cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing Oral Proficiency in Spanish across Class Modalities.

There is a growing demand for online course options, including classes offered and required in foreign languages. However, offering courses in multiple formats presents the challenges of developing high quality online courses and assessing the overall program effectiveness as students may elect to take the sequenced language acquisition courses in different formats. Thus, students complete the courses through various combinations of modes (i.e., all online, all face-to-face, some online/some F2F, transferring from another university or after successfully completing a placement exam). The purpose of this study was to examine a second language program offering both seated and online Spanish language acquisition classes at a small regional campus in the Midwest. Oral proficiency was tested using the Pearson Versant Test for Spanish and students' (n=108) scores were then compared to the ACTFL established benchmarks after one and two years of language study. In this study 42% met or exceeded the first year overall oral proficiency benchmark of Intermediate-Low and 27.5% met or exceeded the second year overall benchmark of Intermediate-Mid. These results suggest online Spanish course options can be an effective mode for students to meet oral proficiency benchmarks when programs require asynchronous and synchronous oral production, and provide speaking practice opportunities. However, additional research in this area is needed to better understand why some students are not meeting the benchmark.
Potassium-Doped Graphene Nanoribbons for High-Specific Conductivity Wiring

Carbon-based conductors and metal–carbon composites have attracted much recent research interest as candidates for the future replacement of copper wiring in a variety of applications. The developm...
Air and Soil Temperatures and Fertilizer Level Affect Growth and Quality of Epipremnum aureum Bunt.

Abstract Three minimum air temperatures (AT), 15.5°, 18.5°, and 21°C (60°, 65°, and 70°F), four constant soil temperatures (ST), 15.5°, 21°, 26.5°, and 32°C (60°, 70°, 80°, and 90°F), and three fer...
Cancer Clinical Investigators Should Converge with Pharmacometricians.

The applied quantitative science pharmacometrics has significantly enhanced cancer therapeutics development. Pharmacometrics is now improving our understanding of complex diagnostics. Through the concept of convergence and methods of quantitative and systems pharmacology, pharmacometrics is poised to interconnect mathematical models of disease and therapy to advance cancer care. See related article by Colomban et al., p. 5342
Tax Indemnification and the Association Between Unrecognized Tax Benefit Reserves and Future Tax Cash Outflows

Tax indemnification transfers the risk of cash settlements associated with a firm’s tax positions to an external party. Current financial reporting standards and disclosure practices provide little to no information regarding this risk transfer. By examining merger and acquisition (M&A) contracts from 2008 through 2013, I explore the use of tax indemnification and whether it moderates the association between unrecognized tax benefit reserves (UTBs) and future tax cash outflows. I find that tax indemnification is commonly present in these contracts but rarely disclosed in the 10-Ks. Using multivariate regressions, I provide evidence consistent with firms netting indemnification settlements against tax payments for disclosure purposes, which moderates the association between UTBs and tax cash outflows. Specifically, I find that the association between current UTBs and future tax cash outflows is positive for firms without tax indemnification but not significant for firms with tax indemnification. Furthermore, I discuss how effective tax rates could be distorted in the presence of tax indemnification. Because of the expansion of tax indemnification into areas beyond M&As that may not provide any disclosures, my findings suggest that changes in current accounting practices may be necessary to allow financial statement users to adequately assess various tax accounts and measures when tax indemnification is present.
Oral Pretreatment with Galantamine Effectively Mitigates the Acute Toxicity of a Supralethal Dose of Soman in Cynomolgus Monkeys Posttreated with Conventional Antidotes.

Earlier reports suggested that galantamine, a drug approved to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other centrally acting reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors can serve as adjunct pretreatments against poisoning by organophosphorus compounds, including the nerve agent soman. The present study was designed to determine whether pretreatment with a clinically relevant oral dose of galantamine HBr mitigates the acute toxicity of 4.0×LD50 soman (15.08 µg/kg) in Macaca fascicularis posttreated intramuscularly with the conventional antidotes atropine (0.4 mg/kg), 2-pyridine aldoxime methyl chloride (30 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.32 mg/kg). The pharmacokinetic profile and maximal degree of blood AChE inhibition (∼25%–40%) revealed that the oral doses of 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg galantamine HBr in these nonhuman primates (NHPs) translate to human-equivalent doses that are within the range used for AD treatment. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that 100% of NHPs pretreated with either dose of galantamine, challenged with soman, and posttreated with conventional antidotes survived 24 hours. By contrast, given the same posttreatments, 0% and 40% of the NHPs pretreated, respectively, with vehicle and pyridostigmine bromide (1.2 mg/kg, oral), a peripherally acting reversible AChE inhibitor approved as pretreatment for military personnel at risk of exposure to soman, survived 24 hours after the challenge. In addition, soman caused extensive neurodegeneration in the hippocampi of saline- or pyridostigmine-pretreated NHPs, but not in the hippocampi of galantamine-pretreated animals. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of clinically relevant oral doses of galantamine to prevent the acute toxicity of supralethal doses of soman in NHPs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first study to demonstrate that a clinically relevant oral dose of galantamine effectively prevents lethality and neuropathology induced by a supralethal dose of the nerve agent soman in Cynomolgus monkeys posttreated with conventional antidotes. These findings are of major significance for the continued development of galantamine as an adjunct pretreatment against nerve agent poisoning.
Split-Capacitor Boost Converter Operating in Boundary Conduction Mode with Impedance Matching for Kinetic Energy Harvesting

The proposed circuit intends for an electromagnetic generator to harvest kinetic energy. A synchronous split-capacitor boost converter operating in boundary conduction mode (BCM) is proposed to efficiently convert the AC input to a DC output. BCM operation is uniquely achieved through zero current detection (ZCD) control of an AC input enabling impedance matching. The ZCD control offers simplicity over previously reported methodologies. To reduce power consumption and increase efficiency, the proposed circuit topology combines the rectifier and power stage while dynamically controlling the power stage. The proposed circuit is designed and laid out in 0.13 μm BiCMOS technology. Post layout simulations verify the operation of the proposed circuit.
Reverse fountain flow of phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate polarizes migrating cells

The ability of cells to polarize and move toward external stimuli plays a crucial role in development, as well as in normal and pathological physiology. Migrating cells maintain dynamic complementary distributions of Ras activity and of the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2). Here, we show that lagging-edge component PI(3,4)P2 also localizes to retracting leading-edge protrusions and nascent macropinosomes, even in the absence of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Once internalized, macropinosomes break up into smaller PI(3,4)P2-enriched vesicles, which fuse with the plasma membrane at the rear of the cell. Subsequently, the phosphoinositide diffuses toward the front of the cell, where it is degraded. Computational modeling confirms that this cycle gives rise to stable back-to-front gradient. These results uncover a surprising "reverse-fountain flow" of PI(3,4)P2 that regulates polarity.
Contextualising Feminist Global Justice Activism: A Case Study of the Gezi Park Protests

Neoliberal globalisation has not affected everywhere equally. It has deepened the socio-economic inequalities and in some regions has stimulated conservative counter-movements, which affect women more than men. Feminists in the Global Justice Movement draw attention to such issues by highlighting the interrelated nature of patriarchy and the global economic order. In this way, they could incorporate gender justice claims into the wider agenda of the Global Justice Movement and increase their influence as a political actor. This article examines the Gezi Park protests in Turkey as an example of this particular type of feminist activism and contextualises it in local forms of collective action. Utilising Eschle and Maiguashca’s (2010) framework, this article explores how women experience unjust global patterns in local contexts and how oppressive patriarchal neoliberal structures at different levels speak to each other. In Turkey’s context, neoliberal restructuring policies are accompanied by the promotion of religious, familial and heterosexual values along with the state’s penetration into private space, which affects women disproportionally. Turkish feminists in the local Gezi Park protests responded to such regional and national contexts, whilst also defining power relations, injustices and demands in line with international frameworks of feminist anti-globalisation activisms.
How to Calculate Turnover Rates (Accurately)

Turnover rates are foundational metrics of organizational health. Turnover rate calculations currently used by organizations and advocated by the largest associations of human resources professionals and management scholars are problematic for several reasons: 1. Calculations are approximations based on headcount snapshots taken at intervals (e.g., the end of each month) rather than captured continuously. 2. Organizations (and sometimes even functions within an organization) disagree regarding who is considered a separation and who is considered an employee (e.g., interns, employees on leaves of absence/furlough), which leads to difficulty in benchmarking between organizations. 3. Stakeholders’ turnover questions and metric interpretations are often not aligned with predominant formulae (e.g., the most frequently recommended and used turnover rate calculation does not answer the question, “What percent of employees left during a given period of time?”, even though that is how it is frequently interpreted). I propose several solutions, including two reformulations of how turnover rates can be calculated: 1. Most accurate but radical: Switch to a turnover rate that measures the proportion of opportunities to separate that were realized (i.e., separations divided by the total number of opportunities to separate). 2. Less radical but still an improvement compared to the status quo: Switch to a turnover rate with finer-grained temporal resolution. Most organizations could easily implement these changes with existing technology and personnel. Evolving to a more accurate turnover rate calculation would provide clearer and deeper insights about turnover trends within an organization and more comparable metrics across organizations.
Evaluation of Hypoglycemia in Neonates of Women at Risk for Late Preterm Delivery: An Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids Trial Cohort Study.

Objective In the antenatal late preterm steroids (ALPS) trial betamethasone significantly decreased short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity but increased the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, diagnosed only categorically ( Study Design Secondary analysis of infants from ALPS, a multicenter trial randomizing women at risk for late preterm delivery to betamethasone or placebo. This study was a reabstraction of all available charts from the parent trial, all of which were requested. Unreviewed charts included those lost to follow-up or from sites not participating in the reabstraction. Duration of hypoglycemia ( Results Of 2,831 randomized, 2,609 (92.2%) were included. There were 387 (29.3%) and 223 (17.3%) with hypoglycemia in the betamethasone and placebo groups, respectively (relative risk [RR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46–1.96). Hypoglycemia generally occurred in the first 24 hours in both groups: 374/385 (97.1%) in the betamethasone group and 214/222 (96.4%) in the placebo group (p = 0.63). Of 387 neonates with hypoglycemia in the betamethasone group, 132 (34.1%) received treatment, while 73/223 (32.7%) received treatment in placebo group (p = 0.73). The lowest recorded blood sugar was similar between groups. Most hypoglycemia resolved by 24 hours in both (93.0 vs. 89.3% in the betamethasone and placebo groups, respectively, p = 0.18). Among infants with hypoglycemia in the first 24 hours, the time to resolution was shorter in the betamethasone group (2.80 [interquartile range: 2.03–7.03) vs. 3.74 (interquartile range: 2.15–15.08) hours; p = 0.002]. Persistence for >72 hours was rare and similar in both groups, nine (2.4%, betamethasone) and four (1.9%, placebo, p = 0.18). Conclusion In this cohort, hypoglycemia was transient and most received no treatment, with a quicker resolution in the betamethasone group. Prolonged hypoglycemia was uncommon irrespective of steroid exposure. Key Points
Synthesis and styrene copolymerization of some ethyl phenylcyanoacrylates

Novel styrene copolymers with ring-substituted ethyl phenylcyanoacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2C2H5 (where R is 2-ethyl, 2-ethoxy, 4-benzyloxy, 2,3-dimethyl) were prepared in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis, being between 18.3 and 42.3 mol% of the acrylate monomer units.
Assessment of Withdrawal, Mood, and Sleep Inventories After Monitored 3-Week Abstinence in Cannabis-Using Adolescents and Young Adults.

Introduction: Among adolescents and young adults, cannabis use is prevalent. Prior studies characterizing withdrawal effects in this age range have primarily included treatment seeking or comorbid ...
The Resurgence of the Radical Right in France: From Boulangisme to the Front National

This book attempts to account for the resurgence of significant political movements of the Radical Right in France since the establishment of democracy in the country at the end of the nineteenth century. Taking to task historical treatments of the Radical Right for their failure to specify the conditions and dynamics attending its emergence, and faulting the historical myopia of contemporary electoral and party-centric accounts of the Front National, it tries to explain the Radical Right's continuing appeal by relating the socio-structural outcomes of the processes of industrialization and democratization in France to the persistence of economically and politically illiberal groups within French society. Specifically, the book argues that, as a result of the country's protracted and uneven experience of industrialization and urbanization, significant pre- or anti-modern social classes, which remained functionally ill-adapted and culturally ill-disposed to industrial capitalism and liberal democracy, subsisted late into its development.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Emotional Commercials: Self-Reports Versus Psychophysiological Measures

Considerable debate has appeared in the literature concerning the utility of the various measures available for gauging emotional response to advertising stimuli. The findings of this study suggest that self-report and psychophysiological measurements offer complementing perspectives, with each one providing information not attainable from the other. Self-report procedures may be better able to measure emotion which is related to the believability and comprehension of the message. Psychophysiological measures may be better suited for recognition. Both types of measurement may be necessary to explain recall differences which vary by level of emotional response.
Use of carbonated water in reduction of adjacent gastric activity in 456 consecutive technetium-99m myocardial perfusion imaging studies.

Background:Small, observational trials have suggested a reduction in adjacent gastric activity with ingestion of soda water in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We report our findings prior to an...
Federalism, the Rehnquist Court, and the Modern Republican Party

Most scholars agree that federalism was central to the Rehnquist Court's constitutional agenda. But there is a part of the federalism story that has been largely overlooked: the Court's decisions involving the structural constraints on state governments, the most significant of which are preemption and the dormant Commerce Clause. This article makes two empirical claims about the Rehnquist Court's federalism jurisprudence, one descriptive and one interpretive. The descriptive claim is that that the Court's overall approach to federalism was more complicated than many have assumed, and it was not necessarily friendly to the states. To support this contention, I present an empirical study. Part of the study is qualitative, analyzing the justices' modest alterations to preemption and dormant Commerce Clause doctrine during Rehnquist's tenure as chief justice. The other part is quantitative, offering a statistical analysis of the justices' voting patterns in decisions handed between October 1991 and June 2005, the fifteen terms that Rehnquist, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas served together. My interpretive claim is that these apparently inconsistent attitudes towards state autonomy are quite understandable once we consider the broader historical and political context. In fine, the Rehnquist Court's federalism decisions reflected the values of the post-Watergate Republican Party, the political coalition that empowered and sustained a majority of the Court's justices. The modern GOP has generally endorsed the abstract principle of devolving greater power to state governments, and particularly the judicial enforcement of the limits on Congress's enumerated powers. But when the principle of state policymaking autonomy has clashed with the goal of reducing economic regulation, Republicans have repeatedly opted to reduce regulation at the expense of state authority. The Rehnquist Court's federalism jurisprudence largely mirrored these priorities.
Social Science Methodology: A Unified Framework

John Gerring's exceptional textbook has been thoroughly revised in this second edition. It offers a one-volume introduction to social science methodology relevant to the disciplines of anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology and sociology. This new edition has been extensively developed with the introduction of new material and a thorough treatment of essential elements such as conceptualization, measurement, causality and research design. It is written for students, long-time practitioners and methodologists and covers both qualitative and quantitative methods. It synthesizes the vast and diverse field of methodology in a way that is clear, concise and comprehensive. While offering a handy overview of the subject, the book is also an argument about how we should conceptualize methodological problems. Thinking about methodology through this lens provides a new framework for understanding work in the social sciences.
Immunochemical assessment of mycotoxins in 1989 grain foods: evidence for deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) contamination.

Abstract To assess the potential for mycotoxin contamination of the human food supply following the 1988 U.S. drought, 92 grain food samples were purchased from retail outlets in the summer of 1989 and surveyed for aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol (DON [vomitoxin]) by monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Only one sample (buckwheat flour) was found to contain aflatoxin B1 (12 ng/g), whereas zearalenone was found in 26% of the samples at a mean concentration of 19 ng/g. In contrast, the DON ELISA was positive in 50% of the samples at a detection level of 1.0 micrograms/g. Between 63 and 88% of corn cereals, wheat flour/muffin mixes, rice cereals, and corn meal/muffin mixes yielded positive results for DON, whereas 25 to 50% of oat cereals, wheat- and oat-based cookies/crackers, corn chips, popcorn, and mixed-grain cereals were positive for DON. The mean DON content of the positive samples was 4.0 micrograms/g, and the minimum and maximum levels were 1.2 and 19 micrograms/g, respectively. When positive ELISA samples were also analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, a strong correlation between the two methods was found. The presence of DON in the two highest samples, corn meal and mixed-grain cereal, which contained 19 and 16 micrograms/g, respectively, was quantitatively confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicated that DON was present in 1989 retail food products at concentrations that exceeded those found in previous market surveys and that have been experimentally associated with impaired animal health.
Optical Rotatory Dispersion Studies of Rabbit γG-Immunoglobulin and Its Papain Fragments

Abstract Certain purified antibodies can be distinguished from nonspecific γG-immunoglobulin by optical rotatory dispersion in the ultraviolet region. Thus, inert γG-globulin has troughs at 231 mµ ([R'] = -1320) and 224 mµ ([R') = -1240) while anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl (anti-DNP) antibody of high affinity for ligand has its major trough at 224 mµ ([R'] = -1650). The rotatory dispersion of high affinity anti-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl antibody resembles that of low affinity anti-DNP antibody ([R']224 = -1300). The characteristic optical rotation of anti-DNP antibody does not appear to be related to variation in allotypy or charge. Furthermore, it is not a consequence of the antibody purification procedure. The difference in optical rotation between anti-DNP antibody and inert γG-globulin is confined to Fab, the active fragment produced by papain digestion. The active fragments of both proteins have troughs at 224 mµ, but that of the antibody is deeper. In contrast, the crystallizable fragments, Fc, are virtually identical, with no trough at 224 but with well defined minima at 233 mµ. Despite differences in Cotton effects, inert γG-globulin and anti-DNP antibody, as well as the corresponding pieces obtained by digestion with papain, are very similar in their over-all conformation as shown by sedimentation and molecular weight studies. Therefore, the variation in optical rotation is probably related to very limited structural differences within the γG-immunoglobulins.
A Simple Mathematical Model of a Slurry

A slurry is defined here as a liquid containing solid particles in suspension. These particles are the solid phase which freezes from the liquid; they can melt or additional liquid can freeze as local conditions warrant. The absorption or release of latent heat as the particles melt or freeze causes the system to act as if it had an enhanced specific heat. Also the solid particles may rise or sink through the liquid under the action of gravity depending on whether they are lighter or heavier than the liquid. If solid forms at one level, releasing latent heat, and then migrates vertically and melts, absorbing latent heat, the net effect is a vertical transport of heat in the direction opposite to the motion of the solid. This is equivalent to the heat-pipe effect.
Effect of apolipoproteins on the induction of hepatic steatosis in rats.

Abstract The incorporation of apolipoprotein E isolated from human very low density lipoproteins on a triglyceride emulsion produced a substantial increment in hepatic triglyceride after 1 h of in vitro perfusion through the isolated liver of a fasted rat. Both gross and microscopic morphology confirmed a substantial steatosis. Perfusions with triglyceride emulsions which contained no apolipoproteins resulted in a modest increment in hepatic triglyceride although considerably less than emulsions with the E protein, and no morphologic features of steatosis. The steatosis induced in the in vitro perfused fasted livers by the emulsions with E protein could be prevented when CIII-1 apoprotein was also incorporated on the emulsion. A fed rat liver perfused with the E-enriched emulsion accumulated significantly less triglyceride than the fasted preparation. These data suggest that the apoprotein patterns of the plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are of considerable importance for the partition of triglyceride between liver and plasma.
Spatio-temporal X-ray fluoroscopy filtering using object detection

The authors describe an image processing technique to enhance X-ray fluoroscopy image sequences by reducing noise while minimizing motion blur. The method consists of object detection, followed by spatial and recursive temporal filtering. In many fluoroscopy applications, much of the motion occurs in isolated long thin objects (catheters, guide wires, etc.). The authors demonstrate that such structures can be detected and roughly segmented. Based upon the segmentation output they adjust spatial and temporal filtering parameters, such as to reduce noise without blurring the objects. As compared to conventional motion-detection. Filtering, this object-detection filtering method incorporates additional a priori knowledge of the image content. The authors demonstrate the segmentation and enhancement method on X-ray fluoroscopy sequences. >
Jeremy Coote and Anthony Shelton, eds. Anthropology, Art, and Aesthetics

Anthropology, Art, and Aesthetics. Edited by JEREMY COOTE and ANTHONY SHELTON. Oxford Studies in the Anthropology of Cultural Forms. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992. xi. 281 pp. 69 halftones, 15 color plates, notes, references, index. $69.00 (cloth).
Fermentability of corn syrups with different dextrose equivalents added to various grape juices.

Abstract It was found that neither the enzymes of the grapes nor those of wine yeast Saccharomyces ellipsoideus strain 223 attacked the higher polysaccharides present in corn syrups. The alcohol yield of the corn syrups approached but did not quite reach theoretical assuming that all of the dextrose equivalent (DE) solids were fermented. Glucose, sucrose, and 95 DE corn syrup fermented at about the same rate and yielded comparable alcohol contents. At equal solids content, the 42 DE syrup fermented slower in most cases and yielded lower alcohol content than higher DE syrups.
Design of Fail-Safe Sequential Machines Using Separable Codes

A method for realization of fail-safe sequential machines, using a class of separable codes called Berger codes in the state assignment, has been presented. The separability property is desirable in certain applications. Both on-set and off-set realizations are used for the next-state functions and this has the advantage over the methods using only on-set realization in that the checker is simpler. Realization of the output circuit is also considered.
Species tree estimation of diploid Helianthus (Asteraceae) using target enrichment

• Premise of the study: The sunflower genus Helianthus has long been recognized as economically significant, containing species of agricultural and horticultural importance. Additionally, this genus displays a large range of phenotypic and genetic variation, making Helianthus a useful system for studying evolutionary and ecological processes. Here we present the most robust Helianthus phylogeny to date, laying the foundation for future studies of this genus. • Methods: We used a target enrichment approach across 37 diploid Helianthus species/subspecies with a total of 103 accessions. This technique garnered 170 genes used for both coalescent and concatenation analyses. The resulting phylogeny was additionally used to examine the evolution of life history and growth form across the genus. • Key results: Coalescent and concatenation approaches were largely congruent, resolving a large annual clade and two large perennial clades. However, several relationships deeper within the phylogeny were more weakly supported and incongruent among analyses including the placement of H. agrestis , H. cusickii , H. gracilentus , H. mollis , and H. occidentalis . • Conclusions: The current phylogeny supports three major clades including a large annual clade, a southeastern perennial clade, and another clade of primarily large-statured perennials. Relationships among taxa are more consistent with early phylogenies of the genus using morphological and crossing data than recent efforts using single genes, which highlight the difficulties of phylogenetic estimation in genera known for reticulate evolution. Additionally, conflict and low support at the base of the perennial clades may suggest a rapid radiation and/or ancient introgression within the genus.
Fire and Smoke Corrosivity of Structural Materials

The deleterious effects that combustion products generated dur ing fires can have on normal construction materials have been well-docu mented. The combined effects of fire, corrosive smoke and part...
Outcomes of the gross and developmental anatomy teaching assistant experience.

During the first-year Gross and Developmental Anatomy Course at Mayo Medical School, third-year medical students volunteer as teaching assistants (TAs). Their responsibilities include preparing for dissection, instructing students during dissection, writing examination questions, and giving a lecture. To evaluate the academic and professional impact of this experience on former TAs, a survey instrument was developed, and was sent to former TAs from the past 17 years. Seventy-two percent of the surveys were returned. Most respondents (84%) indicated that the TA experience was beneficial during their third-year surgical rotation. Over 60% identified benefits during Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Internal Medicine rotations. The majority (62%) indicated they regularly use the knowledge gained from the TA experience. Communication was the most highly ranked area of skill development, with 86% of respondents indicating gains in lecture effectiveness and 97% in one-on-one teaching. Among respondents, 32% entered surgical or radiological fields, roughly paralleling the non-TA medical student population. All respondents indicated that they would repeat the experience and recommend it to other medical students. Although benefits for long-term career development have not yet been established, the Gross and Developmental Anatomy TA experience had perceived short-term benefits with respect to clinical rotations and teaching skill development.
Effects of fine-scale soil moisture and canopy heterogeneity on energy and water fluxes in a northern temperate mixed forest

Abstract Coupling between soil moisture, vegetation biomass, and energy fluxes is characterized by nonlinearities and thus current land surface parameterizations with aggregated surface response may produce biased results. This study aims to improve the understanding of the coupling modes between fine-, tree-scale (few meters) canopy and soil moisture variations, and their impacts on spatially integrated energy and water fluxes. The study was carried out for a spatially heterogeneous, temperate mixed forest environment of Northern Michigan located near the University of Michigan Biological Station. A high-resolution, physically-based ecohydrological model (tRIBS + VEGGIE) was used as a data integration tool to upscale spatial heterogeneities resolved at a tree-scale to a coarse-scale (several kilometers). Several simulation cases involving tree-scale variations in initial soil moisture, leaf area, and radiative forcing were designed. In order to infer the effects of coarse-scale aggregation, a lumped case representing the commonly used spatially-lumped representation was also simulated. The results demonstrate that heterogeneous canopy biomass determines the spatial dynamics of soil moisture. The spatial distribution of canopy height may play a particularly important role in determining the domain-scale fluxes when a forest system is in moisture-limiting conditions. Specifically, the tree-scale effects on light exposure and shading result in smaller spatially aggregated transpiration and lower water stress as compared to the results of the lumped representation.
Motion of particles in bends of circular pipes

Abstract The trajectories of particles moving in curved tubes are calculated using a fully developed laminar flow. The flow field, consisting of a core region and a boundary layer, was proposed and experimentally tested by Mori and Nakayama (1965) for values of the flow Reynolds number up to 4000. The calculated trajectories are used to predict the distribution of inertia-less particles at a cross-section 9.375 dia downstream of a 90° bend. In addition, the fractions of entering particles deposited by inertial impaction and interception in a 90° bend are computed. The results show that the flow Reynolds number has significant effects on particle deposition in bends. The theoretical predictions for the distribution of particles downstream of a bend and the efficiency of deposition are in good agreement with experimental results reported in the literature.
Effect of skewed joints on the performance of jointed concrete pavement through 3D dynamic finite element analysis

The effect of skewing the transverse joints in concrete rigid pavements is studied through 3D finite element modelling. Models of multi-layered systems consisting of Portland cement concrete slabs, base and subgrade were developed. These consisted of slabs having straight as well as skewed joints. In order to study the state of stresses and strains in both straight and skewed slabs, the models were subjected to moving axle loads as well as non-linear temperature gradients. More refined models were developed and subjected to falling weight deflectometer dynamic loads to study the state of stresses at the dowels–concrete interfaces. The study, shows that skewing the joints did not reduce the level of stresses and strains in critical locations in the concrete slab. Also a close study of the induced stresses and strains showed that fatigue relations adapted for concrete pavements needed to be refined. The distribution of stresses around the dowel sockets indicates the formation of a tensile stress component, ...
An analysis of symmetry of torque strength of the forearm under resisted forearm rotation in normal subjects.

Purpose To establish normative pronation and supination torque values in right-handed adults without evidence of upper-extremity dysfunction or impairment in the forearm positions of neutral, pronation, and supination. Methods Fifty-one normal right-handed participants ages 22 to 45 years were enrolled and tested in this study using a custom device that incorporated a torque cell and a grip system that produced a digital recording of the peak torque during maximal resisted pronation and supination in positions of neutral forearm rotation, 60° pronation, and 60° supination. Results The greatest peak torque strength for both male and female participants was found during resisted pronation in the supinated position. The peak torque values averaged 11.9 ± 3.7 N·m on the right side and 10.4 ± 3.3 N·m on the left side for men, and 6.0 ± 1.4 N·m on the right side and 5.0 ± 1.2 N·m on the left side for women. The weakest torque strengths were resisted pronation in the pronated position and resisted supination in the supinated position. Conclusions Torque strength measurements are reliable and should be collected when treating patients with forearm dysfunction. Maximal torque follows the same pattern related to hand dominance as grip strength. Men generate average torque strengths that are approximately twice the magnitude of those generated by women.
Quadrupole and octupole radiation from 16O near 39 MeV excitation.

The angular distributions of cross section and analyzing power for the radiative capture reaction $^{15}\mathrm{N}$(p\ensuremath{\rightarrow},${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}$${)}^{16}$O have been measured at excitation energies of 35.0 and 39.0 MeV in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$. Gamma rays were detected in a large, self-shielded NaI spectrometer at eight angles from 23\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 155\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The complex reaction amplitudes associated with the capture channels leading to dipole, quadrupole, and octupole radiation have been extracted. The data at 39 MeV excitation indicate a quadrupole component ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{E2}$/${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{E1}$=0.124\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.015, and an octupole component ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{E3}$/${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{E1}$=0.0051\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0026. The observation of high multipolarity radiation is discussed within the context of microscopic calculations which locate large components of the isovector quadrupole and octupole resonances within this region of excitation in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$.
The strain rate dependent plastic flow behavior of zirconium and its alloys

The effect of strain rate (10−5 { $$ \sim $$ } 10−1 min−1) on the plastic flow behavior was examined by means of tension tests over a range of temperatures (RT { $$ \sim $$ } 500°C). The principal material examined was Zircaloy-2, and the others were iodide zirconium and binary alloys of Zr-0.1 pct O and Zr-1.5 pct Sn by weight. In Zircaloy-2, the behavior was characterized by a sudden increase of flow strength with decreasing strain rate; concurrently the ductility decreased. Other interrupted and hold time experiments showed that the process is essentially that of a strain rate-induced strengthening phenomenon, with several features which could be identified with the strain aging process. It was further shown that the critical range of strain rates and temperatures at which the anomalous behavior took place could be correlated with the minimum in the strain rate sensitivity of flow stress. A similar but less pronounced flow behavior was observed with pure zirconium and its binary alloys, but with no marked change in the tensile ductility. From these results, the role of oxygen and tin on the early stage of plastic flow behavior was discussed in terms of dislocation-impurity interaction mechanisms. It was however concluded that these elements are not directly responsible for the ductility loss at slow strain rate in Zircaloy-2.
Monocytes and infection: Modulator, messenger and effector

Monocytes are a subset of circulating blood cells with remarkable plasticity. They can develop into a wide range of terminally differentiated cells and perform versatile functions during infection, tumor formation and in the setting of chronic inflammation. This review focuses on the role of monocytes during microbial infection and summarizes our understanding of the diverse roles that monocytes play in defense against different pathogens.
Surface-Emitting Second-Harmonic Generation: Effective Technique for Evaluating Periodically-Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguide Domains with Nanoscale Resolution

We demonstrate that surface-emitting second-harmonic generation is an effective technique for evaluating domains of periodically-poled lithium niobate waveguide: domain period, linear taper, and poling depth. Such a method reaches nanoscale spatial resolution of 0.5 nm.
Using Adult Learning Principles for Perioperative Orientation Programs

New graduates and experienced nurses who choose perioperative nursing need comprehensive training because of the specialized nature of the OR. A comprehensive orientation program results in quality care for patients. This article presents four adult learning principles and strategies for orienting new nurses to the OR. The strategies suggest a framework for developing, organizing, or revising a perioperative nursing orientation program. The program gives nurses who are interested in perioperative nursing the opportunity to enter this specialty.
Direct to Consumer Advertising: The Case for Greater Consumer Control

Anyone traveling to the United States from countries other than New Zealand will be surprised by the prevalence of health-related advertisements on television, including ads for drugs. Typically, these TV ads follow a pattern: an ad for a burger at only 99 cents, followed by one for a proton-pump inhibitor, then an ad on healthy home-cooked food delivered directly to your home and an ad for a home-based abdominal workout DVD, followed by an ad for a lipid-lowering drug. There are, however, nuances. After 8 pm, the visitor might encounter an ad for the “little blue pill.” This sequence sometimes includes an ad featuring antihistamines for allergic rhinitis in spring and one promoting antidepressants in the winter.
Metastable-phase formation during the crystallization of magnesium metaphosphate glass

We have observed a previously unreported metastable intermediate phase during the crystallization of magnesium metaphosphate (Mg(PO 3 ) 2 ) glasses to the equilibrium ring phase, Mg 2 P 4 O 12 . Our current hypothesis is that the metastable phase contains metaphosphate chains, as in other crystalline alkaline-earth metaphosphates. This type of phase could form by low-energy rearrangement of the polyphosphate chains in the glass structure. Thus, its formation might be favored at low temperatures where there is insufficient thermal energy to break the metaphosphate chains and form tetraphosphate rings
Evaluation of the GLD360 performance characteristics using rocket‐and‐wire triggered lightning data

We estimated the performance characteristics of the Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) using rocket-and-wire triggered lightning data acquired at Camp Blanding, Florida, in 2011–2013. The data set consisted of 201 return strokes and 84 kiloampere-scale (≥1 kA) superimposed pulses (initial continuous current pulses and M components) in 43 flashes. All the events transported negative charge to ground. The GLD360 detected 75 strokes and 4 superimposed pulses in 29 flashes. The resultant detection efficiencies were 67% for flashes, 37% for strokes, and 4.8% for superimposed pulses. Out of 75 detected strokes, one (1.3%) was reported with incorrect polarity. The median location error was 2.0 km, and the median absolute current estimation error was 27%. This is the first comprehensive evaluation of GLD360 performance characteristics relative to absolute ground truth, with all previous evaluations being at least in part relative to other locating systems. The results presented in this work may be applicable to regions in and around Florida.
EVALUATION OF TWO TOXOPLASMA GONDII SEROLOGIC TESTS USED IN A SEROSURVEY OF DOMESTIC CATS IN CALIFORNIA

We evaluated the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgG indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies in sera from 2 cat populations using a Bayesian approach. Accounting for test covariance, the Se and Sp of the IgG ELISA were estimated to be 92.6% and 96.5%, and those of the IgG IFAT were 81.0% and 93.8%, respectively. Both tests performed poorly in cats experimentally co-infected with feline immunodeficiency virus and T. gondii. Excluding this group, Se and Sp of the ELISA were virtually unchanged (92.3% and 96.4%, respectively), whereas the IFAT Se improved to 94.2% and Sp remained stable at 93.7%. These tests and an IgM ELISA were applied to 123 cat sera from the Morro Bay area, California, where high morbidity and mortality attributable to toxoplasmosis have been detected in southern sea otters. Age-adjusted IgG seroprevalence in this population was estimated to be 29.6%, and it did not diff...
Challenges in Forecasting the 2011 Runoff Season in the Colorado Basin

AbstractHistorically large snowpack across the upper Colorado basin and the Great Basin in 2011 presented the potential for widespread and severe flooding. While widespread flooding did occur, its impacts were largely moderated through a combination of sustained cool weather during the melt season and mitigation measures based on forecasts. The potential for more severe flooding persisted from April through the first part of July as record-high snowpacks slowly melted. NOAA's Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) is the primary office responsible for generating river forecasts in support of emergency and water management within the Colorado River basin. This paper describes the 2011 runoff season in the basin and examines the skill of CBRFC forecasts for that season. The primary goal of this paper is to raise awareness of the research and development areas that could, if successfully integrated into the CBRFC river forecasting system, improve forecasts in similar situations in the future. The autho...
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of La2O3-Na2O-SiO2 Glasses: I. The Structural Role of La3+ Cations

It is well known that high-field strength rare-earth (RE) ions in the silicate glasses tend to cluster regardless of their concentration. Numerous experimental studies have been carried out, but the ability to discern structural information at the atomic-level strongly depends on providing accurate molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In this work, the short- and medium-range order of La ion in soda silicate glasses is investigated by MD computer simulations. The glass mixtures used in these MD simulations are the same as those of a recent NMR study. Results of this study are in excellent agreement with the NMR results. It is found that the La cation has an average co-ordination of 6.5 O atoms with an average bond length fitted to be about 0.25 nm. The La is found to behave as a network modifier, and competes with sodium for non-bridging oxygen (NBO) atoms. In addition, the extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) and neutron diffraction patterns are predicted from the MD simulations.
Acute compartment syndrome of the upper extremity in children: diagnosis, management, and outcomes

Purpose Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the upper extremity is a rare but serious condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of ACS of the upper extremity in a pediatric population.
Chlorine Hyperfine Interactions in π‐Electron Radicals

Using data presented earlier, the complete anisotropic 35Cl hyperfine interaction tensor is evaluated for an α‐chlorine in a π‐electron radical for the first time. In CClHCOOH the tensor has an isotropic part aCl = + 3.7 G and anisotropic parts Bx = + 16.3 G, By = − 6.2 G, Bz = − 10.1 G. The x direction is normal to the radical plane while z is along the C–Cl bond. These values permit the following spin‐density assignments in the various orbitals of the C–Cl fragment: ρCπ = + 0.78, ρClπ = + 0.15, ρClσ(3pz) = − 0.03, and ρClσ(3s) = + 0.002.