Activation of mammalian Chk1 during DNA replication arrest: a role for Chk1 in the intra-S phase checkpoint monitoring replication origin firing

Checkpoints maintain order and fidelity in the cell cycle by blocking late-occurring events when earlier events are improperly executed. Here we describe evidence for the participation of Chk1 in an intra-S phase checkpoint in mammalian cells. We show that both Chk1 and Chk2 are phosphorylated and activated in a caffeine-sensitive signaling pathway during S phase, but only in response to replication blocks, not during normal S phase progression. Replication block–induced activation of Chk1 and Chk2 occurs normally in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) cells, which are deficient in the S phase response to ionizing radiation (IR). Resumption of synthesis after removal of replication blocks correlates with the inactivation of Chk1 but not Chk2. Using a selective small molecule inhibitor, cells lacking Chk1 function show a progressive change in the global pattern of replication origin firing in the absence of any DNA replication. Thus, Chk1 is apparently necessary for an intra-S phase checkpoint, ensuring that activation of late replication origins is blocked and arrested replication fork integrity is maintained when DNA synthesis is inhibited

Density correlations in ultracold atomic Fermi gases

We investigate density fluctuations in a coherent ensemble of interacting fermionic atoms. Adapting the concept of full counting statistics, well-known from quantum optics and mesoscopic electron transport, we study second-order as well as higher-order correlators of density fluctuations. Using the mean-field BCS state to describe the whole interval between the BCS limit and the BEC limit, we obtain an exact expression for the cumulant-generating function of the density fluctuations of an atomic cloud. In the two-dimensional case, we obtain a closed analytical expression. Poissonian fluctuations of a molecular condensate on the BEC side are strongly suppressed on the BCS side. The size of the fluctuations in the BCS limit is a direct measure of the pairing potential. We also discuss the BEC-BCS crossover of the third cumulant and the temperature dependence of the second cumulant.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. A. New calculation of the bin statistics of a free Bose gas; updated and extended bibliograph

Monstrous Domesticity – Home as a Site of Oppression in Crimson Peak

This paper begins by offering a brief overview of the popular culture narrative Crimson Peak (2015), directed by Guillermo del Toro. The analysis focuses on the most compelling Gothic trope del Toro reintroduces, the proverbial mansion, simultaneously displaying Freud’s heimlich and unheimlich elements, oppressing and liberating its inhabitants. Since the narrative revolves around two female protagonists, Lucille Sharpe and Edith Cushing, the paper also refers to feminist socio-cultural perspectives on space, primarily Gillian Rose’s and Shelley Mallett’s, in order to understand the position of the two protagonists within the decidedly Gothic space. This paper aims to emphasize that Lucille’s liberation as the mistress of the house is illusory regardless of the fact that she is represented as the embodiment of domestic corruption. It is precisely because she is a sexually active woman and a disruptor of the patriarchal order that she must ultimately be punished. Even though del Toro subverts the traditional image of the madwoman in the attic by positioning her at the center of the narrative, Allerdale Hall does not reveal itself as a space of female empowerment

Economies of space and the school geography curriculum

This paper is about the images of economic space that are found in school curricula. It suggests the importance for educators of evaluating these representations in terms of the messages they contain about how social processes operate. The paper uses school geography texts in Britain since the 1970s to illustrate the different ways in which economic space has been represented to students, before exploring some alternative resources that could be used to provide a wider range of representations of economic space. The paper highlights the continued importance of understanding the politics of school knowledge

Learner Perspective on English Pronunciation Teaching in an EFL Context

On the basis of the findings, the learners do not seem to have aspirations to native-like pronunciation, but rather aim at achieving intelligible and fluent speech. Only few reported an accent preference (British or American). The primary level learners expressed satisfaction with the amount of pronunciation teaching, whereas most of the lower and upper secondary level learners claimed that pronunciation teaching was insufficient. Despite their criticisms of their pronunciation teaching, the learners reported that they had learnt English pronunciation at school. In addition, many of the learners described learning pronunciation outside school, e.g. through media and personal encounters

A dataset for autonomous aircraft refueling on the ground (AGR)

Automatic aircraft ground refueling (AAGR) can improve the safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of aircraft ground refueling (AGR), a critical and frequent operation on almost all aircraft. Recent AAGR relies on machine vision, artificial intelligence, and robotics to implement automation. An essential step for automation is AGR scene recognition, which can support further component detection, tracking, process monitoring, and environmental awareness. As in many practical and commercial applications, aircraft refueling data is usually confidential, and no standardized workflow or definition is available. These are the prerequisites and critical challenges to deploying and benefitting advanced data-driven AGR. This study presents a dataset (the AGR Dataset) for AGR scene recognition using image crawling, augmentation, and classification, which has been made available to the community. The AGR dataset crawled over 3k images from 13 databases (over 26k images after augmentation), and different aircraft, illumination, and environmental conditions were included. The ground-truth labeling is conducted manually using a proposed tree-formed decision workflow and six specific AGR tags. Various professionals have independently reviewed the AGR dataset to keep it no-bias. This study proposes the first aircraft refueling image dataset, and an image labeling software with a UI to automate the labeling workflow

Pattern of hospital referrals of children at risk of maltreatment

ABSTRACT Background Increasingly emergency departments (ED) and other acute services in the hospital provide first access care, especially out of hours and for poorer families. Studies of detection of child maltreatment in the hospital have focused on children presenting with injury, although maltreatment may be suspected when parents present to the hospital with problems related to violent behaviour, drug abuse or mental health problems. Methods A consecutive case series is described of patients referred for suspected child maltreatment from one inner-city general hospital after training was given to clinical staff and 2 years after the creation of a new post comprising a full-time, experienced child protection advisor (CPA) on-site to support clinicians with concerns about child maltreatment. Results There were 44 referrals to the CPA over 2 months in 2005, of whom just under half were initiated by clinicians caring for a parent. 15 referrals came from the ED (five followed a parent presenting to the ED), 14 from maternity obstetric services, and 15 from the neonatal or paediatric wards. Most families (38; 86%) were referred by nurses. One-quarter of referrals were already known to children's social care. Conclusions Clinicians need to be aware that half the vulnerable children in hospital are identified through one or other parent. It is hypothesised that the availability of an experienced child protection advisor on-site, combined with child protection training, makes it possible for clinicians caring for adults with problems related to violence, drug abuse or acute mental illness, to take action to address the potential vulnerability of their children

Results from the Advance Power Technology Experiment on the Starshine 3 Satellite

The Starshine 3 satellite was put into orbit on September 30, 2001 as part of the Kodiak Star mission. Starshine 3’s primary mission is to measure the atmospheric density of the thermosphere and serve as a learning outreach tool for primary and secondary school age children. Starshine 3 also carries a power technology experiment. Starshine 3 has a small, 1 Watt power system using state-of-the-art components. Eight small clusters of solar cells are distributed across the surface. Each cluster consists of a 6-cell string of 2 cm x 2 cm, GaInP/GaAs/Ge, triple-junction solar cells. These cells have twice the power-to-area ratio as traditional silicon solar cells and 25% more power than GaAs cells. Starshine 3 also carries novel integrated microelectronic power supplies (IMPS). The idea behind an IMPS unit is to allow greater flexibility in circuit design with a power source not tied to a central bus. Each IPS is used to provide 50 microwatts of continuous power throughout the mission. Early results show that this design can be used to provide continuous power under very adverse operating conditions