The Two Modes of Visual Processing: Implications for Spatial Orientation

The roles of the focal and ambient visual systems in spatial orientation are discussed. The two modes are defined and compared. The contribution of each system is illustrated through examples such as spatial disorientation/motion sickness, vehicle guidance/night driving, visual narrowing under stress/cortical brain damage, and aircraft instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on the need for testing procedures for the ambient system

A Process for the Production of a Stain-Resistant Polymer Application

This project comprises a stain-resistant configuration for copolymer chains of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), as well as the process involved in the creation and application of the stain-resisting compound. The stain-blocking agent is bonded to nylon 6,6, a common component of nylon carpeting. A sample portion of nylon was created as a component for this experiment. The synthesized nylon is representative of nylon carpet fiber. As a control, we apply 0.05 molar red food dye to a portion of the nylon sample. Under controlled conditions, the food dye bonds with the polymer chains of the nylon, ultimately staining the sample. Furthermore, we will synthesize a SMA copolymer to create a stain-blocking compound that will be applied to the polymer chains of nylon. Once the stain-blocker is applied to a portion of the nylon sample, food dye will be used to test the effectiveness of the stain-blocking composition. The control group will then be compared with the experimental group. The results should show that the stain-blocker prevents the food dye from staining the nylon sample, and result in the synthesis of a successful stain-blocking agent for nylon, 6,6 carpet fibers

Inheritance of flower, stem, leaf, and disease traits in three diploid interspecific rose populations

Three F1 plants (WOB13, WOB21, and WOB26) from the hybridization of the diploid parents Rosa wichuraiana âÂÂBasyeâÂÂs Thornlessâ and âÂÂOld Blushâ (Rosa chinensis) were backcrossed to âÂÂOld Blushâ to produce three interspecific backcross populations to observe the segregation of several morphological and disease resistance traits. The qualitative traits of bloom habit, flower color, flower form, and presence of stem prickles were characterized in two locations in College Station, Texas. The quantitative traits of flower size, petal size, and number of flowers per stem were measured in College Station, Texas, and number of leaflets per leaf, powdery mildew resistance, and black spot resistance were measured in College Station and Overton, Texas. Reported modes of inheritance for flower color (pink co-dominant to white), flower form (double dominant to single), and stem prickles (prickles dominant to no prickles) agree with the results in this study. The segregation of the bloom (non-recurrent dominant to recurrent) habit trait showed a deficiency of recurrent blooming types. Sources of variation generation and/or genotype(generation) explained most of the variation for flower size, petal sizes, flowers per stem, leaflet number, powdery mildew, and black spot resistance. Different environmental conditions within the environment made replication effects significant for flowers per stem. Low incidence level of powdery mildew and different temperatures in College Station and Overton made environment effects significant. Environment x generation and environment x genotype(generation) were significant for black spot resistance. The genetic variance is about two times greater than the environment x genetic interaction which would allow selection to be done at one environment, even though black spot resistance may change some between environments. Additive gene action (no dominance) was observed for flower size, petal size, black spot resistance, and powdery mildew resistance. Gene action of partial dominance was observed for leaflet number. Gene action for flowers per stem could not be determined due to lack of variation

Differential gene expression profile reveals deregulation of pregnancy specific β1 glycoprotein 9 early during colorectal carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND: APC (Adenomatous polyposis coli) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic colorectal cancer. Patients carrying germline APC mutations develop multiple colonic adenomas at younger age and higher frequency than non-carrier cases which indicates that silencing of one APC allele may be sufficient to initiate the transformation process. METHODS: To elucidate the biological dysregulation underlying adenoma formation we examined global gene expression profiles of adenomas and corresponding normal mucosa from an FAP patient. Differential expression of the most significant gene identified in this study was further validated by mRNA in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase PCR and Northern blotting in different sets of adenomas, tumours and cancer cell lines. RESULTS: Eighty four genes were differentially expressed between all adenomas and corresponding normal mucosa, while only seven genes showed differential expression within the adenomas. The first group included pregnancy specific β-1 glycoprotein 9 (PSG9) (p < 0.006). PSG9 is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)/PSG family and is produced at high levels during pregnancy, mainly by syncytiotrophoblasts. Further analysis of sporadic and familial colorectal cancer confirmed that PSG9 is ectopically upregulated in vivo by cancer cells. In total, deregulation of PSG9 mRNA was detected in 78% (14/18) of FAP adenomas and 75% (45/60) of sporadic colorectal cancer cases tested. CONCLUSION: Detection of PSG9 expression in adenomas, and at higher levels in FAP cases, indicates that germline APC mutations and defects in Wnt signalling modulate PSG9 expression. Since PSG9 is not found in the non-pregnant adult except in association with cancer, and it appears to be an early molecular event associated with colorectal cancer monitoring of its expression may be useful as a biomarker for the early detection of this disease

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: Review of Indications, Mechanisms, and Key Exercises

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is an exercise-based treatment program designed to promote vestibular adaptation and substitution. The goals of VRT are 1) to enhance gaze stability, 2) to enhance postural stability, 3) to improve vertigo, and 4) to improve activities of daily living. VRT facilitates vestibular recovery mechanisms: vestibular adaptation, substitution by the other eye-movement systems, substitution by vision, somatosensory cues, other postural strategies, and habituation. The key exercises for VRT are head-eye movements with various body postures and activities, and maintaining balance with a reduced support base with various orientations of the head and trunk, while performing various upper-extremity tasks, repeating the movements provoking vertigo, and exposing patients gradually to various sensory and motor environments. VRT is indicated for any stable but poorly compensated vestibular lesion, regardless of the patient's age, the cause, and symptom duration and intensity. Vestibular suppressants, visual and somatosensory deprivation, immobilization, old age, concurrent central lesions, and long recovery from symptoms, but there is no difference in the final outcome. As long as exercises are performed several times every day, even brief periods of exercise are sufficient to facilitate vestibular recovery. Here the authors review the mechanisms and the key exercises for each of the VRT goals

Innate partnership of HLA-B and KIR3DL1 subtypes against HIV-1

Allotypes of the natural killer (NK) cell receptor KIR3DL1 vary in both NK cell expression patterns and inhibitory capacity upon binding to their ligands, HLA-B Bw4 molecules, present on target cells. Using a sample size of over 1,500 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ individuals, we show that various distinct allelic combinations of the KIR3DL1 and HLA-B loci significantly and strongly influence both AIDS progression and plasma HIV RNA abundance in a consistent manner. These genetic data correlate very well with previously defined functional differences that distinguish KIR3DL1 allotypes. The various epistatic effects observed here for common, distinct KIR3DL1 and HLA-B Bw4 combinations are unprecedented with regard to any pair of genetic loci in human disease, and indicate that NK cells may have a critical role in the natural history of HIV infection

Mountains and Rivers: A Statistical Analysis of Appalachian and Ohio River Valley Identities

Shawnee State University resides in an area that has many overlapping identities. The area is part of the Ohio River Valley and is an Appalachian county. These are the two identities that were examined for this project and focused on how people followed these identities. This presentation will focus on a statistical analysis of Appalachian and Ohio River Valley identities. In the presentation, various predictors will be examined for statistical significance in predicting Appalachian and Ohio River Valley identities. Various methods of statistical analysis including cross tables, logistic regression and general linear models were used for the analysis of the predictors and yielded very interesting results. From these results we have a clearer understanding of the factors that leads to someone identifying as Appalachian or Ohio River Valley

Integrative Management of Lespedeza cuneata in Prairie Restorations

Background: Lespedeza cuneata is a perennial invasive legume native to Asia that is common across grasslands in the eastern half of the United States and parts of Canada. The competitive nature and limited palatability of L. cuneata for grazers in the tallgrass prairie has made it an undesirable and invasive weed. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate an invasive species management plan for restored grasslands and prairie areas. Methods: Study plots (n=144) for experiment 1 (summer treatment) were established at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County Illinois in August of 2012 and were situated to contain infestations of the target species. Two herbicides, in five concentrations were applied in August of 2012. A native seed mix was added to a portion of the summer plots later, in February of 2013. These treatments were assessed in June and August of 2013 to determine herbicide effects on stem count and percent cover of L. cuneata, along with the composition and percent cover of other species present. Spring herbicide applications (n=18) for experiment 2 were established, assessed for L. cuneata cover and density, and treated with two herbicide treatments in May of 2013. Spring treatments were identical to existing plots and were re-assessed in August 2013 to determine species composition and the abundance of L. cuneata. Seed was not added to these plots. Analysis: Mixed Model analysis by site was performed to test the effect of herbicide and seeding treatments on L. cuneata for both experiments 1 &2. The summer plots were also tested for effects on other plant groups. A repeated measures PERMANOVA along with ANOSIM and PERMADISP was performed to assess community composition response to seeding and herbicide treatments in the summer plots. Results: Abundance of L. cuneata was reduced 67 to \u3c90% following herbicide treatment in Experiments 1 and 2. There were no differences in the effectiveness of herbicide treatments in in experiment 1, sites 1 &3, and in experiment 2. Supplemental seeding in the summer plots did not reduce the abundance of L. cuneata consistently across sites. Conclusion: Considerable short-term control of the target species was achieved in both the summer and spring plots, providing a window of opportunity for the imposition of additional methods of control. However, data from the summer plots suggest recovery of L. cuneata some sites, indicating further control would be necessary, with potentially the addition of other control methods or site alterations

Oil and Water: The Separation of Ohio River Appalachians from the Wider Appalachian Identity

The Ohio River has been significant throughout the United States history and has been used as a guide or boundary line for many purposes, such as the state border for Ohio and a boundary line for an Appalachian region. Another significant area associated with the Ohio River is the Ohio River Valley. The significance of these areas and the culture associated with them pose the question: do residents from the Ohio River Valley see themselves as part of the wider Appalachian region? The purpose of this question is to find the range of Ohio River Appalachians. With knowledge gained from surveys given out at fairs and festivals along the Ohio River, we can learn the areas where people say they are neither Appalachian nor from the Ohio River Valley, just from the Ohio River Valley, just Appalachian, and Ohio River Appalachians. Another part of the survey questions focused on demographic information to help determine if Appalachian identity is considered by people something you are born with or something you gain from staying in an Appalachian area. The study will focus on the statistical value gained from the survey results and the results will be revealed at the conference. The statistics will also help to answer the questions: is there a generation gap in Ohio River Appalachians and is there a correlation between education levels and identifying as an Appalachian? These questions help us to understand how Appalachian regions are changing and which residents are more likely to identify as Appalachian. This research is one step closer to understanding the underlying relationship between the Ohio River Valley and Appalachia