DATA DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT: ANALYZING URBAN CHANGE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, AND RENOVATION

DATA DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT: ANALYZING URBAN CHANGE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, AND RENOVATIO

A Gender Gap Grade Analysis of Hard Sciences Courses in a School of Pharmacy

A student survey was conducted to determine perceptions of such things as differential treatment due to gender, level of preparedness for courses in the hard sciences, and gender performances of students in the sciences. Additionally, students’ grades of sixteen courses with a heavy hard science focus were analyzed by taking the percent of a letter grade sorted by male or female to determine if there was a significant gender difference in the final grades. Our objectives were to: 1) determine if the underrepresentation of women in some health-related jobs is due to discouragement of females to enter these professions or perceptions of success in hard science courses, 2) examine grades in courses with a strong biology and chemistry focus to see if a significant difference due to gender exists. We concluded that a gender gap in hard sciences grades at the School of Pharmacy did exist but the gap was not large and was not present in all courses. The majority of women were not discouraged to pursue a science based career, but there was a difference in the perceived confidence that many females exhibit in the ability to learn material in the hard science courses and in their preparedness for hard science exams

Mitogen-Dependent Regulation of DUSP1 Governs ERK and p38 Signaling During Early 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation

© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Knowledge concerning mechanisms that control proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes is essential to our understanding of adipocyte hyperplasia and the development of obesity. Evidence has shown that temporal regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and dephosphorylation is critical for coupling extracellular stimuli to cellular growth and differentiation. Using differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes as a model of adipocyte hyperplasia, we examined a role for dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) on the timely modulation of MAPK signaling during states of growth arrest, proliferation, and differentiation. Using real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), we report that DUSP1 is induced during early preadipocyte proliferation concomitant with ERK and p38 dephosphorylation. As deactivation of ERK and p38 is essential for the progression of adipocyte differentiation, we further showed that de novo mRNA synthesis was required for ERK and p38 dephosphorylation, suggesting a role for inducible phosphatases in regulating MAPK signaling. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of DUSP1 markedly increased ERK and p38 phosphorylation during early adipocyte differentiation. Based on these findings, we postulated that loss of DUSP1 would block adipocyte hyperplasia. However, genetic loss of DUSP1 was not sufficient to prevent preadipocyte proliferation or differentiation, suggesting a role for other phosphatases in the regulation of adipogenesis. In support of this, qRT-PCR identified several MAPK-specific DUSPs induced during early (DUSP2, -4, -5, & -6), mid (DUSP4 & -16) and late (DUSP9) stages of adipocyte differentiation. Collectively, these data suggest an important role for DUSPs in regulating MAPK dephosphorylation, with an emphasis on DUSP1, during early adipogenesis

Impact of obesity on IL-12 family gene expression in insulin responsive tissues

Mounting evidence has established a role for chronic inflammation in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance, as genetic ablation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines elevated in obesity improves insulin signaling in vitro and in vivo. Recent evidence further highlights interleukin (IL)-12 family cytokines as prospective inflammatory mediators linking obesity to insulin resistance. In this study, we present empirical evidence demonstrating that IL-12 family related genes are expressed and regulated in insulin-responsive tissues under conditions of obesity. First, we report that respective mRNAs for each of the known members of this cytokine family are expressed within detectable ranges in WAT, skeletal muscle, liver and heart. Second, we show that these cytokines and their cognate receptors are divergently regulated with genetic obesity in a tissue-specific manner. Third, we demonstrate that select IL-12 family cytokines are regulated in WAT in a manner that is dependent on the developmental stage of obesity as well as the inflammatory progression associated with obesity. Fourth, we report that respective mRNAs for IL-12 cytokines and receptors are also expressed and divergently regulated in cultured adipocytes under conditions of inflammatory stress. To our knowledge, this report is the first study to systemically evaluated mRNA expression of all IL-12 family cytokines and receptors in any tissue under conditions of obesity highlighting select family members as potential mediators linking excess nutrient intake to metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease. © 2012 Elsevier B.V

A review of statistical models used to characterize species-habitat associations with animal movement data

Understanding species-habitat associations is fundamental to ecological sciences and for species conservation. Consequently, various statistical approaches have been designed to infer species-habitat associations. Due to their conceptual and mathematical differences, these methods can yield contrasting results. In this paper, we describe and compare commonly used statistical models that relate animal movement data to environmental data. Specifically, we examined selection functions which include resource selection function (RSF) and step-selection function (SSF), as well as hidden Markov models (HMMs) and related methods such as state-space models. We demonstrate differences in assumptions of each method while highlighting advantages and limitations. Additionally, we provide guidance on selecting the most appropriate statistical method based on research objectives and intended inference. To demonstrate the varying ecological insights derived from each statistical model, we apply them to the movement track of a single ringed seal in a case study. For example, the RSF indicated selection of areas with high prey diversity, whereas the SSFs indicated no discernable relationship with prey diversity. Furthermore, the HMM reveals variable associations with prey diversity across different behaviors. Notably, the three models identified different important areas. This case study highlights the critical significance of selecting the appropriate model to identify species-habitat relationships and specific areas of importance. Our comprehensive review provides the foundational information required for making informed decisions when choosing the most suitable statistical methods to address specific questions, such as identifying expansive corridors or protected zones, understanding movement patterns, or studying behaviours

Cyber Security for Microreactors in Advanced Energy Systems

Demand for clean and resilient energy has led to new and advancing frontiers of energy development in nuclear technology, specifically in the development of microreactors. These miniaturised modular reactors are generally \u3c 20 megawatts thermal (MWt) or 10 megawatts electric (MWe) and offer new opportunities to meet energy needs in remote locations and mobile operations. As with the slightly larger small modular reactors (\u3c 300 MWe), microreactor development must demonstrate security and safety, as well as economic competitiveness, to be seen as potential opportunities for new applications. Current research focuses on passive safety features, capital costs, reliability, semi-autonomous or autonomous control, cyber informed design, digital twins and non-proliferation. This paper focuses specifically on microreactor cyber informed design and cyber risk. An overview of microreactor technology provides a basis for examining the cyber nuclear playing field, with an emphasis on the USA. Frameworks for evaluating cyber security threats, and thereby designing for them, are reviewed. Recommendations follow with ideas for future research

Some Additive Combinatorics Problems in Matrix Rings

We study the distribution of singular and unimodular matrices in sumsets in matrix rings over finite fields. We apply these results to estimate the largest prime divisor of the determinants in sumsets in matrix rings over the integers