Taphonomic and Diagenetic Pathways to Protein Preservation, Part I: the Case of Tyrannosaurus rex Specimen MOR 1125

Contrary to traditional views, fossil bones have been shown to occasionally retain original cells, blood vessels, and structural tissues that are still comprised, in part, by their original proteins. To help clarify how such remarkable preservation occurs, we explored the fossilization history of a famous Tyrannosaurus rex specimen previously shown to yield original cells, vessels, and collagen protein sequences. By analyzing the trace element composition of the femur of this tyrannosaur, we show that after death its carcass decayed underwater in a brackish, oxic, estuarine channel and then became buried by sands that quickly cemented around the bones, largely protecting them from further chemical alteration. Other bones yielding original proteins have also been found to have fossilized within rapidly-cementing sediments in oxidizing environments, which strongly suggests that such settings are conducive to molecular preservation

Validation of a survey instrument to assess home environments for physical activity and healthy eating in overweight children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few measures exist to measure the overall home environment for its ability to support physical activity (PA) and healthy eating in overweight children. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability and validity of such a measure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Home Environment Survey (HES) was developed to reflect availability, accessibility, parental role modelling, and parental policies related to PA resources, fruits and vegetables (F&V), and sugar sweetened drinks and snacks (SS). Parents of overweight children (n = 219) completed the HES and concurrent behavioural assessments. Children completed the Block Kids survey and wore an accelerometer for one week. A subset of parents (n = 156) completed the HES a second time to determine test-retest reliability. Finally, 41 parent dyads living in the same home (n = 41) completed the survey to determine inter-rater reliability. Initial psychometric analyses were completed to trim items from the measure based on lack of variability in responses, moderate or higher item to scale correlation, or contribution to strong internal consistency. Inter-rater and test-retest reliability were completed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Validity was assessed using Pearson correlations between the HES scores and child and parent nutrition and PA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eight items were removed and acceptable internal consistency was documented for all scales (α = .66–84) with the exception of the F&V accessibility. The F&V accessibility was reduced to a single item because the other two items did not meet reliability standards. Test-retest reliability was high (r > .75) for all scales. Inter-rater reliability varied across scales (r = .22–.89). PA accessibility, parent role modelling, and parental policies were all related significantly to child (r = .14–.21) and parent (r = .15–.31) PA. Similarly, availability of F&V and SS, parental role modelling, and parental policies were related to child (r = .14–36) and parent (r = .15–26) eating habits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The HES shows promise as a potentially valid and reliable assessment of the physical and social home environment related to a child's physical activity and eating habits.</p

Advances in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease: Targeting amyloid beta and tau and perspectives for the future

Worldwide multidisciplinary translational research has led to a growing knowledge of the genetics and molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) indicating that pathophysiological brain alterations occur decades before clinical signs and symptoms of cognitive decline can be diagnosed. Consequently, therapeutic concepts and targets have been increasingly focused on early-stage illness before the onset of dementia; and distinct classes of compounds are now being tested in clinical trials. At present, there is a growing consensus that therapeutic progress in AD delaying disease progression would significantly decrease the expanding global burden. The evolving hypothesis- and evidence-based generation of new diagnostic research criteria for early-stage AD has positively impacted the development of clinical trial designs and the characterization of earlier and more specific target populations for trials in prodromal as well as in pre- and asymptomatic at-risk stages of AD

Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion

Les dimensions économiques de la question nationale en Yougoslavie

Economie Dimensions of the National Dispute in Yugoslavia. The problem of the economic causes of the national controversy in Yugoslavia can be divided into two broad categories : the controversy over aid to the under-developed republics, and the role of the federal government in the economy. In respect to the former of these two problems, the Yugoslav government has extended considerable aid to the underdeveloped republics, but differences between these areas and the more advanced regions have persisted and, in many respects, grown more pronounced. Migration to industrialized areas, which might mitigate some of these differences, has occurred largely within republics rather than across republic boundaries, while in certain areas — notably Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosovo — the agricultural population remains at, or exceeds, pre-World War II levels. The federal fund to aid underdeveloped republics, which was established in 1965, has been the subject of acrimonious debate, most recently in 1970, when the time came to renew the fund's existence. Slovenia and Croatia argued that the fund should be turned into a conventional banking operation providing loans at regular rates of interest. The underdeveloped republics resisted this solution. The compromise finally approved called for 1.94 % of the social product of all the republics to go to the fund, while terms of repayment of loans made by the fund to the underdeveloped republics were tightened. The dispute centering on the role of the federal government in the economy has divided the country along different lines, pitting Slovenia and especially Croatia against Serbia. The origins of this conflict lie in the economic reforms of 1965, which failed to reduced the power of the federal government in the economy to the degree expected by Croatia and Slovenia, and at the same time encouraged the emergence of new centers of economic power in the banks and trading organizations in Belgrade. The Slovenians and the Croats demanded the liquidation of the federal banks, the abolition of « extra- budgetary accounts», and the end of all federal investment programs. The Croatians also wished to receive a greater share of foreign currency earned in Yugoslavia, and asserted that investments by Serbian firms in Croatia were a form of exploitation. The constitutional amendment of 1971, by liquidating most extra-budgetary accounts of the federation, ending federal investments, and providing for control over earnings of banks by their depositors, sought to end the problems just alluded to. Failure to solve the question of allocation of foreign currency, and the slowness with wich the constitutional reforms were implemented, (resulted in continued controversy and played a major role in the disturbances in Croatia in 1971. Yugoslavia faces many complex issues in alleviating the economic sources of national controversy. A basic problem lies in the fact that economic demands in Croatia and Slovenia reflect the needs of a growingly affluent society, while in the south the problem is still one of encouraging economic development and overcoming backwardness.Le problème des causes économiques du conflit national en Yougoslavie peut se regrouper en deux grandes catégories : la controverse concernant l'aide aux républiques sous-développées et le rôle du gouvernement fédéral dans l'économie. En ce qui concerne le premier de ces deux problèmes, on peut dire que le gouvernement yougoslave a accordé une aide très importante aux républiques sous-développées mais que les différences entre ces républiques et les régions plus avancées ont persisté et, dans bien des cas, ont même augmenté. La migration vers les régions industrialisées, qui pourrait atténuer certaines de ces différences, s'est surtout produite à l'intérieur des républiques plutôt qu'au-delà de leurs frontières, tandis que dans diverses régions (notamment en Bosnie- Herzégovine et au Kosovo) la population agricole subsiste ou même dépasse son niveau d'avant la seconde guerre mondiale. Le fonds fédéral d'aide aux républiques sous-développées, créé en 1965, a donné lieu à des débats violents dont les plus récents se sont produits en 1970, lorsque vint le moment de reconduire le fonds. La Slovénie et la Croatie estimaient que le fonds devait être remplacé par des opérations bancaires classiques avec octroi de prêts à des taux d'intérêts usuels. Les républiques sous-développées ont refusé cette solution. Le compromis finalement adopté fixait à 1,94 % du produit social de toutes les républiques le montant des sommes à verser au fonds et resserrait les conditions de remboursement des prêts octroyés par le fonds aux républiques sous-développées. Le débat centré sur le rôle du gouvernement fédéral dans l'économie a divisé le pays d'une manière différente, poussant la Slovénie et notamment la Croatie contre la Serbie. Les origines de ce conflit résident dans la réforme économique de 1965, qui n'a pas réussi à diminuer l'influence du pouvoir central sur l'économie autant que l'attendaient la Croatie et la Slovénie et qui, en même temps, a permis l'apparition de nouveaux centres du pouvoir économique dans les banques et les organisations commerciales de Belgrade. Les Slovènes et les Croates ont demandé la liquidation des banques fédérales, l'abolition des « comptes hors budget » et la fin de tous les programmes fédéraux d'investissement. Les Croates désiraient en outre oubtenir une plus grande part des devises gagnées en Yougoslavie et affirmaient que les investissements effectués par des entreprises serbes en Croatie représentaient une forme d'exploitation. Les amendements constitutionnels de 1971, en liquidant la plupart des comptes hors budget de la Fédération, en supprimant les investissements fédéraux et en assurant à leurs déposants le contrôle des gains réalisés par les banques, tentait de résoudre les problèmes auxquels il vient d'être fait allusion. Le fait que le problème de la répartition des devises n'ait pu être résolu et les lenteurs dans l'application des réformes constitutionnelles, se sont traduits par la poursuite de la controverse et ont joué un rôle essentiel dans les troubles qui ont eu lieu en Croatie en 1971. La Yougoslavie rencontre des problèmes nombreux et complexes en cherchant à atténuer les origines économiques du conflit national. Un problème fondamental réside dans le fait que les exigences économiques de la Croatie et de la Slovénie reflètent les besoins d'une société de plus en plus prospère tandis que dans le sud du pays il s'agit encore d'encourager le développement économique et de surmonter le retard.Shoup Paul. Les dimensions économiques de la question nationale en Yougoslavie. In: Revue de l'Est, vol. 3, 1972, n°4. pp. 75-92

Letter from Paul Shoup to John Muir, [ca. 1908].

P 818 (10-08-500 m)[illegible]THE PACIFIC TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANYTELEGRAM56 Paid.The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company transmits and delivers this message subject to the terms and conditions printed on the back of this blankReceived atMartinez (WHERE ANY REPLY SHOULD BE SENT)San FranciscoMr.J.MuirMartinez Cala.Mr. Calvin has telegram from Mr.Harriman saying he well be very glad to meet you Mr. Calvin. Invites you to go to Los Angles in his private car leaving third and Townsend to-morrow evening at eight o clock .Will you kindly reply any time after eight thirty o clock to-morrow in Flood Building. Key 3160.Paul Shoup. 04126https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/30089/thumbnail.jp

Letter from Paul Shoup to John Muir, 1907 Jun 28.

(Following rough draft of letter found on same sheet with that of Mr. Shoup to John Muir .dated June 28,1907)[early July,] 1907.Mr. P. Shoup,My dear Sir;How in the world can I tell when I will he able to indicate the time I\u27ll have copy ready for aMountain Book . Making a mountain book is a huge Sequoia job for me at best, even after the shape and size of the thing and everything about it has been definitely fixed, and the track cleared of all other work, a state of affairs far from present conditions. Now I have a Yosemite book on my hands that will take all summerat least, not to mention a lot of other smaller and bigger jobs stretching away into the dim hazy distance like your rails on the desert through mirages and dust storms. So you see any new Mountain book, like the Happy Land, is far, far away. But in the meantime, as far as I am concerned, the S.P. is welcome, without price, to the use of anything available in my writings. I have already in books, letters, and magazines described Shasta, Hetch Hetohy, Yosemite, Kings River Canyon, Tehipite, the mountains, glaciers, forests, etc. I suppose you seem hardly to know what to take. or what the holders of copyright would allow. A strange mental attitude for R.R. men accustomed to everything. I suppose you want a sort of guide to the most telling features of the mountains. Such a thing I may be able to do some day, but certainly not onrailroad time.With best wishes,Faithfully yours,[JOHN MUIR]03885https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/29582/thumbnail.jp