Investigations into the Utilization of Passive Satellite Observational Data

Optimization method for geodetic evaluation of passive satellite trail from ballistic camera photograph

Digital Droplet PCR for Influenza Vaccine Development

AbstractDevelopment of influenza vaccine processes requires virus quantification to optimize conditions in cell culture or in the associated downstream purification steps. Modern methods include qPCR, which utilizes TaqMan chemistry to detect and quantify viral RNA by comparison of a RNA standard of known concentration. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is similar to qPCR in that it shares the same chemistry for nucleic acid detection. However, in ddPCR, the sample is diluted into partitions (‘droplets’) in order to separate and isolate single molecules. Upon PCR amplification, the droplet's fluorescent intensity depends on the presence or absence of the target; as such, positive and negative droplets are identified, which allows for absolute quantification of the viral genomes. The digital approach has enabled several key advantages. First, a standard is no longer required. Second, efficiency of the reverse transcription and the kinetics of the amplification, principles in qPCR, have no impact on the final digital PCR quantification. For this reason, the extracted RNA does not need to be purified from the reagents needed to lyse the virus. Also, viral associated RNA released by infected cells can be measured directly, further improving the quality of the data generated. Additional improvements to the approach include duplexing with a second assay that measures host cell DNA concentration. The method has been successfully implemented with automation in support of multiple upstream and downstream process development efforts for influenza vaccine manufacturing

Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Malate Dehydrogenase: A Class Project

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is an important enzyme in an organism’s metabolic pathways. MDH is found in almost all living cells and catalyzes the conversion of malate to oxaloacetate which also involves nicotinamide dehydrogenase (NAD) as a coenzyme. A method to study how an enzyme operates is to alter one of its amino acids and compare the activity of the enzyme before and after the mutation. As a class project in Advanced Biochemistry during the spring semester of 2018, we are working as a team to propose and carry out a point-based mutation on MDH

The role of the genetic counsellor: a systematic review of research evidence

In Europe, genetic counsellors are employed in specialist genetic centres or other specialist units. According to the European Board of Medical Genetics, the genetic counsellor must fulfil a range of roles, including provision of information and facilitation of psychosocial adjustment of the client to their genetic status and situation. To evaluate the extent to which genetic counsellors fulfil their prescribed roles, we conducted a systematic review of the published relevant scientific evidence. We searched five relevant electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, SocIndex, AMED and PsychInfo) using relevant search terms and handsearched four subject-specific journals for research-based papers published in English between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2013. Of 419 potential papers identified initially, seven satisfied the inclusion criteria for the review. Themes derived from the thematic analysis of the data were: (i) rationale for genetic counsellors to provide care, (ii) appropriate roles and responsibilities and (iii) the types of conditions included in the genetic counsellor caseload. The findings of this systematic review indicate that where genetic counsellors are utilised in specialist genetic settings, they undertake a significant workload associated with direct patient care and this appears to be acceptable to patients. With the burden on genetic services, there is an argument for the increased use of genetic counsellors in countries where they are under-utilised. In addition, roles undertaken by genetic counsellors in specialist genetic settings could be adapted to integrate genetic counsellors into multi-disciplinary teams in other specialisms

Measurements of the Temperature and E-Mode Polarization of the CMB from 500 Square Degrees of SPTpol Data

We present measurements of the $E$-mode polarization angular auto-power spectrum ($EE$) and temperature-$E$-mode cross-power spectrum ($TE$) of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) using 150 GHz data from three seasons of SPTpol observations. We report the power spectra over the spherical harmonic multipole range $50 < \ell \leq 8000$, and detect nine acoustic peaks in the $EE$ spectrum with high signal-to-noise ratio. These measurements are the most sensitive to date of the $EE$ and $TE$ power spectra at $\ell > 1050$ and $\ell > 1475$, respectively. The observations cover 500 deg$^2$, a fivefold increase in area compared to previous SPTpol analyses, which increases our sensitivity to the photon diffusion damping tail of the CMB power spectra enabling tighter constraints on \LCDM model extensions. After masking all sources with unpolarized flux $>50$ mJy we place a 95% confidence upper limit on residual polarized point-source power of $D_\ell = \ell(\ell+1)C_\ell/2\pi <0.107\,\mu{\rm K}^2$ at $\ell=3000$, suggesting that the $EE$ damping tail dominates foregrounds to at least $\ell = 4050$ with modest source masking. We find that the SPTpol dataset is in mild tension with the $\Lambda CDM$ model ($2.1\,\sigma$), and different data splits prefer parameter values that differ at the $\sim 1\,\sigma$ level. When fitting SPTpol data at $\ell < 1000$ we find cosmological parameter constraints consistent with those for $Planck$ temperature. Including SPTpol data at $\ell > 1000$ results in a preference for a higher value of the expansion rate (H_0 = 71.3 \pm 2.1\,\mbox{km}\,s^{-1}\mbox{Mpc}^{-1} ) and a lower value for present-day density fluctuations ($\sigma_8 = 0.77 \pm 0.02$).Comment: Updated to match version accepted to ApJ. 34 pages, 17 figures, 6 table

The Vehicle, Spring 1988

Contents CitizenCraig Titleypage 3 Justice DistributionAngie Geraldpage 4 Letter from My MotherDan Von Holtenpage 6 The Fool and His LadyRodger Patiencepage 7 What Big IsBob Zordanipage 8 Blind ArchitectureJim Reedpage 9 Ah, What a Funny Thing These EyesCraig Titleypage 10 FarmingPatrick Peterspage 11 The CowSteven M. Beamerpage 13 The Enigma of My ExistenceAngie Kathpage 14 Neon TeethMichael Salempage 15 Zombie PoseidonMichael Salempage 16 From: Letters from the Linder BuildingPatrick Peters, Bob Zordani, Dan Von Holtenpage 17 A Man of Jackson IV (City Dweller)Steven M. Beamerpage 19 11:45 p.m. FridayElizabeth McMeekanpage 20 Mr. Siegel-January 1967Timothy J. McCarthypage 21 She had a look about herA bag man of Jackson pauses for a portraitSteven M. Beamerpage 22 Citybed (Homeless of Chicago)Steven M. Beamerpage 23 Electra and the Eighteen WheelerTammy Veachpage 24 OrderRhonda Ealypage 28 Grave Mill ISteven M. Beamerpage 29 The Party (A Social Event in 80 Words or Less)Groucho Smithpage 30 Graceland and Elvis Presley EarmuffsCraig Titleypage 31 Learning to ForageDan Von Holtenpage 33 One Last Peanut at Gateway CenterReflections of Three with DeCicco and LadySteven M. Beamerpage 34 Letter from the MidwestPatrick Peterspage 35 WoodwindJim Reedpage 36 Excerpts from Notebook AustraliaKeith Schusterpage 37 Letter from the DesertPatrick Peterspage 40 Tinted Blue, Waiting for an Uptown TaxiMichael Salempage 42 Voice and Earth: A Review of The Invention of the Telephone by Bruce GuernseyDan Von Holtenpage 43https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1052/thumbnail.jp