Compact Gauduchon-flat Hermitian manifolds

We complete the classification of compact Hermitian manifolds with a flat Gauduchon connection. In particular, we confirm a conjecture of Yang and Zheng, by proving that except for the cases of a flat Chern or Bismut connection, such manifolds are K\"ahler. We also treat the non-compact case.Comment: 13 page

International Branch Campuses: Motivation, Strategy, and Structure

Thesis advisor: Philip G. AltbachThesis advisor: Karen D. ArnoldOver 200 international branch campuses (IBCs) currently exist globally and the number continues to rise (Lawton & Katsomitros, 2012). This study examines the strategy, structure, and motivation behind a single American IBC--Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). Drawing from organizational theory and international higher education literature, this research reveals important considerations for institutions developing or currently operating IBCs. Findings stemmed from 27 in-depth qualitative interviews with faculty and administrators from the branch campus in Qatar, the main campus in Texas, and the host country sponsor. Multiple factors contributed to Texas A&M being poised and ready to accept the opportunity to open an international branch campus: an invitation from a host country sponsor willing to cover all expenses, existing international ambitions, and strong support from the central administration. The inception period leading up to the opening of the branch campus proved crucial for success. University administrators wisely developed buy-in among campus constituencies, negotiated important contract stipulations with the host country, ensured that the institution's existing structure could reasonably support such an endeavor, and assessed whether Qatar was a good fit. The early years of TAMUQ resembled a startup organization. The pioneering team of faculty and staff brought an entrepreneurial spirit necessary to build the institution, but they operated largely independent from the home campus in Texas. A later push for greater ties with the main campus was difficult but important for progress. Since TAMUQ is a derivative of the main campus, administrators had to consider the degree to which they would replicate and adapt various institutional elements. Academically, the curriculum is only modified slightly, but course content and pedagogy are adapted more heavily in response to the unique needs of the student population. Hiring faculty with experience teaching on the main campus is considered an important way to maintain quality, yet administrators consistently struggle to recruit faculty. Unlike other IBCs, TAMUQ has developed a robust research program through the financial support of the host country sponsor.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014.Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education.Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education

Profiling Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Traits in Children with SYNGAP1-Related Intellectual Disability

SYNGAP1-related ID is a genetic condition characterised by global developmental delay and epilepsy. Individuals with SYNGAP1-related ID also commonly show differences in attention and social communication/interaction and frequently receive additional diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We thus set out to quantify ASD and ADHD symptoms in children with this syndrome. To assess ASD and ADHD, parents and caregivers of a child with SYNGAP1-related ID (N = 34) or a typically developing control (N = 21) completed the Social Responsiveness Scale-2, the Social Communication Questionnaire with a subset of these also completing the Conners-3. We found that those with SYNGAP1-related ID demonstrated higher levels of autistic traits on both the SRS and SCQ than typically developing controls. On the SRS, those with SYNGAP1-related ID scored highest for restricted repetitive behaviours, and were least impaired in social awareness. On the Conners-3, those with SYNGAP1-related ID also showed a high prevalence of ADHD traits, with scores demonstrating difficulties with peer relations but relatively low occurrence of symptoms for DSM-5 conduct disorder and DSM-5 oppositional defiant disorder. Hierarchical clustering analysis highlighted distinct SYNGAP1-related ID subgroups for both ASD and ADHD traits. These findings provide further characterisation of the SYNGAP1-related ID behavioural phenotype, guiding diagnosis, assessment and potential interventions.</p

Preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the transcriptional inhibitory antibody Fab41.4

The binding of transcription factor ATF-1 to DNA contributes to gene expression and regulation of cell growth. Antibody Mab41.4, raised against ATF-1, and its derivatives Fab41.4 and scFv41.4 inhibit specific DNA binding in vitro and induce apoptotic death of tumor cells in vivo. Structural studies of Fab41.4 were performed to gain insight into the mechanism of action of this potentially therapeutic antibody. The optimal conditions for crystallization of Fab41.4 were determined. Crystals were needle-like in appearance, displayed C2 space-group symmetry and diffracted to a resolution of 1.6 Å. The unit-cell parameters were determined to be a = 186.64, b = 40.22, c = 55.58 Å, α = γ = 90, β = 96.93°. The data set was 97.7% complete. Molecular replacement was performed, resulting in an R value of 44.6%

Preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the transcriptional inhibitory antibody Fab41.4

The binding of transcription factor ATF-1 to DNA contributes to gene expression and regulation of cell growth. Antibody Mab41.4, raised against ATF-1, and its derivatives Fab41.4 and scFv41.4 inhibit specific DNA binding in vitro and induce apoptotic death of tumor cells in vivo. Structural studies of Fab41.4 were performed to gain insight into the mechanism of action of this potentially therapeutic antibody. The optimal conditions for crystallization of Fab41.4 were determined. Crystals were needle-like in appearance, displayed C2 space-group symmetry and diffracted to a resolution of 1.6 Å. The unit-cell parameters were determined to be a = 186.64, b = 40.22, c = 55.58 Å, α = γ = 90, β = 96.93°. The data set was 97.7% complete. Molecular replacement was performed, resulting in an R value of 44.6%

Do ethnic differences in cord blood leptin levels differ by birthweight category? Findings from the Born in Bradford cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that South Asian individuals have higher fat mass for a given weight than Europeans. One study reported that the greater fatness for a given birthweight may increase with increasing birth weight, suggesting that any attempt to increase mean birth weight in South Asians would markedly increase their fatness. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine whether differences in cord leptin values between White British and Pakistani infants vary by birth weight category. METHOD: We examined the difference in cord leptin levels between 659 White British and 823 Pakistani infants recruited to the Born in Bradford cohort study, by clinical categories and thirds of the birth weight distribution. RESULTS: Pakistani infants had a lower mean birthweight but higher cord leptin levels than White British infants [ratio of geometric mean(RGM) of cord leptin adjusted for birth weight = 1.36 (95% CI 1.26,1.46)]. Birthweight was positively associated with cord leptin levels in both groups, with no evidence that the regression lines in the two groups diverged from each other with increasing birthweight.The relative ethnic difference in cord leptin was similar in low (<2500 g), normal and high (≥4000 g) birthweight infants(P-value for interaction = 0.91). It was also similar across thirds of the birthweight distribution [RGM (95% CI) in lowest, mid and highest thirds were 1.37 (1.20, 1.57), 1.36 (1.20, 1.54) and 1.31 (1.16, 1.52), respectively, P-interaction = 0.51]. CONCLUSIONS: We found marked differences in cord leptin levels between Pakistani and White British infants but no evidence that this difference increases with increasing birthweight