cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Axxent-Xoft, (192)Ir and (60)Co high-dose-rate brachytherapy sources for image-guided brachytherapy treatment planning for cervical cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the dosimetric differences and similarities between treatment plans generated with Axxent-Xoft electronic brachytherapy source (Xoft-EBS), 192Ir and 60Co for tandem and ovoids (T&O) applicators.Methods:In this retrospective study, we replanned 10 patients previously treated with 192Ir high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Prescription was 7 Gy × 4 fractions to Point A. For each original plan, we created two additional plans with Xoft-EBS and 60Co. The dose to each organ at risk (OAR) was evaluated in terms of V35% and V50%, the percentage volume receiving 35% and 50% of the prescription dose, respectively, and D2cc, highest dose to a 2 cm3 volume of an OAR.Results:There was no difference between plans generated by 192Ir and 60Co, but the plans generated using Xoft-EBS showed a reduction of up to 50% in V35%, V50% and D2cc. The volumes of the 200% and 150% isodose lines, however, were 74% and 34% greater than the comparable volumes generated with the 192Ir source. Point B dose was on average ...
Incompressible Flow, 4th Edition, by Ronald L. Panton: Scope: textbook. Level: advanced undergraduate, early stage postgraduate

Fluid dynamics is a subject of immense importance, not only because of its application to engineering analysis and design, but also, and perhaps more importantly, in understanding the various natur...
Effects of resource pulses on nutrient availability, ecosystem productivity, and temporal variability following a stochastic disturbance in eutrophic glacial lakes

Hypoxia in shallow lakes represents a stochastic disturbance that may elicit a resource pulse through fish decomposition, altering nutrient availability and temporal variability of ecosystem productivity. We measured nutrient availability, primary and secondary production, and temporal variability from April through September in no, moderate, and high carrion lakes following winter 2007–2008 and used a repeated-measures ANOVA and impact trend-by-time analyses to evaluate how increasing levels of fish carrion influence recipient ecosystems. Lakes with carrion had higher nutrient concentrations, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, and zooplankton and benthic invertebrates and less periphyton compared to no carrion lakes. Phytoplankton was positively related to carrion biomass but the association diminished through time suggesting recovery from the initial nutrient pulse. In contrast, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, turbidity, and macroinvertebrates were positively related to carrion biomass and the slope increased throughout the summer suggesting an increasing pulse effect through time. Initially, zooplankton density was negatively related to carrion biomass but then became positively related to carrion biomass. Regression slope between zooplankton and carrion biomass peaked in June before decreasing in late summer, suggesting recovery from the pulse. Combined, our results suggest that nutrients released during fish decomposition following stochastic disturbances represent an important pulse in eutrophic lakes that further enriches productivity.
Quantum Device Modeling with the Convolution Method

Recent advances in materials fabrication and nanolithography have made possible a generation of semiconducting structures whose conductance is governed by quantum mechanical phenomena. In particular, nanostructures on Si MOSFETs and GaAs MODFETs have shown modulations in their conductance versus gate voltage characteristics that have been attributed to quantum mechanical effects. In this paper, we review a modeling scheme which gives a unified way of understanding how these quantum effects are affected by temperature, mobility, voltage, and the structure of the device. This model provides not only a qualitative understanding of the various quantum phenomena, but also a basis for developing efficient computational algorithms for modeling specific devices. We have called this scheme the convolution method because most of the calculations can be written in terms of separate convolutions involving the individual phenomena of temperature, mobility, voltage, and structure.
''A Good Canadian Boy'': Crisis Masculinity, Canadian National Identity, and Nostalgic Longings in Don Cherry's Coach's Corner

In this article, I examine the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's controversial hockey commentator Don Cherry and his weekly television segment on Hockey Night in Canada called Coach's Corner. Through a content analysis of three seasons of Coach's Corner (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09), I examine Cherry as a marker (and maker) of nostalgic remembering. The press and the public both revere and revile his performance of manliness, and the style of masculinity that he advocates, as a throwback to simpler days. For Cherry, these simpler times, which contrast with the idea of a current-day masculinity in crisis, privileged the “self-made man” who, through hard work, could make a way for himself in the world. In this article, I argue that Cherry's articulations of morality are linked to discourses of masculinity in crisis, taking the form of a nostalgic privileging of an anachronistic style of masculinity that locates an appropriate sense of masculine style within a particular class consciousness, namely the worki...
Serological Determination of Carabid (Coleoptera: Adephaga) Predation of Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Corn

Carabids were collected alive with pitfall traps in cornfields during the second-generation corn earworm prepupal period. Double immunodiffusion assays showed 10 of 17 potential predators to have consumed earworm protein. Within species tested, positive responses ranged from 2.8 to 75% of the individuals.
MICROMECHANICAL SENSORS IN TACTICAL GN&C APPLICATIONS

Micromachined silicon inertial sensors offer revolutionary improvements in cost, size, and reliability for Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C). Batch manufacturing techniques produce thousands of virtually identical microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices, each a few square millimeters in size. Development of inertial MEMS is driven by the high-volume, commercial market that targets modest performance applications at prices below $10 per axis. Draper Laboratory has recently demonstrated higher performance, multi-axis systems using commercial processes for lower-volume tactical applications ranging from guided munitions to micro-satelli tes. More accurate sensors enabled by Deep Reactive Ion Etch technology and new digital electronics are rapidly approaching a bias stabilities of 1 deg/h and 100 ug over -40°C to +85°C. Future architectures under development reflect a radical departure from early demonstration systems. New sensors with complementary input axes have led to multiaxis sensor arrays, and new wafer-scale processes, integrating sensor arrays and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), are creating complete systems on a chip.
Bishops and Power in Early Modern England. By Marcus K. Harmes. (London, England: Bloomsbury, 2013. Pp. 222. $120.00.)

This monograph is a helpful exploration of the justification for the continuation of the episcopate and episcopal authority in the reformed Church of England. The author concludes that bishops need...
173. Exercise improves host response to Influenza in obese and non-obese mice

Obesity may impair host response to influenza infection. In order to determine whether exercise may improve resistance to infection in an obese host, C57Bl/6 mice were fed either a normal diet or high fat diet for 8 weeks, and were assigned to either exercise or no-exercise treatment. Twenty-four hours after the last exercise session, mice were infected with Influenza A/PR/8/34-H1N1. High-fat-diet mice had significantly greater body fat than normal-diet-mice. The results showed that exercise reduced lung viral titer by day 8-post-infection (p.i.) in both obese and non-obese mice, and resulted in reduced bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) concentrations of eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-10, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES. At day 3-p.i., a significant interaction between diet and exercise treatment was found such that exercise reduced BAL cytokines/chemokines in non-obese mice only. Also, at day 3-p.i. the production of cytokines/chemokines appeared to be impaired in obese non-exercise mice (reduced by ∼50% at a similar viral load). Beta-agonist-stimulate ciliary beat frequency (CBF) increases, a model for mucociliary clearance in the trachea, was decreased in infected vs. uninfected mice. However, stimulated CBF increases were significantly impaired in obese non-exercise mice day 3-p.i. vs. uninfected control mice. Body weight loss was attenuated by exercise in non-obese mice only. In summary, exercise improved host resistance to Influenza infection in obese and non-obese, although the magnitude of improvement was greater in non-obese mice.
Laboratory Evaluation of a Method of Sterilizing the Boll Weevil

Reproduction by 1,350,000 adults of Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman fed 100 ppm diflubenzuron for 5 days and exposed to 10 krad on day 6 was evaluated in the laboratory. Of the 1,701,240 eggs collected from treated adults, 99.999% were sterile.
Analysis and comparison of the malignant tumors death cause of residents between the two counties in Huai'an city during 30 years

OBJECTIVE:To find some significant clues and provide the reference for making the cancer control methods by analyzing the change of death cause of residents from the malignant tumors between the two counties in Huai'an city during 30 years.METHODS:Ecological epidemiology was used to analyze the all death data from the national first and third retrospective survey of all death causes of residents in Chuzhou and Jinhu county in 1973-1975 and 2004-2005.RESULTS:Among the both counties population,the mortality rate declined in the past 30 years.The spectrum of mortality changed,and non-communicable diseases became the main death cause in population.The Mortality rate of the malignant tumors,especially,alimentary canal tumor,obviously declined,but they were the most common cause of mortality at all times.The age-standardized mortality rate of malignant tumors decreased from 262.59 per 100 000(1973-1975)to 162.62 per 100 000(2004-2005)in Chuzhou county,and from 205.70 per 100 000(1973-1975)to 180.02 per 100 000(2004-2005)in Jinhu county.CONCLUSIONS:Non-communicable diseases should be emphasized.The difference of social-economic development can influence on the range of the malignant tumors mortality rate change in population,but the effective method of diseases control and prevention can obviously make population mortality rate decline.
Evaluating the child with recurrent infections

In evaluating recurrent childhood infections, the physician must keep in mind the rarity of true immunodeficiency and the frequency of atopy, day care, exposure to cigarette smoke and anatomic variations as predisposing factors in recurrent childhood illnesses. Determining true immunodeficiency involves exclusion of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection, identification of a family history of immunodeficiency and recognition of specific physical and laboratory findings. In most cases, screening immunoglobulin studies will distinguish the normal child from the child with an abnormal immune system. Management of the patient with true immunodeficiency is carried out in collaboration with specialists in these uncommon disorders.
Prediction of acid-base values from intrapartum fetal heart rate data and their correlation with scalp and funic values.

Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns and loss of fetal heart rate variability do not accurately predict fetal distress in more than 50 per cent of cases. The author examines the value of correlating fetal heart rate data and fetal capillary blood acid-base values in order to more specifically predict the fetal condition
Transfer of the Calvin H. Stevens Coral Collection to the University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California

Corals collected by Dr. Calvin H. Stevens and previously curated in the Geology Department, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, have been transferred to the University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California. The collection consists of more than 850 hand samples and thin sections accumulated over …
Monitoring antibiotic resistance in urinary isolates from the community--a spotter practice model.

Awareness of the rise in antimicrobial resistance has led to recommendations for better prescribing guidelines, based on accurate laboratory sensitivity data. However, concerns have been raised of possible biases in sampling leading to skewed resistance rates results, and so a range of different enhanced surveillance models have been proposed. This study compared the differences between routine results from unselected primary care urine samples with results from samples from spotter practices. Five hundred and eighty-eight out of2,288 urine samples received from three spotter practices were culture positive. Of the 510 isolates tested against a panel of commonly prescribed antibiotics, levels of resistance to ampicillin were 32.5%, and to trimethoprim 18.0 % (p < 0.05). By comparison, of 40,026 urine specimens submitted by other practices, 9,382 were culture positive and the percentage antibiotic resistant was higher - 36.3 % to ampicillin and 22.6% to trimethoprim. Routinely submitted laboratory samples may overestimate the true levels of antibiotic resistance in the community. A spotter practice model is an effective and viable way of collecting unbiased data.
Multiple Dimensions of the Archaic-to-Pit Structure Period Transition in Southeastern Arizona

ABSTRACTMany archaeologists have noted a major discontinuity throughout the Southwest between the Late Archaic (1500 to 1 B.C.) and the Pit Structure (A.D. 1 to 1050) periods, perhaps largely because of the addition of ceramics to the artifact assemblage. The discontinuity has been interpreted as the time when agriculture changed from casual to intensive, wild foods became much less important in the diet, and people practiced residential sedentism for much or all of the year. Data from surveys that the author has conducted in the northern San Simon drainage of southeastern Arizona, however, suggest that the Late Archaic and Pit Structure period settlement patterns are more similar to each other than either is to Middle Archaic or post-Pit Structure period settlement patterns. In contrast to similarities in the settlement patterns, the artifact assemblage—including ceramics, chipped stone, and architecture—changes from the Late Archaic to the Pit Structure period. The continuation of the artifact trends th...
Designing large scale chiral metamaterials by nanosphere shadowing lithography

A scalable nanofabrication technique for chiral metamaterials is presented, which combines the dynamic shadowing growth and self-assembled nanosphere monolayers, and is also known as nanosphere shadowing lithography. We have developed two strategies based on nanosphere shadowing lithography to prepare chiral nanostructures. The first strategy is to create a quasi-three-dimensional single-layer fan-shaped chiral nanostructure on nanospheres with one plasmonic material. The second strategy is to create three-dimensional multi-layers helical nanostructures with one plasmonic material and one dielectric material. Both strategies can produce large-area chiral nanostructures with strong chiral optical response, which makes nanosphere shadowing lithography suitable for producing chiral metamaterial based devices such as an ultrathin narrow-band circular polarizer.
Mouse Slc4a11 expressed in Xenopus oocytes is an ideally selective H+/OH- conductance pathway that is stimulated by rises in intracellular and extracellular pH.

The SLC4A11 gene encodes the bicarbonate-transporter-related protein BTR1, which is mutated in syndromes characterized by vision and hearing loss. Signs of these diseases [congenital hereditary end...
Translating Between Electron and Phonon Perspectives

Having analyzed and quantified the DFQ–phonon interaction from the phonon perspective, I will now turn to the electron perspective. In this chapter I will show that the interaction Hamiltonian in Eq. ( 6.7) modifies the DFQ energies and lifetimes much like we have already seen in the case of the surface phonons. The matrix elements gq, ν of the interaction Hamiltonian along with the dressed phonon propagator, both of which have already been determined from the phonon data, can be used as input to a Matsubara Green function formalism to calculate the modifications to the electron dispersion.
Impact of Tropical SSTs in the North Atlantic and Southeastern Pacific on the Eastern Pacific ITCZ

AbstractDuring boreal spring, observations show a double ITCZ over the eastern Pacific, with the northern ITCZ stronger than the southern ITCZ. However, it is opposite in most climate models. It is also evident that there exists a cold bias in tropical North Atlantic (TNA) sea surface temperature (SST) and a warm bias in southeastern Pacific (SEP) SST. In this study, the influences of TNA and SEP SSTs on the double-ITCZ bias are investigated by prescribing the observed SST in these regions in the NCAR CESM1. Results show that when TNA SST is prescribed, the northern ITCZ is substantially enhanced and the southern ITCZ is moderately reduced, although the SST response in these regions is small. When the SEP SST is prescribed, the southern ITCZ is reduced considerably. When both TNA and SEP SSTs are prescribed, the double-ITCZ bias is reduced by ~68%. Moisture budget analysis suggests that dynamics, mainly the low-level convergence change, determines the above precipitation changes. Based on a mixed layer mo...
Dysregulation of Alternative Splicing of Coagulation Factor V Results in Bleeding Disorder, East Texas Type.

Abstract Factor V has recently been observed to act as a synergistic anticoagulant cofactor in the activated Protein C (APC) pathway; however, the importance of factor V's anticoagulant nature in vivo is poorly understood. A novel autosomal dominant bleeding disorder, which is characterized by excessive bleeding with trauma or surgery and menorrhagia in affected women, was identified in a large family (16 affected individuals) from east Texas. Affected members had a prolongation of their PT and/or aPTT. Clinical studies indicated normal activities and levels of all coagulation factors. Linkage analysis mapped the defective gene to 1q23–24 (LODmax 7.33), which contains the gene for coagulation factor V (FV). An alteration (A2440G)in the FV gene in exon 13, which encodes the entire B-domain of the wildtype protein, segregates with disease and was not present in 62 controls. Interestingly, this alteration falls on the 5′ splice site (TA/GT) of an alternative splicing variant confirmed by RT-PCR of control liver and leukocytes. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis demonstrated that this splice variant produces a low abundance, 250kD isoform of FV in control plasma. The A2440G alteration can theoretically form a higher efficiency consensus site for splicing (TG/GT). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR confirms this improved efficiency with an increase of splicing seen in patients' RNA from leukocytes (n=3) versus controls (n=3). This translates into an approximately 20-fold increase in the 250kD isoform of FV seen in patients' plasma (n=6) versus controls (n=5), while wildtype FV levels remain equivalent. Co-precipitation with Vitamin-K dependent coagulation factors from patient plasma suggests that this isoform interacts with known FV-interacting proteins (Figure 1). A recombinant of this splicing event (FV-703) exhibited normal activation by thrombin and normal prothrombinase activity when compared to the wildtype recombinant. Thrombin-activated FV-703 also showed normal degradation by APC, while intact FV-703 displayed an increased sensitivity to APC that was more striking in the presence of PS (Figure 2). We hypothesize that this novel isoform has a stronger affinity for APC in the presence of PS than wildtype FV and works primarily as a cofactor in the APC pathway to heighten the overall anticoagulant activity in the bloodstream. These data indicate that A2440G up-regulates an alternatively spliced transcript of FV, and increases a FV isoform that hinders coagulation as opposed to promoting it like its wildtype counterpart. As verified by this unique mutation, this novel alternative splicing of coagulation FV is an important physiological event that can result in disease if its delicate balance is disrupted. Download : Download high-res image (147KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (142KB) Download : Download full-size image
Conducting External Profile Analysis with Multiple Regression

Internal profile analysis methods that employ multidimensional scaling or cluster analysis continue to receive application in educational and psychological research. One critique of these methods is that there is no guarantee that the identified profiles will exhibit criterion or diagnostic validity. Recently, an external profile analysis technique was developed using multiple regression. The external profile analysis method yields a profile that is derived to explicitly relate to a criterion. This paper introduces the new external profile analysis method and presents an application that uses 8th grade NAEP reading test scores as the criterion and background questions pertaining to students’ out-of-school reading and writing behaviors and experiences as predictors. The external profile analysis sought to uncover a type or pattern of out-of-school experiences that related to reading achievement. The profile analysis findings were also used to interpret group performance differences and to identify possible recommendations for closing the male reading achievement gap.
Overexpression of VEGF-C and -D may predict unfavorable outcome in resected non-small cell lung cancer

21114 Background: Correlation of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and/or VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) with lymphatic spread, tissue invasion and poor clinical outcomes has been obse...
The Effect of the Corn Borer on Farm Organization in the Corn Belt

for the past ten years. Only during the last six years, however, has it been in evidence in the North Central States, where more than three-fourths of our corn is normally produced, and only in the last two years has it been spreading rapidly toward our intensive corn sections. First infestations of our important corn area appeared near Toledo, in northwestern Ohio and near the west end of Lake Erie. Evidence indicates that the infestations in this area came
Mesoscale organization, entrainment, and the properties of a closed-cell stratocumulus cloud

Closed-cell mesoscale organization and its relationship to entrainment and the properties of a low, non-precipitating stratocumulus cloud is investigated. Large eddy simulations were run over 10 periodic diurnal cycles during which mesoscale organization could fully develop and approach a quasi-steady state, on five domains sized from 2.4 km × 2.4 km to 38.4 km × 38.4 km. The four smaller domains hosted a single cell with an aspect ratio that increased with domain size. On the largest domain, mesoscale organization consisted of a cell population that evolved over the course of the diurnal cycle. It is found that with increasing cell aspect ratio, entrainment weakens and the boundary layer becomes shallower, cooler, moister, and more decoupled. This causes an increase in cloud water path and cloud radiative effect up to a cell aspect ratio of 16. With further increase in cell aspect ratio, circulation on the cell scale becomes less effective in supplying moisture to the cloud and in producing turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). This mechanism can explain scale saturation in closed-cell mesoscale organization. The simulations support a maximum stable aspect ratio of closed-cell mesoscale organization between 32 and 64, consistent with the observational limit of ≈40. The simulations show furthermore that entrainment does not, in general, scale with buoyant production of TKE. Instead, entrainment correlates with the vertical component of TKE. This implies vertical motion as a driver of entrainment, and a convective velocity scale based on the vertical component of TKE rather than on buoyant production of TKE.
Heating-freezing effects on the orientation of kaolin clay particles

Abstract The effects of temperature changes on the particle orientation of a consolidated kaolin are studied using XRD experiments. Two sets of equipment were utilized in this study: a benchtop equipment, and a synchrotron beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The kaolin specimens tested in the benchtop XRD were subjected to elevated and freezing temperatures ex-situ, while those used for the NSLS-II experiment were exposed to the temperature changes in-situ. The temperatures considered in this study range from freezing (− 10 °C) to elevated temperature below boiling (90 °C). The thermally-induced reorientation of clay mineral particles is highly dependent on the relative orientation of the clay mineral particles with respect to the applied thermal gradient. For example, kaolin samples with kaolinite particles oriented perpendicular to the thermal gradient, and to the expected thermally-induced pore water flow, experience much higher particles reorientations compared to samples with particles initially oriented parallel to the thermal gradient. Moreover, freezing kaolin preserved its microstructure as ice crystals form.
Feature article: Flight data assessment of tightly coupled PPP/INS using real-time products

Airborne geodetic techniques are superior to their terrestrial counterparts with respect to both economy and efficiency [1]. In addition, airborne geodesy allows mapping of remote areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. A cornerstone for most airborne geodetic measurements is the accurate determination of the aircraft position and orientation. Therefore, airborne geodesy was not widely used until the advent of global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). Now, with precise GNSS positioning techniques, airborne geodesy is booming within several domains, including solid Earth monitoring (e.g., crustal deformation) [2]–[4], fluid Earth monitoring (e.g., ice sheet or sea-level monitoring) [5]–[7], and geoid determination [8], [9]. Despite the success of these airborne geodetic methods, the increased availability and reliability of accurate aircraft positioning remains an important enabling technology in support of future scientific endeavors.
Assessing Working Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment with Serial Order Recall.

BACKGROUND Working memory (WM) is often assessed with serial order tests such as repeating digits backward. In prior dementia research using the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT), only aggregate test performance was examined. OBJECTIVE The current research tallied primacy/recency effects, out-of-sequence transposition errors, perseverations, and omissions to assess WM deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS Memory clinic patients (n = 66) were classified into three groups: single domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), combined mixed domain/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI), and non-MCI where patients did not meet criteria for MCI. Serial order/WM ability was assessed by asking participants to repeat 7 trials of five digits backwards. Serial order position accuracy, transposition errors, perseverations, and omission errors were tallied. RESULTS A 3 (group)×5 (serial position) repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant group×trial interaction. Follow-up analyses found attenuation of the recency effect for mixed/dys MCI patients. Mixed/dys MCI patients scored lower than non-MCI patients for serial position 3 (p < 0.003) serial position 4 (p < 0.002); and lower than both group for serial position 5 (recency; p < 0.002). Mixed/dys MCI patients also produced more transposition errors than both groups (p < 0.010); and more omissions (p < 0.020), and perseverations errors (p < 0.018) than non-MCI patients. CONCLUSIONS The attenuation of a recency effect using serial order parameters obtained from the BDT may provide a useful operational definition as well as additional diagnostic information regarding working memory deficits in MCI.
AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE SINUS TACHYCARDIA IN A PATIENT WITH EBSTEIN'S ANOMALY

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is characterized by paroxysmal or persistent tachycardia originating in the sinus nodal area. Etiologies can range from intrinsic cardiac diseases to multisystemic illnesses and medications. IST can lead to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction which is potentially
3-Hydroxy-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones as novel antibacterial scaffolds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of 3-hydroxy-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones as antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE). Lead compound 38 showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8 and 4 μg/mL against MRSA and MRSE, respectively. Furthermore, compound 38 displayed a MIC of 8-16 μg/mL against linezolid-resistant MRSA. These molecules, previously underexplored as antibacterial agents, serve as a new scaffold for antimicrobial development.
Annular Bounds for the Zeros of a Polynomial

The problem of obtaining the smallest possible region containing all the zeros of a polynomial has been attracting more and more attention recently, and in this paper, we obtain several results providing the annular regions that contain all the zeros of a complex polynomial. Using MATLAB, we construct specific examples of polynomials and show that for these polynomials our results give sharper regions than those obtainable from some of the known results.
Results of Beta Secretase-Inhibitor Clinical Trials Support Amyloid Precursor Protein-Independent Generation of Beta Amyloid in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

The present review analyzes the results of recent clinical trials of β secretase inhibition in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD), considers the striking dichotomy between successes in tests of β-site Amyloid Precursor Protein-Cleaving Enzyme (BACE) inhibitors in healthy subjects and familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) models versus persistent failures of clinical trials and interprets it as a confirmation of key predictions for a mechanism of amyloid precursor protein (APP)-independent, β secretase inhibition-resistant production of β amyloid in SAD, previously proposed by us. In light of this concept, FAD and SAD should be regarded as distinctly different diseases as far as β-amyloid generation mechanisms are concerned, and whereas β secretase inhibition would be neither applicable nor effective in the treatment of SAD, the β-site APP-Cleaving Enzyme (BACE) inhibitor(s) deemed failed in SAD trials could be perfectly suitable for the treatment of FAD. Moreover, targeting the aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) other than cleavages of the APP by β and α secretases should have analogous impacts in both FAD and SAD.
Does Molinism Reconcile Freedom and Foreknowledge

John Martin Fischer has argued that Molinism does not constitute a response to the argument that divine foreknowledge is incompatible with human freedom. I argue that T. Ryan Byerly’s recent work on the mechanics of foreknowledge sheds light on this issue. It shows that Fischer’s claim is ambiguous, and that it may turn out to be false on at least one reading, but only if the Molinist can explain how God knows true counterfactuals of freedom.
Gas oxy combustion and conversion technologies for low carbon energy: Fundamentals, modeling and reactors

Abstract With growing concerns over greenhouse gas emission, novel combustion technologies are timely and critical. Fossil fuels will continue to contribute a large fraction of energy production in the near and intermediate future, making carbon capture and storage an important part of the solution. System studies show that oxy-combustion can play an important role in capturing CO2 efficiently when applied to power systems, because its efficiency and electricity prices are competitive with other low carbon energy. Gas-phase oxy-combustion, diluted with CO2 to control the flame temperature, utilizes conventional “off-the-shelve” technology. However, the combustion process exhibits characteristics different than those of air combustion because of the chemical activity of CO2, which impacts the combustor design. We summarize these characteristics. It also suffers from an energy penalty associated air separation. Alternative oxygen production technologies includes ion-transport membranes, and chemical looping using metal oxides as oxygen carriers. These technologies, while still under development, can couple oxygen separation and combustion in one process, i.e., process intensification. While an extensive knowledge base exists for gas phase oxy-combustion, these alternative technologies that rely on surface and electrochemical processes are still in their early stages. We review some fundamentals related to defect chemistry, surface and electrochemical reaction models, and their coupling with internal diffusion and external heat and mass transport, the associated rate-limiting steps and how they impact reactor design and performance. The discussion is used to explain the choice of oxygen carriers for chemical looping, and different reactor designs are summarized. Recent progress in material synthesis and chemistry show promising trends especially using perovskites, mixed oxides and dual-phase materials, and asymmetric structures for membranes and oxygen carriers. ITMs and CLC are dual-use technologies as they lend themselves naturally to water and CO2 splitting and the production of fuels and chemicals, but different materials and reactors are needed. They also present opportunities to integrate/hybridize fossil fuel systems with alternative energy sources for power and fuel production.
Behavioral Regulation and Self-Control

The kinds of questions we ask determine what sort of answers we will obtain; and often they may also determine whether those answers are useful or not. A child who is always getting into trouble, for example, may cause those around him to wonder from which side of the family he has “inherited his mean streak,” or what sort of “mental disease” may be producing these troublesome symptoms—or even whether or not this may be a “rotten kid” who deliberately chooses evil whenever he is given an opportunity to do so. But a psychologist will usually ask a different sort of question, in the hope of obtaining a more useful answer; namely, “What’s the payoff?” More specifically, what is the child getting out of his behavior which makes him continue to engage in it?
Peer-to-Peer Assisted Streaming Proxy

The demand of delivering streaming media contents in the Internet has become increasingly high for scientific, educational, and commercial applications. This chapter first overviews three representative Internet technologies for delivering streaming media contents, and discusses the merits and limits of each. This chapter emphasizes on peer-to-peer streaming technology by presenting a design and its performance evaluation of a scalable and reliable media proxy system that effectively utilizes P2P sharing among media clients.
A theorem of Bers and Greenberg for infinite dimensional Teichmüller spaces

This paper concerns a theorem of Bers and Greenberg [BG] about isomorphisms between Teichmuller spaces. For a Fuchsian group acting on the upper half plane H , let H Γ be H with all of the fixed points of elliptic elements of Γ removed. When Γ is finitely generated and of the first kind, the theorem says that the Teichmuller space, T(Γ), of the Fuchsian group Γ depends only on the topological type of the surface H Γ/Γ and not on the orders of the elliptic elements of Γ.
A NOTE ON PROGRESSIVE TAXATION, NOMINAL-WAGE RIGIDITY, AND BUSINESS CYCLE DESTABILIZATION

In the context of a prototypical New Keynesian model, this paper examines the theoretical interrelations between two tractable formulations of progressive taxation on labor income versus (i) the equilibrium degree of nominal-wage rigidity as well as (ii) the resulting volatilities of hours worked and output in response to a monetary shock. In sharp contrast to the traditional stabilization view, we analytically show that linearly progressive taxation always operates like an automatic destabilizer which leads to higher cyclical fluctuations within the macroeconomy. We also obtain the same business cycle destabilization result under continuously progressive taxation if the initial degree of tax progressivity is sufficiently low.
Decolonizing Ludlow: A Study in Participatory Archaeology

Anthropology and museum scholarship has benefited from using decolonizing methodologies. Professionals practicing a decolonizing methodology have recognized their historic roles in creating and perpetuating imperialist epistemologies and have actively worked to disengage from this practice and shift their approaches. However, archaeologists in industrial contexts have not generally engaged in research methodologies that utilize a decolonizing approach, even when the historical contexts suggest these methodologies may be appropriate. This paper illustrates the value in utilizing decolonizing methodologies in appropriate industrial contexts by focusing on the work of the Colorado Coalfield War Archaeology Project and the Ludlow Centennial Commemoration Commission.
Future Trajectories: A Conclusion

What is the future like for civilian base workers in Okinawa? What do USFJ employees plan to do after retirement? For most of these workers, their retirement plans point to their notion of where and what home is, which in turn is tied to their identity and sense of belonging. The presence of family and kin also shapes one’s notion of home. Moreover, this concluding chapter points out the necessity of looking beyond the barbed wire fences of these U.S. bases to give attention to civilian base employees, as well as recognize the significant roles they play in the functioning of these military installations, and the role they play in this transnational project of military basing in Okinawa.
Targeting TGFβR2‐mutant tumors exposes vulnerabilities to stromal TGFβ blockade in pancreatic cancer

TGFβ is important during pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) progression. Canonical TGFβ signaling suppresses epithelial pancreatic cancer cell proliferation; as a result, inhibiting TGFβ has not been successful in PDA. In contrast, we demonstrate that inhibition of stromal TGFβR2 reduces IL-6 production from cancer-associated fibroblasts, resulting in a reduction of STAT3 activation in tumor cells and reversion of the immunosuppressive landscape. Up to 7% of human PDA have tumor cell-specific deficiency in canonical TGFβ signaling via loss of TGFβR2. We demonstrate that in PDA that harbors epithelial loss of TGFβR2, inhibition of TGFβ signaling is selective for stromal cells and results in a therapeutic benefit. Our study highlights the potential benefit of TGFβ blockade in PDA and the importance of stratifying PDA patients who might benefit from such therapy.
Accounting for two-billion tons of stabilized soil carbon.

Abstract The pedosphere is the largest terrestrial reservoir of organic carbon, yet soil-carbon variability and its representation in Earth system models is a large source of uncertainty for carbon-cycle science and climate projections. Much of this uncertainty is attributed to local and regional-scale variability, and predicting this variation can be challenging if variable selection is based solely on a priori assumptions due to the scale-dependent nature of environmental determinants. Data mining can optimize predictive modeling by allowing machine-learning algorithms to learn from and discover complex patterns in large datasets that may have otherwise gone unnoticed, thus increasing the potential for knowledge discovery. In this analysis, we identify important, regional-scale determinants for top- and subsoil-carbon stabilization in production forestland across the southeastern US. Specifically, we apply recursive feature elimination to a large suite of socio-environmental data to strategically select a parsimonious, yet highly predictive covariate set. This is achieved by recursively considering smaller and smaller covariate sets—or features—by first training the estimator on the full set to obtain feature importance. The least important features are pruned, and the procedure is recursively repeated until a desired number of covariates is identified. We show that although carbon ranges from 0.3 to 8.2 kg m−2 in the topsoil (0 to 20 cm), and from 0.4 to 17.6 kg m−2 in the subsoil (20 to 100 cm), this variability is predictably distributed with precipitation, soil moisture, nitrogen and sand content, gamma ray emissions, mean annual minimum temperature, and elevation. From our spatial predictions, we estimate that 2.6 Pg of soil carbon is currently stabilized in the upper 100 cm of production forestland, which covers 34.7 million ha in the southeastern US.
Friction Material Riveting Studies - Load-Deflection Characteristics and Finite Element Modeling

Experimental load-deflection data for rivets alone and for complete shoe and lining assemblies are presented and discussed. Comparisons are made between conventional taper head and umbrella head rivet designs, as well as a new tapered shank rivet design. Finite element modeling of the friction material in the area around a rivet is presented to help evaluate the stress field for different rivet head configurations, with orthotropic or isotropic elastic properties assumed for the friction material.
Examining child mealtime behavior as parents are coached to implement the Mealtime PREP intervention in the home: Findings from a pilot study:

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to examine parental use of evidence-based mealtime strategies, child mealtime behavior, and parental identification of mealtime problems over time as paren...
The Strategy of Majority Rule: Paradox III and Semi-Solution II

This chapter (“The Strategy of Majority Rule: Paradox III & Semi-Solution II”) focuses on the third great paradox of our system—the fact that Thomas Jefferson, a man who we think of as a small “d” democrat and a revolutionary, a man who favored limited government and states’ rights, turned out to be the one most capable of turning Madisonian government on its head and making it work. Jefferson understood what his predecessors did not, and what too few of his successors have—that in order to govern in a system so divided the president’s best option was (and is) to use extra-constitutional means (i.e., a party leadership strategy) to form a moderate, majority coalition. While Jefferson did this to an admirable degree in the end, as talented as he was, even he was unable to make the government work or fully resolve the tension between democracy and leadership that is embedded in our system and continues to inhibit governmental responsiveness, accountability, and effectiveness today.
Do birds of a feather flock together? Platform’s quality screening and end-users’ choices theory and empirical study of online trading platforms

Abstract We propose a model which incorporates both quality and quantity in end-users’ interactions and analyze how platforms can use quality screening to alleviate information asymmetry and motivate end-users’ participations. We address the question from theoretical and empirical perspectives. In the theory, we build a model in which two platforms compete but only one of them screens sellers’ products. We show that the quality screening influences consumers’ expectations of product quality and their choices of sellers and platforms. The resulting screening effect, together with the network and competition effects, further drives sellers to enter different platforms. The equilibrium result indicates that sellers’ incentives to join the platform that screens products follow a non-monotonic relationship with respect to the observable quality of products. We estimate the model in Alibaba’s Platforms - Tmall and Taobao. The results are consistent with the theory. Counterfactual analysis suggests quality screening benefits consumers and Alibaba.
Outcomes of repeat sweat testing in cystic fibrosis newborn screen positive infants

BACKGROUND Infants with a positive cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screen, only one identified CFTR mutation (NBS+/1 mut), and an initial intermediate sweat chloride (30-59 mmol/L) should have repeat sweat chloride testing (SCT). However, the outcome of repeat SCT and the relationship between initial sweat Cl and subsequent CF diagnosis have not been reported. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes of repeat SCT and subsequent CF diagnosis in NBS+/1 mut infants based on their initial sweat chloride concentration. METHODS We retrospectively identified all infants born in Indiana from 2007 to 2017 with NBS+/1 mut and initial SCT in the intermediate range. For each infant, we recorded the initial and repeat SCT results and/or a final CF diagnosis. RESULTS From 2007 through 2017 there were 2822 NBS+/1 mut infants of which 2613 (82%) had at least one SCT result. No infants with an initial SCT of 30-39 mmol/L were subsequently diagnosed with CF. Of the 31 infants with an initial SCT of 40-49 mmol/L, only 1 was subsequently diagnosed with CF. In contrast, 61% of those with SCTs of 50-59 mmol/L were later diagnosed with CF. CONCLUSION These results suggest that infants with a positive NBS for CF and one CFTR mutationwhose initial sweat chloride concentration is 50-59 mmol/L need to be monitored more closely forCF with strong consideration for earlier repeat SCTs and immediate genotyping.
Impact of Campus Recreational Sports Facilities and Programs on Recruitment and Retention among African American Students: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of campus recreational sports facilities and programs on student recruitment and retention among male and female African American students. A convenience sample of students from classes in the Department of Health and Human Performance at a small, southeastern, private, historically black college and university was used in the study. The instrument consisted of a modified version of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association’s Quality and Importance of Recreational Services Survey. An independent samples t test was used to test for differences between gender and the recruitment and retention questions, alpha = .05. It was determined that 60% of the male students reported that the availability of recreational sports was important/very important in deciding to attend the college and 68% of the men reported that the availability of recreational sports was important/very important in deciding to continue attending the college. Men scored higher t...
Fault Diagnosis Of Steering System For Advanced Vehicle Control Systems

In this paper, the authors present the design of a linear unknown input observer based residual generator for the diagnosis of steering systems. The design of the observer is based on an accepted model of the automatic car steering problem. Experiments were conducted on an autonomous vehicle at the Ohio State University. Results validating the observer are reported.
End-of-Life Care

This chapter contains reprinted works from Dr. Mark Siegler focusing on the application of clinical medical ethics to end-of-life care and decision-making. These works acknowledge extremely challenging clinical settings, such as ones that involve life-sustaining treatments, critical illnesses, or requests for euthanasia. Each work demonstrates the application of clinical medical ethics to various end-of-life scenarios and provides insight and recommendations as to how practicing physicians can ensure that they are providing ethical care to their most vulnerable patients. The works in this chapter are reprinted with permission.