A red/far-red light-responsive bi-stable toggle switch to control gene expression in mammalian cells

Growth and differentiation of multicellular systems is orchestrated by spatially restricted gene expression programs in specialized subpopulations. The targeted manipulation of such processes by synthetic tools with high-spatiotemporal resolution could, therefore, enable a deepened understanding of developmental processes and open new opportunities in tissue engineering. Here, we describe the first red/far-red light-triggered gene switch for mammalian cells for achieving gene expression control in time and space. We show that the system can reversibly be toggled between stable on- and off-states using short light pulses at 660 or 740 nm. Red light-induced gene expression was shown to correlate with the applied photon number and was compatible with different mammalian cell lines, including human primary cells. The light-induced expression kinetics were quantitatively analyzed by a mathematical model. We apply the system for the spatially controlled engineering of angiogenesis in chicken embryos. The system's performance combined with cell- and tissue-compatible regulating red light will enable unprecedented spatiotemporally controlled molecular interventions in mammalian cells, tissues and organisms

Exploring What it Means to be a Faithful Christian in Twenty-First Century America

Busacker, Scott, M. “Exploring What It Means To Be a Faithful Christian in Twenty-First Century America.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 187 pp. This Major Applied Project seeks to explore what it means to be a faithful Christian in Twenty-First Century America. It explores the Biblical and Confessional Lutheran understanding of faithfulness. It then surveys the unique history of religion in America, highlighting the importance of both religious zeal and individual liberty. Christianity in America is going through a period of change. It is no longer culturally established. Thus, Christians need to deliberately consider how to live as Christians is a non-Christian culture. With a clear understanding of history and theology, the project charts a path forward for Christians to be faithful. The field research surveys Lutheran church members in a rural Midwestern congregation and gauges their understanding of faithfulness as it relates to different beliefs and specific acts. Based upon the field research and Biblical understanding, the author highlights fundamental actions and habits by which Christians can confidently live out their faith

A red/far-red light-responsive bi-stable toggle switch to control gene expression in mammalian cells

Growth and differentiation of multicellular systems is orchestrated by spatially restricted gene expression programs in specialized subpopulations. The targeted manipulation of such processes by synthetic tools with high-spatiotemporal resolution could, therefore, enable a deepened understanding of developmental processes and open new opportunities in tissue engineering. Here, we describe the first red/far-red light-triggered gene switch for mammalian cells for achieving gene expression control in time and space. We show that the system can reversibly be toggled between stable on- and off-states using short light pulses at 660 or 740 nm. Red light-induced gene expression was shown to correlate with the applied photon number and was compatible with different mammalian cell lines, including human primary cells. The light-induced expression kinetics were quantitatively analyzed by a mathematical model. We apply the system for the spatially controlled engineering of angiogenesis in chicken embryos. The system's performance combined with cell- and tissue-compatible regulating red light will enable unprecedented spatiotemporally controlled molecular interventions in mammalian cells, tissues and organism

Beta defensin-2 is reduced in central but not in distal airways of smoker COPD patients

Background: Altered pulmonary defenses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may promote distal airways bacterial colonization. The expression/activation of Toll Like receptors (TLR) and beta 2 defensin (HBD2) release by epithelial cells crucially affect pulmonary defence mechanisms. Methods: The epithelial expression of TLR4 and of HBD2 was assessed in surgical specimens from current smokers COPD (s-COPD; n = 17), ex-smokers COPD (ex-s-COPD; n = 8), smokers without COPD (S; n = 12), and from non-smoker non-COPD subjects (C; n = 13). Results: In distal airways, s-COPD highly expressed TLR4 and HBD2. In central airways, S and s-COPD showed increased TLR4 expression. Lower HBD2 expression was observed in central airways of s-COPD when compared to S and to ex-s-COPD. s-COPD had a reduced HBD2 gene expression as demonstrated by real-time PCR on micro-dissected bronchial epithelial cells. Furthermore, HBD2 expression positively correlated with FEV1/FVC ratio and inversely correlated with the cigarette smoke exposure. In a bronchial epithelial cell line (16 HBE) IL-1β significantly induced the HBD2 mRNA expression and cigarette smoke extracts significantly counteracted this IL-1 mediated effect reducing both the activation of NFkB pathway and the interaction between NFkB and HBD2 promoter. Conclusions: This study provides new insights on the possible mechanisms involved in the alteration of innate immunity mechanisms in COPD. © 2012 Pace et al

Steigerung der Flughafen-Kapazität durch Modellierung und Optimierung von Flughafen-Boden-Rollverkehr : Ein Beitrag zu einem künftigen Rollführungssystem (A-SMGCS)

Thema der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Optimierung von Flughafen-Boden- Rollverkehr. Weltweit steigt die Nachfrage nach Luftverkehr. Damit steigt auch die Anzahl der Flugbewegungen an Flughäfen. Insbesondere große Drehkreuzflughäfen stoßen weltweit schon heute an ihre Kapazitätsgrenzen. Kapazitätserweiterungen durch Neu- oder Ausbauten sind aber nur noch in Ausnahmefällen möglich. Besondere Bedeutung kommt daher der effizienteren Nutzung der bestehenden Infrastruktur zu. Der Boden-Rollverkehr wurde bisher weitgehend als unbegrenzte Ressource angesehen. Eine genaue Analyse zeigt aber, dass der Rollverkehr durchaus ein Kapazitätsengpass sein kann. Durch die Planung und Optimierung der Routenführung des Rollverkehrs soll daher ein Effizienzgewinn erzielt werden. Ein solches Optimierungsverfahren stellt als Planungskomponente zugleich einen wichtigen Bestandteil eines künftigen Rollverkehrsführungssystems (A-SMGCS) dar. Eine Analyse des Rollverkehrs, seiner Funktion im Betriebsablauf und seiner für eine Modellierung wichtigen Eigenschaften führt zum Optimierungsziel der minima-len mittleren Rollzeiten. Ausgehend von dieser Zielsetzung wird eine Zielfunktion formuliert, deren Nebenbedingungen die Systemeigenschaften des Rollverkehrs mathematisch beschreiben. Es wird ein Algorithmus entwickelt, der kürzeste konfliktfreie Rollrouten mit Hilfe von Zeitfenstern und zielgerichteter Suche plant. Zur Validierung dieses Rollverkehrs-Algorithmus wird ein großer Verkehrsflughafen graphentheoretisch modelliert. Mit Hilfe des neuen Algorithmus werden dann realistische Rollverkehrs-Szenarien optimiert. Die Validierung selbst erfolgt sodann durch den Vergleich mit echten, im Flugbetrieb gemessenen Rollverkehrszeiten. Der Vergleich ergibt, dass der neue Algorithmus einen deutlichen Effizienzgewinn gegenüber dem heutigen Rollverkehrsbetrieb ermöglicht. Die Zeitersparnis für jeden Rollvorgang beträgt im Mittel mindestens ca. 5%, wobei besonders hervorzuheben ist, dass der Algorithmus in keinem untersuchten Fall im Mittel schlechter abschnitt als die Realität. Die maximale erreichte Zeitersparnis lag in allen untersuchten Szenarien konsistent bei deutlich über 20%. Damit wurde gezeigt, dass die Optimierung des Rollverkehrs das Potenzial besitzt, den Flughafenbetrieb effizienter zu machen. Zugleich wurde bewiesen, dass der in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte Algorithmus grundsätzlich geeignet ist, dieses Potenzial zu erschließen.This thesis presents a new algorithm for Airport Ground Traffic Optimization. Demand for air transportation is constantly growing world-wide, and with it the number of aircraft movements at airports. Especially big hub airports in a number of countries are already operating close to or above their respective capacity limits. However, enhancement of airport capacity by building new airports or extending the existing ones is not usually an option. Hence, exploiting the existing infrastructure efficiently is of paramount concern. Aprons and taxiways have up till now been usually regarded as an unlimited resource. Thorough analysis proves, however, that taxi traffic can indeed become a limiting factor in certain instances. Thus, it is hoped that planning and optimizing taxi routing will lead to greater efficiency. Optimization of taxi traffic will also be required as a planning component of a future Advanced Airport Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS). An analysis of taxi traffic, of its role in airport operations and of its properties which affect modelling make clear the necessity to minimize average taxi times. This necessity is translated into an objective function, the side conditions of which describe the system properties of taxi traffic mathematically. An algorithm is developed that plans shortest conflict-free taxi routes by means of time windows and targeted search. This taxi traffic algorithm is validated by being applied to the graph model of a large airport. Using the new algorithm, realistic taxi traffic scenarios are optimized. Validation itself is achieved by comparing the optimization results with actual taxi times observed in real-life airport operations. The result of this comparison is that the new algorithm increases efficiency significantly beyond present taxi operating procedures. The time saved per taxi roll is about 5% on average. It is especially noteworthy that in none of the instances studied does the algorithm perform worse than the present operations. The maximum time saved was consistently above 20% in all the scenarios studied. It was thus proved that optimizing taxi traffic has the potential to make airport operations more efficient. It was also shown that the algorithm presented in this thesis might help turn this potential into actual savings

Jacques T. E. Thomas, Étienne de Fougères, Le Livre des Manières

Avec cette publication la série dirigée par le médiéviste anversois Herman Braet auprès de l’éditeur Peeters arrive à son vingtième volume. La série avait déjà accueilli en 2002 les deux volumes que J. Thomas avait dédiés à l’A. anglo-normand Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence et La Vie de Saint Thomas de Canterbury. L’A. reste fidèle à sa pratique d’accompagner l’édition du texte (dans le cas de Guernes principalement celle de E. Walberg) d’une traduction en français moderne et d’un très ample a..

Wendy Pfeffer et Robert A. Taylor, Bibliographie de la littérature occitane : trente années d’études (1977-2007)

En 1977, Robert A. Taylor publia sa bibliographie sélective et critique de la littérature occitane du Moyen Âge ; trente-quatre ans plus tard sort une nouvelle bibliographie sous la direction du même auteur et de son ancienne élève Wendy Pfeffer. Cette fois-ci, il s’agit d’une œuvre conçue différemment, une bibliographie qui se veut « aussi inclusive que possible » en étirant le champs d’investigation du Moyen Âge jusqu’aux Temps Modernes. Si R. Taylor reste fidèle au moyen âge, W. Pfeffer pr..

Tony Hunt (éd.), Les Paroles Salomun

Quand T. Hunt évoque dans son Introduction l’activité du « tireless Paul Meyer », on est presque tenté d’accorder cette qualification à T. Hunt lui-même qui nous procure régulièrement des éditions et des analyses impeccables de textes didactiques et bibliques (récemment aussi de textes médicaux) médievaux, anglo-normands et français, comme entre autres « The Auctores and the Liber Catonianus, Teaching and Lerning Latin in Thirteenth-Century England » (Cambridge, 1992, 2 vol.), « Les Proverbez..

Quantitative pulmonary imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Measurements of lung function, including spirometry and body plethesmography, are easy to perform and are the current clinical standard for assessing disease severity. However, these lung functional techniques do not adequately explain the observed variability in clinical manifestations of disease and offer little insight into the relationship of lung structure and function. Lung imaging and the image-based assessment of lung disease has matured to the extent that it is common for clinical, epidemiologic and genetic investigation to have a component dedicated to image analysis. There are several exciting imaging modalities currently being used for the non-invasive study of lung anatomy and function. In this review, we will focus on two of them; X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Following a brief introduction of each method, we detail some of the most recent work being done to characterize smoking-related lung disease and the clinical applications of such knowledge