Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes Across Cosmic Time

The black hole mass function of supermassive black holes describes the evolution of the distribution of black hole mass. It is one of the primary empirical tools available for mapping the growth of supermassive black holes and for constraining theoretical models of their evolution. In this review we discuss methods for estimating the black hole mass function, including their advantages and disadvantages. We also review the results of using these methods for estimating the mass function of both active and inactive black holes. In addition, we review current theoretical models for the growth of supermassive black holes that predict the black hole mass function. We conclude with a discussion of directions for future research which will lead to improvement in both empirical and theoretical determinations of the mass function of supermassive black holes.Comment: 40 pages, 7 figures, review paper accepted for the Advances in Astronomy Special Issue "Seeking for the Leading Actor on the Cosmic Stage: Galaxies versus Supermassive Black Holes

Development of a Network of Accurate Ozone Sensing Nodes for Parallel Monitoring in a Site Relocation Study

Recent technological advances in both air sensing technology and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity have enabled the development and deployment of remote monitoring networks of air quality sensors. The compact size and low power requirements of both sensors and IoT data loggers allow for the development of remote sensing nodes with power and connectivity versatility. With these technological advancements, sensor networks can be developed and deployed for various ambient air monitoring applications. This paper describes the development and deployment of a monitoring network of accurate ozone (O3) sensor nodes to provide parallel monitoring in an air monitoring site relocation study. The reference O3 analyzer at the station along with a network of three O3 sensing nodes was used to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of O3 across four Southern California communities in the San Bernardino Mountains which are currently represented by a single reference station in Crestline, CA. The motivation for developing and deploying the sensor network in the region was that the single reference station potentially needed to be relocated due to uncertainty that the lease agreement would be renewed. With the implication of siting a new reference station that is also a high O3 site, the project required the development of an accurate and precise sensing node for establishing a parallel monitoring network at potential relocation sites. The deployment methodology included a pre-deployment co-location calibration to the reference analyzer at the air monitoring station with post-deployment co-location results indicating a mean absolute error (MAE) < 2 ppb for 1-h mean O3 concentrations. Ordinary least squares regression statistics between reference and sensor nodes during post-deployment co-location testing indicate that the nodes are accurate and highly correlated to reference instrumentation with R2 values > 0.98, slope offsets < 0.02, and intercept offsets < 0.6 for hourly O3 concentrations with a mean concentration value of 39.7 ± 16.5 ppb and a maximum 1-h value of 94 ppb. Spatial variability for diurnal O3 trends was found between locations within 5 km of each other with spatial variability between sites more pronounced during nighttime hours. The parallel monitoring was successful in providing the data to develop a relocation strategy with only one relocation site providing a 95% confidence that concentrations would be higher there than at the current site

Migration Pattern Dynamics during Choroid Fissure Closure in Zebrafish

Successful closure of the choroid fissure (CF) is essential for proper development of the vertebrate eye. The impermanent structure forms as the optic cup surrounds the invaginating lens allowing hyaloid vasculature to enter the developing eye. If the choroid fissure closure (CFC) fails to close, a coloboma develops associated with approximately 3-11% of childhood blindness worldwide. The CF cells are distinct prior to fusion as they remain undifferentiated until fusion of the opposing sides and have unique N-cadherin expression. During CFC, cells must breakdown basement membrane to allow fusion between both sides producing a seamless ventral retina. Both breakdown and fusion of the apposing sides of the CF initiate from the central region and proceeds bi-directionally. It is unknown however where or if the CF cells migrate away from an aligned fusion point. in vivo confocal microscopy of transgenic Hsp701:Gal4;UAS:Kaede zebrafish embryos during CFC allows distinctive contrast of photoconverted cells to give insight to their spatial temporal movement. We partitioned our analysis into three distinct regions along the proximal/distal axis of the CF to determine if cellular movement at the choroid fissure edges maintained distinct cellular migration patterns prior to differentiation. Preliminary analysis from 44 to 48 hpf in the proximal and distal regions demonstrate movement distinct from those within the central region. In both proximal and distal CF, upper (dorsal) CF cells move towards the central CF changing their proximal/distal axis in the opposite direction of fusion. Lower (ventral) CF cells move further ventrally towards the apposing side in order to fuse the CF. This contrasts with the central CF upper and lower cells that move directly towards the apposed sides. These results further support the hypothesis that cells at the CF edge are regulated differentially from the remaining differentiating retina

Pensamiento algebraico: contraste entre resoluciones de distintos niveles académicos, una tarea de generalización de patrones

El estudio aborda el análisis de la aplicación de una actividad sobre generalización de patrones realizada a dos estudiantes de diferentes niveles académicos, en la cual un estudiante no ha tenido ningún acercamiento al álgebra escolar y el otro pertenece a la Licenciatura en Educación Básica con Énfasis en Matemáticas (LEBEM), con el objetivo de reconocer que aspectos del pensamiento algebraico emergen en la resolución de dicha actividad y además, contrastar los diferentes resultados obtenidos en ambos casos, en términos de abordaje de la tarea y solución a ella, encontrando que al comprender el álgebra desde lo puramente simbólico se pueden generar obstáculos en el desarrollo de este tipo de actividades, dado que el pensamiento de alguna manera se condiciona a buscar una expresión netamente literal

Prospectus, June 14, 1995

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1995/1016/thumbnail.jp

The Correlation Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Level and Risk of Future Cardiovascular Disease: A Neurodivergent Population Dilemma

Extensive research on neurotypical (NT) populations has demonstrated that a chronically elevated level of serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interestingly, many neurodivergent (ND) populations experience chronically elevated CRP levels higher than NT controls. Current research is concerned with establishing the significance of this relationship to accurately predict CVD risk for potentially at risk ND patients. To contribute to this gap in knowledge, the Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center patient population will be studied to identify trends in baseline serum CRP levels across a multitude of ND conditions. A clinical risk assessment scale, specifically designed for treating ND populations, will be developed based on the significance of the results of this study

Effect of a MUC5AC antibody (NPC-1C) administered with second-line gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel on the survival of patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE: Treatment options are limited for patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) beyond first-line 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX), with such individuals commonly being treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether NPC-1C, an antibody directed against MUC5AC, might increase the efficacy of second-line gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced PDAC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, randomized phase II clinical trial enrolled patients with advanced PDAC between April 2014 and March 2017 whose disease had progressed on first-line FOLFIRINOX. Eligible patients had tumors with at least 20 MUC5AC staining by centralized immunohistochemistry review. Statistical analysis was performed from April to May 2022. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) and nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2) administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of every 4-week cycle, with or without intravenous NPC-1C 1.5 mg/kg every 2 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety. Pretreatment clinical variables were explored with Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients (median [range] age, 62 [36-78] years; 32 [41%] women; 9 [12%] Black; 66 [85%] White) received second-line treatment with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (n = 40) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and NPC-1C (n = 38). Median OS was 6.6 months (95% CI, 4.7-8.4 months) with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel vs 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.3-6.5 months; P = .22) with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and NPC-1C. Median PFS was 2.7 months (95% CI, 1.9-4.1 months) with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel vs 3.4 months (95% CI, 1.9-5.3 months; P = .80) with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and NPC-1C. The ORR was 3.1% (95% CI, 0.4%-19.7%) in the gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and NPC-1C group and 2.9% (95% CI, 0.4%-18.7%) in the gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel group. No differences in toxicity were observed between groups, except that grade 3 or greater anemia occurred more frequently in patients treated with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and NPC-1C than gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (39% [15 of 38] vs 10% [4 of 40]; P = .003). The frequency of chemotherapy dose reductions was similar in both groups (65% vs 74%; P = .47). Lower performance status, hypoalbuminemia, PDAC diagnosis less than or equal to 18 months before trial enrollment, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio less than 2.8, and CA19-9 greater than 2000 IU/mL were independently associated with poorer survival. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial of advanced PDAC, NPC-1C did not enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. These data provide a benchmark for future trials investigating second-line treatment of PDAC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01834235

2008 Fine Art Graduation Exhibition Catalogue

Minty Fresh Graduation Exhibition 2008 Fanshawe College Fine Art Program McIntosh GalleryApril 10-27, 2008 Guest SpeakerMatthew Carverhttps://first.fanshawec.ca/famd_design_fineart_gradcatalogues/1018/thumbnail.jp