Introduction to Journal of Moral Theology v.8 special issue #1

The overarching goal of this volume is to attend to the reality of contingency today in light of pertinent Catholic teachings on education, social structures, and economic justice. The essays in this volume will proceed in three parts. Part I is a single essay offered by Keenan that situates the issue of contingency within the broader field of university ethics. The task of Part II is to examine the intricate details and facets of the main subject. To this end, the five authors in this section each offer a snapshot of one of the most glaring concerns regarding contingency today as well as suggestions for solutions to address these acute concerns. Finally, Part III offers a compelling argument that contingent work is the cause of a spiritual crisis for both individual contingent faculty and the institutions they serve

Characterization of Structural and Electronic Transitions During Reduction and Oxidation of Ru(acac)3 Flow Battery Electrolytes by using X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Metal acetylacetonates possess several very attractive electrochemical properties; however, their cyclabilities fall short of targets for use in nonaqueous redox flow batteries. This paper describes structural and compositional changes during the reduction and oxidation of ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate [Ru(acac)3], a representative acetylacetonate. Voltammetry, bulk electrolysis, and in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results are complemented by those from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The reduction of Ru(acac)3 in acetonitrile is highly reversible, producing a couple at −1.1 V versus Ag/Ag+. In situ XAS and DFT indicate the formation of [Ru(acac)3]− with Ru−O bonds lengthened relative to Ru(acac)3, nearly all of the charge localized on Ru, and no ligand shedding. The oxidation of Ru(acac)3 is quasireversible, with a couple at 0.7 V. The initial product is likely [Ru(acac)3]+; however, this species is short‐lived, converting to a product with a couple at −0.2 V, a structure that is nearly identical to that of Ru(acac)3 within 3 Å of Ru, and approximately 70 % of the charge extracted from Ru (balance from acetylacetone). This non‐innocence likely contributes to the instability of [Ru(acac)3]+. Taken together, the results suggest that the stabilities and cyclabilities of acetylacetonates are determined by the degree of charge transfer to/from the metal.Track changes: The structural and electronic changes of Ru(acac)3 during oxidation and reduction are characterized using bulk electrolysis and in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. Reduction is found to be reversible with minimal structural changes, and the electrons being stored entirely on the ruthenium. Oxidation results in a rapid side reaction as a result of electrons extracted from the ligand.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134821/1/celc201600360-sup-0001-misc_information.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134821/2/celc201600360_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134821/3/celc201600360.pd

Observatory/data centre partnerships and the VO-centric archive: The JCMT Science Archive experience

We present, as a case study, a description of the partnership between an observatory (JCMT) and a data centre (CADC) that led to the development of the JCMT Science Archive (JSA). The JSA is a successful example of a service designed to use Virtual Observatory (VO) technologies from the start. We describe the motivation, process and lessons learned from this approach.Comment: Accepted for publication in the second Astronomy & Computing Special Issue on the Virtual Observatory; 10 pages, 5 figure

Outgassing rate of the copper-plated beam tube for ISABELLE

The ultrahigh vacuum system of the intersecting storage accelerator, ISABELLE, will consist of two interlaced rings of stainless steel beam tubes with a circumference 2-1/2 miles each. To obtain a good heat conduction during bakeout and to reduce the resistive wall instability during beam operation, a lmm thick copper coating will be electroplated to the outer surface of this 1.5 mm thick beam tube. To minimize the beam loss due to beam-gas collision, the pressure inside the beam tube is required to be 1 x 10/sup -11/ Torr (N/sub 2/ equivalent) or less. To achieve this ultrahigh vacuum, the outgassing rate of the 304 LN stainless steel tubes has been reduced to approx. 1 x 10/sup -13/ Torr. l/cm/sup 2/. sec by vacuum firing at 950/sup 0/C for one hour. However, during acid-bath electroplating of copper, significant amount of hydrogen will be reintroduced and trapped in stainless steel which will substantially increase the outgassing rate (to approx. 2 x 10/sup -12/ Torr . l/cm/sup 2/ sec). The outgassing characteristics of these copper-plated beam tubes are studied and discussed within the scope of diffusion and energy of activation. Methods to reduce the outgassing rate to an acceptable level (approx. 1 x 10/sup -13/ Torr . l/cm/sup 2/ . sec) are also given

Effect of Alirocumab on Lipoprotein(a) Over ≥1.5 Years (from the Phase 3 ODYSSEY Program)

Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, treatment options for elevated Lp(a) are limited. Alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by up to 62% from baseline in phase 3 studies, with adverse event rates similar between alirocumab and controls. We evaluated the effect of alirocumab on serum Lp(a) using pooled data from the phase 3 ODYSSEY program: 4,915 patients with hypercholesterolemia from 10 phase 3 studies were included. Eight studies evaluated alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W), with possible increase to 150 mg Q2W at week 12 depending on LDL-C at week 8 (75/150 mg Q2W); the other 2 studies evaluated alirocumab 150-mg Q2W from the outset. Comparators were placebo or ezetimibe. Eight studies were conducted on a background of statins, and 2 studies were carried out with no statins. Alirocumab was associated with significant reductions in Lp(a), regardless of starting dose and use of concomitant statins. At week 24, reductions from baseline were 23% to 27% with alirocumab 75/150-mg Q2W and 29% with alirocumab 150-mg Q2W (all comparisons p <0.0001 vs controls). Reductions were sustained over 78 to 104 weeks. Lp(a) reductions with alirocumab were independent of race, gender, presence of familial hypercholesterolemia, baseline Lp(a), and LDL-C concentrations, or use of statins. In conclusion, in addition to marked reduction in LDL-C, alirocumab leads to a significant and sustained lowering of Lp(a)

Efficacy and Safety of Alirocumab 150 mg Every 4 Weeks in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia Not on Statin Therapy: The ODYSSEY CHOICE II Study

Background - The PCSK9 antibody alirocumab (75 mg every 2 weeks; Q2W) as monotherapy reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by 47%. Because the option of a monthly dosing regimen is convenient, ODYSSEY CHOICE II evaluated alirocumab 150 mg Q4W in patients with inadequately controlled hypercholesterolemia and not on statin (majority with statin-associated muscle symptoms), receiving treatment with fenofibrate, ezetimibe, or diet alone. Methods and Results - Patients were randomly assigned to placebo, alirocumab 150 mg Q4W or 75 mg Q2W (calibrator arm), with dose adjustment to 150 mg Q2W at week (W) 12 if W8 predefined LDL-C target levels were not met. The primary efficacy endpoint was LDL-C percentage change from baseline to W24. Mean baseline LDL-C levels were 163.9 mg/dL (alirocumab 150 mg Q4W, n= 59), 154.5 mg/dL (alirocumab 75 mg Q2W, n= 116), and 158.5 mg/dL (placebo, n= 58). In the alirocumab 150 mg Q4W and 75 mg Q2W groups (49.1% and 36.0% of patients received dose adjustment, respectively), least-squares mean LDL-C changes from baseline to W24 were -51.7% and -53.5%, respectively (placebo [+ 4.7%]; both groups P< 0.0001 versus placebo). In total, 63.9% and 70.3% of alirocumab-treated patients achieved their LDL-C targets at W24. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 77.6% (alirocumab 150 mg Q4W), 73.0% (alirocumab 75 mg Q2W), and 63.8% (placebo) of patients, with injection-site reactions among the most common treatment-emergent adverse events. Conclusions - Alirocumab 150 mg Q4W can be considered in patients not on statin with inadequately controlled hypercholesterolemia as a convenient option for lowering LDL-C

Investigating the autonomic nervous system and cognitive functions as potential mediators of an association between cardiovascular disease and driving performance

Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) impacts the autonomic nervous system and cognitive functions related to activities of daily living, including driving an automobile. Although CVD has been linked to unsafe driving, mechanisms underlying this relationship remain elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the role of cognitive functions and the autonomic nervous system as potential mediators of driving performance. Nineteen individuals having recently suffered a cardiac event and sixteen individuals with no history of CVD completed a simulated drive using a STISIM simulator to assess driving performance. Heart rate was recorded throughout testing using a Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor and measures of executive, orienting and alerting functions were obtained through the Attention Network Test. We used the Baron and Kenny analysis method to assess potential mediating effects of the relationship between CVD and driving performance. Executive function was the only potential mediator investigated to be associated with driving (p < 0.01) and CVD (p < 0.05), however, it did not appear to play a mediating role (p = 0.28). These results suggest that individuals with CVD exhibit decrements in complex cognitive tasks such as driving and that further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship

Phenotypic plasticity, QTL mapping and genomic characterization of bud set in black poplar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genetic control of important adaptive traits, such as bud set, is still poorly understood in most forest trees species. Poplar is an ideal model tree to study bud set because of its indeterminate shoot growth. Thus, a full-sib family derived from an intraspecific cross of <it>P. nigra </it>with 162 clonally replicated progeny was used to assess the phenotypic plasticity and genetic variation of bud set in two sites of contrasting environmental conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six crucial phenological stages of bud set were scored. Night length appeared to be the most important signal triggering the onset of growth cessation. Nevertheless, the effect of other environmental factors, such as temperature, increased during the process. Moreover, a considerable role of genotype × environment (G × E) interaction was found in all phenological stages with the lowest temperature appearing to influence the sensitivity of the most plastic genotypes.</p> <p>Descriptors of growth cessation and bud onset explained the largest part of phenotypic variation of the entire process. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits were detected. For the four selected traits (the onset of growth cessation (date2.5), the transition from shoot to bud (date1.5), the duration of bud formation (subproc1) and bud maturation (subproc2)) eight and sixteen QTL were mapped on the maternal and paternal map, respectively. The identified QTL, each one characterized by small or modest effect, highlighted the complex nature of traits involved in bud set process. Comparison between map location of QTL and <it>P. trichocarpa </it>genome sequence allowed the identification of 13 gene models, 67 bud set-related expressional and six functional candidate genes (CGs). These CGs are functionally related to relevant biological processes, environmental sensing, signaling, and cell growth and development. Some strong QTL had no obvious CGs, and hold great promise to identify unknown genes that affect bud set.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides a better understanding of the physiological and genetic dissection of bud set in poplar. The putative QTL identified will be tested for associations in <it>P. nigra </it>natural populations. The identified QTL and CGs will also serve as useful targets for poplar breeding.</p

Cloud access to interoperable IVOA-compliant VOSpace storage

Handling, processing and archiving the huge amount of data produced by the new generation of experiments and instruments in Astronomy and Astrophysics are among the more exciting challenges to address in designing the future data management infrastructures and computing services. We investigated the feasibility of a data management and computation infrastructure, available world-wide, with the aim of merging the FAIR data management provided by IVOA standards with the efficiency and reliability of a cloud approach. Our work involved the Canadian Advanced Network for Astronomy Research (CANFAR) infrastructure and the European EGI federated cloud (EFC). We designed and deployed a pilot data management and computation infrastructure that provides IVOA-compliant VOSpace storage resources and wide access to interoperable federated clouds. In this paper, we detail the main user requirements covered, the technical choices and the implemented solutions and we describe the resulting Hybrid cloud Worldwide infrastructure, its benefits and limitation