An assessment of internal blankets for gas-cooled fast reactors

Originally presented as first author's thesis (Ph. D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology), 1980Includes bibliographical references (pages 338-346)Sponsored by General Atomic Compan

Texas 4-H Swine Project

2 pp.The Texas 4-H Swine Project offers learning and leadership opportunities for young participants and adult leaders. This tri-fold brochure explains the project's goals, requirements, resources, career development opportunities and volunteer leader opportunities

The Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Transformational Leadership Behavior in Texas AgriLife Extension Service Mid-Managers

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership styles among Texas AgriLife Extension Service mid‐managers. A web based three part instrument was administered to participants. A general questionnaire about demographics, work history and views of leadership was part one. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ form 5x) developed by Avolio and Bass examined the leader’s self reported leadership style. The MLQ identifies scores for transformational, transactional and laissez‐faire leadership styles and those were compared with scores on the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory Test (EQ‐i). An independent samples t test was performed to assess whether the mean EI subscales scores for the high transformational leadership group differed significantly from the low transformational leadership group. Six EI constructs were statistically significant in relation to transformational leadership behavior. The six were: optimism, happiness, empathy, interpersonal relationships, self‐regard, and stress tolerance. An independent samples t test was performed to assess whether the mean EI subscales scores for the high transactional leadership group differed significantly from the low transactional leadership group. Social responsibility was the one EI construct that was statistically significant in relation to transactional leadership behavior. The findings from this study indicate the leaders can develop and strengthen emotional intelligence and in doing so can more likely exhibit the use of transformational leadership behaviors. Further study would be needed to demonstrate the extent of possible application, but it is commendable that if leaders are trained in EI and those skills are fostered, they will be more likely to utilize transformational leadership further resulting in organizational effectiveness and follower satisfaction

Applications of tritium NMR to macromolecules: A study of two nucleic acid molecules

We have tritium labeled two nucleic acid molecules, an 8 kDa DNA oligomer and a 20 kDa ‘hammerhead’ RNA for tritium NMR investigations. The DNA sequence studied has been previously used in homonuclear studies of DNA-bound water molecules and tritium NMR was expected to facilitate these investigations by eliminating the need to suppress the water resonance in tritium-detected 3 H- 1 H NOESY experiments. We observed the anticipated through-space interactions found in B-form DNA in the NOESY experiments and an unexpected ‘antiphase’ cross-peak at the water frequency. T 1 measurements on the tritiated DNA molecule indicated that relaxation rates were also accelerated for tritium and protons. Tritium NMR spectra of the hammerhead RNA molecule indicated conformational dynamics in the conserved region of the molecule in the absence of Mg 2+ and spermine, two components necessary for cleavage. The dynamics were also investigated by 15 N-correlated 1 H spectroscopy and persisted after the addition of Mg 2+ and spermine.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43053/1/10858_2004_Article_BF00202040.pd

Biogeomorphologic succession dynamics in a Mediterranean river system

Biogeomorphologic succession (i.e. reciprocal adjustments between vegetation and geomorphologic dynamics) of the Mediterranean River Tech, France, was analysed using aerial photographs over a period of sixty years between 1942 and 2000. A spatial analysis of the biogeomorphologic succession was undertaken considering effects of flood regime. Interactions between vegetation dynamics and flood events largely controlled the spontaneous replacement of the dense riparian forest removed in October 1940 during an exceptional high magnitude flood event with a recurrence time !100 yr. In response to this major disturbance event, the fluvial landscape demonstrated a very high resilience emphasizing the existence of a positive feedback driven by pioneer riparian vegetation. The observed feedback corresponded to landform accretion, vegetation succession and to an increase of biogeomorphologic stability under current hydrogeomorphologic and bioclimatic conditions. The evolution of the biogeomorphologic system toward stabilisation appeared to be non-linear with a threshold occurring thirty years after the exceptional destructive flood event. This threshold materialized a reinforcement of biogeomorphologic cohesive forces driven by vegetation dynamics. This study showed the control of riparian vegetation on the dynamics of Mediterranean fluvial landscapes and pointed to the need to improve our knowledge about biogeomorphologic succession cycles and threshold dynamics within different biogeomorphologic settings

A Role for Cytoplasmic PML in Cellular Resistance to Viral Infection

PML gene was discovered as a fusion partner with retinoic acid receptor (RAR) α in the t(15:17) chromosomal translocation associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Nuclear PML protein has been implicated in cell growth, tumor suppression, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and anti-viral defense. The localization pattern of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein is drastically altered during viral infection. This alteration is traditionally viewed as a viral strategy to promote viral replication. Although multiple PML splice variants exist, we demonstrate that the ratio of a subset of cytoplasmic PML isoforms lacking exons 5 & 6 is enriched in cells exposed to herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). In particular, we demonstrate that a PML isoform lacking exons 5 & 6, called PML Ib, mediates the intrinsic cellular defense against HSV-1 via the cytoplasmic sequestration of the infected cell protein (ICP) 0 of HSV-1. The results herein highlight the importance of cytoplasmic PML and call for an alternative, although not necessarily exclusive, interpretation regarding the redistribution of PML that is seen in virally infected cells

Entrapment of Viral Capsids in Nuclear PML Cages Is an Intrinsic Antiviral Host Defense against Varicella-Zoster Virus

The herpesviruses, like most other DNA viruses, replicate in the host cell nucleus. Subnuclear domains known as promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), or ND10 bodies, have been implicated in restricting early herpesviral gene expression. These viruses have evolved countermeasures to disperse PML-NBs, as shown in cells infected in vitro, but information about the fate of PML-NBs and their functions in herpesvirus infected cells in vivo is limited. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an alphaherpesvirus with tropism for skin, lymphocytes and sensory ganglia, where it establishes latency. Here, we identify large PML-NBs that sequester newly assembled nucleocapsids (NC) in neurons and satellite cells of human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and skin cells infected with VZV in vivo. Quantitative immuno-electron microscopy revealed that these distinctive nuclear bodies consisted of PML fibers forming spherical cages that enclosed mature and immature VZV NCs. Of six PML isoforms, only PML IV promoted the sequestration of NCs. PML IV significantly inhibited viral infection and interacted with the ORF23 capsid surface protein, which was identified as a target for PML-mediated NC sequestration. The unique PML IV C-terminal domain was required for both capsid entrapment and antiviral activity. Similar large PML-NBs, termed clastosomes, sequester aberrant polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins, such as Huntingtin (Htt), in several neurodegenerative disorders. We found that PML IV cages co-sequester HttQ72 and ORF23 protein in VZV infected cells. Our data show that PML cages contribute to the intrinsic antiviral defense by sensing and entrapping VZV nucleocapsids, thereby preventing their nuclear egress and inhibiting formation of infectious virus particles. The efficient sequestration of virion capsids in PML cages appears to be the outcome of a basic cytoprotective function of this distinctive category of PML-NBs in sensing and safely containing nuclear aggregates of aberrant proteins