My thesis is an exploration of the emotional connection we have with architecture. The inspirations for the Grief and Healing Sanctuary were the healing experienced at quiet spaces of reflection and my father's stories as a Navy Vietnam shipboard combat veteran. I designed a building to provide a place for healing and to deal with grief. The building was designed for patients and their families being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Not all families leave as they arrive. The families, many from out of town, need a place to reflect, pray, cry, or laugh. This need was reinforced by my father's stories of his transition from normal life to the extremes of combat to life back as a civilian. No one comes out unaffected, and there is not always a place to go and reflect. The Grief and Healing Sanctuary provides these spaces for all people who have these needs. / Master of Architecture

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-06-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:55:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_fjp_me_jabo.pdf: 289543 bytes, checksum: 6ec4fdfeb3984ff7356fa03db7b0aed6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / No Brasil, a potência das vacinas veterinárias contra a raiva é avaliada pelo teste NIH (“National Institutes of Health”), no qual o desempenho de uma vacina, medido pela DE50 em camundongos, é comparado ao desempenho de uma vacina de referência. São consideradas aprovadas as partidas com potência igual ou superior a 1,0 UI. O presente estudo comparou o desafio viral com vírus fixo CVS, utilizado como padrão no teste de potência NIH, a desafios com três amostras virais isoladas de bovinos naturalmente infectados. O objetivo foi verificar se as amostras de vírus de campo apresentariam virulência maior que a do CVS, o que poderia sugerir a inadequação do teste NIH para a avaliação das vacinas contra a raiva e, portanto, inferir que as vacinas aprovadas por esse teste poderiam não proteger suficientemente o rebanho. Apesar da grande variabilidade que o teste NIH pode apresentar, as três repetições desafiadas com CVS apresentaram semelhança em um intervalo de confiança de 95%, e nos desafios realizados com três amostras de vírus de campo a vacina utilizada protegeu mais do que nos desafios com CVS. Conclui-se que a virulência das amostras de vírus de campo utilizadas não foi maior que a virulência do CVS, em camundongos, e que o rigor do desafio padrão mostrou-se adequado para a avaliação da potência pelo teste NIH e, portanto, para o controle da qualidade de vacinas contra a raiva. / The potency of veterinary rabies vaccines in Brazil is evaluated by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) potency test, in which the ability of a vaccine to induce protection in mice (ED50) is compared with a reference vaccine. The batches are approved when the potency is equal or superior to 1.0 IU. The present study compared CVS strain challenges (standard strain for the potency test) with challenges that used three wild isolates of natural occurrence in cattle. The aim was to verify if the wild strains could be more virulent than the CVS. If this occurred, the NIH potency test would prove inadequate to evaluate rabies vaccines. Therefore, one could infer that the approved vaccines might not provide sufficient herd protection. Despite the great variability of NIH test, all three repetitions that were challenged with CVS were similar at a 95% confidence-level; and when challenged with wild strains, the vaccine provided better protection than the one achieved at CVS challenge. In conclusion, wild strains virulence was not greater than CVS virulence in mice. The strictness of standard challenge proved to be adequate for potency evaluation by NIH test, and consequently, for the quality control evaluation of rabies vaccines.

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving procedure for patients in respiratory or cardiac distress. Prior studies have demonstrated several known risks to the procedure, such as hypoxia, stroke, and other neurological complications (Cheng et al., 2014) that can lead to temporary or permanent deficits in motor abilities, developmental trajectory, academic abilities, and cognition (Glass et al., 1995). Although several studies have investigated morbidity and mortality rates of pediatric ECMO patients, few have looked at cognitive deficits, and even fewer at magnetic resonance imaging in relation to neuropsychological outcome and behavioral, emotional, or social functioning. The aims of this study were to investigate cognitive ability and behavioral functioning in a group of ECMO-treated patients compared to a normative sample, and to examine brain morphometry in hippocampal regions as they relate to cognitive outcome. Participants for this study were recruited from Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. The total number of participants recruited was 8 (63% female; M age at testing = 16.75, SD = 4.5), and all participants were at least 1 year post-ECMO procedure (M=5.6 years; SD=2.1) for acute respiratory or cardiac illness. Neuropsychological testing was completed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. Scores were compared to normative data for age to investigate potential impairment in multiple cognitive domains. Each participant and the parent or guardian of minor participants completed brief questionnaires measuring executive functioning, behavior, and social skills, namely The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning, The Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, and the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales. Six of the participants also underwent MR imaging to obtain measures of cortical thickness in the frontal areas of the brain, as well as hippocampal and total intracranial volume. Performance results on the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery was impaired in over half of the tested individuals who underwent ECMO as children. Attention, executive function, processing speed, and visual memory were well below the expected range for age in the majority of participants. Crystallized intelligence tasks, such as vocabulary, were in the average to above average range for most participants, likely indicating normal baseline functioning. Self- and informant report revealed variable results across participants, with various behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties reported in the group. Bilateral hippocampal volume was positively correlated with scores on tasks of episodic and working memory, though further study with a larger sample and control group is warranted. Preliminary MRI data for cortical thickness and volume of frontal regions are presented. Interpretation of results, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Cardiac fibroblasts are capable of a phenotype shift to myofibroblasts and the latter contribute to wound healing and interstitial fibrosis. TGF-β1 signals through R-Smads and Co-Smad proteins and modulates fibrillar collagen deposition. It also influences myofibroblast cells contractility, which they confer torsional forces on the surrounding matrix. c-Ski plays an inhibitory role in TGF-β1 signaling. C184M is a 27 kDa protein that is a novel cytosolic partner of c-Ski. c-Ski-C184M complexes may negatively regulate TGF-β1 signaling via sequestering R-Smad in the cytosol, however, the role of C184M in cardiac fibrosis is unknown. Herein we characterize the expression of C184M and explore its role in TGF-β1 signaling. We found that C184M is expressed in P0 primary fibroblasts, P1 and P2 cardiac myofibroblasts and as well in NIH 3T3 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the C184M is not responsive to TGF-β1 treatment (10ng/ml, 12, 24 and 48hr treatment) and that Smad3 overexpression does not influence expression of C184M protein in P1 cardiac myofibroblasts. In the presence of overexpressed C184M, immunofluorescence studies indicated a shift in localization of Smad3 from a diffuse cytosolic pattern to a distinctly punctuate cytosolic pattern. C184M overexpression abrogates the effects of TGF-β1 mediated increased collagen synthesis in NIH 3T3 cells. Further, C184M is involved in reduction of contractility of NIH 3T3 cells.

Cardiac fibroblasts are capable of a phenotype shift to myofibroblasts and the latter contribute to wound healing and interstitial fibrosis. TGF-β1 signals through R-Smads and Co-Smad proteins and modulates fibrillar collagen deposition. It also influences myofibroblast cells contractility, which they confer torsional forces on the surrounding matrix. c-Ski plays an inhibitory role in TGF-β1 signaling. C184M is a 27 kDa protein that is a novel cytosolic partner of c-Ski. c-Ski-C184M complexes may negatively regulate TGF-β1 signaling via sequestering R-Smad in the cytosol, however, the role of C184M in cardiac fibrosis is unknown. Herein we characterize the expression of C184M and explore its role in TGF-β1 signaling. We found that C184M is expressed in P0 primary fibroblasts, P1 and P2 cardiac myofibroblasts and as well in NIH 3T3 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the C184M is not responsive to TGF-β1 treatment (10ng/ml, 12, 24 and 48hr treatment) and that Smad3 overexpression does not influence expression of C184M protein in P1 cardiac myofibroblasts. In the presence of overexpressed C184M, immunofluorescence studies indicated a shift in localization of Smad3 from a diffuse cytosolic pattern to a distinctly punctuate cytosolic pattern. C184M overexpression abrogates the effects of TGF-β1 mediated increased collagen synthesis in NIH 3T3 cells. Further, C184M is involved in reduction of contractility of NIH 3T3 cells.

1980年，在美國拜杜法案（Bayh-Dole Act）通過以後，政府補助研發成果從原屬於國家財產，下放歸屬權於研發單位。因此研發單位可自行管理並將研發成果授權至產業界，將研發成果商品化，此過程稱之為「技術移轉」。技術移轉是一個非常細膩且複雜的過程，有許多因素會左右技術移轉的成敗，其中包括：技術之品質、法律限制、政策因素、產業需求和資訊流通等因素。技術移轉將可以使研發成果商品化， 有助於提升政府稅收和權利金收入，並且推動科學發展和增加就業機會，為國家創造經濟收入。 本研究旨探如何提升政府補助國立生醫研究單位－台灣國家衛生研究院（NHRI）之授權績效。本研究將採用美國國家衛生研究院（NIH）之授權績效和授權執行方式當參考指標。為了得到精準和可信的數據，本研究僅截取官方之年報和網站的資料。與此同時，本研究末將會提供如何提升授權績效之建議。 此研究發現就2010年而言，NIH和NHRI之授權績效可謂旗鼓相當。儘管台灣立法規定「政府資訊公開法」，此研究發現台灣國家衛生研究院有選擇性的發表其授權績效的跡象。由於政府所有開銷均從其預算而來，而政府預算部分自人民納稅所得，因此監督政府績效是普羅大眾的基本權利。人民有權監督，並且要求政府就其管理、執行成效做出解釋。然而，台灣國家衛生研究院之資訊不透明舉動，限制了人民監督的權利，此舉將會因缺乏監督而惡性循環的造成授權績效更為疲弱。此外，此研究亦發現較少的授權契約種類、授權策略在地化、研發成果披露之不明確性、智慧財產委員會專利申請和授權策略失衡是造成NHRI授權成果疲弱的因素。 / Since the passage of U.S. Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, government-funded research inventions were no longer considered as government property. Invention could be patented and be licensed to industry through the process of commercialization for revenue return. Commercialization will create revenue in the form of royalty and taxes to the government, further driving scientific improvement and increase job opportunities. Technology commercialization is a very delicate process and there are a lot of factors that might alter the success, including but not limited to i) the quality of invention, ii) legislation restriction, iii) policy incentives, iv) industry interest, v) availability of information and etc. If managed properly, technology commercialization could bring high value to the academic institutes that developed an invention, to government that financially support academic research and to general public that could benefit from the invention itself. This study intends to identify the factors of the weak licensing performance in Taiwan government-funded national biomedical research organization, National Health Research Institute (NHRI). To evaluate the licensing performance of NHRI, this study will compare the licensing performance of NHRI with National Institute of Health (NIH) in the United States. To get accurate and formal data, this study will mainly retrieve data from official annual report and website. By comparing the practice of technology commercialization process of both institutes, this study could suggest possible flaws in NHRI’s licensing process in comparison to NIH. At the same time, this study will give suggestions to achieve a better licensing performance. This study concluded that both institute performed equally in FY 2010, but it has been noticed that NHRI were selectively in disclosing its licensing performance statistics and it is difficult to retrieve general information from NHRI, despite the availability of Freedom of Government Information Law (Taiwan). It’s the basic right for the general public to be able to supervise and surveillance a government agency’s performance as it utilizes the taxes contributed by a citizen in a country. The limitation of information disclosure by NHRI has made it difficult for general public supervise its licensing performance, of which might further contribute to even weaker licensing performance due to lack of supervision. This research also concluded that few options of licensing contracts, localization in licensing strategy, confusion in technology disclosure, possible misalignment of patenting & licensing strategy of the IP Management Committee contributes to weak licensing performance in the NHRI.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to understand How Corporate Innovation Hubs (CIHs) can Mitigate NIH and NSH Problems in Knowledge Transfer. To fulfill this purpose, the following research questions were derived: RQ1: What are the causes of NIH & NSH problems among actors collaborating through a CIH? RQ2: What are the consequences of NIH & NSH problems among actors collaborating through a CIH? RQ3: What mechanisms can a CIH use to mitigate NIH & NSH problems among collaborating actors? Method – The study is an explorative inductive multiple case-study, investigating five CIHs situated in either Silicon Valley, US or Gothenburg, Sweden. In total, 39 interviews were conducted in three waves, and results were derived using a Gioia analysis. Findings – This study resulted in a framework illustrating connections of causes and consequences of NIH and NSH problems with corresponding mitigating mechanisms. The most critical causes are Obsessive control (NIH), Internal antagonism (NIH) and Low confidential awareness (NSH). The most severe consequences are Use of irrelevant knowledge (NIH), Suffocation of external ideas (NIH) and Restrained problem-solving (NSH). The most important mitigating mechanisms are Translate relevance of ideas (NIH) and Create mutual confidential understanding (NSH). Theoretical and Practical Implications – This study contributes to the scarce literature on NIH and NSH problems among multiple actors collaborating through CIHs. By identifying causes, consequences and mitigating mechanisms of NIH and NSH problems, CIHs will be able to detect NIH and NSH tendencies among its collaborating actors, to mitigate its causes and prevent its consequences. Limitations and Future Research – The study is limited by the investigated CIHs focus on exploring future transportation solutions, indicating that future studies can investigate CIHs in other industry settings and among other actors collaborating through CIHs. Keywords: Corporate Innovation Hubs; NIH; NSH; Knowledge Transfer

Cell-substrate interactions influence various cellular processes such as morphology, motility, proliferation and differentiation. Actin dynamics within cells have been shown to be influenced by substrate stiffness, as NIH 3T3 fibroblasts grown on stiffer substrates tend to exhibit more prominent actin stress fiber formation. Circular dorsal ruffles (CDRs) are transient actin-rich ring-like structures within cells, induced by various growth factors, such as the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). CDRs grow and shrink in size after cells are stimulated with PDGF, eventually disappearing ten of minutes after stimulation. As substrate stiffness affect actin structures and cell motility, and CDRs are actin structures which have been previously linked to cell motility and macropinocytosis, the role of substrate stiffness on the properties of CDRs in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and how they proceed to affect cell behavior is investigated. Cells were seeded on Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates of various stiffnesses and stimulated with PDGF to induce CDR formation. It was found that an increase in substrate stiffness increases the lifetime of CDRs, but did not affect their size. A mathematical model of the signaling pathways involved in CDR formation is developed to provide insight into this lifetime and size dependence, and is linked to substrate stiffness via Rac-Rho antagonism. CDR formation did not affect the motility of cells seeded on 10 kPa stiff substrates, but is shown to increase localized lamellipodia formation in the cell via the diffusion of actin from the CDRs to the lamellipodia. To further probe the influence of cell-substrate interactions on cell behavior and actin dynamics, a two dimensional system which introduces a dynamically changing, reversible and localized substrate stiffness environment is constructed. Cells are seeded on top of thin PDMS nano-membranes, and are capable of feeling through the thin layer, experiencing the stiffness of the polyacrylamide substrates below the nano-membrane. The membranes are carefully re-transplanted on top of other polyacrylamide substrates with differing stiffnesses. This reversible dynamic stiffness system is a novel approach which would help in the investigation of the influence of reversible dynamic stiffness environments on cell morphology, motility, proliferation and differentiation in various cells types.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119). Also available on the Internet.