Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).

Zugl.: Diss. / Titel auf der Beil.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater; submitted to the Dept. of English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 156-165)

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibilities of creating a trail near the town of Alingsås in southern sweden, preferably a round trip connecting all the 5 nature reserves that lies near town. The aim was to investigate the potential of an easily passable trail using mainly existing roads and trails, that at the same time, would pass many interesting nature areas around the town that could give the visitor nature experiences. Another aim was also to examine if there was any area fitting to create a shorter trail, about 10 kilometres long.   The passability of trails connecting some of 42 pre-marked areas was studied together with examination of the nature types and the experience these gave in terms of natural and cultural experiences.   The results showed that many trails east of the town was hard to pass and gave a low amount of experiences due to heavy forestry. But a few areas contained very high nature and culture experiences instead. Some passages through town gave good experiences but passages through industrial areas was also needed. Areas with good experiences was found south and southwest of the town.   A proposal of a 35 kilometre trail connecting the 5 nature reserves was made, outruling some of the studied areas, but still having areas with good experiences. Passability studies showed that it was mostly easy to walk. Areas southwest of Alingsås was recommended for a shorter trail.

The objektive of my thesis was to project the cycling trail in the vicinity of the town Slavonice.The cycling trail was projected around the village Maříž, which is the part of the town.The town Slavonice is located in Southern Bohemia, in region Jindřichův Hradec. At first, they were proposed two alternative. One of which was choise and her partial section was worked in the rang, which is submited for notification of constructions road, according to Decree 104/1997 Sb. Especially I went up from technical standards TP 179 - The Design of the cycle-way. I proposed a direction solution, vertical solution, constructional ordering and traffic signs. I situated in the proposed cycling trail picnick points, completed for notice board and bikes stand. In the framework of low possession relationships I wrote up lands, which can be touched of build-up the cycling trail. I have also done analyse existing cycling trails in surroundings. I refered in my thesis to diference between cycling trail and cyclo route too.

One of the key features of cancer cells is the ability to escape programmed cell death (apoptosis). As a mechanism of apoptosis inactivation in cancer cells, somatic mutations of pro-apoptotic genes have been reported in many cancers. Caspase 10 is an initiator caspase whose physiological function remains poorly understood. Also the ability of caspase 10 to substitute for caspase 8 in the death receptors apoptotic pathway is still controversial. However, the fact that some of the mutations found in CASP10 gene was associated with apoptosis defects (79, 81) suggest that caspase 10 could be also important in apoptosis initiation. In our lab, there was found a heterozygous mutation in CASP10 gene of Jurkat (human T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia) clone resistant to TRAIL (J-TR1). This mutation influence the amino acid composition close to the active site of the enzyme. The aim of this thesis was to confirm the mutation by ARMS-PCR and to determine if an overexpression of normal (unmutated) or mutated caspase 10 D in TRAIL sensitive and/or TRAIL resistant Jurkat cells (J-WT and/or J-TR1) will influence TRAIL induced apoptosis. Mutation was confirmed. We created J-WT and J-TR1 stable clones transfected by vector with unmutated or mutated CASP10 D (CASP10 D WT or CASP10 D MUT). CASP10 D MUT overexpression in J-WT...

Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells has increasingly been the focus of many therapeutic approaches in oncology field. Since its identification as a TNF family member, TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) paved a new path in apoptosis inducing cancer therapies. Its selective ability to activate extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways in cancer cells only, independently from p53 mutations responsible for conventional therapeutics resistance, spotted TRAIL as a potent cancer apoptotic agent. Many recombinant preparations of TRAIL and death receptor targeting monoclonal antibodies have been developed and being tested pre-clinically and clinically both as a single agent and in combinations. Of note, the monoclonal antibodies were not the only type of antibodies developed to target TRAIL receptors. Recent technology has brought forth several single chain variable domains (scFv) designs fused recombinantly to TRAIL as well. Also, it is becoming progressively more understandable that field of nanotechnology has revolutionized cancer diagnosis and therapy. The recent breakthroughs in materials science and protein engineering have helped considerably in strategically loading drugs into nanoparticles or conjugating drugs to their surface. In this review we aim to comprehensively highlight the molecular knowledge of TRAIL in the context of its pathway, receptors and resistance factors. We also aim to review the clinical trials that have been done using TRAIL based therapies and to review various scFv designs, the arsenal of nano-carriers and molecules available to selectively target tumor cells with TRAIL.

Since its identification as a member of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family, TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) has emerged as a new avenue in apoptosis-inducing cancer therapies. Its ability to circumvent the chemoresistance of conventional therapeutics and to interact with cancer stem cells (CSCs) self-renewal pathways, amplified its potential as a cancer apoptotic agent. Many recombinant preparations of this death ligand and monoclonal antibodies targeting its death receptors have been tested in monotherapy and combinational clinical trials. Gene therapy is a new approach for cancer treatment which implies viral or non-viral functional transgene induction of apoptosis in cancer cells or repair of the underlying genetic abnormality on a molecular level. The role of this approach in overcoming the traditional barriers of radiation and chemotherapeutics systemic toxicity, risk of recurrence, and metastasis made it a promising platform for cancer treatment. The recent first Food Drug Administration (FDA) approved oncolytic herpes virus for melanoma treatment brings forth the potency of the cancer gene therapy approach in the future. Many gene delivery systems have been studied for intratumoural TRAIL gene delivery alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to produce synergistic cancer cytotoxicity. However, there still remain many obstacles to be conquered for this different gene delivery systems. Nanomedicine on the other hand offers a new frontier for clinical trials and biomedical research. The FDA approved nanodrugs motivates horizon exploration for other nanoscale designed particles' implications in gene delivery. In this review we aim to highlight the molecular role of TRAIL in apoptosis and interaction with cancer stem cells (CSCs) self-renewal pathways. Finally, we also aim to discuss the different roles of gene delivery systems, mesenchymal cells, and nanotechnology designs in TRAIL gene delivery.

Speed has long been equated with "progress". The Romans' paved roads begot much of this concept, allowing faster travel that improved communication, commerce, and enabled control over vast territories. Additionally paved surfaces whisked insect-breeding water away from homes, improving the health of those in town. Today, part-and-parcel of the definition of the developed world are tremendous amounts of solid surfaces, mostly asphalt and concrete, to move mechanized devices and water quickly. Even the shoes we wear could be seen as complementary technological devices, cushioning our feet to allow us to barrel forward more quickly along firm, manmade foundations. But the push towards this progress has had destructive consequences on our environment, including, but not limited to, our stream valleys. Often abutting intense, impervious development, the stream valley watersheds have morphed from spongy spines dense with aquatic life to de-facto storm sewers, with thick foliage merely masking severe erosion and paltry ecosystems. Quite simply, the speed at which the water is pushed down the ever-narrowed corridors as paved development encroaches, coupled with pollution from this fast runoff, renders the former fish streams dead. The recent advent of nature trails (following a mix of old hunting paths and former gristmill horse-cart ways), along unbuildable flood plains has exposed this problem in the Accotink stream valley in Northern Virginia. This thesis addresses the topic of water runoff of the Accotink stream valley and trail network. After analyzing and studying the area as a whole, the thesis focused on two scales: the larger scale of Fairfax Circle in Fairfax City in suburban Northern Virginia and a piece of this area -- a small section that acts as a threshold from urban village to natural park/trail/creek bed. This smaller section is also along the most eroded section of the Accotink Creek. At the "master plan" scale, the thesis transforms Fairfax Circle to a "village" using environmental remediation design principals to repair and regenerate this environmentally-degraded area. At the architectural scale, the thesis examines the site through the lens of the regional trail network along the stream valleys and the potential urban village at Fairfax Circle to design a trail-stop fitness center that straddles the break between conceptual urban space and repaired, stormwater-soaking stream valley. / Master of Architecture

As population increases, the need for public recreation facilities and resources increases. The U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and other recreation providers are constrained by limited time and funding to plan for, and implement, recreational facilities for the areas that they serve. Poorly located and designed recreational trails increase maintenance costs, resource degradation, and the inefficient utilization of public resources. The potential application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to this specific type of problem is examined through the comparison of hypothetical trail routes generated by several different methods, existing trail field surveys, office design, GIS user-assisted design, and cost-path analysis design. Each method is compared statistically and qualitatively by GIS methods and office based methods. Each hypothetical trail is ranked according to effectiveness of design, providing insight into trail design methods. The office designed hypothetical trails were consistently ranked highest by an expert forest road designer. / Master of Science