Beyond epithelial circulating tumour cells (CTCs) : establishing important methods for CTC isolation and analysis

This thesis has demonstrated the various applications for antibody-based CTC capture, extending beyond conventional methods. We reported the inclusion of EMT-markers for detection and characterisation of EMT-CTCs in the ovarian cancer setting. This methodological advancement may prove a critical step in understanding the role EMT plays in CTC formation, metastasis and potentially therapeutic resistance. In addition, we explored integration of electron microscopy methods into CTC sample processing, allowing for ultrastructure analysis of CTCs and improving the tools to help understand CTC biology. Finally, we explored antibody-based CTC isolation methods in the melanoma setting with additional biomarker PD-L1 detection, enabling real-time monitoring of therapy response to PD-1 inhibitors. Overall, the knowledge gained from this thesis will aid the CTC research field from three different perspectives: (1) The clinical perspective: capitalize on CTC detection by adding important biomarker detection that may indicate response to therapy; (2) The technical perspective: demonstrating feasibility of integrating electron microscopy sample preparation into CTC analyses; (3) The biological perspective: establishing EMT detection in a range of cancers

Packing Hamilton Cycles Online

It is known that w.h.p. the hitting time $\tau_{2\sigma}$ for the random graph process to have minimum degree $2\sigma$ coincides with the hitting time for $\sigma$ edge disjoint Hamilton cycles. In this paper we prove an online version of this property. We show that, for a fixed integer $\sigma\geq 2$, if random edges of $K_n$ are presented one by one then w.h.p. it is possible to color the edges online with $\sigma$ colors so that at time $\tau_{2\sigma}$, each color class is Hamiltonian.Comment: Minor change

Frequency Diversity in Mode-Division Multiplexing Systems

In the regime of strong mode coupling, the modal gains and losses and the modal group delays of a multimode fiber are known to have well-defined statistical properties. In mode-division multiplexing, mode-dependent gains and losses are known to cause fluctuations in the channel capacity, so that the capacity at finite outage probability can be substantially lower than the average capacity. Mode-dependent gains and losses, when frequency-dependent, have a coherence bandwidth that is inversely proportional to the modal group delay spread. When mode-division-multiplexed signals occupy a bandwidth far larger than the coherence bandwidth, the mode-dependent gains and losses are averaged over frequency, causing the outage capacity to approach the average capacity. The difference between the average and outage capacities is found to be inversely proportional to the square-root of a diversity order that is given approximately by the ratio of the signal bandwidth to the coherence bandwidth.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Assessment of Feeding Behaviour of Baboons (Papio Anubis) in Hong Hills Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study was designed to assess the feeding behaviour of baboons of Hong hills. Direct observation method was used for the study. Data was collected for a period of eight months. The results indicate high diversity and abundance of food items for baboons in the study area. A total of 16 food plants, 4 invertebrates (millipedes, earthworms, grasshopper and crabs); 2 vertebrates (goats and sheep) and 4 crop plants (groundnuts, guinea corn, maize and beans) were observed to be eaten by baboons in the study area. Wet season food plant species include Annona senegalensis Parkia biglobosa, Ficus capensis, Syzigium guineense, Vitex doniana, Vitellaria paradoxa, Haemastostaphis barteri, Grewia molis and Nauclea latifolia while dry season food plant include Adansonia digitata, Magnifera Indica, Oxytenanthera species, Ficus platyphylla, Cactus species and Borassus aethiopum. A total of 8 food plants viz Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Magnifera indica, Cactus species, Oxytenanthera species, Nauclea latifolia, Annona senegalensis, and Vitellaria paradoxa were observed to be preferred by baboons in the study area. The result of nutritive value of the preferred food plant indicated that the highest percentages of dry matter content (83.0%), crude protein (22.6%), crude fibre (29.0%), ether extract (4.5%) and ash (27.0%) were found Adansonia digitata, Magnifera Indica, Annona senegalensis, Vitellaria paradoxa, and Adansonia digitata respectively. In this study area, baboon food resources appeared to be adequate representing a potential for good carrying capacity

Ancient west Eurasian ancestry in southern and eastern Africa

The history of southern Africa involved interactions between indigenous hunter-gatherers and a range of populations that moved into the region. Here we use genome-wide genetic data to show that there are at least two admixture events in the history of Khoisan populations (southern African hunter-gatherers and pastoralists who speak non-Bantu languages with click consonants). One involved populations related to Niger-Congo-speaking African populations, and the other introduced ancestry most closely related to west Eurasian (European or Middle Eastern) populations. We date this latter admixture event to approximately 900-1,800 years ago, and show that it had the largest demographic impact in Khoisan populations that speak Khoe-Kwadi languages. A similar signal of west Eurasian ancestry is present throughout eastern Africa. In particular, we also find evidence for two admixture events in the history of Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ethiopian populations, the earlier of which involved populations related to west Eurasians and which we date to approximately 2,700 - 3,300 years ago. We reconstruct the allele frequencies of the putative west Eurasian population in eastern Africa, and show that this population is a good proxy for the west Eurasian ancestry in southern Africa. The most parsimonious explanation for these findings is that west Eurasian ancestry entered southern Africa indirectly through eastern Africa.Comment: Added additional simulations, some additional discussio

On a certain boundary value problem and its relevance in the theory of surface induction hardening.

Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1973 .C365. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-13, Section: A. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1974

Importance and Detection of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Phenotype in CTCs

The current dogma is that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes circulating tumour cell (CTC) formation and is ultimately a driver of metastasis. There is also accumulating evidence that EMT-phenotype changes are commonly associated with therapy resistance. Thus, capturing EMT-phenotype CTCs is expected to yield important clinical information in regard to prognosis and response to therapy as well as allowing the study of metastatic processes. However, the isolation and identification of EMT-phenotype CTCs with commonly used isolation/detection methods are suboptimal, and current efforts on improving the isolation of EMT-phenotype CTCs are associated with pitfalls that need to be overcome. This chapter explores the significance of EMT in CTC formation and the role of EMT in cancer metastasis and resistance to therapy. We also comprehensively review the past and current limitations of evaluating EMT phenotypes in CTC isolation and analysis and discuss how CTCs can be seen in a more holistic fashion as important biomarkers for clinical management

General practitioner reported follow–up visits among asthma patients in North Central Nigeria

Background: Despite the benefits of regular follow–up in the long–term care of asthma, no previous study has reported on it among asthma patients in Nigeria. Objective: This survey was designed to evaluate GP–reported follow–up visits among asthma patients in North Central Nigeria. Methods: It was a cross–sectional survey conducted among GPs in three North Central states of Nigeria. Results: Overall, 48.3% of the GPs reported that their patients usually come for follow-up visits. About 63.6%, 40.0%, and 55.3% of the GPs in Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states, respectively, reported that their patients came for follow–up visits in the month prior to this study. Less than two–third of GPs in both private (55.1%) and public (56.8%) hospitals reportedly attended to patients on follow–up visits. About 46.5%, 37.5%, and 52.0% of the GPs who attended to patients 2 weeks prior to the study reported that their patients came for follow–up visits. There was signifi cant difference (P = 0.04) in the reported follow–up visits by GPs who attended to ≥ 10 asthma patients compared to others. None of the nine GPs who reportedly treated ≥ 10 patients in the preceding month of the study attended to any patient on follow–up visits. Conclusion: The GP–reported rates of follow–up visits in patients that are accessing asthma care from GPs practicing in the North Central part of Nigeria are low. Further studies to identify barriers to follow–up visits and how to correct them are therefore recommended.Keywords: Asthma care, follow—up visits general practitioners, NigeriaArrière-plan: Malgré les avantages de suivi régulier–jusqu’à long - term care de l’asthme, aucune étude antérieure n’a signalé sur elle chez les patients asthmatiques au Nigeria. Objectif: Ce sondage a été conçu pour évaluer les GP–signalés suivi–visites chez les patients asthmatiques au Centre Nord du Nigéria. Méthodes: C’est une croix–sectionnelle enquête menée parmi les GPs dans trois États centrale du Nord du Nigéria. Résultats: Dans l’ensemble, 48,3% des GPs a signalé que les patients sont en général pour des visites de suivi. 63,6% Environ, 40,0% 55,3% des GPs dans les États Kwara, Kogi et au Niger, respectivement, rapporte et que leurs patients sont venus pour suivi–visites dans le mois précédant cette étude. Moins de deux - tiers des GPs dans les hôpitaux publics (56,8%) et le privé (55,1%) auraient été assisté aux patients sur suivi–visites. Environ 46,5%, 37,5% et 52,0% le GPS qui ont participé aux patients 2 semaines avant l’étude rapporte que leurs patients sont venus pour suivi–visites. Il y avait une différence signifi cative (P = 0,04) dans le suivi déclaré–up visites par GPs qui ont participé à ≥ 10 patients asthmatiques par rapport aux autres. Aucun des neuf GPs qui auraient été traités ≥ 10 patients dans le mois précédent de l’étude ont assisté à tout patient sur suivi–visites. Conclusion: Le GP–taux signalés de suivi–visites chez les patients qui sont à accéder aux soins de l’asthme de GPs pratiquant dans la partie centrale du Nord du Nigéria sont faibles. D’autres études pour identifi er les obstacles à suivre–visites et comment à correct eux sont donc recommandés.Mots clés: L’asthme care, suivre — up généralistes, des visites, Nigeri

Reflections on Literature : East and West

This publication has three thematic essays written by professors from Pace University and Nanjing Normal University that discuss the similarities and differences between Chinese and western literature. Hongling Lyu identifies certain aesthetic differences between Chinese and western literature, and explains these divergences from a cross-cultural perspective. Li Po presents an overview of the aesthetics of classical literature. Ying Wang draws on her expertise in French literature and feminist studies to discuss the challenge of reading Chinese literature from the historical, cross-cultural, and feminist perspectives. These essays challenge us to go beyond the conventional East-and-West divide with its predictable polarities, and gives us a feasible framework to evaluate the evolution of Chinese literature in the modern era