System dynamics model of necrotic enteritis and its predisposing factors in broilers

Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens type A is an important bacterial enteric disease of global broiler production. However, the dynamic interactions of NE and its predisposing factors are not fully presented by current studies. By using the System Dynamics (SD) Model, the epidemiological changes in susceptible-infected-removed models of NE and avian coccidiosis and their interactions in one or multiple grow-out cycles was established; meanwhile, the growth performance was measured by the average weights of infected and non-infected populations at harvest were estimated. The SD model provided direct and persuasive outcomes of the epidemiology and ecology of NE compared with models using statistical methodology. With interventions on certain predisposing factors of management practices and medication, effects which decreased disease incidence and growth performance were observed; moreover, the leverage points obtained from interventions on certain management practices provided quantitative results which were applicable and useful for improving the broiler production

And Then There Were None: No Need for Pluripotency Factors to Induce Reprogramming

While most factors used as reprogramming transgenes can be replaced by other means, Oct4 has remained essential until now. Three recent papers have now broken this barrier through the use of opposing lineage specifying transgenes and chemical modulation, thus signifying a milestone in advancing our understanding of pluripotency induction

Plant-mPLoc: A Top-Down Strategy to Augment the Power for Predicting Plant Protein Subcellular Localization

One of the fundamental goals in proteomics and cell biology is to identify the functions of proteins in various cellular organelles and pathways. Information of subcellular locations of proteins can provide useful insights for revealing their functions and understanding how they interact with each other in cellular network systems. Most of the existing methods in predicting plant protein subcellular localization can only cover three or four location sites, and none of them can be used to deal with multiplex plant proteins that can simultaneously exist at two, or move between, two or more different location sites. Actually, such multiplex proteins might have special biological functions worthy of particular notice. The present study was devoted to improve the existing plant protein subcellular location predictors from the aforementioned two aspects. A new predictor called “Plant-mPLoc” is developed by integrating the gene ontology information, functional domain information, and sequential evolutionary information through three different modes of pseudo amino acid composition. It can be used to identify plant proteins among the following 12 location sites: (1) cell membrane, (2) cell wall, (3) chloroplast, (4) cytoplasm, (5) endoplasmic reticulum, (6) extracellular, (7) Golgi apparatus, (8) mitochondrion, (9) nucleus, (10) peroxisome, (11) plastid, and (12) vacuole. Compared with the existing methods for predicting plant protein subcellular localization, the new predictor is much more powerful and flexible. Particularly, it also has the capacity to deal with multiple-location proteins, which is beyond the reach of any existing predictors specialized for identifying plant protein subcellular localization. As a user-friendly web-server, Plant-mPLoc is freely accessible at http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/bioinf/plant-multi/. Moreover, for the convenience of the vast majority of experimental scientists, a step-by-step guide is provided on how to use the web-server to get the desired results. It is anticipated that the Plant-mPLoc predictor as presented in this paper will become a very useful tool in plant science as well as all the relevant areas

Multi-family walk-up apartments in Taiwan

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1985.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-105).It is the objectives of this study to explore the feasibility of applying a computer in a dynamic dwelling design . Here, the computer is applied to evaluate a support design by testing possible layout variations. A specific type of housing is chosen in the thesis to illustrate the application as well as to explain the theoretical aspects of this model -- a computer-applied dynamic dwelling design model . The thesis includes following five parts: 1. To recognize the form of the specific type of housing. This is done by realizing the backgrounds of the making as well as by observing the use and physical entity of the housing form. 2. To develop a system with explicitly-formulated rules on this specific housing type from the recognition process. 3. To explain the way how to use the system in the decision-making and design-reasoning process of a dynamic dwelling design . 4. To explore the application of a computer in the design process. An example is given here to illustrate the using of this design model . 5. To present a theoretical discussion on the design model which explains the insight backgrounds of the design model.Wern-Bin Chou.M.S

A New Method for Predicting the Subcellular Localization of Eukaryotic Proteins with Both Single and Multiple Sites: Euk-mPLoc 2.0

Information of subcellular locations of proteins is important for in-depth studies of cell biology. It is very useful for proteomics, system biology and drug development as well. However, most existing methods for predicting protein subcellular location can only cover 5 to 12 location sites. Also, they are limited to deal with single-location proteins and hence failed to work for multiplex proteins, which can simultaneously exist at, or move between, two or more location sites. Actually, multiplex proteins of this kind usually posses some important biological functions worthy of our special notice. A new predictor called “Euk-mPLoc 2.0” is developed by hybridizing the gene ontology information, functional domain information, and sequential evolutionary information through three different modes of pseudo amino acid composition. It can be used to identify eukaryotic proteins among the following 22 locations: (1) acrosome, (2) cell wall, (3) centriole, (4) chloroplast, (5) cyanelle, (6) cytoplasm, (7) cytoskeleton, (8) endoplasmic reticulum, (9) endosome, (10) extracell, (11) Golgi apparatus, (12) hydrogenosome, (13) lysosome, (14) melanosome, (15) microsome (16) mitochondria, (17) nucleus, (18) peroxisome, (19) plasma membrane, (20) plastid, (21) spindle pole body, and (22) vacuole. Compared with the existing methods for predicting eukaryotic protein subcellular localization, the new predictor is much more powerful and flexible, particularly in dealing with proteins with multiple locations and proteins without available accession numbers. For a newly-constructed stringent benchmark dataset which contains both single- and multiple-location proteins and in which none of proteins has pairwise sequence identity to any other in a same location, the overall jackknife success rate achieved by Euk-mPLoc 2.0 is more than 24% higher than those by any of the existing predictors. As a user-friendly web-server, Euk-mPLoc 2.0 is freely accessible at http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/bioinf/euk-multi-2/. For a query protein sequence of 400 amino acids, it will take about 15 seconds for the web-server to yield the predicted result; the longer the sequence is, the more time it may usually need. It is anticipated that the novel approach and the powerful predictor as presented in this paper will have a significant impact to Molecular Cell Biology, System Biology, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, and Drug Development

Drosophila Decapping Protein 1, dDcp1, Is a Component of the oskar mRNP Complex and Directs Its Posterior Localization in the Oocyte

SummaryIn Drosophila, posterior deposition of oskar (osk) mRNA in oocytes is critical for both pole cell and abdomen formation. Exon junction complex components, translational regulation factors, and other proteins form an RNP complex that is essential for directing osk mRNA to the posterior of the oocyte. Until now, it has not been clear whether the mRNA degradation machinery is involved in regulating osk mRNA deposition. Here we show that Drosophila decapping protein 1, dDcp1, is a posterior group gene required for the transport of osk mRNA. In oocytes, dDcp1 is localized posteriorly in an osk mRNA position- and dosage-dependent manner. In nurse cells, dDcp1 colocalizes with dDcp2 and Me31B in discrete foci that may be related to processing bodies (P bodies), which are sites of active mRNA degradation. Thus, as well as being a general factor required for mRNA decay, dDcp1 is an essential component of the osk mRNP localization complex

Schwannomas of the Left Adrenal Gland and Posterior Mediastinum

Schwannoma is a rare tumor of neural crest cell origin. Most schwannomas occur in the head, neck, stomach or limbs, with a few cases occurring in the retroperitoneal space. A 30-year-old Taiwanese woman presented with a 1-week history of left anterior chest discomfort and left flank pain. The laboratory findings and endocrine studies were all within normal limits. Chest X-ray revealed masses in the posterior mediastinum. Chest computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed several masses in the left paraspinal region and in the left adrenal region. The patient underwent total excision of the left paraspinal tumors and laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. Pathologic studies showed a picture of benign schwannoma. In conclusion, preoperative differentiation of benign schwannoma from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor or other tumors is important for good prognosis. Total excision of benign schwannoma is associated with favorable outcome in patients