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Understanding the dynamic relationships between CSR and CSIR
No full textPurpose: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSIR) co-exist within many firms. Yet, without understanding how CSR and CSIR are related, our knowledge of these concepts is incomplete. This study initiatively explores four relationships between prior CSR/CSIR and subsequent CSR/CSIR. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the KLD database as the source of measures on CSR and CSIR. The final sample contains 1,820 firms and 14,420 firm-year observations from 1991 to 2013. The Arellano—Bond GMM estimator is used to test the hypotheses. Findings: The empirical analyses yield the following results: (1) a positive relationship between prior CSR and subsequent CSR, (2) a negative relationship between prior CSR and subsequent CSIR, (3) a positive relationship between prior CSIR and subsequent CSR and (4) a positive relationship between prior CSIR and subsequent CSIR. Research limitations/implications: This study provides comprehensive evidence of the dynamic relationships between CSR and CSIR by incorporating multiple relationships between these variables into a single study. It also identifies key contexts that shape these relationships and identifies several promising areas of further inquiry. Originality/value: This study is the first to examine the dynamic CSR – CSIR relationships in a single study. Most previous studies investigate either CSR or CSIR; few studies have incorporated them into one study
A generalized alternating harmonic series
Get PDFThis paper introduces a generalization of the alternating harmonic series, expresses the sum in two closed forms, and examines the relationship between these sums and the harmonic numbers
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Reduces Network Hypersynchrony and Persistent Vertigo
No full textObjectives: Persistent oscillating vertigo that occurs after entrainment to periodic motion is known as Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS). Down-modulation of this oscillating vertigo is associated with reduction in long-range resting-state functional connectivity between fronto-parieto-occipital regions. In order to determine the association between this oscillating vertigo and hypersynchrony as measured by the auditory steady-state response (ASSR), we investigated the differences in ASSR between individuals with MdDS and healthy controls as well as the change in ASSR in individuals with MdDS before and after treatment with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Materials and Methods: Individuals with treatment refractory MdDS lasting at least six months received single administrations of fronto-parieto-occipital tACS in an “n-of-1” double-blind randomized design: alpha-frequency in-phase, alpha-frequency antiphase, and gamma frequency antiphase control. The treatment protocol that led to the most acute reduction in symptoms and improved balance was administered for 10–12 sessions given over three days (each session 20-min at 2–4 mA). Results: Twenty-four individuals with MdDS participated (mean age 53.0 ± 11.8 years [range: 22–66 years, median: 57.0 years]; mean duration of illness 38.6 ± 53.4 months [range: 6–240 months, median: 18.0 months]). Individuals with MdDS had elevated ASSR compared to healthy controls at baseline (t = 5.95, p \u3c 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the 40 Hz-ASSR response between responders compared to nonresponders to tACS (t-test, t = −2.26, p = 0.04). Both in-phase and anti-phase alpha tACS lead to symptom improvement but only antiphase alpha-tACS led to a significant decrease of 40 Hz-ASSR (t-test, t = −9.6, p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that tACS has the potential to reduce network-level hypersynchrony and pathological susceptibility to entrainment by sensory input. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first successful demonstration of desynchronization by noninvasive brain stimulation leading to reduced vertigo. Other disease states associated with pathological functional coupling of neuronal networks may similarly benefit from this novel approach. 11 15 1
Pentecostalism: A Comparative Study of African and African American Churches in Springfield
No full textThis thesis is a comparative ethnography of two forms of black Pentecostalism, an African American congregation and an African immigrant congregation. The goal of this project is to show the similarities and differences between these Pentecostal groups. By observing members and interviewing them about worship practices, glossolalic utterances, and gender, the project reveals that although these two groups historically have a common root, there are both real parallels and differences between them because they developed independently from each other. This fieldwork at the African American Deliverance Temple Ministries and the African immigrant Redeemed Christian Church of God revealed that women do not only constitute the majority but also occupy pastoral and many other sensitive leadership positions. The study found that women used their positions to resist male domination. Church mothers in both churches serve as advisors. However, the black church requires these church mothers to live sanctified lives, while in the African immigrant church, they are elevated to this position due to their age. A closer observation of their worship reveals that ecstatic worship in the African American church involves the use of flags, shouting, and moaning, while shouting and moaning are considered a distraction in the African immigrant church unless there is a call and response during preaching. The ethnography reveals that the understanding and effectiveness of glossolalia differs between these groups and among members of the same church. Ultimately, glossolalia characterizes African immigrant worship while the African American church does not pay attention to it
Investigation into Bacterial Impairment of Greene and Polk County Water Systems
No full textBacterial impairment of water systems is a major issue facing mankind. Bacteria that are introduced into a system have the potential to cause harmful diseases to wildlife and humans. In Greene and Polk counties, many water systems have become bacterially impaired over the years. Despite this, little is known about the contamination of known harmful bacteria in this region. To address this issue, I investigated the presence of known human pathogens across water systems in these two counties, many of which have displayed high levels of E. coli and fecal indicator microorganisms over many years. I used a high-throughput sequencing approach to determine what pathogens were present at these locations. Overall, it was found that pathogens such as Legionella, Shigella/E. coli, and Yersinia were found in high abundance in one site in the Little Sac watershed and one site in the Pearson Creek watershed. Additionally, these pathogens were found to be abundant at Sequiota Park’s spring at different time points across a year. qPCR was also used to determine the presence of four commonly reported cyanotoxin genes: cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, microcystin, and saxitoxin. Cyanotoxins are produced by Cyanobacteria and are known to cause various diseases. Of the four tested, only the anatoxin-a gene was detected. It was found that there was an increase in anatoxin-a containing cyanobacteria at site LS_171. Additionally, this site displayed increased abundance in Planktothrix-related sequences, suggesting that the increase in the anatoxin-a gene could be due to the increase in Planktothrix at this site. Conclusively, utilizing these methods may be able to help prevent diseases outbreaks associated with these pathogens
Healthcare Workers\u27 and Students\u27 Current Knowledge and Perceptions of Medical Marijuana Laws
No full textAs states across the United States enact Medical Marijuana Laws (MMLs), it is important to understand the implications of these policies and what effect they may have on the current healthcare industry. There is a lack of medical marijuana (MM) access due to novel policy and discrepancy of state legislature between those legalizing MM use versus current federal law. As of November, 2018, the state of Missouri has adopted MM policy, yet the perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge of MM and MMLs for current and future healthcare workers remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to survey local healthcare workers and healthcare students of their current knowledge and perceptions of MM and MMLs. Fifty-four healthcare workers or students completed the survey. Psychometric analysis was used to assess the reliability and validity of the attitudes and perceptions survey via factor analysis and a Cronbach’s Alpha (CA) score. Four subscales were created including: Safety 8-item subscale (CA=.89), Advocacy 7-item subscale (CA=.79, Awareness 8-item subscale (CA=.70), and Misuse 8-item subscale (CA=.88). There were statistically significant differences among healthcare workers and students regarding perception of MM safety (p = .014), and perceptions that MM has been adequately studied by scientists (p = .047). Perceptions of MMLs may be changing due to an increasing number of states in the U.S with mixed policies. Public health education on MM should include safe alternatives due to the development of CBD-based therapies. This will add to current research of MM and be utilized to help clarify how policy impacts the healthcare industry within the state of Missouri. Future studies should also present validity data for measures of knowledge and perceptions of MMLs among healthcare workers and students, which could help explain the impact of MMLs on perceptions among patients and providers. However, responses show inconsistent knowledge of MMLs and a small percent have received education on MM. This population within Missouri is in direct contact with patients and should be properly educated on the subject of MMLs. Missouri’s healthcare industry should stay informed on treatments that are available to its people and provide all the necessary information about such treatment
Elephant Genomes Reveal Accelerated Evolution in Mechanisms Underlying Disease Defenses
No full textDisease susceptibility and resistance are important factors for the conservation of endangered species, including elephants. We analyzed pathology data from 26 zoos and report that Asian elephants have increased neoplasia and malignancy prevalence compared with African bush elephants. This is consistent with observed higher susceptibility to tuberculosis and elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) in Asian elephants. To investigate genetic mechanisms underlying disease resistance, including differential responses between species, among other elephant traits, we sequenced multiple elephant genomes. We report a draft assembly for an Asian elephant, and defined 862 and 1,017 conserved potential regulatory elements in Asian and African bush elephants, respectively. In the genomes of both elephant species, conserved elements were significantly enriched with genes differentially expressed between the species. In Asian elephants, these putative regulatory regions were involved in immunity pathways including tumor-necrosis factor, which plays an important role in EEHV response. Genomic sequences of African bush, forest, and Asian elephant genomes revealed extensive sequence conservation at TP53 retrogene loci across three species, which may be related to TP53 functionality in elephant cancer resistance. Positive selection scans revealed outlier genes related to additional elephant traits. Our study suggests that gene regulation plays an important role in the differential inflammatory response of Asian and African elephants, leading to increased infectious disease and cancer susceptibility in Asian elephants. These genomic discoveries can inform future functional and translational studies aimed at identifying effective treatment approaches for ill elephants, which may improve conservation
Tuning Exchange Coupling in NiO-Based Bimagnetic Heterostructured Nanocrystals
No full textA series of bimagnetic heterostructured nanocrystals having an antiferromagnetic NiO core and a ferrimagnetic MnxNi1-xO and/or FiM Mn3O4 island nanophase overgrowth has been synthesized under varying aqueous solution pH conditions. The two-step self-assembly process employs a thermal decomposition method to synthesize NiO nanoparticles, followed by growth of the MnxNi1-xO and/or Mn3O4 nanophase over the NiO core using hydrothermal synthesis at pH values ranging from 2.4-7.0. The environmentally benign hydrothermal process involves pH control of the protonation vs hydroxylation reactions occurring at the nanoparticle surface. TEM analysis and Rietveld refinement of XRD data show that three distinct types of heterostructured nanocrystals occur: NiO/MnxNi1-xO core-shell-like heterostructures at the pH of 2.4, mixed NiO/MnxNi1-xO and/or/Mn3O4 core-overgrowth structures for 2.4 \u3c pH \u3c 4.5, and predominantly NiO/Mn3O4 core-island structures for pH \u3e 4.5. The magnetic coercivity and exchange bias of the heterostructured nanocrystals vary systematically with the pH of the aqueous solution used to synthesize the samples. The temperature-dependent magnetization and hysteresis loop data are consistent with the nature of overlayer coverage of the NiO core. Our DFT based calculations show that the MnxNi1-xO phase has ferrimagnetic properties with a stable spin orientation along the ⟨111⟩ orientation. Furthermore, the calculations show that the magnetic anisotropy constant (K1) of the Mn3O4 phase is considerably larger than that of the MnxNi1-xO phase, which is confirmed by our experimental results. The coercivity and exchange bias field are the largest for the NiO/Mn3O4 core-island nanocrystals, synthesized at a pH value of 5.0, with robust values of nearly 6 kOe and 3 kOe, respectively. This work demonstrates the tunability of hydrothermal deposition, and concomitant magnetic coercivity and exchange bias properties, of MnxNi1-xO and/or Mn3O4 nanophase overgrowth over a NiO core with pH, that makes these heterostructured nanocrystals potentially useful for magnetic device, biomedical, and other applications
Dynamics between the budget deficit and the government debt in the United States: A nonlinear analysis
No full textThis paper empirically investigates the dynamics between budget deficit and government debt in the U.S. using two different measures of the budget deficit: the current budget deficit and cyclically-adjusted budget deficit. A threshold Vector autoregression (VAR) model is estimated to explore the dynamics in different regimes using quarterly data from 1947:Q1 to 2017:Q3. The specification test rejects a linear VAR model against the threshold VAR. When we use the current budget deficit, regime 1 resemble governments prioritize minimizing budget deficit and debt, whereas, regime 2 resemble otherwise. When we use the cyclically adjusted budget deficit, regime 1 resemble economic expansions, whereas, regime 2 resemble recessions. The impulse responses show evidence of asymmetry and counter-cyclicality. The impulse responses also indicate that an increase in the debt dictate the government’s response towards minimizing the budget deficit and tend to prioritize budget deficit less when the economy expands
The Relationship Between Self-Reported Measures of Anxiety and Sensory Processing
No full textAuditory sensory gating, a type of sensory processing, is a physiological mechanism that allows the brain to filter out and respond less to redundant sensory information. Poor sensory gating has been found in clinical groups such as Alzheimer’s dementia (Jessen et al., 2001), bipolar I disorder (Lijffijt et al., 2009), schizophrenia (Patterson et al., 2008), and other anxiety-related psychopathologies such as panic disorder (Ghisolfi et al., 2006), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Orr et al., 2002), and obsessive-compulsive-disorder (OCD) (Hashimoto, 2007). Research is limited regarding effects of chronic worry and anxiety on sensory gating ability. This study will explore the relationship between anxiety and self-reported sensory gating ability. Questionnaires were administered in the form of a confidential online survey accessed through the SONA System, linked to Qualtrics. Participants completed the Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI), Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), Adult Sensory Processing Scale (ASPS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y2 Form (STAI-Y2), General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD7), along with a demographic questionnaire. This exploratory study provided evidence that anxiety and sensory processing are closely related. Results suggest individuals who report more sensory processing difficulties also experience more symptoms of anxiety