Ceramics as an Ethnic Identifier: Libyans in the Nile Delta during the Third Intermediate Period

This dissertation investigates whether or not ceramics can be used to determine ethnicity, demographics, and settlement patterns of Libyans living in Lower Egypt during the Third Intermediate Period (Dynasties 21-24, ca. 1100-713 BCE). As few Libyan ceramics have been found and collated, the ceramic corpora from Mendes, Tanis, and Sais - attested Egyptian centers of Libyan habitation - were compared to the assemblages from Memphis, a city which housed both Libyans and Egyptians, and Tell El-Retaba, a city with no known Libyan settlement. This study first aimed to define a distinct Libyan identity based on textual evidence from Egyptian and Classical authors and from the archaeological evidence that has been found and published in western Egypt and in Libya. Then, these attributes were compared to the changes in the Third Intermediate Period, which occurred in Egypt after the Libyan migration and rise to power. Finally, the ceramic data, including form, fabric, and decoration, from all five sites was compared to test if the Lower Egyptian ceramic corpora also changed due to the Libyan migrations. Analysis of the archaeological material from Libya, the Egyptian and Classical texts, and the geography and climate of Libya provide evidence that the Libyans were most likely semi-nomadic agropastoralists. They may have lived and traveled with their families, and formed a segmentary state tribal society. Surveys in western Egypt and in Libya found locally made ceramics, which should have been visible in the Egyptian archaeological record after the Libyan migration into the Nile Delta. The data show that there is a change in the fabric and form at all of the sites, except for Tell El-Retaba. However, other than the ceramics found at Mendes, surface treatment and decoration vary little on the ceramics found at the other four sites. Based on an examination and comparison of pottery from Mendes, Tanis, Sais, Memphis, and Tell El-Retaba, the ceramics from the Third Intermediate Period cannot be used on their own to determine Libyan ethnicity, demographics, or migration in Egypt

Adaptive Techniques Applied to the Sequentially Optimized Meshfree Approximation

This thesis advances the meshless Sequentially Optimized Meshfree Approximation (SOMA) from a fixed grid to an adaptive one by applying residual-based adaptive techniques. In its fixed grid form, SOMA constructs an approximation of an equation solution using optimized radial basis functions (RBFs), but deletes the RBF parameters once each basis function is appropriately added. The first proposed method saves this information, constructs an approximation of the solution, and intelligently adds points to the problem domain. The second proposed method is a flexible interpolation scheme which does not require this basis saving technique, although the two techniques can be combined. When applied to various equations, these adaptive algorithms demonstrate the convergence required to achieve a satisfactory level of precision, saving time and computational effort for the same mathematical result as a denser grid. Applications of this algorithm include function approximation as well as differential equations which demonstrate its capability and robustness

An Assessment of Fire Safety in Australia’s International Student Housing

An assessment of international student awareness in fire safety issues with respect to their housing in Australia was performed by this project, which was commissioned by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council. As a basis to characterize this situation, pieces of fire safety legislation, education materials, and techniques for multicultural pedagogy were gathered and analyzed. A survey was administered to collect data from a representative population of students throughout Australia. Lapses in fire safety knowledge and compliance made apparent through the research were addressed in FireAway, an education plan, and legislative recommendations

Adipocytes Provide Fatty Acids to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that adipocytes play an active role in the cancer microenvironment. We have previously reported that adipocytes interact with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, contributing to chemotherapy resistance and treatment failure. In the present study, we investigated whether part of this resistance is due to adipocyte provision of lipids to ALL cells.MethodsWe cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and tested whether ALL cells or ALL-released cytokines induced FFA release. We investigated whether ALL cells took up these FFA, and using fluorescent tagged BODIPY-FFA and lipidomics, evaluated which lipid moieties were being transferred from adipocytes to ALL. We evaluated the effects of adipocyte-derived lipids on ALL cell metabolism using a Seahorse XF analyzer and expression of enzymes important for lipid metabolism, and tested whether these lipids could protect ALL cells from chemotherapy. Finally, we evaluated a panel of lipid synthesis and metabolism inhibitors to determine which were affected by the presence of adipocytes.ResultsAdipocytes release free fatty acids (FFA) when in the presence of ALL cells. These FFA are taken up by the ALL cells and incorporated into triglycerides and phospholipids. Some of these lipids are stored in lipid droplets, which can be utilized in states of fuel deprivation. Adipocytes preferentially release monounsaturated FFA, and this can be attenuated by inhibiting the desaturating enzyme steroyl-CoA decarboxylase-1 (SCD1). Adipocyte-derived FFA can relieve ALL cell endogenous lipogenesis and reverse the cytotoxicity of pharmacological acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibition. Further, adipocytes alter ALL cell metabolism, shifting them from glucose to FFA oxidation. Interestingly, the unsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, protects ALL cells from modest concentrations of chemotherapy, such as those that might be present in the ALL microenvironment. In addition, targeting lipid synthesis and metabolism can potentially reverse adipocyte protection of ALL cells.ConclusionThese findings uncover a previously unidentified interaction between ALL cells and adipocytes, leading to transfer of FFA for use as a metabolic fuel and macromolecule building block. This interaction may contribute to ALL resistance to chemotherapy, and could potentially be targeted to improve ALL treatment outcome

Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny

Affiliations des auteurs : cf page 216 de l'articleInternational audienceComparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species

Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny

Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species