Notch activates Wnt-4 signalling to control medio-lateral patterning of the pronephros

Previous studies have highlighted a role for the Notch signalling pathway during pronephrogenesis in the amphibian Xenopus laevis, and in nephron development in the mammalian metanephros, yet a mechanism for this function remains elusive. Here, we further the understanding of how Notch signalling patterns the early X. laevis pronephros anlagen, a function that might be conserved in mammalian nephron segmentation. Our results indicate that early phase pronephric Notch signalling patterns the medio-lateral axis of the dorso-anterior pronephros anlagen, permitting the glomus and tubules to develop in isolation. We show that this novel function acts through the Notch effector gene hrt1 by upregulating expression of wnt4. Wnt-4 then patterns the proximal pronephric anlagen to establish the specific compartments that span the medio-lateral axis. We also identified pronephric expression of lunatic fringe and radical fringe that is temporally and spatially appropriate for a role in regulating Notch signalling in the dorso-anterior region of the pronephros anlagen. On the basis of these results, along with data from previous publications, we propose a mechanism by which the Notch signalling pathway regulates a Wnt-4 function that patterns the proximal pronephric anlagen

Eskimos, Reindeer, and Land

The following report is based on an interdisciplinary research study undertaken to investigate the social, economic, and cultural aspects of reindeer herding in northwestern Alaska. The primary purpose of the research project was to gather data on the past and present reindeer herding practices of the region, but also to seek information on herding and land uses, the future potential of this essentially Native industry, and its impacts on the people and economy of the area.National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and carried out by staff of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks

A role for OCRL in glomerular function and disease

Background: Lowe syndrome and Dent-2 disease are caused by mutations in the OCRL gene, which encodes for an inositol 5-phosphatase. The renal phenotype associated with OCRL mutations typically comprises a selective proximal tubulopathy, which can manifest as Fanconi syndrome in the most extreme cases.Methods: Here, we report a 12-year-old male with nephrotic-range proteinuria and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis on renal biopsy. As a glomerular pathology was suspected, extensive investigation of tubular function was not performed.Results: Surprisingly, whole exome sequencing identified a genetic variant in OCRL (c1467-2A&gt;G) that introduced a novel splice mutation leading to skipping of exon 15. In situ hybridisation of adult human kidney tissue and zebrafish larvae showed OCRL expression in the glomerulus, supporting a role for OCRL in glomerular function. In cultured podocytes, we found that OCRL associated with the linker protein IPIP27A and CD2AP, a protein that is important for maintenance of the podocyte slit diaphragm.Conclusion: Taken together, this work suggests a previously under-appreciated role for OCRL in glomerular function and highlights the importance of investigating tubular function in patients with persistent proteinuria.</p

Air Monitoring for Hazardous Gas Detection

The Hazardous Gas Detection Lab (HGDL) at Kennedy Space Center is involved in the design and development of instrumentation that can detect and quantify various hazardous gases. Traditionally these systems are designed for leak detection of the cryogenic gases used for the propulsion of the Shuttle and other vehicles. Mass spectrometers are the basis of these systems, which provide excellent quantitation, sensitivity, selectivity, response times and detection limits. A Table lists common gases monitored for aerospace applications. The first five gases, hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon are historically the focus of the HGDL

Ecology and Dispersal of the Bedbug

The global bedbug resurgence has left the scientific community racing to fill large gaps in our understanding of the biology and ecology of this forgotten pest. Studying the ecology of a species so closely associated with humans has inherent difficulties, necessitating the development of laboratory arenas that replicate natural infestations. The arena developed herein provides bedbugs with the opportunity to exhibit natural foraging, hiding and dispersal behaviours on a scale that reflects their natural environment. Using this arena I test hypotheses relating to; 1) how bedbugs use harbourage space, and 2) the factors affect their dispersal. My research revealed that harbourages in the vicinity of the host are used first and peripheral harbourages only form as the infestation develops. The preferential use of harbourages adjacent to the host is explained by the finding that feeding frequency was negatively correlated with distance from the host. However, despite this advantage of residing in close proximity to the host, bedbugs form discontinuous harbourages, leaving regions of unoccupied space. This suggests that there are factor(s) that limit harbourage density. Female dispersal was unaffected by males presence, suggesting that sexual harassment does not drive dispersal in the bedbug. However, variation in the distribution of the sexes across harbourages suggests that females may be able to avoid males through harbourage selection. Increased harbourage availability significantly delayed the onset of dispersal, suggesting that competition for harbourages near the host is a factor driving dispersal from the natal infestation. Given that a host is an almost unlimited food source and that the cost of dispersing is likely to be high, it is not immediately apparent why bedbugs choose to actively disperse. However, theoretical models show that where relatedness is high, dispersal always occurs to reduce competition. The high cost of dispersal may therefore be offset by kin selection

Felsic Volcanic Units in the Boston Area, Massachusetts

Guidebook to geologic field studies in Rhode Island and adjacent areas: The 73rd annual meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, October 16-18, 1981: Trip C-

Geology of Mascoma Mantled Gneiss Dome Near Hanover, New Hampshire

Guidebook for field trips in central New Hampshire and contiguous areas: 63rd annual meeting October 2 and 3, 1971 Concord, New Hampshire: Trip A-

Bedrock Geology of the Presque Isle Area

Guidebook to the geology of Northeastern Maine and neighboring New Brunswick: The 72nd annual meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Presque Isle, Maine, October 10-13, 1980: Trip B-