Descent via Koszul extensions

Let R be a commutative noetherian local ring with completion R^. We apply differential graded (DG) algebra techniques to study descent of modules and complexes from R^ to R' where R' is either the henselization of R or a pointed \'etale neighborhood of R: We extend a given R^-complex to a DG module over a Koszul complex; we describe this DG module equationally and apply Artin approximation to descend it to R. This descent result for Koszul extensions has several applications. When R is excellent, we use it to descend the dualizing complex from R^ to a pointed \'etale neighborhood of R; this yields a new version of P. Roberts' theorem on uniform annihilation of homology modules of perfect complexes. As another application we prove that the Auslander Condition on uniform vanishing of cohomology ascends to R^ when R is excellent, henselian, and Cohen--Macaulay.Comment: Updated references and made minor changes. Final version, to appear in J. Algebra; 19 p

Plant diseases and pests in Utah raspberries

Very little information exists on pathogens and pests that affect Utah raspberry production. In fact a survey of Utah raspberry growers at the 2015 USU Urban and Small Farms conference showed that 72% said the largest problem they had was with diseases and pests, and 71% of those did not know what the diseases actually were. Several viruses, bacteria, pests, and nutrient deficiencies can have a large influence on raspberry yield. This survey was designed to raise awareness among Utah raspberry growers, help them to better prepare for, and manage these possible disease problems. This will be increasingly more important as time goes on because raspberry production in Utah is consistently growing

B cells at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity in systemic lupus erythematosus: requirements for the activation of autoreactive B cells in autoimmune disease

Systemic autoimmune disease is characterized by loss of immunologic tolerance to a restricted set of self-nuclear antigens. These macromolecular complexes can be grouped into two categories: DNA-containing autoantigens such as chromatin, and RNA containing autoantigens such as Smith antigen (Sm) and related ribonucleoprotein complexes. Elucidating the mechanism for selective targeting of these molecules in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may provide clues to the etiology of disease. We hypothesized that Toll-like receptors (TLRs), germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors of the innate immune system, could dictate target antigen specificity in SLE. Using genetic ablation of various TLRs in murine models of SLE, we have demonstrated that TLRs are critical for directing the autoimmune response against canonical nuclear autoantigens.In the absence of TLR9, a receptor for CpG sequence motifs in DNA, the generation of autoantibodies to DNA-containing antigens was specifically inhibited. Other autoantibodies specific for RNA-containing antigens were maintained or even increased in TLR9-deficient autoimmune mice. We then investigated whether TLR3, a receptor for double-stranded RNA, or TLR7, a receptor for single-stranded RNA, were required for the generation of autoantibodies to RNA-containing antigens. While TLR3 did not appear to affect autoantibody production, the absence of TLR7 led to a reduction in anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies. Genetic deletion of these receptors also had dramatic, but opposing, effects on disease progression. TLR9-deficient mice developed exacerbated disease and systemic inflammation with accelerated mortality, while TLR7-deficient mice had ameliorated clinical disease and decreased immune activation. A critical component of disease pathogenesis in these mice appeared to be the activation of type I interferon-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which was increased in the absence of TLR9, but decreased in the absence of TLR7.Further studies on the mechanism of autoantibody production and pDC activation revealed that TLR9 expression within B cells was required for anti-DNA antibody production, and that circulating serum factors generated in the absence of TLR9 could induce interferon production by pDCs. We have also shown that costimulation by CD4+ helper T cells contributes to autoantibody production in SLE. Integration of innate and adaptive activation signals is thus central to B cell autoantibody production and clinical disease progression in SLE

Master of Science

thesisNicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a class of ligand gated ion channels that are widely distributed in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. One subtype of nAChRs, the 910 nAChR, is of particular interest as it has been implicated in pain signaling. Block of the 910 nAChR has demonstrated analgesia in several animal models. Because of the role of these receptors in pain, the discovery of antagonists of the 910 nAChR has important practical applications. Conus is a genus of venomous mollusks whose venom components have been widely utilized as pharmacological tools to discriminate between receptor and ion channel subtypes. Several species of Conus were selected and screened for activity against the 910 nAChR, with two of the venoms selected for further study. Subsequent purification led to the discovery of S-GVIIIB, a novel -conotoxin that is potent for the 910 nAChR with an IC50 of 9.8 nM, and is over 100-fold more selective for the 910 nAChR compared to other nAChR subtypes. Furthermore, S-GVIIIB gives increased insight into the -conotoxin family, a class of toxins that is not widely studied. Of particular interest is that the previously discovered -GVIIIA is selective for the 5-HT3 serotonin receptor and the newly discovered S-GVIIIB, from the same Conus species, targets a different class of ligand-gated ion channels. The understanding of -conotoxins was also furthered with the demonstration that S-GVIIIB competes with -RgIA for the ACh binding domain, illustrating that S-GVIIIB is a competitive antagonist. Also, toxins from the D-conotoxin family are potent for the 910 nAChR, but selectivity is not a key feature as the D-conotoxins are also potent for several other nAChRs

Transfer of Gorenstein dimensions along ring homomorphisms

A central problem in the theory of Gorenstein dimensions over commutative noetherian rings is to find resolution-free characterizations of the modules for which these invariants are finite. Over local rings, this problem was recently solved for the Gorenstein flat and the Gorenstein projective dimensions; here we give a solution for the Gorenstein injective dimension. Moreover, we establish two formulas for the Gorenstein injective dimension of modules in terms of the depth invariant; they extend formulas for the injective dimension due to Bass and Chouinard.Comment: Removed section 2. Final version; to appear in J. Pure Appl. Algebra, 12 pp. Also available from the authors' homepages http://www.math.ttu.edu/~lchriste/publications.html and http://www.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/faculty/ssatherw/research.htm

3-D Printed Ultem 9085 Testing and Analysis

The purpose of this document is to analyze the mechanical properties of 3-D printed Ultem 9085. This document will focus on the capabilities, limitations, and complexities of 3D printing in general, and explain the methods by which this material is tested. Because 3-D printing is a relatively new process that offers an innovative means to produce hardware, it is important that the aerospace community understands its current advantages and limitations, so that future endeavors involving 3-D printing may be completely safe. This document encompasses three main sections: a Slosh damage assessment, a destructive test of 3-D printed Ultem 9085 samples, and a test to verify simulation for the 3-D printed SDP (SPHERES Docking Port). Described below, 'Slosh' and 'SDP' refer to two experiments that are built using Ultem 9085 for use with the SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) program onboard the International Space Station (ISS) [16]. The SPHERES Facility is managed out of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center in California

A Mock Data and Science Challenge for Detecting an Astrophysical Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

The purpose of this mock data and science challenge is to prepare the data analysis and science interpretation for the second generation of gravitational-wave experiments Advanced LIGO-Virgo in the search for a stochastic gravitational-wave background signal of astrophysical origin. Here we present a series of signal and data challenges, with increasing complexity, whose aim is to test the ability of current data analysis pipelines at detecting an astrophysically produced gravitational-wave background, test parameter estimation methods and interpret the results. We introduce the production of these mock data sets that includes a realistic observing scenario data set where we account for different sensitivities of the advanced detectors as they are continuously upgraded toward their design sensitivity. After analysing these with the standard isotropic cross-correlation pipeline we find that we are able to recover the injected gravitational-wave background energy density to within $2\sigma$ for all of the data sets and present the results from the parameter estimation. The results from this mock data and science challenge show that advanced LIGO and Virgo will be ready and able to make a detection of an astrophysical gravitational-wave background within a few years of operations of the advanced detectors, given a high enough rate of compact binary coalescing events