cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extended, Embodied Cognition and Second Language Acquisition

A cognitivist approach to cognition has traditionally dominated second language acquisition (SLA) studies. In this article, I examine two alternative approaches—extended cognition and embodied cognition—for how they might help us conceptualize SLA. More specifically, I present: (i) summaries of extended and embodied cognition, followed by reasons why the two can be treated as a single, synthetic perspective; (ii) an approach to SLA grounded in an extended, embodied view of cognition—i.e. a sociocognitive approach—in three principles; and (iii) a naturally occurring example of extended, embodied cognition-for-SLA.
Synthesis and tritium labeling of the food mutagens IQ and methyl‐IQ

The mutagens found in cooked meat, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (Methyl - IQ), have been synthesized by unambiguous methods that allow for the preparation of sufficient quantities of material for biological studies. These methods avoid difficult separations of regioisomeric mixtures of products and incorporate specific high level tritium, labeling, effected by hydrogenolysis of the appropriately substituted 5-bromo precursors.
A system for describing the expected hazards of building fires

The Building Firesafety Model serves as an efficient tool for systematically evaluating complete building designs or specific elements of a fire code, such as those standards regarding the flame spread rating of wall coverings and the location of exits. This model enables the evaluation of fire safety implied by compliance with codes such as the HUD/MPS, NFPA 101, and the model building codes used throughout the United States. Furthermore, the model provides the flexibility to evaluate the use of new materials, while ensuring an acceptable level of fire safety without causing undue or unnecessary costs.Both the designer and code official may use this tool, once it has been perfected, as a guide to predict the building's fire safety performance before it is constructed. By using the model, these professionals may jointly assess the trade-off in a variety of architectural and engineering designs incorporating the use of innovative materials. Projects involving, for example, low-cost housing, new community development, structural rehabilitation, and energy conservation systems could also be analyzed. Thus far, the Building Firesafety Model has been used to evaluate: 1. (1) full-scale fire tests;2. (2) alternative single-family dwelling designs;3. (3) fire door in a multifamily dwelling;4. (4) smoke control procedures in a care-type facility;5. (5) stove hoods in mobile homes;6. (6) escape potential in the Beverly Hills Supper Club;7. (7) the effect of room size on fire safety.These applications have illustrated the importance of considering the complex interactions among factors related to the occupant capabilities; building and room dimensions; barriers; variations in fuel loading, ignitability, and flame spread rating; and environment characteristics such as wind conditions and humidity.The Building Firesafety Model also provides a framework for evaluating the trade-off between individual and community fire detection and suppression capabilities. Such innovation could, in the short run, increase construction costs; but, in the long run, decrease the cost of building ownership by reducing the losses due to fire. This will eventually lead to a reduction in insurance costs and, perhaps, taxes due to decreased reliance on community fire suppression services.
Effect of curatives and antidegradants on flow properties of uncured rubber compounds)

Using new processability testing techniques, the effects of curatives and antidegradants on flow properties of uncured rubber compounds have been studied. Results obtained show that a change of the cure system or the antidegradant type can affect the viscosity curve and the extrudate swell behaviour of NR and SBR compounds.
Downregulation of Inflammatory MicroRNAs by Ig-like Transcript 3 Is Essential for the Differentiation of Human CD8+ T Suppressor Cells

We have investigated the mechanism underlying the immunoregulatory function of membrane Ig-like transcript 3 (ILT3) and soluble ILT3Fc. microRNA (miRNA) expression profile identified genes that were downregulated in ILT3-induced human CD8 + T suppressor cells (Ts) while upregulated in T cells primed in the absence of ILT3. We found that miR-21, miR-30b, and miR-155 target the 3′-untranslated region of genes whose expression was strongly increased in ILT3Fc-induced Ts, such as dual specificity phosphatase 10, B cell CLL/lymphoma 6, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, respectively. Transfection of miRNA mimics or inhibitors and site-specific mutagenesis of their 3′-untranslated region binding sites indicated that B cell CLL/lymphoma 6, dual specificity phosphatase 10, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 are direct targets of miR-30b, miR-21, and miR-155. Primed CD8 + T cells transfected with miR-21&30b, miR-21&155, or miR-21&30b&155 inhibitors displayed suppressor activity when added to autologous CD3-triggered CD4 T cells. Luciferase reporter assays of miR-21 and miR-155 indicated that their transcription is highly dependent on AP-1. Analysis of activated T cells showed that ILT3Fc inhibited the translocation to the nucleus of the AP-1 subunits, FOSB and c-FOS, and the phosphorylation of ZAP70 and phospholipase C-γ 1. In conclusion, ILT3Fc inhibits T cell activation and induces the generation of Ts targeting multiple inflammatory miRNA pathways.
Epstein-Barr Virus Gene Expression in the Peripheral Blood of Transplant Recipients with Persistent Circulating Virus Loads

Pediatric solid organ transplant recipients are at risk for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven lymphoproliferative disease. The expression of 5 sentinel EBV genes (EBNA1, EBNA2a, LMP1, LMP2a, and ZEBRA) was examined in solid organ transplant recipients who developed persistent virus loads in their peripheral blood lymphocytes after transplantation. Two distinct groups were identified. LMP2a gene expression alone was detected among 12 of 14 patients carrying EBV loads 100 copies/10(5) lymphocytes. Two high-load carriers made LMP1 RNA but not the RNA for LMP2a or any of the other viral genes. Therefore, persistent low-load carriers appear to maintain an apparently normal state of latent viral infection, whereas high-load carriers display a unique LMP1:LMP2a pattern of viral gene expression that has not been previously described.
Seismic Analysis of Integral Abutment Bridges Considering Soil-Structure Interaction

Integral abutment bridges are single or multiple span bridges with the superstructure cast integrally with the substructure and designed without any expansion joints in the bridge deck. These bridges are usually designed to spread the stiffness and flexibility throughout the structure and the soil so that all supports accommodate the loads. These bridges usually include capped pile stub abutments. The piers are typically constructed in such a way that they may be cast either integrally with or independent of the superstructure. Semi-integral bridges are single or multiple span continuous bridges with rigid, non-integral foundations and movement systems primarily composed of integral end diaphragms, compressible backfill, and movable bearings in a horizontal joint at the superstructure abutment interface. The first integral bridge was built in 1938 at the Teens Run Bridge in Ohio in the United States. It consisted of five continuous reinforced concrete slab spans supported by capped pile piers and abutments. The construction of integral bridges has since spread throughout the United States and abroad. It is important to reduce or eliminate roadway expansion joints and associated expansion bearings to improve structure life and maintenance costs. Joint bearings are expensive to buy, install, maintain repair, and replace. Corrosion causes leaking expansion joints and seals which leads deicing salt from the roadway surface to attack the girder end bearings and concrete substructures. Therefore, many states have been eliminating joints and bearings where possible and trying to go with cost-effective alternative jointless bridges despite the uncertainty and complexity of integral bridge behavior. These integral bridges offer several advantages over conventional structures and are currently used in more than thirty different states, Canadian provinces, and Europe. However, engineers should have a good understanding of conventional bridges since integral bridges are subjected to the same secondary effects as conventional bridges, which include shrinkage, creep, thermal gradients, and differential settlement. In particular thermal movements need to be well understood because the movement must be accommodated by other means since deck joints are not provided.
Recent Progress in the Development of (F2+)A Color Center Lasers

We review our recent work on the development of color-center lasers based on lithium-(F2 +)A centers in KI and RbI crystals. These laser materials have received considerable attention in recent years since they should provide broadly-tunable laser action at wavelengths longer than 3 μm [1,2]. We describe three significant advances that include: (1) the attainment of tunable laser action using electron-beam colored RbI, (2) the production of (F2 +)A centers in stable, additively-colored KI:Li crystals and (3) the application of a two-step photoionization technique to achieve high concentrations of (F2 +)A centers in both materials.
Mechanism of insulin resistance induced by sustained levels of cytosolic free calcium in rat adipocytes

We have recently provided evidence that elevated levels of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes. To investigate the mechanism of Ca2+ action, we examined the effects of elevated levels of [Ca2+]i on insulin binding, autophosphorylation, and tyrosine kinase activity (TKA) of insulin receptors as well as basal and insulin-stimulated cellular distribution of glucose transporters. The latter was assessed by cytochalasin-B binding to plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions. Elevated concentrations of [Ca2+]i were maintained by incubating adipocytes with a depolarizing concentration of K+ (40 mM). Basal nonstimulated glucose uptake was not altered by increased levels of [Ca2+]i. Adipocytes with higher [Ca2+]i (220 +/- 15 nM) showed 30% reduction in insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake compared with control cells ([Ca2+]i, 140 +/- 18 nM). Moreover, adipocytes with higher levels of [Ca2+]i demonstrated an approximately 10% reduction in autophosphorylation and TKA of insulin receptors without a change in insulin binding. Both basal and insulin-stimulated distributions of glucose transporters were unaffected by sustained levels of [Ca2+]i. The effects of elevated [Ca2+]i were not mimicked by protein kinase-C activation. These observations suggest that 1) elevated or sustained levels of [Ca2+]i impair insulin-stimulated glucose uptake; and 2) Ca2+-induced impairment appears to reside at the postbinding steps of insulin action and probably interferes with the TKA of insulin receptors and the intrinsic activity of glucose transporters.
The care of patients with dementia

The dementias which affect the elderly are chronic diseases with protracted courses, substantial morbidity, complicated presentations and serious effects on families and caregivers. The care of a patient with dementia is therefore complex, requiring a rational model of treatment including careful multidisciplinary evaluation, a treatment plan, and ongoing reassessment. The aim of this article is to provide a framework for any clinician involved in the management of patients with dementia. Dementia has been thought of as untreatable by some health professionals: however, in many ways it can be managed effectively and its consequences reversed or stabilized, even though the disease process may be irreversible. With evolving knowledge in basic research and with the development of new intervention strategies, more effective treatments will be available over the next several years. Therefore we provide a guide to the management of patients with dementia which is responsive to the introduction of future treatments.
Tournament Theory Thirty Years of Contests and Competitions

Tournament theory is useful for describing behavior when reward structures are based on relative rank rather than absolute levels of output. Accordingly, management scholars have used tournament theory to describe a wide range of inter- and intraorganizational competitions, such as promotion contests, innovation contests, and competition among franchisees. While the use of tournament theory has gained considerable momentum in recent years, the ideas that underlie the theory have become blurred and potentially useful insights remain trapped within disciplines. We, therefore, provide a synthesis of the theory’s foundational concepts, review its use in the management literature, identify advancements from related disciplines that may be imported to management research, and delineate the steps likely to be critical to moving the theory forward. Our hope is this review will make tournament theory more accessible and salient to management researchers with a view toward developing more nuanced versions of the th...
Repetitive Readout of a Single Electronic Spin via Quantum Logic with Nuclear Spin Ancillae

Robust measurement of single quantum bits plays a key role in the realization of quantum computation and communication as well as in quantum metrology and sensing. We have implemented a method for the improved readout of single electronic spin qubits in solid-state systems. The method makes use of quantum logic operations on a system consisting of a single electronic spin and several proximal nuclear spin ancillae in order to repetitively readout the state of the electronic spin. Using coherent manipulation of a single nitrogen vacancy center in room-temperature diamond, full quantum control of an electronic-nuclear system consisting of up to three spins was achieved. We took advantage of a single nuclear-spin memory in order to obtain a 10-fold enhancement in the signal amplitude of the electronic spin readout. We also present a two-level, concatenated procedure to improve the readout by use of a pair of nuclear spin ancillae, an important step toward the realization of robust quantum information processors using electronic- and nuclear-spin qubits. Our technique can be used to improve the sensitivity and speed of spin-based nanoscale diamond magnetometers.
Soil mediates the interaction of coexisting entomopathogenic nematodes with an insect host

We tested for soil substrate effects on the movement and infectivity of naturally co-occurring entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis marelatus, alone and in combination. We manipulated the presence and bulk density of soil and added Galleria mellonella baits within capped and perforated 15 mL centrifuge tubes. Sampling tubes were then deployed in situ into field and laboratory settings as experimental traps for infective juveniles. In comparisons with standard soil collections from Lupinus arboreus rhizospheres, sampling tubes were equally sensitive to the presence of H. marelatus and more sensitive to S. feltiae. In laboratory microcosms, both EPN species infected Galleria at high frequencies in tubes lacking soil and in the absence of heterospecifics. Infection frequency of S. feltiae was unaffected by the presence of H. marelatus, but it declined with higher soil bulk density inside tubes. In contrast, detectable infection frequency by H. marelatus was reduced only marginally by the presence of soil but severely by the presence of S. feltiae. Thus, the presence of soil in tubes reversed the identity of dominant species infecting Galleria in tubes, an effect magnified when soils were compacted. Moreover, S. feltiae rarely moved into tubes lacking Galleria baits, whereas H. marelatus colonized unbaited tubes 4- to 5-fold more frequently than S. feltiae. In situ, sampling tubes acted as filters to reduce interference and contamination by fungal pathogens common in field soils. The method allows precision sampling with minimal soil disturbance while protecting bait insects from scavengers. Manipulation of tube design may allow selective sampling of EPN species, depending on the abiotic characteristics of soils, and the biology, behavior, and interspecific interactions of coexisting species.
The neural basis of object perception

Humans can recognize an object within a fraction of a second, even if there are no clues about what kind of object it might be. Recent findings have identified functional properties of extrastriate regions in the ventral visual pathway that are involved in the representation and perception of objects and faces. The functional properties of these regions, and the correlation between the activation of these regions and visual recognition, indicate that the lateral and ventral occipito-temporal areas are important in perceiving and recognizing objects and faces.
Intravitreal bevacizumab as adjunctive treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

Background While laser photocoagulation remains the standard of care in the treatment of advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), regression is not seen in all cases (especially in aggressive posterior disease) following laser alone. We report the results of the use of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody bevacizumab in eyes with ROP at high risk for progression. Methods Records of all infants with ROP treated with bevacizumab were reviewed. Bevacizumab was given when conventional laser therapy was not possible in patients with poor pupillary dilation from iris rubeosis, dense vitreous hemorrhage, or increasing vascular activity and vitreoretinal traction despite completed laser therapy. We recorded birth weight, gestational age at birth, severity of ROP, anatomic result, any additional ophthalmic interventions, and early or late adverse systemic effects. Results Thirteen eyes of 7 infants (median gestational age, 25 weeks; median birth weight, 700 g; follow-up, 9 months [range, 2-17]) were treated with an intravitreal injection of 0.75 mg bevacizumab under sterile conditions by 1 surgeon following detailed discussion with family and attending neonatologists. Injection was not used as monotherapy in any case. Definitive treatment (laser or vitrectomy) was completed successfully within 72 hours of injection. No systemic complication attributable to bevacizumab treatment has been recorded within 2 to 17 months of follow-up. Conclusions Treatment with bevacizumab may be used to improve visualization for more definitive laser or surgical treatment and may facilitate disease regression without obvious systemic toxicity. Optimization of dosing, timing, and indications will require additional study.
Controlling the orientations of gold nanorods inside highly packed 2D arrays.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) were assembled into highly packed two dimensional (2D) arrays with different structures by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The structure of the 2D arrays (the width of the arrays, the surface area and the shape of circular voids) was controlled by varying the applied surface pressure in the LB trough. Due to the shape anisotropy of AuNRs, both end-to-end (EE) and side-by-side (SS) assembly were observed depending on the chain length of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer functionalized with their surfaces. Short chain PEG encouraged the SS assembly of the AuNRs, while the SS and EE assemblies were obtained in case of using the long chain PEG. Numerical calculation of the potential energy between two nanorods as a function of separation and orientation yielded good predictions of the optimum separation distance between the nanorods and their orientations inside the arrays. Due to the alignment of the AuNRs inside the arrays, optical measurements of the arrays showed a strong longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak when excited by polarized light along the axis of the majority of the rods. When the polarization angle was rotated by 90 degrees, the intensity of the high energy transverse LSPR peak was increased. The measured LSPR spectrum of the arrays was confirmed by discrete dipole approximation (DDA) calculations, which was used to simulate both the LSPR spectrum and the plasmon field distribution.
Compact, lightweight, superconducting power generators

Many future military systems will depend heavily on high electrical power input ranging from hundreds of kilowatts up to the multimegawatt level. These weapon systems include electromagnetic launch applications as well as electrically driven directed energy weapons (DEW), such as high-power microwaves and solid-state lasers. These power generation subsystems must often be packaged using limited space and strict weight limits on either ground mobile or airborne platforms. Superconducting generators made of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) will enable megawatt-class airborne power systems that are lightweight and compact. Also discussed briefly are new advances in HTS conductors and refrigeration systems furthering the development of HTS power systems.
Impaired Regulatory T-Cell Response and Enhanced Atherosclerosis in the Absence of Inducible Costimulatory Molecule

Background— T-cell–mediated immunity contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but little is known about how these responses are regulated. We explored the influence of the inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS) on atherosclerosis and associated immune responses. Methods and Results— Bone morrow chimeras were generated by transplanting ICOS-deficient or wild-type bone marrow into irradiated atherosclerosis-prone, LDR receptor–deficient mice, and the chimeric mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Compared with controls, mice transplanted with ICOS-deficient marrow had a 43% increase in the atherosclerotic burden, and importantly, their lesions had a 3-fold increase in CD4+ T cells, as well as increased macrophage, smooth muscle cell, and collagen content. CD4+ T cells from ICOS-deficient chimeras proliferated more and secreted more interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α than T cells from control mice, which suggests a lack of regulation. FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) were found...
MAb 18D3 triggering of integrin beta 1 will prevent but not terminate proliferation of human T cells.

Triggering of integrins can deliver signals that will regulate T cell activation and proliferation when coupled with TCR/CD3 signaling. While co-activation stimuli can be achieved either with immobilized natural ligands or immobilized monoclonal antibodies specific for various integrin subunits, counterposing effects can be delivered by ligation of the integrin β1 chain (CD29) resulting in the downregulation of T cell proliferation. Thus, integrins may play a pivotal role in cell activation and are involved in both positive and negative regulatory pathways. In this report, anti-β1 mAb 18D3 was used to investigate the role of β1 in the negative regulation of T cell proliferation. T lymphocytes were stimulated to proliferate when activated with immobilized mAb to CD3 in conjunction with all of a panel of immobilized mAb to different α4 (CD49d) and β1 epitopes, except the anti-β1.1 mAb 18D3. In soluble form, mAb 18D3 inhibited the induction of DNA synthesis dependent on costimulation of CD3 and the integrin ...
A comparison of reproductive parameters of the Bering skate, Bathyraja interrupta, from two Alaskan large marine ecosystems

Estimates of size at maturity are crucial to fisheries stock assessments and may change spatially and temporally. This studydirectly compares life-history characteristics of askate species intwo large marine ecosystems ina regionwherethereisbothadirectedfisheryandconsiderableskateby-catchinotherfisheries.TheBeringskate,Bathyraja interrupta, is one of the most common skate species in Alaskan waters, occurring in two large marine ecosystems, the easternBeringSea(EBS)andtheGulfofAlaska(GOA),butlittleisknownaboutitslifehistory.Skatesweresampledfrom bothregionsbetween2004and2007.IntheGOA,thesizeatmaturitywasestimatedtobe69cmtotallength(TL)formales and 71cmTL for females, while in the EBS size at maturity was estimated as 70cm and 72cmTL for males and females, respectively. Median size at maturity differed by sex but not by region. Our results indicate that B. interrupta shows late maturity, typical of most skate species, suggesting that more detailed monitoring of skate populations and precautionary management is warranted as skate fisheries expand.
Amphiphilic PEG/alkyl-grafted comb polylactides

Amphiphilic polylactides (PLAs) with well-defined architectures were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of AB monomers (glycolides) substituted with both a long chain alkyl group and a triethylene glycol segment terminated in either a methyl or benzyl group. The resulting amphiphilic PLAs had number average molecular weights >100,000 g/mol. DSC analysis revealed a first-order phase transition at ∼20 °C, reflecting the crystalline nature of the linear alkyl side chains. Polymeric micelles were prepared by the solvent displacement method in water. Dynamic light scattering measurements support formation of a mixture of 20-nm-diameter unimolecular micelles and 60-nm particles comprised of an estimated 25 polymer molecules. UV-vis characterization of micelles formed from acetone-water solutions containing azobenzene confirmed encapsulation of the hydrophobic dye, suggesting their potential as new amphiphilic PLAs as drug delivery vehicles.
Visual and auditory signal detection

Humans participated in a signal detection experiment wherein nontransient signals were set up according to three different schedules. For two visual Ss observing responses illuminated a meter for 0.40 sec. Two auditory Ss interrupted silence for 0.40 sec by pressing the observing button. Cumulative observing response curves from these four Ss showed (1) a high degree of control by the schedule of signals and (2) no substantial differences between Ss. This finding is taken to indicate that observing response patterns are not subject to any scanning artifacts unique to visual signal detection experiments.
Thermal zones for more efficient data center energy management

The optimization of cooling resources within data centers (DCs), which includes the localized provisioning of cooling power with respect to the heat dissipation, can lead to significant reduction of energy consumption [1]. While such matching is rather straightforward for the entire DC, on a more granular level however, the large range of heat densities of today's IT equipment has made this task much more challenging. One complication comes from the fact there is little operational information, for example, which physical areas (or zones) are supplied by the different air conditioning units (ACUs) so that local cooling demands can be met [2]. Evidently, such zones are not only determined by the placement and air flow produced by each ACU but also by the locations of perforated tiles throughout the DC and many other parameters. Here we present a general methodology for determining such zones. Specifically, we use a simplified physics model to calculate the air flow velocity field within the DC [3,4,5]. The novelty of the approach is that the boundary conditions are obtained from real-time measurements. Once the air flow pattern is calculated, we deploy an efficient tracing algorithm, which follows the air from/to each area of the DC back to the originating/returning ACU. The trace connects a specific ACU with its related zone. Each zone can be associated with the actual efficiency of the corresponding ACU by considering the respective utilization of the units (heat removed / nominal heat load removal capacity) or coefficient of performance (COP=heat removed / power consumption for ACU fans). Both COP and ACU utilization can be obtained from real-time temperature and air flow measurements. The paper will also discuss a software tool, which helps operators to use this information for improving DC energy efficiency.
Dextromethorphan protects against cerebral injury following transient focal ischemia in rabbits

We investigated dextromethorphan, both a dextrorotatory opioid derivative and a clinically tested N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, in a rabbit model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. Fourteen rabbits were randomly assigned to treatment with a 20 mg/kg i.v. loading dose followed by a 10 mg/kg/hr infusion of 0.4% dextromethorphan in normal saline or with an equivalent volume of normal saline alone. One hour after treatment, the rabbits underwent a 1-hour occlusion of the left internal carotid and anterior cerebral arteries followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. The seven dextromethorphan-treated rabbits showed a significant decrease in the area of neocortical severe ischemic neuronal damage (10.5%) compared with the seven normal saline-treated controls (49.6%, p less than 0.001). The dextromethorphan-treated rabbits also demonstrated significantly smaller areas of cortical edema (10.2%) on magnetic resonance imaging than the controls (38.6%, p less than 0.01). Analysis of somatosensory evoked potentials revealed recovery of the ipsilateral amplitude to contralateral values within 5 minutes of reperfusion in the dextromethorphan-treated rabbits but not in the controls (p less than 0.01). In our rabbit model of transient focal cerebral ischemia, dextromethorphan appears to protect the brain against ischemic neuronal damage and edema, as well as to promote neurophysiologic recovery. This clinically available drug should be further investigated as having potential therapeutic value in the treatment of stroke.
A New Radiation Chopper Principle

A radiation chopper principle yielding high discrimination against short-wavelength radiation is described. A sample instrument has been built and tested for 13-cps operation. The chopper principle can be applied throughout the entire infrared wavelength region in many instruments.
A General Examination of Earnings Management around Financial Benchmarks

Previous literature on earnings management has examined the maintained hypothesis that firms barely beating earnings benchmarks are earnings manipulators with earnings before accounting manipulation otherwise slightly below their benchmarks and has implemented research designs that treat all suspect earnings-managing firms as engaging in this behavior. Little support has been found for this hypothesis. In this paper, we develop a two-way, reported earnings conditional on non-discretionary earnings, research design to examine this conjecture and find a more complex story: earnings management to barely meet benchmarks consisting of positive, negative, large, and small discretionary accruals – earnings smoothing. This result holds for all three financial benchmarks (i.e., zero earnings levels, earnings changes, and analyst forecasts) across a number of conservative and robust research designs.
Expression of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 in the Oocytes Is Essential for the Development of Primordial Follicles in the Hamster Ovary

Postnatal growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) expression in the hamster oocytes precedes the formation of primordial follicles. We examined the functional significance of GDF-9 in primordial folliculogenesis in the hamster ovary using RNA interference knockdown of GDF-9 mRNA and protein expression. Fifteen-day-old fetal ovaries were cultured for 9 d with or without 1 ng FSH, 1 microl Metafectane, 100 nM control nontargeting small interfering RNA (siRNA), GDF-9 siRNA, or GDF-9 siRNA + FSH, and the development of primordial follicles examined. The efficiency of siRNA transfecting ovarian cells in the organ culture was tested by culturing ovaries with siGlo, a nontargeting control siRNA labeled with Cy3. More than 90% of cells in the ovary were siGlo positive, and neither the Metafectane nor the siRNA-induced cellular apoptosis. Control siRNA did not affect the basal levels of GDF-9 mRNA, but GDF-9 siRNA slightly but significantly reduced the level. FSH markedly up-regulated the levels of GDF-9 mRNA and protein, and the effect was completely suppressed by GDF-9 siRNA. However, GDF-9 siRNA did not affect the levels of bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA or beta-actin mRNA. GDF-9 siRNA alone also reduced GDF-9 protein expression. Concurrent with GDF-9 expression, FSH significantly augmented primordial follicle formation, but the effect was abolished by GDF-9 siRNA. These results suggest that endogenous GDF-9 plays an important role in somatic cell differentiation and the formation of primordial follicles. Furthermore, FSH, by virtue of regulating GDF-9 expression, modulates oocyte regulation of primordial follicles formation.
Acrostics and Metrics in Hebrew Poetry

In his search for the key to Hebrew metrics, George Buchanan Gray devoted considerable attention to the acrostic poems of the Old Testament. Since they are by no means typical of Hebrew poetry generally, it may be doubted whether they provide a suitable base on which to formulate principles governing the nature of the metrical systems employed by the biblical poets. Furthermore, the fact that acrostic poems have a rather rigid structure may have encouraged greater independence on the part of the poet in working out internal configurations so that a wider range of variation results, partly from the desire to avoid monotony, than would otherwise be the case. The great virtue of acrostic poems is that lines or stanzas are regularly marked off by words beginning with successive letters of the alphabet. Thus in the Book of Lamentations, the first four chapters are regular acrostics, while the fifth chapter follows the same pattern but without making use of the alphabetic device itself. In the first three chapters, three-line stanzas are the rule; in chapters one and two each stanza begins with a successive letter of the alphabet, whereas in chapter three, each of the three lines of the stanza begins with the same letter of the alphabet. Thus the first word of the first stanza of each of the poems begins with the letter 'ālef; in the case of chapter three, the second and third lines of the stanza also begin with 'ālef. The first word of the second stanza begins with bēt; again in chapter three, the second and third lines also begin with bēt. Chapter four follows the same pattern as chapters one and two, except that the stanzas have two lines instead of three.
Okun’s law: evidence of 13 selected developed countries

This paper re-examines the validity of Okun’s Law for 13 selected developed countries over 1970–2013. λ maxand λ trace tests reveal cointegrating relationship between unemployment rate and real GDP growth in all countries except Germany. However, dynamic OLS estimates portray a somewhat different picture. The estimates of bivariate error-correction model (ECM) unveil that Okun’s Law is quite valid only for the USA and South Korea. At the same time, evidence is relatively weaker for Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, UK and Australia. However, it is invalid for Germany.
Teaching Through Traumatic Events: Uncovering the Choices of Management Educators as They Responded to September 11th

The terrorist events of September 11th shocked the world. Management professors needed to deal with these events in their classrooms. Using qualitative methods based on 37 interviews across four un...
Study on evaluation of functional coordination of urban green space system——A case study of Heshan city

Considering the complexity,urban green space system was divided into 3 subsystems,including landscape green space,ecological green space,recreational and disaster prevention green space. According to the principle of synergetics,coordination evaluation model of urban green space system was established. Taking Heshan city as the research object,we determined the threshold of each parameter component,and then calculated its value. The results showed that the coordination degree of green space system in Heshan was 0.52,indicating that the urban green space system in Heshan was in a basic synergistic state. In the three subsystems,landscape green space subsystem had the largest contribution with value of 0.62,while ecological green space subsystem had the minimum contribution with value of 0.48,contribution of recreation and disaster prevention green space subsystem was in the middle level with value of 0.50.
Etiological surveillance of hand foot and mouth disease in Nanchang,Jiangxi,2012

Objective To understand the etiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease( HFMD) in Nanchang in 2012 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD. Methods From January to December 2012,a total of 1028 samples were collected from clinically diagnosed HFMD cases for detection of entericvirus with real time RT-PCR. Results Entericviruses were detected in 632 of 1028 samples( 61. 48%),and 401 were positive for EV71( 39. 0%),105 were positive for Cox A16( 10. 21%); 1 was identified as co-infection with EV71 and Cox A16; 125 were positive for other unknown entericviruses( 12. 16%). The male to female ratio of laboratory confirmed patients was 1. 8∶ 1. HFMD mainly occurred in children aged 5 years( 94. 36%),especially in boys less than 3 years old. Conclusion The major pathogen causing HFMD was EV71 in Nanchang in 2012,and its proportion increased compared with 2009-2011.
It's imperative to offer safety education course solidly——enlightened by the miracle that none teacher and student of Sang Zao Middle School was wounded in Wen Chuan Earthquake

The schools have been deadly damaged in the Wenchuan earthquake,but Sanzao Junior High School is one case in point as it made a miracle that no one teacher and student were damaged or died in the earthquake.Thorough the analyzing this especial case,the essay points out that the safety education should be stressed as: Principles should ensure the implementation of safety education;National Curriculum Standards of Safety Education should be made;School safety education should be strengthened.
Toileting device for patients with decreased hand function.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is involved with aiding patients in the performance of activities of daily living. The ability to independently perform the acts involved in personal hygiene is important to a disabled person's self-esteem. This report describes a patient with weak distal upper limbs secondary to Guillain-Barre neuropathy, his difficulty with independent hygiene, and the device designed to aid independence in toileting. This device is easy and inexpensive to fabricate, and simple to use. It has applications beyond the Guillain-Barre population including patients with arthritis and burns and those with limited distal upper limb function.
Quantifying Nonindex Hospital Readmissions and Care Fragmentation after Major Urological Oncology Surgeries in a Nationally Representative Sample

Purpose: We quantified the underestimation of hospital readmission rates that can occur with institutional databases and the incidence of care fragmentation among patients undergoing urological oncology procedures in a nationally representative database.Materials and Methods: The 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for patients undergoing prostatectomy, cystectomy, nephroureterectomy, nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for urological malignancies. Nationally representative 30 and 90-day readmission and care fragmentation rates were calculated for all procedures. Readmission rates with and without nonindex hospital readmissions were compared with Pearson’s chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of care fragmentation at 90-day followup.Results: For all surgical procedures readmission rates were consistently underestimated by 17% to 29% at 90-day followup. The rates of care fragmentation among readmitted...
Africa and Africans in the making of the Atlantic world, 1400–1800: Resistance, runaways, and rebels

If Africans did manage, in many instances, to re-create and transmit African cultures in the New World, one cannot forget that these slaves still faced exceptionally difficult times. That they might have formed families, socialized with each other, developed self-help organizations, and the like did not take away from the fact that slaves were usually highly exploited. Even when they were more privileged, they were still blocked from full participation in the greater community. Under such conditions there are always people, both exploited and privileged, who see no way to change or improve their overall lot under the normal rules of the system. These people sought to go beyond the circumstances imposed upon them by slavery and demand more than their masters or rulers were willing to give them freely. These discontented people were the resisters, rebels, or runaways. Each in his or her own way and according to his or her own means sought to alter the system and its rules. For some, it was a way of bargaining for better conditions, for themselves or for their group; for others it was a way of seeking to empower themselves, to break free, or to determine their own destiny; and for a few, a means to turn the tables on their masters and rulers. Scholars analyzing resistance have generally approached it in several conflicting ways. Historians fired by cultural nationalism, for example, have seen the rebel slaves as seeking to recover African culture and values or to resist racism and deculturation.
The Colicin E1 TolC-Binding Conformer: Pillar or Pore Function of TolC in Colicin Import?

The mechanism by which the drug export protein TolC is utilized for import of the cytotoxin colicin E1 across the outer membrane and periplasmic space is addressed. Studies of the initial binding of colicin E1 with TolC, occlusion of membrane-incorporated TolC ion channels, and the structure underlying the colicin–TolC complex were based on the interactions with TolC of individual colicin translocation domain (T-domain) peptides from a set of 19 that span different segments of the T-domain. These studies led to identification of a short 20-residue segment 101–120, a “TolC box”, located near the center of the colicin T-domain, which is necessary for binding of colicin to TolC. Omission of this segment eliminated the ability of the T-domain to occlude TolC channels and to co-elute with TolC on a size-exclusion column. Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectral and thermal stability analysis of the structure of T-domain peptides implies (i) a helical hairpin conformation of the T-domain, (ii) the overlap of...
Continuity or conquest? A multi-isotope approach to investigating identity in the Early Iron Age of the Southern Levant.

Objectives Across the Mediterranean and Near East, the transition from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550–1200 BC) to the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200–900 BC) was accompanied by profound cultural change. While this transformation was initially attributed to invasion or conquest, more recent, nuanced interpretations of archaeological and biological data now emphasize the decline of palatial economies, a shift away from centralized political authority, and internal social restructuring amidst rapid climate change in lieu of “collapse.” Correspondingly, the hypothesis that Early Iron Age populations in Palestine represent the same ethnic group whose culture nevertheless underwent considerable change by actively adapting to internal and external forces was tested using biogeochemical data from individuals interred within an Early Iron Age tomb at the site of Tell Dothan. Materials and Methods Human dental enamel from molars (n = 43) recovered from Tomb I at Tell Dothan was analyzed for radiogenic strontium isotope ratios and stable oxygen and carbon (VPDB) isotope values. Results Strontium (mean = 0.70816 ± 0.00005, 1σ) isotope ratios, as well as oxygen (mean = −2.3 ± 0.7‰, 1σ) and carbon (mean = −11.9 ± 0.5‰, 1σ) isotope values, all display little variability. Discussion The absence of non-locals at Tell Dothan indicates that population replacement does not adequately explain the sociopolitical changes observed in the archaeological record. Further, homogeneity among isotope values is indicative of a community that was not highly mobile, suggesting that decentralization and a corresponding transition to a more mobile lifestyle may not accurately reflect the adaptive strategies of all human groups during this period as a mechanism to cope with social and environmental change.
New developments in the etiology and pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis.

Vaginitis by definition means inflammation of the vagina and is to be distinguished from cervicitis which has its own set of pathogens. We are aware of relatively few agents that cause vaginitis. Trichomonas vaginalis, a protozoan parasite, is usually associated with a voluminous, often frothy, green vaginal discharge. Yeast vaginitis is usually caused by the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans and is characterized by a curd-like vaginal discharge often associated with itching. Vaginitis caused by these two agents has been termed specific vaginitis and represents approximately 50% of all cases. Patients presenting to a physician with complaints of vaginitis but having evidence of neither T. vaginalis nor C. albicans were defined as having nonspecific vaginitis (NSV). NSV is not a new syndrome. As early as 1895, Kronig (1) published drawings of vaginal fluid from patients with NSV which showed a mixed flora devoid of large rods and including vibrio-like organisms. Later Doderlein (cited in reference 2) described three grades of vaginal flora. Grade I, defined as a clean vagina, contained large rod-shaped organisms which became known as Doderlein’s bacilli and represent various species of the genus Lactobacillus. Grade II was a mixed flora, and Grade III, the pathological flora, was notable by its absence of the large rod-shaped organisms. Kronig’s drawings and Doderlein’s description of the Grade III flora are characteristic of the syndrome we now call NSV.
Quality of Colonoscopy Performed in Rural Practice: Experience From the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative and the Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network.

Purpose Colon cancer screening is effective. To complete screening in 80% of individuals over age 50 years by 2018 will require adequate colonoscopy capacity throughout the country, including rural areas, where colonoscopy providers may have less specialized training. Our aim was to study the quality of colonoscopy in rural settings. Methods The Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI) and the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) collaborated to recruit Oregon rural practices to submit colonoscopy reports to CORI's National Endoscopic Database (NED). Ten ORPRN sites were compared to non-ORPRN rural (n = 11) and nonrural (n = 43) sites between January 2009 and October 2011. Established colonoscopy quality measures were calculated for all sites. Results No ORPRN physicians were gastroenterologists compared with 82% of nonrural physicians. ORPRN practices reached the cecum in 87.4% of exams compared with 89.3% of rural sites (P = .0002) and 90.9% of nonrural sites (P 9mm 16.6% vs 18.7% (P = .106). Conclusion ORPRN sites performed well on most colonoscopy quality measures, suggesting that high-quality colonoscopy can be performed in rural settings.