The symphony of the Trinity : tuning in to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for congregational renaissance

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2078/thumbnail.jp

Recalculation of an artificially released avalanche with SAMOS and validation with measurements from a pulsed Doppler radar

A joint experiment was carried out on 10 February 1999 by the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SFISAR) and the Austrian Institute for Avalanche and Torrent Research (AIATR, of the Federal Office and Re-search Centre for Forests, BFW) to measure forces and velocities at the full scale experimental site CRÊTA BESSE in VALLÉE DE LA SIONNE, Canton du Valais, Switzerland. A huge avalanche could be released artificially, which permitted extensive investigations (dynamic measurements, im-provement of measurement systems, simulation model verification, design of protective measures, etc.). The results of the velocity measurements from the dual frequency pulsed Doppler avalanche radar of the AIATR and the recalculation with the numerical simulation model SAMOS are explained in this paper

Telomere length and expression in astrocytic brain tumors

Telomere befinden sich an den Enden der linearen Chromosomen um das Genom zu schützen und zu stabilisieren. Ein Telomere besteht aus TTAGGG-Wiederholungen von DNA Sequenzen. Erst kürzlich wurde gezeigt, dass Telomere in TERRA (Telomere repeat containing RNA) umgeschrieben werden. Diese nicht-kodierenden RNAs spielen eine Rolle für Telomere erhaltenden Mechanismen (TMM) und für die Organisation von Chromatin. Die Transkription von TERRA startet im Bereich der Subtelomere und hängt vom epigenetischen Zustand der Telomere ab. Astrozytome verwenden zwei TMM, einerseits Telomeraseaktivität (TA) und andererseits einen alternativen Mechanismus (ALT = alternative lengthening of telomeres).Der ALT-Mechanismus führt in der Regel zu längeren Telomeren als der TA-Mechanismus. Eine Korrelation zwischen TMM und dem Überleben von Patienten wurde für hochgradige Astrozytome gefunden, wie für Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Diese Erkenntnis und die schlechte Prognose für Patienten mit GBM führen zur Notwendigkeit der weiteren Charakterisierung von TERRA in diesen Tumoren. In dieser Studie wurden Tumor-Gewebeproben (ts) von 46 Patienten mit Diagnosen Astrozytome WHO-Grad II bis IV untersucht: 12 diffuse Astrozytome (DA) Grad II, 6 anaplastische Astrozytome (AA) Grad III und 28 GBM Grad IV. Ergänzend wurden Tumor-Zelllinien untersucht, 12 etabliert aus Astrozytome und eine ALT-Zelllinie aus einem primären Osteosarkom. RNA und DNA wurden isoliert. Um die Relative Menge (RQ) der Transkriptionslevels zu messen, wurde die RNA in DNA umgeschrieben und eine Real Time PCR durchgeführt. Expressionslevel wurden mit jenen der housekeeping Gene Beta-Aktin und 36B4 verglichen. Die Telomerlänge wurde mit TRF Analyse und Realtime PCR bestimmt. Relative Mengen wurden zwischen den untersuchten Gruppen mit dem Mann- Whitney-Test verglichen. Nach logarithmischer Transfromierung der RQ-Werte wurde eine Pearson Korrelation durchgeführt. Von 12 Tumorproben wurde der epigenetische Status der Subtelomere für das Chromosom 2p durch Bisulfit-Sequenzierung bestimmt. Die Expression aller TERRA Moleküle war um das 14 und 31-fache bei GBM niedriger verglichen mit jeweils AA-und DA (p <0,05). Zelllinien der Astrozytome zeigen TERRA Expression vergleichbar wie bei GBM, im Gegensatz dazu zeigt die ALT-Zelllinie ähnliche Expression wie bei DA. Chromosom 2p-und 18p-TERRA Expression ändert sich nicht signifikant mit dem Tumorgrad. Die durchschnittliche Telomerlänge war bei niedriggradigen Tumoren DA (22 ± 15 kbp) und AA (17 ± 5 kbp) deutlich erhöht, verglichen mit GBM (9 ± 4 kbp). Die gesamte TERRA Expression korreliert mit der Telomerlänge (Pearson-Koeffizient P = 0,38, p = 0,01). Tumor Proben zeigen Unterschiede der Durchschnittswerte der CpG-Methylierung im 2pTERRA-Promotor von 89% und 83% bei jeweils niedrigen und hohen 2p-TERRA Expressionswerten. Erste Analysen zeigen einen signifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen dem Überleben der Patienten und der gefundenen TERRA Expression. Niedrige Expression von TERRA korreliert mit einer schlechten Prognose. Die relative Expression von TERRA korrelliert in astrozytären Tumoren signifikant mit der Telomerelänge, mit dem Tumorgrad und dem Methylierungsstatus des Promotors. Die relative TERRA Expression könnte ein vielversprechender Kandidat als diagnostischer und prognostischer Marker bei astrozytären Tumoren sein.Telomeres are localized at chromosomal ends to protect and stabilize the whole genome from deterioration. A telomere consists of TTAGGG repeat DNA sequences. It has been shown recently, that telomeres are transcribed into telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) involved in telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) and chromatin organization. TERRA transcription originates in the subtelomere and depends on the epigenetic state of the telomere. Astrocytomas utilize two TMM based on telomerase activity (TA) and on alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT results telomeres longer than TA mechanism. Correlation between TMM and patient survival was demonstrated for high grade astrocytomas, especially glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This finding and dismal prognosis of patients suffering from GBM emphasizes the need for detailed characterization of telomere length and TERRA in these tumors. A panel of tumor tissue samples (ts) were analyzed which originated from 46 patients with diagnoses astrocytomas WHO grade II to IV: 12 diffuse astrocytomas (DA) grade II, 6 anaplastic astrocytomas (AA) grade III and 28 GBM grade IV. Further, human tumor cell lines were analyzed, 12 originated from astrocytomas and one ALT cell line from an osteosarcoma. RNA and DNA were isolated. Relative quantities (RQ) of transcript expression levels for overall and chromosome-specific TERRA were measured by reverse transcription following real-time PCR and compared to beta actin and 36B4 levels. Telomere length was determined by TRF Southern blotting and real-time PCR. RQs were compared between groups by Mann-Whitney test and log-transformed for Pearson correlation calculation. Epigenetic state of subtelomeric region for chromosome 2p was determined by bisulphite allelic sequencing of 12 ts. Overall TERRA expression was decreased 14 and 31-fold in GBM compared to AA and DA (p<0.05), respectively. Astrocytoma cell lines contained TERRA levels found as in GBM, the ALT cell line as in DA. Chromosome 2p- and 18p-TERRA expression was not significantly altered by grade. Mean telomere length was significantly increased in low grade tumors DA (22±15 kbp) and AA (17±5 kbp) as compared to GBM (9±4 kbp). Overall TERRA expression correlates with telomere length (Pearson’s coefficient P=0.38; p=0.01). Tumor samples with low and high 2p-TERRA expression levels demonstrate different average CpG methylation at 2p-TERRA promoter of 89% and 83%, respectively. Primary analysis of expression and survival data indicates a significant connection of overall survival and expression of TERRA. Low TERRA levels correlate with a poor prognosis. Resulting data demonstrate that TERRA levels are in astrocytomas significantly related to telomere length, tumor grade and to promoter methylation status. Expression levels of TERRA can be considered promising candidates as diagnostic and potentially prognostic markers in astrocytomas

Dynamic and Static Assembly of Sulfated Cellulose Nanocrystals with Alkali Metal Counter Cations

Sulfate groups on cellulose particles such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) provide colloidal stability credit to electrostatic repulsion between the like-charged particles. The introduction of sodium counter cations on the sulfate groups enables drying of the CNC suspensions without irreversible aggregation. Less is known about the effect of other counter cations than sodium on extending the properties of the CNC particles. Here, we introduce the alkali metal counter cations, Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+, on sulfated CNCs without an ion exchange resin, which, so far, has been a common practice. We demonstrate that the facile ion exchange is an efficient method to exchange to any alkali metal cation of sulfate half esters, with exchange rates between 76 and 89%. The ability to form liquid crystalline order in rest was observed by the presence of birefringence patterns and followed the Hofmeister series prediction of a decreasing ability to form anisotropy with an increasing element number. However, we observed the K-CNC rheology and birefringence as a stand-out case within the series of alkali metal modifications, with dynamic moduli and loss tangent indicating a network disruptive effect compared to the other counter cations, whereas observation of the development of birefringence patterns in flow showed the absence of self- or dynamically-assembled liquid crystalline order

Multilayer Density Analysis of Cellulose Thin Films

An approach for the multilayer density analysis of polysaccharide thin films at the example of cellulose is presented. In detail, a model was developed for the evaluation of the density in different layers across the thickness direction of the film. The cellulose thin film was split into a so called “roughness layer” present at the surface and a “bulk layer” attached to the substrate surface. For this approach, a combination of multi-parameter surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to detect changes in the properties, such as cellulose content and density, thickness and refractive index, of the surface near layer and the bulk layer. The surface region of the films featured a much lower density than the bulk. Further, these results correlate to X-ray reflectivity studies, indicating a similar layered structure with reduced density at the surface near regions. The proposed method provides an approach to analyse density variations in thin films which can be used to study material properties and swelling behavior in different layers of the films. Limitations and challenges of the multilayer model evaluation method of cellulose thin films were discussed. This particularly involves the selection of the starting values for iteration of the layer thickness of the top layer, which was overcome by incorporation of AFM data in this study

Alternative Splicing of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor IgIII Loops in Cancer

Alternative splicing of the IgIII loop of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) 1–3 produces b- and c-variants of the receptors with distinctly different biological impact based on their distinct ligand-binding spectrum. Tissue-specific expression of these splice variants regulates interactions in embryonic development, tissue maintenance and repair, and cancer. Alterations in FGFR2 splicing are involved in epithelial mesenchymal transition that produces invasive, metastatic features during tumor progression. Recent research has elucidated regulatory factors that determine the splice choice both on the level of exogenous signaling events and on the RNA-protein interaction level. Moreover, methodology has been developed that will enable the in depth analysis of splicing events during tumorigenesis and provide further insight on the role of FGFR 1–3 IIIb and IIIc in the pathophysiology of various malignancies. This paper aims to summarize expression patterns in various tumor types and outlines possibilities for further analysis and application

In-flight calibration of STEREO-B/WAVES antenna system

The STEREO/WAVES (SWAVES) experiment on board the two STEREO spacecraft (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) launched on 25 October 2006 is dedicated to the measurement of the radio spectrum at frequencies between a few kilohertz and 16 MHz. The SWAVES antenna system consists of 6 m long orthogonal monopoles designed to measure the electric component of the radio waves. With this configuration direction finding of radio sources and polarimetry (analysis of the polarization state) of incident radio waves is possible. For the evaluation of the SWAVES data the receiving properties of the antennas, distorted by the radiation coupling with the spacecraft body and other onboard devices, have to be known accurately. In the present context, these properties are described by the antenna effective length vectors. We present the results of an in-flight calibration of the SWAVES antennas using the observations of the nonthermal terrestrial auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) during STEREO roll maneuvers in an early stage of the mission. A least squares method combined with a genetic algorithm was applied to find the effective length vectors of the STEREO Behind (STEREO-B)/WAVES antennas in a quasi-static frequency range ($L_{antenna} \ll \lambda_{wave}$) which fit best to the model and observed AKR intensity profiles. The obtained results confirm the former SWAVES antenna analysis by rheometry and numerical simulations. A final set of antenna parameters is recommended as a basis for evaluations of the SWAVES data

Looking beyond the powder/dense flow avalanche dichotomy

Köhler et al. (2018) deploy a high spatial and temporal resolution GEODAR radar system to reveal the inside of snow avalanches over the entire slope. They detect a rich variety of longitudinal and slope normal flow structures across a data set of 77 avalanches recorded over 6 years. Distinctive features in the radar signatures permit the definition of seven flow regimes and three distinct stopping signatures, illustrating behaviours much richer than the conventional dichotomy between dense flow avalanches and powder snow avalanches. This presents modellers with the challenge of exploring the physics of these regimes, the transitions between them and their relationship with the surrounding conditions

Hybridization and restricted gene flow between native and introduced stocks of Alpine whitefish (Coregonus sp.) across multiple environments

Translocations of Baltic whitefish (Coregonus sp.) into Austrian Alpine lakes have created ‘artificial hybrid zones’, threatening the genetic integrity of native lineages. We evaluate the genetic structure of Coregonus in Austrian lakes and characterize hybridization and introgression between native and introduced lineages. Fifteen populations (N= 747) were assessed for allelic variation at eight microsatellite loci and a reduced set (N= 253) for variation across two mtDNA genes (cyt b and NADH-3). Bayesian approaches were used to estimate individual admixture proportions (q-values) and classify genotypes as native, introduced or hybrids. q-value distributions varied among populations highlighting differential hybridization and introgression histories. Many lakes revealed a clear distinction between native and introduced genotypes despite hybridization, whereas some locations revealed hybrid swarms. Genetic structure among lakes was congruent with morphological divergence and novelty raising speculation of multiple taxa, including a population south of the Alps, outside the putative native range of Coregonus. Although statistically congruent with inferences based on nuclear markers, mitochondrial haplotype data was not diagnostic with respect to native and non-native lineages, supporting that the Alpine region was colonized post-glacially by an admixture of mtDNA lineages, which coalesce >1 Ma. Mechanisms promoting or eroding lineage isolation are discussed, as well as a high potential to conserve native Alpine lineages despite the extensive historical use of introduced Baltic stocks

Hybridization and restricted gene flow between native and introduced stocks of Alpine whitefish (Coregonus sp.) across multiple environments

Translocations of Baltic whitefish (Coregonus sp.) into Austrian Alpine lakes have created ‘artificial hybrid zones’, threatening the genetic integrity of native lineages. We evaluate the genetic structure of Coregonus in Austrian lakes and characterize hybridization and introgression between native and introduced lineages. Fifteen populations (N= 747) were assessed for allelic variation at eight microsatellite loci and a reduced set (N= 253) for variation across two mtDNA genes (cyt b and NADH-3). Bayesian approaches were used to estimate individual admixture proportions (q-values) and classify genotypes as native, introduced or hybrids. q-value distributions varied among populations highlighting differential hybridization and introgression histories. Many lakes revealed a clear distinction between native and introduced genotypes despite hybridization, whereas some locations revealed hybrid swarms. Genetic structure among lakes was congruent with morphological divergence and novelty raising speculation of multiple taxa, including a population south of the Alps, outside the putative native range of Coregonus. Although statistically congruent with inferences based on nuclear markers, mitochondrial haplotype data was not diagnostic with respect to native and non-native lineages, supporting that the Alpine region was colonized post-glacially by an admixture of mtDNA lineages, which coalesce >1 Ma. Mechanisms promoting or eroding lineage isolation are discussed, as well as a high potential to conserve native Alpine lineages despite the extensive historical use of introduced Baltic stocks