.60‒0.83] comparing 2010 to 1990). Lymphadenectomy was associated with decreased OS (HR 1.10 [1.03‒1.16]; p=0.002) due to decreased CSS (HR 1.10 [1.04‒1.17]; p<0.001) without increase in other-cause mortality (HR 0.94 [0.79‒1.11]; p=0.455). However, more extensive lymphadenectomy ≥3 lymph nodes removed did not significantly impact OS or CSS. Number of positive lymph nodes was associated with decreased CSS. Conclusions: mRCC continues to carry a poor prognosis, but current treatment paradigms have led to modest improvements in OS and CSS in recent years. Lymphadenectomy was found to play a prognostic rather than therapeutic role in the management of mRCC. The performance of lymphadenectomy should be limited based on clinical judgment and better incorporated into randomized trials of new systemic therapies to identify scenarios where implementation may improve survival.
Status of the BLAST project

The BLAST detector is presently under construction by an international collaboration and it is scheduled to start commissioning in the summer of 2001. The initial scientific program calls for comprehensive measurements of the spin dependent electromagnetic response of the few body systems. A status report of the construction is presented as well as highlights of some of the planned measurements.
Conceptualizing the Use of Translanguaging in Initial Content Assessments for Newly Arrived Emergent Bilingual Students

Translanguaging refers to the flexible use of the bilingual repertoire. In this report, we provide a theoretical framework to support the use of translanguaging to assess the academic content knowledge of newly arrived emergent bilingual students. In this report, we argue that translanguaging offers newly arrived emergent bilingual students the opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do even if their English language and literacy skills are not fully developed. We propose two principles for incorporating translanguaging into initial content assessments for late-arriving emergent bilingual students, and we theorize how translanguaging can be used within an assessment context by discussing test design applications and considerations. We also discuss some challenges when incorporating translanguaging within an assessment context.
Directed information for communication problems with common side information and delayed feedback/feedforward

In this work, we consider the problems of channel coding with feedback and source coding with feedforward. We give a new interpretation of directed information [1] which helps us understand why it arises in the capacity and rate-distortion function of these two problems. Comparing the two problems studied, we nd that in channel coding feedback boosts capacity due to a larger constraint set of optimization of the same objective function. On the other hand, feedforward reduces the rate-distortion function due to a smaller objective function optimized over an unchanged constraint set. Using our interpretation of directed information, we nd the capacity of channels with arbitrarily delayed feedback and causal/non-causal state information. We also solve the corresponding source coding problem.
Critique [of Some Symbols of Identity of Byzantine Catholics]

Two primary assumptions appear to inform this descriptive article about Byzantine Catholic communities in the United States: (1) old traditions are maintained in new environments through “syncretism”; and (2) the symbols that emerge in those syncretisms are reflective of the world view of the ethnic group that created them.
Psychiatric Aspects of Alcohol Intoxication, Withdrawal, and Organic Brain Syndromes

When a patient arrives in a physician’s office or an emergency room with symptoms of slurred speech, difficulty with coordination, ataxia, loquaciousness, and difficulty with attention, there may be a natural tendency by the physician to attribute the patient’s symptoms to alcohol intoxication. However, similar symptoms may be caused by certain neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cerebellar dysfunction, or intoxication due to other sedative substances such as barbiturates or benzodiazepines. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus may also be associated with impairment of central nervous system function and subsequent development of the above signs and symptoms. Even if the diagnostic impression is supported by a relatively high blood level of alcohol, it would be wise for the physician to follow the patient carefully in order to be sure that these symptoms clear as the alcohol disappears from the blood. It should be emphasized that the alcohol intoxication may be masking underlying physical sequelae of alcoholism. A careful history and physical examination should evaluate the possibility of trauma.
Temperature-Induced Changes in the Optical and Material Characteristics of HAMR Media COC and Its Effect on Recording Performance

The carbon overcoat (COC) on heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media was deposited at increasing temperature. The optical extinction ( ${k}$ ) of this media was measured with ellipsometry and found to increase with temperature from 0.2 to 0.9 over the temperature range from 220 °C to 360 °C. Raman spectroscopy of these COC surfaces had an increasing G-peak position and decreasing G-peak width along with an increasing I(D)/I(G). An increasing sp2 ring/chain and aromatic cluster size and decreasing optical gap were inferred from these changing parameters. HAMR writing on this media was found to require incrementally less laser power (from 100% to 92%) with increasing optical extinction to attain a fixed track width. This was determined to be due to the increased imaginary component of the dielectric function in this film ( 2nk ). The SNR of these written tracks was observed to improve by approximately 0.65 dB with deposition temperature. A finite-element method model of the head and media showed that the thermal gradient of the hot spot in the media increases with optical extinction and increases the SNR. A small decrease in the COC density with temperature was observed and was calculated to further decrease the COC thermal conductivity and thus enhance the increased thermal gradient.
Mature and developing kelp bed community composition in a glacial estuary

Abstract The assembly and maintenance of biological communities is influenced by environmental factors, which are predicted to shift with climate change. Glaciers are melting at increasing rates, delivering sediment and fresh water to coastal habitats. We hypothesized that environmental factors related to glacial discharge would be correlated to the initial recruitment and colonization of sessile communities in kelp beds, and to the abundance of mobile epibenthic invertebrates and adult kelp. To test these hypotheses, cleared rocks were placed at six sites at 10-m depth across a gradient of glacial-influence in Kachemak Bay, Alaska and the percent cover of the initial recruitment and the subsequent progression of the sessile community was monitored over 18 months. Small mobile invertebrates (such as limpets and chitons) were also monitored on these rocks for 18 months. Lastly, larger invertebrates (such as sea stars) and adult kelp were surveyed over the same time period along transects in the immediate vicinity of the cleared rocks. Environmental factors (sedimentation rates, salinity, temperature, irradiance, and nutrient concentration) were concurrently monitored at each site. Recruitment and subsequent colonization varied along the glacial gradient. At sites with higher sedimentation rates, recruitment and the subsequent developing community was dominated by barnacles with little or no kelp recruits and other macroalgae and high temporal variation in availability of bare space. At more oceanic sites, these communities were characterized by a slow increase in cover of encrusting and upright macroalgae, also with high variability among sites. Mobile invertebrates and adult kelp were more abundant at oceanic sites than the glacial sites. Using distance-based linear models, inorganic sedimentation rate was correlated to patterns of kelp bed recruitment and colonization and to the abundance of mobile invertebrates and adult kelps in the surrounding area. Changes in inorganic sedimentation with climate change may alter how kelp beds are distributed and structured in glacial estuaries.
Phase Ib/II trial of durvalumab and chemoradiation (CRT) with carboplatin/paclitaxel for esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

172Background: Pre-op CRT with carboplatin (C)/paclitaxel (P) and radiation (RT) for locally advanced esophageal cancer is a standard of care, based on the CROSS trial (NEJM 2012;366:2074). However...
Determining the Rate of Carbonic Anhydrase Reaction in the Human Brain.

Carbonic anhydrase plays important role in life. This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting carbonic anhydrase activity in the human brain in vivo. After oral administration of [U-13C6]glucose, 13C saturation transfer experiments were performed with interleaved control spectra and carbon dioxide saturation spectra. Proton nuclear Overhauser effect pulses were used to increase signal to noise ratio; no proton decoupling was applied. Results showed that the 13C signal of bicarbonate was reduced by 72% ± 0.03 upon saturating carbon dioxide. The unidirectional dehydration rate constant of the carbonic anhydrase reaction was found to be 0.28 ± 0.02 sec-1 in the human brain. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of measuring carbonic anhydrase activity in vivo in the human brain, which makes it possible to characterize this important enzyme in patients with brain disorders.
Twenty-Five-Year (1986-2011) Trends in the Incidence and Death Rates of Stroke Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Abstract Background The occurrence of a stroke after an acute myocardial infarction is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. However, limited data are available, particularly from a population-based perspective, about recent trends in the incidence and mortality rates associated with stroke complicating an acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to examine 25-year trends (1986-2011) in the incidence and in-hospital mortality rates of initial episodes of stroke complicating acute myocardial infarction. Methods The study population consisted of 11,436 adults hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts on a biennial basis between 1986 and 2011. Results In this study cohort, 159 patients (1.4%) experienced an acute first-ever stroke during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction. The proportion of patients with acute myocardial infarction who developed a stroke increased through the 1990s but decreased slightly thereafter. Compared with patients who did not experience a stroke, those who experienced a stroke were significantly older, were more likely to be female, had a previous acute myocardial infarction, had a significant burden of comorbidities, and were more likely to have died (32.1% vs 10.8%) during their index hospitalization. Patients who developed a first stroke in the most recent study years (2003-2011) were more likely to have died during hospitalization than those hospitalized during earlier study years. Conclusions Although the incidence rates of acute stroke complicating acute myocardial infarction remained relatively stable during the years under study, the in-hospital mortality rates of those experiencing a stroke have not decreased.
EBIC: a next-generation evolutionary-based parallel biclustering method

In this paper we present the recent accomplishments in developing a biclustering method based on evolutionary computation. In one of the recent papers we demonstrated the supremacy of our method over several state-of-the-art algorithms. We highlight the evolutionary fundamentals of the method and discuss potential future directions.
The Generalizability of Randomized Controlled Trials of Self-Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis.

Background: Self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapies (iCBTs) for depressive symptoms may substantially increase accessibility to mental health treatment. Despite this, questions remain as to the generalizability of the research on self-guided iCBT. Objective: We sought to describe the clinical entry criteria used in studies of self-guided iCBT, explore the criteria’s effects on study outcomes, and compare the frequency of use of these criteria with their use in studies of face-to-face psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. We hypothesized that self-guided iCBT studies would use more stringent criteria that would bias the sample toward those with a less complex clinical profile, thus inflating treatment outcomes. Methods: We updated a recently published meta-analysis by conducting a systematic literature search in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. We conducted a meta-regression analysis to test the effect of the different commonly used psychiatric entry criteria on the treatment-control differences. We also compared the frequency with which exclusion criteria were used in the self-guided iCBT studies versus studies of face-to-face psychotherapy and antidepressants from a recently published review. Results: Our search yielded 5 additional studies, which we added to the 16 studies identified by Karyotaki and colleagues in 2017. Few self-guided iCBT studies excluded patients with severe depressive symptoms (6/21, 29%), but self-guided iCBT studies were more likely than antidepressant (14/170, 8.2%) studies to use this criterion. However, self-guided iCBT studies did not use this criterion more frequently than face-to-face psychotherapy studies (6/16, 38%). Beyond this, we found no evidence that self-guided iCBTs used more stringent entry criteria. Strong evidence suggested that they were actually less likely to use most entry criteria, especially exclusions on the basis of substance use or personality pathology. None of the entry criteria used had an effect on outcomes. Conclusions: A conservative interpretation of our findings is that the patient population sampled in the literature on self-guided iCBT is relatively comparable with that of studies of antidepressants or face-to-face psychotherapy. Alternatively, studies of unguided cognitive behavioral therapy may sample from a more heterogeneous and representative patient population. Until evidence emerges to suggest otherwise, the patient population sampled in self-guided iCBT studies cannot be considered as less complex than the patient population from face-to-face psychotherapy or antidepressant studies.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Disclosure on the Web: An Exploratory Study

Sustainability reporting is now a best practice for most companies around the world. The Web, with its advanced technologies enables companies to create a positive impact on stakeholder perceptions of transparency in reporting. Using empirical data from websites of companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the authors analyze design and content of sustainability information. We conclude that while nearly all companies provide routine content disclosure using minimal web design features, they stop short of issuing a proactive display of compliance and due diligence content. Companies with higher Newsweek Green Ranking scores employ better disclosure than others. This asymmetry in self-governance arises from a combination of factors, including low level of transparency, incomplete information, and a lack of comparability of sustainability reports. The authors develop a prescriptive framework to help companies improve their web sites by including more content that reflects due diligence and transparency for sustainability.
Han Kang. The Vegetarian. Translated by Deborah Smith. London/New York: Hogarth, 2015. 252pp.

Posthumanism reformulates the idea of human agency and its relationship with the natural world. By shunning dualisms, it blurs the man-made boundaries between the human and the animal in the natural and technological world. As a rejection of universality, posthumanist studies aim to rearrange the way we view societal values through a more intersectional approach, without completely divorcing itself from the tradition of humanism. Instead, it seeks to expand the way the human interacts with the wider world, and in the case of The Vegetarian , the title character Yeong-hye’s actions may be part of a moral imperative
Understanding Public Engagement With Global Aid Agencies on Twitter: A Technosocial Framework:

This study develops a technosocial framework for assessing the efficacy of global aid agencies’ use of Twitter’s algorithmic affordances for participatory social change. We combine computational an...
Dynamic micro-torque transducer: A torque transducer was designed and used to measure sinusoidally oscillating torque from 10−6 to 1.0 lb-in. and from near static to 500 Hz

The desing and characteristics of a torque transducer developed to measure sinusoidally oscillating torques from 10−6 lb-in. to 1.0 lb-in. and from near static to 500 Hertz are discussed. The transducer was used to transmit, as well as measure, the driving-point torque to a 0.5-in. diam circular cylinder of low-modulus test material whose viscoelastic, deviatoric moduli were to be determined. The more salient features of the transducer are its ability to cancel up to 98 percent of the signal due to its own inertial load and its insensitivity to transverse vibrations as a result of internal network compensation. Piezo-electric crystals were used as transducing elements.
LandMOD ET mapper: A new matlab-based graphical user interface (GUI) for automated implementation of SEBAL and METRIC models in thermal imagery

Abstract Remote sensing based surface energy balance (SEB) models, such as SEB Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) and Mapping evapotranspiration (ET) at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC) are widely used to monitor ET. However, their operational use is challenged by model complexity and the tedious process of selecting hot and cold pixels. We developed a new Matlab-based ET mapping toolbox named “LandMOD ET Mapper” for automated implementation of these models to facilitate their widespread applications among new users. The toolbox is demonstrated using one Landsat and one Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra image covering three AmeriFlux sites in Nebraska, U.S. Daily ET estimates were comparable with the observed ET for five days when near cloud-free Landsat and MODIS Terra images were available in the 2006 maize growing season. The toolbox provides a viable ET mapping option to new and inexperienced users with reduced time and labor demands.
Medical education in pediatric rheumatology—unique challenges and opportunities

Pediatric rheumatology faces workforce shortages in both developed and developing regions of the world resulting in suboptimal care of children with chronic rheumatic diseases. In addition to outlining the structure of formal rheumatology training programs in North America and Europe, we attempt to summarize various strategies being implemented with success in several parts of the world to help close the gap via innovative learning strategies. We discuss the important role of professional organizations in leading this effort.
Retrieval Practice Consistently Benefits Student Learning: a Systematic Review of Applied Research in Schools and Classrooms

Given the growing interest in retrieval practice among educators, it is valuable to know when retrieval practice does and does not improve student learning—particularly for educators who have limited classroom time and resources. In this literature review, we developed a narrow operational definition for “classroom research” compared to previous reviews of the literature. We screened nearly 2000 abstracts and systematically coded 50 experiments to establish a clearer picture of benefits from retrieval practice in real world educational settings. Our review yielded 49 effect sizes and a total n = 5374, the majority of which (57%) revealed medium or large benefits from retrieval practice. We found that retrieval practice improved learning for a variety of education levels, content areas, experimental designs, final test delays, retrieval and final test formats, and timing of retrieval practice and feedback; however, only 6% of experiments were conducted in non-WEIRD countries. Based on our review of the literature, we make eight recommendations for future research and provide educators with a better understanding of the robust benefits of retrieval practice across a range of school and classroom settings.
Gambling Disorder and comorbid PTSD: A systematic review of empirical research.

Abstract Background and aims Gambling Disorder (GD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are frequently comorbid and often associated with a more severe clinical profile compared to those with either diagnosis alone. Despite recent growing interest in this comorbidity, there has been little effort to synthesize this domain of research and define areas of need for future research. Design The present work details a systematic review of empirical studies examining the relationship between PTSD and GD-related factors. This review encompassed 74 studies each examining the overlap between GD and the following domains: PTSD, Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Stressful Life Events. Findings The included studies yielded 91 independent samples each providing associations between the above-mentioned constructs. The present work found that stress, trauma, and symptom severity of PTSD each influence the severity of both GD and subclinical levels of GD. The severity, type, and time at which trauma occurs in the lifespan all appear to influence the predictive strength of trauma on GD severity. However, PTSD symptoms appear to have a greater impact on GD severity compared to trauma alone. Conclusion PTSD symptoms result in increased severity of GD, and pathological dissociation plays a particularly important role in exacerbating this relationship. Clinical and etiological implications, as well as direction for future research from these findings, are revealed and discussed.
Optical studies of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC1313 X-2

NGC1313 X-2 was among the first ultraluminous X-ray sources discovered, and has been a frequent target of X-ray and optical observations. Using the HST/ACS multi-band observations, this source is identified with a unique counterpart within an error circle of $0\farcs2$. The counterpart is a blue star on the edge of a young cluster of $\le10^7$ years amid a dominant old stellar population. Its spectral energy distribution is consistent with that for a Z=0.004 star with 8.5 $M_\odot$ about $5\times10^6$ years old, or for an O7 V star at solar metallicity. The counterpart exhibited significant variability of $\Delta m = 0.153\pm0.033$ mag between two F555W observations separated by three months, reminiscent of the ellipsoidal variability due to the orbital motion of this ULX binary.
Guidelines for Effective Professional Development on Writing Instruction: Principals’ Voices:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine principals’ perspectives on a model of professional development (PD) in writing. Participants were 14 principals and seven assistants from a rur...
Successful Use of Myosure in the Management of Cesarean Scar Ectopic Pregnancy.

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a very serious complication of a prior cesarean delivery. The major risks associated with CSP are uncontrolled hemorrhage and uterine rupture, potentially leading to future infertility. Management of CSP remains a major obstetric challenge without a well-defined therapeutic procedure. Dilation & curettage is a commonly used procedure for the treatment of CSP. However, it can be ineffective and often leads to definite infertility. Therefore, we present a case of the successful use of an alternative procedure, Myosure® hysteroscopy, in the treatment of CSP. We herein report the case of a 32-year-old G5P3013 woman who presented with vaginal bleeding and past history of three cesarean sections. She was found to have a CSP with fetal pole and cardiac activity at 6 weeks 2 days. The patient was initially treated with a systemic methotrexate injection, but there was persistence of cardiac activity. A second course of methotrexate was administered into the gestational sac, which systemically led to successful fetal cardiac arrest and downtrend of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level. A dilation & curettage procedure was not successful in removing products of conception. A Myosure hysteroscopy procedure, however, was successful in removing products of conception. The patient was discharged after a negative ultrasound and beta-HCG level. In our review of the literature, we found that there is no general consensus on the management of cesarean scar ectopic pregnancies. To date, there is no literature cited about the use of Myosure for cesarean scar ectopic pregnancies. However, our case suggests that Myosure can be effective for CSP and this warrants a larger-scale controlled study to better evaluate this as a treatment for this condition.
Joint species distribution models of Everglades wading birds to inform restoration planning.

Restoration of the Florida Everglades, a substantial wetland ecosystem within the United States, is one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the world. Decision-makers and managers within the Everglades ecosystem rely on ecological models forecasting indicator wildlife response to changes in the management of water flows within the system. One such indicator of ecosystem health, the presence of wading bird communities on the landscape, is currently assessed using three species distribution models that assume perfect detection and report output on different scales that are challenging to compare against one another. We sought to use current advancements in species distribution modeling to improve models of Everglades wading bird distribution. Using a joint species distribution model that accounted for imperfect detection, we modeled the presence of nine species of wading bird simultaneously in response to annual hydrologic conditions and landscape characteristics within the Everglades system. Our resulting model improved upon the previous model in three key ways: 1) the model predicts probability of occupancy for the nine species on a scale of 0–1, making the output more intuitive and easily comparable for managers and decision-makers that must consider the responses of several species simultaneously; 2) through joint species modeling, we were able to consider rarer species within the modeling that otherwise are detected in too few numbers to fit as individual models; and 3) the model explicitly allows detection probability of species to be less than 1 which can reduce bias in the site occupancy estimates. These improvements are essential as Everglades restoration continues and managers require models that consider the impacts of water management on key indicator wildlife such as the wading bird community.
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration in a 17-Year-Old Boy Awaiting Heart Transplantation

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a pattern of alternating central apnea and hyperpnea. It is well described in adults with congestive heart failure, but not in children. We report the case of a 17-year-old boy whose systolic heart failure was complicated by Cheyne-Stokes respiration. He was given supportive therapy until heart transplant, after which his Cheyne-Stokes respiration clinically resolved. Clinicians should be aware of this uncommon condition in pediatric and adolescent patients who have advanced heart failure and irregular breathing.
Further evidence of a context-specific agonistic signal in bottlenose dolphins: the influence of consortships and group size on the pop vocalization

Pops are a low-frequency, pulsed vocalization produced by Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops cf. aduncus ) in Shark Bay, Western Australia and are often heard when male alliances are consorting or ‘herding’ a female. Previous research indicated that pops produced in this context are an agonistic ‘come-hither’ demand produced by males and directed at female consorts. Here we examine pop occurrence during focal follows on bottlenose dolphin alliances with and without female consorts present. Regression analysis was conducted to determine if pop numbers were higher in the presence of female consorts, and if variables including group size alone and the interaction between presence/absence of a consortship and group size, influenced pop production. While the presence or absence of a consortship significantly affected the number of pops, average group size had no significant effect on pop production. Our research provides further evidence that the pop vocalization plays an important role in consortships.
Do TOEFL iBT® Scores Reflect Improvement in English-Language Proficiency? Extending the TOEFL iBT Validity Argument

One fundamental way to determine the validity of standardized English-language test scores is to investigate the extent to which they reflect anticipated learning effects in different English-language programs. In this study, we investigated the extent to which the TOEFL iBT® practice test reflects the learning effects of students at intensive English programs in the United States and China, as well as extracurricular English-learning activities that may be associated with the expected learning effects. A total of 607 students at the high school level or beyond participated in the United States and China, including 111 students who took 2 forms of the practice test under a pretest and posttest design. The results showed moderate to substantial levels of improvement on each of the TOEFL iBT sections, with different score gain patterns for students in the United States and China. We concluded that students who study at English programs similar to those included in this study can improve their English-language proficiency levels at least moderately over 6 months or longer, as indicated by changes in their scores on the TOEFL iBT practice test. This improvement is consistent with an interpretation of TOEFL iBT scores as indicators of English-language proficiency.
High-voltage polarization-induced vertical heterostructure p-n junction diodes on bulk GaN substrates

The III-nitride wide bandgap semiconductors show attractive and compelling potential for power electronics due to their high breakdown electric field (E br ) as well as high carrier mobilities (μ). Previous efforts have realized GaN high power p-n diodes by traditional acceptor-donor doping.[2–4] The new polarization-induced doping technique using graded AlGaN heterostructures can improve the doping efficiency and simultaneously enable better transport due to lack of impurity scattering. Such polarization-induced AlGaN (Pi-AlGaN) p-n heterojunction diodes have been demonstrated for LEDs.[1] Furthermore, the introduction of AlGaN into the depletion region of the p-n junction can potentially improve the breakdown properties, owing to the higher breakdown field of AlGaN due to the larger bandgap.