A preliminary systems study of interface equipment for digitally programmed flight simulators

Design study of digitally programmed supersonic transport flight simulato

Immune responses to homocitrulline- and citrulline-containing peptides in rheumatoid arthritis

Anti-citrulline immune responses contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development, and are linked with the expression of HLA-DR molecules that encode the Shared Epitope (SE). Immune responses to homocitrulline, a structural analog of citrulline, have been recently detected in RA, but their role in RA is unknown. The objectives of this study were to examine the specificity of anti-homocitrulline antibodies for RA, the dependence of anti-homocitrulline responses on SE-expression, and the cross-reactivity of responses to homocitrulline and citrulline. These objectives were addressed in RA patients and in SE-expressing DR4tg mice using homocitrulline- and citrulline-rich peptides. Anti-homocitrulline antibodies occurred specifically in RA. The SE was associated with the development of immune responses to homocitrulline and cross-reactivity to citrulline in homocitrullinated peptide-immunized mice. Anti-homocitrulline and anti-citrulline antibodies were cross-reactive in RA patients and DR4tg mice, and the responses to homocitrulline- and citrulline-containing peptides were immunologically related

A Cancer-Specific Study on the Differentially Expressed Protein-Protein Interactions of Fumarate Hydratase

Fumarate hydratase (FH) is an enzyme used in the Krebs Cycle to convert fumarate to malate, and it is controlled by the FH gene. In this paper, we will investigate its role in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) and how FH-deficient cells affect tumorigenesis. It is well-established that FH has been extensively studied in connection with renal cell carcinoma, skin and uterine leiomyomas, pheochromocytoma, and paraganglioma. However, we aim to construct an interaction network of significant genes related to the FH gene under conditions of FH deficiency in the Kreb Cycle. Creating an interactive network that illustrates the interconnectedness of FH\u27s role is crucial for comprehending cellular adaptations when FH is deficient. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a reliable and accurate representation of this complex network, which has prompted us to create our own. For our dataset, we utilized RNAseq count data from the UCSC Xena database. We followed this with a differential expression gene (DEG) analysis workflow involving Limma and EdgeR. The significantly expressed genes were contextualized through an enrichment analysis called EnrichGO. Finally, we associated the significantly expressed genes with a transcription factor (TF). Our results have allowed us to construct a network that presents our findings. Most importantly, it has revealed the significant role played by the HIF3a TF in FH-deficient cells. While HIF3a is less understood compared to its other isoforms (HIF1a and HIF2a), this research contributes to bridging that knowledge gap. Our findings suggest that the HIF3a gene is a significant, differentially expressed gene in FH deficient patients

A Kantian reading of Buddhist community

Keiji Nishitani, in his lectures On Buddhism (1982), argues that Buddhism is lacking a theory of Buddhist community. He believes that a historical consciousness and a social ethics are required for a theory of Buddhist community. German philosopher Immanuel Kant argues that a theory of religious community should contain an idea of an invisible church and an expression of a visible church. This is his theory of the church. This thesis will conduct a comparative analysis to see if Kant's notions of the invisible and visible church can express the essential components to a theory of Buddhist community. This paper finds that universal communicability is a requirement for a theory of Buddhist community to express itself as a visible church. Only when a religious community has universal communicably can it appeal to the unlearned and to those who can convince themselves of the moral truth of religion. Only in this sense, can a religious community be called a universal religion and become publicly accessible for it appeals to every kind of person. Overall, this thesis is fruitful in gaining a cross-cultural philosophical dialogue into the basis of a theory of religious community. This dialogue shows much promise of expressing the role of religious scripture and tradition, for the individual’s religious experience confirms what reason already knows to be the moral law of the heart

A Comparative Environmental History of America and China: Nature and Climate Change

Environmental history is at the most basic level an exploration of changing relationships between people and the environment or nature. Additionally, environmental history observes the human reshaping of nature, which then translates into culture, philosophies, and policies, and vice versa. A close examination of the ecological themes of history uncovers patterns and long-term changes. According to environmental historian Louis S. Warren, At the beginning of the twenty-first century, as concerns about global warming and other ominous threats trouble many, the discipline of environmental history provides key insights into environmental relations and problems of the past. Ultimately, these insights can lead not only to a better understanding of current problems but also to better solutions. America has a long history of transforming environmental identities; its wealth of environmental history has been analyzed and extrapolated to have an impact on contemporary culture and beliefs. In contrast, despite a much longer recorded national history, environmental analysis in the People\u27s Republic of China lags behind. By comparing the environmental histories of the United States of America and the People\u27s Republic of China through the lenses of philosophy, religion, literature, and art, I will demonstrate that, despite their differences, these two powerful countries share a significant commonality in valuation of nature, and this is crucial to building cross-cultural consensus towards real environmental solutions. The world\u27s environment has experienced rapid degradation by human activities, which, according to scientific consensus, has manifested in global climate change. In this dire state, two countries, the People\u27s Republic of China and the United States of America, have a unique role as two of the most developed and influential global powers. Whether consciously or not, their actions provide examples for the rest of the world to follow. China\u27s rapid economic growth in the past several decades has set a precedent for other developing countries to follow. It is for this reason that it is imperative that a full understanding of China\u27s environmental history is taken into consideration by Chinese and global policy makers. China\u27s extensive recorded history provides an insight to how the country has understood, transformed, and adapted to the environment. This recorded history is the foundation for understanding the country\u27s response to environmental challenges and allows insight into the motivations behind policy decisions. However, this information requires careful analysis. America\u27s developed environmental history has translated into a number of deeply held values and ideals, some of which seem to stand in direct contrast to those of contemporary China. However, differences in historical development do not mean that analysis is impossible. Rather, these provide an opportunity to both further analyze and interpret China\u27s environmental history in light of similar trends in the United States, with an eye to using America\u27s development as guide for China to improve their own process of industrial development. The current body of environmental history in China is limited. However, there is a wealth of recorded history dating back at least two thousand years available for humanistic environmental analysis. Understanding the shared environmental histories of the two countries gives us insight into motivations that are not primarily economic or political but rather rooted in culture, religion, or philosophy. I have chosen to focus my research on China and the United States because there has never been a comprehensive comparative analysis of the environmental histories of the two countries, and by drawing comparisons I believe this work can facilitate dialogue towards wider environmental solutions and increased cross-cultural understanding. While both countries are making internal efforts to combat environmental degradation, collaboration could have profound impact at the cultural and political as well as environmental levels

Contributions to the Third CGIAR System Review from a Latin American Perspective

Input to the discussion of the report of the third CGIAR system review by representatives from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela at CGIAR International Centers Week 1998

From the Flatlands of Oakland to the Ivory Towers of Higher Education: A Counter-Narrative of a Southeast Asian Refugee

This counter-narrative exposes the themes of (dis)placement and (in)visibility that the author has encountered as a Southeast Asian refugee navigating the educational systems in K12 public schools and higher education. The author begins with a snapshot of adolescence growing up in a low-income community in Oakland, California, highlighting her observations as a Southeast Asian refugee youth and the plight of her peers. The latter part of the essay surfaces her experiences existing in higher education contexts where the model minority myth shapes in explicit and veiled ways how she traverses spaces as a Southeast Asian refugee in college, graduate studies, and the academy

In Real Time: From Theory to Practice in a Critical Race Pedagogy Classroom

This qualitative research study employs a teacher action research methodology to study how a teacher develops and implements a critical race pedagogy (CRP) curriculum. CRP pairs the liberatory practices of critical pedagogy (Friere, 1970), such a problem-posing classroom and praxis, with the maxims of critical race theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 2000). Situated in a high school teacher pipeline program, this study details how a teacher-researcher developed a curriculum focused on teaching about racial injustice and educational inequality to a group of minoritized youth interested in the teaching profession. The research outlines key levers in her classroom, such as building a classroom community, selecting a range of critical texts, and harnessing dialogue to co-construct knowledge. The author also reflects on challenges that surfaced when moving from theory to practice, such as democratizing the classroom and the unfinished nature on becoming, and offers insights that contribute to the field of teachers-researchers interested in bolstering young people’s racial consciousness in schools