"Speak sweetly and act sly" : a study of gender nonconformist children in three Southern novels

This thesis deals with three Southern novels: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers and Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote. All were written in the 1940s and 50s, and all feature a gender nonconformist child protagonist. My primary aim is to examine how these fundamentally queer characters tackle the problem of coming of age in a culture in which gender norms are very clearly defined and regulated. The dilemma is this: should one give in to society’s demands in order to fit in, or instead choose to be an outsider? My argument is that in these novels, rebelling outright and refusing to be part of the community is presented as futile. If, however, one is seen to be complying with gender norms, one has the opportunity to undermine and satirize them, while at the same time being accepted as part of the mainstream. For these protagonists, I therefore argue that coming of age becomes synonymous with learning to ‘play the game’ in terms of gender. Accordingly, I attempt to show how those who completely reject conformity are depicted as unable to move beyond adolescence. With this analysis, I hope to show how acts of gender conformity in these novels can be seen not only as acts of capitulation, but also as conscious strategies of subversion and subterfuge. As a result, characters who have previously often been dismissed as passive or defeated can instead be read as flexible and resourceful

Maximum Visibility Building Direction for Layered Manufacturing of Jewel Rings

Rapid prototyping is used in jewelry production since the introduction of Stereolithography Apparatus into the market. However, the building orientation is mainly decided by the experience of the operator rather than by any systematic analysis. A theory is therefore needed to analyze the best orientation of jewelry in rapid jewelry production. In this paper, a new orientation methodology is applied to jewel ring models to properly orient them for layer manufacturing. Jewel ring model built is then demonstrated to have better quality and less error. A case study is presented to illustrate the theory.The work described in this paper was supported by a grant from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project No.: G-V617).Mechanical Engineerin

Densitometry and Thermometry of Starburst Galaxies

With a goal toward deriving the physical conditions in external galaxies, we present a survey of formaldehyde (H2CO) and ammonia (NH3) emission and absorption in a sample of starburst galaxies using the Green Bank Telescope. By extending well-established techniques used to derive the spatial density in star formation regions in our own Galaxy, we show how the relative intensity of the 1(10)-1(11) and 2(11)-2(12) K-doublet transitions of H2CO can provide an accurate densitometer for the active star formation environments found in starburst galaxies (c.f. Mangum et al. 2008). Similarly, we employ the well-established technique of using the relative intensities of the (1,1), (2,2), and (4,4) transitions of NH3 to derive the kinetic temperature in starburst galaxies. Our measurements of the kinetic temperature constrained spatial density in our starburst galaxy sample represent the first mean density measurements made toward starburst galaxies. We note a disparity between kinetic temperature measurements derived assuming direct coupling to dust and those derived from our NH3 measurements which points to the absolute need for direct gas kinetic temperature measurements using an appropriate molecular probe. Finally, our spatial density measurements point to a rough constancy to the spatial density (10^{4.5} to 10^{5.5} cm^{-3}) in our starburst galaxy sample. This implies that the Schmidt-Kennicutt relation between L_{IR} and M_{dense}: (1) Is a measure of the dense gas mass reservoir available to form stars, and (2) Is not directly dependent upon a higher average density driving the star formation process in the most luminous starburst galaxies.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in proceedings of The 5th Zermatt ISM Symposiu

The EBV-encoded latent membrane proteins, LMP2A and LMP2B, limit the actions of interferon by targeting interferon receptors for degradation

Although frequently expressed in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive malignancies, the role that latent membrane protein 2A and 2B (LMP2A and LMP2B) have in the oncogenic process remains obscure. Here we show a novel function for these proteins in epithelial cells, namely, their ability to modulate signalling from type I/II interferon receptors (IFNRs). We show that LMP2A- and LMP2B-expressing epithelial cells show decreased responsiveness to interferon (IFN)α and IFNγ, as assessed by STAT1 phosphorylation, ISGF3 and GAF-mediated binding to IFN-stimulated response element and IFNγ-activated factor sequence elements and luciferase reporter activation. Transcriptional profiling highlighted the extent of this modulation, with both viral proteins impacting ‘globally’ on IFN-stimulated gene expression. Although not affecting the levels of cell-surface IFNRs, LMP2A and LMP2B accelerated the turnover of IFNRs through processes requiring endosome acidification. This function may form part of EBV's strategy to limit anti-viral responses and define a novel function for LMP2A and LMP2B in modulating signalling from receptors that participate in innate immune responses

Time evolution of Wikipedia network ranking

We study the time evolution of ranking and spectral properties of the Google matrix of English Wikipedia hyperlink network during years 2003 - 2011. The statistical properties of ranking of Wikipedia articles via PageRank and CheiRank probabilities, as well as the matrix spectrum, are shown to be stabilized for 2007 - 2011. A special emphasis is done on ranking of Wikipedia personalities and universities. We show that PageRank selection is dominated by politicians while 2DRank, which combines PageRank and CheiRank, gives more accent on personalities of arts. The Wikipedia PageRank of universities recovers 80 percents of top universities of Shanghai ranking during the considered time period.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in EPJ

PDGFRA/NG2 glia generate new oligodendrocytes but few astrocytes in a murine EAE model of demyelinating disease

The adult mammalian brain and spinal cord contain glial precursors that express platelet-derived growth factor receptors (alpha subunit, PDGFRA) and the NG2 proteoglycan. These “NG2 cells” descend from oligodendrocyte precursors in the perinatal CNS and continue to generate myelinating oligodendrocytes in the grey and white matter of the postnatal brain. It has been proposed that NG2 cells can also generate reactive astrocytes at sites of CNS injury or demyelination. To test this we examined the fates of PDGFRA/ NG2 cells in the mouse spinal cord during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) - a demyelinating condition that models some aspects of multiple sclerosis in humans. We administered tamoxifen to Pdgfra-CreERT2: Rosa26R-YFP mice in order to induce yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) expression in PDGFRA/ NG2 cells and their differentiated progeny. We subsequently induced EAE and observed a large (>4-fold) increase in the density of YFP+ cells, >90% of which were oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Many of these became CC1-positive, NG2-negative differentiated oligodendrocytes that expressed myelin markers CNP and Tmem10/ Opalin. PDGFRA/ NG2 cells generated very few GFAP+ reactive astrocytes (1-2% of all YFP+ cells) or NeuN+neurons (<0.02%). Thus, PDGFRA/ NG2 cells act predominantly as a reservoir of new oligodendrocytes in the demyelinated spinal cord

Screen time behaviours may interact with obesity genes, independent of physical activity, to influence adolescent BMI in an ethnically diverse cohort

Background There has been little investigation of gene-by-environment interactions related to sedentary behaviour, a risk factor for obesity defined as leisure screen time (ST; i.e. television, video and computer games). Objective To test the hypothesis that limiting ST use attenuates the genetic predisposition to increased body mass index (BMI), independent of physical activity. Design Using 7642 wave II participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, (Add Health; mean=16.4 years, 52.6% female), we assessed the interaction of ST (hweek-1) and 41 established obesity single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with age- and sex-specific BMI Z-scores in 4788 European-American (EA), 1612 African-American (AA) and 1242 Hispanic American (HA) adolescents. Results Nominally significant SNP ST interaction were found for FLJ35779 in EA, GNPDA2 in AA and none in HA (EA: beta [SE]=0.016[0.007]), AA: beta [SE]=0.016[0.011]) per 7hweek-1 ST and one risk allele in relation to BMI Z-score. Conclusions While for two established BMI loci, we find evidence that high levels of ST exacerbate the influence of obesity susceptibility variants on body mass; overall, we do not find strong evidence for interactions between the majority of established obesity loci. However, future studies with larger sample sizes, or that may build on our current study and the growing published literature, are clearly warranted

Moderate to vigorous physical activity interactions with genetic variants and body mass index in a large US ethnically diverse cohort

Summary What is already known about this subject Genome-Wide Association Studies have successfully identified numerous genetic loci that influence body mass index in European-descent middle-aged adults. Adolescence is a high-risk period for the development of adult obesity and severe obesity. Physical activity is one of the most promising behavioural candidates for preventing and reducing weight gain, particularly among youth. What this study adds An examination of the joint association between 41 of the well-established obesity susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms with <5 vs. ≥5 bouts of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week in relation to body mass index (BMI)-for-age Z-score in a nationally representative sample of European American, African-American and Hispanic American adolescents. Three nominally significant interactions (P < 0.05) varied by race/ethnicity. Overall, the estimated effect of the risk allele on BMI-for-age Z-score was greater in individuals with <5 than those with ≥5 bouts MVPA per week. Background Little is known about the interaction between genetic and behavioural factors during lifecycle risk periods for obesity and how associations vary across race/ethnicity. Objective The objective of this study was to examine joint associations of adiposity-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with body mass index (BMI) in a diverse adolescent cohort. Methods Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 8113: Wave II 1996; ages 12-21, Wave III; ages 18-27), we assessed interactions of 41 well-established SNPs and MVPA with BMI-for-age Z-scores in European Americans (EA; n = 5077), African-Americans (AA; n = 1736) and Hispanic Americans (HA; n = 1300). Results Of 97 assessed, we found nominally significant SNP-MVPA interactions on BMI-for-age Z-score in EA at GNPDA2 and FTO and in HA at LZTR2/SEC16B. In EA, the estimated effect of the FTO risk allele on BMI-for-age Z-score was lower (β = -0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08, 0.18) in individuals with ≥5 vs. <5 (β = 0.24; CI: 0.16, 0.32) bouts of MVPA per week (P for interaction 0.02). Race/ethnicity-pooled meta-analysis showed nominally significant interactions for SNPs at TFAP2B, POC5 and LYPLAL1. Conclusions High MVPA may attenuate underlying genetic risk for obesity during adolescence, a high-risk period for adult obesity

Monte Carlo Comparisons to a Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Detector with low Transition-Edge-Sensor Transition Temperature

We present results on phonon quasidiffusion and Transition Edge Sensor (TES) studies in a large, 3 inch diameter, 1 inch thick [100] high purity germanium crystal, cooled to 50 mK in the vacuum of a dilution refrigerator, and exposed with 59.5 keV gamma-rays from an Am-241 calibration source. We compare calibration data with results from a Monte Carlo which includes phonon quasidiffusion and the generation of phonons created by charge carriers as they are drifted across the detector by ionization readout channels. The phonon energy is then parsed into TES based phonon readout channels and input into a TES simulator

B-blockers, calcium antagonists, and mortality in stable coronary artery disease: An international cohort study

Aims: The effect of first-line antianginal agents, β-blockers, and calcium antagonists on clinical outcomes in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain. Methods and results We analysed the use of β-blockers or calcium antagonists (baseline and annually) and outcomes in 22 006 stable CAD patients (enrolled 2009–2010) followed annually to 5 years, in the CLARIFY registry (45 countries). Primary outcome was all-cause death. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death and the composite of cardiovascular death/non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). After multivariable adjustment, baseline β-blocker use was not associated with lower all-cause death [1345 (7.8%) in users vs. 407 (8.4%) in non-users; hazard ratio (HR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–1.06; P = 0.30]; cardiovascular death [861 (5.0%) vs. 262 (5.4%); HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79–1.05; P = 0.20]; or cardiovascular death/non-fatal MI [1272 (7.4%) vs. 340 (7.0%); HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91–1.16; P = 0.66]. Sensitivity analyses according to β-blocker use over time and to prescribed dose produced similar results. Among prior MI patients, for those enrolled in the year following MI, baseline β-blocker use was associated with lower all-cause death [205 (7.0%) vs. 59 (10.3%); HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.91; P = 0.01]; cardiovascular death [132 (4.5%) vs. 49 (8.5%); HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.37–0.73; P = 0.0001]; and cardiovascular death/non-fatal MI [212 (7.2%) vs. 59 (10.3%); HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.52–0.93; P = 0.01]. Calcium antagonists were not associated with any difference in mortality. Conclusion In this contemporary cohort of stable CAD, β-blocker use was associated with lower 5-year mortality only in patients enrolled in the year following MI. Use of calcium antagonists was not associated with superior mortality, regardless of history of MI