Water quality in a reservoir used for carp production

Guadalupe Reservoir, on the San Cayetano river, feeds into the Lerma river about 18 km north of Toluca in the State of Mexico, Mexico. On August 9, 1995, more than 6000 Israeli carp (Cyprinus carpio v. specularis and rubrofruscus) died within a week in this reservoir. We investigated the cause of the fish mortality and we determined whether the reservoir could be used again for carp culture. Five days after the accident the residual chlorine was 4 times higher than the maximum permissible amount. Ammonia nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were also above the recommended levels. Six months later, the amount of some contaminants in the water, such as chlorine, were back to normal ranges of water quality criteria for aquaculture. Ammonia, BOD and COD concentrations were lower to those found in the previous analyses but remained higher than the recommended levels. Most probably, residual chlorine was the cause of carp mortality as the chlorine level was very high when the fishes die

A multistory industrialized housing system.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Thesis. 1968. M.Arch.Accompanying drawings held by MIT Museum. Accompanying drawings held by MIT Museum.Bibliography: leaves 80-82.M.Arch

Transcriptional networks in plasmacytoid dendritic cells stimulated with synthetic TLR 7 agonists

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDC) comprise approximately 0.2 to 0.8% of the blood mononuclear cells and are the primary type 1 interferon (IFN), producing cells, secreting high levels of IFN in response to viral infections. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells express predominantly TLRs 7 & 9, making them responsive to ssRNA and CpG DNA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the molecular and cellular processes altered upon stimulation of pDC with synthetic TLR 7 and TLR 7/8 agonists. To this end, we evaluated changes in global gene expression upon stimulation of 99.9% pure human pDC with the TLR7 selective agonists 3M-852A, and the TLR7/8 agonist 3M-011.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Global gene expression was evaluated using the Affymetrix U133A GeneChip^®and selected genes were confirmed using real time TaqMan^®RTPCR. The gene expression profiles of the two agonists were similar indicating that changes in gene expression were solely due to stimulation through TLR7. Type 1 interferons were among the highest induced genes and included IFNB and multiple IFNα subtypes, IFNα2, α5, α6, α8, α1/13, α10, α14, α16, α17, α21. A large number of chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules as well as the chemokine receptor CCR7 were increased in expression indicating maturation and change in the migratory ability of pDC. Induction of an antiviral state was shown by the expression of several IFN-inducible genes with known anti-viral activity. Further analysis of the data using the pathway analysis tool MetaCore gave insight into molecular and cellular processes impacted. The analysis revealed transcription networks that show increased expression of signaling components in TLR7 and TLR3 pathways, and the cytosolic anti-viral pathway regulated by RIG1 and MDA5, suggestive of optimization of an antiviral state targeted towards RNA viruses. The analysis also revealed increased expression of a network of genes important for protein ISGylation as well as an anti-apoptotic and pro-survival gene expression program.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thus this study demonstrates that as early as 4 hr post stimulation, synthetic TLR7 agonists induce a complex transcription network responsible for activating pDC for innate anti-viral immune responses with optimized responses towards RNA viruses, increased co-stimulatory capacity, and increased survival.</p

Optimización de la distribución del personal de juegos de un casino través de la programación lineal

Mediante los contenidos teóricos y prácticas de la Programación Lineal, resolvimos un caso de distribución del personal (croupiers y supervisores) de las distintas mesas de apuestas de un casino. Los datos del modelo planteado fueron obtenidos a partir de la operatoria de un casino real. Para afrontar este problema, tuvimos que hacer un gran foco en la comprensión de las reglas de negocio y así poder modelar el caso, definir las restricciones y la variable de estudio a optimizar. Utilizando un software de resolución de problemas de Programación Lineal, obtuvimos la distribución óptima de recursos para el caso planteado y realizamos un análisis post-óptimo para prever cambios en las reglas de negocio. Al finalizar el estudio observamos que es posible extender el uso de la metodología para optimización de cualquier tipo de recursos.Trabajos de cátedraSociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Optimización de la distribución del personal de juegos de un casino través de la programación lineal

Mediante los contenidos teóricos y prácticas de la Programación Lineal, resolvimos un caso de distribución del personal (croupiers y supervisores) de las distintas mesas de apuestas de un casino. Los datos del modelo planteado fueron obtenidos a partir de la operatoria de un casino real. Para afrontar este problema, tuvimos que hacer un gran foco en la comprensión de las reglas de negocio y así poder modelar el caso, definir las restricciones y la variable de estudio a optimizar. Utilizando un software de resolución de problemas de Programación Lineal, obtuvimos la distribución óptima de recursos para el caso planteado y realizamos un análisis post-óptimo para prever cambios en las reglas de negocio. Al finalizar el estudio observamos que es posible extender el uso de la metodología para optimización de cualquier tipo de recursos.Trabajos de cátedraSociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Immune-mediated changes in actinic keratosis following topical treatment with imiquimod 5% cream

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to identify the molecular processes responsible for the anti-lesional activity of imiquimod in subjects with actinic keratosis using global gene expression profiling. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted to evaluate gene expression changes in actinic keratosis treated with imiquimod 5% cream. Male subjects (N = 17) with ≥ 5 actinic keratosis on the scalp applied placebo cream or imiquimod 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days for 4 weeks. To elucidate the molecular processes involved in actinic keratosis lesion regression by imiquimod, gene expression analysis using oligonucleotide arrays and real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed on shave biopsies of lesions taken before and after treatment. RESULTS: Imiquimod modulated the expression of a large number of genes important in both the innate and adaptive immune response, including increased expression of interferon-inducible genes with known antiviral, anti-proliferative and immune modulatory activity, as well as various Toll-like receptors. In addition, imiquimod increased the expression of genes associated with activation of macrophages, dendritic cells, cytotoxic T cells, and natural killer cells, as well as activation of apoptotic pathways. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that topical application of imiquimod stimulates cells in the skin to secrete cytokines and chemokines that lead to inflammatory cell influx into the lesions and subsequent apoptotic and immune cell-mediated destruction of lesions

Neck-cooling improves repeated sprint performance in the heat

The present study evaluated the effect of neck-cooling during exercise on repeated sprint ability in a hot environment. Seven team-sport playing males completed two experimental trials involving repeated sprint exercise (5 × 6 s) before and after two 45 min bouts of a football specific intermittent treadmill protocol in the heat (33.0 ± 0.2°C; 53 ± 2% relative humidity). Participants wore a neck-cooling collar in one of the trials (CC). Mean power output and peak power output declined over time in both trials but were higher in CC (540 ± 99 v 507 ± 122 W, d = 0.32; 719 ± 158 v 680 ± 182 W, d = 0.24 respectively). The improved power output was particularly pronounced (d = 0.51–0.88) after the 2nd 45 min bout but the CC had no effect on % fatigue. The collar lowered neck temperature and the thermal sensation of the neck (P 0.05). There were no trial differences but interaction effects were demonstrated for prolactin concentration and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Prolactin concentration was initially higher in the collar cold trial and then was lower from 45 min onwards (interaction trial × time P = 0.04). RPE was lower during the football intermittent treadmill protocol in the collar cold trial (interaction trial × time P = 0.01). Neck-cooling during exercise improves repeated sprint performance in a hot environment without altering physiological or neuroendocrinological responses. RPE is reduced and may partially explain the performance improvement

Polyurethane Elastomers as Maxillofacial Prosthetic Materials

A series of polyurethane elastomers based on an aliphatic diisocyanate and a polyether macroglycol was polymerized with various crosslink densities and OH/NCO ratios. Stoichiometries yielding between 8,600 and 12,900 gm/ mole/crosslink and an OH/NCO ratio of 1.1 resulted in polymers with the low modulus, yet high strength and elongation necessary for maxillofacial applications.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68299/2/10.1177_00220345780570040501.pd

Frontal plane ankle proprioceptive thresholds and unipedal balance

Reliable unipedal balance is fundamental to safe ambulation. Accordingly, older persons with peripheral neuropathy (PN), who are at increased risk for falls, demonstrate impaired unipedal balance. To explore the relationship between afferent function and unipedal balance, frontal plane proprioceptive thresholds at the ankle were quantified in 22 subjects (72.5 ± 6.3 years; 11 with PN and 11 matched controls) while they were standing using a foot cradle system and a staircase series of 100 rotational stimuli. PN subjects, as compared to controls, demonstrated shorter median unipedal balance times (3.4 ± 2.7 vs. 14.3 ± 8.9 s; P = 0.0017) and greater (less precise) combined ankle inversion/eversion proprioceptive thresholds (1.17 ± 0.36 vs. 0.65 ± 0.37°; P = 0.0055). Combined ankle inversion/eversion proprioceptive thresholds explained approximately half the variance in unipedal balance time (R 2 = 0.5138; P = 0.0004). Given prior work demonstrating a similarly strong relationship between ankle torque generation and unipedal balance, neuropathy-associated impairments in ankle frontal plane afferent and efferent function appear to be equally responsible for the inability of older persons with PN to reliably balance on one foot. They therefore provide distinct targets for intervention. Muscle Nerve 39: 150–157, 2009Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61542/1/21194_ftp.pd