Automorphisms of Higher Rank Lamplighter Groups

Let $\Gamma_d(q)$ denote the group whose Cayley graph with respect to a particular generating set is the Diestel-Leader graph $DL_d(q)$, as described by Bartholdi, Neuhauser and Woess. We compute both $Aut(\Gamma_d(q))$ and $Out(\Gamma_d(q))$ for $d \geq 2$, and apply our results to count twisted conjugacy classes in these groups when $d \geq 3$. Specifically, we show that when $d \geq 3$, the groups $\Gamma_d(q)$ have property $R_{\infty}$, that is, every automorphism has an infinite number of twisted conjugacy classes. In contrast, when $d=2$ the lamplighter groups $\Gamma_2(q)=L_q = {\mathbb Z}_q \wr {\mathbb Z}$ have property $R_{\infty}$ if and only if $(q,6) \neq 1$.Comment: 28 page

Understanding Collaboration A Journey through the Public Process of Architecture

Architecture is a discipline that has the ability to affect change within the built environment. The built environment is a setting that affects and influ¬ences everyday life. The process of creating architecture is about having discourse to discover possibilities. If the built environment is part of people’s everyday life and the process of creating architecture is about discourse, can the people affected by the built environment be part of the discourse in creating architecture? Existing methods in the discipline of planning look at the role of public par¬ticipation to involve affected individuals and communities in a conversa¬tion. Architecture of similar field, explores the built environment at a smaller scale. This project will look at the process of creating architecture through the methods of public participation

Innovative approach for planning water infrastructure systems under uncertainty

Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. Page 75 blank.Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-74).This thesis develops a framework for a flexible design approach to support decision-making in water supply infrastructure planning. It contrasts with a conventional, deterministic planning approach that uses past data or forecasts to anticipate future needs. This thesis surveys current approaches that attempt to consider uncertainty, including scenario planning, decision analysis, sensitivity analysis, real options, dynamic strategic planning, and adaptive management. A flexible design approach builds on current approaches and explores flexibility through infrastructure size and function. The approach intends to be applicable across various water infrastructure systems. This thesis describes real world and theoretical applications of flexible design, including climate change adaptation planning for water utilities, flexible planning for water infrastructure investments, and flexibility in urban drainage systems. The proposed flexible design approach employs probabilistic and simulation methods to anticipate a range of future circumstances and identify top-performing strategies. The engine of the framework is a time-series stochastic analysis that uses simulation in a discounted cash flow Excel model. First, it identifies key inputs and performance metrics, characterizes uncertainty distributions, and defines strategies of varying flexibility. Next, it employs Monte Carlo simulation and compares strategy performance through target curves and multiple criteria analyses. Singapore's water resources system inspires the characteristics of the model. The best-performing flexible approach introduces a cost savings of 15% over a 50-year timespan. To successfully implement a flexible design approach, leaders in the profession must guide the shift to planning methods that explicitly recognize the role of uncertainty in the planning process. While some implementation barriers present difficulties, the proposed flexible design approach enables substantial cost savings and fosters a deeper understanding of a water resources system in the face of future uncertainty.by Melanie Kathleen Wong.S.M.in Technology and Polic

Sub-chronic inhalation of high concentrations of manganese sulfate induces lower airway pathology in rhesus monkeys

BACKGROUND: Neurotoxicity and pulmonary dysfunction are well-recognized problems associated with prolonged human exposure to high concentrations of airborne manganese. Surprisingly, histological characterization of pulmonary responses induced by manganese remains incomplete. The primary objective of this study was to characterize histologic changes in the monkey respiratory tract following manganese inhalation. METHODS: Subchronic (6 hr/day, 5 days/week) inhalation exposure of young male rhesus monkeys to manganese sulfate was performed. One cohort of monkeys (n = 4–6 animals/exposure concentration) was exposed to air or manganese sulfate at 0.06, 0.3, or 1.5 mg Mn/m(3 )for 65 exposure days. Another eight monkeys were exposed to manganese sulfate at 1.5 mg Mn/m(3 )for 65 exposure days and held for 45 or 90 days before evaluation. A second cohort (n = 4 monkeys per time point) was exposed to manganese sulfate at 1.5 mg Mn/m(3 )and evaluated after 15 or 33 exposure days. Evaluations included measurement of lung manganese concentrations and evaluation of respiratory histologic changes. Tissue manganese concentrations were compared for the exposure and control groups by tests for homogeneity of variance, analysis of variance, followed by Dunnett's multiple comparison. Histopathological findings were evaluated using a Pearson's Chi-Square test. RESULTS: Animals exposed to manganese sulfate at ≥0.3 mg Mn/m(3 )for 65 days had increased lung manganese concentrations. Exposure to manganese sulfate at 1.5 mg Mn/m(3 )for ≥15 exposure days resulted in increased lung manganese concentrations, mild subacute bronchiolitis, alveolar duct inflammation, and proliferation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue. Bronchiolitis and alveolar duct inflammatory changes were absent 45 days post-exposure, suggesting that these lesions are reversible upon cessation of subchronic high-dose manganese exposure. CONCLUSION: High-dose subchronic manganese sulfate inhalation is associated with increased lung manganese concentrations and small airway inflammatory changes in the absence of observable clinical signs. Subchronic exposure to manganese sulfate at exposure concentrations (≤0.3 mg Mn/m(3)) similar to the current 8-hr occupational threshold limit value established for inhaled manganese was not associated with pulmonary pathology

A new and remarkable aquatic species of Schismatoglottis (Araceae) from the Philippines

Schismatoglottis prietoi P. C. Boyce, Medecilo & S. Y. Wong (Araceae: Schismatoglottideae), the first recorded aquatic species of Schismatoglottis Zoll. & Moritzi, is described and illustrated from Cebu and Luzon islands in the Philippines

Application of virtual screening to the discovery of novel nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitors with potential for the treatment of cancer and axonopathies.

NAMPT may represent a novel target for drug discovery in various therapeutic areas, including oncology and inflammation. Additionally, recent work has suggested that targeting NAMPT has potential in treating axon degeneration. In this work, publicly available X-ray co-crystal structures of NAMPT and the structures of two known NAMPT inhibitors were used as the basis for a structure- and ligand-based virtual screening campaign. From this, two novel series of NAMPT inhibitors were identified, one of which showed a statistically significant protective effect when tested in a cellular model of axon degeneration

A cost effective real-time PCR for the detection of adenovirus from viral swabs

Compared to traditional testing strategies, nucleic acid amplification tests such as real-time PCR offer many advantages for the detection of human adenoviruses. However, commercial assays are expensive and cost prohibitive for many clinical laboratories. To overcome fiscal challenges, a cost effective strategy was developed using a combination of homogenization and heat treatment with an “in-house” real-time PCR. In 196 swabs submitted for adenovirus detection, this crude extraction method showed performance characteristics equivalent to viral DNA obtained from a commercial nucleic acid extraction. In addition, the in-house real-time PCR outperformed traditional testing strategies using virus culture, with sensitivities of 100% and 69.2%, respectively. Overall, the combination of homogenization and heat treatment with a sensitive in-house real-time PCR provides accurate results at a cost comparable to viral culture

A Comprehensive Single Institutional Review of 2 Years in a Designated Fast-Track Sarcoma Diagnostic Clinic Linked with a Sarcoma Specialist Advisory Group: Meeting the Target but Failing the Task?

Background. National guidelines prompted the implementation of a designated two-week wait referral pathway to facilitate the early diagnosis of sarcomas, to improve treatment outcomes. Methods. Patients referred to the Cambridge Sarcoma Diagnostic Clinic between January 2013 and December 2014 were identified through the electronic appointments system. Information was retrospectively retrieved about patient characteristics and details of the diagnostic pathway. Results. 17.3% of patients referred (69/397) were diagnosed with a malignancy. Of these, 59.3% (41/69) had primary sarcomas, 17.4% (12/69) had metastatic cancer, and 23.2% (16/69) had a different primary malignancy. 15% of the 41 sarcomas were 10 cm. Sarcomas diagnosed through this clinic represented 13% (41/315) of sarcomas managed at the centre during the same 2 years. Conclusion. While we achieved the target of 10% (41/397) sarcoma diagnosis rate in the rapid access clinic, only 15% of these were <5 cm better prognosis lesions. This calls into question the "real world" impact of such diagnostic clinics on early diagnosis of sarcomas. In order to enhance generic cancer diagnostic skills, training in these diagnostic clinics could be usefully integrated into national training curricula for both surgical and nonsurgical oncologists.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the Hindawi Publishing Corporation via http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/603260