cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Events: A Fish Tale

The Eskimo diet has a high fat content, but this group has a low incidence of deaths from coronary heart disease.1 Because the Eskimo diet contains large amounts of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs),2 many studies have been conducted to determine whether high dietary PUFAs may reduce death from coronary heart disease. These studies, which have focused on two n-3 PUFAs that are relatively abundant in fish, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), include many prospective epidemiological studies, a few case-control studies, and 2 secondary prevention trials.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Most of the prospective population studies showed a statistically significant inverse relationship between fish consumption and the risk of death from coronary heart disease. The dose-response relationship was complex in these studies: the reduction in coronary risk was greatest when adding a modest amount of dietary fish to populations that previously had low fish intake. Increasing fish intake still more did not incrementally decrease risk. Many of these studies measured n-3 PUFA incorporation into the cell membranes of platelets, granulocytes, adipose tissue, or erythrocytes. Overall, there was a significant correlation between fish intake and the level of n-3 PUFA in cell membranes. The overall consistency in the observational studies is excellent and signals a survival benefit from dietary n-3 PUFA. The epidemiological data suggest that the benefit of dietary fish is centered on a reduction in sudden cardiac death. A case-control study in Seattle compared 334 victims of out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest with 493 population-based controls.11 Compared with no dietary intake of EPA, ≥5.5 g of n-3 PUFA per month was associated with a 50% decrease in the risk of primary cardiac arrest. The US Physician’s Health Study studied the effect of dietary fish on sudden cardiac death …
Defect Reduction by Nitrogen Purge of Wafer Carriers

Nitrogen purge of wafer carriers is driving defect density reduction at critical process steps. We discuss several examples of defect creation related to the environment of the semiconductor wafer and how nitrogen purge of carriers improves defect density. We have applied nitrogen purge at the gate formation, SiGe epitaxy and silicide formation process steps and we report experimental split data from in line inspection and the result at electrical test. From the impact of the nitrogen purge we can draw conclusions about the nature of defect formation. The impact on volume manufacturing is demonstrated.
Effect of udder preparation on transmission of Staphylococcus aureus while milking with a multi-valved cluster

With two groups of 12 cows, a procedure involving foremilking, teat washing and drying before milking was compared with no premilking preparation for its effects on mastitis and teat contamination. Half the cows in each group were deliberately infected in a single udder quarter with Staphylococcus aureus and milked alternately with uninfected cows for 9 weeks. To minimize transfer during milking all cows were milked with the use of a multi-valved claw. Five new staphylococcal infections developed in the 12 animals in the teat preparation group compared to one in the control group. A significantly higher incidence of teat orifice colonization developed in the prepared cows compared to the control cows (17 v. 7). Foremilking and teat preparation led to transfer of staphylococci between quarters (within cow) but this was effectively prevented by the multi-valve claw in the absence of teat preparation.
Divergence between Cultural Success and Reproductive Fitness in Preindustrial Cities

Sociobiology is a term that continues to bristle with contention. For many cultural anthropologists, the term connotes a biological ideology of dangerous proportions-the masquerading of Western competitive exclusion as scientific theory, if not the pseudoscientific justification of racism and eugenic engineering. For many zoologists, primatologists, and evolutionary biologists, on the other hand, Darwinian theory is the keystone of behavioral explanation, validated and refined time and again through careful empirical study. That these same principles should be expanded and at least explored for selected human behaviors seems only natural to some of these researchers, and a mission of great importance to others. In the larger debate over culture and biology, many arguments have been made by both sides based on conjecture or a priori reasoning rather than on careful empirical study. Behind these disputes lies the fact that no amount of eloquent posturing or argumentation based on first principles will resolve the question of how much of human behavior is nature and how much is nurture. The question itself, as Geertz (1962) realized 25 years ago, is a wrong one, since culture and human biological evolution are mutually defining. The task, then, is to elucidate the nature of the biocultural relationship. What is particularly needed is unpolemic documentation of how culture interacts with genealogical, reproductive, and demographic patterns under specific sociohistorical conditions. There is a growing coterie of researchers with a priori Darwinian sympathies attempting to conduct such research, as reflected in the growing number of books and of articles on such topics in journals such as Ethology and Sociobiology, Journal of Social and Biological Structures, Current Anthropology, and even American Anthropologist. From the standpoint of the intrepid cultural anthropologist, much of this evergrowing body of work neglects at its peril the obvious influence of cultural ideas and values on hypothesized reproductive or genetic imperatives. At the same time, this existing bias increases rather than decreases the importance of documenting the influence symbolic factors have on reproductive and genetic success in specific contexts. While such a goal demands a career orientation few cultural anthropologists are at present qualified or willing to take, singular attempts in this vein remain important (e.g., Burling 1986). The present article is intended as a
2007 Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture—What Makes Education Research “Educational”?:

Education research is plagued by skeptics who doubt its quality and relevance. Inhabitants of schools of education have been among the sharpest critics, and internal battles rage over method and rigor. Yet often lacking is research that explains causes or examines the interplay at the heart of educational practice and policy. This article argues for a conception of research in education that deliberately presses into what is called here the instructional dynamic. Using a sample of studies that exemplify this quintessentially educational perspective, the authors unpack key features of research that probes inside education. They discuss how such research complements in essential ways the other kinds of scholarship that examine and inform education.
Metasignaling and Language Origins

Over the past two decades, comparative linguistic anthropological research has disclosed the significance of metadiscourse and metasignaling forthe establishment, maintenance, and transformation of social relations. One type of metasignal-signal relationship has, because of its role in producing sociability, come to seem especially interesting with regard to the evolutionary origins of human language—the type wherein a strategically (and presumably neocortically) induced metasignal is modeled after, but distinct from, an instinctively triggered signal, as in ritualized lamentation. Strategic vocal deceptions in nonhuman primates are possible precursors of true socially constructed, socially shared metasignals, which in turn may be ancestors of modern human language. This article charts an evolutionary path from strategic vocal manipulation, to cultural metasignals, to language, using data from primate studies, discourse-centered research, and early child language acquisition. [Key words: language origins, semiotics, metacommunication, chimpanzees, early language acquisition]
The Art of Intimacy

Intimacy, in the Chinese tradition, entails a bonding through shared intention; it is modeled on the parent–child instead of the mating pair; and it is not a mental so much as an inter-mental phenomenon. These attributes are explored through an examination of their epistemological foundation in the Chinese notion of affectivity (gan), and through an analysis of their phenomenology as resonance through mental sharing. For illustration, a wide variety of mind-to-mind transactions are examined, ranging from poetics to discourse in the everyday world.
Isolated Primary Blast Inhibits Long-Term Potentiation in Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures.

Abstract Over the last 13 years, traumatic brain injury (TBI) has affected over 230,000 U.S. service members through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly as a result of exposure to blast events. Blast-induced TBI (bTBI) is multi-phasic, with the penetrating and inertia-driven phases having been extensively studied. The effects of primary blast injury, caused by the shockwave interacting with the brain, remain unclear. Earlier in vivo studies in mice and rats have reported mixed results for primary blast effects on behavior and memory. Using a previously developed shock tube and in vitro sample receiver, we investigated the effect of isolated primary blast on the electrophysiological function of rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC). We found that pure primary blast exposure inhibited long-term potentiation (LTP), the electrophysiological correlate of memory, with a threshold between 9 and 39 kPa·ms impulse. This deficit occurred well below a previously identified threshold for cell de...
Histopathological observations in experimental cryptococcosis caused by a hypha-producing strain of Cryptococcus neoformans (Coward strain) in mice

Three distinct types of lesions were recognizable viz: histiocytic granulomata; tuberculoid granulomata with central necrosis surrounded by epithelioid cells and micro-abscesses.The inflammatory reaction was most severe with hyphal fragments and small, round or oval forms; it tended to diminish when larger round cells appeared and capsules increased in thickness. Large cells with wide capsules were not associated with any significant inflammatory reaction.
Model Structure Adaptation: A Gradient-Based Approach

A gradient-based method of symbolic adaptation is introduced for a class of continuous dynamic models. The proposed Model Structure Adaptation Method (MSAM) starts with the first-principles model of the system and adapts its structure after adjusting its individual components in symbolic form. A key contribution of this work is its introduction of the model’s parameter sensitivity as the measure of symbolic changes to the model. This measure, which is essential to defining the structural sensitivity of the model, not only accommodates algebraic evaluation of candidate models in lieu of more computationally expensive simulation-based evaluation, but also makes possible the implementation of gradient-based optimization in symbolic adaptation. The applicability of the proposed method is evaluated in application to several models which demonstrate its potential utility.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Computational law

Computational law is an approach to automated legal reasoning focusing on semantically rich laws, regulations, contract terms, and business rules in the context of electronically-mediated actions. Current computational tools for electronic commerce fall short of the demands of business, organizations, and individuals conducting complex transactions over the web. However, the growth of semantic data in the world of electronic commerce and online transactions, coupled with grounded rulesets that explicitly reference that data, provides a setting where applying automated reasoning to law can yield fruitful results, reducing inefficiencies, enabling transactions and empowering individuals with knowledge of how laws affect their behavior.
Commentaries on Viewpoint: Justifying small-n research in scientifically amazing settings: Challenging the notion that only “big-n” studies are worthwhile

# CONSIDER COST AND FEASIBILITY WHEN CHOOSING SAMPLE SIZE {#article-title-2} to the editor: I commend the authors for advocating alternatives to the usual convention-bound sample size methods ([5][1]). Problems with the conventional methods extend beyond special settings, because in practice
INTERACTION OF THE ADAPTIVE VALUES IN POLYMORPHIC EXPERIMENTAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA

Genetic diversification is an evolutionary mechanism which enables MIendelian populations to master a wide variety of environments in the territories which they inhabit. In many species of Drosophila, some of the genetic diversification takes the form of chromosomal polymorphism. Thus, in Drosophila pseudoobscura several (up to seven) different gene arrangements occur in the third chromosomes in many natural populations. The chromosomal polymorphism can be studied not only in natural but also in artificial laboratory populations (Wright and Dobzhansky, 1946; Dobzhansky, 1949). Such studies have shown that the fitness of the structural heterozygotes which carry two third chromosomes with different gene arrangements derived from the same population is, not invariably but usually, superior to that of the corresponding structural homozygotes. The polymorphism is, therefore, balanced, and the gene arrangements are maintained in the populations with frequencies which are determined, for a given environment, by the relative adaptive values of the different karyotypes (Dobzhansky, 1948, 1949; Dobzhansky and Levene, 1948). The great interest of the chromosomal polymorphism in Drosophila is that it makes the processes of natural selection and evolutionary adaptation amenable to experimental study. The work in this
Hilbert phase dynamometry (HPD) for real-time measurement of cell generated forces (Conference Presentation)

Traction force microscopy is the most widely used technique for studying the forces exerted by cells on deformable substrates. However, the method is computationally intense and cells have to be detached from the substrate prior to measuring the displacement map. We have developed a new method, referred to as Hilbert phase dynamometry (HPD), which yields real-time force fields and, simultaneously, cell dry mass and growth information. HPD operates by imaging cells on a deformable substrate that is patterned with a grid of fluorescent proteins. A Hilbert transform is used to extract the phase map associated with the grid deformation, which provides the displacement field. By combining this information with substrate stiffness, an elasticity model was developed to measure forces exerted by cells with high spatial resolution. In our study, we prepared 10kPa gels and them with a 2-D grid of FITC-conjugated fibrinogen/fibronectin mixture, an extracellular matrix protein to which cells adhere. We cultured undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and MSCs that were in the process of undergoing adipogenesis and osteogenesis. The cells were measured over the course of 24 hours using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM) and wide-field epi-fluorescence microscopy allowing us to simultaneously measure cell growth and the forces exerted by the cells on the substrate.
Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic, vector borne disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. More than 99% of the population at risk of infection live in Africa. Onchocerciasis control was initiated in West Africa in 1974 with vector control, later complemented by ivermectin mass drug administration and in the other African endemic countries in 1995 with annual community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI.) This has significantly reduced infection prevalence. Together with proof-of-concept for onchocerciasis elimination with annual CDTI from foci in Senegal and Mali, this has resulted in targeting onchocerciasis elimination in selected African countries by 2020 and in 80% of African countries by 2025. The challenges for meeting these targets include the number of endemic countries where conflict has delayed or interrupted control programmes, cross-border foci, potential emergence of parasite strains with low susceptibility to ivermectin and co-endemicity of loiasis, another parasitic vector borne disease, which slows down or prohibits CDTI implementation. Some of these challenges could be addressed with new drugs or drug combinations with a higher effect on Onchocerca volvulus than ivermectin. This paper reviews the path from discovery of new compounds to their qualification for large scale use and the support regulatory authorities provide for development of drugs for neglected tropical diseases. The status of research for new drugs or treatment regimens for onchocerciasis along the path to regulatory approval and qualification for large scale use is reviewed. This research includes new regimens and combinations of ivermectin and albendazole, antibiotics targeting the O. volvulus endosymbiont Wolbachia, flubendazole, moxidectin and emodepside and discovery of new compounds.
Two-Dimensional Peptide and Protein Assemblies

Two-dimensional nanoscale assemblies (nanosheets) represent a promising structural platform to arrange molecular and supramolecular substrates with precision for integration into devices. This nanoarchitectonic approach has gained significant traction over the last decade, as a general concept to guide the fabrication of functional nanoscale devices. Sequence-specific biomolecules, e.g., peptides and proteins, may be considered excellent substrates for the fabrication of two-dimensional nanoarchitectonics. Molecular level instructions can be encoded within the sequence of monomers, which allows for control over supramolecular structure if suitable design principles could be elaborated. Due to the complexity of interactions between protomers, the development of principles aimed toward rational design of peptide and protein nanosheets is at a nascent stage. This review discusses the known two-dimensional peptide and protein assemblies to further our understanding of how to control the arrangement of molecules in two-dimensions.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Lung Injury in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): Review of the Literature:

Despite advances in mechanical ventilation, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates ranging from 26% to 58%. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified cardiopulmonary bypass circuit that serves as an artificial membrane lung and blood pump to provide gas exchange and systemic perfusion for patients when their own heart and lungs are unable to function adequately. ECMO is a complex network that provides oxygenation and ventilation and allows the lungs to rest and recover from respiratory failure while minimizing iatrogenic ventilator-induced lung injury. In critical care settings, ECMO is proven to improve survival rates and outcomes in patients with severe ARDS. This review defines severe ARDS; describes the ECMO circuit; and discusses recent research, optimal use of the ECMO circuit, limitations of therapy including potential complications, economic impact, and logistical factors; and discusses future research considerations.
Second Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) as Salvage Therapy for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma.

Introduction: Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) as part of initial therapy has been shown to prolong survival of patients with multiple myeloma, with some achieving durable complete remission. However, the majority of patients ultimately relapse after ASCT and require salvage treatment. Options for the treatment of such patients have increased significantly over recent years, including not only novel chemotherapeutic and biological agents but also additional ASCTs. We performed a retrospective analysis of our experience with salvage ASCT for multiple myeloma to determine which clinical variables influence outcome. Methods: Between October 1992 and February 2005, we performed 342 ASCTs for multiple myeloma. Twenty-six of these were salvage transplants for relapsed disease after prior ASCT, and all were included in the analysis. Patients who received two planned (tandem) ASCTs were not included. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 47 (range 25–66), and median ISS and DS stages at diagnosis were 1 and 2, respectively. The initial ASCT was melphalan-based in 21/26; six (23%) achieved a complete response (CR) to the initial transplant, and fifteen (58%) achieved a partial response (PR). The median event-free survival (EFS) after the initial transplant was 19.5 months (range 2–60). The median time between initial and salvage ASCT was 2.6 years (range 0.3–7.6). Twenty-two patients (85%) received non-transplant therapy between ASCTs, and the median number of lines of therapy prior to salvage ASCT was 3. At the time of salvage ASCT, the median age was 52.5 (range 28–69). Fourteen patients received melphalan alone, eight received melphalan/TBI, and four received other regimens. Eleven patients (42%) achieved a response to therapy (1 CR, 10 PR). One patient (4%) died of transplant-related toxicity. The median follow-up after salvage ASCT is 12 months (range 0.2–58). Median EFS is 9 months, and median overall survival (OS) is 36 months. The 2-year EFS is 14%, and 2-year OS is 52%. On univariate analysis, both response to and EFS after initial transplant significantly predict improved EFS after salvage transplant (p=0.0008 and p=0.0065 respectively). Both also predict improved OS (p=0.03 and 0.0005 respectively). A greater than 12 month interval between first and second transplant also correlated with OS (p=0.04). There was no significant difference in EFS or OS by preparative regimen. Interestingly, type of response to the salvage transplant (CR/PR or less than PR) did not predict improved EFS or OS. Conclusion: This study suggests that salvage ASCT after relapse from initial ASCT is a feasible therapy for patients with heavily treated multiple myeloma, particularly those with a prolonged response to the first transplant.
The transcriptional regulator Aire binds to and activates super-enhancers

Aire is a transcription factor that controls T cell tolerance by inducing the expression of a large repertoire of genes specifically in thymic stromal cells. It interacts with scores of protein partners of diverse functional classes. We found that Aire and some of its partners, notably those implicated in the DNA-damage response, preferentially localized to and activated long chromatin stretches that were overloaded with transcriptional regulators, known as super-enhancers. We also identified topoisomerase 1 as a cardinal Aire partner that colocalized on super-enhancers and was required for the interaction of Aire with all of its other associates. We propose a model that entails looping of super-enhancers to efficiently deliver Aire-containing complexes to local and distal transcriptional start sites.
Exosomes contribute to endothelial integrity and acute chest syndrome risk: Preliminary findings.

Background Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading causes of death among children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Disruption of microvascular integrity is critical to the pathophysiology of ACS, but the factors governing its phenotypic variability are incompletely understood. Because circulating exosomes have been implicated in vascular dysfunction in various diseases, we hypothesized that exosomes induce endothelial dysfunction in patients who experience ACS. Procedure Cross-sectional cohort study including 33 outpatients with SCD (without new health-related complaints or recent transfusions) and a cohort of control patients. Exosomes were isolated from platelet-free plasma. Results ImageStream showed that exosome counts were greatly increased in patients with SCD compared with controls, but there were few differences in the concentrations of exosomes between patients who had experienced ACS (ACS(+)) and those who had not (ACS(−)). Exosomes were added to human microvascular endothelial cells, and the exosomal effects on monolayer integrity was determined using Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS). Exosomes from SCD patients without ACS differed minimally from control patients; however, exosomes from ACS(+) decreased endothelial cell resistance compared to ACS(−), (Relative resistance: ACS(+): 0.981 ± 0.055 vs ACS(−): 1.124 ± 0.042; P = 0.006). Treatment of endothelial cultures with exosomes from ACS(−) patients increased endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression, while ACS(+)-derived exosomes were not able to increase eNOS expression above that of controls. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that patients with SCD have circulating exosomes that produce differential effects that may contribute to the pathophysiology of ACS and may serve as risk-related biomarkers.
Should All Massively Transfused Patients Be Treated Equally? An Analysis of Massive Transfusion Ratios in the Nontrauma Setting.

Objectives Although balanced resuscitation has become integrated into massive transfusion practice, there is a paucity of evidence supporting the delivery of high ratios of plasma and platelet to RBCs in the nontrauma setting. This study investigated the administration of blood component ratios in the massively transfused nontrauma demographic. Design Retrospective analysis of a prospective, observational cohort of massively bleeding patients. Setting Surgical and critically ill patients at a tertiary medical center between 2011 and 2015. Patients Massively transfused nontrauma patients. Interventions Patients receiving plasma, platelet, and RBC transfusions were categorized into high and low ratio groups and analyzed for differences in characteristics and clinical outcomes. Measurements and main results The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included 48-hour mortality, hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, and ventilator-free days. Among 601 massively transfused nontrauma patients, cardiothoracic surgery and gastrointestinal or hepato-pancreatico-biliary bleeds were the most common indications for massive transfusion. Higher fresh frozen plasma ratios (> 1:2) were not associated with increased 30-day mortality. A high platelets-to-packed RBCs ratio (> 1:2) was associated with decreased 48-hour mortality (10.5% vs 19.3%; p = 0.032), but not 30-day mortality. Fresh frozen plasma-to-packed RBCs and platelets-to-packed RBCs ratios were not associated with 30-day mortality hazard ratios after controlling for baseline characteristics and disease severity. Conclusions The benefits of higher ratios of fresh frozen plasma-to-packed RBCs and platelets-to-packed RBCs described in trials of trauma patients were not observed in this analysis of a nontrauma, massively transfused population. These data suggest that greater than 1:2 ratio transfusion in the setting of massive hemorrhage may not be appropriate for all patients, and that further research to guide appropriate resuscitation strategies in nontrauma patients is warranted.
Commuter ride-sharing using topology-based vehicle trajectory clustering: Methodology, application and impact evaluation

Abstract This paper illustrates a ride matching method for commuting trips based on clustering trajectories, and a modeling and simulation framework with ride-sharing behaviors to illustrate its potential impact. It proposes data mining solutions to reduce traffic demand and encourage more environment-friendly behaviors. The main contribution is a new data-driven ride-matching method, which tracks personal preferences of road choices and travel patterns to identify potential ride-sharing routes for carpool commuters. Compared with prevalent carpooling algorithms, which allow users to enter departure and destination information for on-demand trips, the proposed method focuses more on regular commuting trips. The potential effectiveness of the approach is evaluated using a traffic simulation-assignment framework with ride-sharing participation using the routes suggested by our algorithm. Two types of ride-sharing participation scenarios, with and without carpooling information, are considered. A case study with the Chicago tested is conducted to demonstrate the proposed framework’s ability to support better decision-making for carpool commuters. The results indicate that with ride-matching recommendations using shared vehicle trajectory data, carpool programs for commuters contribute to a less congested traffic state and environment-friendly travel patterns.
Review of Diedrich, L. (2017), "Indirect Action: Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, AIDS and the Course of Health Activism"

In her recent monograph, Indirect Action: Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, AIDS and the Course of Health Activism , Lisa Diedrich has undertaken the project of expanding/re-vising/exploding our current narrative of the AIDS epidemic for the purpose of expanding what we think of as activism.
Myc heals all (tumor) wounds

The activation of Myc in Ras-driven lung adenomas causes profound immune/stromal remodeling to support tumor growth.
Pain and Masculinity: A Cohort Comparison between Mexican American Vietnam and Post–9/11 Combat Veterans:

Using twenty-six interviews with Mexican American veterans, this study analyzes cohort effects between Vietnam War veterans to Iraq and/or Afghanistan veterans on the meanings and experiences of pa...
Enzymatically Ligated DNA-Surfactants: Unmasking Hydrophobically Modified DNA for Intracellular Gene Regulation.

Herein, we describe the characterization of a novel self-assembling and intracellular disassembling nanomaterial for nucleic acid delivery and targeted gene knockdown. By using a recently developed nucleic acid nanocapsule (NAN) formed from surfactants and conjugated DNAzyme (DNz) ligands, it is shown that DNz-NAN can enable cellular uptake of the DNAzyme and result in 60 % knockdown of a target gene without the use of transfection agents. The DNAzyme also exhibits activity without chemical modification, which we attribute to the underlying nanocapsule design and release of hydrophobically modified nucleic acids as a result of enzymatically triggered disassembly of the NAN. Fluorescence-based experiments indicate that the surfactant-conjugated DNAzymes are better able to access a fluorescent mRNA target within a mock lipid bilayer system than the free DNAzyme, highlighting the advantage of the hydrophobic surfactant modification to the nucleic acid ligands. In vitro characterization of DNz-NAN's substrate-cleavage kinetics, stability in biological serum, and persistence of knockdown against a proinflammatory transcription factor, GATA-3, are presented.
Particles and Cylindrical Polar Coordinates

Here, we discuss the cylindrical polar coordinate system and how it is used in particle mechanics. This coordinate system and its associated basis vectors \( \left\{ {{\bf e}_r, {\bf e}_\theta, {\bf E}_z } \right\} \) are vital to understand and practice. It is a mistake to waste your time memorizing formulae here. Instead, focus on understanding the material. You will repeat it countless times which will naturally develop the ability to derive the results from scratch.
Processing of piezoelectric fiber/polymer composites with 3-3 connectivity

The processing-property relationship of dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 3-3 fabric composites was studied. Fine PZT green fibers were woven into plane fabric, cut in 3 × 3 cm2 pieces, and stacked 8 plies high. The stacks were heat-treated with and without applied pressure and then embedded in soft and hard polymers. Increasing the applied pressure increased the density and electromechanical properties of composites due to the improvement of the ply-to-ply sintering. At an optimum uniaxial pressure of 588 Pa, the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of composites with ≈41 vol% PZT and soft matrix were K = 230, d33 = 220 pC/N, g33 = 108 mV/m, and d33g33 = 23778 × 10−15 m2/N. The porosity-permittivity relationship was used to determine the depolarizing factor of the composites, which represented the degree of ceramic continuity between electrodes. In general, composites with soft matrix had higher electromechanical properties than those with hard matrix. The effect of poling direction on the piezoelectric and dielectric properties was also investigated. The composites poled along the PZT fibers had higher electromechanical properties than those poled perpendicular to the PZT fibers.
Oil and Politics in the Gulf: State formation and oil

A few short decades ago Kuwait and Qatar were British dependencies, little known outside the Middle East. Today their oil resources and strategic location astride the globe's principal energy routes have brought them the attention of the world. In the intervening years Kuwait and Qatar have experienced a radical but apparently smooth transition from pearling to petroleum, poverty to prosperity. Oil revenues have fueled the development of new economic structures, new welfare systems and radically different and materially better lives for their inhabitants. Yet these rapid changes have been accompanied by remarkable political continuity at the apex of the systems: these two countries continue to be ruled through monarchical institutions of long standing. Despite the obituaries regularly written for these regimes, their rulers have survived the arrival and departure of Britain, the trials of independence, the challenge of populist Pan-Arabism and radical Islam and, finally, the demands of oil wealth. This continuity has been achieved because of oil, not despite it. However, apparent stability on the system's surface has been accompanied by powerful transformations in the distribution of power just below the surface. The development of oil in the postwar years has led to the withdrawal from formal political life of the merchants, the group which historically pressed its claims most effectively on the state. Merchant claims have not been put forward because of a tacit arrangement between the rulers and the trading families: a trade of wealth for formal power.
Computer-based instruction: an evaluation of micro-plato structured FORTRAN 77

ABSTRACT This interim report documents the findings of an evaluation of Control Data Corporation's Structured Micro-PLATO FORTRAN-77 educational materials to teach FORTRAN-77 programming to lower division undergraduate students in a four-year technology program. The study's purpose was to investigate the utilization of computer-based instruction as the primary instruction delivery method of college level technical materials. The investigation attempted to answer three primary questions associated with computer-based instruction. These were: (1) How well do centralized computer tests measure student performance compared to tests written and administered by an onsite course instructor? (2) How effective is a stand-alone computer-based educational package as compared to a traditional lecture approach? (3) How do students react to computer-based instruction? The overall findings indicated that: (1) Micro-PLATO FORTRAN-77 course materials were at least as effective as traditional lecture approaches; (2) the centralized PLATO tests, although unpopular with the students, were generally reliable for measuring student achievement; and (3) the student success rate remained about the same when a conventional lecture section was added in parallel with the Micro-PLATO section. The centralized PLATO course management and testing system did not reduce the workload of the course instructor. However, this may differ with course management techniques employed by the instructor.
Glycinergic Inhibition in the Cochlear Nuclei: Evidence for Tuberculoventral Neurons being Glycinergic

The goal of this article is to review evidence that glycine is the neurotransmitter of inhibitory interneurons in the cochlear nuclei. One group of interneurons for which the evidence is particularly strong is the tuberculoventral neurons (Wickesberg and Oertel,’ 88) in the deep layer of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). This review will examine how the existing evidence supports the criteria that have been established for the identification of a neurotransmitter (Werman,’ 66). A review of this evidence leads to the conclusion that tuberculoventral neurons are glycinergic. The evidence is weaker that cartwheel cells of the DCN and D stellate cells of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) are also glycinergic.
The Role of Soil Organic Carbon in Maintaining Surface Elevation in Rapidly Subsiding U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Marshes

Subsidence is a primary factor governing marsh deterioration in Mississippi River deltaic plain coastal marshes. Marsh surface-water level relationships are maintained primarily through soil organic matter accumulation and inorganic sediment input. In this study we examined the role of soil organic matter accumulation in maintaining marsh elevation in a brackish Spartina patens marsh. Measured rates of soil organic accumulation were compared to plant biomass production and soil respiration (carbon dioxide and methane emission) at the study sites. The study demonstrated the importance of plant biomass production to soil organic carbon accumulation in maintaining viable Spartina patens marshes in sediment-deficient coastal environments. The role of Mississippi River freshwater reintroduction in maintaining conditions for organic accretion is discussed.
Effects of Caloric Restriction on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Fatigue, and Disability Responses to Aerobic Exercise in Older Adults With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Obesity compounds aging-related declines in cardiorespiratory fitness, with accompanying fatigue and disability. This study determined the effects of two different levels of caloric restriction (CR) during aerobic training on cardiorespiratory fitness, fatigue, physical function, and cardiometabolic risk. Methods The INFINITE study was a 20-week randomized trial in 180 older (65-79 years) men and women with obesity (body mass index = 30-45 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to (i) aerobic training (EX; treadmill 4 days/wk for 30 minutes at 65%-70% of heart rate reserve), (ii) EX with moderate (-250 kcal/d) CR (EX + Mod-CR), or (iii) EX with more intensive (-600 kcal/d) CR (EX + High-CR). Cardiorespiratory fitness (peak aerobic capacity, VO2 peak, primary outcome) was determined during a graded exercise test. Results One hundred and fifty-five participants returned for 20-week data collection (87% retention). VO2 peak increased by 7.7% with EX, by 13.8% with EX + Mod-CR, and by 16.0% with EX + High-CR, and there was a significant treatment effect (EX + High-CR = 21.5 mL/kg/min, 95% confidence interval = 19.8-23.2; EX + Mod-CR = 21.2 mL/kg/min, 95% confidence interval = 19.4-23.0; EX = 20.1 mL/kg/min, 95% confidence interval = 18.4-21.9). Both CR groups exhibited significantly greater improvement in self-reported fatigue and disability and in glucose control, compared with EX. Conclusion Combining aerobic exercise with even moderate CR is more efficacious for improving cardiorespiratory fitness, fatigue and disability, and glucose control than exercise alone and is as effective as higher-dose CR.
The Ethics of Complex Messy Systems

This chapter deals with an important aspect of systems, ethics. It thus lays the groundwork for treating the countless ethical issues that are associated with The Technological Mindset.
Prevalence and correlates of "popper" (amyl nitrite inhalant) use among HIV-positive Latinos living in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Poppers (nitrite inhalants) are legal, commonly used by men who have sex with men, and associated with HIV acquisition, yet research is lacking on popper use and associated adverse outcomes. People living with HIV (PLWH) in the U.S.-Mexico border region lead binational lives, including accessing care and having sex and drug use partners on both sides of the border, with broad personal and public health implications. Understanding popper use provides crucial information to guide policy and develop targeted interventions for binational PLWH. We examine prevalence and correlates of popper use among HIV-positive Latinos in the border region, an underserved population at risk for poor health outcomes. This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample from agencies in San Diego and Tijuana to complete quantitative surveys. Participants (N = 121) were primarily male (82.6%) and gay/bisexual (62%). Lifetime substance use (excluding cannabis) was reported by 72% of participants, and 25.6% reported lifetime popper use. Individuals recruited in the U.S. were significantly more likely to report use of poppers than were participants recruited in Mexico. Our regression model found that identifying as gay/bisexual and having bought, sold, or traded sex for money, drugs, or other goods were independently associated with popper use. Findings shed light on the profile of individuals who use poppers and lay the foundation for further research to understand the context of popper use as it relates to high-risk behavior among PLWH in this region of high transborder mobility. Binational collaborative approaches are needed to improve regional HIV care outcomes and reduce transmission risk.
Using web conferencing to foster learning partnerships in a team-based learning computer science classroom

At the intersection of pedagogy and technology are opportunities to offer an educational experience that is both engaging and has the potential to foster connections between learning partners. The mixed methods study presented here uses a convenience sample to extend findings from previous research [8] with the aim of offering suggestions for synchronous course delivery using web conferencing in a computer science classroom. Fifty student surveys and 11 personal face-to-face interviews have been analyzed, offering a deeper understanding of the learning partnerships that emerge as well as the possible distractions students experience during web conferencing sessions. Moreover, how to mitigate these distractions while increasing students' engagement was also discussed. A team based learning approach was used throughout the study.
Pathways to Parenthood in Social and Family Contexts: Decade in Review, 2020

Objective This article reviews research from the past decade on patterns, trends, and differentials in the pathway to parenthood. Background Whether, and under what circumstances, people become parents has implications for individual identity, family relationships, the well-being of adults and children, and population growth and age structure. Understanding the factors that influence pathways to parenthood is central to the study of families and can inform policies aimed at changing childbearing behaviors. Method This review summarizes recent trends in fertility as well as research on the predictors and correlates of childbearing, with a focus on the United States and on research most relevant to family scholars. We document fertility differentials and prevailing explanations for variation across sub-groups and discuss alternative pathways to parenthood, such as adoption. The article suggests avenues for future research, outlines emerging theoretical developments, and concludes with a discussion of fertility policy. Results U.S. fertility has declined in recent years; whether fertility rates will increase is unclear. Elements of the broader social context such as the Great Recession and increasing economic inequality have impacted pathways to parenthood, and there is growing divergence in behaviors across social class. Scholars of childbearing have developed theories to better understand how childbearing is shaped by life course processes and social context. Conclusion Future research on the pathways to parenthood should continue to study group differentials, refine measurement and theories, and better integrate men and couples. Childbearing research is relevant for social policy, but ideological factors impact the application of research to policy.
Pathophysiology and Acute Management of Tachyarrhythmias in Pheochromocytoma: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Abstract Pheochromocytomas, arising from chromaffin cells, produce catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The tumor biochemical phenotype is defined by which of these exerts the greatest influence on the cardiovascular system when released into circulation in high amounts. Action on the heart and vasculature can cause potentially lethal arrhythmias, often in the setting of comorbid blood pressure derangements. In a review of electrocardiograms obtained on pheochromocytoma patients (n = 650) treated at our institution over the last decade, severe and refractory sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were found to be the most common or life-threatening catecholamine-induced tachyarrhythmias. These arrhythmias, arising from catecholamine excess rather than from a primary electrophysiologic substrate, require special considerations for treatment and complication avoidance. Understanding the synthesis and release of catecholamines, the adrenoceptors catecholamines bind to, and the cardiac and vascular response to epinephrine and norepinephrine underlies optimal management in catecholamine-induced tachyarrhythmias.
Race, Nativity, and Sex Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Young Adults in the USA.

Research has demonstrated that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a safe and effective way to decrease HPV-related cervical cancers; however, the vaccination rate in the USA is suboptimal. The current study examined racial and ethnic disparities in HPV vaccination among a nationally representative sample, including Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). This study also investigated the associations between nativity and vaccination, and sex differences between race/ethnicity and vaccination and nativity and vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of adults aged 18–26 years drawn from the 2014 NHPI National Health Interview Survey (n = 2590) and the general 2014 National Health Interview Survey (n = 36,697). Log-binomial models were fitted to examine differences in vaccination. There was a statistically significant racial/ethnic difference in HPV vaccination (p = 0.003). More women than men were vaccinated (41.8% vs. 10.1%) (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in HPV vaccination based on nativity: 27.4% of adults aged 18 to 26 years who were born in the USA and 27.7% born in a US territory received the HPV vaccine compared with 14.3% among those not born in the USA or a US territory (p < 0.001). The association of HPV vaccination with nativity and race/ethnicity differed by sex and showed several nuanced differences. Overall, the prevalence of HPV vaccination was low. The study’s findings demonstrate the need for public health strategies to increase vaccination rates among all populations, with the critical need to identify strategies that are effective for men, racial/ethnic minorities, and immigrant women born outside the USA.