Utilization of Pathway Modeling to Predict Changes in Sphingolipid Content During Granulocytic Differentiation of Retinoic Acid-induced HL60 cells

Genomic analyses have the potential to provide insight to metabolic pathways and biomolecules that are important in cellular processes. This study used a recently developed tool (GenMAPP v2.1, www.genmapp.org adapted for the human sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway, www.sphingomap.org) to compare published gene expression data for HL60 cells, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, treated with retinoic acid to induce granulocytic differentiation. Based on the location and magnitude of changes in expression of genes for enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism in the context of this pathway model, granulocytic differentiation would be predicted to elevate de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis due to higher expression of serine palmitoyltransferase, with some interesting shifts in the way that the sphingoid base (sphinganine) is subsequently metabolized—such as that some may be incorporated into downstream metabolites such as ganglioside GD3. These predictions were tested and confirmed using thin layer chromatography. It is hoped this approach will help translate changes in gene expression for this pathway into a sphingolipidomic profile for the cells, and perhaps uncover interesting changes that can explain the behavior of these cells and possible therapeutic targets or biomarkers.Al Merrill - Faculty Mentor ; Marion Sewer - Committee Member/Second Reade

Analyzing Stop-and-Go Waves by Experiment and Modeling

The main topic of this paper is the analysis and modeling of stop-and-go waves, observable in experiments of single lane movement with pedestrians. The velocity density relation using measurements on a 'microscopic' scale shows the coexistence of two phases at one density. These data are used to calibrate and verify a spatially continuous model. Several criteria are chosen that a model has to satisfy: firstly we investigated the fundamental diagram (velocity versus density) using different measurement methods. Furthermore the trajectories are compared to the occurrence of stop-and-go waves qualitatively. Finally we checked the distribution of the velocities at fixed density against the experimental one. The adaptive velocity model introduced satisfies these criteria well.Comment: Fifth International Conference on Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics, March 8-10, 2010, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD US

Paisagens da Memória: Um estudo sobre as fotografias de Gastón Salas

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso apresentado ao Instituto Latino-Americano de Arte, Cultura e História da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, como requisito parcial à obtenção do título de Bacharel em Cinema e Audiovisual. Orientador: Prof. Dr. Dinaldo Sepúlveda Almendra FilhoEste estudo realiza uma leitura das fotografias que compõem a série La Memoria Del Paisaje do fotógrafo Gastón Salas, procurando compreender como atuam na manutenção da memória da ditatura militar do Chile (1973-1990). A série retrata as paisagens chilenas, lugares que foram assassinados e encontrados os corpos dos presos políticos. Selecionou-se oito fotografias da série para trabalhar os conceitos de memória, paisagem e mídia, no sentido de entender a mensagem fotográfica, considerando o contexto de sua produção e o período histórico que busca relembrar: O processo pós ditatorial com o surgimento da política do esquecimento e o uso que se faz da cultura das mídias no combate dessa política. Também foi estabelecida uma relação com a obra fílmica de Patrício Guzmán, por verificar um forte diálogo entre as duas produções, pois, ambas representam o trauma existente vinculado às belíssimas paisagens chilenas, relacionando ao mesmo tempo sentimentos opostos, como o sublime e o terror.The present study conducts the reading of photographs that are part of the serie La Memoria Del Paisaje by photographer Gastón Salas, seeking to understand how the maintenance of the memories of Military Dictator ship of Chile acts. The serie portraits Chilean landscape, places where political prisoners were murdered and the bodies found. Eight photographies of the serie were selected to work with memory concepts, landscape and media, in order to understand the photographic message, considering the context of its production and the historic period it reminds: The post-dictatorial process with the emergence of the “politic of forgetfulness” and the use made of media culture to fight this politic. It will also been present the relationship between the filmic work of Patrício Guzmán, where there is a strong dialogue between those two productions, relating opposite feelings at the same time, such as the sublime and the horro

Governing Massachusetts Public Schools: Assessing the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act

The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 created a number of important changes in public education. In the area of local governance, the act was guided by a corporate model in which authority and responsibilities were reallocated among school committees, superintendents, principals, and newly created school councils. School committees in particular assumed a policymaking role, and superintendents became the chief executive officers of their school districts. This article, based on responses to a mail survey, is an early assessment of the act\u27s governance changes. Superintendents are most satisfied with their role, especially their authority over principals and teachers. School committee members are least satisfied with the changes, although they still provide general support for the goals of the act. Although they are concerned about their job security under the new system, principals are supportive. A comparison of the corporate model of governance with political leadership and shared governance models indicates that two important challenges lie ahead: developing support from other local political leaders and fostering a cooperative environment among local governance actors

The Challenges of STEM Education

In the 1990s the National Science Foundation moved to identify critical subject areas which most directly impacted the economic development in our nation. Science, math, engineering, and technology were recognized and combined to form the acronym - SMET; unfortunately, SMET sounded too much like smut, so the NSF wisely decided to find a better acronym, and STEM was born. So since inception it would seem, STEM has struggled with its identity. As a result, the first and most pressing challenge of STEM Education is recognizing what STEM is and what it is not. STEM’s identity crisis is evidenced by its many variations: There is STEM, STEMC – because computer science and coding are really important for our future technological development; there is STEAM – add an ‘A’ for the arts because no great products were ever created without artistic sensibilities, just ask Apple; STREAM – add the ‘R’ for reading because no one can be successful without knowing how to read. It would seem that everything in the curriculum is important and wants to be included, but the problem is when everything is important, essentially nothing is

Will Worldwide Adoption Of IFRS Improve Comparability? An Instructional Case Between Two Companies In Two Countries

One of the most compelling arguments for US companies to adopt IFRS is to increase comparability between companies and countries worldwide. This instructional case emphasizes to students that even though two companies both follow the same set of accounting rules (IFRS in this case), comparability of financial statements can still be difficult due to accounting choices, judgments, and estimates made by management. In this case, two start-up companies enter the renewable energy industry and begin retailing wind turbines. Students record identical first-year transactions for the two companies, record six additional transactions where each company makes different accounting choices when applying IFRS, prepare a set of financial statements, and calculate ratios. Through these tasks, students can see how accounting choices made by management affect comparability of the financial statements. This case also gives students an opportunity to discuss how culture and the general accounting environment in a country may influence the accounting choices made by management

IT Knowledge: What Do Accounting Students Think They Know? Do You Know More Than I Do? An Exploratory Study

In recognition of the growing role of information technology (IT) in teaching accounting, we surveyed students at three Midwestern universities to determine their self-reported knowledge levels of 36 specific information technologies and difference in those IT knowledge levels between universities.  Unlike other areas of accounting, there are no set standards for the IT curriculum for accounting education.  Because of this, we expect to find significant differences in IT knowledge between these three universities.  These findings are analyzed in light of authoritative guidance on appropriate accounting technology topics and research on the current status of IT in accounting education.  We find accounting students have a low level of self-perceived IT knowledge.  These students are not proficient in requisite technologies even after completing most of their undergraduate course work.  We also find that there are significant differences in IT knowledge between the three universities in the study.  These findings imply that we may be doing a disservice to accounting students and the accounting profession by not having a set IT curriculum.  We conclude that it is time to assess IT knowledge and IT skill requirements necessary for accounting students and develop a standard IT curriculum in accounting education