4,318 research outputs found

    Nonhuman Primate Models of Respiratory Disease: Past, Present, and Future.

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    The respiratory system consists of an integrated network of organs and structures that primarily function for gas exchange. In mammals, oxygen and carbon dioxide are transmitted through a complex respiratory tract, consisting of the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, and lung. Exposure to ambient air throughout the lifespan imposes vulnerability of the respiratory system to environmental challenges that can contribute toward development of disease. The importance of the respiratory system to human health is supported by statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; in 2015, chronic lower respiratory diseases were the third leading cause of death in the United States. In light of the significant mortality associated with respiratory conditions that afflict all ages of the human population, this review will focus on basic and preclinical research conducted in nonhuman primate models of respiratory disease. In comparison with other laboratory animals, the nonhuman primate lung most closely resembles the human lung in structure, physiology, and mucosal immune mechanisms. Studies defining the influence of inhaled microbes, pollutants, or allergens on the nonhuman primate lung have provided insight on disease pathogenesis, with the potential for elucidation of molecular targets leading to new treatment modalities. Vaccine trials in nonhuman primates have been crucial for confirmation of safety and protective efficacy against infectious diseases of the lung in a laboratory animal model that recapitulates pathology observed in humans. In looking to the future, nonhuman primate models of respiratory diseases will continue to be instrumental for translating biomedical research for improvement of human health

    Interview with Kent Miller

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    Kinematics of the Phippsburg Shear Zone at Hermit Island and the Wood Islands, Small Point, Maine

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    The Phippsburg Shear Zone is located within the Casco Bay restraining bend associated with the Norumbega fault zone in south central Maine. Mapping of the shear zone was conducted at Hermit Island during the summer of 2011 as part of an EDMAP grant. The shear zone deforms schists of the Ordovician Cape Elizabeth Formation and granites and pegmatites of Devonian age. The shear zone is part of a D4 deformational event that proceeded regional folding associated with D3 Acadian deformation. The shear zone has a foliation that strikes northeast-southwest and dips steeply SE along the western shore of the Phippsburg peninsula. There is a strong lineation defined by fold hinge lines and quartz rods that plunges gently south. The shear zone width extends at least two kilometers to the west of Small Point. Swanson (1999, 2010) has documented dextral shear both regionally and locally by evaluating macroscale kinematic indicators within Casco Bay and Hermit Island. In this study, γ-shear strain within the Hermit Island section of the Phippsburg Shear Zone was calculated from the synthetic rotation of granites that are assumed to have intruded orthogonally. Minimum γ-shear strain values were calculated from 15 rotated and variably boudined granites on Hermit Island and 27 of the same on the Wood Islands. These data suggest a decrease in shear strain from south (γ = 5.14) to north (γ = 1.47) and west (γ = 9.51) to east (γ = 1.43). A NE-SW striking line separates areas of high from low shear strains and is demarked by a regional dip change from east dips in the shear zone to west dips outside of it. 2D Strain ellipses determined from elongation of boudin strings and shortening of fold trains around Hermit Island were used to complement the shear strain calculations and further define the eastern boundary of the shear zone. The east dipping foliation, south plunging lineation, and dextral kinematic indicators suggest the Hermit Island shear zone is a dilational, type I shear zone (Fossen, 2010). The eastern shear zone boundary strikes more northerly than the shear zone as defined by Swanson (2010.). The kinematics of Phippsburg Shear Zone at Hermit Island support the strike-slip fault bounded crustal extrusion model for the Casco Bay restraining bend as proposed by Swanson and Bampton (2009)

    Spawning and Early Life History of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Wahweap Bay, Lake Powell

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    Spawning time and habitat of largemouth bass, survival of embryos, and growth and food habits of fingerlings were studied in 1968 and 1969 at Wahweap Bay, Lake Powell. Spawning began in mid- to late-April, when mean daily water temperature at nesting depths was 14.4-15.0 Centigrade (58-59 Fahreheit), and continued until mid-June. Most spawning took place on the northeast shore of the bay. Sandstone rubble was the most commonly used bottom type for nesting, either at the base of ledges or around large sandstone boulders. Mean nest depth increased from 1.63 meter to 4.54 meters (5.36 feet to 14.90 feet) in 1968 and from 1.51 meter to 2.93 meters (4.96 feet to 9.60 feet) in 1969, because bass sought the protection of ledges and boulders covered by continually rising water. Nearly all embryos required 4 days to hatch, and survival to hatching was 80.4 percent and 92.2 percent for 1968 and 1969, respectively. Growth of fingerlings was similar in both years and most rapid prior to August 1 in both years. Fingerlings from the 1969 year-class were longer than those from the 1968 year-class before August 21. Total length of bass on August 21 was 68.0 millimeters in both years but 86.5 millimeters and 80.2 millimeters on October 1 in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Growth may have been influenced by total temperature experience during the early part of the growing season but not during the latter part. Fingerlings ate mostly crustaceans, insects, and fish. Size of organisms eaten increased with increase in fingerling length, and fingerling bass fed selectively on larger Crustacea. Numbers of nests located and numbers of young-of-the-year taken in beach-seine catches indicated that the 1968 year-class was stronger than 1969. Estimated numbers of bass per 92.9 meters2 (1,000 feet2 ) seined varied from 0.82 to 3.39 in 1968 and from 0.23 to 2.65 in 1969. An index to year-class strength may be obtained from seine catches at any time of the summer after brood dispersal, but indices obtained in this study must be validated by determing the contribution of each year-class to the creel

    Improving Energy Efficiency in Collection Storage in Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas, PF-271970-20.

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    The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries a Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Implementation Grant to complete the second phase of a multi-phased approach to update the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) in the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, which houses the University’s archival and special collections. The current award allowed KU Libraries to implement some of the energy-saving recommendations proposed by the Image Permanence Institute, previously hired by KU Libraries with funds from a NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Planning Grant. The focus of the current Implementation Grant was to replace pneumatically controlled reheats in collection areas of the building (approximately two-thirds of the building’s area) with modern electric reheats, variable air volume (VAV) dampers, and new direct digital controls (DDC) as a first step in eventually replacing the entire air handling system that dates to 1968. While the AHU in Spencer Library provides cooled, filtered, and some degree of humidity-controlled air to the building, all heating and dehumidification comes from the electric reheats installed in ducts throughout the building. Testing and balancing of the system was completed before installation in order to garner a more complete picture of airflow throughout the building, as well as detailed information about the functionality of each heater. Collected data informed the installation of thirty-five heaters in collection storage areas, which took place after some delays due to the pandemic. After installation, a second testing and balancing operation was conducted to test the efficacy of the new heaters. Environmental monitoring for temperature and relative humidity was conducted throughout the granting period and continues. The ultimate goal of the long-term project was to better preserve our collections while also finding ways to save energy.National Endowment for the Humanitie

    White Paper to the National Endowment for the Humanities: PF-20161213: Improving the Physical Environment in Spencer Research Library, October 2017-March 2019

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    Award PF-20161213The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the University of Kansas Libraries a grant of $50,000 under the Sustaining Cultural Collections program to engage consultants from Image Permanence Institute (IPI), Rochester Institute of Technology, for an 18-month period to collect and analyze data on the environmental conditions within the Kenneth Spencer Research Library collection storage and staff areas. The consultants were required to report results of their research and recommendations at the end of the contract period. The University of Kansas Libraries assembled an Environmental Management Team to engage in a thorough planning process with the IPI consultants in order to identify problems and determine feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions for the fifty-year old Kenneth Spencer Research Library and its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, dating from construction. The ultimate goals of the project were to better preserve the collections and the facility itself while, if possible, reducing the environmental impact of the building’s operations. The project proceeded smoothly during the entire grant period, with no omissions or significant changes to the proposed plan. The consultants planned three visits to the University campus to evaluate the building and its HVAC system and to communicate with University staff from the physical plant and the Libraries. Robust communication ensued among Library and University staff and the consultants throughout the contract period.National Endowment for the Humanitie

    Paleomagnetism of the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation from the southern limb of the Pennsylvania Salient: Possible evidence of oroclinal rotation

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    Multiple components of magnetization were isolated in the natural remanent magnetization of samples of the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation red beds taken from the southern limb of the Pennsylvania Salient. The dominant, thermally distributed component (SF), previously thought to predate folding, is demonstrably synfolding in origin. The mean direction for SF based on data from the current study and a previous study is Declination/Inclination = 161.6°/7.9°, a95 = 3.9° (pole position 127.3°E, 43.1°N, A95 = 3.1°, N = 14 sites). Although the remagnetization is clearly synfolding in most areas, the relative ages of folding and remagnetization vary locally. A subordinate high unblocking temperature component (HT) has a mean tilt corrected direction of 160°/36°, a95 = 16° (pole position 123.5°E, 26.1°N, A95 = 15.4°, n = 7 samples). Comparison of HT with the prefolding magnetization isolated in the northern limb of the salient suggests that the paleolatitude of this part of North America was about 16°S and that part of the curvature of the salient was acquired during orogenesis
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