Floods are considered to be among of the deadliest, costliest and most common natural disasters. Rapid onset, catastrophic floods inundate the shore quickly and manifest as deep water with high velocities. The deep water and high velocities caused by these floods inflict great pressures and forces on the built and natural environments and pose a threat to human safety. Recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in the Southern United States and the Sumatra tsunami in the Indian Ocean have revealed that communities at risk require improved preparations for these types of dangerous events. Current building codes, design practices and disaster planning methods account for potential earthquake and wind loads on simple wood frame buildings typical of North American residential construction, however, flood impacts have not been considered in the same level of depth. The objectives of this research are to develop a theoretical model that describes flood impacts on wood frame residential buildings and relates building response to physical flood properties such as depth and velocity. This thesis provides a brief synopsis of previous approaches used to describe building response to flooding. An overview of the major loads caused by rapid onset flooding, along with a description of the structural system utilized in wood design to resist these forces is provided. The failure mechanisms considered and the model logic are described and applied to assess the response of a typical Canadian wood frame home to flood conditions that might be experienced in a rapid onset flood event like a tsunami. Building response results are discussed along with recommendations for future analysis and applications. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

The low affinity IgE receptor, CD23, is expressed by a wide variety of cells and cleaved from its original 45 kDa size to several smaller soluble CD23 proteins. Soluble CD23 function depends on the form of the protein and its interaction with various ligands. CD23 is believed to play an important role in regulating allergic responses and in inflammation, amongst others. β2 integrins are important in a variety of cell-adhesion reactions during immune-inflammatory mechanisms and the binding of their natural ligands generates outside-in cellular signalling, leading to cell activation. Although the binding of CD23 to β2 integrins contributes to this signalling in monocytes, the interaction site for CD23 is unknown. This study focused on the interaction of three soluble CD23 proteins with the β2 integrins CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18. Differentiated HL60, THP1 and U937 monocytic cells were used to demonstrate the binding of three recombinant CD23 constructs (corresponding to 16, 25 and 33 kDa human soluble CD23) to upregulated CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18. This binding was partially blocked by an antibody specific for the CD11b/CD18 αI domain, demonstrating that αI domains are involved in binding to CD23. Recombinant αI domain proteins of CD11b and CD11c were demonstrated to bind CD23 using ELISA and in surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The dissociation constants for CD23-CD11b/CD18 and CD23-CD11c/CD18 are comparable to other integrin ligands. This study has shown that CD23 interacts directly with the αI domains of β2 integrins and that the interaction surface likely spans the lectin domain as well as either the stalk and/or C-terminal tail of CD23. This study also looked at the effect that soluble CD23 proteins had on monocyte biology. It appears that iv sCD23 proteins have little effect on the phagocytic or chemotactic ability of monocytes, while an increase in oxidative burst was shown with the 16 kDa and 25 kDa CD23 proteins. Signalling pathways for the production of reactive oxygen species were investigated and it appears that the CD23 proteins signal mainly through the phosphoinositide-3 kinase pathway, although the mitogen activated protein kinase and Src kinase pathways may also play a role. These data suggest that sCD23 proteins induce outside-in signalling of β2 integrins and are able to change the activation state of CD11b/CD11c by stimulating oxidative burst. This needs to be further investigated by determining how the three sCD23 proteins are binding the CD11 proteins and investigating further leukocyte function and inflammatory responses by the cells.

Both CD23 and the β2 integrins (also known as CD11/CD18) have very important immunological functions, especially during the allergic response where the binding of CD23 to β2 integrins contributes to various types of signalling in monocytes which can result in drastic sensitivities experienced by some allergic individuals. CD23, also known as the low affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E or (FcεRII), is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein which is synthesized by haematopoietic cells and has biological activity in both membrane-bound and freely soluble forms. It acts via a number of receptors, including the β2 integrins. β2 integrins are specifically found on leukocytes and they play important roles in cell–cell or cell–matrix adhesion via their ability to bind multiple ligands. These molecules occur as heterodimers consisting of an alpha (α) and beta (β) subunit. The α-subunits of β2 integrins contain an approximately 200-amino-acid inserted domain or I-domain which is implicated in ligand binding function. There are four different types of β2 integrins, namely CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD11d, all dimers with the common beta subunit, CD18. CD23 and CD11/18 are natural ligands of each other; however the interaction site for CD23 is unknown. It is postulated that the integrin recognizes a tripeptide motif in a small disulfide-bonded loop at the N-terminus of the lectin head region of CD23, which is focussed around Arg172, Lys173 and Cys174 (RKC). This study thus focused on the interaction between the I-domain of CD11 (b and c) and a recombinant 25kDa construct of sCD23. In order to understand the characteristics of ligand binding between the relevant proteins of interest, alanine substitutions on the RKC motif of CD23 were made via site-directed mutagenesis. Consequently, a recombinant form of the I-domain of CD11 (b and c) as well as a wild type (containing the RKC motif) and mutant form (containing an AAC motif) of sCD23 were expressed and purified. The CD11 recombinant proteins were purified via affinity chromatography and the CD23 recombinant proteins via gel filtration chromatography. In addition, synthetic (CD23 derived) peptides, one containing the RKC sequence and the other the AAC sequence, were designed and custom synthesized. The synthetic peptides as well as the recombinant CD23 proteins were then analyzed for their interaction with the CD11 I-domain via ELISA. Subsequent ELISA analyses showed that the native sCD23 and the RKC peptide were able to bind to the integrin α I-domain whereas the mutant sCD23 and the corresponding synthetic AAC peptide failed to bind. This interaction was also analysed via flow cytometry using differentiated U937 cells, yielding similar results. ELISA analyses for the sCD23-CD11b I-domain interaction showed a Kd of 0.36 ± 0.14 μM whereas the RKC-CD11b I-domain interaction yielded a Kd of 1.75 ± 0.58 μM. Similarly, the sCD23-CD11c I-domain interaction yielded a Kd of 0.39 ± 0.09 μM and 1.53 ± 0.72 μM for the RKC-CD11c I-domain interaction. Peptide inhibitory analysis, analysed via ELISA and flow cytometry, reinforced the fact that the RKC motif on sCD23 is a prerequisite for ligand binding of the CD11b/c I-domain.

Several adaptive filters were investigated to enhance speech auditory brainstem responses (speech ABR). The objective was to shorten the long recording time currently needed by the standard coherent averaging method to obtain acceptable performance, which has limited the clinical adoption of speech ABR. Five algorithms were implemented: Wiener Filter (WF), Steepest Descent (SD), Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) based on Least-Mean-Square error (LMS) and normalized LMS error (nLMS), and a multi-adaptive cascade combination of SD and LMS. The performance of the adaptive filters was assessed on speech ABR data gathered from several subjects and compared with coherent averaging using the overall Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), the local SNR around the fundamental frequency and the first formant, and Mean-Square-Error (MSE) in the time and frequency domains. The adaptive filters could reduce the time needed, by at least one order of magnitude, for obtaining comparable signal quality as that obtained with coherent averaging.

Mathematical models have been used to study the effects of various electrical stimuli on nerve. The applicability of the findings to electrocutaneous stimulation in man has been investigated experimentally. With the model of a nerve membrane the influence of variations in the stimulus parameters have been investigated. This was done for multiple bipolar pulses by considering selected cases and for single bipolar pulses with a systematic investigation. The main findings were i) that the threshold charge for a single bipolar pulses changes only slightly for different pulsewidths; ii) that the threshold charge monotonically decreases with pulsewidth and threshold charge also decreases monotonically with increasing delay of the symmetric negative pulse; iii) that threshold amplitude for multiple bipolar pulses was only slightly lower than the amplitude for a single bipolar pulse. The influence of different components involved in cutaneous stimulation, such as skin, electrode, and neuroanatomy, have been examined. Corresponding models for the passive components involved were selected. From these models the following limiting conditions for the stimulus were derived: i) the stimulus has to be current regulated; ii) it must be bipolar (no net charge transfer); and iii) the electrode voltage must remain below the skin break-down voltage. The aspect of the conversion of stimulus' energy into heat in the skin has been examined in detail. A review of mathematical models of the active nerve membrane is presented and the applicability of a nerve model to the stimulation of peripheral nerve fibres in man is discussed. Numerical methods were used to solve the model's differential equations. The effects on the solution of different integration methods and of different integration step sizes has been assessed. Experiments with electrocutaneous stimulation have been performed using single bipolar current stimuli. The duration of a pulse was less than 100 microseconds. For the experiments, an electrically isolated stimulator has been designed and built. It operated under the control of a PDP-12 computer. The sensations produced were slightly suprathreshold and painless. The thenar region of the hand was stimulated using a concentric electrode. The results of the experiments supported the theoretical predictions and indicated the possibility of using models to investigate the optimization of stimulus parameters within the range tested. The close correspondence between the experimental results and the nerve model calculations seems to provide some evidence for the hypothesis that in electrocutaneous stimulation the nerve fibres are stimulated directly. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

No abstract available / Dissertation (MA (Theology) : Practical Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Color is powerful. As a physical element in our world that is created in our minds, it is uniquely visceral yet intangible. Color has objective rules, finite categories, subjective interpretations, and embedded meanings. Color can calm, activate, soothe, shock, welcome, stimulate, and rejuvenate. Yet color is often relegated to the realm of ornament, and its powerful performative properties are underutilized in the realm of architecture. If its unique potential was instead realized, color could be used to communicate emotionally and spatially, subjectively and universally. The properties of color have been analyzed through scientific investigation and artistic exploration for their spatial, psychological, and emotional effects. In the realm of painting, color is a fundamental way to imply space on a canvas and stimulate response from viewers. Scientifically, color has been the subject of countless studies for its effects on human behavior as well as its physical properties and universal significance. Theories merging from these fields can be utilized to create a richer, more intentional relationship between color and architecture. Much more than a coat of paint, color can be used to construct the architectural experience. It can be equated with other fundamental elements, such as form, light, and context, as a tool in the creation of space. Through its interaction with these elements, color can amplify spatial intentions, shape perception, and augment the interaction between humans and the built environment. Emphasizing architectureÕs ability to shape the human experience, this thesis constructs a future of architecture where color is fundamental. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Response to Intervention's (RtI) original design was implemented as a kindergarten through third grade intervention for struggling readers. Therefore, it is difficult to conceptualize RtI as an intervention model to be used for high school students. Nevertheless, high schools have adopted RtI as an intervention model. The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe how one high school implemented RtI. The researcher utilized qualitative research methods to conduct the study. The two overarching research questions for the study were: Were the essential components of Response to Intervention implemented in this high school? Was the Response to Intervention framework implemented with fidelity? Research-based practices found in the literature that have influenced the implementation of RtI were (a) a structured focus on prevention for academic failures, (b) the use of the suggested RtI model consistently and with fidelity, and (c) a strong consideration for adoption of the suggested framework using the essential components of RtI (RtI Action Network, 2013).  The essential components of RtI found in the literature were universal screening, data collection, progress monitoring, a problem solving team, data-based decision making, and evidence-based interventions. The study attempted to determine if the high school implemented the essential components of RtI with fidelity, defined as "implemented RtI as it was intended by the program developers" (Mellard & Johnson, 2008, p. 240).   The study found that not all essential components of RtI were implemented with fidelity in the high school. All participants interviewed stated that the screening tools that were being utilized were not screening tools that were described in the literature. Participants identified the use of data collection and progress monitoring, but did not express a consistency in the practices. Because these two components were not implemented consistently, participants noted that the three-tiered system lacked evidence-based practices and interventions. Based on the participants' responses, the researcher concluded that the high school's implementation of RtI lacked fidelity. Through review of CHD High School's historical records, it appeared that the implementation of RtI only provided a minimal amount of improvement in students' academic grades, dropout rate, and standard assessments scores. Implications and recommendations for practice and future research are offered in Chapter 5. / Ed. D.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / This is the first report comparing the inducible humoral immune responses of' two long-lived arthropods. Inducible humoral immune responses were detected in two arthropods namely, the scorpion Opisthopthalmus latitnanus (Arachnida) and the millipede Triaetiostreptus triodus (Diploooda: Spirostreptidae). These anti-bacterial activities were elicited by "ve gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. A dramatic hemocytopenia was demonstrated in both the millipede and scorpion after experimental infection, suggesting the possible release of a hemocyte depletion factor. The anti-bacterial humoral responses of the millipede and the scorpion were similar in magnitude to those that have been reported for a large variety of short-lived insects. I also provide further characterisation of the anti-bacterial defence proteirus) of the Kalana n millipede. My results suggest that the humoral immune response of arthopods may have a long and conserved phylogeny. / Andrew Chakane 2019