Master of Science

thesisMultivariate assays using gene expression as their contributing factors, such as the centroid-based PAM50 Breast Cancer Intrinsic Classi er, are becoming commonly used in assisting treatment decisions in medicine, especially in oncology. Although physicians may rely on these multivariate assays for planning treatment, little is known about the e ects on the results of an assay due to the intrinsic error in the laboratory process and measuring its contributing factors. While we expect that classi cation of samples in proximity to one of the centroids de ning the tumor classes will be stable with respect to experimental errors in the gene expression measurements, what happens to the samples not in proximity to a single centroid is unknown. Results reported to the attending physician may be misleading because he or she is receiving no information about the probability for sample misclassi cation. Given the serious consequences due to ambiguous results in clinical classi cations, methods to measure the e ects of a multivariate assay's intrinsic errors need to be established and communicated to attending physicians. In this study, a method to characterize the technical uncertainty in the classi cation of centroid-based multivariate assays, is developed and described, using the PAM50 Breast Cancer Intrinsic Classi er as the model multivariate assay. Furthermore, the described method provides a general and individual classi cation con dence measurement that advances multivariate assays towards personalized healthcare by providing personalized con dence measurements on the assay's result. Finally, this study explores whether using parametric versus nonparametric distance measurements is most e ective when using a single gene expression platform, such as microarray or Real-time, quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

The Ursinus Weekly, February 10, 1905

Society notes • Only an amateur • Alumni notes • Dr. Miller to preach • Sophomore reception • St. Valentine\u27s treat • College world • College notes • Noticehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/3002/thumbnail.jp

Integrating archaeology and ancient DNA analysis to address invasive species colonization in the Gulf of Alaska

The intentional and unintentional movement of plants and animals by humans has transformed ecosystems and landscapes globally. Assessing when and how a species was introduced are central to managing these transformed landscapes, particularly in island environments. In the Gulf of Alaska, there is considerable interest in the history of mammal introductions and rehabilitating Gulf of Alaska island environments by eradicating mammals classified as invasive species. The Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii) is of concern because it affects vegetation and seabirds on Gulf of Alaska islands. This animal is assumed to have been introduced by historic settlers; however, ground squirrel remains in the prehistoric archaeological record of Chirikof Island, Alaska, challenge this timeline and suggest they colonized the islands long ago. We used 3 lines of evidence to address this problem: direct radiocarbon dating of archaeological squirrel remains; evidence of prehistoric human use of squirrels; and ancient DNA analysis of dated squirrel remains. Chirikof squirrels dated to at least 2000 years ago, and cut marks on squirrel bones suggested prehistoric use by people. Ancient squirrels also shared a mitochondrial haplotype with modern Chirikof squirrels. These results suggest that squirrels have been on Chirikof longer than previously assumed and that the current population of squirrels is closely related to the ancient population. Thus, it appears ground squirrels are not a recent, human‐mediated introduction and may have colonized the island via a natural dispersal event or an ancient human translocation.We thank T. Rick, D. Grayson, R. Fleischer, M. Hawkins, A. West, and C. Mikeska for their contributions to this research. We also thank 3 reviewers and the editors of Conservation Biology who greatly improved this paper. This work was funded by the National Geographic Society, the University of Maine, the Smithsonian Institution, and Boston University. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (National Geographic Society; University of Maine; Smithsonian Institution; Boston University)Published versio

A survey of users of earth resources remote sensing data

The results of a NASA supported Battelle survey to obtain user views on the nature and value of LANDSAT data use, on current LANDSAT capabilities, and on ways to improve data use were summarized. Questionnaire and interview responses from over 1000 private and public sector users were analyzed and discussed

The Ursinus Weekly, May 11, 1906

Baseball • Schaff prize debate • Lecture recital • A reply • Personals • The Rutgers gamehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2979/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, May 25, 1906

Exercises of Commencement Week • Baseball • The freshman banquet • Society notes • Report of Field House Committee • Announcementhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2981/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, June 1, 1906

Exercises of Commencement Week • Song recital • Junior oratorical contest • Commencement orations • Alumni notes • Baseball • Provisional football schedule • Society notes • Glee concert • College noteshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2982/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, May 4, 1906

Baseball • Memorial tablet unveiled • Schaff prize debate • Dr. Shaw on a leave of absence • Society notes • Alumni • The business manager\u27s song • Personalshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2978/thumbnail.jp