It is an important problem in group theory to determine whether or not direct summands of groups in a class belong again to the same class. The problem is particularly challenging for the class of cartesian powers $\doubz\sp\kappa$ of the group of integers $\doubz$ ($\kappa$ denotes a cardinal). In the absence of $\omega$-measurable cardinals the problem is answered in the affirmative. But there are few results to date on direct sum decompositions of $\doubz\sp\kappa$ where $\kappa$ denotes an $\omega$-measurable cardinal In this dissertation we construct examples of direct sum decompositions of cartesian powers $\doubz\sp\kappa$ = $\prod\sb{i\in\kappa}\langle e\sb{i}\rangle$ of the group of integers $\doubz$ where $\kappa$ denotes an $\omega$-measurable cardinal, and $\langle e\sb{i}\rangle\cong\doubz$ for each $i\in\kappa$. The decompositions have the following form:$$\doubz\sp\kappa=A\oplus B,\ {\rm such\ that}\ e\sb{i}\in A\ {\rm for\ all}\ i\in\kappa$$ We introduce the notion of completely independent ultrafilters, and use that concept to derive sufficient conditions for a summand of $\doubz\sp\kappa$ to be isomorphic to $\doubz\sp\lambda$ for some cardinal $\lambda.$ Furthermore we show that summands of $R\sp\mu$, where $R<\doubq$ is a rational group and $\mu$ denotes the first measurable cardinal, are necessarily again powers of the rational group R / acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

Adult multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) may repair tissue through the action of secreted factors on endogenous stem/progenitor cells. We determined the effects of MSC-secreted factors on adult cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). Serum-free conditioned medium (CdM) was collected from MSCs isolated by plastic adherence (MSCs) and by magnetic sorting against the p75 nerve-growth factor receptor (p75MSCs). Compared to serum-free medium (α -MEM), CdM significantly increased adult rat CPC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, led to phosphorylation (Tyr705 ) and nuclear localization of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and was blocked by both AG490, a Janus kinase 2 (Jak2)/STAT3 inhibitor, and Stattic, a specific STAT3 (Tyr705 ) inhibitor. Also signaling through Jak2/STAT3, MSC CdM cytoprotective factors significantly increased survival of hypoxic CPCs compared to α -MEM. Intra-arterial infusion of p75MSC CdM 24 hours after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice significantly reduced myocardial necrosis at 48 hours after MI compared to α -MEM (vehicle). Echocardiography at 1 week after MI demonstrated significantly better cardiac function in p75MSC CdM-treated mice compared to controls. Thus in vivo benefits of MSCs may be derived in part by the action of their secreted factors on CPCs. Epicardial-derived cells are required for cardiac development, support myogenesis through secreted factors and participate in repair and remodeling after injury. We tested whether factors secreted by epicardial-derived precursor cells (EPDCs) would protect jeopardized ischemic myocardium after myocardial infarction and reperfusion (MI-I4R). Human epicardial progenitor cells, isolated from right atrial appendages removed during cardiac bypass surgery, were keratin-positive, epithelial in morphology and expressed TFs associated with proepicardium, epicardium and cardiac development. Upon progenitor cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) into EPDCs, concentrated conditioned medium (EPI CdM) was generated. When compared to α -MEM (vehicle), intra-arterial infusion of human EPI CdM led to a reduction in infarct size of 50% in both immunodeficient and immunocompetent MI-I4R mice and improved cardiac function. These in vivo results were evident as early as 24 hours after MI, sustained for at least 1 month, and may derive in part through paracrine protection of jeopardized coronary microvasculature. Our results indicate that EPI CdM or a combination of its ligands may provide an effective treatment for MI. / acase@tulane.edu

The purpose of this dissertation is to describe in detail the algebra of central measures ZM(G) for a connected Lie group G, with no compact connected normal semisimple subgroups. This together with results of Ragozin ({Ra,1} and {Ra,2}) yields a description for the algebra ZN(G) for a connected Lie group G We study the closures of conjugacy classes which are relatively compact. Along the way we study the extreme central probability measures and get a one-to-one correspondence between the extreme central probability measures and the closures of conjugacy classes which are relatively compact. This correspondence is given such that, each extreme central probability measure is supported on a such conjugacy class (which is compact and unique); also for each conjugacy class, with compact closure, there exists only one extreme central probability measure such that the closure of this class is its support We show also that under certain restriction on (mu) (ELEM) ZM(G), (mu)('*n) is in a subalgebra of a simple type, and every h (ELEM) (DELTA)ZM(G) is determined by its value on such subalgebras. These simple subalgebras are nearly convolution measure algebras in the sense of Taylor {Ta}. So the study of (DELTA)ZM(G) becomes a study of objects like convolution measure algebras To describe the subalgebras mentioned above, we include, as tools, some properties of a locally compact abelian group and its closed analytic subgroups. In fact, we study for each closed analytic subgroup H, an L-ideal M(S,H) in M(S) consisting of measures absolutely continuous on H cosets / acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

Coercion is often thought to undermine the moral responsibility of its victims. To say that one was coerced is to claim that one had no choice, or that one did not act of one's own free will, and that one ought not therefore be blamed for what one did. This dissertation attempts to explain how, and in what circumstances, coercion has this effect In part one, a comprehensive normative theory of coercion is presented, that defines coercion as an illegitimate form of bargaining which results when the coercer wrongfully takes control of some item of the victim's person or property (such as her life), and proposes to trade that item for some other object or service that the victim possesses (such as her money). If the victim agrees to carry out the trade thus proposed, she has been coerced In part two, the relationship between coercion and responsibility is examined. It is argued that the mitigating effects of coercive behavior take the form of a combination of both excuse and justification. To the extent that a victim's decision to comply with a coercer's proposal is morally permissible, then she ought to be excused for performing the compliant actions. Because she is simply carrying out a plan of action formulated on her behalf by the coercer, she cannot be said to be acting in the autonomous manner that is presupposed by ascriptions, of moral responsibility. In order to justify this decision to comply, however, the victim must show that she had a morally acceptable reason for surrendering control over her actions in this way. It is argued that compliance can only be justified in those cases when the victim is threatened with the immediate and permanent loss of her ability to live as an autonomous being / acase@tulane.edu