Biology and Pest Management of the Sunflower Beetle in North Dakota

E-82

Holocene tectonic, sedimentary, and erosive processes in a volcanic-dammed intramontane lacustrine basin: Lago Laja, Chile

Lago Laja is located near the drainage divide of the south-central high Andes at 37°S. The active Antuco volcano, adjacent to the lake, forms a natural dam confining the Laja intramontane basin. We use field observations, lake reflection-seismic profiles, bathymetry, and remote sensing data to reconstruct the late Quaternary erosion and sedimentation history of the Laja basin and to document the existence of an active fault system that runs parallel to the volcanic arc, the Lago Laja fault system (LLFS).Activity of the Antuco volcano started at ~124 ka with formation of the basaltic edifice, which dammed the catchments forming the intramone Laja basin and lake. At 7.1 cal ka BP, a caldera-collapse event of the Antuco opened the Laja’s dam generating an outburst megaflood and emptying the lake. Fluvial systems advanced into the former lake eroding the poorly-consolidated lacustrine sediments. Subsequent Late Holocene post-caldera lavas dammed the Laja’s outflow generating the present-day lake and renewed lacustrine sedimentation. The fluvial erosion episode is recorded in a regional unconformity, which is well observed in seismic profiles and thus represents an excellent structural marker to quantify fault activity. A post-7.1 ka lacustrine drape covers the erosional surface.Normal faults of the LLFS cut the -14 s-1. Pyroclastic deposits of the Chillan volcano in the northern segment yield a vertical slip rate of 1.0 ± 0.05 mm/a.We interpret soft-sediment deformation layers in an exposed late Pleistocene glaciolacustrine sequence as seismites, which evidence M>6 paleoearthquakes. This is in agreement with magnitudes expected from Holocene surface ruptures.The Main Cordillera at ~37°S is a large-scale pop-up structure uplifted by Quaternary thrusting along both its foothills. In this light, we interpret extension in the axial and highest part of the Andes as incipient gravitational collapse in response to surface uplift and crustal thickening. Thermal weakening due to elevated heat flow in the vicinity of the volcanic arc and post-glacial lithospheric rebound have probably contributed to the arc-limited collapse and late Quaternary acceleration of deformation rates

Expression of expanded FMR1-CGG repeats alters mitochondrial miRNAs and modulates mitochondrial functions and cell death in cellular model of FXTAS

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of 55 to 200 CGG repeats located within 5′UTR of FMR1.These CGG repeats are transcribed into RNAs, which sequester several RNA binding proteins and alter the processing of miRNAs. CGG repeats are also translated into a toxic polyglycine-containing protein, FMRpolyG, that affects mitochondrial and nuclear functions reported in cell and animal models and patient studies. Nuclear-encoded small non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, are transported to mitochondria; however, the role of mitochondrial miRNAs in FXTAS pathogenesis is not understood. Here, we analyzed mitochondrial miRNAs from HEK293 cells expressing expanded CGG repeats and their implication in the regulation of mitochondrial functions. The analysis of next generation sequencing (NGS) data of small RNAs from HEK293 cells expressing CGG premutation showed decreased level of cellular miRNAs and an altered pattern of association of miRNAs with mitochondria (mito-miRs). Among such mito-miRs, miR-320a was highly enriched in mitoplast and RNA immunoprecipitation of Ago2 (Argonaute-2) followed by Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)suggested that miR-320a may form a complex with Ago2 and mitotranscripts. Finally, transfection of miR-320a mimic in cells expressing CGG permutation recovers mitochondrial functions and rescues cell death. Overall, this work reveals an altered translocation of miRNAs to mitochondria and the role of miR-320a in FXTAS pathology

Generic and Layered Framework Components for the Control of a Large Scale Data Acquisition System

The complexity of today's experiments in High Energy Physics results in a large amount of readout channels which can count up to a million and above. The experiments in general consist of various subsystems which themselves comprise a large amount of detectors requiring sophisticated DAQ and readout electronics. We report here on the structured software layers to control such a data acquisition system for the case of LHCb which is one of the four experiments for LHC. Additional focus is given on the protocols in use as well as the required hardware. An abstraction layer was implemented to allow access on the different and distinct hardware types in a coherent and generic manner. The hierarchical structure which allows propagating commands down to the subsystems is explained. Via finite state machines an expert system with auto-recovery abilities can be modeled

Integral correlation measures for multiparticle physics

We report on a considerable improvement in the technique of measuring multiparticle correlations via integrals over correlation functions. A modification of measures used in the characterization of chaotic dynamical sytems permits fast and flexible calculation of factorial moments and cumulants as well as their differential versions. Higher order correlation integral measurements even of large multiplicity events such as encountered in heavy ion collisons are now feasible. The change from ``ordinary'' to ``factorial'' powers may have important consequences in other fields such as the study of galaxy correlations and Bose-Einstein interferometry.Comment: 23 pages, 6 tar-compressed uuencoded PostScript figures appended, preprint TPR-92-4

Arsenic mobility in the ambient sulfidic environment: Sorption of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) onto disordered mackinawite

Arsenate, As(V), sorption onto synthetic iron(II) monosulfide, disordered mackinawite (FeS), is fast. As(V) sorption decreases above the point of zero surface charge of FeS and follows the pH-dependent concentration of positively charged surface species. No redox reaction is observed between the As(V) ions and the mineral surface over the time span of the experiments. This observation shows that As(V) dominantly forms an outer-sphere complex at the surface of mackinawite. Arsenite, As(III), sorption is not strongly pH-dependent and can be expressed by a Freundlich isotherm. Sorption is fast, although slower than that of As(V). As(III) also forms an outer-sphere complex at the surface of mackinawite. In agreement with previous spectroscopic studies, complexation at low As(V) and As(III) concentration occurs preferentially at the mono-coordinated sulfide edge sites. The Kd (L g−1) values obtained from linear fits to the isotherm data are ∼9 for As(V) and ∼2 for As(III). Stronger sorption of As(V) than As(III), and thus a higher As(III) mobility, may be reflected in natural anoxic sulfidic waters when disordered mackinawite controls arsenic mobility

Decitabine impact on the endocytosis regulator RhoA, the folate carriers RFC1 and FOLR1, and the glucose transporter GLUT4 in human tumors.

BackgroundIn 31 solid tumor patients treated with the demethylating agent decitabine, we performed tumor biopsies before and after the first cycle of decitabine and used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess whether decitabine increased expression of various membrane transporters. Resistance to chemotherapy may arise due to promoter methylation/downregulation of expression of transporters required for drug uptake, and decitabine can reverse resistance in vitro. The endocytosis regulator RhoA, the folate carriers FOLR1 and RFC1, and the glucose transporter GLUT4 were assessed.ResultsPre-decitabine RhoA was higher in patients who had received their last therapy >3 months previously than in patients with more recent prior therapy (P = 0.02), and varied inversely with global DNA methylation as assessed by LINE1 methylation (r = -0.58, P = 0.006). Tumor RhoA scores increased with decitabine (P = 0.03), and RFC1 also increased in patients with pre-decitabine scores ≤150 (P = 0.004). Change in LINE1 methylation with decitabine did not correlate significantly with change in IHC scores for any transporter assessed. We also assessed methylation of the RFC1 gene (alias SLC19A1). SLC19A1 methylation correlated with tumor LINE1 methylation (r = 0.45, P = 0.02). There was a small (statistically insignificant) decrease in SLC19A1 methylation with decitabine, and there was a trend towards change in SLC19A1 methylation with decitabine correlating with change in LINE1 methylation (r = 0.47, P <0.15). While SLC19A1 methylation did not correlate with RFC1 scores, there was a trend towards an inverse correlation between change in SLC19A1 methylation and change in RFC1 expression (r = -0.45, P = 0.19).ConclusionsIn conclusion, after decitabine administration, there was increased expression of some (but not other) transporters that may play a role in chemotherapy uptake. Larger patient numbers will be needed to define the extent to which this increased expression is associated with changes in DNA methylation

Comparison of dissolved and particulate arsenic distributions in shallow aquifers of Chakdaha, India, and Araihazar, Bangladesh

International audienceBackground The origin of the spatial variability of dissolved As concentrations in shallow aquifers of the Bengal Basin remains poorly understood. To address this, we compare here transects of simultaneously-collected groundwater and aquifer solids perpendicular to the banks of the Hooghly River in Chakdaha, India, and the Old Brahmaputra River in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Results Variations in surface geomorphology mapped by electromagnetic conductivity indicate that permeable sandy soils are associated with underlying aquifers that are moderately reducing to a depth of 10–30 m, as indicated by acid-leachable Fe(II)/Fe ratios 5 mg L-1. More reducing aquifers are typically capped with finer-grained soils. The patterns suggest that vertical recharge through permeable soils is associated with a flux of oxidants on the banks of the Hooghly River and, further inland, in both Chakdaha and Araihazar. Moderately reducing conditions maintained by local recharge are generally associated with low As concentrations in Araihazar, but not systematically so in Chakdaha. Unlike Araihazar, there is also little correspondence in Chakdaha between dissolved As concentrations in groundwater and the P-extractable As content of aquifer particles, averaging 191 ± 122 ug As/L, 1.1 ± 1.5 mg As kg-1 (n = 43) and 108 ± 31 ug As/L, 3.1 ± 6.5 mg As kg-1 (n = 60), respectively. We tentatively attribute these differences to a combination of younger floodplain sediments, and therefore possibly more than one mechanism of As release, as well as less reducing conditions in Chakdaha compared to Araihazar. Conclusion Systematic dating of groundwater and sediment, combined with detailed mapping of the composition of aquifer solids and groundwater, will be needed to identify the various mechanisms underlying the complex distribution of As in aquifers of the Bengal Basin

Thermal and mechanical characterization of epoxy resins (ELO and ESO) cured with anhydrides

In this work we have developed polymeric materials from epoxidized vegetable oils in order to obtain materials with excellent mechanical properties for use as green matrix composites. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and different mixtures of the two oils were used to produce the polymers. Phthalic anhydride (17 mol%) and maleic anhydride (83 mol%) which has a eutectic reaction temperature of 48 °C were used as crosslinking agents while benzyl dimethyl amine (BDMA) and ethylene glycol were used as the catalyst and initiator, respectively. The results showed that samples 100ELO and 80ELO20ESO could be used as a matrix in green composites because they demonstrated good mechanical properties. © 2012 AOCS (outside the USA).This work is part of the project IPT-310000-2010-037,''ECOTEXCOMP: Research and development of textile structures useful as reinforcement of composite materials with marked ecological character'' funded by the "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion", with financial aid of 189,540.20 EUR, within the "Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e Innovacion Tecnologica 2008-2011" and funded by the European Union through FEDER funds, Technology Fund 2007-2013, Operational Programme on R + D + i for and on behalf of the companies.Samper Madrigal, MD.; Fombuena Borrás, V.; Boronat Vitoria, T.; García Sanoguera, D.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2012). Thermal and mechanical characterization of epoxy resins (ELO and ESO) cured with anhydrides. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 89(8):1521-1528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-012-2041-yS15211528898Averous L (2004) Biodegradable multiphase systems based on plasticized starch: a review. J Macromol Sci Polym Rev C44:231–274Bledzki AK, Jaszkiewicz A (2010) Mechanical performance of biocomposites based on PLA and PHBV reinforced with natural fibres—a comparative study to PP. Compos Sci Technol 70:1687–1696Raquez JM, Deleglise M, Lacrampe MF, Krawczak P (2010) Thermosetting (bio)materials derived from renewable resources: a critical review. Prog Polym Sci 35:487–509Charlet K, Jernot JP, Gomina M, Bizet L, Breard J (2010) Mechanical properties of flax fibers and of the derived unidirectional composites. J Compos Mater 44:2887–2896Barreto ACH, Esmeraldo MA, Rosa DS, Fechine PBA, Mazzetto SE (2010) Cardanol biocomposites reinforced with jute fiber: microstructure, biodegradability, and mechanical properties. Polym Compos 31:1928–1937Thakur VK, Singha AS (2010) Physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Iran Polym J 19:3–16Schmitz WR, Wallace JG (1954) Epoxidation of methyl oleate with hydrogen peroxide. J Am Oil Chem Soc 31:363–365La Scala J, Wool RP (2002) Effect of FA composition on epoxidation kinetics of TAG. J Am Oil Chem Soc 79:373–378de Espinosa LM, Ronda JC, Galia M, Cadiz V (2008) A new enone-containing triglyceride derivative as precursor of thermosets from renewable resources. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 46:6843–6850Gerbase AE, Petzhold CL, Costa APO (2002) Dynamic mechanical and thermal behavior of epoxy resins based on soybean oil. J Am Oil Chem Soc 79:797–802Boquillon N, Fringant C (2000) Polymer networks derived from curing of epoxidised linseed oil: influence of different catalysts and anhydride hardeners. Polymer 41:8603–8613Montserrat S, Flaque C, Calafell M, Andreu G, Malek J (1995) Influence of the accelerator concentration on the curing reaction of an epoxy-anhydride system. Thermochim Acta 269:213–229Zacharuk M, Becker D, Coelho LAF, Pezzin SH (2011) Study of the reaction between polyethylene glycol and epoxy resins using N,N-dimethylbenzylamine as catalyst. Polimeros 21:73–77Lozada Z, Suppes GJ, Tu YC, Hsieh FH (2009) Soy-based polyols from oxirane ring opening by alcoholysis reaction. J Appl Polym Sci 113:2552–256