Sustainable Connections: A Comprehensive Design of a Energy-Efficient Convention Center

These documents have been reviewed by Safe Assignment.Sustainable Connections: A Comprehensive Design of a Energy-Efficient Convention Center is a design thesis focused on the issue how can adaptive sustainable methods and technologies be applied to a convention center to design a energy-efficient structure? The design is of a convention center located in Shakopee Minnesota just off of the Minnesota River on the existing site of Huber Park. Creating a energy-efficient structure with new technologies will help build a connection to the environment, site and city through sustainable measures, to lessen the impact architecture has on the natural world. Architecture has a responsibility to protect, serve and improve society with sustainable design. With proper design strategies, technologies, and materials, large facilities such as convention centers can be created as energy-efficient structures serving to improve the environment and local community

Seasonal soil carbon fluxes in transitioning agricultural soils in Central Washington State: Relations to land-use, environmental factors and soil carbon-nitrogen characteristics

Changing agricultural land-use practices to increase soil carbon sequestration contributes to climate change mitigation and improved food security by moving CO2 from the atmosphere into soil as soil organic carbon (SOC). In 2016, a farm in Thorp, Washington, Spoon Full Farm, began converting land historically farmed using conventional methods of tillage and synthetic fertilizers to conservation farming methods with direct seeding and organic soil amendments with a goal of sequestering carbon in the soil. This project evaluates relationships of soil CO2 respiration and net ecological exchange (NEE) with land-use types, seasonal environmental factors (air temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature and soil moisture) and soil carbon and nitrogen properties (SOC, SON, δ13C, and δ15N) on that farm in order to inform land management decisions affecting soil carbon sequestration. Three farm land-use areas studied were: 1) no-till vegetable garden with regular organic matter amendments; 2) no-till hay fields; and 3) historically unfarmed areas. Soil CO2 fluxes were measured on these three land-use areas in spring after snowmelt; summer, when garden and hay fields are irrigated and unfarmed areas are dry; and fall when soil and air temperatures are lower and moisture has returned to soils. Continuous soil CO2 flux measurements of garden soils indicate primary environmental factors influencing soil CO2 flux during summer are air and soil temperature, and during fall are soil temperature and moisture. Garden beds have positive NEE during summer and spring days indicating net CO2 losses from soil. Garden bed respiration is likely dominated by microbial decomposition of compost. Summer period soil CO2 flux correlates with SOC for all land-use types individually, while vegetable garden SOC and SON correlate with CO2 flux annually. This suggests SOC influences summer soil CO2 flux regardless of land-use type, while annual CO2 flux from composted garden soil depends on overall organic content from compost inputs. Hay field CO2 flux during summer shows strong correlation with elevated surface SOC within the crop root zone

Rôle de la cytokine IL-15 dans l'homéostasie de l'épithélium intestinal et les maladies inflammatoires de l'intestin

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease, are characterized by increased intestinal permeability caused by intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction, a critical factor in the pathogenesis of IBD. The immune system is the major effector of this tissue damage, through the action of multiple cell types as well as soluble mediators, such as TNFα, which are currently therapeutic targets in the treatment of IBD. Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in maintenance and activation of subgroups of cytotoxic lymphocytes and macrophages in the intestinal epithelium, by acting through the 3-subunit receptor IL-15R. IL-15 receptor complex consists of a unique IL-15R alpha subunit, IL-2/IL-15R beta, and the common gamma-chain/IL-2R gamma subunit. IL-15 expression is increased in IBD and in murine models of intestinal inflammation. However, the exact role of IL-15 signaling in intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory responses, particularly in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), remains to be determined. The function of IL-15 has been widely described in immune cells, but its functions in other tissues are less well known. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role of IL-15 in the homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium and in inflammatory bowel diseases. We tested the influence of IL-15 on intestinal homeostasis in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), IL-15 deficient (Il15-/-) and IL-15R[alpha] deficient (Il15ra-/-) mice. After 7 days, macromorphological analysis of the small and large intestine of Il15 null mice did not reveal any spontaneous abnormalities when compared to WT littermates. To determine the impact of IL-15 signaling on intestinal proliferation and repair under exogenous stress, we exposed WT and Il15-/- mice to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), a chemical irritant that disrupts the intestinal epithelial barrier and results in induction of colitis. Mice deficient in Il15 did not display a decreased susceptibility to acute DSS-induced colitis. Additionally, we found that blocking IL-15 signalling on DSS-colitis onset with the TM-[beta]1 antibody, who bind to the [beta] chain of the receptor shared by cytokines IL-2 and IL-15, prevents the overall outcome of the colitis associated inflammation in Il15ra-/- mice, but not in WT mice. Using mouse in vitro crypt enteroids from WT and Il15-deficient mice, this study demonstrates that exogenous mIL-15 promoted increased mRNA levels of the Lgr5 stem cells marker only in mutant enteroids, but not other epithelial cell linage markers tested, suggesting a role of IL-15 in intestinal cell proliferation and regeneration. Intestinal enteroids stimulated with IFN[gamma] significantly reduced in vitro basal proliferation and viability in WT and Il15-deficient enteroids. Interestingly, reduced expression of the Tnfa and Cxcl10 genes was observed in Il15-deficient small intestinal organoids under IFN[gamma] treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that IL15Rα expression in intestinal cells may be needed for the recruitment and/or maintenance of the immune cell population responsible for tissue damage in the intestine. The reduce expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in Il15-deficient enteroids indicates that epithelial IL-15 regulates crypt homeostasis through the modulation of cytokines and chemokines, that can activate leukocytes in the intestinal epithelium to perpetuate inflammation.Les maladies inflammatoires intestinales (MII), telles que la colite ulcéreuse et la maladie de Crohn, sont caractérisées par une augmentation de la perméabilité intestinale causée par un dysfonctionnement de la barrière muqueuse intestinale, facteur déterminant de la pathogenèse des MII. Le système immunitaire est le principal responsable de ces lésions tissulaires, par l'action de multiples types de cellules ainsi que de médiateurs solubles, tels que le TNFα, qui sont actuellement des cibles thérapeutiques dans le traitement des MII. L'interleukine 15 (IL-15) est une cytokine pro-inflammatoire impliquée dans le maintien et l'activation de sous-groupes de lymphocytes cytotoxiques et de macrophages dans l'épithélium intestinal, en agissant par l'intermédiaire du récepteur trimérique, l'IL-15R. L'expression de l'IL-15 est augmentée chez les patients atteints de MII et dans les modèles murins d'inflammation intestinale. Cependant, le rôle exact de la signalisation de l'IL-15 dans l'homéostasie intestinale et les réponses inflammatoires, en particulier dans les cellules épithéliales intestinales (IEC), reste à déterminer. La fonction de l'IL-15 a été largement décrite dans les cellules immunitaires, mais ses fonctions dans d'autres types cellulaires sont moins bien connues. Le but de cette thèse est d'étudier le rôle de l'IL-15 dans l'homéostasie de l'épithélium intestinal et les maladies inflammatoires de l'intestin. Nous avons testé l’influence de l’IL-15 sur l’homéostasie intestinale chez les souris C57BL/6 de type sauvage (WT) et déficientes en IL-15 (Il15-/-). Après 7 jours, l'analyse macromorphologique de l'intestin grêle et du colon de souris nulles en Il15 n'a révélé aucune anomalie spontanée par rapport aux souris WT. Pour déterminer l’impact de la signalisation de l’IL-15 sur la prolifération et la réparation intestinales sous un stress exogène, nous avons exposé des souris WT et Il15-/- au dextran sulfate de sodium (DSS), un irritant chimique qui perturbe la barrière épithéliale intestinale et induit la colite. Les souris déficientes en IL-15 ne présentaient pas une sensibilité diminuée à la colite aiguë induite par le DSS. De plus, nous avons constaté que le blocage de la signalisation de l’IL-15 dans la colite induite avec DSS par l’anticorps TM-[beta]1, qui se lient à la chaîne [beta] du récepteur partagé par les cytokines IL-2 et IL-15, empêche l’apparition globale de l’inflammation associée à la colite chez les souris Il15ra-/- mais pas chez les souris WT. En utilisant des entéroïdes de cryptes provenant de souris WT et déficientes en Il15, cette étude démontre que l’IL-15 exogène induit l'augmentation du niveau d'ARNm du marqueur de cellules souches Lgr5 dans les entéroïdes mutants, mais pas les autres marqueurs de lignées des cellules épithéliales testés, suggérant un rôle de l’IL-15 dans la prolifération et la régénération des cellules intestinales. Les organoïdes intestinaux stimulés par IFN[gamma] réduisent de manière significative la prolifération basale et la viabilité in vitro dans les entéroïdes WT par rapport à ceux déficients en Il15. Fait intéressant, une différence réduite dans l’expression des gènes Tnfa et Cxcl10 a été observée dans les entéroïdes déficients en Il15. En conclusion, nos résultats suggèrent que l’expression de IL15Rα dans les cellules intestinales pourrait être nécessaire au recrutement et / ou au maintien de la population de cellules immunitaires responsable des lésions tissulaires dans l’intestin. La réduction de l'expression des médiateurs pro-inflammatoires dans les entéroïdes déficients en Il15 indique que l'IL-15 épithéliale régule l'homéostasie des cryptes par la modulation de cytokines et de chimiokines, capables d'activer les leucocytes dans l'épithélium intestinal pour perpétuer l'inflammation

The application of Near Infrared Transmittance (NIT) individual kernel sorting technology to improve grain quality from spring and durum wheat infected with Fusarium and the effects on broiler chicken performance and immune response.

This project investigated the use of new near infrared transmittance (NIT) technology for individual kernel sorting to reduce Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and mycotoxins in grain. There were two objectives: 1) determine the efficiency of sorting; and 2) assess how highly contaminated sorted grain fractions can be used in dietary challenges for broilers as a screen for methods to reduce mycotoxin exposure. Fusarium damaged kernels are associated with lower crude protein (CP) caused by fungal infestation during kernel development, and may contain varying concentrations of mycotoxins (e.g. deoxynivalenol; DON). The BoMill TriQ measures the NIT of limited spectra to predict CP variation among individual kernels at ~2 - 3 MT/hour. Five sources of downgraded grain attained from grain producers in Western Canada in 2013 were sorted into ten calibration fractions, each analyzed for CP, FDK and 16 common mycotoxins. From these analyses, three wheat sources were individually sorted into three test fractions: outliers (10%); high FDK (low CP; 20% of source); and low FDK (high CP; 70% of source). Four diet recombinations were produced based on increasing inclusion of the high % FDK fraction [0% (M0), 20% (M20), 40% (M40) or 60% (M60)] of each wheat source, providing increasing mycotoxin concentrations in the test diets. Productions of these diets from re-combining the FDK fractions enabled a 3 wheat source x 4 FDK level (M0, M20, M40, M60) factorial design. The 12 test diets were included at 70 (starter, 0 - 21 d) and 75% (grow/finisher, 21 - 35 d) of a basal diet. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1994) requirements for broilers. Eight cages of five, one-day old male Ross 308 broilers were each randomly assigned to the 12 starter diets. The number of cages were reduced to three per diet at 21 d. Broiler performance were recorded for the 0 - 21 and 21 - 35 d. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME; kcal ME/kg diet) and nitrogen retention (NR; %) were determined using digestible markers and excreta collections. Five biomarkers of immune function were measured for starter and grower/finisher periods: 1) cell-mediated immune response to injection of the T cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA); 2) humoral response to immunization with bovine serum albumin (BSA) antigen; 3) relative weights of liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius; 4) heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio; and 5) histopathology of primary and secondary immune organs. Analysis of sorting efficiency of this technology indicated that grain could be separated into 10% increments based on unique spectral ranges and their correlation to the chemical characteristics of CP. Indications were that the lowest 20% CP kernels contained increased FDK (15.4%) and DON (10.2 ppm) compared to the unsorted kernels (2.4% and 1.7 ppm). The statistical correlations between FDK, DON and CP provided the capability to produce high and low mycotoxin fractions for use in the poultry feeding trial. Analysis of growth and performance endpoints of each exposure period indicated no significant difference (P > 0.05), however AME and NR were different (P 0.05) among treatment groups in cell-mediated (PHA; 0.32 - 0.35 % change), humoral (BSA; 0.57 - 0.64 % change) or H:L ratio (0.03 - 0.13 % change) immune responses. However, histopathological examination of the spleen (P < 0.05) at 21 d and the liver (P < 0.01) at 35 d showed increases in lymphoid aggregates and/or granulopoisis in the diet containing 8 ppm DON suggesting potential adverse effects on the immune system. Overall, the results of these studies indicate that the NIT technology has the potential to produce naturally contaminated diets with various levels of mycotoxins from a single source of grain. These naturally contaminated diets may improve our ability to evaluate models to examine the effects of mycotoxin exposures to poultry or livestock

The Influences on and Impact of Economic and Community Development Policies in a Micropolitan City

As the U.S. economy changed from industry to information, small cities suffered a decline in quality of life and an increase in poverty. The existing research has focused on demographics and descriptive attributes of micropolitan cities, but not on efforts to overcome these challenges. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how a micropolitan city used economic and community development policies to rebuild its economy and improve quality of life. Using Holland\u27s conceptualization of complex adaptive systems, research questions focused on triggers for policy creation and its use to create social change by improving the local economy and reducing the effects of poverty. Data for this qualitative case study were collected through open-ended questions in semi structured interviews with policymakers (elected officials), policy implementers (city employees), and policy influencers (community leaders). Interviews were supplemented with document review and photographic observation. The data were analyzed using descriptive coding, categorical aggregation, and direct interpretation to identify overarching themes of acceptance, resilience, building on strengths, and the interwoven nature of policy. The findings indicate that economic and community development policies can lead to positive changes such as the rehabilitation of blighted areas, growth of new and existing businesses, and influence state policy, illustrating the attributes of complex adaptive systems. The positive social change implications of this study include recommendations to city administrators to develop economic and community development policy based on their unique circumstances, to build partnerships, promote community change, and build a positive mindset to benefit their city and citizens

Integration of Services for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse at the University Teaching Hospital One-Stop Centre

Objective. To improve care of sexually abused children by establishment of a "One Stop Centre" at the University Teaching Hospital. Methodology. Prior to opening of the One Stop Centre, a management team comprising of clinical departmental heads and a technical group of professionals (health workers, police, psychosocial counselors lawyers and media) were put in place. The team evaluated and identified gaps and weaknesses on the management of sexually abused children prevailing in Zambia. A manual was produced which would be used to train all professionals manning a One Stop Centre. A team of consultants from abroad were identified to offer need based training activities and a database was developed. Results. A multidisciplinary team comprising of health workers, police and psychosocial counselors now man the centre. The centre is assisted by lawyers as and when required. UTH is offering training to other areas of the country to establish similar services by using a Trainer of Trainers model. A comprehensive database has been established for Lusaka province. Conclusion. For establishment of a One Stop Centre, there needs to be a core group comprising of managers as well as a technical team committed to the management and protection of sexually abused children.Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Zambia; Zambia Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Zambia Victim Support Unit; UNICEF Zambi

Genetic Determinants of Retinal Cell Development

The central nervous system, is composed of several complex tissues that serve a wide variety of critical functions. One of these tissues residing in the eye, the retina, serves to convert incoming photons of light to neural signals that aid in the perception of vision. The retina is comprised of various cellular populations that each develop through unique set of mechanisms, many of which remained to be elucidated. In this dissertation, we have examined the genetic mechanisms underlying how specific populations of cells in the retina develop, in order to more fully understand how individual populations arise and therefore gain insight into how these populations may interact with one another in the mature retina. First, we sought to uncover genes that modulate neuronal cell number. Through the use of a forward genetic screen, we were able to study the development of the mouse retina across genetically dissimilar strains and identify genes that modulate retinal development. We uncovered a role for two novel genes, Xkr8 and Ggct, in the modulation of bipolar cell number and pursued an investigation into the genetic variants underlying cell number differences across inbred mouse strains. Secondly, we sought to elucidate novel mechanisms by how the glial population of astrocytes develop. We identified an unknown function for the gene Sox2 in the development of astrocytes as well as the retinal vasculature. Taken together, these analyses provide insight into how both neuronal and glial cell populations develop in the mouse retina. Both of these cellular populations are critical to a functioning retina and by understanding the specific mechanisms underlying how they develop, we begin to uncover how the complexity of the central nervous system arises

Transcriptional Activation by Islet1 Isoforms

The present study examined the role of alternative splicing as a mechanism to create neuronal diversity within the developing retina. The Isl1 gene has two alternatively spliced isoforms, α and β, that are present in the developing retina. The Isl1β isoform lacks a critical portion of a protein-binding domain with which Isl1 binds to Lhx3 in a known transcriptional complex (Isl1:Lhx3:Ldb1). Developmental analysis of Isl1 expression reveals the Isl1α isoform is expressed at higher levels than Isl1β throughout development and persisting into adulthood. Isl1 isoforms are present in distinct subsets of retinal ganglion cells, with Isl1β-expressing cells being restricted to cells with soma sizes under 175μ2. A luciferase assay demonstrates the Isl1β isoform is functionally distinct from Isl1α and is not capable of activating the Isl1:Lhx3:Ldb1 complex as Isl1α is. These results suggest that Isl1β containing-complexes may have unique gene targets from Isl1α and implicate the alternative splicing of Isl1 as a mechanism contributing to neuronal differentiation during retinal development

Secondary organic aerosol formation from photooxidation of naphthalene and alkylnaphthalenes: implications for oxidation of intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs)

Current atmospheric models do not include secondary organic aerosol (SOA) production from gas-phase reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Recent studies have shown that primary emissions undergo oxidation in the gas phase, leading to SOA formation. This opens the possibility that low-volatility gas-phase precursors are a potentially large source of SOA. In this work, SOA formation from gas-phase photooxidation of naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN), 2-methylnaphthalene (2- MN), and 1,2-dimethylnaphthalene (1,2-DMN) is studied in the Caltech dual 28-m^3 chambers. Under high-NO_x conditions and aerosol mass loadings between 10 and 40μgm^(−3), the SOA yields (mass of SOA per mass of hydrocarbon reacted) ranged from 0.19 to 0.30 for naphthalene, 0.19 to 0.39 for 1-MN, 0.26 to 0.45 for 2-MN, and constant at 0.31 for 1,2-DMN. Under low-NO_x conditions, the SOA yields were measured to be 0.73, 0.68, and 0.58, for naphthalene, 1- MN, and 2-MN, respectively. The SOA was observed to be semivolatile under high-NO_x conditions and essentially nonvolatile under low-NO_x conditions, owing to the higher fraction of ring-retaining products formed under low-NO_x conditions. When applying these measured yields to estimate SOA formation from primary emissions of diesel engines and wood burning, PAHs are estimated to yield 3–5 times more SOA than light aromatic compounds over photooxidation timescales of less than 12 h. PAHs can also account for up to 54% of the total SOA from oxidation of diesel emissions, representing a potentially large source of urban SOA

Chemical Composition of Gas- and Aerosol-Phase Products from the Photooxidation of Naphthalene

The current work focuses on the detailed evolution of the chemical composition of both the gas- and aerosol-phase constituents produced from the OH-initiated photooxidation of naphthalene under low- and high-NO_x conditions. Under high-NO_x conditions ring-opening products are the primary gas-phase products, suggesting that the mechanism involves dissociation of alkoxy radicals (RO) formed through an RO_2 + NO pathway, or a bicyclic peroxy mechanism. In contrast to the high-NO_x chemistry, ring-retaining compounds appear to dominate the low-NO_x gas-phase products owing to the RO_2 + HO_2 pathway. We are able to chemically characterize 53−68% of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass. Atomic oxygen-to-carbon (O/C), hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C), and nitrogen-to-carbon (N/C) ratios measured in bulk samples by high-resolution electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-TOFMS) are the same as the ratios observed with online high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-AMS), suggesting that the chemical compositions and oxidation levels found in the chemically-characterized fraction of the particle phase are representative of the bulk aerosol. Oligomers, organosulfates (R-OSO_3), and other high-molecular-weight (MW) products are not observed in either the low- or high-NO_x SOA; however, in the presence of neutral ammonium sulfate seed aerosol, an organic sulfonic acid (R-SO_3), characterized as hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid, is observed in naphthalene SOA produced under both high- and low-NO_x conditions. Acidic compounds and organic peroxides are found to account for a large fraction of the chemically characterized high- and low-NO_x SOA. We propose that the major gas- and aerosol-phase products observed are generated through the formation and further reaction of 2-formylcinnamaldehyde or a bicyclic peroxy intermediate. The chemical similarity between the laboratory SOA and ambient aerosol collected from Birmingham, Alabama (AL) and Pasadena, California (CA) confirm the importance of PAH oxidation in the formation of aerosol within the urban atmosphere