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"Callanan, James"
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EISENHOWER, THE CIA, AND COVERT ACTION
The Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) covert action mission took on similarly global proportions on Eisenhower's watch, not least as a result of the geographical expansion of the Cold War to the Third World from 1953 onwards. The CIA's operations directorate, the Deputy Directorate for Plans (DDP) is as applicable to Eisenhower's deployment of covert action as it is to his utilization of propaganda. The CIA's operations directorate's mission was defined: the United States was confronted by an expansionist Soviet Union, which could draw on a highly effective clandestine warfare apparatus to secure its aims. Eisenhower opted for an interventionist posture in the developing world that asserted itself early in his presidency with the authorization of Operation TPAJAX, the CIA‐engineered coup that resulted in the removal of the Iranian prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, from power in August 1953, and Operation PBSUCCESS, which brought about the ousting of Guatemalan president, Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, in June 1954.
Book Chapter
Sourcing Heavy Metals Contamination in Urban Catchments Through XRF Analysis of Streambed Sediments: Chollas Creek, San Diego, California
Chollas Creek is an intermittent urban stream that drains stormwater and local runoff into San Diego Bay, San Diego, California. This impaired creek travels through some of San Diego’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, commercial and industrial facilities, major freeway systems, and one of the largest U.S. naval bases in the country. Significant metal loading to the sediment is likely due to runoff from the vast impervious surfaces that collect vehicular-born contaminants. The sediment at the mouth of the river has shown toxicity to certain species. This study evaluates the sediment upstream as a source for the sediment toxicity found at the mouth of the creek. Chollas Creek has a Total Maximum Daily Load allocation for dissolved copper, lead, and zinc, so these metals were the primary elements assessed in this study. Bulk sediment chemistry was analyzed in thirty-seven sediment samples collected at twenty-eight outfall locations within Chollas Creek. The top one-inch of sediment was collected and XRF was the primary method used for metals analysis. Chollas Creek XRF data were compared to ICP-MS data collected in a separate study five kilometers south in Paleta Creek to assess data quality. Quality control measures were also taken by collecting field duplicate samples. The average relative percent difference of the original-to-duplicate samples was 14.1%, 2.8%, and 9.9% for Cu, Pb, and Zn, respectively. These data were assessed using numerical sediment quality guidelines to predict toxicity. The results show that 41%, 27%, and 54% percent of the samples for Cu, Pb, and Zn, respectively, fell between the threshold effects concentration (TEC) and the probable effects concentration (PEC) which indicate conditions for toxicity. Two of 37 samples were above the PEC for Zn alone which predicts that toxic effects are likely to occur. More weight of evidence needs to be compiled to show upstream sediments are in fact a source of contamination and toxicity to the mouth of Chollas Creek. Confirmatory analysis and additional data collection are required to test this hypothesis more effectively.
Dissertation
A Spiritualist Camp
Editor Christian Advocate: Last August, while sojouring in Northern Vermont, I spent a day with somo friends at Queen City Park, a camp-meeting ground and rendezvone for the Spiritualists. Meetings are held here three times a day during July and August--morning, afternoon, and evening.
Magazine Article
Modulating electrospun polycaprolactone scaffold morphology and composition to alter endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenic gene response
The aim of this study was to look at how the composition and morphology of polymer scaffolds could be altered to create an optimized environment for endothelial cells. Four polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were electrospun with increasing fibre diameters ranging from 1.64 μm to 4.83 μm. The scaffolds were seeded with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and cultured for 12 days. PCL scaffolds were then electrospun incorporating decellularized bovine aorta ECM and cultured in a hypoxic environment. We noted deeper cell infiltration on the largest fibre diameter compared to the other three scaffolds which resulted in an increase in the gene expression of CD31; a key angiogenic marker. Increased cell viability and cell proliferation were also noted on the largest fibre. Furthermore, we noted that the incorporation of extracellular matrix (ECM) had minimal effect on cell viability, both in normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions. Our results showed that these environments had limited influences on hypoxic gene expression. Interestingly, the major findings from this study was the production of excretory ECM components as shown in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The results from this study suggest that fibre diameter had a bigger impact on the seeded HUVECs than the incorporation of ECM or the culture conditions. The largest fibre dimeter (4.83 μm) is more suitable for seeding of HUVECs.
Journal Article
Electrospun fibre diameter and its effects on vascular smooth muscle cells
Bypass grafting is a technique used in the treatment of vascular disease, which is currently the leading cause of mortality worldwide. While technology has moved forward over the years, synthetic grafts still show significantly lower rates of patency in small diameter bypass operations compared to the gold standard (autologous vessel grafts). Scaffold morphology plays an important role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) performance, with studies showing how fibre alignment and surface roughness can modulate phenotypic and genotypic changes. Herein, this study has looked at how the fibre diameter of electrospun polymer scaffolds can affect the performance of seeded VSMCs. Four different scaffolds were electrospun with increasing fibre sizes ranging from 0.75 to 6 µm. Culturing VSMCs on the smallest fibre diameter (0.75 µm) lead to a significant increase in cell viability after 12 days of culture. Furthermore, interesting trends were noted in the expression of two key phenotypic genes associated with mature smooth muscle cell contractility (myocardin and smooth muscle alpha-actin 1), whereby reducing the fibre diameter lead to relative upregulations compared to the larger fibre diameters. These results showed that the smallest (0.75 µm) fibre diameter may be best suited for the culture of VSMCs with the aim of increasing cell proliferation and aiding cell maturity.
Journal Article
Targeted suppression of claudin-5 decreases cerebral oedema and improves cognitive outcome following traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death in children and young adults globally. Malignant cerebral oedema has a major role in the pathophysiology that evolves after severe traumatic brain injury. Added to this is the significant morbidity and mortality from cerebral oedema associated with acute stroke, hypoxic ischemic coma, neurological cancers and brain infection. Therapeutic strategies to prevent cerebral oedema are limited and, if brain swelling persists, the risks of permanent brain damage or mortality are greatly exacerbated. Here we show that a temporary and size-selective modulation of the blood-brain barrier allows enhanced movement of water from the brain to the blood and significantly impacts on brain swelling. We also show cognitive improvement in mice with focal cerebral oedema following administration in these animals of short interfering RNA directed against claudin-5. These observations may have profound consequences for early intervention in cases of traumatic brain injury, or indeed any neurological condition where cerebral oedema is the hallmark pathology.
Claudin-5 is a component of tight junctions and has important roles in mediating the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Campbell and co-workers administer short interfering RNA against claudin-5 in a model of brain injury, finding that it enhances water movement from the brain to the blood and alleviates swelling.
Journal Article
The therapeutically actionable long non-coding RNA ‘T-RECS’ is essential to cancer cells’ survival in NRAS/MAPK-driven melanoma
Finding effective therapeutic targets to treat NRAS-mutated melanoma remains a challenge. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) recently emerged as essential regulators of tumorigenesis. Using a discovery approach combining experimental models and unbiased computational analysis complemented by validation in patient biospecimens, we identified a nuclear-enriched lncRNA (
AC004540.4
) that is upregulated in NRAS/MAPK-dependent melanoma, and that we named
T-RECS
. Considering potential innovative treatment strategies, we designed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to target
T-RECS
.
T-RECS
ASOs reduced the growth of melanoma cells and induced apoptotic cell death, while having minimal impact on normal primary melanocytes. Mechanistically, treatment with
T-RECS
ASOs downregulated the activity of pro-survival kinases and reduced the protein stability of hnRNPA2/B1, a pro-oncogenic regulator of MAPK signaling. Using patient- and cell line- derived tumor xenograft mouse models, we demonstrated that systemic treatment with
T-RECS
ASOs significantly suppressed the growth of melanoma tumors, with no noticeable toxicity. ASO-mediated
T-RECS
inhibition represents a promising RNA-targeting approach to improve the outcome of MAPK pathway-activated melanoma.
Journal Article
Ergonomic Impact of Multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Noise in Warehouse Environments
Small multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are poised to revolutionize commercial and logistics sectors through their versatility, maneuverability, and rapidly increasing sophistication and decreasing costs. However, these robotic systems also produce a substantial and overpowering level of acoustic noise that can potentially distract or harm humans who are working in close proximity to these UAVs. The aim of this study is to investigate the acoustic signature of quadcopter UAVs under various operating conditions, and its impact on human communication and psychological well-being. A unique design of experiments is developed allowing efficient usage of space and reducing the number of sessions required to complete the experiment. The human study has been conducted with popular UAV platforms in a workshop environment. Participants completed various listening tasks and their scores were compared with the noise signature of the UAV to identify operating factors with significant impact on human hearing and perceived annoyance.
Journal Article