Effect of TNF-α on C. albicans Morphological Change in Liquid Media

C. albicans undergoes morphological change in order to infiltrate the epithelial cell layer, posing health threat. This morphological infectious state is known as filamentous due to the elongated protrusion that stems from the base yeast form. To date, the intestinal cues responsible for the change in C. albicans morphology are not clearly defined. Candidiasis is observed in Crohn’s disease, where elevated level of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) is reported. We hypothesize that TNF-α may represent an intestinal cue responsible for the shift in morphology in C. albicans. We tested our hypothesis in three different liquid media: Minimal (MM), Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose (YEPD), and Spider media (SM). In our experimental conditions, we found that Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) induced filamentous growth 66% of the time in SM, 16% of the time in YEPD and none in MM (n = 18 plates for each condition). While both YEPD and SM saw significant impact on filamentous growth with FBS, SM showed greater significance so this condition was used in the TNF-α study. In a preliminary study, we found that TNF-α on its own did not cause filamentation (n = 15). Yet, TNF-⍺ totally inhibited FBS-induced filamentous growth, while FBS induced 20% filamentous growth in our control (n=15). In conclusion, we found that FBS-induced filamentous growth is dependent on the type of liquid media used. In addition, our preliminary experiments show that TNF-α prevent filamentous growth and may represent a protective mechanism during candidiasis observed during Crohn’s disease

Shallow Water Equations and Floor Topography Affect on Sea Surface

For this research project, we have been doing research on the shallow water equations: a set of hyperbolic partial differential equations. These equations exist as a set of three primary equations [2]. However, there is another version of the shallow water equations called the Saint Venant’s equations. These equations are similar to the standard shallow water equations, but these equations have been reduced to one-dimension. The primary goal of our research has been to investigate the behavior and mathematical construction of the Saint Venant’s equations and model these equations using COMSOL. Regardless of the equation type, standard or Saint Venant’s, it is useful to note that these equations are only applicable under some restrictions such as hydrostatic balance and distance from one crest to another, on any two waves, must be greater than the distance from the free surface to the sea floor (bottom topography). These restrictions, along with initial conditions, are also a target in this research, and these conditions and equations can help with flood predictions and regulations not only now, but also in the future

Pennsylvania: Base Line Report - State Level Field Network Study of the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

This report is part of a series of 21 state and regional studies examining the rollout of the ACA. The national network -- with 36 states and 61 researchers -- is led by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, the public policy research arm of the State University of New York, the Brookings Institution, and the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.Although the ACA will no doubt have real financial consequences for insurers, hospitals, and health care providers, at this early stage in implementation, it is difficult to calculate precise gains and losses. For example, the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania supported the ACA, believing, in part, that reform was necessary to reduce current levels of uncompensated care and to reduce reliance on emergency care for patients who put off treatment for as long as possible to avoid out-of-pocket costs. The association agreed to significant cuts in Medicare and Medicaid to support the bill's passage. However, because cost savings from universal coverage have not yet been realized, hospitals reported cutting staff in April 2014 to offset the loss of Medicaid and Medicare funding. Safety net hospitals, which are required to serve all populations, seem especially affected, as many of their patients who fall into the Medicaid coverage gap are still showing up in emergency rooms without insurance

Concert recording 2015-04-12

[Track 01]. Mutations from Bach / Samuel Barber -- [Track 02]. Serenade, op. 7 / Richard Strauss -- [Track 03]. Two Scarlatti pieces, op. 16. Pastorale ; [Track 04]. Capriccio / Dmitri Shostakovich -- [Track 05]. The red back book. The entertainer ; [Track 06]. Maple leaf rag / Scott Joplin ; edited by Gunther Schuller -- [Track 07]. Desi / Michael Daugherty

Effect of inflammatory cytokines and high fat diet on inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors binding protein released with IP3 (IRBIT) expression in intestinal cells

IP3, upon binding to the IP3 receptor (IP3R), causes the release of intracellular calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum, which drives many cellular responses (e.g., cell spreading, exocytosis). In addition to releasing calcium, IP3 also causes the release of IRBIT from the IP3R. Over the past decade, IRBIT has been described as a protein that regulates calcium release, due to interaction with the IP3R, the activity of the Na-HCO3 cotransporter, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, and the Na/H exchanger (NHE3). Lack of reabsorption of Na+ by NHE3 in the intestine is responsible for diarrhea. Recently it was shown that IRBIT and NHE3 expression was decreased in a mouse model of diabetes, and the loss of NHE3 expression induced diarrhea in this model. Insulin treatment restored IRBIT and NHE3 expression, resulting in a decrease of diarrhea. Besides insulin, very little is known about factors regulating IRBIT expression in intestinal epithelial cells. In this work, we set to study the effect of inflammatory cytokines and high calorie diet on IRBIT expression, due to the fact that diabetes is associated with chronic inflammation and high caloric intake. To test the effect of inflammatory cytokines, we used the human colonic crypt cells T84. Exposing T84 cells to interleukin 13 or tumor necrosis factor alpha for 72 hours decreased IRBIT expression by 36% (P \u3c 0.001, n = 5) and 44% (P \u3c 0.001, n = 3) respectively. Finally, we compared the expression of IRBIT in mice fed with low fat milk (control) versus high milk fat (37%). We found that in the duodenum of 3 mice with a high fat diet, a substantial increase of IRBIT expression compared to the control. Our work is the first to demonstrate that inflammatory cytokines and dietary fat can alter IRBIT expression

Effect of TNF-α on C. albicans Morphological Change in Liquid Media

C. albicans undergoes morphological change in order to infiltrate the epithelial cell layer, posing health threat. This morphological infectious state is known as filamentous due to the elongated protrusion that stems from the base yeast form. To date, the intestinal cues responsible for the change in C. albicans morphology are not clearly defined. Candidiasis is observed in Crohn’s disease, where elevated level of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) is reported. We hypothesize that TNF-α may represent an intestinal cue responsible for the shift in morphology in C. albicans. We tested our hypothesis in three different liquid media: Minimal (MM), Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose (YEPD), and Spider media (SM). In our experimental conditions, we found that Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) induced filamentous growth 66% of the time in SM, 16% of the time in YEPD and none in MM (n = 18 plates for each condition). While both YEPD and SM saw significant impact on filamentous growth with FBS, SM showed greater significance so this condition was used in the TNF-α study. In a preliminary study, we found that TNF-α on its own did not cause filamentation (n = 15). Yet, TNF-⍺ totally inhibited FBS-induced filamentous growth, while FBS induced 20% filamentous growth in our control (n=15). In conclusion, we found that FBS-induced filamentous growth is dependent on the type of liquid media used. In addition, our preliminary experiments show that TNF-α prevent filamentous growth and may represent a protective mechanism during candidiasis observed during Crohn’s disease

Reconsidering data in learning analytics: opportunities for critical research using a documentation studies framework

In this article, we argue that the contributions of documentation studies can provide a useful framework for analyzing the datafication of students due to emerging learning analytics (LA) practices. Specifically, the concepts of individuals being ‘made into’ data and how that data is ‘considered as’ can help to frame vital questions concerning the use of student data in LA. More specifically, approaches informed by documentation studies will enable researchers to address the sociotechnical processes underlying how students are constructed into data, and ways data about students are considered and understood. We draw on these concepts to identify and describe three areas for future research in LA. With the description of each area, we provide a brief analysis of current practices in American higher education, highlighting how documentation studies enables deeper analytical digging

Altitude dependence of atmospheric temperature trends: Climate models versus observation

As a consequence of greenhouse forcing, all state of the art general circulation models predict a positive temperature trend that is greater for the troposphere than the surface. This predicted positive trend increases in value with altitude until it reaches a maximum ratio with respect to the surface of as much as 1.5 to 2.0 at about 200 to 400 hPa. However, the temperature trends from several independent observational data sets show decreasing as well as mostly negative values. This disparity indicates that the three models examined here fail to account for the effects of greenhouse forcings.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Implications of geothermal energy production via geopressured gas wells in Texas : merging conceptual understanding of hydrocarbon production and geothermal systems

This thesis evaluates the overall geothermal energy development potential of the state of Texas by combining resource assessment studies from both the hydrocarbon and conventional geothermal sectors. Cooperation between these industries is often shown to result in a symbiotic relationship that will benefit not only the respective industries, but also the public and regulatory environments. By outlining resource characteristics, technological specifications, thermodynamic foundations, and the specific geologic environments of the state that are related to geothermal and hydrocarbon production, this report attempts to update previous geothermal feasibility studies performed by academic and government institutions. This report suggests the undertaking of preliminary implementation surveys exploring a novel geothermal energy production method known as the well bore heat exchanger. Several numerical modeling reports assessing the optimized system parameters, ideal work rates, and electrical generation capabilities of this theoretical method of production are summarized in this report. This power generation method is uniquely suited to areas of concentrated hydrocarbon production due to the potential application to retrofitted abandoned wells. By avoiding plugging and abandonment procedures, production companies are saved from a cost with no potential payback while saving the geothermal industry exploration and drilling costs, which commonly make up over half of an overall project development budget. Production history analysis of specific geopressured gas plays and the creation of a geospatial distribution model determined the ideal location for applying this innovative clean energy production method.Energy and Earth Resource