Amateur Astronomy Research Telescope

The ERAU Amateur Astronomy Club Research Team is designing and building an amateur research telescope. The primary goal is high portability and compactness, with no compromise of optical quality. The team began with a set of mirrors pre-owned by the Amateur Astronomy Club, and will be constructing the telescope frame from medium density particle board. In the traditional style of John Dobson, the secondary mirror will be mounted on a truss system. This will reduce the weight and size of the telescope during transportation, as it can be disassembled and transported in a very small area. The primary purpose of the telescope is to observe and catalog messier objects in the night sky. After completion of the Messier Catalog, it shall be presented before physics faculty of ERAU

Shearing Box Simulations of the MRI in a Collisionless Plasma

We describe local shearing box simulations of turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) in a collisionless plasma. Collisionless effects may be important in radiatively inefficient accretion flows, such as near the black hole in the Galactic Center. The MHD version of ZEUS is modified to evolve an anisotropic pressure tensor. A fluid closure approximation is used to calculate heat conduction along magnetic field lines. The anisotropic pressure tensor provides a qualitatively new mechanism for transporting angular momentum in accretion flows (in addition to the Maxwell and Reynolds stresses). We estimate limits on the pressure anisotropy due to pitch angle scattering by kinetic instabilities. Such instabilities provide an effective ``collision'' rate in a collisionless plasma and lead to more MHD-like dynamics. We find that the MRI leads to efficient growth of the magnetic field in a collisionless plasma, with saturation amplitudes comparable to those in MHD. In the saturated state, the anisotropic stress is comparable to the Maxwell stress, implying that the rate of angular momentum transport may be moderately enhanced in a collisionless plasma.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Ap

The acute effects of whole body vibration on isometric mid-thigh pull performance

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the acute effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on isometric mid-thigh pull force–time curve (FTC) characteristics. Eleven recreationally trained subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: sham no vibration protocol (T1), vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm amplitude (T2), and vibration protocol 30 Hz 2–4 mm (T3). After completing a standardized warm-up, the subject stood on a vibration platform with the knee at a 120° angle and performed one of the three interventions. Each treatment condition required the subject to stand on the platform for thirty-second treatments, each separated by thirty seconds of recovery. Five minutes after the completion of the treatment conditions, the subjects performed the isometric mid-thigh pull. All FTCs were analyzed with standardized procedures for peak force (PF) and peak rate of force development (PRFD). A 1 × 3 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the three treatments. Additionally, coefficients of variance (CV), as well as intraclass and interclass correlations, were performed. There were no significant differences (p \u3e 0.05) for any of the FTC analyses performed in this investigation. The CV and the 95% confidence interval (CI) indicate that the WBV protocol resulted in trivial changes in PF and beneficial changes in PRFD. A 30 Hz 2–4 mm amplitude WBV does not result in a significant increase in isometric mid-thigh pull performance

Return to Play and Performance Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the National Women’s Soccer League

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a commonly injured ligament in athletes, usually requiring ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Hypothesis/Purpose: To compare the return to play (RTP) and performance level of players following ACLR in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). We hypothesized that there would be a high return to play rate following ACLR in the NWSL, but with a decrease in performance. Methods: NWSL players that underwent ACLR were identified by cross-referencing multiple online resources that were identified between the 2013 and 2020 seasons. Players were classified into the following positions: forward, defender, midfielder, and goalkeeper. The following RTP statistics were assessed: games played, games started, percentage of minutes played, and plus/minus net per 90 minutes. A sub-analysis was also performed to divide players based on median age (≤ 24 vs. \u3e25) at time of injury. Since a majority of these outcomes significantly violated the assumption of normality, continuous variables were reported using medians and interquartile ranges and nonparametric testing methods were used throughout the analysis. Results: A total of 30 NWSL athletes underwent ACLR between the 2013 and 2020 seasons. Midfielders constituted the highest percentage of injuries (n=11, 36.7%) followed by forwards (n=10, 33.3%). Of these 30 players, 27 returned to the NWSL post-injury, constituting a 90.0% RTP rate. The median RTP time was 12.1 months [interquartile range (IQR), 10.9 – 14.3 months]. There was a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of minutes played 1-year pre- and post-injury [median 87.9 (IQR: 80.7 – 90.6) vs. 25.1 (IQR: 16.3 – 57.2); p=0.031]. On age based sub-analysis, older players started significantly more games [median 12.0 (IQR: 3.8 – 18.5) vs. 3.0 (0.5 – 6.0); p=0.048)] and had a higher percentage of minutes played [median 63.0 (IQR: 18.8 – 77.3) vs. 14.9 (2.0 – 21.2); p=0.046] 1-year post injury compared to younger players. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that there is a high RTP rate following ACLR in the NWSL. Following injury, players played in a lower percentage of minutes in the season they returned, with older players starting more games and playing a greater percentage of minutes compared to younger players

Crow Deaths Caused by West Nile Virus during Winter

In New York, an epizootic of American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) deaths from West Nile virus (WNV) infection occurred during winter 2004–2005, a cold season when mosquitoes are not active. Detection of WNV in feces collected at the roost suggests lateral transmission through contact or fecal contamination

Nanoparticle-Delivered Multimeric Soluble CD40L DNA Combined with Toll-Like Receptor Agonists as a Treatment for Melanoma

Stimulation of CD40 or Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) has potential for tumor immunotherapy. Combinations of CD40 and TLR stimulation can be synergistic, resulting in even stronger dendritic cell (DC) and CD8+ T cell responses. To evaluate such combinations, established B16F10 melanoma tumors were injected every other day X 5 with plasmid DNA encoding a multimeric, soluble form of CD40L (pSP-D-CD40L) either alone or combined with an agonist for TLR1/2 (Pam3CSK4 ), TLR2/6 (FSL-1 and MALP2), TLR3 (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, poly(I:C)), TLR4 ( monophosphoryl lipid A, MPL), TLR7 (imiquimod), or TLR9 (Class B CpG phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide, CpG). When used by itself, pSP-D-CD40L slowed tumor growth and prolonged survival, but did not lead to cure. Of the TLR agonists, CpG and poly(I:C) also slowed tumor growth, and the combination of these two TLR agonists was more effective than either agent alone. The triple combination of intratumoral pSP-D-CD40L + CpG + poly(I:C) markedly slowed tumor growth and prolonged survival. This treatment was associated with a reduction in intratumoral CD11c+ dendritic cells and an influx of CD8+ T cells. Since intratumoral injection of plasmid DNA does not lead to efficient transgene expression, pSP-D-CD40L was also tested with cationic polymers that form DNA-containing nanoparticles which lead to enhanced intratumoral gene expression. Intratumoral injections of pSP-D-CD40L-containing nanoparticles formed from polyethylenimine (PEI) or C32 (a novel biodegradable poly(B-amino esters) polymer) in combination with CpG + poly(I:C) had dramatic antitumor effects and frequently cured mice of B16F10 tumors. These data confirm and extend previous reports that CD40 and TLR agonists are synergistic and demonstrate that this combination of immunostimulants can significantly suppress tumor growth in mice. In addition, the enhanced effectiveness of nanoparticle formulations of DNA encoding immunostimulatory molecules such as multimeric, soluble CD40L supports the further study of this technology for tumor immunotherapy

Evaluating the Ability of Constructed Intertidal Eastern Oyster (\u3ci\u3eCrassostrea virginica\u3c/i\u3e) Reefs to Address Shoreline Erosion in South Carolina

The application of nature-based solutions to address shoreline erosion and the loss of salt marsh in coastal South Carolina has centered around the creation of intertidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs that act as natural breakwaters. The installation of such living shoreline materials often results in a rapid accumulation of fine sediments, followed by wild oyster recruitment to suitable materials, and then more gradually the growth of salt marshes (primarily Spartina alterniflora). Leveraging more than two decades of oyster reef restoration and living shorelines research at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, this study quantitatively assessed performance rates for both percent oyster cover and marsh protection in relation to reef age. Determining such rates will serve to inform the expectations of prospective adopters of living shorelines as to the timeframes of some of the biological processes, as measures of performance success, that will occur following material installation. Performance success was investigated in terms of recruitment of oysters to installed materials and the creation of new marsh habitat or protection of existing marsh from erosion. Reef age was an important determinant of reef “success”, with significant relationships between reef age and both performance success metrics. Percent oyster cover reached 40% by two years post-installation and 50% by four years post-installation, indicative of high rates of oyster recruitment. The relative marsh protection rate of living shorelines compared to unprotected reference plots was 0.4 m yr-1 Reef performance differed based on bank substrate firmness, bank width, shoreline morphology, and location relative to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Firmer bank substrate was associated with greater percent oyster cover. Broader bank width was associated with greater marsh protection. Higher percent oyster cover measurements were observed on straight, natural shorelines and reefs located along the ICW. Reefs located on the ICW were also associated with greater marsh protection than reefs at non-ICW sites. Further, this study demonstrates that bagged oyster shell reefs are capable of providing shoreline protection services for more than a decade and can endure multiple intense storm events. The results of this study were also used to facilitate the implementation of new living shoreline regulations in coastal South Carolina in the hope of broadening adoption of this approach to addressing shoreline erosion and salt marsh habitat loss

The Acute Effects of Whole Body Vibration on Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Performance

Acute exposure to vibration has been suggested to produce transient increases in muscular strength (1,2,8), vertical jump displacement (4,8), and power output (2,6,7) recorded while performing various tasks. It has been hypothesized that the reported acute vibration induced increases in performance occur as a result of alterations in neuromuscular stimulation (1,3,4). Specifically, most studies have ascribed the observed improvements to the likeliness of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) in producing a “tonic vibration reflex” (TVR) in which the primary nerve endings of the Ia afferents of the muscle spindle are activated. This is thought to result in the excitation of the alpha-motor neurons and activation of the extrafusal fibers (4) which likely leads to a greater synchronization of motor units as a result of homonymous motor unit contraction. However, not all investigations report improvements in muscular strength (4), vertical jump (7), and power production in response to acute vibration (4). While the current body of scientific knowledge offers conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of WBV in augmenting neuromuscular performance it is possible that WBV may result in alterations to specific aspects of the force-time curve during the performance of a maximal isometric contraction. Therefore, the primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of WBV performed using 30 Hz frequency and 2-4 mm amplitude on the force-time curves of an isometric mid-thigh pull

Bestrophin Gene Mutations Cause Canine Multifocal Retinopathy: A Novel Animal Model for Best Disease

PURPOSE. Canine multifocal retinopathy (cmr) is an autosomal recessive disorder of multiple dog breeds. The disease shares a number of clinical and pathologic similarities with Best macular dystrophy (BMD), and cmr is proposed as a new large animal model for Best disease. METHODS. cmr was characterized by ophthalmoscopy and histopathology and compared with BMD-affected patients. BEST1 (alias VMD2), the bestrophin gene causally associated with BMD, was evaluated in the dog. Canine ortholog cDNA sequence was cloned and verified using RPE/choroid 5′- and 3′-RACE. Expression of the canine gene transcripts and protein was analyzed by Northern and Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. All exons and the flanking splice junctions were screened by direct sequencing. RESULTS. The clinical phenotype and pathology of cmr closely resemble lesions of BMD. Canine VMD2 spans 13.7 kb of genomic DNA on CFA18 and shows a high level of conservation among eukaryotes. The transcript is predominantly expressed in RPE/choroid and encodes bestrophin, a 580-amino acid protein of 66 kDa. Immunocytochemistry of normal canine retina demonstrated specific localization of protein to the RPE basolateral plasma membranes. Two disease-specific sequence alterations were identified in the canine VMD2 gene: a C73T stop mutation in cmr1 and a G482A missense mutation in cmr2. CONCLUSIONS. The authors propose these two spontaneous mutations in the canine VMD2 gene, which cause cmr, as the first naturally occurring animal model of BMD. Further development of the cmr models will permit elucidation of the complex molecular mechanism of these retinopathies and the development of potential therapies

Small-Molecule Inhibitors of USP1 Target ID1 Degradation in Leukemic Cells

Inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) transcription factor is essential for the proliferation and progression of many cancer types, including leukemia. However, the ID1 protein has not yet been therapeutically targeted in leukemia. ID1 is normally polyubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. Recently, it has been shown that USP1, a ubiquitin-specific protease, deubiquitinates ID1 and rescues it from proteasome degradation. Inhibition of USP1 therefore offers a new avenue to target ID1 in cancer. Here, using a ubiquitin-rhodamine–based high-throughput screening, we identified small-molecule inhibitors of USP1 and investigated their therapeutic potential for leukemia. These inhibitors blocked the deubiquitinating enzyme activity of USP1 in vitro in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 in the high nanomolar range. USP1 inhibitors promoted the degradation of ID1 and, concurrently, inhibited the growth of leukemic cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. A known USP1 inhibitor, pimozide, also promoted ID1 degradation and inhibited growth of leukemic cells. In addition, the growth of primary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patient-derived leukemic cells was inhibited by a USP1 inhibitor. Collectively, these results indicate that the novel small-molecule inhibitors of USP1 promote ID1 degradation and are cytotoxic to leukemic cells. The identification of USP1 inhibitors therefore opens up a new approach for leukemia therapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(12); 2651–62. ©2013 AACR