Lens ER-stress response during cataract development in Mip-mutant mice

AbstractMajor intrinsic protein (MIP) is a functional water-channel (AQP0) that also plays a key role in establishing lens fiber cell architecture. Genetic variants of MIP have been associated with inherited and age-related forms of cataract; however, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. Here we have used lens transcriptome profiling by microarray-hybridization and qPCR to identify pathogenic changes during cataract development in Mip-mutant (Lop/+) mice. In postnatal Lop/+ lenses (P7) 99 genes were up-regulated and 75 were down-regulated (>2-fold, p=<0.05) when compared with wild-type. A pathway analysis of up-regulated genes in the Lop/+ lens (P7) was consistent with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The most up-regulated UPR genes (>4-fold) in the Lop/+ lens included Chac1>Ddit3>Atf3>Trib3>Xbp1 and the most down-regulated genes (>5-fold) included two anti-oxidant genes, Hspb1 and Hmox1. Lop/+ lenses were further characterized by abundant TUNEL-positive nuclei within central degenerating fiber cells, glutathione depletion, free-radical overproduction, and calpain hyper-activation. These data suggest that Lop/+ lenses undergo proteotoxic ER-stress induced cell-death resulting from prolonged activation of the Eif2ak3/Perk-Atf4-Ddit3-Chac1 branch of the UPR coupled with severe oxidative-stress

Islamaphobia is not the answer

Members of a major world religion are required to register their affiliation and ordered to wear badges of identification. They are tracked. Their places of worship are put out of commission. They are shamed in public for being who they are, and no one offers them help in even the more dire situations. The year is 2015, and Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has recently suggested all American Muslims should “absolutely” be required to register theiridentities in a database, for monitoring purposes because, in his words, “Our country has no management.”https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/racial_justice/1208/thumbnail.jp

Hydrodynamic lubrication of soft solids

This investigation is concerned with the lubrication of soft solids under pure sliding. The design of the experimental rig is described in detail. Very slight modification was required to ensure the correct functioning of the rig and the results obtained are compared with those of a fairly simple theory. Particular reference is made to the functioning of human joints, and it is noted that even with severe deterioration of the articular cartilage, human joints can function satisfactorily for considerable periods of time. The results of the investigation show clearly that the manner in which human joints behave can be applied to soft bearings generally. A soft bearing reduces friction drastically at low speeds and the frictional coefficients of human joints and those obtained from the experimental rig are comparable. The soft layer, exceeding a minimum thickness, has little effect upon the performance of the bearing generally but enables hydrodynamic lubrication to persist. to very low sliding speeds. The effect of the surface roughness of the compliant sliding surfaces is evident in the form of increased friction in the boundary and in the hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. A major discrepancy between experimental results and theory has still to be satisfactorily explained but further experiments may solve this problem. One achievement of the investigation was the successful application of the "backward method" of solving the elasto-hydrodynamic problem. It is hoped that this may be useful in other applications

Effects of Grip Width on Bench Press 1RM in College Males

The Bench Press is said to be the most important of all upper body exercises (Deaton, Ras, 2019). This exercise incorporates several of the muscles in the upper body and is included in training programs for several different sports and activities. The participants of this study were 30 college males, each with at least 1 year of previous training experience and no previous injuries or disabilities that would impair bench press performance. Each of the 30 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of three groups with 10 participants in each group: close grip bench press (100% shoulder width), moderate grip bench press (135% shoulder width), and wide grip bench press (170% shoulder width). This study assessed how grip width while performing this exercise effected strength over time. This was done through a pre-testing session, followed by a 6 week training period, and then a post-testing session. Participants performed a 1RM as a measure of upper body strength during each testing session and percent change was assessed. During the 6 week training protocol, participants trained 3 times per week with at least 48 hours between each session. During each training session, the participants followed a strict 15 minute warm-up protocol before starting the training protocol. The training protocol consisted of 3 sets or 6 repetitions of bench press, with each set’s weight changed to a weight where by the 6th repetition, the participant would reach momentary failure. The moderate grip bench press group was hypothesized to have the largest percent change over the duration of the study. Correlations and data analysis of the study were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Statistically significant findings were given a P-value of .05 or less (P\u3c.05).https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/exercise-science-research-proposal-posters/1032/thumbnail.jp

Islamophobia is not the answer

Members of a major world religion are required to register their affiliation and ordered to wear badges of identification. They are tracked. Their places of worship are put out of commission. They are shamed in public for being who they are, and no one offers them help in even the more dire situations. The year is 2015, and Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has recently suggested all American Muslims should “absolutely” be required to register their identities in a database, for monitoring purposes because, in his words, “Our country has no management.

Extra! Extra! This Just Thin: Identifying and Evaluating Framing of Obesity-Related News Coverage in Maine

Obesity is an important health issue, and understanding both its origins and its remedies is critical. More than 78 million people in the United States — more than one- third the nation’s population — are obese, making obesity one of the most newsworthy health concerns of the time. The first step in addressing public health issues is to inform the public, for which news media act as the primary source. However, news media overwhelmingly frame obesity reports through a lens of individual responsibility, which blames people for their eating habits while ignoring systemic factors of obesity such as food industry pressures, food insecurity, and low incomes. Maine has the highest rate of obesity in New England, with nearly 29 percent of adults in the state considered obese. News sources attribute individuals’ weight to their behaviors and largely ignore social constraints of individuals or other systemic responsibilities for addressing obesity. Frame analysis of articles from Maine’s four most prominent newspapers, the Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, Morning Sentinel, and Sun Journal reveals the five dominant frames through which obesity is discussed. These frames include public health and a medicalized obesity “epidemic,” a stern or nurturing parental government, national identity and the “Ideal American” citizen, the toxic environment of an overabundant industrial food system, “fun” versus fear and sadness, and normative education. Taken together, these frames underscore a neoliberal discourse that works to support culturally- held values of national identity, masked by an illusion of choice

The Cure That Harms: Sexual Orientation-Based Asylum and the Changing DefInition of Persecution

This note will discuss the history of sexual orientation-based asylum law. Further, it will outline the statutory requirements for asylum, explain the legal procedure of gaining asylum, and discuss the case law recognition of lesbians and gay men as a particular social group. In addition, it will address the standards and definitions of persecution

Bridging The Materials Gap In Catalysis: Reactivity Studies Of Nanostructured Titania

ABSTRACT BRIDGING THE MATERIALS GAP IN CATALYSIS: REACTIVITY STUDIES OF NANOSTRUCTURED TITANIA David A. Bennett John M. Vohs Surface science studies of defect-free, single-crystal model catalysts have provided vital knowledge in the form of structure-activity relationships and elementary reaction mechanisms. However, there is some difficultly in extending this understanding to more complex systems, since these model catalysts typically lack the range of features that occur on the high surface area catalysts used in industry. This project seeks to bridge the gap between these two classes of materials by studying thin films of well-defined TiO2 nanocrystals with tunable size and morphology using traditional surface science techniques. This enables the controlled introduction of features lacking in single-crystal model catalysts, allowing for the formulation of more complex structure-activity relationships. The thermal- and photocatalytic reactions of methanol to produce methane, formaldehyde, dimethyl ether, and methyl formate on these TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated using temperature programmed desorption in ultra high vacuum. Results show clear effects of nanocrystal size and shape on the activity and selectivity of these reactions. This demonstrates the value of studying nanostructured metal-oxide catalysts to better understand the relationship between fundamental catalytic knowledge and the behavior of complex heterogeneous catalysts