Responding to Public and Private Politics: Corporate Disclosure of Climate Change Strategies

The challenges associated with climate change will require governments, citizens, and firms to work collaboratively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a task that requires information on companies' emissions levels, risks, and reduction opportunities. This paper explores the conditions under which firms participate in this endeavor. Building on theories of how social activists inspire changes in organizational norms, beliefs, and practices, we hypothesize that shareholder actions and regulatory threats are likely to prime firms to adopt practices consistent with the aims of a broader social movement. We find empirical evidence of direct and spillover effects. In the domain of private politics, shareholder resolutions filed against it and others in its industry increase a firm's propensity to engage in practices consistent with the aims of the related social movement. Similarly, in the realm of public politics, threats of state regulations targeted at a firm's industry as well as regulations targeted at other industries increase the likelihood that the firm will engage in such practices. These findings extend existing theory by showing that both activist groups and government actors can spur changes in organizational practices, and that challenges mounted against a single firm and an industry can inspire both firm and field-level changes.social movements theory; institutional change theory; private politics; activist shareholder resolutions; climate change; environmental sustainability

Evaluating Quality Interactions in Preschool Math: Validation of a Video-based Observation Protocol

Students who receive higher quality math instruction have better outcomes in math (Klibanoff et al. 2006; Kyriakides et al., 2008; Nye et al., 2004; Rockoff, 2004). However, examining math teaching quality, particularly in preschool classrooms, is complicated by the lack of validated measures. To fill this gap, we have validated a video-based observation protocol known as Evaluating Quality Interactions in Preschool-Math (EQUIP-M). EQUIP-M measures quality math instruction and focuses on three interactions: those between the teacher and the mathematics (Teacher Intentionality), those between the teacher and the students around the mathematics (Teacher Responsiveness), and those between the students and the mathematics (Student Mathematical Sense-making). The sample was comprised of preschool teachers (n=179) participating in a multi-year, professional development program evaluation. Teachers planned activities to engage students in mathematics and videographers recorded those activities in their entirety. Teachers were video-recorded up to three times within a two-week period at up to three timepoints (pre-intervention, post-intervention, one-year follow-up). Each video was scored by at least two certified raters. Raters watched each video in its entirety and then assigned a score for the eight EQUIP-M dimensions. Preliminary results indicate that raters can be trained to apply scoring rubrics accurately and consistently. To assess inter-rater reliability, we calculated an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.84 using a two-way random effects model with absolute agreement. With further development and evaluation, EQUIP-M has the potential to identify strengths and weaknesses in teaching math and, ultimately, to inform educational professionals about how to improve teacher-child interactions around math

When men and women working long hours is the norm, women’s careers stall

The 24/7 culture pits home against work in the battle over limited hours and creates discontent for women and men alike, write Irene Padavic, Robin J. Ely, and Erin M. Rei

Architecture of the Hin Synaptic Complex during Recombination The Recombinase Subunits Translocate with the DNA Strands

AbstractMost site-specific recombinases can be grouped into two mechanistically distinct families. Whereas tyrosine recombinases exchange DNA strands through a Holliday intermediate, serine recombinases such as Hin generate double-strand breaks in each recombining partner. Here, site-directed protein crosslinking is used to elucidate the configuration of protein subunits and DNA within the Hin synaptic complex and to follow the movement of protein subunits during DNA strand exchange. Our results show that the protein interface mediating synapsis is localized to a region within the catalytic domains, thereby positioning the DNA strands on the outside of the Hin tetrameric complex. Unexpected crosslinks between residues within the dimerization helices provide evidence for a conformational change that accompanies DNA cleavage. We demonstrate that the Hin subunits, which are linked to the cleaved DNA ends by serine-phosphodiester bonds, translocate between synapsed dimers to exchange the DNA strands

Synchronizing Media Content In A Shared Virtual Reality Environment

Disclosed herein is a mechanism for synchronizing media content in a shared virtual reality environment. The mechanism can cause a shared virtual reality space to be presented on multiple user devices corresponding to multiple users participating in the shared virtual reality space. In some instances, users in the shared virtual reality space can be viewing different media content items. The mechanism can cause indications of the media content items being viewed by each user to be presented within the shared virtual reality space. In response to receiving a selection from a first user device of an indication of a media content item being presented on a second user device, the mechanism can transmit, to the first user device, metadata indicating an identifier of the media content item being presented on the second user device and a current playback position of the media content item on the second user device. The mechanism can then cause the media content item to be presented on the first user device at the playback position indicated in the transmitted metadata

Safety and preliminary efficacy of vorinostat with R-EPOCH in high-risk HIV-associated non-Hodgkin\u27s lymphoma (AMC-075)

We performed a phase I trial of vorinostat (VOR) given on days 1 to 5 with R-EPOCH (rituximab plus etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride) in patients with aggressive HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma. VOR was tolerable at 300 mg and seemingly efficacious with chemotherapy with complete response rate of 83% and 1-year event-free survival of 83%. VOR did not significantly alter chemotherapy steady-state concentrations, CD4+ cell counts, or HIV viral loads. Vorinostat (VOR), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enhances the anti-tumor effects of rituximab (R) and cytotoxic chemotherapy, induces viral lytic expression and cell killing in Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) or human herpesvirus-8-positive (HHV-8+) tumors, and reactivates latent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for possible eradication by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We performed a phase I trial of VOR given with R-based infusional EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride) (n = 12) and cART in aggressive HIV-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in order to identify safe dosing and schedule. VOR (300 or 400 mg) was given orally on days 1 to 5 with each cycle of R-EPOCH for 10 high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (1 EBV+), 1 EBV+/HHV-8+ primary effusion lymphoma, and 1 unclassifiable NHL. VOR was escalated from 300 to 400 mg using a standard 3 + 3 design based on dose-limiting toxicity observed in cycle 1 of R-EPOCH. The recommended phase II dose of VOR was 300 mg, with dose-limiting toxicity in 2 of 6 patients at 400 mg (grade 4 thrombocytopenia, grade 4 neutropenia), and 1 of 6 treated at 300 mg (grade 4 sepsis from tooth abscess). Neither VOR, nor cART regimen, significantly altered chemotherapy steady-state concentrations. VOR chemotherapy did not negatively impact CD4+ cell counts or HIV viral loads, which decreased or remained undetectable in most patients during treatment. The response rate in high-risk patients with NHL treated with VOR(R)-EPOCH was 100% (complete 83% and partial 17%) with a 1-year event-free survival of 83% (95% confidence interval, 51.6%-97.9%). VOR combined with R-EPOCH was tolerable and seemingly efficacious in patients with aggressive HIV-NHL

Calling an ambulance for non-emergency medical situations: Results of a cross-sectional online survey from an Australian nationally representative sample

Objective To investigate the Australian general public\u27s perception of appropriate medical scenarios that warrants a call to an emergency ambulance. Methods An online survey asked participants to identify the likely medical treatment pathway they would take for 17 hypothetical medical scenarios. The number and type of non-emergency scenarios (n = 8) participants incorrectly suggested were appropriate to place a call for an emergency ambulance were calculated. Participants included Australian residents (aged \u3e18 years) who had never worked as an Australian registered medical doctor, nurse or paramedic. Results From a sample of 5264 participants, 40% suggested calling an emergency ambulance for a woman in routine labour was appropriate. Other medical scenarios which were most suggested by participants to warrant an emergency ambulance call was ‘Lego in ear canal’ (11%), ‘Older person bruising’ (8%) and ‘Flu’ (7%). Women, people aged 56+ years, those without a university qualification, with lower household income and with lower emotional wellbeing were more likely to suggest calling an emergency ambulance was appropriate for non-emergency scenarios. Conclusions Although emergency healthcare system (EHS) capacity not increasing at the same rate as demand is the biggest contributor to EHS burden, non-urgent medical situations for which other low-acuity healthcare pathways may be appropriate does play a small role in adding to the overburdening of the EHS. This present study outlines a series of complaints and demographic characteristics that would benefit from targeted educational interventions that may aid in alleviating ambulance service attendances to low-acuity callouts

In vitro evaluation of the modified forwarder knot used to end a continuous suture pattern in large‐gauge suture

Objective To evaluate the strength and size of forwarder end (FE) knots modified to end continuous suture lines compared with Aberdeen (AB), square (SQ), and surgeon's (SU) knots. Study design In vitro mechanical study. Study population Knotted suture. Methods Knots were tied with 2 USP (United States Pharmacopeia) polydioxanone, 2 USP, and 3 USP polyglactin 910 and tested on a universal testing machine under linear tension. Mode of failure and knot holding capacity (KHC) were recorded, and relative knot security (RKS) was calculated. Knot volume and weight were determined by digital micrometer and balance. Knot holding capacity, RKS, size, and weight between knot type, number of throws, and suture type and size were compared by using analysis of variance testing, with P  .080). Forwarder end/AB knots failed by suture breakage at the knot, whereas some SQ/SU knots unraveled. Forwarder end knots in 2 and 3 USP polyglactin 910 were 21.1% to 44.4% (1.2‐1.4 fold) smaller compared with SQ/SU knots (P < .028). Forwarder end knots in 2 and 3 USP polyglactin 910 were 40% to 99% (1.4‐2.0 fold) larger compared with AB knots (P < .001). Conclusion Forwarder end knots provided increased KHC/RKS compared with SQ/SU knots. Clinical relevance Forwarder end knots should be considered for closures when suture is placed under tension