cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Homocysteine Elicits a DNA Damage Response in Neurons That Promotes Apoptosis and Hypersensitivity to Excitotoxicity

Elevated plasma levels of the sulfur-containing amino acid homocysteine increase the risk for atherosclerosis, stroke, and possibly Alzheimer's disease, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We now report that homocysteine induces apoptosis in rat hippocampal neurons. DNA strand breaks and associated activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and NAD depletion occur rapidly after exposure to homocysteine and precede mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and caspase activation. The PARP inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3AB) protects neurons against homocysteine-induced NAD depletion, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and cell death, demonstrating a requirement for PARP activation and/or NAD depletion in homocysteine-induced apoptosis. Caspase inhibition accelerates the loss of mitochondrial potential and shifts the mode of cell death to necrosis; inhibition of PARP with 3AB attenuates this effect of caspase inhibition. Homocysteine markedly increases the vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to excitotoxic and oxidative injury in cell culture and in vivo, suggesting a mechanism by which homocysteine may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders.
Exploring the Use of Discussion Strategies and Labels in Asynchronous Online Discussion

Drawing on research in both constrained online discussion environments and strategy instruction, this approach combines explicit instruction on discussion strategies with the use of post type labels. In a trial of this approach in an online course, students actively used the discussion strategies and post type labels in their discussion. Analysis of student posts and survey responses suggested that students in the experimental group used discussion strategies more frequently after the intervention as compared to the control group and perceived that this approach positively impacted their discussions. In addition, there is a certain degree of improvement in the quality of discussion measured by Gunawardena, Lowe and Anderson’s (1997) critical analysis model.
Effect of suboptimal nutrition during lactation on milk protein gene expression in the rat

Human milk provides infants with proteins that aid in the prevention of infections and facilitate the digestion and absorption of other nutrients. Maternal diet is not believed to affect the protein concentration of breast milk. However, the maternal factors that regulate the expression of genes for specific milk proteins are not well characterized. We hypothesized that nutrition could be one of the factors. We fed Sprague-Dawley rats five diets representing common nutrient deficiencies and energy deficiency during pregnancy and lactation: low-zinc (Zn; 7 microg/g), low-iron (Fe; 6 microg/g), low-protein (12.5% albumin), pair-fed control diet (lactation only, 20% less kcal) and control diet (Zn, 25 microg/g; Fe, 100 mug/g; protein, 21%) ad libitum. At day 10 of lactation, the mammary gland was removed for RNA extraction. Northern blots of mRNA from the different groups were performed by hybridization with beta-casein and whey acidic protein (WAP) cDNA probes. The expression of beta-casein mRNA in rat mammary gland was significantly (P<.005) increased in the pair-fed group when compared to the control group. The expression of WAP mRNA was also significantly (P<.005) increased in the pair-fed group as well as in the low-Fe group when compared to the control group. The concentration of beta-casein in milk was significantly higher for the low-zinc and the pair-fed groups only. The concentration of WAP in milk was not different among groups. These results suggest that compromised maternal nutrition can affect the expression of two individual milk proteins and may have functional implications with regard to bioactive proteins in milk.
Existing measures of diabetes-specific support for use with adolescents with diabetes

Purpose The purpose of this article is to review existing measures of diabetes-specific support for use with adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods Diabetes-specific support scales for use with adolescents with type 1 diabetes were reviewed in terms of the dimension of support measured as well as reported reliability and validity. Results The scales measure enacted and/or perceived support. However, various support categories are measured: supportive and nonsupportive by the Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist (DFBC); warmth and guidance/control by the Diabetes Family Behavior Scale (DFBS); instrumental, informational, companionship/belonging, and emotional by the Diabetes Social Support Interview (DSSI); insulin administration, glucose monitoring, meals, exercise, and emotional support by the Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire-Family Version (DSSQ-Family) and the Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire-Friends Version (DSSQ-Friends); and guidance for autonomy development by the Diabetes-Specific Parental Support for Adolescents' Autonomy Scale (DPSAAS). The DSSI, DSSQ-Family, DSSQ-Friends, the DFBS, and DPSAAS have adequate reliability. Predictive validity is suggested in that diabetes management was related to the DFBC supportive subscale, the DSSI, the DSSQ-Family, and the DSSQ-Friends; metabolic control was related to the DFBS total score and guidance subscale; and diabetes management responsibility was related to the DPSAAS. Conclusions Health care professionals need to decide which aspects of support are relevant to measure in their specific situation.
The Tendon Network of the Fingers Performs Anatomical Computation at a Macroscopic Scale

Current thinking attributes information processing for neuromuscular control exclusively to the nervous system. Our cadaveric experiments and computer simulations show, however, that the tendon network of the fingers performs logic computation to preferentially change torque production capabilities. How this tendon network propagates tension to enable manipulation has been debated since the time of Vesalius and DaVinci and remains an unanswered question. We systematically changed the proportion of tension to the tendons of the extensor digitorum versus the two dorsal interosseous muscles of two cadaver fingers and measured the tension delivered to the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. We find that the distribution of input tensions in the tendon network itself regulates how tensions propagate to the finger joints, acting like the switching function of a logic gate that nonlinearly enables different torque production capabilities. Computer modeling reveals that the deformable structure of the tendon networks is responsible for this phenomenon; and that this switching behavior is an effective evolutionary solution permitting a rich repertoire of finger joint actuation not possible with simpler tendon paths. We conclude that the structural complexity of this tendon network, traditionally oversimplified or ignored, may in fact be critical to understanding brain-body coevolution and neuromuscular control. Moreover, this form of information processing at the macroscopic scale is a new instance of the emerging principle of nonneural "somatic logic" found to perform logic computation such as in cellular networks
"Mexico in His Head": Slavery and the Texas-Mexico Border, 1810-1860

The continual redrawing of the boundaries between the United States, Texas, and Mexico in the nineteenth century prompted slaves to view the border as a symbol of liberation. When the border was first fixed by treaty in 1819, enslaved Texans attached no particular significance to it because slavery was legal in both the United States and Spanish Texas. Slaves only began to associate the Mexican state with freedom in the 1820s, when national and state governments adopted a series of antislavery measures. However, because Texas was still part of Mexico, the border played no role in slave resistance. With the establishment of an independent Texas in the 1830s and with annexation to the United States in 1845, slavery was placed on a firm footing in Texas for the first time. The border soon became the focal point of slave flight and resistance. Even with the end of slavery, black Texans continued to associate Mexico with freedom and equality.
Pockels Coefficients in Multicomponent Oxide Glasses

In this work, a corrected model for the additivity of the Pockels coefficients in multicomponent oxide glasses is derived. Given some material deformation, changes in density and electronic polarizability are known to be the dominant factors in the photoelastic effect. A trend of Pockels coefficients decreasing with increasing bond ionicity is postulated. This is discussed and shown to be due to the balancing of the relative changes in density and in polarization based on the bond strength and directionality. Alkali silicate data taken from the literature, shown to oppose the observed trends, is analyzed and compared to alkaline earth silicate data. The opposing trend is shown to be due to the bonding of the modifier ions. The alkali ions, associated with a single nonbridging oxygen (NBO), yield an increased relative density change and a decreased relative change in polarization. The alkaline earth ions, being associated with two NBOs, as expected experience significant density and polarizability changes that are more spatially distributed. Greater insights into the structural and chemical origins of the Pockels coefficient in multicomponent oxide glasses will enable the development of new optical fibers for high energy laser applications where photoelasticity-influenced parasitic effects such as stimulated Brillouin scattering are mitigated.
Data acquisition and reduction program for thermogravimetry

An on-line data acquisition system for thermogravimetry using the IBM S/7 computer followed by data reduction on a 360/195 is described by means of flow charts. The system is designed so that no knowledge of programming is required to acquire, display and manipulate data on an interactive graphics terminal. The program not only extracts weight loss data, but also computes the energies of activation, E, for any selected weight loss interval by two methods, i.e., tabular integral and derivative. The system is demonstrated by a study of the activation energies for loss of water, loss of carbon monoxide, and loss of carbon dioxide during the thermal decomposition of calcium oxalate monohydrate. The results are in good agreement with the best literature values. The derivative method was found to give more consistent results than the tabular integral approach because of problems encountered in the precise measurement of temperature in the thermobalance.
Climate Change in the Newsroom: Journalists’ Evolving Standards of Objectivity When Covering Global Warming

This study investigated how highly experienced environmental journalists view the professional norms of objectivity when covering climate change over time. Elite journalists were sought, and all had a minimum of 10 years of experience in climate coverage. In-depth interviews revealed a paradox: Most still profess belief in objectivity even as they reject or redefine it. Participants said that journalists should use objective practices and refrain from revealing their own biases, including advocating for the environment. However, participants have radically redefined the component of objectivity known as “balance.” They now advocate a “weight-of-evidence” approach, where stories reflect scientific consensus.
Searching For the Hinge of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Machinery with MD Simulations

In Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases, substrate binding proteins, such as VHL-box, SOCS-box or the F-box proteins, recruit substrates for ubiquitination, accurately positioning and orienting the substrates for ubiquitin transfer. Yet, how the E3 machinery precisely positions the substrate is unclear. We performed molecular dynamics simulations for seven substrate binding proteins: Skp2, Fbw7, β-TrCP1, Cdc4, pVHL, SOCS2, and SOCS4, in the unbound form and bound to Skp1 or Elongin C. All seven proteins have two domains: one binds to the substrate; the other to E3 ligase modules Skp1/Elongin C. In all seven cases, the flexible inter-domain linker serves as a hinge rotating the substrate binding domain, optimally and accurately positioning it for ubiquitin transfer. A conserved proline is noticed in the linker of all seven proteins. The prolines pucker substantially and the pucker is associated with the backbone rotation toward the E2/ubiquitin. We further observed that the linker flexibility could be regulated allosterically by binding events associated with either domain. Thus searching for the allosteric sites to regulate the flexibility could provide a new strategy for drug discovery targeting the ubiquitin system. This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under contract number NO1-CO-12400.
Impedance-Based Force Transduction Within Fluid-Filled Parylene Microstructures

We report on the use of electrochemical impedance (EI) as the basis for force transduction in Parylene-based microdevices. Electrolyte-filled microstructures were realized for extremely sensitive contact-force detection (10 mN range, ±0.023 mN resolution) enabled by EI-based transduction and are a promising platform for next-generation biomedical sensing technology. The design, fabrication, and characterization of Parylene-based electrochemical-MEMS (EC-MEMS) devices capable of microNewton contact-mode force measurement are presented and discussed.
Europe, Immigration and the Sarkozian Concept of Fraternité:

In Nicolas Sarkozy’s embrace of ‘French national identity’ during his presidential campaign, one could sense the lepeniste nature of his campaign. Sarkozy’s cultural platform, specifying France’s Christian roots and the national language as vital to the country’s national and democratic heritage, has likewise betrayed his definitions of ‘Europeanness’ and ‘Frenchness’ as essentialist. Given his political success, the hardening of France’s universalist values has therefore become palpable, specifically the concept of fraternite (‘brotherhood’ or ‘solidarity’). The following analysis will examine how, during Sarkozy’s tenure as Interior Minister and now as President, the original concept of fraternite has been displaced in favour of a cultural predisposition to democracy — a shift that, along with France’s new immigration policy and longstanding opposition to Turkey’s candidacy for membership of the EU, coincides with a resurgence of Islamophobia.
Regressive and Transgressive Barrier Islands on the North-Central Gulf Coast — Contrasts in Evolution, Sediment Delivery, and Island Vulnerability

Abstract Basic differences between non-deltaic regressive and deltaic transgressive barrier islands reflect major contrasts in geological settings and sediment sources. Two island groups on the N. Gulf of Mexico provide unique perspectives of genetic and geomorphic contrasts applicable in a worldwide context. The near-extinction of the deltaic transgressive Chandeleur barriers and reduction of the sturdier prograded Mississippi–Alabama (MS–AL) chain are related to differences in sediment sources, storm, and anthropogenic impact. 160 years of documentary evidence points to contrasting geological settings, development history, sediment sources, and island morphology as responsible for different island erodibility and life spans. The non-deltaic chain received larger volumes of coarser, less erodible medium sand from the NE Gulf coast. Onshore sand flux from reworked delta deposits received from the retreating delta shoreface initiated the fragile, thin, and isolated transgressive Chandeleur islands. Fine-grained sand from unconsolidated muds of abandoned Mississippi-St. Bernard delta lobes maintained two distinct transgressive barrier island categories. In the absence of quantitative data on cross-shore transport, discrepancies between estimated littoral drift volumes and sand reserves for nourishment remain unexplained. Medium-sandy MS–AL barriers have resisted storm events far better than delta barriers. However, even the former chain did undergo 26 to 53% area reduction since 1848. Anthropogenic intervention stymied island growth. Emerging intertidal berm-basins formed on sandy shoal platforms in storm-eliminated sectors have contributed to partial island recovery. Delta attrition by wave erosion, tectonic, and compactional subsidence had accelerated delta lobe and barrier island decay. Intensive storm erosion culminating in and following Hurricane Katrina came close to eradicate the highly vulnerable Chandeleur barrier chain. Lacking adequate nourishment, after devastating cyclones only small islands reemerge and persist temporarily from the shoal belt. A four-stage barrier evolution model, globally applicable to transgressive deltaic barriers, is based on documented changes in late Holocene Mississippi sub-deltas.
CD8α Dendritic Cells Drive Establishment of HSV-1 Latency

It is generally accepted that CD8 T cells play the key role to maintain HSV-1 latency in trigeminal ganglia of ocularly infected mice. Yet, comparably little is known about the role of innate immunity in establishment of viral latency. In the current study, we investigated whether CD8α DCs impact HSV-1 latency by examining latency in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 versus CD8α−/− (lack functional CD8 T cells and CD8α+ DCs), CD8β−/− (have functional CD8α+ T cells and CD8α+ DCs), and β2m−/− (lack functional CD8 T cells but have CD8α+ DCs) mice as well as BXH2 (have functional CD8 T cells but lack CD8α+ DCs) versus WT C3H (have functional CD8α T cells and CD8α+ DCs) mice. We also determined whether the phenotype of CD8α−/− and BXH2 mice could be restored to that of WT mice by adoptive transfer of WT CD8+ T cells or bone marrow (BM) derived CD8α+ DCs. Our results clearly demonstrate that CD8α DCs, rather than CD8 T cells, are responsible for enhanced viral latency and recurrences.
Comparison of the Modular and Non-modular Cases

The famous theorem of Lie on solvable linear Lie algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero asserts that every such algebra has a common eigenvector or, equivalently, consists of triangular matrices when interpreted as matrices relative to a suitable basis. The common algebraic proofs of this theorem use an argument which infers the nilpotency of a matrix from the vanishing of the traces of certain polynomials in the matrix, especially its powers, as in [234, pp. 43 – 50, and 64, pp. 2–05, 2–06]. One may also deduce the result from the corresponding one (due to Kolchin [254]) for solvable connected linear algebraic groups over arbitrary algebraically closed fields, via the correspondence in characteristic zero between linear algebraic groups and their Lie algebras [71, 72]. The conclusion fails for modular fields, although some of the proofs referred to are still applicable when the degree of the matrices is less than the characteristic. Over a field F of prime characteristic p, a 2-dimensional solvable Lie algebra L of p by p matrices is spanned by Open image in new window .
Development of Diesel Particulate Filter Made of Porous Metal

Pollution is worsening in cities. The exhaust gas from vehicles is the main cause of air pollution in cities. The major drawback of the diesel engine is the Particulate Matter (PM) contained in the exhaust fumes which is also said to lead to cancer. For about 20 years many tests have been conducted in order to reduce PM in diesel exhaust gas. However the exhaust gas in present diesel engines contains a significant amount of PM. This is because there is no practical material for the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Conventional ceramic materials have problems such as cracking and melting during regeneration and conventional metal materials lack adequate corrosion resistance for practical use. The authors present a new type of DPF made of metal porous matter (Celmet) which is designed with a thermal construction and simple control system in order to solve the problem of diesel exhaust gas. As metal porous matter has low pressure loss per unit filter area during filtering, two-cylinder filters have similar trapping performance to the honeycomb type filter such as pressure loss and trapping efficiency, In this paper, 2,800--3,400cc diesel engines were used. Then a cycle of collection and regeneration with an electric heater andmore » 12V battery was performed under several conditions on the engine bench and trapping efficiency and pressure loss were measured. It was confirmed that this new type DPF has good practical use in automobiles. Tests on forklifts were also performed. In a simple control system, this DPF can be applied to practical use. It is trouble-free for 6 months. The total performance of DPF for vehicles such as forklifts and heavy duty vehicles and the possibilities for other practical uses was mainly discussed.« less
A QUANTITATIVE‐GENETIC ANALYSIS OF LARVAL LIFE‐HISTORY TRAITS IN HYLA CRUCIFER

We used a half-sib design to examine the genetic components of phenotypic variance in several life-history traits in Hyla crucifer. Egg viability, hatchling size, larval growth rate, length of larval period, and size at metamorphosis play critical roles in determining survivorship and are subject to persistent selection. Egg viability varied among families considerably, with most embryo mortality occurring between gastrulation and neurulation. Hatchling size was the only trait in which maternal effects were influential. Dominance genetic variance played the predominant role in determining phenotypic variance in hatchling size, growth rate, and length of larval period, accounting for, respectively, 70, 63, and 47% of the total variance. Size at metamorphosis displayed little dominance genetic variance and, unlike the other traits, displayed a high heritability. All additive genetic correlations between traits were positive. The directions of environmental correlations were the same as the directions of changes that have been induced in previous experimental work. The correlations due to dominance effects described a principal axis that independent ecological studies indicate to be directly correlated with fitness. These results agree with theoretical expectations for traits under consistent directional selection.
122. An investigation into the impact of pregnancy and stress on neuroimmune function and whether there is a link to postpartum depression

There is strong evidence that the immune system changes dramatically during pregnancy in order to prevent the developing fetus from being attacked by the maternal immune system. As a result of these changes in immune function, many women that suffer from autoimmune disorders actually find significant relief from these diseases throughout pregnancy. Despite this strong evidence that the immune system changes dramatically during pregnancy, no one has examined whether changes in the immune system occur simultaneously in the brain or whether these changes in peripheral immune function alter brain function during pregnancy. It is well known that changes in immune function are often linked to the onset of certain mental health disorders, including depression. Thus our hypothesis is that changes in immune function that are associated with pregnancy and parturition might increase the risk of postpartum depression following birth. We are currently investigating the impact of pregnancy and parturition on pro-inflammatory molecules in the brain and how these may be altered following chronic stress. We have found significant changes in microglial and pro-inflammatory molecules within both the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus of pregnant and postpartum rats. Future experiments will examine how these same molecules might also change in response to immune challenge. We are also currently measuring behavioral endpoints that assess anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in these rats. Supported by R21MH101663.
A nonlinear theory of laminated piezoelectric plates

A fully nonlinear theory for the dynamics of anisotropic plates with integrated piezoelectric actuators and sensors undergoing large-rotation and small-strain vibrations is presented. The theory accounts for large rotations, continuity o f interlaminar shear stresses, extensionality, orthotropic properties o f piezoelectric actuators, dependence o f piezoelectric strain constants on strains, and arbitrary orientations of the integrated actuators and sensors. Five fully nonlinear partial-differential equations describing the extension-bending-shear vibrations o f plates are obtained, which display l inear elastic and nonlinear geometric couplings among all motions. Extension and shearing forces and bending and twisting moments are introduced onto the plate along the boundaries o f the piezoelectric actuators.
Hydrodynamic properties of adenosine Ri receptors solubilized from rat cerebral-cortical membranes.

Abstract Adenosine Ri receptors and inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-regulatory components were solubilized from rat cerebral-cortical membranes with sodium cholate. (-)-N6-Phenylisopropyl[2,8-3H]adenosine [( 3H]PIA) binds with high affinity to the soluble receptors, which retain the pharmacological specificity of adenosine Ri receptors observed in membranes. The binding is regulated by bivalent cations and guanine nucleotides. Bivalent cations increase [3H]PIA binding by increasing both the affinity and the apparent number of receptors. Guanine nucleotides decrease agonist binding by increasing the dissociation of the ligand-receptor complex. Adenosine agonists stabilize the high-affinity form of the soluble receptor. The hydrodynamic properties of the adenosine receptor were determined with cholate extracts of membranes that were treated with [3H]PIA. Sucrose-gradient-centrifugation analysis indicates that the receptor has a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S. The receptor is eluted from Sepharose 6B columns with an apparent Stokes radius of 7.2 nm. Labelling of either sucrose-gradient or gel-filtration-column fractions with pertussis toxin and [32P]-NAD+ reveals that both the 41,000- and 39,000-Mr substrates overlap with the receptor activity. These studies suggest that the high-affinity adenosine-receptor-binding activity in the cholate extract represents a stable R1-N complex.
Optimizing the Operating Voltage of Tunnel FET-Based SRAM Arrays Equipped with Read/Write Assist Circuitry

This paper deals with obtaining the minimum operating voltage of memory arrays based on TFET SRAM cells. First, we compare the I-V characteristics of two TFETs and one FDSOI using SPICE simulations based on 20nm technology models. The results reveal that TFET devices exhibit high ON/OFF current ratios at different power supply voltage levels. This observation suggests a higher stability for SRAM cells based on these devices. Next, the characteristics of 6T SRAM cells implemented using minimum sized transistors based on these three device structures are compared. The comparison, which considers two TFET cell structures, i.e., inward and outward SRAMs, is performed at different supply voltages. The results for the hold static noise margin show that at low supply voltages (i.e., below 300mV), the FDSOI SRAM cell cannot hold data whereas both the inward and outward structures of TFET have acceptable noise margins at all supply voltages. Among the two TFET structures, the outward cell is selected because of higher speed especially for the write operation. TFET SRAMs suffer from long read access latency at ultra-low supply voltages (e.g., 150mV). The problem, however, may be overcome by using the negative GND read-assist technique. The results show that for a 32×32 TFET outward SRAM array, the minimum energy consumption (energy-delay product) may be achieved at the supply voltage of 200mV (300mV) with 1.32GHz (4.55GHz) as the read access frequency
Paramagnetic Intermediates in Photosynthetic Systems

The physical and chemical mechanisms of primary photon capture and utilization for energy storage in photosynthesis, although enigmatic, are of paramount significance for maintenance of life on Earth. Photosynthesis by green plants and algae is an essential component of the food chain for higher mammals and man. Furthermore, a primary source for molecular oxygen is photosynthesis performed by marine microorganisms and in the tropical rainforests. The agricultural importance of photosynthesis cannot be disputed in that expanding population pressures on the world’s limited food sources urgently necessitate the development of more efficient crops. Increased comprehension of the photosynthetic process and its regulation by the plant will permit eventual genetic selection or engineering for food crops exhibiting high yield, rapid maturation, and resistance to climatic variations.
The Church, the States, and Religious Wars

The gradual emergence of the states and the decline of the Christian commonwealth or respublica christiana was a feature of late medieval and early modern Europe which the church, and especially the papacy, had to confront. The challenge of the states to the papacy dated from at least the fourteenth century, and it grew more intense as it became intertwined with conciliarism and Italian politics. The sixteenth-century papacy, in light of European expansion across the seas along with the Reformation, reaffirmed its universalist claims, and theologians pursued a new synthesis around the term ‘the indirect power of the pope’, that would, it was hoped, integrate papal claims with the advance of the state. The church and the papacy accepted the new world of the sovereign states, and for a time the papacy succeeded in operating within it, only to be excluded in 1648 at the Peace of Westphalia largely because of its own policy. By that time the wars of religion were coming to an end.
(What) do you believe?: Therapist spiritual/religious/non-religious self-disclosure

AbstractObjective: Spiritual/religious/non-religious (S/R/N) identity development is often neglected in psychotherapy training and represents an area where psychotherapists feel they lack competence. Such feelings can become even more pronounced when it comes to S/R/N self-disclosure. This study explores the decisions therapists make regarding self-disclosure, which impacts the psychotherapy process. Method: This grounded theory study explores psychotherapists’ S/R/N self-disclosure based on qualitative interviews with 21 psychotherapists representing varied theoretical orientations and spiritual, religious, atheist, and agnostic backgrounds. Results: Findings reveal that while some self-disclosure happens on an explicit level, more often psychotherapists find implicit ways to share S/R/N aspects of the self for purposes of enhancing the therapeutic alliance and to convey openness. Psychotherapists also attempt to avoid the topic altogether, either to protect the therapeutic relationship or because of unr...
News Framing of Obama, Racialized Scrutiny, and Symbolic Racism

ABSTRACTThe current study examines the Barack Obama presidency through the lens of racialized news framing and symbolic racism. Racial prejudice often manifests as subtle symbolic racism in so-called postracial America by supporting beliefs that racial minorities have gained undeserved advantage and are no longer discriminated against. Even when counter-stereotypic leaders such as President Obama from racial/ethnic minority groups are elected to positions of authority, they are subject to tokenism, heightened visibility, and racialized scrutiny in the media in ways that reinforce cultural stereotypes. The current study uses a between-participants experiment (N = 168) to examine how exposure to positive versus negative news frames of Obama have differential effects on White participants' symbolic racist beliefs. From a priming perspective, exposure to negative frames of President Obama is likely to activate underlying prejudicial feelings that lead to biased evaluations of African Americans as a whole. Usi...
Ionic Hydrogen Bond Assemblies in Clusters: Resources and Opportunities for Modeling

Thermochemical data are available for ionic hydrogen bonded (IHB) assemblies with various structural features, from dimers and intramolecular bonds, to large clusters and polydentate systems. The data may be used to estimate IHB interactions between ionic and neutral functional groups in biopolymers. Cluster data also allows the quantitative analysis IHB and hydrophobic contributions to the solvation of protonated amines and oxygen bases. Applications include the estimate of IHB contributions at enzyme active centers, in the proton wire of the gramicidin channel, and at the acetylcholine receptor site. These models suggest that IHB interactions can stabilize anionic and cationic intermediates by up to 210 kJ/mol (50 kcal/mol), through hydrogen bonding to amide links in the protein backbone. Cluster data may help to calibrate intermolecular parameters for modeling and conversely, computational modeling can contribute to cluster studies. Areas of interest may be the structures of large clusters of 10 – 100 organic molecules; the effect of partial solvation on ionic structure and on intramolecular IHBs; and in quantitative extrapolations from cluster data to biological assemblies.
A neutron transport and thermal hydraulics coupling scheme to study xenon induced power oscillations in a nuclear reactor

Abstract A multi-physics computational methodology to analyze xenon induced power oscillations in a nuclear reactor is developed and presented. The methodology development takes into account both neutron transport and thermal hydraulics behaviors and their inter-dependent feedbacks in a nuclear power reactor as a function of fuel burn-up. The methodology uses the Monte Carlo N-Particle radiation transport computational code (MCNP6) along with its fuel transmutation module (CINDER90), a semi-analytic single channel analysis tool for thermal hydraulics and the SIGACE code suite for temperature dependent neutron interaction cross section processing. A Python script developed couples the physics codes for full automation. The accuracy of the multi-physics computational methodology developed was verified through a benchmark calculation for the published core parameters of a startup test performed at Yonggwang Power Reactor Unit No. 3. The power axial offset and xenon axial offset parameters were calculated for this benchmark case and used to quantify the oscillatory behavior observed, the results of this benchmark study is also presented here. The results showed that the developed methodology was able to capture the underlying phenomena governing xenon induced power oscillations in a nuclear reactor.
Glutaredoxins in plant development, abiotic stress response, and iron homeostasis: From model organisms to crops

Abstract Plant growth, development, and response to environmental stress require the judicious balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are a group of oxidoreductases that participate in the control of ROS and are traditionally defined as redox regulators. New studies suggest the members of the GRX family may be involved in more biological processes than previously ascribed. While the core structure of GRX proteins are similar, localization and expression differences afford a multiplicity of functions between species and individual isoforms. Emerging evidence indicates that various plant monothiol GRXs perform diverse functions, including transcriptional regulation of defense responses, flower development, oxidative stress response, redox signaling, hormonal regulation, iron homeostasis, and environmental adaptation. This review highlights the recent progress in our understanding of the roles played by class II CGFS-type and class III CC-type GRXs in plant development, abiotic stress adaptation, iron homeostasis, and crop productivity. In particular, the abiotic stress tolerance functions of class II GRXs make them attractive targets for genetic engineering, potentially providing enhancements in salt, drought, heavy metal, and temperature stress responses.
Ecological complexity and agroecosystems: seven themes from theory

Exploring the intersection of new ideas of ecological complexity with insights from traditional agricultural systems is the fundamental subject of this article, with an emphasis on seven themes of ecological complexity, as reflecting contemporary themes in ecology. The seven themes are as follows: 1) turing processes and spatial structure, 2) chaotic dynamics, 3) stochastic processes, 4) coupled oscillators, 5) multidimensionality, 6) trait-mediated indirect interactions, and 7) critical transitions (catastrophe theory). We suggest that these themes of complexity naturally integrate to form one qualitative whole that could be considered a single subject—ecological complexity.
The Algorithms of Ideology in Economic Planning: A Critical Look at Cuba's National Economic and Social Development Plan 2030, with a Focus on the Pharma Sector

The development plans of Marxist Leninist states are usually given short shrift as expressions of ideology (at best) and propaganda (at its most pathetic). Yet there is value in considering critically these development plans, if only to get a sense of the mindset of high level functionaries with control over macro-economic policy, and to get a sense of the administrative cultures within which governmental middle managers will actually exercise discretionary authority. Especially useful in that context is the Cuban Communist Party 7th Congress’s Conceptualizacion del modelo economico y social Cubano de desarrollo socialista: Plan nacional de desarrollo economico y social hasta 2030: Propuesta de vision de la nacion, ejes y sectores estrategicos in which the PCC posited that development can be better managed by rejecting the central role of markets, and substituting state planning in its place, taking an all around view of economic planning as inextricably bound up in social, political and cultural progress of a nation. The resulting structural proposal elaborated in the Cuban National Economic and Social Development Plan 2030 (PNDES) suggests behavior and choice algorithms with interesting implications even if only partially realized. It is particularly important as a vision for transition developed in the wake of anticipated changes in higher leadership and the effects of normalization with the United States. This essay critically considers PNDES in the current context national and regional context. It starts with a brief analysis of PNDES for what it can reveal about entrenched ideological perspectives that shape decision making and analysis within Cuban Party and administrative elites. It then considers the way these appear to manifest themselves as a set of self-referencing decision systems that substitute or supplant market or regulatory determinations. Those premises are tested against Cuban approaches to the pharma sector, among the most important targets of centrally planned development. The essay ends with an assessment of the consequences of Cuban current approaches for national and regional affairs.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Infection with Intestinal Protozoa

Objective Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can kill some human protozoan parasites in cell culture better than the drug metronidazole. Clinical data showing an antiprotozoal effect for PPIs are lacking. The objective of the study is to determine if PPI use is associated with a reduced risk of having intestinal parasites. Methods We obtained electronic medical record data for all persons who received a stool ova and parasite (O & P) examination at our tertiary care academic medical center in Cleveland, Ohio, between January 2000 and September 2014. We obtained the person's age, whether they were taking a PPI at the time of the O & P examination, and whether the pathology report indicated the presence of any parasites. χ 2 with Yates correction was used to determine if PPI use was associated with stool protozoa. Results Three intestinal protozoa were identified in 1199 patients taking a PPI (0.3%), and 551 intestinal parasites were identified in the 14,287 patients not taking a PPI (3.9%). There was a statistically significant lower likelihood of finding protozoa in the stool of a person taking a PPI compared with those not taking a PPI ( P Conclusions Patients taking a PPI were statistically less likely to have an intestinal protozoa reported on stool O & P examination compared with those not taking a PPI.
Contributions and Corruption: Restoring Aggregate Limits in the States

This chapter, written for an edited volume on campaign finance, examines aggregate contribution limits and their potential to combat corruption. Base limits cap the amount one can contribute to individual candidates, while aggregate limits cap the amount one can give to all candidates. As I explain, base limits should tend to affect the magnitude of corrupt acts while aggregate limits should tend to affect their frequency. The Supreme Court failed to appreciate that second point in McCutcheon v. FEC, concluding that aggregate limits serve no anti-corruption purpose and violate the Constitution. Many observers interpreted McCutcheon to foreclose all aggregate limits, and some states stopped enforcing their aggregate limits as a result, but that reaction is unjustified. McCutcheon does not reach beyond federal law, and aggregate limits remain viable at sub-national levels of government. They offer an under-theorized but important mechanism for reducing corruption.
Growing good bugs with mom’s milk

A strain of Propionibacterium found in the gut of breast milk–fed infants confers immune protective effects that may mitigate risk of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Analysis of Gluten in a Wheat-Gluten-Incurred Sorghum Beer Brewed in the Presence of Proline Endopeptidase by LC/MS/MS

Most gluten-reduced beers are produced using an enzyme called proline endopeptidase (PEP), which proteolyzes the gluten by cleaving at proline residues. However, the gluten content of beers brewed in the presence of PEP cannot be verified since current analytical methods are not able to accurately quantitate gluten in fermented foods. In this work, mass spectrometry was used to qualitatively characterize the gluten in a wheat-gluten-incurred sorghum model beer brewed with and without the addition of PEP. Hydrolyzed gluten peptides and chymotryptic gluten peptides produced from intact gluten proteins were detected in beer brewed in the presence of up to 6 times the manufacturer’s recommended dosage of PEP. The observation of chymotryptic gluten peptides indicates that some gluten proteins remained, at least partially, intact after fermentation and enzymatic treatment. Less intact gluten was observed in beer brewed in the presence of PEP, but more hydrolyzed gluten peptides were consequently observed in PEP...
An Attribute-Based Access Control Model for Secure Big Data Processing in Hadoop Ecosystem

Apache Hadoop is a predominant software framework for distributed compute and storage with capability to handle huge amounts of data, usually referred to as Big Data. This data collected from different enterprises and government agencies often includes private and sensitive information, which needs to be secured from unauthorized access. This paper proposes extensions to the current authorization capabilities offered by Hadoop core and other ecosystem projects, specifically Apache Ranger and Apache Sentry. We present a fine-grained attribute-based access control model, referred as HeABAC, catering to the security and privacy needs of multi-tenant Hadoop ecosystem. The paper reviews the current multi-layered access control model used primarily in Hadoop core (2.x), Apache Ranger (version 0.6) and Sentry (version 1.7.0), as well as a previously proposed RBAC extension (OT-RBAC). It then presents a formal attribute-based access control model for Hadoop ecosystem, including the novel concept of cross Hadoop services trust. It further highlights different trust scenarios, presents an implementation approach for HeABAC using Apache Ranger and, discusses the administration requirements of HeABAC operational model. Some comprehensive, real-world use cases are also discussed to reflect the application and enforcement of the proposed HeABAC model in Hadoop ecosystem.
Virtual planning and navigational technology in reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive technologies have expanded to include the use of virtual surgical planning (VSP) and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM), and 3-Dimensional printing. The advantages of VSP over traditional techniques are highlighted in many scenarios: (a) delayed reconstruction, (b) maxillary reconstruction, (c) placement of dental implants, and (d) precision guided oncology. Microsurgery is undergoing a paradigm shift with virtual planning at its foreground. Herein, we describe the versatile uses for CAD-CAM and key operative steps.
NATIONAL STUDY OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT FOR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN OLDER ADULTS

Little information is available about the mental health care received by U.S. older adults after suicide attempts. This retrospective cohort analysis examined 2015 Medicare claims for adults aged 65 years and older who presented to emergency departments (ED) for self-harm (N=15,891). Adjusted risk ratios (ARR) were estimated for discharge disposition, ED recognition of mental disorder, and 30-day follow-up mental health outpatient visits. Most patients (76.8%) were hospitalized. Lower likelihoods of hospitalization were observed for African American patients (ARR=0.84, p<.0001), recent medical ED users (ARR=0.92, p=.001), and patients with only one medical comorbidity (ARR=0.91, p=.001). Hospitalization was associated with recent depression (ARR=1.09, p=.004) and recent psychiatric inpatient care (ARR=1.12, p=.003). Among patients discharged to the community (n=3,681), 48.4% received a mental disorder diagnosis. ED recognition of a mental disorder was associated with age 65–69 years (ARR=1.54, p<.0001) and 70–74 years (ARR=1.23, p=.0004), any recent mental disorder (ARR=1.55, p=.008), and recent mental health care in ED (ARR=1.59, p<.0001), inpatient (ARR=1.32, p=.001), and outpatient (ARR=1.49, p<.0001) settings but inversely related to male sex (ARR=0.89, p=.002) and high lethality self-harm methods (ARR=0.80, p=.001). Only 9.6% of community discharged patients received follow-up outpatient mental health care within 30 days, which was most strongly predicted by prior outpatient mental health care (ARR=6.67, p<.0001). Most older adult Medicare beneficiaries who present to EDs with self-harm are hospitalized. Of those who are discharged to the community, a substantial proportion are not diagnosed with mental disorder in the ED or receive timely follow-up mental health care.