Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE)

The design and implementation of a Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE), which is intended to become the support system software for a prototype high performance science analysis workstation are discussed. The target machine for this software is a JPL/Caltech Mark IIIfp Hypercube hosted by either a MASSCOMP 5600 or a Sun-3, Sun-4 workstation; however, the design will accommodate other concurrent machines of similar architecture, i.e., local memory, multiple-instruction-multiple-data (MIMD) machines. The CIPE system provides both a multimode user interface and an applications programmer interface, and has been designed around four loosely coupled modules; (1) user interface, (2) host-resident executive, (3) hypercube-resident executive, and (4) application functions. The loose coupling between modules allows modification of a particular module without significantly affecting the other modules in the system. In order to enhance hypercube memory utilization and to allow expansion of image processing capabilities, a specialized program management method, incremental loading, was devised. To minimize data transfer between host and hypercube a data management method which distributes, redistributes, and tracks data set information was implemented

Evidence for over-dispersion in the distribution of clinical malaria episodes in children.

BACKGROUND: It may be assumed that patterns of clinical malaria in children of similar age under the same level of exposure would follow a Poisson distribution with no over-dispersion. Longitudinal studies that have been conducted over many years suggest that some children may experience more episodes of clinical malaria than would be expected. The aim of this study was to identify this group of children and investigate possible causes for this increased susceptibility. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using Poisson regression, we chose a group of children whom we designated as 'more susceptible' to malaria from 373 children under 10 years of age who were followed up for between 3 to 5 years from 1998-2003. About 21% of the children were categorized as 'more susceptible' and although they contributed only 23% of the person-time of follow-up, they experienced 55% of total clinical malaria episodes. Children that were parasite negative at all cross-sectional survey were less likely to belong to this group [AOR = 0.09, (95% CI: 0.14-0.61), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The pattern of clinical malaria episodes follows a negative binomial distribution. Use of lack of a clinical malaria episode in a certain time period as endpoints for intervention or immunological studies may not adequately distinguish groups who are more or less immune. It may be useful in such studies, in addition to the usual endpoint of the time to first episode, to include end points which take into account the total number of clinical episodes experienced per child

The Schistosoma mansoni Cytochrome P450 (CYP3050A1) Is Essential for Worm Survival and Egg Development.

Schistosomiasis affects millions of people in developing countries and is responsible for more than 200,000 deaths annually. Because of toxicity and limited spectrum of activity of alternatives, there is effectively only one drug, praziquantel, available for its treatment. Recent data suggest that drug resistance could soon be a problem. There is therefore the need to identify new drug targets and develop drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Analysis of the Schistosoma mansoni genome sequence for proteins involved in detoxification processes found that it encodes a single cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene. Here we report that the 1452 bp open reading frame has a characteristic heme-binding region in its catalytic domain with a conserved heme ligating cysteine, a hydrophobic leader sequence present as the membrane interacting region, and overall structural conservation. The highest sequence identity to human CYP450s is 22%. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) silencing of S. mansoni (Sm)CYP450 in schistosomula results in worm death. Treating larval or adult worms with antifungal azole CYP450 inhibitors results in worm death at low micromolar concentrations. In addition, combinations of SmCYP450-specific dsRNA and miconazole show additive schistosomicidal effects supporting the hypothesis that SmCYP450 is the target of miconazole. Treatment of developing S. mansoni eggs with miconazole results in a dose dependent arrest in embryonic development. Our results indicate that SmCYP450 is essential for worm survival and egg development and validates it as a novel drug target. Preliminary structure-activity relationship suggests that the 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethan-1-ol moiety of miconazole is necessary for activity and that miconazole activity and selectivity could be improved by rational drug design

Conjoint Analysis of Breaded Catfish Nuggets: Consumer Preferences for Price, Product Color, Cooking Method and Country of Origin

A new product, marinated, breaded catfish nuggets, was developed. This conjoint study was designed to evaluate consumers’ preferences for certain attributes of the nuggets. An in-store survey was conducted to collect data. The data collected will be used to determine the market potential for the catfish nuggets.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Elliptical Fourier Analysis of Crown Shape in Permanent Mandibular Molars From The Late Neolithic Cave Burials of Belgium

Prehistoric remains from caves and rockshelters are known from more than 250 sites situated along the Meuse River Basin of Belgium. Most of these osteological remnants date to the Late Neolithic period beginning after 4,500 years before present (BP), and five of these cave burials have been subject to intensive study, including Hastière Caverne M and Hastière Trou Garçon C from an earlier period of the Late Neolithic (4,345 ± 60 to 4,220 ± 45 years BP), Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame from the final/late Neolithic (4,155 ± 35 to 3,910 ± 40 years BP) and Maurenne Caverne de la Cave which dates to the final/late Neolithic period, 4,160 ± 45 to 3,830 ± 90 years BP and Middle Neolithic, 4,635 ± 45 years BP. Since the majority of the remains comprise gnathic fragments with in situ dental elements, comparisons between the caves are largely restricted to the teeth. Elliptical Fourier analysis of 40 permanent mandibular molar crown outlines from 27 individuals is utilized to address the degree to which chronology and ecogeography can explain the variation in crown shape across the caves. Although the sample sizes are limited, the cave burial of Hastière Caverne M appears to be distinctive. The variation within the cave burials of Sclaigneaux and Maurenne Caverne de la Cave is extensive, and a pronounced overlapping characterizes some of the sites. The results may provide evidence for increasingly broader contact between Late Neolithic farming communities of the Belgian Meuse basin prior to the Bronze Age

Online Learning During the Covid Crisis: Student Views

In the spring of 2020, students at all levels of education were suddenly thrown into online learning situations. Higher education institutions reacted without regard or exposure to known best practices for online learning. As a result, student satisfaction levels dropped dramatically. Before Covid, those participating in online courses chose that option. Occasionally, an individual course would only be offered online, but for the majority, students who did not like online courses could avoid them. With the Covid crisis, all students were thrust into an online educational environment with no alternatives and little notice. To examine the learning during this crisis, we developed a 22-item scale on student perspectives of online learning and administered the survey to a large regional university in the southwest US during the Covid crisis (n=1160). We found online students prefer non-quantitative courses, are motivated by many scheduling issues, believe they learn less online and feel online students must be self-motivated and more disciplined, among other findings

Development of Nutrition Curriculum for Adults with I/DD: Part of a Mentoring Program to Improve Nutrition Knowledge and Self-Efficacy

poster presentation undergraduate - Gregory Lon

Transformational Leadership in Higher Education Programs

The current mixed-method study investigates transformational leadership qualities through higher education doctoral programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This study relies on three data points: interviews with graduate program directors of higher education doctoral programs (whether PhD or EdD), a program evaluation of programs, and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5x™) survey results from students within said programs. Data were collected from the five public universities that offer higher education doctoral programs within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students completed a self-rating using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5x™) and then were peer-rated by colleagues to strengthen the validity of the study. Additionally, themes surrounding the structures of these doctoral programs were collected. As researchers of higher education and leadership studies cite transformational leadership as a high competency for college and university presidents, coupled with a looming shortage of college and university presidents on the horizon, measuring the programs that train these potential future leaders is warranted

Everything You Need to Know about Grants: Beginning, Middle and End

“Everything You Need to Know about Grants: Beginning, Middle and End” was a 90-minute session presented at the Society of California Archivists Annual General Meeting in Berkeley, CA, on April 13, 2013. As a part of the archival community, many of us know that grants are an excellent way to reduce backlogs or accomplish projects we don\u27t have the resources to tackle. However, what many of us may not know is how much work goes into successfully implementing and completing a grant. The purpose of this session was to assemble a group of individuals who have been involved in various aspects of the grant application and implementation process to share their expertise with the archival community. The session utilized a question and answer format with a moderator asking pre-arranged questions. This article provides excerpts from the panelists’ responses