Background. Although short-leg walkers are often used in the treatment of lower extremity injuries, little is known about the effect that the short-leg walker has on gait characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine two different short-leg walkers and how heel height differences in the walker and shoe side may affect ground reaction forces (GRFs) and the effects of heel height modification in walker and/or shoe side on GRFs in walking. Methods. A force platform was used to collect ground reaction force data on 10 healthy participants. Five trials in each of six conditions were performed by each participant: shoe, Gait Walker, Gait Walker with heel insert, Gait Walker modified, Equalizer, and Equalizer with heel insert. Findings. A 2 ´ 6 (side ´ condition) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was completed on selected GRF variables (P<0.05). The application of a walker created a peak GRF prior to the normal peaks associated with the loading response in both vertical and anteroposterior GRFs. Wearing a walker introduced an elevated minimum vertical GRF in all conditions except the Equalizer Walker when compared to Shoe on the shoe side. Peak propulsive GRFs were smaller in all five walker conditions compared to Shoe on walker side. Interpretation. The application of heel insert in Gait Walker with heel insert (on shoe side) and Gait Walker modified (on walker side) does not diminish the minimum vertical GRF as hypothesized. Wearing a walker decreases the peak propulsive GRF on the walker side and induces asymmetrical loading.

The recent completion of the sequencing of several species of the Shewanella genus provides a unique opportunity for comparative genomics studies. We chose the first 10 fully sequenced Shewanella genomes to investigate the evolution of signal transduction proteins (ST). ST is a universal and highly regulated system, and as a very well-studied system provides an excellent starting point for investigation. Furthermore, Shewanella have been shown to have a large number of two-component systems and diguanylate cyclases relative to their genome size. In this study we investigate the evolution of signal transduction across several Shewanella strains by utilizing a domainlevel approach for determining homology and orthology of the parent proteins. Proteins were broken down into their constituent domains and domain sized sequences and compared using a reciprocal best BLAST hit approach to determine homology between all of the species. Analysis of homologous domains and proteins revealed several levels of conservation and a core group of signal transduction proteins common to all members. Further analysis of domain homology provided putative annotations of previously unrecognized sequences and highlighted deficiencies in specific Pfam domain models. Analysis of paralogous domains and proteins showed agreement with 16s rRNA based estimates of evolution, although the position of S. oneidensis MR-1 was novel.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the perceptions and barriers for female agriculture educators across three generations in a non-traditional field of agriculture. The United States Department of Labor (2006) defined a non-traditional job as any occupation where one gender comprises 25% or less of the total employment. Camp, Broyles, and Skelton (2002) revealed secondary female agriculture teachers comprise 22% of the agriculture education field. However, there is a 35% female student membership in high school FFA (National FFA, 2000) so why is there a discrepancy in the number of high school females taking agriculture and the low number females in the teaching field? There are several perceptions of why this is occurring. Four female agriculture teachers were interviewed with the open-ended question: “What are your experiences in teaching agriculture education in a predominately male field?” The teachers selected were from three generations: early Baby Boomer, late Baby Boomer, Generation Xer, and Millennial. Each participant has a Bachelor‟s degree in agricultural education and ethnicity was not taken into account when selecting participants. These four women's experience in teaching agriculture education across generations revealed many statements with similar content. The barriers included, but not exclusively, qualification to teach agriculture education, challenges in teaching agriculture education, stress in teaching agriculture education, and stereotyping of agriculture teachers.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin that continues to affect millions of people worldwide. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has been a suspected etiological agent of Crohn’s disease for nearly two decades. Recently, our laboratory was able to achieve a test sensitivity of 95.2% (n=21) by using a flow cytometry method (FCM) to detect anti-MAP antibodies in Johne’s diseased cattle. Here we investigate whether FCM can differentiate Crohn’s patients’ antibody titers from healthy human control antibody levels. As a second research goal, we investigated other suspected bacteria and serum-differentiating yeast using the FCM. In brief, bacteria/yeast were incubated with serum samples and washed to remove nonspecific antibodies. Antibodies bound to the surface of bacteria/yeast were then labeled with fluorescently-tagged secondary antibody and this binding evaluated by flow cytometry. Serum samples from 37 Crohn’s patients and 37 healthy human controls were tested for antibody (IgG and IgA) binding to bacteria/yeast. When targeting antibodies directed towards MAP, no significant difference was observed between the two populations (ANOVA, alpha=0.05). FCM was also unable to detect an antibody response for either group when directed against a cell-wall-deficient form of MAP, which has been reported to be near infected tissues of Crohn’s diseased patients. However, a differential antibody response to two yeasts that included S. cerevisiae and C. albicans was detected when looking for both IgG and IgA. This differentiation using yeast agrees with previous studies that have shown Crohn’s diseased subjects to have significantly higher antibody titers to this yeast than do healthy controls. This suggests that the flow cytometry method could be useful in the future for distinguishing Crohn’s subjects from healthy controls.

The large-scale mouse mutagenesis experiments conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory using mouse specific-locus test (SLT) have generated numerous radiation- or ENU-induced mutations. A series of mutations were mapped near the p gene, one of the seven marker loci in mouse chromosome 7. Complementation analyses with a panel of p deletions have defined a number of “functional units”, among which is l7Rl1, a ~300kb region corresponding to human chromosome 11p14-p15 and containing four genes (from centromere to telomere): tubulin gamma associated protein 5 (Tubgcp5), Cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation syndrome 1 homolog (FMR1) interacting protein 1 (Cyfip1), non-imprinted in Prader-willi/angelman syndrome 2 (Nipa2), and non-imprinted in Prader-willi/angelman syndrome 1 (Nipa1). l7Rl1 is known to be required for periimplantation survival, but it has been unclear how any one of the deleted genes contributes, if at all, to the implantation failure. In this study, we continued the study of the l7Rl1 by exploiting the DNA sequence and mutation resources available for this region of the mouse genome. Cyfip1 is the first candidate gene among the four to cause the peri-implantation lethal phenotype. To study the function of Cyfip1, Cyfip1Gt/+ transgenic mice were generated using a gene-trap ES cell line from the BayGenomics gene-trap ES cell library. However, Cyfip1Gt/Gt homozygotes do not show periimplantation lethality. Instead, the Cyfip1Gt/Gt homozygous embryos are able to survive through the peri-implantation stage (E4.5-E6.5) and develop normally until E8.5, after which the embryonic development is arrested with defects in the central nervous system. Two N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced lethal mutation stocks, l7Rl1ENU2R and l7Rl1ENU3R have been previously mapped within the l71Rl critical interval. We performed intra- and inter-crosses for these two ENU-induced mutations as well as allelism tests with Cyfip1Gt/+ mice. We have identified the two ENU mutations at the molecular level and confirmed that they are alleles of Cyfip1. The results suggest that Cyfip1 plays an indispensable role in mouse embryonic development. Therefore, if the l7Rl1 is a singlegene defect, Cyfip1 is an unlikely candidate. However, it may still be a contributor to the l7Rl1 lethal phenotype if the peri-implantation lethality is due to the combinatorial effects of several gene deficiencies.

The thresholding problem is important in today’s data-rich research scenario. A threshold is a well-defined point in the data distribution beyond which the data is highly likely to have scientific meaning. The selection of threshold is crucial since it heavily influences any downstream analysis and inferences made there from. A legitimate threshold is one that is not arbitrary but scientifically well grounded, data-dependent and best segregates the information-rich and noisy sections of data. Although the thresholding problem is not restricted to any particular field of study, little research has been done. This study investigates the problem in context of network-based analysis of transcriptomic data. Six conceptually diverse algorithms – based on number of maximal cliques, correlations of control spots with genes, top 1% of correlations, spectral graph clustering, Bonferroni correction of p-values and statistical power – are used to threshold the gene correlation matrices of three time-series microarray datasets and tested for stability and validity. Stability or reliability of the first four algorithms towards thresholding is tested upon block bootstrapping of arrays in the datasets and comparing the estimated thresholds against the bootstrap threshold distributions. Validity of thresholding algorithms is tested by comparison of the estimated thresholds against threshold based on biological information. Thresholds based on the modular basis of gene networks are concluded to perform better both in terms of stability as well as validity. Future challenges to research the problem have been identified. Although the study utilizes transcriptomic data for analysis, we assert its applicability to thresholding across various fields.

Vitronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein involved in regulation of such processes as hemostasis, cell migration, immunity, and tumor metastasis. Many of its functions require interaction with various binding partners. One such partner, plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 1 (PAI-1), belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily of proteins. PAI-1 helps regulate hemostasis by affecting blood clot breakdown, and helps regulate cell migration and tissue remodeling by affecting extracellular matrix digestion. Our laboratory is pursuing structural information on vitronectin and the complex formed between vitronectin and PAI-1. To this end, the work presented in this thesis focuses on two aims: characterizing the interaction of vitronectin and PAI-1 with metal ions, and developing reagents to be used in structural studies of vitronectin. We have used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study metal binding by vitronectin and PAI-1. We have tested vitronectin and PAI-1 for binding of Mn2+ and Cu2+, and also established the feasibility of studying protein-Cu2+ interaction in solution by EPR, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Cu2+. In another set of experiments, we have used activity assays to assess the effect of metal ions on PAI-1 activity and on stabilization of PAI-1 by vitronectin. Regarding reagents, we have expressed and purified active, perdeuterated PAI-1, which can be used in complex with vitronectin in neutron scattering and NMR experiments. We characterized several monoclonal antibodies to vitronectin, and identified one suitable for use in co-crystallization screens. These accomplishments will aid in development of a more detailed picture of the interaction between vitronectin and PAI-1.

Mit 17 Beiträgen der gleichnamigen Workshops im Juni 1995 sowie im Oktober 1996:<br>JÄNKEL, R.; HAASE, W.: Zum Geleit ; WALLSCHLÄGER, D.: Vorwort ; VOGT, R.: Möglichkeiten ziviler Nachnutzung großer Militärflächen ; WEITH, T.; ZIMMERMANN, S.: Verbesserung von Umweltqualitäten durch Konversion militärischer Liegenschaften ; MECKELMANN, H.: Die Bedeutung ehemaliger Truppenübungsplätze für den Naturschutz in Brandenburg ; KALKE, R.: Interpretation von Sukzessions- und Nutzungsspuren in der Döberitzer Heide aus historischen und aktuellen Luftbildern und Karten ; BISCHOFF, I.: Die Wahner Heide, ein Naturschutzgebiet und Truppenübungsplatz in Nordrhein-Westfalen ; KLAPKAREK, N.: Sukzessionsmonitoring auf dem ehemaligen TÜP Jüterbog - Eine methodische Übersicht ; ZEHLE, S.; GZIK, A.; HAHN, R.; KÜHLING, M.: Erste Ergebnisse eines blütenökologischen Monitoring von Sukzessionsflächen ; BLUMENSTEIN, O.; SCHUBERT, R.; BECHMANN, W.; BUKOWSKY, H.; DAUTZ, J.; KAPP, I.; KNÖSCHE, R.; PORTMANN, H.-D.; SCHACHTZABEL, H.; SCHNEIDER, I.; TESSMANN, J.: Erste Ergebnisse einer Fallstudie zur Stoffdynamik in naturschutzrelevanten Böden der Döberitzer Heide ; SCIBORSKI, H.: Landschaftspflege in der Döberitzer Heide ; GROSSER, K.H.: Neue Aufgaben und Chancen für die waldkundliche Grundlagenforschung unter Nutzung der ehemaligen Truppenübungsplätze in Brandenburg ; BERGMANN, J.-H.: Konzeption der waldbaulichen Behandlung der Wälder des ehemaligen Truppenübungsplatzes Döberitzer Heide ; BAUERSCHMIDT, J.: Die Bedeutung von ökosystemaren Naturschutzkonzepten für Großschutzgebiete auf ehemaligen Truppenübungsplätzen ; HAACK, S.: Pflege- und Entwicklungsplanung auf ehemaligen Truppenübungsplätzen am Beispiel der ehemaligen Truppenübungsplätze Königsbrück und Zeithain in Nordsachsen ; HOFMANN, R.R.; SCHEIBE, K.M.: Ursprüngliche Großsäugerartengemeinschaft als Teil der Naturlandschaft ; BAUMGART, B.: Vor- und nacheiszeitliche Großtierformen in Mitteleuropa und ihre Einpassung in das Ökosystem - Stand der Projektentwicklung zum Großtierschutzgebiet Teltow-Fläming ; BEIER, W.; HINRICHSEN, A.; KLATT, R.: Ökofaunistische Untersuchungen auf ausgewählten Truppenübungsplätzen Brandenburgs ; SAMMLER, P.: Zur Makromyzetenflora ausgewählter Biotope auf der Konversionsfläche "Döberitzer Heide"

Tagungsband der Potsdamer Abfalltage (22./23.05.2006): <br>- Rechtlicher und politischer Rahmen:<br> RADDE, C.-A.: Entwicklung des Regelungsrahmens und Anforderungen an die MBA ; PETERSEN, F.: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zum Abfallbegriff sowie zur Abfallverwertung und Abfallbeseitigung nach dem Kreislaufwirtschaft und Abfallgesetz (AbfallVwV) - Ausgangslage, Inhalt, Verfahrenstand und Ausblick ; BLEICHER, R.: Künftige Abfallwirtschaft aus der Sicht der Kommunalpolitik ; ASMUSSEN, S.: Position der ATV-DVWK zur Novellierung der TASi ; REMDE, B.: Die Zukunft der mechanisch-biologischen Abfallbehandlung in der Abfallwirtschaft des Landes Brandenburg <br>- Anforderungen und Leistungsvermögen:<br> BILITEWSKI, B.: EU-Deponierichtlinie und deren Umsetzung in Europa ; SOYEZ, K.; THRÄN, D.; KOLLER, M.; HERMANN, T.: Ergebnisse von Forschungsvorhaben zur mechanisch-biologischen Behandlung von zu deponierenden Abfällen <br>- Emissionen aus der MBV:<br> CUHLS, C.: Emissionspotenziale und Verfahren zur Abluftreinigung ; CUHLS, C.; KNOTH, B.: Lufttechnische Anlagen an MBA - Verbesserte Minderung von Emissionen aus Biofiltern bei Einsatz einer vorgeschalteten Ammoniakwäsche sowie von inertem Trägermaterial ; KAHN, R.: MBA-Abluftreinigung mittels nichtkatalytischer Oxidation - Kosten und Optimierungspotentiale ; WENGENROTH, K.: Thermisch-regenerative Abluftbehandlung <br>- Deponiebetrieb:<br> DACH, J.: Anforderungen an die Deponierung von MBA-Abfällen ; BOCKREIS, A.; BROCKMANN, C.; JAGER, J.: Testmethoden für die Bewertung der Ablagerungseignung von MBA-Abfällen ; RETTENBERGER, G.: Anforderungen an eine sichere Deponie - mögliche Nachsorgestrategien am Beispiel der Deponie Halle-Lochau <br>- Stoffstrommanagement:<br> KOLLER, M.; THRÄN, D.; HERMANN, T.; PLICKERT, S.; SOYEZ, K.: Ökologische Potentiale der Wertstoffausschleusung ; MÜLLER, W.; HECKENKAMP, G.; NIESAR, M.; FRICKE, K.: Wertstoffgewinnung in der mechanischen Aufbereitung ; GALLENKEMPER, B.; WIEMER, K.; FLAMME, S.: Stand und Perspektiven der Gütesicherung von Sekundärbrennstoffen durch die Bundesgütegemeinschaft Sekundärbrennstoffe e. V. ; WILCZEK, M.; WOLF, C.; BERTLING, J.; KÜMMEL, R.: Gewinnung von feinteiligem Brennstoff aus Abfällen <br>- Umsetzung:<br> BRÖKER, E.; NIEWELER, A.; TEGTMEYER, E.: Status der niedersächsischen Anlagen ; VOLLMER, G.-R.: Erfahrungen mit anaeroben Anlagen ; FRANKE, J.; SPILLMANN, P.; ESCHKÖTTER, H.; MORSCHECK, G.: Ergebnisse der Biopuster-Demonstrationsanlage der BMA Stendal ; PUCHELT, A.: Trockenstabilisierung von Restabfällen - Anlagenbeispiel Rennerod / Westerwaldkreis ; KETELSEN, K.; FEHRE, E.: Kosten der mechanisch-biologischen Behandlung ; HEYER, K.-U.; HUPE, K.; STEGMANN, R.: Aerobe in situ Stabilisierung von Altdeponien ; HÜTTNER, E.; KEBEKUS, F.: Einsatzpotentiale der mechanisch-biologischen Abfallbehandlung in Entwicklungsländern

Tagungsband des Forschungsforums Anthropologie (08.05.2001)<br> GREIL, H.; SCHEFFLER, CH.: Zum Geleit <br> GREIL, H.: Wie weit sind wir der DIN 33402 entwachsen? <br> GREIL, H.: Körpermaße 2000: aktuelle Perzentilwerte der deutschen Bevölkerung im jungen Erwachsenenalter <br> NAGEL, K.: Gruppenspezifische Anthropometrie in der ergonomischen Gestaltung <br> GREIL, H.: Wachstum und Variabilität im Körperbau und ihre Berücksichtigung bei industriellen Größensystemen <br> NOTH, V.: Strategien bei der Handhabung von Verschlüssen im Kleinkind- und Vorschulalter <br> FRITZ, N.; SCHRÖDER, I.: Schnittstelle Kinderhand - Computermaus <br> SCHEFFLER, CH.: Bewegungsmuster in Alltagssituationen - Ein Altersvergleich <br> NAGEL, K.: Anthropometrische Komfortbewertung des Fahrzeuginnenraums <br> HUDELMAIER, J.: Die Erfassung personenindividueller Sichtverhältnisse im Pkw - Das Sichtanalysesystem ARGUS