Boundary conditions on the early Sun from ancient cosmogenic neon in meteorites

Isotopic analysis of neon from individual grains of the meteorites Murchison (CM) and Kapoeta (howardite) shows large enrichments of cosmogenic neon in grains with solar flare tracks. The quantity of this component is incompatible with galactic cosmic ray or solar cosmic ray irradiation under present conditions and is attributed to irradiation by energetic flares from an early active Sun. Handpicked grains from each meteorite were grouped according to the presence or absence of solar flare heavy ion tracks, and these four samples were analyzed with an ion counting noble gas mass spectrometer

Precompaction irradiation effects: Particles from an early active sun?

Two recent studies have shown that solar flare irradiated grains from Murchison and Kapoeta have excess spallogenic Ne-21 compared to unirradiated grains, indicating large precompaction particle irradiation effects. The quantity of cosmogenic neon in these grains presents serious difficulties for either galactic cosmic ray or normal solar flare sources. In the first study it was suggested that the effect might be the result of exposure to an early active sun. The more recent experiment both confirms the earlier results and provides constraints on the characteristic energy spectrum on the irradiation. The first results were obtained from Murchison olivines and Kapoeta pyroxenes by mass spectrometric analysis of sets of grains selected on the basis of the presence or absence of solar flare particle tracks. In the second work plagioclase feldspar grains from Kapoeta were studied

Evidence in meteorites for an active early Sun

The amounts of neon-21 found in meteorite particles indicate that the Sun experienced a period of intense solar flare activity approximately 4.5 billion years ago

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent activation of Btk is required for optimal eicosanoid production and generation of reactive oxygen species in antigen-stimulated mast cells

Activated mast cells are a major source of the eicosanoids PGD(2) and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)), which contribute to allergic responses. These eicosanoids are produced following the ERK1/2-dependent activation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2), thus liberating arachidonic acid, which is subsequently metabolized by the actions of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase to form LTC(4) and PGD(2), respectively. These pathways also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been proposed to contribute to FcepsilonRI-mediated signaling in mast cells. In this study, we demonstrate that, in addition to ERK1/2-dependent pathways, ERK1/2-independent pathways also regulate FcepsilonRI-mediated eicosanoid and ROS production in mast cells. A role for the Tec kinase Btk in the ERK1/2-independent regulatory pathway was revealed by the significantly attenuated FcepsilonRI-dependent PGD(2), LTC(4), and ROS production in bone marrow-derived mast cells of Btk(-/-) mice. The FcepsilonRI-dependent activation of Btk and eicosanoid and ROS generation in bone marrow-derived mast cells and human mast cells were similarly blocked by the PI3K inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY294002, indicating that Btk-regulated eicosanoid and ROS production occurs downstream of PI3K. In contrast to ERK1/2, the PI3K/Btk pathway does not regulate cytosolic phospholipase A(2) phosphorylation but rather appears to regulate the generation of ROS, LTC(4), and PGD(2) by contributing to the necessary Ca(2+) signal for the production of these molecules. These data demonstrate that strategies to decrease mast cell production of ROS and eicosanoids would have to target both ERK1/2- and PI3K/Btk-dependent pathways

A Wild Pseudomonas has appeared: An Exercise in Bacterial Isolation and Identification

The aim of our research was to isolate and identify wild type Pseudomonas putida from soil in various cities of San Gabriel Valley. P. putida iscapable of biomineralization. Biomineralization can potentially be used as a method of phosphorus recovery by using bacteria to produce phosphate rich struvite. In isolating bacteria for further observation, fluorescence was used as a primary determinant in identifying possible Pseudomonas strains as fluorescence is a common trait shared among varying Pseudomonas species; P. putida, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, P. cichorii, P. chlororaphis, P. syringae,and P. aureofaciens. King’s B agar was used to promote the production of pyoverdine in these strains (allowing for direct identification based on a green fluorescence under UV light) as this medium has specific ingredients that enhance pigment production.These fluorescent bacteria were then further isolated from each other and identified using biochemical methods including catalase, oxidase, nitrate reduction, and gelatin hydrolysis tests to differentiate P. putida from the six other fluorescent Pseudomonas species. Of the 21 total samples isolated based on fluorescence, 5 of the samples were determined to be potential P. putida. While the biochemical assays were conducted, the isolated samples were placed in refrigeration for 3 weeks. After the biochemical tests were completed and 3 weeks had passed, visible crystals had formed in the potential P. putida. Albert’s metachromatic staining was performed to determine the presence of polyphosphate granules. Ultimately, each potential P. putida that produced crystals also showed polyphosphate granules when Albert’s stained, which further connects crystal formation with prior polyphosphate formation

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of a gene encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) into mice increases tissue and plasma AOAH activity

Although the host response to gram-negative bacterial infection follows largely from the interactions of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS or endotoxin) with host cells, little information is available concerning the mechanisms by which the host eliminates or detoxifies LPS. Acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) is an enzyme, found in phagocytic cells, that catalyzes the enzymatic deacylation of the lipid A moiety of LPS. Enzymatically deacylated LPS is much less potent than LPS at inducing responses in human cells, and it can antagonize the ability of LPS to activate human macrophages, neutrophils, and endothelial cells. Despite these observations, the physiologic role of LPS deacylation remains undefined. To investigate the ability of AOAH to carry out LPS deacylation in vivo, we produced a recombinant adenovirus carrying a gene encoding AOAH (Ad.CMV-AOAH) and employed this vector to elicit transient overexpression of AOAH in mice. Mice infected with Ad.CMV-AOAH expressed high levels of the enzyme in plasma, liver, spleen, and kidney. Although adenovirus-induced hepatitis reduced hepatic uptake of intravenously injected [H-3]LPS, animals expressing the transgene deacylated a larger fraction of the [3H]LPS taken up by their livers than did mice infected with a control adenovirus. These studies indicate that AOAH can catalyze the deacylation of LPS in vivo, and they provide evidence that the rates of hepatic LPS uptake and deacylation are not closely linked

Uranium-lead Isotope Evidence in the Shelyabinsk LL5 Chondrite Meteorite for Ancient and Recent Thermal Events

The impact histories on chondrite parent bodies can be deduced from thermochronologic analyses of materials and isotope systems with distinct apparent closure temperatures. It is especially critical to better understand the geological histories and physical properties of potenally hazardous near-Earth asteroids. Chelyabinsk is an LL5 chondrite meteorite that was dispersed over a wide area tens of kilometers south of the town of Chelyabinsk, Russia by an explosion at an altitude of 27 km at 3:22 UT on 15 Feb 2013 [1,2]. The explosion resulted in significant damage to surrounding areas and over 1500 injuries along with meteorite fragments being spread over a wide area [1]

Mineral Surface and Fluid Chemistry in Nakhlite Analog Water-Rock Reactions

We report on experiments with Mars analog materials under diagenetic conditions and find characteristic chemical surface changes in correspondence with the fluid conditions

A twisting of the sacred: the lived experience of religious abuse

Multiple counseling organizations, including the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, 2016), the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics (2014), and the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) competencies endorsed by the American Counseling Association, emphasize the importance of religion/spirituality in the worldview of many clients. The counseling literature has reflected a “burgeoning groundswell of interest in spiritually sensitive counseling” (Cashwell & Watts, 2010, p. 3). Although the literature continues to evolve to guide counselors when a client’s religious involvement is positive and supportive, very little information is found in the scholarly literature to inform counselors when clients present with negative religious experiences, particularly on the end of the spectrum that may be considered religious abuse (Ward, 2011; Wood & Conley, 2014). The purpose of this study was to address the existing gap in the current research literature on the lived experiences of those who have experienced religious abuse in order to provide empirical grounding to this phenomenon and to aid counselors in working with clients with a history of religious abuse. Seven participants who self-identified as experiencing abuse with a Christian religious setting in the United States shared their lived experiences via semi-structured interviews. The research team summarized common themes and experiences using the methodology of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The ten common themes that emerged across the interviews were: Emotional Trauma, Betrayal, Rules Prioritized Over People/Devalued, Abuse of Power/Use of the Sacred to Control or Manipulate, Spiritual Transformation, Isolation, Healing, Gender Bias/Discrimination, Stigma, and Victim-Blaming. After developing the themes through the IPA process, the Traumagenic Dynamics Model (Finkelhor & Browne, 1985) was used to provide a lens to examine this phenomenon, in an effort to begin to build a conceptual framework for the experience of religious abuse to inform counselors, supervisors, and counselor educators