CLUE: A Cluster Evaluation Tool

Modern high performance computing is dependent on parallel processing systems. Most current benchmarks reveal only the high level computational throughput metrics, which may be sufficient for single processor systems, but can lead to a misrepresentation of true system capability for parallel systems. A new benchmark is therefore proposed. CLUE (Cluster Evaluator) uses a cellular automata algorithm to evaluate the scalability of parallel processing machines. The benchmark also uses algorithmic variations to evaluate individual system components' impact on the overall serial fraction and efficiency. CLUE is not a replacement for other performance-centric benchmarks, but rather shows the scalability of a system and provides metrics to reveal where one can improve overall performance. CLUE is a new benchmark which demonstrates a better comparison among different parallel systems than existing benchmarks and can diagnose where a particular parallel system can be optimized

Impacts of an eye invading parasite on the behaviour and ecology of its freshwater fish host

Parasites are increasingly shown to impact ecosystem processes such as population dynamics and food web interactions. This can be accomplished by altering the host’s behaviour as a side-effect of infection, a response of the host to being infected, or through direct manipulation by the parasite. Some parasites, such as those that infect the sensory organs, are more likely to impact the behaviour of their host than others. Diplostomid trematodes often infect the eyes (e.g. lens, humours, or retina) of fish as larvae where they can impact various behaviours such as escaping predators and finding food. Tylodelphys darbyi is the only identified diplostomid in New Zealand. In its juvenile stage, this parasite resides in the humours of common bully, or toitoi, Gobiomorphus cotidianus, and is particularly abundant in the fish population of Lake Hayes. In this thesis, using a series of laboratory experiments, I address the impact T. darbyi has on its host’s 1) ability to react to predators, 2) choice of microhabitat, 3) ability to compete with conspecifics, 4) personality traits, as well as 5) determine the parasite’s distribution among South Island lakes. I demonstrate that there appears to be no impact of the parasite on the host’s ability to avoid predation, however as infection increases fish spend more time actively moving about away from shelter. The more T. darbyi are present in the eyes of fish, the more likely fish are to stay closer to a food source, share a shelter, and for males to be darker in colour. Further, infection with T. darbyi appears to impact personality traits (boldness, activity, exploration, and aggression) in fish, and based on a comparison with fish from another lake where T. darbyi is absent, the parasite might also drive population-level differences in behaviour. Overall, the influence of T. darbyi on fish behaviour is subtle rather than pronounced, but detectable across multiple behaviours. Finally, I demonstrated that T. darbyi has a broader distribution on the South Island than previously recorded, and I also used molecular markers to uncover 2-3 more species of diplostomids in New Zealand, all also found in G. cotidianus. These findings indicate that the parasite impacts the behaviour of bullies in the study population, i.e. Lake Hayes, that it has the potential to drive population-level differences in its host, and that it is only one of several species of diplostomid trematode parasites in the South Island, each of which may exert its own impacts on fish behaviour. Gobiomorphus cotidianus is a ubiquitous presence in New Zealand freshwaters and as such any factor that impacts their behaviour and ecology can have wide ranging implications. Finally, this thesis further brings to light the underappreciated role of parasites in generating inter-population and inter-individual differences in host behaviour

KSU Symphony Orchestra

The KSU Symphony Orchestra presents a special program featuring concerto performances by the three winners of this year\u27s Concerto Competition, plus Infinite Ascent by Erik Morales and Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1057/thumbnail.jp

Laboratory Evaluation of Hot-Mix Asphalt Concrete Fatigue Cracking Resistance

The recent changes in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) hot mix asphalt (HMA) mix design procedures to ensure that the mixture types routinely used on Texas highways are not prone to rutting raised concerns that these mixture types are now more susceptible to fatigue cracking. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate fatigue cracking test methods and recommend that which is both simple and robust, especially in qualifying commonly used Texas mixture types. One way to minimize fatigue cracking is through material screening and selection of appropriate mix designs that are representative of fatigue-resistant HMA mixes. However, there are not many standardized laboratory fracture resistance tests that have been universally adopted for routine mix design and/or screening purposes for HMA fatigue resistance. In this study, four different fracture test methods: the Overlay Tester (OT), Direct Tension (DT), Indirect Tension (IDT), and Semicircular Bending (SCB) tests were comparatively evaluated for their potential application as surrogate tests for routine fracture resistance evaluation and screening of HMA mixes in the laboratory. The evaluation criteria included: rationality of the test concept and correlation to field performance, repeatability and variability, simplicity and practicality of the sample fabrication process, and simplicity of data analysis. Results and key findings based on the laboratory fatigue resistance characterization of various commonly used Texas coarse- and fine-graded HMA mixes (Type B, C, and D) are presented in this paper. Overall, preliminary findings indicated that no monotonically-loaded test would be appropriate as a surrogate fatigue resistance test; however, the SCB test showed potential as a repeated-loading test. Suggested SCB test improvements include developing the repeated SCB test protocol, determining the appropriate failure criterion, and correlating laboratory performance to field performance

Antibiotic Resistance

Our poster discusses an overview of antibiotic resistance. It goes into detail about what it is, how it came to be, and what medical professionals can do in their attempt to prevent it, as well as the general public. It also discusses the impact the impact antibiotic resistance has had on pharmacy, as well as the science behind it. A few organizations working towards this problem, and who keep a close eye on this issue are mentioned as well. We also discuss the determinants of health, which is essentially what is being done about it politically, individually, and the health services provided. Our goal is to stress the importance of properly taking antibiotics, and the potential to prevent this problem from happening. We hope you take some insight behind this issue after reading, and sparks an interest in this topic.https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/public_health_posters/1020/thumbnail.jp

The Congruence Effects of Social Recognition Supplied and Needed on Individual Performance Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation

21 pagesThis study utilizes person-environment (P-E) fit theory as the theoretical foundation to examine how congruence between the perceptions of social recognition supplied by supervisors, and social recognition needed by employees can increase intrinsic motivation, resulting in increased employee performance. We tested our hypotheses using polynomial regression and response surface methodology. Our findings provided partial support for our hypotheses, as a congruence between perceptions of social recognition supplied and needed did increase intrinsic motivation when the congruence amount was high. This congruence effect was also indirectly positively related to organizational citizenship behaviors. This study addresses gaps in the social recognition literature by specifically examining the role of perceived social recognition provided by direct supervisors, and its effect on intrinsic motivation, and associated performance outcomes. We discuss the implications of our findings, limitations, and future research opportunities

Cells exhibiting strong p16INK4a promoter activation in vivo display features of senescence

The activation of cellular senescence throughout the lifespan promotes tumor suppression, whereas the persistence of senescent cells contributes to aspects of aging. This theory has been limited, however, by an inability to identify and isolate individual senescent cells within an intact organism. Toward that end, we generated a murine reporter strain by “knocking-in” a fluorochrome, tandem-dimer Tomato (tdTom), into exon 1α of the p16 INK4a locus. We used this allele (p16 tdTom ) for the enumeration, isolation, and characterization of individual p16 INK4a -expressing cells (tdTom + ). The half-life of the knocked-in transcript was shorter than that of the endogenous p16 INK4a mRNA, and therefore reporter expression better correlated with p16 INK4a promoter activation than p16 INK4a transcript abundance. The frequency of tdTom + cells increased with serial passage in cultured murine embryo fibroblasts from p16 tdTom/+ mice. In adult mice, tdTom + cells could be readily detected at low frequency in many tissues, and the frequency of these cells increased with aging. Using an in vivo model of peritoneal inflammation, we compared the phenotype of cells with or without activation of p16 INK4a and found that tdTom + macrophages exhibited some features of senescence, including reduced proliferation, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activation, and increased mRNA expression of a subset of transcripts encoding factors involved in SA-secretory phenotype (SASP). These results indicate that cells harboring activation of the p16 INK4a promoter accumulate with aging and inflammation in vivo, and display characteristics of senescence

The genome sequence of the sallow kitten, Furcula furcula (Clerck, 1759)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Furcula furcula (the sallow kitten; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Notodontidae). The genome sequence is 736 megabases in span. The entire assembly (100%) is scaffolded into 29 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 17.2 kilobases in length

Interferon-γ signaling is associated with BRCA1 loss-of-function mutations in high grade serous ovarian cancer

Loss-of-function mutations of the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) are associated with breast (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC). To identify gene signatures regulated by epigenetic mechanisms in OC cells carrying BRCA1 mutations, we assessed cellular responses to epigenome modifiers and performed genome-wide RNA- and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing in isogenic OC cells UWB1.289 (carrying a BRCA1 mutation, BRCA1-null) and UWB1.289 transduced with wild-type BRCA1 (BRCA1+). Increased sensitivity to histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) was observed in BRCA1-null vs. BRCA1+ cells. Gene expression profiles of BRCA1-null vs. BRCA1+ cells and treated with HDACi were integrated with chromatin mapping of histone H3 lysine 9 or 27 acetylation. Gene networks activated in BRCA1-null vs. BRCA1 + OC cells related to cellular movement, cellular development, cellular growth and proliferation, and activated upstream regulators included TGFβ1, TNF, and IFN-γ. The IFN-γ pathway was altered by HDACi in BRCA1+ vs. BRCA1-null cells, and in BRCA1-mutated/or low vs. BRCA1-normal OC tumors profiled in the TCGA. Key IFN-γ-induced genes upregulated at baseline in BRCA1-null vs. BRCA1+OC and BC cells included CXCL10, CXCL11, and IFI16. Increased localization of STAT1 in the promoters of these genes occurred in BRCA1-null OC cells, resulting in diminished responses to IFN-γ or to STAT1 knockdown. The IFN-γ signature was associated with improved survival among OC patients profiled in the TCGA. In all, our results support that changes affecting IFN-γ responses are associated with inactivating BRCA1 mutations in OC. This signature may contribute to altered responses to anti-tumor immunity in BRCA1-mutated cells or tumors