The Identification of Genes and Brain Patterns in the Quantitative Trait Loci of Chromosome 5

In previous research, Gupta et al. (2015) analyzed gray matter density as well as volume reductions related to schizophrenia in the region of the insula and medial prefrontal cortex. Sprooten et al. (2015) then identified a set of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which is a region of DNA associated with variability in these gray matter concentration patterns. The aim of this study is to examine the QTL they found in a region of chromosome 5. We hypothesized that there will be a set of genes in the QTL on chromosome 5 that is related to abnormal brain patterns in potential disorders such as schizophrenia. We identified genes present in the region of the QTL to analyze their function and relatedness to other genes using various software like Ingenuity Pathways Analysis, and Gene Cards. We evaluated their biological functions as well as any related disorders. For the imaging and genetic analyses, the genotypic data contained 9,228 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from shared aggregated datasets. The datasets contained clinical information for 616 subjects (364 controls, 252 cases). Each subject had a corresponding brain image. We identified a set of genes, including SLC1A3, GDNF, C6, C7, and C9, that are possibly related to neurodegeneration as well as brain injury processes. Lastly, we employed the parallel independent component analysis technique (pICA) to incorporate the genetic data with brain imaging to possibly identify an area related to schizophrenia. Some of the genetic variations found corresponded to the genes C7, RPL37, and PTGER4 with a correlation of 0.1012. C7, RPL37, and PTGER4 are involved in the immune system, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. These genes were correlated with the imaging pattern from the pICA in the regions of the cerebellum, vermis, and mid-temporal lobe. Further analyses are needed to evaluate the correlation obtained from the pICA

The role of ofatumumab in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia resistant to previous therapies

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an indolent but incurable disease. Despite the improvement of the available therapies, the management of heavily-treated CLL patients represents a challenge for modern practitioners. Ofatumumab is a second-generation, fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has shown activity in CLL patients who have failed very effective therapies such as fludarabine, alemtuzumab and rituximab. Potential benefits of ofatumumab include powerful complement-dependent cytotoxicity, less immunogenicity, faster infusions and activity in resistant CLL patients. Recently, the FDA has approved ofatumumab for the treatment of CLL patients who have failed fludarabine and alemtuzumab-based regimens. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding pharmacology, mechanism of action, pre-clinical and clinical development, and the role of ofatumumab for the treatment of CLL patients who have failed previous therapies. Further research is necessary to further define the role of ofatumumab in the treatment of CLL

Using Machine Learning to Predict Swine Movements within a Regional Program to Improve Control of Infectious Diseases in the US.

Between-farm animal movement is one of the most important factors influencing the spread of infectious diseases in food animals, including in the US swine industry. Understanding the structural network of contacts in a food animal industry is prerequisite to planning for efficient production strategies and for effective disease control measures. Unfortunately, data regarding between-farm animal movements in the US are not systematically collected and thus, such information is often unavailable. In this paper, we develop a procedure to replicate the structure of a network, making use of partial data available, and subsequently use the model developed to predict animal movements among sites in 34 Minnesota counties. First, we summarized two networks of swine producing facilities in Minnesota, then we used a machine learning technique referred to as random forest, an ensemble of independent classification trees, to estimate the probability of pig movements between farms and/or markets sites located in two counties in Minnesota. The model was calibrated and tested by comparing predicted data and observed data in those two counties for which data were available. Finally, the model was used to predict animal movements in sites located across 34 Minnesota counties. Variables that were important in predicting pig movements included between-site distance, ownership, and production type of the sending and receiving farms and/or markets. Using a weighted-kernel approach to describe spatial variation in the centrality measures of the predicted network, we showed that the south-central region of the study area exhibited high aggregation of predicted pig movements. Our results show an overlap with the distribution of outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which is believed to be transmitted, at least in part, though animal movements. While the correspondence of movements and disease is not a causal test, it suggests that the predicted network may approximate actual movements. Accordingly, the predictions provided here might help to design and implement control strategies in the region. Additionally, the methodology here may be used to estimate contact networks for other livestock systems when only incomplete information regarding animal movements is available

Creating Opportunity for Immigrant Women and Girls in the Chicago Region: Recommendations for the Chicago Foundation for Women's Civic Plan

Division sought to understand what economic, health, and violence-related issues are most pressing for immigrant women in the Chicago region, their families, and their communities. These findings are the result of a research and information gathering process with Chicago-area immigrant women, social service providers who work with immigrant communities, a literature review on related topics, and a scan of change efforts in other states and localities related to issues impacting immigrant women and their families. This report documents the key issues facing immigrant women in the Chicago region and prioritizes those concerns into actionable micro- and systems-level recommended change efforts. The Chicago Foundation for Women is building the concerns of immigrant women into their Civic Plan, and other community organizations and advocates can learn from the voices of impacted women themselves to ensure their efforts are aligned with the true needs and desires of the community

Fancy and imagination: Cultivating sympathy and envisioning the natural world for the modern child.

This dissertation examines the attitudes that scientists, educators, and nature-writers held toward fancy and imagination in nature-study and nature books for children around the turn of the century. In a period where science was professionalizing, scientists were respected for their authority on the natural world, and nature was increasingly valued as a source for rational knowledge, there were those who allowed for a fanciful and imaginative approach toward nature, especially for children. Some educators, nature-writers, and even scientists, argued that fancy and imagination were natural to the developmental process of children and were necessary in order to balance the overly rational view of nature that the modern world provided. This dissertation examines the debate over the roles of fancy and imagination that occurred in nature-study and educational journals. Most science supporters sought to control the direction of nature-study and devalue fancy and imagination in order to promote the values of science. However, amongst this group, there were those who advocated a more moderate approach toward nature-study that allowed for fancy and imagination in moderation. This dissertation explores this position through the work of Liberty Hyde Bailey, Dean of the College of Agriculture at Cornell. Bailey approached nature with a dual outlook; he valued scientific rationality, but in the case of nature-study he argued that "fact is not to be worshipped" because, he advocated, children should be encouraged to develop an artistic outlook on nature. This dissertation also examines the debate over the roles of fancy and imagination in nature books for children. Again, participants were divided; and again, some nature-writers advocated a balance between imaginative, fanciful stories and factual information. This dissertation explores this position through the work Mabel Osgood Wright, an author of nature field guides and narratives for children. Wright incorporated fanciful and imaginative elements into her stories by anthropomorphizing her animal characters, but she also maintained that the information presented was factual. Both Bailey and Wright were motivated in their stance on fancy and imagination to encourage children to form a sympathetic bond with nature so that they may, in turn, respect the natural world

Cell growth performance with a new single-use film

The biomanufacturing world has increasingly adopted single-use systems to achieve greater efficiency and productivity, reduce capital investment in facilities and equipment, and decrease risk of cross-contamination. Along with the many benefits, single-use technologies can also pose some risks. Polymers in single-use systems have the potential to introduce unwanted chemicals into the manufacturing process fluid. The anti-oxidant Irgafos 168® is commonly used in industry films. Hammond, et. al.1 found that when oxidized Irgafos 168® is subjected to gamma irradiation, bis (2,4-ditert-butylphenyl) phosphate (bDtBPP) is formed. Studies have shown bDtBPP is a cell growth inhibitor even at low concentrations (ppm range) for CHO cells. Here we present an evaluation of the effects of Merck’s new, Irgafos 168® free, multi-layer on cell growth and protein production. A deep dive fed batch production study was performed with four recombinant CHO cells lines in order to investigate the effects of this newly developed film on cell culture performance and productivity. Similar growth patterns as well as highly similar protein titers were seen with all cell lines grown in media incubated with the new film as compared to glass. No negative effects were shown when using Merck’s new film with any of the studied cell lines. 1Hammond M, Nunn H, Rogers G, Lee H, Marghitoiu AL, Perez L, Nashed-Samuel Y, Anderson C, Vandiver M, Kline S 2013, ‘Identification of a leachable compound detrimental to cell growth in single-use bioprocess containers’, PDA J Pharm Sci Technol, vol. 67, no. 2, pp. 123-134

The Effects Of Plastics Intake on Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster is commonly used as a model organism to study countless human health-related issues and concerns (Pandey et al., 2011. From a global aspect, pollution, in all its forms, is an ever-growing concern. In particular, plastics, due to their incapability to decompose, has raised many questions pertaining to the effect this will have on our already struggling planet and ultimately what those effects mean for the human race. Plastics are composed of a group of chemicals known as phthalates which allow the material to be as flexible and durable as it is. Phthalates are also used in a widespread category for other commonly used products such as nail polishes, shampoos, soaps, hair sprays, detergents, vinyl flooring, lubrication oils, toys, medical equipment, plastic in clothing, adhesives, car parts, etc (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Phthalates are in nearly everything we use, on the floors of the cities we walkthrough, and even in the air, we breathe. Effects on human health in relation to the exposure of phthalates are unknown since this is a relatively new concern in our era (CDCP, 2017). This study looks to measure the effects of phthalates on many aspects of Drosophila development and lifespan in order to predict potential human health threats. By diluting a solvent form of phthalates and using the CAFE assay (Diegelmann et al, 2017) we are developing an assay for phthalate exposure and its various potential effects

Mexican-American Adolescents’ Gender-Typed Characteristics: The Role of Sibling and Friend Characteristics

This study examined the role of sibling and friend characteristics in Mexican-American youth’s gender-typed characteristics (i.e., attitudes, interests, and leisure activities) in early versus middle adolescence using a sibling design. Mexican-American 7th graders (M = 12.51 years; SD = .58) and their older siblings (M = 15.48 years; SD = 1.57) from 246 families participated in home interviews and a series of seven nightly phone calls. Results revealed that younger/early adolescent siblings reported more traditional gender role attitudes than their older/middle adolescent siblings and older brothers were more traditional in their attitudes than older sisters. When comparing siblings’ gender-typed interests and leisure activities, boys reported more masculine orientations than girls and girls reported more feminine orientations than boys. Older brothers’ gender-typed characteristics were associated with the amount of time spent with and gender characteristics of their friendship group, but for younger brothers, sibling characteristics were associated with their gender-typed characteristics. In contrast, both sibling and friendship characteristics were significantly associated with older and younger sisters’ gender-typed characteristics. The discussion addressed the different correlates of older and younger sisters’ and brothers’ gender-typed characteristics

Margalefidinium polykrikoides Cyst Resuspension in the Lafayette River, a Sub-tributary of the Chesapeake Bay

Harmful Algal Blooms are a collection of algae in a body of water that can cause serious environmental issues and health problems in both people and aquatic organisms. Dinoflagellates are microscopic, unicellular, and eukaryotic organisms that are well known for forming harmful algal blooms because of eutrophication. Coastal Virginia suffers from HABs in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. A common species of dinoflagellate, known as Margalefidinium polykrikoides exists in the Chesapeake Bay. The purpose of this study is to determine if sediment resuspension produced by wind generated surface gravity waves cause cysts (dinoflagellate resting stages) to be suspended into the water column, which could contribute to bloom initiation if they germinate and then inoculate the water column with motile cells. Using light microscopy and qPCR, we will determine the percentage of resuspended dinoflagellate cysts being identified as Margalefidinium polykrikoides