Photon + Jet production at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

Prompt photon production results by the CDF and D\OCollaborations in the Tevatron Run II at a center of mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$=1.96 TeV are presented. Cross sections for central isolated photons, photon+jet production and photons produced in association with a heavy flavor quark are reported. The measurements are compared to Next-to-Leading order perturbative QCD predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings for the QCD Session at Moriond 200

An examination of women’s representation and participation in bicycle advisory committees in California

In the United States, women bicycle at significantly lower rates than men. One method of remedying this disparity is to ensure that women are engaged in bicycle planning and policy making through, for example, participation in bicycle advisory committees (BACs). No research has been conducted on women’s representation and participation in these committees. This study attempts to fill that gap by examining women’s membership levels in and experiences serving on California bicycle advisory committees and bicycle/pedestrian advisory committees. In addition, we explore some of the barriers to participation faced by female cyclists. A survey of 42 committees revealed that women make up approximately 24% of members on an average bicycle (and pedestrian) advisory committee in California. Through focus group interviews with 24 women currently serving on BACs, several common themes emerged. Women on these committees are more likely than men to bring up women’s and children’s issues, and some aspects of the committees themselves may serve as barriers for women to become more involved. An online survey of 565 women cyclists in California provided insight regarding some of the common barriers women identify as reasons for not becoming involved with a BAC. Lack of awareness of the committees did not seem to be a barrier: 67% of respondents were aware of their local committee. Instead, barriers indentified by participants included: time; perceived lack of qualifications; lack of information about the committee; family and household responsibilities; and lack of interest. Recommendations to increase women’s representation on BACs include the following strategies: education about the committee; targeted recruitment efforts; and policy and procedural changes

Including Children with Disabilities in Primary School: the case of Mashonaland, Zimbabwe

This paper summarises the school-based information gathered on girls and boys with disabilities in schools in four districts in Mashonaland West Province (MWP), a large province in the north of Zimbabwe, as well as the main results derived from a survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices of their parents or caregivers, teachers and head teachers. This research forms part of a three-year project led by Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe Trust to promote the provision of inclusive primary education for children with disabilities in that province. The first part of the paper outlines the current state of education for children with disabilities in 268 schools in the four selected districts in MWP; including disaggregation of numbers of children in school by age, gender and impairment. It also provides an overview of the numbers of teachers as well as pupil/teacher ratios. The second part examines findings from a survey on disability and Inclusive Education (IE), administered to 67 head teachers, 183 teachers and 186 parents/caregivers of children with disabilities. Findings highlighted a lack of training in special education needs/IE, and the need for further training emerges as a pressing issue. Overall, the attitudes and beliefs of respondents were positive, but amongst the major perceived barriers preventing children with disabilities from going to school by respondents was the lack of assistive devices. Other major barriers include distance to school and lack of transportation. Parents reported that the direct and indirect costs for schooling their children with disabilities are too high. Head teachers and teachers identified human resource allocation and financial administration as potential critical issues. This survey contributes to the limited literature that examines knowledge, attitudes and practices of teachers and families, as well as well as barriers and challenges

Kinetic pinning and biological antifreezes

Biological antifreezes protect cold-water organisms from freezing. An example are the antifreeze proteins (AFPs) that attach to the surface of ice crystals and arrest growth. The mechanism for growth arrest has not been heretofore understood in a quantitative way. We present a complete theory based on a kinetic model. We use the `stones on a pillow' picture. Our theory of the suppression of the freezing point as a function of the concentration of the AFP is quantitatively accurate. It gives a correct description of the dependence of the freezing point suppression on the geometry of the protein, and might lead to advances in design of synthetic AFPs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Distribuzione spaziale dei popolamenti a <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, a <i>Patella ferruginea</i> e della frangia a <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. nell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena (Sardegna-Italia) = Spatial distribution of <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, <i>Patella ferruginea</i> assemblage and <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. fringe in The Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia-Italy)

A study on the distribution of Lithophyllum byssoides, Patella ferruginea and Cystoseira sp. fringe populations, has been carried out in the national Park of the La Maddalena archipelago. Those species has been protected from international conventions as rare species in danger of extinction. The results of the study shows a good conservation state of the examined islands

Management of Elbow Dislocations in the National Football League.

Background: Although much literature exists regarding the treatment and management of elbow dislocations in the general population, little information is available regarding management in the athletic population. Furthermore, no literature is available regarding the postinjury treatment and timing of return to play in the contact or professional athlete. Purpose: To review the clinical course of elbow dislocations in professional football players and determine the timing of return to full participation. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All National Football League (NFL) athletes with elbow dislocations from 2000 through 2011 who returned to play during the season were identified from the NFL Injury Surveillance System (NFL ISS). Roster position, player activity, use of external bracing, and clinical course were reviewed. Mean number of days lost until full return to play was determined for players with elbow dislocations who returned in the same season. Results: From 2000 to 2011, a total of 62 elbow dislocations out of 35,324 injuries were recorded (0.17%); 40 (64.5%) dislocations occurred in defensive players, 12 (19.4%) were in offensive players; and 10 (16.1%) were during special teams play. Over half of the injuries (33/62, 53.2%) were sustained while tackling, and 4 (6.5%) patients required surgery. A total of 47 (75.8%) players who sustained this injury were able to return in the same season. For this group, the mean number of days lost in players treated conservatively (45/47) was 25.1 days (median, 23.0 days; range, 0.0-118 days), while that for players treated operatively (2/47) was 46.5 days (median, 46.5 days; range, 29-64 days). Mean return to play based on player position was 25.8 days for defensive players (n = 28; median, 21.5 days; range, 3.0-118 days), 24.1 days for offensive players (n = 11; median, 19 days; range, 2.0-59 days), and 25.6 days for special teams players (n = 8; median, 25.5 days; range, 0-44 days). Conclusion: Elbow dislocations comprise less than a half of a percent of all injuries sustained in the NFL. Most injuries occur during the act of tackling, with the majority of injured athletes playing a defensive position. Players treated nonoperatively missed a mean of 25.1 days, whereas those managed operatively missed a mean of 46.5 days

Temperature and Emission-Measure Profiles Along Long-Lived Solar Coronal Loops Observed with TRACE

We report an initial study of temperature and emission measure distributions along four steady loops observed with the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) at the limb of the Sun. The temperature diagnostic is the filter ratio of the extreme-ultraviolet 171-angstrom and 195-angstrom passbands. The emission measure diagnostic is the count rate in the 171-angstrom passband. We find essentially no temperature variation along the loops. We compare the observed loop structure with theoretical isothermal and nonisothermal static loop structure.Comment: 10 pages, 3 postscript figures (LaTeX, uses aaspp4.sty). Accepted by ApJ Letter

Rationalization and optimization of waste management and treatment in modern cruise ships

Here we report over possible optimizations onboard cruise ships in the management of glass, paper and cellulosic waste, ranging from simple rationalization of the materials' use (for glass and paper) to the recovery of some of the energy embedded in paper and other cellulosic waste. This latter option is investigated considering two possibilities: i) the recovery of thermal energy from incinerator's flue gas by means of an absorption plant, ii) the production of syngas to be directly fed to the ship engines. For each option, we calculated the achievable benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption, avoided CO2 emissions and cost savings (evaluated on the basis of the avoided fuel consumption). Finally, on the basis of the previously calculated benefits, we defined three different scenarios, each including the rationalization of glass and paper waste management, topped by different combinations of thermal energy recovery/syngas production. We then evaluated these scenarios in terms of environmental and economic benefits. This analysis showed that even trivial approaches, as a simple rationalization of paper consumption, can allow consistent advantages over existing waste management policies; moreover, syngas generators for treating cellulosic waste emerged as very effective tools for lowering the environmental impact of modern cruise ships. Joining these two strategies allows notable savings in terms of fuel, CO2 emissions and ship operational costs, and could represent a path for sizably reducing the environmental footprint of cruise ships

Effect of Concave Wall Geometry on Heat Transfer in Hypersonic Boundary Layers

Heat transfer measurements are made to investigate the effects of concave surface curvature on a high-stagnation enthalpy boundary layer in a Mach 5.1 flow. Experiments are carried out using two curved models with 16 and 25 degree turning angles, and baseline planar models (at plate and linear ramp) for comparative study. Streamwise and spanwise cross-sections are obtained. Significant destabilization of the boundary layer is observed over the adverse pressure gradient geometries. For the curved surfaces, the heat flux distribution appears to exhibit a quadratic dependence with streamwise distance, in contrast with the linear dependence observed on the linear ramp