Serum Amyloid P Component (SAP)-Like Protein From Botryllid Ascidians Provides a Clue to Amyloid Function

The HA-1 lectin isolated from Botrylloides leachii has an amino acid composition similar to that of mammalian serum amyloid protein (SAP). SAP is a universal component of mammalian amyloid deposits. Like SAP, HA-1 has a disc ultrastructure, and antibody to HA-1 binds both (a) to amyloidlike fibers deposited between rejected Botrylloides colonies and (b) to cerebral amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease brains. Deposition of protochordate amyloid within rejection sites and surrounding fouling organisms implies that these fibers function as barriers to allogeneic and infectious challenge. Similarly, mammalian amyloid may also function to contain inflammatory lesions and to limit the spread of certain infections. Pathological amyloidotic conditions in humans, such as Alzheimer's disease, may result from unregulated expression of this primitive encapsulation response

Potential changes in bacterial metabolism associated with increased water temperature and nutrient inputs in tropical humic lagoons

Temperature and nutrient concentrations regulate aquatic bacterial metabolism. However, few studies have focused on the effect of the interaction between these factors on bacterial processes, and none have been performed in tropical aquatic ecosystems. We analyzed the main and interactive effects of changes in water temperature and N and P concentrations on bacterioplankton production (BP), respiration (BR) and growth efficiency (BGE) in tropical coastal lagoons. We used a factorial design with 3 levels of water temperature (25, 30 and 35 °C) and 4 levels of N and/or P additions (Control, N, P and NP additions) in five tropical humic lagoons. When data for all lagoons were pooled together, a weak interaction was observed between the increase in water temperature and the addition of nutrients. Water temperature alone had the greatest impact on bacterial metabolism by increasing BR, decreasing BP, and decreasing BGE. An increase of 1°C lead to an increase of ~ 4% in BR, a decrease of ~ 0.9% in BP, and a decrease of ~ 4% in BGE. When data were analyzed separately, lagoons responded differently to nutrient additions depending on DOC concentration. Lagoons with lowest DOC concentrations showed the strongest responses to nutrient additions: BP increased in response to N, P and their interaction, BR increased in response to N and the interaction between N and P, and BGE was negatively affected, mainly by the interaction between N and P additions. Lagoons with the highest DOC concentrations showed almost no significant relationship with nutrient additions. Taken together, these results show that different environmental drivers impact bacterial processes at different scales. Changes of bacterial metabolism related to the increase of water temperature are consistent between lagoons, therefore their consequences can be predicted at a regional scale, while the effect of nutrient inputs is specific to different lagoons but seems to be related to the DOC concentration

Universal 1/f Noise from Dissipative SOC Models

We introduce a model able to reproduce the main features of 1/f noise: hyper-universality (the power-law exponents are independent on the dimension of the system; we show here results in d=1,2) and apparent lack of a low-frequency cutoff in the power spectrum. Essential ingredients of this model are an activation-deactivation process and dissipation.Comment: 3 Latex pages, 2 eps Figure

Electron Impact Excitation Cross Section Measurement for n=3 to n=2 Line Emission in Fe(17+) to Fe(23+)

We have measured the electron impact excitation cross sections for the strong iron L-shell 3 --> 2 lines of Fe XVIII to Fe XXIV at the EBIT-I electron beam ion trap using a crystal spectrometer and NASA-Goddard Space Flight Centers 6 x 6 pixel array microcalorimeter. The cross sections were determined by direct normalization to the well established cross section of radiative electron capture through a sophisticated model analysis which results in the excitation cross section for the strong Fe L-shell lines at multiple electron energies. This measurement is part of a laboratory X-ray astrophysics program utilizing the Livermore electron beam ion traps EBIT-I and EBIT-II

Simulating a Maxwellian plasma using an electron beam ion trap

We describe a technique for producing a Maxwell–Boltzmann electron energy distribution using an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). The technique was implemented on the Lawrence Livermore EBIT to simulate Maxwellian plasmas. We discuss technical and experimental issues related to these simulations. To verify the fidelity of the quasi-Maxwellian, we have measured line emission due to dielectronic recombination (DR) and electron impact excitation (EIE) of heliumlike neon, magnesium, and argon for a range of simulated electron temperatures. The ratio of DR to EIE lines in heliumlike ions is a well understood electron temperature diagnostic. The spectroscopically inferred quasi-Maxwellian temperatures are in excellent agreement with the simulated temperatures

Observation of a multiply ionized plasma with index of refraction greater than one

Includes bibliographical references (pages 035005-4).We present clear experimental evidence showing that the contribution of bound electrons can dominate the index of refraction of laser-created plasmas at soft x-ray wavelengths. We report anomalous fringe shifts in soft x-ray laser interferograms of Al laser-created plasmas. The comparison of measured and simulated interferograms shows that this results from the dominant contribution of low charge ions to the index of refraction. This usually neglected bound electron contribution can affect the propagation of soft x-ray radiation in plasmas and the interferometric diagnostics of plasmas for many elements

Subsistence practices, past biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts revealed by New Zealand-wide ancient DNA survey

New Zealand's geographic isolation, lack of native terrestrial mammals, and Gondwanan origins make it an ideal location to study evolutionary processes. However, since the archipelago was first settled by humans 750 y ago, its unique biodiversity has been under pressure, and today an estimated 49% of the terrestrial avifauna is extinct. Current efforts to conserve the remaining fauna rely on a better understanding of the composition of past ecosystems, as well as the causes and timing of past extinctions. The exact temporal and spatial dynamics of New Zealand's extinct fauna, however, can be difficult to interpret, as only a small proportion of animals are preserved as morphologically identifiable fossils. Here, we conduct a large-scale genetic survey of subfossil bone assemblages to elucidate the impact of humans on the environment in New Zealand. By genetically identifying more than 5,000 nondiagnostic bone fragments from archaeological and paleontological sites, we reconstruct a rich faunal record of 110 species of birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and marine mammals. We report evidence of five whale species rarely reported from New Zealand archaeological middens and characterize extinct lineages of leiopelmatid frog (Leiopelma sp.) and kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) haplotypes lost from the gene pool. Taken together, this molecular audit of New Zealand's subfossil record not only contributes to our understanding of past biodiversity and precontact Maori subsistence practices but also provides a more nuanced snapshot of anthropogenic impacts on native fauna after first human arrival

Observation of multiply ionized plasmas with dominant bound electron contribution to the index of refraction

Includes bibliographical references.We report anomalous fringe shifts observed in soft X-ray laser interferograms of laser-created Al plasmas. This clear experimental evidence shows that the contribution of bound electrons can dominate the index of refraction of laser-created plasmas at soft X-ray wavelengths, resulting in values greater than 1. The comparison of measured and simulated interferograms shows that this results from the dominant contribution of low-charge ions to the index of refraction. This usually neglected bound electron contribution can affect the propagation of soft X-ray radiation in plasmas and the interferometric diagnostics of plasmas for many elements.This work was sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances program through DOE Research Grant # DE-FG03-02NA00062. Part of this work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy by the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory through the Institute of Laser Science and Application, under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48. The CSU researchers also gratefully acknowledge the partial support of the NSF ERC Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, award EEC-0310717