Do the design concepts used for the space flight hardware directly affect cell structure and/or cell function ground based simulations

The use of clinostats and centrifuges to explore the hypogravity range between zero and 1 g is described. Different types of clinostat configurations and clinostat-centrifuge combinations are compared. Some examples selected from the literature and current research in gravitational physiology are presented to show plant responses in the simulated hypogravity region of the g-parameter (0 is greater than g is greater than 1). The validation of clinostat simulation is discussed. Examples in which flight data can be compared to clinostat data are presented. The data from 3 different laboratories using 3 different plant species indicate that clinostat simulation in some cases were qualitatively similar to flight data, but that in all cases were quantitatively different. The need to conduct additional tests in weightlessness is emphasized

Investigation of wheat coleoptile response to phototropic stimulations

This report provides a summary of the preparations for, and the conduct and post-flight data analysis of, the Spacelab flight investigation FOTRAN, which flew on the IML-1 mission (STS-42) in January, 1992. The investigation was designed to provide data on the responses of wheat seedlings to various blue-light stimuli given while the plants were exposed to orbital microgravity conditions. Before the flight, a number of hypotheses were established which were to be tested by the data from the flight and parallel ground studies. A description of the experiment protocol developed for the mission is provided, and an account of the activities supported during preparations for and support of the flight experiment is given. Details of the methods used to reduce and analyze the data from the flight are outlined

A proposal to determine properties of the gravitropic response of plants in the absence of a complicating g-force (GTHRES)

Gravitropic responses of oat seedlings (Avena sativa L.) were measured on Earth and in microgravity (IML-1). The seedlings were grown at 1 g either on Earth or on 1 g centrifuges. They were challenged by centripetal accelerations for which the intensity and duration of the stimulations were varied. All stimulation intensities were in the hypogravity region from 0.1 to 1.0 g. All responses occurred either in Spacelab microgravity or during clinorotation on Earth. The experiments were carried out with the same apparatus in Spacelab and on Earth. The experiments addressed a series of scientific questions and useful data were obtained to provide answers to some but not all of those questions

Modeling mixture transport at the nanoscale: Departure from existing paradigms

We present a novel theory of mixture transport in nanopores, which represents wall effects via a species-specific friction coefficient determined by its low density diffusion coefficient. Onsager coefficients from the theory are in good agreement with those from molecular dynamics simulation, when the nonuniformity of the density distribution is included. It is found that the commonly used assumption of a uniform density in the momentum balance is in serious error, as is also the traditional use of a mixture center of mass based frame of reference

Re-sounding Falkland

Falkland Palace and Falkland Estate including the House of Falkland, Fife, Scotland with published catalogue, three peer-reviewed texts and conference proceedings And a mention in award-winning bbc radio 4 documentary Hearing the Past?! A multi-media art project undertaken by David Chapman and I on the Falkland Estate in Fife, Scotland between 2008 – 10. The various sound, video and live works we made over this time drew on personal responses to the site as well as the testimonies of others with a specific relationship to Falkland and its rich vein of intriguing geological and archaeological features and historical narratives. The works applied innovative acoustical research from the University of York. The works produced were: Arcadia (2008) an eight-channel audio work for the Tapestry Gallery in Falkland Palace; Falkland Audiowalk (2009) a downloadable mp3 audio piece; Temple of Decision, (2010) an HD video incorporating specially-commissioned reconstructive acoustics work from the University of York; the six-channel audio installation Cascading (2010) and the live work Chase a Yard Worse than Last (2010). Additionally a catalogue entitled Resounding Falkland was produced which included commissioned texts by Christopher Woodward, Eric Laurier, Damian Murphy, David Jones, REF Outputs Feedback the artists and an introduction by Ninian Stuart. This is downloadable from: http://www.resoundingfalkland.com/. In the text Sept 2011 ‘The Caress of the Audio: Re-sounding Falkland’, Social Semiotics Vol. 21, No. 4, pp: 517-529 we asked what the role of touch is in the creation and experience of audio-visual media. This project and the methodologies employed we believed opened up issues in relation to the use of media technologies to investigate and re-interpret historical actions, processes, the senses and memory. The special issue “Touch” of Social Semiotics was guest edited by Australian academic Dr Anne Cranny-Francis whom we first met when we gave a joint paper on the Falkland project at an early stage at the conference Sounding Out 4 (an international symposium on Sound in the Media in Sunderland in September 2008). We were interviewed in her guest-edited and refereed issue of the Australian online journal Scan: a journal of media arts culture. We also wrote ‘Falkland: a Sonic Investigation of Place’, for the Journal of Media Practice, Vol.11, No.3. pp: 231-242 (December 2010). In May 2011 David Chapman and I attended the 5th International FKL Symposium on Soundscape in Florence, Italy to give a paper entitled Falkland: a sonic investigation of place. The proceedings from the Keep an Ear On Symposium (including a reworked 2000 word text based on our paper) have now been published. Arcadia was cited in a BBC Radio 4 documentary entitled Hearing the Past (2011), produced by Jane Reck. This won the Royal Society Radio Prize for the best scripted/ edited radio programme or podcast. This is one of the annual ABSW Science Writer’s Awards for Britain and Ireland (ASBW – Association of British Science Writers). This multidisciplinary work was made in collaboration with David Chapman (Senior Lecturer in Media Production at the University of East London). It reflects our shared interest in sound – and was built on our differing expertise. My background is in Fine Art with a particular interest in relational, participatory and site-based practice. David has a background in broadcast documentary, film studies and music

Stranded and equilibrated assemblages of late feldspars in two granitic pegmatites in the Pampean Ranges, Argentina

Late primary K-feldspar in two granitic pegmatites from the Pampean pegmatite province in Argentina shows similar patterns of growth and exsolution, but different structural states and mineral associations. (i) In El Criollo, a beryl - columbite - phosphate pegmatite in the Punilla pegmatite field, a single miarolitic cavity in the blocky zone is lined with pale rusty crystals of veinperthitic K-feldspar and quartz. The Kfs host, Or89.7 Ab7.8 Rbf0.3 LEf(? 1.1 (□Si4O8)1.2 (∼88 vol.%), corresponds to optically and XRD-monoclinic, but highly (Al,Si -ordered orthoclase (2t1 = 0.82), with only a slight incipient conversion to intermediate grid-twinned microcline along contacts with exsolved low albite, Ab98.1 An1.2 Or0.9 (∼12 vol.%). The homogeneous precursor of the perthite contained ∼22 mole % Abss. The perthitic orthoclase is overgrown, mainly on the {010} faces, by nonperthitic, gemmy, pale grey to beige orthoclase, Or91.6 Ab6.1 Rbf0.5 Cno.2 Srf0.1 LEf(?)0.2 (□Si4O8)1.5, with 2t1 equal to 0.84. Small tabular crystals of white low albite, Ab99.5 Or0.7, elongate parallel to c, are situated on the {010} faces of the orthoclase in epitactic orientation. (ii) In San Luis II, a spodumene pegmatite in El Totoral pegmatite field, crystals of coarsely perthitic K-feldspar and quartz line cavities in the core-margin zone. The mottled-grey euhedral K-feldspar, Or92.3 Ab4.1 Rbf1.1 Csf0.1 Cn0.1 Srf0.1 LEf(?)1.5 (□Si4O8)0.8 (∼92 vol.%), locally altered to muscovite and clay minerals, is very close to end-member low microcline with vein-shaped exsolution lamellae of low albite. Ab99.1 An0.1 Or0.4 Cn0.1 Srf0.1 (∼8 vol.%). The homogeneous precursor of the perthite contained ∼13 mole % Abss. All faces of the perthite crystals have an even overgrowth of pale grey, nonperthitic low microcline, Or92.8 Ab4.8 Rbf0.2 Srf0.1 LEf(? 1.8(□Si4O8)0.3. The cavity space among the crystals of the K-feldspar and primary quartz is largely filled by microcrystalline secondary quartz, "chalcedony", opal and goethite. Different subsolidus histories of the two host vugs explain the conspicuous contrast between the structural states of their cavity-lining K-feldspar. In El Criollo pegmatite, the cavity probably quickly lost residual aqueous fluid, as the orthoclase of both the primary perthitic crystals and particularly of the gemmy overgrowth show only stranded, coherent domain-scale order and twinning, and very limited alteration. In the San Luis II pegmatite, the cavity-lining K-feldspar shows considerable alteration and overgrowth by low-temperature phases, indicative of substantial hydrothermal activity, which promoted (Al,Si)-ordering to give tartan-twinned low microcline in both the primary perthitic crystals and the norperthitic overgrowths.Le feldspath potassique primaire qui s’est formé tardivement dans deux pegmatites granitiques de la province pegmatitique de Pampea, en Argentine, montre des points communs en termes de croissance et d’exsolution, mais des différences marquées en termes du degré d’ordre et d’associations minérales. (i) A El Criollo, une pegmatite à béryl – columbite – phosphate du champ pegmatitique de Punilla, une seule cavité miarolitique de la zone à cristaux polyédriques est tapissée de cristaux pâles de couleur rouille de feldspath potassique, perthitique à veines, avec quartz. L’hôte dans cette perthite, Or89.7 Ab7.8 Rbf0.3 LEf(?)1.1 (Si4O8)1.2 (~88% en volume), correspond optiquement et en diffraction X à une phase monoclinique (orthose) fortement ordonnée, avec 2t1 = 0.82, et un début de conversion à la microcline intermédiaire avec maclage quadrillé le long des contacts avec l’albite ordonnée exsolvée, Ab98.1 An1.2 Or0.9 (~12% en volume). Le précurseur homogène de la perthite contenait ~22% Abss (base molaire). L’orthose perthitique est recouverte, surtout sur les faces {010}, d’une surcroissance d’orthose non perthitique, gemme, gris pâle à beige, Or91.6 Ab6.1 Rbf0.5 Cn0.2 Srf0.1 LEf(?)0.2 (Si4O8)1.5, avec 2t1 egal à 0.84. De petits cristaux tabulaires blancs d’albite ordonnée, Ab99.5 Or0.7, allongés parallèles à c, recouvrent les faces {110} de l’orthose, en relation épitactique. (ii) A San Luis II, une pegmatite à spodumène du champ de El Totoral, des cristaux grossiers et perthitiques de feldspath potassique et de quartz tapissent les cavités de la zone externe du coeur du massif. Les cristaux idiomorphes de feldspath potassique sont gris nuagé, Or92.3 Ab4.1 Rbf1.1 Csf0.1 Cn0.1 Srf0.1 LEf(?)1.5 (Si4O8)0.8 (~92% en volume), localement transformés en muscovite et en argiles; ils sont très près du pôle microcline ordonné, avec des lamelles exsolvées en veines d’albite ordonnée, Ab99.1 An0.1 Or0.4 Cn0.1 Srf0.1 (~8% en volume). Le précurseur homogène de la perthite contenait ~13% d’albite Abss (base molaire). Toutes les faces des cristaux de perthite sont recouvertes d’une surcroissance uniforme gris pâle de microline ordonné non perthitique, Or92.8 Ab4.8 Rbf0.2 Srf0.1 LEf(?)1.8(Si4O8)0.3. Les espaces entre les cristaux de feldspath potassique et de quartz sont surtout remplis de quartz microcristallin secondaire, “calcédoine”, opale et goethite. Des différences dans l’évolution subsolidus des deux cavités hôtes expliquent le contraste frappant en termes du degré d’ordre du feldspath potassique sur les parois. Dans la pegmatite de El Criollo, la cavité a probablement perdu la phase fluide résiduelle rapidement; l’orthose des cristaux primaires devenus perthitiques et de la surcroissance gemme ne contient que des domaines ordonnés cohérents et maclés, conservés de façon métastable, et très peu d’altération. Dans la pegmatite de San Luis II, les cristaux de feldspath potassique le long des parois montrent des signes importants d’altération et de surcroissances de phases de basse température, indications d’une activité hydrothermale substantielle, qui a favorisé la mise en ordre (Al,Si) du feldpath pour mener à la forme à maclage quadrillé du microcline ordonné, aussi bien dans les cristaux perthitiques que dans les surcroissances non perthitiques.Fil: Cerny, Petr. University of Manitoba; CanadáFil: Galliski, Miguel Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto. Direccion Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino. Instituto Antártico Argentino - Sede Cricyt (Mendoza); ArgentinaFil: Oyarzabal, Julio C.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Teertstra, David K.. University of Manitoba; CanadáFil: Chapman, Ron. University of Manitoba; CanadáFil: MacBride, Lyndsey. University of Manitoba; CanadáFil: Ferreira, Karen. University of Manitoba; Canad

The Sheffield Caseload Classification Tool: testing its inter-rater reliability.

Community nursing caseloads are vast, with differing complexities. The Sheffield Caseload Classification Tool (SCCT) was co-produced with community nurses and nurse managers to help assign patients on a community caseload according to nursing need and complexity of care. The tool comprises 12 packages of care and three complexities. The present study aimed to test the inter-rater reliability of the tool. This was a table top validation exercise conducted in one city in South Yorkshire. A purposive sample of six community nurses assessed 69 case studies using the tool and assigned a package of care and complexity of need to each. These were compared with pre-determined answers. Cronbach's alpha for the care package was 0.979, indicating very good reliability, with individual nurse reliability values also being high. Fleiss's kappa coefficient for the care packages was 0.771, indicating substantial agreement among nurses; it was 0.423 for complexity ratings, indicating moderate agreement. The SCCT can reliably assign patients to the appropriate skilled nurse and care package. It helps prioritise and plan a community nursing caseload, ensuring efficient use of staff time to deliver appropriate care to patients with differing needs

Coxsackievirus B3 Infection Leads to the Generation of Cardiac Myosin Heavy Chain-α-Reactive CD4 T Cells in A/J Mice

Enteroviruses like coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) are common suspects in myocarditis/dilated cardiomyopathy patients. Autoimmunity has been proposed as an underlying mechanism, but direct evidence of its role is lacking. To delineate autoimmune response in CVB3 myocarditis, we used IAk dextramers for cardiac myosin heavy chain (Myhc)-α 334–352. We have demonstrated that myocarditis-susceptible A/J mice infected with CVB3 generate Myhc-α-reactive CD4 T cells and such a repertoire was absent in naïve mice as measured by proliferative response to Myhc-α 334–352 and IAk dextramer staining. We also detected Myhc-α 334–352 dextramer+ cells in the hearts of CVB3-infected mice. The autoreactive T cell repertoire derived from infected mice contained a high frequency of interleukin-17-producing cells capable of inducing myocarditis in naïve recipients. The data suggest that CVB3, a bona fide pathogen of cardiovascular system that primarily infects the heart can lead to the secondary generation of autoreactive T cells and contribute to cardiac pathology

The Spitzer Survey of Interstellar Clouds in the Gould Belt. VI. The Auriga-California Molecular Cloud observed with IRAC and MIPS

We present observations of the Auriga-California Molecular Cloud (AMC) at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0, 24, 70 and 160 micron observed with the IRAC and MIPS detectors as part of the Spitzer Gould Belt Legacy Survey. The total mapped areas are 2.5 sq-deg with IRAC and 10.47 sq-deg with MIPS. This giant molecular cloud is one of two in the nearby Gould Belt of star-forming regions, the other being the Orion A Molecular Cloud (OMC). We compare source counts, colors and magnitudes in our observed region to a subset of the SWIRE data that was processed through our pipeline. Using color-magnitude and color-color diagrams, we find evidence for a substantial population of 166 young stellar objects (YSOs) in the cloud, many of which were previously unknown. Most of this population is concentrated around the LkHalpha 101 cluster and the filament extending from it. We present a quantitative description of the degree of clustering and discuss the fraction of YSOs in the region with disks relative to an estimate of the diskless YSO population. Although the AMC is similar in mass, size and distance to the OMC, it is forming about 15 - 20 times fewer stars.Comment: (30 pages, 17 figures (2 multipage figures), accepted for publication in ApJ