Graph-Based Visualization of Formal Specification and Domain Specific Languages

This research develops and implements Visual Refine, a graph-based visualization system, for the Refine wide-spectrum formal specification language and environment developed and marketed by Reasoning Systems, Inc. Refine specifications are represented in the Refine object base as abstract syntax trees (AST). Using these AST representations, one-to-one mappings are defined between nodes of the AST and the graphical icons of Visual Refine. Visual Refine uses these mappings to implement a set of formal transformations. Each transformation is encapsulated within a Refine rule, and this set of rules form the Visual Refine transformation system. The Visual Refine transformation system, in conjunction with Refine object base manipulation facilities, is then used to create graph-based visualizations of Refine specifications. To illustrate that visualization aids in the understanding of a formal specification, Visual Refine is applied to an example Refine specification. Finally, it is shown that the technology developed for Visual Refine is general enough to be applied to any language that can be represented as an AST in the Refine object base. Specifically, the technology is shown to be applicable and beneficial towards formalizing Domain Specific Software Architectures

Policy Profiles Vol. 20 No. 1 June 2020

Dixon, Illinois: A Northern Illinois Community Aggressively Preparing for a Rapidly Changing Economic and Cultural Environmenthttps://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/ctrgovernment-policyprofiles/1036/thumbnail.jp

Replication of Norovirus in Cell Culture Reveals a Tropism for Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

Noroviruses are understudied because these important enteric pathogens have not been cultured to date. We found that the norovirus murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) infects macrophage-like cells in vivo and replicates in cultured primary dendritic cells and macrophages. MNV-1 growth was inhibited by the interferon-αβ receptor and STAT-1, and was associated with extensive rearrangements of intracellular membranes. An amino acid substitution in the capsid protein of serially passaged MNV-1 was associated with virulence attenuation in vivo. This is the first report of replication of a norovirus in cell culture. The capacity of MNV-1 to replicate in a STAT-1-regulated fashion and the unexpected tropism of a norovirus for cells of the hematopoietic lineage provide important insights into norovirus biology

The Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Lanthanide-based Nanomaterials and Their Use in 3D Biological Imaging and Radiation Dosimetry

Lanthanide-doped materials have been studied for decades for their unique photophysical properties derived from their f-block orbitals. More recently, the prominence of techniques allowing for the study and characterization of nanoscale materials has led to a renewed interest in these materials on the nanoscale. This work has led to a wealth of studies on the synthesis and characterization of a number of lanthanide doped nanomaterials as well as numerous proposals and preliminary demonstrations of their applications. This dissertation focuses on three key aspects of this field: (1) a synthetic means to controlling the relative intensities of the emissive bands in upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) (2) the development of a 3D imaging modalities that leverage the unique photophysical properties of upconverting nanomaterials and (3) the application of scintillating nanoscale radiation detection materials as an alternative to the single-crystal bulk lanthanide doped materials and plastic scintillators currently employed.In many proposed applications of upconverting nanomaterials, the relative intensities of emission bands are a key component. For instance, security inks rely on measuring the ratio of the green and red emission peaks to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit materials. While multiple upconversion compositions have been identified with varying relative emission intensities, there has been little study into effective means of synthetically manipulating the intensities of these emission bands within a single composition. Research presented here focuses on understanding the fundamental influences on the coprecipitation reaction method and ultimately manipulating the synthetic techniques to achieve meaningful changes in the emission properties without changing the overall composition of the nanoparticle. An injection reaction method is developed that allows for manipulating the interionic distance between sensitizer and activator pairs resulting in a significant decrease in the red emission. It is further shown that this change in interionic distance is a likely overlooked contributing factor in the emission properties of other compositions that have been studied. This work represents the first steps towards designing application specific emission properties via synthetic control rather than developing applications specific nanomaterial compositions. Owing to their NIR excitation, lack of tissue autofluorescence, and photostability UCNPs are a promising target for bio-imaging applications. Past studies have demonstrated the potential for UCNPs for cellular, tissue and whole body imaging. However, an imaging system that fully incorporates these materials and leverages their properties to improve upon existing imaging capabilities has yet to be shown. An optical emission computed tomography imaging (OECT) system is modified to enable NIR excitation and imaging of the upconversion signal. Using this system, the first 3D modeled upconversion imaging is demonstrated. By coupling the transmission and upconversion signals in this imaging modality, precise structural imaging is possible and background free images of both the bronchial pathways in the lungs as well as white pulp structures in the spleen are shown using upconversion enhanced OECT. In addition to upconversion processes, the f-block orbitals can also be utilized in scintillation processed to convert ionizing radiation into visible light. Typically, lanthanide based single crystals are used in the bulk for developing large radiation detectors. However, recent advances in the Therien lab have seen the development of nanoscale [Y2O3] nanomaterials and their incorporation into a fiber optic detector (nanoFOD). This detector is shown here to function as a quality assurance tool in monitoring brachytherapy radiation treatments. Further, using the 3D printing method of fused deposition modeling, this scintillating nanomaterial is incorporated into a first of its kind low-cost radiation-imaging screen. In both applications, the nanomaterial is demonstrated to be highly effective at detecting and monitoring radiation. The low cost, and ease of manufacture for these devices as well as their instantaneous detection of radiation dose rates are a significant improvement over the current detector technologies employed.</p

Pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (Bednar tumor). A pathologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical study.

Described by Bednar as a storiform neurofibroma, pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare neoplasm accounting for approximately 1-5% of all cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The lesion commonly presents as an exophytic, multinodular neoplasm of the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. It occurs predominantly in blacks. The majority are located on the trunk, and the remainder are more or less equally distributed in the upper and the lower extremities and the head and neck. Microscopically the lesion is characterized by spindled cells arranged in a tight storiform pattern and admixed with a small population of melanin-containing dendritic cells. The dendritic cells are the primary feature distinguishing this lesion from conventional DFSP. Three cell populations are identifiable by electron microscopy. The majority of cells resemble fibroblasts. A second population of cells exhibits long slender cell processes partially or completely invested by basal lamina. The third population of cells, also invested by basal lamina, contains both melanosomes and premelanosomes. The histogenesis of this neoplasm remains controversial. Although Bednar considered these lesions as variants of neurofibroma, S-100 protein could not be identified, and this finding contrasts significantly from the description of conventional neurofibroma, which almost always contains this antigen. Follow-up information available in nine cases indicates that this lesion may recur locally. Although distant metastases were not observed in our material, complete excision in conjunction with close follow-up care is indicated for this neoplasm of probable intermediate malignant potential

Malignant Intraocular Teratoid Medulloepithelioma in Three Dogs

Tumors derived from the fully differentiated ciliary epithelium include adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Many such tumors in animal eyes have been reported. Medulloepitheliomas derived from the primitive medullary epithelium of the optic cup have rarely been seen in animal eyes. A teratoid variant of medulloepithelioma, recently described in human eyes, has also been seen in canine and bovine eyes. These tumors contain tissues resembling brain, cartilage, rhabdomyoblasts, and primitive mesenchyme, in addition to the poorly differentiated neuroepithelial and neuroblastic elements characteristic of malignant medulloepitheliomas. </jats:p