Innovations in Corporate Accountability

Where corporate actors are behind human rights abuse, how do we hold them accountable? How can victims access remedy, and what means do we have to deter corporate crime? This dynamic conversation will explore the potential emergent strategies in the field of human rights that aim to address the shortfalls of past efforts, and consider the many challenges that remain

Validation of the Van Overschelde et al. (2004) category norms: Results from five experiments

Van Overschelde, Rawson, and Dunlosky (2004) collected category/exemplar norms from over 600 participants at three American universities. For each of 70 categories, participants generated as many exemplars as possible in 30 seconds. One measure computed from their data was the "TOTAL" statistic - the proportion of participants that generated a particular exemplar given a category. Five experiments in the present investigation tested the ability of the TOTAL statistic to predict Reaction Time (RT) in a category/exemplar verification task with 236 participants. The simple correlation between "TOTAL" and the natural log of RT was approximately -0.20 with the average cost (slope) from high TOTAL (near 1.0) to low TOTAL (0.02) on the order of 250 ms. The results are similar in magnitude to previous research using older Battig and Montague norms which the Van Overschelde et al., norms supersede suggesting that the updated norms are a suitable contemporary replacement.Van Overschelde, Rawson et Dunlosky (2004) ont rassemblé des normes catégorielles recueillies auprès de plus de 600 participants provenant de trois universités américaines. Pour chacune des 70 catégories, les participants ont produit le plus d'éléments/de réponses possible en 30 secondes. La statistique TOTALE est l'une des mesures calculées à partir de leurs données. Il s'agit de la proportion de participants qui ont produit un élément/réponse en particulier pour une catégorie donnée. Cinq expériences menées dans la présente étude ont porté sur la capacité de la statistique TOTALE de prédire le temps de réaction (TR) pour une tâche de vérification catégorielle auprès de 236 participants. La corrélation simple entre le TOTAL et le logarithme népérien de TR était d'environ -0,20, le coût moyen (pente) allant du TOTAL élevé (prés de 1,0) au TOTAL bas (0,02) étant de l'ordre de 250 ms. Les résultats sont de même grandeur que ceux des recherches précédentes reposant sur les normes plus anciennes de Battig et Montague, ce qui tend à indiquer en l'occurrence que les normes de Van Overschelde et al. peuvent aujourd'hui remplacer avantageusement les anciennes normes

Healthy universities: an example of a whole-system health-promoting setting

The health-promoting settings approach is well established in health promotion, with organisational settings being understood as complex systems able to support human wellbeing and flourishing. Despite the reach and evident importance of higher education as a sector, ‘healthy universities’ has not received high-level international leadership comparable to many other settings programmes. This study explores how the concept of a healthy university is operationalised in two case study universities. Data collection methods included documentary analysis, observation field notes and semi-structured interviews with staff and students. Staff and students understood the characteristics of a healthy university to pertain to management processes relating to communication and to a respectful organisational ethos. Enhancers of health and wellbeing were feeling valued, being listened to, having skilled and supportive line managers and having a positive physical environment. Inhibitors of health and wellbeing were having a sense of powerlessness and a lack of care and concern. The concept of the healthy university has been slow to be adopted in contrast to initiatives such as healthy schools. In addition to challenges relating to lack of theorisation, paucity of evidence and difficulties in capturing the added value of whole-system working, this study suggests that this may be due to both their complex organisational structure and the diverse goals of higher education, which do not automatically privilege health and wellbeing. It also points to the need for a wholeuniversity approach that pays attention to the complex interactions and interconnections between component parts and highlights how the organisation can function effectively as a social system

Dark Matter in the Coming Decade: Complementary Paths to Discovery and Beyond

In this report we summarize the many dark matter searches currently being pursued through four complementary approaches: direct detection, indirect detection, collider experiments, and astrophysical probes. The essential features of broad classes of experiments are described, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The complementarity of the different dark matter searches is discussed qualitatively and illustrated quantitatively in two simple theoretical frameworks. Our primary conclusion is that the diversity of possible dark matter candidates requires a balanced program drawing from all four approaches.Comment: Report prepared for the Community Summer Study (Snowmass) 2013, on behalf of Cosmic Frontier Working Groups 1-4 (CF1: WIMP Dark Matter Direct Detection, CF2: WIMP Dark Matter Indirect Detection, CF3: Non-WIMP Dark Matter, and CF4: Dark Matter Complementarity); published versio

Wikirate as a pedagogical tool: 2023 best practices report

This report presents five compelling international case studies that highlight the diverse implementation of Wikirate across higher education institutions. Each case study provides insights into the integration of the platform in the curricula, the skills honed by students through their involvement with Wikirate, and the outputs developed by students with the data collected. These case studies were shared during two enlightening webinars held in April and June 2023

Decatransin, a novel natural product inhibiting protein translocation at the Sec61/SecY translocon

A new cyclic decadepsipeptide was isolated from Chaetosphaeria tulasneorum with potent bioactivity on mammalian and yeast cells. Chemogenomic profiling in S. cerevisiae indicated that the Sec61 translocon, the machinery for protein translocation and membrane insertion at the endoplasmic reticulum, is the target. The profiles were similar to those of cyclic heptadepsipeptides of a distinct chemotype (HUN-7293/cotransin) that had previously been shown to inhibit cotranslational translocation at the mammalian Sec61 translocon. Unbiased, genome-wide mutagenesis followed by full-genome sequencing in both fungal and mammalian cells identified dominant mutations in Sec61p/Sec61α1 to confer resistance. Most, but not all, of these mutations affected inhibition by both chemotypes, despite an absence of structural similarity. Biochemical analysis confirmed inhibition of protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum of both co- and posttranslationally translocated substrates by both chemotypes, demonstrating a mechanism independent of a translating ribosome. Most interestingly, both chemotypes were found to also inhibit SecYEG, the bacterial Sec61 homolog. We suggest "decatransin" as the name for this novel decadepsipeptide translocation inhibitor

The Discovery Potential of a Super B Factory

The Proceedings of the 2003 SLAC Workshops on flavor physics with a high luminosity asymmetric e+e- collider. The sensitivity of flavor physics to physics beyond the Standard Model is addressed in detail, in the context of the improvement of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.Comment: 476 pages. Printed copies may be obtained by request to [email protected] . arXiv admin note: v2 appears to be identical to v

Complications and Short-Term Explantation Rate Following Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation: Results from a Large Middle European Multi-Institutional Case Series

Background/Aims/Objectives: To analyze perioperative complication and short-term explantation rates after perineal or penoscrotal single-cuff and double-cuff artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in a large middle European multi-institutional patient cohort. Methods: 467 male patients with stress urinary incontinence underwent implantation of a perineal single-cuff (n = 152), penoscrotal single-cuff (n = 99), or perinea! double-cuff (n = 216) AUS between 2010 and 2012. Postoperative complications and 6-month explantation rates were assessed. For statistical analysis, Fisher's exact test and Kruskal Wallis rank sum test, and a multiple logistic regression model were used (p < 0.05). Results: Compared to perineal single-cuff AUS, penoscrotal single-cuff implantation led to significantly increased short-term explantation rates (8.6% (perinea)) vs. 19.2% (penoscrotal), p = 0.019). The postoperative infection rate was significantly higher after double-cuff compared to single cuff implantation (6.0% (single-cuff) vs. 13.9% (double-cuff), p = 0.019). The short-term explantation rate after primary double-cuff placement was 6.5% (p = 0.543 vs. perineal single -cuff). In multivariate analysis, the penoscrotal approach (p = 0.004), intraoperative complications (p = 0.005), postoperative bleeding (p = 0.011), and perioperative infection (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for short-term explantation. Conclusions: Providing data from a large contemporary multi-institutional patient cohortfrom high-volume and low-volume institutions, our results reflect the current standard of care in middle Europe. We indicate that the penoscrotal approach is an independent risk factor for increased short-term explantation rates. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, Base

Dark sectors 2016 Workshop: community report

This report, based on the Dark Sectors workshop at SLAC in April 2016, summarizes the scientific importance of searches for dark sector dark matter and forces at masses beneath the weak-scale, the status of this broad international field, the important milestones motivating future exploration, and promising experimental opportunities to reach these milestones over the next 5-10 years