Characterization of Rhodopseudomonas Palustrus Strains for the Production of Fixed Nitrogen Fertilizer for Mars

The purpose of this project was to characterize the potential of various strains of purple non-sulfur bacteria for the production of fixed nitrogen fertilizers for the manned Mars missions. Six strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris (CGA009, CGA010, TIE-1, NifA*, and PB23) were all investigated. Through initial growth trial experiments, R. palustris NifA* and PB23 were selected for their engineered nitrogen fixation and rapid growth respectively. Growth curves and ammonium concentrations were collected over time in pilot scale batch photobioreactors (200 mL). Biomass production was then scaled up to benchtop photobioreactors (1.5 L) and then 14 L total volume for both NifA* and PB23. Cells were harvested via centrifugation, and nitrogen degradation was characterized using both volatile ammonia and soluble nitrogen arrays. While PB23 was found to grow more rapidly at small scale, NifA* performed better in scale up. Further studies will quantify rates of nitrogen degradation using the arrays developed in this Senior Design Project

Transdisciplinarity seen through Information, Communication, Computation, (Inter-)Action and Cognition

Similar to oil that acted as a basic raw material and key driving force of industrial society, information acts as a raw material and principal mover of knowledge society in the knowledge production, propagation and application. New developments in information processing and information communication technologies allow increasingly complex and accurate descriptions, representations and models, which are often multi-parameter, multi-perspective, multi-level and multidimensional. This leads to the necessity of collaborative work between different domains with corresponding specialist competences, sciences and research traditions. We present several major transdisciplinary unification projects for information and knowledge, which proceed on the descriptive, logical and the level of generative mechanisms. Parallel process of boundary crossing and transdisciplinary activity is going on in the applied domains. Technological artifacts are becoming increasingly complex and their design is strongly user-centered, which brings in not only the function and various technological qualities but also other aspects including esthetic, user experience, ethics and sustainability with social and environmental dimensions. When integrating knowledge from a variety of fields, with contributions from different groups of stakeholders, numerous challenges are met in establishing common view and common course of action. In this context, information is our environment, and informational ecology determines both epistemology and spaces for action. We present some insights into the current state of the art of transdisciplinary theory and practice of information studies and informatics. We depict different facets of transdisciplinarity as we see it from our different research fields that include information studies, computability, human-computer interaction, multi-operating-systems environments and philosophy.Comment: Chapter in a forthcoming book: Information Studies and the Quest for Transdisciplinarity - Forthcoming book in World Scientific. Mark Burgin and Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Editor

Compost Nutrient Optimization Using Algal Biomass Amendment

Wastewater treatment plants worldwide are a necessary and important function of society. Contaminated water from sewer systems is brought in, filtered, purified, and released back into our rivers and lakes in enormous quantities. The biosolids removed during the many filtration steps are digested anaerobically to produce bio-methane, and then composted with woodchips to be used as a soil amendment, capable of supplying nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients to plants for agricultural use. Although a value product, analysis of this compost has shown that the nutrient content is low compared to commercial fertilizers. This experiment will show that the addition of an algal biomass grown on a stream of the wastewater can be included in the compost to increase concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium while decreasing the toxic concentrations found in the wastewater, and that this inclusion will directly correlate to increased plant growth upon application. Two species of Lactuca Sativa (lettuce plants) grown in the amended compost were used to quantify growth and were compared against a negative control of nutrient-bare soil, and a positive control of the original compost product mixed with soil. Wet mass, dry mass, leaf count, chlorophyll content, root length, and root density were used as growth parameters to quantify differences in the plants

Membership and behavior of ultra-low-diversity pathogen communities present in the gut of humans during prolonged critical illness.

UnlabelledWe analyzed the 16S rRNA amplicon composition in fecal samples of selected patients during their prolonged stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) and observed the emergence of ultra-low-diversity communities (1 to 4 bacterial taxa) in 30% of the patients. Bacteria associated with the genera Enterococcus and Staphylococcus and the family Enterobacteriaceae comprised the majority of these communities. The composition of cultured species from stool samples correlated to the 16S rRNA analysis and additionally revealed the emergence of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in ~75% of cases. Four of 14 ICU patients harbored 2-member pathogen communities consisting of one Candida taxon and one bacterial taxon. Bacterial members displayed a high degree of resistance to multiple antibiotics. The virulence potential of the 2-member communities was examined in C. elegans during nutrient deprivation and exposure to opioids in order to mimic local conditions in the gut during critical illness. Under conditions of nutrient deprivation, the bacterial members attenuated the virulence of fungal members, leading to a "commensal lifestyle." However, exposure to opioids led to a breakdown in this commensalism in 2 of the ultra-low-diversity communities. Application of a novel antivirulence agent (phosphate-polyethylene glycol [Pi-PEG]) that creates local phosphate abundance prevented opioid-induced virulence among these pathogen communities, thus rescuing the commensal lifestyle. To conclude, the gut microflora in critically ill patients can consist of ultra-low-diversity communities of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microbes. Local environmental conditions in gut may direct pathogen communities to adapt to either a commensal style or a pathogenic style.ImportanceDuring critical illness, the normal gut microbiota becomes disrupted in response to host physiologic stress and antibiotic treatment. Here we demonstrate that the community structure of the gut microbiota during prolonged critical illness is dramatically changed such that in many cases only two-member pathogen communities remain. Most of these ultra-low-membership communities display low virulence when grouped together (i.e., a commensal lifestyle); individually, however, they can express highly harmful behaviors (i.e., a pathogenic lifestyle). The commensal lifestyle of the whole community can be shifted to a pathogenic one in response to host factors such as opioids that are released during physiologic stress and critical illness. This shift can be prevented by using compounds such as Pi-PEG15-20 that interrupt bacterial virulence expression. Taking the data together, this report characterizes the plasticity seen with respect to the choice between a commensal lifestyle and a pathogenic lifestyle among ultra-low-diversity pathogen communities that predominate in the gut during critical illness and offers novel strategies for prevention of sepsis

Fasudil Loaded PLGA Microspheres as Potential Intravitreal Depot Formulation for Glaucoma Therapy

Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors allow for causative glaucoma therapy. Unfortunately, topically applied ROCK inhibitors suffer from high incidence of hyperemia and low intraocular bioavailability. Therefore, we propose the use of poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres as a depot formulation for intravitreal injection to supply outflow tissues with the ROCK inhibitor fasudil over a prolonged time. Fasudil-loaded microspheres were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The chemical integrity of released fasudil was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The biological activity was measured in cell-based assays using trabecular meshwork cells (TM cells), Schlemm's canal cells (SC cells), fibroblasts and adult retinal pigment epithelium cells (ARPE-19). Cellular response to fasudil after its diffusion through vitreous humor was investigated by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. Microspheres ranged in size from 3 to 67 mu m. The release of fasudil from microspheres was controllable and sustained for up to 45 days. Released fasudil reduced actin stress fibers in TM cells, SC cells and fibroblasts. Decreased collagen gel contraction provoked by fasudil was detected in TM cells (similar to 2.4-fold), SC cells (similar to 1.4-fold) and fibroblasts (similar to 1.3-fold). In addition, fasudil readily diffused through vitreous humor reaching its target compartment and eliciting effects on TM cells. No negative effects on ARPE-19 cells were observed. Since fasudil readily diffuses through the vitreous humor, we suggest that an intravitreal drug depot of ROCK inhibitors could significantly improve current glaucoma therapy particularly for patients with comorbid retinal diseases

Quantifying and addressing the prevalence and bias of study designs in the environmental and social sciences

Abstract: Building trust in science and evidence-based decision-making depends heavily on the credibility of studies and their findings. Researchers employ many different study designs that vary in their risk of bias to evaluate the true effect of interventions or impacts. Here, we empirically quantify, on a large scale, the prevalence of different study designs and the magnitude of bias in their estimates. Randomised designs and controlled observational designs with pre-intervention sampling were used by just 23% of intervention studies in biodiversity conservation, and 36% of intervention studies in social science. We demonstrate, through pairwise within-study comparisons across 49 environmental datasets, that these types of designs usually give less biased estimates than simpler observational designs. We propose a model-based approach to combine study estimates that may suffer from different levels of study design bias, discuss the implications for evidence synthesis, and how to facilitate the use of more credible study designs

Head-mounted Projection Display to Support and Improve Motion Capture Acting

Current and future animations seek for realistic motions to create an illusion of authentic and believable animations. A technology widely used to support this process is motion capture. Therefore, motion capture actors are used to enrich the movements of digital avatars with suitable and believable motions and emotions. Acting for motion capture, as it is performed today, is a challenging work environment for actors and directors. Short preparation times, minimalistic scenery, limited information about characters and the performance as well as memorizing movements and spatial positions requires actors who are trained and able to highly rely on their acting and imagination skills. In many cases these circumstances can lead to performances with unnatural motions such as stiff looking and emotionless movements, as well as less believable characters. To compensate this, time-consuming repetitions of performances or post-processing of motion capture recordings is needed. To improve this, we explore the possibilities of acting support and immersion through an interactive system supporting motion capture actors during their performances. In this process, we use an approach that combines research methods from interaction design and computer science. For our research, we firstly identify the challenges actors are facing in motion capture, as well as suggest possible concepts to support the actors. Thereafter, we explore initial prototypes built to support actors during their performance in a motion capture studio. The resulting insights from these initial prototypes led to the design exploration and development of a mixed reality head-mounted projection display that allows showing virtual scenery to the actors and provides real-time acting support. Thereafter, we describe our developed mixed reality application and our findings on how hardware and software prototypes can be designed as acting support, usable in a motion capture environment. A working prototype allowing to evaluate actors' experiences and performances was built as a proof-of-concept. Additionally, we explored the possibility to use our developed mixed reality prototype in other fields and investigated its applicability for computer games and as an industrial simulator application. Finally, we conducted user studies with traditionally trained theatre and TV actors, experienced motion capture actors and experts, evaluating the experiences with our prototype. The results of these user studies indicate that our application makes it easier for motion capture actors to get into demanded moods and to understand the acting scenario. Furthermore, we show a prototype that complies with the requirements of a motion capture environment, that has the potential to improve motion capture acting results and supports actors with their performances

Ethics of Virtual Reality Applications in Computer Game Production

A current trend in the gaming industry is to provide more realistic and believable looking animation. To support this, motion capture has been used to create such animation. Lately, immersive virtual environments have been further developed and can be used to support motion capture actors with their work. Using immersive virtual environments as work environments has already been explored, but no ethical analysis or applied ethical code has been provided for such situations. In this paper, we investigate the ethical implications of introducing a highly immersive virtual environment for motion capture acting and discuss under which circumstances it is ethically justified to place an actor in such an environment. Moreover, we provide an overview of research in computer games ethics, ethics for virtual realities and acting, as well as an investigation of potential moral and ethical issues in motion capture. Finally, a discussion shall help in finding an ethical consensus within the field of motion capture and for related situations

Towards Immersive Motion Capture Acting : Design, Exploration and Development of an Augmented System Solution

Current and future animations seek for realistic motions to create a perception of authentic and human-like animations. A technology widely used for such purposes is motion capture. Therefore, to create such human-like animations, motion capture actors enrich the movements of digital avatars with realistic and believable motions and emotions. Acting for motion capture, as it is performed today, does not provide a natural acting environment. This is mostly because motion capture actors do not see and feel the virtual environment they act for, while acting. In many cases this can result in unnatural motions such as stiff looking and emotionless movements. To investigate ways to solve this, we first identify the challenges actors are facing as well as concepts to support a motion capture actor. Furthermore, we discussed, how the task of supporting motion capture actors was approached and which factors were discovered to provide support when designing and im- plementing a solution. Initial prototypes have been created to address the men- tioned issues and to find suitable solutions to support and immerse motion cap- ture actors during their performance. For this thesis, one goal was to conduct research by focusing on the question: What are the experiential qualities of immersion in an interactive system to create an immersive acting environment that supports motion capture actors. The developed application provides a flexibility to set up and modify digital assets and scenes quickly and with an easy to use interface. Furthermore, the prototype helps to provide an understanding on which hardware and software prototypes can be designed and used to build an immersive motion capture environment. The built prototype allows to investigate user experiences, user tests and the satisfaction of users and their effects on motion capture acting.

Towards Immersive Motion Capture Acting : Design, Exploration and Development of an Augmented System Solution

Current and future animations seek for realistic motions to create a perception of authentic and human-like animations. A technology widely used for such purposes is motion capture. Therefore, to create such human-like animations, motion capture actors enrich the movements of digital avatars with realistic and believable motions and emotions. Acting for motion capture, as it is performed today, does not provide a natural acting environment. This is mostly because motion capture actors do not see and feel the virtual environment they act for, while acting. In many cases this can result in unnatural motions such as stiff looking and emotionless movements. To investigate ways to solve this, we first identify the challenges actors are facing as well as concepts to support a motion capture actor. Furthermore, we discussed, how the task of supporting motion capture actors was approached and which factors were discovered to provide support when designing and im- plementing a solution. Initial prototypes have been created to address the men- tioned issues and to find suitable solutions to support and immerse motion cap- ture actors during their performance. For this thesis, one goal was to conduct research by focusing on the question: What are the experiential qualities of immersion in an interactive system to create an immersive acting environment that supports motion capture actors. The developed application provides a flexibility to set up and modify digital assets and scenes quickly and with an easy to use interface. Furthermore, the prototype helps to provide an understanding on which hardware and software prototypes can be designed and used to build an immersive motion capture environment. The built prototype allows to investigate user experiences, user tests and the satisfaction of users and their effects on motion capture acting.