Designing experiments for generalized linear models is difficult because optimal designs depend on unknown parameters. Here we investigate... Show moreDesigning experiments for generalized linear models is difficult because optimal designs depend on unknown parameters. Here we investigate local optimality. We propose to study for a given design its region of optimality in parameter space. Often these regions are semi-algebraic and feature interesting symmetries. We demonstrate this with the Rasch Poisson counts model. For any given interaction order between the explanatory variables we give a characterization of the regions of optimality of a special saturated design. This extends known results from the case of no interaction. We also give an algebraic and geometric perspective on optimality of experimental designs for the Rasch Poisson counts model using polyhedral and spectrahedral geometry. Show less
Scope of Work: The scope of work associated with this work is: Isolate the contaminated drywall, place a negative air unit in work area and... Show moreScope of Work: The scope of work associated with this work is: Isolate the contaminated drywall, place a negative air unit in work area and exhaust to outside. In small pieces remove drywall, bag seal and transport to out of building in sealed manner. Clean remaining drywall and studs with fungicide, and paint with encapsulating fungicide paint. Any remaining non-contaminated building materials will remain. These items will be cleaned and treated with an approved biocide. When these materials are dry a sealant/encaplsulant will be applied to the material, if warranted. Wet wipe entire enclosure for inspection. Remove plastic barriers and replace any item moved for work. Housekeep area as leaving. Lock all doors and secure room(s). Show less
Spreadsheet of answers from a questionnaire sent out in 2018-2019 to Chinese engineering students looking at their perceptions of professional... Show moreSpreadsheet of answers from a questionnaire sent out in 2018-2019 to Chinese engineering students looking at their perceptions of professional and engineering ethics. Show less
Stephen (Steve) E. Fienberg (1942-2016) was an eminent statistician, whose impact on research, education and the practice of statistics, and... Show moreStephen (Steve) E. Fienberg (1942-2016) was an eminent statistician, whose impact on research, education and the practice of statistics, and many other fields is astonishing in its breadth. He was a visionary when it came to linking many different areas to address real scientific issues. He professed the importance of statistics in many disciplines, but recognized that true interdisciplinary work requires joining of the expertise across different areas, and it is in this spirit that he helped steer algebraic statistics toward becoming a thriving subject. Many of his favorite topics in the area are covered in this special issue. We are grateful to all authors for contributing to this volume to honor him and his influence on the field. During the preparation of this issue, we learned about the tragic killing of his widow, Joyce Fienberg, during the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, PA on October 27, 2018. This issue is dedicated to their memory. Show less
STAT Analysis received 5 samples for the referenced project on 2/20/2017 10:44:00 AM. The analytical results are presented in the following... Show moreSTAT Analysis received 5 samples for the referenced project on 2/20/2017 10:44:00 AM. The analytical results are presented in the following report. Show less
Pepper Environmental Technologies, Inc. conducted a mold air sampling study at Illinois Institute of Technology, Technology South, 3440 S.... Show morePepper Environmental Technologies, Inc. conducted a mold air sampling study at Illinois Institute of Technology, Technology South, 3440 S. State St., Chicago, Illinois. The survey was performed on April 26, 2017 in response to a request by Matt Cusack, Maintenance Supervisor, Facilities Department. Mold air samples were collected outdoors, and second floor. Show less
Bacterial biofilms are formed by the complex but ordered regulation of intra- or inter-cellular communication,... Show moreBacterial biofilms are formed by the complex but ordered regulation of intra- or inter-cellular communication,
environmentally responsive gene expression, and secretion of extracellular polymeric substances. Given the
robust nature of bio?lms due to the non-growing nature of bio?lm bacteria and the physical barrier provided by
the extracellular matrix, eradicating bio?lms is a very di?cult task to accomplish with conventional antibiotic
or disinfectant treatments. Synthetic biology holds substantial promise for controlling bio?lms by improving and
expanding existing biological tools, introducing novel functions to the system, and re-conceptualizing gene
regulation. This review summarizes synthetic biology approaches used to eradicate bio?lms via protein
engineering of bio?lm-related enzymes, utilization of synthetic genetic circuits, and the development of
functional living agents. Synthetic biology also enables bene?cial applications of bio?lms through the
production of biomaterials and patterning bio?lms with speci?c temporal and spatial structures. Advances in
synthetic biology will add novel bio?lm functionalities for future therapeutic, biomanufacturing, and
environmental applications. Sponsorship: NIH-R15AI130988, NSF CBET-1917130 Show less
The natural genetic code only allows for 20 standard amino acids in protein translation, but genetic code... Show moreThe natural genetic code only allows for 20 standard amino acids in protein translation, but genetic code
reprogramming enables the incorporation of non-standard amino acids (NSAAs). Proteins containing NSAAs provide
enhanced or novel properties and open diverse applications. With increased attention to the recent advancements
in synthetic biology, various improved and novel methods have been developed to incorporate single and multiple
distinct NSAAs into proteins. However, various challenges remain in regard to NSAA incorporation, such as low
yield and misincorporation. In this review, we summarize the recent efforts to improve NSAA incorporation by
utilizing orthogonal translational system optimization, cell-free protein synthesis, genomically recoded
organisms, artificial codon boxes, quadruplet codons, and orthogonal ribosomes, before closing with a discussion
of the emerging applications of NSAA incorporation. Sponsorship: NIH R15AI130988 Show less
Under a grant from the National Science Foundation, the authors (and others) undertook to integrate ethics into... Show moreUnder a grant from the National Science Foundation, the authors (and others) undertook to integrate ethics into
graduate engineering classes at three universities—and to assess success in a way allowing comparison across classes
(and institutions). This paper describes the attempt to carry out that assessment. Standard methods of assessment
turned out to demand too much class time. Under pressure from instructors, the authors developed an alternative
method that is both specific in content to individual classes and allows comparison across classes. Results are
statistically significant for ethical sensitivity and knowledge. They show measurable improvement in a single
semester. Show less
Doing Physics is a festschrift (collection of articles, essays, and rememberances) published in honor of Illinois Tech Physics professor... Show moreDoing Physics is a festschrift (collection of articles, essays, and rememberances) published in honor of Illinois Tech Physics professor Thomas Erber's 80th birthday. Selections were authored by Erber's colleagues, former stduents, and fellow scholars. This book was released in print form, this file was the original pdf assembled by editor Porter Johnson and submitted for printing with the front and rear covers added. Show less
Colicins are antimicrobial proteins produced by Escherichia coli that hold great promise as viable complements... Show moreColicins are antimicrobial proteins produced by Escherichia coli that hold great promise as viable complements
or alternatives to antibiotics. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a useful production platform for toxic
proteins because it eliminates the need to maintain cell viability, a common problem in cell-based production.
Previously, we demonstrated that colicins produced by CFPS based on crude Escherichia coli lysates are e?ective
in eradicating antibiotic-tolerant bacteria known as persisters. However, we also found that some colicins have
poor solubility or low cell-killing activity. In this study, we improved the solubility of colicin M from 16% to
nearly 100% by producing it in chaperone-enriched E. coli extracts, resulting in enhanced cell-killing activity.
We also improved the cytotoxicity of colicin E3 by adding or co-expressing the E3 immunity protein during the
CFPS reaction, suggesting that the E3 immunity protein enhances colicin E3 activity in addition to protecting
the host strain. Finally, we con?rmed our previous ?nding that active colicins can be rapidly synthesized by
observing colicin E1 production over time in CFPS. Within three hours of CFPS incubation, colicin E1 reached its
maximum production yield and maintained high cytotoxicity during longer incubations up to 20 h. Taken together,
our ?ndings indicate that colicin production can be easily optimized for improved solubility and activity using
the CFPS platform. Sponsorship: NIH R15AI130988 Show less
