A conjecture of Beauville and Catanese revisited

Abstract.: A theorem of Green, Lazarsfeld and Simpson (formerly a conjecture of Beauville and Catanese) states that certain naturally defined subvarieties of the Picard variety of a smooth projective complex variety are unions of translates of abelian subvarieties by torsion points. Their proof uses analytic methods. We refine and give a completely new proof of their result. Our proof combines galois-theoretic methods and algebraic geometry in positive characteristic. When the variety has a model over a function field and its Picard variety has no isotrivial factors, we show how to replace the galois-theoretic results we need by results from model theory (mathematical logic). Furthermore, we prove partial analogs of the conjecture of Beauville and Catanese in positive characteristi

Employment Concerns of Deaf University Students

In response to a questionnaire distributed at a university-sponsored job fair, 661 students of Gallaudet University responded to questions regarding their employment concerns. Respondents identified employment strengths in two areas-college life and self-efficacy. Students identified three aspects of career preparation- training, resources, and career selection—as problems. The findings emphasize the importance of assisting students with hearing impairments or deafness to address career-related concerns

Direct Lineage Conversion of Adult Mouse Liver Cells and B Lymphocytes to Neural Stem Cells

SummaryOverexpression of transcription factors has been used to directly reprogram somatic cells into a range of other differentiated cell types, including multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs), that can be used to generate neurons and glia. However, the ability to maintain the NSC state independent of the inducing factors and the identity of the somatic donor cells remain two important unresolved issues in transdifferentiation. Here we used transduction of doxycycline-inducible transcription factors to generate stable tripotent NSCs. The induced NSCs (iNSCs) maintained their characteristics in the absence of exogenous factor expression and were transcriptionally, epigenetically, and functionally similar to primary brain-derived NSCs. Importantly, we also generated tripotent iNSCs from multiple adult cell types, including mature liver and B cells. Our results show that self-maintaining proliferative neural cells can be induced from nonectodermal cells by expressing specific combinations of transcription factors

Pulmonary Inflammation Induced by Incomplete or Inactivated Adenoviral Particles

Overview summary The amount of pulmonary inflammation induced in mice by intratracheal administration of high doses of adenoviral vectors was compared to that induced by viral particles that lack the ability to express the genes that they contain. The number of inflammatory cells infiltrating the lung 6 days after particle administration was similar between animals receiving normal versus defective adenoviral particles.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63169/1/hum.1995.6.12-1553.pd

PISa – powered two wheeler integrated safety: development, implementation and testing of PTW integrated safety systems

The Powered two wheeler Integrated Safety (PISa) project, funded by the European Commission within the 6th Framework, aimed at identifying, developing and testing new technologies to provide integrated safety systems (ISS) for a range of powered two wheelers (PTWs) to improve primary safety and link to secondary safety systems. From the analysis of representative crashes involving motorcycles and mopeds, a list of safety systems was prioritised in terms of their contribution to crash avoidance or injury severity reduction. These systems were integrated onto two different types of PTW: a large scooter and a light motorcycle. Experimental tests with the demonstration vehicles showed the potential benefits of the PISa systems compared to unequipped PTWs. Further system development is required before testing the demonstration vehicles with non-professional riders

The Structure of Hydrogenase-2 from <i>Escherichia coli</i>:Implications for H₂ -Driven Proton Pumping

Under anaerobic conditions Escherichia coli is able to metabolize molecular hydrogen via the action of several [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzymes. Hydrogenase-2, which is typically present in cells at low levels during anaerobic respiration, is a periplasmic-facing membrane-bound complex that functions as a proton pump to convert energy from H2 oxidation into a proton gradient; consequently, its structure is of great interest. Empirically, the complex consists of a tightly-bound core catalytic module, comprising large (HybC) and small (HybO) subunits, which is attached to an Fe-S protein (HybA) and an integral membrane protein, HybB. To date, efforts to gain a more detailed picture have been thwarted by low native expression levels of hydrogenase-2 and the labile interaction between HybOC and HybA/HybB subunits. In this paper we describe a new over-expression system that has facilitated determination of high-resolution crystal structures of HybOC and, hence, a prediction of the quaternary structure of the HybOCAB complex

Sequencing three crocodilian genomes to illuminate the evolution of archosaurs and amniotes

The International Crocodilian Genomes Working Group (ICGWG) will sequence and assemble the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) genomes. The status of these projects and our planned analyses are described