cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ROLE OF ETHICAL ORIENTATION &PROACTIVE PERSONALITY IN FOSTERING CSR PERCEPTION OF MANAGEMENT STUDENTS

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of ethical orientation and proactive personality in fostering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) perception of management students. CSR is a philanthropic, ethical and behavioural orientation towards closing the business strategic gaps in global networking and it creates ties with the communities. CSR activities are driven mainly by the human resource development. Students are perceived as future managers of the corporate world and their perception about CSR is deemed important to business organizations. The students can make companies understand their responsibility towards various stakeholders. So, our target sample is management students who can help and understand the perception of CSR. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 242 management students of a university are participated in a survey. After doing a review of literature, we selected three scales: Perceived Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility (PRESOR), Proactive Personality and Perceptions of CSR scales are used in survey. Descriptive statistics is used to test the hypotheses. Findings Exploratory factor analysis and content analysis suggested that CSR perceptions can be further sub-divided into independent constructs such as perceptions of Philanthropic CSR and perceptions of Ethical CSR. Findings reveal that the both PRESOR and proactive personality are positively correlated with Philanthropic CSR but only PRESOR is positively related to CSR Ethical. Research limitations/implications While the scope of this study is limited to management students in one organization and results may not generalize to different students in different regions. Hence, future studies should test the given hypotheses in different discipline of students. The findings suggest that management education should incorporate CSR course or projects and is a part of business management education. Practical implications Implications of these results for management educators and practitioners are that proper guidance and trainings are required to increase awareness for CSR activities and engage proactive students to put their values they bring to those classes. Today's students may represent a new source of corporate social responsibility. The dimensions identified in the study if incorporated by the business in its day-to-day operations can make it socially responsible as well as socially acceptable in the true sense. Originality/value This research makes an empirical contribution to identify the factors which management students expect business enterprises should do to be justified as socially responsible corporate citizens. Experienced and non-experienced students create a vast difference to the business world. Now students hold long term goal which is a positive syndrome for business organization.
Comparative biodistributions of 111In, 67Ga and 177Lu-AMBA in PC-3 tumor bearing mice

266 Objectives: We compared the biodistribution of 111In-, 67Ga- (a surrogate for 68Ga-), and 177Lu-AMBA in male nude mice xenographed with human (PC-3) prostate cancer cells [AMBA=DO3A-CH2CO-G-[4-aminobenzoyl]-QWAVGHLM-NH2]. This cell line expresses Gastrin-Releasing Peptide receptors (GRP-R), which are over-expressed in many cancers. 111In or 68Ga analogs of Lu-AMBA may have value for GRP-R positive tumor diagnosis, patient selection and evaluation of 177Lu-AMBA radiotherapeutic treatment effects. Methods: Compounds were prepared by reaction of radiometals with excess AMBA at 100oC and HPLC purified. PC-3 tumor-bearing mice (n=4, 4 and 9 per group for In-, Ga- and Lu-AMBA) were administered 5 μCi (0.1 mL) of test compound via i.v. tail vein, sacrificed after 1 and 24 h and tissues counted for residual radioactivity. Results: All compounds exhibited similar biodistributions and uptake in target and non-target tissues. Tumor uptake was favorable (4-6% ID/g) for all agents at 1 h, with 2.5-3% ID/g remaining at 24 h. The route of excretion was renal (~50-60% within 1 h). Kidney retention was low (≦1% ID at 24h) for all three compounds. Conclusions: Based on the comparable biodistribution results obtained for 111In, 67Ga and 177Lu-AMBA in PC-3 tumor bearing mice, and their high uptake and retention in GRP-R positive tissues, we anticipate that 68Ga-AMBA labeled for PET imaging or 111In-AMBA for gamma scintigraphy will demonstrate similar distribution clinically to the radiotherapeutic compound 177Lu-AMBA. The monosubstituted DOTA chelate in the AMBA ligand allows ready substitution of +3 radioisotopes useful for planar, SPECT, PET and radiotherapeutic applications.
Findings from a Survey of Statistics and Biostatistics Instructors in the Health Sciences Who Teach Using an Online or Flipped Format

Online and flipped courses are becoming more commonly found across disciplines, including in (bio)-statistics. The literature contains many case studies of instructors reporting on their use of the...
The L1 Trigger

The identification of the decays of a \(\tau \) lepton to final state hadrons (\(\tau _{{\text{ h }}}\)) and a neutrino, representing about 65% of the total \(\tau \) decays, is a challenging task at a hadron collider, especially for the hardware L1 trigger where a high optimization of the sequence of algorithm operations to be performed is required. The upgrade of the L1 trigger represents an opportunity to develop and implement a sophisticated \(\tau \) algorithm as described in this chapter.The discussion is introduced by a general overview of the experimental challenges of \(\tau _{{\text{ h }}} \) identification at the hardware level, followed by a short description of the algorithm used in the Run I and of its limitations. The algorithm used for the 2016 data taking is then described in detail. Finally, the commissioning of the algorithm with 2015 data is presented, and its performance measured with the data collected in 2016.
Evolution of solidification defects in deformation of nano-polycrystalline aluminum

Abstract Formation of solidification defects and their evolution in uniaxial tensile deformation of solidified polycrystalline aluminum (Al) were investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. First, solidification process was simulated both isothermally and with different quench rates. At the initial stages of nucleation, coherent twin boundaries and/or fivefold twins formed depending on the quench rate or the undercooling temperature. The solidified polycrystalline Al consisted of randomly distributed grains, twin boundaries, and vacancies. Evolution of nanostructures and defects in uniaxial tensile deformation of solidified Al under different temperatures and strain rates were studied. Void formation at grain boundaries and detwinning of preexisting solidification twins and deformation twins were observed during the uniaxial deformation. It was also found that the temperature of deformation has a stronger effect than the applied strain rate on the strength of solidified samples. For solidified cases with grain sizes lower than 10 nm, the yield strength and Young’s modulus increased with increasing grain size, indicating an inverse Hall-Petch relationship. Similar to experimental data, MD simulations showed a higher yield strength for single crystal Al and a large plastic deformation for polycrystalline Al.
Prognostic Factors and Treatment Patterns in the Management of Giant Cell Glioblastoma.

Background There is a lack of literature guiding treatment of giant cell glioblastoma (gcGBM), a rare subtype of glioblastoma (GBM). We used a national hospital-based registry to explore treatment patterns and outcomes associated with gcGBM. Methods Adult patients (age ≥18 years) diagnosed with gcGBM or GBM between 2004 and 2014 were identified from the National Cancer Database. χ2 analysis and Wilcoxon rank sum testing were used to compare characteristics between the gcGBM and GBM cohorts. Kaplan-Meier statistics, univariable and multivariable Cox regression, and propensity score matching were used to evaluate association between patient, tumor and treatment factors, and survival outcomes. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate historical trends in the treatment of gcGBM. Landmark analysis allowed for accounting of immortal time. Results In total, 683 patients with gcGBM were identified. Patients with gcGBM had improved survival compared with patients with GBM (15.5 months from landmark vs. 11.7; P $63,000 (P = 0.004) predisposed patients to improved outcomes. Patients receiving trimodal therapy (biopsy and/or surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) experienced better outcomes compared with those receiving either biopsy and/or surgery only or biopsy and/or surgery and radiotherapy without systemic therapy (median survival, 17.55 months vs. 6.68 months; P Conclusions gcGBM has favorable prognosis compared with GBM and should be aggressively managed with trimodal therapy. Prospective studies of gcGBM are warranted to better characterize gcGBM treatment outcomes.
Primary Cutaneous CD30+ Lymphoproliferative Disorders: Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma is an indolent skin lymphoma and is part of the spectrum of cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders, which also include lymphomatoid papulosis. The clinical features and course are essential for final classification. CD30 expression may also occur in other neoplastic and reactive conditions.
Elevated serum globulin gap as a highly reliable marker of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

Abstract Objective Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are the two most commonly used markers of inflammation in clinical practice. Reducing the need for these tests could lead to considerable cost savings without sacrificing the quality of patient care. Methods The electronic medical records of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases seen between May 2015 and June 2017 in the rheumatology clinics at a single academic medical center were retrospectively reviewed. Correlations and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves between serum CRP level and ESR vs serum globulin gap (the difference between levels of total protein and albumin) and albumin-to-globulin (A:G) ratio were determined. Results In two independent cohorts (discovery: 263 subjects, 446 entries; validation: 438 subjects, 1959 entries), the globulin gap and A:G ratio correlated (p Conclusion In the subset of systemic rheumatic disease patients who harbor an elevated globulin gap, the ESR is almost always elevated. This novel observation sets the conceptual foundation and rationale for subsequent prospective studies that assess whether ESR testing in this subset of rheumatic disease patients could be reduced without sacrificing patient care. Ultimately, ordering an ESR test may often be unnecessary, thereby resulting in cost savings.
Lessons learned from implementing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Small Corner Store Project in Los Angeles County.

Abstract As part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) in Los Angeles County (LAC), corner store conversions (CSCs) were an integral part of a broader, more coordinated effort to improve nutrition and to prevent obesity in low-income populations. To date, little is known about this experience in LAC. The present study addresses this gap by describing lessons learned from implementing the SNAP-Ed Small Corner Store Project (SCSP) in this region. The project, which began in 2013, sought to scale CSCs in underserved communities of LAC, employing behavioral economics (e.g., prominently displaying healthy foods at checkout aisles or using in-store signage to promote healthy options) to encourage patron selection of healthier food items. Results from an assessment of the SCSP suggest that for CSCs to do well, careful considerations should be given to factors such as time (e.g., amount of staff time dedicated to the effort), staff capacity (e.g., # staff available to assist), and available resources that can be leveraged (e.g., support from community-based organizations). For some stores, inadequate food distribution or a lack of capital improvement infrastructure (e.g., refrigeration for fresh produce/storage of excess food that can be repurposed) were key barriers that required additional funding. Although local efforts that incentivize small businesses to undergo CSCs may initially nudge store owners to participate, increasing overall consumer demand for healthier food products (i.e., so as to help maintain sales volume) remains a key to sustaining store conversions long after SNAP-Ed resources are gone.
Putting the brakes on a myosin motor

Insulin-stimulated trafficking of GLUT4 requires the myosin motor Myo1C and signaling adaptor 14-3-3β. Originally, it was thought that 14-3-3β promotes GLUT4 transport by binding the Myo1C lever arm and activating the Myo1C motor. New work by Ji and Ostap using in vitro assays reveals that 14-3-3β binding actually inhibits Myo1C motility, prompting reconsideration of the functional relationship between 14-3-3β and Myo1C and the regulatory potential of atypical light chains.
It's better to say "I can't answer" than answering incorrectly: Towards Safety critical NLP systems

In order to make AI systems more reliable and their adoption in safety critical applications possible, it is essential to impart the capability to abstain from answering when their prediction is likely to be incorrect and seek human intervention. Recently proposed "selective answering" techniques model calibration as a binary classification task. We argue that, not all incorrectly answered questions are incorrect to the same extent and the same is true for correctly answered questions. Hence, treating all correct predictions equally and all incorrect predictions equally constraints calibration. In this work, we propose a methodology that incorporates the degree of correctness, shifting away from classification labels as it directly tries to predict the probability of model's prediction being correct. We show the efficacy of the proposed method on existing Natural Language Inference (NLI) datasets by training on SNLI and evaluating on MNLI mismatched and matched datasets. Our approach improves area under the curve (AUC) of risk-coverage plot by 10.22\% and 8.06\% over maxProb with respect to the maximum possible improvement on MNLI mismatched and matched set respectively. In order to evaluate our method on Out of Distribution (OOD) datasets, we propose a novel setup involving questions with a variety of reasoning skills. Our setup includes a test set for each of the five reasoning skills: numerical, logical, qualitative, abductive and commonsense. We select confidence threshold for each of the approaches where the in-domain accuracy (SNLI) is 99\%. Our results show that, the proposed method outperforms existing approaches by abstaining on 2.6\% more OOD questions at respective confidence thresholds.
Early Post-operative Pump Thrombosis In Heartmate 3 LVAD Recipients: A Case Series

Background The HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has a low reported rate of pump thrombosis. In this case series, we report two HM3 LVAD recipients who developed acute pump thrombosis in the early post-operative period. Case 1 A 69 M with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent HM 3 implant as destination therapy (DT). Apical calcium was noted intra-operatively and was removed at the time of surgery. On post-operative day 3, the patient developed low flows alarms, high powers, and increased arterial line pulsatility. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was within normal limits and heparin was therapeutic. Pump interrogation demonstrated rising pump temperature (70°C) with intermittent pump stops. The decision was made to return to the operating room (OR) and during this time the patient developed hypotension and lactic acidosis. In the OR fresh thrombus of the inflow, pump and outflow graft was encountered. The pump was exchanged to a new HM3 and the patient had full recovery with no further thrombotic events. Case 2 A 58-year-old woman with Adriamycin associated cardiomyopathy underwent DT HM3 implantation with tricuspid valve annuloplasty. The LV cavity size decreased from 5.9 cm pre- operatively to 4.0 cm post-operatively, causing septal contact with the inflow cannula and intermittent ventricular tachycardia. On post-operative day 3 the patient developed low flow alarms, followed by elevated pump flows and powers and return of arterial line pulsatility. LVAD interrogation demonstrated a high pump temperature (75 °C) with intermittent pump stops. Similar to the first patient, the second patient had a normal LDH, was therapeutic on a heparin drip, and developed hemodynamic instability. The same findings (inflow, outflow, and intra pump thrombus) were present at in the OR. This second patient's pump was re-positioned reduce septal contact at the time of exchange. Discussion Here we report 2 cases of acute HM3 pump thrombosis shortly after LVAD implantation. Full investigation into these events internally and with the manufacturer did not reveal pump malfunction. The first event was felt to be caused by ingestion of calcified material from the left ventricle leading to rotor misplacement and subsequent thrombus formation. The second case was thought to be triggered by sustained low flow from the septal contact with subsequent thrombus formation. In each case, the patients developed high powers, return arterial line pulsatility, and dangerously high internal pump temperatures. The purpose of this case series is to help the community develop pattern recognition in order to be able to quickly diagnose this rare but serious event.
Robotic Nephrectomy for Complex Tumors

Robotic surgery has been applied for increasingly complex procedures. Nephrectomy has traditionally been considered a less complicated procedure in the hands of experienced laparoscopic surgeons, with many feeling that robotic technology is not necessary for this operation. Changes occurring in the field of urology will likely make robotic nephrectomy an important procedure. Partial nephrectomy is gaining acceptance in the urologic community as a preferable treatment for renal tumors such that radical nephrectomy for small renal masses will likely become a rarity. This evolution means that radical nephrectomy will be a procedure applied only to larger and more complex tumors that would not be amenable to partial nephrectomy even with open surgery. Still, some of these can be treated laparoscopically, but robotic surgery provides an additional level of precision and control for such complex tumors. Furthermore, as surgeons gain experience and expertise in robotic surgery, techniques have been developed to allow robotic nephrectomy for tumors traditionally felt impossible to treat laparoscopically. Examples of such situations, both those benefitting from robotic instrumentation due to the complexity of the renal tumor and situations not previously able to be performed laparoscopically, are reviewed in this chapter.
Quantum Interconnect Technologies based on Epitaxial Rare-earth Doped Materials

We develop a nanophotonic platform for quantum interconnect technologies based on epitaxial Er3+:Y2O3 thin films on silicon. Long-lived rare-earth qubits in suspended single crystal membranes and ultra-small heterostructure photonic cavities enable functional telecom quantum nodes. Comments and questions should be directed to Tian Zhong (e-mail: tzh@uchicago.edu).
Social Emotional Learning in Virtual Settings: Intervention Strategies

In mid-March of 2020, schools in the United States shut down in-person learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to this unprecedented situation, school education has since shifted to a heavy reliance on various forms of remote learning, and teachers and students have been forced to practice completely new ways of teaching and learning. Virtual learning requires students to draw from a different skill set than what is used in face-to-face settings, such as self-regulation for navigating online learning, or balancing learning and life at home. These new and challenging experiences coincide with limited opportunities for social engagement and an increased potential for isolation. These factors are continuing to contribute to children experiencing high levels of stress as the sense of normalcy is lost from their lives and they are bombarded with new expectations and responsibilities. Children need social and emotional support now more than ever. In this paper, we discuss how integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in daily lessons can benefit children now working in virtual settings, with sample activities organized around cognitive regulation, emotional regulation, and social skills. We address both explicit SEL instruction methodologies and ongoing teaching practices designed to promote SEL.
Aim2 and Nlrp3 Are Dispensable For Vaccine-Induced Immunity Against Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain

Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) is a facultative intracellular, Gram-negative bacterium that causes a fatal disease known as tularemia. Due to its extremely high virulence, ease of spread by aerosolization, and the potential to be used as a bioterror agent, F. tularensis is classified by the CDC as a Tier 1 Category A Select Agent. Previous studies have demonstrated the roles of inflammasome sensors; absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and NLRP3, in the generation of innate immune responses to F. tularensis infection. However, contributions of both the AIM2 and NLRP3 in the development of vaccine-induced adaptive immune responses against F. tularensis are not known. This study determined the contributions of Aim2 and Nlrp3-inflammasome sensors in vaccine-induced immune responses in a mouse model of respiratory tularemia. We developed a model to vaccinate the Aim2 and Nlrp3-deficient mice (Aim2-/- and Nlrp3-/- ) using the emrA1 mutant of F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS). The results demonstrate that the innate immune responses in Aim2-/- and Nlrp3-/- mice vaccinated with the emrA1 mutant differ from their wild-type counterparts. However, despite these differences in the innate immune responses, both Aim2-/- and Nlrp3-/- mice are fully protected against an intranasal lethal challenge dose of F. tularensis LVS. Moreover, the lack of both Aim2 and Nlrp3 inflammasome sensors does not affect the production of the vaccination-induced antibody and cell-mediated responses. Overall, this study reports a novel finding that both Aim2 and Nlrp3 are dispensable for vaccination-induced immunity against respiratory tularemia caused by F. tularensis.
Towards Resilient and Sustainable Supply of Critical Elements from the Copper Supply Chain: A Review

Abstract The highly specialized materials needed for the de-carbonization of energy, smart devices and the internet of things have created supply concerns of critical elements used in these applications. Several critical elements are produced as by-products from base metal mining and processing. Increasing the capture of critical elements from existing operations should lead to a more resilient and sustainable supply of these elements. Towards this goal, this paper presents a review of the distribution behavior of five critical elements (selenium, tellurium, arsenic, antimony and bismuth) through the primary copper pyrometallurgical supply chain. This review identifies gaps in the distribution/concentration data of these elements in deposits and during mineral processing. Smelter dusts, refinery slimes and electrolyte are points of enrichment that can be targeted for additional recovery of these elements. Using published data, copper smelter dusts appear to contain enough arsenic and bismuth to meet the world's supply needs. Industrial data collected from 29 refineries and represents ~46% of the world's electrorefining production was extrapolated to examine the contained annual content of these five elements. Copper anodes contain 7900 tonnes/yr of selenium, 2300 tonnes/yr of tellurium, 24,000 tonnes/yr arsenic, 7100 tonnes/yr of antimony and 5100 tonnes/yr of bismuth. The selenium and tellurium contents are 2–3 times and 4–5 times more than the current world's annual production of these elements, respectively. While technology development in the processing of smelter dusts and refinery slimes could provide important breakthroughs, government and corporate collaboration are likely needed to encourage increased recovery of selenium, tellurium, arsenic, antimony and bismuth from the primary copper pyrometallurgical supply chain.
A Novel Sampling Method based on Orthogonal Polynomial Expansions and Applications

We present a new method to sample random variables through the use of orthogonal polynomial expansions of the associated quantile function that utilize the inverse transform technique. In particular, we obtain an explicit representation of the quantile function through an orthogonal expansion using Legendre polynomials as a basis. This enables the sampling of a broad class of random variables directly through the inverse transform method, which are otherwise quite challenging or inefficient to sample with more traditional alternative techniques such as acceptance-rejection sampling. We illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the new method through numerical examples and by comparing to benchmark cases in the literature.
Dualism and payroll shares across US states

This paper analyses US payroll share and components across states for the period 1977–2017. Findings include that spatial clustering in payroll shares decreased until the year 2000. States are clustered in low and high productivity groups. We relate this phenomenon to dualism. High labour productivity states featured high payroll shares early on, but now feature low payroll shares. We label this phenomenon decoupling of labour productivity from real wages. A Divisia Decomposition documents that Rust Belt states dominated the decline in US payroll share in the 1980s, whereas more recently large (coastal) states dominated. While we do not explain (potentially different) mechanisms, decoupling is apparent throughout.
Aggregation and Dispersal on Mucosal Surfaces

This chapter considers two additional facets of adherence: (i) that in addition to adhering to a surface, bacteria often adhere to each other; and (ii) that colonization is sometimes promoted by relinquishing adherence. It focuses on bacterial aggregation. Bacteria adhering to mucosal surfaces commonly exhibit interbacterial aggregation or agglutination, perhaps with relatively few points of anchorage to the substratum. On the mucosa, interbacterial aggregation presumably plays the same biophysical role as it does on abiotic substrata, although data to this effect are few. Recent studies demonstrated that Escherichia coli aggregation mediated by antigen 43 (Ag43) protects bacteria from H2O2-dependent killing. The study of aggregation and biofilm formation by staphylococcal species continues to represent the paradigm for bacterial infections. Bacterial aggregation and microcolony formation are considered to be an initial stage of biofilm formation. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa represent bacteria embedded in an alginate polysaccharide matrix. Instead of a shortening and thickening of the fimbriae as seen with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), meningococci (MC) shed their fimbriae completely and initiate a complex signal transduction cascade within the cell. Dispersin mutants are deficient in colonization of the streptomycin-treated mouse model, suggesting that enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) mutants exhibiting collapsed fimbriae and hyperaggretation are not able to establish colonization of the intestine. Although each bacterium interacting with a mucosal surface must modify its colonization approach to fit its particular life-style and survival strategy, comparative biology continues to indentify new conserved general functions such as aggregation and its counterpoint, dispersal.
Algebraic Reconstruction of Spatial Distributions of Acoustic Absorption within Tissue from Their Two-Dimensional Acoustic Projections

It has been known for many years that three-dimensional information concerning the spatial distribution of energy absorbers within an object could be obtained from two-dimensional shadow projections of the energy absorption of the object (1). Two-dimensional projections or shadows of the absorption of an object can be obtained using many forms of energy such as light, x-radiation, electrons, or sound. The problem was treated in abstract mathematics as early as 1917 by Radon (2). The first practical solution of this problem was obtained by Bracewell in 1954 (3) who applied the technique to radioastronomy. The first application of these kinds of techniques to biology were probably done by DeRosier and Klug who obtained the cross-sectional structure of the tail of a bacteria phage from one-dimensional projections obtained with electrons in an electron microscope (4).
Chapter 2 Uncertainty, risk aversion, and risk management for agricultural producers

Abstract Uncertainty and risk are quintessential features of agricultural production. After a brief overview of the main sources of agricultural risk, we provide an exposition of expected utility theory and of the notion of risk aversion. This is followed by a basic analysis of agricultural production decisions under risk, including some comparative statics results from stylized models. Selected empirical topics are surveyed, with emphasis on risk analyses as they pertain to production decisions at the farm level. Risk management is then discussed, and a synthesis of hedging models is presented. We conclude with a detailed review of agricultural insurance, with emphasis on the moral hazard and adverse selection problems that arise in the context of crop insurance.
Recent Advances in Transition-Metal-Doped Lasers

Two broadly tunable, transition-metal-doped solid state lasers will be discussed in this paper. One uses crystals of Co:MgF2 and operates between 1.5 and 2.3 μm; the other employs Ti:Al203 to obtain output from 0.66 to 0.99 μm. The Co:MgF2 laser was first demonstrated in the early years of laser research [1,2], and our studies of this system have been directed towards a better understanding of the basic laser parameters as well as development of a device suitable for a variety of tunable-laser applications. The Ti:Al203 device is one of the newest solid state tunable lasers and is the first of perhaps a class of systems based on the Ti3+ ion.
Information Technology Investments, CEO Compensation and Market Valuation

Managers face tradeoffs. On one hand, CEOs make IT spending decisions in anticipation of generating competitive advantages and productivity improvements. On the other hand, CEOs realize the risky nature of IT spending and its immediate negative effect on current income. Boards of directors, recognizing the potential long-term contribution of IT to firm value, should thus structure its CEO compensation packages to encourage strategic IT spending. To test this proposition, we examine the relation between IT spending and various components of CEO compensation and assess its impact on firm value. Our empirical results suggest that IT spending is positively related to ratio of equity to total CEO compensation. This result is consistent with the notion that boards of directors understand that payoffs to IT are uncertain and, hence, tie CEO compensation to the long-term results by placing greater weight on equity compensation. Furthermore, we find that boards of directors shield CEOs' cash compensation from the earnings decreasing effects of IT expense to mitigate potential underinvestment in IT. Finally, we conclude that the synergistic relationship between IT spending and CEO equity compensation is positively associated with firm market value. Bridging the two research streams of business value of IT and CEO compensation, our study contributes to the literature by examining how ties between IT and CEO compensation contracts impact firm value.
Students' perception of knowledge activation on a guided collaborative problem solving organizer

While problem solving may seem like an intuitive process as demonstrated by experts, there are steps in the process that are clearly identifiable and can be systematically applied. To understand a problem and to develop effective problem-solving skills, students must learn to identify learning issues and locate, evaluate, and apply resources relevant to those issues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the design and impact of an innovative learning and performance-support system to facilitate students' development of metacognition and problem solving skills. Detailed descriptions of the theoretical and design frameworks are provided and discussed. A field test including survey and group interviews was conducted to initially study the impact of this innovative design approach. Findings related to the design and how the system supports problem solving activities are discussed, and future research suggestions are offered.
Numerical Predictions of Progressive Damage Evolution in Particulate Composites

A method is presented for calculating stresses and strains in a loaded particulate composite structure (specimen) as damage initiates and grows. Load is incrementally applied to a numerically simulated specimen. For every load increment, a finite element method model is used to calculate the composite stresses and strains at each point. A micromechanical model uses the composite strains to calculate the stresses and strains in the composite's component materials. the particles and matrix. A damage model uses the matrix strains to determine values for local matrix damage, and to set reductions in the stiffnesses of damaged matrix material regions, each of which is proportional to the associated damage value. At damaged locations, the micromechanical model uses the reduced matrix stiffnesses to calculate reduced composite stiffnesses. All reduced matrix and composite stiffnesses calculated during a load increment are used in the next load increment. Matrix strain values are set which determine damage initiation, growth, and saturation. Damage saturation indicates matrix material failure, and for saturation the composite stiffness approaches zero. At a specimen point. a matrix crack will form or extend when the point becomes saturated with damage. Numerical simulation predictions are presented, and compared to experimental data. Plots are included showing stress and strain variation. and crack growth.
Reply to Baires et al.: Shifts in Mississippi River flood regime remain a contributing factor to Cahokia’s emergence and decline

Baires et al. (1) critique two aspects of our study (2): (i) whether a large flood event “caused the collapse of the largest Pre-Columbian city north of Mexico,” and (ii) the timing of one flood event (Flood Event V), which we reported to have a 95% confidence interval of A.D. 1100–1260. Instead, Baires et al. suggest Event V occurred during “several wetter periods during the late 13th to 15th centuries.”
Boron Uptake by Excised Barley Roots

At 2 C, all boron accumulated by excised barley roots (lordeum vulgare L. cv. Herta) remains in the free space; i.e. active uptake is nil at this temperature. Three component fractions of free space B were apparent: (a) a surface contaminant film of B on blotted roots, (b) water free space B, and (c) B reversibly bound in the cell walls. A stoichiometric release of HI from the roots in the presence of B indicated that B was bound by borate complexes with polysaccharides in the cell walls. Polysaccharide-borate complexes are much less stable than those of monosaccharides, and the bound B fraction could be readily removed by rinsing the roots in the presence of a monomeric polyol possessing the necessary cis-diol configuration. Cell wall material separated from excised barley roots had a B binding capacity 66% greater than that of intact roots. A 30-minute rinse in distilled H2O or 0.5 mm CaSO4 was required to remove all cell wall-bound B from the roots after a 30-minute uptake period. Thus, although B in the contaminant surface dfim and the water free space is rinsed from the roots within 10 minutes, a 30-minute rinse is essential if all reversibly accumulated B is to be removed from the free space.
Friendly Artificial Intelligence

By far the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it. Of course this problem is not limited to the field of AI. Jacques Monod wrote: “A curious aspect of the theory of evolution is that everybody thinks he understands it”. Nonetheless the problem seems to be unusually acute in Artificial Intelligence.
NYSE Rule 80A restrictions on index arbitrage and market linkage

To the extent that NYSE Rule 80A collar, which restricts index arbitrage form of program trading on volatile days, aims to delink S&P 500 cash and futures markets and prevent transmission of volatility from the futures to the cash market, this study finds the collar to be ineffective. The analyses are based on lead-lag regressions for the first and second moments using data diurnalized via a nonparametric filter for intraday volatility periodicity. The regression results also suggest that, consistent with the literature, the futures market has a much stronger tendency to lead the underlying cash market than lag and there is a strong bi-directional lead-lag relationship between volatilities of the two markets, which does not support the assertion that there is a systematic transmission of volatility from the futures to the cash market.
Systems- and Molecular-Level Elucidation of Signaling Processes Through Chemistry

Complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction is a major focus of research in the postgenomic era. Efforts to realize this goal have benefited from interdisciplinary approaches, specifically through the development of new technologies. Several groups have now described new chemical strategies to probe signaling with broadly different degrees of focus. The first report employs an enzymatic tagging strategy to monitor global proteolytic cleavage events that occur during apoptosis. The second study illustrates a general method to functionally characterize a specific kinase through the identification of its substrates. Finally, the third report describes a synthetic route to generate ubiquitinated proteins and demonstrates the utility of protein chemistry in understanding the detailed biochemical mechanisms of signaling. Together, these papers highlight the power of chemical tools to examine specific networks, thereby expanding our understanding of signaling pathways.
Biomarkers and molecular epidemiology and chemoprevention of oral carcinogenesis.

Chemopreventives are chemicals that prevent the formation of cancers such as oral cancer. They can take the form of nutrients or synthetic molecules, and their fundamental characteristic is that they do not produce disease processes that would result in debilitating symptoms. Current evidence indicates that they function by modifying the oxidative state of transforming cells. Biomarkers can take the form of genetic and molecular indicators, which characterize the function of chemopreventives and cancer processes such as oral carcinogenesis. Biomarkers cannot provide all the required information for risk assessment or possible activity of the chemopreventives. Other methods, such as epidemiological analyses and techniques, must be used to enhance our understanding of the risk for oral cancer in human populations. One common epidemiologic method, the questionnaire, helps to determine the use and carcinogenic potential of tobacco and alcohol during oral carcinogenesis. Genetic and molecular changes in human patient populations may result in a reduction in the number and function of tumor suppressor genes. If these changes are to be assessed, the tissues (e.g., buccal mucosa) must be accessible and harvested in a reliable and consistent manner for the acquisition of DNA, mRNA, and protein. Oral tissues provide sufficient quantities of these molecules and, under stringent conditions, the quality required for the isolation of these molecular constituents. In conjunction with epidemiologic techniques, various genotypic polymorphisms, such as glutathione-S-transferase (GSTM1) or cytochrome P450 (CYP450A1), have indicated a loss in carcinogen detoxification or the processing of internal growth control signals. Biomarkers are composed of a large diverse group of genetic and molecular structures. Some of these biomarkers are indicators for programmed cell death (PCD), while others describe malignant tumor growth. Many of these classes of molecules are oxidative-responsive (e.g., tumor suppressor p53, Bcl-2, growth factors, immune-derived proteins, and death-inducing molecules) and induce PCD by triggering a cascade of cysteine proteases and regulators (e.g., caspases, death receptors). This pathway results in cell-cycle alterations and DNA fragmentation. It is hoped that a detailed knowledge of the processes involved in malignant transformation will better define the biomarker-screening tools for oral cancer. These tools will enhance our ability to predict the incidence of cancer, detect early malignant change, and quantitate chemoprevention during oral carcinogenesis. Chemopreventives such as the retinoids have already demonstrated their ability to suppress potential malignant changes in pre-malignant oral leukoplakias and decrease the incidence of second head-and-neck cancer primaries. It is our hope that this review will increase investigators' interest in developing new screening and detection systems for oral cancer.
Ocular explosions from periocular anesthetic injections: a clinical, histopathologic, experimental, and biophysical study.

Abstract Objectives An increasing number of cases are being recognized in which a periocular anesthetic for cataract surgery has been inadvertently injected directly into the globe under high pressure until the globe ruptures or "explodes." The objectives of the current study were to (1) analyze this injury clinically and histopathologically through a series of seven case reports; (2) reproduce the injury experimentally in human eyebank eyes, live anesthetized rabbit eyes, and human cadaveric eyes; (3) investigate the biophysical basis of the injury; and (4) outline recommendations to help decrease the risk of ocular rupture with periocular injections. Designs/participants Clinical, histopathologic, experimental animal, autopsy eye, and theoretical biophysical study. Methods The clinical and histopathologic findings of the patients' eyes were documented. Human eyebank eyes, live anesthetized rabbit eyes, and human cadaveric eyes were exploded via direct intraocular saline injection. The laws of Bernoulli, LaPlace, Friedenwald, and Pascal were used to investigate theoretically the biophysics of the injury. Results The findings of anterior and posterior scleral rupture, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and lens extrusion were observed clinically and experimentally. In some clinical and experimental cases, the anterior segment appeared entirely normal despite a posterior rupture. The surgeon proceeded with and completed the cataract surgery in two of the seven clinical cases without knowledge of the rupture. The pressure required to produce such an injury is in the range of 2800 to 6400 mmHg, and this pressure is more easily attained with a 3-ml syringe than with a 12-ml syringe. Conclusions Explosion of an eyeball during the injection of anesthesia for ocular surgery is a devastating injury that may go unrecognized. The probability of an ocular explosion can be minimized by (1) the use of a blunt needle and a 12-ml syringe, (2) aspirating the plunger and wiggling the syringe before injection, (3) discontinuing the injection if corneal edema or resistance to injection is noted, and (4) inspecting the globe for evidence of intraocular injection before ocular massage or placement of a Honan balloon. On recognition of an ocular explosion, immediate referral to and intervention by a vitreoretinal surgeon is optimal.
Severe hypernatremia from a urea-induced diuresis due to body protein wasting in an insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patient.

Context: Hypernatremia is encountered after pituitary or hypothalamic surgery and typically is secondary to vasopressin deficiency resulting in increased free water clearance with inadequate water replacement. Objective: We report a type 2 diabetic patient with severe hypernatremia (Na+ = 161 mEq/L) after hypothalamic surgery. Unexpectedly, this was accompanied by persistent urinary hypertonicity and negative total but positive electrolyte free water clearance. Main Outcome Measure: Measurement of urinary electrolytes and urea revealed that an osmotic diuresis induced by urea derived principally by breakdown of endogenous protein was causative. Body protein losses over 48 hours were estimated to exceed 2 kg of lean mass. High-dose glucocorticoid, insulin resistance, and a postsurgical catabolic stress likely contributed. Conclusion: In surgically severely stressed individuals, proteolysis of endogenous protein can strongly impact body water metabolism and contribute to severe hypernatremia.
Letter: rising incidence of obesity in the coeliac population – a malady or maladaptation? Authors' reply

SIRS, We read with interest the results of the study conducted by Drs Sinniah and Roche on the effect of glutenfree diet (GFD) on weight change in coeliac disease patients in Australia. 1 Over the last few years there has been growing interest in examining weight changes on GFD, given the expanding obesity epidemic and the morbidity and mortality associated with being overweight. The findings of Drs Sinniah and Roche appear concordant with our own 2 and are interesting, as they suggest an increased risk for weight gain on GFD. This is further supported by the finding that none of the obese patients in the Australian cohort lost significant weight on GFD, which is distinctly different than the proposed protective effect reported in previous studies from New York 3 and Finland. 4
Stewardship and Accountability: Valued Elements in Maximising Human Potential

Teachers and parents involved with gifted and talented programming disseminate something which carries with it a great need for resourcefulness and initiative, that of distributing roles and responsibilities within a given organisation. This process of allotting responsibility, giving room for individual initiative and resourcefulness in carrying out that responsibility, and ultimately requesting accountability for what has been accomplished is referred to as stewardship. The principle of stewardship functions on all levels in a heirarchy of leadership.An effective leader once suggested a leadership procedure for one who has supervision or direction over others' lives: “Teach them correct principles, and then they govern themselves.” Based on this perspective Five Stewardship Principles suggest a practical process by which leaders may effectively handle their own stewardships and effectively guide those who work under them in fulfiling their stewardships as well.