54 research outputs found

    Cellular decision making at the nanoscale

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    The well-established dependence of cell traction forces on the compliance of supporting matrices has been attributed to levels of force exerted on components in focal contacts. Here, use of novel, force-limited nanoscale tension gauges revealed that both force and substrate deformations govern cell decision-making during initial attachment to compliant substrates. We propose a mechanical model consistent with observed behavior. Upon formation of stable cell contacts, bond tension and tether rupture govern cell attachment, spreading, and focal adhesion maturation at force levels on individual receptors predicted by prior studies.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2019-08-01The student, Zainab Rahil, accepted the attached license on 2016-04-27 at 06:49.The student, Zainab Rahil, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2016-04-27 at 06:55.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2016-04-29 at 14:30.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #9538 on 2017-09-29 at 11:12:58Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-29T17:52:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 RAHIL-THESIS-2017.pdf: 792019 bytes, checksum: 6dac7f28d4957688dc2e637aadd83256 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4209 bytes, checksum: e378cedef64d2bf28af2358536217c94 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-29Embargo set by: Colleen Fallaw for item 103531 Lift date: 2019-09-29T17:52:45Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 103531 on 2019-09-30T09:15:23Z

    Cells and force transduction

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    This thesis studies mechanism involved in propagating force generated at cadherin complexes. The first part of this thesis demonstrates that mechanotransduction at classical cadherin complexes is not only ligand-dependent but also dependent on the respective receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) binding partner of cadherin. This involvement of RTKs at cadherin complexes is important in propagating force transduction globally, implying that force transduction at cadherin complexes is not restricted to cell-cell junctions but is also propagated globally via the mediation of its respective RTK binding partner. These results suggest that homophilic ligation in trans- and cadherin association with cognate receptor tyrosine kinase in cis comprises a combinatorial, mechano-chemical switch. That is, specific combinations of cadherin, ligand, and RTK is required for force-activated RTK-dependent signaling, activation of cell contractility, and cytoskeletal remodeling at perturbed cadherin adhesions. These findings confirm that cadherins form both homophilic and heterophilic bonds, but homophilic cadherin ligation selectively triggers cadherin-associated RTK signals that mechanically reinforce homophilic, but not heterophilic cadherin adhesions, thereby stabilizing homophilic adhesions and amplifying binding differences. This study demonstrates that this mechano-chemical switch is not governed by cadherin adhesion differences, but requires a specific combination of cadherin ligand in trans- and RTK expression in cis to actuate force transduction signaling on rigid surfaces to propagate force transduction at a global level. For the second part of this study used novel, force-limited nanoscale tension gauges to investigate how force and substrate stiffness guide cellular decision-making during initial cell attachment and spreading on deformable substrates. The well-established dependence of cell traction and spreading on substrate stiffness has been attributed to levels of force exerted on molecular components in focal contacts. The molecular tension gauges used in this study enabled direct estimates of the threshold, pico Newton forces that instructed decision-making at different stages of cell attachment, spreading, and adhesion maturation. These results further confirm that the force thresholds controlling adhesion and spreading transitions depend on substrate stiffness. Reported findings agree semi-quantitatively with a proposed model that attributes rigidity-dependent differences in cell spreading to stiffness-dependent rates of competing biochemical processesSubmission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2020-12-01The student, Zainab Rahil, accepted the attached license on 2018-11-08 at 12:34.The student, Zainab Rahil, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2018-11-08 at 12:48.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2018-11-13 at 10:27.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #13072 on 2019-02-08 at 11:38:31Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-08T18:39:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 RAHIL-DISSERTATION-2018.pdf: 3234037 bytes, checksum: 9102145baa27ea66fe911b2de7d27c97 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4209 bytes, checksum: 622797e70f0705e54a9e1cb225ae76bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-11-13Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109931 Lift date: 2021-02-08T18:40:00Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109931 Lift date: 2021-02-08T18:42:23Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109931 Lift date: 2021-02-08T18:43:54Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109931 Lift date: 2021-02-08T18:44:50Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 109931 on 2021-02-09T10:15:38Z

    House of Music : Festivity from city to seat

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    House of Music : Festivity from city to seat.Concert HallArchitecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Interiors Buildings Citie

    Airline Schedule Disruption Management. The impact of flight delays on connection loss

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    International audienceAir travel demand is important and many travellers choose to drive to larger airports instead of flying from a small airport for many reasons, especially availability of non-stop flights. Another reason is perceived reliability of service. Consultants have pointed to a large number of delays and cancellations as reasons for low passenger. However, the effect of these flight delays on actual travel times is less clear. Because connections are usually necessary when traveling from small airports, departure delays may lead to missed connections. In the case of a cancellation, need to wait several hours (often overnight) for the next flight due to the small number of daily departures. This paper evaluate the impact of delays and cancellations on the profit earned through the seats captured on new opened routes. This aspect of decision-making comes in the form of multi-objective problem by testing the impact of a new opened route in terms of flight delays costs, financial gain and the quality of the service provided to a target customer. The NSGA-II algorithm is adopted to generate a front of Pareto-optimal compound of a number of optimal departure times to the new destination while ensuring the best fill rate, and a minimum flight delays. The experiences are based on the flights of the Royal Air Maroc Company on the Casablanca hub

    It is all about patients' stories: Case-based learning in residents' education

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    Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is an inquiry-based learning strategy which is learner centered and facilitates group discussion and critical thinking. Case-based learning (CBL), which is a more guided approach of PBL, enables students to learn within the context of patients and formulate their knowledge around patients' scenarios. Midweek (MW) activity is an important educational activity in the internal medicine residency program (IMRP). CBL has shown many benefits in postgraduate education. The aim of our study was to describe the implementation of a teaching resident's management of acute medical conditions encountered during their call utilizing the CBL format and to evaluate resident satisfaction with the new teaching style. Methods: This study describes the implementation of CBL in residents' education at the IMRP. CBL was introduced in five of the 10 acute medical sessions taught in the noon activity. A mixed-method study was employed using both a structured questionnaire and a focus group to compare the two methods to evaluate the residents' satisfaction and perception of knowledge acquisition. Results: The focus group discussion showed that sessions conducted in CBL format were more engaging, interactive, and resulted in better knowledge acquisition through sharing and peer-to-peer teaching than the traditional lecture format. Thirty-nine out of 83 (47%) residents ranging from PGY2 to PGY4 responded to the survey. Overall satisfaction with CBL was good. Sixty-four percent preferred it over the lecture format; 87% found that they did improve their knowledge; 84% agreed that they were excellent and more interactive. Seventy-nine percent stated that they would like to have this type of teaching in theMWactivity sessions. Conclusion: Based on the present study, we conclude that incorporation of CBL resulted in more engagement, interaction, peer-to-peer education, and overall residents' satisfaction. The key elements for a successful implementation of this format are both instructors' and residents' orientation and careful selection of the case scenarios (problems) that trigger the learning process. Incorporation of various teaching strategies in residents' education is mandatory to enhance learning and create excellent educational experiences. - 2019 Suliman, Al-Mohammed, Al Mohanadi, Karim, Elbuzidi, Mubasher, Rahil, licensee HBKU Press.The research is supported by the Medical Research Center at Hamad Medical Corporation.Scopu

    Mechanism and performance evaluation of spent-coffee grounds-derived nanocomposite materials for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant

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    The study demonstrates a facile and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of hydrochar generated from readily available biomass waste, i.e., spent coffee grounds (SCGs), using a simple sol–gel process. The hydrochar served as a support for TiO2, reducing the rate at which electrons and holes recombine during photocatalysis, thereby facilitating the effective binding of TiO2, enhancing its adsorption capacity, and the convenient separation of the photocatalyst after usage. The materials were tested in the photocatalytic degradation of an organic pollutant, methylene blue (MB) dye. TiO2-hydrochar obtained at 210 ⁰C has the best performance, giving a degradation efficiency of 98.5 % and a mineralization efficiency of 87.1 % in 90 min at neutral pH. Radical trapping experiments showed being the dominant species, followed by . Besides, it showed superior stability with an activity loss of ∼ 9.2 % after five runs. The superior performance of the HCT210 was ascribed to the enhanced interfacial charge transfer kinetics between the TiO2 and hydrochar through bond formation, better light absorption, and the high surface area of the materials. Performance metrics show that synthesized nanocomposites are promising photocatalysts, providing a biomass-assisted method for robust photocatalytic wastewater treatment.Killam TrustsNatural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC

    Implementing an Iterative Approach to Develop a Windows Application

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    Organizations that are creating programming arrangement are confronted with the troublesome decision of picking the right programming advancement life cycle (SDLC). The waterfall model is a successive outline process, frequently utilized as a part of programming advancement forms, in which advance is seen as streaming relentlessly downwards (like a waterfall) through the stages. It would not coincide with the changes required in software development process. Whereas, Agile is simple, flexible and mostly customer oriented and yield better results compared to waterfall model. The main intention of the project was to implement a more iterative approach that was more flexible and suitable for the changing environment and find the see the effectiveness, compatibility and also find the customer satisfaction level after the project. As an outcome the organization experienced flexibility in the development, great customer satisfaction and more improved product overall

    The functions of the state in relation to the universe in Islamic Law وظائف الدولة إزاء الكون في الشريعة الإسلامية

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    ملخص تهدف هذه الدراسة لبيان وظائف الدولة التي تؤديها تجاه الكون الذي نعيش فيه باعتبار ما للدولة من سلطة وبما تتوافر لديها من إمكانات وطاقات تتولى حماية المصالح العامة، والمحافظة على المنافع المشتركة، والقيام بالواجبات الكفائية التي تنوء بها كواهل الأفراد، وقد اتبعت في هذه الدراسة المنهج الوصفي والمنهج الاستقرائي، وقد توصلت الدراسة إلى أنه واجب على الدولة المحافظة على الكون بجميع مكوناته من مياه وحيوان وتربة وغازات، وليس هذا فحسب وإنما يجب على الدولة أن تسعى لاكتشاف مجاهيله وتوظيفها لمصلحة الإنسان ومنفعته مع المحافظة على البيئة والتوازن الحيوي، وبما يحفظ للأجيال القادمة حقوقها ومصالحها. The functions of the state in relation to the universe in Islamic Law Abstract This study aims to demonstrate the functions performed by the state towards the universe in which we live. Considering that the state has the power, capacities, and potentials to protect public interests, preserve the shared benefits, and fulfill the competency duties that burden individuals I followed in this study the descriptive method and the inductive approach. This study concluded that the state is responsible for preserving the universe with all its components: water, animal, soil, and gas. In addition, the state must strive to discover its unknowns and employ them for the benefit of humans, while preserving the environment and its vital balance, in a way that preserves the rights and the interests of the coming generation

    Legitimacy and Impacts of Specifications and Standards in Preserving Purposes of Sharia

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    This study aims to release the concept of specifications and standards, portrays sources of its legitimacy from the Koran and the Sunnah, and reviews the importance as well as the reasons for Muslim jurists’ interest and manifestations of this interest. The study concluded that the utilization of specifications and standards is authorized and that one of the duties of the State must be to nurture and grant attention to this concept given the interests protected by these specifications and standards and their impact on the development of production and the progress of societies. Key words: specifications and standards, legal standards, Islamic politics
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