cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculations of prompt-photon production in QCD.

Cross sections for prompt-photon production at collider energies are not strictly inclusive because an isolation requirement is imposed whereby the photon is detected only if accompanied by a restricted amount of hadronic energy. In this paper we provide a consistent treatment of the isolated prompt-photon cross section in QCD perturbation theory. The isolation requirement reduces sensitivity of the cross section to poorly known long-distance fragmentation contributions. However, the normal cancellation of infrared singularities is upset by the isolation cutoffs, rendering the shortdistance perturbative calculation highly nontrivial. In our solution we address both the short- and the long-distance issues in detail, showing that well-behaved predictions can be derived for a wide range of isolation parameters. Calculated cross sections are presented at several energies and scale dependence of the cross section is examined.
Aerosol and nasal transmission of chronic wasting disease in cervidized mice.

Little is known regarding the potential risk posed by aerosolized prions. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is transmitted horizontally, almost surely by mucosal exposure, and CWD prions are present in saliva and urine of infected animals. However, whether CWD may be transmissible by the aerosol or nasal route is not known. To address this question, FVB mice transgenetically expressing the normal cervid PrPC protein [Tg(cerPrP) mice] were exposed to CWD prions by either nose-only aerosol exposure or by drop-wise instillation into the nostrils. Mice were monitored for signs of disease for up to 755 days post-inoculation (p.i.) and by examination of tissues for lesions and PrPCWD after necropsy. In particular, nasal mucosa, vomeronasal organ, lungs, lymphoid tissue and the brain were assessed for PrPCWD by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Six of seven aerosol-exposed Tg(cerPrP) mice developed clinical signs of neurological dysfunction mandating euthanasia between 411 and 749 days p.i. In all these mice, CWD infection was confirmed by detection of spongiform lesions and PrPCWD in the brain. Two of nine intranasally inoculated Tg(cerPrP) mice also developed transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with PrPCWD between 417 and 755 days p.i. No evidence of PrPCWD was detected in CWD-inoculated Tg(cerPrP) mice examined at pre-terminal time points. These results demonstrate that CWD can be transmitted by aerosol (as well as nasal) exposure and suggest that exposure via the respiratory system merits consideration for prion disease transmission and biosafety.
Views of inquiry: Mismatches between views of science education faculty and students of an alternative certification program

The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to: (a) gain an understanding of the meaning of inquiry held by beginning science teachers and their instructors in an Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP); and (b) compare science teachers' views of inquiry with what they learned in their ATCP. Participants were four beginning science teachers and two faculty members involved in teaching science methods courses in the ATCP. Semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, field notes, and written materials were the data sources. The primary data sources for the study were six to15 hours of classroom observation of teaching and learning and approximately 8 hours of interviewing with each teacher. Interviews with each faculty member were also completed. These interviews required 60–75 minutes. A phenomenological data analysis approach [Uljens, M. (1996). On the philosophical foundation of phenomenography. In G. Dall'Alba & B. Hasselgren (Eds.), Reflections on Phenomenography—Toward a methodology? (pp. 105–130). Goteborg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis] was used to complete qualitative analyses and categorical summaries of the data. The results showed that the teachers held rather incomplete views of inquiry-based teaching [National Research Council. (2000). Inquiry and the national science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press], and these views were highly discrepant with the views of teacher education faculty. Implication of the findings for science teacher education and future research on the development of inquiry-based practices are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47:716–741, 2010
New hosts of western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae), and their relationship to life history characteristics of this fly.

Abstract Two native trees and one introduced tree in the coast forest ecosystem in southwestern Washington state were identified as new host records for the western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), in 2002 and 2003. Key life history characteristics of flies on or from the new hosts also were examined. Rearing of larvae to adults confirmed native cascara, Rhamnus purshiana DC.; black hawthorn, Crataegus douglasii Lindl.; and introduced cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus L., are suitable developmental hosts. In addition, two flies reared from cascara had wing patterns apparently not reported previously, with one keying out to R. indifferens. The numbers of larvae that emerged from fruit of the new hosts and a known host, bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata (Dougl. ex. Hook) D. Dietr., were lower than from fruit of sweet and sour cherries, Prunus avium (L.) L. and Prunus cerasus L. Seasonal patterns of adult abundance in cascara, black hawthorn, and cherry laurel as determ...
Numeracy, frequency, and Bayesian reasoning.

Previous research has demonstrated that Bayesian reasoning performance is improved if uncertainty information is presented as natural frequencies rather than single-event probabilities. A questionnaire study of 342 college students replicated this effect but also found that the performance-boosting benefits of the natural frequency presentation occurred primarily for participants who scored high in numeracy. This finding suggests that even comprehension and manipulation of natural frequencies requires a certain threshold of numeracy abilities, and that the beneficial effects of natural frequency presentation may not be as general as previously believed.
Polarization method for the determination of Poisson's ratio in boreholes

Conventional methods for determining Poisson’s ratio from full‐waveform sonic logs rely on measurement of the shear velocity. This measurement is subject to significant error from contamination by events which do not travel at the shear velocity; it fails in soft formations where the shear head wave and pseudo‐Rayleigh waves are not excited. A new method is presented for determining Poisson’s ratio and shear velocity. This method can be implemented by recording the components of particle displacement on the borehole wall. The particle trajectory in the compressional head wave is rectilinear and is deflected with respect to the direction of propagation. The deflection is a sensitive function of Poisson’s ratio, varying by more than 30 degrees over the range of Poisson’s ratios encountered in rocks. In the polarization method all the measurements are made on the compressional head wave, the spatial resolution is greater than for velocity measurements, and the deflection is greatest in soft formations.
Work in progress - roller coaster design conceptualization for first-year engineering students

Students in the first-year engineering program at The Ohio State University are required to complete a quarter-long course which incorporates a team-based, design-build final project. Students are assigned to four-person teams and given the job of designing, building and testing a functional model roller coaster. Like all engineering designs, this project is subject to specified time and material constraints. Students use preliminary test data to make informed design changes and arrive at final working solutions. The project has evolved to encourage and assist students in conceptualizing and creating complex, innovative designs, through rule changes and new measurement tools.
A novel information model for efficient routing protocols in delay tolerant networks

Delay tolerant networks (DTNs) are wireless mobile networks that do not guarantee the existence of a path between a source and a destination at any time. When two nodes move within each other's transmission range during a period of time, they can contact each other. The contact of nodes can be periodical, predictable and nonpredictable. In this paper, we assume the contact of nodes is nonpredictable so that it can reflect the most flexible way of nodes movement. Due to the uncertainty and time-varying nature of DTNs, routing poses special challenges. Some existing schemes use utility functions to steer the routing in the right direction. We find that these schemes do not capture enough information about the network and their information processing is inadequate. We develop an information model that can capture more contact information and use regression functions for data processing. Simulation results show that our routing algorithms based on our information model can increase the delivery ratio of the messages and reduce the delivery latency of routing compared with existing ones.
When can group level clustering be ignored? Multilevel models versus single-level models with sparse data

Objective: The use of multilevel modelling with data from population-based surveys is often limited by the small number of cases per level-2 unit, prompting many researchers to use single-level techniques such as ordinary least squares regression. Design: Monte Carlo simulations are used to investigate the effects of data sparseness on the validity of parameter estimates in two-level versus single-level models. Setting: Both linear and non-linear hierarchical models are simulated in order to examine potential differences in the effects of small group size across continuous and discrete outcomes. Results are then compared with those obtained using disaggregated techniques (ordinary least squares and logistic regression). Main results: At the extremes of data sparseness (two observations per group), the group level variance components are overestimated in the two-level models. But with an average of only five observations per group, valid and reliable estimates of all parameters can be obtained when using a two-level model with either a continuous or a discrete outcome. In contrast, researchers run the risk of Type I error (standard errors biased downwards) when using single-level models even when there are as few as two observations per group on average. Bias is magnified when modelling discrete outcomes. Conclusions: Multilevel models can be reliably estimated with an average of only five observations per group. Disaggregated techniques carry an increased risk of Type I error, even in situations where there is only limited clustering in the data.
Comparative Evaluation of DNA Extraction Methods from Feces of Multiple Host Species for Downstream Next-Generation Sequencing

The gastrointestinal tract contains a vast community of microbes that to this day remain largely unculturable, making studies in this area challenging. With the newly affordable advanced sequencing technology, important breakthroughs in this exciting field are now possible. However, standardized methods of sample collection, handling, and DNA extraction have yet to be determined. To help address this, we investigated the use of 5 common DNA extraction methods on fecal samples from 5 different species. Our data show that the method of DNA extraction impacts DNA concentration and purity, successful NGS amplification, and influences microbial communities seen in NGS output dependent on the species of fecal sample and the DNA extraction method used. These data highlight the importance of careful consideration of DNA extraction method used when designing and interpreting data from cross species studies.
A Review of Democracy's Fourth Wave? Digital Media and the Arab Spring

Howard, P. N. and Hussain, M. M. (2013). Democracy's fourth wave? Digital media and the Arab Spring. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 160 pp., $24.95 (paperback).“Information infrastructure i...
Improving the Measurement of Shared Cultural Schemas with Correlational Class Analysis

The measurement of shared cultural schemas is among the most central methodological challenges in the sociology of culture. Relational Class Analysis (RCA) is a recently developed technique for identifying such schemas in survey data. It uses a novel measure called "relationality" to quantify the extent to which two respondents follow a shared schema. However, existing work lacks a formal definition of such schemas, leaving RCA’s accuracy difficult to assess. Here, I build on the theoretical reasoning behind RCA to arrive at this formalization. I discover that shared schemas should result in linear dependencies between survey rows — the relationship usually measured with Pearson’s correlation. I thus propose a correlation-based extension of RCA I term “Correlational Class Analysis,” which clarifies and simplifies the methodology. When I compare the two methods using a broad set of simulations, the results show that CCA is also reliably more accurate at detecting shared cultural schemas than RCA, even in those simulations that substantially violate the assumptions of the formal model behind it. For an empirical comparison, I revisit a prior RCA analysis of the 1993 GSS musical tastes module with CCA. I conclude with a parsimonious theoretical and methodological framework to guide future work.
Association of Botryosphaeria Panicle and Shoot Blight of Pistachio with Injuries of Fruit Caused by Hemiptera Insects and Birds

Panicle and shoot blight of pistachio caused by species of Botryosphaeriaceae fungi remains one of the major diseases of pistachio in California, with the highest potential for crop destruction because buds and fruit clusters (panicles) are killed. Pistachio fruit can also be damaged by various insect pests. For instance, hemipteran insects are considered major pests of pistachio and can attack maturing fruit, causing necrotic areas on the fruit epicarp (epicarp lesion). Surveys in pistachio orchards showed a putative association of punctures of pistachio fruit with infection by Botryosphaeriaceae fungi, resulting in panicle and shoot blight. This study was undertaken to determine any association of Botryosphaeriaceae fungi with fruit bearing epicarp lesions and whether hemipteran insects can actively carry propagules of the pathogens to healthy fruit and cause disease. Three large insects of the order Hemiptera (Thyanta pallidovirens, Acrosternum hilare, and Leptoglossus clypealis) were used in pathogen-...
HIV Protease Inhibitor–Induced Cathepsin Modulation Alters Antigen Processing and Cross-Presentation

Immune recognition by T cells relies on the presentation of pathogen-derived peptides by infected cells, but the persistence of chronic infections calls for new approaches to modulate immune recognition. Ag cross-presentation, the process by which pathogen Ags are internalized, degraded, and presented by MHC class I, is crucial to prime CD8 T cell responses. The original degradation of Ags is performed by pH-dependent endolysosomal cathepsins. In this article, we show that HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) prescribed to HIV-infected persons variably modulate cathepsin activities in human APCs, dendritic cells and macrophages, and CD4 T cells, three cell subsets infected by HIV. Two HIV PIs acted in two complementary ways on cathepsin hydrolytic activities: directly on cathepsins and indirectly on their regulators by inhibiting Akt kinase activities, reducing NADPH oxidase 2 activation, and lowering phagolysosomal reactive oxygen species production and pH, which led to enhanced cathepsin activities. HIV PIs modified endolysosomal degradation and epitope production of proteins from HIV and other pathogens in a sequence-dependent manner. They altered cross-presentation of Ags by dendritic cells to epitope-specific T cells and T cell-mediated killing. HIV PI-induced modulation of Ag processing partly changed the MHC self-peptidome displayed by primary human cells. This first identification, to our knowledge, of prescription drugs modifying the regulation of cathepsin activities and the MHC-peptidome may provide an alternate therapeutic approach to modulate immune recognition in immune disease beyond HIV.
Adaptability and variability in the oculomotor system

We have been investigating the adaptive capabilities of a simple oculomotor system: saccadic eye movements. Saccades are rapid eye movements that take the line of gaze from one point to another very quickly, as when reading. Saccades are highly ballistic — once a saccade to a visual target has been programmed, the eyes will go to that target (or very nearly so) even if the target subsequently changes position.1 A further corrective saccade must then be made to bring the eyes to the target.
Aspects of a Contact Zone between Two Chromosomal Races of Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

G- and C-banded karyotypes of 269 specimens of Peromyscus leucopus were analyzed from along an east-west transect in central Oklahoma. A zone of contact between two previously described chromosomal races is documented, and is associated with an ecotone between the Great Plains Grassland and Eastern Deciduous Forest biomes. Parental cytotypes are allopatric, being separated by populations of hybrid individuals. The zone is further characterized by concordance of the three chromosomal clines and by asymmetrical distribution of marker chromosomes. Hybrid genotypes from the center of the zone occur in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no linkage disequilibrium was detected. Field reproductive data demonstrate that hybrid mice are reproductively active, and that if negative heterosis is present, it does not appear to be severe. The data indicate that the zone is the result of secondary contact of allopatrically diverged populations, and is stable. Potential factors responsible for the structure and maintenance of the zone are discussed.
Work-Life Balance, Burnout, and Satisfaction of Early Career Pediatricians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Data describing factors associated with work – life balance, burnout, and career and life satisfaction for early career pediatricians are limited. We sought to identify personal and work factors related to these outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed 2013 survey data of pediatricians who graduated residency between 2002 and 2004. Dependent variables included: (1) balance between personal and professional commitments, (2) current burnout in work, (3) career satisfaction, and (4) life satisfaction. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations of personal and work characteristics with each of the 4 dependent variables. RESULTS: A total of 93% of participants completed the survey ( n = 840). A majority reported career (83%) and life (71%) satisfaction. Fewer reported current appropriate work – life balance (43%) or burnout (30%). In multivariable modeling, excellent/very good health, having support from physician colleagues, and adequate resources for patient care were all found to be associated with a lower prevalence of burnout and a higher likelihood of work – life balance and career and life satisfaction. Having children, race, and clinical specialty were not found to be significantly associated with any of the 4 outcome measures. Female gender was associated with a lower likelihood of balance and career satisfaction but did not have an association with burnout or life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout and struggles with work – life balance are common; dissatisfaction with life and career are a concern for some early career pediatricians. Efforts to minimize these outcomes should focus on encouragement of modifiable factors, including health supervision, peer support, and ensuring sufficient patient care resources.
Scintigraphy of ileal hemorrhage from metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

The authors present a case of hemorrhage from ileal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. The Tc-99m-tagged red blood cell scintigraphy was helpful in demonstrating the hypervascular characteristics of the distal intestinal lesion and in guiding the subsequent selective angiographic work-up and surgery.
Optimization study of a PEM fuel cell performance using 3D multi-phase computational fluid dynamics model

An optimization study using a comprehensive 3D, multi-phase, non-isothermal model of a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell that incorporates significant physical processes and key parameters affecting fuel cell performance is presented and discussed in detail. The model accounts for both gas and liquid phase in the same computational domain, and thus allows for the implementation of phase change inside the gas diffusion layers. The model includes the transport of gaseous species, liquid water, protons, energy, and water dissolved in the ion-conducting polymer. Water is assumed to be exchanged among three phases: liquid, vapour, and dissolved, with equilibrium among these phases being assumed. This model also takes into account convection and diffusion of different species in the channels as well as in the porous gas diffusion layer, heat transfer in the solids as well as in the gases, and electrochemical reactions. The results showed that the present multi-phase model is capable of identifying important parameters for the wetting behaviour of the gas diffusion layers and can be used to identify conditions that might lead to the onset of pore plugging, which has a detrimental effect on the fuel cell performance. This model is used to study the effects of several operating, design, and material parameters on fuel cell performance. Detailed analyses of the fuel cell performance under various operating conditions have been conducted and examined.
Digital memory look-up based implementation of sliding mode control for dc–dc converters

Abstract Switched power electronic converters involve different control actions for different system events. A local control strategy may be developed which reacts only to some local information available to each component without any communication between the different system components located far away in real time. The purpose of this paper is to present a low cost memory based control strategy in a dc–dc boost converter. The control employed in this work is based on a sliding-mode hysteretic control strategy where the sliding manifold is derived a priori and stored as a look-up table in digital memory hardware. The proposed control implementation strategy is low cost and offers a robust dynamic response that is used to mitigate many disturbances in the system.
Laser induced filament propagation through adverse conditions

Experimental studies of laser induced filament propagation through atmospheric conditions have been done to understand the interaction of filaments with its propagating medium as they propagate at different pressures and through aerosols.
“Smells Like Teen Shakespirit” Or, the Shakespearean Films of Julia Stiles

Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet drew teenagers toward Shakespeare as no film had attempted before with a strikingly visual and aural adaptation of the most commonly studied play in American high schools, a play which had long been accompanied by a viewing of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film in the classroom. The newer film, with the appealing cast of Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, a soundtrack mixing hip-hop and alternative tracks (Butthole Surfers, The Cardigans, Des’ree, Everclear, Garbage, Radiohead, and others), and Luhrmann’s distinctive, signature, MTV-style pacing and editing, transports Shakespeare’s play and language to the mid-1990s Verona Beach—part Miami, part Mexico City, and part Vera Cruz. The film offered a fresh spin on the play in a format that was likely to usurp Zeffirelli’s vision of Verona in the eyes of the era’s freshmen in the classroom—and if not in the classroom at least in whatever hip collective psyche that prevailed among youth culture in 1996.
Building good starting models for full-waveform inversion using adaptive matching filtering misfit

ABSTRACTWe have proposed a misfit function based on adaptive matching filtering (AMF) to tackle challenges associated with cycle skipping and local minima in full-waveform inversion (FWI). This AMF is designed to measure time-varying phase differences between observations and predictions. Compared with classical least-squares waveform differences, our misfit function behaves as a smooth, quadratic function with a broad basin of attraction. These characters are important because local gradient-based optimization approaches used in most FWI schemes cannot guarantee convergence toward true models if misfit functions include local minima or if the starting model is far away from the global minimum. The 1D and 2D synthetic experiments illustrate the advantages of the proposed misfit function compared with the classical least-squares waveform misfit. Furthermore, we have derived adjoint sources associated with the proposed misfit function and applied them in several 2D time-domain acoustic FWI experiments. Nume...
Exotic domain walls in Bose-Einstein condensates with double-well dispersion

We study the domain walls which form when Bose condensates acquire a double-well dispersion. Experiments have observed such domain walls in condensates driven across a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ symmetry-breaking phase transition in a shaken optical lattice. We derive a generic model to describe the dispersion and to compute the wave functions and energies of the domain walls. We find two distinct regimes which demand different physical pictures. In the weak-coupling regime, where interactions are weak compared to the kinetic-energy barrier, ``density-wave domain walls'' form that support an extended density wave and a series of phase steps. These features can be understood as the quantum interference between domains with distinct momenta. In the strong-coupling regime where interaction dominates, the system forms ``phase domain walls'' which have the minimum width allowed by the uncertainty principle and suppressed density modulation. Analytic results for the domain-wall wave functions are obtained in the two regimes. The energy of domain walls behaves similarly to that of topological defects in paradigmatic field theories.
Determinism and Uncertainty in Stability

The destabilizing effects produced in mechanical systems with follower forces by a variety of physical phenomena are shown to result in a lack of determinism in the analysis of stability. Several possibilities of removing the uncertainties are suggested.
Real-time direct detection of silica scaling on RO membranes

Abstract Silica scaling of RO membranes was evaluated via real-time direct surface imaging demonstrating a capability for detecting the onset of silica scale formation and its evolution. Silica scaling was detected significantly earlier than by traditional flux decline measurements. The observed rate of silica particle nucleation followed classical nucleation theory while the growth of individual silica particles, at the early stages of silica scaling, was governed by diffusional growth. SEM and optical images of the membrane surface suggest that silica scaling occurs through the formation of both primary silica particles and their agglomerates (~1–30 µm), as well as a gel-like silica film embedded with silica particles both of which contribute to permeate flux decline. At low silica saturation index at the membrane surface (SIm≤1.93) silica gel film formation resulted in a smoother and less porous film than at higher silica saturation (SIm≥2.72). At the higher silica saturation levels (SIm=2.72–3.50), silica scaling resulted in larger observed particles as well as rapid permeate flux decline. The silica scale layer thickness was in the range of ~0.1–3.5 µm, with surface roughness being higher by a factor of 2.6–8.3 relative to the native membrane. Results of the present study suggest that there is merit in exploring the application of the present approach for early detection and monitoring of silica scaling in RO plants in support of strategies for silica scale mitigation.
SERINC Inhibits HIV-1 Env Induced Membrane Fusion and Slows Fusion Pore Enlargement

The SERINC family of proteins are integral membrane proteins that regulate the incorporation of serine into phospholipids, to create PS, and into sphingolipids. It has recently been shown that two members of the family, SERINC3 and SERINC5, inhibit HIV infectivity. Using a cell-cell fusion system to determine the extent to which inhibition of infectivity is due to reduced fusion, we found that the presence of SERINC3 or SERINC5 in either effector or target cells slows the kinetics and reduces the extent of fusion induced by HIV-1 Env. These two incorporators of serine greatly retard fusion pore enlargement, as determined by the rate of aqueous dye transfer once a pore forms. Nef is an auxiliary protein of HIV that is well-known to enhance HIV infectivity. The presence of SERINC5 and Nef in effector cells leads to the same extent of fusion induced by expression of Env alone, showing that Nef eliminates the reduction of fusion caused by SERINC. (R01 GM 101 539).
Differences between soft collinear effective theory and QCD factorization for B → ππ decays

We give a detailed description of the differences between the factorization and results derived from SCET and QCDF for decays $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{M}_{1}{M}_{2}$. This serves as a reply to the preceding Comment. We disagree with their criticisms.
Heart Dosimetry is Correlated With Risk of Radiation Pneumonitis After Lung-Sparing Hemithoracic Pleural Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Abstract Purpose/Objective To determine clinically helpful dose-volume and clinical metrics correlating with symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients with two lungs treated with hemithoracic intensity modulated pleural radiation therapy (IMPRINT). Methods and Materials Treatment plans and resulting normal organ dose-volume histograms of 103 consecutive MPM patients treated with IMPRINT (2/2005- 1/2015) to the highest dose ≤50.4 Gy satisfying departmental normal tissue constraints were uniformly recalculated. Patient records provided maximum RP grade (CTCAE v4.0), clinical and demographic information. Correlations analyzed with the Cox model were: ≥ Grade 2 RP (RP2+) and ≥ Grade 3 RP (RP3+) with clinical variables, with volumes of PTV and PTV-Lung overlap and with mean dose, percent volume receiving dose D, (V D ), highest dose encompassing % volume V, (D V ), and heart, total, ipsilateral, and contralateral lungs volumes. Results Twenty-seven patients had RP2+ (14 with RP3+). Median prescription dose was 46.8 Gy (39.6 to 50.4 Gy, 1.8Gy/fraction). Median age was 67.6 years (42 to 83 years). There were 79 males, 40 never-smokers, 44 with left-sided MPM. There were no significant (p≤0.05) correlations with clinical variables, prescription dose, total lung dose-volume metrics and PTV-Lung overlap volume. Dose-volume correlations for heart were RP2+ with V D (35≤D≤47 Gy, V 43 strongest at p=0.003), RP3+ with V D (31 ≤D≤ 45 Gy), RP2+ with D V (5 ≤V≤ 30%), RP3+ with D V (15 ≤V≤ 35%) and mean dose. Significant for ipsilateral lung were RP2+ with V D (38 ≤D≤44 Gy), RP3+ with V 41 , RP2+ and RP3+ with minimum dose; for contralateral lung, RP2+ with maximum dose. Correlation of PTV with RP2+ was strong (p Conclusions Heart dose correlates strongly with symptomatic RP in this large cohort of MPM patients with two lungs treated with IMPRINT. Planning constraints to reduce future heart doses are suggested.
Experimental Investigation of the Absorption, Phase Transition, and Desorption Behavior of Biphasic Solvent Blends for Postcombustion CO2 Capture

Abstract Aqueous biphasic solvent blends consisting of diethylenetriamine (DETA) and a tertiary amine, N , N , N’ , N” , N” -pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) or bis[2-( N , N -dimethylamino)ethyl] ether (BDMAEE), were experimentally assessed. Results revealed that the composition of solvent blends greatly affected the CO 2 loading capacity and dual-phase transition behavior. A speciation analysis of dual liquid phases suggested that CO 2 absorption was a two-stage process, in which CO 2 reacted with DETA initially, followed by the protonation of PMDETA or BDMAEE and the production of HCO 3 − /CO 3 2− species lately. Rates of CO 2 absorption and pressures of CO 2 desorption were also measured for the selected solvent blends and compared with the benchmark monoethanolamine solvent.
Balancing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant responses in murine bone marrow derived macrophages.

Rationale The underlying pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia includes a macrophage-mediated host response orchestrated by anti-inflammatory peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and anti-oxidant nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). These have not yet been studied in combination. This study tested the hypothesis that combined inflammatory and oxidative stressors would interact and change PPARγ- and Nrf2-regulated gene expression and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of dual stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and hyperoxia in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Methods Sub-confluent BMDM from wild-type C57BL/6J mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1ug/mL for 2 hours followed by room air (21% oxygen) or hyperoxia (95% oxygen) for 24 hours. Taqman real time-polymerase chain reaction gene expression assays, total antioxidant capacity assays, and Luminex assays were performed. Results Supernatants of cultured BMDM contained significant antioxidant capacity. In room air, LPS treatment decreased expression of PPARγ and Nrf2, and increased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and heme oxygenase-1; similar findings were observed under hyperoxic conditions. LPS treatment decreased cellular total antioxidant capacity in room air but not in hyperoxia. Increased expression of sulfiredoxin-1 in response to hyperoxia was not observed in LPS-treated cells. Dual stimulation with LPS treatment and exposure to hyperoxia did not have synergistic effects on gene expression. Cellular total antioxidant capacity was not changed by hyperoxia exposure. Conclusions Our hypothesis was supported and we demonstrate an interaction between inflammatory and oxidative stressors in a model system of bronchopulmonary dysplasia pathogenesis. The protective anti-oxidant effect of cell culture media may have protected the cells from the most deleterious effects of hyperoxia.
Trials and tribulations of non-inferiority: the ximelagatran experience.

Ximelagatran is a novel oral direct thrombin inhibitor that offers a number of advantages over the standard treatment, warfarin, in patients with atrial fibrillation. Two large clinical trials, one open-label (Stroke Prevention Using Oral Thrombin Inhibitor in Atrial Fibrillation [SPORTIF] III), one double-blind (SPORTIF V), have compared the efficacy and safety of fixed-dose ximelagatran without anticoagulation monitoring with dose-adjusted warfarin using a non-inferiority design. On the basis of the results, the investigators concluded that ximelagatran was just as effective as warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism (the primary end point), because the pre-specified non-inferiority criterion was met. Reanalysis of the data with rather conservative interpretive criteria, however, revealed a number of deficiencies: 1) an unreasonably generous margin that was potentially biased toward non-inferiority, given the low baseline event rate of warfarin; 2) the inappropriateness of the analytical method used to estimate the non-inferiority margin; 3) a lack of confidence that ximelagatran retains at least 50% of warfarin’s effect (a prerequisite to the establishment of non-inferiority); 4) significant heterogeneity in the magnitude of efficacy observed in the two trials; and 5) safety concerns regarding increased liver toxicity with ximelagatran without a significant offsetting advantage in major bleeding. This imbalance in the benefit-risk profile materially undermines the investigators’ claim of non-inferiority of ximelagatran and led the Food and Drug Administration to reject the sponsor’s application for ximelagatran. Despite published conclusions to the contrary, we conclude that ximelagatran has not been shown to be non-inferior to warfarin. Such determinations of non-inferiority are highly dependent on the underlying assumptions, and graphical sensitivity analyses make this dependence explicit.
Gain and resonant tunneling in interband cascade IR photodetectors

Interband cascade IR photodetectors (ICIPs) are multi-stage detectors with discrete absorbers separated by unipolar electron and hole barriers. In this multi-stage detector architecture, the absorber in each stage is designed with a thickness that is thinner than the carrier diffusion length so that photo-generated carriers can be collected efficiently and quickly. This advantage has been validated with the operation of ICIPs at high temperatures (>400 K) and high frequencies (up to 1.3 GHz). Recently, electrical gain exceeding unity was observed in ICIPs. Also, negative differential conductance (NDC) was observed at high temperatures. In this paper, we will discuss the underlying physics of the NDC and a new mechanism that should well explain the electrical gain in ICIPs, as well as our progress towards improved understanding and high temperature performance.
Stem Cells from the Outside In

The potential of stem cells to replace damaged cells and organs is the subject of public discourse and political debate. Stem cell biology is in an explosive phase of growth, but has not yet yielded a fundamental understanding of the molecular control of stem cell fate. Surprisingly the role of the gaseous environment in the control of stem cell biology has been largely ignored. This chapter will highlight the importance of oxygen signaling in all aspects of stem cell biology-their proliferation, patterns of death and differentiation. The use of oxygen signals in cultivation of stem cells is a potent tool for identifying pharmacologic targets that can be used to enhance regeneration or to treat common degenerative diseases.
In vitro nasal models.

Pharmaceutical companies are investing time and money in the development of alternatives to injectable formulations for the systemic delivery of therapeutics. Alternative delivery systems offer enormous market potential and increased patient compliance. The nasal route has proved effective and acceptable for several therapeutics. In fact, several biotechnology nasal products are currently in the U.S. market, including DDAVP (desmopressin acetate, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer), Synarel (narelin acetate, Syntex), Diapid (lypressin, Sandoz), and Syntocinon (oxytocin, Sandoz). Intranasal administration of therapeutics offers many advantages over other routes of administration. Therapeutics administered nasally avoid gastrointestinal degradation and first-pass metabolism associated with oral administration. In addition, the high vascularity of the nasal mucosa allows rapid absorption of some compounds. However, bioavailability of nasally administered therapeutics is normally low, making this route acceptable for only a few potent therapeutics.
Practicing Preventive Medicine through Preventive Employment Practices.

Despite challenges, employer no-smoking policies have been upheld by the courts to date. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
An Enigmatic Haplotype

You are shown the results of red cell phenotyping of a 40-year-old woman, 29 weeks into twin pregnancy, and the results of both fetuses (in the brackets are shown probable Rh genotypes, Wiener nomenclature):
Molecular Analysis of Plant Plasma Membranes

It has become clear that while rapid strides are now being made in the study of the structure and function of plant genomes, little is known in comparison to animal cells about the structure and function of the plant cell at the molecular level. For example, physiological and ultrastructural studies have shown that the plasma membrane is the site of a number of important cellular functions, including cellulose synthesis and wall deposition (16,19), hormone transport and action (8,21), transport of ions and metabolites (23), as well as recognition of, and response to, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms (3,14). However, despite its key role in plant cell division, differentiation, and development, investigation of the molecular properties of plant plasma membranes has been severely hampered by the lack of biochemical markers and attendant difficulties in membrane fractionation (10,11,20).
History as a Humanity: Reading and Literacy in the History Classroom

COLLEGE HISTORY TEACHERS daily face the task of presenting their subject to students who come from many different educational backgrounds and who often have deficiencies such as poor literacy and a pathetic lack of interest in school. Teachers are expected to provide students with a historical perspective through analysis and interpretation of historical facts. All this must fit into the larger framework of the liberal arts tradition on which most colleges and universities are built. This article renews the argument that history should be regarded as a humanity and that an effective way to teach it as such and at the same time encourage greater literacy among college students is through the use of a variety of books such as biographies, monographs, personal narratives and other primary sources, and novels. There are few historians who would disagree with the proposition that history is a humanistic discipline. However, before discussing the role of reading and literacy, it is worth reviewing the arguments in favor of viewing history as a humanity to see their implication for teaching. Historical Literacy: The Case for History in American Education, a recent book published as a result of the Bradley Commission on History in Schools, contains several essays that address these issues. In the essay, "Why Study History? Three Historians Respond," William H. McNeill
Developmental dynamics of autonomic function in childhood.

There is a paucity of developmental data examining the stability of autonomic function during childhood, and even less is known regarding the extent of coordination between autonomic branches. To address this, autonomic measures of sympathetic (cardiac pre-ejection period, PEP; electrodermal activity, and EDA) and parasympathetic (respiratory sinus arrhythmia and RSA) function were collected from 339 children annually from kindergarten to second grade. Physiology was quantified into 31 epochs 30 s in length, across a series of baselines and emotion-inducing films. Rank-order stability was observed for all three indices, but was higher for cardiac than electrodermal measures. A series of multilevel models was used to identify the proportion of variance in psychophysiological function attributable to the individual (trait), visit (potential developmental change), or epoch (reactivity to task). Both PEP and RSA had sizeable components of individual-level variance, with PEP showing very small variance attributable to experimental task. In contrast, variance in EDA was largely attributable to task epoch. Variance decompositions of the parasympathetic-sympathetic coordination (e.g., RSA-EDA) suggest that the branches of the autonomic system are prototypically cooperative, but evidence did not indicate traitlike stability or linear developmental change. The extent of coordination was moderated by emotional context, indicating that autonomic coordination varies dynamically within individuals. These findings have implications for future work attempting to identify the contextual, experiential, and demographic factors that modulate developmental trajectories of autonomic function and coordination, and for examination of how developmental changes in autonomic psychophysiology are related to or predict behavioral trajectories across a range of psychological domains.
Meaning making of gender in Pakistan with interdisciplinary approach

Abstract. The article draws upon the contradiction of meaning making in the West that view girls like Malala who stood for education and freedom as leaders and the meaning making among many in Pakistan who view her as Western tout and not their hero. Keywords. Girls education, Female empowerment, SMEs. JEL. L24, N70, N75.
Analysis of Raman Scattering and Four-Wave Mixing in CH 4 Filled Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber

We numerically investigate stimulated Raman scattering and four-wave mixing in CH 4 filled inhibited-coupling hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. Analysis indicates that four-wave mixing can be an aid or hindrance in wavelength conversion depending on whether the first or second Stokes order is desired.
Spiked helmet pattern ST elevation in subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is occasionally associated with the electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Missing the true clinical diagnosis can result in inappropriate and harmful interventions. We report the case of a 40-year-old female who was found down. The ECG was diagnostic for acute lateral STEMI. Further analysis of the ECG showed marked prolongation of the QT interval and the "spiked helmet sign" (SHS). The patient was ruled out for myocardial infarction and a head CT demonstrated a massive SAH with acute hemorrhage into the ventricles. Review of the literature and of our own ECG files revealed additional cases where severe acute central nervous system (CNS) conditions were associated with the SHS.
‘I just don’t think she has a presidential look:’ the influence of sexism on candidate image

Facebook and other social media are often utilized by political campaigns to communicate with the electorate and provide vital information about a candidate. However, in doing so, political campaig...
Experimental Methods to Inform Diagnostic Approaches for Painful TMJ Osteoarthritis

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joint that can produce persistent orofacial pain as well as functional and structural changes to its bone, cartilage, and ligaments. Despite advances in the clinical utility and reliability of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, clinical tools inadequately predict which patients will develop chronic TMJ pain and degeneration, limiting clinical management. The challenges of managing and treating TMJ OA are due, in part, to a limited understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of TMJ pain. OA is initiated by multiple factors, including injury, aging, abnormal joint mechanics, and atypical joint shape, which can produce microtrauma, remodeling of joint tissues, and synovial inflammation. TMJ microtrauma and remodeling can increase expression of cytokines, chemokines, and catabolic factors that damage synovial tissues and can activate free nerve endings in the joint. Although studies have separately investigated inflammation-driven orofacial pain, acute activity of the trigeminal nerve, or TMJ tissue degeneration and/or damage, the temporal mechanistic factors leading to chronic TMJ pain are undefined. Limited understanding of the interaction between degeneration, intra-articular chemical factors, and pain has further restricted the development of targeted, disease-modifying drugs to help patients avoid long-term pain and invasive procedures, like TMJ replacement. A range of animal models captures features of intra-articular inflammation, joint overloading, and tissue damage. Although those models traditionally measure peripheral sensitivity as a surrogate for pain, recent studies recognize the brain's role in integrating, modulating, and interpreting nociceptive inputs in the TMJ, particularly in light of psychosocial influences on TMJ pain. The articular and neural contributors to TMJ pain, imaging modalities with clinical potential to identify TMJ OA early, and future directions for clinical management of TMJ OA are reviewed in the context of evidence in the field.