Electrostatic fluidized bed prepegging of carbon fiber with PEEK

M.S.John D. Muzz

Characterization of melt processable liquid crystal copolyesters

Ph.D.Malcolm B. Pol

The system theoretic accidental analysis of a crude unit refinery fire incident

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014.40Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 112-115).Catastrophic chemical process accidents in the past such as Bhopal (India) and Flixborough (UK) have led to a major increase in societal concerns about the safety of these processing facilities. As the petrochemical industry has changed considerably over the past several decades due to changes in technology, automation control and greater integration of work services, this has led industry operations to become more advanced and complex. Therefore, when accidents occur, they usually have an involvement of multiple factors, which suggests that there are underlying complex systemic problems. Nevertheless, typical accident investigations often show that most accidents were preventable; identifying the cause of the accidents and monitoring warning signs are crucial to preventing the accidents. The main objective of this thesis is to develop a better understanding of the missing causal identification from the use of traditional Swiss cheese base accidental model compared to a structured system-based method. This thesis applies Prof. Leveson's System Theoretic Accident Model and Processes, STAMP-CAST, on a case study of the August 2012 Richmond Refinery fire involving a crude unit. Then STAMP-STPA will be use in an example to develop warning signs to detect the deterioration of the Refinery's safety integrity. The analysis identified is complimentary to the refinery and regulatory controls that were not articulately expressed in the company's investigation report. These analyses are included in subsequent sections of this thesis to answer the research question "What could be done differently to understand the causes of accidents and prevent them?"by Pitiporn Thammongkol.S.M. in Engineering and Managemen

Genomic characterisation of a Fgf-regulated gradient-based neocortical protomap.

Recent findings support a model for neocortical area formation in which neocortical progenitor cells become patterned by extracellular signals to generate a protomap of progenitor cell areas that in turn generate area-specific neurons. The protomap is thought to be underpinned by spatial differences in progenitor cell identity that are reflected at the transcriptional level. We systematically investigated the nature and composition of the protomap by genomic analyses of spatial and temporal neocortical progenitor cell gene expression. We did not find gene expression evidence for progenitor cell organisation into domains or compartments, instead finding rostrocaudal gradients of gene expression across the entire neocortex. Given the role of Fgf signalling in rostrocaudal neocortical patterning, we carried out an in vivo global analysis of cortical gene expression in Fgfr1 mutant mice, identifying consistent alterations in the expression of candidate protomap elements. One such gene, Mest, was predicted by those studies to be a direct target of Fgf8 signalling and to be involved in setting up, rather than implementing, the progenitor cell protomap. In support of this, we confirmed Mest as a direct transcriptional target of Fgf8-regulated signalling in vitro. Functional studies demonstrated that this gene has a role in establishing patterned gene expression in the developing neocortex, potentially by acting as a negative regulator of the Fgf8-controlled patterning system

Genomic characterisation of a Fgf-regulated gradient-based neocortical protomap.

Recent findings support a model for neocortical area formation in which neocortical progenitor cells become patterned by extracellular signals to generate a protomap of progenitor cell areas that in turn generate area-specific neurons. The protomap is thought to be underpinned by spatial differences in progenitor cell identity that are reflected at the transcriptional level. We systematically investigated the nature and composition of the protomap by genomic analyses of spatial and temporal neocortical progenitor cell gene expression. We did not find gene expression evidence for progenitor cell organisation into domains or compartments, instead finding rostrocaudal gradients of gene expression across the entire neocortex. Given the role of Fgf signalling in rostrocaudal neocortical patterning, we carried out an in vivo global analysis of cortical gene expression in Fgfr1 mutant mice, identifying consistent alterations in the expression of candidate protomap elements. One such gene, Mest, was predicted by those studies to be a direct target of Fgf8 signalling and to be involved in setting up, rather than implementing, the progenitor cell protomap. In support of this, we confirmed Mest as a direct transcriptional target of Fgf8-regulated signalling in vitro. Functional studies demonstrated that this gene has a role in establishing patterned gene expression in the developing neocortex, potentially by acting as a negative regulator of the Fgf8-controlled patterning system

The ketogenic diet is effective for refractory epilepsy associated with acquired structural epileptic encephalopathy

AIM: Ketogenic diet therapies have proven efficacy for refractory epilepsy. There are many reports of their use in the genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathies; however, little attention has been paid as to whether the diet is also effective in individuals with an acquired structural aetiology. We observed remarkable efficacy of the diet in two patients with hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy. We then analysed our cases with refractory structural epilepsies of acquired origin to characterize their response to the ketogenic diet. METHOD: The classical ketogenic diet was implemented with dietary ratios of 3:1 to 4.4:1. Seizure frequency at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was ascertained. A responder was defined as greater than 50% seizure reduction compared to baseline. RESULTS: Seven of the nine patients were responders at 3 months. INTERPRETATION: Somewhat surprisingly we found that the ketogenic diet was effective in patients with a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy due to an acquired structural aetiology. This cohort may not be routinely considered for the ketogenic diet because of their structural and acquired, rather than genetic, basis. The ketogenic diet should be considered early in the management of patients with acquired structural encephalopathies as it can improve seizure control with the potential to improve developmental outcome. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The ketogenic diet was effective in children with epilepsy associated with an acquired structural aetiology