Joined at the Hip: Simone Weil, Quentin Meillassoux

Strickland traces parallels and contrasts in work of these two "inaccessible thinkers"

Archaeological Investigations at Site 41WD468/41WD469 along SH182 at Lake Fork Creek, Wood County, Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will replace two bridges on SH182; one at Lake Fork Creek and another at an unnamed tributary just west of Lake Fork Creek. Archaeological Site 4 1 WD468 occurs between the two streams. Previous researchers designated two site numbers (41WD468 and 41 WD469) for different portions of the site. The TxDOT investigations revealed no separation between the two areas, so the entire site is now designated under a single site number. The northeast part of the site (Area A) has shallow, disturbed deposits dating to the Late Archaic period. The southwest portion of the site (Area B, previously designated 41WD469) appears to have intact, deep deposits dating from the Late Paleoindian Period/Early Archaic (ca. 7000 B.C.) through the Caddo II Period (A.D. 1200 A.D. 1400). Because Area B has deep, intact deposits, and time-sensitive artifacts were recovered from these deposits, the site is considered eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the archaeological information it may yield

Assessment of Archeological Site 41CP221, Found during Construction of FM 1520 in Camp County, Texas

On January 7, 1993, the Texas Department of Transportation (Tx DoT) learned that prehistoric archeological materials had been reportedly unearthed during improvements to highway FM 1520 in Camp County. As the project was being undertaken with State funds, Tx DoT, in compliance with the Texas Antiquities Code, ordered a cessation of work in the immediate area until the archeological significance of the area could be evaluated. Evaluation included surface examination, shovel testing and gradall scraping. This report briefly describes the site area, work conducted, and artifacts recovered. It also discusses the results of the fieldwork and makes recommendations concerning resumption of road improvements. Based on the field observations, road construction clearly encountered prehistoric cultural materials. A prehistoric ceramic assemblage appears to date to the Caddo Titus Focus, though the general small size of the sherds makes it difficult to identify the recovered sherds positively with specific Titus Focus pottery types. A prehistoric lithic assemblage is probably associated with the prehistoric ceramics, though the comparison of one lithic piece with a Carrollton dart point, generally associated with the middle Archaic, could be used to argue for an earlier component, perhaps located slightly west of and uphill from the ceramic assemblage. A few historic artifacts could date to virtually any part of the twentieth century. Largely recovered from old cut faces adjacent to a ditch south of the existing road, the historic artifacts appear to represent casual roadside disposal rather than a historic occupation site. Investigations revealed that some areas of soil undisturbed by present road construction still existed within the right-of-way. However, observations did not indicate any in situ cultural features or undisturbed cultural deposits. Observation of the field north of the new right-of-way revealed extensive historic terracing, which undoubtedly continued into what is now the northern edge of the highway right-of-way. This terracing, and associated cultivation, has almost certainly disturbed most of the surface soils in the vicinity; no developed A-horizons were observed within the right-of-way. Thus, it was concluded that the likelihood of in situ deposits within the right-of way is probably remote, though an occasional isolated feature may still survive. At the present time the majority of surface-disturbing construction has been completed. This includes the removal of ground surfaces prior to depositing fill to raise the new road bed, and digging of ditches at the side of the new road. Remaining work consists almost entirely of depositing more fill for the new road bed and adjacent shoulders, road surfacing, removal of existing pavement, and sodding of the existing cut banks to the road to reduce erosion. It is recommended, therefore, that construction be allowed to proceed without further archeological investigations. If any additional surface disturbing activities remain, the work will be monitored by an archeologist

Chinese Painting in 3D: An Artistic Study of the Use of the Traditional Chinese Painting Aesthetic in Three-Dimensional Computer Graphics

This thesis presents a study of both traditional Chinese painting and threedimensional (3D) digital non-photorealistic shading techniques, the results of which are used to create a short animation illustrating an environment that maintains the aesthetic of a Chinese painting while exploring a two-dimensional art style in a new way through camera movement and parallax. Traditional Chinese painting uses alternative methods to communicate depth, such as value range, water-to-ink ratio and vertical placement of objects. In contrast, perspective and parallax are native characteristics of 3D digital technology and are easily generated using a virtual camera. When combining these two mediums to inject linear perspective into the Chinese painting style, it is equally important to maintain the integrity of the aesthetic by adhering to the stylistic and compositional rules throughout the animation. As a result, the final project may be paused at many key frames and appear to follow these rules closely. This study also describes the methodology of translating the Chinese painting aesthetic into a 3D digital medium, which can also be used in the interpretation of other traditional art styles

The Impact of Family-Based Interventions on Adolescent Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review of the Literature

poster abstractObjective: Glycemic control is a major source of family conflict among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents. Family conflict is a determinant of how well adolescents will maintain glycemic control throughout adolescence; thus, family conflict resolution is a crucial step to managing their diagnosis. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of family-based interventions on glycemic control of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Databases utilized were Medline Ovid, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria for the studies selected included: peer-reviewed studies conducted in the United States; published between January 1994 to December 2014; and evaluated a family-based intervention’s effectiveness on adolescent diabetic glycemic control. Results: 11 studies met the criteria. Methods used to resolve family conflict included teamwork interventions, tailored interventions, behavioral family systems therapy, and family problem-solving management. Six studies did not show any significant influence on glycemic control. The only significant results on lowering glycemic control were found when a12-month follow-up was completed. Behavioral family systems therapy and family problem-solving management were found to be significant in improving adolescent glycemic control. Conclusion: It is crucial for healthcare providers to be aware of effective family-based interventions to help resolve family conflict and promote healthy glycemic control among adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Interventions specifically designed to address family conflict will not only foster healthy family relationships, but will target adolescents struggling to maintain adequate glycemic control. Results from this review shows that interventions based on family systems therapy and problem-solving management seem to be most effective. Future research is needed to replicate these findings in larger, more diverse samples

Risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases: a comparison study of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment versus a community-matched sample

Cocaine users routinely engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that place them at an elevated risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne infections. The purpose of the present study was to compare trading sex for drugs and/or money, having 10 or more sexual partners in 1 year, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment for their dependence across race and gender and against participants who live in their community. Cocaine-dependent individuals (n = 459) were identified through nine publicly and privately funded inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment centers in the St. Louis area during 2001–2006. Community-based participants (n = 459) were matched to cocaine-dependent participants on age, ethnicity, gender, and zip code of residence. Mean age of the sample was 36 years old, 50% were Caucasians, 50% were African American, and 47% were male. Nearly half of cocaine-dependent participants in treatment had traded sex for drugs and/or money and over one-third had more than 10 sexual partners in 1 year with a risk concentrated among African Americans even after controlling for income and educational attainment. Participants recruited from the community with some exposure to cocaine reported similar rates of high risk sexual behaviors as the cocaine dependent subjects from treatment settings. It is important for clinicians to recognize that once released from treatment, cocaine-dependent individuals may be returning to high-risk environments where sexual risk behaviors are occurring in the context of cocaine use

Disentangling AGN and Star Formation in Soft X-rays

We have explored the interplay of star formation and AGN activity in soft X-rays (0.5-2 keV) in two samples of Seyfert 2 galaxies (Sy2s). Using a combination of low resolution CCD spectra from Chandra and XMM-Newton, we modeled the soft emission of 34 Sy2s using power law and thermal models. For the 11 sources with high signal-to-noise Chandra imaging of the diffuse host galaxy emission, we estimate the luminosity due to star formation by removing the AGN, fitting the residual emission. The AGN and star formation contributions to the soft X-ray luminosity (i.e. L$_{x,AGN}$ and L$_{x,SF}$) for the remaining 24 Sy2s were estimated from the power law and thermal luminosities derived from spectral fitting. These luminosities were scaled based on a template derived from XSINGS analysis of normal star forming galaxies. To account for errors in the luminosities derived from spectral fitting and the spread in the scaling factor, we estimated L$_{x,AGN}$ and L$_{x,SF}$ from Monte Carlo simulations. These simulated luminosities agree with L$_{x,AGN}$ and L$_{x,SF}$ derived from Chandra imaging analysis within a 3\sigma\ confidence level. Using the infrared [NeII]12.8\mu m and [OIV]26\mu m lines as a proxy of star formation and AGN activity, respectively, we independently disentangle the contributions of these two processes to the total soft X-ray emission. This decomposition generally agrees with L$_{x,SF}$ and L$_{x,AGN}$ at the 3\sigma\ level. In the absence of resolvable nuclear emission, our decomposition method provides a reasonable estimate of emission due to star formation in galaxies hosting type 2 AGN.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ; 34 pages, 9 tables, 4 figure

The formation of a camalexin-biosynthetic metabolon

Arabidopsis thaliana efficiently synthesizes the antifungal phytoalexin camalexin without apparent release of bioactive intermediates, such as indole-3-acetaldoxime, suggesting channeling of the biosynthetic pathway by formation of an enzyme complex. To identify such protein interactions, two independent untargeted co49 immunoprecipitation (co-IP) approaches with the biosynthetic enzymes CYP71B1 and CYP71A13 as baits were performed and the camalexin biosynthetic P450 enzymes were shown to co-purify. These interactions were confirmed by targeted co-IP and Förster resonance energy transfer measurements based on fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FRET-FLIM). Furthermore, interaction of CYP71A13 and Arabidopsis P450 Reductase 1 (ATR1) was observed. An increased substrate affinity of CYP79B2 in presence of CYP71A13 was shown, indicating allosteric interaction. Camalexin biosynthesis involves glutathionylation of an intermediary indole-3-cyanohydrin, synthesized by CYP71A12 and especially CYP71A13. It was demonstrated by FRET-FLIM and co-IP, that the glutathione transferase GSTU4, which is co-expressed with tryptophan- and camalexin-specific enzymes, was physically recruited to the complex. Surprisingly, camalexin concentrations were elevated in knock-out and reduced in GSTU4 overexpressing plants. This shows that GSTU4 is not directly involved in camalexin biosynthesis but rather has a role in a competing mechanism