A renorming in some Banach spaces with applications to fixed point theory

AbstractWe consider a Banach space X endowed with a linear topology τ and a family of seminorms {Rk(⋅)} which satisfy some special conditions. We define an equivalent norm ⦀⋅⦀ on X such that if C is a convex bounded closed subset of (X,⦀⋅⦀) which is τ-relatively sequentially compact, then every nonexpansive mapping T:C→C has a fixed point. As a consequence, we prove that, if G is a separable compact group, its Fourier–Stieltjes algebra B(G) can be renormed to satisfy the FPP. In case that G=T, we recover P.K. Lin's renorming in the sequence space ℓ1. Moreover, we give new norms in ℓ1 with the FPP, we find new classes of nonreflexive Banach spaces with the FPP and we give a sufficient condition so that a nonreflexive subspace of L1(μ) can be renormed to have the FPP

Efficient, specific, developmentally appropriate cre‐mediated recombination in anterior pituitary gonadotropes and thyrotropes

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101858/1/dvg22425.pd

Cre-mediated recombination in pituitary somatotropes

We report a transgenic line with highly penetrant cre recombinase activity in the somatotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Expression of the cre transgene is under the control of the locus control region of the human growth hormone gene cluster and the rat growth hormone promoter. Cre recombinase activity was assessed with two different lacZ reporter genes that require excision of a floxed stop sequence for expression: a chick Β-actin promoter with the CMV enhancer transgene and a ROSA26 knock-in. Cre activity is detectable in the developing pituitary after initiation of Gh transcription and persists through adulthood with high penetrance in Gh expressing cells and lower penetrance in lactotropes, a cell type that shares a common origin with somatotropes. This Gh-cre transgenic line is suitable for efficient, cell-specific deletion of floxed regions of genomic DNA in differentiated somatotropes and a subset of lactotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. genesis 47:55–60, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61524/1/20462_ftp.pd

Cre-mediated recombination in the pituitary gland

Summary: Organ-specific expression of a cre recombinase transgene allows for the analysis of gene function in a particular tissue or cell type. Using a 4.6 kb promoter from the mouse glycoprotein hormone Α-subunit (Α GSU or Cga ) gene, we have generated and characterized a line of transgenic mice that express cre recombinase in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland. Utilizing a cre-responsive reporter transgene, ΑGSU-cre transgene expression was detected in the pituitary primordium and in all five cell types of the adult anterior pituitary. ΑGSU-cre transgene activity was also detected in the cardiac and skeletal muscle. Little or no activity was evident in the gonads, adrenal glands, brain, ventromedial hypothalamus, or kidneys. The ΑGSU-cre transgenic mice characterized here will be a valuable tool for examining gene function in the pituitary gland. genesis 28:167–174, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35265/1/120_ftp.pd

Fibrillation of chain branched poly (lactic acid) with improved blood compatibility and bionic structure

YesHighly-oriented poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with bionic fibrillar structure and micro-grooves was fabricated through solid hot drawing technology for further improving the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA as blood-contacting medical devices. In order to enhance the melt strength and thus obtain high orientation degree, PLA was first chain branched with pentaerythritol polyglycidyl ether (PGE). The branching degree as high as 12.69 mol% can be obtained at 0.5 wt% PGE content. The complex viscosity, elastic and viscous modulus for chain branched PLA were improved resulting from the enhancement of molecular entanglement, and consequently higher draw ratio can be achieved during the subsequent hot stretching. The stress-induced crystallization of PLA occurred during stretching, and the crystal structure of the oriented PLA can be attributed to the α′ crystalline form. The tensile strength and modulus of PLA were improved dramatically by drawing. Chain branching and orientation could significantly enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging clotting time and decreasing hemolysis ratio, protein adsorption and platelet activation. Fibrous structure as well as micro-grooves can be observed for the oriented PLA which were similar to intimal layer of blood vessel, and this bionic structure was considered to be beneficial to decrease the activation and/or adhesion of platelets

A GRFa2/Prop1/Stem (GPS) Cell Niche in the Pituitary

BACKGROUND: The adult endocrine pituitary is known to host several hormone-producing cells regulating major physiological processes during life. Some candidates to progenitor/stem cells have been proposed. However, not much is known about pituitary cell renewal throughout life and its homeostatic regulation during specific physiological changes, such as puberty or pregnancy, or in pathological conditions such as tumor development. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have identified in rodents and humans a niche of non-endocrine cells characterized by the expression of GFRa2, a Ret co-receptor for Neurturin. These cells also express b-Catenin and E-cadherin in an oriented manner suggesting a planar polarity organization for the niche. In addition, cells in the niche uniquely express the pituitary-specific transcription factor Prop1, as well as known progenitor/stem markers such as Sox2, Sox9 and Oct4. Half of these GPS (GFRa2/Prop1/Stem) cells express S-100 whereas surrounding elongated cells in contact with GPS cells express Vimentin. GFRa2+-cells form non-endocrine spheroids in culture. These spheroids can be differentiated to hormone-producing cells or neurons outlining the neuroectoderm potential of these progenitors. In vivo, GPSs cells display slow proliferation after birth, retain BrdU label and show long telomeres in its nuclei, indicating progenitor/stem cell properties in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest the presence in the adult pituitary of a specific niche of cells characterized by the expression of GFRa2, the pituitary-specific protein Prop1 and stem cell markers. These GPS cells are able to produce different hormone-producing and neuron-like cells and they may therefore contribute to postnatal pituitary homeostasis. Indeed, the relative abundance of GPS numbers is altered in Cdk4-deficient mice, a model of hypopituitarism induced by the lack of this cyclin-dependent kinase. Thus, GPS cells may display functional relevance in the physiological expansion of the pituitary gland throughout life as well as protection from pituitary disease

Comparative genomics reveals functional transcriptional control sequences in the Prop1 gene

Mutations in PROP1 are a common genetic cause of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). We used a comparative genomics approach to predict the transcriptional regulatory domains of Prop1 and tested them in cell culture and mice. A BAC transgene containing Prop1 completely rescues the Prop1 mutant phenotype, demonstrating that the regulatory elements necessary for proper PROP1 transcription are contained within the BAC. We generated DNA sequences from the PROP1 genes in lemur, pig, and five different primate species. Comparison of these with available human and mouse PROP1 sequences identified three putative regulatory sequences that are highly conserved. These are located in the PROP1 promoter proximal region, within the first intron of PROP1, and downstream of PROP1. Each of the conserved elements elicited orientation-specific enhancer activity in the context of the Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase minimal promoter in both heterologous and pituitary-derived cells lines. The intronic element is sufficient to confer dorsal expansion of the pituitary expression domain of a transgene, suggesting that this element is important for the normal spatial expression of endogenous Prop1 during pituitary development. This study illustrates the usefulness of a comparative genomics approach in the identification of regulatory elements that may be the site of mutations responsible for some cases of MPHD

Hands-On ROS for Robotics Programming

Connecting a physical robot to a robot simulator using the Robot Operating System (ROS) infrastructure is one of the most common tasks faced by ROS engineers. In this book, you will learn how to simulate a robot in a virtual environment and achieve the desired behavior in equivalent real-world scenarios.This book begins with an introduction to the GoPiGo3 and the sensors and actuators it is equipped with. Then you will work with the GoPiGo3 digital twin by creating a 3D model from scratch and running the simulation in ROS using Gazebo. Later in the book, we will show how to use GoPiGo3 to create and control an autonomous mobile robot that is aware of its surroundings. Finally, you will learn how a robot can learn tasks that have not been programmed in the code, but are acquired by observing the environment. You will even touch on topics such as deep learning and reinforcement learning.By the end of this robot programming book, you will be well acquainted with the basics of creating specialized applicationsИспользуемые программы Adobe AcrobatПодключение физического робота к симулятору робота с использованием инфраструктуры Robot Operating System (ROS) - одна из наиболее распространенных задач, с которой сталкиваются инженеры ROS. Из этой книги вы узнаете, как моделировать робота в виртуальной среде и добиваться желаемого поведения в эквивалентных сценариях реального мира.Эта книга начинается с ознакомления с GoPiGo3 и датчиками и исполнительными механизмами, которыми он оснащен. Затем вы будете работать с цифровым двойником GoPiGo3, создав 3D-модель с нуля и запустив моделирование в ROS с помощью Gazebo. Далее в книге будет показано, как использовать GoPiGo3 для создания и управления автономным мобильным роботом, который осознает свое окружение. Наконец, вы узнаете, как робот может обучаться задачам, которые не были запрограммированы в коде, но приобретаются путем наблюдения за окружающей средой. Вы даже затронете такие темы, как глубокое обучение и обучение с подкреплением.К концу этой книги по программированию роботов вы будете хорошо знаком