New Methods for Measuring Transient Interactions Between Proteins and Curved Membranes

Variations in the physical deformation of the plasma membrane play a significant role in the sorting and behavior of the proteins that occupy it. Determining the interplay between membrane curvature and protein behavior required the development and thorough characterization of a model plasma membrane with well defined and localized regions of curvature. This model system consists of a fluid lipid bilayer that is supported by a dye-loaded polystyrene nanoparticle patterned glass substrate. As the physical deformation of the supported lipid bilayer is essential to our understanding of the behavior of the protein occupying the bilayer, extensive characterization of the structure of the model plasma membrane was conducted. Neither the regions of curvature in the vicinity of the polystyrene nanoparticles or the interaction between a lipid bilayer and small patches of curved polystyrene are well understood, so the results of experiments to determine these properties are described. To do so, individual fluorescently labeled proteins and lipids are tracked on this model system and in live cells. New methods for analyzing the resulting tracks and ensemble data are presented and discussed. To validate the model system and analytical methods, fluorescence microscopy was used to image a peripheral membrane protein, cholera toxin subunit B (CTB). These results are compared to results obtained from membrane components that were not expected to show an preference for membrane curvature: an individual fluorescently-labeled lipid, lissamine rhodamine B DHPE, and another protein, streptavidin associated with biotin-labeled DHPE. The observed tendency for cholera toxin subunit B to avoid curved regions of curvature, as determined by new and established analytical methods, is presented and discussed

SARA LEE FOODS TAKES FLIGHT: AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS OF A TURKEY PLANT CLOSURE

In 1998, the Sara Lee Corporation implemented a corporate strategy of deverticalization. Bil Mar Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Sara Lee responsible for the processing of packaged meat products, followed the strategy by shutting down its turkey slaughter facility in Zeeland, Michigan. As a consequence, turkey growers in Michigan were left with no viable outlet for live bird slaughter and the potential end of live bird production in the region. This study analyzes the economic impact associated with the cessation of live bird slaughter at the Bil Mar Foods plant. The economic consequences may be as high as an $81 million loss in total industry output, a$29 million loss in income, and a total employment loss of nearly 800 jobs. Faced with these economic consequences, turkey growers in the region joined forces to form a valued-added cooperative.impact analysis, plant closure, turkey industry, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Livestock Production/Industries,

Nominal Logic Programming

Nominal logic is an extension of first-order logic which provides a simple foundation for formalizing and reasoning about abstract syntax modulo consistent renaming of bound names (that is, alpha-equivalence). This article investigates logic programming based on nominal logic. We describe some typical nominal logic programs, and develop the model-theoretic, proof-theoretic, and operational semantics of such programs. Besides being of interest for ensuring the correct behavior of implementations, these results provide a rigorous foundation for techniques for analysis and reasoning about nominal logic programs, as we illustrate via examples.Comment: 46 pages; 19 page appendix; 13 figures. Revised journal submission as of July 23, 200

Catalogue of the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy, 1889-1890

The Benjamin P. Cheney Academy catalog for the 1889-1890 school year, it\u27s last year of operation. In fall of 1890, the building was repurposed to house Washington\u27s State Normal School. The Academy did not hold the Spring term in 1890. The catalog was donated by Washington state governor Clarence D. Martin, who signed the cover in May 1952.https://dc.ewu.edu/catalogs/1021/thumbnail.jp

Defining and refining effectiveness: Applying narrative and dialogue methods in aid monitoring and evaluation

In this chapter we argue that definitions of 'effectiveness' should be negotiated and that this can be assisted through the careful selection of monitoring and evaluation methods. A flexible view of 'effectiveness' is necessary because the world is complex and ever-changing, and even more importantly because the concept is contended. Inevitably, different stakeholders in development aid hold different perspectives about what 'effectiveness' means in their context. We propose that the use of certain types of qualitative methods in monitoring and evaluation is an important way to promote dialogue on the different definitions of effectiveness between stakeholders. In support of our argument, we demonstrate how two open-ended inquiry methods were applied in the field to first define and then refine the meaning of effectiveness. We also apply a validation framework to test the quality of these methods and to generate insight into the strengths and weaknesses of their application in the field. A key strength of these methods is found to be their attention to capturing diversity of perspective. In addition, both the narrative and dialogue methods are seen to indeed facilitate the negotiation of meaning of effectiveness between the different project stakeholders. We conclude that a thoughtful and flexible approach to monitoring and evaluation that incorporates such qualitative methods enables effectiveness to be defined and refined, and is conducive to more appropriate, better managed aid.© 2007 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved

It Could Not Be Seen Because It Could Not Be Believed on June 30, 2013

Nineteen Prescott Fire Department, Granite Mountain Hot Shot (GMHS) wildland firefighters (WF) perished in Arizona in June 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, an inexplicable wildland fire disaster. In complex wildland fires, sudden, dynamic changes in human factors and fire conditions can occur, thus mistakes can be unfortunately fatal. Individual and organizational faults regarding the predictable, puzzling, human failures that will result in future WF deaths are addressed. The GMHS were individually, then collectively fixated with abandoning their Safety Zone to reengage, committing themselves at the worst possible time, to relocate to another Safety Zone - a form of collective tunnel vision. Our goal is to provoke meaningful discussion toward improved wildland firefighter safety with practical solutions derived from a long-established wildland firefighter expertise/performance in a fatality-prone profession. Wildfire fatalities are unavoidable, hence these proposals, applied to ongoing training, can significantly contribute to other well-thought-out and validated measures to reduce them

Nonparametric Markovian Learning of Triggering Kernels for Mutually Exciting and Mutually Inhibiting Multivariate Hawkes Processes

In this paper, we address the problem of fitting multivariate Hawkes processes to potentially large-scale data in a setting where series of events are not only mutually-exciting but can also exhibit inhibitive patterns. We focus on nonparametric learning and propose a novel algorithm called MEMIP (Markovian Estimation of Mutually Interacting Processes) that makes use of polynomial approximation theory and self-concordant analysis in order to learn both triggering kernels and base intensities of events. Moreover, considering that N historical observations are available, the algorithm performs log-likelihood maximization in $O(N)$ operations, while the complexity of non-Markovian methods is in $O(N^{2})$. Numerical experiments on simulated data, as well as real-world data, show that our method enjoys improved prediction performance when compared to state-of-the art methods like MMEL and exponential kernels

Spy in the sky : a method to identify pregnant small cetaceans

Acknowledgements: Survey work was conducted under NatureScot AnimalScientific Licences. University of Aberdeen, NatureScot,Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd., Moray Offshore Renew-ables Ltd., Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate and High-lands and Islands Enterprise provided funding for photo-identification surveys during 2017. Salary support for J.D. was provided by the MaRRS Laboratory (MarineRobotics and Remoting Sensing Laboratory). We thankDavid Johnston for providing valuable comments on thismanuscript. Many thanks to all the funders and colleagueswho have helped collect data for this long-term study.Thanks also to the two anonymous reviewers for provid-ing positive and valuable comments and suggestionsPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Laser photogrammetry reveals variation in growth and early survival in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins

Acknowledgements Many thanks to the Chicago Zoological Society team for their assistance during photo-identification surveys in Sarasota, Florida and the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and University of North Carolina Wilmington Marine Mammal Stranding Program for providing measurements of stranded bottlenose dolphins. Thanks to Holly Fearnbach and Isla Graham for statistical advice, to Hera Sengers and all our fieldwork assistants for their fieldwork support and to four anonymous reviewers who kindly provided comments on the manuscript. Scottish Natural Heritage, Department of Energy and Climate Change, Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd, Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd, Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate and Highlands and Islands Enterprise all provided funding for photo-identification surveys. Survey work was conducted under Scottish Natural Heritage Animal Scientific LicencesPeer reviewedPublisher PD