Two Devices for Removing Sludge From Bioreactor Wastewater

Two devices a magnetic separator and a special filter denoted a self-regenerating separator (SRS) have been developed for separating sludge from the stream of wastewater from a bioreactor. These devices were originally intended for use in microgravity, but have also been demonstrated to function in normal Earth gravity. The magnetic separator (see Figure 1) includes a thin-walled nonmagnetic, stainless-steel cylindrical drum that rotates within a cylindrical housing. The wastewater enters the separator through a recirculation inlet, and about 80 percent of the wastewater flow leaves through a recirculation outlet. Inside the drum, a magnet holder positions strong permanent magnets stationary and, except near a recirculation outlet, close to the inner drum surface. To enable magnetic separation, magnetite (a ferromagnetic and magnetically soft iron oxide) powder is mixed into the bioreactor wastewater. The magnetite becomes incorporated into the sludge by condensation, onto the powder particles, of microbe flocks that constitute the sludge. As a result, the magnets inside the drum magnetically attract the sludge onto the outer surface of the drum

Developing Teams of Leaders Who Establish and Sustain Missions Communities for Gospel-Needy Contexts

Northpoint Baptist Church (hereafter, NBC) draws four hundred members from a fifty-kilometer-wide area in New Zealand’s North Taranaki region. The cultural, socio-economic, age, and geographic spread of NBC members means that NBC has the potential to develop teams of leaders who establish and sustain missions communities. The purpose of this project is for NBC to understand the where, why, and how of developing teams of leaders who initiate new missions communities. This project defines missions leaders as those who, as part of a team, have the spirituality, lifestyle, character, and the skills required to initiate and sustain a community that witnesses to the gospel in life, deed, and word in a particular gospel-needy context. Part One examines context. It considers North Taranaki, NBC, and the social context where NBC wants to develop teams of missions leaders. Modern adult education theories are evaluated, and a case study looks at missions team mentors and trainee team members from the 1980s Wellington Youth for Christ context. Part Two engages with theological and biblical sources relevant to developing missions leadership teams. Foundational mission texts help establish impetus for missions. Literature from mission writers and practitioners introduce missions communities as structures distinct from established churches, and various processes for developing the missions leaders who make up teams are reviewed. Next, a biblical chapter focuses on structural and training issues. The roles and relationships of missions communities and larger more established church structures are considered. The mission team training processes of Jesus and the Apostle Paul are studied, and key curricula for missions teams training are distilled. Part Three discusses goals and strategy. Lessons regarding mission, missions communities, and missions team development are applied to the NBC context. Finally, goals, strategies, resources, support systems, assessment, and reporting issues are all outlined. Content Reader: Kevin War

Inhaled Oxygen as a Quantitative Intravascular MRI Contrast Agent

Increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) generates MR contrast by two distinct mechanisms: increased T2 from deoxyhemoglobin dilution in venous compartments (blood oxygenation level-dependent effect or BOLD) and reduced T­1 from paramagnetic molecular oxygen dissolved in blood plasma and tissues. Many research and clinical applications using hyperoxic contrast have recently emerged, including delineating ischemic stroke penumbra, oxygen delivery to tumors, and functional MRI data calibration. However, quantitative measurements using this contrast agent depend on the precise knowledge of its effects on the MR signal – of which there remain many crucial missing pieces. This thesis aims to obtain a more quantitative understanding of intravascular hyperoxic contrast in vivo, with the hope of increasing its precision and utility. Specifically, our work focuses on the following areas: (1) paramagnetic effects of molecular oxygen BOLD and arterial spin labeling (ASL) data, (2) degree and temporal characteristics of hyperoxia-induced reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF), (3) use of oxygen in quantitative measurements of metabolism, and (4) biophysical mechanisms of hyperoxic T1 contrast. In Chapter 2, the artifactual influence of paramagnetic molecular oxygen on BOLD-modulated hyperoxic gas studies is characterized as a function of static field strength, and we show that optimum reduction in FiO2 mitigates this effect while maintaining BOLD contrast. Since ASL measurements are highly sensitive to arterial blood T­1 (T1a), the value of T1a in vivo is determined as a function of arterial oxygen partial pressure in Chapter 3. The effect of both the degree and duration of hyperoxic exposure on absolute CBF are quantified using simultaneous ASL and in vivo T1a measurements, as described in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, hyperoxic gas calibration of BOLD/ASL data is used to measure cerebral oxygen metabolism in a hypermetabolic swine model, with our results comparing favorably to 17O2 measurements of absolute metabolism. In Chapter 6, a model to describe the relationship between CBF, oxygen consumption, and hyperoxic T1 reduction is developed, which allows for a more rigorous physiological interpretation of these data. Taken together, this work represents several important steps towards making hyperoxia a more quantitative MRI contrast agent for research and clinical applications

INVESTIGATION INTO THE BARBELL BACKSQUAT COMPARING WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES TO BAREFOOT CONDITIONS

This present study was intended to investigate muscle activation patterns throughout the barbell back squat and determine if there are any differences found in EMG responses among individuals wearing weightlifting shoes and barefooted individuals. The hypothesis was that weightlifting shoes would generate significantly greater muscle activation patterns throughout the barbell back squat due to the rigid structure and raised heal in the shoe design. EMG patterns from six superficial lower extremity muscles were recorded from 12 subjects (means: 22.67 ± 2.39 age, 172,28 ± 14.04 cm height, 74.88 ± 16.11 kg mass), each meeting a specific inclusion criteria. Data collection occurred over three subject visits to determine one repetition maximum [1RM] (Day 1), conduct maximal contraction tests (Day 2), and finally to perform squat tests with the two footwear conditions (Day 3). Data was collected at 80% of the participants’ 1RM utilizing both weightlifting shoes and barefoot conditions, and EMG activity was recorded for data analysis. Paired-sample T-tests were calculated to check for any significant differences among footwear conditions, and 2X2 ANOVA testing was used to determine if any significant changes occurred among footwear conditions in the eccentric and concentric portions of the barbell back squat. The study found two main components. The first was that several muscles showed differences between eccentric and concentric phases in regards to average muscle activity. However, none of the observed muscles showed significant differences between the two footwear conditions in regard to EMG activity

Field strength dependence of grey matter R2* on venous oxygenation

The relationship between venous blood oxygenation and change in transverse relaxation rate (ΔR2 *) plays a key role in calibrated BOLD fMRI. This relationship, defined by the parameter β, has previously been determined using theoretical simulations and experimental measures. However, these earlier studies have been confounded by the change in venous cerebral blood volume (CBV) in response to functional tasks. This study used a double-echo gradient echo EPI scheme in conjunction with a graded isocapnic hyperoxic sequence to assess quantitatively the relationship between the fractional venous blood oxygenation (1-Yv) and transverse relaxation rate of grey matter (ΔR2 * GM), without inducing a change in vCBV. The results demonstrate that the relationship between ΔR2 * and fractional venous oxygenation at all magnet field strengths studied was adequately described by a linear relationship. The gradient of this relationship did not increase monotonically with field strength, which may be attributed to the relative contributions of intravascular and extravascular signals which will vary with both field strength and blood oxygenation

English-medium instruction : Seeking assessment criteria for spoken professional English

In higher education, the desire to internationalize has created demands for an internationalized academia to use English increasingly in teaching outside the English native-speaking world. Given this situation, perhaps other criteria for measuring successful communication should be considered than that of the native-speaking minority. With lecturers whose native language is not English increasingly teaching their subjects through English, there is a growing need to develop adequate measures for this purpose and situation as the current normative standards are no longer tenable. Establishing adequate measures for this purpose and situation are relevant to institutions facing the challenge of providing EMI courses and programs while ensuring credible quality control. In order to determine what criteria might be adequate for assessing spoken professional English in an international context, this study investigates self-assessments of professional language in relation to language ideologies. The study involves English-medium instruction (EMI) in the field of engineering and takes place at a Finnish university. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study employed an explorative strategy that involved a concurrent design. The two methods were used in parallel and the results integrated at the interpretation phrase. This approach provides a general picture through micro- and macro-level analyses: the self-perceptions of EMI lecturers (i.e. qualitative) and their students perceptions of English in lectures (i.e. quantitative). The investigation employs a bottom-up approach, and is primarily qualitative. The findings are based on authentic data: video-recorded interviews and lectures, their transcriptions, and a questionnaire. The findings show that EMI lecturers have two basic representations of their English: A) when they compare their English to native-like targets, they find fault with their English, and B) when they think of themselves in their normal work environment, they see their English as working rather well. Certain language ideologies induced type A discourse, including standard language and NS language ideologies, and others induced type B discourse, such as English-as-a-global-language ideologies. The results from the student questionnaire also support interpretation B. Since meaningful testing should reflect the target situation, what my informants say in the type B discourse is relevant to developing assessment criteria. Their views to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scales are also extremely useful in pointing the way towards the central elements upon which relevant assessments for professional English in an international environment should be based. The conclusions indicate a comprehensibility goal over native-likeness for assessing spoken professional English in an international context. The study outlines some criteria relevant for assessing spoken English for this purpose and situation.In higher education, the desire to internationalize has created demands for an internationalized academia to use English increasingly in teaching outside the English native-speaking world. Given this situation, perhaps other criteria for measuring successful communication should be considered than that of the native-speaking minority. With lecturers whose native language is not English increasingly teaching their subjects through English, there is a growing need to develop adequate measures for this purpose and situation as the current normative standards are no longer tenable. To contribute to filling this need, this study investigates self-assessments of the professional language of lecturers in relation to language ideologies. The context of the study is English-medium instruction (EMI) in the field of engineering at a Finnish university, and the participants include seven university lecturers (with six different first languages) as well as the students of four of the lecturers. On the whole, the group is quite international with sixteen first languages represented in the study. The study aims to determine some criteria that might be adequate for assessing spoken professional English in this international context of primarily English as a lingua franca speakers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study explores the data concurrently to establish the broad relevance of the findings. Thus, qualitative and quantitative methods were used in parallel and the results integrated at the interpretation phrase. This approach provides a general picture through micro- and macro-level analyses: the self-perceptions of EMI lecturers (i.e. qualitative) and their students perceptions of English in lectures (i.e. quantitative). Approaching the topic from the bottom up, the investigation is primarily qualitative. The findings are based on authentic data: recorded interviews and videoed lectures (transcribed), and a questionnaire. The findings show that EMI lecturers have two basic representations of their English: A) when they compare their English to native-like targets, they find fault with their English, and B) when they think of themselves in their normal work environment, they see their English as working rather well. Certain language ideologies induced type A talk, including standard language and native speaker language ideologies, and others induced type B talk, such as English-as-a-global-language ideologies. The results from the student questionnaire also support interpretation B. Since meaningful testing should reflect the target purpose and situation, what my informants say in the type B talk is relevant to developing assessment criteria. Their views to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scales are also extremely useful in pointing the way towards the central elements upon which relevant assessments for spoken professional English in an international context should be based. The conclusions indicate a comprehensibility goal over native-likeness for assessing spoken professional English in an international context. The study outlines some criteria relevant for assessing spoken English for this purpose and situation

Chromosome-Biased Binding and Gene Regulation by the Caenorhabditis elegans DRM Complex

DRM is a conserved transcription factor complex that includes E2F/DP and pRB family proteins and plays important roles in development and cancer. Here we describe new aspects of DRM binding and function revealed through genome-wide analyses of the Caenorhabditis elegans DRM subunit LIN-54. We show that LIN-54 DNA-binding activity recruits DRM to promoters enriched for adjacent putative E2F/DP and LIN-54 binding sites, suggesting that these two DNA–binding moieties together direct DRM to its target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene expression profiling reveals conserved roles for DRM in regulating genes involved in cell division, development, and reproduction. We find that LIN-54 promotes expression of reproduction genes in the germline, but prevents ectopic activation of germline-specific genes in embryonic soma. Strikingly, C. elegans DRM does not act uniformly throughout the genome: the DRM recruitment motif, DRM binding, and DRM-regulated embryonic genes are all under-represented on the X chromosome. However, germline genes down-regulated in lin-54 mutants are over-represented on the X chromosome. We discuss models for how loss of autosome-bound DRM may enhance germline X chromosome silencing. We propose that autosome-enriched binding of DRM arose in C. elegans as a consequence of germline X chromosome silencing and the evolutionary redistribution of germline-expressed and essential target genes to autosomes. Sex chromosome gene regulation may thus have profound evolutionary effects on genome organization and transcriptional regulatory networks.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM24663)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant DK068429)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM082971)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM076378

An Overview of Glaucoma: Bidirectional Translation between Humans and Pre-Clinical Animal Models

Glaucoma is a multifactorial, polygenetic disease with a shared outcome of loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons, which ultimately results in blindness. The most common risk factor of this disease is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), although many glaucoma patients have IOPs within the normal physiological range. Throughout disease progression, glial cells in the optic nerve head respond to glaucomatous changes, resulting in glial scar formation as a reaction to injury. This chapter overviews glaucoma as it affects humans and the quest to generate animal models of glaucoma so that we can better understand the pathophysiology of this disease and develop targeted therapies to slow or reverse glaucomatous damage. This chapter then reviews treatment modalities of glaucoma. Revealed herein is the lack of non-IOP-related modalities in the treatment of glaucoma. This finding supports the use of animal models in understanding the development of glaucoma pathophysiology and treatments