Area sampling frame construction for an agriculture information system with LANDSAT-2 data

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Studies in the role of microRNAs in class switch recombination, and the role of TLR9 complex antigens in shaping the germinal center response

The studies in this work are centered around two projects. The first two chapters are composed of background and primary research on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in B cell class switch recombination. MiRNAs regulate cell fate decisions by post-transcriptionally tuning networks of mRNA targets. We utilized miRNA-directed pathway discovery to reveal a regulatory circuit that influences B cell activation and immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR). We developed a system to deplete mature, activated B cells of miRNAs, and performed a rescue screen that identified the miR-221/222 family as a positive regulator of CSR. Endogenous miR-221/222 regulated B cell proliferation and CSR to IgE and IgG1 in vitro, and miR-221/222-deficient mice exhibited defective IgE production in allergic airway challenge and polyclonal B cell activation models in vivo. We combined comparative Ago2-HITS-CLIP and gene expression analyses to identify mRNAs bound and regulated by miR-221/222 in primary B cells. Interrogation of these putative direct targets uncovered functionally relevant downstream genes. Genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of Foxp1 and Arid1a confirmed their roles as key modulators of CSR to IgE and IgG1. The third chapter is in the study of TLR9 co-signaling in the germinal center (GC) B cell response. It was previously unknown how co-signaling events through innate immune system receptors in B cells positively influenced the generation of GC B cells. In this chapter we addressed this question through transcriptomics to find that signaling and activation from TLR9-containing antigen increased Myc and mTORC signatures that bolstered the GC B cell response

Research in Computational Aeroscience Applications Implemented on Advanced Parallel Computing Systems

Improving the numerical linear algebra routines for use in new Navier-Stokes codes, specifically Tim Barth's unstructured grid code, with spin-offs to TRANAIR is reported. A fast distance calculation routine for Navier-Stokes codes using the new one-equation turbulence models is written. The primary focus of this work was devoted to improving matrix-iterative methods. New algorithms have been developed which activate the full potential of classical Cray-class computers as well as distributed-memory parallel computers

130 Years of Leadership: Images of the Deans of the College of Medicine 1881-2010

When I joined the College of Medicine faculty, I became interested in the photographs of previous deans of the college displayed on a conference room wall. There was no information, however, about any of the deans and I was curious about their careers and accomplishments. Much later I began this project to research each of them, find a photo from the time they were dean, write a concise biography, and add a photo representative of the college during that era. What I found was a distinguished group of scholars, many of whom, even in the early years, were highly regarded nationally and internationally for research and leadership. Throughout the history of the College of Medicine, the deans presided over a rapidly changing institution. At the beginning (1881) deans of the Omaha Medical College (then called president of the faculty) presided over a proprietary college with 35 medical students and 15 faculty members. By 1902, when the college affiliated with the University of Nebraska, there were 152 medical students and 52 faculty. When the college moved to its current location on 42nd Street and the University of Nebraska Hospital was built, the deans’ responsibilities expanded to include running the hospital and, soon thereafter, a nursing school. The college continued to grow so that by 1950 there were 315 medical students, 165 faculty, 65 residents and interns and a college of allied health. In 1968, the University of Nebraska Medical Center was created and the dean answered to the chancellor of the medical center. Research, education, and clinical activities increased and by today (2015) the College of Medicine has 502 medical students, 794 faculty and over 500 residents. The dean’s job has changed but the college continues to find highly talented, visionary, and accomplished leaders to fill the role. Robert Wigton M.D., M.S. Professor of Internal Medicine Assistant Dean for Special Projectshttps://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/com_deans/1000/thumbnail.jp

Near-Infrared (2 – 4 micron) spectroscopy of Near-Earth Asteroids: A search for OH/H2O on small planetary bodies

Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are not expected to have H2O [water] ice on their surfaces because a) most accreted dry and therefore never contained H2O, and b) their relatively high surface temperatures should drive rapid H2O ice sublimation. However, OH/H2O has been detected on other anhydrous inner solar system objects, including the Moon and Vesta. Possible sources for OH/H2O in the inner Solar System might include production via solar wind interactions, carbonaceous chondrite or cometary impact delivery, or native OH/H2O molecules bound to phyllosilicates. As these processes are active in near-Earth space, detectable levels of OH/H2O might also be present on NEAs. OH/H2O can be detected by its absorption feature at wavelengths near 3 microns using near-infrared (2 – 4 microns) spectroscopy from ground-based infrared telescopes. Analysis of the shape of the 3-micron feature, coupled with the observed NEA orbital parameters and albedos, can help distinguish between the possible sources of OH/H2O. I used the SpeX instrument on NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) to measure spectra in from ~2 to 4 μm[microns]. The study presented here uses 13 observations for 8 NEAs: (443) Eros (two observations), (1036) Ganymed (four observations), (3122) Florence, (54789) 2001 MZ7, (96590) 1998 XB, (285944) 2001 RZ11, (214088) 2004 JN13, (357439) 2004 BL86. The objects are split into two spectral groups based on band depth: No feature or shallow feature (\u3c10%). NEAs in the no feature group are 2004 BL86, 2001 MZ7, 2004 JN13, 2001 RZ11, 1998 XB, and one observation of Ganymed (6/10). Objects with a shallow feature are Eros (both observations), Florence, and three observations of Ganymed (6/4, 9/27 and 10/19). The objects with 3-micron absorptions all have a sharp feature which indicates OH present on their surfaces. I conclude that the 3-micron bands detected on Eros and Ganymed are due to solar wind implantation. The band depth on Florence, on the other hand, is more likely to be due to carbonaceous chondrite impacts. The presence of volatiles on bodies traditionally thought to be “dry” has many future scientific prospects and should lead to more observations in this region

Evaluation of Cost Savings with the Addition of a Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Machine (MALDI-TOF) at a Tertiary Hospital

Purpose: To evaluate potential cost savings of the addition of a MALDI-TOF machine in comparison to current costs of standard methods at St. Cloud Hospital, a tertiary community hospital with 489 licensed beds.https://digitalcommons.centracare.com/pharmacy_posters/1001/thumbnail.jp

Antigen Complexed with a TLR9 Agonist Bolsters c-Myc and mTORC1 Activity in Germinal Center B Lymphocytes.

The germinal center (GC) is the anatomical site where humoral immunity evolves. B cells undergo cycles of proliferation and selection to produce high-affinity Abs against Ag. Direct linkage of a TLR9 agonist (CpG) to a T-dependent Ag increases the number of GC B cells. We used a T-dependent Ag complexed with CpG and a genetic model for ablating the TLR9 signaling adaptor molecule MyD88 specifically in B cells (B-MyD88- mice) together with transcriptomics to determine how this innate pathway positively regulates the GC. GC B cells from complex Ag-immunized B-MyD88- mice were defective in inducing gene expression signatures downstream of c-Myc and mTORC1. In agreement with the latter gene signature, ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation was increased in GC B cells from wild-type mice compared with B-MyD88- mice. However, GC B cell expression of a c-Myc protein reporter was enhanced by CpG attached to Ag in both wild-type and B-MyD88- mice, indicating a B cell-extrinsic effect on c-Myc protein expression combined with a B cell-intrinsic enhancement of gene expression downstream of c-Myc. Both mTORC1 activity and c-Myc are directly induced by T cell help, indicating that TLR9 signaling in GC B cells either enhances their access to T cell help or directly influences these pathways to further enhance the effect of T cell help. Taken together, these findings indicate that TLR9 signaling in the GC could provide a surrogate prosurvival stimulus, "TLR help," thus lowering the threshold for selection and increasing the magnitude of the GC response

PROGRAM DESIGN, DELIVERY, AND EVALUATION: LPC US HOST FAMILY PROGRAM

This capstone paper outlines the design, delivery, and evaluation processes of the 2017 LPC US Host Family Program, a short-term, pre-camp host family experience administered by the LPC Board, a US support group of Luethi-Peterson Camps, International. It seeks to evaluate the program effectiveness and to determine a set of recommendations for future organizers, based upon the results of evaluative surveys and literature review. A full review of the research proposal was conducted by the SIT IRB, due to the sensitive nature of research participants below the age of 18. Once approved, online surveys were disseminated to participating campers, camper families, and host families, the results of which were tabulated over the course of several weeks. A literature review of host program best practices was also conducted by the researcher. Findings from both methods of inquiry were synthesized, indicating general program success, and resulted in the development of several recommendations for future program organizers

Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns for Community Acquired Pneumonia

Purpose: To evaluate duration of antibiotic therapy and prescribing patterns for non-ICU CAP at St Cloud Hospital, a tertiary community hospital.https://digitalcommons.centracare.com/pharmacy_posters/1000/thumbnail.jp