Mechanisms of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase-induced preconditioning in ischemia/reperfusion

"August 2007"The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Vita.Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.We have previously demonstrated that consuming ethanol (ethanol preconditioning or EPC) at low levels 24 hrs prior to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) prevents postischemic leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions (LEI) by a mechanism that is initiated by nitric oxide (NO) formed by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Recent work indicates that: 1) ethanol increases the activity of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), 2) AMPK phosphorylates eNOS at Ser1177, resulting in activation, 3) NO from eNOS can activate ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP), and 4) NO has been shown to induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression. In light of these observations, we postulated that AMPK activation may trigger the development of an anti-inflammatory phenotype similar to that induced by antecedent ethanol ingestion, and that this effect was mediated by eNOS, KATP, and HO-1. C57BL/6J, eNOS-/-, AMPK[alpha]1-/-, and AMPK[alpha]2-/- mice were treated with EPC or the AMPK agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) 24 hrs prior to I/R (AICAR-PC) in the presence or absence of inhibitors of the proposed mediators. I/R induced a marked increase in LEI relative to sham control mice. The postischemic increase in LEI was prevented by preconditioning with AICAR 24 hrs prior to I/R. AICAR-PC appears to be mediated by eNOS, KATP, and HO, as it was ineffective at reducing LEI in the eNOS-/-, AMPK[alpha]1-/-, or AMPK[alpha]2-/- mice or wild-type mice treated with the inhibitors of the proposed mediators. Our results indicate that AMPK agonists produce an anti-inflammatory phenotype in postcapillary venules by an eNOS, KATP, and HO-dependent mechanism.Includes bibliographical reference

Scalar mixing and entrainment in an axisymmetric jet subjected to external turbulence

The effect of zero-mean-flow external turbulence on the topology of the scalar turbulent/turbulent interface (TTI) has been recently studied in axisymmetric jets (Kohan & Gaskin, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 950, 2022, A32). The present study aims to understand the process of turbulent entrainment into a jet, as affected by background turbulence, using scalar statistics. Planar-laser-induced fluorescence was employed to capture the orthogonal cross sections of the jet at a fixed downstream station with varying background turbulence intensities and length scales. The conditional scalar profiles revealed that the thickness of the scalar TTI is greater than that of the traditional turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI), and the interfacial thickness is an increasing function of the background turbulence intensity. Although nibbling remains the primary entrainment mechanism in the far field, increased occurrence of concentration 'holes' within the interfacial layer in the presence of ambient turbulence suggests a more significant role of large-scale engulfment in the turbulent/turbulent entrainment process. Enhanced contribution of the area of detached jet patches (i.e. 'islands') to that of the main jet is hypothesized to be evidence of intense detrainment events in the background turbulence. This can potentially explain the reduced net entrainment into the jet, which manifests as less negative values of scalar skewness within the jet core

Tamarix minoa (Tamaricaceae), a new species from the island of Crete (Greece) based on morphological and plastid molecular sequence data

Tamarix minoa is described from material collected on the S Aegean island of Crete (Kriti), Greece. A morphological comparison with the species considered to be closest, T. africana and T. hampeana, is provided. An original illustration showing the main morphological characters of the new species is also given, as are photographs of the new species in its habitat. The isolated phylogenetic position of T. minoa is shown to be strongly supported by plastid molecular sequence data (trnS-trnG, trnQ-rps16 and ndhF-rpl32), thus warranting its recognition at specific rank.National Geographic Society, research project “Human recreation versus plant diversity on maritime sands in Crete” (NGS grant no. 8573-08). The FPU programme (Mº de Educación, Spain), the I+D+I project CGL2008-05056 (Mº de Educación y Ciencia, Spanish Government), the project OAPN 354-2011 (Mº de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Spanish Government) and complementary supporting funds ACIE10-01, ACIE11-05 and ACIE13-08 (University of Alicante, Spain)

Astrophysical Observations with the HEROES Balloon-borne Payload

The High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun (HEROES) payload flew on a balloon from Ft. Sumner, NM, September 21-22, 2013. HEROES is sensitive from about 20-75 keV and comprises 8 optics modules, each consisting of 13-14 nickel replicated optics shells and 8 Xenon-filled positionsensitive proportional counter detectors. HEROES is unique in that it is the first hard X-ray telescope that will observe the Sun and astrophysical targets in the same balloon flight. Our astrophysics targets include the Crab nebula and pulsar and the black hole binary GRS 1915+105. In this presentation, I will describe the HEROES mission, the data analysis pipeline and calibrations, and preliminary astrophysics results

First Report of Mummenhoffia alliacea (Brassicaceae) for New York

Mummenhoffia alliacea is naturalized in New York. The first documented occurrences are reported from Dutchess, Kings, New York (Manhattan), Onondaga, Queens, and Suffolk counties. Verification is provided by herbarium specimens at NY and photographs uploaded to iNaturalist and cited at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Educational Disruption & Rising Faculty Expectations

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of higher education had been primed for upheaval. The pandemic has only accentuated the need for change. Not only have we had to scramble to provide meaningful and valuable content to our students; we have also had to reinvent how that content is delivered. Beyond these changes that have abruptly affected all of us, expectations from students, colleagues, and administrators have unilaterally risen. We are expected to publish more, and in better journals. We are expected to provide more service, internally and externally. We are expected to get better teacher evaluations from students, and to deliver up-to-date content in a way that can convince students that they are benefiting from their paid education more than they would by taking online courses (often for free). The pressure to succeed on all fronts has never been higher. In this panel discussion, seasoned scholars, who have succeeded, will share insights from their experiences navigating this new landscape and reinventing their own mindset and work habits to accommodate the increasing expectations placed on faculty. Each panelist will take the position of a key stakeholder in high education including university leaders, society, the business community, journal editors and students

Full-Shell X-Ray Optics Development at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) maintains an active research program toward the development of high-resolution, lightweight, grazing-incidence x-ray optics to serve the needs of future x-ray astronomy missions such as Lynx. MSFC development efforts include both direct fabrication (diamond turning and deterministic computer-controlled polishing) of mirror shells and replication of mirror shells (from figured, polished mandrels). Both techniques produce full-circumference monolithic (primary + secondary) shells that share the advantages of inherent stability, ease of assembly, and low production cost. However, to achieve high-angular resolution, MSFC is exploring significant technology advances needed to control sources of figure error including fabrication- and coating-induced stresses and mounting-induced distortions

The HEROES Balloon-Borne Hard X-Ray Telescope

The High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun (HEROES) payload flew on a balloon from Ft. Sumner, NM, September 21-22, 2013. HEROES is sensitive from about 20-75 keV and comprises 8 optics modules (HPD approximately 33" as flown), each consisting of 13-14 nickel replicated optics shells and 8 matching Xenon-filled position-sensitive proportional counter detectors (dE/E=0.05 @ 60 keV). Our targets included the Sun, the Crab Nebula and pulsar and the black hole binary GRS 1915+105. HEROES was pointed using a day/night star camera system for astrophysical observations and a newly developed Solar Aspect System for solar observations (with a shutter protecting the star camera.) We have successfully detected the Crab Nebula. Analyses for GRS 1915+105 and the Sun are ongoing. In this presentation, I will describe the HEROES mission, the data analysis pipeline and calibrations, preliminary results, and plans for follow-on missions

Problems in the treatment of malabsorption in CF

ABSTRACT. Several factors play a role in the cause of malabsorption in CF. Besides the enzyme deficiency in the secretion of the exocrine pancreas, decreased bile‐salt concentration in the gut may also be an important factor in the fat malabsorption. The contribution to the fat absorption by other lipases, such as lingual lipase and gastric lipase, remains to he proved. The therapeutic measures are only partly effective because of the breakdown of swalled enzymes by gastric acid. Some improvement is reached by using a new acid‐resistant coating for the enzyme supplement. Newly developed and essential for its success is the application of small coated particles to prevent retention in the stomach, and the easy breakdown of the coating in an alkaline solution. The treatment of the bile salt deficiency has not been successful until now. A trial with additional Tween 80, with the option of supplementing the detergent activity which was found to he successful in Crohn disease, was without marked success. Copyrigh

Interferon alpha on NZM2328.Lc1R27: Enhancing autoimmunity and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis without end stage renal failure

Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) may play a significant role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. Recent literature suggests that IFN alpha does not correlate with disease activities and blockade of IFN alpha is not effective in treating SLE. This study aims to delineate further the role of IFN alpha in SLE. 12-week old NZM2328 and its congenic NZM2328.Lc1R27 (R27) female mice were challenged with adenovirus-IFN alpha (adeno-IFN alpha) or adenovirus-LacZ (adeno-LacZ). Only adeno-IFN alpha treated NZM2328 developed severe proteinuria and died of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) and end stage renal disease. Adeno-IFN alpha treated R27 did develop immune complex-mediated GN but had normal renal function. Adeno-LacZ treated NZM2328 showed enlarged glomeruli and increased cellularity without immune complex deposition. Adeno-LacZ treated R27 did not show serological and histological abnormalities. Adeno-IFN alpha induced anti-dsDNA and anti-kidney autoantibodies in NZM2328 and R27. These results suggest that end organ damage is host-dependent and less related to autoimmunity and may have significant implications in SLE pathogenesis. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc