cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implications of CT noise and artifacts for quantitative 99mTc SPECT/CT imaging.

Purpose: This paper evaluates the effects of computed tomography (CT) image noise and artifacts on quantitative single-photon emission computed-tomography (SPECT) imaging, with the aim of establishing an appropriate range of CT acquisition parameters for low-dose protocols with respect to accurate SPECT attenuation correction (AC). Methods: SPECT images of two geometric and one anthropomorphic phantom were reconstructed iteratively using CT scans acquired at a range of dose levels (CTDI vol = 0.4 to 46 mGy). Resultant SPECT image quality was evaluated by comparing mean signal, background noise, and artifacts to SPECT images reconstructed using the highest dose CT for AC. Noise injection was performed on linear-attenuation (μ) maps to determine the CT noise threshold for accurate AC. Results: High levels of CT noise (σ ∼ 200–400 HU) resulted in low μ-maps noise (σ ∼ 1%–3%). Noise levels greater than ∼10% in 140 keV μ-maps were required to produce visibly perceptible increases of ∼15% in 99mTc SPECT images. These noise levels would be achieved at low CT dose levels (CTDI vol = 4 μGy) that are over 2 orders of magnitude lower than the minimum dose for diagnostic CT scanners. CT noise could also lower (bias) the expected μ values. The relative error in reconstructed SPECT signal trended linearly with the relative shift in μ. SPECT signal was, on average, underestimated in regions corresponding with beam-hardening artifacts in CT images. Any process that has the potential to change the CT number of a region by ∼100 HU (e.g., misregistration between CT images and SPECT images due to motion, the presence of contrast in CT images) could introduce errors in μ 140 keV on the order of 10%, that in turn, could introduce errors on the order of ∼10% into the reconstructed 99mTc SPECT image. Conclusions: The impact of CT noise on SPECT noise was demonstrated to be negligible for clinically achievable CT parameters. Because CT dose levels that affect SPECT quantification is low (CTDI vol ∼ 4 μGy), the low dose limit for the CT exam as part of SPECT/CT will be guided by CT image quality requirements for anatomical localization and artifact reduction. A CT technique with higher kVp in combination with lower mAs is recommended when low-dose CT images are used for AC to minimize beam-hardening artifacts.
Arbitration-free synchronization

Implementing traditional forms of multiprocess synchronization requires a hardware arbiter. Here, we consider what kind of synchronization is achievable without arbitration. Several kinds of simple arbiter-free registers are defined and shown to have equal power, and the class of synchronization problems solvable with such registers is characterized. More powerful forms of arbiter-free communication primitives are described. However, the problem of characterizing the most general form of arbiter-free synchronization remains unsolved.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IELTS: A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE ON READING COMPREHENSION. Caroline Clapham. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Pp. xiii + 303. $52.95 cloth, $26.95 paper.

Can scores on L2 reading tests be interpreted as indicators of reading ability alone, or must they be considered indicators of the test takers' reading ability in addition to their knowledge of the subject matter chosen for a particular test? This book reports the results of a large-scale study investigating this question through analysis of ESL/EFL learners' performance on subject-specific reading tests.
Toward harnessing user feedback for machine learning

There has been little research into how end users might be able to communicate advice to machine learning systems. If this resource--the users themselves--could somehow work hand-in-hand with machine learning systems, the accuracy of learning systems could be improved and the users' understanding and trust of the system could improve as well. We conducted a think-aloud study to see how willing users were to provide feedback and to understand what kinds of feedback users could give. Users were shown explanations of machine learning predictions and asked to provide feedback to improve the predictions. We found that users had no difficulty providing generous amounts of feedback. The kinds of feedback ranged from suggestions for reweighting of features to proposals for new features, feature combinations, relational features, and wholesale changes to the learning algorithm. The results show that user feedback has the potential to significantly improve machine learning systems, but that learning algorithms need to be extended in several ways to be able to assimilate this feedback.
A growth factor-dependent nuclear kinase phosphorylates p27Kip1 and regulates cell cycle progression

The cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, p27 Kip1 , which regulates cell cycle progression, is controlled by its subcellular localization and subsequent degradation. p27 Kip1 is phosphorylated on serine 10 (S10) and threonine 187 (T187). Although the role of T187 and its phosphorylation by Cdks is well‐known, the kinase that phosphorylates S10 and its effect on cell proliferation has not been defined. Here, we identify the kinase responsible for S10 phosphorylation as human kinase interacting stathmin (hKIS) and show that it regulates cell cycle progression. hKIS is a nuclear protein that binds the C‐terminal domain of p27 Kip1 and phosphorylates it on S10 in vitro and in vivo , promoting its nuclear export to the cytoplasm. hKIS is activated by mitogens during G 0 /G 1 , and expression of hKIS overcomes growth arrest induced by p27 Kip1 . Depletion of KIS using small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibits S10 phosphorylation and enhances growth arrest. p27 −/− cells treated with KIS siRNA grow and progress to S/G 2 similar to control treated cells, implicating p27 Kip1 as the critical target for KIS. Through phosphorylation of p27 Kip1 on S10, hKIS regulates cell cycle progression in response to mitogens.
Accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for evaluation of N2/3 disease in lung cancer: Experience over six years

Introduction : Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is the standard procedure for mediastinal staging in lung cancer with good accuracy in expert centres. The initial learning curve is well known but not the effect of long term experience on diagnostic yield. Methods : Analysis of all EBUS done at our institution for staging of LC from 3/2007 to 9/2013. Data, including procedure time were prospectively registered. Stadium IV diseases or N1/2 diseases without surgical confirmation were excluded. All investigations were done under conscious sedation and with rapid on-site cytology. Results : 261 patients (mean age 66±10 years) were evaluated. 152 patients (58%) finally had N2/3 disease. 10/261 patients (3.8%) had a false negative EBUS. Sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) of EBUS were 93%, 100% and 92%, respectively. Sensitivity and NPV increased over time from 92% and 91% in the first 130 investigations to 95% and 93% afterward. Six of ten patients with false negative EBUS had a false negative PET/CT too, four had only a micrometastasis. Seven patients were evaluated after neoadjuvant treatment, four were true negative, two true positive and one false positive (micrometastasis). Median procedure time for EBUS was 26 minutes (1 st /3 st 17/40 minutes) with median two evaluated lymph nodes (range 1-7). Conclusion : EBUS has a very good accuracy for the evaluation of the N2/3 disease in lung cancer. Over time, sensitivity and NPV steadily increased from 92% and 91% to 95% and 93% with improving results beyond 130 procedures. EBUS can easily and safely be performed under conscious sedation within reasonable time.
Learning Interdisciplinarity: Service Learning and the Promise of Interdisciplinary Teaching

The authors explore the challenges inherent in traversing the multiple boundaries between sociology and social work, and the academy and the community, by examining a service learning course on hunger and homelessness taught by two sociology professors and two social workers on the staff of a community service organization. The authors draw on instructional team meetings and correspondence, observation of class sessions, and formal and informal course evaluations to analyze three “moments”: the planning process, a pivotal class session, and students’ final presentations. They found that both their teaching and students’ learning were enriched by disciplinary differences in knowledge claims, the design and utility of qualitative research, and the process of drawing conclusions from, and making arguments using, qualitative data. The authors conclude that experiential learning has value beyond providing students hands-on experiences. It can also provide a laboratory in which students and instructors can explore the similarities and differences between sociology, social work, and other disciplines.
Elastic displacements caused by a propagating crack in an infinite medium: An exact solution

Elastic displacements caused by an infinitesimal elastic dislocation with a stepfunction as the time function are obtained analytically by using the Cagniard method. The limit of the solution as the time goes to infinity, reduces to the known static solution as expected. By introducing the delay time (depending on the velocity of propagation of the crack) and making use of the superposition principle in our linear system, we can get the exact elastic displacements due to a propagating crack by integrating our solution over the crack length. The integration is carried out analytically, and computer generated plots of displacements vs. time for an observation point near the middle of the crack final length are obtained and serve as a check on the final solution. The cases of subshear, supershear, subsonic, and supersonic propagation of the crack are considered. Applications of the solution to earthquake problems are discussed and the introduction of a more realistic rise time function is also considered to facilitate comparison between the observed vs. calculated displacements.
Chronobioengineering indoor lighting to enhance facilities for ageing and Alzheimer's disorder

Evolutionary processes generate a variety of paradoxes which must be faced in order to design the most effective structures to fulfil various human requirements and preferences. One of these paradoxes comes from the evolution of circadian rhythm systems, which are normally synchronized to the geophysical cycle of night and day and coordinate internal temporal order, but are now in conflict with modern technology and the 24/7 paradigm for urban living. Modern lighting systems have traditionally focused on providing sufficient illumination for people to navigate and manipulate their environments without regard to the side effects that lighting might have on temporal aspects of behaviour and physiology. However, studies involving shift work and other applications of artificial lighting have indicated that these side effects can be quite significant. Furthermore, when an ageing circadian system is coupled with a deteriorating physiology, the side effects of a 24/7 artificially illuminated indoor environment c...
Texting while driving using Google Glass: Investigating the combined effect of heads-up display and hands-free input on driving safety and performance

In-vehicle driver distractions are an increasing cause of automobile accidents. Recent advances in wearable consumer technologies impose new challenges for managing driver attention and regulating device use in the driving context. Google Glass is a wearable interface that presents information via a heads-up display and read aloud function, neither of which obstructs the user’s view of the surrounding environment. While Glass may benefit drivers by providing driving-related notifications, no documentation exists objectively measuring the extent to which using Glass impacts driving performance and safety. This preliminary study compared texting with Google Glass to other texting methods in a driving simulation to examine driver behavior and performance. While texting-and-driving is inadvisable, the task of texting may be constructed so that it does not provide information that alters the intent of the driving task, reducing confounding factors in analysis of the device’s impact on driving performance. The results of this study suggest that Glass performs much closer to baseline than the other technologies. Evidence from this preliminary investigation was used to form a complete study evaluating texting-and-driving with Google Glass. Results from these studies can be used to inform developers of wearable technologies and policymakers tasked with regulating the use of these technologies while driving.
Everyday creativity, eminent creativity, and health: "Afterview" for CRJ issues on creativity and health.

(1990). Everyday creativity, eminent creativity, and health: “Afterview”; for CRJ Issues on creativity and health. Creativity Research Journal: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 300-326.
Transactivation-Competent Bovine Papillomavirus E2 Protein Is Specifically Required for Efficient Repression of Human Papillomavirus Oncogene Expression and for Acute Growth Inhibition of Cervical Carcinoma Cell Lines

The papillomavirus E2 proteins can function as sequence-specific transactivators or transrepressors of transcription and as cofactors in viral DNA replication. We previously demonstrated that acute expression of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1) E2 protein in HeLa and HT-3 cervical carcinoma cell lines greatly reduced cellular proliferation by imposing a specific G1/S phase growth arrest. In this report, we analyzed the effects of a panel of point mutations in the BPV1 E2 protein to identify the functional requirements for acute growth inhibition. Disruption of E2-specific transactivation by mutations within either the transactivation domain or the DNA binding domain severely impaired E2-mediated growth inhibition in HeLa and HT-3 cells, even though these mutants retain various other E2 activities. This result indicates that functional transactivation activity is required for acute E2-mediated growth inhibition. HeLa cells, which contain a wild-type p53 gene, and HT-3 cells, which contain a transactivation-defective p53 gene, exhibited similar responses to the E2 mutants, suggesting that identical functions of the E2 protein were required for growth arrest regardless of p53 status. Replacement of the E2 transactivation domain with that of the herpes simplex virus VP16 generated a chimeric transactivator that efficiently stimulated expression of an E2-responsive reporter plasmid yet was completely defective for growth inhibition, suggesting that an E2-specific transactivation function is required for growth arrest. Surprisingly, the transactivation-defective E2 mutants were also markedly defective in their ability to repress transcription of the native human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) E6/E7 oncogenes in HeLa cells and of the HPV18 promoter present in a transfected reporter plasmid. These mutants were also defective in their ability to increase p53 levels. Therefore, efficient repression of the HPV18 promoter in HeLa cells is not merely a consequence of the binding of an E2 protein to appropriately situated binding sites in the promoter.
Moments of skew-normal random vectors and their quadratic forms

In this paper, we derive the moments of random vectors with multivariate skew-normal distribution and their quadratic forms. Applications to time series and spatial statistics are discussed. In particular, it is shown that the moments of the sample autocovariance function and of the sample variogram estimator do not depend on the skewness vector.
Unrealistic optimism and the ethics of phase I cancer research

One of the most pressing ethical challenges facing phase I cancer research centres is the process of informed consent. Historically, most scholarship has been devoted to redressing therapeutic misconception, that is, the conflation of the nature and goals of research with those of therapy. While therapeutic misconception continues to be a major ethical concern, recent scholarship has begun to recognise that the informed consent process is more complex than merely a transfer of information and therefore cannot be evaluated only according to how well an individual understands such information. Other components of decision-making operate independently of understanding and yet still may compromise the quality of informed consent. Notable among these components is unrealistic optimism, an event-specific belief that one has a better chance of receiving benefit than others similarly situated. In this article, we consider responses to interviews with parents who had recently completed an informed consent conference for enrolling their child in a phase I cancer clinical trial to examine how this influence manifests and how investigators might address it during informed consent.
Electroencephalography laboratory diagnosis of prolonged QT interval

Patients with prolongation of the QT interval are at risk for significant neurological morbidity and mortality secondary to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. These patients frequently undergo electroencephalographic (EEG) examination to evaluate episodes of loss of consciousness, which may be associated with convulsions. Electrocardiogram recording as a part of the EEG is a simple and common practice, but analysis for possible QT prolongation is not routinely performed by electroencephalographers. This is, in part, due to the fact that while calculation of the corrected QT interval is straight forward, a calculator is generally required. A nomogram that is presented simplifies determination of the corrected QT interval, facilitating diagnosis of prolongation of the QT interval in the EEG laboratory.
OpenCourseWare and Open Educational Resources: Forward to Credentialed Learning Outcomes?

OpenCourseWare (OCW), one part of Open Educational Resources (OER), is now past its first decade. Phenomenal growth has occurred in the first ten years and entering into the next phase of development there is now a movement to officially credential OCW experiences with certificates. This paper will explore the potential of this future movement and the possible implications for lifelong learning.
Presence of Melatonin in Plasma and Urine of Pinealectomized Rats1

Abstract Melatonin was shown to occur in rat plasma and urine after pinealectomy by bioassay, radioimmunoassay, and thin-layer chromatography. Total daily excretion of melatonin in pinealectomized rats was about 20% of control. Light-dark rhythms of plasma melatonin levels and urinary excretion rates disappeared after pinealectomy.
The "Beef" about Beef

The grading of beef has become a controversial issue, with both government and the cattle industry working to ensure uniformity. The author contends that meat quality, and the resulting tenderness, juiciness, and flavor desired by consumers, is being threatened by such pressures and actions.
Does Police Repression Increase Cooperation between Migrants? A Study of Informal Urban Marketplaces in India

Heightened police repression is an important feature of urban life for poor migrants in the developing world. Yet little is known about how police repression shapes patterns of cooperation and conflict within these proliferating urban communities. I address this question by combining 5 months of ethnographic fieldwork with an original large-scale survey experiment conducted among poor migrants (N=2400) in urban India. Far from fracturing poor migrant communities, I find repression increases rates of political and economic cooperation within them. These solidarity effects stem from both empathy and self-interest, and are rooted in shared experiences of repression. Strikingly, they can even extend across inter-migrant economic and ethnic rivalries. My findings reveal repression to be a novel and neglected pathway of migrant identity formation in the developing world. More broadly, this study extends research on how repression shapes mass protest to consider how it impacts everyday relations between frequently repressed citizens.
Sexual behavior and selected health measures: men and women 15-44 years of age, United States, 2002.

OBJECTIVE This report presents national estimates of several measures of sexual behavior among males and females 15-44 years of age in the United States in 2002, as collected in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). These data are relevant to demographic and public health concerns, including fertility and sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers and adults. Data from the 2002 NSFG are compared with previous national surveys. METHODS The 2002 NSFG was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and is based on in-person, face-to-face interviews with a national sample of 12,571 males and females in the household population of the United States. The measures of sexual behavior presented in this report were collected using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI), in which the respondent enters his or her own answers into a laptop computer without telling them to an interviewer. RESULTS Among adults 25-44 years of age, 97 percent of men and 98 percent of women have had vaginal intercourse; 90 percent of men and 88 percent of women have had oral sex with an opposite-sex partner; and 40 percent of men and 35 percent of women have had anal sex with an opposite-sex partner. About 6.5 percent of men 25-44 years of age have had oral or anal sex with another man. Based on a differently worded question, 11 percent of women 25-44 years of age reported having had a sexual experience with another woman. The public health significance of the findings is described.
Current Status of Therapy of Solid Tumors: Brain Tumor Therapy

Treatment of malignant brain tumors with conventional approaches is largely unsuccessful because curative doses generally cannot be delivered without excessive toxicity to normal brain. Radioimmunotherapy is emerging as an attractive alternative for glioma therapy because of the potential for more selectively irradiating tumor cells while sparing normal tissues. Several institutions are engaged in phase I and phase II trials investigating the therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) labeled with the beta-emitters (131)I and (90)Y and the alpha-emitter (211)At in patients with recurrent and newly diagnosed brain tumors. The current status of these trials will be discussed with regard to efficacy, toxicity, and future directions.
Forming continuous alumina scales to protect superalloys

The development of continuous Al2O3 scales on alloys via selective oxidation is an extremely effective approach to obtain high-temperature oxidation resistance. Depending on the alloy system, it may be necessary to optimize the selective oxidation process. For all alloy systems, improvements in oxidation resistance can be obtained by optimizing the type and concentrations of reactive elements and by controlling the concentration of sulfur.
Q: Does massive hemoptysis always merit diagnostic bronchoscopy?

The procedure can control the airway, find the source of the bleeding, and in some cases stop it.
There is a mass in the scrotum-what does it mean?: Evaluation of the scrotal mass.

Abstract Similar to the experience of finding a lump upon physical examination of the breast, the detection of an intrascrotal mass is often a frightening experience for both the patient and his physician. Ultrasound is a nearly ideal modality for evaluation of the scrotum. This manuscript will review the sonographic assessment of the common pathologic and normal conditions that may present as a mass within the scrotum, including discussion of intratesticular and extratesticular etiologies.
Effect of Sperm Parameters on Exogenous DNA Binding to Goat Sperm

Sperm-mediated gene transfer(SMGT)appears to be a simple,efficient,and inexpensive method for genome modification of animals.DNA uptake by the mammalian spermatozoa is a very specific and highly regulated phenomenon.The sperm parameters,such as sperm donor,plasma membrane,sperm quality,and the treatment methods affect not only the ability and efficiency of sperm to pick up exogenous DNA and to internalize the DNA into sperm nuclei,but also the vector type and transfection method used.The efficiency of picking up exogenous DNA by goat spermatozoa decreases with age.Different goat breeds exhibit different abilities in binding foreign genes.Selection of sperm donors and optimization of DNA uptake are the key steps for the successful outcome of SMGT.The use of frozen-thawed spermatozoa is an efficient method for production of transgenic offspring.
Simulation Analysis on Electrical Characteristics of 1 000 kV AC Double-Circuit Transmission Lines on the Same Tower

To analyze the influences of the 1 000 kV AC double-circuit transmission line on the same tower on the protective relayings,a simulation system is built in the real-time digital simulator to perform related simulative tests.The principal electrical characteristics of above-mentioned transmission line are compared with those of 1 000 kV AC single-circuit transmission line and those of 500 kV double-circuit transmission line on the same tower respectively.The analysis and comparison of following electrical characteristics in the above-mentioned three kinds of ultra high voltage AC transmission lines,i.e.,the influence of mutual inductance,harmonic content,attenuation time of aperiodic component,charging current,restore voltage and current level under high resistance grounding fault,are performed.In the viewpoint of the influences on protective relayings,the electrical characteristics of 1 000 kV AC double-circuit transmission line on the same tower as well as its influences on protection devices are analyzed.The mutual inductance of 1 000 kV AC double-circuit transmission line on the same tower influences the accuracy of protection zone of grounding distance protection;the inter-harmonics in fault current and the attenuation time of aperiodic component influence the quick-action ability of protective relaying;for high resistance grounding fault the decrease of fault current influences the sensitivity of protective relaying.Thus,the manufacturers of protective relayings should research these electrical characteristics in depth and improve their products.
Health Care Economics

Health Care Economics has become Health Care Reform, and reforming the American Delivery of Care has become a cultural and political movement. Historical presentation of the evolution of the current “Fee-For-Service” reimbursement methodology that is based on Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), and the impact it has had on the economics of care. An analysis of “key” areas of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the impact it has had on “Physician Reimbursement Reform.” The focus on “Alternative Payment Models” has led to the current trend toward “Clinical Integration” of physician’s in to Health Care Networks. A section on “Alternative Payment Models” that are evolving in the market place today. Finally a section on contracting for surgeons who have finished residencies/fellowship programs or surgeons who are moving toward “integration” in to a health care network. An analysis of these compensation models offered by these integrated networks in order to assist surgeons with insight in to evaluating these contracts during negotiations.
Marginal zone lymphoma of the breast—A diminished role for surgery

Abstract Introduction Primary breast lymphoma by definition is localized to one or both the breasts with or without involvement of regional lymph nodes with no other extra mammary site involvement. Role of surgery in the treatment armamentarium is less well defined. Presentation of case A 62 year old post-menopausal lady was found to have 1.2 × 1.2 × 0.6 cm mass in the left breast on diagnostic mammography. Core needle biopsy reveals marginal zone lymphoma. Complete staging work-up was performed which was negative for regional spread and metastatic foci. She was diagnosed to have a localized stage IE extra nodal low grade marginal zone lymphoma of the MALT type involving breast. She received radiotherapy to the breast and is in remission at follow up after one year. Discussion Accurate diagnosis requires adequate tissue biopsy either by a core needle or a surgical biopsy for histopathologic evaluation and immunophenotyping. Immunohistochemically the tumors are positive for pan B-cell markers (CD 19, CD 20, CD22, and CD 79a) and lack T cell markers. For stage IE Marginal zone lymphoma radiotherapy alone and for stage IIE combined chemo-radiation offers the best possible control of the disease. Progression free survival for MZL is better than diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Conclusion At present the best evidence support radiotherapy in localized disease and combined chemo-radiation in advanced disease. Role of surgery is minimal and is seen in case of diagnostic dilemma. Rarity of the diagnosis precludes large scale prospective studies making therapeutic decisions difficult and challenging.
Household Food Preparers' Food-Safety Knowledge and Practices Following Widely Publicized Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness.

There has been extensive media coverage of the Pacific Northwest outbreak of foodborne illness caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7 in 1993 and continuing smaller incidences of both E. coli and salmonella transmission by food. An increase in consumer awareness and knowledge of microbial food safety was expected as a result. A telephone survey of Oregon food preparers (using a random-digit-dialing household sample) in December 1995 and January 1996 revealed that knowledge about foodborne illness was greater than in previous studies. Of the 100 respondents, 88% named appropriate foods as being at high risk for food poisoning. Salmonella contamination was recognized as a problem in food by 99%, E. coli by 100%, but campylobacter by only 7%. Major foods which have been associated with salmonella were named correctly by 90% and with E. coli by 87%. Although raw or rare meats or fish were rarely eaten or ordered by respondents, hamburgers were frequently requested to be cooked to “medium” doneness. Many said they...
Perceived CSR Authenticity

Marketing literature shows that while consumers often respond positively to corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives (Bhattacharya and Sen, 2004) they are also known to be skeptical of corporate social responsibility (Webb and Mohr, 1998). This paper argues that these contradictory and changing consumer attitudes towards CSR may be attributable to consumers’ perceptions as to the authenticity of a company’s CSR. While it is intuitive that inauthentic CSR would create a negative consumer evaluation of a company (Wagner, Lutz, and Weitz, 2009), this paper contributes to the literature in that it seeks to uncover what, exactly, it is that influences the perceived authenticity of CSR initiatives. To begin to understand the thought processes behind consumer’s evaluations of CSR, a qualitative analysis of interviews was undertaken. Initial findings suggest that consumers’ perceptions of what makes CSR authentic or not can be fall into several broad categories including how well a CSR initiative fits the company, firm reputation, and whether or not the firm seems to be motivated by profit instead of altruism.
Cross-talk between sumoylation and phosphorylation in mouse spermatocytes.

Abstract The meiotic G2/M1 transition is mostly regulated by posttranslational modifications, however, the cross-talk between different posttranslational modifications is not well-understood, especially in spermatocytes. Sumoylation has emerged as a critical regulatory event in several developmental processes, including reproduction. In mouse oocytes, inhibition of sumoylation caused various meiotic defects and led to aneuploidy. However, the role of sumoylation in male reproduction has only begun to be elucidated. Given the important role of several SUMO targets (including kinases) in meiosis, in this study, the role of sumoylation was addressed by monitoring the G2/M1 transition in pachytene spermatocytes in vitro upon inhibition of sumoylation. Furthermore, to better understand the cross-talk between sumoylation and phosphorylation, the activity of several kinases implicated in meiotic progression was also assessed upon down-regulation of sumoylation. The results of the analysis demonstrate that inhibition of sumoylation with ginkgolic acid (GA) arrests the G2/M1 transition in mouse spermatocytes preventing chromosome condensation and disassembling of the synaptonemal complex. Our results revealed that the activity of PLK1 and the Aurora kinases increased during the G2/M1 meiotic transition, but was negatively regulated by the inhibition of sumoylation. In the same experiment, the activity of c-Abl, the ERKs, and AKT were not affected or increased after GA treatment. Both the AURKs and PLK1 appear to be “at the right place, at the right time” to at least, in part, explain the meiotic arrest obtained in the spermatocyte culture.
Megaloads and Mobilization: The rural people of Idaho stand against Big Oil

From 2011 to 2014 fossil fuel corporations trucked tar sands processing machinery along rural Idaho highways. The machinery was bound for the world9s largest deposits of tar or oil sands, a heavy crude oil substance called bitumen, located in the western Canadian province of Alberta. These loads of machinery, what became known as megaloads, encountered much resistance. Throughout Idaho and the surrounding region, a network organized opposition. Neighbors, grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and the Nez Perce and other tribes all collaborated. They held information sessions, protested, waged legal battles, monitored the loads, and blockaded highways. What oil companies hoped would be a cost-effective solution for transporting their megaloads became a David versus Goliath, Coyote versus the Monster—to reference the Nez Perce creation story—struggle to protect rural and indigenous ways of life and sovereignty, and the planet.
Plasticity of Select Primary Afferent Projections to the Dorsal Horn after a Lumbosacral Ventral Root Avulsion Injury and Root Replantation in Rats.

Injuries to the conus medullaris and cauda equina portions of the spinal cord result in neurological impairments, including paralysis, autonomic dysfunction, and pain. In experimental studies, earlier investigations have shown that a lumbosacral ventral root avulsion (VRA) injury results in allodynia, which may be ameliorated by surgical replantation of the avulsed ventral roots. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of an L6+S1 VRA injury on the plasticity of three populations of afferent projections to the dorsal horn in rats. At 8 weeks after a unilateral L6+S1 VRA injury, quantitative morphological studies of the adjacent L5 dorsal horn showed reduced immunoreactivity for the vesicular glutamate transporter, VGLUT1 and isolectin B4 binding, whereas immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was unchanged. The immunoreactivity for VGLUT1 and CGRP as well as isolectin B4 binding were at control levels in the L5 dorsal horn at 8 weeks following an acute surgical replantation of the avulsed L6+S1 ventral roots. Quantitative morphological studies of the L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) showed unchanged neuronal numbers for both the VRA and replanted series compared to shams. The portions of L5 DRG neurons expressing immunoreactivity for VGLUT1 and CGRP, and isolectin IB4 binding were also the same between the VRA, replanted, and sham operated groups. We conclude that the L5 dorsal horn shows selective plasticity for VGLUT1 and isolectin B4 primary afferent projections after an L6+S1 VRA injury and surgical repair.
A folded Laplace distribution

We study a class of probability distributions on the positive real line, which arise by folding the classical Laplace distribution around the origin. This is a two-parameter, flexible family with a sharp peak at the mode, very much in the spirit of the classical Laplace distribution. We derive basic properties of the distribution, which include the probability density function, distribution function, quantile function, hazard rate, moments, and several related parameters. Further properties related to mixture representation, Lorenz curve, mean residual life, and entropy are included as well. We also discuss parameter estimation for this new stochastic model and illustrate its potential applications with real data.
THE EYES HAVE IT: USING EYE TRACKING TECHNOLOGY TO ASSESS THE USABILITY OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Twenty-six students from a sixth grade math class in Upstate New York received guardian approval to participate in a study that gathered data pertaining to student navigation ability, information retrieval ability, and satisfaction in regards to the Learning Management System (LMS) their school utilized. Data collection began with the researchers attending math classes for observation and to conduct cognitive walkthroughs with the students to gather information about their experiences and navigation through the LMS. An eye tracker and the associated eye tracking software were utilized to monitor and detect patterns of eye movements when the students were looking at a device screen. For this study, students were monitored by the eye tracker while they attempted to complete several tasks from the experiment. By measuring the length of time taken by students as they completed tasks on the LMS, quantitative data can be collected and used later in the experiment. After analyzing the time metrics and the eye tracking data produced and feedback given on the questionnaire distributed at the beginning of the experiment, a targeted LMS page was slightly modified in hopes to increase the effectiveness of the page, based on user interface design standards. Well defined organization, accessibility, and usability in an LMS is essential to allow learners to focus to be on their curriculums, and not how to access their assignments. An in-depth analysis of navigation through an LMS will allow for a better understanding of how users interact with the structure of their curriculum in an electronic format. The study described in this paper intended to address the question of whether an LMS used in an elementary school setting can provide users with an interface that optimizes the accessibility and usability of their class materials. Article visualizations:
Supporting the development of curricular knowledge among novice physics instructors

In this paper, my aim is to problematize the invisibility (to instructors) of the purposes of particular exercises within research-based instructional materials (RBIMs) and to provide one possible solution to this problem that other teacher educators may adapt for their institutional contexts. In particular, I show that many RBIMs anticipate and respond to particular (often incorrect) learner ideas, that teachers often do not recognize this, and that not recognizing this can cause teachers to miss opportunities to build on learner ideas and/or engage students in scientific practices. I share an instructional activity I designed that is meant to support teachers—including university physics Learning Assistants—in recognizing the purposes of particular questions or sequences of questions within RBIMs, and I illustrate that this activity can be a productive starting place for conversation about RBIMs.
From Stander-By to Stakeholder: China's Perspective on Climate Change

As a responsible developing country, China attaches great importance to climate change. Although the KP did not require China to take any obligations on emission reduction, China has taken a series of policies and measures to address climate change in the overall context of national sustainable development strategy, making positive contributions to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Especially, in June, 2007, China published the China's National Climate Change Programme6 which shows its determination to reduce GHG emissions.
Abstract 006: Fitness Status Influences the Paradoxical Association Between BMI and Mortality Risk

Introduction: In some populations, recent evidence supports a higher mortality risk in individuals with relatively low body mass index (BMI), and lower risk in some overweight or obese individuals....
Mechanisms of Creep in Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys

ABSTRACT The processes of creep in the oxide dispersion strengthened alloy MA 956 are examined with a view to identifying the role of alternative creep processes. The processes of general dislocation creep and grain boundary sliding–diffusion creep are investigated. The former process occurs at stresses above a critical athermal threshold level, is attributed to the capture of dislocations by dispersoids. The results of creep experiments on bicrystals, as well as fine grained material provide evidence for creep below the threshold for dislocation creep. The creep rates in the bicrystals are shown to be consistent with a model for diffusion controlled grain boundary sliding.
Truth, Logical Structure, and Compositionality

In this paper I examine a cluster of concepts relevant to the methodology of truth theories: 'informative definition', 'recursive method', 'semantic structure', 'logical form', 'compositionality', etc. The interrelations between these concepts, I will try to show, are more intricate and multi-dimensional than commonly assumed.
Clay movement and carbonate accumulation in ustolls of central Kansas, U.S.A.

Abstract The micromorphology of three polygenetic soils along a toposequence in the Central Loess Plains of Kansas was examined in order to study the processes of clay movement and carbonate accumulation. Soils within this region have an ustic moisture regime and a mesic temperature regime. The three pedons of study developed in loess overlying a paleosol at depths ranging from 87 to 185 cm. The solum of the modern soil was merged with that of the paleosol for two of the pedons. All three pedons exhibited sufficient clay increase from the A to B horizons to meet the classification criterion for an argillic horizon. Although occasional, illuvial argillans were evident in thin section in the Bt horizons of the modern soils, most of the oriented clay consisted of stress argillans around skeleton grains. The skelmasepic and lattisepic plasmic fabrics observed in the Bt horizons of the modern soils are indicative of stress orientation of plasma caused by shrink-swell activity. Similar stress features were also observed in the paleosols. However, illuvial void argillans with continuous orientation were significantly more abundant in the paleosols than in the overlying modern soils. The paleosols were also enriched with pedogenic carbonates that were translocated during the weathering of the overlying loess. Forms of pedogenic carbonate included micritic calcans, neocalcans, and nodules. Void argillans were coated with calcans in the paleosols, which indicates that clay illuviation occurred prior to secondary carbonate enrichment.
The significance of prosthesis type on survival following valve replacement in dialysis patients.

Background and aim of the study The type of valve prosthesis used in dialysis patients remains the subject of controversy, while calcification of the bioprosthesis has also been of concern. Methods In this retrospective study, an analysis was performed of the morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent either mitral valve replacement (MVR) or aortic valve replacement (AVR) between 2006 and 2011. Results A total of 95 patients (55 males, 40 females; median age 61 years; range: 32-85 years) was examined. Of these patients, 58 received bioprosthetic valves and 37 mechanical valves. The perioperative mortality was 21% (n = 20); 11 patients (11.6%) died in the biologic valve group (BVG) and nine (9.5%) in the mechanical valve group (MVG) (p = 0.6). Univariate analysis showed that preoperative risk factors such as early extubation 30 kg/m2 (p = 0.08), and body surface area > 2 m2 (p = 0.04) were predictors of mortality. The multivariate model showed perfusion time to be the only independent risk factor for perioperative mortality (Odds ratio 1.24 for every 30 min beyond 150 min average, CI 1.006-1.543, p = 0.0098). Long-term survival was negatively impacted by concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, preoperative arrhythmia (p = 0.04), and a postoperative intubation time > 6 h (p = 0.012). The one- and five-year survivals for the BVG were 65 +/- 6.4% and 34 +/- 11%, respectively. The one-year and 40-month survivals for the MVG were 53 +/- 8% and 37 +/- 10%, respectively (p = 0.49). Conclusion The overall survival of dialysis patients was poor, but the type of prosthetic valve had no effect on either perioperative mortality or long-term survival.
Thickness and angular dependent ferromagnetic resonance of ultra-low damping Co 25 Fe 75 epitaxial films

Metallic ferromagnets with ultra-low damping are highly desirable for charge-based spintronic applications. Here, we systematically investigate the magnetic dynamics of Co25Fe75 epitaxial films with a Gilbert damping constant as low as 7.1 × 10−4. The in-plane angular dependence of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) was measured on various thicknesses of Co25Fe75 films grown on MgO and MgAl2O4, from which the mechanisms for FMR linewidth broadening can be distinguished and quantified. The thickness dependencies of the magnetic anisotropy and inhomogeneous broadening of the linewidth are good indicators of crystal quality and magnetic uniformity. Additionally, it is shown that anisotropic two-magnon scattering is induced by defects at the surfaces.
Reaction of $$\hbox {YBa}_{2}\hbox {Cu}_{3}\hbox {O}_{7-x}$$YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) and fused silica in YBCO glass fibres

This work introduces the first reported experiments on drawing $$\hbox {YBa}_{2}\hbox {Cu}_{3}\hbox {O}_{7-x}$$ (YBCO) into fibres with a fused silica cladding using a fibre draw tower to manufacture YBCO glass fibres. These fibre draw experiments allowed manufacturing fibre sections with core diameters between 50 and 200 $$\upmu $$m and a length of around 1.2 m. However, reactions between the fused silica cladding and the YBCO core were revealed by the fibre drawing process. Therefore, this study focusses on investigating these reactions (in as-drawn fibres as well as after additional heat-treatments) using energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses on an environmental scanning electron microscope as well as using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses and a cross-polarized light study. The results showed the formation of silica precipitations inside the as-drawn YBCO core, forming an interface layer between the core and the cladding regions, as well as the presence of a high silicon content inside the core with a possible silicate formation. Additional heat-treatments have shown the formation of silica and copper oxide co-precipitations at $$900{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}$$. In addition, heat-treatments at higher temperatures have shown the occurrence of further reactions, which led to a degradation of the core and the formation of new phases.
Abstract 503: Nicotinamide Riboside Modulates Late Sodium Current and Cardiac Repolarization

Background: Boosting NAD+ content within the heart has emerged as a cardioprotective strategy against heart failure-related remodeling, ischemic injury, and arrhythmias. Our group recently demonstr...
Electronic predissociation in rare gas–dihalogen complexes

The role of electronic predissociation (EP) in the dissociation dynamics of rare gas⋯dihalogen complexes (Rg⋯X2) prepared in the B electronic state was probed using ion time-of-flight velocity-map ...