The Lantern, 2009-2010

• I\u27m Pregnant. It\u27s Yours • The Nightmare • What Death Became After Cyparissus • Substances • Ain\u27t That a Man? • Portrait • The 100th Chemo • Looking into Her Toy Box with a Lover • They Used to Talk About Burning Cities • MESSAGE: Absence for Allen Ginsberg • Lunch with Candide • Behold! Man of Unbelief! Behold! • Dream #1 Final Strophe • Patience (Things You Will Discover) • Four Years • He Falls Like Leaves • The Quilt • Ariel (Turning Tricks at Fisherman\u27s Wharf, Monterey, California) • Extranjera • The Taste of Morning • Fear of Glory • The Rum Bottle\u27s Fortune • While Thinking of What to Write • Dying in Spring • Tutte le Eta di Firenze • Token • A House Grows Into Itself • Gravity • Father with the Skyy • He Says He Dreams of Me • Myth • Sun-Veins and Wishbones • Attempts at Bravery • One Boy in Four Parts • Blacktop Rollin\u27 • Getting My Feet Wet • The Long Ride After Ending • Wet Tongues and Sweaty Cotton • Norman Bates is My Mother • Sims Trek • Tomorrow Comes Today • The Writer\u27s Process • This Too Was Real • Venus from the Waves • Shark • Monday\u27s Expectations • Recognition • The Black Shoes • Climax • Andrew • Bottles • Calle de Cusco • God in the Machine • The 26th of December • Lollipop Lollipop • When Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth • Meaning • Jeffrey • Looking • Jagged Edges • Fading Storm • Shoes • Cover Image: Death by Chocolatehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1175/thumbnail.jp

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Epigenetics in atherosclerosis and inflammation

Introduction Epigenetics explained Epigenetic alterations are reversible Atherosclerosis Epigenetics and association with atherosclerosis Epigenetic regulation of cell activity T cells Monocytes Endothelial cells Smooth muscle cells Chemokines, their receptors and other genes involved in inflammation eNOS iNOS CCL11 (eotaxin) CCR5 Epigenetics in (vascular) inflammation KDM6B Oestrogen receptor COX2 Transcriptional regulation of MHC molecules - the role of CIITA Non-histone targets MicroRNAs Conclusions Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease with a severe burden on western society. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis underscore the importance of chronic inflammation in both the initiation and progression of vascular remodelling. Expression of immunoregulatory molecules by vascular wall components within the atherosclerotic lesions is accordingly thought to contribute to the ongoing inflammatory process. Besides gene regulatory proteins (transcription factors), epigenetic mechanisms also play an essential and fundamental role in the transcriptional control of gene expression. These epigenetic mechanisms change the accessibility of chromatin by DNA methylation and histone modifications. Epigenetic modulators are thus critically involved in the regulation of vascular, immune and tissue-specific gene expression within the atherosclerotic lesion. Importantly, epigenetic processes are reversible and may provide an excellent therapeutic target. The concept of epigenetic regulation is gradually being recognized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Recent research provides an essential link between inflammation and reprogramming of the epigenome. In this review we therefore discuss the basis of epigenetic regulation - and the contribution thereof in the regulation of inflammatory processes in general and during atherosclerosis in particular. Moreover we highlight potential therapeutic interventions based on epigenetic mechanisms.Stemcel biology/Regenerative medicine (incl. bloodtransfusion

Fostering Resilience: Examining the Relationships Among Adversity, Self-Esteem, Resilience, and Risky Behaviors of College Students

Adverse childhood experience (ACEs) are alarmingly common, as indicated by research in recent decades. Common ACEs include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in childhood as well as exposure to caregiver substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. Research indicates that a higher ACE score is linked with a plethora of long-term negative health consequences and risky behaviors throughout the lifespan. Although ACEs are prevalent, some individuals face adversity, yet rebound or even thrive. Individuals who bounce back display resilience, which can buffer against consequences linked to ACEs. Research indicates that self-esteem may be factor for developing resilience. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examined the potential relationships between past adversity, self-esteem, resilience, and risky behaviors among college students. Online surveys using measures of resilience, self-esteem, adversity, and the prevalence of risky behaviors were completed by students at southeastern United States universities. Results demonstrate connections among adversity, self-esteem, resilience, and risky behaviors. Study findings have implications for future resilience and self-esteem building interventions for young adult health and well-being

Fostering Resilience: Examining the Relationships Among Adversity, Self-Esteem, Resilience, and Risky Behaviors of College Students

Adverse childhood experience (ACEs) are alarmingly common, as indicated by research in recent decades. Common ACEs include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in childhood as well as exposure to caregiver substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. Research indicates that a higher ACE score is linked with a plethora of long-term negative health consequences and risky behaviors throughout the lifespan. Although ACEs are prevalent, some individuals face adversity, yet rebound or even thrive. Individuals who bounce back display resilience, which can buffer against consequences linked to ACEs. Research indicates that self-esteem may be factor for developing resilience. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examined the potential relationships between past adversity, self-esteem, resilience, and risky behaviors among college students. Online surveys using measures of resilience, self-esteem, adversity, and the prevalence of risky behaviors were completed by students at southeastern United States universities. Results demonstrate connections among adversity, self-esteem, resilience, and risky behaviors. Study findings have implications for future resilience and self-esteem building interventions for young adult health and well-being

Interracial Dating on College Campuses: The Associations Between Race and Gender

We hypothesized that interracial couples would be perceived more negatively than same-race couples, that survey participants would find those of the same race more attractive, and that they would be more willing to date within their race. Our participants were from a convenience sample of 77 females, 22 males, and 3 non-binary individuals, most of whom attend Winthrop University. Most (64%) were between 18-24 years of age. We displayed a photo of an interracial couple and measured perceived levels of commitment, satisfaction, and physical intimacy. Next, we showed a same-race couple and measured the same variables. Then, we displayed a series of photos of similarly attractive people and asked the participants to rank their attraction to each photo along with their willingness to date the person photographed. Then, we asked for the background of the participants, including their numbers of interracial and same-race relationships. Finally, we asked a series of demographic questions measuring gender, race, and age. Statistical tests showed few significant differences between perceived attributes of photographed interracial versus same-race couples, with the exception that the woman in the interracial relationship was perceived to have a higher commitment level. Analyzing responses to photos of attractive people, we found that black participants were more attracted to and willing to date the black man than were white participants; white participants were more willing to date the white and Asian women than were black participants. In conclusion, perceptions of interracial relationships are not very different from those of same-race relationships, but people’s dating behavior and attraction are still primarily within race