An off-lattice Wang-Landau study of the coil-globule and melting transitions of a flexible homopolymer

The Wang-Landau Monte Carlo approach is applied to the coil-globule and melting transitions of off-lattice flexible homopolymers. The solid-liquid melting point and coil-globule transition temperatures are identified by their respective peaks in the heat capacity as a function of temperature. The melting and theta points are well separated, indicating that the coil-globule transition occurs separately from melting even in the thermodynamic limit. We also observe a feature in the heat capacity between the coil-globule and melting transitions which we attribute to a transformation from a low-density liquid globule to a high-density liquid globule.This work was supported by an Australian ARC Discovery Grant

The EPA\u27s Prosecution of Clean Air Act Asbestos NESHAP Cases Based Upon Nonbinding Bulk Material Test Methods

For the last fourteen years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many states have structured their civil and criminal Clean Air Act (CAA) asbestos enforcement programs upon a bulk material test method that has never been promulgated into law through administrative rulemaking. In so doing, the federal and state governments disregard the only bulk material test method for asbestos content enumerated by law for CAA compliance. The particular test method used in an enforcement proceeding is highly consequential: it effectively defines the universe of material that is subject to regulation under the asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (asbestos NESHAP)

Effects of dietary protein and fiber at breakfast on appetite, ad libitum energy intake at lunch, and neural responses to visual food stimuli in overweight adults

Increasing either protein or fiber at mealtimes has relatively modest effects on ingestive behavior. Whether protein and fiber have additive or interactive effects on ingestive behavior is not known. Fifteen overweight adults (5 female, 10 male; BMI: 27.1 ± 0.2 kg/m²; aged 26 ± 1 year) consumed four breakfast meals in a randomized crossover manner (normal protein (12 g) + normal fiber (2 g), normal protein (12 g) + high fiber (8 g), high protein (25 g) + normal fiber (2 g), high protein (25 g) + high fiber (8 g)). The amount of protein and fiber consumed at breakfast did not influence postprandial appetite or ad libitum energy intake at lunch. In the fasting-state, visual food stimuli elicited significant responses in the bilateral insula and amygdala and left orbitofrontal cortex. Contrary to our hypotheses, postprandial right insula responses were lower after consuming normal protein vs. high protein breakfasts. Postprandial responses in other a priori brain regions were not significantly influenced by protein or fiber intake at breakfast. In conclusion, these data do not support increasing dietary protein and fiber at breakfast as effective strategies for modulating neural reward processing and acute ingestive behavior in overweight adults.R01 MH102224 - NIMH NIH HHS; UL1 TR001108 - NCATS NIH HHS; UL1TR001108 - NCATS NIH HH

Reference-Point Indentation Correlates with Bone Toughness Assessed Using Whole-Bone Traditional Mechanical Testing

Traditional bone mechanical testing techniques require excised bone and destructive sample preparation. Recently, a cyclic-microindentation technique, reference-point indentation (RPI), was described that allows bone to be tested in a clinical setting, permitting the analysis of changes to bone material properties over time. Because this is a new technique, it has not been clear how the measurements generated by RPI are related to the material properties of bone measured by standard techniques. In this paper, we describe our experience with the RPI technique, and correlate the results obtained by RPI with those of traditional mechanical testing, namely 3-point bending and axial compression. Using different animal models, we report that apparent bone material toughness obtained from 3-point bending and axial compression is inversely correlated with the indentation distance increase (IDI) obtained from RPI with r2 values ranging from 0.50 to 0.57. We also show that conditions or treatments previously shown to cause differences in toughness, including diabetes and bisphosphonate treatment, had significantly different IDI values compared to controls. Collectively these results provide a starting point for understanding how RPI relates to traditional mechanical testing results

Pre-pandemic cognitive function and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: cohort study

Background Whereas several predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy have been reported, the role of cognitive function is largely unknown. Accordingly, our objective was to evaluate the association between scores from an array of cognitive function tests and self-reported vaccine hesitancy after the announcement of the successful testing of the first COVID-19 vaccine (Oxford University/AstraZeneca). Methods We used individual-level data from a pandemic-focused study ('COVID Survey'), a prospective cohort study nested within United Kingdom Understanding Society ('Main Survey'). In the week immediately following the announcement of successful testing of the first efficacious inoculation (November/December 2020), data on vaccine intentionality were collected in 11,740 individuals (6702 women) aged 16–95 years. Pre-pandemic scores on general cognitive function, ascertained from a battery of six tests, were captured in 2011/12 wave of the Main Survey. Study members self-reported their intention to take up a vaccination in the COVID-19 Survey. Results Of the study sample, 17.2% (N = 1842) indicated they were hesitant about having the vaccine. After adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity, study members with a lower baseline cognition score were markedly more likely to be vaccine hesitant (odds ratio per standard deviation lower score in cognition; 95% confidence interval: 1.76; 1.62, 1.90). Adjustment for mental and physical health plus household shielding status had no impact on these results, whereas controlling for educational attainment led to partial attenuation but the probability of hesitancy was still elevated (1.52; 1.37, 1.67). There was a linear association for vaccine hesitancy across the full range of cognition scores (p for trend: p < 0.0001). Conclusions Erroneous social media reports might have complicated personal decision-making, leading to people with lower cognitive ability being vaccine-hesitant. With individuals with lower cognition also experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 in studies conducted prior to vaccine distribution, these new findings are suggestive of a potential additional disease burden

Distribution of LeConte\u27s Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis cynocephala) in Arkansas, with Notes on Reproduction and Natural History

During the past 20 years (1982-2001) we have studied the biology, occurrence and distribution of LeConte\u27s (Brazilian) free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis cynocephala, in Arkansas. Colonies and individuals were reported from man made structures only. Four new county records have been documented since 1988, extending the range from the central part of the state to Arkansas\u27s northern-most tier of counties. Numerous nuisance maternity colonies were investigated during exclusion activities and one, year-round colony provided the majority of reproductive data. A total of 152 free-tailed bats was submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health Rabies Laboratory (1982-2001); most during February through April, a period that corresponded to annual mating activity. Pregnant bats had single embryos only in the right uterine horn and parturition occurred in mid-June. Seven specimens tested positive for rabies

Effects of different types of classroom physical activity breaks on children’s on-task behaviour, academic achievement and cognition

Aim This study examined the effects of different types of classroom physical activity breaks on children’s on-task behaviour, academic achievement and cognition. Methods Participants were 87 Australian primary school students (mean age 9.11 ± 0.62 years), recruited from one school. Three classes were randomly assigned either to activity breaks only (n = 29), activity breaks and mathematics combined (n = 29), or control conditions involving only mathematical content (n = 29). Students were engaged in five minutes of classroom physical activity breaks, three times per week, for four weeks (divided into two minutes at the beginning of the usual mathematics curriculum lesson and three minutes in the middle of the lesson). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-test. Results Significant group-by-time effects were found for on-task behaviour (active engagement: activity breaks and mathematics combined versus control, p ≤ 0.001; activity breaks versus control, p ≤ 0.001; activity breaks and mathematics combined versus activity breaks, p = 0.037; passive engagement: activity breaks and mathematics combined versus control, p ≤ 0.001) and mathematics scores (activity breaks versus control, p = 0.045). Conclusion Physical activity breaks with and without integrated mathematics content were effective in improving children’s on-task behaviour and learning scores

A new species of Bembidion Latrielle 1802 from the Ozarks, with a review of the North American species of subgenus Trichoplataphus Netolitzky 1914 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Bembidiini)

A new species of Bembidion (Trichoplataphus Netolitzky) from the Ozark Plateau of Missouri and Arkansas is described (Bembidion ozarkense Maddison and Hildebrandt). It is distinguishable from the closely related species, Bembidion rolandi Fall, by characteristics of the male genitalia, and sequences of the genes cytochrome oxidase I and 28S ribosomal DNA. A brief review of the North American species of Trichoplataphus is presented, including a key to species.KEYWORDS: COI, Systematics, Bembidiini, Trechinae, Bembidion, 28S rDNA, Taxonom