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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This thesis examines the forecast accuracy of repair times for a subset of repairable U.S Navy inventory items. Forecasts are currently calculated using the Uniform Inventory Control Program (UICP) on a quarterly basis. The UICP model use the time of repairs completed in the current quarter to update a "file" value in order to forecast the repair times for the following quarter. Forecasts are calculated separately for repairable items grouped into families. This thesis demonstrates that aggregation repairs by their completion dates, as currently done by the UICP model, causes forecast to be affected by the nature of the repair arrival process. The more that this process differs from a Poisson process, the more that the forecast values are affected. Using bootstrap simulations, the effect of the repair process on the forecasting is quantified. This thesis also explores alternatives to the UICP model for forecasting repair times. In particular, an approach that utilizes repairs that have not been completed by the end of the current quarter is developed. / Captain, Brazilian Army

MBA Professional Report / Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / The purpose of this MBA project was to complete a cost-benefit analysis of refueling via pipeline versus refueling via barge at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The alternatives are (1) refueling via a combination of pipeline and barge (status quo), (2) refueling via a single pipeline, and (3) refueling via barge only. The objective was to compare the three alternatives, choosing that alternative that provides the greater net benefit and most efficient use of resources. The analysis involved data collection of labor costs, pipeline operations (flow rates data, costs of repairs, and operational costs), barge operational costs, and environmental protection costs. This Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) will be valuable to personnel with approval authority who make decisions on the merits of future pipeline projects. This CBA can be used to evaluate other Navy bases' refueling operations worldwide. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Bioactive glasses undergo dynamic changes in vivo to produce an apatite layer permitting a strong bond with living tissues including both bone and soft tissues, and their compositions can be modified and tailored. The aim of this project was to generate high phosphate low fluoride containing bioactive glasses and explore their bioactivity and biological performances in vitro. Bioactive glasses (0-7% F- content, constant 6.33% P2O5 in Mol.%) were produced and the particles immersed in Tris Buffer solution or cell culture medium (α-MEM) to determine apatite formation and ion (Ca, P, Si and F) release. Bioactive glass conditioned medium was used to treat pre-osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 for cytotoxicity, pre-osteogenic and pro-angiogenic responses, and to human oral fibroblasts and epithelial cells for proliferation. Antibacterial ability was explored by incubating supra- and sub-gingival bacteria with bioactive glass particulates. Rapid apatite formation was observed in F- containing bioactive glasses after only 2 h immersion in Tris buffer solution, while it was not detectable until 72 h in the F- free bioactive glass. Alkaline phosphatase activity, cell number, collagen formation, bone-like mineral nodules and osteogenic gene expression of MC3T3-E1 cells were significantly promoted in low F- bioactive glass (P6.33F1) conditioned medium. MC3T3-E1 VEGF gene expression was increased, and protein production was dose-dependently promoted with F- containing bioactive glass conditioned medium, which also promoted human oral fibroblast proliferation, but suppressed epithelial cell numbers. After incubation with glass particulates, the growth of L. casei, S. mitis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis, was significantly inhibited; the antibacterial activity being dependent on the F- content of the bioactive glasses. As a potential bone graft substitute in vivo, such novel bioactive glasses would be expected to stimulate bone formation and overcome problems associated with infection and the poor vascularisation in large bone graft sites. Additionally, they could reduce the need for further clinical intervention, and in particular, will be advantageous for the periodontal soft tissue regeneration.

Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / M.Arch.

Graduation date: 2003

Graduation date: 1999

Nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a major DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway. NHEJ is initiated through DSB recognition by the DNA end-binding heterodimer, Ku, while end-joining is accomplished by the XRCC4-DNA ligase IV (X4L4) complex. This thesis reports that APLF (Aprataxin and Polynucleotide kinase-Like Factor), an endo/exonuclease with a forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and two unique zinc fingers (ZF), interacts with both Ku and X4L4. The APLF-X4L4 interaction is FHA- and phospho-dependent, and is mediated by CK2 phosphorylation of XRCC4 in vitro. APLF binds Ku independently of the FHA and ZF domains, and complexes with Ku at DNA ends. APLF undergoes ionizing radiation induced ATM-dependent hyperphosphorylation and ATM phosphorylates APLF in vitro. Downregulation of APLF is associated with defective NHEJ and impaired DSB repair kinetics. These results suggest that APLF is an ATM target that is involved in NHEJ and facilitates DSB repair, likely via interactions with Ku and X4L4.

A DNA palindrome is a sequence of DNA followed by an exact inverted copy of itself. Palindromes are associated with gross chromosomal instability in mammalian cells. This may be related to their ability to extrude a double-stranded cruciform structure. In mammalian cells, palindromes have been shown to undergo centre-directed rearrangements resulting in a central region of asymmetry. This process occurs via a mechanism termed â centre break palindrome revisionâ . In this thesis, I have investigated palindrome revision in mammalian cells using two existing assays. In the first, performed by transfection of an extrachromosomal palindromic dimer, I have shown that joining of palindrome-mediated double-strand breaks does not depend solely on NHEJ and instead relies heavily on an alternate end-joining pathway. Using the second assay, the Line78 mouse model which contains a 15.4kb transgenic palindrome, I have shown that small modifications near the centre of the palindrome prevent these centre-directed rearrangements possibly by inhibiting cruciform formation.

Nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is a major DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway. NHEJ is initiated through DSB recognition by the DNA end-binding heterodimer, Ku, while end-joining is accomplished by the XRCC4-DNA ligase IV (X4L4) complex. This thesis reports that APLF (Aprataxin and Polynucleotide kinase-Like Factor), an endo/exonuclease with a forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and two unique zinc fingers (ZF), interacts with both Ku and X4L4. The APLF-X4L4 interaction is FHA- and phospho-dependent, and is mediated by CK2 phosphorylation of XRCC4 in vitro. APLF binds Ku independently of the FHA and ZF domains, and complexes with Ku at DNA ends. APLF undergoes ionizing radiation induced ATM-dependent hyperphosphorylation and ATM phosphorylates APLF in vitro. Downregulation of APLF is associated with defective NHEJ and impaired DSB repair kinetics. These results suggest that APLF is an ATM target that is involved in NHEJ and facilitates DSB repair, likely via interactions with Ku and X4L4.