Introduction to Signal Timing & Traffic Control

The purpose of these lesson plans is to introduce students to traffic signalization basics. Students will be lead through a series of mini-lectures on traffic control and signalization including a discussion on the limitations and benefits of traffic signalization. The lesson plans compliment a computer simulation “game” in which students act as manual operators for a single up to four by four gridded intersection. Students attempt to control the progression of signals to understand the relationship between signal timing and user delay. Through experimentation with the simulation, students generate a presentation discussing the benefits and drawbacks of signal timing and graph the relationship between signal cycle length and driver delay. The lesson plan concludes with each student group giving a presentation on their experimental findings. This set of lesson plans includes the lecture PowerPoint slides with scripted comments and the simulation game files.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cveglearn/1002/thumbnail.jp

Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins control cilia length through regulation of actin polymerisation.

Primary cilia are cellular appendages important for signal transduction and sensing the environment. Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins form a complex that is important for several cytoskeleton-related processes such as ciliogenesis, cell migration and division. However, the mechanisms by which BBS proteins may regulate the cytoskeleton remain unclear. We discovered that Bbs4 and Bbs6 deficient renal medullary cells display a characteristic behaviour comprising poor migration, adhesion and division with an inability to form lamellipodial and filopodial extensions. Moreover, fewer mutant cells were ciliated (48% ± 6 for wild-type cells vs 23% ± 7 for Bbs4 null cells; P-value < 0.0001) and their cilia were shorter (2.55&emsp14;μm ± 0.41 for wild-type cells vs 2.16&emsp14;μm ± 0.23 for Bbs4 null cells; P-value < 0.0001). Whilst the microtubular cytoskeleton and cortical actin were intact, actin stress fibre formation was severely disrupted, forming abnormal apical stress fibre aggregates. Furthermore, we observed over-abundant focal adhesions in Bbs4, Bbs6 and Bbs8-deficient cells. In view of these findings and the role of RhoA in regulation of actin filament polymerisation, we showed that RhoA-GTP levels were highly upregulated in the absence of Bbs proteins. Upon treatment of Bbs4-deficient cells with chemical inhibitors of RhoA, we were able to restore cilia length and number as well as the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton. Together these findings indicate that Bbs proteins play a central role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and control cilia length through alteration of RhoA levels

Transportation Engineering: Traffic Control Simulator

The purpose of these lesson plans is to introduce students to traffic signalization basics. Students will be lead through a series of mini-lectures on traffic control and signalization including a discussion on the limitations and benefits of traffic signalization. The lesson plans compliment a computer simulation “game” in which students act as manual operators for a single up to four by four gridded intersection. Students attempt to control the progression of signals to understand the relationship between signal timing and user delay. Through experimentation with the simulation, students generate a presentation discussing the benefits and drawbacks of signal timing and graph the relationship between signal cycle length and driver delay. The lesson plan concludes with each student group giving a presentation on their experimental findings. This set of lesson plans includes the lecture PowerPoint slides with scripted comments and the simulation game files.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cveglearn/1001/thumbnail.jp

Yrityksen Tekes-rahoitteisen projektin tilintarkastus

Innovaatiorahoituskeskus Tekes rahoitti vuonna 2016 suomalaisten yritysten toteuttamia projekteja noin 467 miljoonalla eurolla. Useimpien Tekesin tarjoamien rahoituspalvelujen ehtona on rahoituksen tilityksen tarkistuttaminen auktorisoidulla tilintarkastajalla. Työn tavoitteena on tuottaa Tekes-rahoitteisten projektien tarkastusta varten osin tarkastusta ohjaava dokumentaatiopohja, tarjota opinnäytetyön raporttiosalla dokumentaatiopohjaa tukeva katsaus Tekes-rahoitteisten projektien tarkastukseen ja syventää kirjoittajan vielä kapeaa osaamista projektitarkastuksista. Opinnäytetyössä keskitytään Tekesin yrityksille tarjoamien rahoitusmuotojen tarkastuksen erityispiirteisiin eikä raporttia tai dokumentaatiopohjaa voida soveltaa julkisten toimijoiden projektien tarkastuksiin. Työ toteutettiin laatien teoriapohja tilintarkastuksen tavoitteista ja eri toimeksiannoista, julkisen rahoituksen ja Tekesin rooleista rahoittajana sekä niistä normeista ja sääntelyistä, jotka koskevat julkisen rahoituksen tilitysten tarkastusta. Teoriapohjan lisäksi tuotettiin luku Tekes-rahoitteisen projektin tarkastuksen teknisestä toteutuksesta osin Tekesin vuoden 2017 yleisten rahoitusehtojen ja tarkastusraporttipohjien sekä auktorisoidun tilintarkastajan ja Tekesin maksatuspalvelujohtajan haastattelujen pohjalta. Tämän osion rinnalla tuotettiin Tekes-rahoitteisten projektien tarkastuksia varten dokumentaatiopohja, joka koottiin kokonaisuudeksi raportin liitteisiin. Tekesin maksatuspalvelujohtaja Anne Kleemolan haastattelun tuloksena todettiin, etteivät Tekesin nykyiset tarkastusraporttipohjat huomioi erityisehtojen tarkastusta yhtä yksityiskohtaisesti, kuin tarkastusraporttipohjalla olevat muut tarkastuksessa huomioitavat seikat on huomioitu. Kleemola totesi tämän olevan hyödyllinen huomio ja tarkastusraporttipohjiin mahdollisesti kehitettävä asia. Koska toimeksiantajalle tuotetusta dokumentaatiopohjasta syntyi selkeä runko Tekes-rahoitteisen projektin tarkastukselle, projektitarkastuksien osalta koettiin oman osaamisen syventyneen ja yhteydenotto Tekesiin koettiin myös heidän osaltaan hyödylliseksi, opinnäytetyön voidaan todeta täyttäneen tavoitteensa

The Cadiz Contourite Channel: Sandy contourites, bedforms and dynamic current interaction

The Cadiz Contourite Channel is the largest and most prominent contourite channel in the middle slope of the Gulf of Cadiz, and is known to channelise the southern branch of the Lower Core of Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) as it flows westwards from the Gibraltar Gateway. The channel lies in water depth between 650 and 1500 m, is 150 km long, 2–12 km wide, up to 120 m deep, and broadly s-shaped in plan view. It has several associated subparallel marginal channels and shorter spillover channel segments. Its geometry is controlled by the interaction of a strong bottom current with the seafloor morphology, affected by neotectonic deformation and diapiric intrusion. Bottom photographs and dredge hauls reveal a channel floor shaped by high-energy flow, in places with bare rock, boulders and gravel, and elsewhere covered with sandy contourites. The rocky substrate and derived clasts are formed of authigenic iron-rich carbonates, testifying the high degree of fluid escape from adjacent diapiric ridges and mud volcanoes. The sandy substrate shows a wide range of current-induced bedforms including small, straight-crested ripples, large sinuous sand waves and dunes (wavelength 3.5–5 m, height 0.3–0.9 m), weak surface lineation on sands, and aligned gravel stringers and deep erosive scours around large boulders. Bedform orientation indicates flows directed to the south/south-west (main channel) and west (spillover channel), which can be related to MOW bottom currents, and current velocities that vary between about 0.2 and 0.8 m s− 1, even in the same channel location. However, current vane orientation was clearly responding, at least in part, to tidal effects and periodicity in the Gulf of Cadiz at the time the photographs were taken. Maximum current velocities are achieved by a combination of barotropic and internal tides (probably generated at the continental slope) that reinforce the normal MOW flow. In addition, meteorologically-induced internal waves with periods shorter than tidal ones may exert an even greater influence on current intensity, especially when they occur at times of sudden changes of meteorological forcing. This effect further influences MOW variability. In all cases, the funnelling effect of the Cadiz Channel amplifies tidal or meteorologically-induced bottom currents

Phytogrowth-Inhibitory lactones derivatives of Glaucolide B

The sesquiterpene lactone glaucolide B (1), isolated from Vernonia fruticulosa (Asteraceae), was transformed into six lactones (2-7). The structures of the products were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. A series of solutions of compounds 1-7, at 200 μᴍ, were tested on the germination and on the root and shoot growth of the dicotyledons Physalis ixocarpa and Trifolium alexandrinum and of the monocotyledons Lolium multiflorum and Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Lactone 5 exhibited clear selectivity towards dicotyledonous species at 200 μᴍ, with an average inhibition of 90% on the germination of P. ixocarpa. Lactones 1, 3 and 4 had a greater effect on root length of monocotyledonous species, inhibiting around 70% at 200 μᴍ in L. multiflorum. It seems that the diol function is required in lactones 4-6 to increase the activity, the polarity in the molecule might be required to reach its target

The nuclear receptor LXRα controls the functional specialization of splenic macrophages.

Macrophages are professional phagocytic cells that orchestrate innate immune responses and have considerable phenotypic diversity at different anatomical locations. However, the mechanisms that control the heterogeneity of tissue macrophages are not well characterized. Here we found that the nuclear receptor LXRα was essential for the differentiation of macrophages in the marginal zone (MZ) of the spleen. LXR-deficient mice were defective in the generation of MZ and metallophilic macrophages, which resulted in abnormal responses to blood-borne antigens. Myeloid-specific expression of LXRα or adoptive transfer of wild-type monocytes restored the MZ microenvironment in LXRα-deficient mice. Our results demonstrate that signaling via LXRα in myeloid cells is crucial for the generation of splenic MZ macrophages and identify an unprecedented role for a nuclear receptor in the generation of specialized macrophage subsets

Efficacy and Safety of Colchicine in Post-acute Myocardial Infarction Patients : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and adverse cardiac remodeling. Recent evidence has shown a promising role of colchicine in patients with coronary artery disease. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of colchicine in post-acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Methods: We searched five electronic databases from inception to January 18, 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating colchicine in post-acute MI patients. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and recurrent MI. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, levels of follow-up high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and drug-related adverse events. All meta-analyses used inverse-variance random-effects models. Results: Six RCTs involving 6,005 patients were included. Colchicine did not significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality [risk ratio (RR), 0.91; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.52-1.61; p = 0.64], recurrent MI (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.62-1.22; p = 0.28), all-cause mortality (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.61-1.85; p = 0.78), stroke (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07-1.09; p = 0.05), urgent coronary revascularization (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.02-8.89; p = 0.19), or decreased levels of follow-up hs-CRP (mean difference, −1.95 mg/L; 95% CI, −12.88 to 8.98; p = 0.61) compared to the control group. There was no increase in any adverse events (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.89-1.07; p = 0.34) or gastrointestinal adverse events (RR, 2.49; 95% CI, 0.48-12.99; p = 0.20). Subgroup analyses by colchicine dose (0.5 vs. 1 mg/day), time of follow-up (30 days) showed no changes in the overall findings. Conclusion: In post-acute MI patients, colchicine does not reduce cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, or other cardiovascular outcomes. Also, colchicine did not increase drug-related adverse event

Analysis of Early Postoperative Morbidity Among Patients with Rectal Cancer Treated with and without Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

Background: The impact of neoadjuvant treatment and their subsequent early complications in the treatment of rectal cancer has not been adequately assessed. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate early postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients with rectal cancer treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed by surgery, compared with patients treated with surgery alone. We also identified independent risk factors associated with early major complications. Methods: Between 1995 and 2004, 273 consecutive patients underwent treatment for rectal cancer. A total of 170 patients (group A) received preoperative radiotherapy with a total of 45–50.4 Gy (180 cGy per day) and 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, followed by surgery; 103 patients (group B) were treated with surgery alone. Dependent variables related to patients, treatment, radiotherapy, and tumor were analyzed. Results: Both groups were similar with regard to age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and tumor location but not for ileostomy (27% in group A vs. 6.8% in group B). The number of complications was similar in both groups (43.1% in group A vs. 44.6% in group B). No differences in wound infection (8.2% vs. 7.8%), intraabdominal abscess (4.7% vs. 4.9%), anastomotic dehiscence (4.2% vs. 3.8%), postoperative hemorrhage (3.5% vs. 3.9%), urinary complications (6.5% vs. 4.9%), paralytic ileus (8.9% vs. 9.7%), or general complications (7.1% vs. 9.6%) were found. The global mortality in the first 30 days after surgery was .7%. An ASA score of III–IV and surgery duration longer than 3 hours were identified as independent prognostic factors for early complications. Conclusions: Preoperative chemoradiation in patients with rectal cancer treated with surgery is not associated with a higher incidence of early postoperative complications. The patient~s preoperative clinical condition and lengthy surgery time are prognostic factors for early complications