Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe, pediatric-onset epilepsy disorder linked to loss-of-function mutations in the sodium channel gene SCN1B. DS patients have a high risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Cardiac arrhythmias have been implicated as a potential cause underlying SUDEP. An exact pathway for how mutations in SCN1B leads to arrhythmia in DS is unclear. One cellular component linked to regulation of cardiac homeostasis are mitochondria, known as “the powerhouse of the cell” due to their ability to produce cellular energy (ATP) via the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC is a major producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Typically, ROS are buffered by cellular antioxidants, to prevent oxidative stress, an imbalance of ROS that can lead to cell damage. Our previous work indicates that cardiac arrhythmias may result from mitochondrial instability and imbalances between ROS production and buffering. We analyzed whether Scn1b-/-mice are susceptible to arrhythmias due to altered mitochondrial ATP generation, ROS production, and compromised cellular antioxidant defenses. We isolated cardiac mitochondria from postnatal day (P) 15-20 KO and Scn1b+/+ (WT) mice. To assess mitochondrial ATP and ROS production, high-resolution respirometry (O2k, Oroboros) was used to measure mitochondrial O2 and H2O2 flux. We used a substrate-uncoupler inhibitor (SUIT) protocol to elucidate flux under different ETC pathways, including Complex I- and II-linked respiration. As a next step, we evaluated expression of superoxide dismutase (Sod) proteins associated with mitochondrial antioxidant defenses, including Cu/Zn-Sod (Sod1) and Mn-Sod (Sod2) in hearts from KO and WT mice pre- (P10) and post- (P17) seizure development. After addition of substrates supporting Complex-II linked respiration (succinate, ADP) there were no differences in O2 flux between mitochondria isolated from KO and WT hearts. Upon further addition of pyruvate to mitochondria to stimulate Complex I, O2 flux was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in mitochondria from KO mice, when compared to WT. Moreover, upon titration of rotenone (a Complex I inhibitor) its negative effect on O2 flux was not as substantial in KO mitochondria as in WT, suggesting that mitochondria from KO have deficits in Complex-I linked respiration. Furthermore, we detected significant differences in ROS production by mitochondria isolated from KO animals. Under conditions of reverse electron flow (succinate as substrate), a state where ROS production is highest, H2O2 flux was elevated significantly (p = 0.048) in mitochondria isolated from KO mice, compared to those isolated from WT. During our analysis of Sod expression, we found that Sod1 (p = 0.01) and Sod2 (p = 0.01) expression is significantly decreased at P17 in KO hearts compared to WT. Overall, our results suggest imbalances between mitochondrial activity and antioxidant defenses, which may underlie increased arrhythmia susceptibility in KO mice.

This paper presents the result of dyeing solution coagulation with the use of ferrous ammonium sulfate hexah ydrate (FAS). The examined solution contains two reactive dyes: Black 5 and Blue 19. It has been shown that the efficiency of the dye removal depends on the type of dye, coagulation dosage and the initial pH. Our result showed that the increase of initial pH up to 12 enhanced the color removal efficiency; the FAS dose was 280 ml (Black 5) and 180 mg/l (Blue 19) at slow mixing time (15 min), agitation speed 60 rpm, and the initial dye concentration should be 50 and 100 mg/L for Black 5 and Blue 19, respectively. / Chất keo tụ sắt (II) amoni sulfate (FAS) được sử dụng khử màu của hai màu nhuộm hoạt tính phổbiến (Blue 19 và Black 5). Kết quả cho thấy, quá trình keo tụ bịảnh hưởng nhiều bởi loại màu nhuộm, nồng độ chất keo tụ và pH của dung dịch đầu vào. Với nồng độ FAS 280 mg/l (Black 5) và 180 mg/l (Blue 19), pH đầu vào dung dịch khoảng 12, thời gian phản ứng 15 phút, tốc độ khuấy 60 vòng/phút ứng với nồng độ màu Black 50 mg/L và blue 100 mg/L dung dịch gần như mất màu hoàn toàn.

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DAVAs are distributed active and passive devices that can be numerically modelled to provide optimum control of low frequency (< 1000 Hz) mean square velocity and sound power radiation. A numerical model of a multi-DAVA system was developed using the Rayleigh-Ritz method coupled to a hierarchical finite element set (p-method). The numerical model was validated and used to optimize DAVA configurations using lightweight treatments (< 10 % the weight of the base plate weight). The optimizations were performed using genetic algorithms implemented in parallel. They were used to minimize, either passively or actively, the mean square velocity and sound power radiation of different plates having arbitrary boundary conditions (free, simply supported or clamped). Some optimization were also used to determine the optimum number of DAVAs needed, as well as to compare DAVA attenuations with attenuations obtained from optimum Active Constraining Layer Damping (ACLD) treatments. Preliminary results on the passive minimization of the mean square velocity of a simply supported plate with three devices showed that DAVA treatments produce better attenuations than ACLD treatments in the frequency range of interest [2-1000 Hz], and these increased attenuations were due in part to the better capabilities of DAVA treatments to tackle the plate first bending modes. Apart from the free plate, which showed anyway a very low baseline sound transmission, excellent attenuations were obtained both passively and actively for minimizing the mean square velocity and sound power radiation of the simply supported and clamped plates. Following, numerical studies of a DAVA treatment around the optimum solution showed that changing the DAVA top plate stiffness resulted in decreased attenuation, while increasing the DAVA foam layer loss factor increased the attenuation, and decreasing the foam loss factor resulted in decreased attenuation. Finally, by varying the area of the single optimum DAVA that passively minimizes the sound power of the plate, it has been shown that both smaller/lighter and larger/heavier DAVA treatments lead to decreased passive attenuation upon the optimum single DAVA passive solution. Finally, experimental results have further validated the DAVA numerical model, and DAVA treatments have shown excellent passive and active experimental attenuations over various flexible plate structures. / Ph. D.

Despite considerable advances in the development and implementation of school-based interventions, aggressive behavior in schools remains a significant problem for both educators and the community as a whole. The present study was designed to examine possible contextual influences on the course and treatment of aggression in schools, in an effort to inform future intervention development. The aim of the present study was to examine possible influences on teachers' response to reactive and proactive aggression in the classroom, and test the applicability of Weiner's attributional model of motivation and emotion. A sample of 121 middle school teachers completed self-report measures of teaching characteristics, efficacy, stress, and burnout. They also responded to four vignettes of student aggression with measurements of proposed attributions, affective reactions, and interventions. A series of ANOVAs showed that teacher's proposed responses differed as a function of child aggression subtype, teacher stress, burnout, efficacy, and training. Multiple regression analyses were used to test Weiner's theoretical model, as well as consider the moderating influence of teacher characteristics. Findings failed to support the application of Weiner's model to the current sample. Alternative patterns of moderation and mediation were significant, however. Implications of study findings were discussed as they relate to relevant theoretical models and recent advances in clinical and educational research. / Ph. D.

There are two commonly accepted paradigms for organizing intelligence in robotic vehicles, namely reactive and deliberative. A third, a hybrid paradigm called integrated planning and execution, is considered a combination of the original two. Although these paradigms are well known to researchers, there are few published examples directly comparing their application and performance on similar vehicles operating in identical environments. Virginia Tech's participation with two nearly identical vehicles in the DARPA Grand Challenge afforded a practical opportunity for such a case study. Both base vehicles were developed by modifying Club Car Pioneer XRT 1500 on-demand four wheel drive base platforms. Cliff was designed to use the reactive paradigm, while Rocky was designed to use the deliberative paradigm. Both vehicles were initially outfitted with sensor suites and computational capabilities commensurate with the paradigm being employed. The author of this thesis coordinated the activities of the two teams of undergraduate and graduate students who implemented the respective designs and software. Both vehicles proved capable of off-road navigation, including road following and obstacle avoidance in complex desert terrain. In the end, however, the reactive paradigm proved to be smoother and more reliable than the deliberative paradigm under the conditions of our testing. While both vehicles were extensively tested and compared using the competing paradigms, the team modified Rocky to use the more effective reactive paradigm for the Grand Challenge events. The deliberative case shows much promise for complex navigation, but added unnecessary complexity to desert road navigation. This case study, while necessarily limited in scope, may help to shed additional light on the tradeoffs and performance of competing approaches to machine intelligence. / Master of Science