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No description available.

Host cell factor-1 (HCF-1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein first discovered through its interaction with the herpes simplex viral transactivator VP16. Both the amino-terminal VP 16 interaction domain and the adjacent, less studied basic domain of HCF-1 are essential in cell cycle regulation. However, the mechanism(s) of this regulation is unknown. Our objective was to provide insight into the importance of the basic domain by studying proteins that interact with this region. Using the yeast two-hybrid system with the HCF-1 basic region as bait, we identified a novel protein named HCF-1 interacting zinc finger protein (HIZ). The purpose of this research was to characterize HIZ and determine if its interaction with HCF-1 could reveal a novel cellular target for HCF-1. A putative HIZ full-length sequence was determined and its primary structure was studied in detail. HIZ contains 16 C₂H₂ zinc fingers in its amino terminal. HIZ also contains a novel glutamine-rich motif adjacent to a potent autonomous transactivation domain. The presence of a DNA-bincing domain structure and a strong, functional transactivation domain indicate that HIZ is a novel transcriptional factor. Northern blot analysis showed tissue specific expression of HIZ with highest levels in the testis, skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas, suggesting possible roles in spermatogenesis, differentiation and metabolism. The HIZ-HCF-1 interaction was verified 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘰 using glutathione-s-transferase (GST) pull-down assays and the minimal HIZ domain for HCF-1 interaction was mapped to the same region critical for transactivation. Recent studies have identified the transcription factors Miz-1, GABP, LZIP, Zhangfei and PGC-1β as proteins that interact with the two domains of HCF-1 important in cell cycle control. Also, these studies have shown that interaction with HCF -1 is important in regulation of their transactivation potential. Thus, the effect of HCF-1 on HIZ activation was studied using transient transfection assays. Similar to its effect on the known cell cycle inhibitor, Miz-1, our studies showed that cotransfection with HCF-1 significantly inhibited HIZ transactivation. The expression pattern of HIZ in a matched tumour/normal tissue array showed that HIZ is expressed at a significantly lower level in tumours of the lung and uterus in comparison to normal tissues from the same individual. This finding suggests a correlation between HIZ expression and tumour formation, possibly in conjunction with the known cell cycle regulator HCF -1. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

As the demand for portable electronic devices increase, the need to replace off-chip discrete devices with on-chip devices is imperative. Inductors are one such passive device that is widely used in low noise amplifiers, oscillators, etc. Current on-chip spiral inductors suffer from large parasitics and area for a meager value of inductance and quality factor. The need to overcome these issues has led to the development inductors with new geometries housing magnetic cores that show an enhanced inductance compared to the air core coil. In this thesis, we discuss the design of a three-dimensional spiral inductor with a Co-Fe nanoparticle core that will be fabricated as per the process rules set by VT MT SPL. The changes in the value of the inductance, resistance, quality factor and parasitics are studied for varying number of turns of the coil, thickness of the coil, spacing between turns and different materials used as the coil. An optimum design incorporating the least parasitics and reasonable inductance is proposed. / Master of Science

Yes / There is no consensus in the literature as to which stock characteristic best explains returns. In this study, we employ a novel econometric approach better suited than the traditional characteristic sorting method to answer this question for the UK market. We evaluate the relative explanatory power of market, size, momentum, volatility, liquidity and book-to-market factors in a semiparametric characteristic-based factor model which does not require constructing characteristic portfolios. We find that momentum is the most important factor and liquidity is the least important based on their relative contribution to the fit of the model and the proportion of sample months for which factor returns are significant. Our evidence supports the view that irrational investor behaviour may drive stock returns.

Des résultats d’expériences cliniques de reconstruction de l’os maxillaire faites à partir de la greffe d’une "pâte osseuse" gélifiée par l’ajout de facteur tissulaire ont été le primum movens de ce travail. Cette "pâte osseuse", faite d’os en poudre et de plasma enrichi en plaquette (PRP) à laquelle on ajoute du facteur tissulaire, est un modèle à la fois de la coagulation et de la régénération osseuse. Pour analyser des effets de la coagulation, nous avons utilisé un modèle connu : la culture primaire de cellules endothéliales (HUVEC). Les effets in vitro des facteurs de coagulation, dénommés protéases de la coagulation, pris séparément, ont été bien étudiés dans ces cellules, néanmoins aucune information sur l’effet combiné de ces protéases ou du plasma en coagulation n’était connue. Nous avons mesuré la "signalisation calcium" comme réponse cellulaire aux différents agents et ces mesures de la signalisation calcium ont été complétées par la mesure d’une autre réponse biologique, à savoir la sécrétion de cytokines pro-inflammatoires (IL-6 et IL-8). Pour l’étude de la régénération osseuse, la signalisation calcium a été mesurée sur une lignée d’ostéosarcomes humains (SaOS-2), stimulée par des protéases de la voie extrinsèque de la coagulation (facteur VIIa, facteur Xa et thrombine). Comme réponse biologique complémentaire, nous avons évalué l’effet des protéases d’intérêt sur l’apoptose induite par l’absence de sérum dans le milieu de culture. Les premiers travaux, réalisés sur les HUVEC, nous ont permis de montrer que le facteur Xa et la thrombine induisaient des signaux calcium différents sur ces cellules en mono couches, alors que le complexe facteur tissulaire – facteur VIIa ne provoquait aucune signalisation calcium. Nous avons également pu montrer une addition des signaux calcium induits par le facteur Xa et la thrombine. L’activation in situ du facteur Xa et de la thrombine à partir de leur zymogène a permis à la fois de confirmer les résultats précédents et de se rapprocher de l’in vivo. Finalement, au plus proche de l’in vivo, les expériences faites avec du plasma en coagulation ont également permis de détecter un signal calcium. La réponse biologique (sécrétion d’IL-6 et d’IL-8) en aval du signal calcium a confirmé les résultats calcium. En ce qui concerne la régénération osseuse étudiée à partir de SaOS-2, nous avons démontré l’expression du facteur tissulaire sur la lignée SaOS-2 et nous avons montré que le facteur VIIa, le facteur Xa et la thrombine induisaient tous des signaux calcium. Ces signaux présentaient des caractéristiques propres suivant la ou les protéase(s) utilisée(s) pour la stimulation. Les mesures ont également permis de caractériser, sur ces cellules, les récepteurs activés par les protéases d’intérêt, à savoir les "protease-activated receptors" 1 et 2 (PAR-1 et PAR-2). Comme réponse biologique, nous avons mesuré la diminution de l’apoptose induite par les protéases en absence de sérum dans le milieu de culture. Il a ainsi été montré que seule l’activation du récepteur PAR-1 permettait de diminuer l’apoptose. Finalement, nous avons caractérisé la voie suivie, qui passait par la phosphoinositide 3-kinase et la voie des MAPK Raf/MEK/ERK 1/2. En conclusion, cette thèse a permis de montrer, d’une part, que le facteur Xa et la thrombine provoquent des réponses calciques et proinflammatoires additifs dans les cellules endothéliales et, d’autre part, que le complexe facteur tissulaire – facteur VIIa, le facteur Xa et la thrombine induisent des signaux calcium caractéristiques dans les ostéosarcomes par l’activation des récepteurs PAR, l’activation de PAR-1 diminuant l’apoptose induite par l’absence de sérum dans le milieu de culture.

In this thesis, we use the dynamic factor model in state space, proposed by Stock and Watson (1989), to estimate the fluctuations of common factor by using lots of macroeconomic variables. Besides, with the combination of two stage dynamic factor analysis model which is proposed by Aruba et. al (2010), we want to discuss the possibility for the correlation of economic fluctuations across countries to change with different time periods. The thesis verifies the following three conclusions: First, the correlations of the economic fluctuations across countries are significant due to the regional economics. Second, the global or regional common shocks will increase the correlations of the economic fluctuations across countries. Finally, developed countries and emerging countries response differently during the Financial Tsunami from 2008 to 2009.

This study collected relevant data of construction sites between January 1990 and December 2011 to estimate the emission factors of various construction projects for Kaohsiung City using Jhang¡¦s equations. The emission factors of various construction projects are as follows: about 0.121 kg/m2/month for reinforced concrete construction, about 0.141 kg/m2/month for steel constructed buildings, 0.228 kg/m2/month for road (tunnel) works, 0.126 kg/m2/month for bridge works, 0.101 tons/ha/month for regional construction projects, and 0.223 kg/m2/month for others. Based on these emission factors, the total fugitive dust emissions for 2,011 construction projects is estimated to be about 22,087.98 tons, and the exposure of per unit area to the fugitive dust pollution is approximately 11.98 ton/km2/month. The total fugitive dust emissions of 2,011 construction projects is estimated about 10528.14 tons (based on Kaohsiung City construction information database). According to the Department of Land, Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung city is 27.8 kilometers from south to north, 10.4 kilometers from west to east, and the administrative area is 153.6029 square kilometers. The exposure of per unit area to the fugitive dust pollution is about 5.71 ton/km2/months.

PM10 (suspended particles with diameter below 10 £gm) and O3 (ozone) are the dominant air pollutants in Kao-Ping airshed, in which ozone is a secondary pollutant produced from its precursors of NOx (= NO + NO2) and HC (hydrocarbons) via complex photochemical reactions in sunlight. This study first statistically summarized the trends of ozone concentrations using box plots over recent five to six years from four and three air-quality monitoring stations in Kaohsiung City and Ping-Tung County, respectively. Then, the long-term variations of ozone concentrations were analyzed using trend formula proposed by Holland et al. (1999). Finally, multi-variable factor analysis was applied to study the relationships among the ozone concentrations with other air pollutants and meteorological parameters. Results reveal that the highest peak of ozone concentration appears in October and the second peak appears in March, while the lowest one appears in summer. Except being moderate relationships in Tzyo-Yin station, trend results show strong relationships in all other stations. Results also show that the percentage annual increase in ozone concentration in Kaohsiung City is higher than those in Kaohsiung and Ping-Tung Counties. The factor analyses reveal that the concentration of ozone is positively correlated with air temperature, wind speed and period of sunshine, while negatively correlated with concentrations of NO2, CO, NO, and NOx in the seasons of spring, autumn and winter; but negatively correlated with relative humidity in autumn. Notably, the percentage increases of ozone events in recent years should be also related to the rises of air temperature and period of sunshine, which should be watched continuously.