Visualization of a Capsule Entry Vehicle Reaction-Control System (RCS) Thruster

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) was used to visualize the reaction control system (RCS) jet flow emanating from the aft-body of an Apollo-geometry capsule test article in the NASA Langley Research Center 31-Inch Mach 10 Air wind tunnel. The RCS jet was oriented normal to the aft surface of the model and had a nominal Mach number of 2.94. The composition of the jet gas by mass was 95% nitrogen (N2) and 5% nitric oxide (NO). The RCS jet flowrate varied between zero and 0.5 standard liters per minute and the angle of attack and tunnel stagnation pressure were also varied. PLIF was used to excite the NO molecules for flow visualization. These flow visualization images were processed to determine the trajectory and to quantify the flapping of the RCS jet. The spatial resolution of the jet trajectory measurement was about 1 mm and the single-shot precision of the measurement was estimated to be 0.02 mm in the far field of the jet plume. The jet flapping, measured by the standard deviation of the jet centerline position was as large as 0.9 mm, while the jet was 1.5-4 mm in diameter (full width at half maximum). Schlieren flow visualization images were obtained for comparison with the PLIF. Surface pressures were also measured and presented. Virtual Diagnostics Interface (VIDI) technology developed at NASA Langley was used to superimpose and visualize the data sets. The measurements demonstrate some of the capabilities of the PLIF method while providing a test case for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation

Diabetic foot complications among Indigenous peoples in Canada: a scoping review through the PROGRESS-PLUS equity lens

IntroductionIndigenous peoples in Canada face a disproportionate burden of diabetes-related foot complications (DRFC), such as foot ulcers, lower extremity amputations (LEA), and peripheral arterial disease. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of DRFC among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, incorporating an equity lens.MethodsA scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The PROGRESS-Plus framework was utilized to extract data and incorporate an equity lens. A critical appraisal was performed, and Indigenous stakeholders were consulted for feedback. We identified the incorporation of patient-oriented/centered research (POR).ResultsOf 5,323 records identified, 40 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies focused on First Nations (92%), while representation of the Inuit population was very limited populations (< 3% of studies). LEA was the most studied outcome (76%). Age, gender, ethnicity, and place of residence were the most commonly included variables. Patient-oriented/centered research was mainly included in recent studies (16%). The overall quality of the studies was average. Data synthesis showed a high burden of DRFC among Indigenous populations compared to non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous identity and rural/remote communities were associated with the worse outcomes, particularly major LEA.DiscussionThis study provides a comprehensive understanding of DRFC in Indigenous peoples in Canada of published studies in database. It not only incorporates an equity lens and patient-oriented/centered research but also demonstrates that we need to change our approach. More data is needed to fully understand the burden of DRFC among Indigenous peoples, particularly in the Northern region in Canada where no data are previously available. Western research methods are insufficient to understand the unique situation of Indigenous peoples and it is essential to promote culturally safe and quality healthcare.ConclusionEfforts have been made to manage DRFC, but continued attention and support are necessary to address this population’s needs and ensure equitable prevention, access and care that embraces their ways of knowing, being and acting.Systematic review registrationOpen Science Framework https://osf.io/j9pu7, identifier j9pu7

Diabetic foot complications among Indigenous peoples in Canada: A scoping review through the PROGRESS-PLUS equity lens

Introduction Indigenous peoples in Canada face a disproportionate burden of diabetes-related foot complications (DRFC), such as foot ulcers, lower extremity amputations (LEA), and peripheral arterial disease. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of DRFC among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, incorporating an equity lens Methods A scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The PROGRESS-Plus framework was utilized to extract data and incorporate an equity lens. A critical appraisal was performed, and Indigenous stakeholders were consulted for feedback. We identified the incorporation of patient-oriented/centered research (POR). Results Of 5,323 records identified, 40 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies focused on First Nations (92%), while representation of the Inuit population was very limited populations (< 3% of studies). LEA was the most studied outcome (76%). Age, gender, ethnicity, and place of residence were the most commonly included variables. Patient-oriented/centered research was mainly included in recent studies (16%). The overall quality of the studies was average. Data synthesis showed a high burden of DRFC among Indigenous populations compared to non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous identity and rural/remote communities were associated with the worse outcomes, particularly major LEA. Discussion This study provides a comprehensive understanding of DRFC in Indigenous peoples in Canada of published studies in database. It not only incorporates an equity lens and patient-oriented/centered research but also demonstrates that we need to change our approach. More data is needed to fully understand the burden of DRFC among Indigenous peoples, particularly in the Northern region in Canada where no data are previously available. Western research methods are insufficient to understand the unique situation of Indigenous peoples and it is essential to promote culturally safe and quality healthcare. Conclusion Efforts have been made to manage DRFC, but continued attention and support are necessary to address this population’s needs and ensure equitable prevention, access and care that embraces their ways of knowing, being and acting

Deregulated expression of hnRNP A/B proteins in human non-small cell lung cancer: parallel assessment of protein and mRNA levels in paired tumour/non-tumour tissues

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) of the A/B type (hnRNP A1, A2/B1, A3) are highly related multifunctional proteins participating in alternative splicing by antagonising other splicing factors, notably ASF/SF2. The altered expression pattern of hnRNP A2/B1 and/or splicing variant B1 alone in human lung cancer and their potential to serve as molecular markers for early diagnosis remain issues of intense investigation. The main objective of the present study was to use paired tumour/non-tumour biopsies from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to investigate the expression profiles of hnRNP A1, A2/B1 and A3 in conjunction with ASF/SF2.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We combined western blotting of tissue homogenates with immunohistochemical examination of fixed tissue sections and quantification of mRNA expression levels in tumour versus adjacent normal-looking areas of the lung in the same patient.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our study, in addition to clear evidence of mostly uncoupled deregulation of hnRNPs A/B, has revealed hnRNP A1 to be the most deregulated protein with a high frequency of over-expression (76%), followed by A3 (52%) and A2/B1 (43%). Moreover, direct comparison of protein/mRNA levels showed a lack of correlation in the case of hnRNP A1 (as well as of ASF/SF2), but not of A2/B1, suggesting that different mechanisms underlie their deregulation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results provide strong evidence for the up-regulation of hnRNP A/B in NSCLC, and they support the existence of distinct mechanisms responsible for their deregulated expression.</p

Activation of Akt Is Essential for the Propagation of Mitochondrial Respiratory Stress Signaling and Activation of the Transcriptional Coactivator Heterogeneous Ribonucleoprotein A2

This article shows that mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction activates a stress signaling that induces Akt1 activation. Akt1 activation occurs through calcineurin-mediated IGF1R/PI3-K pathway. Akt1-mediated phosphorylation of hnRNPA2 is a key requirement for the propagation of stress signaling and activation of nuclear target genes

Disturbed Expression of Splicing Factors in Renal Cancer Affects Alternative Splicing of Apoptosis Regulators, Oncogenes, and Tumor Suppressors

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of renal cancer. One of the processes disturbed in this cancer type is alternative splicing, although phenomena underlying these disturbances remain unknown. Alternative splicing consists of selective removal of introns and joining of residual exons of the primary transcript, to produce mRNA molecules of different sequence. Splicing aberrations may lead to tumoral transformation due to synthesis of impaired splice variants with oncogenic potential. In this paper we hypothesized that disturbed alternative splicing in ccRCC may result from improper expression of splicing factors, mediators of splicing reactions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using real-time PCR and Western-blot analysis we analyzed expression of seven splicing factors belonging to SR proteins family (SF2/ASF, SC35, SRp20, SRp75, SRp40, SRp55 and 9G8), and one non-SR factor, hnRNP A1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1) in 38 pairs of tumor-control ccRCC samples. Moreover, we analyzed splicing patterns of five genes involved in carcinogenesis and partially regulated by analyzed splicing factors: RON, CEACAM1, Rac1, Caspase-9, and GLI1. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We found that the mRNA expression of splicing factors was disturbed in tumors when compared to paired controls, similarly as levels of SF2/ASF and hnRNP A1 proteins. The correlation coefficients between expression levels of specific splicing factors were increased in tumor samples. Moreover, alternative splicing of five analyzed genes was also disturbed in ccRCC samples and splicing pattern of two of them, Caspase-9 and CEACAM1 correlated with expression of SF2/ASF in tumors. We conclude that disturbed expression of splicing factors in ccRCC may possibly lead to impaired alternative splicing of genes regulating tumor growth and this way contribute to the process of carcinogenesis