cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Global Burn Registry: A Work In Progress

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Burn Registry (GBR). Its purpose is to help improve the understanding of burn injury worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify early findings from this database. The GBR was accessed on January 5, 2020. Cases from centers in low income (LIC) and low-middle-income countries (LMIC) were combined into a low resource (LR) group, and cases in high income (HIC) and upper-middle-income countries (UMIC) were combined into a high resource (HR) group. Statistical analysis was performed with SAS 9.4. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for death. Revised Baux Score (RBS) was calculated. Odds ratios are expressed as mean (95% confidence interval). The LA50 was calculated from the regression of death and total burn size (TBSA) for different age groups. At the time of analysis, there were 4307 cases in the GBR treated at 28 facilities in 17 countries (5 HIC, 5 UMIC, 4 LMIC, and 3 LIC). There were 2945 cases (68%) from HR countries and 1362 (32%) from LR countries. The mean age of patients in both LR and HR was similar (24.5 ± 0.5 vs 24.2 ± 0.4 years, P = .58), but LR had larger TBSA burns (30.5 ± 0.7% vs 19.8 ± 0.4% TBSA, P < .0001). There were fewer scald burns and more flame injuries in the LR countries (28.4 ± 1.3% vs 43.3 ± 1.0% and 55.2 ± 1.4% vs 39.0 ± 0.9%, P < .0001). Case fatality and RBS were greater in LR (31.9 ± 1.3% vs 9.4 ± 0.5% and 59.4 ± 1.1% vs 45.3 ± 0.6%, P < .0001). In regression analysis, LR was an independent risk factor for death with an odds ratio of 4.2 (3.2-5.4). The LA50 for HR countries was similar to that calculated from cases in the National Burn Repository of the American Burn Association (ABA NBR). For LR countries, the LA50 was lower for all ages except those 65 and older, ranging from 30% to 43% TBSA. Only a few facilities have contributed data to the GBR so far, with LR countries less represented than HR ones. The proportion of cases in the pediatric age group is much less represented in LR countries than in HR, possibly because many burned children in LR countries do not get burn care at specialized centers. Survival in HR countries is similar to that in North America. The GBR provides early insights into global burn care. Opportunities for improvement are greatest in LR countries. New Innovations may be necessary to increase participation from burn centers in LR countries. This report provides an early look at burn care across the globe based on cases in the GBR. It may inform further efforts to characterize and improve burn care in LR countries.
A Particle Gibbs Sampling Approach to Topology Inference in Gene Regulatory Networks

In this paper, we propose a novel Bayesian approach for estimating a gene network’s topology using particle Gibbs sampling. The conditional posterior distributions of the unknowns in a state-space model describing the time evolution of gene expressions are derived and employed for exact Bayesian posterior inference. Specifically, the proposed scheme provides the joint posterior distribution of the unknown gene expressions, the adjacency matrix describing the topology of the network, and the coefficient matrix describing the strength of the gene interactions. We validate the proposed method with numerical simulations on synthetic data experiments.
Chapter 22 – Neuroblastoma

Publisher Summary Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, accounting for 7% of all childhood malignancies. It accounts for 15% of childhood cancer mortality. Neuroblastoma is the most common malignancy in infants with an annual incidence of 10 per million live births. At diagnosis, 50% of patients are under age 2, 75% under age 4 and 90% under age 10. Peak age of incidence is 2 years. Neuroblastoma originates from primordial neural crest cells that normally give rise to adrenal medulla and the sympathetic ganglia. A family history of neuroblastoma is identified in 1–2% of cases and the tumors that arise in patients with familial disease are heterogeneous. The study of neuroblastoma predisposition has yielded remarkable insights into the biology of this disease. The diagnosis of neuroblastoma is based on the presence of characteristic histopathologic features of tumor tissue or the presence of tumor cells in a bone marrow aspirate or biopsy accompanied by elevated levels of urinary catecholamines. Neuroblastoma is one of the small round blue cell tumors of childhood and tumors are classified as histologically favorable or unfavorable. Neuroblastoma usually presents with an adrenal mass or less commonly as a tumor arising anywhere along the sympathetic neural chain. The most common presenting feature is an asymptomatic abdominal mass, with distant metastases detected at the time of diagnosis in 50% of cases.
Convolutional neural networks to automate the screening of malaria in low-resource countries.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, headache, and vomiting, and in severe cases, seizures and coma. The World Health Organization reports that there were 228 million cases and 405,000 deaths in 2018, with Africa representing 93% of total cases and 94% of total deaths. Rapid diagnosis and subsequent treatment are the most effective means to mitigate the progression into serious symptoms. However, many fatal cases have been attributed to poor access to healthcare resources for malaria screenings. In these low-resource settings, the use of light microscopy on a thin blood smear with Giemsa stain is used to examine the severity of infection, requiring tedious and manual counting by a trained technician. To address the malaria endemic in Africa and its coexisting socioeconomic constraints, we propose an automated, mobile phone-based screening process that takes advantage of already existing resources. Through the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), we utilize a SSD multibox object detection architecture that rapidly processes thin blood smears acquired via light microscopy to isolate images of individual red blood cells with 90.4% average precision. Then we implement a FSRCNN model that upscales 32 × 32 low-resolution images to 128 × 128 high-resolution images with a PSNR of 30.2, compared to a baseline PSNR of 24.2 through traditional bicubic interpolation. Lastly, we utilize a modified VGG16 CNN that classifies red blood cells as either infected or uninfected with an accuracy of 96.5% in a balanced class dataset. These sequential models create a streamlined screening platform, giving the healthcare provider the number of malaria-infected red blood cells in a given sample. Our deep learning platform is efficient enough to operate exclusively on low-tier smartphone hardware, eliminating the need for high-speed internet connection.
Optimized Shape Cavities Free of Multipacting

Most of the superconducting radio-frequency cavities in operation today belong for speed-of-light particles to the same class elliptical cavities. In this chapter, we consider how the process of elliptical cavity optimization can be utilized in creating cavity shapes free of multipacting.
Transgender identity management across social media platforms

Transgender people use social media for identity work, which takes place over time and across platforms. In this study, we interviewed 20 transgender social media users to examine transgender ident...
Distal femoral fine wire traction assisted retrograde nailing of the femur

Here we describe the surgical technique for using distal femoral fine wire traction during retrograde femoral nailing and present case examples. This technique allows for hands-free distraction across the fracture site to restore length and alignment, while not interfering with the preparation and insertion of the retrograde femoral nail. Distal femoral fine wire traction is a useful adjunctive technique to restore length and effect an indirect reduction in femur fractures being stabilized with a retrograde nail.
Shusterman’s Thinking Through the Body and Everyday Aesthetics

How does Richard Shusterman’s Thinking Through the Bodyapply to the issues of everyday aesthetics? As it turns out, many chapters contribute significantly to everyday aesthetics, in particular the work on architecture, self-styling, the body as background, lovemaking, and the process of making a photographic portrait. Shusterman’s concentration on the art of living has special importance to everyday aesthetics. Current debates within the field of everyday aesthetics also raise problems for somaesthetics. I also question the limits of somaesthetics and Shusterman’s rejection of defamiliarization in making the ordinary extraordinary.
Multi-algorithm Swath Consistency Detection for Multibeam Echosounder Data

It is unrealistic to expect that any single algorithm for pre-filtering Multibeam Echosounder data will be able to detect all of the “noise" in such data all of the time. This paper therefore presents a scheme for fusing the results of many pre-filtering sub-algorithms in order to form one, significantly more robust, meta-algorithm. This principle is illustrated on the problem of consistency detection in regions of sloping bathymetry. We show that the meta-algorithm is more robust, adapts dynamically to sub-algorithm performance, and is consistent with operator assessment of the data. The meta-algorithm is called the Multi-Algorithm Swath Consistency Detector.
Congenital abnormalities in protein synthesis.

MOST, if not all, of congenital metabolic disease may be attributed to abnormalities in protein synthesis. An error in protein synthesis can result in at least two basic types of disturbance—an actual deficit of a specific protein, or the production of abnormal forms of that protein. Because of the wide variety of functions of this class of substances, the result may manifest itself as a disturbance in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates or amino acids, or a disturbance of protein interactions. While the clinical manifestations of some disorders may be related directly to the deficit of a specific protein, in others symptoms are related indirectly to a specific protein deficiency (Fig. 1). This is particularly true in those instances where the protein, which is deficient, acts as an enzyme in intermediary metabolism, and the symptoms of disease may be due either to an accumulation or a deficit of specific metabolites or electrolytes. In still other instances, clinical disease is related not to the absence of a normal protein but to the presence of an abnormal protein which does not function in the same way as its normal analogue. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss all the inborn errors of protein metabolism, but to give a brief account of some examples to illustrate the fundamental importance of protein synthesis to human health. CONGENITAL AFIBRINOGENEMIA Afibrinogenemia, a hemorrhagic diathesis associated with the absence of fibrinogen in the blood and a clotting time of infinity, was recognized as early as 1920. Since that time a number of children with this disorder have been described and, in a review by Diamond, Wolff and Borges, 19 cases, including 3 observed by these authors, are reported.
Frequency of assault and severity of injury of psychiatric nurses in relation to the nurses' decision to restrain

Ethical standards and current law demand that acute care psychiatric patients be treated with respect, using the least restrictive interventions. Unfortunately, as restraint use has decreased, assault and injury of mental health care workers has increased. Violence against those working in acute care psychiatry is a serious global issue that needs further examination. This study provides current, in depth information about the nature, frequency and severity of assaults and injuries of psychiatric nurses. This study also examined assault and injury in relation to the nurse's decision to restrain. The findings of this study were compared with findings of an earlier study carried out by one of the authors (Moylan) prior to the institution of policies, which are more restrictive in the use of restraint. In a sample of 110 nurses from five institutions, 80% of the nurses were assaulted, 65% had been injured and 26% had been seriously injured. Injuries included fractures, eye injuries and permanent disability. The number and severity of injuries have increased significantly since the 1996 study. Nurses who had been injured decided to restrain later in the progression of aggression than those who had not been injured.
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV

A scientifically accurate description of matter interpreted as a substance made up of corpuscular constituents was established during the course of the 19th century. In this description, atoms - the building blocks of the matter - form molecules. The properties of the molecules were described by chemistry or thermodynamics depending on what characteristics of the matter were investigated. In both theories, the molecules can dissociate to atoms when the kinetic energies of the atoms exceed the strength of the chemical bonds. The number of atoms is always preserved in a closed system. This is not true, however, when the matter takes up much higher energies at relativistic scales. New particles can be produced at the expense of the kinetic energy. The number of particles is no longer preserved. There are other conserved quantities, however, these quantities, the charge, baryon number, lepton number, are associated with particles that are considered elementary today. The properties and behavior of these elementary particles are the subject of Particle Physics or High Energy Physics.
Forests or fields? A response to the theory that tropical forest conservation poses a threat to the poor.

A rebuttal is provided of David Woods proposal to open up tropical forests to agricultural uses. Concern is raised that his proposal exaggerates the ability of forests to regenerate after agricultural uses sacrifices tropical forests in the name of alleviating poverty and in support of large land owners and prevents valuable potential resource use by local populations. There is misunderstanding by Wood of conservationists postures and the cause of current deforestation. In Brazil deforestation has occurred primarily for low productivity cattle pasture (62% of all private land in the Amazon region in ranches over 1000 hectares-ha). Only 11% of private Amazonian land was in farms of less than 100 ha; only 30% of this size farm area was involved in 1991 in deforestation while 70% of deforestation took place on ranches over 100 ha. Mass migrations of Brazils population from the northeast to the Transamazon Highway and from Parana to Rondonia were impelled by increasing concentration of land tenure in migrant areas and not by population growth. The rate of deforestation has slowed due to the economic recession. A World Bank study indicates that redistributing unproductive large landholdings in northeastern Brazil would increase agricultural output by 80%. The agricultural productivity of tropic areas is not as assured; Woods support is based on preliminary findings which are being revised with more cautionary thinking. Wood also understates the maintenance of soil fertility with fertilizers. The issue of scale also affects the use of agroforestry and perennial crop plantations such as rubber and cacao which can only absorb the production of small areas due to marketing constraints and physical resource limitations. Conservationists have not effectively redirected World Bank efforts to protect environments and help the impoverished as suggested by Wood. Forest recovery has been very slow in large cattle pastures and would take thousands of years if the land is left undisturbed. Recovery even under traditional shifting cultivation schemes is slower than Wood recognizes. Woods argument that deforestation is temporary is not sufficient to invalidate the claim for conservation now. Reallocation is really the same as land extensification; current practices in Brazil will not support large human populations. The solution is to develop environmental services and find other means to support rural populations in urban areas.
RTOG Chest Wall Contouring Guidelines for Post-Mastectomy Radiation Therapy: Is It Evidence-Based?

Adoption of 3-dimensional planning has brought a great renaissance in radiation oncology; however, its use in breast radiation therapy has lagged substantially. Recently, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group published an invaluable atlas describing consensus recommendations based on expert opinion for chest wall contouring. Although the atlas represents an important step toward 3-dimensional planning, continued reappraisal is essential, especially because the atlas guides ongoing protocols. Prior to opening Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study 1304 within our large comprehensive cancer network, a pretreatment review encountered a discrepancy in the recommended posterior border for the chest wall clinical target volume (CTV) relative to conventional clinical field boarders. This discrepancy significantly increases heart (mean V10Gy increase of 3%4%) and lung (mean V20Gy increase of 4%-11%) irradiation relative to the traditional techniques (1). Although chest wall recurrence accounts for 60% to 80% of locoregional recurrences after mastectomy, detailed information for the anatomic location of chest wall recurrences should guide CTV design. As such, we instituted a publications search to identify locations of chest wall recurrences to better guide CTV contouring. Querying electronic databases (PubMed), bibliographies for studies published since 1952, and Brand & Copeland’s textbook The Breast using search terms including
Effects of skewing CMOS output driver switching on the 'simultaneous' switching noise

A detailed study of the characteristics of CMOS receiver noise immunity and the effects of skewing CMOS output drives on simultaneous switching noise was performed. Closed-form equations are given to calculate the simultaneous switching noise and the number of V/sub DD//V/sub SS/ bond pads-package pins in multichip modules. Guidelines for grouping and optimal skewing of CMOS output drivers to reduce the total effective power/ground noise are discussed. Performance trade-offs in using an additional damping resistor in the output driver circuit to reduce power/ground noise were analyzed. Design curves are given to minimize the effective switching noise without much trade-off in output driver speed. >
Engineering Ethics and Public Policy

"In SOCIAL, ETHICAL, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF ENGINEERING, engineers, faculty, and students will find an informative guide to the professional, societal, and ethical responsibilities that face practicing engineers today. Through an integrated approach to the theory of engineering ethics and practical real-world issues, this comprehensive book offers readers an in-depth analysis of technology's current social role. Drawing on readings and case studies first published in IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, this easy-to-read text will develop readers' understanding of the important issues surrounding ""macroethical"" public policy debates, including discussions of sustainable development, public health, risk and product liability, and telecommunications. These cases and readings also provide an opportunity to apply the theory in real-world situations. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF ENGINEERING will help students meet the new accreditation criteria for engineering adopted by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In addition, contemporary issues presented in this far-reaching book will allow students and practicing engineers to gain greater insight into how social and ethical concerns shape contributions to the engineering field. For more information and related articles go towww4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/j/jherkert/jrh.html Professors: To request an examination copy simply e-mail collegeadoption@ieee.org." Sponsored by: IEEE Social Implications of Technology Society
The robustness of the atmospheric circulation and precipitation response to future anthropogenic surface warming

The impact of long-term sea surface temperature (SST) change on the atmospheric circulation is studied by comparing atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) simulations forced with a spatially uniform SST increase and a structured SST increase. The structured SST increase is calculated from the response of an ensemble of coupled ocean-atmosphere models to increased CO2. Most of the impact of SST pattern change is confined to equatorial Indo-Pacific. However, the circulation change under the two types of SST forcing is similar over the rest of the tropics and almost identical in the extratropics, indicating that the pattern of future SST change has overall little impact on the response of the atmospheric circulation and, in turn, on the resulting changes in precipitation. The tropical similarity is argued to result from energetic constraints that weaken the atmospheric circulation, whereas the extratropical similarity likely results from the insensitivity of Rossby Wave generation to the changes in near-equatorial upper level divergence. A comparison of the AGCM simulations with those from externally forced coupled ocean-atmosphere models suggest that ocean coupling or the direct effect of radiative forcing has a larger impact on the projected changes in circulation and precipitation than the pattern of SST change over most regions.
LABOUR SUPPLY AND OFF-FARM WORK BY FARMERS: THEORY AND ESTIMATION

Off-farm employment has become increasingly important as an aspect of resource adjustment and a source of income in Australian agriculture. However, it is surprising that there is a paucity of work on this topic reported in the agricultural economics literature. Therefore, we have drawn upon recent developments in labour economics in order to investigate off-farm employment in Australia. A conceptual model of the allocation of a farmer's labour between farm and off-farm work is developed and applied to cross-sectional data from the Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey. A Tobit maximum likelihood procedure is utilised to test the influences of the life cycle, level of human capital, wealth, non-wage income and farm income on the off-farm labour supply of farmers.
Daily oscillations in liver function: diurnal vs circadian rhythmicity

The rodent suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a site in the brain that contains a light-entrained biological (circadian) clock, has been thought of as the master oscillator, regulating processes as diverse as cell division, reproductive cycles, sleep, and feeding. However, a second circadian system exists that can be entrained by meal feeding and has an influence over metabolism and behavior. Recent advances in the molecular genetics of circadian clocks are revealing clock characteristics such as rhythmic clock gene expression in a variety of non-neural tissues such as liver. Although little is known regarding the function of these clock genes in the liver, there is a large literature that addresses the capabilities of this organ to keep time. This time-keeping capability may be an adaptive function allowing for the prediction of mealtime and therefore improved digestion and energy usage. Consequently, an understanding of these rhythms is of great importance. This review summarizes the results of studies on diurnal and circadian rhythmicity in the rodent liver. We hope to lend support to the hypothesis that there are functionally important circadian clocks outside of the brain that are not light- or SCN-dependent. Rather, these clocks are largely responsive to stimuli involved in nutrient intake. The interaction between these two systems may be very important for the ability of organisms to synchronize their internal physiology.
SIGN CHANGES OF HECKE EIGENVALUES OF SIEGEL CUSP FORMS OF DEGREE 2

Let μ(n), n > 0, be the sequence of Hecke eigenvalues of a cuspidal Siegel eigenform F of degree 2. It is proved that if F is not in the Maaβ space, then there exist infinitely many primes p for which the sequence fi(p r ), r > 0, has infinitely many sign changes.
Crystal growth and properties of lead pyrophosphate, Pb2P2O7

Abstract Single crystals of Pb2P2O7 have been grown by the Czochralski technique. They have the triclinic space group P 1 with cell dimensions a = 6.9627 A, b = 6.9754A, c = 12.764 A, α = 96.78°, β = 91.16°, γ = 89.68°. There are four molecules per unit cell. Dielectric properties for this compound have been measured and are discussed.
Piezotronics for smart CMOS and nanogenerators for self-powered sensors

Abstract Two new fields are introduced to the sensor community: strained induced piezotronics for smart CMOS and a nanogenerator that harvests mechanical energy for powering nanosystems. Fundamentally, due to the polarization of ions in a crystal that has non-central symmetry, such as ZnO, GaN and InN, a piezoelectric potential (piezopotential) is created in the crystal by applying a stress. We have replaced the externally applied gate voltage to a CMOS field effect transistor by the strain induced piezopotential as a “gate” voltage to tune/control the charge transport from source to drain. The devices fabricated by this principle are called piezotronics, with applications in strain/force/pressure triggered/controlled electronic devices, sensors and logic units. The principle of harvesting irregular mechanical energy by the nanogenerator relies on the piezopotenital driven transient flow of electrons in external load, which can be resulted from body motion, muscle stretching, breathing, tiny mechanical vibration/disturbance, sonic wave etc. As of today, a gentle straining can output 1-3 V at an instant output power of ∼2 μW from an integrated nanogenerator of a very thin sheet of 1 cm2 in size. This technology has the potential applications for power MEMS/NEMS that requires a power in the μW to mW range.
Variable genotype of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy patients

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is caused by a single nucleotide change in the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA). Each cell contains thousands of mitochondrial DNA molecules. We demonstrated that in certain isolated instances, the proband and close maternal lineage relatives can have mixtures of mutant and normal mitochondrial DNA molecules (heteroplasmy). The proportion of mutant mitochondrial DNA molecules was found to shift markedly across generations and within the tissues of an individual. One unaffected mother had 65% mutant mitochondrial DNA molecules whereas her affected son had essentially 100% mutant mitochondrial DNA molecules. Two affected individuals had predominantly mutant mitochondrial DNA in their blood, but significant normal mitochondrial DNA in their hair. The demonstration of heteroplasmy within maternal lineages and affected individuals means that the successful determination of the mitochondrial DNA genotype of a family or patient with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy requires testing of more than one family member and more than one tissue from each individual.
The effect of coronary angioplasty on coronary flow reserve.

To determine the effects of coronary angioplasty on coronary flow reserve (CFR), we studied 32 patients before and immediately after single-vessel coronary angioplasty and 31 patients evaluated late after angioplasty (7.5 +/- 1.2 months, mean +/- SEM). The geometry (percent area stenosis and minimal cross-sectional area) of each lesion was determined by quantitative coronary angiography (Brown/Dodge method) and the integrated optical density was measured by videodensitometry. CFR was measured with a No. 3F coronary Doppler catheter placed immediately proximal to the lesion and a maximally vasodilating dose of intracoronary papaverine. The translesional pressure gradient was obtained in all lesions before and immediately after angioplasty and in 18 of 31 vessels late after angioplasty. CFR immediately after angioplasty returned to normal levels (greater than 3.5 peak/resting velocity ratio) in 14 of 31 patients and was improved, although not normalized, in the remaining 17 patients. CFR immediately after dilation was not significantly correlated with any of the angiographic variables of arterial stenosis nor the resting pressure gradient. Moreover, the pressure gradient and absolute distal coronary pressure at peak hyperemia were not significantly different in vessels with normal and those with abnormal flow reserve immediately after dilation, suggesting that the residual stenosis did not significantly limit hyperemia. Late after angioplasty, however, a significant relationship emerged between CFR and all four indexes of residual arterial stenosis (percent area stenosis r = .70, p less than .01; minimum arterial cross-sectional area r = .70, p less than .01; integrated optical density r = .60, p less than .01; and translesional pressure gradient r = .77, p less than .01). Furthermore, in the absence of restenosis, CFR eventually normalized in all patients. These findings demonstrate that in one-half of patients there is a transient reduction in coronary flow reserve immediately after angioplasty. In the absence of restenosis, coronary flow reserve later normalizes. Consequently, measurements of coronary flow reserve immediately after angioplasty may not reflect the eventual success of the procedure in removing physiologic obstruction to coronary blood flow.
EARLY DETECTION OF BRAINSTEM GLIOMA USING BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS

Brainstem tumor was suspected in an 11-year-old boy presenting with a painless lateral rectus palsy, on the basis of abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), despite normal computed tomographic studies, the diagnosis being confirmed by biopsy. The BAEP improved after radiation therapy, but their later deterioration heralded the onset of recurrence two weeks before any adverse clinical symptoms appeared. The value of BAEP studies in the early detection of brainstem lesions and in monitoring their progress, is discussed.
The Expanded Role of Investor Relations: Socially Responsible Investing, Shareholder Activism, and Organizational Legitimacy

Investors increasingly use ownership rights to influence a corporation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and policies, challenging the traditional role of investor relations. However, shareholder activism with respect to CSR has thus far not received any scholarly attention in the field of strategic communication. This multidisciplinary study examines shareholder activism as a drive for change in CSR behavior. Using a case study approach, the study analyzes a shareholder resolution sponsored by NYC Public Pension Funds that resulted in an engagement process with CONSOL Energy Inc. regarding environmental responsibility. As a result of the engagement process, the company implemented a series of proactive procedural and structural changes. These findings suggest that reactive responses to societal demands of shareholders can elicit more proactive measures in CSR behavior that the target company would not have enacted otherwise. Consequently, the paper argues that an expanded role of investor...
Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture

Previous research on functional outcome in bipolar disorder (BD) has uncovered various factors that exacerbate psychosocial disability over the course of illness, including genetics, illness severity, stress, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. This paper presents an integrated view of these findings that accounts for the precipitous decline in psychosocial functioning after illness onset. The proposed model highlights a number of reciprocal pathways among previously studied factors that trap people in a powerful cycle of ailing forces. The paper discusses implications to patient care as well as the larger social changes required for shifting the functional trajectory of people with BD from psychosocial decline to growth.
Lyell's Geological Texts

RECENTLY, while referring to Charles Lyell' "Elements of Geology", it was found that the Yale Library copy, of date September 12, 1839, had been sent by the publishers to Benjamin Silliman. This was the first American edition from the first London edition as published by Kay Bros., Philadelphia, with 316 pages and 295 figures in the text. After one hundred years this fine text, one of the world's great books, should again be noted. Earlier, the same publishers had brought out an American edition of Lyell's "Principles of Geology", as was duly noted by Silliman in his Journal (now the American Journal of Science) at the time. Quoting: "Lyell has done much to recall geologists from extravagant speculations, and to allure them back to a course of strict induction; thus placing Geology side by side with the other sciences of observation".
Administrative and Organization Behavior: Some Insights from Cognitive Psychology

Recent research in the field of cognitive psychology provides some surprising and important insights for students of administration. This article reviews various leitmotifs of the field and discuss...
Orally administered enalapril for infants with congestive heart failure: A dose-finding study

L'enalapril est moins bioutilisable et a une plus courte duree d'action chez les nourrissons avec une insuffisance cardiaque congestive que chez les adultes. Bien que l'enalapril a la dose de 0,08 mg/Kg ait ete recommande pour le traitement de l'insuffisance cardiaque congestive chez les nourrissons et les enfants, les futures etudes devraient utiliser des doses plus fortes et peuvent necessiter une administration plus frequente
Bank Structure, Relationship Lending and Small Firm Access to Finance: A Cross-Country Investigation

Loans to small firms are associated with relationship lending technologies that may be better supported by smaller banks. Whether competition helps or hinders small firm access to finance may depend on the size distribution of banks and the ways in which banks compete. Using cross-country data from surveys of firms and banks and a measure of contestability evidence is produced for a non-linear relationship between competition and the use of bank financing by small firms. While at very low levels of contestability an increase in contestability increases small firm use of bank finance, for most observations of contestability in the sample, an increase in contestability produces the opposite result. This also holds for medium size firms outside of manufacturing. Medium size firms in manufacturing exhibit a non-linear relationship between competition and use of bank credit, but in an opposing direction. Small firms are also more likely to use bank financing the higher is the small bank market share. However, neither the size distribution of banks nor the level of profitability of lending is shown to further influence the effect of contestability on small firm use of bank lending.
In situ studies of thiol self-assembly on gold from solution using atomic force microscopy

The kinetics and mechanism for the solution-phase adsorption of n-alkanethiols onto gold to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been monitored in situ using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Time-dependent AFM images reveal detailed structural information about the adsorbed layer during its growth. In 2-butanol, CH3(CH2)17SH molecules initially adsorb on gold with the molecular axis of their hydrocarbon chains oriented parallel to the surface. As the surface coverage increases to near saturation, a two-dimensional phase transition occurs and produces islands composed of molecules with their hydrocarbon axis oriented ∼30° from the surface normal. Continued exposure to the thiol solution results in a greater number of these islands and the growth of these nuclei until a SAM is formed with a commensurate (∛×∛)R30° structure. The growth of the lying-down phase follows a first-order Langmuir adsorption isotherm, while the phase transition is best described by a second-order reaction. The kinetics of the se...
Water Hazard Control Technology for Safe Extractionof Coal Resources Influenced by Faulted Zone

Abstract Aiming at the objective problems that great amount of precious coal resources are inhibited by water-conducting and bearing fault and become lost and wasted due to impossibility of safe extraction, the paper analyzed hydro-geological characteristics of different faults, put forward division of faults into four types with different hydro-geological properties, as follows: water-conducting fault, water –bearing fault, water-isolating fault and water-conducting and bearing fault, summed up spatial constitutional relation among fault, coal seam and aquifer, types and formation mechanism of different water hazards caused by faults under different constitutional relation. Four types of water hazards caused by faults were given, i.e. transverse inrushing water hazard, vertical conducting water hazard, overflowing water hazard from floor and bursting water hazard from roof. Aiming at hydro-geological characteristics of faults and different types of water hazards, water control technologies and methods were proposed, including in advance pre-dewatering and drainage, directional guided inclination detection and transformation of key interval by grouting as well as remaining scientifically water-proof coal/rock pillars, which has important significance for reducing coal pillar left for fault and increasing recovery of coal resources.
Futures Markets: The Interaction of Economic Analyses and Regulation: Discussion

consequences of various amounts and types of speculative activity? Should speculation be regulated and, if so, how? The Peck paper deals with some question in this category. The second category covers the growth of futures trading, particularly into new commodity areas. Currently, there are numerous regulatory questions that stem from the expansion of trading into "macroeconomic" commodities such as the successful new GNMA contracts discussed in the Sandor-Sosin paper. Specifically, regulators are concerned about the effects of the rapid spread of futures trading in financial futures and the proliferation of essentially identical contracts at different exchanges. The third category includes various regulatory restrictions on market access and flexibility, such as daily price limits, setting "closing" prices, position limits, as well as controls on foreign traders and computerized trading programs. Neither paper really addresses these more technical issues.
Microlens diffusers for efficient laser speckle generation

Laser Speckle is the optical phenomena resulting from the random interference of coherent light. This phenomenon can be utilized to measure the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of detector arrays. Common devices used for speckle generation, such as integrating spheres and ground glass, suffer from low efficiencies less than 20%. Microlens diffusers are shown to be more efficient alternatives for speckle generation. An analysis of the statistical behavior of microlens diffusers is presented with emphasis on their application to MTF testing of detector arrays in the visible spectrum.
Growth Rates of the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, in Southwestern Louisiana

We captured and marked Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, occupying a one-story building in southwestern Louisiana in 1999-2000 and 2002-2005 and calculated 2 estimates of growth rate: length growth rate (difference in snout-vent length (SVL) between captures divided by time between captures) and mass growth rate (dif- ference in gecko mass between captures divided by time between captures). Both length growth rate and mass growth rate were significantly negatively correlated with gecko snout-vent length. When data from all years were combined, adult female geckos showed greater mean length growth rates and mean mass growth rates than males, but the trend was not statistically significant. Length growth rate and mass growth rate varied dramatically between years; neither correlated with yearly differences in rainfall. Comparison of our results to studies done in Texas and Florida showed that Mediterranean geckos in Louisiana had the lowest mean length growth rates and a much wider range of variation. RESUMEN.—Capturamos y marcamos Gecos del Mediterraneo, Hemidactylus turcicus, que ocupaban un edificio de un piso en el suroeste de Louisiana en 1999 a 2000 y 2002 a 2005 y calculamos dos calculos de tasas de crecimiento: La "Tasa de Crecimiento de Longitud" (la diferencia entre la longitud de hocico a cloaca entre capturas dividida por el peri- odo entre capturas) y la "Tasa de Crecimiento de Masa" (la diferencia entre la masa del geco entre capturas dividida por el periodo entre capturas). Las dos tasas tenian una correlacion significantemente negativa con la longitud de hocico a cloaca del geco. Cuando combinamos los datos de todos los anos, las hembras adultas de los gecos mostraron Tasas Medias de Crecimiento de Longitud y Tasas Medias de Crecimiento de Masa mayores que los machos, pero la tenden- cia no fue estadisticamente significativa. Las dos tasas variaron dramaticamente entre anos; ninguna correlaciono fuerte- mente con las diferencias anuales en pluviosidad. Una comparacion de nuestros resultados con estudios hechos en Texas y en Florida mostro que los gecos de Louisiana tenian Tasas Medias de Crecimiento de Longitud. Los gecos de Louisiana exhibieron una gama mucha mas amplia de variacion en Tasas de Crecimiento de Longitud.
Pathogenesis of the “Courvoisier gallbladder”

To investigate the pathophysiological basis of Courvoisier's law, the gallbladder size and pliability were measured in chronic calculous cholecystitis with (7 patients) or without (25 patients) common duct obstruction, in periampullary malignancy (6 patients), and in the normal state (3 patients). The duration and level of jaundice, when present, were correlated to the gallbladder size and ductal pressure as measured at operation. It was found thatin vitro the gallbladders were equally pliable in all groups. Therefore, the classical explanation, that stone obstruction of the common duct does not result in dilated gallbladders because of less pliable organs from preexisting fibrosis, does not seem to apply for this series of patients. A markedly higher ductal pressure and a longer history of and deeper jaundice were also found in patients with dilated gallbladders. The data of this study support the alternative explanation that chronically increased ductal pressure is the probable cause of dilated gallbladders seen in malignant obstruction of the common duct.
Real-time 3D ultrasound guidance of autonomous surgical robot for shrapnel detection and breast biopsy

Two studies have been conducted using real time 3D ultrasound and an automated robot system for carrying out surgical tasks. The first task is to perform a breast lesion biopsy automatically after detection by ultrasound. Combining 3D ultrasound with traditional mammography allows real time guidance of the biopsy needle. Image processing techniques analyze volumes to calculate the location of a target lesion. This position was converted into the coordinate system of a three axis robot which moved a needle probe to touch the lesion. The second task is to remove shrapnel from a tissue phantom autonomously. In some emergency situations, shrapnel detection in the body is necessary for quick treatment. Furthermore, small or uneven shrapnel geometry may hinder location by typical ultrasound imaging methods. Vibrations and small displacements can be induced in ferromagnetic shrapnel by a variable electromagnet. We used real time 3D color Doppler to locate this motion for 2 mm long needle fragments and determined the 3D position of the fragment in the scanner coordinates. The rms error of the image guided robot for 5 trials was 1.06 mm for this task which was accomplished in 76 seconds.
Prolonged Effects of Nitrogen Mustard on Mouse Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues

Groups of mice have been autopsied at regular intervals during the period of lymphomyeloid tissue regeneration which follows the phase of hypocellularity induced by the i.v. injection of 100 mug (4 mg/kg bodyweight) nitrogen mustard. The marrow cellularity recovered to levels in the normal range by the 8th day and remained in this range up to the 40th day. Subsequently, the marrow showed a slight degree of hypocellularity up to day 120. Granulocytes were predominant during the initial phase of marrow regeneration during the second week post-injection. The thymus exhibited periodic size variations such that it was substantially larger than the thymus of age-matched controls from 20-30 d, 46-73 d, and 75-100 d after injection. The lymph nodes and lymphoid tissue of the spleen regenerated only slowly to reach control values by 40-50 d. Superimposed on the recovering lymphoid tissue of the spleen was a phase of erythroid hyperplasia lasting from 10-18 d post-injection. This coincided with a shift from granulocytosis to erythroid hyperplasia in the marrow. This erythroid hyperplasia lasted until day 30 when the cellular composition of the marrow and spleen returned to normal. A possible explanation of these results is that nitrogen mustard introduces a degree of synchrony into stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Additionally, these results emphasize the role of the haematopoietic microenvironment in the control of stem cell differentiation.
GroundTruth tools & technology: applications in real world

The process of creating digital archive from paper based document is gaining popularity. Automated systems/frameworks for document analysis techniques have been developed, but still lack in achieving the required accuracy goals in terms of text, article identification etc. Rendering problems, such as missing graphical components, wrong reading ordering in multi columned journals/magazine, missing indentation and broken text lines, hyphenation issues, are basically due to poor layout information extracted from the scanned document during the OCR process. Also lacking are the tools to take the output of these processes and be able to create highly accurate content with associated metadata from the original. The term "Ground Truth" in the current context is used to refer to the process (automatic and manual collectively) by which we ensure that the end result of the process are highly accurate and complete rich text content (articles, papers, etc) generated from the original scanned version of content.We present to the audience PerfectDoc - A suite of tools for manual GroundTruthing. The suite consist of tools to create highly accurate GroundTruth, GT editors and tools to take this data and deliver output suitable for web based viewing.
Flow Boiling Heat Transfer of CO2 at Low Temperatures in a Horizontal Smooth Tube

Flow boiling heat transfer coefficients of CO 2 are measured in a horizontal smooth tube with inner diameter 6.1 mm. The test tube is heated by a secondary fluid maintaining constant wall temperature conditions. Heat transfer coefficients are measured at evaporation temperatures of -15 and -30°C, mass flux from 100 to 400 kg/m 2 s, and heat flux from 5 to 15 kW/m 2 for qualities (vapor mass fractions) ranging from 0.1 to 0.8. The characteristics of CO 2 flow boiling are explained by CO 2 properties and flow patterns. The measured CO 2 heat transfer coefficients are compared to other published data. Experiments with R22 were also conducted in the same system and the results show that the heat transfer coefficients for CO 2 are 40 to 150% higher than for R22 at -15°C and low mass flux of 200 kg/m 2 s mostly due to the characteristics of CO 2 nucleate boiling. The presented CO 2 heat transfer coefficients indicate the reduction of heat transfer coefficient as mass flux increases at low quality regions and also show that dryout does not occur until the high quality region of 0.8, for mass fluxes of 200 and 400 kg/m 2 s. The Gungor and Winterton correlation gives a relatively good agreement with measured data; however it deviates more at lower evaporation temperature and high mass flux conditions.