President\u27s Page

Comments by Roger Jacobs, president of the American Association of Law Libraries on the 75th anniversary of the Law Library Journal

A Tribute to Robert L. Oakley: Remembering Bob Oakley

A tribute to Robert L. Oakley, Professor and Law Librarian (1945-2007)

Lessons Learned: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Water Management [abstract]

2 pages

Slit coordinates cardiac morphogenesis in Drosophila

AbstractSlit is a secreted guidance cue that conveys repellent or attractive signals from target and guidepost cells. In Drosophila, responsive cells express one or more of three Robo receptors. The cardial cells of the developing heart express both Slit and Robo2. This is the first report of coincident expression of a Robo and its ligand. In slit mutants, cardial cell alignment, polarization and uniform migration are disrupted. The heart phenotype of robo2 mutants is similar, with fewer migration defects. In the guidance of neuronal growth cones in Drosophila, there is a phenotypic interaction between slit and robo heterozygotes, and also with genes required for Robo signaling. In contrast, in the heart, slit has little or no phenotypic interaction with Robo-related genes, including Robo2, Nck2, and Disabled. However, there is a strong phenotypic interaction with Integrin genes and their ligands, including Laminin and Collagen, and intracellular messengers, including Talin and ILK. This indicates that Slit participates in adhesion or adhesion signaling during heart development

Varicose: a MAGUK required for the maturation and function of Drosophila septate junctions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Scaffolding proteins belonging to the membrane associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) superfamily function as adapters linking cytoplasmic and cell surface proteins to the cytoskeleton to regulate cell-cell adhesion, cell-cell communication and signal transduction. We characterize here a <it>Drosophila </it>MAGUK member, Varicose (Vari), the homologue of vertebrate scaffolding protein PALS2.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Varicose localizes to pleated septate junctions (pSJs) of all embryonic, ectodermally-derived epithelia and peripheral glia. In <it>vari </it>mutants, essential SJ proteins NeurexinIV and FasciclinIII are mislocalized basally and epithelia develop a leaky paracellular seal. In addition, <it>vari </it>mutants display irregular tracheal tube diameters and have reduced lumenal protein accumulation, suggesting involvement in tracheal morphogenesis. We found that Vari is distributed in the cytoplasm of the optic lobe neuroepithelium, as well as in a subset of neuroblasts and differentiated neurons of the nervous system. We reduced <it>vari </it>function during the development of adult epithelia with a partial rescue, RNA interference and generation of genetically mosaic tissue. All three approaches demonstrate that <it>vari </it>is required for the patterning and morphogenesis of adult epithelial hairs and bristles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Varicose is involved in scaffold assembly at the SJ and has a role in patterning and morphogenesis of adult epithelia.</p

University of Colorado: 1972 Field Season on East Baffin Island

SEA ICE. Studies of surface energy budgets on the fast ice at Broughton Island 67&deg;35' N, 63&deg;50' W) were undertaken from late May to August 1972. The program included micrometeorological measurements on the fast ice and ice thickness surveys. Climatological observations including radiation studies begun in June 1971 by The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at a site in Broughton village were continued. The summer of 1972 was one of unusually severe ice conditions for this section of Davis Strait, and the results of our winter 1971-72 and summer 1972 fieldwork are being examined together with synoptic data in an attempt to understand this situation. Meteorological satellite data are being analyzed to obtain regional extrapolations of synoptic surface energy budgets. BOAS GLACIER. The Boas Glacier was visited in early June, at which time snow pits and probing were used to estimate the winter balance. The mean snow depth based on 190 probes was 0.948 m with a standard error of &plusmn;0.06 m. Average snow density was 0.326 g/cm&sup3; giving a specific winter balance of 0.31 m H2O. The glacier could not be visited in August due to extremely bad ice conditions, but on the basis of the weather in previous years we predict that the net specific balance will be positive and greater than 0.3 m H2O. The strain diamond was remeasured and analysis indicates that the principal strain axis is directed down-glacier and shows a compressive strain of 10**-6 yr (based on 2 years of measurements). Using the Boas Glacier mass balance data, a discriminant equation has been developed based on September to May accumulation at Broughton Island, and accumulated summer degree days (June, July, August). Investigations of other mass balance data suggest that the Broughton Island data constitute a sensitive predictor of mass balances as far north as Devon Island. This finding ... indicates a broad similarity of climatic events throughout major sections of the Arctic. QUATERNARY GEOLOGY. Investigations on Neoglacial, Wisconsin and pre-Wisconsin local ice advances were carried out in the area between Cape Dyer and Padloping Island. Echo soundings indicated the presence of glacio-marine deltas at depths of 30 m below sea level. Dr. G. Boulton, University of East Anglia, Norwich, visited the area and collected a peat monolith in front of the Maktak Glacier, and Dr. M. Church, University of British Columbia, carried out investigations on the Maktak sandur

Antibody response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae: protection of host and influence on outbreaks?

In humans of all ages, the cell wall-less and genome-reduced species Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The well-documented occurrence of major peaks in the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia cases reported world-wide, the multifaceted clinical manifestations of infection and the increasing number of resistant strains provide reasons for ongoing interest in the pathogenesis of mycoplasmal disease. The results of recent studies have provided insights into the interaction of the limited virulence factors of the bacterium with its host. In addition, the availability of complete M. pneumoniae genomes from patient isolates and the development of proteomic methods for investigation of mycoplasmas have not only allowed characterization of sequence divergences between strains but have also shown the importance of proteins and protein parts for induction of the immune reaction after infection. This review focuses on selected aspects of the humoral host immune response as a factor that might influence the clinical course of infections, subsequent protection in cases of re-infections and changes of epidemiological pattern of infections. The characterization of antibodies directed to defined antigens and approaches to promote their induction in the respiratory mucosa are also preconditions for the development of a vaccine to protect risk populations from severe disease due to M. pneumoniae

Seeded Native Shrub Establishment on Disturbed Sites in Southwestern Wyoming

Critical wildlife habitat supporting mule deer, antelope, and sage grouse in high elevation rangeland and sagebrush ecosystems of southwest Wyoming is threatened by an expanding population and energy exploration and development. Our objective was to evaluate native shrub species establishment for restoration after disturbance. In October 2005, on a well-pad disturbance, 16 accessions of 12 native shrub species were drill-seeded in single species plots in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Also, two seed mixtures (Bridger and Shell) of grass, forb, and shrub species were broadcast- or drill-seeded, and one seed mixture (Shell) was hydro-seeded to separate areas outside of the replicated plots. Densities were sampled in September 2007. By 2007, nine of the 16 shrub accessions established in the replicated plots. Atriplex aptera had the greatest establishment at six plants/m2 followed by Atriplex canescens at four plants/m2. Establishment of the other seven accessions was similar and ranged from two to 0.4 plants/m2. Where the Bridger mix was broadcast seeded, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex aptera, and Krascheninnikovia lanata establishment was estimated at 10,000, 6,770, and 1,120 plants/ha, respectively. Where drill seeded, establishment of the three shrubs was 0, 4,480, and 2,240 plants/ha, respectively. Where the Shell mix was broadcast seeded, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Atriplex canescens establishment was estimated at 21,300, 4,500, and 4,500 plants/ha, respectively. Where drill seeded, establishment for the three species was 7,800, 10,000, and 1,100 plants/ha, respectively. Where the Shell mix was hydro-seeded, only Krascheninnikovia lanata established at 1,100 plants/ha