Distinctive cellular response to aluminum based adjuvants.

Aluminum-based adjuvants (ABAs) are used in human vaccines to enhance the magnitude of protective immune responses elicited against specific pathogens. One hypothesis is that stress signals released by aluminum-exposed necrotic cells play a role in modulating an immune response that contributes to the adjuvant's effectiveness. We hypothesized that aluminum adjuvant-induced necrosis would be similar irrespective of cellular origin or composition of the adjuvant. To test this hypothesis, human macrophages derived from peripheral monocytic cell line (THP-1) and cells derived from the human brain (primary astrocytes) were evaluated. Three commercially available formulations of ABAs (Alhydrogel, Imject alum, and Adju-Phos) were examined. Alum was also used as a reference. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species formation, and production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified. Cells were exposed to different concentrations (10-100 μg/mL) of the adjuvants for 24 h or 72 h. The two FDA approved adjuvants (Alhydrogel and Adju-Phos) decreased cell viability in both cell types. At the 72 h time point, the decrease in viability was accompanied with increased ROS formation. The size of the aluminum agglomerates was not relatable to the changes observed. After exposure to ABAs, astrocytes and macrophages presented a distinct profile of cytokine secretion which may relate to the function and unique characteristics of each cell type. These variations indicate that aluminum adjuvants may have differing capability of activating cells of different origin and thus their utility in specific vaccine design should be carefully assessed for optimum efficacy

The Shelby Farms Restoration Center: Changing Behavior Through Atmospheric Experience

Architecture has lost focus on the user experience and the influence that it creates on the overall health of society. One solution is an architecture of atmospheric experience, a theory based on the relationship between sensorial perception, cognitive perception, and environmental qualities that seeks to encourage a shift in behavior. This thesis explores how designing with atmospheric experience can create a place of well-being for all users. This is executed through the design of a wellness center that is located in Shelby Farms, Memphis, Tennessee

Neuroevolutionary learning of particles and protocols for self-assembly

Within simulations of molecules deposited on a surface we show that neuroevolutionary learning can design particles and time-dependent protocols to promote self-assembly, without input from physical concepts such as thermal equilibrium or mechanical stability and without prior knowledge of candidate or competing structures. The learning algorithm is capable of both directed and exploratory design: it can assemble a material with a user-defined property, or search for novelty in the space of specified order parameters. In the latter mode it explores the space of what can be made rather than the space of structures that are low in energy but not necessarily kinetically accessible

Optimizing thermodynamic trajectories using evolutionary and gradient-based reinforcement learning

Using a model heat engine, we show that neural network-based reinforcement learning can identify thermodynamic trajectories of maximal efficiency. We consider both gradient and gradient-free reinforcement learning. We use an evolutionary learning algorithm to evolve a population of neural networks, subject to a directive to maximize the efficiency of a trajectory composed of a set of elementary thermodynamic processes; the resulting networks learn to carry out the maximally-efficient Carnot, Stirling, or Otto cycles. When given an additional irreversible process, this evolutionary scheme learns a previously unknown thermodynamic cycle. Gradient-based reinforcement learning is able to learn the Stirling cycle, whereas an evolutionary approach achieves the optimal Carnot cycle. Our results show how the reinforcement learning strategies developed for game playing can be applied to solve physical problems conditioned upon path-extensive order parameters

Sixty years of stochastic linearization technique

Stochastic linearization technique is a versatile method of solving nonlinear stochastic boundary value problems. It allows obtaining estimates of the response of the system when exact solution is unavailable; in contrast to the perturbation technique, its realization does not demand smallness of the parameter; on the other hand, unlike the Monte Carlo simulation it does not involve extensive computational cost. Although its accuracy may be not very high, this is remedied by the fact that the stochastic excitation itself need not be known quite precisely. Although it was advanced about six decades ago, during which several hundreds of papers were written, its foundations, as exposed in many monographs, appear to be still attracting investigators in stochastic dynamics. This study considers the methodological and pedagogical aspects of its exposition

Modeling building semantics: providing feedback and sustainability

Even minor changes in user activity can bring about significant energy savings within built space. Many building performance assessment methods have been developed, however these often disregard the impact of user behavior (i.e. the social, cultural and organizational aspects of the building). Building users currently have limited means of determining how sustainable they are, in context of the specific building structure and/or when compared to other users performing similar activities, it is therefore easy for users to dismiss their energy use. To support sustainability, buildings must be able to monitor energy use, identify areas of potential change in the context of user activity and provide contextually relevant information to facilitate persuasion management. If the building is able to provide users with detailed information about how specific user activity that is wasteful, this should provide considerable motivation to implement positive change. This paper proposes using a dynamic and temporal semantic model, to populate information within a model of persuasion, to manage user change. By semantically mapping a building, and linking this to persuasion management we suggest that: i) building energy use can be monitored and analyzed over time; ii) persuasive management can be facilitated to move user activity towards sustainability

A designed phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase variant allows efficient in vivo incorporation of aryl ketone functionality into proteins

Incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins in vivo expands the scope of protein synthesis and design. p-Acetylphenylalanine was incorporated into recombinant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in Escherichia coli via a computationally designed mutant form of the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase of the host. DHFR outfitted with ketone functionality can be chemoselectively ligated with hydrazide reagents under mild conditions

Impact of the Central Government's Deficit on Public Tertiary Education Funding in Ghana

From the era of Ghana’s independence, various governments, particularly Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Administration, considered the importance of education as a tool for socio-economic engineering and national development.  Successive governments have all tried their best when it comes funding for tertiary education Ghana.  Funding is a central pillar in the growth and development of any tertiary education in Ghana. The Ghana Government funds public universities through annual budgetary allocations with a view of achieving its national goals. Over the years, demand for university education in Ghana has increased exponentially, thereby triggering growth. However, annually the government instead of incurring surplus rather incurs deficit. This trend has a negative toll on public tertiary education immensely. It is argued sometimes these public tertiary education set up are forced to operate with an element of financial distress.  Moreover, the presence of financial trouble in public universities has led to limited growth. Hence the paper sought to assess the Impact of the Central Government's Deficit on Public Tertiary Education Funding in Ghana.The paper resorted to the use of exploratory and qualitative research paradigm taking into account the use of secondary data for analysis. The outcome revealed that there exist funding challenges leading to yearly deficit burdening the government which also affect the growth of tertiary educational institutions in Ghana. Further, the findings also revealed that the problems with internally generated funds greatly influence tertiary education, in terms of enrollment, expenditure, the various sources of finance available to students as well as infrastructural development, research and faculty development, and even the promotion of technology. Keywords: Deficit, Tertiary, Education DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/13-22-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

Bob Dylan: The Prophet of Social Change in the 1960s

The 1960s was a period of social change in countries around the world and in hundreds of cities in the United States. We argue that music played a rhetorical role in bringing a vast array of people together behind a wide range of issues. The music of Bob Dylan unified people together, making Dylan a kind of prophet that put into music the voice of the people involved in the social movements of the 1960s. By considering his music rhetorically, we provide insight into how music played a key role in the social movements of the 1960s