Ranchers, Farmers, Soldiers, and the CCC: The Background for Seven Historical Sites at Camp Bowie, Brown County, Texas

During the mid-1900s, a cultural resources survey of Camp Bowie was conducted by the Environmental Resources Management Branch of the Adjutant General’s Department of Texas (AGTX-EV) which identified a number of historical sites within the camp’s boundaries. These sites included 41BR227, 41BR438, and 41BR266, all of which are sandstone walls; 41BR270 and 41BR477, both of which contain check dams built to control erosion; 41BR290, the remains of a farmstead; and 41BR299, a bunker dating to the World War II era. In 2001 the Center for Archeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio contracted with AGTX-EV to conduct additional archaeological investigations at Camp Bowie; part of that agreement called for a general investigation of the historical background of the seven sites mentioned above. This archival research was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit no. 2591

Emergence of functional sensory subtypes as defined by transient receptor potential channel expression

The existence of heterogeneous populations of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons conveying different somatosensory information is the basis for the perception of touch, temperature, and pain. A differential expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels contributes to this functional heterogeneity. However, little is known about the development of functionally diverse neuronal subpopulations. Here, we use calcium imaging of acutely dissociated mouse sensory neurons and quantitative reverse transcription PCR to show that TRP cation channels emerge in waves, with the diversification of functional groups starting at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) and extending well into the postnatal life. Functional responses of voltage-gated calcium channels were present in DRG neurons at E11.5 and reached adult levels by E14.5. Responses to capsaicin, menthol, and cinnamaldehyde were first seen at E12.5, E16.5, and postnatal day 0 (P0), when the mRNA for TRP cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1), TRP cation channel, subfamily M, member 8 (TRPM8), and TRP cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1), respectively, was first detected. Cold-sensitive neurons were present before the expression or functional responses of TRPM8 or TRPA1. Our data support a lineage relationship in which TRPM8- and TRPA1-expressing sensory neurons derive from the population of TRPV1-expressing neurons. The TRPA1 subpopulation of neurons emerges independently in two distinct classes of nociceptors: around birth in the peptidergic population and after P14 in the nonpeptidergic class. This indicates that neurons with similar receptive properties can be generated in different sublineages at different developmental stages. This study describes for the first time the emergence of functional subtypes of sensory neurons, providing new insight into the development of nociception and thermoreception

Camp Mabry Archaeological Survey and Testing, Travis County, Texas

In October 2001, the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) was contracted by the Adjutant General’s Department of the Texas Army National Guard (AGTX) to perform a 100% systematic archaeological survey on the grounds of Camp Mabry, in Austin. The project was comprised of a pedestrian survey, extensive shovel testing, and the excavation of two backhoe trenches. The survey resulted in the discovery of an 8 x 8-meter prehistoric site, 41TV1954. In addition, two previously recorded archaeological sites (41TV1667 and 41TV1722) were revisited, and shovel tests were excavated in order to reevaluate and document cultural resources and site boundaries. Based on data generated during the pedestrian survey and shovel testing, CAS has determined that 41TV1722 and 41TV1954 are not archaeologically significant and thus do not qualify for National Register consideration. After analyzing the results gathered from both shovel test and backhoe trench excavations on 41TV1667, CAS has concluded that the site does pose a moderate to high research potential. CAS thus recommends that further testing is needed on 41TV1667 in order to determine the site’s eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places

The boundary cap: a source of neural crest stem cells that generate multiple sensory neuron subtypes

The boundary cap (BC) is a transient neural crest-derived group of cells located at the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) that have been shown to differentiate into sensory neurons and glia in vivo. We find that when placed in culture, BC cells self-renew, show multipotency in clonal cultures and express neural crest stem cell (NCSCs) markers. Unlike sciatic nerve NCSCs, the BC-NCSC (bNCSCs) generates sensory neurons upon differentiation. The bNCSCs constitute a common source of cells for functionally diverse types of neurons, as a single bNCSC can give rise to several types of nociceptive and thermoreceptive sensory neurons. Our data suggests that BC cells comprise a source of multipotent sensory specified stem cells that persist throughout embryogenesis

A compendium of NASA Aerobee sounding rocket launchings for 1966

Compendium of Aerobee sounding rocket launchings for 196

Nitrogen Acquisition by Annual and Perennial Grass Seedlings: Testing the Roles of Performance and Plasticity to Explain Plant Invasion

Differences in resource acquisition between native and exotic plants is one hypothesis to explain invasive plant success. Mechanisms include greater resource acquisition rates and greater plasticity in resource acquisition by invasive exotic species compared to non-invasive natives. We assess the support for these mechanisms by comparing nitrate acquisition and growth of invasive annual and perennial grass seedlings in western North America. Two invasive exotic grasses (Bromus tectorum and Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and three perennial native and exotic grasses (Pseudoroegneria spicata, Elymus elymoides, and Agropyron cristatum) were grown at various temperatures typical of autumn and springtime when resource are abundant and dominance is determined by rapid growth and acquisition of resources. Bromus tectorum and perennial grasses had similar rates of nitrate acquisition at low temperature, but acquisition by B. tectorum significantly exceeded perennial grasses at higher temperature. Consequently, B. tectorum had the highest acquisition plasticity, showcasing its ability to take advantage of transient warm periods in autumn and spring. Nitrate acquisition by perennial grasses was limited either by root production or rate of acquisition per unit root mass, suggesting a trade-off between nutrient acquisition and allocation of growth to structural tissues. Our results indicate the importance of plasticity in resource acquisition when temperatures are warm such as following autumn emergence by B. tectorum. Highly flexible and opportunistic nitrate acquisition appears to be a mechanism whereby invasive annual grasses exploit soil nitrogen that perennials cannot use

Mild and General Conditions for Negishi Cross-Coupling Enabled by the Use of Palladacycle Precatalysts

A wide range of biaryls were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Negishi cross-couplings at ambient temperature or with low catalyst loading. This protocol features the use of a recently reported aminobiphenyl palladacycle precatalyst to generate the catalytically active XPhosPd[superscript 0] species. Significantly, a wide range of challenging heterocyclic and polyfluorinated aromatic substrates can be employed to give products in excellent yields.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (GM46059

Clostridium difficile outbreaks: Prevention and treatment strategies

The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have increased dramatically over the past decade. Its treatment, however, has largely remained the same with the exception of oral vancomycin use as a first-line agent in severe disease. From 1999 to 2004, 20,642 deaths were attributed to CDI in the United States, almost 7 times the rate of all other intestinal infections combined. Worldwide, several major CDI outbreaks have occurred, and many of these were associated with the NAP1 strain. This ‘epidemic’ strain has contributed to the rising incidence and mortality of CDI. The purpose of this article is to review the current management, treatment, infection control, and prevention strategies that are needed to combat this increasingly morbid disease