EMBRYONIC BONE DEVELOPMENT AND NFAT EXPRESSION IN THE TS65DN MOUSE MODEL FOR DOWN SYNDROME

poster abstractDown syndrome (DS) is a common genetic disorder that occurs in ap-proximately 1 out of every 750 live births. DS phenotypes include cognitive deficits, altered craniofacial features, muscle hypotonia, heart defects, and abnormal bone structure. The Ts65Dn mouse model is the most common or-ganismal model used to study DS phenotypes. This model exhibits a number of phenotypic traits comparable to those of humans with DS, including bone anomalies. Past studies have shown that Ts65Dn mice exhibit weaker tra-becular bone due to less trabeculae. They have also been shown to have less bone mineral density and bone mineral content at 6 weeks of age when compared to their euploid counterparts, with the severity of these defects lessening by 16 weeks. No studies of bone development have yet decisively identified the origin of these defects. We hypothesized that abnormal endochondral ossification is responsible for the presence of these deficien-cies in bone mineral content and bone mineral density. Aberrant expression of Nfat has been implicated as the molecular cause of many DS-related phe-notypes, and activity of Nfat can be determined based upon its localization. Specifically, Nfat has been shown to control many aspects of bone develop-ment, which makes it of special interest to this research. To test our hypoth-esis of a bone deficit present during embryonic development of Ts65Dn em-bryos, we are comparing cartilaginous template characteristics, progression of the mineralization front, osteoclast activity, percent bone volume, and Nfat localization in euploid and trisomic mouse femurs at embryonic day 17.5. Our preliminary data show lower percent bone volumes in trisomic fe-murs, suggesting that endochondral ossification in Ts65Dn mice lags behind that of their euploid counterparts. These results indicate that DS bone phe-notypes do indeed originate during embryonic development and create a foundation for future work on their treatment. Supported by: National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellowship; Jerome Lejeune Foundatio

Effect of sorbitol in callus induction and plant regeneration in wheat

Six wheat genotypes were evaluated for their response to callus induction and regeneration on MS medium modified with different concentrations of sorbitol, that is, 0, 10, 20, 30 gL-1 along with optimum (3 mgL-1) concentration of 2,4-D. Variability was observed among different genotypes for callus induction. Highest callus induction frequency was shown by Wafaq- 2001, which was about 85.62% followed by Inqalab-91 which showed 71.94% callus induction. While minimum callus induction frequency was shown by Saleem-2000 which was about 51.21%. Regarding sorbitol concentration highest average callus induction frequency (79.20%) was obtained at 20 gL-1 and lowest average callus induction frequency (59.20%) was observed at 30 gL-1. In Wafaq-2001 and Inqalab-91 plant regeneration increased gradually by increasing the sorbitol concentration from 0 to 20 gL-1 but then it decreased. Similarly Auqab-2002 had no regeneration al all on non-sorbitol medium but showed regeneration on addition of sorbitol. Similarly time duration required for plant regeneration also decreased by increasing the concentration of sorbitol. It was also observed that sorbitol has given more strength to regenerated plant

Automatic image registration using evolutionary algorithm

Image registration is a process to obtain the spatial transformation of an input image to a reference image by which similarity measure is optimized between the two images. Mutual information is a similarity measure based on information theory used in the process of image registration. Mutual information compares the statistical dependency between images. Registration based on mutual information is robust and could use for a large class of mono modality and multimodality images. In this work we use mutual information as the similarity measure .There is a requirement to finding the global maxima of similarity measure, for this we use two algorithm simple genetic algorithm and share genetic algorithm and compare the result of these algorithm. In these optimization technique require several decision to made during implementation, such as encoding, selection method and evolution operator. In this work we use two selection method roulette-wheel method and tournament selection method. Result indicates that these optimization techniques can be used for efficient image registratio

Developing resilient cyber-physical systems: A review of state-of-the-art malware detection approaches, gaps, and future directions

Cyber-physical systems (CPSes) are rapidly evolving in critical infrastructure (CI) domains such as smart grid, healthcare, the military, and telecommunication. These systems are continually threatened by malicious software (malware) attacks by adversaries due to their improvised tactics and attack methods. A minor configuration change in a CPS through malware has devastating effects, which the world has seen in Stuxnet, BlackEnergy, Industroyer, and Triton. This paper is a comprehensive review of malware analysis practices currently being used and their limitations and efficacy in securing CPSes. Using well-known real-world incidents, we have covered the significant impacts when a CPS is compromised. In particular, we have prepared exhaustive hypothetical scenarios to discuss the implications of false positives on CPSes. To improve the security of critical systems, we believe that nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms can effectively counter the overwhelming malware threats geared toward CPSes. However, our detailed review shows that these algorithms have not been adapted to their full potential to counter malicious software. Finally, the gaps identified through this research have led us to propose future research directions using nature-inspired algorithms that would help in bringing optimization by reducing false positives, thereby increasing the security of such systems

Hematoma Enlargement Among Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Clinical Trial

Observational studies suggest that hematomas continue to enlarge during hospitalization in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). There is limited data regarding factors associated with hematoma enlargement and on whether hematoma enlargement contributes directly to death and disability in patients with TBI. We analyzed data collected as part of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Hypertonic Saline and TBI Study. Hematoma enlargement was ascertained and collected as a predefined safety endpoint. We evaluated the effect of hematoma enlargement on the risk of death and disability at 6 months based on the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) (dichotomized as \u3e4 or ≤4) using stepwise logistic regression analysis. We adjusted for age (continuous variable), admission GCS score (dichotomized at \u3e5 and ≤5), and computed tomography (CT) scan classification (Marshall grades entered as a categorical variable). Of the 1200 patients with severe TBI analyzed, 238 (19.8%) patients were reported to have hematoma enlargement as an adverse event. The proportion of patients who reached favorable outcome at 6 months was significantly lower (defined by GOSE of \u3e4) among patients with hematoma enlargement (29.0% vs. 40.1%, p\u3c.0001). The proportion of patients who died within 6 months was significantly higher among patients with hematoma enlargement (31.9% vs. 20.7%, p\u3c.0001). After adjusting for age, admission GCS score, and initial injury score, the odds of favorable outcome was lower in patients with hematoma enlargement (odds ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.5–0.97). Our results suggest that hematoma enlargement may be a direct contributor to death and disability in patients with TBI at 6 months. Future clinical trials must continue to evaluate new therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing hematoma enlargement with a favorable risk benefit ratio in patients with TBI

Five Bivalve Species from the Recently Discovered Coral Reef in the Marine Coastal Waters of Iraq

In the present report five bivalve species are newly recorded from the recently discovered coral reef in the coastal waters of Iraq, North West Arabian Gulf. The bivalves were inhabit a hard coral substratum as well as sand and mud substrata, at depth ranging from 7-10 m. The region is characterized by high temperature subtropical climate (temperature range: 14-34 C˚). The identified mulluscan bivalves namely Chlamys livida, Pinna bicolor, Malvifundus normalis, Barbatia decussate, and Lithophaga robusta. All the present specimens bivalves were living animals and they classified according to morphological characteristics. Specimens were deposited at the Genetic Legacy Laboratory and Museum of the Marine Science Center/ University of Basrah

Efficient Circular Repeated Measurements Designs Nearly Strongly Balanced for Carryover Effects

Repeated measurements designs (RMDs) are always economical but with the use of these designs, there may arise carryover effects. Minimal strongly balanced RMDs are well known to estimate the treatment effects and carryover effects independently. Where these minimal designs cannot be constructed, minimal nearly strongly balanced RMDs are used to balance the carryover effects. In this article, efficient circular nearly strongly balanced RMDs are constructed in periods of two and three different sizes with the smallest of size four

Effect of water current on underwater glider velocity and range

An autonomous underwater glider speed and range is influenced by water currents. This is compounded by a weak actuation system for controlling its movement. In this work, the effects of water currents on the speed and range of an underwater glider at steady state glide conditions are investigated. Extensive numerical simulations have been performed to determine the speed and range of a glider with and without water current at different net buoyancies. The results show that the effect of water current on the glider speed and range depends on the current relative motion and direction. In the presence of water current, for a given glide angle, glide speed can be increased by increasing the net buoyancy of the glider

Abnormal mineralization of the Ts65Dn Down syndrome mouse appendicular skeleton begins during embryonic development in a Dyrk1a-independent manner

The relationship between gene dosage imbalance and phenotypes associated with Trisomy 21, including the etiology of abnormal bone phenotypes linked to Down syndrome (DS), is not well understood. The Ts65Dn mouse model for DS exhibits appendicular skeletal defects during adolescence and adulthood but the developmental and genetic origin of these phenotypes remains unclear. It is hypothesized that the postnatal Ts65Dn skeletal phenotype originates during embryonic development and results from an increased Dyrk1a gene copy number, a gene hypothesized to play a critical role in many DS phenotypes. Ts65Dn embryos exhibit a lower percent bone volume in the E17.5 femur when compared to euploid embryos. Concomitant with gene copy number, qPCR analysis revealed a  ~1.5 fold increase in Dyrk1a transcript levels in the Ts65Dn E17.5 embryonic femur as compared to euploid. Returning Dyrk1a copy number to euploid levels in Ts65Dn, Dyrk1a+/− embryos did not correct the trisomic skeletal phenotype but did return Dyrk1a gene transcript levels to normal. The size and protein expression patterns of the cartilage template during embryonic bone development appear to be unaffected at E14.5 and E17.5 in trisomic embryos. Taken together, these data suggest that the dosage imbalance of genes other than Dyrk1a is involved in the development of the prenatal bone phenotype in Ts65Dn embryos