Bretton Woods

Analysis of the Inter-Allied Conference; Sapajou = nom-de-plume of Georgii Avksent�ievich Sapojinikoff, cartoonist with the North-China Daily New

Potential rockfalls and analysis of slope dynamics in the palatine archaeological area (Rome, Italy)

The Palatine Hill is among the main archaeological sites of Roman antiquity. Today, this place requires continuous care for its safeguarding and conservation. Among the main problems, slope instabilities threaten the southwestern border of the hill flanked by the Velabrum Valley, as also testified by historical documents. The upper part of the investigated slope is characterized by Middle Pleistocene red-brownish tuffs known as "Tufo Lionato". The rock mass is affected by two jointing belts featuring the slope edge and its internal portion with different joint frequency and distribution. The analysis of the geometric relationship between the joint systems and the slope attitude evidenced possible planar sliding and toppling failure mechanisms on the exposed tuff cliffs. Potential rock block failures threatening the local cultural heritage were contrasted with preliminary works for site remediation. In addition, stress-strain numerical modelling verified the hypothesis of a tensile origin for the jointing belts, suggested by fracture characteristics and orientation. A first modelling was limited to the southwestern edge of the Palatine Hill and analysed the present stress-strain condition of the slope, proving the inconsistency with the observed deformation. A second modelling was extended to the Palatine-Velabrum slope-to-valley system to consider the role played by the geomorphological evolution of the area on the local slope dynamics during the late Pleistocene-Holocene. Results demonstrate how original conditions of slope instability, deformation and retreat along the Palatine western edge were determined by deep valley incision, and controlled by deformability contrasts within the slope. Slope instability influenced the site occupation and development during the Roman civilization, as also indicated by the remnants of retaining walls of different ages at the slope base

E. coli Enterohemorrágica: factores de virulencia e infección en el ganado

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains constitute a subset of the verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) or Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC). Within this group, E. coli O157:H7 is the most well-known Stx-producing serotype. EHEC strains produce hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Like enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains, they mediate their pathogenesis through "attaching and effacing" (A/E) lesions. Cattle are the main reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 and they are directly linked to most of the human outbreaks. In this review, the virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of EHEC strains, especially those participating in the colonization of the bovine intestinal mucosa, are analyzed.Las cepas de E. coli enterohemorrágica (EHEC) constituyen un subgrupo de las E. coli verotoxigénicas (VTEC) o E. coli productoras de toxinas Shiga (Stx) (STEC). Dentro de este grupo, E. coli O157:H7 es el serotipo productor de Stx más conocido. Las cepas de EHEC producen colitis hemorrágica y el síndrome urémico hemolítico en humanos. Al igual que las cepas enteropatogénicas de E. coli (EPEC), estas cepas median su patogénesis a través de lesiones de "adherencia y destrucción" (lesión A/E). El ganado bovino es el principal reservorio de E. coli O157:H7 y se lo asocia directamente a la mayoría de los brotes en humanos. En esta revisión se analizan los factores de virulencia involucrados en la patogénesis de las cepas EHEC, especialmente aquellos que participan en la colonización de la mucosa intestinal de los bovinos

Self-organizing actin waves that simulate phagocytic cup structures

This report deals with actin waves that are spontaneously generated on the planar, substrate-attached surface of Dictyostelium cells. These waves have the following characteristics. (1) They are circular structures of varying shape, capable of changing the direction of propagation. (2) The waves propagate by treadmilling with a recovery of actin incorporation after photobleaching of less than 10 seconds. (3) The waves are associated with actin-binding proteins in an ordered 3-dimensional organization: with myosin-IB at the front and close to the membrane, the Arp2/3 complex throughout the wave, and coronin at the cytoplasmic face and back of the wave. Coronin is a marker of disassembling actin structures. (4) The waves separate two areas of the cell cortex that differ in actin structure and phosphoinositide composition of the membrane. The waves arise at the border of membrane areas rich in phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate (PIP3). The inhibition of PIP3 synthesis reversibly inhibits wave formation. (5) The actin wave and PIP3 patterns resemble 2-dimensional projections of phagocytic cups, suggesting that they are involved in the scanning of surfaces for particles to be taken up

Bistability in the actin cortex

Multi-color fluorescence imaging experiments of wave forming Dictyostelium cells have revealed that actin waves separate two domains of the cell cortex that differ in their actin structure and phosphoinositide composition. We propose a bistable model of actin dynamics to account for these experimental observation. The model is based on the simplifying assumption that the actin cytoskeleton is composed of two distinct network types, a dendritic and a bundled network. The two structurally different states that were observed in experiments correspond to the stable fixed points in the bistable regime of this model. Each fixed point is dominated by one of the two network types. The experimentally observed actin waves can be considered as trigger waves that propagate transitions between the two stable fixed points

Marketing madness or financial folly?: Implementing equity crowdfunding in the record industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of equity crowdfunding (ECF) within the record industry in terms of challenges and opportunities, in addition to the marketing and financial implications for independent music artists and major record labels. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative methodology consisting of two-stage interview-based research methods. A total of 44 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the CEOs of ECF platforms in the record industry, other related record industry informants, independent artist managers and senior executives from major record labels. Findings The loyalty aspect of ECF may have significant marketing potential in terms of inconspicuously using the equity platform as a “prosumer” identification mechanism. As this early career stage of artists is delicate in terms of establishing trust and patronage from their fans, these early marketing and ECF ventures should be implemented directly from the artist without external third-party involvement. Research limitations/implications The implications of this paper’s findings and theoretical model are not limited to the two studied stakeholder groups of the record industry. The insights in relation to the obstinate lack of understanding and clarity (particularly for independent artists) which surround ECF are likely to influence short-term strategic approaches by other players throughout the wider music industry. Practical implications The insights regarding negative approaches towards ECF by the labels may influence future “coopetition strategies” for independent labels, as they seek to navigate the changing industry dynamics. Originality/value This paper is the first study to empirically explore the predominantly under-researched area of ECF implementation in the record industry in terms of marketing and financial consequences for artists and labels. </jats:sec

Identification of epitopes recognised by mucosal CD4+ T-cell populations from cattle experimentally colonised with Escherichia coli O157:H7

Additional file 5. Sequence alignment of Intimin epitopes against Intimin sequences from non-O157 EHEC serotypes. Alignment of Intimin CD4+ T-cell epitope sequences with representative Intimin sequences from EHEC serotypes O145, O127, O26, O103, O121, O45 and O111. Percentage values indicate % similarity to the EHEC O157:H7 reference sequence

A comparison of welfare outcomes for weaner and mature Bos indicus bulls surgically or tension ban castrated with or without analgesia: 2. responses related to stress, health and productivity

Tension banding castration of cattle is gaining favour because it is relatively simple to perform and is promoted by retailers of the banders as a humane castration method. Two experiments were conducted, under tropical conditions using Bos indicus bulls comparing tension banding (Band) and surgical (Surgical) castration of weaner (7-10 months old) and mature (22-25 months old) bulls with and without pain management (NSAID (ketoprofen) or saline injected intramuscularly immediately prior to castration). Welfare outcomes were assessed using a range of measures; this paper reports on some physiological, morbidity and productivity-related responses to augment the behavioural responses reported in an accompanying paper. Blood samples were taken on the day of castration (day 0) at the time of restraint (0. min) and 30. min (weaners) or 40. min (mature bulls), 2. h, and 7. h; and days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-castration. Plasmas from day 0 were assayed for cortisol, creatine kinase, total protein and packed cell volume. Plasmas from the other samples were assayed for cortisol and haptoglobin (plus the 0. min sample). Liveweights were recorded approximately weekly to 6 weeks and at 2 and 3 months post-castration. Castration sites were checked at these same times to 2 months post-castration to score the extent of healing and presence of sepsis. Cortisol concentrations (mean. ±. s.e. nmol/L) were significantly (

The Second Transmembrane Domain of P2X7 Contributes to Dilated Pore Formation

Activation of the purinergic receptor P2X7 leads to the cellular permeability of low molecular weight cations. To determine which domains of P2X7 are necessary for this permeability, we exchanged either the C-terminus or portions of the second transmembrane domain (TM2) with those in P2X1 or P2X4. Replacement of the C-terminus of P2X7 with either P2X1 or P2X4 prevented surface expression of the chimeric receptor. Similarly, chimeric P2X7 containing TM2 from P2X1 or P2X4 had reduced surface expression and no permeability to cationic dyes. Exchanging the N-terminal 10 residues or C-terminal 14 residues of the P2X7 TM2 with the corresponding region of P2X1 TM2 partially restored surface expression and limited pore permeability. To further probe TM2 structure, we replaced single residues in P2X7 TM2 with those in P2X1 or P2X4. We identified multiple substitutions that drastically changed pore permeability without altering surface expression. Three substitutions (Q332P, Y336T, and Y343L) individually reduced pore formation as indicated by decreased dye uptake and also reduced membrane blebbing in response to ATP exposure. Three others substitutions, V335T, S342G, and S342A each enhanced dye uptake, membrane blebbing and cell death. Our results demonstrate a critical role for the TM2 domain of P2X7 in receptor function, and provide a structural basis for differences between purinergic receptors. © 2013 Sun et al