The cationic region of Rhes mediates its interactions with specific Gβ subunits

Ras homologue enriched in striatum (Rhes) is a small monomeric G protein which functions in a variety of cellular processes, including attenuation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)signalling. There have been many studies into the effects of Rhes, but there is no molecular information about how Rhes might bring about these effects. Rhes shares striking sequence homology to AGS1 (activator of G protein signalling 1) and we considered whether the two proteins function in similar ways. AGS1 binds to the Gβ1 subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins and we have used yeast two-hybrid studies to show that Rhes binds selectively to Gβ1, Gβ2 and Gβ3 subunits. Binding to the Gβ subunits involves the cationic regions of AGS1 and Rhes, and we used Rhes-AGS1 chimeras to show that their different cationic regions determine the Gβ-specificity of the interactions. Possible implications of this interaction for the activity of Rhes are discussed

Sharing sweet water: Culture and the wise use of wetlands in Western Australia

The similarities and differences in traditional, contemporary and global/international cultures’ development and use of institutions for the wise use of wetlands are explored across Western Australia. A process grounded in social anthropology is used to test a research hypothesis and to assess the structure and function of the diverse cultures’ institutions and empathy for wetlands. Six thematic case studies were located in catchments on Perth’s Ridge Hill, Perth’s Eastern Hills, Perth, and Western Australia’s Swan Coastal Plain, the Southwest, and its rangelands. Sources of evidence also include the literature on Aboriginal Australia, an extensive and detailed ethnographic review of regional and historic documents, the scientific literature of strategic water, wetlands and environmental management, and three decades of the author’s professional work. This analysis demonstrates that traditional Western Australian cultures have diverse and effective institutions for sustainable use, conservation, protection and a well-developed empathy for their inland waters. In contrast, contemporary Western Australian cultures with some important exceptions do not, and are more accepting of the continuing exploitation and systematic destruction of the remaining natural waters, particularly in urban and agricultural areas of the Southwest. This recent destruction of wetlands is moderated occasionally by the efforts of traditional cultures, community and heritage organizations, sometimes through the use of contemporary planning and environmental protection institutions, and more rarely because of Australia’s obligations to global Conventions. The analysis explains why better use of these institutions is essential. Opportunities for improving wise use of wetlands in Western Australia are identified. Particularly important is the need for the more transparent engagement and regular reporting by the State of Western Australia in support of Australia’s obligations to the global Conventions. This includes reporting on progress towards the establishment of nature reserves on Swan Coastal Plain wetlands under Article 4 of the Ramsar Convention. It includes reporting the meeting of National targets for protecting priority biodiversity of inland water ecosystems, the protection of the buffers of wetlands and waterways as parts of ecological corridors, and State-wide progress towards use of traditional ecological knowledge to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Reporting is needed on progress made towards implementing relevant Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All reports might valuably include progress on identified new priority initiatives such as distributed network of wetland education centres, the better protection of monument wetland sites and improved indigenous heritage conservation. Such work, carried out in conjunction with Perth’s Whadjug peoples, the Southwest’s Nyoongar peoples, and the rangeland’s Kimberley, Yarnangu and Yamatji peoples, will help the conservation of the State’s inland waters as a necessary condition of human and ecosystem existence, as well as provide valuable common ground in which to practise tolerance, respect and cooperation between cultures. The better recognition of traditional ecological knowledge, the provision of more support for Indigenous engagement in wetland conservation, and the implementation of a far broader range of effective institutions are all identified as essential requirements for moving towards the wise use of wetlands in Western Australia

Aspects of Articulated Column Design Including Rigid Body and Elastic Vibration

The work contained in this thesis mainly relates to aspects of the dynamic behaviour of articulated column production platforms. However, the work can be applied in a more general sense to certain other compliant structures which share some of the dynamic characteristics of articulated columns. After an introductory chapter on the characteristics and uses of articulated columns, some time is devoted to the examination of fundamental aspects which will have an important bearing on the feasibility of the articulated column concept. Such features as the amount of buoyancy required in terms of payload and static heel considerations, space utilisation within the structure, installation procedure and human awareness to motion responses are, discussed. Data are provided which are intended to give general guidance to designers and also establish the inter-dependence of certain parameters. Chapters 4 and 5, are concerned with the rigid body motion response in the time domain. Computer programs have been developed to solve the equations of motion on a time incremental basis, using the modified Morison equation as the forcing function. Once developed, the programs have been applied to examine certain of the non-linear behaviour characteristics of articulated columns in regular waves. Chapter 5 is devoted to examining those aspects of dynamic instability which are readily examined in a time series analysis. Instability mechanisms examined are those due to regular waves and wave groups. Experimental results have been obtained and comparisons with theory are made. The slenderness of the construction of articulated columns gives rise to elastic vibration characteristics which may result in undesirable resonant vibrations. Chapter 6 is concerned with an examination of this aspect, in terms of free vibration analysis, and of those parameters which have the greatest influence on vibration. The finite element method has been used for the free vibration analysis. In Chapter 7, the development of programs to examine the full vibration analysis of articulated columns, in the time domain, is described. The programs have been used to examine, in the time domain, certain of those parameters which were examined in the free vibration analysis presented in Chapter 6. Some experimental results for a very flexible structure are presented and the programs have been adapted to simulate the model construction and test conditions. These results give credibility to the use of a full vibration analysis in the time domain and comparisons of observed non-linear behaviour and predicted non-linear behaviour are made. The non-linear behaviour of articulated columns is shown to play a major part in concept feasibility as are elastic vibration characteristics. However, the concept comprising a lower column of relatively straightforward structural section is shown to be feasible in water depths up to 300 metres. Thereafter, greater flexural rigidity is required

Wildlife-Cattle Interactions in Northern Michigan: Implications for the Transmission of Bovine Tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) was discovered in northern Michigan white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 1994, and has been known to exist in Michigan cattle herds since 1998. Despite efforts to eradicate the disease in cattle, infection and re-infection of farms continues to occur, suggesting transmission among cattle, deer, or other wildlife reservoirs. The goals of this study were to document wildlife activity on farms and evaluate the possible role wildlife play in the ecology of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Michigan. Visual observations were conducted on farms in a 5-county area of northern Michigan to document direct wildlife-cattle interactions (i.e., \u3c5 m between individuals) and indirect interactions (e.g., wildlife visitations to food stores and areas accessible to cattle). Observations were conducted primarily during evening and early morning hours between January and August, 2002, and on a 24-hour schedule between January and August, 2003. Total observation time accumulated through the duration of the study was 1,780 hours. Results indicated that direct interaction between deer and cattle was a rare event; no direct interactions were observed during the first year, and only one direct interaction was observed during the second year. However, through the duration of the study 21 direct interactions were documented between cattle and turkey, and 11 direct interactions were documented between cattle and mammals other than deer. In total, 273 indirect interactions by deer, 112 indirect interactions by turkeys, and 248 indirect interactions by mammals other than deer were observed during the 2 field seasons combined. These data supported the hypothesis that indirect interactions among wildlife and cattle are a potential mechanism for the transmission of TB in Michigan. If direct interactions were important mechanisms of TB transmission to cattle in northern Michigan, my data suggested that feral cats were the species of most concern, even though there were more observations between turkey and cattle. Unlike cats, which can become infected with and transmit TB, there is no evidence for such pathogenesis in turkey

Fermented beverages with health-promoting potential: Past and future perspectives

peer-reviewedFermentation is an ancient form of food preservation, which also improves the nutritional content of foods. In many regions of the world, fermented beverages have become known for their health-promoting attributes. In addition to harnessing traditional beverages for commercial use, there have recently been innovative efforts to develop non-dairy probiotic fermented beverages from a variety of substrates, including soy milk, whey, cereals and vegetable and fruit juices. On the basis of recent developments, it is anticipated that fermented beverages will continue to be a significant component within the functional food market

Testing the Validity of Standard Representative Agent Import Demand Systems

Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade,

A historical demography of the rolvenden hundred with reference to population genetics

This thesis studies some aspects of the demographic history of the Rolvenden Hundred in the Weald of Kent during the period 1560-1980, and attempts to assess the factors affecting population change in the region over that period. Research into the regions historical background revealed a number of key variables which may have influenced the course of historical demography. The established views of several Kentish authorities, together with material derived from the Anglican parish registers provided the basic approach to this study. The study starts with a general introduction to the population history of the region. Particular interest is devoted to folk movements of the Anglo-Saxon period who settled in Kent during the early fifth century. It appears to have been their descendants who were so successful in developing the soils of the Weald for agriculture. Their drove roads determined the orientation of inter-parish movement at much later dates in history. The main section of the work is concerned with the populations adaptive responses to changing socio-economic conditions. It is argued that the pioneering settlers within the Weald were peculiarly well adapted in terms of genetic 'fitness' and had presumably earlier evolved such genetic traits due to natural selection. The consequences of their failure to adapt to the demands of a market economy forms the basis for later discussion, with particular emphasis upon epidemic cycles acting as a vehicle for natural selection. The parameters of this study were of necessity limited, many possible avenues of further investigation are highlighted in the last chapter. Some statistical material was found to differ considerably from other contemporary studies. No positive conclusions can be drawn at this stage; the object of this study was primarily to provide a basis for future personal fieldwork in this region

Sequencing-Based Analysis of the Bacterial and Fungal Composition of Kefir Grains and Milks from Multiple Sources

peer-reviewedKefir is a fermented milk-based beverage to which a number of health-promoting properties have been attributed. The microbes responsible for the fermentation of milk to produce kefir consist of a complex association of bacteria and yeasts, bound within a polysaccharide matrix, known as the kefir grain. The consistency of this microbial population, and that present in the resultant beverage, has been the subject of a number of previous, almost exclusively culture-based, studies which have indicated differences depending on geographical location and culture conditions. However, culture-based identification studies are limited by virtue of only detecting species with the ability to grow on the specific medium used and thus culture-independent, molecular-based techniques offer the potential for a more comprehensive analysis of such communities. Here we describe a detailed investigation of the microbial population, both bacterial and fungal, of kefir, using high-throughput sequencing to analyse 25 kefir milks and associated grains sourced from 8 geographically distinct regions. This is the first occasion that this technology has been employed to investigate the fungal component of these populations or to reveal the microbial composition of such an extensive number of kefir grains or milks. As a result several genera and species not previously identified in kefir were revealed. Our analysis shows that the bacterial populations in kefir are dominated by 2 phyla, the Firmicutes and the Proteobacteria. It was also established that the fungal populations of kefir were dominated by the genera Kazachstania, Kluyveromyces and Naumovozyma, but that a variable sub-dominant population also exists.The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre is a research centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), through the Irish Government’s National Development Plan. The authors and their work were supported by SFI CSET grant APC CSET 2 grant 07/CE/B1368