180 research outputs found
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Observation and analysis of in situ carbonaceous matter in Nakhla: Part I
New analyses of indigenous secondary material in the martian meteorite Nakhla reveal amorphous carbon-rich veins and dendrites. The texture and chemistry of this material resembles that of biogenically altered sub-ocean basaltic glasses
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Observation and analysis of in situ carbonaceous matter in Nakhla: part II
Analysis of in situ carbonaceous matter in the Nakhla SNC meteorite has been carried out using a variety of techniques. Laser raman data shows the carbonaceous matter to be highly complex and static mass spectrometry has shown it to have an isotopic composition of '18 to '20' C
Morpholino-mediated Knockdown of DUX4 Toward Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Therapeutics
Derepression of DUX4 in skeletal muscle has emerged as a likely cause of pathology in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Here we report on the use of antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides to suppress DUX4 expression and function in FSHD myotubes and xenografts. The most effective was phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide FM10, which targets the polyadenylation signal of DUX4. FM10 had no significant cell toxicity, and RNA-seq analyses of FSHD and control myotubes revealed that FM10 down-regulated many transcriptional targets of DUX4, without overt off-target effects. Electroporation of FM10 into FSHD patient muscle xenografts in mice also down-regulated DUX4 and DUX4 targets. These findings demonstrate the potential of antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides as an FSHD therapeutic option
The shape and erosion of pebbles
The shapes of flat pebbles may be characterized in terms of the statistical
distribution of curvatures measured along their contours. We illustrate this
new method for clay pebbles eroded in a controlled laboratory apparatus, and
also for naturally-occurring rip-up clasts formed and eroded in the Mont
St.-Michel bay. We find that the curvature distribution allows finer
discrimination than traditional measures of aspect ratios. Furthermore, it
connects to the microscopic action of erosion processes that are typically
faster at protruding regions of high curvature. We discuss in detail how the
curvature may be reliable deduced from digital photographs.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure
What is in a pebble shape?
We propose to characterize the shapes of flat pebbles in terms of the
statistical distribution of curvatures measured along the pebble contour. This
is demonstrated for the erosion of clay pebbles in a controlled laboratory
apparatus. Photographs at various stages of erosion are analyzed, and compared
with two models. We find that the curvature distribution complements the usual
measurement of aspect ratio, and connects naturally to erosion processes that
are typically faster at protruding regions of high curvature.Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett. (to appear
Ursinus College Alumni Journal, November 1960
President\u27s page • Founders\u27 Day • Wayne Brown memorial • Ritter receives degree • Admissions report • Alumnae in Who\u27s Who • Dr. Helfferich honored • Brother of Dalai Lama at Ursinus • Ursinus Women\u27s Club • Old Timers\u27 Day • Psychology\u27s place in a liberal education • The faculty, cornered • Forsan et haec • Education - Scottish and American • 1960 football results • Vernon Morgan, \u2761 Ursinus\u27 greatest runner • Seven years of alumni sponsorship completed: $188,473 collected for Ursinus in this period • Dr. Helfferich speaks • Loyalty Fund all stars • 1960 Loyalty Fund report • Advance Loyalty Fund report for 1961 • Results of the 1960 Loyalty Fund campaign • Contributors for the 1960 Loyalty Fund campaign • New reunion schedule to begin in 1961 • News about ourselves • Weddings • Births • Necrologyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1069/thumbnail.jp
Formyl Peptide Receptor as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Anxiety-Related Disorders
Formyl peptide receptors (FPR) belong to a family of sensors of the immune system that detect microbe-associated molecules and inform various cellular and sensorial mechanisms to the presence of pathogens in the host. Here we demonstrate that Fpr2/3-deficient mice show a distinct profile of behaviour characterised by reduced anxiety in the marble burying and light-dark box paradigms, increased exploratory behaviour in an open-field, together with superior performance on a novel object recognition test. Pharmacological blockade with a formyl peptide receptor antagonist, Boc2, in wild type mice reproduced most of the behavioural changes observed in the Fpr2/3(-/-) mice, including a significant improvement in novel object discrimination and reduced anxiety in a light/dark shuttle test. These effects were associated with reduced FPR signalling in the gut as shown by the significant reduction in the levels of p-p38. Collectively, these findings suggest that homeostatic FPR signalling exerts a modulatory effect on anxiety-like behaviours. These findings thus suggest that therapies targeting FPRs may be a novel approach to ameliorate behavioural abnormalities present in neuropsychiatric disorders at the cognitive-emotional interface
US Fish and Wildlife Service 1979 wetland classification: A review
In 1979 the US Fish and Wildlife Service published and adopted a classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. The system was designed for use in a national inventory of wetlands. It was intended to be ecologically based, to furnish the mapping units needed for the inventory, and to provide national consistency in terminology and definition. We review the performance of the classification after 13 years of use. The definition of wetland is based on national lists of hydric soils and plants that occur in wetlands. Our experience suggests that wetland classifications must facilitate mapping and inventory because these data gathering functions are essential to management and preservation of the wetland resource, but the definitions and taxa must have ecological basis. The most serious problem faced in construction of the classification was lack of data for many of the diverse wetland types. Review of the performance of the classification suggests that, for the most part, it was successful in accomplishing its objectives, but that problem areas should be corrected and modification could strengthen its utility. The classification, at least in concept, could be applied outside the United States. Experience gained in use of the classification can furnish guidance as to pitfalls to be avoided in the wetland classification process
The Zoning of Semi-Enclosed Bodies of Water According to the Sediment Pollution: The Bay of Algeciras as a Case Example
This paper reports a study of the occurrence and
levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a bay
characterised by a chronic persistent impact. A total of 55
sediment samples were taken at different depths up to
111 m in two sampling campaigns. Chemical analyses were
carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The
results indicate that: (1) significant spatial variations exist,
(2) levels of PAHs are related more strongly to the spatial
distribution of sediments than to mineralogy/granulometry,
(3) the sediments are slightly-to-moderately contaminated
by PAHs, and (4) these PAHs derive from pyrolytic and
petrogenic sources. Through use of an innovative data
classification system (proposed according to depth and
spatial location of sampling points), and using factorial and
cluster techniques, five zones have been differentiated
depending on the contamination level and source
The Leucine Zipper Domains of the Transcription Factors GCN4 and c-Jun Have Ribonuclease Activity
Basic-region leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins are one of the largest transcription factor families that regulate a wide range of cellular functions. Owing to the stability of their coiled coil structure leucine zipper (LZ) domains of bZIP factors are widely employed as dimerization motifs in protein engineering studies. In the course of one such study, the X-ray structure of the retro-version of the LZ moiety of yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 suggested that this retro-LZ may have ribonuclease activity. Here we show that not only the retro-LZ but also the authentic LZ of GCN4 has weak but distinct ribonuclease activity. The observed cleavage of RNA is unspecific, it is not suppressed by the ribonuclease A inhibitor RNasin and involves the breakage of 3′,5′-phosphodiester bonds with formation of 2′,3′-cyclic phosphates as the final products as demonstrated by HPLC/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Several mutants of the GCN4 leucine zipper are catalytically inactive, providing important negative controls and unequivocally associating the enzymatic activity with the peptide under study. The leucine zipper moiety of the human factor c-Jun as well as the entire c-Jun protein are also shown to catalyze degradation of RNA. The presented data, which was obtained in the test-tube experiments, adds GCN4 and c-Jun to the pool of proteins with multiple functions (also known as moonlighting proteins). If expressed in vivo, the endoribonuclease activity of these bZIP-containing factors may represent a direct coupling between transcription activation and controlled RNA turnover. As an additional result of this work, the retro-leucine zipper of GCN4 can be added to the list of functional retro-peptides
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