Alien Registration- Davidson, George (Bridgewater, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/26134/thumbnail.jp

For Praying Out Loud: An Exploration of Religious Traditions & Their Prayer Practices

Religions and their prayer practices are an integral part of the history of our world and are an important source of community and individual spiritual development. Religions serve as a community resource for compassion and empathy toward others, an organizing force for community wellness and solidarity, and a safe haven to explore one’s own spiritual journey and purpose in life. There are emotional, moral, logical, and spiritual aspects to all religious traditions and when we have an understanding of not only that which we believe and practice, but also an understanding of that which others believe and practice, we can begin to see a pattern in what we have in common – at home and across the globe. As noted by Diana Eck, in her “Harvard Thinks Big: Religion in the Age of Pluralism” 2012 address, “Religious literacy is critical, not just for those of us who make a business of it, and not just for those of us who think of ourselves as spiritual or religious, but for all of us, no matter what you intend to do in life or where you intend to live.” By increasing religious literacy, my project addresses the need for people of many (or no) faiths to come together and create what we might call a multi-faith public square. Two ways of accomplishing this is through scholarly investigation and through sharing insights as a result of religious practices. Whichever means are used, the most important things we can learn from people of other religions is about people of other religions, in order to develop enriching relationships with them as neighbors and citizens

Properties of the non-catalytic nucleotide site of the Ca²⁺-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Properties of the regulatory nucleotide binding site of the Ca²⁺-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum have been investigated. Previously, several lines of evidence have indicated the existence of both catalytic and regulatory nucleotide binding sites on the same polypeptide species. The present study concentrates on the interaction of the ATP analogue, 2'-3'-0-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidine) adenosine 5'-triphosphate, (TNP-ATP), with sites on the non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated enzyme. In particular those conformational transitions linking TNP-ATP fluorescence to the phosphoenzyme subspecies have been sought. Previous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between TNP-ATP fluorescence and phosphoenzyme formed from ATP plus Ca²⁺, or from inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the absence of Ca²⁺, in the reverse direction of the cycle. However, the precise relationship of TNP-ATP fluorescence to the energy transducing conformations of the ATPase is controversial. TNP-ATP binding was investigated by spectrophotometric methods and by the synthesis of [ ¹⁴C] TNP-ATP. [ ¹⁴C] TNP-ATP bound to the ATPase site with high affinity ([TNP-ATP] 0. 5 = 0.12 uM), and · a stoichiometry of 5.4 nmol/mg. [ ¹⁴C] ATP binding stoichiometry was 6.1 nmol/mg, demonstrating that TNP-ATP binds to a single family of sites. The nature of the phosphoenzyme intermediate species that results in enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence was investigated. NEM derivitization, Sr²⁺-transport and Ca²⁺-oxalate uptake have previously been found to alter the distribution or relative levels of phosphoenzyme intermediates. Modification of thiol groups responsible for phosphoenzyme decomposition (SHd), using N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (0.4 mM) with 50 uM Ca²⁺, 1 mM AMP-PNP at pH 7.0, resulted in a 50% decrease in Ca²⁺-uptake, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and ADP-insensitive E-P (E₂-P), while total EP (E₁-P + E₂-P = 3.2 nmol/mg), remained unaltered. ATP-dependent TNP-ATP enhanced fluorescence decreased by 50% under these conditions. Ca²⁺-oxalate induced turnover has previously been shown to decrease steady-state E₂-P levels by prevention of Ca²⁺ gradient formation. Oxalate (5 mM) caused a 40% decrease in ATP-induced TNP-ATP fluorescence levels while total EP levels remained relatively unaltered. Previous studies have shown that Sr²⁺-induced turnover favours higher levels of E₂-P by inhibiting the reverse reaction from E₂-P to E₁-P. Strontium-induced turnover increased TNP-ATP fluorescence by 10% as compared to that of Ca²⁺, without affecting steady-state E-P levels, consistent with an E₂-P conformation relationship to enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence. The binding site for TNP-ATP on the enzyme was investigated by chase studies using millimolar concentrations of nucleotides. ATP and ADP diminished TNP-ATP fluorescence competitively, with apparent Km values of 1.25 and 0.54 mM respectively, consistent with their affinities of binding to the regulatory site. The rates of decrease of fluorescence (25 and 34 sec⁻¹ at 5 ᵒC, respectively), were of the same order of magnitude as the derived "off" rate of TNP-ATP from the site of enhanced fluorescence (33 sec⁻¹), consistent with TNP-ATP being bound to the regulatory site of the enzyme. Enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence has previously been related to decreased water activity of the probe site. Alteration of water activity by structure- forming (Deuterium oxide) and structure-breaking solutes (KSCN) in relation to fluorescence were explored. Replacement of H₂O by D₂O altered the fluorescence of unbound TNP-ATP. The apparent for TNP-ATP binding to the E₂-P conformation of the regulatory site. The regulatory site appears to be a modified form of the phosphorylated catalytic site. It is proposed that TNP-ATP fluorescence monitors an enzyme conformation related to Ca²⁺ binding to an inward oriented site of low affinity. The mechanism of K⁺ fluorescence quenching appears to be via an acceleration of dephosphorylation, as opposed to a change in affinity of the enzyme for TNP-ATP, as previously suggested. The K⁺ sensitivity of TNP-ATP fluorescence has proved useful in demonstrating a direct interaction of valinomycin with the enzyme through the monovalent cation binding site. Valinomycin appears to bind directly to the enzyme and to selectively accelerate the "off" rate of K⁺ from this site

Leadership Strategies to Reduce Employees\u27 Occupational Stress

Job-related aspects of the work environment, such as work pressure, workload, leadership, and management support cause occupational stress and increase costs to organizations. Grounded in the job demands-resources model theory, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies some bank managers use to reduce employees\u27 occupational stress. The interview process included 5 managers employed at a bank in the Caribbean who successfully implemented strategies that reduced employees\u27 occupational stress. The data collection and analysis process involved face-to-face, semistructured interviews and analysis of organizational documentation. Using the exploratory approach in data analysis, data were systematically integrated, evaluated, and summarized through a process of coding and generating themes and patterns. During the coding process, 4 major themes emerged: organizational protection and leadership, supportive organization, occupational health and well-being, and prevention. Business managers who develop and execute strategies centered on these themes might reduce job-related stress factors and the negative consequences of occupational stress. The study results might prompt business leaders to develop prevention strategies to address the causes of potential stressors linked to work conditions. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improving employee health and reducing health costs to employees, their families, and communities

The effects of high pressure and temperature environments on the properties of 6061-T651 aluminum

During this experimental testing program the effects of the simultaneous application of high pressure and temperature environments on the mechanical properties of 6061-T651 aluminum were analyzed. From the data obtained at the yield and ultimate points a yield and ultimate model was developed based upon the parameters effective stress, effective strain, and the hydrostatic component of stress. This model was obtained solely from the data acquired from uniaxial tensile specimen tested at various pressures and temperatures. Two other loading paths--biaxial tension and torsion--were then used to verify the accuracy of the model. From the testing program, data were also obtained for the effects of the pressure and temperature environments on the other material properties such as Young\u27s Modulus, Poisson\u27s Ratio, and ductility. The third objective of this testing program was to develop test fixtures which would be able to perform the required tests as well as to operate under the extreme environmental conditions --Abstract, page iii

High-throughput genomic/proteomic studies : finding structure and meaning by similarity

The post-genomic challenge was to develop high-throughput technologies for measuring genome scale mRNA expression levels. Analyses of these data rely on computers in an unprecedented way to make the results accessible to researchers. My research in this area enabled the first compendium of microarray experiments for a multi-cellular eukaryote, Caenorhabditis elegans. Prior to this research approximately 6% of the C. elegans genome had been studied, and little was known about global expression patterns in this organism. Here I cluster data from 553 different microarray experiments and show that the results are stable, statistically significant and highly enriched for specific biological functions. These enrichments allow identification of gene function for the majority of C. elegans genes. Tissue specific expression patterns are discovered suggesting the role of particular proteins in digestion, tumor suppression, protection from bacteria and from heavy metals. I report evidence that genome instability in males involves transposons, and find co-expression patterns between sperm proteins, protein kinases and phosphatases suggesting that sperm, that are transcriptionally inactive cells, commonly use phosphorylation to regulate protein activities. My subsequent research addresses protein concentrations and interactions, beginning with a simultaneous comparison of multiple data sets to analyze Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene-expression (cell cycle and exit from stationary phase/G0) and protein-interaction studies. Here, I find that G1-regulated genes are not co-regulated during exit from stationary phase, indicating that the cells are not synchronized. The tight clustering of other genes during exit from stationary-phase does indicate that the physiological responses during G0 exit are separable from cell-cycle events. Subsequently, I report in vivo proteomic research investigating population phenotypes in stationary phase cultures using the yeast Green Fluorescent Protein-fusion library (4156 strains) together with flow cytometry. Stationary phase cultures consist of dense quiescent (Q) and less dense non-quiescent (NQ) fractions. The Q-cell fraction is generally composed of daughter cells with high concentrations of proteins involved in the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain, for example Cit1p. The NQ fraction has subpopulations of cells that can be separated by the low and high concentrations of these mitochondrial proteins, i.e., NQ cells often have double intensity peaks: a bright fraction and a much dimmer fraction, which is the case for Cit1p. The Q fraction uses oxygen 6 times as rapidly as the NQ fraction, and 1.6 times as rapidly as exponentially growing cells. NQ cells are less reproductively capable than Q cells, and show evidence of reactive oxygen species stress. These phenotypes develop as early as 20-24 hours after the diauxic shift, which is as early as we can make a differentiating measurement using fluorescence intensities. Finally, I propose a new way to analyze multidimensional flow cytometry data, which may lead to better understanding of Q/NQ cell differentiation

Leadership Strategies to Reduce Employees\u27 Occupational Stress

Job-related aspects of the work environment may cause occupational stress and increase costs to organizations. Grounded in the job demands–resources model theory, this single-case study explored strategies that some bank managers use to reduce employees’ occupational stress. Organizational protection and leadership, supportive organization, occupational health and well-being, and prevention emerged as successful strategies to reduce job-related stress factors and the negative consequences of occupational stress. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improving employee health, thus reducing the burden of health care cost to employees, their families, communities, and organizations.https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/symposium2019/1008/thumbnail.jp

The clash of symmetries in a Randall-Sundrum-like spacetime

We present a toy model that exhibits clash-of-symmetries style Higgs field kink configurations in a Randall-Sundrum-like spacetime. The model has two complex scalar fields Phi_{1,2}, with a sextic potential obeying global U(1)xU(1) and discrete Phi_1 Phi_2 interchange symmetries. The scalar fields are coupled to 4+1 dimensional gravity endowed with a bulk cosmological constant. We show that the coupled Einstein-Higgs field equations have an interesting analytic solution provided the sextic potential adopts a particular form. The 4+1 metric is shown to be that of a smoothed-out Randall-Sundrum type of spacetime. The thin-brane Randall-Sundrum limit, whereby the Higgs field kinks become step functions, is carefully defined in terms of the fundamental parameters in the action. The ``clash of symmetries'' feature, defined in previous papers, is manifested here through the fact that both of the U(1) symmetries are spontaneously broken at all non-asymptotic points in the extra dimension $w$. One of the U(1)'s is asymptotically restored as w --> -infinity, with the other U(1) restored as w --> +infinity. The spontaneously broken discrete symmetry ensures topological stability. In the gauged version of this model we find new flat-space solutions, but in the warped metric case we have been unable to find any solutions with nonzero gauge fields.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures; minor changes including added references and an updated figure; to appear in Phys Rev

What Is Important In Reading In Middle Level Classrooms: A Survey of Classroom Teachers\u27 Perceptions

Should reading instruction in middle level schools be aimed at helping youngsters to acquire more specific, isolated skills of how to read? Or should the focus of reading in middle level schools be on assisting learners to become readers? An answer to both of these critical questions might be — yes. Middle level learners (10 to 14 years old) should grow both in their skillfulness as readers and in the process of becoming readers. Research data and current instructional practices can be found to support both of these positions