Hypergeometric Properties of Genus 3 Generalized Legendre Curves

Inspired by a result of Manin, we study the relationship between certain period integrals and the trace of Frobenius of genus 3 generalized Legendre curves. We show that both of these properties can be computed in terms of "matching" classical and finite field hypergeometric functions, a phenomenon that has also been observed in elliptic curves and many higher dimensional varieties.Comment: 13 page

Twombly’s Anatomy of Melancholy

A wall-sized canvas by Twombly hanging in a purpose-built pavilion by Renzo Piano, commissioned by the Menil Collection in Houston, bears the scrawled inscription »Anatomy of Melancholy.« Untitled (Say Goodbye Catullus, to the Shores of Asia Minor) is the culminating statement of the artist’s maturity: begun in 1972, it was first exhibited in 1994. In this monumental cenotaph, Twombly’s painting displays phrases from Archilochos, Catullus, Keats and Rilke, as well as the title of Burton’s famous tome, worked into the fabric of the composition, integral to the iconic content. It is the aching heart of the select permanent exhibition of his oeuvre at the pavilion, known as the Twombly Gallery (www.menil.org/twombly.html). The austerity of Piano’s architectural setting, as well as the cunningly filtered Texas sunlight, makes this a site of cult, like the chapel containing the dark, final canvases of Mark Rothko, situated around the corner in the same urban grove of old oak. The setting is a modern Dodona, remote seat of the oaken oracle of Zeus, and it makes an evocative home for Twombly’s enigmatic constructions. These disarm conventional vocabularies of aesthetic response, drawing attention to words and snatches of verse as points of association and recognition. Looking at them involves siting a phrase such as »Anatomy of Melancholy« in other dimensions – in lines, patches, figures, colors

Kosmopiraten, Kosmopartisanen : Carl Schmitt’s Prophetic Partisan

The revival of Carl Schmitt’s partisan theory on both sides of the Atlantic confirms the return of one of the most contentious political thinkers of the last century. His Theorie des Partisanen (1963) is only now appearing in English, its prophetic voice recalled by the aftermath of 11 September 2001

Evolution of NCoR-1 and NCoR-2 corepressor alternative mRNA splicing in placental mammals.

ObjectiveThe NCoR-1 and NCoR-2 corepressors are products of an early gene duplication near the beginning of vertebrate evolution and play both overlapping and divergent roles in development and physiology. Alternative-splicing of NCoR-1 and NCoR-2 further customizes their functions. To better understand the evolutionary basis of this phenomenon we extended our prior study of NCoR-1 and NCoR-2 alternative-splicing to an expanded series of species.ResultsAlternative-splicing of NCoR-2 was observed in all vertebrates examined whereas alternative-splicing of NCoR-1 was largely limited to placental mammals. Notably the most prominent of the NCoR-1 alternative-splicing events specific to the placental lineage, in exon 37 that plays a key role in murine metabolism, mimics in many features an analogous alternative-splicing event that appeared in NCoR-2 much earlier at the beginning of the vertebrate radiation. Detection of additional alternative-splicing events, at exons 28 in NCoR-1 or NCoR-2, was limited to the Rodentia or Primates examined, indicating both corepressor paralogs continued to acquire additional splice variations more recently and independently of one another. Our results suggest that the NCoR-1/NCoR-2 paralogs have been subject to a mix of shared and distinct selective pressures, resulting in the pattern of divergent and convergent alternative-splicing observed in extant species

Factors Associated with Colorectal Cancer Screening among Younger African American Men: A Systematic Review

Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer among African Americans in the U.S. Compared to White men, African American men have incidence and mortality rates 25% and 50% higher from CRC. Despite the benefits of early detection and the availability of effective screening, most adults over age 50 have not undergone testing, and disparities in colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) persist. Owing to CRC’s high incidence and younger age at presentation among African American men, CRCS is warranted at age 45 rather than 50. However, the factors influencing young adult (i.e., age \u3c 50) African American men’s intention to screen and/or their CRCS behaviors has not been systematically assessed. To assess whether the factors influencing young adult African American men’s screening intentions and behaviors are changeable through structured health education interventions, we conducted a systematic review, with the two-fold purpose of: (1) synthesizing studies examining African American men\u27s knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding CRCS; and (2) assessing these studies’ methodological quality. Utilizing Garrard’s Matrix Method, a total of 28 manuscripts met our inclusion/exclusion criteria: 20 studies followed a non-experimental research design, 4 comprised a quasi-experimental design, and 4, an experimental design. Studies were published between 2002 and 2012; the majority, between 2007 and 2011. The factors most frequently assessed were behaviors (79%), beliefs (68%), and knowledge (61%) of CRC and CRCS. Six factors associated with CRC and CRCS emerged: previous CRCS, CRC test preference, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, CRC/CRCS knowledge, and physician support/recommendation. Studies were assigned a methodological quality score (MQS – ranging from 0 to 21). The mean MQS of 10.9 indicated these studies were, overall, of medium quality and suffered from specific flaws. Alongside a call for more rigorous research, this review provides important suggestions for practice and culturally relevant interventions

STEM Summer Program Impacts Middle Schoolers, Pre-service Teachers

A partnership between a local school district and a university’s education college has created an innovative program that provides learning opportunities at all levels each summer. Entering its eighth year, the program brings together middle school students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, and university graduate students and faculty for a month of hands-on learning in a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities. The program continues to thrive with approximately 50 pre-service teachers, 325-350 middle schoolers, and 20-30 classroom teachers participating. Through the years, it continues to be an engaging and positive experience for those involved

Corepressor diversification by alternative mRNA splicing is species specific.

BackgroundSMRT and NCoR are corepressor paralogs that help mediate transcriptional repression by a variety of transcription factors, including the nuclear hormone receptors. The functions of both corepressors are extensively diversified in mice by alternative mRNA splicing, generating a series of protein variants that differ in different tissues and that exert different, even diametrically opposite, biochemical and biological effects from one another.ResultsWe report here that the alternative splicing previously reported for SMRT appears to be a relatively recent evolutionary phenomenon, with only one of these previously identified sites utilized in a teleost fish and a limited additional number of the additional known sites utilized in a bird, reptile, and marsupial. In contrast, extensive SMRT alternative splicing at these sites was detected among the placental mammals. The alternative splicing of NCoR previously identified in mice (and shown to regulate lipid and carbohydrate metabolism) is likely to have arisen separately and after that of SMRT, and includes an example of convergent evolution.ConclusionsWe propose that the functions of both SMRT and NCoR have been diversified by alternative splicing during evolution to allow customization for different purposes in different tissues and different species