The development of the large corporate railroad systems in the Midwest, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, produced many high quality, architecturally significant railroad stations. Among these, Richmond's Pennsylvania Railroad Station, built to the designs of the D.H. Burnham & Co., of Chicago in 1902-1903, is a fine example of the Beaux-Arts and Neo-Classical Revival Styles of architecture popular after the Columbian World Exposition of 1893. The Richmond station remains as the last example of the Burnham Co.'s railroad station work in Indiana. This thesis will review the history and current status of the station, review and summarize the field of railroad station reuse, and present an adaptive reuse plan for the station. / Department of Architecture

This creative project will examine Foote Homes and Cleaborne Homes, two public housing projects adjacent to each other located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The downtown area of Memphis has quickly grown into a vibrant urban city with high end residential, business, and commercial developments over the past several years. The city has been transforming itself by re-vitalizing many of the older neighborhoods with it. In fact, both of these housing projects have been scheduled for demolition for many years; however, neither has yet to be improved. The city depends upon people of different incomes to function, yet does little to provide adequate housing for all income levels. Today, the question is, how can these areas be re-developed as beneficial assets to the city of Memphis rather than continue to be financially draining and social separators of the city? To begin the project, the city of Memphis and the relationship of Foote and Cleaborne Homes in the city will be examined. Next, the change of public housing's role in the United States since World War II will be discussed. Then, design theories and case studies of other re-developed housing projects will be studied to see how they have changed how publicly assisted housing is developed today. Lastly, a set of design guidelines and a new design of Foote Homes and Cleaborne Homes will be developed to create a vibrant mixed-use and mixed-income community out of these old public housing projects. Re-developing these housing projects will better fit the current residents, growing housing demand, and overall image of the city of Memphis. / Department of Landscape Architecture

This thesis is an attempt to improve the economic problems of the homeless people, either scrappers or squatters living in abject poverty, in the shrinking city of Flint by trying to balance the social problems of the city. This balance in the social life will not be real unless there is a kind of resilience architecture that is able to adjust and be adjusted to that degradation in the social and economic conditions in the shrinking cities. The resilience architecture, from which the self built spirit may spur, may be the only way to give the poor their lost dignity.The specific research deals with the problem of shrinkage in the Rust Belt cities in the USA and the means of its improvement by readopting three terms: evolution, resilience, and alchemy from a social perspective. Suggesting a resilient architecture design project in the particular city of Flint, Michigan relies on the large number of the homeless people living in these devastated places.Shrinking cities, living a state of flux all time, are much more insecure and weighty. The potential profound role of the architecture profession to work with the poor societies, and assist them in the execution of their spiritual needs, relies upon some of the key questions: could architects be a reason in building a resistant community? What kind of architecture do we collectively want to combat the degradation of the world? The key question is: Will architecture able to activate this self built spirit, by reusing some of the leftover materials, in Flint? In this context, I will investigate the architects' ability to intervene by providing an implementation proposal designed to use the city materials. This intervention of the architect will be effective when the potentials of those homeless are empowered. Therefore, I suggest an initial idea for a particular design proposal titled `Scrap and Build; On Our Own Village' that could be used as a catalyst for self builders' spirit. The project is seeking a resilient new vision for the future of shrinking cities, which necessitates surpassing the barriers which exist in the real complexities in these cities' lives. / Department of Architecture

This creative project thesis is an exploration of the connected experiences in light, space and time, developed through the 'making'of architecture. The process began with the concept of 'installation', in which the practice evolves from a vast spectrum of disciplines. The objective is to create an alternative spatial experience, occurring within an existing building. A piece of architecture through which the environment may be activated by the presence of light, material and man . An abandoned old building was chosen as the site in which to create the project. The repair and the creation of the new combined, creating the installation of a space which both respects and evolves from the existing. The process of rehabilitation and the 'making' of architecture offering a variety of interactive opportunities; of dialogue and language which furthers the understanding of society and the conception of architecture. / Department of Architecture

Goldfish undergo an adaptive morphological change in their gills involving the reversible growth and loss of a mass of cells (interlamellar cell mass, ILCM) in between the lamellae depending on oxygen demand, which can be altered by the environment or metabolic demands of the individual. The ILCM contributes to decreased passive Na+ efflux across the gill. Active uptake is maintained by the re-distribution of the ionocytes expressing Na+-uptake relevant genes (NHEs and H+-ATPase) to the outer edge of the ILCM where they can establish contact with the external environment and/or lamellar epithelium. This adaptation is thought to be partly responsible for the extreme anoxia tolerance demonstrated by goldfish, which they experience on a seasonal basis living in a pond environment. Hypoxia and hypercapnia are frequently encountered in such freshwater environments and as such, the effect of the ILCM on the capacity for acid-base regulation was evaluated. Differences in the time course of acid excretion to the environment without effect on systemic pH regulation were likely the result of the ILCM.

Mathematical modeling is an important tool in improving the understanding of complex biological processes. However, mathematical models are often faced with challenges that arise due to the limited knowledge of the underlying biological processes and the high number of parameters for which exact values are unknown. The method of generalized modeling is an alternative modeling approach that aims to address these challenges by extracting information about stability and bifurcations of classes of models while making only minimal assumptions on the specific functional forms of the model. This is achieved by a direct parameterization of the Jacobian in the steady state, introducing a set of generalized parameters which have a biological interpretation. In this thesis, the method of generalized modeling is extended and applied to different problems from cell biology. In the first part, we extend the method to include also the higher derivatives at the steady state. This allows an analysis of the normal form of bifurcations and thereby a more specific description of the nearby dynamics. In models of gene-regulatory networks, it is shown that the extended method can be applied to better characterize oscillatory systems and to detect bistable dynamics. In the second part, we investigate mathematical models of bone remodeling, a process that renews the human skeleton constantly. We investigate the connection between structural properties of mathematical models and the stability of steady states in different models. We find that the dynamical system operates from a stable steady state that is situated in the vicinity of bifurcations where stability can be lost, potentially leading to diseases of bone. In the third part of this thesis, models of the MAPK signal transduction pathway are analyzed. Since mathematical models for this system include a high number of parameters, statistical methods are employed to analyze stability and bifurcations. Thereby, the parameters with a strong influence on the stability of steady states are identified. By an analysis of the bifurcation structure of the MAPK cascade, it is found that a combination of multiple layers in a cascade-like way allows for additional types of dynamic behavior such as oscillations and chaos. In summary, this thesis shows that generalized modeling is a fruitful alternative modeling approach for various types of systems in cell biology. / Mathematische Modelle stellen ein wichtiges Hilfmittel zur Verbesserung des Verständnisses komplexer biologischer Prozesse dar. Sie stehen jedoch vor Schwierigkeiten, wenn wenig über die zugrundeliegende biologischen Vorgänge bekannt ist und es eine große Anzahl von Parametern gibt, deren exakten Werte unbekannt sind. Die Methode des Verallgemeinerten Modellierens ist ein alternativer Modellierungsansatz mit dem Ziel, diese Schwierigkeiten dadurch anzugehen, dass dynamische Informationen über Stabilität und Bifurkationen aus Klassen von Modellen extrahiert werden, wobei nur minimale Annahmen über die spezifischen funktionalen Formen getätigt werden. Dies wird erreicht durch eine direkte Parametrisierung der Jacobimatrix im Gleichgewichtszustand, bei der neue, verallgemeinerte Parameter eingeführt werden, die eine biologische Interpretation besitzen. In dieser Arbeit wird die Methode des Verallgemeinerten Modellierens erweitert und auf verschiedene zellbiologische Probleme angewandt. Im ersten Teil wird eine Erweiterung der Methode vorgestellt, bei der die Analyse höherer Ableitungen im Gleichgewichtszustand integriert wird. Dies erlaubt die Bestimmung der Normalform von Bifurkationen und hierdurch eine spezifischere Beschreibung der Dynamik in deren Umgebung. In Modellen für genregulatorische Netzwerke wird gezeigt, dass die so erweiterte Methode zu einer besseren Charakterisierung oszillierender Systeme sowie zur Erkennung von Bistabilität verwendet werden kann. Im zweiten Teil werden mathematische Modelle zur Knochenremodellierung untersucht, einem Prozess der das menschliche Skelett kontinuierlich erneuert. Wir untersuchen den Zusammenhang zwischen strukturellen Eigenschaften verschiedener Modelle und der Stabilität von Gleichgewichtszuständen. Wir finden, dass das dynamische System von einem stabilen Zustand operiert, in dessen Nähe Bifurkationen existieren, welche das System destabilisieren und so potentiell Knochenkranheiten verursachen können. Im dritten Teil werden Modelle für den MAPK Signaltransduktionsweg analysiert. Da mathematische Modelle für dieses System eine hohe Anzahl von Parametern beinhalten, werden statistische Methoden angewandt zur Analyse von Stabilität und Bifurkationen. Zunächst werden Parameter mit einem starken Einfluss auf die Stabilität von Gleichgewichtszuständen identifizert. Durch eine Analyse der Bifurkationsstruktur wird gezeigt, dass eine kaskadenartige Kombination mehrerer Ebenen zu zusätzliche Typen von Dynamik wie Oszillationen und Chaos führt. Zusammengefasst zeigt diese Arbeit, dass Verallgemeinertes Modellieren ein fruchtbarer alternativer Modellierungsansatz für verschiedene zellbiologische Probleme ist.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 223-247).

Orientador: Paula Schmidt Azevedo Gaiolla / Abstract: Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects not only joints, but also other organs, such as the heart. Systemic inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development of joint and extraarticular involvement. Thus, there is an increased risk for coronary disease in patients with RA. Direct heart involvement can be triggered by the process of cardiac remodeling, such as hypertrophy and changes in cardiac geometry, which can go years without causing symptoms. Another particular feature of AR and also related to chronic inflammation is the fact that they present a body composition with a phenotype more focused on being overweight, but with the possibility of having reduced muscle mass. Obesity, by itself, already raises the risk for cardiac involvement, however, little is known about the participation of body composition variables and some inflammatory markers in the cardiac remodeling of RA patients. Objectives: To evaluate whether body composition and inflammation variables, evaluated by metalloptreteaases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), are associated with remodeling and cardiac function. Methodology: A total of 71 patients with RA underwent clinical, anthropometric evaluation of the body composition by bioimpedance and dual emission X-ray densitometry, cardiac evaluation by transthoracic echocardiography, evaluation of inflammatory activity by DAS-28 and dosage of metalloprotease activity. Logistic and linear regression were performed to evalua... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Resumo: Introdução: A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma doença inflamatória crônica que acomete não apenas articulações, mas também outros órgãos, como por exemplo, o coração. A inflamação sistêmica exerce papel fundamental no desenvolvimento do acometimento articular e extra-articular. Dessa forma, existe risco aumentado para doença coronariana em pacientes com AR. É possível acometimento direto do coração desencadeando o processo de remodelação cardíaca, como a hipertrofia e alterações de geometria cardíaca, que podem passar anos sem causar sintomas. Outra característica particular da AR e também relacionada com a inflamação crônica é o fato de apresentarem composição corporal com fenótipo mais voltado para o sobrepeso, mas com a possibilidade de terem massa muscular reduzida. A obesidade, por si, já eleva o risco para acometimento cardíaco, entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a participação de variáveis da composição corporal e de alguns marcadores inflamatórios na remodelação cardíaca de pacientes com AR. Objetivos: Avaliar se variáveis da composição corporal e inflamação, avaliada por metalopreteaases (MMP-2 e MMP-9), associam-se à remodelação e função cardíaca. Metodologia: Foram estudados 71 pacientes com AR, submetidos a avaliação clínica, antropométrica, da composição corporal por bioimpedância e densitometria de dupla emissão de radiação X, avaliação cardiológica por ecocardiografia transtorácica, avaliação da atividade inflamatória por DAS-28 e dosagem da atividade das metaloprote... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Cicogna / Resumo: Introdução - A estenose aórtica supravalvar (EAo) experimental é utilizada para induzir a remodelação cardíaca (RC) patológica; esse modelo provoca, inicialmente disfunção diastólica e, posteriormente, distúrbio sistólico e insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Diferentes fatores podem contribuir para essa alteração funcional como, déficit de oxigênio (O2). O principal regulador da homeostase do O2 é o fator induzível por hipóxia-1α (HIF-1α) que na condição normóxia é sintetizado e degradado. No coração hipertrofiado, isquêmico, o HIF-1α torna-se estável e regula a transcrição de vários genes que aumentam a disponibilidade de O2. Além disso, aumenta a expressão das proteínas da via da glicose, com a finalidade de aumentar a oferta de energia. Embora, existam trabalhos que mostraram alteração do HIF-1 α, metabolismo de glicose e função cardíaca, não encontramos na literatura pesquisas que analisaram o comportamento e a associação do HIF-1α com o metabolismo glicídico, estrutura e função ventricular durante a evolução da remodelação por EAo. Objetivos gerais – Analisar durante o processo de evolução da RC o comportamento do HIF-1α, metabolismo da glicose, estrutura e função ventricular e a associação entre o HIF-1α e estas variáveis. Material e métodos – Foram utilizados dois grupos de ratos Wistar: controle operado (Sham, n=48) e EAo (n=48): os animais foram submetidos a cirurgia e no grupo EAo foi implantado um clipe de 0,60 mm de diâmetro na raiz da aorta. Os ratos foram avaliados no... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction - The experimental supravalvar aortic stenosis (AS) is used to induce pathological cardiac remodeling (CR); this model causes, initially, diastolic dysfunction and, later, systolic disorder and heart failure (HF). Different factors may contribute to these cardiac functional alterations, such as oxygen (O2) deficiency. The main regulator of O2 is hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1α) that in normoxia condition is synthesized and degraded. In the hypertrophied, ischemic heart, HIF-1α becomes stable and regulates the transcription of several genes that increase O2 availability. In addition, it increases the expression of the glucose pathway proteins, in order to increase energy supply. Although there are studies that have shown alterations in HIF-1α, glucose metabolism and cardiac function, we have not found in the literature studies that investigated the behavior and association of HIF-1α with glucose metabolism, ventricular structure and function during the evolution of CR by AS.Objective - To analyze, during the course of CR evolution, the behavior of HIF-1α, glucose metabolism, ventricular structure and function, and the association between HIF-1α and these variables. Material and methods - Two groups of rats were studied: operated control (Sham, n=48) and supravalvar aortic stenosis (AS, n=48): the animals underwent surgery and in the AS group a clip of 0.60 mm diameter was placed at the aorta’s root. The rats were evaluated at 2, 6, 18 weeks after su... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

La chromatine, dont l’unité de base est le nucléosome, est une structure nucléoprotéique dynamique qui nécessite un remodelage au cours des processus nucléaires utilisant l’ADN comme matrice tels que la réplication, la transcription ou la réparation des cassures et autres types de lésions à l’ADN. Plusieurs facteurs capables de moduler la structure de la chromatine ont été caractérisés. Ils regroupent les complexes de remodelage ATP-dépendants et les enzymes modifiant les histones de façon post-traductionnelle. Nous nous intéressons au laboratoire à la voie de méthylation de la lysine 20 située sur la queue aminoterminale de l’histone H4. Le premier niveau de méthylation est induit par la monométhyltransférase PR-Set7 tandis que la di et tri méthylation sont déposées par le couple d’enzymes SUV4-20H1/2. Pour mieux caractériser le rôle joué par PR-Set7 au cours du développement, j’ai étudié la fonction de l'orthologue de PR-Set7 chez la Drosophile (dPR-Set7). La première partie de ma thèse a consisté à caractériser le rôle de dPR-Set7 dans la transcription. De manière intéressante, nous avons montré que la régulation transcriptionnelle médiée par PR-Set7 nécessite son domaine SET enzymatique mais pas H4K20me, suggérant l'existence d’autres substrats non-histones. Nous avons mis en évidence une interaction fonctionnelle de PR-Set7 et ISWI qui est la sous unité catalytique des complexes de remodelage de la chromatine (CRC). Fait intéressant, ISWI contient un patch basique identique à la queue N-terminale de H4 suggérant qu’il pourrait être un substrat pour dPR-Set7. La deuxième partie de ma thèse a consisté à combiner l’effet des radiations à ceux induits par les inhibiteurs des méthyltransférases responsables de la méthylation H4K20 et les radiations dans les lignées de cellules cancéreuses du pancréas et de l’ovaire. Par l'utilisation de différents inhibiteurs ciblant soit PR-Set7 ou les enzymes SUV4-20H, j’ai voulu savoir si la baisse des niveaux de H4K20me pourrait contribuer à une meilleure efficacité des traitements aux rayons X. Nos résultats montrent que la diminution globale des marques H4K20me2/3 suite à l’inhibition des enzymes SUV4-20H n’impacte que faiblement sur la survie des cellules et la combinaison des deux traitements les rendraient plus radiosensibles. / Chromatin is a dynamic nucleoprotein structure that requires remodeling for all nuclear processes such as replication, transcription and DNA damage. Several factors have been characterized to modulate chromatin structure and include ATP-dependent remodeling complexes and histone-modifying enzymes. We are interested in the laboratory in the methylation pathway of lysine 20 on histone H4 tail. The first level of methylation is induced by the monomethyltransferase PR-Set7 and the di/tri methylation are deposited by the SUV4-20H enzymes. To better characterize the role of dPR-Set7 during development, I wanted to study the function of Drosophila PR-Set7 (dPR-Set7). The first part of my thesis aimed to unravel the role of dPR-Set7 in transcription. Interestingly, transcriptional regulation mediated by PR-Set7 requires its enzymatic SET domain but not H4K20me, suggesting the existence of other non-histone substrates. We demonstrated a functional interaction between PR-Set7 and ISWI, the catalytic subunit of chromatin remodeling complexes (CRC). Interestingly, ISWI contains a basic patch identical to the histone H4 tail suggesting that it could be a substrate for dPR-Set7. The second part of my thesis consisted in combining inhibitors of H4K20 methyltransferase and radiation in ovarian and pancreatic cancer cell lines. I wanted to know if the decrease of H4K20me levels by inhibiting either PR-Set7 or SUV4-20H enzymes, contribute to better X-ray treatments. Our results show that the overall decrease of H4K20me2/3 marks following the inhibition of SUV4-20H enzymes has a low impact on cell survival and the combining effects of both treatments sensitize cancer cells.