An Application of the Moving Frame Method to Integral Geometry in the Heisenberg Group

We show the fundamental theorems of curves and surfaces in the 3-dimensional Heisenberg group and find a complete set of invariants for curves and surfaces respectively. The proofs are based on Cartan's method of moving frames and Lie group theory. As an application of the main theorems, a Crofton-type formula is proved in terms of p-area which naturally arises from the variation of volume. The application makes a connection between CR geometry and integral geometry

Modulation of Adult Neurogenesis in the Olfactory Bulb in an Acute Mouse Model of Parkinson´s Disease

Hyposmia, often preceding the cardinal motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor at rest and postural instability, is frequently reported in PD. This symptom appears to be related to an increased number of dopamine neurons in the periglomerular layer (PGL) of the OB. In the histological study, we have investigated the survival and neuronal differentiation of NPC in the OB, following L-DOPA and/or Selegiline in a unilateral, intranigral 6-OHDA lesion model in mice. Our data show that the number of NPC in the SVZ is decreased after 6-OHDA lesion, while there is no difference from control in lesioned mice with Selegiline or L-DOPA treatment. Moreover, the monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor, Selegiline, is able to normalize the number of dopamine neurons by increasing the number of TUNEL+ cell and reverses the dopaminergic differentiation to control in the PGL, while L-DOPA treatment sustains the increased number, by increasing the survival of NPC and upregulating 2-fold dopaminergic differentiation observed in 6-OHDA lesioned animals. In the behavioral study, to understand the olfactory function after 6-OHDA lesion and the effects of Selegiline treatment, six different experimental groups were investigated and performed an olfactory discrimination test. The data show that a delayed olfactory deficit was first appeared 12 weeks post 6-OHDA lesion and the recovery of olfactory function followed a daily, chronic treatment of Selegiline for additional 12 weeks. However, the olfactory dysfunction of the animals relapses again after a 4-week withdrawal of Selegiline treatment. To combine the findings of our studies, we conclude that there is a distinct modulation of newly generated dopamine neurons of the OB after L-DOPA and/or Selegiline treatment. Furthermore, a delayed olfactory deficit was detected after a downregulation of adult neurogenesis, and only a chronic, continuous treatment of Selegiline can reverse the olfactory dysfunction in an acute mouse model of PD. Our findings provide practical implications and stimulate further clinical and preclinical research, bridging the basic knowledge of hyposmia of PD from bench to bedside. Although the relationship of hyposmia and an increased number of dopamine neurons in the OB of PD patients is not well defined yet, the evidence in this study may offer the explanation, that the dysregulation of adult neurogenesis might be one of reasons to cause hyposmia of PD. Moreover, the effects of Selegiline on olfactory function could be a consideration for clinical application. However, further studies are needed to show whether the interaction of dopamine depletion and drug treatment plays a role in olfactory function in PD patients

Aberrantly Expressed CeRNAs Account for Missing Genomic Variability of Cancer Genes via MicroRNA-Mediated Interactions

There is growing evidence that RNAs compete for binding and regulation by a finite pool of microRNAs (miRs), thus regulating each other through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. My dissertation work focused on systematically studying ceRNA interactions in cancer by reverse-engineering context-specific miR-RNA interactions and ceRNA regulatory interactions across multiple tumor types and study the effects of these interactions in cancer. I attempted to use ceRNA interactions to explain how genetic and epigenetic alterations are propagated to target established drivers of tumorigenesis. Using bioinformatics analysis of primary tumor samples and experimental validation in cell lines, I have investigated the roles that mRNAs and noncoding RNAs can play in tumorigenesis via ceRNA interactions. Specifically, I studied how RNAs target tumor-suppressors and oncogenes as ceRNAs, and attempted to accounting for some of the missing genomic variability in tumors

Scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems with automated guided vehicles using petri net models

In this thesis, Petri net models for Flexible Manufacturing Systems (EMS) are constructed. A firing sequence of the Petri net from the initial marking to the final marking can be seen as a schedule of the modeled FMS. By using the branch-and-bound algorithm, an optimal schedule of the FMS can be obtained. Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) are increasingly used for material handling in factories and warehouses. An AGVS can reduce labor costs and is ready to be integrated into an automated factory. This thesis presents two AGVS models (shared and duty) which integrate the control of AGVS with the control of part processing facilities. Both types of AGVS are modeled by Petri nets. We want to compare the two AGVS in terms of systems performance and discuss which application is more suitable for each AGVS type. We also want to consider and solve AGV jam problems. The objective of the AGV jam-free control module is to guarantee a jam-free condition among AGVs in an EMS. Results have been obtained and analyzed

Open-closed Gromov-Witten invariants of 3-dimensional Calabi-Yau smooth toric DM stacks

We study open-closed orbifold Gromov-Witten invariants of 3-dimensional Calabi-Yau smooth toric Deligne-Mumford (DM) stacks (with possibly non-trivial generic stabilizers and semi-projective coarse moduli spaces) relative to Lagrangian branes of Aganagic-Vafa type. We present foundational materials of enumerative geometry of stable holomorphic maps from bordered orbifold Riemann surfaces to a 3-dimensional Calabi-Yau smooth toric DM stack with boundaries mapped into a Aganagic-Vafa brane. All genus open-closed Gromov-Witten invariants are defined by torus localization and depend on the choice of a framing which is an integer. We also provide another definition of all genus open-closed Gromov-Witten invariants based on algebraic relative orbifold Gromov-Witten theory; this generalizes the definition in Li-Liu-Liu-Zhou [arXiv:math/0408426] for smooth toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds. When the toric DM stack a toric Calabi-Yau 3-orbifold (i.e. when the generic stabilizer is trivial), we define generating functions of open-closed Gromov-Witten invariants or arbitrary genus $g$ and number $h$ of boundary circles; it takes values in the Chen-Ruan orbifold cohomology of the classifying space of a finite cyclic group of order $m$. We prove an open mirror theorem which relates the generating function of orbifold disk invariants to Abel-Jacobi maps of the mirror curve of the toric Calabi-Yau 3-orbifold. This generalizes a conjecture by Aganagic-Vafa [arXiv:hep-th/0012041] and Aganagic-Klemm-Vafa [arXiv:hep-th/0105045] (proved in full generality by the first and the second authors in [arXiv:1103.0693]) on the disk potential of a smooth semi-projective toric Calabi-Yau 3-fold.Comment: 42 pages, 7 figure

Multiculturism: Issues of Malaysian female sport tourists’ in event-based sport tourism

In a multiracial society, female's leisure practices are different than the general public because their choices are controlled by the structure of society within different cultures.This study is concerned with the barriers and negotiations experienced by Malaysian females in event-based sports tourism, based on Crawford, Jackson, and Godbey's (1991) hierarchical model of leisure constraints. The barriers experienced were related to structural and cultural components.The negotiations assumed were interpersonal coordination, skill acquisition, financial resources, and time management strategies. The insights gained could benefit the related operators in preparing strategies to tap the mega-billion ringgit sports tourism market

Multiculturism: Issues of Malaysian Female Sport Tourists’ In Event-based Sport Tourism

AbstractIn a multiracial society, female's leisure practices are different than the general public because their choices are controlled by the structure of society within different cultures. This study is concerned with the barriers and negotiations experienced by Malaysian females in event-based sports tourism, based on Crawford, Jackson, and Godbey's (1991) hierarchical model of leisure constraints. The barriers experienced were related to structural and cultural components. The negotiations assumed were interpersonal coordination, skill acquisition, financial resources, and time management strategies. The insights gained could benefit the related operators in preparing strategies to tap the mega-billion ringgit sports tourism market