Retinal Vascular Assessment in Psoriasis: A Multicenter Study

Purpose: To investigate the vascular status of the macula in psoriasis patients without history of ocular inflammation by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional multicenter study included 55 psoriasis patients and 55 control healthy subjects. A complete eye examination and 6 mm × 6 mm OCTA imaging were performed. Retinal vascular status was evaluated by analyzing vascular density (VD) of superficial vascular plexus (superficial wVD) and deep vascular plexuses (deep wVD) in a 6 mm × 6 mm area and in foveal (superficial fVD and deep fVD) and parafoveal sectors (superficial pVD and deep pVD). In addition, foveal thickness (FT) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and clinical variables, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure and refractive condition, were collected. Results: BCVA, intraocular pressure and refractive condition were comparable between cases and controls. OCTA imaging showed that superficial wVD and superficial pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with controls (p = 0.009 and p = 0.01, respectively). Similarly, deep wVD and pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with control subjects (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). In a sub-analysis of 47 patients affected by psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis, lower values of wVD and pVD in both superficial and deep capillary plexuses were registered. Conclusion: OCTA is a useful tool which provides data on vascular status of the retina in psoriasis with no ocular involvement. VD data may suggest that vascular changes may occur earlier than clinical onset of posterior inflammation

Performance of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph after SM4

On May 17, 2009, during the fourth EVA of SM4, astronauts Michael Good and Mike Massimino replaced the failed LVPS-2 circuit board on the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), restoring this HST instrument to operation after a nearly 6 year hiatus. STIS after this 2009 repair operates in much the same way as it did during the 2001-2004 period of operations with the Side-2 electronics. Internal and external alignments of the instrument are similar to what they had been in 2004, and most changes in performance are modest. The STIS CCD detector continued to experience radiation damage during the hiatus in operations, leading to decreased charge transfer efficiency (CTE) and an increased number of hot pixels. The sensitivities for most modes are surprisingly close to what was expected from simple extrapolation of the 2003-2004 trends, although the echelle modes show somewhat more complex behavior. The biggest surprise was that the dark count rate for the NUV MAMA detector after SM4 has been much larger than had been expected; it is currently about 2.5 times bigger than it was in 2004 and is only slowly decreasing. We discuss how these changes will affect science with STIS now and in the future

Determination of steady-state mRNA levels of individual chlorophyll a/b binding protein genes of the tomato cab gene family

The steady-state levels of mRNA produced by 14 genes encoding members of the tomtato chlorophyll a/b binding protein family were quantified. All genes were found to be expressed in leaf tissue, but the mRNAs accumulated to significantly different levels. The transcripts of cab 1A, cab 1B, cab 3A and cab 3B, encoding the Type I LHC proteins of photosystem II, are abundant, while low levels were measured for mRNAs encoding the Type II LHC II and the LHC I proteins. Sequences from the 5′ upstream regions (−400 to translational start) of some cab genes were determined in this study, and a total of 16 tomato cab gene promoters for which sequences are now available were analyzed. Significant sequence conservation was found for those genes which are tandemly linked on the chromosome. However, the level of sequence conservation is different for the different cab subfamilies, e.g. 85% similarity between cab 1A and cab 1D vs. 45% sequence similarity between cab 3A and cab 3C upstream sequences. Characteristic GATA repeats with a conserved spacing were found in 5′ upstream sequences of cab 1AD, cab 3 A-C, cab 11 and cab 12. The consensus sequence CCTTATCAT, which is believed to mediate light responsiveness, was found at different locations in the upstream sequences of cab 6B, cab 7, cab 8, cab 9, cab 10A, cab 10B and cab 11. In 11 out of 15 genes the transcription initiation site was found to center on the triplet TCA.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47581/1/438_2004_Article_BF00280298.pd

Ownership Structure and Financial Performance of Listed Firms in Kenya: Mediation Role of Corporate Diversification

Purpose: The study aimed at examining the mediating role of corporate diversification between ownership structure and financial performance of listed firms in Kenya. Methodology/Approach/Design: As guided by explanatory research design, 65 listed firms from 2003 to 2017 were targeted. However, panel data of 35 firms were considered after excluding suspended and delisted as far as the study period is concerned. Results: The panel regression analysis finding indicated that corporate diversification positively and significantly mediated between institutional ownership and financial performance (β = .005, p-value = .000). Furthermore, there was a negative but statistically significant mediation effect of corporate diversification between foreign ownership and financial performance (β = -.0019, p-value = .023). These mediation effects existed despite the direct effect between institutional and as well foreign ownership and financial performance being statistically insignificant. Practical Implications: The study, therefore, suggested to the management of listed firms to ensure proper implementation of corporate diversification as it transmits the effect of ownership structure on financial performance. More importantly, policymakers are suggested to streamline taxation of foreign investors, tackle malpractices in the firm leading to embezzlement of investor funds. Future studies need to enlarge the scope to incorporate unlisted firms as well as firms listed in different stock exchanges in East Africa. Other types of ownership structure as managerial, family and state need to be analyzed. In addition, other forms and measures of corporate diversification could be investigated by future researchers. Originality/Value: To attain the main objective, the study used panel regression analysis and path diagrams to examine the effect of ownership structure on financial performance via corporate diversification

Retinal Vascular Assessment in Psoriasis: A Multicenter Study

Purpose: To investigate the vascular status of the macula in psoriasis patients without history of ocular inflammation by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional multicenter study included 55 psoriasis patients and 55 control healthy subjects. A complete eye examination and 6 mm × 6 mm OCTA imaging were performed. Retinal vascular status was evaluated by analyzing vascular density (VD) of superficial vascular plexus (superficial wVD) and deep vascular plexuses (deep wVD) in a 6 mm × 6 mm area and in foveal (superficial fVD and deep fVD) and parafoveal sectors (superficial pVD and deep pVD). In addition, foveal thickness (FT) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and clinical variables, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure and refractive condition, were collected. Results: BCVA, intraocular pressure and refractive condition were comparable between cases and controls. OCTA imaging showed that superficial wVD and superficial pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with controls (p = 0.009 and p = 0.01, respectively). Similarly, deep wVD and pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with control subjects (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). In a sub-analysis of 47 patients affected by psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis, lower values of wVD and pVD in both superficial and deep capillary plexuses were registered. Conclusion: OCTA is a useful tool which provides data on vascular status of the retina in psoriasis with no ocular involvement. VD data may suggest that vascular changes may occur earlier than clinical onset of posterior inflammation

Gendered Violence Online : Hate Speech as an Intersection of Misogyny and Racism

Social media has been adopted by radical right populists and alt-right demagogues as a platform for circulating misogynous and racist hate speech and affectively mobilising supporters. This chapter examines hate speech as a form of gendered and racist violence, focusing on social media posts by two influential right-wing populist politicians: Jussi Halla-aho, the leader of the Finns Party, and Donald Trump, the president of the United States. It demonstrates how these politicians intertwine misogyny and racism in blog posts and tweets that target women in particular. Their affective online communication is interpreted as a new form of violence. This digitally mediated violence, although a relatively new phenomenon, is an integral part of the chain of violence that links interpersonal violence, violent societal structures and ideological and political violence. Discursive expressions of hatred are spread through social media and shape our understanding of reality. They are not only violent themselves but also pave the way for an ideological readiness to use other types of violence.peerReviewe