cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On prosthetic control: A regenerative agonist-antagonist myoneural interface

Prosthetic limb control is fundamentally constrained by the current amputation procedure. Since the U.S. Civil War, the external prosthesis has benefited from a pronounced level of innovation, but amputation technique has not significantly changed. During a standard amputation, nerves are transected without the reintroduction of proper neural targets, causing painful neuromas and rendering efferent recordings infeasible. Furthermore, the physiological agonist-antagonist muscle relationships are severed, precluding the generation of musculotendinous proprioception, an afferent feedback modality critical for joint stability, trajectory planning, and fine motor control. We establish an agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI), a unique surgical paradigm for amputation. Regenerated free muscle grafts innervated with transected nerves are linked in agonist-antagonist relationships, emulating the dynamic interactions found within an intact limb. Using biomechanical, electrophysiological, and histological evaluations, we demonstrate a viable architecture for bidirectional signaling with transected motor nerves. Upon neural activation, the agonist muscle contracts, generating electromyographic signal. This contraction in the agonist creates a stretch in the mechanically linked antagonist muscle, producing afferent feedback, which is transmitted through its motor nerve. Histological results demonstrate regeneration and the presence of the spindle fibers responsible for afferent signal generation. These results suggest that the AMI will not only produce robust signals for the efferent control of an external prosthesis but also provide an amputee's central nervous system with critical musculotendinous proprioception, offering the potential for an enhanced prosthetic controllability and sensation.
Calculating Steady-State Operating Conditions for DFIG-Based Wind Turbines

This paper proposes a noniterative approach to calculate steady-state operating conditions of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines. The proposed approach can be applied to calculate steady-state operating conditions for the full-order dynamic model of DFIG-based wind turbines under d–q reference frame. Lossy DFIG back-to-back converters can be well supported, and nonzero reactive power delivery through DFIG grid-side converters can be handled. This noniterative approach encounters no convergence issues, which guarantees fast computation speed. It provides analytical solutions to the steady-state operating conditions of DFIG-based wind turbines. The proposed method could potentially be applied to obtain steady-state operating conditions before performing eigenvalue analysis and electromagnetic simulations for wind farms. Simulations performed on a single-machine-infinite-bus test system and a multibus test system verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Functionalization of Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots with Poly(ethylene glycol): Ligand Exchange, Surface Coverage, and Dispersion Stability

Semiconductor quantum dots synthesized using rapid mixing of precursors by injection into a hot solution of solvents and surfactants have surface ligands that sterically stabilize the dispersions in nonpolar solvents. Often, these ligands are exchanged to disperse the quantum dots in polar solvents, but quantitative studies of quantum dot surfaces before and after ligand exchange are scarce. We studied exchanging trioctylphosphine (TOP) and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) ligands on as-synthesized CdSe quantum dots dispersed in hexane with a 2000 g/mol thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer. Using infrared spectroscopy we quantify the absolute surface concentration of TOP/TOPO and PEG ligands per unit area before and after ligand exchange. While 50–85% of the TOP/TOPO ligands are removed upon ligand exchange, only a few are replaced with PEG. Surprisingly, the remaining TOP/TOPO ligands outnumber the PEG ligands, but these few PEG ligands are sufficient to disperse the quantum dots in polar solvents...
Earth and Skies as Conflicting Complementary or Supplementary Dramas in the Eternal War Between Epistemology and Ethics

In Buchi Emecheta’s sophomore novel The Joys of Motherhood, things fall apart in the life of protagonist Nnu Ego in the 1909–1950s Ibuza and Lagos of Nigeria, but her children-centered life manages to hold, though at devastating psychological, emotional, and economic costs. Apparently, Nnu Ego has a love-hate relationship with her chi-based theodicy education which unfolds mostly gradually, silently but insistently and eventually into an Nnu Ego chimarchy (her silent war with her chi, her god or goddess). Nnu Ego’s chimarchy poses a dilemma, the Nnu Ego dilemma: how should an illiterate Ibuza-raised Igbo woman who loves being a woman, who loves being a daughter, who loves being a mother, who loves being married, and who loves being close friends with other women live her life in the face of oppressive realities of patriarchy or obligatory marriage or sexist marriage or obligatory motherhood without necessarily being anti-men or anti-marriage or anti-motherhood or anti-family? In Chapter 15, Nnu Ego poses aptly but insufficiently the question, “When will I be free?” (Emecheta 187). What about the following particular questions? When specifically will I be free? How specifically will I be free? Free specifically from what and for what? In Nnu Ego’s relationship with her chi lies the eternal war between heaven-based ethics and earth-based epistemology.
Concurrent hydrocelectomy during inguinal herniorrhaphy is a risk factor for complications and reoperation: data from rural Haiti.

Purpose Series of conventional inguinal herniorrhaphy from low and middle income countries (LMICs) suggest elevated rates of morbidity, mortality, and recurrence, although the reasons remain incompletely understood. We sought to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes from inguinal herniorrhaphy performed in a resource-limited LMIC setting.
Accelerating FRET between Near-Infrared Emitting Quantum Dots Using a Molecular J-Aggregate as an Exciton Bridge

Fast energy transfer (EnT) among quantum dots (QDs) with near-infrared (NIR) emission is essential for fully exploiting their light harvesting and photon downconversion (multiexciton generation) abilities. This paper demonstrates a relayed EnT mechanism that accelerates the migration of NIR excitons between PbS QDs by a factor of 20 from that of one-step EnT through a polyelectrolyte and even a factor of ∼2 from that of one-step EnT between QDs in direct contact, by employing a J-aggregate (J-agg) of a cyanine dye as an exciton bridge. The donor QDs, acceptor QDs, and J-agg are electrostatically assembled into a sandwich structure with layer-by-layer deposition. Estimates of EnT rate and yield from transient and steady-state absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies show that the rate-limiting step in the relay is EnT from the donor QD to the J-agg, while EnT from the J-agg to the acceptor QD occurs in <10 ps. A comparison of this system to the analogous solution-phase system suggests that the overa...
Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors in Multiple Sclerosis: A Few Answers and Many More Questions

Publisher Summary Studies of chemokines and their receptors in multiple sclerosis (MS) have been, to date, descriptive. Much of the information that has been reported concerning chemokines and chemokine receptors in MS can be readily correlated to findings in animal models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in MS have also been reported. Less information is available about the expression of chemokine receptors on monocytes in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS. Investigators has also addressed the question whether patients with MS show preferential expression of chemokine receptors on circulating cells. In summary, the conceptual scheme of leukocyte trafficking into inflammatory lesions, that was derived in studies using the EAE animal model, may be applicable as well to the human disease MS. This situation provides a favorable circumstance for the evaluation of experimental anti-inflammatory strategies that are targeted to either production of chemokines or to the function of chemokines. In the complicated milieu of the MS lesion, actions of individual chemokines may promote destructive inflammation or recruitment of vital and protective regulatory cells or even tissue remodeling and repair processes. The final definitive test of theories about chemokine action in MS will be provided by the efficacy that emanates from blocking individual receptors.
Flap coverage for the treatment of exposed left ventricular assist device (LVAD) hardware and intractable LVAD infections.

Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become useful adjuncts in the treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure. LVAD implantation is associated with a unique set of problems; one such problem is device infection. We report our experience with flap salvage of infected and/or exposed LVAD hardware. Methods Between 2011 and 2016, 49 patients underwent LVAD implantation at our institution. Patients were then categorized by infectious status: systemic infection not directly involving the LVAD device, hardware infection responsive to antibiotics, and exposure of LVAD hardware or device infection refractory to antibiotics requiring debridement and flap coverage. Results Approximately 50% of device-related infections resolved with either oral or intravenous antibiotics while the other 50% necessitated debridement and coverage with healthy tissue. In total, 12 patients (24%) developed a device-related infection ranging from superficial driveline cellulitis to purulent pocket infections. Seven patients (14%) required extensive debridement and/or flap coverage. Conclusion Early debridement and coverage of exposed hardware are crucial to successfully treating these LVAD infections.
Outside Directors and the Privately-Owned Firm: Are They Necessary?:

A growing body of literature asserts the importance for privately-owned firms to have a working board of directors with outside board members. Findings from the author's recent study on the boards’...
Strain Monitoring using Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors Embedded in Carbon Fiber Composites

A distributed fiber optic strain sensor based on Rayleigh backscattering, embedded in a fiber-reinforced polymer composite, has been demonstrated. The optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) technique was used to analyze the backscattered signal. The shift in the Rayleigh backscattered spectrum (RBS) was observed to be linear to the change in strain of the composite material. The sensor (standard single-mode fiber) was embedded between the layers of the composite laminate. A series of tensile loads were applied to the laminate using an Instron testing machine, and the corresponding strain distribution of the laminate was measured. The results show a linear response indicating a seamless integration of the optic fiber in the composite material and a good correlation with the electrical-resistance strain gauge results. In this study, distributed strain measurements in a composite laminate were successfully obtained using an embedded fiber optic sensor.
Superconducting FeSe0.1Te0.9 thin films integrated on Si-based substrates

With the goal of integrating superconducting iron chalcogenides with Si-based electronics, superconducting FeSe0.1Te0.9 thin films were directly deposited on Si and SiOx/Si substrates without any buffer layer by a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. Microstructural characterization showed excellent film quality with mostly c-axis growth on both types of substrates. Superconducting properties (such as superconducting transition temperature T c and upper critical field H c2) were measured to be comparable to that of the films on single crystal oxide substrates. The work demonstrates the feasibility of integrating superconducting iron chalcogenide (FeSe0.1Te0.9) thin films with Si-based microelectronics.
Simple profile rectifications go a long way

Feedback-driven program optimization (FDO) is common in modern compilers, including Just-In-Time compilers increasingly adopted for object-oriented or scripting languages. This paper describes a systematic study in understanding and alleviating the effects of sampling errors on the usefulness of the obtained profiles for FDO. Taking a statistical approach, it offers a series of counter-intuitive findings, and identifies two kinds of profile errors that affect FDO critically, namely zero-count errors and inconsistency errors. It further proposes statistical profile rectification, a simple approach to correcting profiling errors by leveraging statistical patterns in a profile. Experiments show that the simple approach enhances the effectiveness of sampled profile-based FDO dramatically, increasing the average FDO speedup from 1.16X to 1.3X, around 92% of what full profiles can yield.
An Alternate Route of Transforming meso-Tetraarylporphyrins to Porpholactams, and Their Conversion to Amine-Functionalized Imidazoloporphyrins.

A novel and efficient synthetic pathway toward known meso-tetraphenylporpholactams, also applicable to the synthesis of hitherto unknown and inaccessible meso-C6F5-substituted porpholactam, is detailed (dioxochlorin → dioxochlorin urea adduct → porpholactam). meso-Tetraphenylporpholactam was converted to an imidazoloporphyrin-α-triflate derivative that was demonstrated to be of utility for the generation of functionalized imidazoloporphyrins with a substituted amine adjacent to the outside N atom of the imidazole moiety (using pyridine, Et2NH, diethyliminodiacetic acetate, dipicolylamine (DPA), and cyclen). The DPA- and iminodiacetate-imidazoloporphyrin conjugates were structurally characterized. The chemosensing potential of the metal chelate-imidazoloporphyrin conjugates was evaluated, though their constrained metric parameters led to muted chemosensing responses to various divalent metal ions. The accessibility of the meso-arylporpholactams and the meso-tetraphenylimidazoloporphyrin triflate enables th...
Adeno-associated viral gene therapy corrects a mouse model of argininosuccinic aciduria.

Abstract Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is the second most common genetic disorder affecting the urea cycle. The disease is caused by deleterious mutations in the gene encoding argininosuccinate lyase (ASL); total loss of ASL activity results in severe neonatal onset of the disease, which is characterized by hyperammonemia within a few days of birth that can rapidly progress to coma and death. The long-term complications of ASA, such as hypertension and neurocognitive deficits, appear to be resistant to the current treatment options of dietary restriction, arginine supplementation, and nitrogen scavenging drugs. Treatment-resistant disease is currently being managed by orthotopic liver transplant, which shows variable improvement and requires lifetime immunosuppression. Here, we developed a gene therapy strategy for ASA aimed at alleviating the symptoms associated with urea cycle disruption by providing stable expression of ASL protein in the liver. We designed a codon-optimized human ASL gene packaged within adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) as a vector for targeted delivery to the liver. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this approach, we utilized a murine hypomorphic model of ASA. Neonatal administration of AAV8 via the temporal facial vein extended survival in ASA hypomorphic mice, although not to wild-type levels. Intravenous injection into adolescent hypomorphic mice led to increased survival and body weight and correction of metabolites associated with the disease. Our results demonstrate that AAV8 gene therapy is a viable approach for the treatment of ASA.
Potential competitive outcomes among three solitary larval endoparasitoids as candidate agents for classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii

Abstract Predicting the outcome of interspecific interactions is important in designing biological control programs that involve multiple species introductions. Three solitary larval endoparasitoids, Asobara japonica Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Ganaspis brasiliensis Ihering and Leptopilina japonica Novkovic & Kimura (both Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from Asia are potential agents for classical biological control of the invasive Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America. We compared the developmental rates of early immature stages of the three parasitoids and then evaluated their potential interactions, including elimination of competitors in intrinsic competition, interspecific discrimination of previously parasitized hosts, and the outcomes of interspecific competition at three host densities (5, 15 or 30 host larvae). On average, L. japonica eggs hatched first, followed by A. japonica and then G. brasiliensis. All three species exhibited interspecific competition after egg hatch through physical combat or in some cases through physiological suppression, with L. japonica out-competing the other two parasitoid species in multi-parasitized hosts. Ganaspis brasiliensis adults discriminated strongly against hosts previously parasitized by L. japonica, and A. japonica adults discriminated against hosts previously parasitized by L. japonica, whereas L. japonica only discriminated against hosts parasitized by G. brasiliensis. Regardless of host density, the observed parasitism when both A. japonica and L. japonica were present was lower than expected, a likely consequence of interspecific competition, but the combined impacts on host suppression by L. japonica and G. brasiliensis were additive, likely due to strong interspecific discrimination by G. brasiliensis.
Membrane interactions of intrinsically disordered proteins: The example of alpha-synuclein.

Abstract Peripheral membrane proteins associate reversibly with biological membranes that, compared to protein binding partners, are structurally labile and devoid of specific binding pockets. Membranes in different subcellular compartments vary primarily in their chemical composition and physical properties, and recognition of these features is therefore critical for allowing such proteins to engage their proper membrane targets. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are well-suited to accomplish this task using highly specific and low- to moderate-affinity interactions governed by recognition principles that are both similar to and different from those that mediate the membrane interactions of rigid proteins. IDPs have also evolved multiple mechanisms to regulate membrane (and other) interactions and achieve their impressive functional diversity. Moreover, IDP-membrane interactions may have a kinetic advantage in fast processes requiring rapid control of such interactions, such as synaptic transmission or signaling. Herein we review the biophysics, regulation and functional implications of IDP-membrane interactions and include a brief overview of some of the methods that can be used to study such interactions. At each step, we use the example of alpha-synuclein, a protein involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and one of the best characterized membrane-binding IDP, to illustrate some of the principles discussed.
Towards planning and control of hybrid systems with limit cycle using LQR trees

We present a multi-query recovery policy for a hybrid system with goal limit cycle. The sample trajectories and the hybrid limit cycle of the dynamical system are stabilized using locally valid Time Varying LQR controller policies which probabilistically cover a bounded region of state space. The original LQR Tree algorithm builds such trees for non-linear static and non-hybrid systems like a pendulum or a cart-pole. We leverage the idea of LQR trees to plan with a continuous control set, unlike methods that rely on discretization like dynamic programming to plan for hybrid dynamical systems where it is hard to capture the exact event of discrete transition. We test the algorithm on a compass gait model by stabilizing a dynamic walking hybrid limit cycle with point foot contact from random initial conditions. We show results from the simulation where the system comes back to a stable behavior with initial position or velocity perturbation and noise.
Adapting Meaningful Learning Strategies to Teach Liquid–Liquid Extractions

Although teaching laboratories offer students the opportunity to act and think like chemists, in many cases students simply follow written procedures to generate predetermined outcomes. In recent years, there has been a movement toward inquiry-, problem-, and discovery-based learning. In a similar vein, the first-semester introductory organic chemistry laboratory curriculum at the University of Michigan was recently overhauled, informed by the strategies of meaningful learning. The new course consists of three interconnected modules, and we present herein the second module, which focuses on liquid–liquid extraction (LLE). In the first week, students learn how to perform LLE by designing their own separation of a dye mixture, gaining an understanding of how the solution pH impacts molecular structure and solubility. In the second week, they practice using LLE by designing a separation method to remove a pollutant from water, and then, in the third week, they apply LLE to isolate a reaction product. We assessed student learning through a writing assignment at the end of the three-week module. We also assessed how the overall course affects student understanding of LLE concepts and their confidence in the lab. Our findings suggest that this learn, practice, apply approach for teaching LLE leads to modest learning gains and increased confidence.
Chapter 5 – Hematologic Manifestations of Systemic Illness

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the hematologic manifestations of diseases of various organs like heart, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, kidneys, endocrine glands, lungs, and skin. A variety of systemic illnesses including acute and chronic infections, neoplastic diseases, connective tissue disorders and storage diseases are associated with hematologic manifestations. The hematologic manifestations are the result of bone marrow dysfunction, hemolysis, immune cytopenias, alterations in hemostasis, and alterations in leukocyte function. Chronic illnesses such as cancer, connective tissue disease and chronic infection are associated with anemia. The tests to differentiate the anemia of chronic illness from iron deficiency anemia are listed and therapeutic options for the treatment of anemia in chronic disease are also outlined. Later this chapter discusses parasitic illnesses associated with marked hematologic sequelae, lead intoxication, and various nutritional disorders.
Temporal and spatial variability of trace volatile organic compounds in rainwater

This study presents the first detailed concentration profile of trace VOCs in atmospheric waters. Analytes were detected and quantified in 111 unique rain events in Wilmington, NC, USA over a one-year period. Headspace solid phase microextraction was optimized for detection of these compounds at sub-nanomolar levels. Distinct seasonality in both the occurrence and concentration of compounds was observed with the lowest abundance occurring during low irradiance winter months. In contrast to other rainwater components studied at this location, VOCs did not show any correlation between rainfall amount and concentrations. There was significant spatial variation with regards to air-mass back-trajectory for methyfuran with higher concentrations observed in terrestrial events during the growing season. Air mass back trajectory also impacted CCl4 concentrations in rainwater with evidence of a possible oceanic input. However there was no significant impact of air-mass back-trajectory on the concentration of BTEX observed in rain indicating that storm origin is not the controlling factor driving concentrations of these analytes in precipitation. Members of the BTEX family did, however, have significant correlations with each other occurring in ratios aligned closely with ratios reported in the literature for gas-phase BTEX. Using available gas-phase data from locations with similar anthropogenic sources and Henry's Law constants, calculated concentrations agreed with VOC levels found in Wilmington rain. Results of this study indicate local gas-phase scavenging is the major source of VOCs in rain and wet deposition is not an efficient removal mechanism (<0.1%) of VOCs from the atmosphere.
Shear-induced synergistic effects of konjac glucomannan and waxy potato starch on viscosity and gel strength

Abstract Waxy potato starch (WPS) forms a highly viscous and elastic gel under a long-term low shear at a low temperature (24 h, 20 s−1, and 5 °C), and the gel elasticity and storage modulus (G′) increase with the addition of konjac glucomannan (KGM). In this study, a relatively short-term (10 h) of low shear (20 s−1) was applied to the WPS dispersion with the addition of three different KGMs. With a constant low shear, viscosities of KGM/WPS dispersions initially decreased (0–4 h) followed by an increase (4–10 h) back to the level of the initial viscosity. Shear-induced WPS gel formation was accelerated by addition of KGM. The G′ of KGM/WPS gel increased 25 times after shearing for 10 h and was 5 times higher than shear-induced WPS gel, which was caused by the formation of intermolecular double helices of WPS (melting ΔH ≈ 5 J/g; ΔG'(25-95°C) ≈ 1100 Pa). Strong shear-induced synergistic effects with KGM and WPS were observed in the viscosity and G′, which was independent of the viscosity and elasticity of KGM dispersion.
Deciphering cryptic methane cycling: Coupling of methylotrophic methanogenesis and anaerobic oxidation of methane in hypersaline coastal wetland sediment

Abstract Methanogenesis has recently been shown to fuel anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) within the sulfate-reducing zone of marine sediments, coining the term “cryptic methane cycle”. Here we present research on the relationship between methanogenesis and AOM in a shallow hypersaline pool (∼130 PSU) within a southern California coastal wetland. Sediment (top 20 cm) was subjected to geochemical analyses, in-vitro slurry experiments, and radiotracer incubations using 35S-SO42−, 14C-mono-methylamine, and 14C-CH4, to study sulfate reduction, methylotrophic methanogenesis, and AOM. An adapted radioisotope method was used to follow cryptic methane cycling in 14C-mono-methylamine labeling incubations with increasing incubation times (1 hour to three weeks). Results showed peaks in AOM (max 13 nmol cm−3 d−1) and sulfate reduction activity (max 728 nmol cm−3 d−1) within the top 6 cm. Below 6 cm, AOM activity continued (max 15 nmol cm−3 d−1), while sulfate reduction was absent despite 67 mM sulfate, suggesting AOM was coupled to the reduction of iron. Methane concentrations were low (
A comprehensive and critical review of the recent progress in electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction

The human craving for energy is continually mounting and becoming progressively difficult to gratify. At present, the world's massive energy demands are chiefly encountered by nonrenewable and benign fossil fuels. However, the development of dynamic energy cradles for a gradually thriving world to lessen fossil fuel reserve depletion and environmental concerns is currently a persistent issue for society. The discovery of copious nonconventional resources to fill the gap between energy requirements and supply is the extreme obligation of the modern era. A new emergent, clean, and robust alternative to fossil fuels is the fuel cell. Among the different types of fuel cells, the direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFCs) is an outstanding option for light-duty vehicles and portable devices. A critical tactic for obtaining sustainable energy sources is the production of highly proficient, economical and green catalysts for energy storage and conversion devices. To date, a broad range of research is available for using Pt and modified Pt-based electrocatalysts to augment the C2H5OH oxidation process. Pt-based nanocubes, nanorods, nanoflowers, and the hybrids of Pt with metal oxides such as Fe2O3, TiO2, SnO2, MnO, Cu2O, and ZnO, and with conducting polymers are extensively utilized in both acidic and basic media. Moreover, Pd-based materials, transition metal-based materials, as well as transition metal-based materials are also points of interest for researchers nowadays. This review article delivers a broad vision of the current progress of the EOR process concerning noble metals and transition metals-based materials.
"Bridging the Gap": School Nurse Experiences Providing Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Students and Their Parents/Guardians.

School systems are often not set up to support transgender and gender diverse (TGD) students, which results in unsafe and unsupportive environments and other institutional barriers to helping TGD s...
The Effect of Shareholder Scrutiny on Corporate Tax Behavior: Evidence from Shareholder Tax Litigation

This study examines the effect of shareholder scrutiny of tax issues on corporate tax behavior. Specifically, we examine the factors associated with receiving shareholder tax litigation and the effect of such litigation on the future tax behavior of both the sued firm and its peers. We find shareholder tax litigation is more likely when firms exhibit higher levels of tax avoidance and greater tax uncertainty. Further, sued firms decrease tax avoidance activities (increasing their cash and GAAP ETRs and reducing the likelihood of extreme tax avoidance) after the suit. Finally, we find a spillover effect from shareholder scrutiny over tax issues. That is, treatment firms from the same industry as sued firms increase their cash and GAAP ETRs and decrease their UTBs and instances of extreme tax avoidance relative to control firms after the sued firm’s shareholder tax litigation, and results are strongest where theory predicts results to be concentrated.
Sing it or speak it?: the effects of sung and rhythmically spoken songs on preschool children's word learning

Abstract Vocabulary knowledge in the primary grades predicts later reading comprehension and academic success. For young children, low initial knowledge about academically-valued words at school entry can serve as a barrier to accessing text and sustaining reading achievement in school. Many studies focus on direct vocabulary instruction and shared book reading as the primary context for fostering preschool children's word learning, but few explore songs as a context for building minoritized preschool children's knowledge about words. Using a within-subject design, we investigated children's word learning from songs. Words were taught with picture cards-only, a song that was sung with a melody, and a song that was rhythmically spoken with no melody. Vocabulary knowledge was measured using a receptive task and a productive definitional task that assessed children's depth of word knowledge. We found that on the receptive measure, children's word learning did not vary across picture card-only instruction and instruction with sung and rhythmically spoken songs. However, both types of songs led to significantly greater gains in children's depth of word knowledge compared to words taught with picture cards-only. The findings of this study contribute to an understanding of whether songs, and specific features of songs, affect preschool children's word learning.
Introduction to Embodied Psychology: Thinking, Feeling, and Acting

Psychological phenomena are embodied to the extent that bodily processes (whether perceptual, expressive, or action-oriented) contribute to them. A great deal of research, most of which has occurred in the past several decades, has revealed that embodied influences are seemingly ubiquitous and findings of this type have led to the suggestion that embodiment is foundational to the manner in which individuals think, feel, and act. In the present introductory chapter, phenomena of this type are initially reviewed in outlining the scope of enquiry. Subsequently, five major theoretical perspectives on embodiment are summarized as well as briefly compared and contrasted with each other. After a discussion of key questions and directions for research, the chapter introduces the content of the book, which consists of four sections related to Theoretical Foundations, Cognitive and Neuroscience Perspectives, Social and Personality Perspectives, and Current Issues and Future Directions. Although the book concentrates on the areas of cognitive and social psychology, it does so in broad terms, such that some of the chapters approach their content from ecological, philosophical, developmental, clinical, or evolutionary viewpoints. Thus, the volume is comprehensive and should appeal to multiple audiences.
Dialogue in the Galleries: Developing a Tour about Contemporary Art for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

iv Introduction 1 Project Report 5 I. A Brief History of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and an Overview of Its Education Programming 5 II. Educational Theory & Teaching Methods 9 III. Selecting Artworks & Theme 18 IV. Research: Museum Tour Observations 28 V. Writing the Tour 31 VI. Considering Audience: Teens & Adults 36 VII. Presenting the Tour 41 Conclusion 44 Bibliography 46 Appendices 53 A. Contemporary Art and Hybridity Tour Script 54 B. Corresponding Virginia Standards of Learning Requirements 69 Vita 72
Lagrangian in Classical Field Theory

This chapter presents some basic facts of classical field theory in its Lagrangian formulation, including Lagrangian descriptions of energy and interactions.
Properties of reticulum cell sarcomas in SJL/J mice. VII. Nature of normal lymphoid cells proliferating in response to tumor cells.

Abstract Treatment of SJL lymph node, spleen, and thymus cells with anti-Ly 1.2 serum and C caused a marked reduction in the usually observed T-cell proliferation in response to syngeneic X-irradiated transplantable reticulum cell sarcoma cells. By contrast, treatment of lymphoid cells with anti-Ly 2.2 serum and C either failed to affect or increased the proliferative response. It is concluded that the Ly 1 cell is the major T-cell subpopulation which proliferates in response to RCS.
Unsaturated Fat and Low Energy Intake Induce whereas an Increment in Energy Intake Ameliorates Fatty Liver during Prolonged Alcohol Consumption by Rats

Two groups of rats were fed liquid diets containing 35% of energy as fat and either 36 or 26% of energy as alcohol to examine the effect of fat and energy intake on alcoholic fatty liver production. After 4 wk, five rats in each group were killed for analysis of liver triglyceride concentration, and then the alcohol diets fed to remaining rats were switched. All remaining rats were killed for hepatic triglyceride determination after another 4 wk. Rats initially fed the 36% alcohol diet or those switched to this diet ingested less energy, exhibited alcoholemia and slow growth, and developed fatty livers. Rats initially fed the 26% alcohol diet or those switched to this diet ingested significantly more energy, high amounts of alcohol and fat, exhibited low alcoholemia and faster growth than when they were fed the 36% alcohol diet. Fatty liver was absent in rats fed the 26% alcohol diet but was induced when they were fed the 36% alcohol diet. Fatty liver in rats initially fed the 36% alcohol diet regressed completely when the rats were switched to the 26% alcohol diet. Additional studies employing 36% alcohol diets containing 35% of energy as fat, derived from either corn oil or olive oil, revealed that unsaturated fat and not specifically linoleate plays a role in the induction of fatty liver. Thus, nutritional factors regulate the induction or regression of fatty liver and alcoholemia in alcoholic rats.
Fetal intestinal fibroblasts respond to insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II better than adult intestinal fibroblasts

Background We compared IGF responses of fetal and adult intestinal fibroblasts to identify a developmental difference in the IGF-axis. Intestinal fibroblasts were isolated from maternal and fetal jejunum. Media was conditioned at confluence and one week afterwards. The proliferative response at confluence to 5 nM IGF-I or -II was compared.
The Application of Boundary Element Analysis to Engine Component Design

Boundary element analysis (BEA) is an effective computer simulation program for certain applications in design engineering. The BEA technique has been used extensively at Caterpillar for structural analysis of engine and vehicle components. The time savings and modeling ease of BEA are illustrated with specific examples of engine component models. These examples represent a variety of modeling techniques, and include comparisons with measured test data.
Induction of One-Level Decision Trees

In recent years, researchers have made considerable progress on the worst-case analysis of inductive learning tasks, but for theoretical results to have impact on practice, they must deal with the average case. In this paper we present an average-case analysis of a simple algorithm that induces one-level decision trees for concepts defined by a single relevant attribute. Given knowledge about the number of training instances, the number of irrelevant attributes, the amount of class and attribute noise, and the class and attribute distributions, we derive the expected classification accuracy over the entire instance space. We then examine the predictions of this analysis for different settings of these domain parameters, comparing them to experimental results to check our reasoning.
Management options in decompensated cirrhosis

Chronic injury to the liver from a variety of different sources can result in irreversible scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was responsible for 31,903 deaths in 2010 alone. It is thus of the utmost importance to appropriately manage these patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting to improve morbidity and mortality. In this review, we address four major areas of cirrhosis management: outpatient management of portal hypertension with decompensation, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and bleeding/coagulation issues. Outpatient management covers recommendations for health care maintenance and screening. Hepatic encephalopathy encompasses a brief review of pathophysiology, treatment in the acute setting, and long-term prevention. Hepatorenal syndrome is discussed in regards to pathophysiology and treatment in the hospital setting. Finally, a discussion of the assessment of coagulation profiles in cirrhosis and recommendations for bleeding and thrombosis complications is included. These topics are not all encompassing with regard to this complicated population, but rather an overview of a few medical problems that are commonly encountered in their care.
The Impact of Midpoint Responses and Reverse Coding on Survey Data

Counselors conducting survey research have many item format options to contemplate. This study examined midpoint selection and the effect on reliability of (a) including or excluding midpoint optio...
New insights into the link between cardiovascular disease and depression

Summary Introduction: Although the association between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well documented, the underlying mechanisms for this relationship remain unclear. In this paper, we present three possible models which account for the comorbidity between depression and cardiovascular disease. Models: The first model outlines depression as a risk factor for CVD and the second model presents CVD as a risk factor for depression. The third model proposes a common underlying pathway related to the effects of chronic stress on the body in manifesting as depression or cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: If the proposed model holds true, it may be possible that an intervention initiated before overt manifestations of CVD or depression become apparent, may delay or prevent the onset of these serious clinical entities.
Feedback gain optimization in decentralized eigenvalue assignment

Abstract This paper develops a new design procedure for minimizing the norm of a decentralized output feedback matrix which assigns a user specified set of eigenvalues. Two distinct approaches which can be meshed together as a unified design tool are derived. Assuming one has computed a decentralized feedback matrix which assigns a desired spectrum, the first approach describes an iterative algorithm which reduces an algebraic cost function (e.g. the Frobenius norm) of the feedback gains while maintaining the desired spectrum. This algorithm allows for small movements in the eigenvalues. The iteration step is based on the first order variational behaviour of the eigenvalue-eigenvector equations. The second algorithm modifies a continuation method for decentralized eigenvalue assignment to include an optimizing factor. Numerical considerations for the design procedures are discussed. An example showing the improvement possible by the application of the procedure is also given.
Tourism and underdevelopment in Southeast Asia

(1979). Tourism and underdevelopment in Southeast Asia. Journal of Contemporary Asia: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 274-287.
Vertical distributions of COS, CS2, DMS and other sulfur compounds in a loblolly pine forest

Abstract Measurements of atmospheric COS, CS2, DMS, SO2 and aerosol sulfate and methanesulfonate (MSA) concentrations were conducted in a loblolly pine forest in central Georgia between July and September 1990. The daytime profiles obtained for the reduced sulfur gases (COS, CS2, DMS) often showed significantly higher concentrations at the canopy level than above the forest canopy, indicating a net emission of these gases from the tree tops. No evidence was found for a net uptake of COS by the canopy during daytime. With one exception, all COS concentrations measured during the day were significantly higher than corresponding nighttime values. These results appear to be in conflict with recent studies suggesting a net uptake of atmospheric COS by plants during photosynthetic activity. Possible explanations for these different findings are discussed. Nighttime profiles indicated no major biosphere-atmosphere exchange of COS, CS2 or DMS. Nighttime DMS concentrations were significantly higher than corresponding daytime values. A clear inverse relationship between the diel variations of DMS and MSA was observed, consistent with rapid photochemical oxidation of DMS under the given conditions.
Incidence of sports-related eye injuries in the United States: 2001–2009.

Dear Editor, Sports account for almost one-third of eye injuries that lead to blindness in the United States (US) [1]. An estimated 42,000 sports-related eye injuries are evaluated in emergency departments (ED) annually in the US [2]. There is a paucity of data on current trends in sports-related eye injuries in the US [3]. To this end, we examined eye injuries from 2001 to 2009 among athletes aged 7 and older who were evaluated in EDs across the US. The study received an exemption from the Rhode Island Hospital (Providence, RI, USA) Institutional Review Board. Sports-related eye injuries were extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a stratified probability sample of 100 hospital EDs across the United States and territories with a minimum of six beds and a 24-hour ED including separate strata for very large, large, medium, small and children’s hospitals based on number of ED visits [4, 5]. Sports-related eye injuries were then classified based on risk of the associated sport (high, moderate, low, and eye-safe) per the American Academies of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics (Table 1) [6]. Estimated numbers of participants within each sport were obtained from the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) from 2001 to 2009 [7]. Injury rates were calculated by dividing the estimated number of injuries from NEISS by the estimated number of participants from the NSGA. Injury rates within risk categories were calculated by averaging injury rates for all sports within the risk group. From 2001 to 2009, an estimated 208,517 cases of sportsrelated eye injuries in the selected sports were treated in US EDs. High-risk sports contributed 55% (114,133) of eye injuries, followed by moderate-risk (27%; 56,039), low-risk (16%; 32,555) and eye-safe (3%; 5,790). Most injuries occurred in the 7–14 age group (37%; 76,172), followed by 15–24 year olds (31%; 64,915); 80% (166,744) were males. The average yearly eye injury rate was 0.64 injuries per 10,000 participants. Trends for injury rates are shown in Fig. 1. From 2001 to 2005, the rate of high-risk sportsrelated eye injuries decreased 25% (1.77 to 1.32), while the rate of moderate-risk sports-related eye injuries decreased 27% (0.94 to 0.68). A decline in sports-related eye injuries was not observed from 2006 to 2009. In contrast, analyses suggest that the rate of sports-related eye injuries has been increasing since 2007. From 2007 to 2009, the rate of eye The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the United States (US) Department of Veterans Affairs or the US Government.
New paradigms for the evolution of beneficial infections

A longstanding paradigm predicts that microbial parasites and mutualists exhibit disparate evolutionary patterns. Parasites are predicted to promote arms races with hosts, rapid evolution and sexual recombination. By contrast, mutualists have been linked with beneficial coadaptation, evolutionary stasis and asexuality. In this review we discuss the recent surge of molecular data on microbes that are being used to test and reshape these ideas. New analyses reveal that beneficial microbes often share mechanisms of infection and defense with parasites, and can also exhibit rapid evolution and extensive genetic exchange. To explain these patterns, new paradigms must take into account the varied population biology of beneficial microbes, their potential conflicts with hosts, and the mosaic nature of genome evolution that requires locus-based tests to analyze the genetics of host adaptation.
Monte Carlo dose calculations of beta‐emitting sources for intravascular brachytherapy: A comparison between EGS4, EGSnrc, and MCNP

The dose parameters for the beta-particle emitting 90Sr/90Y source for intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) have been calculated by different investigators. At a distant distance from the source, noticeable differences are seen in these parameters calculated using different Monte Carlo codes. The purpose of this work is to quantify as well as to understand these differences. We have compared a series of calculations using an EGS4, an EGSnrc, and the MCNP Monte Carlo codes. Data calculated and compared include the depth dose curve for a broad parallel beam of electrons, and radial dose distributions for point electron sources (monoenergetic or polyenergetic) and for a real 90Sr/90Y source. For the 90Sr/90Y source, the doses at the reference position (2 mm radial distance) calculated by the three code agree within 2%. However, the differences between the dose calculated by the three codes can be over 20% in the radial distance range interested in IVBT. The difference increases with radial distance from source, and reaches 30% at the tail of dose curve. These differences may be partially attributed to the different multiple scattering theories and Monte Carlo models for electron transport adopted in these three codes. Doses calculated by the EGSnrc code are more accurate than those by the EGS4. The two calculations agree within 5% for radial distance <6 mm.