cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes: a Review of the Evidence

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared with those without diabetes. Though aspirin has been shown to have an overall net clinical benefit when used for secondary prevention of ASCVD in people with and without diabetes, the evidence for primary prevention, especially in those with diabetes, remains inconsistent. In this article, we review the latest studies examining the risks and benefits of aspirin use for primary prevention of ASCVD in adults with diabetes, discuss key aspects in assessing the risk-benefit ratio of aspirin use for primary prevention of ASCVD, and summarize current guidelines from professional societies on aspirin use for primary prevention in adults with diabetes. In the general population, past studies have shown no difference in the beneficial effect of aspirin for primary cardiovascular disease prevention by diabetes status. However, several randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses in adults with diabetes have shown lack of net clinical benefit of aspirin use for primary prevention of ASCVD. The recent ASCEND trial documented cardiovascular benefit of aspirin for primary prevention in adults with diabetes but suggested that the increased risk of bleeding may outweigh the cardiovascular benefit. The decision to initiate aspirin for primary prevention of ASCVD must be considered carefully on an individual basis to balance the cardiovascular benefit and bleeding risk in all patients, especially those with diabetes. A multifactorial approach that focuses on managing ASCVD risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, and smoking is recommended in all patients. More research is needed to identify subgroups of people with diabetes who are more likely to benefit from aspirin use for primary prevention of ASCVD and develop better antithrombotic strategies that shift the risk-benefit balance toward an overall net clinical benefit.
Improvisation for the Rest of Us and Those Who Want to Be Better Communicators

Teaching the “soft” skills to technical people is just as important as learning the “hard” skills. However, it is oftentimes left to the hiring company to fill in this void as most STEM related curricula are focused on the necessary science, math, and technical aspect of the related discipline. Creative problem-solving methodologies, design thinking, lateral thinking all tie into the use of improvisation. Companies are using the improvisation methods as a way of creating better collaborative teams and creating a work environment that says “Yes” before “No”. Improvisation training can help the rest of us to become better listeners, communicators, collaborators, innovators, and those who can focus on the organization or team story and not their own story.
Looking deeper into tissue elongation.

In this Journal Club, Audrey Williams and Sally Horne-Badovinac highlight the importance of studying the basal cell surface and its dynamics to understand epithelial cell behaviours and tissue rearrangements.
The Macroeconomic Effects of Public Debt: An Empirical Analysis of Evidence from Canada

Public debt refers to the amount of money which a particular country owes to the lenders either inside the country or outside the country. The lenders might be the individuals, businesses or even governments of the other countries. It might also be called as national debt or sovereign debt. Several types are associated with public debt such as domestic debt, external debt and the total debt. Public debt has critical relations with different macroeconomic factors such as economic growth, price levels and exchange rate. In this context, the current study has been conducted with the motive to explore the impact casted by public domestic debt, public external debt and total debt on the macroeconomic factors i.e. economic growth and general price level. As the study has been conducted in the context of Canada, therefore the researcher collected secondary and time series data for Canada. The collected data comprised the time of 28 years. The data regarding the variables of the study was analyzed by using different techniques and tools so that the objective of the study can be fulfilled. The results obtained from the analysis provide information that PDD has negative impact on the economic growth and positive impact on price level in short run as well. In addition, the impact of PED and TD on economic growth is positive only for shorter run and in longer run, this result is not applicable. However, the impact of PED and TD on price levels is too ambiguous to draw any conclusion.
The Airworld as an In-between Space

This chapter explores the topographic location of air transport infrastructures. It argues that airports are perceived as in-between places, situated neither inside nor outside the adjacent city, and airplanes constitute a self-referential space with respect to the ground. The irreducible distance of airports from the city, and of airplanes from earth, becomes a pivotal juncture for fiction and film. The chapter analyzes how writers, directors, and artists design their narratives around the exclusion of the Airworld from the parallel outside world. It focuses on cultural productions that depict situations of arrivals and departures, layovers, stopovers, and flights as representative of the problematic spatio-temporal relation of the city to airports and airplanes. It further investigates the role of mobile phones in mitigating the exclusion of the Airworld, allowing travelers to prolong their connection to the contingencies of life in the city and on the ground.
Weight Loss as an Effective Strategy to Decrease Opioid Use and Frequency of Vaso-Occlusive Crises in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) are a hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) during which patients experience localized pain. The current mainstay of treatment for SCD-related pain syndrome...
Interactions of betainium and imidazolium-based ionic liquids with peptide amphiphiles and their implications in the formation of nanohybrid composite gels

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been gaining widespread attention due to their plethora of applications. In particular, increasing studies are being carried out to enhance the biological applications of ILs. In this work, a newly synthesized peptide amphiphile comprised of tert-butyl (6-amino-1-((6-aminohexyl) amino)-1-oxohexan-2-yl) carbamate (TAOC) was conjugated with the peptide segment derived from laminin, YIGSR, and self-assembled to form nanofibers. The formed nanofibers were then blended with two separate ionic liquids, betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Hbet][NTf2] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C4mim][NTf2] to form nanohybrids. To the nanohybrids, collagen (Type IV) was incorporated to further enhance biocompatibility. Our results indicated that the imidazolium-based nanohybrids formed globular assemblies and displayed higher thermal stability and mechanical strength compared to [Hbet][NTf2]-based nanocomposites. The binding interactions with the ionic liquids were probed by FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, TGA as well as predictive COSMO-RS studies, which indicated the key role of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Cell studies with neural cortical cells revealed that in both cases, the nanohybrids reduced cytotoxicity compared to the neat ionic liquids. Furthermore, axonal growths were observed. Such ionic liquid infused peptide nanohybrids, particularly the imidazolium-based nanohybrid gels may have potential for biological applications.
Abstract 15983: Increased Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Lead to Deleterious JNK Signaling and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in AMPK-Inactivated Hearts

AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is a key stress responsive kinase that regulates cellular adaptation to metabolic stress. Inactivation of AMPK in “kinase-dead” (KD) mice increases myocardial damage following ischemia-reperfusion (IR). We have also shown decreased mitochondrial respiration and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and susceptibility to mitochondrial transition pore opening in KD hearts following IR. The aim of this study was to establish the importance of mitochondrial ROS production and downstream deleterious signaling to mediate tissue damage in absence of active AMPK in the heart. Detoxification of mitochondrial ROS requires conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water, therefore, we studied the effect of transgenic expression of mitochondrial catalase (MCAT) in wild type (WT) and KD mice. MCAT prevents mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production independent of mitochondrial energy production. Myocardial necrosis was assessed in vitro after global ischemia-reperfusion ...
Earthquake disaster response planning

In the United States, one increasingly important role for engineers, along with related earth scientists, is to give substantial assistance in the formulation of public policy as it relates to earthquake hazard reduction. Foremost at this writing are the efforts by engineers, scientists, and others found in "Meeting the Earthquake Challenge", being the final report to the Legislature of the State of California by its Joint Committee on Seismic Safety (reference 1). Enacted legislation has broken new ground in public policy, with some examples as they affect engineering mentioned in later sections of this paper (reference 2).
"This is about the coolest thing I've ever seen is that you just showed right up." COVID-19 testing and vaccine acceptability among homeless-experienced adults: Qualitative data from two samples

BackgroundHomeless-experienced populations are at increased risk of exposure to SARS CoV-2 due to their living environments and face increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease due to underlying health conditions. Little is known about COVID-19 testing and vaccination acceptability among homeless-experienced populations. ObjectiveTo understand the facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 testing and vaccine acceptability among homeless-experienced adults. DesignWe conducted in-depth interviews with participants from July-October 2020. We purposively recruited participants from 1) a longitudinal cohort of homeless-experienced older adults in Oakland, CA (n=37) and 2) a convenience sample of people (n=57) during a mobile outreach COVID-19 testing event in San Francisco. ParticipantsAdults with current or past experience of homelessness. ApproachWe asked participants about their experiences with and attitudes towards COVID-19 testing and their perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinations. We used participant observation techniques to document the interactions between testing teams and those approached for testing. We audio-recorded, transcribed and content analyzed all interviews and identified major themes and subthemes. Key ResultsParticipants found incentivized COVID-19 testing administered in unsheltered settings and supported by community health outreach workers (CHOWs) to be acceptable. The majority of participants expressed positive inclination toward vaccine acceptability, citing a desire to return to routine life and civic responsibility. Those who expressed hesitancy cited a desire to see trial data, concerns that vaccines included infectious materials, and mistrust of the government. ConclusionsParticipants expressed positive evaluations of the incentivized, mobile COVID-19 testing supported by CHOWs in unsheltered settings. The majority of participants expressed positive inclination toward vaccination. Vaccine hesitancy concerns must be addressed when designing vaccine delivery strategies that overcome access challenges. Based on the successful implementation of COVID-19 testing, we recommend mobile delivery of vaccines using trusted CHOWs to address concerns and facilitate wider access to and uptake of the COVID vaccine.
International Arbitration in Dubai Courts: Let the Data Speak for Itself

More than a decade has elapsed since 2006, the year in which the United Arab Emirates acceded to the New York Arbitration Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. Since then, Dubai has cemented its place as the Arab epicenter for international arbitration. Although some acknowledge the progress made in the legal landscape, others remain skeptical about the reception of international arbitration awards in Dubai Courts. This paper examines the extent to which the perceived hostility of Dubai Courts towards international arbitration is grounded in empirical data. This is the first empirical study of its scale on the application of the New York Arbitration Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Dubai Courts. It answers the following question: How are petitions for the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under the New York Convention received in Dubai Courts? The novelty of this paper lies in its data-driven assessment of the reception of foreign arbitration awards in Dubai Courts. To answer this question, we collected approximately 177,000 Dubai Courts judgments that were filed and heard between January 2010 and August 2018. Within these judgments, we identified petitions for the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under the New York Convention. Based on this data, we calculate the overall and yearly enforcement rates of foreign arbitral awards in Dubai Courts, and analyze trends related to the reception of international awards in Dubai Courts. Our study reveals evidence supporting the view that Dubai Courts are favorable towards international arbitration, based on their application of the New York Convention to the reception of foreign awards, and examines the intricacies of Dubai Courts jurisprudence on this subject.
Behavioral Consultation: An Overview

Consultation research, theory, and practice have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Increasingly, individuals working in applied settings have begun to adopt various aspects of consultation practice as conceptualized in the psychological literature. There is no one specific definition of consultation. In fact, the term consultation is used in many different ways throughout the psychological and educational literature. However, there are several different theoretical and applied models of consultation that occupy a prominent role in psychology and education. Each of these models provides a conceptual definition for practice in the area. Specifically, 10 different consultation models have been identified (West & Idol, 1987). However, in psychological practice in the schools, three major models are used most often: mental health consultation, organizational development consultation, and behavioral consultation. These models differ in theoretical orientation, consultative relationship, nature of the problem, consultation goals, and intervention methods, as well as the conceptual and methodological criteria used to evaluate the effectiveness of consultation (Reschly, 1976). (Table 1.1 provides the reader with an overview of various dimensions of the 10 consultation models.) The three most common are briefly reviewed.
Effects of a Hypocaloric Diet and Exercise Intervention on Circulating Zinc and Inflammatory Markers in Obese, Sedentary, Insulin-Resistant Women

Body fat loss and regular exercise can improve markers of systemic low-grade inflammation in the obese, and circulating zinc (Zn) has been reported to change with weight loss (↑ Zn) and exercise (↓...
Standard Developing Organizations as a Form of Self-Regulation

Standard developing organizations (SDOs) can help unify uncoordinated economic activities and conflicting business interests by supporting the growth of viable systems of self-regulation. This paper considers three organizations that have successfully combined the roles of SDO and self-regulatory organization: the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), which manages an electronic funds transfer network; the Electronic Benefits and Services Council (EBSC), which manages a system for clearing electronic food stamps; and the Federation for Identity and Cross-Credentialing Systems (FIXs), which manages a system for authenticating government employees and contractors entering defense facilities. The operation of each organization is examined in light of criteria for effective self-regulation, and of market adoption rates for the standards each organization produces. The paper shows how differences in market conditions and the maturity of the technologies being standardized have resulted in varying degrees of success among the three organizations.
New Perspectives on American Grand Strategy: A Review Essay

Joseph S. Nye Jr., The Paradox of American Power: Why the World’s Only Superpower Can’t Go It Alone (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002) Shortly after the end of the Cold War, a number of leading structural realists such as Kenneth Waltz, John Mearsheimer, and Christopher Layne predicted that America’s “unipolar moment” was likely to be short lived.1 Drawing on traditional balance of power theory, they suggested that America’s unparalleled status as the world’s only superpower would soon trigger widespread counterbalancing on the part of other major states. The policy implication was that Americans ought to play down their hegemonic pretensions and accommodate the inevitable transition toward a multipolar world order. Not only was a certain degree of strategic disengagement a policy prescription: It was the structural realist prediction for American grand strategy in the post–Cold War era. One decade later, a multipolar world order has yet to appear. Granted, American foreign policy is widely resented abroad, and other countries are deNew Perspectives on American Grand Strategy
U.S. Treasury Securities

The securities issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury include bills, notes, and bonds. The U.S. Treasury market is a closely watched market by market participants throughout the world because it plays a prominent role in the global financial market for two reasons. First, because the securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, they are viewed as default-free securities and therefore the yields on these securities are viewed as benchmark risk-free interest rates. Second, because of the large size of the market and the large size of each individual issue, the Treasury market is the most active and liquid sector of the global financial market. Keywords: Treasury securities; Treasuries; or government bonds; fixed-principal securities; Treasury bills; Treasury coupon securities; Treasury notes; Treasury bonds; cash management bills; Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS); real rate; inflation-adjusted principal; reopening of an issue; noncompetitive bid; competitive bid; stop-out yield; high yield; bid-to-cover ratio; single-price auction; Dutch auction; on-the-run issue; current issue; off-the-run issue; when-issued market; interdealer brokers; bank discount basis; bond-equivalent yield; CD equivalent yield; money market equivalent yield; coupon stripping; corpus; principal strips; reconstitution
Anhydrous 1‐methyl­imidazolidin‐2‐one

The title compound, C4H8N2O, crystallizes from the vapor phase in sheets supported by a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. The mol­ecular unit shows planar ureido —NCH3 groups, but the slight out-of-plane hydrogen-bond geometry may be indicative of some pyramidalization of the ureido —NH groups.
A SPATIO-TEMPORAL FRAMEWORK FOR MODELING ACTIVE LAYER THICKNESS

Abstract. The Arctic is experiencing an unprecedented rate of environmental and climate change. The active layer (the uppermost layer of soil between the atmosphere and permafrost that freezes in winter and thaws in summer) is sensitive to both climatic and environmental changes, and plays an important role in the functioning, planning, and economic activities of Arctic human and natural ecosystems. This study develops a methodology for modeling and estimating spatial-temporal variations in active layer thickness (ALT) using data from several sites of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring network, and demonstrates its use in spatial-temporal interpolation. The simplest model’s stochastic component exhibits no spatial or spatio-temporal dependency and is referred to as the naive model, against which we evaluate the performance of the other models, which assume that the stochastic component exhibits either spatial or spatio-temporal dependency. The methods used to fit the models are then discussed, along with point forecasting. We compare the predicted fit of the various models at key study sites located in the North Slope of Alaska and demonstrate the advantages of space-time models through a series of error statistics such as mean squared error, mean absolute and percent deviance from observed data. We find the difference in performance between the spatio-temporal and remaining models is significant for all three error statistics. The best stochastic spatio-temporal model increases predictive accuracy, compared to the naive model, of 33.3%, 36.2% and 32.5% on average across the three error metrics at the key sites for a one-year hold out period.
The roles of receptor noise and cone oil droplets in the photopic spectral sensitivity of the budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus

Individual budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were taught to detect narrow bands of wavelengths under ambient illumination of known spectral composition. Because the cone pigments of this species of bird have been identified and data on carotenoid absorbance present in the cone oil droplets are available, predictions of the Vorobyev-Osorio equations can be calculated with reasonable confidence. Based on more than 27,600 individual choices made by several birds at 10 wavelengths, the photopic sensitivity (i.e., color thresholds) of these birds is found to be consistent with the hypothesis that threshold discrimination of colored targets is limited by receptor noise and that high sensitivity to near-ultraviolet wavelengths is in harmony with the relatively small number of ultraviolet cones present in the retina. The pronounced fine structure of the sensitivity spectrum is caused by the absorption of cone oil droplets. Under natural sunlight, containing more energy in the near-ultraviolet than is present in artificial indoor lighting, the birds' peak of sensitivity in the ultraviolet should be much less prominent than it is in laboratory experiments.
Relationship of Spirituality to Work and Family Roles and Life Satisfaction Among Gifted Adults

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of spirituality to work and family roles and life satisfaction among gifted adults. Satisfaction with work and family roles was examined in combination with spiritual well-being in order to study the contribution each makes to variance in life satisfaction. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in order to gain a greater depth of understanding of these complex issues. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that existential well-being and marital satisfaction contributed significantly to life satisfaction. In response to open-ended questions, participants articulated many ways in which their spirituality impacted their work, marriage, parenting, and life satisfaction. Results are discussed in relation to the literature. Implications for mental health counseling and future research are provided.
Selective Attention and Laterality in Good and Poor Readers

Good and poor readers recalled lists of three pairs of competing digits presented either Dichotically (separated by ear) or Spectral-Monotically (separated by voice frequency) and at different rates of presentation. Poor readers showed a reduced ability to attenuate unattended channels and, unlike good readers, showed poorest performance at the fast rate. These results suggest a specific attentional deficit, not merely representative of the poor readers' general tendency to do poorly on difficult language related tasks.
Thermal Conductivities and Lorenz Functions of Dy, Er, and Lu Single Crystals

The thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of Dy, Er, and Lu single crystals have been measured from 5 to 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The Lorenz functions were calculated from the experimental results, and they exceeded the value expected for pure electron heat conduction. This indicated that phonons and/or magnons must contribute significantly to the heat conduction. At high temperatures the thermal conductivity was separated into suggested electron and phonon contributions. The magnetic transitions in Dy and Er produced an anisotropic effect on the thermal conductivity which is interpreted on the basis of magnetic superzones. A high-temperature anisotropy is explained by the anisotropic shape of the Fermi surface.
Time-dependent universal conductance fluctuations and coherence in AuPd and Ag

Quantum transport phenomena allow experimental assessment of the phase coherence information in metals. We report quantitative comparisons of coherence lengths inferred from weak localization magnetoresistance measurements and time-dependent universal conductance fluctuation data. We describe these two measurements and their analysis. Strong agreement is observed in both quasi-two-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional (1D) AuPd samples, a metal known to have high spin-orbit scattering. However, quantitative disagreement is seen in quasi-1D Ag wires below $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, a material with intermediate spin-orbit scattering. We consider explanations of this discrepancy, with particular emphasis on the theoretical expressions used to analyze the field dependence of the conductance fluctuations. We also discuss the mechanism of the suppression of conductance fluctuations at high drive levels, and dephasing mechanisms at work in these systems.
A real-time biomimetic acoustic localizing system using time-shared architecture

In this paper a real-time sound source localizing system is proposed, which is based on previously developed mammalian auditory models. Traditionally, following the models, which use interaural time delay (ITD) estimates, the amount of parallel computations needed by a system to achieve real-time sound source localization is a limiting factor and a design challenge for hardware implementations. Therefore a new approach using a time-shared architecture implementation is introduced. The proposed architecture is a purely sample-base-driven digital system, and it follows closely the continuous-time approach described in the models. Rather than having dedicated hardware on a per frequency channel basis, a specialized core channel, shared for all frequency bands is used. Having an optimized execution time, which is much less than the system's sample rate, the proposed time-shared solution allows the same number of virtual channels to be processed as the dedicated channels in the traditional approach. Hence, the time-shared approach achieves a highly economical and flexible implementation using minimal silicon area. These aspects are particularly important in efficient hardware implementation of a real time biomimetic sound source localization system.
Thermal diffusivity of rhyolitic glasses and melts: effects of temperature, crystals and dissolved water

Thermal diffusivity (D) was measured using laser-flash analysis on pristine and remelted obsidian samples from Mono Craters, California. These high-silica rhyolites contain between 0.013 and 1.10 wt% H2O and 0 to 2 vol% crystallites. At room temperature, D glass varies from 0.63 to 0.68 mm2 s−1, with more crystalline samples having higher D. As T increases, D glass decreases, approaching a constant value of ∼0.55 mm2 s−1 near 700 K. The glass data are fit with a simple model as an exponential function of temperature and a linear function of crystallinity. Dissolved water contents up to 1.1 wt% have no statistically significant effect on the thermal diffusivity of the glass. Upon crossing the glass transition, D decreases rapidly near ∼1,000 K for the hydrous melts and ∼1,200 K for anhydrous melts. Rhyolitic melts have a D melt of ∼0.51 mm2 s−1. Thermal conductivity (k = D·ρ·C P) of rhyolitic glass and melt increases slightly with T because heat capacity (C P) increases with T more strongly than density (ρ) and D decrease. The thermal conductivity of rhyolitic melts is ∼1.5 W m−1 K−1, and should vary little over the likely range of magmatic temperatures and water contents. These values of D and k are similar to those of major crustal rock types and granitic protoliths at magmatic temperatures, suggesting that changes in thermal properties accompanying partial melting of the crust should be relatively minor. Numerical models of shallow rhyolite intrusions indicate that the key difference in thermal history between bodies that quench to obsidian, and those that crystallize, results from the release of latent heat of crystallization. Latent heat release enables bodies that crystallize to remain at high temperatures for much longer times and cool more slowly than glassy bodies. The time to solidification is similar in both cases, however, because solidification requires cooling through the glass transition in the first case, and cooling only to the solidus in the second.
The apoproteins of various size classes of human chylous fluid lipoproteins.

Recent evidence has indicated a heterogeneity of apoprotein content among subclasses of d < 1.006 serum lipoproteins. Since these serum lipoproteins are heterogeneous, we examined the apoprotein content of d < 1.006 lipoproteins isolated from three samples of human chylous fluids resulting from impaired intestinal lymphatic drainage. Chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins were prepared by ultracentrifugation and purified by gel filtration on agarose columns. Particles of varying sizes within the chylomicron class were prepared by differential ultracentrifugation and the sizing procedure verified electron microscopically and by triglyceride: protein ratios. Each size class was then delipidated and the various apoproteins quantitated densitometrically from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Both qualitatively and quantitatively the apoprotein pattern of chylommicron subclasses and very low density lipoproteins did not differ. Since apoprotein B does not reliably enter acrylamide gels, quantitation of this apoprotein was carried out by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration of individual size fractions. Unlike the relative constancy of other apoproteins with particle size, apoprotein B accounted for a greater percentage of chylomicron apoprotein as particle size (triglyceride) increased. Significantly, mesenteric very low density lipoproteins despite their smaller size contained more apoprotein B than small chylomicrons. These results indicate that while chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins qualitatively contain the same apoproteins, the quantitative amounts, especially of apoprotein B, differ and suggest that very low density lippoproteins are not merely transformed into chylomicrons by the addition of lipid but may be distinct classes of lipoprotein at some point during their synthesis.
Using lithium to estimate ages for solar-type stars

Can observations of Li in F, G, and K stars be used to derive an age for an individual star or a group? This is a brief progress report on using Li for age estimation in PMS and ZAMS stars.
Graphene Chemistry: Synthesis and Manipulation

Monolayer graphene is a two-dimensional material with fascinating electrical and optical properties that has brought great possibilities and challenges to chemists. The possibilities include the many applications in which graphene could be exploited, and the challenges involve optimizing synthetic strategies and manipulating the structure and properties so that graphene can be used in those applications. Here, we cover a portion of the recent progress toward using chemical techniques to render graphene available for incorporation into electronic and optical devices. With top-down and bottom-up strategies, the geometry and thickness of graphene have been well-tuned. The methods for producing structure-doped materials, such as nitrogen doping and h-BNC hybrid structures, are discussed along with the properties of those doped materials. Finally, covalent functionalization of graphene’s surfaces and edges, such as hydrogenation and the diazonium and azide reactions, will be discussed as they have become power...
Future in biomolecular computation

Large-scale computations for biomolecules are dominated by three levels of theory: rigorous quantum mechanical calculations for molecules with up to about 30 atoms, semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations for systems with up to several hundred atoms, and force-field molecular dynamics studies of biomacromolecules with 10,000 atoms and more including surrounding solvent molecules. It can be anticipated that increased computational power will allow the treatment of larger systems of ever growing complexity. Due to the scaling of the computational requirements with increasing number of atoms, the force-field approaches will benefit the most from increased computational power. On the other hand, progress in methodologies such as density functional theory will enable us to treat larger systems on a fully quantum mechanical level and a combination of molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics can be envisioned. One of the greatest challenges in biomolecular computation is the protein folding problem. It is unclear at this point, if an approach with current methodologies will lead to a satisfactory answer or if unconventional, new approaches will be necessary. In any event, due to the complexity of biomolecular systems, a hierarchy of approaches will have to be established and used in order to capture the wide ranges of length-scales and time-scales involved in biological processes. In terms of hardware development, speed and power of computers will increase while the price/performance ratio will become more and more favorable. Parallelism can be anticipated to become an integral architectural feature in a range of computers. It is unclear at this point, how fast massively parallel systems will become easy enough to use so that new methodological developments can be pursued on such computers. Current trends show that distributed processing such as the combination of convenient graphics workstations and powerful general-purpose supercomputers will lead to a new style of computing in which the calculations are monitored and manipulated as they proceed. The combination of a numeric approach with artificial-intelligence approaches can be expected to open up entirely new possibilities. Ultimately, the most exciding aspect of the future in biomolecular computing will be the unexpected discoveries.
In vivo and in vitro evaluations of spermatotoxicity induced by 2-ethoxyethanol treatment.

Abstract 2-Ethoxyethanol (EE), a member of the glycol ethers, has been shown to produce testicular atrophy in laboratory animals. The present study further identified the spectrum of effects on the male reproductive system in vivo and initiated in vitro studies on possible mechanisms of action. Adult, male rats were treated (po) with 0 or 936 mg EE/kg, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Semen samples were collected on a weekly basis during the exposure period from ovariectomized, hormonally primed females immediately following mating and analyzed for sperm count, sperm morphology, and sperm motility. Sperm count and percent normal morphology were decreased at Weeks 5 and 6, and sperm motility was decreased at Week 6. These data, along with other studies, indicated that the pachytene spermatocyte was the most sensitive target for EE. In vitro studies monitored O2 consumption and ATP concentrations in isolated pachytene spermatocytes which were treated with 10 m m EE or 1 or 10 m m ethoxyacetic acid (EAA), the reported active metabolite of EE. An increase in respiratory ratio for the lactate rate/endogenous rate and a decrease in the 2,4-dinitrophenol rate/lactate rate were observed only for cells treated with 10 m m EAA. Additionally, a decrease in ATP concentration was seen only with 10 m m EAA. These results indicated that EAA interfered with energy metabolism in the pachytene spermatocyte. This effect may, in part, explain the testicular toxicity produced by this compound.
Metabolic profile of tripelennamine in humans.

Volunteers were injected im with 100 mg of tripelennamine (pyribenzamine).HCl dissolved in saline. Timed urine was collected. Tripelennamine and its metabolites were identified by GC/MS. Amounts of free tripelennamine excreted in the 0-2-, 2-4-, 4-8-, 8-12-, and 12-24-h urine samples were found to be 0.30, 0.56, 0.17, 0.21, and 0.0%, respectively, of the administered dose. In the same time periods, total tripelennamine (free plus conjugated) amounts were found to be 0.92, 1.20, 0.96, 1.30, and 1.31%, respectively, and total amounts 2-[alpha-hydroxybenzyl(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amino]pyridine(alpha- hydroxytripelennamine) plus an unidentified metabolite were found to be 0.16, 3.35, 3.06, 7.46, and 8.85% of the dose, respectively.
A common-lines based method for determining orientations for N > 3 particle projections simultaneously

A method is proposed for determining the directions of projections. An arbitrary number of projections of unknown three-dimensional structure are simultaneously used as input. The method is based on common lines and uses a new discrepancy measure accounting for the uneven distribution of common lines in angular space. An application to the 70S Escherichia coli ribosome data obtained from an energy-filtering electron microscope is described.
CD4 + T-cell dependence of primary CD8 + T-cell response against vaccinia virus depends upon route of infection and viral dose

CD4+ T-cell help (CD4 help) plays a pivotal role in CD8+ T-cell responses against viral infections. However, the role in primary CD8+ T-cell responses remains controversial. We evaluated the effects of infection route and viral dose on primary CD8+ T-cell responses to vaccinia virus (VACV) in MHC class II−/− mice. CD4 help deficiency diminished the generation of VACV-specific CD8+ T cells after intraperitoneal (i.p.) but not after intranasal (i.n.) infection. A large viral dose could not restore normal expansion of VACV-specific CD8+ T cells in i.p. infected MHC II−/− mice. In contrast, dependence on CD4 help was observed in i.n. infected MHC II−/− mice when a small viral dose was used. These data suggested that primary CD8+ T-cell responses are less dependent on CD4 help in i.n. infection compared to i.p. infection. Activated CD8+ T cells produced more IFN-γ, TNF-α and granzyme B in i.n. infected mice than those in i.p. infected mice, regardless of CD4 help. IL-2 signaling via CD25 was not necessary to drive expansion of VACV-specific CD8+ T cells in i.n. infection, but it was crucial in i.p. infection. VACV-specific CD8+ T cells underwent increased apoptosis in the absence of CD4 help, but proliferated normally and had cytotoxic potential, regardless of infection route. Our results indicate that route of infection and viral dose are two determinants for CD4 help dependence, and intranasal infection induces more potent effector CD8+ T cells than i.p. infection.
Chinese Sojourn Labor and the American Transcontinental Railroad

This paper considers the institutional arrangements and labor market forces that interacted in the construction of America's transcontinental railroad. The demand for Chinese laborers on the transcontinental railroad was a product of a complex set of relationships, including the transaction costs of turnover costs, labor queuing and demand-side learning. Institutions that facilitated the supply of Chinese workers included the Chinese Six Companies. The influences of external factors, such as the discovery of gold in California, construction of America's transcontinental railroad, and racial prejudice are also considered.
Language ideology dimensions of politically active Arizona voters: an exploratory study

In conjunction with other linguistic constructs, language ideologies are thought to be both components and determinants of language policies – decisions about language use at micro and macro levels. Although much work has been done towards identifying language ideology constructs in localised educational settings, the existence of such constructs in larger, more broadly distributed samples which influence educational language policy (e.g. voters) has not been verified. This study pilots (1) a survey grounded in existing language ideology research and (2) a factor analysis for identifying and exploring language ideologies expressed by a statewide sample of 218 politically active Arizona voters (Democrats and Republicans). Politically active voters are influential with respect to political decision-making, and those in Arizona have a history of encountering explicit language policies. The resulting seven-factor solution of language ideologies is presented, as is an analysis of how individual variables (i.e....
Achromatic color matching as a function of apparent target orientation, target and background luminance, and lightness or brightness instructions

In two experiments, achromatic color matches for a fixed target, under constant illumination, were compared under conditions where the target appeared perpendicular to illumination direction and coplanar with the background (monocular viewing) and where the target appeared nonperpendicular to illumination direction and noncoplanar with the background (binocular viewing). Contrary to the coplanar ratio hypothesis, which predicts a “lightening” of the target seen coplanar with a darker background, a general “darkening” of the target occurred for both white (N9.5/) and black (N3/) backgrounds and for both dark (N5.5/) and light (N6.5/) targets. This darkening effect was greatest for the darker target and black background, and approximately equal for other combinations of target value and background. The direction of the darkening effect is consistent with the albedo hypothesis, which assumes an inferential correction for changes in conditions of illumination. However, variation in the magnitude of the darkening effect is problematical, and cannot be easily explained by any existing theory. In both experiments, instructions to judge “lightness” or “brightness” failed to produce any substantial differences in performance, although postexperimental questioning suggested that subjects had a verbal understanding of these concepts. Apparently, under reduction conditions, subjects lack cues to illumination and make only lightness matches, regardless of instructions.
Enhanced vision for all-weather operations under NextGen

Recent research in Synthetic/Enhanced Vision technology is analyzed with respect to existing Category II/III performance and certification guidance. The goal is to start the development of performance-based vision systems technology requirements to support future all-weather operations and the NextGen goal of Equivalent Visual Operations. This work shows that existing criteria to operate in Category III weather and visibility are not directly applicable since, unlike today, the primary reference for maneuvering the airplane is based on what the pilot sees visually through the "vision system." New criteria are consequently needed. Several possible criteria are discussed, but more importantly, the factors associated with landing system performance using automatic and manual landings are delineated.
An analytical elucidation of the influence of surfactant on rock drilling by shear/drag bit

We explain analytically the effects of surfactants on the enhancement of drilling rates in rock. We propose that the weakening effect is not simply due to the chemical action of the surfactant, as suggested by Rebinder in the 1930's but to a combination of mechanical and chemical interactions. We apply a fracture mechanics approach to elucidate surfactant-assisted drilling. An analysis of the chip formation process during rock cutting by a shear/drag bit has shown that the surfactant-induced damage zone develops in rock primarily in front of the individual bit, and its size can be as much as twice the thickness of the removed chips. This analysis allows us to estimate the influence of surfactants on cutting forces.
On a discrete selection–mutation model

A discrete-time population model in which individuals are distributed over a discrete phenotypic trait-space is studied. It is shown that, for an irreducible mutation matrix Γ, if mutation is small, then an interior equilibrium exists, that is globally asymptotically stable in R+n∖{0}, while for arbitrary large mutation, each trait persists uniformly. For the model reduced to only two traits, conditions for the global stability of the interior equilibrium are provided. When structure is introduced in the model, namely when mutation matrix Γ has block-diagonal form, with each diagonal block being irreducible, competitive exclusion among traits is analysed and sufficient conditions are given for one trait to drive all the other traits to extinction.
Case Studies in Aero-Structural Wing Planform and Section Optimization

This paper focuses on aero-structural optimization of wing for long range transport aircraft, using Adjoint based optimization. The paper explores and compares attainable limit such as attainable L=D vs. Mach number, which may be appreciable higher than the historical trend typically used in conceptual design. It also seeks to identify a discernable trend in the planform variables such as sweep, thickness-to-chord ratio, aspect ratio, and chords for optimum wings. Results form wing-fuselage and complete-aircraft-conguration optimizations indicate that by stretching the span together with decreasing sweep and thickening the wing sections the lift-to-drag ratio can be increased without any penalty on the structure weight. I. Introduction
Students' perceptions of personality needs and environmental press as a function of program separation

Abstract A sample of 1,877 high school seniors completed the Activities Index and High School Characteristics Index. The student responses were used to identify personality needs and environmental press differences across program and degree of program separation variables. It was concluded that: (1) College preparatory students perceived high personality needs for intellectual endeavors, while vocational students had needs for the tangible and concrete. (2) The personality differences across degrees of program separation suggested the physical proximity of the two program groups affected students' interpersonal relationships. (3) Several of the environmental press were exactly opposite the students' perceived personality needs. (4) The nonsignificant needs-press relationships suggested that high school environments were not facilitating the personality needs of students. (5) Comprehensive high schools seemed the most viable administrative configuration for servicing the diverse needs of today's high school students.
Initial validation of a measure of self-efficacy in romantic relationships

Abstract This study examines the psychometric properties of a self-report measure of self-efficacy in romantic relationships (SERR). Analyses (with 775 undergraduates) indicated a coherent factor structure representing broad beliefs about task demands in romantic relationships and abilities to meet such demands. SERR scores predict relationship anxiety and expectations of relationship success when demographic characteristics, current romantic relationship status, general self-efficacy, and social self-efficacy are considered. The SERR assesses broad feelings of relationship self-efficacy, independent of specific relationships or partners, important for understanding individual-level relationship expectations, behaviors, and interventions.