Rough Hewn

Rough Hewn is the culmination of my research into aesthetics and form. It is a reflection of my appreciation of the raw surface textures and shapes that can be captured in wood; the How? and What If? of the objects, materials, and processes that inform my creative development. As I compose my sculptures working with rough-hewn timber, I consider the dichotomy of a material that is considered both utilitarian and beautiful. In my work I utilize scale, texture, and form to create a tangible connection between the object and viewer as I examine the relationship of rectangular forms to the human body. The big pine tree in front of the house, standing still and unconcerned and alive...the overshadowing tree whose green top one never looks at...One goes out of the door and the tree-trunk is there, like a guardian angel. The tree-trunk, the long work table and the fence! D. H. Lawrenc

Making violence ordinary: radio, music and the Rwandan genocide

During the 1994 Rwandan genocide an estimated 800 000 people, or roughly 12 per cent of Rwanda's population, perished at the hands of both Hutu militias and ordinary citizens. The pro-genocide radio station, RTLM, or Radio-Television Libre des Milles Collines (Free Radio-Television of a Thousand Hills), played a critical role in cultivating anti-Tutsi ideology and spurring mobs of Hutu militants to commit acts of violence in the name of justice, solidarity, and self-preservation

Crustacea of the Cayman Islands, British West Indies. I. Records of Mysids from Shallow Water Non-Reef Habitats

A single species of mysid Siriella chierchiae has been previously reported from the Cayman Islands. However, between May 1995 and August 1999, 20 species of mysids were collected from shallow water non-reef habitats surrounding Grand Cayman and Little Cayman Islands. Of the species collected, one species Anchialina typica has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and subtropical seas. Thirteen species (Amathimysis cherados, A. gibba, Bowmaniella johnsoni, Dioptromysis paucispinosa, Heteromysis bermudensis, H. mayana, Mysidium columbiae, M. gracile, M. integrum, Mysidopsis bispinulata, M. brattstromi, Parvimysis bahamensis, Siriella chierchiae) are found widely distributed throughout the subtropical and tropical waters of the Northwest Atlantic. Four species (Heteromysis coralina, Mysidopsis mathewsoni, Siriella chessi, S. macrophthalma) previously known only from their type localities are reported, and two undescribed species of Heteromysis, one from Little Cayman Island, and one from Grand Cayman Island, are recognized

Inhibition of HIV-1 infection by aqueous extracts of Prunella vulgaris L.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mint family (Lamiaceae) produces a wide variety of constituents with medicinal properties. Several family members have been reported to have antiviral activity, including lemon balm (<it>Melissa officinalis </it>L.), sage (<it>Salvia </it>spp.), peppermint (<it>Mentha </it>× <it>piperita </it>L.), hyssop (<it>Hyssopus officinalis </it>L.), basil (<it>Ocimum </it>spp.) and self-heal (<it>Prunell</it>a <it>vulgaris </it>L.). To further characterize the anti-lentiviral activities of <it>Prunella vulgaris</it>, water and ethanol extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Aqueous extracts contained more anti-viral activity than did ethanol extracts, displaying potent antiviral activity against HIV-1 at sub μg/mL concentrations with little to no cellular cytotoxicity at concentrations more than 100-fold higher. Time-of-addition studies demonstrated that aqueous extracts were effective when added during the first five hours following initiation of infection, suggesting that the botanical constituents were targeting entry events. Further analysis revealed that extracts inhibited both virus/cell interactions and post-binding events. While only 40% inhibition was maximally achieved in our virus/cell interaction studies, extract effectively blocked post-binding events at concentrations similar to those that blocked infection, suggesting that it was targeting of these latter steps that was most important for mediating inhibition of virus infectivity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrate that aqueous <it>P. vulgaris </it>extracts inhibited HIV-1 infectivity. Our studies suggest that inhibition occurs primarily by interference of early, post-virion binding events. The ability of aqueous extracts to inhibit early events within the HIV life cycle suggests that these extracts, or purified constituents responsible for the antiviral activity, are promising microbicides and/or antivirals against HIV-1.</p

X-ray structure of a soluble Rieske-type ferredoxin from Mus musculus

The X-ray crystal structure of a soluble Rieske ferredoxin from M. musculus was solved at 2.07 Å resolution, revealing an iron–sulfur cluster-binding domain with similar architecture to the Rieske-type domains of bacterial aromatic dioxygenases. The ferredoxin was also shown to be capable of accepting electrons from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic oxidoreductases

Gemcitabine and Irinotecan for Patients with Untreated Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: SWOG 0119

IntroductionTo evaluate the activity of a nonplatinum-, nonetoposide-containing regimen for patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer.MethodsPatients with untreated extensive stage small cell lung cancer were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 and irinotecan 100 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle for a maximum of six cycles. Patients with brain metastases were eligible if asymptomatic or controlled after radiation.ResultsEighty-four eligible patients with untreated extensive stage small cell lung cancer with adequate organ function and a performance status of 0–2 were accrued. The median age was 64 years (range, 42–85) and 45 (54%) were women. Six cycles were completed by 28 (33%) patients. Some degree of diarrhea occurred in 57% (grade 3/4, 18%). Other grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (26%), anemia (10%), thrombocytopenia (8%), febrile neutropenia (5%), fatigue (11%), nausea (10%), and vomiting (8%). The response rate was 32% (95% confidence interval: 22%–43%) among the 81 patients with measurable disease. The median survival was 8.5 months (95% confidence interval: 7.0–9.8) with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 26% and 7%, respectively. Salvage therapy data were captured by prospective collection, and only 50% of patients were treated secondarily.ConclusionThe overall response rate with the combination of gemcitabine and irinotecan was disappointing, and the median survival rate was lower than expected. Further development of this combination in small cell lung cancer is not recommended

A robust method to identify the occurrence of a runoff-generated debris flow

Debris flows generated by rainfall runoff can occur in rocky alpine landscapes and burned steeplands. Runoff-generated debris-flow events are commonly composed of a series of dense granular surge fronts separated by water-rich flows. Owing to this intra-event variability in flow composition and mechanics, post-event interpretations of preserved sedimentary deposits, or lack thereof, can result in a dizzying mix of interpretations that range from clearwater flow to debris flow. Accurate identification of the presence or absence of a debris flow during a runoff event is critical for building empirical models used to predict likelihood of debris-flow occurrence, rainfall thresholds, and flow properties. Here, we propose a simple, quantitative method to identify the occurrence of a runoff-generated debris flow, based on a dimensionless discharge Q* calculated as the ratio of the peak event discharge Qp to the theoretical maximum clearwater runoff rate Qw. Using a preliminary compilation of Q* values from floods and runoff-generated debris flows, we find 98% of floods have Q* values < 1.6, whereas 91% of debris flows have Q* values greater than 1.6. Estimating Q* is typically straightforward as part of standard post-event reconnaissance if suitable rainfall estimates are available, and appears to be a robust indicator that runoff-generated debris flows traversed a particular portion of a valley network