Bioculture Journal
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Distributed agent management in a parallel simulation and analysis environment
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2014This thesis presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of adding features of automatic distributed injection, diffusion, merger, and termination to reactive agents in a parallel simulation and analysis environment. This provides a powerful simple-to-use agent behavior for information searching or diffusion purposes, improving programmability for the scientist simulating an experiment or analyzing big data. Performance evaluation shows an improvement in execution time over using reactive agents without these features. However, a solution not using agents at all currently shows better performance and an analysis is presented as to possible future improvements
Hide and Seek: How mycobacteria evade and manipulate cellular immune responses
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2014Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative pathogen of human tuberculosis, is one of the most deadly infectious diseases to inflict man, having killed one-quarter of the population of Europe during the 19th century. The evolutionary success of this pathogen is dependent on its ability to cause disease in order to transmit. Disease symptoms are driven by the bacteria's ability to orchestrate the formation of immune cell aggregates, known as granulomas. Using the zebrafish model of mycobacterial infection, I have taken advantage of the optical transparency of the zebrafish larvae to intricately detail the cellular responses mediating granuloma development. I have identified both host-evasion and host-manipulation strategies used by mycobacteria to cause disease. Mycobacteria avoid detection by immune pattern recognition receptors that identify both pathogens and commensals. This evasion strategy fails in the presence of other bacteria and therefore provides an explanation for the longstanding observation that M. tuberculosis must initiate infection in the relatively sterile lower lung, as opposed to the upper airways, which are replete with commensals. Mycobacteria also manipulate the immune response by driving the expression of host chemokines to recruit bacterial permissive cells, which they must infect in order to cause disease. A finding that provides a mechanistic understanding for human studies where overexpression of these same chemokines were associated with developing active tuberculosis. Finally, my work identified a tissue resident macrophage population as being able to clear infection in unimmunized hosts, an epidemiologically documented process that is rarely represented in animal models. These data strengthen our understanding of mycobacterial pathogenesis and will help to guide future therapeutic and vaccine efforts
An Initial Evaluation of Web-Based Overdose Education
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2014This study explored the feasibility of a web-based overdose education website, www.stopoverdose.org. The results of 422 voluntary and anonymous surveys submitted on the website were analyzed for participant demographics, knowledge of opioid overdose recognition and response, knowledge of the Washington State Good Samaritan Overdose Law, and differences in characteristics, knowledge, and planned behavior between respondents with professional versus personal interest in overdose education. Survey results indicated that most respondents were 35 or older, female, and residents of Washington State. The mean score on the general knowledge quiz about overdose recognition and response was 16.20 out of 18 possible points, and 1.48 out of 2 possible points for items concerning the Good Samaritan Law. Significant differences were found in the age distribution, history of overdose education, planned behaviors, and personal experience with opioid overdose between respondents indicating professional versus personal interest in the topic of overdose. Respondents indicating professional interest were more likely to be 35 or older and to have received prior overdose education and less likely to know someone at risk for opioid overdose and to report planning to obtain take-home naloxone. No significant differences were found in knowledge scores between groups. These findings suggest that among Washington residents, there is a demand for naloxone, particularly among respondents who indicated that they knew someone at risk for opioid overdose. Furthermore, respondents had a relatively poor understanding of the Good Samaritan Overdose Law, suggesting that the training may not have effectively conveyed this information. These results indicate that there is a public interest in overdose education and suggest that online education may be a feasible approach to implementing basic overdose education to a broad audience
Empowering European Citizens: Challenges and the Road Ahead
No full textCreated as part of the 2013 Jackson School for International Studies SIS 495: Task force. Sabine Lang and Tony Lockett, Task Force Advisors; Conny Reuter, Evaluator; Josh Lee, Delaney Merrick and Alex Walker, Coordinators.The European Union makes frequent international headlines: the Eurozone crisis,
environmental progress, and accession negotiations with Turkey are just some recent topics.
However, what rarely makes headline news is the lack of democratic participation of citizens in the
process of Europeanization. Low voter turnout in elections to the European Parliament (EP), the
recent rejections of the Constitution by France and the Netherlands as well as the rejection of the
Lisbon Treaty by Ireland are all indicators of a deeper problem. We call it the democratic deficit of
the EU. By focusing on four major sections important to European integration, we suggest changes
that will strengthen democracy and increase citizen participation within the European Union
CD44-/- ANIMALS DISPLAY DECREASED ORTHODONTIC TOOTH MOVEMENT USING A MURINE MODEL
No full textThesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2013Future improvements in orthodontic treatment require a comprehensive understanding of the reaction of paradental structures to an applied force, at the cellular and molecular level. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have established transgenic and knock-out mice as robust tools in studying various physiological and pathological processes. To successfully utilize this tool in orthodontic research, a good model for orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in mice is needed. The aim of this study was to characterize a model of OTM that can be used in effectively and efficiently in mice. As opposed to prior models, which apply mesializing forces to molars using NiTi coil springs, we fabricated orthodontic springs from 0.010" stainless steel wires designed to move maxillary molars in the palatal direction. The use of radiographs to measure tooth movement in our method, allows for multiple and frequent measurement to be made from individual animals over the entire experimental period, with good reliability and accuracy. We tested this method in mice lacking the CD44 gene and compared them to control mice. CD44 is a cell surface receptor present on osteoclasts and believed to be important in cell adhesion, migration and function. Our data indicate that CD44-/- animals have reduced overall tooth movement when compared to controls and also have a larger lag phase before tooth movement is observed. These data support existing evidence that CD44 may be important in osteoclast function and bone resorption
REDD+ Issues Influence in Indonesia's Regulatory Process
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2013In the last 15 years, Indonesia has enacted many regulations on climate change and also REDD+. Indonesia is pressured by external actors to reduce its emissions. REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Forest Degradation and Deforestation) means: placing a value on the role that forests play in saving the earth's climate. This research investigates the driving forces of Indonesian agencies in making REDD+ regulations and how REDD+ donor projects, as external pressure, influence Indonesia's regulatory process. Indonesian agencies' involvement and ownership of the regulatory process and the influence of REDD+ donor projects are studied. The hypothesis of this research is that the regulatory processes in the agencies are influenced by external pressures through ownership and involvement in the projects. The higher the ownership and involvement of the agencies in the projects, the more active their regulatory process will be. This research employs 2 case studies, using data collection and in-depth interviews. The independent variable of this research is `external pressure', measured by: conditionality of funding, decision making process, and monitoring activities. The dependent variable of this research is `ownership and involvement of regulatory process' measured by: bureaucratic change endured, time, money and human resources dedicated for these projects by the agencies. Results from this research depict the inner workings of the administrative legal process of Indonesia. Indonesia holds the 3rd largest tropical forest and 4th most populous country in the world, so it is important for the world to know how Indonesia controls deforestation in order to avoid forest degradation
Children with Incarcerated Parents: What Services are Available for Children with a Parent Releasing from Prison?
No full textMaster of Social Work (MSW)Children with incarcerated parents are a growing "at risk" population in the United States. Upon parental release, many children will be reunited or have some form of contact with their parent. Currently, there is limited programming available for this population, specifically during the reunification process. The Reconnections Group's aim is to provide children and youth age appropriate education and support during their parent's transition back into the community. The mission of the Reconnections Group is to provide a supportive, encouraging, and positive atmosphere for children and youth with a parent releasing or recently released from prison, while fostering a positive parent child relationship and promoting current and future pro-social behaviors in children and youth
Computational Modeling of Optical Projection Tomographic Microscopy
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2013Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide with 1.37 millions deaths per year. In 2011, Computed Tomography became the first method approved for early detection, however it is hindered by safety concerns due to its use of radiation and it is only capable of detecting masses greater than 2mm in diameter. In an effort to perform early detection before masses are visible, VisionGate Inc. is developing a microscope based on Optical Projection Tomographic Microscopy (OPTM) to detect cancer at the cellular level. OPTM reconstructs three-dimensional images of single cells from projection images acquired from different perspectives around the cell. This dissertation presents a computer simulation that is designed to analyze all aspects of OPTM image formation, such as degree of specimen staining, refractive index matching, and objective scanning. The computer simulation is used in conjunction with experimental methods to refine conclusions and improve system design in a robust methodology. While this work is currently driving improved microscope design, in the long term it will provide a framework to develop quantitative microscopy where pixel values are directly related to cellular optical properties. These improvements will provide improved sensitivity and specificity for early detection and ultimately reduce lung cancer mortality