ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / Nowadays, with the development of the electronics, a video camera can produce hi-resolution and hi-speed images with a very good sensitivity. A typical application is the execution of the Air Data System (ADS) Calibration Flight Test Campaign (FTC) using the Tower-Fly-By method, where the aircraft reference altitude is computed from video frames. To improve efficiency, safety and effectiveness for this FTC, the Flight Test Research Institute (IPEV) developed a near real-time video processing application to compute the aircraft altitude from 720i video frames at up to 400 fps. This development was executed as Master Science dissertation along with Itajubá State University (UNIFEI). Tests results demonstrated satisfactory performance for this tool compared to Ground Telemetry System (GTS) and Global Positioning System (GPS).

2 pp. / This publication describes the common insects found in Arizona lettuce through the use of pictures. The insects include; lepidopterous larva, striped flea beetle, leafminer fly, leafminer mine, adult western flower thrips, winged adult aphid, false chinch bug, lygus bug, potato leafhopper, and threecornered alfalfa hopper.

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In October 2006 an intervention was initiated to arrest the northerly advance through Uganda of the zoonotic parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. This is a protozoal infection that is vectored by the tsetse fly. It is the aim of this thesis to review the impact of this large scale treatment programme in terms of animal health and human disease. The Stamp Out Sleeping Sickness (SOS) campaign was designed to target the cattle reservoir of T. b. rhodesiense in these newly affected areas by block treating >180,000 head of cattle. This was achieved in collaboration with final year vet students from the University of Makerere, Uganda. Farmers were also encouraged to spray their animals with deltamethrin in order to suppress the tsetse population. In order to monitor the impact of this intervention a base line survey was carried out. Evaluation of the logistics and implementation of the SOS campaign was assessed through interviews with personnel involved. Analysis by PCR revealed the prevalence of T. brucei s.l. as 15.57% (T. b. rhodesiense as 0.81%) within the cattle reservoir prior to SOS treatment. Follow up sampling was carried out at 23 locations at three, nine and 18 months. The prevalence of T. brucei s.l. was reduced post treatment, but in the absence of sustained vector control infections amongst the animals returned by nine months and subsequently exceeded the base line findings (P=<0.0001). It was observed that across most of the SOS area, T. b. rhodesiense did not re-establish following treatment. However, a significant cluster was identified where cases of both human and animal disease were continually reported. This cluster was noted to include the area immediately surrounding the Otuboi cattle market. This link between cattle movement and the spread of T. b. rhodesiense is an established one and is addressed by Ugandan governmental policy which states that ‘cattle traded at market must be treated with trypanocidal drugs prior to movement’. The findings presented here suggest that this policy may not be strictly enforced. The risk of spread is compounded at the northern districts of Uganda restock their domestic livestock following years of civil conflict. The majority of animals are traded in a northward direction – transporting infected animals from the endemic south. The scale of this trade is assessed through questionnaires, analysis of trade records and animal screening. Specific consideration is given to the implications of this cattle trade and impact this may have on the sustainability of the SOS campaign.

Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that is the causative agent of sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa. T. brucei has a complex life cycle involving passage between a mammalian host and the tsetse fly. The parasite evades the mammalian immune system via expression of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) on the cell surface. VSG genes are expressed at telomeric expression sites and at these sites are a number of Expression Site Associated Genes (ESAGs). One unusual ESAG, ESAG9, is developmentally regulated: RNA for these genes accumulates during the transition from slender to stumpy cells in the mammalian bloodstream and cellassociated protein is only detected transiently in stumpy and differentiating cells. Transgenic cell lines were generated which ectopically express one or more members of the ESAG9 gene family. Biochemical and cytological analyses using these cell lines indicated that some members of this family are glycosylated and GPI-anchored, and also that one gene, ESAG9-K69, is secreted. ESAG9-K69 is also secreted by wild-type stumpy parasites. In vivo experiments with tsetse flies did not conclusively show whether ESAG9 proteins play a role in the establishment of a tsetse fly mid-gut infection by transgenic trypanosomes. However, In vivo and ex vivo experiments using the mouse model of trypanosomiasis indicated that expression of ESAG9 proteins may alter parasitaemia in the mouse and results in a significant decrease in the proportion of CD4+ T cells in the mouse spleen.

<p>Eukaryotic Topoisomerase 2 is an essential enzyme that solves DNA topological problems such as DNA knotting, catenation, and supercoiling. It alters the DNA topology by introducing transient double strand break in one DNA duplex as a gate for the passage of another DNA duplex. Two different aspects of studies about eukaryotic Topoisomerase 2 will be covered in this thesis. In the first half of the thesis, we investigated conformational changes of human Topoisomerase 2&#61537; (hsTop2&#61537;) in the presence of cofactors and inhibitors. In the second half, we focused on an unknown regulatory function in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Drosophila Topoisomerase 2 (Top2).</p><p>In the project of studying enzyme conformational changes, we adapted a previously developed methodology, Pulse-Alkylation Mass Spectrometry, with monobromobimane to study the protein dynamics of hsTop2&#61537;. Using this method, we captured the evidence of conformational changes in the presence of ATP and Mg2+ or the Top2 inhibitor, ICRF-193 which were not previously observed. Last, by using CTD truncated hsTop2&#61537;, the increasing reactivity of Cys427 suggested the CTD domain might be tethered adjacent to the core enzyme.</p><p>Following the study of enzyme conformational changes, we switched gear to examine an interaction between Drosophila Top2 and Mus101, homolog of human TopBP1. We first found that Mus101 interacts with CTD of Top2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Next, in the co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down experiments using truncated or mutant Top2 with various Ser to Ala substitutions, we mapped the binding motif to the last amino acids of Top2 and identified that phosphorylation of Ser1428 and Ser1443 is important for Top2 to interact with the N-terminus of Mus101, which contains BRCT1/2 domains (BRCT, BRCA1 C-terminus). The binding affinity of the N-terminal Mus101 with a synthetic phosphorylated peptide covering the last 25 amino acids of Top2 (with pS1428 and pS1443) was determined by surface plasmon resonance with a Kd of 0.57 &#956;M. In an in vitro decatenation assay, Mus101 can specifically reduce the decatenation activity of Top2, and dephosphorylation of Top2 attenuates this response to Mus101. Next, we endeavored to establish a cellular system for testing the biological function of Top2-Mus101 interaction. Top2-silenced S2 cells rescued by Top2&#61508;20, truncation of 20 amino acids from the C-terminus of Top2, developed abnormally high chromosome numbers, which implies an infidelity in chromosome segregation during mitosis. Lastly, Top2-null flies rescued by Top2 with S1428A and S1443A were found to be viable but sterile. After investigating spermatogenesis, telophase of meiosis I was delayed, indicating Top2-Mus101 interaction is also important in segregating DNA in meiosis.</p> / Dissertation

The genetic pathways influencing alcohol abuse and dependence are poorly characterized. Many critical discoveries about the interactions between ethanol-related behaviors and genetics have been made in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Coupling the statistical power of model organism studies to human association studies bolsters the analytical efficacy of these genomic approaches. A variety of behavioral assays are available for assessing behavioral responses to ethanol in Drosophila. However, we find our previously described eRING assay is influenced by the commonly used transgenic marker mini-white. We developed a Simple Sedation Assay (SSA) that is insensitive to the effects of white and mini-white. In SSAs, expression of endogenous wild-type white was not necessary for normal responses to ethanol. Neither expression nor RNAi-mediated knockdown of the transgenic mini-white influenced the effects of ethanol in flies. Critically, mini-white expression did not affect the phenotypes of flies with known alterations in ethanol sensitivity. Also, loss of function mutations in Clic show decreased sensitivity to ethanol in both eRING assays (as previously reported) and SSAs. Therefore, we explored the role of the known Clic interactors, TGF-β and ryanodine receptors. These studies were inconclusive but do not exclude the need for future work. Finally, using bioinformatic tools we constructed a mutli-species network of genes predicted to interact with Clic. Our RNAi screen against the Clic network serves as an important proof-of-concept and holds great potential for uncovering important therapeutic targets for alcohol use disorders.

À l'ère de la mondialisation, où la matrice capitaliste continue de dominer, la classification dans les groupes se définit encore en termes de classes, de genres et d'ethnicité. Les transformations causées par la mondialisation actuelle entraînent de nouveaux modes de production, qui à leur tour transforment les modes de définition et de régulation des populations. Le projet d'exploitation du Nord du Québec est un phénomène relativement récent; or, le processus de construction d'une classe sociale n'est pas un phénomène nouveau. La formation des classes sociales étant toujours en évolution, il semble aujourd'hui pertinent de réexaminer les facteurs économiques, sociologiques et historiques des caractéristiques théoriques nécessaires à la construction et à la représentation d'une classe sociale dont l'existence est liée à l'exploitation accrue des richesses naturelles, la classe ouvrière du Nord du Québec.

 À Fermont, dans le Nord du Québec, les compagnies minières emploient depuis 2011 une grande quantité de travailleurs québécois provenant de l'extérieur de la région, des travailleurs permanents non- résidents. Ainsi, la structure sociale construite sur la force de travailleurs locaux est aux prises avec de nouvelles dynamiques de mobilité sociale géographique. Au travail, les femmes et les autochtones sont aussi affectés par les relations des systèmes de pouvoir de la vie quotidienne, car les emplois de l'industrie minière et du domaine de la construction sont socialement et historiquement fondés sur des capitaux sociaux et culturels (blanc et homme). La classe ouvrière du Nord du Québec est redéfinit par son rapport à la migration géographique des travailleurs permanents non- résidents, par ses relations avec les minorités de genre et les minorités autochtones, relations qui engendrent une organisation sociale complexe et hétérogène. / In an increasingly globalized world, where the capitalist model is ubiquitous, the central question in the attempt at group classification concerns the link between the commercialization of a work force and the social stratification of the population in terms of class, gender, and ethnicity. The growing demands of globalization lead to new and innovative modes of production, which in turn transform the dynamics involved in defining and regulating populations. In current national affairs in Canada, this is best exemplified in the debate over the exploitation of Quebec's northern resources. The project to exploit Quebec's northern riches is a relatively recent phenomenon; the process whereby a social class is formed, however, is not. Given the vicissitudes of this process, it seems pertinent to reexamine the economic, sociological and historical elements which influenced the theoretical discourse on a social class whose existence is intrinsically linked with the exploitation of natural resources, namely the workers of northern Quebec. In Fermont, a town located in northern Quebec, mining companies have employed since 2011 a large number of workers coming from other regions of Quebec, known as permanent non-residents. Thus, the balance of the social structure maintained by the local workers is faced with new dynamics of social geographic mobility. In the workplace, women and Native Americans are also affected by the power relations at the interpersonal level in daily life owing to the fact that the jobs in the industrial mining sector and in construction are socially and historically founded on specific social and cultural traits (namely, white and male). The working class of northern Quebec is therefore redefined in its relationships to the permanent non-resident workers as well to its gender and indigenous minorities, relationships which will doubtless engender a complex and heterogeneous social structure.

Elaborate morphological ornaments can evolve if they increase the reproductive success of the bearer during competition for mates. However, ornament evolution is incredibly rare in females, and the type and intensity of selection required to develop female-specific ornamentation is poorly understood. The main goals of my thesis are to clarify the relationship between the type and intensity of sexual selection that drives the evolution of female ornamentation, and investigate alternative hypotheses that might be limiting or contributing to the development of female ornaments. I investigated the ecology and evolution of female-specific ornaments within and between species of dance flies from the subfamily Empidinae (Diptera: Empididae). The dance flies display incredible mating system diversity including those with elaborate female-specific ornaments, lek-like mating swarms, aerial copulation and nuptial gift giving. To elucidate the form of sexual selection involved in female-ornament evolution, I experimentally investigated the role of sexual conflict in the evolution of multiple female- specific ornaments in the species Rhamphomyia longicauda. Through manipulative field experiments, I found that variation in the attractiveness of two ornaments displayed by females indicates that sexual conflict, causing a coevolutionary arms race, is an important force in the evolution of multiple extravagant female ornaments. Using R. longicauda again, I tested for a role of functional load-lifting constraints on the aerial mating ability of males who paired with females displaying multiple large ornaments. I found no evidence of functional constraints influencing the mating opportunities of elaborately ornate females, but instead discovered a relationship consistent with positive assortative mating for mass. Biased sex ratios are predicted to increase the intensity of sexual selection in a population, which in turn, is predicted to influence the evolution of ornamentation. I measured the incidence and prevalence of vertically transmitted symbiotic bacteria that has been observed to distort the sex ratio in other Dipteran hosts. While my survey revealed that symbionts occur at high incidence and variable prevalence across dance fly hosts, I found no effect of symbiont infection levels on population sex ratios, or female- specific ornament evolution. Further investigation into the relationship between sex ratios and female-ornament evolution using the comparative method revealed that the operational sex ratio (OSR) of a population did not predict continuous measures of female ornamentation across species. However, female-ornament evolution did predict male relative testis investment across species indicating that female ornaments likely indicate increased levels of polyandry. My thesis reveals that sexual selection theory developed to describe male-specific ornament evolution cannot readily be translated to apply to females. I show that male mate choice, rather than functional constraints or ecological associations with bacteria, is likely driving the evolution of female-specific ornaments. I also identify sexual conflict as an important selective force in the evolution of female-specific ornaments.

Cette thèse revisite les problèmes d'accessibilité et de vivacité pour les au-tomates temporisés.L'accessibilité est couramment résolue par le calcul d'un arbre de recherche abstrait. L'abstraction est paramétrée par des bornes provenant des gardes de l'automate. Nous montrons que l'abstraction a 4LU de Behrmann et al. est la plus grande abstraction saine et complète pour les bornes LU. N' étant pas convexe, elle n'est pas mise en oeuvre dans les outils. Nous introduisons une méthode qui permet son utilisation éfficace. Finalement, nous proposons une optimisation des bornes à la volée exploitant le calcul de l'arbre.Le problème de vivacité requiert de détecter les exécutions Zenon/non-Zenon. Une solution standard ajoute une horloge à l'automate. Nous montrons qu'elle conduit a une explosion combinatoire. Nous proposons une solution qui évite ce problème pour une grande classe d'abstractions. Pour les abstractions LU nous montrons que détecter ces exécutions est un problèmeNP-complet. / We consider the classic model of timed automata introduced by Alurand Dill. Two fundamental properties one would like to check in this modelare reachability and liveness. This thesis revisits these classical problems.The reachability problem for timed automata asks if there exists a run ofthe automaton from the initial state to a given final state. The standard solutionto this problem constructs a search tree whose nodes are abstractionsof zones. For effectiveness, abstractions are parameterized by maximal lowerand upper bounds (LU-bounds) occurring in the guards of the automaton.Such abstractions are also termed as LU-abstractions. The a4LU abstractiondefined by Behrmann et al is the coarsest known LU-abstraction. Althoughit is potentially most productive to use the a4LU abstraction, it has not beenused in implementations as it could lead to non-convex sets. We show howone could use the a4LU abstraction efficiently in implementations. Moreover,we prove that a4LU abstraction is optimal: given only the LU-bound information,it is the coarsest possible abstraction that is sound and completefor reachability. We then concentrate on ways to get better LU-bounds. Inthe standard procedure the LU-bounds are obtained from a static analysisof the automaton. We propose a new method to obtain better LU-boundson-the-fly during exploration of the zone graph. The potential gains of proposedimprovements are validated by experimental results on some standardverification case studies.The liveness problem deals with infinite executions of timed automata.An infinite execution is said to be Zeno if it spans only a finite amountof time. Such runs are considered unrealistic. While considering infiniteexecutions, one has to eliminate Zeno runs or dually, find runs that arenon-Zeno. The B¨uchi non-emptiness problem for timed automata asks ifthere exists a non-Zeno run visiting an accepting state infinitely often. Thestandard solution to this problem adds an extra clock to take care of non-Zenoness. We show that this solution might lead to an exponential blowupin the search space. We propose a method avoiding this blowup for a wideclass of abstractions weaker than LU-abstractions. We show that such amethod does not exist for LU-abstractions unless P=NP. Another questionrelated to infinite executions of timed automata is to decide the existenceof Zeno runs. We provide the first complete solution to this problem. Itworks for a wide class of abstractions weaker than LU. Yet again, we showthe solution could lead to a blowup for LU-abstractions, unless P=NP.