Studies on Hypoxia: XII. Detrimental Effects of Synthetic Polyribonucleotides on Epiphyseal Plates of Rats Exposed to Hypoxia

The effect of different doses of polyadenylic and polyuridylic acids (poly A:U) was studied in control rats and in rats exposed to hypoxia. In the control rats, administration of different doses of poly A:U did not change the thickness of the epiphyseal plate or increase the incorporation of 3H-phenylalanine as judged using radioautography. Rats exposed to hypoxia showed a significant dose-related reduction in the thickness of the epiphyseal plate and 3H-phenylalanine incorporation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67926/2/10.1177_00220345760550041701.pd

Gap Analysis Based Decision Support Methodology to Improve Level of Service of Water Services

One of water utility’s managerial challenges is to make a balance in between two distinctive managerial goals, cost-effective provision of water service and improving customer satisfaction of water service. As management priorities of the water utility perspective do not reconcile from the customer’s perspective, this gap challenges the sustainable provision of water service. In this study, the new methodology based on a gap analysis was proposed to improve the Overall Level of Service (O-LOS) of water service. Two new indexes (Gap Index [GI] and the Efficiency Index [EI]) were developed to improve the O-LOS and minimize the gap between the customers and the service providers. The methodology proposed in this study is effective in supporting the water utility decisions on budget allocation to make a balance in between the customers’ demand and the service providers’ needs

Studies on Hypoxia: XI. Long-Term Effects on the Epiphyseal Plate—A Histomeric and Radioautographic Study

Rats were exposed to hypoxia for one week. The mean thickness of epiphyseal plates from control rats was 430 micrometers (μm) which was reduced to 313 μm in hypoxic rats. Radioautographic incorporation of 3H-phenylalanine by connective tissue cells in hypoxic rats was reduced up to 38% in control rats.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66916/2/10.1177_00220345760550031301.pd

Probe card-Type multizone electrostatic chuck inspection system

Electrostatic chucks (ESCs) are major components of the equipment used to improve the production yield of wafers and temperature uniformity across wafer surfaces by controlling the wafer temperature precisely. However, ESCs are directly exposed to harsh environments, such as plasma, chemical gases, and high temperature fluctuations. Therefore, ESCs may malfunction if used for a certain period. Therefore, repair and performance verification of failed ESCs are required. In this study, we developed a multizone probe card system suitable for electrical testing of the heating electrodes embedded in ESC control modules to correlate the failure mode factors of ESCs. This system has the advantages of examining the resistance of the internal heating electrode of a 144-zone ESC in a short time and detecting an abnormality in this component based on the measured data. The heating electrode resistance measurement error rate of the developed system was 1%, and the maintenance time was reduced by approximately 66% compared with that of existing ESC maintenance methods

A homozygous Keap1-knockout human embryonic stem cell line generated using CRISPR/Cas9 mediates gene targeting

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap1) is a cysteine-rich protein that interacts with transcription factor Nrf2 in a redox-sensitive manner, leading to the degradation of Nrf2 (Kim et al., 2014a). Disruption of Keap1 results in the induction of Nrf2-related signaling pathways involving the expression of a set of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory genes. We generated biallelic mutants of the Keap1 gene using a CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing method in the H9 human embryonic stem cell (hESC). The Keap1 homozygous-knockout H9 cell line retained normal morphology, gene expression, and in vivo differentiation potential. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Are airline workers planning career turnover in a post-COVID-19 world? Assessing the impact of risk perception about virus infection and job instability

Airline workers have been suffering risks of job instability and virus infection since the outbreak of COVID-19. This research developed a novel framework explicating airline workers’ career turnover decision formation by considering the influence of perceived risks of virus infection and job instability during the COVID-19. A quantitative approach using a survey method was utilized to attain research goals. Our empirical findings revealed that airline image, attitude, and commitment have a significant influence on employee career turnover intention. Both attitude and commitment were identified as essential mediators. In addition, perceived risks of virus infection and job instability significantly moderated the relationships among attitude, commitment, and employee career turnover intention. The effectiveness of the proposed theoretical framework for career turnover intention was demonstrated. Our findings help researchers and entrepreneurs find effectual ways to lower competent workers’ career turnover and raise their approach behaviors in a post-COVID-19 world

Activation of spleen tyrosine kinase is required for TNF-α-induced endothelin-1 upregulation in human aortic endothelial cells

AbstractEndothelin-1 (ET-1) promotes atherosclerosis. We tested whether spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) mediates tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced ET-1 upregulation in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and sought to identify the signal pathways involved. TNF-α-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activated Syk and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which was required for the activation of AP-1 and subsequent ET-1 gene transcription. ROS mediated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) is also required for AP-1 activation, but Syk and PI3K regulated AP-1 activation independently of JNK. Through regulation of ET-1 production, Syk could be implicated in atherosclerosis