37 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
The Polycomb protein, Bmi1, regulates insulin sensitivity
Get PDFObjective: The Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC) 1 and 2 function to epigenetically repress target genes. The PRC1 component, Bmi1, plays a crucial role in maintenance of glucose homeostasis and beta cell mass through repression of the Ink4a/Arf locus. Here we have explored the role of Bmi1 in regulating glucose homeostasis in the adult animal, which had not been previously reported due to poor postnatal survival of Bmi1β/β mice. Methods: The metabolic phenotype of Bmi1+/β mice was characterized, both in vivo and ex vivo. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were performed. The insulin signaling pathway was assessed at the protein and transcript level. Results: Here we report a negative correlation between Bmi1 levels and insulin sensitivity in two models of insulin resistance, aging and liver-specific insulin receptor deficiency. Further, heterozygous loss of Bmi1 results in increased insulin sensitivity in adult mice, with no impact on body weight or composition. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp reveals increased suppression of hepatic glucose production and increased glucose disposal rate, indicating elevated glucose uptake to peripheral tissues, in Bmi1+/β mice. Enhancement of insulin signaling, specifically an increase in Akt phosphorylation, in liver and, to a lesser extent, in muscle appears to contribute to this phenotype. Conclusions: Together, these data define a new role for Bmi1 in regulating insulin sensitivity via enhancement of Akt phosphorylation
Ursinus College Alumni Journal, July 1955
Get PDFCommencement address 1955 β’ The college honors Dr. I. S. Leinbach β’ Ground broken for the new women\u27s dormitories β’ News from the registrar\u27s office β’ Armstrong preaches baccalaureate sermon β’ Summer program offered again at Ursinus β’ Meistersingers make spring tour β’ The magic hour May Day theme β’ New student union in Bomberger basement β’ Alpha Phi Omega campus project β’ Alumni celebrate graduation anniversary β’ Class of \u2755 elects permanent class officers β’ Keyser \u2710 and Krug \u2737 honored by educators β’ Alumni elect new officers for 1955-57 β’ York County alumni sponsor Noss film β’ J. A. Hunsicker \u2792 recipient of award β’ Regional alumni groups hold annual meetings β’ French Department faculty member active in research β’ Barbara Yerkes \u2749 teacher and friend of Bristol High students β’ Sports review β’ 1955 baseball season β’ 1955 tennis season β’ Varsity Club honors outstanding athletes β’ 1955 women\u27s sports β’ 1955 track season β’ Ursinus participates in Ford foundation program for teachers β’ Alumni participate in Red Lion jubilee β’ News about ourselves β’ Weddings β’ Birthshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1052/thumbnail.jp
Ursinus College Alumni Journal, November 1955
Get PDFProgram for new dormitories underway β’ Business, the alumnus, and the cost of higher education β’ Campbell Soup Company establishes fund β’ James Hirst named to honor society β’ 18th annual performance announced of the Messiah β’ Attendance increases in the Ursinus College Evening School β’ Some notes from the Dean\u27s office β’ Registrar\u27s report on fall enrollment β’ Ursinus forum 1955-1956 β’ Max C. Putney \u2718 author of The Man of Galilee β’ South Jersey alumni honor Dr. McClure β’ Binder named Dean at Thiel College β’ Berks County alumni hold clam bake β’ Dr. Sherman A. Eger \u2725 describes new operation for high blood pressure β’ James J. Herron \u2732 elected vice-president of Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. β’ Alumni eligible for Fulbright scholarships β’ Ursinus Women\u27s Club β’ Committee to review alumni constitution β’ A Fulbrighter in Japan β’ 1955 Loyalty Fund report β’ Sick transit - or - She perks no more β’ Curtain Club presents The Madwoman of Chaillot β’ Class of \u2756 elects permanent alumni officers β’ Mrs. Snyder new preceptress at Duryea Hall β’ G. E. reports on its corporate alumnus program β’ Regional alumni groups plan student trip β’ Warren K. Hess \u2731 addresses state school directors β’ 51\u27ers quartet meet after four years β’ History art collection β’ Sports review: Soccer report; Facts about the coaching staff; Alumni varsity basketball game β’ News about ourselves β’ Weddings β’ Births β’ Necrologyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1054/thumbnail.jp
The Lantern Vol. 4, No. 3, June 1936
Get PDFβ’ Dr. Omwake as his Friends See Him: A Letter from Dr. James M. Anders ; An Interview with Dean Kline β’ George Leslie Omwake, Educator and Churchman β’ The Story of Ursinus β’ Way Back When β’ Editorial: We Look Before and After β’ Reminiscences of an Ex-Storekeeper\u27s Daughter β’ The Tale of a Toper, or How the Little Stone Went Rolling β’ Book Review: May I Present? β’ Time Out, Please β’ Youth at the Crossroads β’ Of Candy Bars and Tears β’ Reflections β’ To a Star β’ It Takes Two to Study the Moonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1008/thumbnail.jp
The Lantern Vol. 4, No. 3, June 1936
Get PDFβ’ Dr. Omwake as his Friends See Him: A Letter from Dr. James M. Anders ; An Interview with Dean Kline β’ George Leslie Omwake, Educator and Churchman β’ The Story of Ursinus β’ Way Back When β’ Editorial: We Look Before and After β’ Reminiscences of an Ex-Storekeeper\u27s Daughter β’ The Tale of a Toper, or How the Little Stone Went Rolling β’ Book Review: May I Present? β’ Time Out, Please β’ Youth at the Crossroads β’ Of Candy Bars and Tears β’ Reflections β’ To a Star β’ It Takes Two to Study the Moonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1008/thumbnail.jp
Ursinus College Alumni Journal, March 1956
Get PDFPresident\u27s page β’ Sigma Rho scholarship fund grows β’ Three Ursinus alumni honored at Founders\u27 Day ceremony β’ 191,400 to Ursinus College β’ Enrollment increases in Evening School β’ Notes from the Dean\u27s office β’ Ursinus presentation of Messiah recorded β’ From the Office of Admissions β’ Faculty corner β’ Philadelphia alumni to meet at Casa Conti β’ Plan now to return Alumni Day, June 2 β’ Spring banquet planned by Lehigh Valley β’ May 2nd, date for New York alumni β’ South Jersey alumni plan dinner-dance β’ Woman\u27s Club plans spring activities β’ Booster committee holds banquet for athletes β’ Ditter, Warden, Tredinnick, Assistant District Attorneys β’ Alumni invited to Varsity Club dinner β’ Dr. Gilbert Bayne \u2743 speaks to science societies β’ Isaac Norris of Norristown, PA β’ Alumni elections β’ Schoolmen\u27s Week teachers luncheon β’ Washington area alumni reorganize β’ Report of the loyalty fund campaign β’ Sports review: Football season 1955; Dave Burger named to All-American soccer team; Soccer season 1955; Wrestling; 1955 alumnae hockey; Heller and Dawkins excel in women\u27s hockey β’ News about ourselves β’ Births β’ Weddings β’ Necrologyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1055/thumbnail.jp
MEMS Deformable Mirrors for Space-Based High-Contrast Imaging
Get PDFMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Deformable Mirrors (DMs) enable precise wavefront control for optical systems. This technology can be used to meet the extreme wavefront control requirements for high contrast imaging of exoplanets with coronagraph instruments. MEMS DM technology is being demonstrated and developed in preparation for future exoplanet high contrast imaging space telescopes, including the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission which supported the development of a 2040 actuator MEMS DM. In this paper, we discuss ground testing results and several projects which demonstrate the operation of MEMS DMs in the space environment. The missions include the Planet Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment (PICTURE) sounding rocket (launched 2011), the Planet Imaging Coronagraphic Technology Using a Reconfigurable Experimental Base (PICTURE-B) sounding rocket (launched 2015), the Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment - Coronagraph (PICTURE-C) high altitude balloon (expected launch 2019), the High Contrast Imaging Balloon System (HiCIBaS) high altitude balloon (launched 2018), and the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat mission (expected launch late 2019). We summarize results from the previously flown missions and objectives for the missions that are next on the pad. PICTURE had technical difficulties with the sounding rocket telemetry system. PICTURE-B demonstrated functionality at >100 km altitude after the payload experienced 12-g RMS (Vehicle Level 2) test and sounding rocket launch loads. The PICTURE-C balloon aims to demonstrate 10(-7) contrast using a vector vortex coronagraph, image plane wavefront sensor, and a 952 actuator MEMS DM. The HiClBaS flight experienced a DM cabling issue, but the 37-segment hexagonal piston-tip-tilt DM is operational post-flight. The DeMi mission aims to demonstrate wavefront control to a precision of less than 100 nm RMS in space with a 140 actuator MEMS DM.DARPA; NASA Space Technology Research FellowshipOpen Access JournalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Intraspecific Inversions Pose a Challenge for the trnH-psbA Plant DNA Barcode
Get PDFBACKGROUND: The chloroplast trnH-psbA spacer region has been proposed as a prime candidate for use in DNA barcoding of plants because of its high substitution rate. However, frequent inversions associated with palindromic sequences within this region have been found in multiple lineages of Angiosperms and may complicate its use as a barcode, especially if they occur within species. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we evaluate the implications of intraspecific inversions in the trnH-psbA region for DNA barcoding efforts. We report polymorphic inversions within six species of Gentianaceae, all narrowly circumscribed morphologically: Gentiana algida, Gentiana fremontii, Gentianopsis crinita, Gentianopsis thermalis, Gentianopsis macrantha and Frasera speciosa. We analyze these sequences together with those from 15 other species of Gentianaceae and show that typical simple methods of sequence alignment can lead to misassignment of conspecifics and incorrect assessment of relationships. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Frequent inversions in the trnH-psbA region, if not recognized and aligned appropriately, may lead to large overestimates of the number of substitution events separating closely related lineages and to uniting more distantly related taxa that share the same form of the inversion. Thus, alignment of the trnH-psbA spacer region will need careful attention if it is used as a marker for DNA barcoding
Auditory Cortex Basal Activity Modulates Cochlear Responses in Chinchillas
Get PDFBackground: The auditory efferent system has unique neuroanatomical pathways that connect the cerebral cortex with sensory receptor cells. Pyramidal neurons located in layers V and VI of the primary auditory cortex constitute descending projections to the thalamus, inferior colliculus, and even directly to the superior olivary complex and to the cochlear nucleus. Efferent pathways are connected to the cochlear receptor by the olivocochlear system, which innervates outer hair cells and auditory nerve fibers. The functional role of the cortico-olivocochlear efferent system remains debated. We hypothesized that auditory cortex basal activity modulates cochlear and auditory-nerve afferent responses through the efferent system. Methodology/Principal Findings: Cochlear microphonics (CM), auditory-nerve compound action potentials (CAP) and auditory cortex evoked potentials (ACEP) were recorded in twenty anesthetized chinchillas, before, during and after auditory cortex deactivation by two methods: lidocaine microinjections or cortical cooling with cryoloops. Auditory cortex deactivation induced a transient reduction in ACEP amplitudes in fifteen animals (deactivation experiments) and a permanent reduction in five chinchillas (lesion experiments). We found significant changes in the amplitude of CM in both types of experiments, being the most common effect a CM decrease found in fifteen animals. Concomitantly to CM amplitude changes, we found CAP increases in seven chinchillas and CAP reductions in thirteen animals. Although ACE
