cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of seed reserve utilization on woolly cupgrass (Eriochloa villosa) development

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine woolly cupgrass seed reserve utilization and the effect of germination depth on seed reserve utilization, tiller number, and timing of tiller emergence. The first experiment included germination in light with water, in light with Hoagland's solution, and in darkness with water; the second included five planting depths of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 cm. Endosperm utilization and shoot and root growth over time were recorded. Endosperms lost weight rapidly until 6 d after germination (DAG), when weight loss slowed down. Endosperm weight loss ceased 8 or 10 DAG. Endosperm weight loss was fastest for germination in light with Hoagland's solution. Deep planting significantly decreased emergence rate and increased the time to emergence. Differences in residual endosperms may have affected the early development of woolly cupgrass seedlings. Germination from a depth of 9 cm depleted the endosperm by the time of emergence. Deep planting also decreased shoot dry weight and t...
Commentary: When East meets West—comments on ‘back pain as a communicable disease’

Silman AJ. Estimating the prevalence of low back pain in general population. Spine 1995;20:1889–94. 23 Huppe A, Muller K, Raspe H. Is the occurence of back pain in Germany decreasing? Two regional postal surveys a decade apart. Eur J Public Health 2007;17:318–22. 24 Statistisches Bundesamt (ed.). Datenreport 2006. Zahlen und Fakten uber die Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Mannheim (ZUMA), Available from: http://www.gesis. org/Dauerbeobachtung/Sozialindikatoren/Publikationen/ Datenreport/pdf2006/2_02.pdf (Accessed October 21, 2007). 25 Robert Koch-Institut (ed.). Gesundheit in Deutschland. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Berlin: Robert Koch-Institut, 2007. Available from: http://www.rki.de/ cln_048/nn_204568/DE/Content/GBE/Gesundheitsbericht erstattung/GesInDtld/gesundheitsbericht.html (Accessed October 21, 2007). 26 Grobe TG, Schwartz FW. Arbeitslosigkeit und Gesundheit. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes Themenheft 13. Berlin: Robert Koch Institut, 2003. Available from: http:// www.rki.de/cln_048/nn_199850/DE/Content/GBE/Gesund heitsberichterstattung/GBEDownloadsT/arbeitslosigkeit, templateId=raw,property=publicationFile.pdf/arbeitslosig keit.pdf (Accessed October 21, 2007). 27 Schneider L. Ost-West-Binnenwanderung. IWH Wirtschaft im Wandel 2005;11:309–14. 28 van Tulder M, Becker A, Bekkering T et al. European Guidelines for the Management of Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Primary Care 2004. Available from: http://www.backpaineurope.org (Accessed October 21, 2007). 29 Deyo RA. Low back pain. Sci Am 1998;279:29–33. 30 Goubert L, Crombez G, Bourdeaudhuij ID. Low back pain, disability and back myths in a community sample: prevalence and interrelationships. Eur J Pain 2004;8:385–94. 31 Christakis NA, Fowler JH. The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. N Engl J Med 2007;357:370–79. 32 Dawkins R. The selfish gene. 3 edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. 33 Blackmore S.J. The meme machine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 34 Buchbinder R, Jolley D, Wyatt M. 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: effects of a media campaign on back pain reliefs and its potential influence on management of low back pain in general practice. Spine 2001;26:2535–42. 35 Buchbinder R, Jolley D. Effects of media campaign on back beliefs is sustained 3 years after its cessation. Spine 2005;30:1323–30.
A separable cross-entropy approach to power spectral estimation

An approach to power spectrum estimation that is based on a separable cross-entropy modeling procedure is presented. The authors start with a model of a multichannel, multidimensional, stationary Gaussian random process that is sampled on a nonuniform grid. An approximate separable model in which selected frequency samples of the process are modeled as independent random variables, is then fitted to it. Two cross-entropy-like criteria are used to select optimal separable approximations. One of them yields a spectral estimation algorithm that is a generalized version of Capon's maximum-likelihood method, and the other is similar to classical windowing methods. They discuss different strategies for designing bandpass filters for use with the cross-entropy approach. >
Blood Lactate Accumulation: Hemodynamics and Acid Base Status

The authors evaluated the relationship between blood lactate accumulation and hemodynamics in a prospective controlled animal study. Seven healthy pigs were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated with a 0.6 fraction of inspired oxygen to achieve a normal PaCO2. Catheters for blood sampling, lactate infusion, and hemodynamic assessment were inserted into the femoral vein and femoral artery. Bolus infusions (466 µmol • kg— 1 over 1 minute) of a neutral solution of sodium lactate were given at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes. Each bolus was followed by continuous infusion of the same lactate solution (31.7 µmol • kg— 1 • min—1 after the first, with the rate doubled after each subsequent bolus). Arterial blood samples were drawn at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, with simultaneous hemodynamic assessment. Significant increases were seen in blood lactate (from 1.6 ± 0.4 mmol/L at baseline to 4.4 ± 0.8 at 30 minutes, 8.0 ± 1.0 at 60 minutes, and 14.4 ± 2.1 at 90 minutes), pH (from 7.40 ± 0.03 to 7.44 ± ...
Rotational effect on ROI's for accurate lumen quantification in bifurcated MR plaque volumes

This paper presents a use of geometric-based method integrated with classifier for lumen wall estimation using MR plaque volumes. The following are the new things the readers will observe when it comes to plaque imaging. (a) Application of three different sets of : classifiers (fuzzy, Markovian and graph-based) for lumen region classification in plaque MR volumes. These classifiers are used in multi-resolution framework. (b) Usage of rule-based region merging applied to the sub-classes of lumen region. (c) Rotational effect on region of interest in arterial bifurcation zones for accurate lumen region identification and boundary estimation. We have used our diagnostic system with three different classifying methods on actual patient data. We measure performance of the system by computing the mean distance error with respect to boundaries traced manually by human experts. Overall, the system consists of 22,500 boundary points. The in-plane pixel resolution is 0.25 millimeters. Using Markovian classifier method, the average error was 0.61 pixels; using fuzzy classifier method, the average error was 0.62 pixels; using graph-based classifier method, the average error was 0.74 pixels. All these methods lead to error less than 0.185 mm. We also validated our system by simulating the lumen images with additive Gaussian perturbations. This system works on a Linux platform and is written in C++.
The myocardial oxygen supply:demand index revisited.

Myocardial ischemia is commonly associated with coronary artery disease as well as many congenital and acquired heart diseases without obstructed coronary arteries. With brief ischemia ventricular function is impaired but myocytes recover, whereas prolonged ischemia causes necrosis and associated
Modelling the low‐latitude boundary layer with reconnection entry

We develop a one-dimensional Low Latitude Boundary Layer (LLBL) model for northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The boundary layer in this model is uniform in the direction normal to the magnetopause, a 'plateau-type' boundary layer. The boundary layer motion is decoupled from the magnetosheath motion and driven by the plasma pressure associated with the incoming solar wind plasma near local noon, which has become entrained on closed field lines as a result of reconnection in the cusp region. Dissipation in the ionosphere at the feet of the boundary layer field lines opposes this motion. There are two physical solutions for the model. In one, the boundary layer reaches a terminal velocity in the tail as the boundary layer plasma effectively joins the solar wind flow. In the other solution, the flow is nearly stopped in the far tail. In combination with other mechanisms, this latter solution may correspond to the case in which the boundary layer plasma participates in magnetospheric convection and returns sunward. The density, velocity, and thickness as functions of distance from local noon are studied, assuming that the magnetopause hasa elliptical shape and the magnetospheric field is dipolar.
Treatment of Non-Aspergillus Moulds in Immunocompromised Patients, with Amphotericin B Lipid Complex

An assessment was made of the efficacy and renal safety of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) in the treatment of patients with invasive fungal infections caused by moulds other than Aspergillus species, on the basis of a retrospective analysis of data from the Collaborative Exchange of Antifungal Research (CLEAR) database. Data from CLEAR for 64 patients with zygomycosis were published previously. The database was further queried and yielded results for 28 patients with fusariosis and 84 patients infected with other non-Aspergillus moulds. Of 26 patients with fusariosis whose results could be evaluated, 46% (n = 12) were cured or improved, and an additional 12% (n = 3) were stable. Of 79 patients infected with other non-Aspergillus moulds whose results could be evaluated, 61% (n = 48) were cured or improved, and an additional 15% (n = 12) were stable. In an area with little guidance for therapy, the CLEAR data indicate that ABLC can be an effective broad-spectrum treatment choice for several invasive and refractory non-Aspergillus mould infections.
Using Targeted Active-Learning Exercises and Diagnostic Question Clusters to Improve Students' Understanding of Carbon Cycling in Ecosystems

In this study, we used targeted active-learning activities to help students improve their ways of reasoning about carbon flow in ecosystems. The results of a validated ecology conceptual inventory (diagnostic question clusters [DQCs]) provided us with information about students' understanding of and reasoning about transformation of inorganic and organic carbon-containing compounds in biological systems. These results helped us identify specific active-learning exercises that would be responsive to students' existing knowledge. The effects of the active-learning interventions were then examined through analysis of students' pre- and postinstruction responses on the DQCs. The biology and non-biology majors participating in this study attended a range of institutions and the instructors varied in their use of active learning; one lecture-only comparison class was included. Changes in pre- to postinstruction scores on the DQCs showed that an instructor's teaching method had a highly significant effect on student reasoning following course instruction, especially for questions pertaining to cellular-level, carbon-transforming processes. We conclude that using targeted in-class activities had a beneficial effect on student learning regardless of major or class size, and argue that using diagnostic questions to identify effective learning activities is a valuable strategy for promoting learning, as gains from lecture-only classes were minimal.
Varicella-Zoster Virus IE63, a Major Viral Latency Protein, Is Required To Inhibit the Alpha Interferon-Induced Antiviral Response

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 63 (ORF63) is the most abundant transcript expressed during latency in human sensory ganglia. VZV with ORF63 deleted is impaired for replication in melanoma cells and fibroblasts and for latency in rodents. We found that replication of the ORF63 deletion mutant is fully complemented in U2OS cells, which have been shown to complement the growth of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ICP0 mutants. Since HSV-1 ICP0 mutants are hypersensitive to alpha interferon (IFN-α), we examined the effect of IFN-α on VZV replication. Replication of the ORF63 mutant in melanoma cells was severely inhibited in the presence of IFN-α, in contrast to other VZV mutants that were similarly impaired for replication or to parental virus. The VZV ORF63 mutant was not hypersensitive to IFN-γ. IFN-α inhibited viral-gene expression in cells infected with the ORF63 mutant at a posttranscriptional level. Since IFN-α stimulates gene products that can phosphorylate the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α) and inhibit translation, we determined whether cells infected with the ORF63 mutant had increased phosphorylation of eIF-2α compared with cells infected with parental virus. While phosphorylated eIF-2α was undetectable in uninfected cells or cells infected with parental virus, it was present in cells infected with the ORF63 mutant. Conversely, expression of IE63 (encoded by ORF63) in the absence of other viral proteins inhibited phosphorylation of eIF-2α. Since IFN-α has been shown to limit VZV replication in human skin xenografts, the ability of VZV IE63 to block the effects of the cytokine may play a critical role in VZV pathogenesis.
Transmission coefficient enhancement in undoped Indium Arsenide by high THz field

We demonstrate enhancement of transmission coefficient in InAs due to THz field induced competition where intervalley scattering overcomes impact ionization. The controllable delay of THz pulse due to sample's increased refractive index is observed.
Taking Care of Aged Parents

Thirty years ago Robert Havighurst11 noted that the last developmental task of middle-age is adjusting to aged parents. He defined this task as meeting the needs of aging parents in such a way as to make life as satisfactory as possible for both the parent and middle-age generations. However, most research into late-life, parent—child relationships has tended to focus almost exclusively on data gathered from the aged parent and neglected the viewpoint of the adult child. Only recently has there been growing awareness (or rediscovery) that the nature of the relationship between adult children and their parents is critical for the well-being of both.
Learning Through Foraging Consequences: A Mechanism of Feeding Niche Separation in Sympatric Ruminants

Abstract Explanations for why sympatric ruminant species select diets composed of different plant species or plant parts have been controversial. Our explanation is based on learning from foraging consequences, which includes the influences that morphology, physiology, and experience have on diet selection. We conducted a trial with cattle ( Bos taurus ), sheep ( Ovis aries ), and goats ( Capra hircus ) and leafy spurge (LS; Euphorbia esula L.) to explore the interface between the learning and morphophysiological foraging models with these sympatric ruminants. After a pretrial adjustment period, the control group for each species received, via stomach tube on days 1 and 2, ground grass after eating a novel food (NF; rolled corn), and the treatment group for each species received ground air-dried LS after eating the NF. NF intake on days 2 and 3 was expressed as a percent of NF intake on day 1, and it declined considerably for cattle and sheep dosed with LS but did not decline for goats receiving it ( P = 0.001). LS elicited learned aversive feeding responses from cattle and sheep but not from goats. The results are consistent with field observations that goats graze LS more readily than sheep or cattle do. Learning from foraging consequences offers an explanation for the unique diets of sympatric ruminant species.
Scaled Wind Farm Technology Facility Overview.

In the past decade wind energy installations have increased exponentially driven by reducing cost from technology innovation and favorable governmental policy. Modern wind turbines are highly efficient, capturing close to the theoretical limit of energy available in the rotor diameter. Therefore, to continue to reduce the cost of wind energy through technology innovation a broadening of scope from individual wind turbines to the complex interaction within a wind farm is needed. Some estimates show that 10 40% of wind energy is lost within a wind farm due to underperformance and turbine-turbine interaction. The US Department of Energy has recently announced an initiative to reshape the national research focus around this priority. DOE, in recognizing a testing facility gap, has commissioned Sandia National Laboratories with the design, construction and operation of a facility to perform research in turbine-turbine interaction and wind plant underperformance. Completed in 2013, the DOE/SNL Scaled Wind Farm Technology Facility has been constructed to perform early-stage high-risk cost-efficient testing and development in the areas of turbine-turbine interaction, wind plant underperformance, wind plant control, advanced rotors, and fundamental studies in aero-elasticity, aero-acoustics and aerodynamics. This paper will cover unique aspects of the construction of the facility to support these objectives, testing performed to create a validated model, and an overview of research projects that will use the facility.
Spectral decomposition illumination of reservoir facies

Although sequence stratigraphy studies at the architectural element scale have been conducted for years, delineation of lateral variability of stratigraphic sequences from seismic data is still challenging. Since spectral decomposition has been used for over a decade to delineate thin-bed features, we propose to use multiple spectral components to delineate architectural elements that fall at or below seismic resolution. While a great deal of work has been published on using spectral decomposition to qualitatively or quantitatively map bed thickness (e.g. Puryear and Castagna, 2008), few if any authors have addressed other depositional patterns.
Respiratory Exchange of the Fresh Water Annelid, Tubifex

During an investigation to determine the availability of Tubifex tubifex as a test-object for certain pharmacological studies it was desired to define the magnitude of its respiratory exchange.The method of Warburg1 for measuring oxygen utilization (Qoo2) and that of Dickens and Simer2 for determining the respiratory quotient (R.Q.) were used. An aqueous medium containing NaCl— 0.32%, KC1—0.007%, CaCl2—0.00074%, and NaHCO3 —0.005%, possessing a pH range from 7.0 to 7.1, was used in the experiments. An atmosphere of oxygen; since it was found to be as suitable as air, was used for the sake of expediency in calculations. The most suitable temperature for these experiments was found to be 30°C; a few determinations were made at 25°C.In most experiments preliminary anesthesia with chloretone (0.2%) was used to free the animals from mud and to sort them. Anesthesia lasting no more than 10 minutes was induced well in advance of the experiment. The data obtained from several comparative experiments indicate that...
Dynamic Surface Roughness for Aerodynamic Flow Control

This study addresses the issue of controlling flow separation through the use of dynamic surface roughness. The work focuses on two areas: 1) development of simulation tools for detailed analysis of moving flow boundaries and 2) investigation of the effects of dynamic roughness on aerodynamic flow separation. The process of generating a quality grid for a surface that contains complex roughness can be a laborintensive project. The addition of dynamic surface roughness, or roughness that grows (or shrinks) in time, can further complicate this process. The current study proposes a method that not only accounts for the perturbations to the surface, but also allows for the surface to move dynamically, which produces a robust gridding method that is well suited for this application. The method is applied to dynamic surface roughness in the leading-edge region of an airfoil, but could also be used for analysis of internal surface roughness. The dynamic surface roughness examined in this study showed that it can have a major impact on the flow field, with the resulting flow being significantly different that the flow found with similar static surface roughness. The dynamic roughness was able to delay or eliminate the unsteady flow separation for the conditions tested at both constant angle-of-attack and dynamic stall regimes and shows strong potential as an aerodynamic flow control mechanism.
Importance of Length and Sequence Order on Magnesium Binding to Surface-Bound Oligonucleotides Studied by Second Harmonic Generation and Atomic Force Microscopy

The binding of magnesium ions to surface-bound single-stranded oligonucleotides was studied under aqueous conditions using second harmonic generation (SHG) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effect of strand length on the number of Mg(II) ions bound and their free binding energy was examined for 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-mers of adenine and guanine at pH 7, 298 K, and 10 mM NaCl. The binding free energies for adenine and guanine sequences were calculated to be -32.1(4) and -35.6(2) kJ/mol, respectively, and invariant with strand length. Furthermore, the ion density for adenine oligonucleotides did not change as strand length increased, with an average value of 2(1) ions/strand. In sharp contrast, guanine oligonucleotides displayed a linear relationship between strand length and ion density, suggesting that cooperativity is important. This data gives predictive capabilities for mixed strands of various lengths, which we exploit for 20-mers of adenines and guanines. In addition, the role sequence order plays in strands of hetero-oligonucleotides was examined for 5'-A(10)G(10)-3', 5'-(AG)(10)-3', and 5'-G(10)A(10)-3' (here the -3' end is chemically modified to bind to the surface). Although the free energy of binding is the same for these three strands (averaged to be -33.3(4) kJ/mol), the total ion density increases when several guanine residues are close to the 3' end (and thus close to the solid support substrate). To further understand these results, we analyzed the height profiles of the functionalized surfaces with tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). When comparing the average surface height profiles of the oligonucleotide surfaces pre- and post- Mg(II) binding, a positive correlation was found between ion density and the subsequent height decrease following Mg(II) binding, which we attribute to reductions in Coulomb repulsion and strand collapse once a critical number of Mg(II) ions are bound to the strand.
Effect of Grain Size on the Ionic Conductivity of a Block Copolymer Electrolyte

A systematic study of the dependence of ionic conductivity on the grain size of a lamellar block copolymer electrolyte was performed. A freeze-dried mixture of poly(styrene)-block-poly(ethylene oxi...
Multilateral Development Banks in an Era of Procurement Reform: How Larger Development Goals are Shaping Revamped Approaches to Procurement

Last year was momentous for the international procurement arena, as several of the major multilateral development banks (MDBs) — including the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) — adopted significant changes to their procurement processes and procedures in efforts to increase flexibility and achieve value for money with integrity. In July 2015, the World Bank’s board of executive directors approved a new procurement policy as part of a larger procurement framework described as “a once-in-a-generation systematic reform and culture change” in how the World Bank approaches procurement. The new procurement framework, which is scheduled to go into effect later this year, will affect more than 1,800 World Bank-financed projects in 172 countries with a total value of $42 billion, although ongoing projects will continue to operate under the existing framework. A few months later, in October 2015, the AfDB joined its global counterpart in adopting similar changes to its own procurement framework. Similar to the World Bank’s new framework, The AfDB’s reforms focus on “the achievement of value for money by borrowers based on a dynamic and differentiated fit-for-purpose approach to procurement transactions.” According to Vinay Sharma, the director of the AfDB’s Procurement and Fiduciary Services Department, the AfDB’s new procurement framework is expected to result in faster project completion and “over $200 million in economic benefits annually.” This FEATURE COMMENT highlights several key goals of these procurement reforms, which seek to deliver sustainable development and value for money by, among other things, increasing flexibility in procurement approaches and recognizing the importance of postaward contract management in ensuring successful project implementation.
FOREST STRUCTURE AND FIRE HISTORY AT LAKE ARCADIA, OKLAHOMA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA (1820–2014)

Evidence indicates that the structure of Oklahoma Cross Timbers forests are in transition due to changing climate, land-use patterns, and fire suppression efforts. However, only a handful of studies have addressed the history of fire across the Oklahoma Cross Timbers landscape. This research adds to the body of literature by studying the contemporary forest structure and fire history at Lake Arcadia in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Results demonstrate that post oak ( Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak ( Q. marilandica Munchh.), two common species in Oklahoma Cross Timbers, dominate the forest. However, several mesophytic tree species are found in the overstory as well as the sapling layer of the forest. A total of 25 fire events (mean fire interval = 4.14 years) were documented during the 20 th century using fire-scar analysis of Q. stellata trees and remnant wood (stumps, snags, recently dead trees). High fire frequencies in the early to mid-20 th century corresponded to the recruitment of Q. stellata and Q. marilandica . Wet conditions (PDSI > 0) during the late 20 th century and no fires after 1985 corresponded to the recruitment of non-oak, mesophytic species at the study site. The results of this study suggest that changes in fire frequency and moisture availability are contributing to changes in tree density and species composition at the study site.
Development of origami-style solar panels for use in support of a Mars mission

This paper presents work on the development of an Origami-style solar panel technology. This approach increases a satellite’s solar array’s power generation surface area, given constrained space and mass. The same deployable structure (used for the solar panels) can also house a phased array on the reverse side. For a proposed Mars demonstration mission, this array is used for communications and microwave wireless power transmission. The design of the solution is presented in detail, including a discussion of the pre-deployment configuration, the deployment process, and the final configuration. The panels, prior to deployment, are folded around the square base of the spacecraft, covering all four of its sides. To deploy them, a slight circular motion can be introduced to use centrifugal force to cause each side to fold out from the side of the satellite. A simple hinge mechanism is used to interconnect the panels and inflatable tubes or wire that is designed to stiffen in a straightened orientation when electrified, are used to move the panels into their final position and provide rigidity. The efficacy of the proposed technology is considered in the context of the Martian mission. This demonstrates its mass and volume efficiency as well as the utility of the approach for enabling the mission. A qualitative analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of the approach is presented. A discussion of the technology’s overall impact on mission design is presented, before concluding with a discussion of the next steps for the research.
SU-F-T-417: Dosimetric Evaluation of Dose-To-Medium Vs. Dose-To-Water Using Acuros XB for Lung, Spine and Head-And-Neck Plans

Purpose: This study evaluates the dosimetric differences between dose-to-medium (Dm) and conventional dose-to-water (Dw) reporting using Varian's Acuros XB (AXB) dose calculation algorithm with actual patient treatment plans. Methods: Twelve patients were selected: four head-and-neck (HN) (2 Gy × 33–35 fractions), four lung SBRT (10–12 Gy × 5 fractions) and four spine SBRT (6–8 Gy × 5 fractions) cases. All treatment plans were optimized using the Varian Eclipse Progressive Resolution Optimizer (version 13.6) to meet objectives of institutional guidelines. After the optimization process, each plan was calculated using both Dw and Dm options within AXB. The calculated treatment plans were normalized such that the prescribed dose covered at least 95% of the PTV. The dose-volume histograms were evaluated for various dosimetric parameters. The percent difference between the two options is calculated as (AXB_Dw − AXB_Dm)/AXB_Dm *100. Results: The largest difference between AXB_Dw and AXB_Dm was seen in the mandible structure for HN cases, where AXB_Dw was up to 10% higher than AXB_Dm results (5.3%–10.2%). AXB_Dw was also higher for PTV maximum dose in these cases, ranging from 2.5%–5.7%. Among all other dosimetric parameters in HN, Spine and lung SBRT plans; the differences between AXB_Dw and AXB_Dm were within 5%. We also noted that AXB_Dw was consistently higher (1.8–3.8%) for cord in lung SBRT, and was consistently lower for esophagus/bowel in spine SBRT (−5% − −2.9%). Conclusion: The preliminary dosimetric results from our clinical study show that the selection of either Dm or Dw in AXB is not likely to produce significant dosimetric differences in most clinical cases. However, Dw can be different by up to 10% in bony anatomy compared to Dm. Therefore, Dm is the preferred option to achieve the greatest accuracy in both target and critical structure, providing a smooth transition from conventional to state-of-the-art treatment planning.
Digital Quantification of DNA Replication and Chromosome Segregation Enables Determination of Antimicrobial Susceptibility after only 15 Minutes of Antibiotic Exposure.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) would decrease misuse and overuse of antibiotics. The “holy grail” of AST is a phenotype-based test that can be performed within a doctor visit. Such a test requires the ability to determine a pathogen's susceptibility after only a short antibiotic exposure. Herein, digital PCR (dPCR) was employed to test whether measuring DNA replication of the target pathogen through digital single-molecule counting would shorten the required time of antibiotic exposure. Partitioning bacterial chromosomal DNA into many small volumes during dPCR enabled AST results after short exposure times by 1) precise quantification and 2) a measurement of how antibiotics affect the states of macromolecular assembly of bacterial chromosomes. This digital AST (dAST) determined susceptibility of clinical isolates from urinary tract infections (UTIs) after 15 min of exposure for all four antibiotic classes relevant to UTIs. This work lays the foundation to develop a rapid, point-of-care AST and strengthen global antibiotic stewardship.
Charge transport and exciton dissociation in organic solar cells consisting of dipolar donors mixed with C 70

We investigate dipolar donor materials mixed with a ${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$ acceptor in an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell. Dipolar donors that have donor-acceptor-acceptor (d-a-a\ensuremath{'}) structure result in high conductivity pathways due to close coupling between neighboring molecules in the mixed films. We analyze the charge transfer properties of the dipolar donor:${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$ mixtures and corresponding neat donors using a combination of time-resolved electroluminescence from intermolecular polaron pair states and conductive tip atomic force microscopy, from which we infer that dimers of the d-a-a\ensuremath{'} donors tend to form a continuous network of nanocrystalline clusters within the blends. Additional insights are provided by quantum-mechanical calculations of hole transfer coupling and hopping rates between donor molecules using nearest-neighbor donor packing motifs taken from crystal structural data. The approximation using only nearest-neighbor interactions leads to good agreement between donor hole hopping rates and the conductive properties of the donor:${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$ blends. This represents a significant simplification from requiring details of the nano- and mesoscale morphologies of thin films to estimate their electronic characteristics. Using these dipolar donors, we obtain a maximum power conversion efficiency of $9.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5%$ under 1 sun, AM1.5G simulated illumination for an OPV comprised of an active layer containing a dipolar donor mixed with ${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$.
Who Benefits from Indexation

This article analyzes the distributional effects of indexation of the standard deduction, the personal exemption, and the marginal tax rate brackets in the personal income tax. The analysis focuses upon Colorado, a state that enacted full indexation of its personal income tax in 1978. It is found that full indexation is decidedly pro-poor: The percentage reduction in taxes due to indexation falls as income rises, with the percentage reduction nearly four times as great for the lowest income class as for the highest. The factors giving the largest proportional benefit to the lowest-income taxpayers are indexation of the standard deduction and, to a lesser extent, the rate brackets, although the relative importance of the various indexation factors is shown to vary over time.
Animal Models of Drug Abuse: Place and Taste Conditioning

Abstract Preclinical animal research has contributed greatly to our understanding of numerous human disease states and will continue to provide a method for investigating the various biochemical events, physiological processes, and behavioral implications of various diseases. For substance abuse and dependence, this research has enabled scientists to gain a greater understanding of the neurochemical events involved in the brain's response to drugs, both licit and illicit, and to provide a means by which to design and test novel pharmaco-therapeutic interventions. To enable these discoveries, scientists have developed numerous animal models that attempt to replicate human drug addiction. The current review explores two popular Pavlovian conditioning procedures, conditioned place preference and conditioned taste aversion, which are used to investigate the rewarding and aversive effects (respectively) of drugs of abuse. For each procedure, a brief history of the field is followed by the advantages of the procedures and a step-by-step explanation of each procedure's conditioning protocol.
Polymerized Diacetylene Monomers in Monolayer and Multilayer Films, Characterization and Possible Applications

The first publication of work on polydiacetylenes, polymerized in monolayers and multilayers, was published jointly by groups at the University of Mainz and the University of Freiburg in West Germany and at Case Western Reserve University in the United States. It is interesting to note that the idea for this work was developed during a six month period in 1974, when Professors Ringsdorf, Wegner and Lando were together at the University of Mainz. Their subsequent work was supported by a Nato grant which made possible further mutual interaction.
Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of a complex karyotype AML and identification of regulatory aberrations distinct from normal karyotype AML.

11075 Background: We characterized the methylome and transcriptome of blasts from a 20 year old man with a metastatic mediastinal immature teratoma who developed a complex karyotype acute myeloid l...
A General Approach to Quaternary Center Construction from Couplings of Unactivated Alkenes and Acyl Xanthates

A general, radical-mediated approach to quaternary center construction using unactivated alkenes as coupling partners is reported. In this strategy, acyl xanthates, readily accessed from carboxylic acids, serve as precursors to tertiary radicals. This strategy leverages the unique reactivity of xanthates to participate in efficient radical-mediated additions to unactivated alkenes, expanding the scope of quaternary center construction.
Is the Riemann zeta function in a short interval a 1-RSB spin glass ?

Fyodorov, Hiary & Keating established an intriguing connection between the maxima of log-correlated processes and the ones of the Riemann zeta function on a short interval of the critical line. In particular, they suggest that the analogue of the free energy of the Riemann zeta function is identical to the one of the Random Energy Model in spin glasses. In this paper, the connection between spin glasses and the Riemann zeta function is explored further. We study a random model of the Riemann zeta function and show that its two-overlap distribution corresponds to the one of a one-step replica symmetry breaking (1-RSB) spin glass. This provides evidence that the local maxima of the zeta function are strongly clustered.
Rhamnose-Containing Cell Wall Polymers Suppress Helical Plant Growth Independently of Microtubule Orientation

Although specific organs in some plant species exhibit helical growth patterns of fixed or variable handedness, most plant organs are not helical. Here we report that mutations in Arabidopsis RHAMNOSE BIOSYNTHESIS 1 (RHM1) cause dramatic left-handed helical growth of petal epidermal cells, leading to left-handed twisted petals. rhm1 mutant roots also display left-handed growth. Furthermore, we find that RHM1 is required to promote epidermal cell expansion. RHM1 encodes a UDP-L-rhamnose synthase, and rhm1 mutations affect synthesis of the pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan-I. Unlike other mutants that exhibit helical growth of fixed handedness, the orientation of cortical microtubule arrays is unaltered in rhm1 mutants. Our findings reveal a novel source of left-handed plant growth caused by changes in cell wall composition that is independent of microtubule orientation. We propose that an important function of rhamnose-containing cell wall polymers is to suppress helical twisting of expanding plant cells.
Comparison of the seismic performance of a partial mass isolation technique with conventional TMD and base-isolation systems under broad-band and narrow-band excitations

Abstract In the present study a partial mass isolation (PMI) technique is proposed. This approach, through isolating different portions of masses at different stories, can provide a building with multiple inherent vibration suppressors without the need to add extra masses. Optimization of the PMI system’s parameters is conducted for reference structural models with 6, 12, and 20 stories to minimize root-mean-square inter-story drift responses under Kanai-Tajimi filtered Gaussian white noise excitations, while parameter constraints are specified to control isolated components’ (ICs) responses. The seismic performance of the PMI technique under excitations with different frequency contents (representing different soil profiles) is compared to that of conventional tuned mass damper (TMD) and base-isolation (BI) systems as baseline configurations. Simulation results indicate that the PMI system with extreme isolated mass ratios of 5% or 90% exhibits dynamic behaviors equivalent to those of an equivalent TMD or an ideal BI systems, respectively. Meanwhile, this technique can resolve some of the inherent difficulties associated with the implementation of TMD (e.g., weight restriction) and BI (e.g., problems due to the superstructure flexibility, overturning moments, and heavy loads) in high-rise buildings.
Swarm Intelligence Applied to Big Data Analytics for Rescue Operations with RASEN Sensor Networks

Various search methods combined with frontier technology have been utilized to save lives in rescue situations throughout history. Today, new networked technology, cyber-physical system platforms, and algorithms exist which can coordinate rescue operations utilizing swarm intelligence with Rapid Alert Sensor for Enhanced Night Vision (RASEN). We will also introduce biologically inspired algorithms combined with proposed fusion night vision technology that can rapidly converge on a near optimal path between survivors and identify signs of life trapped in rubble. Wireless networking and automated suggested path data analysis is provided to rescue teams utilizing drones as first responders based on the results of swarm intelligence algorithms coordinating drone formations and triage after regional disasters requiring Big Data analytic visualization in real-time. This automated multiple-drone scout approach with dynamic programming ability enables appropriate relief supplies to be deployed intelligently by networked convoys to survivors continuously throughout the night, within critical constraints calculated in advance, such as projected time, cost, and reliability per mission. Rescue operations can scale according to complexity of Big Data characterization based on data volume, velocity, variety, variability, veracity, visualization, and value.
Longitudinal associations of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles with blood pressure and systemic inflammation in Puerto Rican adults.

Few longitudinal studies have examined the association between ultrafine particulate matter (UFP, particles < 0.1 μm aerodynamic diameter) exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. We used data from 791 adults participating in the longitudinal Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (Massachusetts, USA) between 2004 and 2015 to assess whether UFP exposure was associated with blood pressure and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP, a biomarker of systemic inflammation). Residential annual average UFP exposure (measured as particle number concentration, PNC) was assigned using a model accounting for spatial and temporal trends. We also adjusted PNC values for participants’ inhalation rate to obtain the particle inhalation rate (PIR) as a secondary exposure measure. Multilevel linear models with a random intercept for each participant were used to examine the association of UFP with blood pressure and hsCRP. Overall, in adjusted models, an inter-quartile range increase in PNC was associated with increased hsCRP (β = 6.8; 95% CI = − 0.3, 14.0%) but not with increased systolic blood pressure (β = 0.96; 95% CI = − 0.33, 2.25 mmHg), pulse pressure (β = 0.70; 95% CI = − 0.27, 1.67 mmHg), or diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.55; 95% CI = − 0.20, 1.30 mmHg). There were generally stronger positive associations among women and never smokers. Among men, there were inverse associations of PNC with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. In contrast to the primary findings, an inter-quartile range increase in the PIR was positively associated with systolic blood pressure (β = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.00, 2.06 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (β = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.36, 1.66 mmHg), but not with pulse pressure or hsCRP. We observed that exposure to PNC was associated with increases in measures of CVD risk markers, especially among certain sub-populations. The exploratory PIR exposure metric should be further developed.
Two-group interfacial area transport in vertical air–water flow: I. Mechanistic model

The prediction of the dynamical evolution of interfacial area concentration is one of the most challenging tasks in two-fluid model application. This paper is focused on developing theoretical models for interfacial area source and sink terms for a two-group interfacial area transport equation. Mechanistic models of major fluid particle interaction phenomena involving two bubble groups are proposed, including the shearing-off of small bubbles from slug/cap bubbles, the wake entrainment of spherical/distorted bubble group into slug/cap bubble group, the wake acceleration and coalescence between slug/cap bubbles, and the breakup of slug/cap bubbles due to turbulent eddy impacts. The existing one-group interaction terms are extended in considering the generation of cap bubbles, as well as different parametric dependences when these terms are applied to the slug flow regime. The complete set of modeling equations is closed and continuously covers the bubbly flow, slug flow, and churn-turbulent flow regimes. Prediction of the interfacial area concentration evolution using a one-dimensional two-group transport equation and evaluation with experimental results are described in a companion paper.
Liberty in Wordsworth's Sonnets

Wordsworth once declared that for an hour thought given to poetry, he had given twelve to the state of society. However true this declaration might be, it helps to remind us that some of Wordsworth’s noblest verse and prose was inspired by political passion. The most prominent fact about Wordsworth’s politics is that he was a trueborn Englishman, and his roots struck deep into English soil. He was country-born and country-bred. Besides, he belonged by birth to the middle class. Thanks to this middle class, upbringing. A sense of moderation governed his course in life and kept him away from committing himself to any definite party throughout his life. Wordsworth reached maturity without meeting anyone who claimed priority on the account of rank. It is because of this moderate temper coupled with impatience of restrictions that Wordsworth’s mind seemed to be a productive soil for the revolutionary notions of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. His interest in public affairs was motivated by the consequence of the American War as well as by the French Revolution. He had been too young, thoughtfully to consider the American War while it was going on. Therefore, when it ended, disbanded men began to return to the lakes. There he met some of these men and heard about others; and from what he saw and heard, he could conceive a horrible sense of war with all the suffering and evils it inflicts on the poor. On the other hand, in summer 1790, Wordsworth, accompanied by his friend Jones, set off for a walking tour in France and Switzerland – a tour that had significant consequences. Wordsworth landed at Calais on July 13th , 1790 – the eve of the day on which the king was to swear fidelity to the new constitution, and over-whelm people by a great tide of joy. In November 1791, Wordsworth went off again to France where he visited Paris, Orleans, and Blois in the main. In Blois, he made friendship with Michel Beaupy, a Republican officer in a mess of Royalists. The misery Beaupy witnessed among the extremely poor peasantry converted him not only to a Revolutionary citizen, but also to a patriot of the world. His heart was very much devoted to the cause of the common people and the poor. No other man, says Coleridge, had as great an influence upon Wordsworth as this benevolent and magnanimous patriot did.
Towards improving proximity labeling by the biotin ligase BirA

The discovery and validation of protein-protein interactions provides a knowledge base that is critical for defining protein networks and how they underpin the biology of the cell. Identification of protein interactions that are highly transient, or sensitive to biochemical disruption, can be very difficult. This challenge has been met by proximity labeling methods which generate reactive species that chemically modify neighboring proteins. The most widely used proximity labeling method is BioID, which features a mutant biotin ligase BirA(Arg118Gly), termed BirA*, fused to a protein of interest. Here, we explore how amino acid substitutions at Arg118 affect the biochemical properties of BirA. We found that relative to wild-type BirA, the Arg118Lys substitution both slightly reduced biotin affinity and increased the release of reactive biotinyl-5'-AMP. BioID using a BirA(Arg118Lys)-Lamin A fusion enabled identification of PCNA as a lamina-proximal protein in HEK293T cells, a finding that was validated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Our data expand on the concept that proximity labeling by BirA fused to proteins of interest can be modulated by amino acid substitutions that affect biotin affinity and the release of biotinyl-5'-AMP.
Text Analysis with JSTOR Archives

I provide a visual representation of keyword trends and authorship for two flagship sociology journals using data from JSTOR’s Data for Research repository. While text data have accompanied the dig...