University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

We develop analytic techniques to analyze the aging spring model$ \begin{equation*} x''+e^{-\epsilon t^p}x = 0, \end{equation*} $where $ t\geq 0, \; \epsilon>0, $ $ p>0, $ and $ k = e^{-\epsilon t^p} $ represents spring stiffness. Because of physical applicability when $ p\neq 1, $ the above equation is an important perturbation of the classic aging spring model when $ p = 1. $ The range $ p\geq 1 $ corresponds to accelerated degradation of spring stiffness, whereas $ 0<p<1 $ corresponds to decelerated degradation. When $ p = 1 $, previous authors proved the surprising result that each solution has, at most, finitely many positive zeros, and then becomes strictly monotonic. Here, we focus on the general case $ p>0. $ Our goal is to develop techniques complementary to previous approaches, which allow us to obtain further understandings of the behavior of solutions. For small $ \epsilon>0 $, we have made three advances: (ⅰ) we prove the structure of solutions during their oscillatory phase; (ⅱ) we derive a value $ t^* = t^*(\epsilon, p)>0 $ such that if any solution $ x(t) $ has a zero at some $ \overline{t}>t^* $ then $ |x'(t)|>0\; \; \forall t > \overline{t} $ and $ v>0 $ exists such that $ |x'(t)|\to v $ and $ |x(t)|\to \infty $ as $ t\to \infty $; and (ⅲ) we prove existence of bounded solutions.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, occurs in a specific manner during development. The resulting cell corpses are then recognized and removed by a nearby phagocyte, regulated by three major known pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations that inhibit the function of specific proteins in these pathways stop this from occurring efficiently. This study investigated the effects of mutations in these pathways on the development, lifespan, and removal of germline apoptotic cell corpses in a C. elegans model. Two proteins downstream in one of these pathways, the RAB-35 pathway, were also knocked down using RNA interference to study their effects on survival and development of the organisms, and on the removal of germline apoptotic cell corpses. These protein knockdowns provided a method to study the regulation of the CED-10 protein by the RAB-35 protien. The removal of the function of proteins in these pathways showed increased numbers of persisting cell corpses, while also showing slower development and decreased survival than the wildtype strain. The results from this study further the ongoing research into these pathways and their overall effects on the organisms.

ABSTRACT This research investigated whether ideological attitudes (beliefs about religion, social justice) are central to the self-concept. Participants rated ideological attitudes as more self-defining than relevant attitudes (about family, hometown), even though were liked equally (Study 1). Ideological attitudes were as self-defining as attitudes that were personally meaningful, even though the latter were liked more and more psychologically valuable (Study 2). In Study 3, participants reported that if they changed their ideological attitudes or their moral traits (honesty, generosity), they would see themselves as a different person more than if they changed their attitudes about relevant attitudes and their perceptual abilities (hearing, pain tolerance). These studies underscore the important role of ideological attitudes to the self-concept.

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsYahya Jongintaba, Mary McLeod Bethune: Village of God. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2021. Pp. 327. $60.00 (cloth); $60.00 (PDF).Adam Lee CilliAdam Lee CilliUniversity of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (USA) Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of African American History Volume 108, Number 2Spring 2023 A journal of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/724070 For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Abstract Although building rapport before an investigative interview is recommended—and sometimes empirically beneficial—to eyewitness memory, no research has experimentally examined the effects of maintaining rapport during a witness interview on adult eyewitness recall. As a result, the present study assessed the impact of rapport on eyewitness recall accuracy by comparing a pre‐interview rapport only condition with a maintained rapport condition (where rapport was built before and maintained during the interview) and a no rapport control condition. Results revealed no benefits (or detriments) of building initial rapport—or any additional benefits of maintaining rapport—on witness recall quality, quantity, or ‘don't know’ responses. Our findings suggest that rapport or its maintenance may not directly affect eyewitness recall. However, as rapport is a humane eyewitness interviewing technique with some empirical support, we still advocate for its continued use.

Abstract This chapter builds on the need to separate deformation kinetics at “constant structure” with the kinetics of hardening or structure evolution. Toward this end, the value of defining internal state variables is highlighted. The fundamental equation describing the temperature and dependence of the yield stress is compared with some long-standing correlations, e.g., the Zener Hollomon “mechanical equation of state.” A compelling example of how “path” effects strain hardening and, in turn, strain rate sensitivity is detailed. The inability of simple and commonly used strain-hardening models to accurately predict stresses in the presence of path changes is emphasized. Deformation mechanisms, e.g., deformation twinning and dynamic strain aging, which lead to deviations from model behavior are introduced.KeywordsMechanical threshold stressConstitutive modelDeformation kineticsYield stressStrain hardeningTemperature effectsStrain rate effectsState variablePath changesDeformation twinningDynamic strain aging

BackgroundA first-in-human, randomized pilot phase II clinical trial combining vaccines targeting overexpressed, non-mutated tumor blood vessel antigens (TBVA) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib was conducted in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2+ patients with advanced melanoma.MethodsPatient monocyte-derived type-1-polarized dendritic cells were loaded with HLA-A2-presented peptides derived from TBVA (DLK1, EphA2, HBB, NRP1, RGS5, TEM1) and injected intradermally as a vaccine into the upper extremities every other week. Patients were randomized into one of two treatment arms receiving oral dasatinib (70 mg two times per day) beginning in week 5 (Arm A) or in week 1 (Arm B). Trial endpoints included T cell response to vaccine peptides (interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot), objective clinical response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors V.1.1) and exploratory tumor, blood and serum profiling of immune-associated genes/proteins.ResultsSixteen patients with advanced-stage cutaneous (n=10), mucosal (n=1) or uveal (n=5) melanoma were accrued, 15 of whom had previously progressed on programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade. Of 13 evaluable patients, 6 patients developed specific peripheral blood T cell responses against ≥3 vaccine-associated peptides, with further evidence of epitope spreading. All six patients with specific CD8+ T cell response to vaccine-targeted antigens exhibited evidence of T cell receptor (TCR) convergence in association with preferred clinical outcomes (four partial response and two stabilization of disease (SD)). Seven patients failed to respond to vaccination (one SD and six progressive disease). Patients in Arm B (immediate dasatinib) outperformed those in Arm A (delayed dasatinib) for immune response rate (IRR; 66.7% vs 28.6%), objective response rate (ORR) (66.7% vs 0%), overall survival (median 15.45 vs 3.47 months; p=0.0086) and progression-free survival (median 7.87 vs 1.97 months; p=0.063). IRR (80% vs 25%) and ORR (60% vs 12.5%) was greater for females versus male patients. Tumors in patients exhibiting response to treatment displayed (1) evidence of innate and adaptive immune-mediated inflammation and TCR convergence at baseline, (2) on-treatment transcriptional changes associated with reduced hypoxia/acidosis/glycolysis, and (3) increased inflammatory immune cell infiltration and tertiary lymphoid structure neogenesis.ConclusionsCombined vaccination against TBVA plus dasatinib was safe and resulted in coordinating immunologic and/or objective clinical responses in 6/13 (46%) evaluable patients with melanoma, particularly those initiating treatment with both agents.Trial registration numberNCT01876212.